英语大破解
Are some people naturally bad at maths? 有的人天生就不擅长数学吗？
本集内容
Are some people naturally bad at maths?
有的人天生就不擅长数学吗？
文字稿
Can you solve this puzzle?
你能解开这道题吗？
A farmer has three types of animals. They're all sheep except three, all goats except four, and all horses except five. How many of each does she have?
一个农场主养了三种动物。在这三种动物中，除了三只以外都是绵羊，除了四只以外都是山羊，除了五只以外都是马。每种动物她分别有几只？
If that left your head in a spin, you're not alone. If you struggle with maths, you can partly blame your genes.
如果这道题让你想得晕头转向，不要觉得只有你有这种感觉。如果你学数学很吃力，那么你可以把问题部分归咎于你的基因。
（Source: Journal of Learning Disabilities, 2007）
A study of thousands of twins in the UK found that identical twins are more similar in maths ability than non-identical twins, suggesting it's more than just their upbringing.
（信息来源：《学习障碍杂志》，2007）
一项针对数千对英国双胞胎的研究发现，同卵双胞胎的数学能力比异卵双胞胎的更接近，这表明影响数学能力的因素远不止养育方式。
There's also a learning difficulty called 'dyscalculia', similar to dyslexia, but where people struggle to understand and work with numbers.
除此之外，还有一种被称为 “计算障碍” 的学习障碍，和阅读障碍类似，但不同之处是患有这种学习障碍的人很难理解和使用数字。
（Source: Deutsches Arzteblatt International, 2019）
Some experts estimate 3 to 7% of people might have it.
（信息来源：《德国国际医学杂志》，2019）
一些专家估计，可能有 3% 到 7% 的人患有计算障碍。
But it is possible to boost your maths skills. Of course, a good education and parental support go a long way.
数学能力也是可以提高的。当然，良好的教育和家长的支持对学习数学帮助很大。
（Source: Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 2023）
Studies also suggest being anxious about maths can make you actually worse at maths, so it's important to believe you can improve too.
研究还表明，对数学感到焦虑会让你的数学能力下降，所以相信自己能进步也很重要。
（信息来源：《实验儿童心理学杂志》，2023）
And, if you're still wondering about that farmer – she had one horse, two goats and three sheep.
如果你还在琢磨关于那个农场主的问题，答案是 “她有一匹马、两只山羊和三只绵羊”。
重点词汇及表达
puzzle 难题
leave one's head in a spin 让某人晕头转向
upbringing 教养，培养方式
learning difficulty 学习障碍
go a long way 对...大有帮助