If you’ve ever watched professional baseball, you’ve probably seen players wearing eye black. It is the black substance that athletes smear under their eyes before they start the game. Many players and spectators think it looks cool, but what exactly is it? Why do players use it while they are on the field?
The origin of eye black in baseball is commonly traced back to Babe Ruth, a legendary player in the early 1900s. While Babe Ruth was playing for the New York Yankees, he began putting grease mixed with cork ash and shoe polish under his eyes. He claimed this mix helped counteract the glare caused by the sun and stadium lights. Ruth’s innovative approach soon caught on and was eventually adopted not only in baseball but also in other outdoor sports such as American football.
It is believed that eye black absorbs distracting light more effectively than skin and thus reduces the amount of light that shines directly into players’ eyes. Regarding eye black’s anti-glare properties, studies suggest that it won’t eliminate glare but actually enhances players’ abilities to differentiate between light and dark. As a result, players with eye black can accurately spot a ball flying across a bright sky or under the intense glare of stadium floodlights.
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Over the past century, eye black has become a common accessory in baseball. Although whether it works varies from person to person, the general consensus is that it does help. Psychologists believe eye black can positively impact players’ athletic performances because they believe their vision is bettered thanks to eye black. More than that, it also has the added effect of looking cool.
These days, eye black is mostly made of paraffin or beeswax and may also include ingredients like aloe, menthol, or skin conditioners. There are also cloth strips and stickers used as eye black substitutes, but most players agree that the traditional wax or grease works best.
如果你曾看過職業棒球，你可能就看過球員塗「遮陽眼膏」。這是運動員在比賽開始前，會塗抹在眼睛下方的一種黑色物質。許多球員和觀眾都覺得那看起來很酷，但那到底是什麼東西呢？為什麼球員在球場上要使用它？
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遮陽眼膏在棒球運動中的起源一般追溯至貝比．魯斯，他是1990年代早期的一位傳奇球員。貝比魯斯效力於紐約洋基隊時，他開始在眼睛下方塗上混合了軟木塞屑和鞋油的潤滑油。他宣稱這種混合物有助於抑制太陽和球場燈光所造成的眩光。魯斯創新的方法很快流行開來，且最終不只在棒球中被採用，還在其他像美式足球的室外運動中使用。
據信，遮陽眼膏比皮膚更能有效地吸收會使人分心的光線，因此減少了直接照射至球員眼中的光線量。關於遮陽眼膏反眩光的特性，研究顯示它不會消除眩光，但實際上能增強球員辨別亮和暗的能力。因此，塗上遮陽眼膏的球員能精準地鎖定飛越明亮天空或球場泛光燈強烈眩光下的球。
過去這一世紀以來，遮陽眼膏成為了棒球中常見的配件。雖然它是否有用因人而異，但普遍共識是它的確幫得上忙。心理學家認為，遮陽眼膏可以正面地影響球員的運動表現，因為他們相信自己的視力託遮陽眼膏的福而改善了。再者，遮陽眼膏還有看起來很酷的這個加乘效果。
如今，遮陽眼膏主要是石蠟或蜜蠟製成，可能還會包含蘆薈、薄荷醇或化妝水等成分。布條和貼紙也可作為遮陽眼膏的替代品，但大多數球員都認同傳統的蠟或潤滑油最有效。
What Did You Learn?
1. 請從文章中找出最適當的一個單詞（word）填入下列句子的空格中，並視語法需要作適當的字形變化。（填充題）
From a(n) _____ aspect, eye black enables players to have better performances because they believe it enhances their vision.
2. Please mark each statement T (for True) or F (for False) based on the information from the passage about eye black.（是非題）
(A) It has become a required accessory in baseball these days.
(B) It helps players locate balls under both natural and artificial lights.
(C) Its original ingredients are considered more effective than modern ones.
(D) It first became popular in American football and later spread to baseball.
答案︰
1. psychological
2. (A) F
(B) T
(C) T
(D) F
Words in Use
1. functional a. 實用的，有作用的
This smartphone has a fashionable design and a functional interface.
這支智慧型手機設計時尚、介面實用。
2. spectator n. (體育賽事、表演等的)觀眾
A large crowd of enthusiastic spectators entered the arena to watch the game.
一大群熱衷的觀眾進入場館看那場比賽。
3. legendary a. 傳奇的，著名的
The legendary hero was known for his bravery.
那位傳奇英雄以其英勇著名。
4. polish n. 亮光劑，亮光蠟
shoe polish 鞋油
With some swipes of the shoe polish, the marks on the shoes disappeared.
刷上一些那種鞋油，鞋子上的汙漬就消失了。
5. distracting a. 使分心的
The neon signs on this street are distracting for drivers.
這條街上的霓虹燈牌容易使駕駛分心。
Practical Phrases
1. be traced back to... 追溯至……
The history of the Mid-Autumn Festival can be traced back to 2,000 years ago.
中秋節的歷史可追溯至兩千多年前。
2. mix A with B 混合A和B
Helen mixed yogurt with berries for breakfast.
海倫混合優格和莓果當早餐吃。
3. catch on 流行開來，變得受歡迎
Hip Hop music started to catch on in the 1990s.
嘻哈音樂 1990 年代開始流行開來。
4. differentiate between A and B 區別A和B
differentiate vi. 辨別，區別
Kathy’s unique style differentiates between her creations and other paintings.
凱西獨特的風格區別出她的創作和其他畫作。
5. vary from person to person 因人而異
The medication’s side effects vary from person to person.
那款藥物的副作用因人而異。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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