"Disastrous" year of ice loss for Swiss glaciers The notable finding here is not so much that Swiss glaciers are shrinking, which is to be expected in our warming climate. What is extraordinary is the sheer pace of melting. Researchers estimate that Swiss glaciers released more than two trillion litres of water between July and September. This ice lost to summer melting is far outpacing any gains from winter snowfall. Scientists say the sobering truth is that the climate is now too warm for many Alpine glaciers to survive. But researchers stress that sharp cuts to carbon emissions can still save much of the planet's glacier ice. They say this is crucial for the hundreds of millions of people worldwide who rely on the water from glaciers for farming, hydropower or drinking, as well as to limit sea level rise. 词汇表 disastrous [dɪˈzɑːstrəs] adj. 灾难性的，极糟糕的 notable [ˈnəʊtəbl] adj. 显著的，值得注意的 Swiss glaciers [swɪs ˈɡlæsiəz] 瑞士冰川 shrink [ʃrɪŋk] vi. 收缩，缩小，萎缩 sheer [ʃɪə(r)] adj. 纯粹的，惊人的 outpace [ˌaʊtˈpeɪs] vt. 超过，快于 snowfall [ˈsnəʊfɔːl] n. 降雪（量） sobering [ˈsəʊbərɪŋ] adj. 令人警醒的，发人深省的 Alpine [ˈælpaɪn] adj. 阿尔卑斯山的 sharp cuts 大幅削减 hydropower [ˈhaɪdrəʊpaʊə(r)] n. 水力发电，水电 🗒️翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

What should you eat for a better night's sleep? Phil Hi Georgie. Georgie Hi Phil. Now, Phil, do you ever struggle to get a good night's sleep? Phil You know, I do sometimes. If I've been thinking about something a lot, or even worse, if I've had a cup of coffee later than I should, sometimes I can lie there for hours. Georgie Yes. Well, many of us will be familiar with that feeling of lying in bed, feeling really tired, but just not being able to go to sleep, but what causes us to struggle to sleep and is there anything we can do about it? Well, researchers have for a while been interested in the link between what we eat and how we sleep. Today on 6 Minute English, we'll be talking about this and asking, "What should you eat for a better night's sleep?" Georgie OK. Phil, let's start with a quiz question. So, adults need between 7–9 hours sleep a night to stay healthy, according to experts, but what percentage of people in the UK say they get less than this? Is it: a) 15%, b) 25%, or c) 35%? Phil OK. I think people find sleeping hard, so I think it's going to be c) 35%. Georgie OK. Well, we'll find out the answer later in the programme. Phil Georgie, you've been looking at the research on this. Do scientists think that what we eat affects how we sleep? Georgie Yes, they do. Scientists have done some long-term studies. So, looking at large groups of people over a long period of time, and they found that a healthier diet is associated with better quality sleep. They've also done some smaller studies looking in more detail at exactly what people are eating and then studying how they sleep in a laboratory. Phil OK. And in these studies, have they found that particular foods are better for our sleep than others? Georgie Well, it's less about particular foods and more about particular nutrients. So, nutrients means important things your body needs to survive and be healthy. For example, protein is a nutrient. BBC World Service programme The Food Chain has been speaking to researcher Professor Marie-Pierre St-Onge about which nutrients are important for sleep. Marie-Pierre St-Onge So, diets that look more like a Mediterranean pattern – higher in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lower in animal-based foods, lower in sugar. But then from our own research, where we evaluate food intakes in the lab, we see different... similar patterns, really. But when we talk about nutrients, diets that are higher in fibre, which we find in fruits and vegetables and whole grains, and lower in saturated fats, which we find in more plant-based types of foods, are associated with more deep sleep at night. Georgie Marie-Pierre says that Mediterranean-style diets are associated with good sleep. A Mediterranean diet includes lots of vegetables and less animal-based foods such as meat and dairy. Phil Yes, and Marie-Pierre's own research shows that some nutrients, such as fibre, are important for sleep and others, such as saturated fats, are less important. Saturated fat is a type of fat mainly found in meat and dairy that's thought to be bad for your health. Georgie Right. And according to Marie-Pierre, eating less saturated fat and more nutrients like fibre is associated with more deep sleep at night. A deep sleep is when you are more fully asleep and your body is able to rest. Phil So, Georgie, it sounds like thinking about our diets is important if we want to improve our sleep. And now I've heard that certain foods have a lot of nutrients that can be helpful for sleep. Is that true? Georgie Well, there is some limited research on specific foods and their impact on sleep. So, for example, scientists have been studying kiwi fruits and also tart cherry juice. And you may also see adverts for supplements that claim to improve sleep. Supplements are tablets you take, which contain particular nutrients that you might not get in your everyday diet. But experts say that focusing on our whole diet, rather than one particular fruit or supplement, is going to be the most effective. Here's sleep doctor Allie Hare explaining more to BBC World Service programme The Food Chain. Allie Hare I think people are looking for the one supplement often or the... you know, we're fed a lot of these things, aren't we, on social media? This magical powder or this magical tablet that you can take that will, you know, help you sleep better immediately from tonight. And of course, you know, Marie-Pierre and I know that there is no such magic bullet, unfortunately. And if there was, I'm sure, you know, we would be... we would be doing very well for ourselves. Phil Allie says people are looking for a supplement that can help them sleep. Georgie Yes. She says we are fed information on social media about magical tablets. If you are fed information, you are given lots of it in a continuous way. Phil But Allie argues that experts know there's no