英语听力精选进阶版 6399（在线收听）

In English the colour green is associated with jealousy, which is sometimes jokingly called 'the green-eyed monster'. But it's no joke when jealousy takes over your life. Researchers are only starting to understand how jealousy can go wrong in the human brain.

Mild jealousy is a normal, healthy emotion; it's part of what makes us tick. Who hasn't experienced sibling rivalry or felt left out when their partner spends time with other people? Feeling jealous helps us value our loved ones and protect our important relationships.

But for a small number of us, extreme jealousy can lead to obsessive behaviour like stalking. It can also cause depression, destroy relationships and even kill – morbidly jealous people can become violent or suicidal.

Now researchers in Italy believe they've found the area of the brain responsible for obsessive jealousy, which is called Othello's syndrome, named after the Shakespeare character who kills his wife because of jealousy.

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is just above the forehead. This is the part of the brain which processes emotions, including thinking about those we love. But crucially, we use this part of the brain to predict scenarios of losing our loved ones, and thinking about how we would feel if that happened.

Obsessively jealous people spend too much time dwelling on these scenarios. For them, losing their relationship starts to seem like the end of the world. Worryingly, the researchers believe that, in some people, this process may become a habit, and jealousy becomes hardwired in the brain.

They want to investigate medicines which could help treat people suffering from this devastating condition.

Quiz 测验

1. Which colour is associated with jealousy, in English?

Green.

2. Why does the article say obsessive jealousy can kill?

Because people can become violent or suicidal.

3. Is the area of the brain responsible for jealousy at the front or back of the head?

It's at the front.

4. Which Shakespeare character was obsessively jealous?

Othello.

5. Which word is used by the researchers to describe jealousy which has become permanent in the brain?

Hardwired.

Glossary 词汇表

jealousy （名词）嫉妒

takes over 统管

emotion 情绪，情感

what makes us tick 能让我们为之所动的（人或东西）

sibling rivalry 兄弟姊妹之间的竞争

felt left out 感到被冷落了

obsessive 迷恋的，沉缅于

stalking 跟踪骚扰

depression 压抑症，抑郁症，忧郁症

morbidly jealous 病态地嫉妒

violent （行为）暴力的

suicidal 自杀的，自杀性的

responsible for 对…负责的

forehead 额头

processes 处理

scenarios 情景，情境

dwelling on 总在想着（事）

seem like the end of the world 好像是世界末日一样

hardwired 固有的

devastating condition 可怕的病证