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Unit8SectionABirthofBrightIdeasI.BackgroundInformation1)RichardWagner(1813-1883),thegreatestcomposerofGermanopera,madeamajoradditiontothenatureofoperathroughhiswritingsaboutandthecreationofmusicdrama.Musicdramacombinessinging,orchestra,verse,story,dramaandspectacle.Wagner’sworksincludethe“TheRingoftheNibelung”(1853-1874),asetoffouroperasbasedonhistoricalGermanstories.2)TheRhinegold,thefirstofthefouroperasinthe“Ring”cycle,exemplifiesWagner'stheoryofmusicdramainitspurestform.3)HenriPoincare(1854-1912),agreatFrenchmathematicsandtheoreticalscienceprofessorattheSorbonne(UniversityofParis),hadahighlyoriginalinfluenceonthedevelopmentofpureandappliedmathematics.Healsoworkedonfunctionsthatchangedcelestialmechanics,helpedpioneeralgebraictopologyandco-discoveredthespecialtheoryofrelativity.4)Descartes,Rene(1596-1650),afamousFrenchphilosopher,mathematicianandscientist,wasoneofthemostinfluentialthinkersinhistory.Heisconsideredthefounderofbothmodernphilosophyandanalyticgeometry.Duringhislife,establishedideaswerebeingchallenged,sohetriedtodevelopawaytoreachthetruth.Hebasedhistheorythattheworldismadeupofmindandmatteronaconceptthatcametohiminadream.IITextAnalysis:MainIdeaandDevicesforDevelopingItMainideaofthetextGoodideascomefromtheunconsciousmindorbrainactivityusuallynotcontrolledbyus.Devicesfordevelopingit1.Exemplification举例法:1)TaketheexampleofRichardWagnercomposingtheopeningto“Rhinegold”.(Para.4)2)Asacontrast,wemayconsiderafamousstory:thediscoverybyHenriPoincare,…,ofanewmathematicalmethodcalledtheFuchsianfunctions.(Para.5)3)AthirdtypeofcreativeexperienceisexemplifiedbythedreamswhichcametoDescartesattheageoftwenty-threeanddeterminedhislifepath.(Para.6)2.SequenceofTimeandSpace(时空顺序法)Youthinkaboutaproblemuntilyou’retired,forgetit,maybesleeponit,andthenflash!Whenyouaren'tthinkingaboutit,suddenlytheanswerarrivesasagiftfromthegods.(Para.1)Forweeks,hesatathistableeverydayandspentanhourortwotryingagreatnumberof….Onenighthedrank…Manyideaskeptsurginginhishead;hecouldalmostfeelthempushingagainstoneanother,untiltwoofthemcombinedtoformastablecombination.Whenmorningcame,hehadestablishedtheexistenceofoneclassofFuchsianfunctions. 