常春藤生活英语【44】The Full Moon Effect月圆效应

Many people believe the full moon affects how we feel and act. They say people do crazy things, get into more accidents, and even can't sleep. These ideas come from folklore¹ and are found in many cultures. More crimes, deaths, and births are also supposed to happen during a full moon. Modern-day studies show different results. For example, it has been proved that births do not increase, but dog bites do.

A lunatic is an insane person. This English word comes from luna, the Latin word for moon. One French word for mood, luné, also comes from luna. These words show how strongly people have believed in a connection between the moon and human behavior. Long ago in France, people who committed a crime during a full moon were set free. It was believed the full moon made them crazy and therefore they weren't considered guilty.

The most famous full moon stories are about werewolves. Although these stories were made up centuries ago, some people still think they really exist. If you are out at night during a full moon, be extra careful. You never know who or what might be hiding in the shadows.

许多人认为满月会影响我们的感觉及行为。他们说人们会做出疯狂的事、陷入更多意外、甚至会睡不着觉。这些想法源自民间传说，在许多文化中也都能找到。月圆时应该会有更高的犯罪、死亡及出生率。现今的研究则显示出不同结果。举例说来，出生率已证实不会提高，而狗咬的案例则会。

lunatic指的是疯子。这个英文字源于拉丁文中表『月亮』的luna。法文中表『情绪』的luné一字，同样也源自luna。这些字显示人们是多么坚信月亮与人类的行为有关连。许久之前的法国，于月圆时分犯罪的人会被释放。人们认为是满月让他们变得疯狂，因此他们不算有罪。

最出名的月圆故事都跟狼人有关。虽然这些故事都是数百年前杜撰的，有些人却依旧认为狼人确实存在。如果您在月圆之夜仍只身在外，千万要特别小心。您永远不知道阴影之中躲着什么样的人或东西。

1.Which of the following is true?
(A)The article implies that all criminals5 should be set free.
(B)Ideas about the full moon can only be found in US culture.
(C)The word lunatic has Latin origins.
(D)There are fewer dog bites during a full moon.

1.下列何者为真？
(A)本篇文章暗示所有罪犯都该被释放。
(B)关于满月的想法只能于美国文化中找到。
(C)lunatic这个字源于拉丁文。
(D)满月时的狗咬案例较少。

2.Which title is also suitable for this article?
(A)Avoid Dark Places during Full Moons
(B)Full Moons and Superstitions6
(C)The History of Full Moons
(D)When Werewolves Meet Full Moons

2.哪个标题也适用于本文？
(A)《月圆时分请避开阴暗处》
(B)《月圆及迷信》
(C)《满月的历史》
(D)《当狼人碰上满月》

Building Your Vocabulary

1.affect　vt. 影响
This disease mainly affects elderly people.
这种疾病主要是影响老年人。

2.commit　vt. 犯下（罪行）
Jesse was sent to prison for committing robbery.
杰西因犯下抢案而被关入牢里。

3.guilty　a. 有罪的
The jury found Casey guilty of murder.
陪审团判定卡西的谋杀罪名成立。

4.imply　vt. 暗示，暗指
Are you implying that I stole the money?
你是在暗指我偷了那笔钱吗？

5.suitable　a. 合适的
The weather today isn't suitable for a picnic.
今天的天气不适合野餐。

Phrases for Learning

set + 人 + free　　释放某人
The terrorists set all of the hostages free.
恐怖份子释放了所有人质。

参考字词

1.folklore　n. 民间传说
2.lunatic　n. 疯狂的人
3.insane　a. 疯狂的
4.werewolf　n. 狼人
5.criminal　n. 罪犯
6.superstition²　n. 迷信

Grammar Check

...it has been proved that births do not increase...
（……出生率已证实不会提高……）

1.prove 为及物动词，表『证明，证实』，之后接名词或 that 子句作受词。
The lawyer is trying her best to prove her client's innocence³.
（那名律师正尽全力证明她委托人的清白。）

2.prove 亦可作不完全不及物动词，表『证明是；显示』之意，等同于"turn out"，之后接"to be + 名词∕形容词"作主词补语，而"to be"可予以省略。
The rumor⁴ proved (to be) true.
=The rumor proved (to be) a true one.
=The rumor turned out (to be) true.
（那个谣言最后证实真有其事。）

1 folklore   

n.民间信仰，民间传说，民俗

参考例句：

• Zhuge Liang is a synonym for wisdom in folklore.诸葛亮在民间传说中成了智慧的代名词。
• In Chinese folklore the bat is an emblem of good fortune.在中国的民间传说中蝙蝠是好运的象征。

2 superstition   

n.迷信，迷信行为

参考例句：

• It's a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.认为黑猫不吉祥是一种很普遍的迷信。
• Superstition results from ignorance.迷信产生于无知。

3 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

4 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。