英语每日一听 | 每天少于5分钟

When you were at school, were you ever told to stop daydreaming and concentrate? It was easy for your mind to wander if you weren’t interested in what you were learning or if you had better things to think about. Staying focused can still be a challenge in adult life, but understanding how to do it, and knowing what is distracting you, can help.

当你在学校的时候，你有没有被告知要停止做白日梦并集中注意力？如果您对正在学习的内容不感兴趣，或者如果您有更好的事情要考虑，您的思绪很容易走神。保持专注仍然是成人生活中的一个挑战，但了解如何做到这一点，并知道是什么让你分心，会有所帮助。

Scientists have looked at what makes us procrastinate and found a number of ways to help us stay in the zone. One of the most obvious things is eliminating noise. Research by Science Focus magazine found silence is best for concentration, or a gentle background hum and coffee shop noise is great! It also found turning off notifications on your phone, or switching it off altogether, removes...

There are many different types of houses in the UK. You may see detached, semi-detached, terraced houses or even end-of-terrace houses on a typical street. You might see mansions in more affluent parts of town, or people residing in bungalows, preferring to live a life without stairs. Quaint cottages may dot the countryside, while heading to the cities you could see any number of types of flats, including houses turned into converted flats, studios and duplexes. But one thing you will notice is that many houses come from different eras, and asking a British person about their ideal home...

We’ve all been there. One minute you’re searching for something serious, like a recipe for dinner, or something for work, and the next you’ve been sucked in by endless videos of cats doing funny things after seeing a catchy title in your suggested videos column. They’re compelling, engrossing and captivating, and you can end up spending hours watching kittens make funny noises or mistiming jumps. But why do these videos so often end up going viral? What makes them so enthralling? And why are they more popular than dog videos?

我们都去过那里。前一分钟你还在搜索一些严肃的东西，比如晚餐食谱或工作所需的东西，下一分钟你在看到推荐视频栏中吸引人的标题后就被没完没了的猫做有趣事情的视频所吸引。它们引人入胜、引人入胜、引人入胜，您最终可能会花几个小时看着小猫发出有趣的声音或错误地跳跃。但为什么这些视频最终会像病毒一样传播开来？是什么让他们如此迷人？为什么它们比狗视频更受欢迎？

First, let’s talk about stereotypes. When many of us think about dogs, we imagine them rolling over onto their backs, tongues hanging out, or making a mess. They seem trusting and innocent – and they do silly things. Cats, on the other hand, seem somewhat more refined and independent. There’s a reason we have an expression ‘cool cat’. In short, cats se...

When you go on holiday, where do you like to stay? Do you like the luxury of a five-star hotel, the convenience of a self-catering apartment or do you prefer the freedom of sleeping under canvas? If you haven’t tried the latter, maybe you should join the increasing number of people who are enjoying the simple pleasures of camping.

当你去度假时，你喜欢住在哪里？您是喜欢五星级酒店的奢华，还是自助式公寓的便利，还是更喜欢睡在帆布下的自由？如果你还没有尝试过后者，也许你应该加入越来越多的人的行列，他们正在享受露营的简单乐趣。

By grabbing your tent, and some additional accessories, it’s easy to head off to the countryside and enjoy a night or two under the stars. Many campers are ditching the trappings of their modern, hectic life to do this, encouraged by experts who say a few peaceful nights in the middle of nowhere might be a good way to unwind and improve our sleep patterns and well-being. It is also...

Are you good with your hands? Many of us like to make things which we can use or give as gifts. Crafting is certainly a hobby that’s seen a resurgence, and those who pursue it claim getting creative improves their mood.

你的手好用吗？我们中的许多人都喜欢制作可以使用或作为礼物赠送的东西。手工制作无疑是一种重新流行的爱好，追求它的人声称获得创意可以改善他们的心情。

The recent lockdowns caused by the Covid pandemic gave people time at home to try out new activities, which they’ve continued to enjoy. Many turned to hobbies such as craft making as a way to soothe their work-from-home burnout. Knitting, crocheting, pottery and painting are all crafts that have seen a revival, and many of them are being done by younger people.