3.ComparisonandContrast(对比法)Thecomparisonandcontrastisemployedinthispassagetopresentthroughcontrastdifferentwaysofformingbigideas.IIIExpressions&PatternsUsefulExpressions1.toformagoodidea2.tosleepon3.toarriveasagiftfromgods4.toglowwiththeheatofcreation5.todescribeaprocessunknowntotheindividual6.tousethistermtodescribe7.toexperiencesth.inanintensifiedform8.todependinsomedegreeon9.tobeoccupiedwith10.todosthwithin&withouttotakeitsshapewithinsb.11.towatchsth.atwork12.toarriveatnoresult13.tobecontrarytoone’susualhabit14.tokeepsurginginone’shead15.tocombinetoformastablecombination16.toestablishtheexistenceof17.toshowthesuddenexplosionofsth.intoconsciousness18.tofillhimwithintenseenthusiasm19.toberepresentativeof…A.UsefulExpressions1.形成一个好的观点toformagoodidea(L.1)Oneofthemostimportanttasksforaschoolistohelpandpromoteformingastudent’spersonality学校的一个重要任务就是要帮助和促进学生个性的形成2.暂时不作决定tosleepon…(L.2)Thereisnoneedtomakeadecisionnow;whydon’tyougohomeandsleeponit?没必要现在就做决定,为什么不先回家好好想想明天再说呢?3.上天的恩赐toarriveasagiftfromthegods(L.3)Aslongasyouclingtoyourstruggletowardyourgoal,happinesswillarriveintimeasagiftfromthegods.只要你朝着自己的目标坚持不懈地进取,上帝总会将幸福降临于你。4.闪烁着创造的光芒toglowwiththeheatofcreation(L.5) Ourlifeglowswiththeheatofpeople’saffectionforeachother.我们的生活因为人与人之间不断增加的关爱而变得灿烂5.描述一个不为人知的过程todescribeaprocessunknowntotheindividual(L.7)Intheprogram“ArtsandLife”,ChenKaigedescribedhisgrowingprocessunknowntothepublic.6.用这一术语来描述tousethistermtodescribe(L.7)Mostcountriesusesuchtermsas“birthrate”and“deathrate”todefinethegrowthrateoftheirpopulations.多数国家用“出生率”和“死亡率”之类的术语来界定其人口增长率。7.对……有着强烈的感受toexperiencesth.inanintensifiedform(L.11)OverseasguestshaveexperiencedinanintensifiedformthegreatchangesthathavetakenplaceinChinaduringthepast20years.海外游客对中国二十年来发生的巨大变化有着强烈的感受。8.一定程度上取决于todependinsomedegreeon(L.15)Thesuccessofthecompanydependsinsomedegreeonthequalityofthestaff.公司的成功在一定程度上取决于员工的素质9.忙于做某事/为…所占据tobeoccupiedwith(L.19)Ifoneistoooccupiedincourtingtomindhismainbusiness,hestandslittlechanceofsuccess.一个人如果忙于谈情说爱而无暇顾及自己的主业,那么他将很难取得成功。10.外表……可内心……Sheisatpeacewithoutandatwarwithin.她外表显得很安详,可内心的斗争却十分激烈。11.怀着…心情/为…所占据tocarry…aboutwithinsb.(L.30)Thosewhohavemuchtocarryaboutwithinthemhavelittletofulfill那些心中牵挂的事情多的人能够完成的事情就少。12.(某事)在他的心中成型totakeitsshapewithinhim(L.31)Thewholepicturehadtakenitsshapewithinthepainterbeforehemovedhisbrushonthepaper.画家在动笔做画之前已经胸有成竹了。13.看着……在起作用towatchsth.atwork(L.36)IfyouhadcometoChinaduringthebattleagainstSARS,youwouldhavechancedtowatchhowtheChinesecohesivenesswasatwork.如果你在抗击SARS期间来到中国,你就有机会看到中华民族的凝聚力是怎样发挥其作用的。14.毫无结果toarriveatnoresult(L.38)Theireffortstobridgethegapbetweenthetwogenerationsarrivedatnoresultintheend。 15.一反常态tobecontrarytoone’susualhabit(L.39)Contrarytohisusualhabit,hegotupearlythismorningtogetreadyforthisdecisivedatewithhisgirl.