magic bullet to help you sleep, and a magic bullet refers to a simple and effective solution to a problem that's usually one that doesn't exist. OK. Well, now I think it's time to find out the answer to your quiz question, Georgie. Georgie Yes. I asked you what percentage of UK adults say they get less than seven hours sleep a night. Phil And I said I thought it was c) 35%. Georgie You are correct, Phil. Yes, 35% of adults say they get six hours or less sleep a night, according to a study by YouGov. OK. Let's recap the vocabulary we learned in this programme, starting with nutrients, which are important things your body needs to survive and be healthy. Phil Saturated fats are fats mainly found in meat and dairy products that are thought to be bad for our health. Georgie A deep sleep is when your body is fully asleep and able to rest. Phil Supplements are tablets or other things which contain particular nutrients you might not get in your everyday diet. Georgie To feed information means to give lots of it in a continuous way. Phil And a magic bullet is a simple and effective solution, and it's often one that doesn't exist. 词汇表 nutrient [ˈnjuːtriənt] n. 营养素，营养物 saturated fat [ˈsætʃəreɪtɪd] 饱和脂肪 deep sleep 深度睡眠 supplement [ˈsʌplɪmənt] n. 补充剂，增补剂 feed [fiːd] vt. 灌输，大量提供；喂养 magic bullet [ˈbʊlɪt] 灵丹妙药，神奇解决方案 Mediterranean [ˌmedɪtəˈreɪniən] adj. 地中海的，地中海式的 whole grain [ɡreɪn] 全谷物 animal-based [ˈænɪml beɪst] adj. 动物性的，动物来源的 food intake [ˈɪnteɪk] 食物摄入量 fibre [ˈfaɪbə(r)] n. 纤维，纤维素 plant-based [plɑːnt beɪst] adj. 植物性的，植物来源的 kiwi fruit [ˈkiːwi] 猕猴桃，奇异果 tart cherry juice [tɑːt] 酸樱桃汁 tablet [ˈtæblət] n. 药片，片剂 📝 翻译及pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

How do social media influencers affect our buying? Have you ever been on social media and seen your favourite celebrity talking about a product? These endorsements might not be totally random, and are actually seen as a vital part of the marketing process. The question is: How do social media influencers 'influence' what you buy? Human desire for status and making friends, combined with our need to belong to a group, make us susceptible to being 'socially influenced'. Companies often use that desire to have a similar lifestyle to a celebrity we admire to hawk or launch a product. So, what do these endorsements actually do? Firstly, they can be used to build brand awareness. A social media influencer should have a strong understanding of the platform they operate on, and therefore can create engaging content that not only adheres to the brand image, but sparks their followers' interests in a product they might never have seen before. Secondly, influencers can improve a company or product's relationship with their customer base. According to InMoment's 2018 US Retail CX Trends Report on customer loyalty, 77% of buyers have been brand loyal for more than ten years. This is also true of 60% of millennials. A popular celebrity can target key demographics and talk or blog about a product, which can create an instant and lasting bond with the consumer. Lastly, influencers can improve customer buying habits with seemingly 'unbiased opinions'. We are more likely to respond to 'peer recommendation' than traditional ads, meaning the fact we see an influencer as a 'friend' can make us less likely to be sceptical about what we are seeing. So, the next time you see a celebrity talking about a product, you might want to consider that this could be a carefully crafted marketing strategy designed to target your core needs. If you find yourself perusing a product you've seen on social media, you may well have been influenced. 词汇表 celebrity [səˈlebrəti] n. 名人，明星 endorsement [ɪnˈdɔːsmənt] n. 代言，认可，支持 influencer [ˈɪnfluənsə(r)] n. 网红，有影响力的人 susceptible [səˈseptəbl] adj. 易受影响的，易动情的，易受感染的 hawk [hɔːk] vt. 兜售，叫卖，推销 brand awareness [brænd əˈweənəs] 品牌知名度，品牌意识，品牌认知 engaging [ɪnˈɡeɪdʒɪŋ] adj. 有吸引力的，迷人的 adhere to [ədˈhɪə(r)] 坚持，遵守，遵循 brand image 品牌形象 spark [spɑːk] vt. 激发，引起，触发 customer base 客户群体，顾客基础 brand loyal [brænd ˈlɔɪəl] adj. 对品牌忠诚的 millennial [mɪˈleniəl] n. 千禧一代（1981–1996年间出生的人） demographics [ˌdeməˈɡræfɪks] n. 人口统计特征，目标人群 blog [blɒɡ] vi. 写博客，发布网络日志 bond [bɒnd] n. 联系，纽带，关系 unbiased [ʌnˈbaɪəst] adj. 公正的，无偏见的 peer recommendation [pɪə(r) ˌrekəmenˈdeɪʃn] 同伴推荐，同辈推荐，熟人的推荐 sceptical [ˈskeptɪkl] adj. 怀疑的，持怀疑态度的 carefully crafted [ˈkrɑːftɪd] 精心设计的，精心制作的 peruse [pəˈruːz] vt. 仔细查看，浏览，阅读 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

How can you recognize AI generated text? For most 18 to 24 year olds, generative AI is already part of daily life. Research, emails, translations, summaries, AI is everywhere. Its possibilities feel endless, limited only by your imagination. But with that comes a growing skepticism, especially in schools and workplaces. Was this really written by a person? Or did ChatGPT write this assignment? The good news is, there are clues, they can tip you off. What are these clues? The project Voltaire blog points out that AI often uses vague generic language, where a person might say something is important, AI might say it's significant or crucial. Because chatbots know a little about everything but aren't true experts, they tend to stay broad and impersonal. Another giveaway is the style. AI loves smooth, evenly paced sentences, joined together with lots of connectors. However, indeed, consequently. The tone stays flat, polite, and carefully neutral, instead of calling something a problem, it will soften it to a challenge. But are there tools to detect generated text? Yes, quite a few. Tools like GPT Zero and ZeroGPT, Draft, Goal, and Turnitin are designed especially for this. Even platforms like Scribber, which is for proofreading, now have AI detectors built in. They're simple to use, paste in the text, and the tool gives you a percentage. This looks 70% AI generated, for example. Some even highlight the suspected sentences. Just keep in mind, they're not flawless, false positives, and false negatives are common. But how do these tools work? They fight fire with fire using AI to catch AI, trained on huge databases of both human and machine written text, detectors learn to spot the telltale patterns, uniform sentence lengths, limited variation, and predictable structures. They measure things like complexity, since simpler text often suggest AI, and diversity, because humans naturally vary sentence, rhythm, and style, while AI keeps it steady. Based on that analysis, they give you a probability score. So, if you are using AI for writing, a quick fix is to vary your vocabulary and sentence lengths. And yes, you can run it through a detector, but remember, the tech isn't foolproof, at least not yet. There you have it. 