研究：年过40的人最好每周休四天？！

 　　A three-day-week gets the best performance from workers aged¹ over 40, a study has found.

　　一项研究发现，40岁以上的人如果每周上三天班，工作表现将会最佳。

　　Researchers found the cognitive² performance of middle-aged³ people improved as the working week increased up to 25 hours a week.

　　研究人员发现，当中年人每周工作时间达到25小时时，认知表现将有所改善。

　　However, when the week went over 25 hours, overall performance for the test subjects decreased as "fatigue⁴ and stress" took effect.

　　然而，如果每周工作时间超过25小时，受试者的整体表现则将恶化，因为“疲劳和压力”开始产生影响。

　　The report, which was published in the Melbourne Institute Worker Paper series, invited 3,000 men and 3,500 women in Australia to complete a series of cognitive tests while their work habits were analysed.

　　发表在《墨尔本研究院工人报》的这篇研究报告，邀请了澳大利亚的3000名男性和3500名女性来完成一系列认知测试，同时分析他们的工作习惯。

　　It was found those working 25 hours a week performed best while those working 55 hours a week showed results worse than retired⁵ or unemployed⁶ participants.

　　研究发现，每周工作25小时的人表现最佳，而每周工作55小时的人的测试成绩比那些退休或待业的人还糟。

　　One of the three authors, Professor Colin McKenzie from Keio University told the Times: "Many countries are going to raise their retirement⁷ ages by delaying the age at which people are eligible⁸ to start receiving pension benefits. This means that more people continue to work in the later stages of their life.

　　该研究报告的三位作者之一、来自日本庆应义塾大学的科林·麦肯齐教授告诉《泰晤士报》：“许多国家都预备提高退休年龄，让人们延迟领取养老金。这意味着更多人在中晚年还得继续工作。”

　　"The degree of intellectual stimulation⁹ may depend on working hours. Work can be a double-edged sword, in that it can stimulate¹⁰ brain activity, but at the same time long working hours can cause fatigue and stress, which potentially damage cognitive functions.

　　“智力被激发的程度，有可能取决于工作的时长。工作是一把双刃剑，既能够刺激大脑活动，同时过长的工作时间也会导致疲劳和压力，并有可能损害认知功能。”

　　"We point out that differences in working hours are important for maintaining cognitive functioning in middle-aged and elderly adults. This means that, in middle and older age, working part-time could be effective in maintaining cognitive ability."

　　“我们指出了不同工作时长的区别所在，这对于保持中老年人的认知功能具有重要意义。这意味着，在中晚年，工作时间不要太满，将能有效地保持认知能力。”

　　The research comes amid moves to edge the British state pension age closer to 70.

　　这项研究的发布，正值英国计划将法定退休年龄提高到将近70岁。

　　Currently for someone born in 1989, a state pension begins at the age of 68.

　　根据现行的法规，1989年出生的人要到68岁才能领到养老金。

1 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

2 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

3 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

4 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

5 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

6 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

7 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

8 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

9 stimulation   

n.刺激，激励，鼓舞

参考例句：

• The playgroup provides plenty of stimulation for the children.幼儿游戏组给孩子很多启发。
• You don't get any intellectual stimulation in this job.你不能从这份工作中获得任何智力启发。

10 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。