不論是拼圖、謎語、數獨還是縱橫字迷，它們都各有各的樂趣。那到底是什么讓這些智力游戲趣味橫生？一個引人入勝的智力游戲有哪些特點？本期節目圍繞智力游戲的樂趣展開討論。

詞匯：puzzles 智力游戲

Throughout history, people have been attracted to puzzles, from Ancient Greek riddles to brain-teasing video games, people have tried to solve problems for fun. But what is it about these conundrums that makes us enjoy them?

It could be that the desire to find a solution is wired into us. A study has shown that when people complete anagrams, it can stimulate the reward centre in the brain. One of the researchers behind the study, Yongtaek Oh, suggests that problem-solving ability provides an evolutionary advantage – it can help us survive! It's clear that this 'aha' moment is very enjoyable, but it's not just completing a puzzle that people enjoy.

David Shariatmadari highlights that solving the best puzzles requires a combination of luck and skill. He points out that the element of chance makes it more open to a wide range of people, while the need for skill gives players a feeling that they are in control. This also helps to provide a balance between being something challenging and something achievable. Michael Vilensky, a psychologist at Ohio State University, tells us that puzzles offer us a situation that we can control and resolve, which can be satisfying when compared with other life challenges. Other experts, such as therapist Elizabeth Hinkel, argue that by requiring concentration, puzzles can provide mindful moments away from the stresses of everyday life. Puzzles can also have a social aspect, whether that's making it easy to share your scorecard on social media, or the fact that people are keen to help each other find clues and come up with the answer.

Puzzles and fun may even be dependent on each other, researchers at Drexel University have suggested. When looking at brain images, they found that some people preparing to do a puzzle showed activity associated with positive moods and that these people were better able to come up with solutions. They also found that subjects performed better on puzzles if they had seen a funny video beforehand.

詞匯表

riddle 謎語
brain-teasing 考驗腦力的
solve 解決
problem 問題，難題
conundrum 謎語，難題
solution 解決方法，答案
anagram （游戲）同字母異序詞
problem-solving 解決問題的
'aha' moment 頓悟時刻
complete 完成（謎語），解開（謎題）
luck 運氣
skill 技能，技巧
element of chance 碰運氣的成分
player 玩家
challenging 有挑戰性的
achievable （謎語）可完成的，可解開的
resolve 解決
concentration 專注力，注意力集中
mindful 聚精會神的，注意的
scorecard 記分卡
clue （謎語、游戲、問題答案的）提示
come up with 想出
answer 答案，解法

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What can happen when people do anagrams?

2. What two things does David Shariatmadari say solving good puzzles requires?

3. Why does Michael Vilensky say that puzzles can be satisfying?

4. How can puzzles be social?

5. What did psychologists at Drexel University find that made completing puzzles easier?

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. A puzzle where you have to rearrange the letters is called _______.

a conundrum                 a scorecard                      an anagram              a riddle

2. A _______ helps you find the answer.

solution                          clue                                  problem                     conundrum

3. A tricky puzzle is _______.

complete                        achievable                       mindful                       brain-teasing

4. It feels satisfying to _______ the answer.

complete                        resolve                             answer                       come up with

5. If a puzzle depends on your ability, it requires _______.

luck                                concentration                   skill                             chance

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。 

1. What can happen when people do anagrams?
A study suggests that it stimulates the reward centre in the brain.

2. What two things does David Shariatmadari say solving good puzzles requires?
He says that solving good puzzles requires both luck and skill.

3. Why does Michael Vilensky say that puzzles can be satisfying?
He says that puzzles can be satisfying because they offer us a situation that can be controlled and resolved.

4. How can puzzles be social?
Because results can be shared on social media and people can work together to complete them.

5. What did psychologists at Drexel University find that made completing puzzles easier?
They found that watching a funny video first helped people complete puzzles.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. A puzzle where you have to rearrange the letters is called an anagram.

2. A clue helps you find the answer.

3. A tricky puzzle is brain-teasing.

4. It feels satisfying to come up with the answer.

5. If a puzzle depends on your ability, it requires skill.