建议尽量在晚9点前睡觉？

近日，#建议尽量在晚9点前睡觉#的话题引发热议。

真的是这样吗？

🤔️小作业：

1. Which of the following statements about showering is NOT supported by the passage?

A) Morning showers help people start their day better.

B) Evening showers prevent sheets from getting dirty.

C) Showering twice a day can dry out your skin.

D) Midday showers are recommended by scientists.

2. What tone does the author primarily use in the passage?

A) Formal and academic.

B) Humorous and casual.

C) Critical and argumentative.

D) Sad and reflective.

There is a perfect time to shower – and it's not when you think

From: The Guardian, 26 Mar 2024

In the data-driven,optimisation-obsessedcorner of the internet, everything has itsoptimalmoment, and washing isno exception.

在这个数据驱动、优化至上的互联网世界里，任何事物都有它的最佳时间，洗澡也不例外。

optimisation

英式 optimisation 美式 optimization /ˌɒp.tɪ.maɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/ 表示“优化，完善”，英文解释为“the act of making something as good as possible”如：the optimization of chemical processes 对化学工序流程的优化。

obsess

obsess /əbˈses/ 表示“使痴迷，使迷恋，使心神不宁”，英文解释为“if something or someone obsesses you, you think or worry about them all the time and you cannot think about anything else – used to show disapproval”，用法：be obsessed by / with sth. / sb.，举个🌰：A lot of young girls are obsessed by their weight. 许多少女都过于担心自己的体重。

optimal

optimal /ˈɒp.tɪ.məl/ 表示“最优的，最佳的；优化的”，英文解释为“best; most likely to bring success or advantage”举个🌰：A mixture of selected funds is an optimal choice for future security and return on investment. 同时选择几种基金是确保未来投资安全和投资收益的最佳选择。

📍《经济学人》（The Economist）一篇讲述量化交易的文章中提到：It requires algorithms that first establish and then FINE-tune the optimal period over which to do the sorting. 这需要通过算法来确定并微调出一个最优的筛选期。

exception

exception /ɪkˈsep.ʃən/ 表示“一般情况以外的人（或事物）；例外”，英文解释为“a person or thing that is not included in a general statement”举个🌰：Nobody had much money at the time and I was no exception. 那时候谁都没有很多钱，我也不例外。

📺美剧《绝望的主妇》（Desperate Housewives）中的台词提到：Rex and Bree Van de Kamp were no exception. 雷克斯和布里·范德坎普也不例外。

One of my favourite things to do in my middle age is lie on the sofa eatingcrispswhile Googling low-effort ways tooptimisemy life.

人到中年，我最喜欢做的事情之一就是躺在沙发上一边吃薯片，一边上网搜索低成本优化生活的方法。

crisp

crisp /krɪsp/ 表示“油炸薯片”，英文解释为“a very thin, often round piece of fried potato, sometimes with a flavour added, sold especially in plastic bags”如：a packet of salt and vinegar crisps 一袋盐醋薯片。

word

英式 optimise 美式 optimize /ˈɒp.tɪ.maɪz/ 表示“使优化，完善”，英文解释为“to make something as good as possible”举个🌰：We need to optimize our use of the existing technology. 我们需要充分利用现有技术。

Thanks to data-drivenobsessivesonline, I have discovered that there is an optimal time at which to do everything. Exercising in the afternoon, for example, may reduce the risks of early death more than a morning or evening workout. Delaying your morning coffee until two hours after waking improvescognitionand energy, according to Andrew Huberman, acontroversial neurobiologistandpodcasterwho has developed acultfollowing for his health and fitness “protocols”. As for the best time to have a shower? I'm glad you asked. I have done extensive research on the matter – and it'scomplicated.