为了准备与女友的这次决定性的约会,他今天一反常态,起了个大早。16.(某事)萦绕在心间Tokeepsurginginone’shead(L.40)Thoughyearshavepassedsinceherfather’sdeath,hissmilesstillkeepsurginginherhead.尽管父亲已经去世多年,但他的音容笑貌依然在她眼前浮现。17.结合在一起形成一个稳定的组合tocombinetoformastablecombination(L.41)Theidealmarriagemeanscombiningtwoindividualstoformalife-longpair.理想的婚姻意味着将两个人结合成终生相伴的一对。18.确证……的存在toestablishtheexistenceofsth.(L.42)NanSimadonatedalargesumofmoneytofinancethosewhocanestablishtheexistenceofsupernaturalpower.司马南拿出一大笔资金资助那些能够证明有特异功能存在的人。19.显示了……在意识中的突然迸发toshowthesuddenexplosionof…intoconsciousness(L.45)Thesuddenexplosionofaninspirationintoyourmindresultsjustwhenyouhavemadeadeepstudyofsth.concerned一种灵感在你脑海里的闪现恰恰是你对相关事物进行了深入研究的结果。20.使他充满强烈的热情tofillhimwithintenseenthusiasmWhatnetizenssaidfilledhimwithanger.网民的话使他十分生气。21.代表了……(对……来说有代表性)toberepresentative(typical/characteristic)of…(L.52)Heroptimisticopinionsaretypicalofthementalattitudeofthemajoritytowardsthismove.她乐观的看法代表了绝大多数人对这一举措的心态。PatternsforyoutouseasmodelsTypicalpatternsforargumentationthroughconcession原句1Ofcourse,allideasdon’toccurlikethatbutsomanydo,particularlythemostimportantones.(L4.)句型提炼1)Ofcourse,alldon’t…butsomanydo,particularly…当然,并非所有的…都…,但许多确实如此,尤其是…应用:a.当然,并非所有的女孩都在赶时髦,但她们中的许多人确实如此,尤其是那些看重相貌的女孩。Ofcourse,allgirlsarenotkeepingupwiththeJonesesbutsomanydo,particularlythosewhogivemuchweighttotheirlooks. Ofcourse,alltherisksarenotworthtakingbutsomedo,particularlythosethatmakeyouastepforwardonyourwaytosuccess.应用:b.当然,并非所有的冒险都值得尝试,但有一些确实值得,尤其是那些能使你向成功迈进一步的冒险。原句2:Allofushaveexperiencedthissuddenarrivalofanewidea,butitiseasiesttoexamineitinthegreatcreativepersonalities,…(L.10.)我们都有过灵机一动突然有了这样一个新想法的经历,而这在那些富有创造性的天才人物身上最显而易见。句型提炼Allofushavedonesth.,butitiseasiesttoexamineitinthose(who/whose)…我们都做过……,而这在……人身上最显而易见。应用:a.我们都从失败中得到过教训,但这在那些经历了无数次失败而最后成功的人身上最显而易见。Allofushaveeverlearnedlessonsfromfailure,butitiseasiesttoexamineitinthosewhosesuccesscomesaftercountlessfailures.b.我们都感受过祖国母亲的爱之力量,但这一点在那些生活不如意的海外游子身上最显而易见。Allofushaveexperiencedthepowerofmotherland’slove,butitiseasiesttoexamineitintheoverseasChinesewhoselifedoesnotgowell.原句3:Howtheydoitisamysterybuttheymustcomefromsomewhere.(L.5.)它们是如何出现在人的脑海中的,现在是一个谜,但这些思想一定来自某个地方。句型提炼(Itistruethat)Sth.stillis/does…,but(itdoesnotmean/followthat)…(诚然)某事仍是/在做……,但(这并不意味着)……应用:a.制假是我们社会的顽症,但这并不意味着我们对它无能为力。Fake-makingisachronicdiseaseforoursocietytolivewith,butitdoesnotmeanwecandonothingaboutit.应用:b.诚然,事情发展得很顺利,但我们绝不可对一些不利因素视而不见Itistruethatthingsaregoingverywell,butwemustnotturnablindeyetosomeunfavorablefactors.