How exercise could boost your exam grades Has exam season got you hitting the books instead of the gym? Study is important, but if you're not keeping up with your exercise, you might be missing out. It turns out that regular physical exercise can boost your memory, focus and reasoning skills. One study even found that Scottish teenagers who got 60 minutes of exercise a day scored a whole grade higher on national exams. Physical exercise has been linked to a number of positive changes inside our brains. Regular aerobic exercise appears to be linked with an enlarged hippocampus. That's the area of the brain linked to learning and memory. Other studies have suggested that exercise four hours after learning allows new information to be better integrated into our memories. Looking inside our brains, it seems that exercise triggers tiny bursts of electrical energy, known as 'brain ripples' which are thought to be connected to the process of storing and organising memories. Exercise could also lead to improved executive function. This is the part of our brain that's responsible for things including working memory and self-control. A recent study showed that students who carried out 10 minutes of moderate exercise showed improved cognitive performance afterwards. As well as the direct physical benefits of exercise on our brains, there are other associated advantages. Exercise leads to the release of endorphins. These chemicals help to alleviate the effects of stress and can improve our mood. Exam preparation can be both a cause of stress and something that's adversely affected by it. Exercise reduces your stress so that you can focus on your revision. Good sleep habits are also important for brain health and function. And this is another area where exercise helps out. Regular exercise has been shown to lead to better sleep and fewer episodes of insomnia. A study from the University of Texas also linked it to longer instances of deep sleep. When you're asleep, your body processes memories, so it's another way that exercise can take you to higher grades. Exercise benefits both our mental and physical health and has clear benefits for academic performance. So, while it's important to spend time studying, don't forget to keep some time back for physical activity. 词汇表 hit the books 用功读书，刻苦学习，埋头苦读 keep up with 跟上，保持，继续做 miss out 遗漏，错过，错失良机 reasoning [ˈriːzənɪŋ] n. 逻辑推理能力 score [skɔː(r)] v. 得分，获得（分数） aerobic exercise [eəˈrəʊbɪk] 有氧运动 enlarged [ɪnˈlɑːdʒd] adj. 增大的，扩大的 hippocampus [ˌhɪpəˈkæmpəs] n. 海马体（大脑中负责学习和记忆的区域） be integrated into [ˈɪntɪɡreɪtɪd] 被整合到…中，融入 brain ripples [ˈrɪpəlz] 脑涟漪（与记忆存储和组织相关的微小电能量爆发） executive function [ɪɡˈzekjətɪv] 执行功能（大脑负责工作记忆和自我控制等的能力） working memory 工作记忆（短期存储和处理信息的能力） associated [əˈsəʊsieɪtɪd] adj. 相关的，伴随的，有关联的 endorphins [enˈdɔːfɪnz] n. 内啡肽（运动时释放的能缓解压力、改善情绪的化学物质） alleviate [əˈliːvieɪt] vt. 缓解，减轻 adversely [ˈædvɜːsli] adv. 不利地，有害地，负面地 revision [rɪˈvɪʒən] n. 复习，温习 episode [ˈepɪsəʊd] n. （疾病等的）发作，发病 insomnia [ɪnˈsɒmniə] n. 失眠，失眠症 academic performance 学业表现，学习成绩 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Making cities feel quieter Neil Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. Georgie And I'm Georgie. Neil, I'm going to play you two sound recordings, and I want you to tell me how you feel when you hear them. Neil OK. Georgie First this… And now this. Neil Oh, well, that first clip made me feel really relaxed. But the second one – oh, it's horrible! I felt quite stressed out actually. Georgie Oh no! Well, this little experiment shows how much we are affected by the noise around us. And that's a problem if you're one of the four billion people around the world who live in cities. Neil Yes, whether it's the rattle of train tracks, honking car horns, or the roar of aeroplanes overhead, modern cities are full of noise and this can have serious effects. The World Health Organisation reports that by 2050, around 2.5 billion people will experience hearing loss, and exposure to loud noise has been linked to stress and anxiety. Georgie In this episode, we'll be hearing about ways to make our cities quieter, more relaxing places. Neil But now I have a question for you, Georgie. Sound is measured in units called decibels. But how many decibels would it be if I whispered? A whisper is speaking like this. Is it: a) 3 decibels, b) 13 decibels, or c) 30 decibels? Georgie Oh, that's really hard. I'll go for b) 13 decibels. Neil Well, we'll find out the answer at the end of the programme. Let's start in one of the noisiest cities in the world – Mumbai in India, where daytime noise levels regularly hit 80 decibels, which is over 20 decibels higher than World Health Organisation recommendations. Listen to Mumbai native Chhavi Sachdev share her experiences of living in this noisy city with BBC World Service programme People Fixing the World. Chhavi Sachdev I mean, India in general is just really loud. We are a loud people. We dress loud, we talk loud, we celebrate loud, we watch movies loud. When people ask me what I miss about living abroad, I tell them it's the quiet, because after 12 years of living in the US and Europe, when I got back, I realised I couldn't handle it anymore. I'd gotten used to lower levels of noise. Georgie Chhavi says, "Indians talk loud, celebrate loud and dress loud." To dress loud means to wear clothes with bright colours and large, bold patterns. Neil When Chhavi returned to India after living overseas, she says she couldn't handle the noise. If you can't handle something, you find it difficult to deal or cope with. Georgie So, what can be done to tackle noise in cities like Mumbai? One interesting approach involves using sound itself to make things feel quieter. Soundscaping is the idea of adding certain sounds to busy public spaces so that they sound and feel more relaxing. Neil Sound artist Charles Montambault lives near the Parc des Madelinots, a busy city park in Montreal, Canada. Charles was inspired to