多亏了网上那些数据驱动的痴迷者，我发现做任何事情都有一个最佳时间。例如，下午锻炼比早上或晚上锻炼更能降低早逝的风险。安德鲁·休伯曼（Andrew Huberman）是一位备受争议的神经生物学家和播客主持人，他的健康和健身“方案”受到了很多人的追捧。他表示，早晨醒来两小时后再喝咖啡可以提高认知能力和精力至于洗澡的最佳时间？至于洗澡的最佳时间？很高兴你问了这个问题。我对这个问题进行了广泛研究——这很复杂。

obsessive

obsessive /əbˈses.ɪv/ 表示“着迷的；作形容词，迷恋的；难以释怀的；过分（到不正常程度）的”，英文解释为“thinking about something or someone, or doing something, too much or all the time”举个🌰：He's obsessive about punctuality. 他过分讲究准时。

作名词，表示“强迫症患者；痴迷者”，英文解释为“a person whose mind is filled with thoughts of one particular thing or person so that they cannot think of anything else”

cognition

cognition /kɒɡˈnɪʃ.ən/ 表示“认识；认知”，英文解释为“the use of conscious mental processes”如：a book on human learning, memory, and cognition 一本关于人类学习、记忆和认知过程的书。

controversial

controversial /ˌkɒn.trəˈvɜː.ʃəl/ 表示“有争议的；引起争议的”，英文解释为“causing disagreement or discussion”如：a controversial issue/decision 有争议的问题/决议。

neurobiologist

neurobiologist /ˌnjʊə.rəʊˌbaɪˈɒl.ə.dʒɪst/ 表示“神经生物学家”，英文解释为“a scientist who studies the nervous system, its structure, how it works, and its biochemistry”

podcaster

podcast /ˈpɒd.kɑːst/ 表示“播客（以数字格式储存的电台节目，可从因特网下载，然后在计算机或MP3播放机上播放）”，英文解释为“A podcast is an audio file similar to a radio broadcast, that can be downloaded and listened to on a computer or iPod.”

podcaster指人。

cult

cult /kʌlt/ 作名词，表示“风行；流行；崇拜”，英文解释为“someone or something that has become very popular with a particular group of people”如：the cult of celebrity 名人崇拜。

作形容词，cult /kʌlt/ 表示“热门的；流行的；被视为偶像的”，英文解释为“liked very much by a particular group of people”举个🌰：The singer had a cult following in the 1970s. 这位歌手在20世纪70年代拥有一批狂热的追随者。

protocol

protocol /ˈprəʊ.tə.kɒl/ 1）表示“规程，协议（计算机之间交换信息的计算机语言）”，英文解释为“a computer language allowing computers that are connected to each other to communicate”

2）表示“礼仪；外交礼节”，英文解释为“a system of fixed rules and formal behaviour used at official meetings, usually between governments”如：a breach of protocol 违反外交礼节。

3）表示“（正式的国际性）条约，公约，议定书”，英文解释为“a formal international agreement”举个🌰：The Geneva Protocol of 1925 prohibits the use of poisonous gases in war. 1925年通过的《日内瓦公约》禁止在战争中使用有毒气体。

4）表示“科学实验计划；医疗方案”，英文解释a plan for performing a scientific experiment or medical treatment”

complicated

complicated /ˈkɒm.plɪ.keɪ.tɪd/ 表示“复杂的；麻烦的；费解的”，英文解释为“involving a lot of different parts, in a way that is difficult to understand”如：complicated instructions 复杂的指令。

Like theorientationof toilet paper, shower times are surprisinglydivisive. One groupswearsyou need a morning shower to make the most of your day. The evening team, on the other hand, holds that anyone who doesn't wash before bed is agrimy heathenwhosesheetsarebesmirched by filth. Some people –compromisers– suggest you can get the best of both worlds byablutingtwice a day. An equallypassionate campwarns that this will dry out your skin andhike upyour water bill. According to onepoll, there is a gendered aspect to this divide: men are more likely to wash in the morning than women.

