在科技並不發達的過去，人們可能會為如何在嚴寒天氣裡更好地保暖而倍感困擾。現如今，每值嚴冬時節，雖然溫度驟降、天氣惡劣，但隨著各類智能保暖產品的問世，冬天也能變得舒適宜人。人們憑借科學技術發明瞭各式各樣的防寒方法。比如，用智能電子設備調節屋內和衣物的溫度；使用無線科技制造會自動發熱的服飾。聽《隨身英語》音頻，讓你的冬天從此不再寒冷！
Vocabulary: winter and heating 詞匯: 冬日和供暖
In my memory, winters always used to be really unpleasant. You had to bundle up just to keep warm when you went outside. You were often cold, wet and never more than a sodden misstep away from a patch of black ice. If you didn’t have a nasty slide, you’d arrive home to an ice-cold house. And that would mean turning on the heating and waiting. It’s a miracle you didn’t get chilled to the bone.
Fortunately, things don’t have to be so challenging any more. Technology, engineering and design have advanced giving us new solutions to old problems. It means dealing with winter needn’t be like skating on thin ice.
With a smart thermostat, our homes can be toasty when we need them to be. Many models feature smartphone apps that allow you to regulate temperature remotely, so we can warm up the house before we arrive home. According to techradar.com, the largest UK-based consumer technology news and reviews website, Tado’s model features voice control, while the Nest ‘learns’ your habits and automatically heats the home for you.
Clothes have been given an upgrade, too. Electronic thermal jackets, hoodies and parkas heat up when you turn them on. What better way to keep snug in the dead of winter? At the touch of a button, or through an app on our phones, the clothing generates heat from elements placed inside. Many models offer three levels of heating which stay warm for over 12 hours.
Finally, there is the headgear – Beanies and earmuffs that feature speakers included in the fabric using Bluetooth technology so we can listen to our favourite music or, in some cases, have a phone call using the in-built microphone. All while keeping the head warm and avoiding a chill.
For many, the thought of winter used to be enough to make their blood run cold. But using technology, life needn’t freeze up. With the right solutions, there’s no reason why winter can’t be really, really cool.
詞匯表
bundle up 穿暖和，多穿衣服
sodden 濕漉漉的
black ice （路面上的）薄冰
slide 滑倒
chilled to the bone 寒冷刺骨的
skating on thin ice 如履薄冰
thermostat 溫度自動調節器
toasty 暖烘烘的，暖意綿綿的
regulate 調節、控制
thermal （衣物）有保暖功能的
snug 暖和舒適的
in the dead of winter 隆冬時節
element 電熱元件
beanie （無簷的）毛線便帽
earmuff 耳套
chill 受涼
make someone’s blood run cold 使人不寒而栗
freeze up 凍滯不前，失去生機
cool 很棒的（又指 “涼爽的”，這裡是雙關語）
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. True or False? Technology can do nothing to make winter less harsh.
2. How does electronic thermal clothing work?
3. Where are the speakers in a Bluetooth beanie?
4. With a smart thermostat and a phone, what are we able to do?
5. Which word used in the article means ‘from a distance’?
2. 請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. You need to wear more than that! It’s snowing and you’ll be ______.
blood run cold freeze up chilled to the bone dead of winter
2. John, I’m tired of telling you off. You are ______. Sit down and study please.
skating on thin ice black ice sodden toasty
3. I had forgotten my umbrella. By the time I got home, my coat was ______ and I was exhausted.
slide thermal toasty sodden
4. Our heating isn’t working. I think the ______ in the boiler might be broken.
thermal element ice machine
5. Once we’d lit a fire, the little wooden cabin became quite ______. It was lovely.
sodden thermal chill snug
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. True or False? Technology can do nothing to make winter less harsh.
False. Technology, engineering and design have advanced, giving us new solutions to old problems. It means dealing with winter needn’t be like skating on thin ice.
2. How does electronic thermal clothing work?
The clothing generates heat from elements placed inside.
3. Where are the speakers in a Bluetooth beanie?
The speakers are included in the fabric.
4.With a smart thermostat and a phone, what are we able to do?
We can regulate the temperature remotely, so we can warm up the house before we arrive home.
5. Which word used in the article means ‘from a distance’?
Remotely (Many models feature smartphone apps that allow you to regulate temperature remotely.)
2. 請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. You need to wear more than that! It’s snowing and you’ll be chilled to the bone.
2. John, I’m tired of telling you off. You are skating on thin ice. Sit down and study please.
3. I had forgotten my umbrella. By the time I got home, my coat was sodden and I was exhausted.
4. Our heating isn’t working. I think the element in the boiler might be broken.
5. Once we’d lit a fire, the little wooden cabin became quite snug. It was lovely.
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