3月4日午间英语新闻：一提笔就忘字，一张嘴就词穷，到底是为什么？

> Decline in ability to express language
一提笔就忘字，一张嘴就词穷……到底是为什么？

A recent survey conducted by China Youth Daily shows that more than half of the interviewed young adults expressed a decline in their language and communication abilities over the past few years. A significant 47.1% reported feeling a lack of vocabulary and limited expression skills.
《中国青年报》近期发布的一项调查显示，超过半数受访青年表示感觉近几年自己的语言文字表达能力有所下降。其中，47.1％的受访者感觉自己词汇量匮乏、表达单一。

The survey highlighted cases like Li Sichao, a postgraduate student at a university in Nanjing, who struggles during presentations, especially during the question-and-answer sessions. Li mentioned instances where he had the right words on the tip of his tongue but found it challenging to articulate his thoughts coherently, leaving him with a lack of confidence. Another individual, Liu Yuan, attributed the decrease in his language expression skills not only to communication challenges but also to difficulties in drafting written content for work.
在南京某高校读研究生的李同学表示，他在演讲时，尤其是在问答环节，表现得很吃力。时话就在嘴边，但不知道怎么说，磕磕绊绊的，这让他缺乏自信。在杭州的工作的90后刘源觉得，不仅自己的语言表达能力下降，书写能力也在下降。

What causes the wordless phenomenon? The survey results pointed to factors such as not reading enough, weakened expressive abilities, excessive reliance on internet language and emojis, lack of creativity, fragmented information browsing, and difficulties in forming systematic thinking. All these factors were identified by over half of the respondents.
是什么原因导致了“词穷”现象的产生？调查显示，超过半数的受访者指出阅读量不足、表达能力减弱、过度依赖网络语言和表情包、缺乏创造力、碎片化浏览信息和难以形成系统思维等都是导致“词穷”因素。

Zheng Huanzhao, associate professor from Jinan University's Chinese department, believes that while internet technology has brought convenience, it has also deeply influenced people's ways of thinking, their values, and their methods of expression.
对此，暨南大学中文系副教授郑焕钊认为，互联网技术让生活更便捷的同时也对人们的思维方式、价值观念及表达方式等产生深层影响。

To address the issue, Zheng suggests starting by improving the online language environment. He emphasizes the need to enhance the quality of online content, especially in terms of language accuracy, richness, and aesthetics. Additionally, he recommends guiding various internet media outlets to standardize language expression, taking on the responsibility of cultural and aesthetic guidance.

针对这一问题，郑焕钊建议从改善互联网语言环境开始。”他强调要提高网络内容的质量，尤其是语言文字的准确性、丰富性和美感。此外，要引导各类互联网媒体规范语言文字表达，承担文化引导和审美引导的责任。

Professor Guo Xiao'an from the School of Journalism at Chongqing University, advises young people to enrich their cultural knowledge, enhance cultural appreciation, and pay attention to text norms. 
重庆大学新闻学院教授郭小安则建议，年轻人要丰富文化积累，提高文化鉴赏力，注重文字规范。

重点词汇
1、coherently
英/ kəʊˈhɪərəntli / 美/ koʊˈhɪrəntli /
adv. 连贯地；前后一致地；条理清楚地；互相偶合地；凝聚性地

2、fragmented
英/ fræɡˈmentɪd / 美/ ˈfræɡmentɪd /
adj. 支离破碎的，分裂的
v. （使）支离破碎，（使）分裂（fragment 的过去式和过去分词）

fragmented information
碎片化信息

> Some penguins sleep more than 10,000 times a day
这种企鹅一次只睡4秒钟？

When you get really sleepy, you may nod off for a short time. Chinstrap penguins in the South Pole nod off more than 10,000 times a day, a new study in Science said. A group of scientists studied 14 chinstrap penguins in the South Pole by putting electrodes on the penguins’ heads and necks to see their brain activities. The scientists also followed them by GPS and watched them for 10 days.
很困的时候，我们都会打瞌睡，但你知道吗？南极的帽带企鹅每天要打10000多次瞌睡。据发表在《科学》杂志上的一项新研究显示，一组科学家对南极的14只帽带企鹅进行了研究，他们将电极放在企鹅的头部和颈部，以观察它们的大脑活动。同时，科学家们还通过 GPS 跟踪并观察了它们10天。

The penguins never have a long sleep – the longest sleep is 34 seconds. On average, the penguins sleep 4 seconds at a time. But in one day, they sleep for more than 11 hours. So they get enough rest.
企鹅从不长时间睡眠——最长的睡眠时间只有34秒，平均睡眠时间只有4秒。但一天之内，它们的累计睡眠时间长达11个小时，得到了足够的休息。

The penguins sleep like this because they need to protect their eggs and babies. If they sleep for too long, the babies may get hurt by seabirds and other penguins. So the parent penguins just have very short sleep to stay alert.
企鹅睡觉的时候缩成一团，这样的睡觉姿势是因为它们需要保护未孵化的蛋和企鹅宝宝。如果它们睡得太久，婴儿可能会被其他海鸟伤害，所以企鹅父母浅浅迷瞪一会以保持警觉。

Different animals have different sleep times and sleep habits: Dolphins, for example, sleep with only half a brain. Half of the brain is awake, while the other half falls into a deep sleep. Some birds also fly while sleeping with half of their brain. For example, frigate birds fly for months over the ocean. When the wind can keep them from falling into the water, they sleep for 10 seconds at a time while flying.
不同动物的睡眠时间和睡眠习惯是不同的，例如，海豚只用半个大脑睡觉！大脑的一半是清醒的，而另一半则陷入深度睡眠。有些鸟还会“边睡觉边飞行”！例如，军舰鸟在海洋上空飞行数月。当风力的条件可以支撑它们不落入水中时，它们便能在飞行时睡上个10秒钟。

重点词汇
1、chinstrap penguins
帽带企鹅：一种在南极半岛和附近岛屿繁殖的企鹅，下巴下方有一条狭窄的黑色羽毛带。

2、nod off
打瞌睡