词汇表 skepticism [ˈskeptɪsɪzəm] n. 怀疑态度，怀疑主义，怀疑论 tip someone off 向某人透露消息，给某人通风报信，给某人提示 vague [veɪɡ] adj. 含糊的，不明确的 generic [dʒəˈnerɪk] adj. 笼统的，通用的，一般的 impersonal [ɪmˈpɜːsənl] adj. 缺乏人情味的，客观的，非个人的，不带个人感情的 giveaway [ˈɡɪvəweɪ] n. 破绽，暴露真相的事物，泄露秘密的迹象 style n. 风格，文体 evenly paced [ˈiːvnli peɪst] 节奏均匀的，速度平稳的 connector [kəˈnektə(r)] n. 连接词，连接物 soften [ˈsɒfn] vt. 使缓和，使柔和，减轻 proofread [ˈpruːfriːd] vt. 校对，校阅，校读 detector [dɪˈtektə(r)] n. 检测器，探测器 built in 内置的，嵌入式的，内建的 flawless [ˈflɔːləs] adj. 完美无瑕的，无缺陷的 false positives 误报，假阳性 false negatives 漏报，假阴性 fight fire with fire 以毒攻毒，以其人之道还治其人之身 database [ˈdeɪtəbeɪs] n. 数据库，资料库 telltale [ˈtelteɪl] adj. 泄露秘密的，暴露真相的，明显的 variation [ˌveəriˈeɪʃn] n. 变化，变动，多样性 probability [ˌprɒbəˈbɪləti] n. 可能性，概率 quick fix 快速补救办法，权宜之计 foolproof [ˈfuːlpruːf] adj. 万无一失的，傻瓜式的 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Annual dementia cases could double by 2050 Host: We begin with an important new study about a condition that is a major cause of deaths around the world. Dementia develops slowly. Symptoms like a decline in memory and social skills start gradually, but can then spread to areas that control those vital physical functions like breathing and swallowing. In many countries around the world, the rise of dementia is putting enormous pressure on healthcare systems. Now, one of the most comprehensive studies on dementia has warned that by 2050, the number of people being newly diagnosed every year will double to 24 million. It suggests that low and middle income nations, where average ages are now on the rise, will show particularly rapid increases in dementia in the coming years. Professor Henry Brodaty is co-author of the study that was carried out by the Centre for Healthy Aging at the University of New South Wales in Australia. Henry: In countries like the UK and Australia, where I'm from, particularly in the UK, I think you're already about 20% of your population over 65. We're at about 17%. But in low and middle income countries, that ageing is just starting to catch up now. The rate of dementia doubles every five years after the age of 65. So the more people you have who are older, particularly people who are over 80 or 90, then you have a much more rapid increase. The epidemic is not of dementia, it's of ageing. Host: But there is also an issue with women being disproportionately vulnerable to this disease. Why is that? Henry: That's really interesting. There may be social and environmental reasons, as well as biological reasons. So the social reasons, particularly in years gone by, is women had less education. They had less opportunity to be engaged in occupations, which were intellectually demanding and therefore build up cognitive reserve. They were also more likely to have obesity in midlife and hypertension in midlife, which are risk factors for dementia, and also more likely to have depression, which is also another risk factor. On the biological side, it may be that hormones have, oestrogens have a neuroprotective action in the brain that's been postulated. And it may be that women have more of the toxic protein called the amyloid beta protein in the brain. And amyloid beta protein is the main culprit for Alzheimer's disease and the new treatments now available are targeting that protein. We know that women who've had their ovaries out at a younger age before menopause, who then go on to HRT, are less likely to get dementia later in life. Host: What are the social and financial costs of the overall increase in dementia, numbers that we can expect over the next 25 years? Henry: Currently, it's estimated we spend 1.3 trillion US dollars on dementia worldwide. And even by the end of the decade, that will be 2 trillion dollars US. So dementia is a big ticket item. Host: We're all forewarned by reports like this. What can be done about it? Henry: We know that about 45% of the risk of dementia are environmentally modifiable factors, things that we can do something about individually and also as a society. So, for example, we know that people with more education build up more cognitive reserve, which is a buffer against the pathology that may build up in the brain as we age. People who exercise more are less likely to develop dementia. People who don't have hypertension, or if they do have high blood pressure, have it treated. And for every year of treatment, that reduces the risk. Detox for high cholesterol or lipids. From a societal point of view, air pollution has been associated with dementia. We know that if people have spaces where they can walk and enjoy green spaces and blue spaces, that's protective as well. And also if there's spaces where they can meet and socialize, the Italian piazzas would be a nice example of that. And for every year we can delay the onset, we reduced the numbers of new cases by 10%. 词汇表 dementia [dɪˈmenʃə] n. 痴呆症，失智症 epidemic [ˌepɪˈdemɪk] n. 流行病；（疾病等的）流行，蔓延 disproportionately [ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃənətli] adv. 不成比例地，不相称地 be vulnerable to [ˈvʌlnərəbl] 易受…伤害的，易患…的 intellectually demanding 智力要求高的，需要脑力的 cognitive reserve [ˈkɒɡnətɪv rɪˈzɜːv] 认知储备（大脑应对衰老和病理变化的缓冲能力） obesity [əʊˈbiːsəti] n. 肥胖，肥胖症 hypertension [ˌhaɪpəˈtenʃn] n. 高血压 oestrogen [ˈiːstrədʒən] n. 雌激素 neuroprotective action [ˌnjʊərəʊprəˈtektɪv] 神经保护作用 postulate [ˈpɒstjuleɪt] vt. 假定，假设 amyloid beta protein [ˈæmɪlɔɪd ˈbiːtə ˈprəʊtiːn] β-淀粉样蛋白 culprit [ˈkʌlprɪt] n. 罪魁祸首，元凶 Alzheimer's disease [ˈæltshaɪməz] 阿尔茨海默病，老年痴呆症 ovary [ˈəʊvəri] n. 卵巢 menopause [ˈmenəpɔːz] n. 更年期，绝经期 HRT 激素替代疗法（hormone replacement therapy） big ticket item 高价商品，巨额支出项目 forewarn [fɔːˈwɔːn] vt. 预先警告，提醒，事先告诫 modifiable [ˈmɒdɪfaɪəbl] adj. 可改变的，可修正的 buffer [ˈbʌfə(r)] n. 缓冲物，缓冲器，起缓冲作用的事物 pathology [pəˈθɒlədʒi] n. 病理，病理变化，病变 detox [ˈdiːtɒks] n. 排毒，解毒（此处指控制、清除） cholesterol [kəˈlestərɒl] n. 胆固醇 lipid [ˈlɪpɪd] n. 脂质，血脂，类脂 piazza [piˈætsə] n. （意大利的）广场，露天市场 onset [ˈɒnset] n. 发病，发作，开始 🌟翻译，pdf及更多文本内容见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可加入【打卡交流群】

