Unit 1 Life is a learning curve
第 1 单元 生活是一个学习曲线
Further listening:
进一步收听：
News reports 1
新闻报道 1
A recent study has found that people of all ages learn better when they see an object before hearing its description. This research builds on previous studies and focuses on learning in “inconsistent” environments with different teaching styles or distracting noises. The study aims to help educators understand how the learning process occurs and what factors affect it so that they can improve their education methodologies.
最近的一项研究发现，所有年龄段的人在听到物体描述之前看到物体时学习效果会更好。这项研究建立在以前的研究基础上，侧重于在具有不同教学风格或分散注意力的噪音的 “不一致 ”环境中学习。该研究旨在帮助教育工作者了解学习过程是如何发生的以及哪些因素会影响它，以便他们能够改进他们的教育方法。
The researchers in this study intentionally provided confusing information to simulate the inconsistencies in learning environments. The study subjects were tasked with learning the names of three fictional characters using two types of learning methods. One is “object-label learning”, which means seeing the
本研究的研究人员故意提供令人困惑的信息来模拟学习环境中的不一致。研究对象的任务是使用两种类型的学习方法学习三个虚构人物的名字。一种是 “ 对象标签学习 ”，即看到
characters before hearing the names. The other is “label-object learning”, which means hearing the names first and then seeing the characters.
字符。另一种是 “ 标签-对象学习 ”，即先听到名字，再看到字符。
The results show that people who see the characters first process inconsistent information better than those who hear the names first.
结果显示，首先看到字符的人比先听到名字的人更好地处理不一致的信息。
This finding can be applied to foreign language learning programs, where showing images before introducing the name of an object could benefit learners. It could also be applied in other fields of study where students need to make similar associations.
这一发现可以应用于外语学习计划，在介绍对象名称之前显示图像可能会使学习者受益。它也可以应用于学生需要做出类似关联的其他研究领域。
News reports 2
新闻报道 2
An 86-year-old man in China, Sun Zhenchu, recently obtained his driver’s license after just a year of training. This has inspired and surprised many netizens. The reason behind Sun’s accomplishment is his strong desire to take care of his wife, who has mobility issues following an operation last year. Sun enrolled in a driver training school in Hangzhou and managed to pass the four exams, receiving perfect scores on two of them. After getting his license, Sun bought an electric vehicle so that he could take his wife shopping for groceries, to the hospital, and sightseeing along the Qiantang River.
中国一位 86 岁的老人孙振初在经过短短一年的培训后，最近获得了驾照。这让很多网友深受启发和惊讶。Sun 取得成就的原因是他强烈希望照顾他的妻子，她的妻子在去年手术后行动不便。Sun 就读于杭州的一所驾驶员培训学校，并通过了四次考试，其中两次获得了满分。拿到驾照后，孙买了一辆电动汽车，这样他就可以带妻子买菜、去医院，以及沿着钱塘江观光。
What’s more remarkable about Sun is his impressive career as a nuclear weapon specialist. He studied at the PLA Military Engineering Institute, which is now Harbin Engineering University. Just after graduating in 1964, Sun participated in China’s first atomic bomb test. He then went on to conduct nuclear weapon research and testing for 32 years. He retired in 1995 but continued to learn new things. In a speech given at Zhejiang Gongshang University, he encouraged graduates to keep learning as a way to succeed in today’s competitive and challenging society.
Sun 更引人注目的是他作为核武器专家的令人印象深刻的职业生涯。他曾就读于中国人民解放军军事工程学院，即现在的哈尔滨工程大学。1964 年刚毕业，孙先生就参加了中国第一次原子弹试验。然后，他继续进行核武器研究和测试长达 32 年。他于 1995 年退休，但继续学习新事物。在浙江工商大学的一次演讲中，他鼓励毕业生不断学习，以此作为在当今竞争激烈和充满挑战的社会中取得成功的一种方式。
Conversation
谈话
M: Miranda, let’s talk about your performance in class. You’renot participating, you’re careless with your assignments, and you often hand your work in late. You don’t want to be here, do you?
M：Miranda，我们来谈谈你在课堂上的表现。你不参与，你对作业粗心大意，而且你经常迟交作业。你不想在这里，对吧？
W: I’m sorry, Dr. Smith. It’s just … I’ve got lots of things to do.I’m studying Web Design, and I’m a key player on our golfteam. It’s hard to see why I need to take a French languageclass!
W：对不起，Smith 博士。只是......我有很多事情要做。我正在学习网页设计，并且是我们高尔夫球队的关键球员。很难理解为什么我需要参加法语课程！
M: Well, I’m sorry you feel that way, but learning anotherlanguage can improve your performance in many differentareas of your life and study. It can be very useful sometimes,too. There are many French speakers in the world.
M：嗯，我很抱歉你有这种感觉，但学习另一种语言可以提高你在生活和学习的许多不同领域的表现。它有时也非常有用。世界上有很多讲法语的人。
W: I know that, professor. But why do you think it’s necessaryfor me to learn French? With all the other
W：我知道，教授。但是你为什么认为我有必要学习法语呢？与所有其他
things I already have to learn, it seems like an additional burden. It’s just toomuch! And if I don’t spend
我已经必须学习的东西，这似乎是一个额外的负担。这实在是太多了！如果我不花钱
enough time on the golf course, Iwon’t remain a key player on the golf team. I still don’t see why I should
在高尔夫球场上的时间足够了，我不会继续成为高尔夫球队的关键球员。我仍然不明白我为什么要这样做
learn a language that’s so hard for me. There are no verb tenses on the golf course or in Web Design!
学习一门对我来说很难的语言。高尔夫球场或网页设计中没有动词时态！
M: Listen, Miranda. I’ve known your father since we were students atuniversity 20 years ago, and I have known yousince you were a little girl. Of course, there are no verb tenses in golf or Web Design. But I am giving you good advice. Please listen.
M：听着，Miranda。我从 20 年前还是大学学生的时候就认识你爸爸，我从你还是个小女孩的时候就认识你。当然，高尔夫或 Web 设计中没有动词时态。但我给你很好的建议。请听。
W: Yes, of course, you’re like family to me.
W：是的，当然，你就像我的家人一样。
M: Your brain isn’t like a cup that has water flowing over itsedge when it is full. Instead, it’s like a muscle. Learning French exercises your brain in new ways, making it stronger.It will strengthen your critical thinking skills and creativity.
M：你的大脑不像一个装满水时水流过它的杯子。相反，它就像一块肌肉。学习法语以新的方式锻炼您的大脑，使其更强大。它将增强您的批判性思维能力和创造力。
W: I understand. I will take your advice and try to apply myself a bit more.