recreate the ocean sounds he heard on holiday in the Magdalen Islands in his city park back home. On BBC World Service programme People Fixing the World, he tells reporter Natasha Fernandes that these sounds included ocean waves and some unusual-sounding sand. Charles Montambault The sand on the Magdalen Islands can sing. When you walk into the sand firmly, the sand makes some squeaky sounds, so that's one sound that is kind of funny, kind of special. Natasha Fernandes Inside the small park, surrounded by busy roads, Charles and his team set up an immersive sound art installation in the form of speakers planted in flower beds. Charles Montambault So, the art installation was really to make this park a little quieter by adding some quiet noises. So, it's counterintuitive, but you can make a park less noisy by adding some calmer sounds. Georgie The sand on the Magdalen Islands is squeaky – it makes a high-pitched sound called a squeak when stepped on. Charles played recordings of this sand, ocean waves and other relaxing sounds through speakers hidden in the park. He created an art installation – a work of art designed to give people an interactive experience. Neil By adding more relaxing sounds, Charles' art installation actually made the park feel quieter. It's an example of something that's counterintuitive, meaning it happens differently from how you would expect. Georgie What a great idea! And similar soundscapes are now helping city dwellers relax in other cities too, including Tokyo and Barcelona. Now Neil, you asked me a question about a very quiet sound – a whisper. So, are you going to reveal the correct answer? Neil I asked you how loud a whisper is. Georgie Yes, and I said 13 decibels. Neil Well, 13 is an unlucky number and you are wrong. Georgie Ah! Neil It was actually 30. OK. Let's recap the vocabulary we've learned, starting with decibel – the unit for measuring sound. Georgie Someone who dresses loud likes to wear clothes with bright colours and bold designs. Neil If you can't handle something, you find it difficult to deal with. Georgie An art installation is an artwork designed to create an interactive experience in a certain space. Neil The adjective squeaky describes things which make a high-pitched sound like a mouse. Georgie Squeak, squeak! And finally, if you call something counterintuitive, you mean it happens differently from how you would expect. Once again, our six minutes are up. See you again soon. But for now, it's goodbye. Neil Goodbye...! 词汇表 decibel [ˈdesɪbel] n. 分贝（声音强度单位） dress loud 穿得鲜艳，穿着抢眼 can't handle something 无法忍受，无法应对，承受不了 art installation [ˌɪnstəˈleɪʃn] 艺术装置（给人们带来互动体验的艺术作品） squeaky [ˈskwiːki] adj. 吱吱响的，发短促尖声的 counterintuitive [ˌkaʊntərɪnˈtjuːɪtɪv] adj. 反直觉的，与预期相反的 sound recordings 录音 clip [klɪp] n. 片段，剪辑 the rattle of train tracks [ˈrætl] 铁轨的咔嗒声 honking car horns [ˈhɒŋkɪŋ][hɔːnz] 汽车喇叭的鸣笛声 the roar of aeroplanes [rɔː(r)][ˈeərəpleɪnz] 飞机的轰鸣声 overhead [ˌəʊvəˈhed] adv./adj. 在头顶上，在空中 hearing loss 听力损失，听力丧失 whisper [ˈwɪspə(r)] n./v. 低语，耳语，小声说话 bold [bəʊld] adj. （颜色、图案）鲜明的，醒目的，大胆的 soundscaping [ˈsaʊndskeɪpɪŋ] n. 声景设计（在公共空间中添加特定声音以营造氛围） recreate [ˌriːkriˈeɪt] vt. 重现，再现 unusual-sounding adj. 听起来不寻常的 immersive [ɪˈmɜːsɪv] adj. 沉浸式的，身临其境的 speaker [ˈspiːkə(r)] n. 扬声器，喇叭 high-pitched [ˌhaɪ ˈpɪtʃt] adj. 高音调的，尖声的 squeak [skwiːk] n. 吱吱声，短促尖声 soundscape [ˈsaʊndskeɪp] n. 声景，声音景观 city dwellers [ˈdweləz] 城市居民，都市人 📝 翻译及pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

Why swearing might mean you're smarter Bloody hell, shit, bugger. There, I said it. You've probably been told that swearing reflects poor vocabulary or bad manners. But that assumption doesn't really hold up. Several studies suggest that people who use more profanity don't just score higher on IQ tests, they also tend to have broader vocabulary overall. So why would swearing be linked to intelligence? In 2015, linguist Kristen and Timothy Jay ran a study comparing people's performance on a verbal fluency test, the COWAT, with their ability to generate swear words. Participants who performed best linguistically were also the ones who could produce the most taboo terms. The takeaway? Knowing and using profanity doesn't signal weak language skills. If anything, it can reflect the opposite. The research also suggested that people comfortable using coarse language often score higher on openness, one of the five major personality traits in psychology. And there's more. Psychologist Emma Serpala at Stanford tracked 600 parents and children over two decades. Her findings indicated that people who express their emotions more freely, including through swearing, also tend to score higher on measures of intelligence. According to her interpretation, that emotional expressiveness can reflect stronger cognitive and emotional abilities. And can being rude actually be good for your health? Some evidence suggests it might. UK researcher Richard Stephens has shown that swearing can have a real therapeutic effect. Profanity provides an emotional release, helping reduce stress and soothe nerves. A British-Swedish study published in 2022 points in the same direction. Participants were asked to submerge their hands in ice water, and those allowed to swear tolerated the discomfort longer. Similar effects appear during physical effort. Repeating a swear word before exertion seemed to boost strength and power. One explanation is that the brain processes taboo words differently, activating emotional and memory-related regions and triggering a small surge of adrenaline. There you have it. 词汇表 bloody hell [ˌblʌdi] （英式粗话）见鬼，该死 bugger [ˈbʌɡə(r)] int. （英式粗话）该死，妈的 swearing [ˈsweərɪŋ] n. 说脏话，咒骂 hold up （论点、理论等）站得住脚，成立 profanity [prəˈfænəti] n. 亵渎语言，脏话，不敬的言语 linguist [ˈlɪŋɡwɪst] n. 语言学家 verbal fluency [ˈvɜːbl ˈfluːənsi] 言语流利度，口语流畅性 linguistically [lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪkli] adv. 在语言学上，语言方面地 taboo terms [təˈbuː tɜːmz] 禁忌词汇，避讳用语 takeaway [ˈteɪkəweɪ] n. 