Covid 大流行导致的最近封锁让人们有时间在家里尝试新的活动，他们继续享受这些活动。许多人转向手工制作等爱好来缓解他们在家工作的倦怠感。针织、钩编、陶艺和绘画都...

Do you know the names of the people who live next door? Chances are you live next to someone, but do you actually know them? Sadly, the only time we do seem to hear about people’s neighbours is when things go wrong – hearing people say things like they have the neighbours from hell! So, what does go wrong?

你知道住在隔壁的人的名字吗？你可能住在某人旁边，但你真的认识他们吗？可悲的是，我们似乎唯一一次听到人们的邻居是在事情出错的时候——听到人们说他们有来自地狱的邻居！那么，出了什么问题呢？

When talking about famous feuds with people who live in proximity, you only need to think of the Montagues and Capulets in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Thankfully, most real-life quarrels don’t go that far. These days, especially in cities, many people live in condominiums, tightly packed into apartment blocks. Our neighbours are all around us – so what issues can come from that?

当谈论与...

We all know driving can be stressful. One minute you’re minding your own business and the next someone cuts you up. Manoeuvres like that can be annoying and irritating, but for some of us, it can make us incandescent with rage. So what is road rage, and what things can cause it?

我们都知道驾驶可能会有压力。前一分钟你在管自己的事，下一分钟有人打断你。像这样的动作可能会令人讨厌和恼火，但对于我们中的一些人来说，它会让我们愤怒地白炽灯。那么什么是路怒症，什么因素会导致它呢？

Road rage, simply put, is a sudden burst of anger that motorists experience when they feel angered by something another driver, cyclist or pedestrian has done. Road rage can manifest itself in several ways, including verbal or physical threats, insults, and even dangerous driving. The drivers themselves may feel anxiety and stress, which can cause them to speed or swerve across the road. Experts like Leon James, a professor of traffic psychology at t...

There aren’t many parents who would say that raising children is easy. For many people, having children can force parents to choose between career and family. Sometimes it comes down to finances – sending a child to nursery or hiring a nanny can be a huge financial burden that is unsustainable, while others may feel it’s better to be a hands-on parent. These days, more and more men are choosing to stay at home to look after their offspring. So why are more dads opting to put their careers on hold, and what does the job entail?

没有多...

Bath or shower? How do you prefer to keep yourself clean? Whatever your daily ablutions, we know it’s important to have good personal hygiene. Nobody wants to smell, and nobody wants to catch your odour! A shower can bring you certain other benefits, but how often should we wash ourselves under a watery spray?

浴缸还是淋浴？你喜欢怎样保持自己的清洁？无论您的日常沐浴方式如何，我们都知道保持良好的个人卫生很重要。没有人想闻，也没有人想闻到你的气味！淋浴可以为您带来某些其他好处，但我们应该多久用喷水清洗一次呢？

Although you might think taking a daily shower should be part of your cleaning ritual, there’s no hard and fast rule, although dermatologists agree that as a society, we shower too often. In fact, too much washing can deplete the vital oils in our skin. It can waste water as well. However, if you have a fitness regime that causes you to sweat, a more regular sprinkle of water is recommended to stop you ponging!

...

One thing we always remember from our childhood is our favourite teddy bear. This soft, ragged toy was our comfort and companion. As we grow up, we normally give up our childish ways, and our furry friend often ends up in storage or at a jumble sale. But that’s not the case for everyone.

我们从小就永远记得的一件事是我们最喜欢的泰迪熊。这个柔软、破烂的玩具是我们的安慰和伴侣。随着我们的成长，我们通常会放弃幼稚的方式，而我们毛茸茸的朋友通常会被存放在仓库或杂货店。但并非所有人都如此。

It seems that some grown-ups continue to need their cuddly toy by their sides. One sleep survey suggested a tenth of people in the UK need a teddy bear in bed. And for some adults, soft toys remain an essential presence ­– they take them wherever they go.

似乎一些成年人仍然需要他们身边的可爱玩具。一项睡眠调查表明，十分之一的英国人需要在床上养一只泰迪熊。对于一些成年人来说，毛绒玩具仍然是必不可少的存在——无论他们走到哪里，他们都会带着它们。

A cuddly toy can come in many...