Is social media still 'social'? For many people, social media is a normal part of everyday life. It's used to keep in touch, entertain and follow what's happening in the world. But numbers from DataReportal indicate that the average use of social media is around two hours 21 minutes a day. That's nearly 15 hours per week or about 32 days a year! The same report also mentions that people are using social media more passively. This means they're spending a lot of time scrolling on their feed, sending memes and reacting to things with emojis instead of sending messages. Could it be that social media platforms are negatively impacting the way we interact with people, and are they taking time away from us actually being social? One study looked at what happened when social media was deliberately limited. In The effect of self-monitoring limited social media use on psychological well-being, researchers in the United States studied 230 university students. One group was asked to limit social media use to 30 minutes a day, while the other continued without a limit. After two weeks, the group limiting its use reported lower levels of loneliness, depression, anxiety and FOMO. Sleep is another part of the picture. For many people, scrolling through social media has become part of their bedtime routine when they should be winding down to rest. Research published by the National Library of Medicine has examined the effects of blue light from electronic screens. This light can affect the body's natural sleep-wake cycle and increase alertness. Reducing screen time before bed may therefore help some people prepare for sleep. Better sleep can also provide more energy for work, hobbies and lay the groundwork for more successful and fulfilling face-to-face social interactions. These findings do not necessarily mean that you have to completely quit social media. Instead, it may be worth considering how much time is being spent online, and what that time could be used for instead. Small changes might include moving the social media app away from the home screen, using social media only at certain times, or accessing it through a computer rather than the phone you probably have with you all the time. The idea is not to disconnect from the online world completely, but to create a better balance between online and offline life. Reducing the use of social media could free up time to take part in more rewarding hobbies and encourage you to connect with people in real life rather than through a screen. 词汇表 indicate [ˈɪndɪkeɪt] vt. 表明，显示，指出 passively [ˈpæsɪvli] adv. 被动地，消极地 scroll [skrəʊl] vi./vt. 滚动（屏幕），刷，浏览（网页） feed [fiːd] n. （社交媒体的）动态，信息流 meme [miːm] n. 梗图，网络迷因（在网络上迅速传播的图像、视频或文字） emoji [ɪˈməʊdʒi] n. 表情符号 deliberately [dɪˈlɪbərətli] adv. 故意地，刻意地 self-monitoring [self ˈmɒnɪtərɪŋ] n./adj. 自我监测（的），自我监控（的） FOMO [ˈfəʊməʊ] n. 错失恐惧症（Fear of Missing Out） part of the picture 整体情况的一部分，一个方面或因素 bedtime routine [ˈbedtaɪm ruːˈtiːn] 睡前惯例，睡前习惯 wind down [waɪnd] vi. 放松，平静下来 sleep-wake cycle 睡眠—觉醒周期 alertness [əˈlɜːtnəs] n. 警觉性，机敏 lay the groundwork for 为…打下基础，为…做准备 access [ˈækses] vt. 访问，使用，获取 disconnect from [ˌdɪskəˈnekt] 与…断开连接，脱离 offline [ˌɒfˈlaɪn] adj.. 离线的，线下的 free up 腾出，释放（时间、空间等） rewarding [rɪˈwɔːdɪŋ] adj. 有意义的，值得做的 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

What happens to your online life after you die? When you die, your physical body may be gone, but your digital legacy lives on. Your digital legacy is everything you leave behind online, such as your social media accounts, emails, photos, videos, documents, and more. These may hold financial or sentimental value for you and your loved ones, but they can also pose some challenges and risks, and while most of us make a will, stipulating what we want to happen to our possessions, few of us consider how to manage our online presence once we are no longer present. How can you ensure that your digital assets are taken care of according to your wishes? The 1st step is to make an inventory of your online accounts and assets. Write a list that includes the name of your accounts, websites, and your usernames or account ID, and be sure to keep it safe. Decide what you want to happen to them when you die. Do you want them to be deleted, preserved, or transferred to someone else? Do you want to leave a final message or a memorial page for your friends and family? Do you want to donate your digital content to a cause or an organization? What do I do next? Once you've decided what you want to happen, the next thing to do is to appoint a digital executor, who will be responsible for carrying out your instructions. You can name a digital executor in your will or in a separate document called a letter of wishes. You should also share your account details and passwords with the person you've chosen, or use a password manager or a digital legacy service that can grant them access after your death. Be sure to also check the terms and conditions of the online platforms you use, as they may have different policies and procedures for handling deceased users' accounts. Finally, communicate your plans and preferences to your loved ones, so they know what to expect and what to do when you die. Are there any tools to help me? Yes, there are some online tools and features that do exist to help you, such as Biscuit Tin and My Wishes, that offer a secure online vault for documents such as wills and digital wishes. Some are free, and some do charge a fee. Keep in mind that only the physical paper version of your will is legal, but it's always a good idea to have a digital backup with indications as to where the paper version can be found. You can also look at Google's inactive account manager or Facebook or Apple's legacy contacts, which can help you choose one or more trusted people to access or manage your account after your death or show you how to delete or memorialize your account. There you have it. 