很多人都有收藏的爱好，有人喜欢收集大自然中的物品，有人会珍藏旅途中的纪念品，也有人收藏能唤起童年回忆的东西。我们为什么如此热衷于收藏？拥有大量收藏品又会给我们带来哪些好处和困扰？
词汇：collecting 收藏
1 People collect all sorts of things. I collect fridge magnets, so my fridge has slowly become a colourful map of everywhere I’ve been. I also have fond memories of collecting rocks and shells from the beach with my mum when we’d visit the coast in summer. It’s true that some people collect natural objects such as fossils and interesting stones, while others bring home souvenirs from their travels. There are also people collecting miniature versions of real commercial products and tiny replicas of familiar objects, for example scaled-down retro toys, classic board games and action figures. In this way, collectables can be both decorative and functional, giving us something nostalgic to look at or fiddle with when bored.
2 But why do people have such a strong desire to collect things? One explanation is that collecting gives us a sense of order and achievement. Happiful, a mental health and wellbeing magazine, wrote that adding to a collection creates a sense of progress and accomplishment. According to an article published in the Journal of Consumer Research, titled Seeking Structure in Collections: Desire for Control Motivates Engagement in Collecting, collecting can help people feel more in control. It explains that collections can become an extension of our identity. The things we collect reflect our hobbies, interests and loyalties.
3 However, not everyone believes collecting is beneficial. Advocates of minimalism argue that owning fewer possessions improves wellbeing. As Beverley D’Silva reported for the BBC, the simplicity associated with a minimalist lifestyle may even contribute to greater happiness. From this perspective, filling our homes with collections can seem more like unnecessarily hoarding clutter. There is also an important distinction between thoughtfully curating your collection and simply accumulating more possessions. The Journal of Consumer Research article warns that some collectors can be drawn into excessive spending, especially when companies release new or rare additions to collections that were once considered complete. In those cases, collecting may be driven less by passion and more by pressure.
4 Despite this, collecting remains as popular as ever. Perhaps the reason collecting endures is simple – collections tell stories. And displaying these collections can be just as satisfying as finding them. Happiful describes collections as a kind of self-portrait, reflecting our interests, personality and memories. Whether it’s fridge magnets, shells or action figures, the real value often lies not in the objects themselves, but in the memories and meanings attached to them.
测验与练习
一、为本文选择总结句。
a. Collecting can give people a sense of achievement and identity.
b. Collecting is an expensive hobby that people should try to avoid.
c. Most people collect souvenirs because they want to remember their childhood.
二、 根据文章内容选出正确的选项。
1. What does the writer collect?
a. action figures
b. fossils
c. magnets
2. The writer remembers collecting things with others.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given
3. According to the article published in the Journal of Consumer Research, collecting can help people feel more…
a. adventurous
b. in control
c. popular
4. According to the article, minimalists believe owning more possessions leads to better mental health.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given
5. Why might some people spend a lot of money on new additions to a collection that was once considered complete?
a. They feel pressure to collect new or rare items.
b. They have run out of things to do in their free time.
c. They want to sell their old collections for more money.
三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。
People collect many different objects, including 1) _______ versions of familiar products and toys. These objects can bring back 2) _______ memories of special experiences or simply become something to 3) _______ with. Collections can also show our interests and 4) _______ to particular hobbies or brands. They can give people a sense of 5) _______ and achievement.
endure
fiddle
fond
loyalty
miniature
order
simplicity
（答案见词汇表后）
词汇表
fridge magnet 冰箱贴
fond 快乐美好的
shell 贝壳
fossil 化石
miniature 微缩物，微小模型
replica 复制品，仿制品
scaled-down 缩小比例的
action figure 可动人偶（以卡通、电影人物为原型的人偶）
fiddle 无目的地摆弄
order 秩序
extension 延伸
loyalty 忠诚度
advocate 拥护者，倡导者
minimalism 极简主义
simplicity 简洁，简洁性
hoard 囤积；贮藏
clutter 杂物
curate 精心策划、整理、甄选
accumulate 积累
excessive过度的
rare 稀有的
endure 持续存在，经久不衰
答案
一、 为本文选择总结句。
a. Collecting can give people a sense of achievement and identity.
二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。
1. c. I collect magnets, so my fridge has slowly become a colourful map of everywhere I’ve been.
2. a. True. I also have fond memories of collecting rocks and shells from the beach with my mum when we’d visit the coast in summer.
3. b. According to an article published in the Journal of Consumer Research, titled Seeking Structure in Collections: Desire for Control Motivates Engagement in Collecting, collecting can help people feel more in control.
4. a. True. Advocates of minimalism argue that owning fewer possessions improves wellbeing.
5. a. The Journal of Consumer Research article warns that some collectors can be drawn into excessive spending, especially when companies release new or rare additions to collections that were once considered complete.
三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。
People collect many different objects, including miniature versions of familiar products and toys. These objects can bring back fond memories of special experiences or simply become something to fiddle with. Collections can also show our interests and loyalty to particular hobbies or brands. They can give people a sense of order and achievement