How bored are you? Having nothing to do, or doing the same task again and again, can certainly be demotivating. And if boredom persists, you can lose your lust for life, and it can even affect your mental health. But does being bored have to be boring?

你有多无聊？无事可做，或者一次又一次地做同样的事情，肯定会让人失去动力。如果无聊持续存在，您可能会失去对生活的渴望，甚至会影响您的心理健康。但是无聊就一定是无聊的吗？

A lack of stimulation can lead to boredom – this is when we start to yawn and our mind wanders. It can happen at home or at school, but it’s at work where some experts think being chronically bored can have damaging consequences. This situation has been termed ‘boreout’ and is the opposite of ‘burnout’. Writing for BBC Worklife, Bryan Lufkin says this happens “when we are bored by our work to the point that we feel it is...

Who do you count as your friends? From our BFF to a work mate, it’s good to have someone to chew the fat with or offer comfort and support. But when it comes to friendship, is it more important to have quantity or quality?

你认为谁是你的朋友？从我们的 BFF 到工作伙伴，有人一起咀嚼脂肪或提供安慰和支持是件好事。但是说到友谊，是数量重要还是质量重要？

The recent isolation we have endured due to the coronavirus pandemic has made some of us question our friendships. We’ve fallen out of touch with friends and acquaintances, and it may feel awkward, but do we actually have to rekindle every relationship we once had? It might be time to take stock and think about who you kept in touch with, who you missed talking to, and who you didn’t. In short, m...

Sometimes life doesn’t seem to play fair. It blindsides you at the most inopportune moments, and even if we can learn to grin and bear the ups and downs, they can take their toll on our psyche. So rather than suffer in silence or let these things get you down, maybe there is another way: what if humour can help you get through the dark times?

有时生活似乎并不公平。它在最不合时宜的时刻让你措手不及，即使我们能够学会微笑并承受起起落落，它们也会对我们的心灵造成伤害。因此，与其默默忍受或让这些事情让你沮丧，也许还有另一种方式：如果幽默可以帮助你度过黑暗时期呢？

According to author and clinician Kristen Lee: “Laughter and tears are both therapeutic – we need both to process such hard times.” But how can we find the tough things that happen funny? Our lives are really serious, often filled with mundane and repetitive activities, whether it’s arbitrary bill paying or fighting for a seat on your commute, we need to make time for fun and p...

There’s one thing for certain – we’re all getting older. And while the older amongst us may be no spring chickens any more, growing old gracefully is no bad thing. And with age comes wisdom. However, as the world population ages, will there be enough people to replace our younger selves?

有一件事是肯定的——我们都在变老。虽然我们当中的老年人可能不再是春鸡，但优雅地变老并不是一件坏事。随着年龄的增长，智慧也随之而来。然而，随着世界人口老龄化，会有足够的人来取代我们年轻的自己吗？

A situation where there are more old people than young certainly has an effect on the world. A report by the Pew Research Center says that globally the number of people over 65 years old will triple by 2050, drastically altering some countries’ demographic make-up.

老年人多于年轻人的情况肯定会对世界产生影响。皮尤研究中心的一份报告称，到 2050 年，全球 65 岁以上的人口数量将增加两倍，从而彻底改变一些国家的人口构成。

This growing and dependent population means that there is an increased demand for health and...

It’s the middle of winter, and the prospect of warm sunny days is a long way off. For some of us, it’s the most depressing time of year, where daylight is limited and the weather is often miserable – this is when the winter blues set in. So what can be done to lift our spirits?

现在是隆冬，距离温暖晴朗的日子还有很长的路要走。对于我们中的一些人来说，这是一年中最令人沮丧的时候，日光有限，天气通常很糟糕——这是冬季忧郁症开始的时候。那么我们可以做些什么来振奋精神呢？

The shorter days and longer nights can make us feel down, and that can cause us to eat more and exercise less. Some fear loneliness and isolation during the long dark months. Those people who suffer this seasonal mood swing more seriously are described as having seasonal affective disorder – or SAD for short. It’s a type of depression with a seasonal pattern caused by a lack of light and is thou...

What’s your favourite genre of film? For many people who love being petrified, or scared out of their wits, by jump scares that answer will be horror. Whether it’s splatter films, wastelands in the apocalypse, monsters like demons, zombies, vampires, werewolves or phantoms, there’s something to suit everyone’s taste. But just why do people enjoy watching these terrifying films?