词汇表 digital legacy [ˈleɡəsi] 数字遗产（个人去世后留下的网络账户、数据等） sentimental [ˌsentɪˈmentl] adj. 情感的，情感的 will [wɪl] n. 遗嘱 stipulate [ˈstɪpjuleɪt] vt. 规定，明确要求 digital assets [ˈdɪdʒɪtəl ˈæsets] 数字资产 inventory [ˈɪnvəntri] n. 清单，财产目录 memorial page [məˈmɔːriəl] 纪念页面 cause [kɔːz] n. 事业，目标，理想 digital executor [ɪɡˈzekjətə(r)] 数字遗嘱执行人 deceased [dɪˈsiːst] adj. 已故的，去世的 charge a fee 收费 digital backup [ˈbækʌp] 数字备份 indication [ˌɪndɪˈkeɪʃn] n. 指示，标示，暗示 inactive account [ɪnˈæktɪv əˈkaʊnt] 非活跃账户，闲置账户 legacy contacts [ˈleɡəsi ˈkɒntækts] 遗产联系人（可在你去世后管理你账户的指定人选） memorialize [məˈmɔːriəlaɪz] vt. 纪念，作为对…的纪念 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Why we like collecting things 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. 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. 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. 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. 词汇表 fridge magnets [ˈfrɪdʒ ˌmæɡnɪts] 冰箱贴 fond [fɒnd] adj. 深情的，快乐美好的 souvenir [ˌsuːvəˈnɪə(r)] n. 纪念品，纪念物 miniature [ˈmɪnətʃə(r)] n. 微缩物，微小模型 replica [ˈreplɪkə] n. 复制品，仿制品 scaled-down [skeɪld daʊn] adj. 缩小的，按比例缩减的 retro toys [ˈretrəʊ] 复古玩具 board games 桌游，棋盘游戏 action figures 动作人偶，手办 collectable [kəˈlektəbl] adj. 值得收藏的；n. 收藏品，珍藏物 nostalgic [nɒˈstældʒɪk] adj. 怀旧的，令人怀念的 fiddle with [ˈfɪdl] 摆弄，拨弄 advocate [ˈædvəkət] n. 提倡者，拥护者 minimalism [ˈmɪnɪməlɪzəm] n. 极简主义 simplicity [sɪmˈplɪsəti] n. 简单，朴素；简约 minimalist [ˈmɪnɪməlɪst] adj. 极简主义的；n. 极简主义者 hoard clutter [hɔːd ˈklʌtə(r)] 囤积杂物 curate [kjʊəˈreɪt] vt. 精心挑选，策划；管理，照料 be drawn into 被卷入，被吸引进（不好的情况） endure [ɪnˈdjʊə(r)] vi. 持久，持续存在，经久不衰 self-portrait [ˌself ˈpɔːtreɪt] n. 自画像，自我写照 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Why does heartbreak hurt so much? Neil Now, I want you to think back to the last time you had your heart broken. How did it feel? Georgie It was a couple of years ago. And I just remember a really intense, sad emotion. But it also sometimes feels like a physical pain in your stomach, doesn't it? Neil It does. It's like real pain, isn't it? And today, in 6 Minute English, we're talking about heartbreak. Now, heartbreak is the feeling of sadness we get when we lose someone we love. And that pain you feel, it's not just imaginary. In this podcast, we'll be understanding how our brains change when we fall in love and asking the question, why does heartbreak hurt so much? Georgie And as usual, we'll be learning some useful new vocabulary. You can find the full list and the definitions at bbclearningenglish.com. Neil Georgie, we're going to start with a quiz question. Are you ready? Georgie I am very ready. Neil So, in the 1950s, psychologists noticed a link between children's early bonds with their parents and their romantic relationships as adults, but what is this theory called? Is it: a) contraction theory, b) attachment theory, or c) superstition theory? Georgie I think it's b) attachment theory. Neil OK. Well, we will find out at the end of the programme. Georgie What's going on in our brains when we fall in love? Neil Well, scientists have scanned people's brains while they're looking at a photo of their romantic partner. And they found that looking at someone you're in love with activates a part of the brain that also reminds us to eat and drink. Georgie And do scientists know why being in love impacts our brain in this way? Neil So, it's all about survival. Our brains have evolved to be this way. Dr Lucy Brown explains more to the BBC World Service. Dr Lucy Brown This is a survival system. Nature gave us these systems to be addicted to each other – for reproduction, for protection. You're oriented completely toward the other person. It's like hunger or thirst. Georgie Lucy says our brains make us addicted to our romantic partners. If you're addicted to something, you want more of it. You can literally be addicted to things like drugs or alcohol, but we also use it metaphorically to talk about things we love. Neil She says that romantic partners are oriented to each other, which in British English we say orientated, and it means they are pointed towards each other. They think of each other before other people. Georgie Neil, is there anything else scientists have discovered from scanning the brains of people in love? Neil Well, being in love doesn't just change the way we think. It changes our whole identity. A 2013 study showed us more about this. People were shown statements about themselves – for example, Neil is kind – and the part of the brain we use to think about ourselves lit up. When showing the same statements about their partner, the same part of the brain was active – not the part of the brain we generally use to think about others. Georgie So, Neil, are all of these brain changes that come with being in love actually good for us? Neil Well, studies suggest that good social connections help manage stress and support our immune system. Professor Zoe Donaldson explained more to the BBC World Service. Professor Zoe Donaldson Having really strong social bonds increases your likelihood that you'll survive from just about anything, whether that be cancer, depression, etc. And it overall is the number one predictor of longevity. So, if you are lonely and you don't have bonds, then your mortality risk goes up in a way that's equivalent to being obese or smoking. Georgie So, having strong social bonds or close relationships with other people makes you more likely to survive disease, according to Zoe. Neil Yes, it's an important factor in our longevity, which means how long we live. In fact, Zoe says, being lonely and not having good social bonds increases your mortality risk, your risk of dying, by as much as being obese or smoking. Georgie OK. So, what happens when these bonds are broken, when we experience heartbreak? Neil Well, scientists have been looking at this by asking people to look at photos of their exes, their former partners, and scanning their