W：我明白。我会接受你的建议，并尝试更多地应用自己。
Passage
通道
I began learning Spanish when I was in high school, using a traditional academic method of studying verbs, sentence structures, and grammar by using textbooks and not much else. I found it very easy to learn but was frustrated with the slow pace and repetitive nature of all my Spanish classes. So, I worked extra hard in my spare time, and by the end of the semester, I came to ask my teacher if I could skip a level.
我在高中时开始学习西班牙语，使用传统的学术方法学习动词、句子结构和语法，使用教科书，而不是其他任何东西。我发现它很容易学习，但对我所有的西班牙语课程的缓慢节奏和重复性感到沮丧。所以，我在业余时间加倍努力，到学期结束时，我来问我的老师是否可以跳过一个级别。
This was unsuccessful, however, because the school was not willing to test me or otherwise prove that I could be successful after skipping a level. This made things even more frustrating, as I was stuck in a class where I already knew the material!
然而，这并不成功，因为学校不愿意测试我或以其他方式证明我在跳级后可以成功。这让事情变得更加令人沮丧，因为我被困在一个我已经了解材料的课程中！
Then I went on to college, where I used the language extensively both in and out of the classroom. I studied Spanish literature, culture and language, and I very much enjoyed the cultural and linguistic elements, but I found the in-depth study of literature a very unbalanced way to learn Spanish.
然后我上了大学，在课堂内外我广泛地使用了这门语言 。我学习了西班牙文学、文化和语言，我非常喜欢文化和语言元素，但我发现深入研究文学是一种非常不平衡的学习西班牙语的方式。
I got a lot out of using my Spanish outside of the classroom, including during a trip to Mexico with a business group, where I found myself acting as an interpreter! It was certainly challenging, but it was also a lot of fun. I then volunteered to be an interpreter in the community schools and used my Spanish to teach English to some Spanish speakers. This is probably where I learned the most!
我在课堂外使用西班牙语学到了很多东西，包括在与一个商业团体一起去墨西哥旅行时，我发现自己担任了一名口译员！这当然很有挑战性，但也很有趣。然后，我自愿成为社区学校的口译员，并用我的西班牙语教一些讲西班牙语的人英语。这可能是我学到最多的地方！
Unit 2 Journey into the unknown
第 2 单元 探索未知世界
Further listening:
进一步收听：
News reports 1
新闻报道 1
Berlin is one of Europe’s most popular destinations for a city break. But many tourists just stick to the well-known central attractions. Recently, the local government announced a plan to move tourism away from the city center and into the outer and more remote districts of the city. The plan is called “Off to B!” and refers to the B traffic zone of the German capital, which is outside of the S-Bahn ring.
柏林是欧洲最受欢迎的城市度假目的地之一。但许多游客只是坚持在著名的中心景点。最近，当地政府宣布了一项计划，将旅游业从市中心转移到城市的外围和更偏远的地区。该计划被称为 “Off to B！”，指的是德国首都的 B 交通区，位于 S-Bahn 环线之外。
Berlin’s B zone is made up of nine districts, each offering tourists a chance to explore a different side of the city. Visitors could watch migratory birds in the Britzer Garden, or go surfing in Lichtenberg. They could even try brewing beer, cooking wild herbs, or kayaking.
柏林的 B 区由九个区组成，每个区都为游客提供了探索城市不同面貌的机会。游客可以在 Britzer Garden 观看候鸟，或在 Lichtenberg 冲浪。他们甚至可以尝试酿造啤酒、烹饪野生草药或划皮划艇。
According to an official statement, promoting tourism away from overcrowded city center attractions like the TV tower and the Brandenburg Gate is a win-win situation. More cultural activities will see exposure to larger audiences, and visitors can enjoy some of the unique niche activities the city has to offer – all without creating long queues!
根据一份官方声明，在电视塔和勃兰登堡门等过度拥挤的市中心景点之外促进旅游业是双赢的局面。更多的文化活动将接触到更多的观众，游客可以享受这座城市所提供的一些独特的小众活动——所有这些都不需要排长队！
News reports 2
新闻报道 2
The Indonesian island of Bali plans to ban tourists from renting motorcycles after a series of incidents in which foreign visitors have broken traffic rules.
印度尼西亚巴厘岛计划禁止游客租用摩托车，此前发生了一系列外国游客违反交通规则的事件。
Motorcycling around the island is the most popular method of transportation for tourists. But, if the governor’s plans work out, visitors will be expected to use cars for travel. The governor explained that foreign visitors have been riding motorcycles recklessly, and without helmets or valid paperwork.
骑摩托车环岛是游客最受欢迎的交通方式。但是，如果州长的计划成功，游客将预计使用汽车旅行。州长解释说，外国游客一直在鲁莽地骑摩托车，而且没有头盔或有效的文件。
Local people’s patience with tourists has been tested by frequent reports of unlawful or disrespectful behavior on the roads. Accidents, some deadly, have been reported over recent months. In March, a tourist was arrested for drunk driving on his motorcycle, after he collided with a local driver. He and the other driver were both hospitalized.
当地人对游客的耐心受到了频繁的道路上非法或不尊重行为的报道的考验。最近几个月报告了事故，其中一些是致命的。3 月，一名游客在与当地司机相撞后因酒后驾车而被捕。他和另一名司机都被送往医院。
The details of the plan to ban tourists from renting motorcycles are yet to be determined. There is concern about the impact a ban could have on tourism, including on the motorcycle rental businesses.
禁止游客租用摩托车的计划细节尚未确定。人们担心禁令可能对旅游业产生影响，包括对摩托车租赁业务的影响。
Conversation
谈话
M:It’s good to have you back at work, Emily. How was your trip to the Amazon rainforest?
M： 很高兴你回到工作岗位，Emily。您的亚马逊雨林之旅怎么样？
W:It was spectacular. Almost like a dream! I saw so many more things than I ever could have imagined. The plant life overhead is so thick that you couldn’t even see the sun or the sky above! And there are more shades of green than I’d ever seen before in my life!
W： 太壮观了。几乎就像一场梦！我看到的东西比我想象的要多得多。头顶上的植物非常茂密，你甚至看不到太阳或头顶的天空！而且绿色的阴影比我这辈子见过的都多！
M:Sounds fantastic! How did you get around?
师父： 听起来太棒了！你是怎么度过的？
W:We rode a tour boat down the Amazon River – it connects the whole jungle, and the local people use it to travel, too. It’s amazing being somewhere so far away from technology, without any electricity for miles and miles. Most of the local people don’t even see the world outside of the jungle, and some may never travel more than 15 minutes up or down the river their whole lives!
