英国人被热傻了
▍精选导读
英国在燃烧！今夏，对英国人民来说，最火热的可能不是如火如荼的世界杯，而是切身感受的高温天。大汗淋漓，辗转难眠还是小事，可是持续不断的高温相继引发了铁路变形，人行道拱起等现象，最可怕的是，高温甚至造成了多例人员伤亡。看到这里，我们不禁疑问，究竟是有多热啊？
不过是30摄氏度左右而已。
我们中国人看到了不禁要嗤之以鼻：30度也敢算高温，中国四大火炉了解一下？
但是，英国人民对高温的吐槽其实是情有可原的。此30度也非彼30度。首先，英国属于温带海洋性气候，纬度较高，全年气候比较温和，长久以来，英国夏天的平均气温也就在20度左右；其次，英国的空调普及率很低，因为天气凉爽，一般英国家庭并没有安装空调的需求，只有0.5%左右的英国家庭拥有空调。这样一来，英国人民承受高温天气的能力的确会稍逊一筹了。难度系数：★★☆☆☆无用系数：★★☆☆☆
▍原文
The downsides of the heatwave–from wilting trees to 471m lost hours of sleep
① A new study has shown that heat is bad for brain function. But how else is this incessant summer affecting Britain?
② Ah, the drowsy bliss of the endless heatwave. Stop, wait, no. New research shows that heatwaves can nullify your brainwaves, resulting in something called ‘cognitive function deficit‘ or more simply, ‘not being able to think clearly’.
③ The seemingly endless heatwave causes us problems at night too; Britons have lost as many as 471,249,000 hours of sleep due to the recent warm nights so obviously this is a country that should not be operating any heavy machinery.
④ The exhausted population are advised to find a shady piece of parkland sit under a tree and take a nap–but that’s soon going to become impossible, because all the trees are wilting. Local authorities in London have made emergency appeals for volunteers to help water them.
⑤ You would have thought all these sleep-deprived, over-heated Brits would be rushing to cinemas to enjoy a nice air-conditioned film. Except the sun has pushed everyone out on to the streets. During the current heatwave, UK cinemas recorded their lowest takings of the year… but maybe that’s just because the films are rubbish.
▍生词好句
- incessant /ɪnˈsɛs(ə)nt/: adj. 不断的；连续的
- drowsy /ˈdraʊzi/: adj. 昏昏欲睡的；催眠的
- bliss /blɪs/: n. 极乐；天赐之福
- nullify /ˈnʌlɪfʌɪ/: vt. 使……无效；作废
- deficit /ˈdɛfɪsɪt/: n. 赤字；不足
- Briton /ˈbrɪt(ə)n/: n. 英国人 (Brit)
- shady /ˈʃeɪdi/: adj. 成荫的；阴暗的
- wilt /wɪlt/: vi. 枯萎；衰弱；无精打采
- appeal /əˈpiːl/: n. 呼吁；请求
- deprive /dɪˈprʌɪv/: vt. 使……丧失；剥夺
▍补充
1. incessant: adj. 不断的；连续的
连着下了几个小时的大雨之后，太阳终于出来了。
After hours of incessant rain, the sun finally appeared.连续不断的大雨淹了许多道路。
Incessant rain has flooded many roads.我的邻居在重新装修公寓，我忍受不了连续的噪音了。
My neighbours are redecorating their apartment; I can’t stand the incessant noise.
2. drowsy: adj. 昏昏欲睡的；催眠的
- 房间太暖和了，弄得我有些昏昏欲睡。
The room is so warm; it’s making me drowsy.
3. nullify: vt. 使……无效；作废
严重的通货膨胀会摧毁一个国家的经济增长。
High inflation will nullify the economic growth of a country.因为这家公司没有按时付款，所以合同是无效的。
The contract is nullified because the company did not pay in time.
4. wilt: vi. 枯萎；衰弱；无精打采
一些植物在曝晒太久之后会枯萎。
Many plants will wilt if you leave them in direct sunlight for too long.因为今天起床太早，导致我现在就开始无精打采了。
I woke up really early this morning so I’m beginning to wilt now.他们今天去远足了一天，晚饭后就开始无精打采了。
They went hiking all day today, so they started wilting after dinner.
5. You would have thought 原本以为（本以为……，事实却相反）
该表达方式是 You would think 的委婉语气
你原本以为他时不时会去探望他的父母。
You would have thought he would have visited his parents once in a while. (He never visited them.)你原本以为这个学校会提供健康的食物呢。
You would have thought the school would provide healthy food. (The food is unhealthy.)