英语听力精选进阶版 6249

Does a Tea Break Make You More Efficient? 茶间休息能提高工效吗？

According to tradition, China has been drinking tea since the time of Shennong, 5,000 years ago.

Britain's relationship with the invigorating brew¹ is much shorter, but the beverage² nonetheless enjoys pride of place as the UK's national drink. In fact the UK Tea Council claims Britons drink an average of three cups a day, or a staggering national total of 165m cups every day.

With figures like these it is no surprise that time spent taking tea eats into the working day of the British labour force. A recent survey found that 24 minutes a day are lost to making, buying and drinking tea and coffee. This equates³ to ￡400 (4,000 yuan) a year in lost man hours per employee, or 190 days over a lifetime.

So, should employers be worried about this lost working time, or does the tea break compensate⁴ in other ways?

One argument in its defence is that caffeine improves mental performance: a drink of tea or coffee can perk⁵ you up and help you focus on work.

Professor Peter Rogers of the University of Bristol disagrees. After years of studying caffeine he sees no evidence that it improves mental alertness.

"Workers would perform equally well if not consuming it at all," he says. "But if they're consuming it frequently and then go without, they'll feel tired and won't perform well."

Occupational psychologist Cary Cooper instead emphasises the role breaks play in coping with sedentary office life, and in building social relationships.

"We need to make people more active and see other people. The coffee break is one way of doing this," says Cooper.

And Professor Rogers also points out the soothing⁶ effect of a hot drink: "We warm our hands on them on a cold day, they're comforting and play a big role in our everyday life.

"Whatever the caffeine's doing, I'd say these 24 minutes aren't wasted."

Glossary 词汇表

invigorating brew 提神的（泡）茶 

beverage 饮料 

pride of place 地方的自豪感 

staggering 极高的 

eats into 渗透 

labour force 劳动力 

equates to 相当于 

man hours 工时 

lifetime 一生 

compensate 弥补 

argument 论点/观点 

caffeine 咖啡因 

perk you up 提神 

mental alertness 大脑灵敏度 

consuming 饮用 

go without 没有/失去 

occupational psychologist 职业心理学家 

sedentary 久坐不动的 

active 积极的 

soothing effect 舒缓作用

1 brew   

v.酿造，调制

参考例句：

• Let's brew up some more tea.咱们沏些茶吧。
• The policeman dispelled the crowd lest they should brew trouble.警察驱散人群，因恐他们酿祸。

2 beverage   

n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料

参考例句：

• The beverage is often colored with caramel.这种饮料常用焦糖染色。
• Beer is a beverage of the remotest time.啤酒是一种最古老的饮料。

3 equates   

v.认为某事物（与另一事物）相等或相仿( equate的第三人称单数 )；相当于；等于；把（一事物） 和（另一事物）等同看待

参考例句：

• He equates success with material wealth. 他认为成功等同于物质财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This equates to increased and vigor, better sleep and sharper mental acuity. 也就是说可以起到增强活力，改善睡眠，提高心智的作用。 来自互联网

4 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

5 perk   

n.额外津贴；赏钱；小费；

参考例句：

• His perks include a car provided by the firm.他的额外津贴包括公司提供的一辆汽车。
• And the money is,of course,a perk.当然钱是额外津贴。

6 soothing   

adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的

参考例句：

• Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
• His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。