小编寄语：英语四级六级考试，阅读是不可或缺的一大部分，生词多，理解难，时间少，是不少考生抱怨的问题。要想在考场上做好阅读理解，必须在平常多阅读，掌握新词汇，提高阅读速度。而沪江小编就为大家准备了阅读材料系列，供大家练习。

我们的这个阅读系列旨在为大家提供一些阅读材料，不一定跟四六级考试的难度、篇幅、内容完全一样。对于很多童鞋纠结这是四级还是六级范围的阅读，其实没有必要。如果大家觉得比较简单，就当作泛读材料了解了解，认识几个新单词或新表达方式也不错。如果大家觉得这些材料理解上有难度，不妨当做挑战自己的拔高训练，希望大家都有进步^^

【今日推荐阅读】

Women find happy men significantly less sexually attractive than those who swagger or brood, researchers said today. They are least attracted to smiling men, instead preferring those who looked proud and powerful, or moody and ashamed, according to a study. In contrast, men are most sexually attracted to women who look happy, and least attracted to those who appear proud and confident. Just spotted a miserable man: Women are least attracted to smiling men, instead preferring those who looked proud and powerful, or moody and ashamed.

The University Of British Columbia study, which is the first to report a significant gender difference in the attractiveness of smiles, helps explain the enduring allure of 'bad boys' and other iconic gender stereotypes. It is also the first study to investigate the attractiveness of displays of pride and shame. Lead researcher Professor Jessica Tracy said: 'While showing a happy face is considered essential to friendly social interactions, including those involving sexual attraction - few studies have actually examined whether a smile is, in fact, attractive. 'This study finds that men and women respond very differently to displays of emotion, including smiles.'

More than 1,000 adult participants rated the sexual attractiveness of hundreds of images of the opposite sex. These photos included universal displays of happiness (broad smiles)， pride (raised heads, puffed-up chests) and shame (lowered heads, averted eyes). The researchers found that women were least attracted to smiling, happy men - in contrast to men, who were most attracted to women who looked happy. Overall, the researchers said, men rank women more attractive than women rank men. Study co-author Alec Beall said: 'It is important to remember that this study explored first-impressions of sexual attraction to images of the opposite sex. 'We were not asking participants if they thought these targets would make a good boyfriend or wife - we wanted their gut reactions on carnal, sexual attraction.'

【内容简介】

本文开篇描述了男性和女性对各自交往对象的标准，自然地引出科学家的新发现：在女性眼中，狂妄自大、略带忧郁状的男士比那天成天嘻嘻哈哈、乐天派男士们更性感，也更受欢迎。

接着文章具体介绍了这一研究的具体内容，对研究结论进行佐证。

【词汇短语讲解】

①swagger  这个词既可作名词，也可作动词，还可以做形容词。

作名词时表示大摇大摆，吹牛；作动词时表示大摇大摆地走，吹嘘；作形容词时表示漂亮的，时髦的。

e.g. He is always swaggering how rich he is.

他老是吹嘘自己多有钱。

②be attracted to  对……有吸引力的

③in contrast to  和……对比，与……相反

【快速阅读支招】

做阅读要提前计划好做题时间，考场上严格按照计划做题，不确定的题目上不要纠缠太久，否则接下来的题目可能会来不及做。另外，做阅读的方式也要注意，一般建议先扫一下题目，对文章内容有个初步了解，再带着问题去读文章。注意关键词定位，有了关键词，对于答案的定位是非常有帮助的，不要漫无目的地寻找，这样是对时间无谓的浪费。

戳此查看原文翻译>>>

喜欢这个节目吗？欢迎

点击查看该系列更多内容>>