And the World’s Favorite Number Is…

世界上最受欢迎的数字是...

A survey launched by a British mathematics writer has found that seven is the world’s favorite number, reports The Guardian. The results of the online survey were published on Tuesday, with three, eight and and four coming second, third and fourth.

据英国《卫报》报道，由一位英国的数学作家发起的一项调查显示数字7是全世界最受欢迎的数字。这项网络调查的结果在周二发布，结果显示排名紧随数字7之后占据第二、三、四名的分别是数字3、8和4。

Guardian：《卫报》

British mathematics writer Alex Bellos launched a worldwide survey asking people which number is their favorite after being posited the question many times while chatting with students or at lectures over the years and seeing that people take the choice seriously.

许多年以来，在与学生的交谈之中或者在讲座上，来自英国的数学作家亚历克斯·贝洛斯经常被问到哪个数字是自己最爱的数字，并发现人们会一本正经的回答这个问题，于是他在世界范围内发起了一项关于最喜爱数字的调查。

posited：If you posit something, you suggest or assume it as the basis for an argument or calculation. 假定; 假设

Alex Bellos said he started the survey because of his belief that people have strong feelings about numbers, something he learned from giving talks about math in schools, colleges and festivals. “I am always asked for my favorite number, it’s guaranteed this question will come up,” he said.

亚历克斯·贝洛斯表示他开展这项调查是因为在学校、大学或者一些庆祝活动中开展关于数学的讲座时，他发现并相信人们对数字都有着强烈的感觉。他说：“我总是被问及自己最喜欢的数字是什么，这是个必被问到的问题。”

Bellos, whose new book is entitled The Grapes of Math, claimed he received over 30,000 responses within a few weeks of launching the survey, with total responses currently standing at 44,000. Out of all the submissions, almost half of the votes cast were for the numbers between one and 10. The least favorite number turned out to be 110, which was the lowest number to receive no votes.

贝洛斯是新书《数学的葡萄》的作者，他声称仅在发起调查的数周内就收到了超过30000余条回复，目前的回复数量已经达到44000。在这些回复中，超过半数都是1到10之间的数字。在没有人选择的数字中，最小的数字是110，被认为是最不受欢迎的数字。

The writer suggested that the reason for seven’s popularity is its prevalence in global culture, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, to the existence of seven days in a week.“We love seven because it is unique. It reflects our uniqueness. Of course it’s the world’s favorite number,” he said.

作者认为数字7之所以受欢迎是因为其在全世界的文化中都十分常见，比如《白雪公主和七个小矮人》，又比如一周里有七天。“我们喜欢数字7是因为它很独特。正因为它能够反映出我们的独特之处，能够成为最受世人喜欢的数字也是理所当然。”，他如是说到。

Dwarf变复数Dwarves

prevalent：辨析

牛津释义及例句：

1.prevalent：

1）prevalent(among somebody)|prevalent(in somebody/something)(formal)that exists or is very common at a particular time or in a particular place

These prejudices are particularly prevalent among people living in the North.

2.prevailing：

1）existing or most common at a particular time

The prevailing view seems to be that they will find her guilty.

2）the prevailing wind in an area is the one that blows over it most frequently

The prevailing wind here is from the east.

3.popular：

1）liked or enjoyed by a large number of people

This is one of our most popular designs.

2）popular(with somebody)

These policies are unlikely toprove popularwith middle-class voters.

I'm not very popular with my parents(=they are annoyed with me)at the moment.

3）[only before noun](sometimes disapproving)suited to the taste and knowledge of ordinary people

The band's success is largely due to the popular appeal of the lead singer.

4）[only before noun](of ideas, beliefs and opinions)shared by a large number of people 

a popular misconception

Contrary to popular belief, women cause fewer road accidents than men.

5）[only before noun]connected with the ordinary people of a country

The party still has widespread popular support.

网络解释：

prevalent侧重于形容趋势盛行风靡；

popular侧重于形容受人欢迎,使用人数多；

prevailing可形容风向；

They were brought up in the liberal atmosphere prevalent in the 1960s.

他们在六十年代盛行的自由气氛中长大.

此处用prevalent恰倒好处,但用popular就显然不合适.