【英语时差8,16】休息和好表现

Yaël: Hey Don, what was your favorite subject in grade school? Science, right? Don: I loved science, but my favorite part of school was definitely recess¹. Y: Really? I always thought of you as being a kind of studious kid. D: Oh, I was. I loved learning. But recess was the best. I don't really remember exactly what I learned in third grade, but I vividly² remember running around outside during playtimes. And the thing is, recess is important for learning. Many studies have shown that taking breaks helps improve memory and brain function. Whether its kids playing during recess or adults taking a coffee break at work, learning happens best when it's broken up into chunks³ instead of happening over one long, continuous period. Another way to put it is that during learning, the brain needs periodic rests to replenish⁴ chemicals important for forming long-term memories. Y: OK, but if taking breaks is so important, then why have so many elementary schools shortened recess or gotten rid of it completely over the past decade? D: Well, it's not because recess isn't valuable for learning. Many schools are under pressure to reach certain performance standards in math and reading. So administrators⁵ often cut recess in order to cram⁶ in more instruction and class work. But that goes against the bulk of the scientific data that suggest recess helps improve learning. Plus, not surprisingly, free play and physical activity have been shown to be good for kids' mental, social, and physical health. Y: So schools should probably increase recess time, not cut it. D: That's true, according to science.

1 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

2 vividly   

adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地

参考例句：

• The speaker pictured the suffering of the poor vividly.演讲者很生动地描述了穷人的生活。
• The characters in the book are vividly presented.这本书里的人物写得栩栩如生。

3 chunks   

厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 )； （某物）相当大的数量或部分

参考例句：

• a tin of pineapple chunks 一罐菠萝块
• Those chunks of meat are rather large—could you chop them up a bIt'smaller? 这些肉块相当大，还能再切小一点吗？

4 replenish   

vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满

参考例句：

• I always replenish my food supply before it is depleted.我总是在我的食物吃完之前加以补充。
• We have to import an extra 4 million tons of wheat to replenish our reserves.我们不得不额外进口四百万吨小麦以补充我们的储备。

5 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

6 cram   

v.填塞，塞满，临时抱佛脚，为考试而学习

参考例句：

• There was such a cram in the church.教堂里拥挤得要命。
• The room's full,we can't cram any more people in.屋里满满的，再也挤不进去人了。