W： 我们乘坐一艘游览船沿着亚马逊河顺流而下——它连接着整个丛林，当地人也用它来旅行。在远离技术的地方，数英里内没有任何电力，这真是太棒了。大多数当地人甚至看不到丛林以外的世界，有些人可能一辈子都不会在河上或下旅行超过 15 分钟！
M:What an entirely different lifestyle! It must be completely different there. Did you get to meet any of the villagers?
师父： 多么完全不同的生活方式啊！那里一定完全不同。你见过任何村民吗？
W:Oh yes! One time, I finished a small bottle of water and was about to throw the bottle away when the tour guide stopped me and told me to save it. Later, when we arrived at one of the villages, he introduced me to an old woman there who greeted our boat. I gave her the bottle as a gift. She was excited and looked at it as if it were a great treasure, and said that it would be an honored prize for her hut. I was shocked that something so small and common for me – could mean so much!
W： 哦，是的！有一次，我喝完了一小瓶水，正要把瓶子扔掉，导游拦住我，叫我保存好。后来，当我们到达其中一个村庄时，他向我介绍了那里的一位老妇人，她向我们的船打招呼。我把瓶子作为礼物送给了她。她很兴奋，看着它，仿佛这是一个巨大的宝藏，并说这将是她小屋的光荣奖品。我很震惊，对我来说如此微小和普通的事情 - 竟然意义如此之大！
M:Emily, I suppose we really take modern life for granted.
M：Emily，我想我们真的把现代生活看作是理所当然的。
Passage
通道
I believe watching nature programs on television is not going to give us or our children a real experience of nature. On the contrary, they may distance us from nature – actual nature – even further.
我相信在电视上观看自然节目不会让我们或我们的孩子真正体验大自然。相反，它们可能会使我们与自然——真实的自然——更加疏远。
Real nature experiences mean contact with nature; it means being with and within nature, and experiencing it with all of our senses.
真正的自然体验意味着与大自然的接触;它意味着与大自然在一起，置身于大自然中，用我们所有的感官来体验它。
While it’s true that TV programs bring us joy, they will never be able to help us form a relationship with nature. We watch our small screens come alive with vivid colors, and we all let out “ooh” and “aah”. But, never once will we feel the pleasure of being close to nature.
虽然电视节目确实给我们带来了快乐，但它们永远无法帮助我们与自然建立关系。我们看着我们的小屏幕以鲜艳的色彩栩栩如生，我们都发出“噢”和“啊”的声音。但是，我们永远不会感受到亲近大自然的乐趣。
Worse still, watching nature programs on TV makes nature seem strange and distant, away in the forests of the Amazon or in the wilds of Africa. Children may grow up without even realizing that the flowers, plants, or trees in their own backyards are also “nature”, and are equally precious. The truth is that nature is always close to us; we don’t need to go anywhere far away to enjoy such experiences. It is right there in our very own backyards.
更糟糕的是，在电视上观看自然节目会让大自然显得陌生而遥远，无论是在亚马逊的森林中还是在非洲的荒野中。孩子们在成长过程中可能甚至没有意识到自己后院的花草树木也是“自然”，同样珍贵。事实是，大自然总是离我们很近;我们不需要去很远的地方就可以享受这样的体验。它就在我们自己的后院。
All we need to do is make an effort to get closer to nature – to know it, appreciate it, and explore it. Feeling the soil under our feet and the wind in our hair, listening to the sound of the fallen leaves, and taking in the smell of the wet soil – all these are pure joys for our senses that we must experience.
我们需要做的就是努力更接近自然——了解它、欣赏它和探索它。感受脚下的泥土和头发上的风，聆听落叶的声音，闻到潮湿土壤的气味——所有这些都是我们必须体验的纯粹感官乐趣。
Unit 3 Time out
第 3 单元超时
Further listening:
进一步收听：
News reports 1
新闻报道 1
Previous research found that regular leisure-time physical activity at any age can help maintain brain function in later life. However, it is unclear whether the timing or frequency of physical activity has an impact on cognitive abilities later in life. A long-term study published in a famous journal suggests that maintaining a consistent exercise routine throughout adulthood is best for keeping mental sharpness and memory.
以前的研究发现，在任何年龄定期进行闲暇时间的体育活动都有助于在以后的生活中维持大脑功能。然而，目前尚不清楚体育活动的时间或频率是否对以后的认知能力有影响。发表在著名期刊上的一项长期研究表明，在整个成年期保持一致的锻炼程序最适合 保持精神敏锐度和记忆力。
The researchers wanted to know if there are specific “sensitive” periods when physical activity might be most beneficial over the course of a lifetime. Data were collected from 1,417 participants who reported their leisure-time physical activity at ages 36, 43, 53, 60-64, and 69, and then took various cognitive tests at age 69. The study discovered that those who remained physically active at all five time points showed higher cognitive performance, better verbal working memory, and faster processing speed at age 69.
研究人员想知道是否有特定的“敏感”时期，体育活动在一生中最有益。数据收集自 1,417 名参与者，他们报告了他们在 36 岁、43 岁、53 岁、60-64 岁和 69 岁时的闲暇时间身体活动，然后在 69 岁时进行了各种认知测试。研究发现，那些在所有五个时间点都保持身体活动的人在 69 岁时表现出更高的认知能力、更好的语言工作记忆和更快的处理速度。
These findings emphasize the significance of staying active throughout our lives to maintain cognitive health. They also support guidelines that encourage participating in any form of physical activity throughout adulthood, regardless of frequency or timing.
这些发现强调了终生保持活跃对保持认知健康的重要性。他们还支持鼓励在整个成年期参与任何形式的体育活动的指导方针，无论频率或时间如何。
News reports 2
新闻报道 2
Competitive socializing is a new leisure trend for young people in recent years. This idea of combining food with games, which has been around for centuries, is now being taken to the next level. The options available are diverse and include reinvented versions of classic games, like bowling, board games, darts, and ping-pong, as well as newer activities, such as escape rooms and experiencing virtual reality bars. These fun and immersive social experiences are also accompanied with high-quality food and drinks.
竞争性社交是近年来年轻人的新休闲趋势。这种将食物与游戏相结合的想法已经存在了几个世纪，现在正在被提升到一个新的水平。可用的选项多种多样，包括经典游戏的重新设计版本，如保龄球、棋盘游戏、飞镖和乒乓球，以及较新的活动，如密室逃脱和体验虚拟现实酒吧。这些有趣且身临其境的社交体验还伴随着高品质的食品和饮料。
Market researchers found that a quarter of people surveyed about their leisure activities engaged in some kind of social entertainment game recently. They predict that competitive socializing will remain popular despite global economic uncertainty. Millennials and Generation Z, in particular, are driving this trend by spending less on goods and more on experiences.
