MBA加油站-英语晨读2017-07-15

保持健康，远离手机

-研究称手机会导致记性变差和精神涣散，你怕不怕？

Ithas long been believed that the smartphones in our pockets are actually makingus dumber, but now there is evidence for it. Theconstant presence of a mobile phone has a “brain drain” effect that significantly reduces people’s intelligence and attention spans, a study has found.

人们一直都觉得口袋里的智能手机让我们越来越笨，现在有科学证据来证明了。研究发现，手机的长期存在会产生一种“脑力流失”效应，会严重地降低人们的智力和专注时长。

evidence ['evɪd(ə)ns] n.证据，证明；迹象evident  adj. 明显的；明白的

significant[sɪg'nɪfɪk(ə)nt]adj. 重大的；显著的

intelligence [ɪn'telɪdʒ(ə)ns]n. 智力，理解力 AI- artificial intelligence

Researchers at the University of Texas discoveredthat people are worse at conducting tasks and remembering information if theyhave a smart phone within eye shot. In two experiments they found phonessitting on a desk or even in a pocket or handbag would distract users and lead to worse test scores even when it was set up not to disturb test subjects. The effect was measurable evenwhen the phones were switched off, and was worse for those who were deemed more dependent on their mobiles.

德克萨斯大学的研究人员发现：当手机在视线范围内时，人们在处理任务和记忆信息方面的表现会更糟糕。在两组实验中，他们发现只要手机放在桌上甚至只放在口袋或手提包里，即便设置成防干扰模式，也能让人分心并且导致更低的测试分数。即使处于关机状态，手机的影响仍然很大，对严重依赖手机的人影响更大。

discover[dɪ'skʌvə] v. 发现；发觉scientific discovery科学发现

distract[dɪ'strækt] vt. 转移，分心

Smart phones distract driving/study/work.  手机影响开车/学习/工作

disturb[dɪ'stɜːb] v. 打扰，妨碍 

deem[diːm] v. 认为，视作

"Although these devices have immense potential to improve welfare, their persistent presence may come at a cognitivecost," said Dr Adrian Ward, the lead author of the study. "Even whenpeople are successful at maintaining sustained attention - as when avoiding the temptationto check their phones - the mere presence of these devices reduces availablecognitive capability."

这项研究的主要作者阿德里安•沃德博士表示：“尽管这些电子设备可以极大地便利生活，但手机总放在身边会导致认知能力下降。即使能够成功保持长期注意力，也就是能抵挡查看手机的诱惑，现有的认知能力也会因手机在场而降低。”

immense[ɪ'mens] adj. 广大的，无边无际的

maintain[meɪn'teɪn] vt. 维持，维修，主张

sustain[sə'steɪn] vt. 维持，支撑，供养 sustainable development 可持续发展