时差N小时 休息对学习的重要性

Yael: Hey Don, what was your favorite subject in grade school? Science, right?

雅艾尔：嘿，唐，你在小学时最喜欢的课程是哪一门？科学课，是吗？

Don: I loved science, but my favorite part of school was definitely recess¹.

唐：我爱科学课，但我在学校最喜欢的当然还是休息。

Yael: Really? I always thought of you as being a kind of studious kid.

雅艾尔：真的吗？我一直认为你是那种刻苦的孩子。

Don: 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.

唐：啊，我很刻苦。我爱学习。但休息还是最棒的。我不太记得我在三年级时学了什么，但是我真切地记得在课间时分到处乱跑的情形。事实是这样，休息对于学习很重要。许多研究都证明课间休息会帮助记忆和改善大脑功。不论是对有课间休息的孩子们，还是对在工作期间能抽空喝杯咖啡的成人，间断地学习才最有效率，反之，长时间连续学习效率则不高。还有一种说法是，在学习中大脑需要周期性的休息以补充对形成长期记忆很重要的化学物质。

Yael: 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?

雅艾尔：好吧，但如果休息如此重要的话，那么在过去十年里为什么有那么多的小学缩短休息时间，甚至取消休息时间。

Don: 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.

唐：嗯，这并不是因为休息对学习不重要。许多学校都面临着较大的教学压力，要求学生的数学和阅读水平达到一定的标准。所以老师们经常拖课，以便让学生死记硬背更多的课本知识。然而这却违背了科学，大多数的数据证明休息有助于学习。而且，自由玩耍和体育活动更有助于提高学生的身心健康。

Yael: So schools should probably increase recess time, not cut it.

雅艾尔：这么说学校应该增加而不是缩短休息时间。

Don: That's true, according to science.

唐：对，科学来讲是这样。

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。