句型提炼1)Onecandraw/takeexamplesfromthoseinany(field),from…to…,evenin…,although…我们在任何(领域),包括……和……,甚至在……领域,都能从……身上找到这样的例子,虽然……2)Taketheexampleofsb.doingsth.以某人做某事为例。3)(Wemay)Consider/Thinkofsth./sb.asacontrastto...(我们可以)以某事/某人为与……相反的例子。 Ⅵ.WritingWhyISee/ChooseSth.overSth.Else1.科研2.经商3.行医4.从教1)Ifmychoicewererestrictedbetween(doing)sth.and(doing)sth.else,theformer/latterwouldholdmoreattractionforme.ComparisonI2)Foronething,…3)Bycontrast,…ComparisonII4)Foranother,…5)Incontrasttothat,…ComparisonIII6)Andthemoststrikingdifferencebetweenbothliesin…7)…(进一步阐述)Conclusion8)Fromthecomparisonsandcontrastsabove,anyonecanconcludethatmypre-ferenceforsth.IsMorereasonable.Referencemodel:WhyIChooseDoingScienceoverDoingBusiness1)Ifmychoicewererestrictedbetweendoingscienceandgoingintobusiness,theformerwouldholdmoreattractionforme.2)Foronething,abusinessmanhastowastehisprecioustimebeatingonebargainafteranotherwithhiscounterparts.3)Bycontrast,ascientistcanalwaysspendhisvaluabletimeattackingoneprofoundproblemafteranotherinscience.4)Foranother,abusinessman,onceinvolvedinadirtyorillegaldeal,tendstoplacehimselfontheroadtocrime.5)Incontrasttothat,ascientist,onceinvolvedinapotentialorlandmarkresearch,ismorelikelytoputhimselfonthewaytosuccess.6)Andthemoststrikingdifferencebetweenbothliesintheircontributionstosociety.7)Whatabusinessmanhasachievedmaybeofmuchprofittohisfirmorhiscircleswhilewhatascientisthasfulfilledwillbeofgreatbenefittohisfieldorthewholehumansociety.8)Fromthecomparisonsandcontrastsabove,therefore,anyonecanconcludethatmypreferencefordoingscienceismorereasonableandmoreacceptable.SectionBWaysofIncreasingCreativityI.ReadingSkillsScanningandPredictingActivereadersaremakingpredictionsbeforeseriousreadingandtheymakecorrectionsoftheirunderstandingofthereadingpassagefromtimetotimewhilereadingthematerial.Therearemanyhelpfulstepstotakeinordertoreadforinformationbeforeyouactuallybeginreading.Youcanlookaheadtothecontentofapassageinanumberofways. Step1Lookattitle.Ittellswhatyouwillbereadingabout,sothatyoucanmakesomepossiblepredictionsaboutthecontentofthereadingpassage.Example1WaysofIncreasingCreativity(Pass.B)2BirthofBrightIdeas(Pass.A)3Greatideas(Pass.C)Step2Lookforsubtitles.Appearingbelowtitlesinheavy,darkprintorinitalics,subtitlessuggestthekindofmaterialyouwillfindinasmallsectionofthereading,whichoffershelpinmakingpredictions.ExamplePassageB:WaysofIncreasingCreativitySubtitles:CapturethefleetingDaydreamSeekchallengesExpandyourworldStep3Lookatpictures,charts,ordrawingsifthereareany.Oftenanillustrationhelpsyoufigureoutaheadoftimewhatyourreadingwilldealwith.Foodanddrinkofthemselvesaregoodanddesirable,buttheirabusecancauseserioushealthandmentalproblems.Manydoctorsbelievethatovereatingisoneofthecountry’smainhealthproblemssinceitplacesagreatstrainontheheart.Anotherareaofconcernisalcohol.Theresultsofalcoholabusearewellknown.Thesocialdrinkerturnedalcoholic;thedrunkendriver’scontributionstohighwaydeaths,thebrokenhomes,etc.,allpointtothedangersofmisusingoneofnature’sgifts.Step4Lookatthefirstsentenceofeachparagraph.Thismayalsogiveyouaquickideaofwhatthereadingisaboutbeforeyoubegintoreadcarefully.Ifyoufindyourpredictionisnotcorrectwhenyoureadon,don’tworry!Youcanadjustyourunderstandingoftheparagraphwiththeinformationyouacquireduringyourreading.Thisisthereadingprocessafterall!ExampleParagraph3ofReadingPassageATrytoreadONLYtheyellow-coloredpartandmakeyourpredictions.Allofushaveexperiencedthissuddenarrivalofanewidea,butitiseasiesttoexamineitinthegreatcreativepersonalities,manyofwhomexperienceditinanintensifiedformandhavewrittenitdownintheirlifestoriesandletters.Onecandrawexamplesfromgeniusinanyfield,…(Para.3PassageA)Possibleprediction:Somebigideascomebythemselvesallofasudden.Directions:Judgingfromthesubjectandheadings—andwithoutlookingatthereadingpassage—whatkindofcontentdoyouexpecttofindundertheheadingsandlastlyunderthesubject?Choosetheanswerthatseemsmostlikelytoyou.II.LanguagePoints 1.chill:vt.makecold;cool使变冷,使冷冻n.寒意e.g.Wecansitaroundandtalkwhilewaitingfortheteatochill.castachillover使扫兴,泼冷水,使……寒心catchachill风寒,感冒,着凉feelachill打冷颤,发冷takethechilloff驱赶寒气;热一热2.dip:v.lowerordropsth.intoaliquid浸;蘸e.g.Theydiptheirfoodintothetomatoliquid.dipinto随便翻阅;浏览,从中取出takeadip洗个澡;泡一泡3.applaud:v.expressgoodopinionorfavor,especiallybyclappingthehands高兴地鼓掌Thepeopleapplaudedwithjoyasthesingerwavedtothem.EveryoneapplaudedloudlyastheylikedthePresident’sspeech.4.remark:v.expressashort,relaxedcomment谈论;评论n.谈论;评论Mrs.Johnremarkednegativelyabouttheactorsandactresses.TheyinvitedMr.Jacksontoopenthemeetingandmakeafewopeningremarks.5.enquiry(inquiry):n.closeexaminationofamatterinasearchforinformationortruth打听,询问;调查警方对于史密斯先生死因的调查并不成功,没有发现有价值的情况。ThepoliceenquiryintothedeathofMr.Smithwasnotasuccess;theyfoundnousefulfacts.6.capacity:n.1)theabilitytoproduce,experience,understandorlearnsth.才能,能力2)theabilitytoholdorcontainsth.容量,容积tocapacity装满地atfullcapacity以全部力量,满负载inone’scapacityas=inthecapacityof以…资格/身份/职位capacityto…的能力他没有当医生的能力。