你最喜欢的电影类型是什么？对于许多喜欢被吓呆或吓得魂飞魄散的人来说，跳跃恐慌的答案将是恐怖的。无论是泼溅片、末世荒原，还是恶魔、僵尸、吸血鬼、狼人、幻影等怪物，总有一款适合你。但是，为什么人们喜欢看这些恐怖电影呢？

First off, being scared can give us a rush of adrenaline. The heart starts pumping, making these films exhilarating. But the fact you’re actually at home safe on the sofa makes the experience of being frightened all the more enjoyable because what’s happening to the characters on the screen is far removed from your experience of being in your living room eating popcorn. It feels more thrillin...

We are all aware of the effect greenhouse gas emissions is having on our planet and the efforts needed to tackle climate change. Most of us are doing our bit to minimise our impact on the environment, but despite our collective effort, are we doing enough to achieve net zero by 2050?

我们都知道温室气体排放对我们星球的影响以及应对气候变化所需的努力。我们大多数人都在尽自己的一份力量来尽量减少我们对环境的影响，但尽管我们共同努力，我们是否正在为到 2050 年实现净零排放做足够的事情？

Net zero means not adding to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Many countries are doing their bit by changing how they generate and use power, thereby cutting carbon dioxide output. And they announced what further steps they were going to take at the recent COP26 summit in Glasgow.

净零意味着不增加大气中的温室气体量。许多国家正在通过改变他们生产和使用电力的方式来尽自己的一份力量，从而减少二氧化碳的排放。他们在最近于格拉斯哥举行的 COP26 峰会上宣布了将采取的进一步措施。

In the UK, the government has...

Do you like to bury your head in a good book? Getting absorbed in a good story is a great way to relax. It improves your literacy, and, according to some experts, it’s good for your health as well. Studies show that it can increase our emotional intelligence as we understand a range of perspectives and motivations. But despite these benefits, does the way we consume a story make any difference?

你喜欢埋头读一本好书吗？沉浸在一个好故事中是放松的好方法。它可以提高你的识字能力，而且据一些专家称，它对你的健康也有好处。研究表明，当我们了解一系列观点和动机时，它可以提高我们的情商。但是尽管有这些好处，我们消费故事的方式有什么不同吗？

For the purist, the only way to digest a good story is with a paperback or hardback book. Being in print, it’s possible to feel and even smell the book. And of course it’s very portable. But the traditional book has had a rival in recent years from e-books, which are read on e-readers or tablets. An ‘electronic’ book enables you to store hundreds...

It’s difficult not to admire the talent of a skilled musician. Whether it be a pianist, flautist or cellist, these individuals have shown dedication and passion over a long period of time to reach the highest levels of performance. But they say it’s never too late to learn. So what are the benefits, for both children and adults, in learning a musical instrument?

很难不钦佩一位技艺高超的音乐家的才华。无论是钢琴家、长笛演奏家还是大提琴演奏家，这些人在很长一段时间内都表现出了奉献精神和热情，以达到最高水平的表演。但他们说学习永远不会太晚。那么学习乐器对儿童和成人有什么好处呢？

Learning to play a musical instrument when growing up can improve hearing in adulthood. According to a study by Dr Nina Kraus, Professor of Neurobiology at Northwestern University in Illinois, US, children who played musical instruments were better at recognising different frequencies. This improved hearing skill carried over into later life with adults who had once played an instrument able to dis...

Weddings are expensive affairs – there’s nothing new or surprising in that statement. When we talk about the costs of a wedding, we often think about the financial toll on the person paying for it. The outlay on tiered cakes, the dress with a long train, appliques and veil, and canapes at the reception can all add up. But what about the guests? The cost to your friends and family to attend.

婚礼是昂贵的事情——这句话没有什么新鲜或令人惊讶的。当我们谈论婚礼的费用时，我们通常会想到支付费用的人的经济损失。分层蛋糕、长裙裾、贴花和面纱以及招待会上的开胃小菜的支出都可以加起来。但是客人呢？您的朋友和家人参加的费用。

The first thing to think about when attending is the price of getting there. Even just a few hundred miles from where you live can bring some expenses – be it transport or staying in a hotel. But some people like to tie the knot in exotic locations, thinking it will make their special day even more special – on a beach in front of palm trees...

