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“春困秋乏夏打盹”，这句汉语俗语的背后是季节与人类情绪状态之间复杂的联系。从阳光明媚的春天到阴郁的冬日，我们的情绪和激素水平不断波动，塑造着我们对季节的独特印象。此外，每个人对四季的身体反应也不大相同。阅读本文，了解四季的更替究竟在如何调节我们的身体和情绪。

词汇：seasons 四季

1 We have four seasons in the UK. I like to think that spring gets its name from the flowers springing up to bloom. Next is my personal favourite – summer. I love the long, balmy evenings. Autumn, as some call fall, comes after. It's characterised by the orange and red leaves. Winter rolls around, and most of the vegetation is either decomposing or already dead, and the days are short and gloomy.

2 It's no wonder that, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, about three in every hundred people in the UK experience seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as SAD. However, researchers at the Royal College of Psychiatrists have discovered that all seasons have an impact on our psychological functioning. It's also been found that hormones play an important role in seasonal mood changes as they fluctuate throughout the year.

3 An article published on Springer Nature Link observes positive emotional and physical changes to volunteers who were exposed to UVA from the Sun. Serotonin, known as 'the happy hormone', and dopamine, which is linked to motivation and pleasure, increases in months where there is a boost of sunlight. Similarly, lovers of spring recalibrate their energy and mood. After the cold, dark seasons of autumn and winter, it can feel like a biological reset.

4 Speaking of cold and dark, this is when those with naturally higher serotonin levels feel their mood regulating. They no longer feel overwhelmed by the high-level serotonin seasons of spring and summer. Reduced sunlight triggers higher melatonin, the sleepy hormone. There is the notion of preparing to slow down and get cosy, like that of animals in hibernation. It also rains more in autumn and winter. The Mind Company says that rain sounds reduce cortisol, the stress hormone, and helps you relax, focus and even sleep better.

5 We might like one season more than others. Our experience of seasons differs depending on location and environment. But one thing is for sure – our feelings change from season to season, and recognising these changes can help us act in ways that are in-line with our mental, emotional and physical capabilities.

测验与练习

一、为本文选择总结句。

a. How we feel doesn't change season to season.
b. How we feel may change depending on the season.
c. How we feel will determine the weather.

二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. Which season in the UK sees leaves on the trees change from green to orange?
a. autumn
b. winter
c. spring

2. Our hormones change throughout the year.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

3. Sunny weather may increase _______ levels.
a. cortisol
b. dopamine
c. melatonin

4. People may prefer autumn and winter because…
a. there is less rainfall than spring and summer.
b. there is more sunlight than in spring and summer.
c. they feel overwhelmed by spring and summer.

5. The writer understands that people experience seasons differently.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

When we welcome a new season, our hormones 1) _______. This 2) _______ some changes in how we feel and behave. Some of us feel like we need a 3) _______ in sunlight to be happy. Others find peace in 4) _______ nights spent inside by a fireplace. Regardless of which season you prefer, it’s good to check in with yourself. This will help 5) _______ your emotions and direct your actions towards positivity.

balmy
boost
cosy
fluctuate
recalibrates
regulate
triggers

（答案见词汇表后）

词汇表

spring up 冒出来
bloom 绽放
balmy 温暖舒适的
roll around 再次到来
decompose 腐烂，分解
gloomy 阴郁的
disorder 疾病，紊乱
functioning 功能，运作
fluctuate 波动，起伏不定
UVA 长波紫外线
boost 增多，增强
recalibrate 重新调整
reset 重置
regulate 调节，稳定
overwhelm 使...不知所措，令...难以承受
trigger 导致，引起
notion 概念
cosy 舒适的，惬意的
hibernation 冬眠
in-line with 与…相似，与…处于同等水平

答案

一、为本文选择总结句。

b. How we feel may change depending on the season.

二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. a. Autumn, as some call fall, comes after. It's characterised by the orange and red leaves.

2. a. True. It's also been found that hormones play an important role in seasonal mood changes as they fluctuate throughout the year.

3. b. Serotonin, known as the happy hormone, and dopamine, which is linked to motivation and pleasure, increases in months where there is a boost of sunlight.

4. c. Speaking of cold and dark, this is when those with naturally higher serotonin levels feel their mood regulating. They no longer feel overwhelmed by the high-level serotonin seasons of spring and summer.

5. a. True. We might like one season more than others. Our experience of seasons differs depending on location and environment.

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

When we welcome a new season, our hormones fluctuate. This triggers some changes in how we feel and behave. Some of us feel like we need a boost in sunlight to be happy. Others find peace in cosy nights spent inside by a fireplace. Regardless of which season you prefer, it’s good to check in with yourself. This will help regulate your emotions and direct your actions more positively.