Whether it’s curled up in the fetal position, flat on the stomach or stretched out across the bed, the way people sleep reveals their personality, a British sleep expert said. The expert has identified six common sleeping positions and what they mean. "We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious says about us," he said. Crouched in the fetal position is the most popular sleep pattern and favored by 51 percent of women, according to the results of the study he conducted for a large hotel group. Fetal sleepers tend to be shy and sensitive while people who assume the soldier position, flat on their back with arms at their sides, are quiet and reserved. Sleeping on one’s side with legs outstretched and arms down in what he refers to as the log, indicates a social, easygoing personality. But if the arms are outstretched in the yearning position, the person tends to be more suspicious. The free fall, flat on the tummy with the hands at the sides of the head, is the most unusual position. Only 6. 5 percent of people prefer it and they are usually brash and gregarious. Unassuming, good listeners usually adopt the starfish position — on the back with outstretched arms and legs. The expert, who identified the positions by comparing personality traits of people.

阅读自测

Ⅰ. There a re some adjectives describing people’s persona lity in the a rticle and please match them with phrases :( brash, unassuming, reserved, easygoing, suspicious, gregarious)

1. relaxed in manner and easy to deal with———

2. preferring to be with others rather than alone———

3. thinking that someone might be guilty of doing something wrong or dishonest, without being sure ———

4. confident in a rude or aggressive way———

5. showing no desire to be noticed or given special treatment———

6. quiet and unwilling to express your emotions or talk about your problems———

Ⅱ. Answer the following question:

How many sleeping positions have the expert identified and what are they?

参考答案

Ⅰ. 1. easygoing 2. gregarious 3. suspicious 4. brash 5. unassuming 6. reserved

Ⅱ. There are six positions, they are fetal position, soldier position, log position, yearning position, free fall position and starfish position.

参考译文

睡姿揭示人的性格

一 位英国睡眠专家曾说过: 无论你是像胎儿一样蜷缩着睡觉, 或是趴在床上睡, 还是四肢伸开平躺着睡, 睡觉的姿势揭示了你的性格。该专家归纳了六种常见睡觉姿势, 以及这些姿势的含义。“ 醒着的时候, 我们都知道自己的肢体语言, 但这是我们第一次知道自己的潜意识在说些什么, ”他说。他对一家大型酒店集团所做的研究结果表明: 像胎儿一样蜷缩着睡觉是最流行的睡觉姿势, 有51% 的妇女喜欢这种姿势。采用胎儿式睡姿的人往往比较害羞, 也很敏感; 而采用仰卧、双臂放在身体两侧的士兵式睡姿的人则比较安静, 也不愿说话。侧卧、两腿伸直、双臂自然下垂的睡姿称为原木式睡姿。采用这种睡姿的人喜欢社交活动, 容易相处。但是如果双臂伸出, 呈渴望状, 这种人往往比较多疑。自由式, 即俯卧, 双手放在头的两侧, 这是最特别的睡姿。只有6 . 5% 的人喜欢这样睡, 他们通常性情急躁, 爱社交。谦虚忠实的听众通常选择仰卧且四肢伸展的海星式睡姿。该专家通过比较人物性格特征、他们喜欢的睡姿和最常见的睡姿归纳出以上这些睡姿。他说人们一旦采用了某种睡姿就很难再改变。