The good of gardening 園藝療法益心養神

有沒有抑鬱的時候？也許你應該嘗試“園藝療法”。研究發現在花園裡挖挖種種能使我們心情愉悅，快樂感倍增。本期《隨身英語》帶你瞭解“園藝療法”背後的故事。

課文內容

詞匯：Therapy 療法

Do you have a hobby that helps you relax and unwind? For some people, there is no better way to switch off than spending time in the garden. This small private area of green space can be their oasis of calm.

It’s no wonder some of us turn to gardening as a form of therapy. A survey conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society, found that 82% of people in the UK said that gardening makes them happier. It also found that 70% of them, given the choice, would prefer to spend their working day in the garden with just 9% opting for an office.

For those with green fingers, the pleasure of gardening comes from getting out in the fresh air, in all weathers and communing with nature – even if there are a few too many creepy-crawlies! It can also be seen as a sort of digital-detox – time away from technology. Some experts actually believe that getting outside to dig and plant things acts as a ‘natural high‘.

Dr Christopher Lowry, a neuroscientist at the University of Colorado, injected a bacterium commonly found in soil into mice to see what affect this would have on them. He found the bacterium had a similar effect on the mice as an antidepressant drug might. When we dig in soil we ingest this bacterium through our lungs or cuts in our skin so Dr Lowry concluded that since the mice seemed happier when treated with soil bacteria, it’s likely we would be too.

Gardening can also be used as a way of treating addiction. There’s evidence that recovering alcoholics who have been given the opportunity to plant, grow, and even sell their produce, have managed to stop their addictive habits. Scot Stephenson, for example, got expelled from school and started a vocational qualification in gardening. He says “I got my NVQ level 2 which is my first qualification and enjoyed it ever since.”

Whatever the reason, there are many therapeutic benefits to getting your hands dirty, doing some physical hard work and then watching your garden grow. Does this sound like your idea of fun?

詞匯表

unwind 放松，減壓
switch off 不在關註（工作或另人精神緊張的事情）
oasis of calm 寧靜的一刻
therapy （非藥物）療法
green fingers 園藝能手
communing 與（大自然）交流、融為一體
creepy-crawlies 爬蟲，蠕蟲
digital-detox 數碼排毒
natural high （不靠藥物）自然的興奮、高興
bacterium 細菌（復數為 bacteria）
antidepressant drug 抗抑鬱藥物
addiction 嗜好，癮
recovering alcoholics 目前滴酒不沾的酗酒者
expelled 被開除
vocational 職業技術的

測驗與練習

1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。

1. What phrase used in the article, describes someone who likes gardening?

2. True or false? In a survey, a majority of people found gardening made them less happy.

3. What word used in the article means ‘absorb’ or ‘take into the body’?

4. How have some recovering alcoholics been able to control or stop their addiction?

5. What is the adjective form of therapy?

2.請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。

1. The garden in the middle of the city provided an _________ for those who wanted somewhere quiet to eat their lunch.

oasis of noise oasis of calm osias of calm clammy oasis

2. Extra oxygen was pumped into the shop to give customers a __________ when they were shopping.

nature high green fingers natural high digital-detox

3. I’ve had to cut up my credit cards to help me quit my ________ to buying shoes!
therapy communing addiction natural high

4. To help me __________, I usually have a bath and listen to some relaxing music.
wind up get windy switch on unwind

5. David was __________ after starting a fight in the school dining room.
expelled banned executed expelling

答案

1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。

1. What phrase used in the article, describes someone who likes gardening?
(having) green fingers

2. True or false? In a survey, a majority of people found gardening made them less happy.
False. The survey found 82% of people (a majority) in the UK said that gardening makes them happier.

3. What word used in the article means ‘absorb’ or ‘take into the body’?
ingest

4. How have some recovering alcoholics been able to control or stop their addiction?
Having the opportunity to plant, grow, and even sell their produce,

5. What is the adjective form of ‘therapy’?
therapeutic

2.請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。

1. The garden in the middle of the city provided an oasis of calm for those who wanted somewhere quiet to eat their lunch.

2. Extra oxygen was pumped into the shop to give customers a natural high when they were shopping.

3. I’ve had to cut up my credit cards to help me quit my addiction to buying shoes!

4. To help me unwind, I usually have a bath and listen to some relaxing music.

5. David was expelled after starting a fight in the school dining room.