就像卫生纸的方向一样，洗澡时间也出奇地有争议。有一派人信誓旦旦地说，你要在早上洗澡，这样才能充分利用一天的时间。而晚上洗澡派则认为，睡前不洗澡的人都是肮脏的，他们的床单也会因此变脏。有些人——折衷派——建议每天洗两次澡，两全其美。同样热情的阵营则警告说，这样做会使皮肤干燥，水费也会增加。一项民意调查显示，这种分歧存在性别方面：男性比女性更倾向于早上洗脸。同样坚持己见的另一派则警告说，这将使你的皮肤干燥，并增加水费。根据一项民意调查，这一分歧还存在性别差异：男性比女性更倾向于早晨洗澡。

orientation

orientation /ˌɔː.ri.enˈteɪ.ʃən/ 1）表示“（某人的）特别喜好，价值取向，信仰观念”，英文解释为“the particular things that a person prefers, believes, thinks, or usually does”

2）表示“兴趣；取向；目标”，英文解释为“the particular interests, activities, or aims of an organization or business”如：the company's new eco-friendly orientation 公司保护生态环境的新定位。

3）表示“（对新工作、新活动的）培训，准备”，英文解释为“training or preparation for a new job or activity”举个🌰：The department has arranged an orientation session. 这个部门安排了一次岗前培训。

4）表示“安排；方向”，英文解释为“arrangement or direction”举个🌰：The building has an east-west orientation (= it is built on a line between east and west). 这幢大楼是东西向的。

📍2024年政府工作报告Part 8提到：增强宏观政策取向一致性。We should enhance the consistency of macro policy orientation.

divisive

divisive /dɪˈvaɪ.sɪv/ 表示“有争议的；引起分歧的”，英文解释为“used to describe something that causes great and sometimes unfriendly disagreement within a group of people”举个🌰：The Vietnam war was an extremely divisive issue in the US. 越南战争在美国是一个极具争议的问题。

📍经济学人（The Economist）在一篇介绍月饼的文章中提到：MOONCAKES are among the most divisive treats. 月饼是最有争议的食物之一。

📍词根“-vis-”来自拉丁语“dividere”，表示“分开”。近义词：controversial（有争议的），同根词：divide（分开），常用短语：a divisive topic（引起分歧的话题）

swear

swear /sweər/ 1）表示“发（誓）；宣（誓）”，英文解释为“to promise or say firmly that you are telling the truth or that you will do something or behave in a particular way”举个🌰：I don't know anything about what happened, I swear (it). 我发誓我对所发生的事一无所知。

2）表示“诅咒，咒骂”，英文解释为“to use words that are rude or offensive as a way of emphasizing what you mean or as a way of insulting someone or something”举个🌰：It was a real shock, the first time I heard my mother swear. 我第一次听见母亲骂脏话时觉得非常震惊。

📍swear word表示“脏话，冒犯之词”，英文解释为“a rude or offensive word”举个🌰：All swear words, even mild ones such as "damn",, were deleted from the text. 所有的脏话，哪怕是像 damn 这样比较温和的字眼，都从课本中删除了。

grimy

grimy /ˈɡraɪ.mi/ 表示“肮脏”，英文解释为“dirty”举个🌰：The child's face was grimy and streaked with tears. 那个孩子脸上满是污垢，还挂着道道泪痕。

heathen

heathen /ˈhiː.ðən/ 1）表示“无宗教信仰的人；异教徒”，英文解释为“a person who has no religion, or who belongs to a religion that is not Christianity, Judaism, or Islam”

2）表示“粗鄙的人，没受过教育的人”，英文解释为“someone who behaves as if they are not educated”举个🌰：He's such a heathen. 他真没文化。

sheet

sheet /ʃiːt/ 1）表示“床单”，英文解释为“a large piece of thin cloth used on a bed for sleeping on or under”举个🌰：I've put clean sheets on the bed. 我已经给床铺上了干净的床单。

2）表示“一大片，一大堆，一大摊（移动的东西）”，英文解释为“a large moving mass of fire or water”如：a sheet of flame 一片火海。

besmirch

besmirch /bɪˈsmɜːtʃ/ 表示“玷污；损害（名誉等）”，英文解释为“to say bad things about someone to influence other people's opinion of them”举个🌰：His accusations were false, but they served to besmirch her reputation. 他的指控虽毫无根据，却损害了她的名誉。

filth

filth /fɪlθ/ 表示“污物，污秽”，英文解释为“thick, unpleasant dirt”举个🌰：The floor was covered in filth. 地板上满是污渍。

compromise

compromise /ˈkɒm.prə.maɪz/ 1）表示“妥协；折中；让步；和解”，英文解释为“an agreement in an argument in which the people involved reduce their demands or change their opinion in order to agree”举个🌰：Let's compromise at/on ¥10. 我们就来个折中价10元。