How is your memory? Remembering things is an important function of our brain – if we can’t recall how to do something, we can’t survive. If you think about it, there is so much we have to remember – from where we left our car keys to how we walk. Maybe it’s no surprise that sometimes we are forgetful.

你的记忆力如何？记住事情是我们大脑的一项重要功能——如果我们不记得如何做某事，我们就无法生存。如果你仔细想想，我们必须记住的东西太多了——从我们把车钥匙放在哪里，到我们走路的方式。也许我们有时健忘也就不足为奇了。

Memory allows the brain to store and retrieve information when required. Our short-term memory can hold a small amount of information for a short time, while our long-term memory can hold an unlimited amount of information for a long time. Our memory is amazing, but why do we still forget things?

记忆允许大脑在需要时存储和检索信息。我们的短期记忆可以在短时间内保存少量信息，而我们的长期记忆可以长时间保存无限量的信息。我们的记忆力是惊人的，但为什么我们还是会忘记事情呢？

It’s possible we don’t alw...

Shakespeare once wrote: ‘Neither a borrower nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend’. It’s often paraphrased and used as a warning about the dangers of lending, and how you could risk a friendship through it. But why can lending money be so detrimental to our friendships?

莎士比亚曾经写道：“既不是借款人，也不是贷款人；因为贷款经常会失去自己和朋友”。它经常被解释并用作关于借贷危险的警告，以及如何通过它来冒险建立友谊。但是，为什么借钱会对我们的友谊造成如此不利的影响呢？

If our friend or family member comes to us for hard cash, it can be very difficult to turn them away. You feel under pressure to help. And if that money doesn’t come back, it can lead to fights or even legal battles. So how can we, as the lender, avoid these complications? According to Bradley T. Klontz, an expert in financial psychology, there are some steps you can take.

如果我们的朋友或家人来找我们要现金，很难拒绝他们。你感...

When did you last write a letter? Properly write one – by hand? In a digital world, where sending a text or email is far more convenient than using snail mail, is the writing on the wall for traditional pen and paper? Well, some people claim that writing still has many benefits, so maybe it’s not time to ditch your ballpoint or fountain pen yet.

你上次写信是什么时候？正确地写一个 - 手写？在数字世界中，发送文本或电子邮件远比使用蜗牛邮件方便得多，传统的纸笔写在墙上是吗？好吧，有些人声称写作仍然有很多好处，所以也许现在还不是放弃你的圆珠笔或钢笔的时候。

These days, when people request things in writing, a typed, electronic document will be accepted. Doing this on a computer means it could be saved, edited, duplicated and sent via email. But crafting a handwritten document is unique: It requires planning and thought, and, as well as practising your handwriting, it helps you to remember spelling and punctuation.

如今，当人们以书...

We’ve all heard of IQ, and terms like EQ, which relates to your emotional intelligence, are commonly used. But have you heard of AQ? AQ stands for adversity quotient and measures your ability to deal with the ups and downs of life. Being able to handle these rough patches we all go through is not only important in our personal lives but in our professional lives too. So how can we learn to be more resilient?

我们都听说过 IQ，而 EQ 等与您的情商相关的术语是常用的。但是你听说过AQ吗？AQ 代表逆境商，衡量你应对生活起起落落的能力。能够处理我们都经历过的这些艰难时期不仅在我们的个人生活中很重要，在我们的职业生活中也很重要。那么我们如何才能学会更有弹性呢？

Adverse situations can take us by surprise and shock us. In the workplace, it could be in the form of redundancies, the company we work for going under or being restructured, or even missing out on a promotion. Failed friendships and relationships, financial hard times and even bereavements are things that...

You’ve studied hard, you’ve got the grades and now you’re off to university! This is the journey that many students are taking, but how prepared are they to leave home, stand on their own two feet and be self-sufficient? One study, carried out by the Higher Education Policy Institute and Unite Students in 2017, suggested that as well as being excited and nervous, many students are deeply ill-informed about what to expect.