Hehasnocapacitytobeadoctor.戏院内座无虚席。Thetheaterwasfilledtocapacity.我以学生代表的身份出席了开幕式Iattendedtheopeningceremonyinmycapacityasastudentrepresentative7.impulse:n.asuddenwishorurge冲动,一时的念头;推动,驱使onimpulse/amanofimpulse/actonimpulse一时冲动,一时心血来潮/易冲动的人/凭冲动行事Hisfriendsadvisedhimnottoactonimpulseandheshouldthinkcarefullybeforehisdecision.8.actupon:actaccordingto以…方式行为/行事这个小组是按照研究人员的建议行事的。Thegroupacteduponthestatementstheresearchersmade. 9.potential:n.qualitiesthatexistandcanbedeveloped潜力,潜能adj.thatmayhappenorbecomeso,although,notactuallyexistingatpresent潜在的10.todevelopone’spotential发挥潜力totapthepotentialofsth.挖掘某物的潜力toshowpotentialasateacher表现出当老师的潜力potentialdanger潜在危险/potentialmarket潜在市场年轻人具有学习的潜力,这一点至今仍未得到重视。.Youngpeoplehaveapotentialforlearningwhich,uptonow,hasbeenslighted.亚洲潜在的水力资源比其他各洲要丰富。Asia'spotentialwaterpowerisgreaterthanthatoftheothercontinents.11.reservoir:n.[figurespeech]alargeorextrasupply;anesteggorquantitythatisheldback水库,蓄水池;(喻)(知识、精力等的)贮藏areservoirofhope充满希望/areservoirofinformation一座知识的宝库/areservoirofwisethinking一座智慧的宝库Greatliteratureisareservoirofwisethinking.12.concrete:adj.oforrelatingtoamaterialthingorgroupofthingsratherthantoanidea具体的aconcretefact具体事实intheconcrete具体化,实际上Haveyouanyconcreteplansabouthowtodealwiththesedifficulties?他所介绍的概念对我们来说不容易理解,因为他没有运用具体的事例来说明他的观点。Theconceptheintroducedwasnoteasyforustounderstand,ashisthoughtwasnotfollowedbyconcretefacts.由于她运用了具体的事例,所以我能听懂她的讲座。Iunderstoodherlecturebecausesheusedconcreteexamples.13.capture:v.1)seize;takeviolentlyorwithforce捕获2)seize;occupy夺得;占领Inhistravelingreport,hetriedtocapturethebeautyoftheGreatWaterfalls.Thearmyfoughtitswaydownandcapturedmanyenemycamps.14.scarcely…when…:刚刚…就…归纳记忆hardly…when…刚刚就nosooner…than…一…就…Scarcelyhadhearrivedwhenhehadtoleaveagain.comeone’sway:occursothatonehasitorgetsit出现,到来你必须随时作好准备;一旦机会来了,你就能不失时机地抓住它。Youhavetogetyourselfreadyforanytime;whenachancecomesyourwayyoucansurelycaptureit.15.EvaluateIcan'tevaluatehisability.Testsareusedtoevaluatestudents'progressinschool. Afterevaluatingthepatient'scondition,thedoctordecidedtotryanewdrug.16.“Shockedawakebythesound”:thisisapastparticiplephraseplacedatthebeginningofthesentence.Movedbytheirspeech,wedidnotknowwhattosay.Encouragedbyhisexample,hundredsofothersbegantoworkagain17.fertile:adj.1)(ofaperson’smind)inventive;fullofnewideas(思想、创意)丰富的;2)(ofland)whichproducesorcanproducegoodcrops富饶的afertileimagination丰富的想像力/afertilemind想像力丰富的头脑/fertileland肥沃的土地Alargeareaofdesertwasreclaimedtoturnintofertilesoilinthenorthwestarea.18.takeadvantageof:makeuseof利用我利用会议机会表达了我对当前形势的看法。