2）表示“损害，伤害，危及”，英文解释为“to risk having a harmful effect on something”举个🌰：We would never compromise the safety of our passengers. 我们永远不会做有损乘客安全的事。

3）表示“放弃；背离，违背；降低”，英文解释为“to allow your principles to be less strong or your standards or morals to be lower”举个🌰：Don't compromise your beliefs/principles for the sake of being accepted. 不要为了得到别人的认同就放弃了你自己的信仰/原则。

区分：

📍comprise表示“包含；由…组成”，英文解释为“If you say that something comprises or is comprised of a number of things or people, you mean it has them as its parts or members.”举个🌰：The class is comprised mainly of Chinese and Japanese students. 这个班主要由中国和日本学生组成。

🎬电影《拉瑞·克劳》（Larry Crowne）中的台词提到：They comprise 20% of the world's fresh surface water supply. 它们提供了地球表面百分之二十的淡水。

ablute

ablution /əˈbluː.ʃən/ 表示“沐浴；净体（礼）；净手（礼）”，英文解释为“the act of washing yourself”举个🌰：Ablution is part of some religious ceremonies. 洗礼是一些宗教仪式的一部分。

ablute表示“沐浴，浸洗；洗澡”，英文解释为“to wash one's body”，是一个非常正式和不常用的词。

文中使用的是一种略带幽默和古怪的方式来描述洗澡的行为。

passionate

passionate /ˈpæʃ.ən.ət/ 表示“情绪激昂的，热情的”，英文解释为“having very strong feelings or emotions”如：a passionate speech 热情洋溢的演讲。

camp

camp /kæmp/ 表示“营地；宿营地”，英文解释为“a place where people stay in tents or other temporary structures”也可表示“阵营，阵线”，英文解释为“a group of people who share an opinion, especially a political one”

hike up

hike /haɪk/ 1）作名词，表示“突然上涨”，英文解释为“A hike is a sudden or large increase in prices, rates, taxes, or quantities.”如：a sudden 0.36 percent hike in interest rates 利率突涨0.36%。

2）作动词，表示“使大幅上升”，英文解释为“To hike prices, rates, taxes, or quantities means to increase them suddenly or by a large amount.”举个🌰：It has now been forced to hike its rates by 1.36 percent. 它现在被迫将其税率提高1.36%。

hike sth up 表示“快速提起，快速拉起；使大幅上升”，英文解释为“to lift or raise something with a quick movement”举个🌰：She hiked up her skirt and climbed onto the bicycle. 她一下提起裙子跨上了自行车。The insurers have started hiking up premiums by huge amounts. 保险公司已经开始大幅度地提高保险费。

poll

poll /pəʊl/ 1）作名词，表示“民意测验；民意调查”，英文解释为“A poll is a survey in which people are asked their opinions about something, usually in order to find out how popular something is or what people intend to do in the future.”复数形式polls可以特指“选举投票；计票”（the process of voting at an election; the process of counting the votes）举个🌰：Polls show that the European treaty has gained support in Denmark. 民意测验显示，欧洲条约已经在丹麦获得支持。

2）作动词，表示“对…进行民意调查”，英文解释为“If you are polled on something, you are asked what you think about it as part of a survey.”举个🌰：More than 2,000 people were polled. 2000多人接受了民意调查。

3）作动词，表示“获得…选票”，英文解释为“If a political party or a candidate polls a particular number or percentage of votes, they get that number or percentage of votes in an election.”举个🌰：The result showed he had polled enough votes to force a second ballot. 结果显示他获得了足够的选票来促使第二轮选举。

Do scientists have adefinitiveanswer to this question? I'm afraid not. Theconsensusseems to be:do whatever suits you best. That said, there are someno-nos. One “health and wellness” expert said on the website Bustle: “There are few benefits to showering in the middle of the day … in terms ofhygiene, it's practically irrelevant.”