要点，主要结论 coarse [kɔːs] adj. 粗俗的，粗鲁的，无礼的 openness [ˈəʊpənnəs] n. （人格特质）开放性 five major personality traits 五大核心人格特质 expressiveness [ɪkˈspresɪvnəs] n. 表达能力；表现力 therapeutic [ˌθerəˈpjuːtɪk] adj. 治疗的，有疗效的 soothe nerves [suːð nɜːvz] 安抚神经，缓解紧张 submerge [səbˈmɜːdʒ] v. （使） 潜入水中，浸没 exertion [ɪɡˈzɜːʃn] n. 用力，努力，体力消耗 a small surge of adrenaline [əˈdrenəlɪn] 少量肾上腺素的释放，轻微的肾上腺素激增 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Could one sound save thousands of hedgehogs? The researchers discovered that the European hedgehog can hear up to 85kHz, a frequency that's considered ultrasonic, far higher than humans who stop hearing past 20kHz. The team now wants to develop sound repellents to be used in cars or lawnmowers that could emit noise at a frequency to scare off hedgehogs. Thousands of hedgehogs a year are killed in road collisions, and the scientists say the discovery could be a game changer. It could also reveal if the animals communicate to each other using noises that humans can't hear. 词汇表 hedgehog [ˈhedʒhɒɡ] n. 刺猬 kHz (kilohertz) [ˈkɪləhɜːts] n. 千赫（声音的频率单位） ultrasonic [ˌʌltrəˈsɒnɪk] adj. 超声波的，超声的 repellent [rɪˈpelənt] n. 驱虫剂，驱赶器，驱避剂 lawnmower [ˈlɔːnməʊə(r)] n. 割草机 emit [iˈmɪt] vt. 发出，散发（声音、光、气味等） frequency [ˈfriːkwənsi] n. （声波的）频率 scare off 吓跑，吓退 road collisions [kəˈlɪʒnz] 道路碰撞，交通事故 game changer 打破现状的关键因素，规则改变者，变革者 🗒️翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

Megatrends in education We all know the importance of education. Everyone aspires to have a good one, but its quality and availability is not the same for all. This situation changes as social, economic and political conditions change and technological development provides new benefits and threats. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which promotes policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world, has been looking at the future of global education. Its head of education, Andreas Schleicher, has been talking to the BBC about some major international trends affecting education systems around the world. One threat is the widening gap between rich and poor, with more intense pockets of extreme privilege and deprivation. In OECD countries, the richest 10% have incomes 10 times greater than the poorest 10%. This inequality is a challenge for schools who want to offer equal and fair access to education for everyone. Another trend is the rising affluence in Asia. It's suggested that a large rise in the middle-classes in China and India will increase demand for university places. Andreas Schleicher asks the question "What values will these newly wealthy consumers want from their schools?" Increasing migration will also have an impact on education systems. Mobility results in more culturally diverse students eager to learn and develop a good life for themselves. But that can be a challenge, too, as Andreas Schleicher asks: "How should schools support pupils arriving from around the world? What questions does it raise about identity and integration? Will schools have a bigger role in teaching about shared values?" Funding pressure is another issue: as our demand and expectation for education rises and more people go to university, who's going to pay for it all? The rise in dependency on technology is another concern. What should students learn when many of their talents can be replicated by machines? And how reliant should we be on learning from the internet? These are just some of the issues the OECD is highlighting. But they remain irrelevant for hundreds of millions of the world's poorest children who don't even have access to school places or receive such low-quality education that they leave without the most basic literacy or numeracy. 词汇表 megatrend [ˈmeɡətrend] n. 巨大潮流，重大趋势 aspire to [əˈspaɪə(r)] 渴望，追求，向往 availability [əˌveɪləˈbɪləti] n. 可获得性，可用性 OECD 经济合作与发展组织，经合组织（Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development） widening gap [ˈwaɪdənɪŋ ɡæp] 日益扩大的差距 intense pockets of 高度集中的…（区域或群体） deprivation [ˌdeprɪˈveɪʃn] n. 贫困，匮乏，剥夺 affluence [ˈæfluəns] n. 富裕，富足 middle-class n./adj. 中产阶级（的） mobility [məʊˈbɪləti] n. （社会）流动性，移动性 pupil [ˈpjuːpl] n. 学生，（尤指）小学生 integration [ˌɪntɪˈɡreɪʃn] n. 融合，整合，一体化 funding [ˈfʌndɪŋ] n. 资金，资助 replicate [ˈreplɪkeɪt] vt. 复制，复刻 reliant [rɪˈlaɪənt] adj. 依赖的，依靠的 irrelevant [ɪˈreləvənt] adj. 无关的，不相干的 literacy [ˈlɪtərəsi] n. 读写能力，识字 numeracy [ˈnjuːmərəsi] n. 计算能力，识数 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Can London Zoo's biggest donation truly help animals? The new Wildlife Health Centre is due to be built as the Zoological Society of London, which runs the zoo, celebrates its 200th anniversary. The development is being made possible by a £20m donation from a mystery benefactor, the largest in the zoo's history. Critics say the zoo's plans are more about monetising public curiosity than benefiting the wildlife, a suggestion the zoo denies. It says as well as letting visitors view medical procedures as they happen, the new facility will allow research into animal health and will become a training hub for wildlife vets across the world. 词汇表 Wildlife Health Centre 野生动物医疗中心 Zoological Society of London [ˌzuːəˈlɒdʒɪkl] 伦敦动物学会（ZSL） anniversary [ˌænɪˈvɜːsəri] n. 周年纪念（日） benefactor [ˈbenɪfæktə(r)] n. 捐助人，资助者 critic [ˈkrɪtɪk] n. 批评家，评论家 monetise [ˈmʌnɪtaɪz] vt. 利用…盈利，变现 medical procedures [ˈmedɪkl prəˈsiːdʒəz] 医疗程序，医疗操作 training hub [hʌb] 培训中心，培训枢纽 vet [vet] n. 兽医（veterinarian 的缩写） 🗒️翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

Can language influence how we see time? Close your eyes and think about the future. Do you imagine it to be in front of you or behind you? Maybe your timeline is vertical, with the future below, and the past above? Linguists such as Lera Boroditsky believe that the language you speak might influence your perception of time. She highlighted that in English, we see time on a horizontal line. The past is behind us, and the future is ahead. We can see this in phrases like 'forward thinking', and 'ahead of schedule' that we use for the future, and 'back in the day' and 'behind the times' for the past. However, not all languages reflect this perspective. For the Aymara people in the Andes mountains, the word for future means 'behind time'. Work by Nuñez and Sweetser revealed that when gesturing, the Aymara people point backwards when talking about the future, while English speakers gesture forwards. It has also been suggested that if you speak Chinese, you might see the timeline more vertically due to the use of 'down' to talk about future events, and 'up' for past events. What happens if you speak two languages? In a study called 'Can a mind have two time lines?' English-Chinese bilinguals were asked to place photos of actors in chronological order by age. Interestingly, they chose to put photos of an English-speaking actor in a horizontal sequence, but photos of a Chinese-speaking actor in a vertical sequence. So, it seems like one person can have multiple time perceptions, and that your timeline can rotate depending on which language is in focus. The debate about how much language shapes our thoughts and perceptions is ongoing. It has intrigued linguists for decades and will for ages to come. So, next time you plan your day or tell a story, notice how you visualise the timeline of events, and remember that not everyone sees time through the same lens! 词汇表 timeline [ˈtaɪmlaɪn] n. 时间线，时间轴 vertical [ˈvɜːtɪkl] adj. 垂直的，竖直的，纵向的 linguist [ˈlɪŋɡwɪst] n. 语言学家，语言学者 horizontal [ˌhɒrɪˈzɒntl] adj. 水平的，横的 forward thinking 前瞻性思维，高瞻远瞩 ahead of schedule 提前，早于预定时间 back in the day 从前，想当年，曾几何时 behind the times 落伍，过时，跟不上时代 Aymara [ˌaɪməˈrɑː] n. 艾马拉人（南美洲安第斯山脉地区的原住民） Andes mountains [ˌændiːz] 安第斯山脉 vertically [ˈvɜːtɪkli] adv. 垂直地，竖直地，纵向地 English-Chinese bilinguals [ˌbaɪˈlɪŋɡwəlz] 英汉双语者 in chronological order [ˌkrɒnəˈlɒdʒɪkl] 按时间顺序排列 sequence [ˈsiːkwəns] n. 顺序，序列 rotate [rəʊˈteɪt] v. （使）旋转，转动 ongoing [ˈɒnɡəʊɪŋ] adj. 持续存在的，仍在进行的 intrigue [ɪnˈtriːɡ] vt. 激起……的兴趣，使着迷，使好奇 visualise [ˈvɪʒuəlaɪz] vt. 使形象化，想象，可视化 lens [lenz] n. （看待事物的）视角，角度 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

What is Ecological Debt? Discussions around ecological debt are closely linked to those of overshoot and the overuse of planet Earth's resources. Humans have now long been depleting Earth's resources far quicker than the planet is able to generate them. Every year we continue to consume too many resources and pollute the planets. If we consider that as mounting ecological debt, let's say we're now paying interest. It takes the form of extreme weather event, food shortages, the disappearance of other species, unremedied environmental degradation, and the buildup of CO2 in the atmosphere. All this ecological debt is carried forward to future generations. Is there another definition of ecological debts then? Indeed, and it's worked its way into international debate since the 1990s when the climate crisis started gaining increased attention. It's to do with the imbalance between industrialized countries in the northern hemisphere and developing ones in the southern hemisphere. If you look back at history, many wealthier countries actually built themselves up at the expense of poorer ones, often including their former colonies. That has taken the form of outsourcing production, depositing waste, and pillaging resources, for example, thereby forcing the ecological burden of their development onto other countries. How big of a north-south divide are we looking at? A recent groundbreaking study published in Lancet planetary health sought to assign responsibility for environmental damage over the last 50 years. It found that high income countries were overwhelmingly responsible for the majority of global ecological damage. The US was the worst culprit, accounting for 27% of all excess material use. The EU wasn't far behind, with a combined 25% among its member countries. That included the UK as the analysis period was before Brexit. Other wealthy countries like Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Japan also contributed significantly, but southern hemisphere countries were only responsible for 8% in total, highlighting the stark difference. The study's authors insisted that high-income countries drastically need to reduce their resource consumption to sustainable levels. You could say they owe it to the rest of the world because of their ecological debt. It's a wrong that needs to be put right. Northern Hemisphere countries developed more quickly with others in poorer parts of the world paying the price. But the definition of ecological debt is somewhat abstract, so it's hard to put any precise figure on the damage done. That has also made it challenging to get on the political agenda with concrete measures. There you have it. 词汇表 ecological debt [ˌiːkəˈlɒdʒɪkəl det] 生态债务（指人类对资源消耗超过地球再生能力，所欠下的“环境账”） overshoot [ˌəʊvəˈʃuːt] n. 生态超载，过度消耗（资源消耗超过地球再生能力） deplete [dɪˈpliːt] vt. 耗尽，使枯竭 mounting [ˈmaʊntɪŋ] adj. 不断增加的，加剧的 unremedied [ʌnˈremədid] adj. 未补救的，未纠正的 degradation [ˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃn] n. 退化，恶化，降级 buildup [ˈbɪldʌp] n. 累积，积聚，增加 work its way into 逐渐进入，慢慢渗透 industrialized [ɪnˈdʌstriəlaɪzd] adj. 工业化的 hemisphere [ˈhemɪsfɪə(r)] n. （地球或天体的）半球 colony [ˈkɒləni] n. 殖民地 outsource [ˈaʊtsɔːs] vt. 外包，交外办理 deposit [dɪˈpɒzɪt] vt. 放置，倾倒（废弃物） pillage [ˈpɪlɪdʒ] v. 掠夺，抢劫 north-south divide 南北差距，南北鸿沟 groundbreaking [ˈɡraʊndbreɪkɪŋ] adj. 开创性的，突破性的 assign…for [əˈsaɪn] 将…归因于，确定…的责任 overwhelmingly [ˌəʊvəˈwelmɪŋli] adv. 压倒性地，绝大多数地 culprit [ˈkʌlprɪt] n. 罪魁祸首，责任人 Brexit [ˈbreksɪt] n. 英国脱欧（British exit的混成词） stark [stɑː(r)k] adj. 明显的，鲜明的 drastically [ˈdræstɪkli] adv. 迫切地，极其，非常 political agenda [əˈdʒendə] 政治议程 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