brains. They found that heartbreak activates parts of the brain we use when we're in danger or in pain. Professor Zoe Donaldson explains more. Professor Zoe Donaldson It's literal pain in your brain. So, if you look at the parts of the brain that light up, they overlap with the same brain regions that are activated when you feel visceral pain – when you feel actual, you know... like you get a burn, or you break a... you break a bone. Neil OK. So, now it's time for the answer to the quiz question I asked you. It was about a theory developed by psychologists in the 1950s, which says that children's early relationships with their parents impact their relationships as adults. What's the name of the theory? Georgie I was quite confident about this, wasn't I, Neil? I said attachment theory. Neil Well, you had a reason to be confident because you are correct. Georgie Yay! OK. Let's recap the vocabulary we learnt in this programme, starting with heartbreak, which is the feeling you experience after you lose someone you love. Neil If you're addicted to someone or something, you want more of it all the time. Georgie Oriented or orientated towards is used metaphorically to mean that someone or something is your main focus. Neil Social bonds are the close relationships we have with family, friends and romantic partners. Georgie Longevity means how long you'll live. Neil And an ex is a past romantic partner that you are no longer in a relationship with. 词汇表 heartbreak [ˈhɑːtbreɪk] n. 心碎，极度悲伤（失去所爱之人时感受到的悲伤） be addicted to [əˈdɪktɪd] adj. 对…上瘾，沉迷于 be oriented / orientated toward [ˈɔːrientɪd / ˈɔːrienteɪtɪd] 以…为导向，朝向 social bonds [bɒndz] 社会纽带，社会关系 longevity [lɒnˈdʒevəti] n. 长寿，寿命 ex [eks] n. 前任（伴侣、配偶等） contraction theory [kənˈtrækʃn] 收缩理论 attachment theory [əˈtætʃmənt] 依恋理论 superstition theory [ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃn] 迷信理论 reproduction [ˌriːprəˈdʌkʃn] n. 繁殖，生殖 metaphorically [ˌmetəˈfɒrɪkli] adv. 比喻地，隐喻地 light up 点亮，激活 mortality risk [mɔːˈtæləti] 死亡风险 overlap with [ˌəʊvəˈlæp] 与…重叠，与…部分重合 visceral [ˈvɪsərəl] adj. 内脏的；发自内心的，深切的 📝 翻译及pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

The true cost of buying a home for just one euro in Italy Host: Now, if you don't have hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest in moving to another country, how about one euro? Because rural Italian cities in need of revitalisation offer a scheme that allows foreigners to buy an abandoned house for pocket change if they commit to renovating it. But what's the real cost of buying a one euro home? Our reporter Adriana Abano travelled to a small town in Sicily to find out. Adriana: I'm in Mussomeli today, a Sicilian town of less than 10,000 people, about one hour from the coast. What you can hear are estate agent Nathalie Milazzo's keys. She's taken me to see what is left of one of Italy's most successful one euro home schemes. Nathalie: There are only 10 to 15 one euro homes left. Today, we mainly sell newer properties in better conditions because the one euro homes that are left are in bad shape. The newer homes need little work and are really affordable. Adriana: She's letting me in with a massive ancient iron key, twice the size of my hand. The property is small and abandoned. I can even see bottles of homemade sauce left behind by previous owners. Natalie tells me it needs new wiring, new plumbing and a new floor, which should cost around 40,000 euros. That's roughly the same price of a so-called premium property. George Lang is from the UK. He has bought four one euro homes in Mussoumeli, which he is now renovating himself. He has amassed over 800,000 followers on social media, where he gives advice to people interested in buying a one euro home in Sicily. George: Every single town and municipality has different rules and restrictions. You can do all the work yourself as long as it's not structural. Adriana: With its rugged countryside and almost two hours away from an airport, Moussoumeli isn't always what people think of when they picture Sicily. But many tell me it's the town's community spirit that sealed the deal, even when their one euro home plan fell through. Just ask Danny McCubbin. It's midday on a Sunday and he's handing out food at The Good Kitchen, the charity he opened in Mussomeli, what happened to his one euro project? Danny: So my house was in perfectly good condition. But sadly, the houses either side were crumbling and caused a lot of water damage during the pandemic. So the cost skyrocketed from I think 14,000 it was going to cost to renovate it to 28,000. It just wasn't viable for me to continue with that project. Adriana: So what advice does he have for prospective buyers? Danny: My advice always to all the foreigners is to come back in winter when it's rainy as well because they come in summer, they see these houses and think they're perfectly fine, come back in winter and there's mold or the roof is leaking and also to spend time here. I think that's the key, just to really decide whether this town is somewhere where you would like to live or whether it's just a place to have a second home. 词汇表 revitalisation [riˌvaɪtəlaɪˈzeɪʃn] n. 复兴，振兴 scheme [skiːm] n. 计划，方案 abandoned [əˈbændənd] adj. 被遗弃的，废弃的 renovate [ˈrenəveɪt] vt. 翻新，修复，整修 Sicily [ˈsɪsəli] n. 西西里岛（意大利南部岛屿） Mussomeli [ˌmʊsəˈmɛli] n. 穆索梅利（意大利西西里小镇） Sicilian [sɪˈsɪliən] adj. 西西里岛的；西西里人的 n. 西西里人 estate agent [ɪˈsteɪt ˈeɪdʒənt] n. 房地产经纪人 wiring [ˈwaɪərɪŋ] n. 线路，布线 plumbing [ˈplʌmɪŋ] n. 管道系统，水管装置 premium property [ˈpriːmiəm ˈprɒpəti] n. 优质房产，高端房产 amass [əˈmæs] vt. 积累，积聚 municipality [mjuːˌnɪsɪˈpæləti] n. 市政当局，自治市 structural [ˈstrʌktʃərəl] adj. 结构的，建筑结构的 rugged [ˈrʌɡɪd] adj. 崎岖的，凹凸不平的 seal the deal [siːl] 最终敲定，使成交，最终确定 fall through（交易等）落空，失败，未能实现 crumble [ˈkrʌmbl] vi. 坍塌，崩塌，碎裂 water damage 水损，水渍损害 skyrocket [ˈskaɪˌrɒkɪt] vi. （价格、数量等）飞涨，猛增 prospective [prəˈspektɪv] adj. 潜在的，预期的，可能的 mold [məʊld] n. 霉菌 🌟翻译，pdf及更多文本内容见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可加入【打卡交流群】