你努力学习了，你取得了成绩，现在你要去上大学了！这是许多学生正在经历的旅程，但他们准备好离开家，两脚站立并自给自足了吗？高等教育政策研究所和团结学生在 2017 年进行的一项研究表明，除了兴奋和紧张之外，许多学生对预期会发生什么知之甚少。

Of course, flying the nest to go to university is the opportunity of a lifetime, but to make the most of it needs some preparation before you arrive. This means learning life skills such as cooking and cleaning. You’ll no longer be able to rely on Mum and Dad to feed you or clear up after you, so try to learn how to make some staple dishe...

Artificial intelligence becoming self-aware and exterminating the human race is a common theme in science fiction. But the levels of high intelligence that AI could reach is a real concern among some scientists. But with more talk of AI and smart devices in the home, what are the positives of bringing these things into your life?

人工智能具有自我意识并消灭人类是科幻小说中的共同主题。但人工智能可以达到的高智能水平是一些科学家真正关心的问题。但是随着人们越来越多地谈论家庭中的人工智能和智能设备，将这些东西带入你的生活有什么好处？

Hans Rosling, a professor of international health, once spoke about the impact and changes that the washing machine made. The once arduous task of cleaning clothes by hand was taken on by a machine and freed up more time for other activities. There are so many smart devices that you can fill your home with. Imagine waking up to find a piping hot, freshly brewed cup of coffee, spotless floors that have been recent...

We often try to save money for a variety of different reasons. It might be to save up for a new computer, put money aside into a rainy-day fund or put a deposit down for a mortgage on a house. Learning how to save is important, but a recent study showed that over half of all 22 – 29-year-olds living in the UK have no savings at all. Did they splurge and splash out on too many things, or are there other factors? And how can we become better savers?

我们经常出于各种不同的原因试图省钱。可能是为买一台新电脑存钱，把钱存入一个未雨绸缪的基金，或者为房屋抵押而存钱。学习如何储蓄很重要，但最近的一项研究表明，居住在英国的所有 22 至 29 岁的人中有一半以上根本没有储蓄。他们是否在太多东西上挥霍和挥霍，还是有其他因素？我们怎样才能成为更好的储蓄者？

Many young people in the UK choose to live away from home, and the cost of renting can impact the amount we can tuck away in our savings. On top of that, according to a 2017 study, there is a huge pay gap in people in their twenties in the UK, with the top 10% earning 4.3 times per week as the lowest earners. P...

Some say you can tell a lot about a person by the way they decorate their home. We often find pleasure in the things we stick in our houses, be it trinkets we bought on holiday, film memorabilia or paintings to liven up walls. And when we head to others’ houses, we often see things we appreciate, but wouldn’t have in our own homes, because maybe they’re not quite to our taste. The point is, the way we decorate our homes is very personal. And while many of us have plenty of stuff, there are always people who go...

From a young age, many of us learn the benefits of being an extrovert – those gregarious individuals who always seem to be the life and soul of the party, often outspoken and able to express their opinions easily. However, not all of us are wired that way – so is being an extrovert really better?

从很小的时候起，我们中的许多人就知道成为外向的人的好处——那些善于交际的人，他们似乎总是党的生命和灵魂，经常直言不讳，能够轻松表达自己的意见。然而，并不是我们所有人都是这样的——那么做一个外向的人真的更好吗？

While thinking of extroverts, we imagine a character who is assertive, approachable, cheerful and charming. We are taught to admire these traits early on. Kids are often encouraged to interact, play and communicate with other children. It seems at times as though children are made to embrace a more outgoing lifestyle, with some people becoming pseudo-extroverts – introverts who mimic extrovert behaviour. While externally they may seem to enjoy the company of oth...

Some of us like to keep some things private – maybe we don’t want people knowing about our relationship status, our age or where we live – because these details are personal. The problem is, everywhere we go online, we seem to leave a digital footprint.

我们中的一些人喜欢将某些事情保密——也许我们不希望人们知道我们的关系状况、我们的年龄或我们住在哪里——因为这些细节是私人的。问题是，无论我们上网，我们似乎都留下了数字足迹。

On our social media accounts, we often display things like our opinions, connections and holiday snaps. The issue is, how do we stop everybody seeing everything? Maybe we don’t want a random stranger knowing our favourite type of coffee. And cookies – there was a time they were just something nice to eat. Now they seem to be popping up on websites. So how can you stay more private?