Searching for life on another planet Neil Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. Becca And I'm Becca. Neil, do you believe that life exists away from planet Earth? Neil Well, I'm not sure about the kind of little green men that you see in science fiction movies, but also, I think we cannot be alone in the universe. What about you, Becca? What do you think? Becca I agree, I think that maybe life does exist beyond our planet, but maybe not as we see in alien movies. Neil Well, in this episode, we'll be learning from science and space experts about whether the conditions for life exist on a planet 40 light years away. OK, a quiz question for you, Becca. How long would it take to drive a car to the Sun at 100km an hour? Is it: a) 70 years, b) 170 years, or c) 1,700 years? Becca Well, Neil, the Sun seems very far away so I'll go for c) 1,700 years. Neil I hope you have enough petrol for that. Well, we'll find out the answer to the question later. Now, though, some science and space experts are excited about a planet in a different solar system from our own. Science journalist, Caroline Steele, talks about this discovery on the BBC World Service programme What in the World. Caroline Steele So, scientists have been looking at an exoplanet. So, that's a planet that exists in a solar system that isn't our own, called TRAPPIST-1e, um, and it's a rocky planet like Earth. It's a similar size to Earth, and it exists in the habitable zone around its sun, and its sun is called TRAPPIST-1. Becca Caroline explains that scientists have discovered that the planet, TRAPPIST-1e, exists in the habitable zone around its sun. The adjective habitable describes a place or habitat that is suitable for something to live. Neil Yes, and a zone is an area with a particular feature. For example, people who live in earthquake zones have to be prepared for danger. Becca So, a habitable zone is an area where something could live. Caroline goes on to explain why they think TRAPPIST-1e may be habitable. Caroline Steele Scientists have been looking at the potential atmosphere around TRAPPIST-1e and they've ruled out that it's really full of hydrogen or carbon dioxide, which is a great thing because they're greenhouse gases, which would make the planet really hot. And there are some small clues that it might be a nitrogen-dominated atmosphere, which, again, is another sort of clue that there could be life there. Neil Caroline Steele says that scientists are looking at the potential atmosphere around TRAPPIST-1e. That is, that they want to find out if the atmosphere is capable or likely to become able to host life. If something has potential, it already has the qualities or abilities to do something. The adjective potential has a similar meaning but refers to future capability. Becca Exactly. We could say the data has potential in that it shows signs of helping the research. But when we talk about potential data, we're referring to data that could help us with future research. Neil She also mentions how scientists have ruled out that TRAPPIST-1e is full of hydrogen or carbon dioxide. The phrasal verb rule out means to dismiss the possibility or idea of something. Scientists have found that TRAPPIST-1e is not full of those greenhouse gases, they've ruled it out. Becca Indeed. And Caroline goes on to say how the atmosphere of TRAPPIST-1e is dominated by nitrogen. If something is dominated by something else, it is controlled by it or is the most significant element of it. TRAPPIST-1e is full of nitrogen, which is exciting because nitrogen is a sign of life and habitability. Neil So, what if nitrogen is actually found on this planet? Caroline Steele has more. Caroline Steele My guess is what we'll do is try and see what other gases are in the atmosphere and use models to work out how warm the planet could be and whether or not it's a temperature that basically could support life, or maybe it's too hot or too cold, but fingers crossed it has nitrogen. There's enough of it to keep the planet a decent temperature. And then that's one step closer to finding life. Becca Caroline guesses that scientists will focus on the planet's temperature and whether it could support life. She uses the expression fingers crossed to express hope for a positive outcome. Neil Yes. We often make the physical gesture of crossing our fingers for good luck. Becca We do. That reminds me Neil, the answer to your question! Fingers crossed that I answered correctly. Neil I see what you've done there, Becca. Yes, I asked you how long it would take to drive to the Sun at 100km an hour, and you answered c) 1,700 years. Well, the Sun is very far away, but the answer was b) only 170 years. Becca Oh well, that's still longer than my lifetime! Now let's have a recap of the language we've learnt in this episode, starting with habitable, which describes a place or habitat that is suitable for something to live. Neil A zone is an area with a particular feature. Becca Potential describes possibly having qualities or abilities to do something. Neil The phrasal verb rule out means to dismiss the possibility or idea of something. Becca We also had dominated. If something is dominated by something else, it is controlled by it or is the most significant element of it. Neil And finally, the expression fingers crossed is used to wish for hope or luck. Once again, our six minutes are up. See you soon. Goodbye for now. Becca Bye! 词汇表 habitable zone [ˈhæbɪtəbl zəʊn] 宜居带（恒星周围适合生命存在的区域） habitable [ˈhæbɪtəbəl] adj. 宜居的，适合居住的 zone [zəʊn] n. 区域，地带 potential [pəˈtenʃl] adj. 潜在的；n. 潜力 rule out 排除，不予考虑 dominate [ˈdɒmɪneɪt] vt. 主导，支配，控制 fingers crossed [ˈfɪŋɡəz krɒst] 祈求好运，希望成功，但愿 science fiction movies 科幻电影 alien [ˈeɪliən] n. 外星人；adj. 外星球的 light years 光年（距离单位） petrol [ˈpetrəl] n. 汽油（英式英语） solar system [ˈsəʊlə] 太阳系 exoplanet [ˈeksəʊplænɪt] n. 系外行星（太阳系外的行星） TRAPPIST-1e [ˈtræpɪst wʌn iː] n. TRAPPIST-1e（一颗系外行星名称） TRAPPIST-1 [ˈtræpɪst wʌn] n. TRAPPIST-1（一颗红矮星名称） rocky planet 岩石行星，类地行星（如地球、火星、金星和水星） hydrogen [ˈhaɪdrədʒən] n. 氢，氢气 carbon dioxide [ˌkɑːbən daɪˈɒksaɪd] 二氧化碳 nitrogen-dominated atmosphere [ˈnaɪtrədʒən ˈdɒmɪneɪtɪd] 以氮气为主的大气层 dismiss [dɪsˈmɪs] vt. 不考虑，不理会，摒弃 habitability [ˌhæbɪtəˈbɪləti] n. 宜居性，可居住性 📝翻译及pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

