(英会話リスニングスクリプト)
A pioneering study into the effectiveness
of lucky charms has found that they do work - but only in
the minds of the people who carry them.
British scientists found that while carrying
a lucky charm has no impact on events based on chance, such
as winning the lottery, those who believe in them feel more
confident and optimistic.
In the study, 100 people around Britain
were asked to take a supposedly lucky Victorian era penny
coin with them for a month, and keep a diary as to how their
fortunes changed in areas such as finance and health.
While the University of Hertfordshire psychologists
found no measurable difference in how fate actually favored
these people, 30 per cent felt their luck had taken a turn
for the better.
And although skeptical of any magical effects,
these people felt more confident, secure and optimistic
about the future, the survey found.
"When it comes to totally chance events
like the lottery t made no difference, but when it comes
to luck in life, it made a real difference in terms of opportunities
and confidence", study leader Professor Richard Wilson
said.
Perhaps the most compelling statistic came
at the end of the survey when the participants were told
they could give up the lucky coin - 70 per cent said they
wanted to keep carrying it!
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