英语听力精选进阶版 6388（在线收听）

Perhaps because of traditional beliefs that men are tougher than women, it's common for British people these days to joke about men's weaknesses.

A man who complains he's ill with a cold might be told he just has 'man flu.' The implication is a woman keeps working when she has a cold, while a man exaggerates its effects, in order to get some sympathy and get out of doing any work.

According to the British saying, such a man is being 'a big girl's blouse,' a jokey way of saying he's not as manly and brave as he could be.

But now it seems maybe men aren't such big girl's blouses after all.

Researchers at Leeds Metropolitan University in England inflicted pain on 200 Libyan and British students, and studied how they responded. They found that although there was no difference in the unpleasantness of the pain, the men were much more stoical about it. They showed a higher pain threshold, and reported less pain afterwards.

The women showed more sensitivity. They tolerated less pain, and were happier to admit it hurt.

So why did the men put up with more pain than women? Gender stereotypes seem to be playing a part, with women expected to be sensitive and men feeling the pressure to show they're macho.

The research found that these gender differences were stronger in the Libyan students than the British ones. The Libyan men also had a higher pain threshold than British men. This suggests that cultural differences also play a part in how people cope with pain.

Research into pain is important, because it could help scientists develop better pain relief, and help people who live with chronic pain. Most pain killers are tested on men.

Quiz 测验

According to the research, who was more stoical about pain, men or women?

Men.

In the experiment, who tolerated more pain, the British or Libyan men?

Libyan men.

According to the article, why don't men show that they're in pain?

Because they want to seem macho or manly.

Why is research into pain important?

It could help develop better pain relief and help people live with chronic pain.

True or false? Calling a man a 'big girl's blouse' means he's brave.

False. It means he's not being brave.

Glossary 词汇表

traditional beliefs 传统观念

tougher 更强硬

implication 暗示，含义

exaggerates its effects 夸大它的影响

get some sympathy 博取一些同情

get out of 逃避，避免（事情）

manly 男子气概的

brave 勇敢的

inflicted pain 强加痛苦

stoical 坚忍的

pain threshold （生理）痛阈

sensitivity 敏感度

tolerated 忍受

admit it hurt 承认痛了

put up with 忍受

gender stereotypes 性别刻板印象、特征

macho 有男子气慨的

cultural differences 文化差异

cope with 应对

pain relief 缓解疼痛

chronic pain 慢性疼痛

pain killers 止痛药