新奇事件簿 人们呼吁取消夏令时

There are calls to end the semi-annual practice of putting our clocks backwards¹ and forwards an hour. It is done by forwarding clocks by one hour in the spring so that evening daylight lasts an hour longer and then putting them back in the autumn. This is done in many parts of the world and is called Daylight Saving Time (DST). Scientists are questioning the value of tinkering with time. They say changing the clocks could actually be harmful to our health and increase energy costs. The States of California and Massachusetts in the USA are considering unilaterally abandoning DST. Lawmakers there feel it has no relevance² today when we have electric lights and people work around the clock.

人们呼吁终止每半年将时钟拨前或拨后一小时的惯例。也就是春季把时钟调前一小时，这样夜晚就会多一个小时，秋季时又调回来。全世界许多地方实行这种夏令时。科学家质疑这样调整时间的价值。他们说，调整时钟实际上对我们的健康有害，增加了能源消耗。加利福尼亚州和马萨诸塞州正在考虑单方面废除夏令时。当地议员认为夏令时已经没有任何意义，因为现在我们已经有电灯，人们都昼夜不停地工作。

Those in support of DST argue that it saves energy because lights are turned on later. They argue it promotes outdoor leisure activities in the summer evening, and is therefore good for physical and psychological health. They also say it reduces traffic accidents and crime. People who tend to support DST are city workers, retail³ businesses, outdoor sports enthusiasts⁴ and businesses, tour operators, and others who benefit from increased light during the evening in summer. Opponents say it increases energy costs and causes health risks. The incidence of heart attacks and strokes can increase due to changes in the circadian cycle (our body clock). With less rest, people make more mistakes, so accidents increase.

支持夏令时的人辩称，这种惯例可以节约能源，因为人们会晚一点开灯。他们认为这样可以敦促人们夏季的傍晚进行户外娱乐活动，对身体和心理健康有益。他们还说，夏令时可以减少交通事故和犯罪行为。支持夏令时的都是城市工作者，零售业，户外运动爱好者和企业，旅行公司，以及能够从夏季傍晚时间延长中获益的其他人。反对者表示夏令时会增加能源消耗，导致健康风险。由于身体日周期改变，心脏病和中风风险可能会增加。由于休息时间更短，人们会犯更多错误，所以事故也会增加。

1 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

2 relevance   

n.中肯，适当，关联，相关性

参考例句：

• Politicians' private lives have no relevance to their public roles.政治家的私生活与他们的公众角色不相关。
• Her ideas have lost all relevance to the modern world.她的想法与现代社会完全脱节。

3 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

4 enthusiasts   

n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册