市场研究人员发现，在接受有关其休闲活动的调查中，有四分之一的人最近参与了某种社交娱乐游戏。他们预测，尽管全球经济存在不确定性，但竞争性社交活动仍将很受欢迎。千禧一代，尤其是 Z 世代，通过减少商品支出而增加体验支出来推动这一趋势。
Competitive socializing offers multisensory fun and in-person social interaction. These features are making it increasingly appealing not only to young professionals but also to families and company clients looking for fresh team-building ideas.
竞争性社交提供多感官乐趣和面对面的社交互动。这些功能使其不仅对年轻的专业人士越来越有吸引力，而且对寻找新鲜团队建设理念的家庭和公司客户也越来越有吸引力。
Conversation
谈话
W: Hello?
W： 你好？
M: Hi Amy, it’s Ryan.
M： 嗨，Amy，我是 Ryan。
W: Oh, hi Ryan! How are you doing?
W： 哦，嗨，Ryan！你好吗？
M: Great, thanks. I’m calling because I want to invite you and Ashley to a dinner party this Saturday. My roommate Erick and I are hosting a 1960s theme party with a few other friends.
M： 太好了，谢谢。我打电话是因为我想邀请你和 Ashley 参加这个星期六的晚宴。我和我的室友 Erick 正在与其他几个朋友举办一个 1960 年代的主题派对。
W: A theme party? Is that like a costume party?
W： 主题派对？这就像一个化装舞会吗？
M: Sort of … People will be dressing in 1960s fashions, with bright colors, bell-bottom jeans, etc. Or some may come as a favorite character or celebrity from the time … But it’s not just cool clothes; we’ll have food, games, and entertainment inspired by the 1960s. In fact, we’ll start our meal with alien noodles in honor of 1960s sci-fi TV shows.
师父： 差不多......人们将穿着 1960 年代的时尚，色彩鲜艳，喇叭裤牛仔裤等。或者有些人可能是当时最喜欢的角色或名人......但这不仅仅是酷衣服;我们将提供受 1960 年代启发的食物、游戏和娱乐活动。事实上，我们将以外星人面条开始我们的用餐，以纪念 1960 年代的科幻电视节目。
W: Wait, wait! What are “alien noodles”?
W： 等等，等等！什么是“外星面”？
M: They’re bright green noodles with purple sauce! But I promise, they taste great!
M： 是亮绿色的紫色酱汁面条！但我保证，它们的味道很棒！
W: That’s crazy! But it sounds like a lot of fun!
W： 太疯狂了！但这听起来很有趣！
M: It will be! There’ll be lots of other things to do, too, but I don’t want to spoil all the surprises. But I’ll just say that we’ll end with light desserts inspired by one of your favorite 1960s movies.
师父： 会的！还有很多其他事情要做，但我不想破坏所有的惊喜。但我只想说，我们将以您最喜欢的 1960 年代电影之一启发的清淡甜点结束。
W: I can’t wait!
W： 我等不及了！
M: Oh, we’re having a singing contest.
M： 哦，我们正在举办一场歌唱比赛。
W: This sounds like a lot of fun. Can I invite my roommate? She loves the 60s movies!
W： 这听起来很有趣。我可以邀请我的室友吗？她喜欢 60 年代的电影！
M: Of course – the more, the merrier! Anyway, it starts at 7 p.m. – my apartment.
师父： 当然——越多越好！无论如何，它从晚上 7 点开始——我的公寓。
Passage
通道
Since I’m a student, I go to school on weekdays, and so I don’t have too much free time. I usually spend six or seven hours at school. After that, I either go downtown for some shopping or go home and study. If I have some free time during the week, I might read a book or watch TV. Lately, my evenings have been spent preparing for my graduation examination, which takes up a lot of time.
因为我是学生，所以我平日上学，所以我没有太多的空闲时间。我通常在学校呆六七个小时。之后，我要么去市中心购物，要么回家学习。如果我在一周内有一些空闲时间，我可能会读书或看电视。最近，我的晚上都花在准备毕业考试上，这占用了很多时间。
Even though I have a lot to do, I still have some free time for my leisure activities. On weekends, I like to go with my family to our cottage. I like taking long walks around the countryside and watching the seasons change. I have the most free time during the summer months. One of my favorite activities is to go canoeing with my friends. We borrow a couple of canoes and choose a nice spot on the river to begin. We then spend the whole day rowing down the river. Sometimes, if it gets hot, we jump in the water and go for a swim. Of course, we take breaks during the day, and we stop along the river to prepare some food. In the evening, we set up our tents and make a campfire. We spend the evening talking, singing songs, and enjoying nature. We often cook some sausages over the campfire. What I enjoy the most is wrapping potatoes in foil and cooking them in the hot ashes. These wonderful trips, just like the summer itself, always end too soon.
尽管我有很多事情要做，但我仍然有一些空闲时间进行我的休闲活动。周末，我喜欢和家人一起去我们的小屋。我喜欢在乡村散步，看季节变化。我在夏季的空闲时间最多。我最喜欢的活动之一是和我的朋友一起划独木舟。我们借了几艘独木舟，在河上选择一个不错的地点开始。然后我们花一整天的时间沿着河划船。有时，如果天气变热，我们会跳进水里去游泳。当然，我们白天休息一下，沿着河边停下来准备一些食物。晚上，我们搭起帐篷，生起篝火。我们晚上聊天、唱歌和享受大自然。我们经常在篝火上煮一些香肠。我最喜欢的是用箔纸包裹土豆，然后在热灰烬中烹饪。这些美妙的旅行，就像夏天本身一样，总是结束得太快。
Unit 4 Urban pulse
Unit 4 城市脉搏
Further listening:
进一步收听：
News reports 1
新闻报道 1
Many people now try to recycle their newspapers, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans in an effort to reduce their household waste. But few of us think about the huge amount of waste produced in our names in a different way: the very buildings we live in.
许多人现在试图回收他们的报纸、塑料瓶和铝罐，以减少他们的家庭垃圾。但是，我们中很少有人以不同的方式看待以我们的名字产生的大量废物：我们居住的建筑物。
The construction industry is the world’s largest consumer of raw materials. New buildings alone are responsible for five percent of the world’s annual greenhouse gas emissions. Most of that material will only ever be used for one building and become landfill once the building reaches the end of its life, typically between 30 and 130 years.
