VOA慢速英语2015 什么健康话题对你最重要

 

What Health Topics Are Most Important to You? 什么健康话题对你最重要 

From VOA Learning¹ English, this is the Health Report.

To end the year on a happy note, we thought you might like to re-visit Learning English Health Report stories that were popular with you.

We looked at the numbers. We looked at which stories you viewed most and commented on. We looked at which stories you Liked, Shared or Tweeted. By doing so, we have learned² a few things about you.

Many of you like self-improvement stories. You like to read about staying healthy and living a long life. You like to know how your brain works³ best and what can affect your power of memory.

Many of you also like stories about people who are getting older but who are still making their dreams come true.

Here are some highlights⁴ from the Health Report for 2014. It includes comments from our international audience.

Sit Less, Live Longer

We all sit a lot. The story “Sit Less, Live Longer” explores the dangers of sitting too much. It encouraged many of you to get up from your desks and move more at work.

Many of you described in the comments section how you move and exercise during the day. Some of you shared stories of losing weight and fighting illness to enjoy a more active lifestyle.

Taras from Ukraine says, “Great article! I spend a lot of time sitting in front of the computer. So I like go to work or home on foot, it takes like two hours per day.”

And Karen from Brazil adds, “In my work I spend a lot of time sitting, but I try to work out and play volleyball every week!”

Are You Hardcore Enough for CrossFit?

In April we asked our listeners if they were committed enough to exercise to do CrossFit. Many responded.

CrossFit is a fitness⁵ trend that has been very popular in recent years. It uses very basic but very challenging exercises. Some say it is too easy to get hurt doing CrossFit. But some like the fact that you do the exercises in teams.

Rocio from Spain says this: “I think it is a very good method to practice exercise.” He says working in a team is “great motivation.”

But Masaki Kato from Japan says, “CrossFit is bad for the body” because the movements are too hard. He says, “To stay fit, I think it is important to do a moderate⁶ exercise” such as walking for 30 minutes a day.

How Does My Brain Work Best?

Our listeners like their brains. And they seem to like reports on how to use their brains most effectively.

For example, we wrote about a study that found if you write your class notes by hand, you will remember them better than if you type them.

Is Writing Notes by Hand Better Than Typing?

Henry from Venezuela says, “Taking notes is helpful when I put all the words down using my hand. I just take into consideration what is important to me.”

And a listener called “White Crystal” from Vietnam says, “In my opinion, when you (want to) remember something, write it. Because, when you're writing it means you're thinking about it. You use listening, understanding, seeing (and) thinking.”

The story While You Sleep the Brain Works reports that the brain cleans itself while we are fast asleep. So getting a good night’s sleep is important to good mental and physical health.

Yangfangxin Yu from China says, “I CAN NOT stay up late. Otherwise I will be stupid!”

Babies, Babies, Babies! Who Doesn’t Love Babies?

Our article “Women Giving Birth at Home -- On Purpose!” talks about a U.S. birth trend. Increasingly⁷, women of color are using midwives to give birth naturally.

In the comments section, many women from all over the world share the birthing culture in their countries.

Anna from Vietnam writes, “In my country, pregnant⁸ women are taken care of carefully in (a) hospital. (A) child is very important to parents in my country. Therefore, they choose caesarean section for their baby more than natural delivery⁹.”

And Veca from Taiwan shares her own personal birth story.

“My baby was born through natural birth at (a) hospital. The biggest impact¹⁰ for me is that I saw a birth of life.

It’s Never Too Late to Make Your Dreams Come True

Two stories seemed to inspire many listeners. Jerry Ried earned his first college degree at the age of 70. And Mary Moe fulfilled¹¹ her dream of becoming a pilot at the age of 91.

After listening to the story of Mr. Reid, Nobue from Japan wrote, “Actually, I have some dreams in mind, and follow these dreams. … I am such a happy person that I can follow my dreams. I will give them my best shot.”

Mary Moe’s story inspired Anoosheh from Iran to write:

“I am a 56 (year) old woman. In my entire life I had some dreams but none of them (have) come true because I did not have a good situation but after I read this article I decided¹² to … spread my wings and help myself to try (to make) one of my dreams come true and it is learning language.”

And Diego Santos from Brazil says, “I've always thought there is no age to do what you want to do. Your body could age, but your spirit can be always young!”

Thanks to all of our listeners who read and listen to the Health Report. Let us know in the comments section what you are doing to make your life healthy and happy in 2015.

Happy New Year from VOA Learning English.

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

3 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

4 highlights   

n.头发挑染部分；全球知名儿童刊物及相关产品的发行和销售商的名称、商号及商标

参考例句：

• The report highlights the major problems facing society today. 报告特别强调了当今社会所面临的主要问题。
• The report highlights a number of instances of injustice. 这篇报道重点列举了一些不公正的实例。

5 fitness   

n.适合，适当，健康，健身

参考例句：

• They're doing exercises to improve their fitness.他们为增强体质而做体操。
• No one questions her fitness for the job.没人怀疑她能胜任这项工作。

6 moderate   

adj.适度的，稳健的，温和的，中等的；v.节制，使...稳定，使...缓和；n.稳健的人

参考例句：

• You should moderate your language when children are present.在孩子面前，你说话应该有节制。
• The wind is moderate today.今天的风很柔和。

7 increasingly   

adv.逐渐地，日益地，逐渐增加地

参考例句：

• Rivers are being increasingly made use of by man. 河流正在日益为人类所利用。
• I find it increasingly difficult to live within my income.我发现靠收入过日子越来越难了。

8 pregnant   

adj.怀孕的，怀胎的

参考例句：

• She is a pregnant woman.她是一名孕妇。
• She is pregnant with her first child.她怀了第一胎。

9 delivery   

n.交付；投递；分娩；解救者；演讲的风格

参考例句：

• The strike caused a great delay in the delivery of the mail.这次罢工严重地延误了邮件的投递。
• He was employed at the local grocery store as a delivery boy.他受雇于当地杂货店当送货员。

10 impact   

n.冲击，碰撞；影响；vt.装紧，压紧

参考例句：

• The computer had made a great impact on modern life.计算机对现代生活产生了巨大的影响.
• How will the war impact on such a poet?战争对这样一个诗人会产生什么影响？

11 fulfilled   

adj.满足的，个人志向得以实现的v.满足( fulfil的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；尽到；应验

参考例句：

• He doesn't feel fulfilled in his present job. 目前的工作未能让他感到满足。
• I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后，我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。