节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-09-21
难易度:High
关键字:teller, well-being, urgency, thrive, culprit
We are on the second day of our article The Speed of Cities.
And today we're talking all about the pace of life.
In Robert Levine's experiment, his worldwide experiment looking at how fast
people walked, he realized that there are also other factors,
things like how fast people talk, how quickly a bank teller gives out change and
how accurate everyone's watch is.
Well, those are things to think about when talking about the speed of a city and
its pace of life.
Now to continue on with our article, we'll be learning something a little bit
different.
The Speed of Cities.
Along with wealth, population size and culture also affect the pace of life.
But how does pace affect the well-being of people in the fast lane?
Studies show that "time urgency" predicts heart disease.
People who move fast and feel stressed about time are more likely to die of
heart disease than those who live slower lives.
So does walking fast make people ill?
Or is the fast-paced, stressed lifestyle the culprit?
While some people thrive under stress, most don't and should slow down.
What's your city's speed?
Is it better to be fast and pursue economic success or to move more slowly and
live a healthier life?
(Music).
OK. At the beginning of this section we read:
Along with wealth, population size and culture also affect the pace of life.
So there's lots of things that will affect the pace of life.
It's not just how wealthy a country is.
But how do we continue here?
Well, but how does pace affect the well-being of people in the fast lane?
Now this sentence is great... this question.
And there are many things from it we want to talk about.
The first is the key word "well-being." Now what does that mean, Gabe,
well-being?
Well, your well-being is really your health.
But we're not just talking about physical health.
We're talking about emotional, intellectual, mental, spiritual health, your
well-being as a whole person.
That is what we mean when we talk about someone's well-being or a country's
well-being.
That's right.
So along with wealth and all of these other things - population size, culture -
we also talk about how the pace of life affects a person's well-being,
and not just the well-being of someone who is enjoying a nice, relaxed life but
someone who is living in the fast lane.
And that is a great phrase that we also want to look at: in the fast lane.
If you live in the fast lane, that means that you are under a lot of stress, a
lot of pressure.
You must do things very quickly.
It's true.
I think this phrase or this idiom is kind of from driving, maybe driving on a
freeway.
On a lot of freeways you will have a fast lane.
And that is, in the United States, it's the very far left lane.
That's where you can go the fastest.
And so slower drivers, you should not drive in the fast lane.
You should let faster drivers drive in that lane.
Well, many people live like this.
They live life in the fast lane.
They just want to get from point A to point B as quick as possible.
And they don't slow down.
Now we will see whether or not this is a good thing because usually we think of
doing things as quickly as possible, getting them done so we can do more, that's
good.
However, studies show that "time urgency" predicts heart disease.
This sounds very serious, Gabe.
Yes, it does. It predicts heart disease.
Studies show.
Yesterday we saw a phrase, "research suggests." You can kind of use these
phrases in the same way. OK.
Studies show that "time urgency" predicts heart disease.
Let's look at that word from our Word Bank: urgency.
If you have the urgency to do something, that means you need to do it now.
It's very important.
Do it as quick as possible.
That's right, so something that is very important.
You might have a project that you need to finish.
There is urgency to finish this project.
The deadline is tomorrow.
That's right.
It's urgent.
That's the adjective form: U-R-G-E-N-T.
I need to get in touch with the boss.
It's urgent!
OK. So these things, uh... time urgency, predict heart disease.
And we continue.
People who move fast and feel stressed about time are more likely to die of
heart disease than those who live slower lives.
Well, so.
Does walking fast make people ill?
Now I don't know about that since a lot of doctors recommend that people walk
faster to get good exercise.
It's better for you to walk quickly.
But maybe this fast-paced lifestyle... we have another question there, Gabe.
Read that for us.
That's right.
Or is the fast-paced, stressed lifestyle the culprit?
And if you're the culprit, that means you are to blame.
We can blame you for the problem.
You know, Carolyn, I was reading recently about the lifespan of celebrities -
people who like to live where everyone knows what they are doing.
Actually, they don't live as long as other normal people.
And maybe they have a more stressed lifestyle.
Well, that very well could be the culprit.
Continuing on:
While some people thrive under stress, most don't and should slow down.
So we see a word from our Word Bank there, the word "thrive." If you thrive
doing something, then you are very successful at it, perhaps even prosperous.
You do very well.
OK. Well, do you thrive under stress?
That means you thrive and do really well with a lot of pressure.
You have to get something done really quickly, and you thrive.
You think it's wonderful to have this kind of stress.
I do well under stress, but I can't imagine having stress all the time.
Every once in a while, it's good to have stress.
And I do thrive under that kind of stress.
Well, that... that means that maybe you should slow down at other parts of your
work schedule.
Well, what's your city's speed?
Is it better to be fast and pursue economic success or to move more slowly and
live a healthier life?
Think about that.
For right now, we are going to go watch a review skit, and then join Michelle in
the Language Lab.
OK, everyone. Walk faster... Walk faster, please.
OK. Thank you.
What's happening here?
Is there an emergency?
No. Now walk.
Hurry up and walk faster.
Walk, walk, walk.
Why should I walk faster?
Because the speed that people walk is strongly related to economic success.
It is?
Yes. Research shows that residents in struggling cities move at a slower pace.
Is that so?
It is.
And residents in wealthy cities move faster.
So time is money.
Exactly.
Now, hurry up.
And could you please try to talk a little faster?
You want me to talk faster, too?
Yes. Your pace of life should be faster.
Bank tellers should be quicker.
Watches should be accurate.
Hurry up and make our city rich.
Will speeding things up really make our city wealthy?
Maybe.
So why not try?
Well, because a fast pace can affect our well-being.
What... what do you mean?
Studies show that people living in the fast lane are more likely to die of heart
disease.
Oh! That's not good.
No. So is it better to be fast and pursue economic success or move more slowly
and live a healthier life?
Hmm... OK, everyone. Slow down.
(Chinese).
Slow down, not so fast.
Slow.
OK.
(Chinese).
And now let's get back to our lesson.
Well, we've been talking about The Speed of Cities.
And we find out that sometimes people have heart disease because of their high
stress or the stress in their lives.
Well, my question is:
Do you think that people can live a fast-paced life and care for their personal
well-being at the same time?
What do you think? Carolyn?
Well, I think it is possible, but it's a very difficult balance to maintain.
I think that if you have a fast-paced lifestyle but also take the time to enjoy
those benefits, perhaps the extra money,
the other things that you can enjoy from having that type of life, then it
should be OK.
It's true. I agree.
Well, thank you for joining us for today's lesson.
And of course, we will see you next time right here at Studio Classroom.
See you then.