空中英语教室060922[Think for yourself] (2/3)

Think for yourself
Gather more information
First, ask questions. Asking question doesn’t mean you disagree with the statement. It simply means you’re curious. You want to learn more.
You could ask questions like: “Do any studies prove education increases a person’s likelihood for success? What other things help people attain success? What is success, after all?
Next, go and look for answers. By gathering information, you could learn the reasons why education leads to success. Or you might discover that other factors lead to success. This kind of information will help you make a better decision.
Get other perspectives
A critical thinker also considers an issue from different perspectives. Getting different perspectives on an issue can open your mind to new way of thinking. For example, you could ask different people how they become successful. Hearing others’ opinions may cause your own to change. Or become even more solid.
Also, ask yourself why you hold a certain opinion. You might discover personal biases. Everybody had biases. They come from one’s culture, background and experiences. Knowing about them can help you understand your opinions, and the opinions of others.


Word Bank
Likelihood (n) 可能性
There is little likelihood that Dennis will go to college. He doesn’t like to study.

Attain (v) 达到；获得
Peter’s hard work helped him to attain the highest grade in class.

Solid (adj.) 坚定的
Ben had some solid opinions on the matter. You won’t change his mind easily.

Bias (n) 偏见
I think this newspaper has a bias against the current government.