Itookadvantageofthemeetingtoexpressmyopinionaboutcurrentsituations.Thestudentstookadvantageofthefineweathertodaytoplaytennis.Youshouldtakeadvantageoflivinginalargecitywheremostofthegoodsareconvenient. 19.productive:adj.1.achievingalot有收益的,富有成效的2.producingorabletoproducegoodsorcrops,esp.inlargequantities多产的aproductivewriter多产作家beproductiveof有出现…的倾向,可能产生……的结果productivesoil沃土,肥地有关结束罢工的谈判没有取得什么成果。Talkstoendthestrikehadnotbeenveryproductive.我在图书馆的一个小时很有收获。Ispentaproductivehourinthelibrary.20.associate:n.apartnerorcolleague合作人,同事v.toconnectwith;toworkwith把…联系在一起使,联合;合作adj.vice副的businessassociates商业合作伙伴/associateprofessor副教授/associatewith同…结交/associateoneselfwith加入,参与,与…发生联系/associatewith和…来往,和…共事,同…联系在一起21.engineering:n.thescienceorprofessionofanengineer工程(学)engineeringcollege工学院biochemicalengineering生化工程cellengineering细胞工程(学)/电气工程Heisstudyingengineeringatcollege.22.atonce:atthesametime;allatonetime同时Ican'tdotwothingsatonce.Sheisatoncecleverandrestrained.23.setinmotion:causesth.tostartmoving使......运转起来Hersharp,aggressivetonesetinmotiontheeventsthatledtoherdefeat.Pullthishandletowardsyoutosetthemachineinmotion. 24.context:n.1)thegeneralconditionsinwhichanevent,action,etc.,takesplace(事情发生的)环境,背景2))上下文在目前经济危机的情况下,降低税金似乎是不明智的。Inthecontextofthepresenteconomiccrisisitseemsunwisetolowergovernmentdues.25.transfer:v.movefromonelocationorjobtoanother调动,迁移Nowthepatientcantransferfromthewheelchairtoseatwithrelativefreedom.Hisemployertransferredhimtoanotheroffice.Hehastransferredfromthearmytothenavy.Hewantedtotransfersomemoneytohisdaughter'saccount.26.takeup:begintospendtimelearningordoing(something)开始,着手做他毕业后开始从事新闻写作。Whenheleftschoolhetookupnewswriting.归纳记忆由take构成的短语还有:takeaback使吃惊,使困惑/takeafter(在外貌,性格等方面)与相像/takeapart拆卸,拆开;严厉惩罚;彻底打败;take…as把当作,认为/takeaway拿走,带走,消除;把…买回家食用/takeback收回(前言),承认说错了话;使回想起/takedown拿下;记下来;搓其气焰;拆掉;咽下;病倒/take…for…以为…是,把…看成为/takein接受,接纳;包括;理解;欺骗/takeoff脱下;起飞;匆匆离开/takeon开始雇佣;呈现,具有;同…较量,接受…的挑战;承担,从事/takeout带…出去;除掉,毁掉;(通过申请)取得,办理;(on)对…发泄/takeover接收,接管;承袭,借用/taketo对产生好感,开始喜欢,开始从事,形成…的习惯III.TraslationPassageA闪光思想的产生闪光的思想是如何形成的,现在还没有令人满意的解释。你对某一个问题思考了很久,直至感到疲劳、把它忘掉了,也许暂时不去想它了,可后来却忽然来了灵感!当你不去想它的时候,答案却突然从天而降,仿如上苍赐予你的一份礼物。当然,并非所有的思想都是这样产生的,但许多思想的产生确实如此,尤其是那些最为重要的思想。它们猛然间跃入人的脑海,闪烁着创造的光芒。它们是如何出现在人的脑海中的呢?这还是个谜。但这些思想一定来自某个地方。我们姑且假定它们是来自“潜意识”吧。这是有道理的,心理学家就是用这一术语来描述不为人知的思维过程。创造性思维有赖于未知的东西变成已知的东西。 我们都有过灵机一动突然有了一个新想法的经历,而这在那些富有创造性的天才人物身上最显而易见。他们中的许多人对这种经历有着强烈的感受,并在回忆录和信函中将其记录了下来。