What's That on Your Lip?|Movember──11月蓄胡有益健康？

by Matthew Brown

Movember is a month for men to put down their razors and raise some money for a good cause.

You might notice something unusual in November. Men who usually shave their faces start growing mustaches. Pretty soon, you might be seeing hairy lips everywhere. The month has become Movember, a combination of November and mustache. The idea for Movember started in 2003, when a group of Australian men came up with the idea of reviving an old fashion trend by having every guy in the world grow a mustache in November. The idea was just a joke, but since 2004, it has grown and is now used to raise money for men's health issues like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and depression. Movember has spread to Ireland, Canada, Spain, the UK, the US, and even Taiwan.

You might wonder what the connection is between mustaches, November, and men's health. Actually, there's no obvious connection. However, if you've never grown a mustache before, people will inevitably ask you questions about it. When you answer, you can tell them about Movember and the men's health issues it promotes. Another reason to stop shaving is that the foundation that runs Movember events gives out a prize for the best mustache. Don't begin before November, though. The rules clearly state that you have to start out clean-shaven at the beginning of the month.

Movember's popularity is constantly growing, and now famous sports teams and players are getting involved. A few years ago, some students in New Zealand ran into trouble when they tried to participate, and one of them was almost expelled for growing a mustache. Difficulties like that aren't enough to stop Movember. Gentlemen, it's time to grow your mustaches!

1.  Over the years, what has happened to Movember?

(A) It has expanded worldwide.

(B) Females are now allowed to take part in the events.

(C) Not much money has been raised for the foundation.

(D) It has been cancelled because many people got into trouble for having mustaches.

2.  What do you have to do to win the prize for the best mustache during Movember?

(A) Grow a mustache for a whole year.

(B) Raise the most money for the foundation.

(C) Shave at the beginning of November.

(D) Have the best sideburns.

3.  According to the author, what is Movember all about?

(A) Looking handsome and winning a big prize.

(B) Having fun and raising money for a good cause.

(C) Creating awareness about men's fashion sense.

(D) Changing the way people think about mustaches.

Movember──11月蓄胡有益健康？

Movember这个活动要男士们在 11 月放下刮胡刀，为一个良善的目标募款。

　　你可能注意到 11 月有些不寻常之处。通常会刮胡子的男士开始蓄胡。很快地，你可能到处都会看到蓄着胡子的上唇。这个月份演变成 Movember，是由 11 月（November）和胡子（mustache）2个字结合而成。Movember 的概念始于 2003 年，当时一群澳洲男子提出这个点子，想藉由让全世界每位男性在 11月蓄胡，来重新带动一股复古时尚风潮。这个点子本来只是个玩笑，但自从 2004 年，它却开始发展，现在更用来为摄护腺癌、睪丸癌、和忧郁症等男性健康议题进行募款。Movember活动已传到爱尔兰、加拿大、西班牙、英国、美国、甚至台湾。

　　你可能会觉得纳闷，胡子、11月和男性健康 3 者有何关联。事实上，它们之间并没有明显的关联。然而，倘若你以前不曾蓄胡，大家不免会问一下。你回答时，就可以告诉他们 Movember 与其宣扬的男性健康议题。另一个别刮胡子的原因是，主办 Movember 活动的基金会会颁奖给最有型的胡子。不过千万别在 11 月前开始蓄胡。规则明订 11 月一开始必须先将胡子刮干净。

Movember的人气持续成长，现在知名的运动队伍及运动员也开始加入这个行列。数年前，一些纽西兰学生试图参加此活动而遇上麻烦，其中 1 人还因为蓄胡差一点被退学。诸如此类的困难并不足以阻挡 Movember 的发展。男士们，该是蓄胡的时候了！

答案：1. (A)2. (C)3. (B)

根据英国一项研究，下巴不刮胡子的男性，要比刮干净或是留大胡子的男性，来得吸引女性。执行研究的心理学家利用计算机，将 15 名男性的面孔，分别做了胡子干净、留小短须、较长短须、小胡子、大胡子 5 种处理，让 76 名妇女，根据男子气概、侵略性、跋扈、魅力、年龄、社会成熟度给分。研究人员并问她们与这些人建立长、短期关系的意愿。留大胡子的男性被认为最阳刚、最有侵略性、社会成熟度也最高，看起来也老 5 岁，女性认为这种男人最无魅力，最不适合做临时情人。小胡子男性则是最跋扈的男人。小短须的男人最性感，是长、短期的理想伴侣。至于胡子刮干净的男性，在男子气概、侵略性、跋扈、社会成熟度均敬陪末座，也是最不适合长期关系的对象。（数据源：维基百科）