* 用英語自身來理解和學習英語是最好的方式，《英讀廊》是《滿庭說英語》中的拓展閱讀系列，這一系列的文章力求幫助大家在英語閱讀能力上有所提升，並樹立英語思維；* 推薦的閱讀的方法是：先原文，適當看解析閱讀，還有疑惑再看雙語對照。* 解析中英語單詞的音標使用Dictcom和IPA雙音標標註，如果需要了解Dictcom音標，請參看我們的《dictionary.com所用的音標體系》一文。* 本篇文章難度係數6.5，由《小仙英語伴讀》人工智慧難度分析系統提供評分。
#英語思維#
Why is it so much easier to confuse left and right than up and down?【譯】為什麼人對於左右比上下更容易出現混亂？【單詞】confuse [kuhn-'fyooz][kn'fjuz] vt. 使困惑；使混亂；混淆
Because it's on a different axis for which you have no physical and inherent point of reference.【譯】因為它（左右）在另一個軸上，你沒有物理和內在的參照點。【單詞】axis ['ak-sis]['kss] n. 軸；中樞【單詞】physical ['fiz-i-kuhl]['fzkl] adj. 物質的；身體的；體力的；物理的；肉體上的，身體上的 【單詞】inherent [in-'her-uhnt, -'heer-][n'hrnt] adj. 固有的；內在的【單詞】reference ['ref-er-uhns, 'ref-ruhns]['refrns] n. 參考；參照
Down is with gravity, up is against.【譯】向下是由於重力，向上則是反之。【單詞】gravity ['grav-i-tee]['ɡrvti] n. 重力
There's a constant physical reminder of this.【譯】對我們來說，會有一個不斷的物理現象（指重力）提醒這一點。【單詞】constant ['kon-stuhnt]['knstnt] adj. 不變的；經常的【單詞】reminder [ri-'mahyn-der][r'mand] n. 提醒物；提示
Imagine if gravity were always pulling you left - it would be a constant reminder of what left was.【譯】想像一下，如果重力總是把你拉向左邊——它會不斷提醒你剩下的是什麼。【單詞】Imagine 原型：imagine [ih-'maj-in]['mdn] vt. 想像；設想；料想；猜想【單詞】pulling 原型：pull [pool][pl] v. 拉；拖；牽；拔；吸引
As humans are largely externally symmetrical, they need to memorize left vs right.【譯】由於人類在很大程度上是對稱的，他們需要記住左對右。【單詞】largely ['lahrj-lee]['lɑdli] adv. 大部分；主要【單詞】externally [ik-'stur-nl][k'stnli] adv. 外部地；外面地；外表上地【單詞】symmetrical [si-'me-tri-kuhl][s'metrkl] adj. 對稱的【單詞】memorize ['mem-uh-rahyz]['memraz] v. 記住；記錄；記下
There are 2 answers:【譯】有兩個答案：
1) Symmetry: We (and most other animals) have a 2-fold symmetry.【譯】1） 對稱性：我們（和大多數其他動物）有雙重對稱性。【單詞】animals 原型：animal ['an-uh-muhl]['nml] n. 動物【單詞】symmetry ['sim-i-tree]['smtri] n. 對稱(性)；勻稱；整齊
Left and right are the same, and there is no inherent mechanism you can FEEL the difference.【譯】左和右是一樣的，沒有內在的機制讓你能感覺到區別。【單詞】mechanism ['mek-uh-niz-uhm]['meknzm] n. 機制；原理 n. 結構；機構
Unless you are extremely asymmetrical (scars, moles, deformities) you could copy your left side and mirror it and everyone would still recognize you.【譯】除非你是極不對稱的（疤痕，痣，畸形），你可以複製你的左側，鏡像它，每個人都會認出你。【單詞】Unless 原型：unless [uhn-'les, uhn-][n'les] conj. 除非；如果不【單詞】extremely [ik-'streem-lee][k'strimli] adv. 非常；極其【單詞】asymmetrical [es'metrkl] adj. 不對稱的；不均勻的【單詞】scars 原型：scar [skahr][skɑ] n. 疤痕；傷痕【單詞】moles 原型：mole n. 這裡指痣【單詞】deformities 原型：deformity [dih-'fawr-mi-tee][d'fmti] n. 畸形；殘廢【單詞】copy ['kop-ee]['kpi] v. 複製；抄寫【單詞】mirror ['mir-er]['mr] vt. 反映；反射，（做）鏡像【單詞】recognize ['rek-uhg-nahyz]['rekɡnaz] vt. 承認；認出；意識到；識別