无论是宗教、哲学、文学,还是艺术、音乐,甚至数学、科学、技术发明,在任何领域的天才人物身上,我们都能找到这样的例子,虽然人们常常认为数学、科学以及技术发明所依赖的仅仅是逻辑和实验。一切真正创造性的活动似乎都在某种程度上依赖于潜意识中的这些信号;一个人洞察力越强,这些信号就越鲜明、越富有戏剧性。以理查德·瓦格纳创作《莱茵河的黄金》的前奏曲为例,有关“钟声”的创意瓦格纳已经构思了几年时间,而他竭尽全力着手进行作曲也已经数月。1853年9月4日他抵达斯佩齐亚,当时他正在生病。他去了一家旅馆。由于旅馆外面噪音太大,而他仍在发烧,所以他无法入睡。第二天,他出去散步,走了很长的路,下午,他一头扎进沙发想睡一觉。这时候,他的潜意识长期以来一直在寻找的奇迹发生了。他进入了似睡非睡的朦胧状态,骤然间感觉到自己仿佛掉进了滔滔洪水之中,不断在下沉,很快,洪水的冲击声和咆哮声以音乐的形式呈现在他的脑海里。他意识到,久存于心中、却始终未能谱写成的《莱茵河的黄金》管弦乐前奏曲终于在他脑海里形成了。在这个事例中,意识在创造的时候对发现答案的实际过程一无所知。与之相对的是另一件众人皆知的事情:那就是法国伟大的数学家亨利·庞加莱发现被称为富克斯函数的数学新方法的故事。我们看到,在这位天才人物身上,意识活动事实上一直注视着潜意识所起的作用。一连几个星期,他每天伏案工作,花上一两个小时尝试着大量的组合,但毫无结果。一天夜里,他一反常规,喝了些清咖啡,于是无法入睡。许多想法在他脑子里不断涌现;他几乎能感觉到这些想法在相互碰撞着,直到其中的两个结合在一起,形成了一个稳定的组合。到了早晨,他已经确证了一类富克斯函数的存在。他只需去证明其结果,而这只需要几个小时即可以解决。在这件事中,我们看到意识一直注视着在无意识中形成的新组合,而瓦格纳的例子则显示了一个新想法在意识中的突然进发。笛卡尔23岁时所作过的、决定了他的人生道路的一些梦,可以作为第三种创造性经历的例证。在这之前,笛卡尔一直在寻找确定性,先是在书本里,然后是在人群中,但均未成功。之后,在1619年11月10日的一次睡梦中,他有了一个意义重大的发现,即确定性只存在于自己的思想中,“我思,故我在”。这场梦使他充满了强烈的宗教热情。瓦格纳、庞加莱和笛卡尔的经历代表了各个文化领域中无数其他的经历。潜意识无疑是本能活动产生的源泉。然而,在创造性思维过程中,正是潜意识使得相对无序的成分变成新的有序形式。PassageB提高创造力的方法客人已经到了,但我又一次忘了把葡萄酒放进冰箱里。“别担心,”一位朋友说,“我马上就能替你把酒冰好。”五分钟后,她拿着完全冰镇好的葡萄酒从厨房走出来。当被问到有什么秘诀时,她说:“我把葡萄酒倒进塑料袋里,再把袋子浸入冰水中。”客人们鼓掌喝彩。其中一个说,“要是我们大家都能这么聪明该多好啊!”十年来的研究使我确信,我们都能变得那样聪明。普通人与爱迪生、毕加索或者莎士比亚之间的差别不在干创造力,而在于通过激发创造性灵感并将这种灵感付诸实践来利用创造力的能力。我们中的大多数人很少能发挥自己的创造潜力,可蕴藏在我们每个人大脑里的思想宝库是能够被开启的。下面将介绍几种提高创造力的具体方法。捕捉稍纵即逝的想法。好的想法就像是只兔子,会飞快地跑走,有时我们只能看到它的耳朵或者尾巴。所以,要抓到它就必须有所准备。有创造力的人总是随时准备采取行动——这也许是我们与爱迪生等人之间的惟一差别。1821年,路德维格·范·贝多芬在一封给朋友的信中谈到他在马车上打盹时想到了一首美妙的曲子,“可我一醒来,那首曲子便无影无踪了,我怎么也记不起来了。” 好在当贝多芬第二天乘坐同一辆马车时,那首曲子又同到了他的脑子里,于是他把它记录了下来,这对于贝多芬和我们都可谓是一件幸事。当你有了一个好主意的时候,就要把它写下来——必要时就写在手臂上。并非所有的想法都有价值,但先捉住它,以后再作评价。冥思遐想。画家萨尔瓦多·达利经常手拿着勺子躺在沙发上。当他一要入睡时,勺子就会掉到地板上的盘子里。响声会将他惊醒,于是他便立刻把在那个似睡非睡时的丰富世界里脑海中所浮现出来的众多形象绘成草图。人人都会经历这种奇特的状态,并可以加以利用。不妨试一试达利的方法或者干脆让自己随心所欲地遐想。往往三个“b”是十分奏效的,即床上、浴室和公共汽车里。只要你的思维不受干扰,你就会思如泉涌。寻找挑战。试一试邀请你生活中不同领域的朋友和商业伙伴来参加晚会。把不同年龄、不同社会地位的人组合在一起,会有助于你用新的方法思考问题。美国最具创造力的发明家之一埃德温·兰德说,使他产生发明宝丽来相机这一想法的是他三岁的女儿。1943年在去圣菲游览时,女儿问他,为什么她无法看到他刚刚拍摄的照片。在接下来的一小时里,兰德一边在圣菲游览,一边在脑中汇聚着他学过的所有化学知识。“照相机和胶片对于我变得清晰可见。在我的脑海里,它们如此真实,我只用了几个小时就将它们描述了出来。”拓展你的视野。许多理工和人文科学方面的发现都融合了不同领域中的思想。以“两绳问题”为例。两根相距甚远的绳子分别从天花板上垂下来。尽管你无法同时够到两根绳子,但有没有可能只用一把钳子就把两根绳子系到一起呢?一位大学生把钳子系到一根绳子上,然后让它像钟摆那样摆动起来。在绳子来同摆动的时候,他迅速走到另一根绳子那儿,将其尽量向前拉。当摆动的绳子靠近他时,他把它抓住,然后将两根绳子系到一起。当被问到是如何取得成功时,大学生解释道,他刚刚上完一堂有关摆动的物理课。他是把课堂上学到的知识应用到了一个完全不同的地方。这个道理在其他方面也同样有效。要提高创造力,就得学习新的知识。如果你是银行家,就学一学跳踢踏舞;如果你是护士,就学一学维他命疗法。读一本关于某一门新学科的书。不要总足读同一家日报。新的东西与旧的东西会以全新的、可能是非常诱人的方式结合起来。变得更有创造力意味着去留心你那些与无穷无尽的想法,学会捕捉你脑子里的新东西并将之付诸行动。