【17】睡眠与学习

2024-02-29 22:59:2506:07 1.3万

所属专辑：磨耳朵|听力精选+附文本-英语听力练习

声音简介

睡眠与学习

当你处于疲惫状态时，还能给自己灌输多少学习内容呢？

新研究证明没有足够的睡眠——睡眠不足,会对学生在学校的学习表现有负面影响。

这一期的6分钟英语听力里，Rob和Finn将会和我们一起讨论为什么在较富裕的国家这是一个特别明显的问题，并且探究一些与睡眠相关的语言。

这期听力节目问题：

1965年，Randy Gardener保持了时间最长的不入眠的世界纪录。你知道他保持清醒的天数是多少吗？一共是：

A.5天

B.8天

C.11天

让我们一起来听一下并找出答案吧。

听力内容：

Rob: Hello, I’m Rob and this is 6 Minute English and I’m joined this week by Finn. Hello Finn.

Finn: Hello Rob.

Rob: This week, we’re discussing sleep. New research has shown that not getting enough sleep – or sleep deprivation – can have a negative effect on our ability to learn. We’re going to talk about that today and explore some sleep-related language.

Finn: So Rob, are you saying the more sleep I get, the cleverer I will be?

Rob: Not exactly - but we could put that to the test now by seeing if you know the answer to this week’s question. This is about Randy Gardner, who holds the world record for the longest period of time without sleep. Do you know how long he stayed awake for? Was it:

a) 5 days

b) 8 days

c) 11 days

Finn: Rob, I’m going to go for the ambitious c) 11 days without sleep.

Rob: Well, I’ll let you know the answer at the end of the programme, if you can stay awake that long! Now, let’s talk more about this link between sleep and the ability to learn. Researchers from Boston College in the USA have found the lack of sleep is a significant – so important – factor in lowering the achievement of school pupils. The findings could be relevant to any of us who are trying to learn something.

Finn: That’s true. The most interesting fact is that it is more of a problem in affluent countries – so wealthier countries such as the United States, England, France and Saudi Arabia.

Rob: Students here are more affected by influences from their home life. 6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2013 Page 2 of 5

Finn: You’re talking about computers and TVs in their bedrooms and using smartphones?

Rob: Yes, they’re tempted by all this technology instead of just getting their heads down and having a good night’s sleep. The survey found 80% of 13 and 14-year-olds in the US were identified by their teachers as being affected by lack of sleep. The international average was 57%.

Finn: Let’s hear from William Myers who is the Principal at South River High School in the United States. He says this is a challenge for teachers. What other word does he use to mean ‘lacking in energy’?

William Myers, Principal at South River High School:

If we didn’t make our classes more engaging, we would see a decline in our performance. We would see that school-wide, and in many of our classes, we would see students who were lethargic, sleepy, maybe heads down at the end of the day. So we have to put a lot of work into keeping them alert and keeping them excited about school.

Rob: That’s quite a challenge then! He says classes have to be engaging, so interesting and exciting, to stop students getting sleepy and lacking in energy – the word he used was lethargic.

Finn: Yes, this research looked at the link between the amount students sleep and their test results. Not surprisingly it found children with more sleep achieve higher test results in maths, science and reading. There is a lesson there for all of us – I think I’ll just shut my eyes, Rob, and have 40 winks.

Rob: You mean a short, light sleep? Can you wait until the end of the programme please? Scientists believe the lack of sleep causes your brain to run on empty. It struggles to absorb and retain ideas.

Finn: Actually, scientists say that there are more serious problems with students staying up late before they hit the sack - or got to bed – as we can hear from the BBC’s Jane O’Brien. Can you identify what they are?

Jane O’Brien, BBC reporter:

Here at the Children’s National Medical Centre, doctors are seeing more and more sleep-deprived kids, and it’s not just affecting their school work. It’s linked to obesity, mood swings and behaviour problems. In fact it’s putting their long-term health at risk.

Finn: So, the lack of sleep can also lead to health problems such as obesity – that’s when someone is dangerously overweight – and to mood swings – that’s changes in how someone feels or behaves. So, what is the solution to all of this?

Rob: Well the school day in some countries start later, allowing teenagers a bit of a lie in. And others have a break in the afternoon – like a siesta. But the real solution is for students to turn in – or go to bed – earlier.

Finn: This research has also highlighted another problem. Because teachers are simplifying their lessons to take account of the tetchy – or grumpy – students, there’s concern that pupils who are getting enough sleep are losing out in these adjusted lessons. So everyone suffers. OK, well before I go for a lie down please could you let me know the answer to today’s question, Rob?

Rob: Of course. Earlier I asked you about Randy Gardner, who holds the world record for the longest period of time without sleep. I asked you if you knew how long he stayed awake for?

Finn: And I said c) 11 days, 11 long days.

Rob: And you were right. He stayed awake for that incredible 11 days back in 1965. Randy was actually functioning quite well at the end of his research and he could still beat the scientist at pinball. Well, it’s almost time to go but before we do, Finn could you remind us of some of the words we've heard today.

Finn: Yes. We heard:

sleep deprivation

getting their heads down

lethargic

forty winks

to run on empty

hit the sack

mood swings

a siesta

to turn in

tetchy

Rob: Well, that’s all we have time for today. Time for a doze Finn!