We notice however, how different our body looks along the vertical axis.【譯】然而，我們會注意到，我們的身體在垂直軸上看起來是多麼的不同。【單詞】notice ['noh-tis]['nts] vt. 注意；留心【單詞】vertical ['vur-ti-kuhl]['vtkl] adj. 垂直的；縱向的
2) As Said before, we cannot really feel a difference between left or right - but we actually can feel a difference between up and down, whenever we are in a gravitational field.【譯】2） 如前所述，我們無法真正感覺到左或右之間的差異，但我們實際上可以感覺到上下之間的差異，因為無論何時我們處於重力場中。【單詞】whenever [hwen-'ev-er][wen'ev] adv. 無論何時 conj. 每當；無論何時；隨時【單詞】gravitational [grav-i-'tey-shuh-nl][ɡrv'tenl] adj. 重力的；引力作用的
Here on Earth gravity pulls us towards the ground, so we always feel a pressure coming from the contact line that tells us, where down is.【譯】在地球上，重力把我們拉向地面，所以我們總是感覺到來自接觸線（指地面）的壓力，它告訴我們向下的位置。【單詞】ground [ground][ɡrand] n. 地面【專有名詞】Earth 地名 [urth][θ] n. 地球
Gravity.【譯】重力。
Take gravity away and see what happens.【譯】把重力移開，看看會發生什麼。【短語】take …… away 帶走，拿走，取走，拆除，消除；例句：I suggest you take the front porch away. 我建議你把前門廊拆掉。【單詞】happens 原型：happen ['hap-uhn]['hpn] vi. 發生；碰巧；出現
Disorient yourself under water, preferably in a safe setting of some sort.【譯】會在水下迷失方向，（因此）最好是在某種安全的環境中。【單詞】preferably ['prefrbli] adv. 更好地；寧可；寧願【單詞】safe [seyf][sef] adj. 安全的；安然無恙的；可靠的；謹慎的【單詞】disorient [dis-'awr-ee-ent][ds'rient] vt…… 失去方向感；…… 迷惑
It's easy to tell up & down because you can constantly feel it.【譯】而上下很容易分辨，因為你可以不斷地感覺到。【單詞】constantly ['kon-stuhnt]['knstntli] adv. 不斷地；經常地
Put something very heavy on one arm, like a weighted bracelet, and it'll probably be easier to remember which is which.【譯】把一些很重的東西放在一隻胳膊上，比如一個加重的手鐲，這樣可能更容易記住哪個是哪個。【單詞】heavy ['hev-ee]['hevi] adj. 大(量)的；重的；沉重的【單詞】arm [ahrm][ɑm] n. 臂；扶手；袖子【單詞】weighted 原型：weight [weyt][wet] n. 重量；體重；重任；重要 vt…… 負重；使傾斜【單詞】bracelet ['breys-lit]['breslt] n. 手鐲
There's evidence to suggest that left-right might be using a different part of your brain than up-down.【譯】有證據表明，區分左-右可能是由你大腦的不同部分來進行的，而區分上下則不是。【單詞】suggest [suhg-'jest, suh-][s'dest] vt. 建議；暗示；使想起；表明；要求【單詞】brain [breyn][bren] n. 腦；大腦