【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. lucid /ˈlu sɪd/ (adj.) – clear and very comprehensible
Example: He gave a lucid narration of his messy dream.
2. pertinent /ˈpɜr tn ənt/ (adj.) – related or connected to something
Example: Scientists looked for pertinent facts for the experiment.
3. categorize /ˈkæt ɪ gəˌraɪz/ (v.) – to place something under a category or class
Example: The researcher categorized the participants’ level of comprehension.
4. true to life /tru tu laɪf/ (idiom) – factual and agrees with reality
Example: Dreams that are true to life seldom happen.
5. discern /dɪˈsɜrn/ (v.) – to identify or recognize something
Example: Some people cannot discern what details are factual from the Internet.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
Researchers claim that people who experience lucid dreams have good problem solving skills.
University of Lincoln [LING-kuh n] psychologists Patrick Bourke [burk] and Hannah Shaw wanted to know if being a lucid dreamer provides mental benefits like being a good problem solver. Lucid dreaming is a dream state wherein someone is aware that the events happening in his or her mind is just part of a dream.
To begin the study, the authors gathered 68 participants aged 18 to 25 and analyzed their dream types. The participants were then asked to give a keyword for 30 problems, each accompanied by three unrelated words. For example, “stone” is a pertinent keyword for “sand,” “mile,” and “age.”
Results showed that lucid dreamers got 24 percent more correct answers than non-lucid dreamers. The authors found that being able to perceive non-reality while dreaming helps exercise the brain and improve one’s problem-solving skills. Most participants claimed to have one lucid dream in their lives. However, only 20 percent reported instances of lucid dreams at least once a month.
In addition, participants categorized as “high dream recallers,” or those who almost always remember their dreams, were found to have an ideal brain structure which contributes to a better memory and thinking process.
According to Bourke, people are considered lucid dreamers when they recognize which detail is true to life while in a dream state. Also, they can discern fiction from reality.
The full study is published in the American Psychological Association’s journal titled Dreaming.
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Would you like to be a lucid dreamer? Why or why not?
· How does it feel to wake up after a good dream?
Discussion B
· Do you agree that dreams have meanings? Why do you say so?
· How does a bad dream affect you?
