早教玩具能让孩子上哈佛吗(中)

随着神经科学在二十世纪下半叶兴起，人们推销和购买玩具的目的越来越多地变成培养更好的大脑。

双语精读

During the past two centuries, educators, psychologists, toy companies and parents like us have acted, implicitly or otherwise, as if the purpose of play is to optimise children for adulthood.

在过去两个世纪，教育工作者、心理学家、玩具公司和像我们这样的父母，以或含蓄或直接的方式，表现得好像玩耍的目的就是为了让孩子变成最优秀的大人。

The dominant model for how to do that has been the schoolhouse, with its reading, writing, and arithmetic. The more book learning we could doll up as play, and then cram into our children, the better.

实现这一目的的主导模式一直是依靠学校的阅读、写作和算术课。我们把越多的书本知识包装成游戏塞给孩子，效果就越好。

Then, with the rise of neuroscience in the second half of the 20th century, toys were increasingly marketed and purchased for the purpose of building better brains in order to build more competitive and successful grownups -- to make Homo sapiens that were a little more sapient.

接着，随着神经科学在二十世纪下半叶兴起，人们推销和购买玩具的目的越来越多地变成培养更好的大脑，继而培养出更具竞争力和更成功的成年人--让智人变得更睿智一些。

The pressure to do that has been felt most intensely with the youngest kids, aged five and under, and in recent decades the market has bestowed upon us such brands as Baby Einstein, Baby Genius and Fat Brain (tagline: "Toys that Matter to Their Gray Matter").

实现这一目的的压力在年龄最小的孩子(5岁及以下的儿童)身上表现得最为强烈。近几十年来，市场献给我们的品牌包括"小爱因斯坦""天才宝宝"以及"硕脑"(品牌口号: "对大脑灰质至关重要的玩具")。

By 2020, the broad category of educational toys was making nearly $65bn (￡55bn) worldwide, a figure that is forecast to double within the decade. Toys that teach -- from the Speak & Spell and the See & Say to an entire phylum of learn-to-code robots -- now pervade many young lives.

到2020年，益智玩具大类的全球销售额接近650亿美元(合550亿英镑)，这一数字预计将在十年内翻一番。从"讲与拼"的小键盘和"看与说"的识图玩具，到一整个门类的用于学习编码的机器人，这些早教玩具现在已经渗透到许多小孩子的生活中。

"This generation of parents is asking toys to provide an end product, and that end product is prosperity," Richard Gottlieb, an influential toy industry consultant, told me. "They want toys to get their children into Harvard."

"这一代父母要求玩具提供一种最终产品，这个最终产品就是人生富足，"理查德·戈特利布向我表示，他是一位颇具影响力的玩具行业顾问。"他们想要通过玩具让孩子考进哈佛。"

But the "bathe your toddler in ABCs and 123s" version of child development has recently come under threat. In its place, a vision of childhood and its playthings that is more archaic and even anarchic is emerging.

但是，"让你的小孩沉浸在字母和数字中"的儿童发展理论最近受到了威胁。取而代之，一种更为古早，甚至无秩序的对童年和玩具的想象正在兴起。

"The model has been, 'If I get toys that do schoolish things, then that's good,'" Alison Gopnik, a leading developmental psychologist, told me. "But that really goes against what the developmental science is telling us."

"（儿童发展）模式一直是，‘如果玩具能教孩子学东西，那很好'，"顶尖发展心理学家艾莉森·戈普尼克向我表示，"但这其实与发展科学告诉我们的相悖。"

The Christmas and birthday upshot is that young children are far more cognitively sophisticated than many toys on the Amazon results page or the Hamleys shelves assume.

圣诞节和生日时的最终结局是，幼儿的认知能力比亚马逊商品页面或哈姆利货架上的许多玩具以为的要复杂精妙得多。

For decades, we've been getting our children, and their toys, all wrong.

