在科技并不发达的过去，人们可能会为如何在严寒天气里更好地保暖而倍感困扰。现如今，每值严冬时节，虽然温度骤降、天气恶劣，但随着各类智能保暖产品的问世，冬天也能变得舒适宜人。人们凭借科学技术发明了各式各样的防寒方法。比如，用智能电子设备调节屋内和衣物的温度；使用无线科技制造会自动发热的服饰。听《随身英语》音频，让你的冬天从此不再寒冷！

Vocabulary: winter and heating 词汇: 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.

词汇表

bundle up 穿暖和，多穿衣服
sodden 湿漉漉的
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 温度自动调节器
toasty 暖烘烘的，暖意绵绵的
regulate 调节、控制
thermal （衣物）有保暖功能的
snug 暖和舒适的
in the dead of winter 隆冬时节
element 电热元件
beanie （无檐的）毛线便帽
earmuff 耳套
chill 受凉
make someone’s blood run cold 使人不寒而栗
freeze up 冻滞不前，失去生机
cool 很棒的（又指 “凉爽的”，这里是双关语）

测验与练习

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

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. 请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。

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. 阅读课文并回答问题。

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. 请在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。

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.