2014英语四级听力练习:慢速英语8.27(2)

　　From Learning English, this is the Health Report.

　　Why do we need sleep?

　　Is bedtime just a time for dreaming? Do our brains turn off for the night? What if I told you that scientists recently discovered that our brains may be just as busy at night as they are during the day?

　　While we sleep, our brains are doing much more than getting ready for the next day. Researchers at the University of Rochester found that the brain may be busy cleaning house -- cleaning out harmful waste materials.

　　As with many studies, the researchers turned to mice for help. They studied mice that had colored dye injected into their brains. They observed the mice brains as they slept and when they were awake. The researchers say they saw that the brains of sleeping mice were hard at work.

　　Working Double Duty

　　Dr. Maiken Nedergaard led the study. The brain expert says our brains perform two very different jobs. It seems they have daytime jobs. Later they moonlight at a nighttime job.

　　Moonlighting is working a nighttime job in addition to a day job. And this study says that is what our brains seem to be doing working an extra job at night without additional pay for overtime.

　　When we are awake, the brain cells are working very hard at processing all the information about our surroundings. Whereas when we are asleep, they work very, very hard at removing all the waste that builds up when we are awake.

　　The researchers say that the waste material includes poisons, or toxins, responsible for brain disorders such as Alzheimers disease.

　　They also found that during sleep, the brains cells shrink, or become smaller. This shrinking permits waste to be removed more effectively.

　　Dr. Nedergaard says these toxins end up in the liver. There, they are broken down and then removed from the body.

　　So our study suggests we need to sleep because we have a macroscopic cleaning system that removes many of the toxic waste products from the brain.

　　The brains cleaning system could only be studied with new imaging technologies. The test animal must be alive in order to see for this brain process to be seen as it happens.

　　Dr. Nedergaard says the next step is to look for the process in human brains. She said the results demonstrate just how important sleep is to health and fighting disease. The research may also one day lead to treatments to prevent or help fight neurological disorders.

　　7 Tips for Better Sleeping

　　Do you have trouble sleeping? Not being able to sleep is called insomnia. According to the United States National Sleep Foundation, here are some tips for a good nights sleep:

　　Go to bed about the same time each night, even on weekends. This helps to set your bodys sleep clock.

　　Exercise every day.

　　Have a calm, relaxing bedtime routine Take a warm bath or drink a hot cup of tea.

　　Try not to take long naps during the day. Periods of sleep during the daytime can interfere with sleep at night.

　　Make sure you have a pleasant environment where you sleep. For most people, a cool, quiet and dark room is best for sleeping.

　　Avoid using television, computers and other electronic screens before bedtime.

　　Also avoid alcohol, cigarettes and heavy meals before bedtime.

　　And from Learning English, thats the Health Report. Im Anna Matteo.

　　Do you suffer from insomnia? Do you have more suggestions for a good nights sleep. Let us know in our comment section.

　　词汇讲解：

　　1. discover vt.发现; 碰见

　　例句：That man will discover the truth.

　　那个人肯定能弄清真象。

　　2. inject vt.注射; 注射

　　例句：The mosquito will suck our blood. Whats even worse, it will inject poison into our bodies.

　　蚊子会吸我们的血。更糟的是，它会把毒注入我们的体内。

　　3. expert adj.专家的; 熟练的; 老手

　　例句：Their response was calm and expert.

　　他们的反应是既镇静又熟练。

　　4. include vt.包括; 包含

　　例句：That can include the happiness of our children.

　　其中也包括孩子们的快乐。

　　5. demonstrate vt.证明，证实

　　例句：The coming year may well demonstrate this.

　　明可能会充分显示这一点。

　　6. prevent vt.预防; 阻碍

　　例句：In such wet weather we must prevent the seedlings from rotting.

　　这样的阴雨天要防止烂秧。

　　7. interfere vi.干预，干涉

　　例句：Other african governments seem loth to interfere.

　　其它非洲政府似乎很不愿意干涉这个事情。

　　8. environment n.环境，外界

　　例句：How is todays environment changing your customers?

　　今日的环境如何改变你的客户?

　　短语讲解：

　　1. Do our brains turn off for the night?

　　turn off 关掉; 完成

　　例句：Could you please turn off the car radio?

　　请你把车上的收音机关掉行么?

　　2. Researchers at the University of Rochester found that the brain may be busy cleaning house -- cleaning out harmful waste materials.

　　clean out 打扫; 离开

　　例句：You should also clean out your in-box.

　　你还需要清理电子邮箱的收件箱。

　　3. Moonlighting is working a nighttime job in addition to a day job.

　　in addition to 除之外

　　例句：In addition to French, he has to study Japanese.

　　除了法语外,他还得学日语。

　　4. And this study says that is what our brains seem to be doing working an extra job at night without additional pay for overtime.

　　pay for 赔偿; 为付钱

　　例句：I ll give you double pay for working overtime.

　　你加班我付你双倍工钱。

　　5. Whereas when we are asleep, they work very, very hard at removing all the waste that builds up when we are awake.

　　build up 逐步建立

　　例句：The cash pile will quickly build up again.

　　资金量会很快再次增大。

　　6. There, they are broken down and then removed from the body.

　　break down 失败; 划分

　　例句：Cellulose is hard to break down.

　　纤维素是很难分解的。

　　7. The test animal must be alive in order to see for this brain process to be seen as it happens.

　　in order to 为了

　　例句：They buy patents in order to sue infringers.

　　他们购买专利的目的就是为了起诉专利侵权者。

　　8. Dr. Nedergaard says the next step is to look for the process in human brains.

　　look for 寻找

　　例句：I ask him what he have look for the day before.

　　我问他头一天他在寻找什么。

　　9. The research may also one day lead to treatments to prevent or help fight neurological disorders.

　　lead to 导致

　　例句：Smoking can lead to lung cancer.

　　抽烟可能导致肺癌。

　　10. Not being able to sleep is called insomnia.

　　be able to 能，会; 能够

　　例句：How soon will china be able to clean up its air?

　　中国能在多短时间内将空气变清洁?