Beyond paper — The culture of giving cards The tradition of sending greeting cards has withstood the rise of digital communication. Though often inexpensive, cards can convey our thoughts and emotions. Their rich history spreads over centuries of civilisations across the world, building a culture of card giving along its way. It was written in a 2011 edition of Souvenirs, Gifts, & Novelties that since the earliest days of written interaction, special occasions such as birthdays and seasonal celebrations have been recognised through handwritten notes and letters. Ancient Egyptians wrote scrolls. In China, wishes of good fortune were sent in decorative red envelopes around Chinese New Year. And similarly, cards featuring classical Persian poetic verse written in calligraphy were exchanged. These gestures paved the way for the culture of greeting cards. Before the printing revolution of the 15th century, only those with lots of money would write cards. Since then, they have become more accessible, meaning more people could communicate from a distance. As industrialisation continued to sweep through the 19th century, sending cards became a widespread practice. During the Victorian period, greeting cards became quite elaborate in design. They were adorned with lace, ribbon, and intricate illustrations. The cards themselves became keepsakes, treasured for their beauty and sentiment. Nowadays, we see a variety of designs. Most cards still leave a blank space inside for a handwritten message. Some cards can even be designed online to include pictures of loved ones, adding a more personal touch. According to Ken Research, from 2024 the global greeting card market was valued at around $19 billion. With that, and increasing concerns about the environment, many manufacturers are changing how they make their cards. They're using recycled and other environmentally friendly materials, like bio-degradable glitter and paper made from sustainable plant fibres like bamboo. So, we can continue our kind tradition of card giving without harming the planet. 词汇表 greeting cards [ˈɡriːtɪŋ kɑːdz] 贺卡 withstand [wɪðˈstænd] vt. 经受住，承受，顶住 souvenir [ˌsuːvəˈnɪə(r)] n. 纪念品，纪念物 novelty [ˈnɒvlti] n. 新奇事物，新奇小玩意儿 scroll [skrəʊl] n. 卷轴，长卷纸 decorative [ˈdekərətɪv] adj. 装饰性的，作装饰用的 Persian [ˈpɜːʃn] adj. 波斯的，波斯人的 poetic verse [pəʊˈetɪk vɜːs] 诗行，诗句；诗体、韵文 calligraphy [kəˈlɪɡrəfi] n. 书法，笔迹 pave the way for 为…铺平道路，做好准备 accessible [əkˈsesəbl] adj. 易得到的，易使用的，普及的 industrialisation [ɪnˌdʌstriəlaɪˈzeɪʃn] n. 工业化 sweep through [swiːp] 席卷，横扫，迅速蔓延 elaborate [ɪˈlæbərət] adj. 精心制作的，复杂的，精致的 be adorned with [əˈdɔːnd] 装饰有，点缀着，佩戴有 lace [leɪs] n. 蕾丝，花边 ribbon [ˈrɪbən] n. 丝带，缎带 intricate [ˈɪntrɪkət] adj. 精细复杂的，精美的 illustration [ˌɪləˈstreɪʃn] n. 插画，插图 keepsake [ˈkiːpseɪk] n. 纪念品，珍藏物，信物 sentiment [ˈsentɪmənt] n. 情感，情意 personal touch 个性化色彩，个人风格 manufacturer [ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərə(r)] n. 制造商，生产商 bio-degradable glitter [ˌbaɪəʊ dɪˈɡreɪdəbl ˈɡlɪtə(r)] 可生物降解的闪粉 sustainable plant fibres [səˈsteɪnəbl plɑːnt ˈfaɪbəz] 可持续植物纤维 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

UNESCO: Progress seen in protected areas, yet climate crisis calls for faster action The report highlights how people and nature can thrive together, with wildlife across more than 5,000,000 square miles of protected land remaining on average stable, despite a 73% global decline in monitored population since 1970. But the research says many of these areas are increasingly under pressure from rising temperatures, extreme weather and habitat loss. UNESCO says a quarter of the sites could reach critical tipping points by 2050, with the loss of glaciers, forests and coral reefs. It says this progress shows what's possible with long-term protection and community support and is calling for greater investment and faster action to safeguard them. 词汇表 thrive together [θraɪv] 共同繁荣，和谐共生 protected land 受保护土地，保护区 monitored population [ˈmɒnɪtəd] 受监测的种群数量 habitat loss [ˈhæbɪtæt lɒs] 栖息地丧失 UNESCO [juːˈneskəʊ] abbr. 联合国教科文组织（United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization） site [saɪt] n. 遗址，地点，场所 tipping point [ˈtɪpɪŋ] 临界点，转折点 glacier [ˈɡlæsiə(r)] n. 冰河，冰川 coral reef [ˈkɒrəl riːf] 珊瑚礁 safeguard [ˈseɪfɡɑːd] vt. 保护，保卫，维护 🗒️翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

How can you stop giving in to impulse buying? Have you ever picked up clothes or random items on a whim because you were stressed, bored, or just felt like celebrating? That's what experts call impulse buying. It feels good in the moment, but it often leaves you with regret and a lighter bank account. On top of that, it fuels overconsumption and harms the environment. So how do you actually resist this urge? It starts with understanding why it happens. Impulse buying is often tied to emotional triggers like stress, anxiety or even a sense of emptiness. Psychologists point out that it can work a lot like other addictive behaviours, activating the brain's reward system to deliver quick relief. In some cases, it overlaps with issues like substance dependence or disordered eating. But even without that, it can simply be a way to cope or escape. Are there any simple ways to stay in control? One of the most effective is setting a clear monthly budget and sticking to it. Having defined limits makes it easier to avoid unnecessary spending and stay on track. Another tip, always shop with a list. Going in without a plan makes it far more likely to fall for discounts or clever marketing. And if something catches your eye that you really don't need, wait 24 hours. That pause helps you decide if it's actually worth it and gives you time to compare prices too. What about the bigger picture? Shifting towards a more minimalist mindset can help, not just your wallet, but the planet as well. Encouragingly, recent surveys show that a large majority of people are becoming more critical of consumer culture and are open to changing their habits. But let's be honest, temptation is everywhere. So how do you deal with it? Reduce exposure where you can. Unsubscribe from brand mails. Turn off shopping notifications. And avoid browsing online stores just for fun. You can even add friction by removing your saved payment details from devices. And remember, you're definitely not alone in this. Studies show that compulsive shopping is widespread and growing, especially in countries like the US and the UK. There you have it. 