当研究人员让受试者把自己想象成七岁的孩子时，他们在发散性思维测试（比如设想旧车轮胎的其他用途）中的得分会显著提高。

When subjects are told to imagine themselves as 7-year-olds, they score significantly higher on tests of divergent thinking, such as trying to invent alternative uses for an old car tire.

1sub·ject /ˈsʌbʤɪkt/noun
plural sub·jects

5: a person or animal that is used in an experiment, study, etc.
▪ Each subject was asked to fill out a questionnaire.▪ The hospital is recruiting test subjects for the study.
 

美国国会一个顾问委员会将在周四发出警告说，在发生冲突的情况下，中国几乎肯定会对美国发起网络攻击，而美国对于如何合理应对的问题却无明确的政策。

China almost certainly would mount a cyberattack on the U.S. in the event of a conflict, and the U.S. has no clear policy to determine how to respond appropriately, a congressional advisory panel is set to warn on Thursday.

1pan·el /ˈpænl̟/ noun

plural pan·els

[count] 1 a: a group of people who answer questions, give advice or opinions about something, or take part in a discussion for an audience
▪ The university is hosting a panel on free speech.▪ Tonight's show features a panel of famous chefs.▪ Three of the members on the panel are doctors.▪ a panel discussion on (the topic of) education
b: a group of people with special knowledge, skill, or experience who give advice or make decisions
▪ The advisory panel has recommended that the drug be approved.▪ A panel of judges selected the book for this year's award.
cUS: a group of people who are chosen to be jurors :jury—called also jury panel

夏普公司(Sharp Corp.)决定向台湾鸿海集团(Hon Hai Group)出售近10%的股权，此举凸显出日本曾经占据主导地位的电子行业已经沦落到何种程度。

Sharp Corp.'s decision to sell nearly a 10% stake to Taiwan's Hon Hai Group underscores just how far Japan's once-dominant electronic industry has fallen.

un·der·score

/ˈʌndɚˌskoɚ/ verb

un·der·scores;
[+ obj] 1: to emphasize (something) or show the importance of (something)
▪ These failures underscore the difficulty of what we're attempting to do.▪ The President's visit underscores the administration's commitment to free trade.

2: to draw a line under (something) :underline
▪ She underscored the most important points.

un·der·line
/ˈʌndɚˌlaɪn/verb
un·der·lines; un·der·lined;

[+ obj] 1: to draw a line under (something)
▪ His name was underlined in the book.
2: to emphasize (something) : to show the importance of (something)
▪ The accident underlines our need for better safety procedures.

 
中央电视台周三晚间播出的新闻显示，李克强在中南海会见了库克。中南海位于北京，是中国最高领导人工作和居住的大院，戒备森严。

In its evening news broadcast on Wednesday, state-run China Central Television showed Mr. Li meeting with Mr. Cook at Zhongnanhai, the closely guarded compound here that houses China's top leaders.

4com·pound/ˈkɑ:mˌpaʊnd/noun
plural com·pounds

[count] : an enclosed area that contains a group of buildings
▪ a prison compound

2house/ˈhaʊz/verb
hous·es; housed; hous·ing

[+ obj] 1: to provide shelter or a living space for (someone)
▪ More prisons are needed to house the growing number of inmates.— often used as (be) housed▪ The soldiers were housed in poorly heated huts.

为人自负却颇富个人魅力的中国重庆市委书记薄熙来被免职。这件事的讽刺之处在于，在它发生之前，薄熙来或许是中国人气最高的官员。

The irony of the purging of Bo Xilai, the brash and charismatic Communist party chief of Chongqing, is that he may have been the most popular politician in China.

brash/ˈbræʃ/ adjective
brash·er; brash·est

1: confident and aggressive in usually a rude or unpleasant way
▪ a brash young executive▪ She asks such brash questions.
2: very strong or harsh
▪ brash colors▪ brash lighting
— brash·ly adverb
▪ He brashly confronted his boss about a raise.
— brash·ness noun [noncount]

char·is·mat·ic/ˌkerəzˈmætɪk/ adjective
1 [more charismatic; most charismatic] : having great charm or appeal : filled with charisma
▪ He is a charismatic leader.
2— used to describe Christian religious groups whose members believe that they can communicate directly with God to receive help and guidance and the power to heal others ▪ charismatic sects

iro·ny /ˈaɪrəni/ noun
plural iro·nies
1 [noncount] : the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really think especially in order to be funny
▪ a writer known for her clever use of irony▪ “What a beautiful view,” he said, his voice dripping with irony, as he looked out the window at the alley.▪ She described her vacation with heavy irony as “an educational experience.” — compare sarcasm
2: a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what you expected [count] ▪ It was a tragic irony that he made himself sick by worrying so much about his health.▪ The (awful/bitter) irony is that in trying to forget her, he thought of her even more.▪ That's just one of life's little ironies. [noncount] ▪ The irony of the situation was apparent to everyone.▪ He has a strong sense of irony.

sar·casm/ˈsɑɚˌkæzəm/noun
[noncount] : the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say especially in order to insult someone, to show irritation, or to be funny
▪ biting/dry sarcasm▪ a voice full of sarcasm

2009年的一项研究发现，当受试者周围的环境为蓝色时，他们解决的脑筋急转弯问题数量会增加一倍，因为蓝色会让人更放松，能促进人的联想思维。而红色则会使人的思维更活跃、更清醒，因此是更适合解决分析性问题的环境。
 
A 2009 study found that subjects solved twice as many insight puzzles when surrounded by the color blue, since it leads to more relaxed and associative thinking. Red, on other hand, makes people more alert and aware, so it is a better backdrop for solving analytic problems.
 
 
back·drop /ˈbækˌdrɑ:p/ noun
plural back·drops

 
[count] 1: a painted cloth that is hung across the back of a stage
 
2: the scene or scenery that is in the background
▪ The mountains provided a perfect backdrop for the wedding photos.
 
3: the setting or conditions within which something happens
▪ The novel unfolds against a backdrop of war.▪ The city provides the backdrop for the love story.
 
as·so·ci·a·tive adj.
1. Of, characterized by, resulting from, or causing association.
2. Mathematics Independent of the grouping of elements. For example, if a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c, the operation indicated by + is associative