每日英语练习 - 2026-06-16（星期二）
📌 今日主题
BBC 6 Minute English —— 广告商如何让我们花钱
📝 英文原文
We all like to think we make rational, independent choices when we buy things, but advertisers are constantly trying different strategies to influence us to behave differently. Behavioural research expert Ben Jones explains that when we’re unsure, we tend to follow the lead of those we think are credible or knowledgeable. “It’s a mental shortcut,” he says. “It’s something that helps us navigate uncertain times or make quick choices.” Businesses draw on this through celebrity endorsements — dentists recommending toothpaste, athletes endorsing sportswear.
Product designer Dean Ward explains why touchscreen ordering in fast-food restaurants increases sales: “The psychology of speaking to someone and feeling judged — we think is a key factor.” When there’s no human to judge you, you’re more likely to say yes to extras like larger portions or dessert. “You’ve got more time to look, you can see all the products linked to it, and you’re not being judged — you’re very much more inclined to actually say yes to these things. That’s typically what we’re seeing — an increased basket spend of typically 25–30%.” This is an example of nudge theory — the idea that people’s behaviour can be changed by small prompts or nudges.
🔍 重点词汇
| 单词/短语 | 音标 | 中文释义 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|---|
| mental shortcut | /ˈmentl ˈʃɔːrtkʌt/ | 思维捷径，快速决策方式 | We often rely on mental shortcuts when we’re under pressure. |
| celebrity endorsement | /sɪˈlebrəti ɪnˈdɔːrsmənt/ | 名人代言 | Celebrity endorsements can significantly boost a product’s sales. |
| judged | /dʒʌdʒd/ | 被评判的（感到被他人评价） | Many people feel judged when ordering extra food at a restaurant. |
| upsell | /ʌpsel/ | 追加销售，升级推销 | Waiters often upsell by suggesting premium wine with your meal. |
| basket spend | /ˈbæskɪt spend/ | 购物篮消费，单次交易总额 | The touchscreen increased average basket spend by 25%. |
| nudge theory | /nʌdʒ ˈθɪəri/ | 助推理论（行为经济学） | Nudge theory suggests small changes in environment can influence decisions. |
| think outside the box | /θɪŋk ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ðə bɒks/ | 打破常规，创新思考 | We need to think outside the box to solve this problem. |
| modelling | /ˈmɒdlɪŋ/ | 示范行为，以身作则 | Children learn by modelling the behaviour of their parents. |
| rational | /ˈræʃnəl/ | 理性的 | We like to think we make rational choices, but marketing often bypasses logic. |
| credible | /ˈkredɪbl/ | 可信的，可靠的 | A credible source is essential when making important decisions. |
| inclined | /ɪnˈklaɪnd/ | 倾向于，有可能 | Without social pressure, people are more inclined to make impulse purchases. |
| prompted | /ˈprɒmptɪd/ | 被提示的，被推动的 | People responded well to small prompted changes in the system. |
💡 实用表达
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“We all like to think we…” — 我们都倾向于认为自己……（引出常见误解，非常实用的口语开头）
- 例：We all like to think we’re good listeners, but we often interrupt others.
-
“It’s kind of easy to…” — 这种情况下很容易……（口语化的因果表达）
- 例：When the weather is nice, it’s kind of easy to stay motivated.
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“Would you like to add…?” — 你想额外加……吗？（经典的追加销售句型，职场通用）
- 例：Would you like to add insurance to your booking?
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“What we’re seeing is…” — 我们观察到的是……（汇报、分析时的专业表达）
- 例：What we’re seeing is a growing trend toward remote work.
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“People respond to…” — 人们对……有反应（描述因果关系的简洁表达）
- 例: People respond better to positive reinforcement than punishment.
🎯 练习步骤
- 通读全文：先完整读一遍英文原文，理解大意
- 精读标记：逐句阅读，标记不熟悉的词汇和表达
- 跟读练习：大声朗读 3 遍，注意断句、重音和语调
- 脱稿复述：合上文本，用自己的话复述大意（中英文都可以）
- 结构化输出：用以下框架组织你的复述：
- 这段话在说什么？（一句话概括）
- 主要观点是什么？（列 2-3 个要点）
- 我的感受/看法？（一句话）
🗣️ 口才小贴士
用”We all like to think…”开头引发共鸣
今天的素材中有一个非常实用的口语技巧：用”We all like to think we…”来开头。这个句式的威力在于——先承认听众的普遍认知，再用”but”引出反转。这样做的好处是：
- 不会让听众觉得你在否定他们
- 制造了”预期违背”，让听众更好奇接下来要说什么
- 自然地引出你想表达的核心观点
练习：试着用这个句式造 3 个句子，比如：
- We all like to think we’re in control of our spending, but marketing affects us more than we realize.
- We all like to think we choose jobs based on passion, but salary often plays a bigger role.
- We all like to think we’re good at multitasking, but research shows we’re actually just switching between tasks quickly.
这个技巧在演讲、汇报、甚至日常聊天中都非常好用——它既显得你有思考深度，又不会让听众感到被冒犯。