托福寫作素材：應該選擇怎樣的朋友

　　The company you keep says a lot about you. Friends have a big influence over how you feel, think, and behave. Here are five reasons you should be careful who you surround yourself with:

　　你周圍的朋友很大程度上地代表著你是個怎樣的人。朋友對你有很大的影響，包括你的感受、想法和行為。以下是你應該慎重選擇朋友的五個原因：

　　1. Strong-willed friends can increase your self-control.

　　意志堅強的朋友可以幫助提高你的自制力。

　　If you struggle to resist temptation, surrounding yourself with people who possess a high degree of self-discipline can help. A 2013 study published in Psychological Science reports that when people are running low on self-control, they often seek out self-disciplined people to boost their willpower.

　　如果你在努力抵抗誘惑，交一些高度自律的朋友會對你有所幫助。2013年在《心理科學期刊》上發(fā)表的一項研究表明，當人們自制力差的時候，他們通常會找一些自律的人來增強他們的意志力。

　　Since self-control is vital to reaching long-term goals, befriending people with willpower could be the secret to success. Whether you're tempted to skip that workout at the gym, or you're considering blowing this month's budget, spending time with a disciplined friend could boost your motivation to maintain healthy habits.

　　因為自制力對達到長期目標非常重要，那么和意志力堅強的人交朋友就是成功的秘訣。無論你是想在體育館里的健身活動中偷懶，還是想揮霍掉這個月的預算費用，和一個自律的朋友待在一起會激勵你去保持健康的習慣。

　　2. Fewer friends increases the likelihood you'll take financial risks.

　　朋友少容易產(chǎn)生財務風險。

　　When people lack adequate social interaction, they're more likely to take bigger risks with money, according to a study published in the June 2013 issue of Journal of Consumer Research. Researchers discovered people who feel lonely or rejected were most likely to take the biggest financial risks.

　　據(jù)《消費者研究期刊》2013年六月份刊登的一項研究顯示，當人們社交活動少時，他們有可能承擔更大的財務風險。研究者發(fā)現(xiàn)感覺孤單或者感覺被否定的人很有可能會冒最大的財務風險。

　　Whether you're dealing with a recent breakup, a fallout with family, or a failed business venture, be aware that your emotions could affect your spending habits. Uncomfortable emotions can increase the chances that you'll behave recklessly, which may have a negative impact on your bank account.

　　無論你是最近剛分手、或受家人影響、還是生意敗筆，你要知道情緒會影響消費習慣。不安的情緒會使你魯莽行事，因而影響到你的銀行存款。

　　3. Too many social media connections can increase your stress level.

　　過度使用社交網(wǎng)絡會使你壓力增加。

　　When it comes to social media, "the more the merrier" may not be the best approach. A report from the University of Edinburgh Business School says that more Facebook friends means more stress. Researchers linked an abundance of social media connections to increased anxiety about offending people.

　　“多多益善”并不適用于社交網(wǎng)絡。來自愛丁堡大學商學院的一份報告顯示：臉書上朋友越多，壓力越大。研究人員認為大量的社交網(wǎng)絡活動會使人過于擔心冒犯別人。

　　4. Close friends could be the secret to longevity.

　　親密朋友是長壽的秘訣。

　　When older adults have close confidants, they're likely to live longer, according to a 2005 study conducted by Australia's Flinders University. After following 1,500 people for 10 years, researchers discovered that people with a large network of friends outlived their counterparts by 22 percent.

　　據(jù)2005年澳大利亞弗林德斯大學做的研究表明，有密友的老年人很可能會長壽。研究人員對1500人進行了10年的跟蹤調查，發(fā)現(xiàn)朋友圈很廣的人會比其他老年人早逝幾率低22%。

　　5. Friends can greatly influence your choices.

　　朋友對你的選擇有很大影響。

　　A 2014 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that friends often bond by providing one another withmoral support to resist a temptation. However, friends also commonly conspire together to enjoyindulgences. Researchers discovered that when it came to resisting temptations -- like eating chocolate -- sometimes friends were more likely to become partners in crime as they decided to indulge together.

　　2014年發(fā)表在《消費者研究期刊》上的一項研究發(fā)現(xiàn)：朋友通常會給予彼此精神上的支持來抵抗誘惑。然而，朋友也會混在一起放縱。研究者發(fā)現(xiàn)相對于抵抗誘惑——比如說吃巧克力——有時朋友更可能廝混在一起成為共犯。

　　Your likely to start acting like the people you surround yourself with. Pick friends who make poor choices, and you could get dragged down fast. But, if you choose friends who inspire and challenge you to become better, you'll increase your chances of reaching your goals.

　　你的行為有可能受身邊朋友的影響。如果你選擇的朋友總做出錯誤的選擇，你也很快就會被拖累。但是，如果你選擇的朋友總是鼓舞你、挑戰(zhàn)你使你變得更好的話，你也更容易達到目標。