天冷会影响我们的身体。寒冷的天气会对我们造成哪些影响？在什么温度下，它会开始影响我们的身体？本期节目围绕这些问题展开讨论。

词汇：temperature 气温

When we think of low temperature as a danger, we often imagine people working outside in polar regions in the depths of winter or in cold storage facilities, layered in thermal clothing to help them deal with freezing temperatures. But do we also need to protect ourselves when it's just a bit chilly as well as in arctic conditions?

当我们想到低温是一种危险时，我们通常会想象人们在深冬的极地地区或在冷库中工作，穿着保暖衣服来帮助他们应对寒冷的温度。但是，当天气有点冷的时候，我们是否也需要像在北极那样保护自己?

As mammals, our bodies have to maintain an internal temperature in a narrow range between 37 and 37.5C. If that temperature drops, the effects can be serious. Below 35C, people can develop hypothermia, with symptoms such as shivering, confusion, and slurred speech. If body temperature drops below 29C, it can lead to loss of consciousness. Fortunately our bodies can regulate their internal temperature, but there are some negative side effects which come with this process.

作为哺乳动物，我们的身体必须保持体内温度在37到37.5摄氏度之间的狭窄范围内。如果气温下降，影响可能会很严重。在35摄氏度以下，人们会出现体温过低的症状，比如发抖、神志不清、说话不清。如果体温降到29摄氏度以下，就会失去意识。幸运的是，我们的身体可以调节内部温度，但这个过程也会带来一些负面的副作用。

Ten degrees Celsius is hardly biting cold, but that's the temperature that BBC journalist James Gallagher was made to endure in an experiment at the University of South Wales. As the test room was cooled from 21 degrees, his blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate all increased, while the flow of blood to his brain decreased by 20%. What are the consequences of this? Immediately, it meant that Gallagher took longer to solve some simple puzzles. As a longer-term risk, Professor Damian Bailey points out that increased blood pressure puts us at greater risk of stroke and heart attacks.

10摄氏度算不上刺骨的寒冷，但这正是BBC记者詹姆斯·加拉格尔在南威尔士大学进行的一项实验中所忍受的温度。当测试室从21度降下来时，他的血压、心率和呼吸频率都增加了，而流向大脑的血流量减少了20%。这样做的后果是什么?这意味着Gallagher解决一些简单的谜题需要更长的时间。达米安·贝利教授指出，从长期风险来看，血压升高会增加中风和心脏病发作的风险。

Professor Bailey suggests that in the cold, people should wear clothing that provides good insulation, eat more carbohydrates, and be more active. Another approach is suggested by Professor Christopher Minson. He believes that people are too reliant on being able to control the temperature around them, and that we can gradually train ourselves to cope with a lack of warmth and be comfortable at lower temperatures. So, while moderately low temperatures can have an effect on us, there are steps we can take to cope with them.

贝利教授建议，在寒冷的天气里，人们应该穿隔热性能好的衣服，多吃碳水化合物，多运动。Christopher Minson教授提出了另一种方法。他认为，人们过于依赖控制周围温度的能力，我们可以逐渐训练自己应对缺乏温暖的环境，并在较低的温度下感到舒适。因此，虽然适度的低温会对我们产生影响，但我们可以采取一些措施来应对它们。

词汇表

polar 极地的
depths of winter 隆冬
cold storage 冷藏
thermal 保暖的
freezing （天气）极冷的
chilly 寒冷的
arctic conditions 天气极其寒冷
range 范围
drop 下降
hypothermia 体温过低
shivering （因寒冷）发抖
regulate 调节
Celsius 摄氏度
biting cold 严寒
endure 忍受
cool （使）冷却，（使）变凉
insulation 防御寒冷，保暖
warmth 温暖
comfortable 舒适的

side effects 副作用

point out 指出 

测验与练习

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. In what range should our internal body temperature be?

2. What are the symptoms of hypothermia?

3. What happened to James Gallagher's heart rate during the experiment?

4. What can be consequences of high blood pressure?

5. True or false? Professor Minson believes it is good that people can control temperature easily.

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Antarctica and the Arctic are _______ regions.

biting                           polar                             chilly                          thermal

2. January is in the _______ of winter.

drops                           ranges                          depths                        warmths

3. Below zero degrees Celsius, it is _______.

thermal                        cool                               polar                          freezing

4. It's important to have clothing that provides _______.

comfortable                  insulation                      thermal                      temperature

5. _______ is something our body does to keep us warm.

Insulation                     Hypothermia                  Running                     Shivering

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. In what range should our internal body temperature be?
Between 37 and 37.5C.

2. What are the symptoms of hypothermia?
Symptoms can include shivering, confusion and slurred speech.

3. What happened to James Gallagher's heart rate during the experiment?
His heart rate increased.

4. What can be consequences of high blood pressure?
Professor Bailey said that high blood pressure could increase the risk of stroke and heart attack.

5. True or false? Professor Minson believes it is good that people can control temperature easily.
False. He believes that people are too reliant on being able to control the temperature around them.

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. Antarctica and the Arctic are polar regions.

2. January is in the depths of winter.

3. Below zero degrees Celsius, it is freezing.

4. It's important to have clothing that provides insulation.

5. Shivering is something our body does to keep us warm.

文章来源BBC，侵权删。