Is talking really essential for our brains? We check with family, colleagues, and strangers almost without noticing, but as our lives become more digital, we can now go hours, sometimes even days, without having a proper conversation, and that may matter more than we think. Do we really talk less than we used to? Apparently, yes. A 2026 study published in perspective on psychological science suggests that the amount we talk has fallen significantly. Psychologists analyze data from 1000s of people in several countries between 2005 and 2019. Participants wore devices that randomly recorded snippets of their conversations. Their findings suggest that the average number of words spoken each day fell from around 16,600 to fewer than 12,000, a drop of almost 30%. But why are we talking less? The researchers point to several possible explanations. We spend more time alone than we used to, a trend that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many everyday interactions have been replaced by digital alternatives. Instead of calling a restaurant, we book a table online. Rather than speaking to a shop assistant we order from an app. Even small encounters with strangers or acquaintances are increasingly easy to avoid. Does talking less actually affect our brains? It can. Conversation is a surprisingly demanding activity for the brain. When we talk to someone face to face, we draw on memory and attention while simultaneously interpreting facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice. And there is another important element. Empathy. Psychologist Sherry Tuckle argues that face-to-face conversation allows us to experience other people's emotion in a much more immediate physical way. So is talking good for our mental health? Research suggests it is. Talking about our emotions with an attentive listener can reduce stress and emotional distress, while social interaction itself can trigger the release of chemicals such as oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin, all linked to well-being. According to neuroscientists Ben Reine, our brains have evolved to reward social connection. For most of human history, living in groups was essential to survival, so it makes sense that our brains learn to associate social contact with positive experiences. There you have it. 词汇表 check with 与…商量，向…核实，与…交谈 snippet [ˈsnɪpɪt] n. 片段，小段 shop assistant 店员，售货员 encounter [ɪnˈkaʊntə(r)] n. 相遇，遭遇，邂逅 acquaintance [əˈkweɪntəns] n. 熟人，泛泛之交，相识的人 demanding [dɪˈmɑːndɪŋ] adj. 要求高的，费力的 simultaneously [ˌsɪməlˈteɪniəsli] adv. 同时地 empathy [ˈempəθi] n. 共情，同理心 attentive [əˈtentɪv] adj. 专注的，留意的，注意听的 oxytocin [ˌɒksɪˈtəʊsɪn] n. 催产素 dopamine [ˈdəʊpəmiːn] n. 多巴胺 serotonin [ˌserəˈtəʊnɪn] n. 血清素 neuroscientist [ˈnjʊərəʊˌsaɪəntɪst] n. 神经科学家 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

The UK's favourite type of humour Over two thirds of Brits agree that being able to laugh at yourself, or what we call 'self-deprecating humour', is a defining part of British culture, according to a recent survey by the charity Comic Relief. British comedian Sir Lenny Henry says it's not about putting yourself down, it's about bringing people together. After years of doing stand-up comedy, Lenny says that laughing at yourself is "one of the quickest ways to feel connected to a room full of strangers". But when is it good, and when is it bad, to make fun of yourself? Can it be taken too far? When a person points out their own flaws in a light-hearted way, it can make them seem more human and make others feel comfortable. A 2025 study called 'When Laughter Hurts and Helps' linked the joy of being laughed at with higher social connectedness, in other words, a greater sense of belonging to a group. Conversely, the trait 'gelotophobe', or someone who fears being laughed at, has been linked to greater friendship avoidance and lower life satisfaction. Even leaders might benefit from self-deprecating humour. Lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business Naomi Bagdonas says that for today's leaders, 'Humour is an elixir for trust and an antidote to arrogance'. Making light of negative situations can also be a coping mechanism. Imagine you're working on a group project, and something goes wrong. While everyone is panicking and trying to find someone to blame, you say sarcastically, "Well, this is going well!" This gives people permission to laugh a bit, and they might feel more positively about the situation. The challenge doesn't vanish, but at least people feel less tense and could feel more able to deal with the situation. A 2024 study published in Europe's Journal of Psychology found that maintaining a humorous perspective when things go wrong can lead to greater resilience. Of course, there's always a balance. While self-deprecating humour can bring people closer and make bad situations less overwhelming, it's important that it doesn't come from a place of bitterness and self-hatred. It's best to make jokes about yourself only once you've made peace with the flaw or mistake you're making fun of. 词汇表 self-deprecating humour [ˈdeprəkeɪtɪŋ] n. 自嘲式幽默 defining [dɪˈfaɪnɪŋ] adj. 标志性的，起决定作用的 putting oneself down 贬低自己，看轻自己 bring people together 使人们团结，拉近人与人之间的距离，把人们凝聚在一起 stand-up comedy 单口喜剧，脱口秀 feel connected 感到有联系，有归属感 light-hearted adj. 轻松愉快的，无忧无虑的 social connectedness [kəˈnektɪdnəs] 社会联结感，社会联系 conversely [ˈkɒnvɜːsli] adv. 相反地 gelotophobe [dʒəˈlɒtəfəʊb] n. 被笑恐惧症者，恐笑症患者（害怕被人嘲笑的人） elixir [ɪˈlɪksə(r)] n. 灵丹妙药，万能药 antidote [ˈæntidəʊt] n. 解药，解毒剂，缓解办法 arrogance [ˈærəɡəns] n. 傲慢，自大 make light of 对…轻描淡写，不把…当回事 coping mechanism 应对机制 panick [ˈpænɪk] vi. 惊慌失措，恐慌 sarcastically [sɑːˈkæstɪkli] adv. 讽刺地，挖苦地 vanish [ˈvænɪʃ] vi. 消失，消亡 resilience [rɪˈzɪliəns] n. 心理韧性，恢复力 bitterness [ˈbɪtənəs] n. 苦涩，痛苦，怨恨 self-hatred [self ˈheɪtrɪd] n. 自我厌弃，自我憎恨 make peace with 与…和解，坦然接受，释怀 flaw [flɔː(r)] n. 缺点，缺陷，瑕疵 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Very hot drinks may increase cancer risk, study says The Oxford University team behind the study says any drink at or above 65C is "very hot" and poses a potential risk. Compared with people who drank "warm" beverages, those who consumed "very hot" ones had around a three times higher risk of squamous cell oesophageal cancer. There are several thousand cases each year in the UK, but experts stress the overall chance of getting this cancer of the gullet is still low. Smoking and drinking alcohol are far bigger established risk factors, although waiting a few minutes for your hot drink to cool a bit is advisable. 词汇表 pose a potential risk 带来潜在风险，构成潜在危险 beverage [ˈbevərɪdʒ] n. 饮料，饮品 consume [kənˈsjuːm] vt. 食用，饮用，消耗 squamous cell oesophageal cancer [ˈskweɪməs sel iˌsɒfəˈdʒiːəl] 食管鳞状细胞癌 gullet [ˈɡʌlɪt] n. 食管，食道 established [ɪˈstæblɪʃt] adj. 已被证实的，确定的，公认的 advisable [ədˈvaɪzəbl] adj. 明智的，可取的，适当的 🗒️翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