建筑行业是世界上最大的原材料消费行业。仅新建筑就占全球每年温室气体排放量的 5%。这些材料的大部分只会用于一栋建筑，一旦建筑达到其使用寿命（通常在 30 到 130 年之间），就会成为垃圾填埋场。
However, according to recent reports, cities around the world are beginning to pay more attention to the idea of recycling building materials, and some have even passed laws which require building constructors to do this. Meanwhile, architects are planning ways to build new structures designed for easy disassembly.
然而，根据最近的报道，世界各地的城市开始更加关注回收建筑材料的想法，有些城市甚至通过了要求建筑施工商这样做的法律。与此同时，建筑师们正在计划建造易于拆卸的新结构。
But the road to these new recyclable cities is long and will require the creation of new tools, markets, incentives, and maybe even a whole new way to think about ownership and our place in the built environment.
但通往这些新的可回收城市的道路很长，需要创造新的工具、市场、激励措施，甚至可能需要一种全新的方式来思考所有权和我们在建筑环境中的位置。
News reports 2
新闻报道 2
Saudi Arabia has unveiled designs for its ambitious urban project “The Line”, a one-building city in the desert which will stretch over 106 miles and ultimately house 9 million people.
沙特阿拉伯公布了其雄心勃勃的城市项目“The Line”的设计，这是一座位于沙漠中的单栋建筑城市，全长 106 英里，最终可容纳 900 万人口。
The Line is a 200-meter-wide building acting as a vertical city, designed to sit 500 meters above sea level. It will span 34 square kilometers, according to the press release.
The Line 是一座 200 米宽的垂直城市，设计为海拔 500 米。根据新闻稿，它将跨越 34 平方公里。
Though many details have not yet been revealed, those behind the design claim that The Line will run entirely on green energy, with no roads, cars, or emissions. High-speed rail will connect sections of The Line, the press release adds.
尽管许多细节尚未透露，但设计背后的人声称，The Line 将完全使用绿色能源运行，没有道路、汽车或排放。新闻稿补充说，高铁将连接 The Line 的部分路段。
Critics have cast doubt on whether the project is technologically possible, while others have described the vision unveiled in a video as “dystopian”.
批评者对该项目在技术上是否可行表示怀疑，而其他人则将视频中公布的愿景描述为“反乌托邦”。
The Line forms part of a Saudi plan to reshape the kingdom’s economy and compete as a travel hotspot with its Gulf neighbors, such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The country is aiming to reach 100 million annual visitors by the close of the decade and is hoping that the increase in visitors brought by The Line will contribute billions of dollars to the local economy.
这条航线是沙特重塑王国经济并与迪拜和阿布扎比等海湾邻国竞争旅游热点计划的一部分。该国的目标是到本十年末达到每年 1 亿游客，并希望 The Line 带来的游客增加将为当地经济贡献数十亿美元。
Conversation
谈话
M:Hi Emily! Oh, is something troubling you?
M： 嗨，Emily！哦，有什么事情困扰你吗？
W:Yeah, I’ve not been sleeping well. My husband’s just been offered a job in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
W： 是的，我一直睡得不好。我丈夫刚刚在新墨西哥州的圣达菲找到了一份工作。
M:Oh, that’s great! What are you worried about?
师父： 噢，太好了！您担心什么？
W:Well, I’ve lived all my life in big cities. My hometown has about 4.5 million people, but do you know how many people live in Santa Fe?
W： 嗯，我一辈子都生活在大城市。我的家乡大约有 450 万人口，但您知道有多少人住在圣达菲吗？
M:Not really, no!
师父： 不是的，不是的！
W:I looked it up, and it’s like 70,000! The place is tiny! I mean, I’m really happy for my husband, but in a small town, I’m worried that there will be no good restaurants or nice places to walk, no nightlife … I’m a little worried …
W： 我查了一下，大概有 70,000 个！这个地方很小！我的意思是，我真的为我的丈夫感到高兴，但在一个小镇上，我担心不会有好的餐馆或不错的散步场所，没有夜生活......我有点担心......
M:Whoa! Wait a minute, Emily! Did you do anything besides looking at the population of Santa Fe?
师父： 哇！等一下，艾米丽！除了查看圣达菲的人口外，您还做了什么吗？
W:Er, no …
W： 呃，不......
M:You’re jumping to conclusions – and they’re all wrong! I have friends from Santa Fe, and I have visited it many times! It does have a small population – but it’s an amazing place! For one, the history and architecture are unique. The city center was built in the 1600s by the Spanish. It’s also full of beautiful shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and art galleries. And it does have amazing nightlife – full of wonderful people. That’s why many famous writers and movie stars love Santa Fe, too!
师父： 你匆忙下结论——他们都错了！我有来自圣达菲的朋友，我已经去过很多次了！它确实人口不多——但这是一个了不起的地方！首先，历史和建筑是独一无二的。市中心由西班牙人于 1600 年代建造。它还到处都是美丽的商店、餐馆、咖啡店和艺术画廊。它确实有令人惊叹的夜生活——到处都是很棒的人。这就是为什么许多著名作家和电影明星也喜欢圣达菲的原因！
W:Oh, I see. It sounds great. What about wildlife and nature?
W： 哦，我明白了。听起来很棒。野生动物和自然呢？
M:Oh, it’s wonderful! The colors of the sky and mountains are so beautiful that artists come from around the world to paint them! And at night, you can see so many stars that you feel like you can reach out and touch them. It’s a magical place, Emily. Soon, you’ll realize how lucky you are. You’ll have a long line of family and friends waiting to come and visit you in Santa Fe! And I’ll be one of them!
师父： 噢，太好了！天空和山脉的颜色是如此美丽，以至于来自世界各地的艺术家们都来画它们！到了晚上，你可以看到这么多的星星，你觉得你可以伸手触摸它们。这是一个神奇的地方，艾米丽。很快，您就会意识到自己是多么幸运。您将排起长队的家人和朋友来圣达菲探望您！我就是他们中的一员！
Passage
通道
Around the world, smart cities are being built, while those we have lived in for centuries are being upgraded for the future. A smart city may mean one that uses traffic data to ease congestion or one that aims to join up services to provide better information for citizens. For many, it is about making cities greener and more efficient. Upgrading cities is partly a reaction to overcrowding and pollution, but also, in an ever-connected world, it makes increasing sense to hook entire cities up to the network.
