随身英语
How rural life becomes a modern fantasy 现代人为何憧憬乡村生活？
你梦想过搬到乡村生活吗？在乡村小屋的清晨醒来，放眼窗外，满是无尽的绿色，真是悠闲自在……繁忙城市中的现代人为什么憧憬田园风光？本期节目探讨人们向往乡间生活的缘由。
词汇：country life 乡村生活
Rolling hills and endless green pastures – those images are easy to conjure when thinking of the idyllic country lifestyle. When lockdowns descended upon many countries across the world during the pandemic, social media seemed to be dominated by pictures of cottages and village life – people getting away from it all. So, why is living in the countryside becoming a modern fantasy – and are there benefits to considering a slower pace of life?
It makes sense that some people would want to give up the crowded and noisy city streets for the perceived tranquillity of the traditional country life – especially during an event like a pandemic. The lockdowns and extensive periods of working from home have given people time to think about what they want from life. But it’s not just about having a greener place to look at out your window.
There is more evidence that relates to the benefits of rural living. Villages aren’t normally subject to the stop-go traffic we see in city centres, the buses fighting with taxis for dominance, or metro systems with trains that scream from one station to the next. In short, there’s less air pollution in your country retreat – a thing which increases the chances of developing respiratory conditions or heart disease. You also get more opportunities to take long walks and see the sights, meaning you can get more exercise. Less noise, more walks and better air can also lead to less stress and an increased life expectancy, according to studies such as one conducted by the British government in 2012.
However, there are some things that need to be considered. Living far from the hustle and bustle of the city means that some people may feel isolated or even lonely. And as people get older, life far from doctors or public transport could become a bit of a challenge. So, if you’re considering a change of pace and moving to a picturesque village, there is a range of pros and cons to consider before taking the plunge.
词汇表
rolling hills 绵延起伏的山丘
pastures 牧场草地
idyllic 田园风光的
cottage 乡村小屋
village 乡村
get away from it all 抛开烦恼去休息、放松
pace of life 生活节奏
tranquillity 宁静
rural 农村的，乡村的
air pollution 空气污染
retreat 退隐静养的地方
life expectancy 预期寿命
hustle and bustle 喧嚣繁忙
isolated 与世隔绝的
picturesque 风景如画的
take the plunge 冒然决定尝试
测验与练习
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. What seemed to dominate social media during the pandemic?
2. What gave people time to think about what they wanted from life?
3. What issues do villages not have that cities have?
4. What factors can increase your life expectancy?
5. What are some of the potential issues with moving to the country?
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. We’ve decided to _______ and move to the country.
pace of life village picturesque take the plunge
2. I live in a peaceful little _______ far from the city.
take the plunge pace of life village picturesque
3. I used to hate the _______ so packed up and moved to a rural area.
isolated hustle and bustle take the plunge picturesque
4. Your cottage is so beautiful – it’s _______.
picturesque village take the plunge pace of life
5. The area that I live in is really quiet – it has a slower _______.
take the plunge village pace of life picturesque
答案
1. 阅读课文并回答问题。
1. What seemed to dominate social media during the pandemic?
Social media seemed to be dominated by pictures of cottages and village life.
2. What gave people time to think about what they wanted from life?
The lockdowns and extensive periods of working from home.
3. What issues do villages not have that cities have?
Villages don’t normally have the stop-go traffic of city centres or air pollution.
4. What factors can increase your life expectancy?
Less noise, more walks and better air can also lead to less stress and an increased life expectancy.
5. What are some of the potential issues with moving to the country?
Some people may feel isolated or even lonely – and as one gets older – life far from doctors or public transport could become a bit of a challenge.
2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。
1. We’ve decided to take the plunge and move to the country.
2. I live in a peaceful little village far from the city.
3. I used to hate the hustle and bustle so packed up and moved to a rural area.
4. Your cottage is so beautiful – it’s picturesque.
5. The area that I live in is really quiet – it has a slower pace of life.