科学家对此有明确答案吗？恐怕没有。大家的共识似乎是：选择最适合自己的。不过，有些时间确实不太适合。一位“健康和保健”专家在Bustle网站上说“中午洗澡几乎没什么好处......就卫生而言，这实际上无关紧要。”

definitive

definitive /dɪˈfɪn.ɪ.tɪv/ 1）表示“最终的，决定性的；不可更改的”，英文解释为“not able to be changed or improved”如：a definitive judgment/ruling 最终的判决；

2）表示“最佳的；最完整可靠的”，英文解释为“considered to be the best of its type”举个🌰：He's written the definitive guide to Thailand. 他写出了最完整可靠的泰国旅游指南。

consensus

consensus /kənˈsen.səs/ 表示“一致的意见；共识”，英文解释为“a generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people”举个🌰：The general consensus in the office is that he can't do his job. 办公室成员一致认为他无法胜任工作。

📍这个词来自拉丁语“consensus”，意味着“共同感觉”或“一致同意”。近义词：agreement（协议），同根词：consent（同意），常用短语：build consensus（建立共识）

no-no

表示“不准干的事; 不能接受的事物；禁忌；不可作之事”，英文解释为“something that is thought to be unsuitable or unacceptable”

hygiene

hygiene /ˈhaɪdʒiːn/ 不可数名词，表示“卫生；保健法”，英文解释为“the practice of keeping yourself and your living and working areas clean in order to prevent illness and disease”，如：food hygiene 食品卫生，personal hygiene 个人卫生。

As afreelancerwho works at home and frequently showers in the middle of the day, I take seriousoffenceat this. The midday shower iscriminally underrated. It relaxes you after a morning of work and gives you a little energy boost just as the afternoonlullis about to set in. And it's an excellent way toprocrastinate.

作为一个在家工作的自由职业者，我经常在中午洗澡，对此深感不满。中午洗澡的好处被严重低估了。经过一上午的工作，它能让你放松下来，并在下午疲倦期到来时给你一点能量的补充。而且这也是拖延时间的绝佳方式。

freelancer

freelancer /ˈfriː.lɑːn.sər/ 表示“自由职业者”，英文解释为“someone who is not employed by any one organization but does particular pieces of work for different organizations”

offence

offence /əˈfens/ 1）表示“犯罪行为;罪行”，英文解释为“an illegal act; a crime”如：a serious/minor offence 重/轻罪。

2）表示“冒犯；触犯；得罪”，英文解释为“upset and hurt or annoyed feelings, often because someone has been rude or shown no respect”举个🌰：I really didn't mean (to cause/give) any offence (= did not intend to upset anyone) - I was just stating my opinion. 我真的不想冒犯任何人——我只是在陈述自己的意见。Do you think he took offence (= was upset) at what I said about his hair? 你觉得我对他头发的评论得罪他了吗？

criminally

criminally /ˈkrɪm.ɪ.nəl.i/ 1表示“刑法上; 刑事上”，英文解释为“in a way that relates to committing or punishing crimes”举个🌰：）We allege that his behaviour was criminally negligent. 我们指控他的行为属于刑事过失。

2）表示“糟糕地；不道德地”，英文解释为“in a way that is very bad or morally wrong”举个🌰：Car parking at an airport is criminally expensive. 机场的停车费用贵得令人发指。

underrated

underrated /ˌʌn.dəˈreɪ.tɪd/ 表示“被低估的；评价过地的”，英文解释为“better or more important than most people believe”举个🌰He is one of the most underrated players in baseball. 他是棒球界最被低估的球员之一。

lull

lull /lʌl/ 作动词，表示“使安静，使平和；使发困”，英文解释为“to cause someone to feel calm or to feel that they want to sleep”举个🌰：The motion of the car almost lulled her to sleep. 汽车的颠簸让她昏昏欲睡。

作名词，表示“平静时期；间歇”，英文解释为“a short period of calm in which little happens”如：a lull in the conversation/traffic 谈话的间歇/交通低谷。

procrastinate

procrastinate /prəˈkræs.tɪ.neɪt/ 表示“拖延，耽搁”，英文解释为“to keep delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring”举个🌰：I know I've got to deal with the problem at some point - I'm just procrastinating. 我知道迟早得解决这个问题——我只是在拖延时间。

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