在世界各地，智慧城市正在建设中，而我们生活了几个世纪的城市正在为未来进行升级。智慧城市可能意味着使用交通数据来缓解拥堵的城市，或者旨在整合服务以为公民提供更好的信息。对许多人来说，这是为了让城市更环保、更高效。升级城市在一定程度上是对过度拥挤和污染的反应，但同时，在一个永远互联的世界中，将整个城市连接到网络越来越有意义。
Masdar is a city that stands in the middle of the desert of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. It is designed to be one of the most sustainable cities on the planet. With a solar power station at its heart and wind farms providing energy, it aims to be carbon-free. Everything in the city, from water to rubbish, is measured and monitored, becoming a source of information. The city is built on a raised platform to allow its “digital plumbers” easy access to the system of advanced technologies that run the city. It is pedestrian-friendly and entirely car-free. The city is also currently experimenting with a network of electric driverless cars. The PRT – personal rapid transit – will run six meters under street level across the city. The buildings in the city have been designed by a world-famous architecture company which has designed a number of eye-catching buildings, including London’s City Hall.
马斯达尔是一座矗立在阿拉伯联合酋长国阿布扎比沙漠中的城市。它旨在成为地球上最具可持续性的城市之一。它的核心是太阳能发电站，风电场提供能源，旨在实现无碳。城市中的一切都被测量和监控，从水到垃圾，成为信息来源。该市建在一个高架平台上，让“数字水管工”能够轻松访问运行该市的先进技术系统。它对行人友好，并且完全禁止车辆通行。该市目前正在试验电动无人驾驶汽车网络。PRT（个人快速交通）将在城市的街道以下 6 米处运行。该市的建筑由一家世界著名的建筑公司设计，该公司设计了许多引人注目的建筑，包括伦敦的市政厅。
It is hoped that 40,000 people will eventually live in the city, with up to 50,000 commuting there each day.
希望最终将有 40,000 人居住在该市，每天有多达 50,000 人通勤。
Unit 5 Exploring your career
第 5 单元 探索您的职业生涯
Further listening:
进一步收听：
News reports 1
新闻报道 1
Traditional energy companies built around oil, gas, and coal have always employed skilled technicians and engineers. Fortunately, greener versions of those same jobs are now increasingly on offer in the clean energy industry. Such jobs demand extensive knowledge of green skills, which enable the environmental sustainability of economic activities.
围绕石油、天然气和煤炭建立的传统能源公司一直雇用熟练的技术人员和工程师。幸运的是，清洁能源行业现在越来越多地提供这些工作的绿色版本。这些工作需要广泛的绿色技能知识，从而使经济活动的环境可持续性成为可能。
The renewable energy industry is already a major global employer. According to a recent report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, there are 12.7 million jobs in renewables, with solar energy leading the way with 4.3 million jobs worldwide. New clean energy projects also drive employment in other industries, such as workers employed to build and deploy new solar plants, wellheads, heat pumps, and more.
可再生能源行业已经是全球主要的雇主。根据国际可再生能源署最近的一份报告，可再生能源领域有 1270 万个工作岗位，其中太阳能位居榜首，全球提供了 430 万个工作岗位。新的清洁能源项目还推动了其他行业的就业，例如受雇建造和部署新太阳能发电厂、井口、热泵等的工人。
The outlook looks even more promising. It is estimated that 14 million new clean energy jobs will be created by 2030, with another 16 million workers switching to new roles related to clean energy. It’s no wonder jobs related to clean energy are predicted to be among the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. between now and 2031.
前景看起来更加乐观。据估计，到 2030 年，将创造 1400 万个新的清洁能源工作岗位，另有 1600 万工人转行从事与清洁能源相关的新工作。难怪从现在到 2031 年，与清洁能源相关的工作预计将成为美国增长最快的职业之一。
News reports 2
新闻报道 2
As a growing number of people feel priced out of a college education in the U.S., tuition assistance may be the most valuable incentive that companies are using to attract and keep workers.
随着越来越多的人觉得美国的大学教育价格过高，学费援助可能是公司用来吸引和留住员工的最有价值的激励措施。
In the last few years, more businesses have added or expanded the benefits of free college programs, which help employees cover the cost of going back to school. Not only does free or discounted higher education improve recruitment and retention, but it also cuts down on student debt while advancing the long-term well-being of employees, experts say.
在过去的几年里，更多的企业增加或扩大了免费大学计划的好处，帮助员工支付重返学校的费用。专家表示，免费或打折的高等教育不仅可以提高招聘和留住人才，还可以减少学生债务，同时促进员工的长期福祉。
Some big corporate names will not only pay for college degrees and professional certificates for employees but also offer this same benefit to their spouses and children.
一些大公司不仅会为员工支付大学学位和专业证书的费用，还会为他们的配偶和孩子提供同样的好处。
Of course, employers paying for their employees to get a degree is not new. For decades, businesses have paid bills for white-collar workers’ graduate studies and MBAs.
当然，雇主为员工支付学位费用并不是什么新鲜事。几十年来，企业一直在为白领工人的研究生学习和 MBA 课程买单。
However, many companies are now extending this benefit to front-line workers, such as drivers, cashiers, and hourly employees, and are heavily promoting the benefits more than they have before. These types of benefits play a big part in the competition for workers in the job market, according to a survey.
然而，许多公司现在正在将这项福利扩展到一线工人，例如司机、收银员和小时工，并且比以前更多地大力推广这些福利。根据一项调查，这些类型的福利在就业市场对工人的竞争中发挥着重要作用。
Conversation
谈话
M:Only two more semesters, Margaret. Looking forward to the working world?
师父： 只有两个学期了，玛格丽特。期待职场世界？
W:Oh, don’t remind me! It’s only a few short months away. I don’t really know what I’m going to do after I graduate.
W： 哦，别提醒我！只有短短的几个月了。我真的不知道毕业后要做什么。
M:You mean you haven’t been thinking about jobs yet?
师父： 你是说你还没考虑过工作吗？
W:No, not really. I know I should; I just don’t know where to start. I’ve had part-time jobs in fast food – you know – but this real-job stuff scares me to death!
W： 不，不是真的。我知道我应该这样做;我只是不知道从哪里开始。我在快餐店做过兼职工作——你知道的——但这种真正的工作让我吓死了！
M:Come on now; it’s not that bad! You need to take control.
师父： 来吧，还不错！你需要控制。
W:Yeah, I guess you’re right.
W： 是的，我想你是对的。
M:So, first thing tomorrow, go over to the Career Center; it’s on the second floor of the Student Union. Make an appointment with Monica Green. She’s really smart, helpful, and nice.
师父： 那么，明天第一件事，就去职业中心吧;它在学生会的二楼。与 Monica Green 预约。她真的很聪明，乐于助人，而且很好。
W:OK. Career Center… second floor of the Student Union… Monica Green, right?