词汇表 on a whim [wɪm] 一时冲动，心血来潮 impulse buying [ˈɪmpʌls] 冲动消费，冲动购买 fuel [ˈfjuːəl] vt. 加剧，助长，刺激 overconsumption [ˌəʊvəkənˈsʌmpʃn] n. 过度消费 emotional triggers [ˈtrɪɡəz] 情绪触发因素，情绪诱因 emptiness [ˈemptinəs] n. 空虚，无意义 reward system [rɪˈwɔːd] （大脑的）奖励系统 overlap [ˌəʊvəˈlæp] vi. 重叠，有共同之处 substance dependence [ˈsʌbstəns dɪˈpendəns] 物质依赖，药物依赖 disordered eating [dɪsˈɔːdəd] 饮食失调，进食障碍 defined [dɪˈfaɪnd] adj. 明确的，清晰的 stay on track 保持在正轨上，不偏离目标 fall for 被…所诱惑，上当，听信 clever marketing 精明/巧妙的营销手段 the bigger picture 全局，更宏观的视角 minimalist [ˈmɪnɪməlɪst] 极简主义的，尽量少的 temptation [tempˈteɪʃn] n. 诱惑，引诱 unsubscribe [ˌʌnsəbˈskraɪb] v. 取消订阅，注销 friction [ˈfrɪkʃn] n. 摩擦，阻力，障碍 saved payment details 已保存的付款信息 compulsive [kəmˈpʌlsɪv] adj. 强迫性的，冲动的 🪴翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进入【打卡交流群】

How reading shapes your brain Becca Hello. Welcome to 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Becca. Georgie And I'm Georgie. Now, Becca, do you read a lot? Becca Hmm, I don't read often. I just feel like I don't have the time, Georgie. How about yourself? Georgie I would love to read more, but I don't read very much at the moment. I read mostly before bed because I feel like it helps me relax and go to sleep. And today we're talking all about reading. We'll be hearing from some experts about how reading can change our brains, and as usual we'll be learning some useful new words and phrases. Becca Let's start with a quiz question. The longest novel in the world is widely thought to be by French author Marcel Proust, a book which, when translated into English, means Remembrance of Things Past. But how many words does the book contain? Is it: a) 130,000, b) 1.3 million, or c) 13 million? Georgie OK. The longest novel in the world. I still think 13 million words sounds too many, so I'm going to go with b) 1.3 million. Becca Alright. We'll find out at the end of the programme. Now, we might think of reading as like speaking. We're born with the potential to do it and then we learn. It's natural. If something is natural, it's something you were born with or that comes from nature. Georgie But Maryanne Wolf, author of the book Reader Come Home, says that this isn't true. Maryanne Wolf We think of language as natural, and reading is written language so it must be natural. But it isn't. It isn't natural at all. Becca Scientific studies suggest that when we're born, our brains already have the networks that allow our eyes to see and our vocal cords to produce sounds, but not with the pathways we need to read. Georgie Let's hear more from psychologist and neuroscientist Rebecca Gotlieb, speaking to the BBC World Service. Rebecca Gotlieb From an evolutionary timescale, our brain hasn't had enough time to develop a dedicated reading brain. And so, to build a reading brain network, we co-opt parts of the brain involved in vision and auditory processing, and language, and attention and affect. Reading is really a whole brain process. It involves activation in all four lobes of the cortex. The process of developing a reading brain alters everything, from brain activity to brain structure and brain connectivity. The power of deep reading is really fundamental to our humanity. When we read deeply, we change our brains and we change who we are. Becca Rebecca says that our brains haven't evolved to include a dedicated reading brain. Dedicated here means designed and used for one particular purpose. Georgie So, because we don't have a part of the brain designed specifically for reading, when we learn to read, we co-opt other parts of the brain. Co-opt here means to include someone or something, often against their will. Becca Right. Learning to read means using lots of different parts of the brain that are designed for other things, and this changes our brain structure compared to someone who hasn't learned to read. Georgie And the language we read also shapes our brain. Chinese characters, for example, use symbols instead of letters of the alphabet to represent words and ideas. Becca Research suggests that learning to read these symbols activates different areas of the brain to reading an alphabet-based system. Georgie Scientists studied a bilingual man who could read and speak Chinese and English. The man suffered a stroke, which affected parts of his brain, including his ability to read Chinese. But amazingly, he was still able to read English. Becca Maryanne Wolf explains more to the BBC World Service. Maryanne Wolf It's a beautiful example of how the brain's circuit reflects the requirements of Chinese, which inevitably means more visual memory and visual processing of those beautifully intricate symbols or characters. Georgie Maryanne says that the brain's circuit is shaped by learning to read Chinese. A circuit is a system of connections. Becca The visual qualities of Chinese symbols inevitably mean more visual areas of the brain are developed. Inevitably means in a way that cannot be stopped or avoided. Georgie Maryanne describes the symbolic Chinese characters as beautifully intricate. If something is intricate, it has lots of detail. Becca And something which also has lots of detail, or certainly lots of words – I asked you, Georgie, how many words are in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past. Georgie I said 1.3 million. Becca And you were correct! Georgie Yay! Becca The book also contains lots of very long sentences, including one with over 900 words. Georgie One sentence with 900 words? That is a lot. OK. It's time to recap the language we learned during this programme, starting with natural, which describes something you were born with or that comes from nature. Becca Dedicated can describe something that is designed and used for one particular purpose. Georgie If you co-opt someone or something, you involve them, sometimes against their will. Becca A circuit is a system of connections – for example, in the brain. Georgie Inevitably means in a way that cannot be stopped or avoided. Becca And intricate describes something which has lots of detail. Georgie That's it for this episode of 6 Minute English. Becca Thanks for joining us. Goodbye! Georgie Bye. 