The crimson hue of theater seats is a long-standing tradition that has persisted through centuries and across continents. This seemingly universal choice is influenced by a fascinating combination of historical, visual, and practical factors.
Inspired by the lavish aesthetics of Italian opera houses, where red has been a dominant color, movie theaters often adopt the red color __1__—a tradition that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Associated with power, the color red was used in opera houses to __2__ an image of sophistication and grandeur. As opera spread across Europe, more and more opera houses adopted this color pattern. This __3__ red’s connection to theatrical performances. Even as interest in opera __4__, the tradition of using red in theater and cinema halls continued.
Another reason for the prevalence of red theater seats is their ability to __5__ into darkness. Red is particularly advantageous in dark theater environments due to its tendency to appear less noticeable in low-light conditions. This phenomenon, known as the Purkinje effect, occurs because in dim light, our eyes are more __6__ to shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue and violet. Since red has a longer wavelength, it appears less bright and therefore less __7__ in darkened theaters, allowing for a more immersive movie-watching experience.
Photos: AdobeStock I 照片：AdobeStock
Moreover, red is a practical choice for __8__. Theaters often face the challenges of spills, stains, and general wear and tear. Considering the high volume of patrons and the occasional accidents, theater seats must be __9__ and forgiving when it comes to showing signs of use. Red is ideal for hiding imperfections, as it can hide minor marks and spills better than lighter-colored seats. This helps __10__ the theater’s overall appearance and reduces the need for frequent seat replacement. As theaters continue to evolve, it will be interesting to see how long the tradition of red theater seating will stay.
影院座位使用暗紅色調是一個悠久的傳統，已經持續了幾個世紀，在不同的洲也會見到這種傳統。這種看似普遍的選擇因歷史、視覺和實際考量的奇妙結合而受到影響。
影院受到一直以紅色為主色調的義大利歌劇院奢華美學所啟發，經常使用紅色的色彩配置 ── 這是十九世紀末至二十世紀初出現的傳統。紅色讓人聯想到權力，在歌劇院中被用來展現精緻富麗的形象。隨著歌劇在歐洲傳播開來，愈來愈多歌劇院採用這種配色模式。這加深了紅色與戲劇表演間的連結。即使人們對歌劇的興趣下降，影廳使用紅色的傳統仍持續著。
Photos: AdobeStock I 照片：AdobeStock
另一個紅色影院座椅普及的原因是它們能融入黑暗。紅色在黑暗的影院環境中格外有利，因為它在低光源環境下往往顯得不太醒目。這種現象被稱為浦肯頁效應，之所以會發生是因為在昏暗的光線下，我們的眼睛對波長較短的光（例如藍色光和紫色光）比較敏感。由於紅色光的波長較長，在黑暗的影院中它顯得不太鮮豔，因此比較不會讓人分心，得以提供更沉浸的觀影體驗。
此外，紅色在維護保養的方面來說是一種實用的選擇。影院經常面臨液體灑漏、汙漬和一般磨損的挑戰。考量到顧客眾多和偶爾發生的事故，影院座椅必須耐用且不易出現使用痕跡。紅色是隱藏瑕疵的理想選擇，因為比起較淺色的座椅，紅色座椅更能隱藏好微小痕跡和灑漏。這幫助維護影院整體的外觀並降低頻繁更換座椅的需求。隨著影院不斷演變，觀察紅色影院座位的傳統將持續多久會很有趣。
What Did You Learn?
(A) blend
(B) durable
(C) project
(D) scheme
(E) reinforced
(F) sensitive
(G) declined
(H) distracting
(I) preserve
(J)maintenance
答案：
1. D 2. C 3. E 4. G 5. A
6. F 7. H 8. J 9. B 10. I
Words in use
1. hue n. 色調，顏色
The painter chose a soft hue of blue for the sky in the landscape.
那位畫家為風景畫中的天空選擇了柔和的藍色色調。
2. persist vi. 持續
The symptoms persisted even after the patient took the medication.
即使患者服藥後，症狀仍持續。
3. lavish a. 奢華的
The couple hosted a lavish wedding at a luxurious resort.
那對新人在豪華度假村舉辦了一場奢華的婚禮。
4. dominant a. 主要的，主導的
English is the dominant language in many international businesses.
英語是許多國際企業的主要語言。
5. prevalence n. 普及，盛行
There is a growing prevalence of online education in recent years.
近年來，線上教育日益盛行。
6. advantageous a. 有利的
The location of the new store is advantageous for attracting customers.
新店的選址有利於吸引顧客。
7. noticeable a. 明顯的，引人注目的
The bright colors made the advertisement noticeable from a distance.
鮮豔的色彩使那則廣告遠遠就很引人注目。
8. immersive a. 沉浸式的，身歷其境的
The “virtual reality” game offers an immersive experience that feels incredibly real.
虛擬實境遊戲提供了一種身歷其境的體驗，讓人覺得極為真實。
9. stain n. 汙漬
My father used a special cleaner to remove the stain from his shirt.
我爸用一種特殊的清潔劑去除了襯衫上的汙漬。
10. patron n. (餐廳、商店或旅館等的)顧客∕主顧
The shopkeeper thanked his patrons for their continued support.
店家老闆感謝顧客一直以來的支持。
11. imperfection n. 瑕疵，缺陷，不完美
The diamond has a small imperfection, but it’s still beautiful.
那顆鑽石有個小瑕疵，但還是非常漂亮。
12. replacement n. 更換，替換
The broken part needs replacement as soon as possible.
損壞的零件需要盡快更換。
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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