现代人的生活和工作压力比较大，住在大城市的人更是如此。科学研究表明，如果经常接触大自然，就能有效缓解压力，从而让我们更加快乐。
Nature makes us happier
by Noel Kirkpatrick
Nature soothes our stressed-out souls. We instinctively know nature is the best prescription, but new research is revealing how little time we need to set aside to reap the benefits.
soothe /suːð/ v. 安抚、抚慰
stressed-out 有压力的、紧张的
soul /səʊl/ n. 灵魂
instinctively /ɪnˈstɪŋktɪvli/ adv. 本能地
prescription /prɪˈskrɪpʃ(ə)n/ n. 处方、药方
reveal /rɪˈviːl/ v. 揭示
reap /riːp/ v. 收获、获得
benefit /ˈbenɪfɪt/ n. 好处、益处
In one new study, published in the journal Frontiers**** in ****Psychology, researchers tried to identify the most effective "dose" of nature within the context of normal daily life. As more doctors prescribe nature experiences for stress relief and other health benefits – sometimes referred to as a "nature pill" – the study's authors hoped to clarify the details of these treatments.
publish /ˈpʌblɪʃ/ v. 发表
journal /ˈdʒɜːn(ə)l/ n. 期刊
frontier /ˈfrʌntɪə(r)/ n. 前沿
psychology /saɪˈkɒlədʒi/ n. 心理学
researcher /rɪˈsɜːtʃə(r)/ n. 研究者（由research加上表示人的后缀-er）
identify /aɪˈdentɪfaɪ/ v. 识别、辨认出
effective /ɪˈfektɪv/ adj. 有效的（由effect加后缀-ive变成形容词）
dose /dəʊs/ n. 剂量
context /ˈkɒntekst/ n. 情境
prescribe /prɪˈskraɪb/ v. 开处方
stress /stres/ n. 压力、精神压力
relief /rɪˈliːf/ n. 缓解、减轻
refer to 提到、谈及
pill /pɪl/ n. 药片
clarify /ˈklærɪfaɪ/ v. 弄清楚
treatment /ˈtriːtmənt/ n. 治疗（由treat加后缀-ment变成名词）
"Our study shows that for the greatest payoff, in terms of efficiently lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol, you should spend 20 to 30 minutes sitting or walking in a place that provides you with a sense of nature," says lead author MaryCarol Hunter, an associate professor at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability.
payoff /ˈpeɪɒf/ n. 收益、回报
in terms of 就…而言
efficiently /ɪˈfɪʃ(ə)ntli/ adv. 高效地、效果好地（由efficient加后缀-ly变成副词）
lower /ˈləʊə(r)/ v. 降低
level /ˈlev(ə)l/ n. 水平、数量（这里指浓度）
hormone /ˈhɔːməʊn/ n. 激素、荷尔蒙
lead /liːd/ adj. 带头的、领衔的
associate /əˈsəʊʃieɪt/ professor 副教授
Michigan /ˈmɪʃɪɡən/ n. 密歇根州（美国北部的州）
sustainability /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪləti/ n. 可持续发展
A nature pill can be a low-cost, low-risk way to curb the negative health effects of urbanization and indoor lifestyles. To find the most efficient dosage, Hunter and her co-authors asked 36 city dwellers to have nature experiences of at least 10 minutes three times per week over eight weeks.
risk /rɪsk/ n. 风险
curb /kɜːb/ v. 控制、限制
negative /ˈneɡətɪv/ adj. 负面的、不好的
urbanization /ˌɜːb(ə)naɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 城市化
lifestyle /ˈlaɪfstaɪl/ n. 生活方式（由life和style组成）
efficient /ɪˈfɪʃ(ə)nt/ adj. 高效的、效果好的
dosage /ˈdəʊsɪdʒ/ n. （用药的）频率和剂量
co- 前缀，意思是共同
dweller /ˈdwelə(r)/ n. 住在…的人
Every two weeks, the researchers collected saliva samples to measure levels of the stress hormone cortisol, both before and after the participants took a nature pill. The data showed that just a 20-minute nature experience was enough to significantly reduce cortisol levels. The effect was most efficient between 20 to 30 minutes, after which benefits continued to accrue but at a slower rate.
saliva /səˈlaɪvə/ n. 唾液
sample /ˈsɑːmp(ə)l/ n. 样本
measure /ˈmeʒə(r)/ v. 测量
participant /pɑːˈtɪsɪp(ə)nt/ n. 参与者
data /ˈdeɪtə/ n. 数据
significantly /sɪɡˈnɪfɪk(ə)ntli/ adv. 显著地（由significant加后缀-ly变成副词）
accrue /əˈkruː/ v. 增长、累积
rate /reɪt/ n. 率、速率
That fits with the findings of another recent study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research, which found that spending 20 minutes in an urban park can make you happier, regardless of whether you use that time to exercise.
environmental /ɪnˌvaɪr(ə)nˈment(ə)l/ adj. 环境的（由environment加后缀-al变成形容词）
urban /ˈɜːb(ə)n/ adj. 城市的
regardless /rɪˈɡɑːdləs/ of 不管、无论
For this study, 94 adults visited three urban parks in Mountain Brook, Alabama, completing a questionnaire about their subjective well-being before and after their visit. An accelerometer（加速度测量仪） tracked their physical activity.
Alabama /ˌæləˈbæmə/ n. 阿拉巴马州（美国南部的州）
questionnaire /ˌkwestʃəˈneə(r)/ n. 问卷
subjective /səbˈdʒektɪv/ adj. 主观的
well-being 健康快乐
track /træk/ v. 连续记录
physical /ˈfɪzɪk(ə)l/ adj. 身体的
activity /ækˈtɪvəti/ n. 活动
A visit lasting between 20 and 25 minutes demonstrated the best results, with a roughly 64 percent increase in the participants' self-reported well-being, even if they didn't move a great deal in the park. That last point is particularly positive, since it means most anyone can benefit from visiting a nearby park, regardless of age or physical ability.
demonstrate /ˈdemənstreɪt/ v. 展示
roughly /ˈrʌfli/ adv. 大约
positive /ˈpɒzətɪv/ adj. 正面的、好的
most = almost
benefit /ˈbenɪfɪt/ v. 获益、受益
"There is increasing pressure on green space within urban settings," said co-author and University of Alabama at Birmingham professor Gavin Jenkins. "Planners and developers look to replace green space with residential and commercial property. The challenge facing cities is that there is an increasing evidence about the value of city parks but we continue to see the demise of theses spaces."
pressure /ˈpreʃə(r)/ n. 压力
setting /ˈsetɪŋ/ n. 环境
planner /ˈplænə(r)/ n. 计划者、规划者（由plan加上表示人的后缀-er）
developer /dɪˈveləpə(r)/ n. （房地产）开发商（由develop加上表示人的后缀-er）
residential /ˌrezɪˈdenʃ(ə)l/ adj. 居住的、住宅的（由resident加后缀-ial变成形容词）
commercial /kəˈmɜːʃ(ə)l/ adj. 商业的（由commerce加后缀-ial变成形容词）
property /ˈprɒpəti/ n. 房产、地产
evidence /ˈevɪd(ə)ns/ n. 证据
demise /dɪˈmaɪz/ n. 终结、消亡
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