几十年来，我们对孩子和他们的玩具的看法一直是错误的。

词汇预习

increasingly [高考]
美[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli] | 英[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli]
adv. 逐渐地；越来越多地
educational [高考]
美[ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃənl] | 英[ˌedʒuˈkeɪʃənl]
adj. 教育的；有教育意义的
psychologist [高考]
美[saɪˈkɑːlədʒɪst] | 英[saɪˈkɒlədʒɪst]
n.心理学研究者，心理学家
code [高考]
美[koʊd] | 英[kəʊd]
n. 密码；法规；准则 v. 制成法典；把 ... 编码
threat [高考]
美[θret] | 英[θret]
n. 威胁；恐吓；凶兆
competitive [高考]
美[kəmˈpetətɪv] | 英[kəmˈpetətɪv]
adj. 竞争的；有竞争力的；胜过或超过他人的
vision [高考]
美[ˈvɪʒn] | 英[ˈvɪʒn]
n. 视力；视觉；幻觉；眼光；洞察力；想象力 v. 幻想；设想
adulthood [高考]
美[əˈdʌlthʊd] | 英[ˈædʌlthʊd]
n. 成年
developmental [高考]
美[dɪˌveləpˈmentl] | 英[dɪˌveləpˈmentl]
adj. 发展的；进化的；开发的
influential [高考]
美[ˌɪnfluˈenʃl] | 英[ˌɪnfluˈenʃl]
adj. 有权势的；有影响的 n. 有影响力的人物
dominant [高考]
美[ˈdɑːmɪnənt] | 英[ˈdɒmɪnənt]
adj. 主要的；占优势的；显性的 n. 主宰者；显性基因
within [高考]
美[wɪˈðɪn] | 英[wɪˈðɪn]
prep. 在(某段时间、距离或范围)内；在…里面 adv. 在…里面 n. 内部
figure [高考]
美[ˈfɪɡjər] | 英[ˈfɪɡə(r)]
n. 图形；人物；身材；体形 v. 认为；是重要部分；是…的部分；计算（数量或成本）
generation [高考]
美[ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn] | 英[ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃn]
n. 一代（人）；一代人的时间；（产品发展的）代；产生
otherwise [高考]
美[ˈʌðərwaɪz] | 英[ˈʌðəwaɪz]
adv. 否则；不同地；在不同方面 adj. 不同的
decade [高考]
美[ˈdekeɪd] | 英[ˈdekeɪd]
n. 十年，十年间，十年期（尤指一个年代)
entire [高考]
美[ɪnˈtaɪər] | 英[ɪnˈtaɪə(r)]
adj. 全部的；整个的；完全的 n. 全部；整体；〈英〉一种黑啤酒；种马
assume [高考]
美[əˈsuːm] | 英[əˈsjuːm]
vt. 假定；设想；承担；(想当然的)认为；假装
broad [高考]
美[brɔːd] | 英[brɔːd]
adj. 宽广的；清楚无误的；明显的；胸怀开阔的；粗俗的 n. [俚]女子
consultant [高考]
美[kənˈsʌltənt] | 英[kənˈsʌltənt]
n. 顾问；咨询者；[英]会诊医生
bathe [高考]
美[beɪð] | 英[beɪð]
v. 沐浴；用水洗；沉浸
arithmetic [高考]
美[əˈrɪθmətɪk] | 英[əˈrɪθmətɪk]
n. 算术；计算 adj. 算术的
in order [高考]
美[ɪn 'ɔːrdər] | 英[ɪn 'ɔːdə]
整齐；秩序井然；按顺序
for the purpose of [高考]
美[fɔr ði ˈpɚpəs ʌv] | 英[fɔ: ðə ˈpə:pəs ɔv]
为了 ... (的目的)
sophisticated [高考]
美[səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd] | 英[səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd]
adj. 老练的；精密的；复杂的；久经世故的
prosperity [四级]
美[prɑːˈsperəti] | 英[prɒˈsperəti]
n. 繁荣；兴旺
intensely [四级]
美[ɪnˈtɛnsli] | 英[ɪnˈtɛnsli]
adv. 强烈地；热切地
come under [四级]
美[kʌm ˈʌndɚ] | 英[kʌm ˈʌndə]
v. 归入；受到
leading [四级]
美[ˈliːdɪŋ , ˈledɪŋ] | 英[ˈliːdɪŋ , ˈledɪŋ]
adj. 领导的；指导的；主要的；在前的
felt [专八]
美[fɛlt] | 英[felt]
n. 毛毡；毡制品 vt. 制毡；使粘结 vi. 毡合
learning [专八]
美[ˈlɜːrnɪŋ] | 英[ˈlɜːnɪŋ]
n. 学问；学识；学习
archaic [专八]
美[ɑːrˈkeɪɪk] | 英[ɑːˈkeɪɪk]
adj. 已不通用的；古老的；古代的
telling [专八]
美[ˈtelɪŋ] | 英[ˈtelɪŋ]
adj. 有效的；显著的
pervade [专八]
美[pərˈveɪd] | 英[pəˈveɪd]
vt. 弥漫；遍及；蔓延
sapiens [考研]
美[ˈseɪpienz] | 英[ˈsæpienz]
adj. 智人的 n. 智人
implicitly [考研]
美[ɪmˈplɪsɪtlɪ] | 英[ɪm'plɪsɪtlɪ]
adv. 含蓄地；暗中地；毫不保留地

重点讲解

During the past two centuries, educators, psychologists, toy companies and parents like us have acted, implicitly or otherwise, as if the purpose of play is to optimise children for adulthood.