W： 好的，职业中心......学生会二楼...莫妮卡·格林，对吧？
M:Yep! That’s right! Take your résumé to get it reviewed. Remind me – what are you studying?
师父： 是的！没错！带上你的简历进行审核。提醒我 – 你在学什么？
W:International Business.
W： 国际商务。
M:OK, pretty easy then. Check the Internet for international companies here in Seattle. That’s how I found my internship last summer. In fact, they’ve even offered me a job after I graduate.
师父： 好的，那很简单。在互联网上查看西雅图的国际公司。去年夏天我就是这样找到实习机会的。事实上，他们甚至在我毕业后为我提供了一份工作。
W:You’re lucky! I wish I had an internship now, and a job waiting for me after graduation.
W： 你走运！我希望我现在有实习机会，毕业后有一份工作等着我。
M:Don’t worry! What you need to do at the moment is just organize a good plan. Try for an internship, search hard for jobs, and always have a good plan. And remember, you can always move back home with your parents in San Francisco if you need to.
师父： 别担心！您目前需要做的只是组织一个好的计划。尝试实习，努力寻找工作，并始终有一个好的计划。请记住，如果需要，您可以随时搬回旧金山的父母家。
W:That’s a good plan. My parents would be glad to have me back home for a while, anyway!
W： 这是一个很好的计划。无论如何，我的父母会很高兴我回家一段时间！
Passage
通道
When you receive a job offer, it’s important to take the time to carefully evaluate the offer. Then, you can make an educated decision to accept or reject it.
当您收到工作机会时，花时间仔细评估工作机会很重要。然后，您可以做出明智的决定来接受或拒绝它。
You should consider the entire compensation package – salary, benefits, working environment – and not just the paycheck. Money isn’t the only factor to consider, but it is an important one. Is the offer what you expected? If not, is it a salary you can accept without feeling that you are insulted? If it isn’t what you expected, consider negotiating the salary with your future employer.
您应该考虑整个薪酬方案——薪水、福利、工作环境——而不仅仅是薪水。金钱不是唯一需要考虑的因素，但它是一个重要的因素。优惠是否符合您的预期？如果不是，这是一份你可以接受而不会觉得自己被侮辱的薪水吗？如果这不是您的预期，请考虑与您未来的雇主协商薪水。
Before accepting a job, be sure that you are clear on the hours you need to work. Also, confirm what, if any, travel is involved. If the position requires 40 hours of work a week and you’re used to working 25-30 hours, consider whether you will have difficulty committing to the schedule.
在接受工作之前，请确保您清楚您需要工作的时间。此外，确认涉及哪些旅行（如果有）。如果该职位需要每周工作 40 小时，而您习惯于 25-30 小时工作，请考虑您是否难以遵守时间表。
The bottom line in accepting a job offer is that there really isn’t one. Everyone has a different set of personal circumstances. What might be the perfect job for you could be an awful job for someone else.
接受工作机会的底线是真的没有。每个人都有不同的个人情况。对你来说可能是完美的工作，对其他人来说可能是一项糟糕的工作。
It’s much easier to turn down an offer than to leave a job that you have already started. The same is true for your potential employer. The employer would prefer that you reject it rather than having to start over the hiring process a couple of weeks down the road if you don’t work out. So, do take the time to consider the offer thoroughly. Ask questions if you have them. Take your time to make an educated, informed decision so you feel sure that you and the company make an excellent match.
拒绝工作机会比离开已经开始的工作要容易得多。您的潜在雇主也是如此。雇主宁愿你拒绝它，也不愿如果你不锻炼，就不得不在几周后重新开始招聘流程。因此，请务必花时间彻底考虑该报价。如果你有问题，就问。花点时间做出有根据、明智的决定，这样您就会确信您和公司是完美的匹配。
Unit 6 Miracles of technology
第 6 单元 技术奇迹
Further listening:
进一步收听：
News reports 1
新闻报道 1
Higher education has gone from being afraid of people using AI to cheat to cautiously embracing its use under controlled circumstances. While experts have discussed how AI will change education and society, the opinions of university students have generally been overlooked.
高等教育已经从害怕人们使用 AI 作弊转变为在受控情况下谨慎地接受它的使用。虽然专家们讨论了人工智能将如何改变教育和社会，但大学生的意见通常被忽视。
Academics from Sydney and Hong Kong universities specializing in higher education practice and research surveyed over 450 students. They also conducted focus groups to understand the students’ thoughts on how AI should be used in education.
来自悉尼和香港大学专门从事高等教育实践和研究的学者对 450 多名学生进行了调查。他们还进行了焦点小组讨论，以了解学生对如何在教育中使用人工智能的想法。
The majority recognized that AI language models were helpful for summarizing, brainstorming, explaining, and advising, making it easier to learn difficult topics in a conversational way. Students wanted their teachers to teach them how to best use AI tools and make such tools a common part of education, including educating them about risks, biases, and limitations in doing research with such tools. They also agreed that guidelines were needed to outline what happens if AI is used.
大多数人认识到 AI 语言模型有助于总结、头脑风暴、解释和建议，从而更轻松地以对话方式学习困难的主题。学生们希望他们的老师教他们如何最好地使用 AI 工具，并使这些工具成为教育的常见部分，包括教育他们了解使用此类工具进行研究的风险、偏见和限制。他们还同意，需要指导方针来概述如果使用 AI 会发生什么。
However, they also expressed concerns over access and cost, as well as widening inequities caused by schools taking different approaches to AI. As AI development speeds up, it is urgent for universities to work with students, industries, communities, and governments to help students engage productively and responsibly with AI.
然而，他们也对入学机会和成本以及学校对人工智能采取不同方法造成的不平等现象表示担忧。随着 AI 发展的加速，大学迫切需要与学生、行业、社区和政府合作，帮助学生高效、负责任地参与 AI。
News reports 2
新闻报道 2
Robotics and artificial intelligence are used in the sorting process for recycling. With advanced cameras and technology, some companies are counting on robots to sort recycling and reduce any health risks associated with human labor. According to a report from the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois, recycling workers are twice as likely to be injured on the job as other workers.
机器人和人工智能用于回收的分拣过程。借助先进的摄像头和技术，一些公司依靠机器人对回收进行分类，并减少与人类劳动相关的任何健康风险。根据伊利诺伊大学公共卫生学院的一份报告，回收工人在工作中受伤的可能性是其他工人的两倍。
Cameras and high-tech computer systems that are trained to recognize specific objects will guide robots’ arms to reach their targets. Oversized fingers with sensors that are attached to the arms are able to pick cans, glass, plastic containers, and other recyclable items out of the mixed waste and place them in their respective bins.
