THE KNOWLEDGE ILLUSION（Verify Before You Believe）
A
A bat and a ball cost $1.10 in total. The bat costs $1.00 more than the ball. How much does the ball cost?
B
If you answered 10 cents, you're not alone-most people give the same answer (the correct answer is 5 cents). It's an example of how we often rely on intuitive responses answers we feel are true. People give answers that "pop into their mind," says cognitive scientist' Steven Sloman. We don't spend much time “reflecting and checking whether the answer ... is right or wrong.”
C
The bat and ball question helps explain why we often believe in fake news. It is part of human nature to believe, says Sloman. But "the trick with fake news is to know to verify”-in other words, to stop and question what you know.
D
In one experiment, Sloman and a colleague invented a discovery called helium rain. They told a group of volunteers about it, but admitted they could not fully explain what it was. They then asked the volunteers to rate their own understanding of helium rain. Most volunteers rated themselves 1 out of 7，meaning they did not understand the concept.
helium：氦（符号为He，2号元素）
E
The researchers then told another group of volunteers about the discovery. This time, they said that scientists could fully explain how it works. When asked to rate their understanding, the volunteers gave an average answer of 2. The scientists’ confidence gave the volunteers an increased sense of their own understanding, Sloman says.
F
According to Sloman, studies show that knowledge spreads like a contagion. This idea can be seen in many fields, including politics. "If everyone around you is saying they understand why a politician is crooked," Sloman says, “then you're going to start thinking that you understand, too.”
crooked：(这里的意思是）不诚实的
G
Another explanation for the spread of fake news is "motivated reasoning,” writes Adam Waytz, a management professor at the Kellogg School. We are naturally more likely to believe things that confirm our existing opinions. If you already have a negative opinion about someone, you're more likely to trust damaging stories about them. Over time, Waytz argues, "motivated reasoning can lead to a false social consensus.”
consensus：共识
H
So, in a world where misleading information is common, is there a way to protect ourselves? "l don't think it's possible to train individuals to verify everything that they encounter," Sloman admits. “It is just too human to believe what you're told.”
I
However, training people to care about fact-checking is important, he argues, especially in online communities. Think of the headlines and stories that are shared on your social media feed every day. Probably these fit in with your own worldview but perhaps not all of them are true.”
J
Develop a norm in your community that says,'We should check things and not just take them at face value," Sloman says, "Verify before you believe.”
