Listening

Light and Color 

People have wondered about the nature of light and color since ancient times. 

Some people thought that light came from the eye rather than coming into the eye. 

To see, light was projected from our eyes to illuminate(照亮) things as we looked at them.

Now we know that what we see is mostly reflected light, like the light from the moon which is reflected sunlight. 

Light comes from a light source, such as the Sun, and either enters our eyes directly or after it has reflected off something.

In 1666. Sir Isaac Newton(艾萨克·牛顿爵士) showed that when light passes through a prism(棱镜), it separated into all the other colors. 

This clearly demonstrated that light is composed of many different colors.

The difference between colors is due to their wavelength(波长).

A prism separates light into different colors because each color has a different wavelength. 

The angle at which a color bends(弯曲) in a prism depends on its wavelength.

Colors with shorter wavelengths bend more than colors with longer wavelengths. 

This explains why red light bends less than yellow light.

The reason is because its wavelength is longer.

Of the visible colors, violet(紫色) light has the shortest wavelength, so it bends the most.

Each color is a single wavelength of light.

Besides the sun, any objects that produces its own lights is a direct light source.

If you have ever painted, you know that different colors can be combined to create new colors. 

For example, if you add white to a color, you lighten it.

However the three primary colors, red, blue and yellow cannot be made by mixing other colors. 

It isn't possible to mix any combination of colors to create red, blue or yellow.

Mixing two primary colors creates a secondary color, such as purple, which is made by mixing blue and red. 

Mixing three primary colors creates a tertiary(第三) color such as brown or grey.

Color's Effect

Colors are wonderful to look at, but they also affect people in ways besides sight. 

They have a powerful effect on how people feel and behave.

Artists know this and so do businesspeople who want to influence how people feel about their products and advertisements.

For example, research has shown that people can be more productive if they are working in a blue room. 

The color purple is often linked to wealth or royalty(皇室) and is seen as a mysterious spiritual color.

Some colors have even been associated with changes in blood pressure.

Though color can influence how we feel and act, these effects may depend on personal and cultural factors. 

Therefore, it's important not to believe everything you hear about the effects of color.

Though there are differences between cultures, there is general agreement about some colors.

The color red, for example, is a warm color associated with energy and excitement in many cultures. 

In China red is associated with fire, energy and good fortune.

On the other hand, one experiment shows that exposing students to red before taking a test can have a negative effect.

In fact, of all the colors, research shows that red has the most powerful effect on human behavior.

Certainly, it's interesting and important to better understand the psychological(心理) effects of light and color. 

To gain a better understanding of these effects, more research is needed.

Vocabulary

Verbs for Business 1

To promote: to move someone up in an organization, usually because she has done a good job. 

We're going to promote her to manager.

If we don't promote him, he'll probably be upset. 

The opposite of promote is demote(降级).

It looks like we promoted him too soon, because he can't do the job.

To transfer: to move someone or something from one place to another. 

The company is going to transfer him to Shanghai next month.

She doesn't want to be transferred, because her husband is against moving to another city.

She won't agree to be transferred unless we give her a promotion and a salary increase. 

To motivate: to get someone interested and excited about doing something. 

She's really good at motivating her employees.

One way to motivate someone is to encourage them by giving constructive feedback.

We need to motivate people more and not demotivate them by reducing benefits.

To postpone(推迟), to delay or put off something until a later date.

We have to postpone the presentation(介绍) because she wasn't ready to give it. 

We can't continue to postpone the meeting or they will cancel it completely.

They are asking to postpone making their first payment, so we may decide to cancel the contract.

To evade(逃避): to escape or avoid something.

They are trying to evade taking responsibility for their failure. 

He was arrested for tax evasion.

They designed the airplane to evade detection(探测) by radar(雷达).

Verbs for Business 2

To assign(分配): to give someone a task to do.

His boss assigned him to increase sales by fifty percent.

Her company assigned her to find out more about the competition.

It's very dangerous, so I won't assign this project to you unless you are willing to take a risk.

To penalize(惩罚): to fine or punish someone for doing something wrong. 

They were penalized for breaking the rules.

You will be penalized if you are late.

We knew we would be penalized, but the penalty was unfair, so we dropped out of the competition.

To lay off: to fire or sack a worker because business is bad. 

The company was failing, so he was laid off.

Our company had to lay off 50 percent of our employees.

A company may have to lay off workers when business is bad.

He lost his job because his company had to lay off most of its employees. 

To recruit(招募): to look for new employees to hire.

They are expanding their business and recruiting new employees. 

She joined the company after she was recruited at a job fair.

She was recruited to work for a recruiting company, but now she's being laid off.

To resign(辞职): to volenterily quit one's job.

His boss didn't like him, so he was asked to resign. 

She resigned from her job because of health reasons.

She has decided to resign because she wants to spend more time with her family. 

It isn't easy for a small company to recruit experienced managers.

Dialogue

Thoughts in Love

M：Wow, you look different today. 

W：You mean more beautiful?

M：What's your thought the makeup?

W：I feel like dressing up today. Don't you like it? 

M：Do you want me to be honest?

W：Of course, but I know you. You are so old-fashioned.

M：I just think you don't need so much makeup to look beautiful. That lipstick(口红) is like a fire engine. 

W：Well not everyone agrees with you. And I like looking different once no while.

She's wearing more makeup than usual.

M：I'm glad I'm not a woman. There are too many things to deal with.

W：Yes, you wouldn't be good at it. You always wear the same old clothes, it's boring. 

M：Maybe it's boring, but it's comfortable.

W：You'll never find a new girlfriend if you don't change.

M：I'm not interested in women anymore, you know that, there's nothing but trouble.

W：Am I trouble?

M：You and I are just opposites. You're always doing something new and I would rather just relax. 

W：You sound like an old man. You need to act younger. You need to be more exciting.

M：And then what? Find my soul mate?

W：Really, you sound so cynical(愤世嫉俗的)! Don't you believe in love? 

M：Sure, in the movies maybe.

M：Love is an illusion. It never last and when it starts is difficult to break on.

W：Your problem is that you expect too much from love. You're too romantic. You need to be more practical. 

M：I thought you were the romantic one.

W：I have a romantic side, yes, but I'm practical. My man has got to be good looking, well-dressed and hopefully rich.

M：Hah, then let me out.

W：Yes, you've got a lot to learn.

W：Now where are we going for dinner? Somewhere expensive?

M：OK, you've convinced me that your makeup isn't so bad. But I think it's your turn to pay. 

W：That's what you think.

They are spill the bill.

She has a romantic side, but she is also practical