一般來說，任何一種閱讀方式都會同時用到大腦的幾個區域。讀紙質書可以幫助你更好地記住信息，聽有聲讀物可能會幫助你在聽到敘述者的情緒時培養同理心。本文討論看書和聽書各自的優勢。

詞匯：reading 閱讀

Picture yourself sitting at home in a quiet reading nook, ignoring the world around you, engrossed in a tale. You read the blurb, instantly became intrigued and now you’re in the middle of an absolute page-turner. But, there’s a hot debate – physical books vs. e-books vs. audiobooks. Does the device you’re using to read affect your reaction to the book?

Generally, reading uses several areas of the brain. There’s attention span, reasoning, reading fluency, memory and language comprehension. Reading is known to strengthen communicative ability, vocabulary and increase emotional intelligence and social perception. So, whichever way you’re reading, there are definitely benefits.

But, let’s look at the pros to reading with your eyes – that’s physical books and e-books. They can help to retain information better. This is because when you can actually see the words, your attention is held more closely. Add to this the fact that with physical books you can go back and find any part you missed, especially if your mind wanders, which it likely will at some point or other.

On the other hand, there’s the audiobook. Headphones in, you’re switched off from life and the story really comes alive, almost like watching a film – in your head. From a scientific perspective, listening to an audiobook is likely to help you develop a greater sense of empathy as you hear the emotion of the narrator. We can more easily understand inflection and intonation. Hearing the story engages different parts of the brain, heightening the intensity and imagery, making you enjoy it more. Yet, going back to attention span, with an audiobook it’s true that it’s much harder to go back and listen again.

All in all, it seems that there are advantages to both physical books and audiobooks. Perhaps, next time you find yourself browsing bookshop shelves, also consider the format. It may just change your whole literary experience.

詞匯表

reading nook 讀書角
engrossed 全神貫注的，專心致志的
tale 故事
blurb 簡介
page-turner 令人愛不釋手的書
e-book 電子書籍
audiobook 有聲讀物
attention span 注意力的持續時間，注意廣度
fluency 流暢度
emotional intelligence 情商
social perception 社會知覺
retain 記住
attention is held 注意力集中
wander 走神，開小差
come alive 變得有趣，顯得逼真
narrator 講述者
inflection 音調變化
intonation 語調
imagery 意象，比喻
browse 隨意看，瀏覽
bookshop shelves 書店的書架
literary 文學的

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What benefits are mentioned in relation to reading in general?

2. Why does reading a physical book help to retain information better?

3. True or false? You feel more empathy towards a character if you read a physical book.

4. Why is it easier to lose focus in an audiobook?

5. Why can listening to a book help you enjoy it more?

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. He was so _______ by the film, that he didn’t hear me shout.

engrossed                held                       wanders                    emotional

2. My sister really _______ when she danced on stage.

browsed                   retained                 came alive                 engaged

3. I always read the _______ before choosing a book.

nook                         narrator                  blurb                          shelves

4. Children have shorter _______ than adults.

attention spans         fluency                  social perception        imagery

5. When you speak, your _______ will help people understand what you mean.

literary                       intonation              intelligence                 attention span

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。 

1. What benefits are mentioned in relation to reading in general?
It strengthens communicative ability, vocabulary, and increases emotional intelligence and perception.

2. Why does reading a physical book help to retain information better?
Because when you can see the words, your attention is held more closely.

3. True or false? You feel more empathy towards a character if you read a physical book.
False. You feel more empathy towards a character if you listen to an audiobook.

4. Why is it easier to lose focus in an audiobook?
Because it isn’t as easy to go back and listen again, unlike with a physical book.

5. Why can listening to a book help you enjoy it more?
It heightens the intensity and imagery of the story.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. He was so engrossed by the film, that he didn’t hear me shout.

2. My sister really came alive when she danced on stage.

3. I always read the blurb before choosing a book.

4. Children have shorter attention spans than adults.

5. When you speak, your intonation will help people understand what you mean.