Why 'dopamine websites' are taking off around the world Host: Now, many of us have probably made a few impulse buys on the internet over the years and immediately regretted it. So how about getting the excitement of buying something without spending any money? You can, it seems, thanks to so-called dopamine websites. They took off in South Korea some time ago, but now they can be accessed around the world. So what are these popular fake experience websites and how do they work? Celia Hatton asked our reporter, Ira Khan. Ira: These sites mimic the ritual of buying something without you actually paying for it. There's fake delivery sites, fake shopping sites. You can even get a fake holiday. For example, one of the sites is called Food Never Comes in India. What you do, you open the site. There's a real-life menu with actual prices. You even get a call from the delivery driver telling you when he's outside. And it's actually an AI generated delivery driver. The creators of this site say it's attracted almost 3 million visitors since June. It's trying to basically mimic the ritual that we enjoy from shopping, the satisfaction and the rush we get off to replace an order without us actually having to pay for it. How many times have you ordered something at night when you get the sort of delivery notification? You're like, did I really even want that? Celia: That's very true. So Ira, we've just gone through the process here. It took just a couple of seconds. Do these websites really work on a bigger scale? Ira: What these websites are basically suggesting is when we want to go on a holiday or we want to order food, we're not actually craving the thing itself. We're mostly craving the rush that comes with it. You want to still experience that dopamine hit, which has become sort of a constant now in life without the downside, which is actually paying a lot of money. Although we aren't spending money right now buying these products, the websites themselves, they're making money through the ads that they put on their websites. they're also sharing data about consumer spending and what products are doing well with people. 词汇表 impulse buys [ˈɪmpʌls] 冲动购买，即兴购买的东西 dopamine websites [ˈdəʊpəmiːn] 多巴胺网站（通过模拟购物等行为带来快感但无需花钱的网站） take off 迅速流行，突然走红 mimic [ˈmɪmɪk] vt. 模仿，惯例 ritual [ˈrɪtʃuəl] n. 仪式，惯例 delivery driver 配送员，快递员，送货司机 rush [rʌʃ] n. 快感，兴奋感，一阵强烈的情绪 crave [kreɪv] vt. 渴望，极度想要 dopamine hit [ˈdəʊpəmiːn] 多巴胺刺激，多巴胺带来的快感 downside [ˈdaʊnsaɪd] n. 缺点，不利的一面，负面影响 🌟翻译，pdf及更多文本内容见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可加入【打卡交流群】

Do we really need friends to be happy? Throughout our lives, we meet new people at school, at work, or through our hobbies, some remain acquaintances, while others become close friends. Now, maintaining those relationships isn't always easy, but evidence has shown just how important having friends can be, given that loneliness can affect both our happiness and health. What role do friends play in our happiness levels then? One important study to consider is the Harvard study of adult development, it was launched nearly a century ago in 1938, and it's one of the world's longest running studies of adult life. Research has followed 100s of people to investigate what contributes to a happy and healthy life. One of their clearest findings was that the quality of our relationships matters. People who were more satisfied with their relationships at 50 tended to be healthier at 80. Relationship satisfaction was even a better predictor of later physical health than their cholesterol levels in middle age Of course, that doesn't mean friendship guarantees happiness or good health, and the original participants represented a relatively narrow section of American society. Nevertheless, the central finding is supported by wider international research. The wild health organization says social connection can help protect our health, persistent loneliness and isolation by contrast, or associated with depression, anxiety, heart disease, cognitive decline, and premature death. Does that mean we need lots of friends? Not necessarily. There's no magic number. Some people enjoy a large social circle, while others prefer a few close relationships. What matters is whether we feel supported and have someone we can rely on. That person could be a friend, relative, partner, or another trusted figure. Casual connections can help too. Psychologists use the term weak ties to describe acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors, and other people we see occasionally. Now, despite the term weak, research suggests these interactions actually make a strong contribution to happiness and belonging. A brief chat with a colleague or somebody in a local shop may seem insignificant, but it can absolutely help us feel connected to the community. It's also important to distinguish between being alone and feeling lonely. Some people actually enjoy solitude, and on the other hand, it's totally possible to feel lonely, even when surrounded by people. You could say that loneliness is the gap between the connection we have and the connection we want. 词汇表 acquaintance [əˈkweɪntəns] n. 熟人，泛泛之交 predictor [prɪˈdɪktə(r)] n. 预测指标，预示物 cholesterol levels [kəˈlestərɒl ˈlev(ə)lz] 胆固醇水平 premature death [ˈpremətʃə(r)] 过早死亡，早逝 magic number 神奇数字，理想数字 social circle 社交圈 casual connections 泛泛之交，非正式联系 weak ties 弱联系（指熟人、同事等不亲密的人际关系） solitude [ˈsɒlɪtjuːd] n. 独处，独居 gap [ɡæp] n. 差距，缺口，间隔 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】