词汇表 natural [ˈnætʃrəl] adj. 天生的，本能的，固有的 dedicated [ˈdedɪkeɪtɪd] adj. 专门的，专用的 co-opt [kəʊˈɒpt] vt. 借用，挪用；拉拢，笼络 circuit [ˈsɜːkɪt] n. （大脑）回路，电路 inevitably [ɪnˈevɪtəbli] adv. 不可避免地，必然地 intricate [ˈɪntrɪkət] adj. 复杂的，错综复杂的 network [ˈnetwɜːk] n. 神经网络，网络 vocal cord [ˈvəʊkl kɔːd] 声带 pathway [ˈpɑːθweɪ] n. 神经通路，路径 neuroscientist [ˈnjʊərəʊsaɪəntɪst] n. 神经科学家，神经学家 evolutionary timescale [ˌiːvəˈluːʃənəri ˈtaɪmskeɪl] 进化时间尺度 auditory [ˈɔːdɪtəri] adj. 听的，听觉的 lobe [ləʊb] n. （脑等器官的）叶 cortex [ˈkɔːteks] n. 大脑皮层 connectivity [ˌkɒnekˈtɪvəti] n. 连接性，连通性 against one's will 违背某人的意愿 Chinese characters 汉字 alphabet-based [ˈælfəbet beɪst] adj. 基于字母的 bilingual [baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl] adj. 双语的，两种语言的 stroke [strəʊk] n. 中风 📝 字数限制，完整文本、词汇表、翻译及pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

The best time to exercise depends on your body clock, study finds This new study from Pakistan suggests synchronising exercise to match people's natural sleep-wake cycles or internal body clock could offer the greatest health benefits. Volunteers who tried it had better sleep, lower blood pressure and healthier blood sugar levels overall. In the study, a group of 40 to 60-year-olds with at least one heart risk were categorised: 70 as morning larks and 64 as night owls. Over three months, some did almost daily exercises at times that matched their body clock, while others did the opposite. The findings suggested that forcing a 5am workout on a night owl didn't give great results. Why? The researchers say because the body clock affects hormone and energy levels across the day, which in turn, could influence exercise performance and adherence. 词汇表 synchronise [ˈsɪŋkrənaɪz] v. （使）同步，（使）同时发生 sleep-wake cycles 睡眠觉醒周期 body clock 生物钟 blood pressure 血压 blood sugar levels 血糖水平 morning lark [lɑːk] 早起的人，百灵鸟型人 night owl [ˈaʊl] 夜猫子，晚睡的人 hormone [ˈhɔːməʊn] n. 激素，荷尔蒙 adherence [ədˈhɪərəns] n. 坚持，遵守 🗒️翻译和pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复1可加入【打卡交流群】

What does effortless exercise look like? "No pain no gain!" That's a mindset applied to many things – from working long hours when starting a new business, to studying hard for an important exam. And gym culture often encourages people to push themselves to their limits, leading people to have an all or nothing attitude, where they feel they must either have an extremely tough fitness regime, or do nothing at all. But what if it doesn't have to be this way? What if you can improve your fitness and wellbeing with minimal effort? Meet the new trend gaining traction: zone zero exercise. Zone training is about your heart rate. For example, zone 1 exercise requires 50% of your maximum heart rate, up to zone 5 which is 100% effort. Activities range from a dog walk or easy warm-up in zone 1, to a sprint up the stairs at zone 5. Think of zone zero as any kind of movement that keeps your heart rate below 50%. This could be a gentle stroll, a few stretches in between long stints of sitting at your desk, even gardening or light housework. Terry Tateossian, a personal trainer and nutritionist, said that for many of her clients, "zone zero is the bridge between sedentary and sustainable". It is exercise that feels effortless. One major benefit of zone zero activity is accessibility. For those unable to do high-intensity workouts, such as those recovering from injury, light exercise may feel like a smaller mountain to climb. And with this comes another benefit – consistency. A routine based on zone zero activity is easier to sustain, meaning the long-term benefits are easier to achieve. A 2018 review of research, published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, found that zone zero activity can support mental wellbeing, help regulate blood sugar and improve circulation. It can even lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Of course, if you're gunning for a personal best, or wanting to significantly improve your fitness, you shouldn't stop at zone zero activities. You'll need to do challenging, high-intensity workouts to grow stronger. But even top athletes must embrace gentle movement. Endurance coach Stephanie Holbrook says, "it's often the missing piece that unlocks breakthrough performances because it facilitates genuine recovery." Maybe slowing down is the best way to move forward. 词汇表 no pain no gain 没有付出就没有收获，不劳无获 push oneself to their limits 挑战自身极限，把自己逼到极限 all or nothing 要么全力以赴，要么彻底放弃；走极端，全有或全无，孤注一掷 fitness regime [reɪˈʒiːm] 健身计划，健康养生法 gain traction [ˈtrækʃn] 获得关注，开始流行，逐渐兴起 zone zero exercise 零区运动（最大心率的50%以下的不费力活动，如悠闲散步、简单拉伸、园艺或轻度家务） sprint [sprɪnt] n. 冲刺，短跑，快跑 stroll [strəʊl] n. 散步，闲逛，溜达 stint [stɪnt] n. （从事某项活动的）一段时间 nutritionist [njuːˈtrɪʃənɪst] n. 营养师，营养学家 sedentary [ˈsedntri] adj. 久坐不动的，缺乏锻炼的 effortless [ˈefətləs] adj. 不费力的，轻松的 accessibility [əkˌsesəˈbɪləti] n. 可及性，易获得性，门槛低 high-intensity workouts [ɪnˈtensəti ˈwɜːkaʊts] 高强度锻炼/训练 a smaller mountain to climb 更容易实现的目标，较小的挑战 consistency [kənˈsɪstənsi] n. 持续性，连贯性 cardiovascular disease [ˌkɑːdiəʊˈvæskjələ(r)] 心血管疾病 be gunning for [ˈɡʌnɪŋ] 极力争取，冲击，追求 the missing piece 缺失的环节，关键一环 facilitate [fəˈsɪlɪteɪt] vt. 促进，推动，使便利 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】