在我们的社交媒体账户上，我们经常展示我们的观点、联系和假期快照等内容。问题是，我们如何阻止每个人都看到一切？也许我们不希望一个随机的陌生人知道我们最...

Children are naturally curious, inquisitive beings, but getting them to study something they aren’t interested in can be a difficult task. Teachers and parents often find themselves resorting to rewards in the form of stars, promises of high grades and wonderful careers, or threats of punishment. But what if rewards and threats aren’t the answer?

孩子们天生好奇、好奇，但让他们学习他们不感兴趣的东西可能是一项艰巨的任务。老师和家长常常发现自己诉诸于星辰奖、高分和美好事业的承诺或惩罚的威胁。但是，如果奖励和威胁都不是答案呢？

Natural curiosity is sometimes referred to as ‘intrinsic motivation’. Studies have found that children who see learning as fun and important are better at it. And it’s easy to understand why – it’s difficult to study something we aren’t engaged with, and if we’re passionate about the info we’re digesting, it feels more fulfilling.

天生的好奇心有时被称为“内在动机”。研究发现，将学习视为有趣和重要的孩子更擅长学习。而且很容易理解为什么——研究我们不参与的东西是很困难的...

Breaking up is hard to do – or so some people say. If you’re in a relationship but not as loved-up as you once were, when is the right time to call it a day? The longer the relationship, the harder it can be. But once you do make the break, is it still possible to maintain a friendship with your ex-partner?

分手很难——至少有人这么说。如果您正在恋爱但不像以前那样被爱，那么什么时候是结束这一天的合适时间？关系越长，就越难。但是一旦你真的分手了，还有可能和你的前任保持友谊吗？

When you’ve been dumped, the classic line that’s often used is ‘let’s just be friends’. That can be either wishful thinking or something to soften the blow of bad news. However, when you fell madly in love with your partner all those weeks, months or years ago, it would have been hard to imagine you’d fall out of love. And so salvaging somethi...

How long have you been in your job for? If you’re climbing a career ladder, how long do you intend to stay on it? It’s hard to know when to jump ship and to do something different, and it’s even more problematic deciding whether to quit if you don’t have a new job to go to.

你工作多久了？如果你正在攀登职业阶梯，你打算坚持多久？很难知道何时跳槽并做一些不同的事情，如果你没有新工作可去，决定是否辞职更成问题。

In the past, a job for life was just that – something you did throughout your working life. Being loyal to one company came with many perks and job security. But these days, there are many more opportunities to switch your career path, so it’s normal to have many jobs listed on your CV. It’s accepted that our goals change, so...

Have you ever heard someone say, “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”, or give you advice about why it’s vital to start the day with a healthy breakfast? It seems that this feast, for many of us, is necessary for our day to start well, but is it really that important?

你有没有听过有人说“早餐是一天中最重要的一餐”，或者告诉你为什么以健康的早餐开始新的一天很重要？对于我们中的许多人来说，这场盛宴似乎对于我们的一天有一个好的开始是必要的，但它真的那么重要吗？

The word ‘breakfast’ comes from ‘breaking the fast’ – the idea of ending the period in which we didn’t eat during the night. The regeneration process that takes place while we sleep consumes some of our natural food reserves to heal our bodies. Breakfast gives us an opportunity to replenish those depleted stores of things like protein and calcium. So, in that way, a healthy breakfast makes sense.

“早餐”这个词来自“打破禁食”——结束我们在夜间不吃...

Charles Darwin once said “A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life”. If you live one hundred years, that only equates to twelve-hundred months – and when you break it down even further into days, hours and minutes, it gets more frightening. Why is this relevant? Well, quite simply put: life is short. Spending eight hours every day in a slumber means you’re losing a third of your life to bed. So, the question is: is eight hours the exact amount we need, or is it just a myth?

查尔斯·达...

Procrastination is often seen as the enemy of productivity. Images of lazy people with feet up on desks or wasting time to dodge work spring to mind at the very mention of the word. And there are many things which indicate that procrastination is a problem which needs addressing. But could there be some benefits to it too?

