新奇事件簿 空气污染导致智力下降

Scientists have revealed that air pollution may be responsible for a significant reduction in intelligence. Research conducted for the World Health Organization (WHO) in China showed that air pollution was responsible for notable falls in student test scores for languages and arithmetic. The Chinese study is called, "The impact of exposure to air pollution on cognitive¹ performance". It was published in a journal called, "Proceedings² of the National Academy of Sciences". The study took place over a period of four years. Researchers analyzed³ verbal and arithmetic tests taken by 20,000 people of all ages. They said: "Polluted air may impede⁴ cognitive ability as people become older."

科学家透露空气污染或许导致智力显著下降。中国世界卫生组织（WHO）研究表明空气污染导致学生语言和算术测试成绩显著降低。这项中国研究名为《空气污染对认知表现的影响》。被研究发表于《Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences》期刊上。该研究为期4年。研究人员对所有年龄段中的两万人的语言和算数测试进行分析。他们表示：“随着年龄增长，空气污染会阻碍人们的认知能力。”

Researchers say their study is a warning to the rest of the world, especially to those who live in cities. The WHO says over 91 per cent of the world population live in areas with toxic⁵ air. Air pollution is currently the fourth highest cause of deaths worldwide. The researchers discovered that the longer people were exposed to polluted air, the greater was the damage to their intelligence. They equated⁶ the impact of air pollution to losing a year's worth of education. For those aged⁷ over 60, this could be the equivalent of several years of lost education. Researcher Dr Xi Chen warned: "There is no shortcut⁸ to solve this issue. Governments really need to take concrete measures to reduce air pollution."

研究人员表示他们的研究是对世界，尤其是那些生活在城市里的人的一种警告WHO表示超过91%的世界人口，他们所居住的地方空气都是有毒的。目前空气污染是全球第四大死因。研究人员发现人们暴露在污染空气中的时间越长，他们的智力就会受到越严重的伤害。他们将这种空气污染的影响等同于一年的教育缺失。对那些60岁以上的人而言，这种影响相当于好几年的教育缺失。研究人员陈西警告称：“解决这个问题刻不容缓。政府真的需要采取具体措施减少空气污染。”

 

1 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。

2 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

3 analyzed   

v.分析( analyze的过去式和过去分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析

参考例句：

• The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The young man did not analyze the process of his captivation and enrapturement, for love to him was a mystery and could not be analyzed. 这年轻人没有分析自己蛊惑著迷的过程，因为对他来说，爱是个不可分析的迷。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 impede   

v.妨碍，阻碍，阻止

参考例句：

• One shouldn't impede other's progress.一个人不应该妨碍他人进步。
• The muddy roads impede our journey.我们的旅游被泥泞的道路阻挠了。

5 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

6 equated   

adj.换算的v.认为某事物（与另一事物）相等或相仿( equate的过去式和过去分词 )；相当于；等于；把（一事物） 和（另一事物）等同看待

参考例句：

• Production costs for the movie equated to around 30% of income. 这部电影的制作成本相当于收益的30%。
• Politics cannot be equated with art. 政治不能同艺术等同起来。

7 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。

8 shortcut   

n.近路，捷径

参考例句：

• He was always looking for a shortcut to fame and fortune.他总是在找成名发财的捷径。
• If you take the shortcut,it will be two li closer.走抄道去要近2里路。