经过训练以识别特定物体的摄像头和高科技计算机系统将引导机器人的手臂到达目标。带有安装在臂上的传感器的超大手指能够从混合垃圾中挑选罐头、玻璃、塑料容器和其他可回收物品，并将它们放入各自的垃圾箱中。
Recycling robots are still generally placed in assistive roles, but companies have found that they can work two times faster than humans. Industry leaders have developed robots that can identify different colors, textures, shapes, and sizes of plastic materials and make it easier to sort waste.
回收机器人通常仍然被置于辅助角色，但公司发现它们的工作速度是人类的两倍。行业领导者已经开发出可以识别不同颜色、纹理、形状和大小的塑料材料的机器人，并使其更容易分类废物。
This technique can increase the quality of material output and, in some cases, double the resale value of recycled materials.
这种技术可以提高材料输出的质量，在某些情况下，还可以使回收材料的转售价值翻倍。
Conversation
谈话
M = Man; W = Woman
M = 人;W = 女性
M: Oh no! Another call from my grandmother!
M： 哦，不！我奶奶又打来了电话！
W: What’s wrong? I love talking to my grandmother. She’s an artist and tells really funny stories!
W： 怎么了？我喜欢和我的祖母聊天。她是一位艺术家，会讲非常有趣的故事！
M: Oh, I love talking to my grandmother, too … usually. She just moved from New York City down here to Washington D.C., and I’m happy to have her near me. She’s great company.
M： 哦，我也喜欢和我的祖母聊天......通常。她刚从纽约市搬到华盛顿特区，我很高兴她在我身边。她是很棒的伙伴。
W: Then why do you dislike getting phone calls from her?
W： 那你为什么不喜欢接她的电话呢？
M: My problem is I spent six hours on Saturday and five hours on Sunday at her apartment trying to teach her how to use her new electronic gadgets. I set up her telephone, computer, Internet, and TV. Although she has been trying to learn, she still seems really confused. She just has no idea how to make any of them work.
M： 我的问题是，我周六花了 6 个小时，周日花了 5 个小时在她的公寓里，试图教她如何使用她的新电子产品。我为她设置了电话、电脑、互联网和电视。虽然她一直在努力学习，但她似乎仍然非常困惑。她只是不知道如何让它们中的任何一个工作。
W: Oh, I see. My aunt Patricia was the same. She was slow in learning – so it took six lessons plus nine phone calls to learn basic email skills. Literally, just how to open and close an email, and how to attach a document!
W： 哦，我明白了。我的姑姑帕特里夏也是一样。她学习速度很慢，所以花了 6 节课和 9 个电话来学习基本的电子邮件技能。从字面上看，就是如何打开和关闭电子邮件，以及如何附加文档！
M: Yes, my grandmother is like that, too. But it seems that she is not interested in learning such things. My grandfather always took care of all the electronic items – and since he passed away two years ago, she now has to handle them by herself.
师父： 是的，我奶奶也是这样。但她似乎对学习这些东西不感兴趣。我的祖父总是照顾所有的电子产品——自从他两年前去世后，她现在必须自己处理它们。
W: You need to find a way to make her actually like the electronic gadgets. Have you tried introducing her to simple video games? I downloaded some games for my grandfather on his PC, and he loves them. These days, he spends hours playing those games.
W： 你需要找到一种方法让她真正喜欢那些电子产品。你试过向她介绍简单的电子游戏吗？我在我祖父的 PC 上为他下载了一些游戏，他很喜欢这些游戏。这些天，他花了几个小时玩这些游戏。
M: Hm … I’m not sure, but it may be worth a shot. My grandmother used to love tennis. Maybe I can see if she’ll be interested in a tennis game. Thanks for the suggestion!
男： 嗯......我不确定，但可能值得一试。我的祖母以前很喜欢网球。也许我可以看看她是否会对网球比赛感兴趣。谢谢你的建议！
Passage
通道
“Wilfing”, or browsing the Web without any real purpose, has become a popular pastime, according to a survey of more than 2,400 web users. The word “wilf” is an acronym for the question “What was I looking for?” Wilfing is the virtual equivalent of window shopping, and a lot of us seem to be spending a lot of time doing it.
根据对 2,400 多名网络用户的调查，“Wilfing”或没有任何真正目的的浏览 Web 已成为一种流行的消遣方式。“wilf” 一词是问题 “What was I looking for？” 的首字母缩写词 Wilfing 实际上是橱窗购物的等价物，我们中的很多人似乎都花了很多时间去做这件事。
Although a newly-identified habit, more than two-thirds of the Internet users in the U.K. admitted to at least occasional wilfing while using the Internet.
尽管这是一种新发现的习惯，但英国超过三分之二的互联网用户承认在使用互联网时至少偶尔会萎靡不振。
The attraction of pop-up sites and flashing online advertisements is too appealing to resist for many Internet users. Almost a quarter of those surveyed said they spent 30 percent or more of
弹出式网站和闪烁的在线广告的吸引力对于许多互联网用户来说太有吸引力了，无法抗拒。近四分之一的受访者表示，他们花费了 30% 或更多的
their Internet time wilfing – the equivalent of spending an entire
他们的互联网时间正在消逝——相当于花费了一整
working day every fortnight, pointlessly jumping between random pages.
每两周工作日，毫无意义地在随机页面之间跳转。
The survey found that shopping websites are the most likely destinations for wilfers. Other popular pulls include news, music, and travel websites.
调查发现，购物网站是最有可能的 wilfer 目的地。其他流行的拉取包括新闻、音乐和旅游网站。
It was also found that the tendency to wilf is more widespread among men than women. Looking at a series of pointless web pages also appeared to be the preserve of the young, with people aged 55 or over being three times less likely to browse pointlessly than those under 25.
研究还发现，男性比女性更普遍地出现枯萎病。查看一系列毫无意义的网页似乎也是年轻人的专利，55 岁或以上的人无意义浏览的可能性是 25 岁以下的人的三倍。
The time-consuming practice appears to have negative effects, too: A third of males admitted that wilfing has a damaging effect on their family relationships. One in five admitted to being “distracted” from work or study by entertainment websites, which often use pop-up advertisements and bulk emails to trap users into navigating to their pages.
这种耗时的做法似乎也有负面影响： 三分之一的男性承认，萎缩对他们的家庭关系有破坏性影响。五分之一的人承认被娱乐网站 “ 分散 ” 了工作或学习的注意力，这些网站经常使用弹出广告和群发电子邮件来诱使用户导航到他们的页面。