Worried by numbers

Do you get nervous thinking about geometry, equations or a coming math test? If yes, you are far from alone. Math anxiety has become a common psychological condition among students around the world. Students in countries with higher levels of math anxiety tend to achieve lower math grades, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Feb 15.
一想到几何、方程式或即将到来的数学考试，你会紧张吗？如果你感到紧张，那你不是唯一这样的人。数学焦虑已经成为世界各国学生的一种普遍心理状态。2月15日发表在《美国国家科学院院刊》上的一项研究表明，在数学焦虑程度较高的国家，学生的数学成绩往往较低。

According to a University of Cambridge study, in ordinary life, many people experience some degree of discomfort when confronted with a math problem, ranging from mild tension to strong fear.
剑桥大学的一项研究显示，在日常生活中，许多人在面对数学问题时都会感到某种程度的不适，令人产生轻微的紧张，甚至出现直至强烈的恐惧。

Some people also experience physical symptoms such as sweaty palms or a racing heart. They may then try to avoid every situation involving numbers, meaning they are held back from pursuing careers related to this subject, such as science, technology or engineering, according to The Guardian.
有些人还会出现一些生理症状，如手心出汗或心跳加速。据《卫报》报道，这些人可能会试图回避所有与数字打交道的情况，这意味着他们不会从事与数学学科相关的职业，如科学、技术或工程。

Reassurance comes from the fact that those with math anxiety aren’t destined to be bad at math. “If a child has math anxiety, don’t assume that they’re not good at math. They may have had a really bad experience with math and there are ways to improve math achievement,” Daniel Ansari, the senior author of the study told The London Free Press. “Students with math anxiety are not cognitively disadvantaged.”
令人慰藉的是，有数学焦虑的人并非注定数学不好。“哪怕一个孩子有数学焦虑，也不要断言他不擅长数学。他们可能在数学方面有过非常糟糕的经历，但还是有办法提高他们的数学成绩的。” 该研究的资深作者丹尼尔·安萨里在接受伦敦自由出版社采访时表示，“有数学焦虑的学生并非在认知方面处于劣势。”

Also, there are ways to manage your stress related to math. If you’re feeling stressed before a math exam, it may help to spend a few minutes exploring those feelings before the exam begins. “It’s about making sure you’re interpreting your feelings correctly,” Sian Beilock, a cognitive scientist in the US told the BBC. “Just because you have a fast heartbeat and sweaty palms, that does not necessarily mean you will fail.”
此外，还有一些方法可以减轻与数学相关的压力。如果你在数学考试前感到紧张，在考试开始前花几分钟捋顺这些感觉可能会有所帮助。美国认知科学家西安·贝洛克在接受英国广播公司（BBC）采访时表示:“这是为了确保你正确地认识自己的感受。仅仅心跳加快、手心出汗，并不意味着你就一定会失败。”

A little math anxiety could be taken as a positive challenge to overcome. Just like many people get stage fright before delivering a speech, this nervous energy can help to motivate, according to Ian Lyons, a psychologist at Georgetown University in the US.
可以将一点数学焦虑视为需要克服的积极挑战。美国乔治敦大学的心理学家伊恩·莱昂斯认为，就像许多人在发表演讲前会怯场一样，这种紧张的情绪可以起到激励作用。

以上文章内容选自《21世纪学生英文报高中版》，详情请见《21世纪学生英文报高中版》高二861期