新托福阅读练习材料：TheMathematicalMarriagePredictor

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都说婚姻是爱情的坟墓，经营一段成功的婚姻难度不小。如今有研究人员用一系列调查数据统计出了婚姻幸福的方程式，据说能够预测众人的婚姻寿命。  
　　Want to know if your marriage is going to last? Learn about the mathematical marriage predictor on this Moment of Science.
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　　You might not think that mathematicians(数学家) have anything particularly relevant to say about your love life. But you’d be wrong–if we’re talking about James Murray, a mathematician at the University of Washington in Seattle who (1)teamed up(合作) with Psychologist John Gottman to explore the rocky road(坎坷崎岖的路) of romance.
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4 A4 n  m4 f; T2 B　　Here’s what the two did. They (2)videotaped(将…录到录像带上) hundreds of volunteer couples discussing such things as sex and money. You know–the sorts of things on which everybody always agrees, right?

% U# C/ L* ?* b( I  T　　Then they (3)broke down(分解) behavioral responses to these high-pressure(高压的) discussions into recognizable(可辨认的，可认识的) groups, such as whether partner A can be persuaded by partner B, or whether partner A (4)takes offense(生气) when partner B makes a cutting(尖刻的) remark.

　　A set of equations(方程式，等式) was (5)drawn up(草拟，起草) that represented the interactions(相互作用) of these different factors in mathematical form, leading to…Ding!…a prediction as to whether this marriage would last. Sound like a stretch? Think you can’t possibly tell that much about a couple from a single interview and some calculations?
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　　Four years later Murray and Gottman did a follow-up(随访，跟进) to see whether the equation had made the right prediction. It sure had–their Mathematical Marriage Predictor was right an astonishing(令人惊讶的) ninety-four percent of the time.
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　　Some conspicuous(显著的，显而易见的) findings included the fact that, in marriages that lasted, laughing occurred five times more frequently than in couples (6)destined for(驶往;去往) break-up. The team also found that the one behavior that most consistently( 一贯地) predicted divorce was the appearance of a contemptuous(轻蔑的) or mocking(嘲弄的) facial expression on one partner’s face when the other one spoke.
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　　According to the Mathematical Marriage Predictor, it’s “roll your eyes and say goodbyes.”

　　Notes:
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) d* k: u2 t7 g" b6 R( n: F0 |　　(1)team up v.合作;结成一队;协作
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　　The two universities have teamed up for a research project.

　　两所大学已在某一科研项目上进行协作。
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　　(2)videotape ['vidiəuteip] n.录像带 vt.将…录到录像带上
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　　1.Videotape a performance of the advertisement to view for yourselves.
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　　从表演的广告录像带看自己的表现。

会计考友

　2.Stiles is accused of molesting a three-year-old girl and recording it on videotape.  
# t. O  s! @, S$ E9 G: t　　并被指控调戏一位仅三岁的小女孩，调戏过程被记录在录像带上。

) b3 d; G. i' l- T) I" K　　(3)break down 分解;发生故障;失败;毁掉;制服
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, E  K* n7 d) {2 z4 [- T　　1.The bridge broke down in last earthquake.

4 Q. r% X7 [- q4 d3 v　　那座桥在上次地震中坍塌了。

0 L0 E% Z/ P( s　　2.Break down barriers between Departments.

　　打破部门间的障碍。

　　(4)take offense生气

' D+ }. L0 R2 \- G, F" w5 P　　Please don't take offense. Iwanted to tell you what I think.
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　　请你别生气，我只是想把我的想法告诉你了。

　　(5)draw up草拟，起草;停住;使靠近
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　　1.The boat was drawn up on the shore.
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　　这条小船被拉上了海滩。

　　2.Second, draw up an outline.

5 ?: T! Q; i  f+ D% D　　第二步起草一个提纲。
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' G: b9 z8 a9 N0 c% w　　(6)destined for驶往;去往
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　　1.The ships were destined for Cuba.
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　　那些船是开往古巴的。
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　　2.You are destined for a life of travel and fun.
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/ f' H! o+ f# k5 ~8 U. y　　你希望一个能到处旅行和充满乐趣的一生。