常春藤生活英語：Eye Care 1, 2, 3 呵護您的眼

Our eyes are two of the most important things in our lives. We use them every second we are awake. They help keep us safe, recognize friends, and select things we like. It is possible to lead happy and healthy lives without being able to see, but it would be very different. Therefore, taking good care of your eyes is critical. Washing your eyes with saline1 solution2 is just one way to maintain eye health. It is also important to make foods that are rich in vitamin A and beta carotene3 part of your diet.

Eyes can be overused just like bodies and minds. Reading, using computers, and other activities amount to daily eye stress. That is why it is a good idea to take time to do eye-relaxing and eye-strengthening exercises. An example of an eye-strengthening exercise would be to move your eyes in all directions. First, keep your head and neck straight while breathing normally. Next, roll your eyes to the left for a few seconds. Blink a few times, and then roll them to the right. Continue to move your eyes in every direction you can–up and down and corner to corner. To relax your eyes, sit with your elbows4 on a desk or table. Rub your hands together until they are warm. Then, shape your hands like cups and place them over your closed eyes.

我們的眼睛是生命中最重要的東西之一。我們醒著的時候，無時無刻都會用到它們。眼睛能使我們保持安全，讓我們認得朋友，并幫我們選出喜歡的東西。一個人眼睛無法視物固然還是有可能過著快樂健康的日子，不過生活肯定大不相同。因此好好照顧您的靈魂之窗是極其緊要的事。用生理食鹽水清洗眼睛只是眼睛保健的方法之一。同時，把富含維生素A及β-胡蘿卜素的食物當成您日常飲食的一部份，也是很重要的一件事。

正如同身體和心智，眼睛也會被過度消耗。閱讀、使用計算機、或進行其它活動都等于是每天為眼部制造壓力。這正是為什么花時間進行放松及增強眼部的運動是個好主意。鞏固眼睛的范例運動之一便是四處轉(zhuǎn)動您的眼球。首先ㄧ邊正常呼吸，一邊將您的頭和脖子保持成一直線。然后將眼睛轉(zhuǎn)向左邊維持數(shù)秒。眨幾下眼，接著轉(zhuǎn)向右邊。繼續(xù)盡量朝各個方向轉(zhuǎn)動您的眼睛--從上到下，以及從角落到角落。要放松您的眼睛，請坐下來將手肘擺在書桌或桌子上?；ハ啻耆嗄碾p手，直到它們發(fā)熱為止。接著將手弓成杯狀，將它們覆蓋于閉起來的雙眼上。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. critical　a. 緊要的;關鍵性的

We relied on Joe to make the critical decision.

我們靠阿喬來做出這個關鍵性的決定。

2. blink　vi. 眨眼

I can't help but blink in such bright light.

在這樣的強光之下，我禁不住眨了眨眼。

Phrases for Learning

1. lead a + 形容詞 + life　　過著……的生活

Mark has led a peaceful life since he retired.

馬克退休后就一直過著平靜的生活。

2. be rich in...　　有豐富的……

Both beef and pork are rich in protein.

牛肉和豬肉都富含蛋白質(zhì)。

3. amount to...　　等于∕意味著……

All the effort I put in has amounted to nothing.

我所做的一切努力等于是白費功夫。

4. in all directions　　四面八方，四處

People ran off in all directions when the building was on fire.

建筑物起火時，人們向四面八方逃竄。

參考字詞

1.saline　a.(含)鹽的

2.solution　n. 溶液

3.beta carotene　n. β-胡蘿卜素

4.elbow　n. 手肘

Tips In Use

...every second we are awake.

(我們醒著的時候，無時無刻……)

以下為各位介紹 awake 及 wake 的不同：

1. awake　a. 醒著的 & vi. 醒來(= wake up，三態(tài)為：awake, awoke, awoken。)

Vera was awake the whole night.

(薇拉徹夜未眠。)

I awoke when I heard a loud noise.

= I woke up when I heard a loud noise.

(我聽到一聲巨響時就醒了過來。)

2. wake　vt. 喚醒 & vi. 醒(常與 up 并用，三態(tài)為：wake, woke, woken。)

A loud noise woke me (up).

(一聲巨響把我吵醒了。)

Ian often wakes up early in the morning.

= Ian often awakes early in the morning.

(伊恩早上常常很早就醒來。)