拖延通常被视为生产力的敌人。一提到这个词，人们就会想到懒惰的人把脚放在桌子上或浪费时间躲避工作的画面。有很多事情表明拖延是一个需要解决的问题。但它也能有一些好处吗？

We live in a high-octane world – always on the go, racing from one task to another. And at times, duties, be it work or personal, can feel relentless – with our nose constantly to the grindstone. Sometimes we just need to switch off, chill out and reboot. A little procrastination can help detach us from the pressures of modern life. According to psychotherapist F Diane Ba...

Rolling hills and endless green pastures – those images are easy to conjure when thinking of the idyllic country lifestyle. When lockdowns descended upon many countries across the world during the pandemic, social media seemed to be dominated by pictures of cottages and village life – people getting away from it all. So, why is living in the countryside becoming a modern fantasy – and are there benefits to considering a slower pace of life?

连绵起伏的丘陵和一望无际的绿色牧场——当想到田园诗般的乡村生活方式时，这些画面很容易让人联想到。当大流行期间全球许多国家实行封锁时，社交媒体似乎被别墅和乡村生活的照片所主导——人们远离了这一切。那么，为什么生活在农村成为一种现代幻想——考虑慢一点的生活节奏有好处吗？

It makes sense that some people would want to give up the crowded and noisy city streets for the perceived tranquillity of the traditional country life – especially during an event like a pandemic. The lockdowns and extensive periods of working from home have given people time to think about what they want from life. But it’s not just about having a greener place to look at out your window.<...

How do you consume your music? What format do you listen to it on? Technology now allows us to stream and download our favourite songs through websites and apps. This means it’s easy to access and it’s very portable, so we could enjoy it whenever and wherever we like. So, it’s surprising to know that the popularity of some old tech is increasing.

你如何消费你的音乐？你用什么格式听的？现在，技术允许我们通过网站和应用程序流式传输和下载我们最喜欢的歌曲。这意味着它易于访问且非常便携，因此我们可以随时随地享受它。因此，令人惊讶的是，一些旧技术的受欢迎程度正在增加。

A number of musicians have been releasing their albums on vinyl and cassette tape. While this latter analogue technology lacks the good digital audio quality that we expect to hear today, in its heyday, it was a popular way for teenagers to enjoy recorded music. The introduction of the Walkman portable cassette player in 1979, made by Sony, meant people could listen to music on the move for t...

Do you like to keep fit? We’re always told that regular exercise is good for our body and mind. More and more people are taking up activities that improve their fitness. But is there a risk some of us might get obsessed and overdo it?

你喜欢保持身材吗？我们总是被告知定期锻炼对我们的身心都有好处。越来越多的人开始从事可以提高身体素质的活动。但是我们中的一些人可能会痴迷并过度使用它吗？

Well, for some people, fitness has become an obsession as they aim for perfection. And fitness trackers and apps can add to this addiction, especially if someone is driven by achievement and perfectionism. And sharing data on social media means exercising becomes public and competitive, which could cause problems in someone who is vulnerable.

好吧，对于某些人来说，健身已经成为一种痴迷，因为他们追求完美。健身追踪器和应用程序可能会增加这种成瘾，尤其是当某人被成就和完美主义驱使时。在社交媒体上共享数据意味着锻炼变得公开且具有竞争力，这可能会给弱势群体带来...

If you could travel back in time, which period of history would you visit? It’s a great question to ask your friends, and time travel is the subject of many science fiction films. Of course, sci-fi is familiar to most of us, but what is cli-fi? The simple answer is climate fiction – a genre which focuses on the subject of climate change.

如果时光倒流，你会去哪个历史时期？问你的朋友是一个很好的问题，时间旅行是许多科幻电影的主题。当然，科幻对我们大多数人来说都很熟悉，但什么是 cli-fi？简单的答案是气候小说——一种关注气候变化主题的类型。

Many of the cli-fi examples we watch tend to be disaster films. It could be solar flares, ice ages devastating the planet, extreme flooding swamping the Earth with water, or super-storms that threaten life as we know it. While films and novels of this genre are often subject to the typical tropes of a hero or heroine battling to save the day, what sets it apart from m...