在过去两个世纪，教育工作者、心理学家、玩具公司和像我们这样的父母，以或含蓄或直接的方式，表现得好像玩耍的目的就是为了让孩子变成最优秀的大人。

implicitly adv. 含蓄地；间接地

【例】It reinforces, implicitly or explicitly, the idea that money is all-important.

这或暗示或明确地强调了金钱至上这一观念。

【拓展】implicit adj. 不直接言明的

【例】Implicit in his speech was the assumption that they were guilty.

他话语中的言外之意是假定他们有罪。

optimise v. 使最优化；充分利用

【例】If you optimize the production process you could speed up the assembly line dramatically.

如果你优化一下生产流程，就能大幅提高流水线的速度。

【拓展】optimum/optimal adj. 最佳的；最适宜的

【例】the optimum growth temperature最适宜生长的温度

The dominant model for how to do that has been the schoolhouse, with its reading, writing, and arithmetic. The more book learning we could doll up as play, and then cram into our children, the better.

实现这一目的的主导模式一直是依靠学校的阅读、写作和算术课。我们把越多的书本知识包装成游戏塞给孩子，效果就越好。

cram v.

1. 塞满；挤满

【例】to cram clothes into a suitcase 把行李箱里塞满衣服

【近义词】squeeze v. 塞入；挤进去

2. （为应考）临时死记硬背

【例】She’s cramming for her history exam.

她在为了历史考试而临时抱佛脚。

Then****,**** with**** the rise**** of**** neuroscience**** in**** the second**** half**** of**** the 20th**** century,**** toys**** were**** increasingly**** marketed**** and purchased for the purpose of**** building**** better**** brains**** in**** order to**** build more**** competitive and successful**** grownups**** --**** to**** make**** Homo**** sapiens that**** were**** a little**** more**** sapient.****

接着，随着神经科学在二十世纪下半叶兴起，人们推销和购买玩具的目的越来越多地变成培养更好的大脑，继而培养出更具竞争力和更成功的成年人--让智人变得更睿智一些。

The pressure to do that has been felt most intensely with the youngest kids, aged five and under, and in recent decades the market has bestowed upon us such brands as Baby Einstein, Baby Genius and Fat Brain (tagline: "Toys that Matter to Their Gray Matter").

实现这一目的的压力在年龄最小的孩子(5岁及以下的儿童)身上表现得最为强烈。近几十年来，市场献给我们的品牌包括"小爱因斯坦""天才宝宝"以及"硕脑"(品牌口号: "对大脑灰质至关重要的玩具")。

bestow sth upon sb （作为敬意或礼物）把某物献给某人

（英文释义：to give something as an honor or present）

【例】The country’s highest medal was bestowed upon him for heroism.

他因其英雄行为而被赐予国家的最高奖章。

【近义词】present v. 颁发；授予

到2020年，益智玩具大类的全球销售额接近650亿美元(合550亿英镑)，这一数字预计将在十年内翻一番。从"讲与拼"的小键盘和"看与说"的识图玩具，到一整个门类的用于学习编码的机器人，这些早教玩具现在已经渗透到许多小孩子的生活中。

pervade v. 渗透；弥漫；遍及

【例】A smell of coffee pervades the room.

房间里弥漫着咖啡的香味。

【拓展】pervasive adj. 弥漫的；充斥各处的

【辨析】prevail v. 普遍存在；盛行

【例】Those beliefs still prevail among certain social groups.

那些观念在某些社会群体中仍然很盛行。

"This generation of parents is asking toys to provide an end product, and that end product is prosperity," Richard Gottlieb, an influential toy industry consultant, told me. "They want toys to get their children into Harvard."

"这一代父母要求玩具提供一种最终产品，这个最终产品就是人生富足，"理查德·戈特利布向我表示，他是一位颇具影响力的玩具行业顾问。"他们想要通过玩具让孩子考进哈佛。"

prosperity n. 兴旺；繁荣；富足

【例】a period of peace and prosperity/live in prosperity 太平盛世/生活富足

【拓展】prosper v. 繁荣；兴旺；发达

【例】His farm prospered through good management.

由于管理有方, 他的农场兴旺发达。

Live long and prosper.

生生不息，繁荣昌盛。

But the "bathe your toddler in ABCs and 123s" version of child development has recently come under threat. In its place, a vision of childhood and its playthings that is more archaic and even anarchic is emerging.

但是，"让你的小孩沉浸在字母和数字中"的儿童发展理论最近受到了威胁。取而代之，一种更为古早，甚至无秩序的对童年和玩具的想象正在兴起。

in one’s place/in place of sth 代替；顶替

【例】You can use milk in place of cream in this recipe.

这道食谱中，奶油可以用牛奶来代替。

【拓展】与place相关的一些词组：

1. give place to... 让位于……

【例】Houses and factories gave place to open fields as the train gathered speed.

火车逐渐加速，房屋和工厂慢慢变成了旷野。

2. out of place 位置不当；不得体

【例】I felt out of place among all these successful people.

夹在这些事业有成的人中间，我觉得自己格格不入。

"The model has been, ‘If I get toys that do schoolish things, then that's good,'" Alison Gopnik, a leading developmental psychologist, told me. "But that really goes against what the developmental science is telling us."

"（儿童发展）模式一直是，‘如果玩具能教孩子学东西，那很好'，"顶尖发展心理学家艾莉森·戈普尼克向我表示，"但这其实与发展科学告诉我们的相悖。"

in one’s place/in place of sth 代替；顶替

【例】You can use milk in place of cream in this recipe.

这道食谱中，奶油可以用牛奶来代替。

【拓展】与place相关的一些词组：

1. give place to... 让位于……

【例】Houses and factories gave place to open fields as the train gathered speed.

火车逐渐加速，房屋和工厂慢慢变成了旷野。

2. out of place 位置不当；不得体

【例】I felt out of place among all these successful people.

夹在这些事业有成的人中间，我觉得自己格格不入。

The Christmas and birthday upshot is that young children are far more cognitively sophisticated than many toys on the Amazon results page or the Hamleys shelves assume.

圣诞节和生日时的最终结局是，幼儿的认知能力比亚马逊商品页面或哈姆利货架上的许多玩具以为的要复杂精妙得多。

upshot n. 结果；结局

【例】The upshot of the matter was that he resigned.

这件事的结局是他辞职了。

【近义词】outcome n. 结果；结局

sophisticated adj.

1. 老于世故的；老练的；见过世面的

【例】a sophisticated entrepreneur 老练的企业家

2. 复杂巧妙的；先进的；精密的

【例】highly sophisticated computer systems 十分先进的计算机系统

For decades, we've been getting our children, and their toys, all wrong.

几十年来，我们对孩子和他们的玩具的看法一直是错误的。

upshot n. 结果；结局

【例】The upshot of the matter was that he resigned.

这件事的结局是他辞职了。

【近义词】outcome n. 结果；结局

sophisticated adj.

1. 老于世故的；老练的；见过世面的

【例】a sophisticated entrepreneur 老练的企业家

2. 复杂巧妙的；先进的；精密的

【例】highly sophisticated computer systems 十分先进的计算机系统

课后练习

During the past two decades, play has been regarded as ____.
A. an imitation of the rules in adult world
B. a chance to explore children’s talents
C. a way to make learning entertaining
D. a beneficial relaxation after school
Which of the following is true about toys under the influence of neuroscience?
A. They are designed based on the findings of scientific research.
B. They are expected to promote the brain development of children.
C. They introduce children to the basics of neuroscience and evolution.
D. They promise to transform the way of educating the youngest kids.
According to Richard Gottlieb, the ultimate goal of parents is ____.
A. giving their children a happy childhood
B. helping their children cultivate wide interests
C. fostering a spirit of independence in their children
D. enabling their children to achieve success
Which of the following is true about child development according to Alison Gopni?
A. The idea of exposing kids to book learning is increasingly popular.
B. Using toys to teach children knowledge is beneficial to their growth.
C. The toys in the market are too complicated for children’s intelligence.
D. The idea of educational toys does not correspond with the real science.