你夢想過搬到鄉村生活嗎？在鄉村小屋的清晨醒來，放眼窗外，滿是無盡的綠色，真是悠閑自在……繁忙城市中的現代人為什么憧憬田園風光？本期節目探討人們向往鄉間生活的緣由。

詞匯：country life 鄉村生活

Rolling hills and endless green pastures – those images are easy to conjure when thinking of the idyllic country lifestyle. When lockdowns descended upon many countries across the world during the pandemic, social media seemed to be dominated by pictures of cottages and village life – people getting away from it all. So, why is living in the countryside becoming a modern fantasy – and are there benefits to considering a slower pace of life?

It makes sense that some people would want to give up the crowded and noisy city streets for the perceived tranquillity of the traditional country life – especially during an event like a pandemic. The lockdowns and extensive periods of working from home have given people time to think about what they want from life. But it’s not just about having a greener place to look at out your window.

There is more evidence that relates to the benefits of rural living. Villages aren’t normally subject to the stop-go traffic we see in city centres, the buses fighting with taxis for dominance, or metro systems with trains that scream from one station to the next. In short, there’s less air pollution in your country retreat – a thing which increases the chances of developing respiratory conditions or heart disease. You also get more opportunities to take long walks and see the sights, meaning you can get more exercise. Less noise, more walks and better air can also lead to less stress and an increased life expectancy, according to studies such as one conducted by the British government in 2012.

However, there are some things that need to be considered. Living far from the hustle and bustle of the city means that some people may feel isolated or even lonely. And as people get older, life far from doctors or public transport could become a bit of a challenge. So, if you’re considering a change of pace and moving to a picturesque village, there is a range of pros and cons to consider before taking the plunge.

詞匯表

rolling hills 綿延起伏的山丘
pastures 牧場草地
idyllic 田園風光的
cottage 鄉村小屋
village 鄉村
get away from it all 拋開煩惱去休息、放松
pace of life 生活節奏
tranquillity 寧靜
rural 農村的，鄉村的
air pollution 空氣污染
retreat 退隱靜養的地方
life expectancy 預期壽命
hustle and bustle 喧囂繁忙
isolated 與世隔絕的
picturesque 風景如畫的
take the plunge 冒然決定嘗試

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What seemed to dominate social media during the pandemic?

2. What gave people time to think about what they wanted from life?

3. What issues do villages not have that cities have?

4. What factors can increase your life expectancy?

5. What are some of the potential issues with moving to the country?

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. We’ve decided to _______ and move to the country.

pace of life                   village                           picturesque              take the plunge

2. I live in a peaceful little _______ far from the city. 

take the plunge            pace of life                    village                      picturesque

3. I used to hate the _______ so packed up and moved to a rural area.

isolated                        hustle and bustle          take the plunge         picturesque

4. Your cottage is so beautiful – it’s _______.

picturesque                  village                           take the plunge         pace of life  

5. The area that I live in is really quiet – it has a slower _______.

take the plunge            village                           pace of life                picturesque

答案

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。  

1. What seemed to dominate social media during the pandemic?
Social media seemed to be dominated by pictures of cottages and village life.

2. What gave people time to think about what they wanted from life?
The lockdowns and extensive periods of working from home.

3. What issues do villages not have that cities have?
Villages don’t normally have the stop-go traffic of city centres or air pollution.

4. What factors can increase your life expectancy?
Less noise, more walks and better air can also lead to less stress and an increased life expectancy.

5. What are some of the potential issues with moving to the country?
Some people may feel isolated or even lonely – and as one gets older – life far from doctors or public transport could become a bit of a challenge.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. We’ve decided to take the plunge and move to the country.

2. I live in a peaceful little village far from the city.

3. I used to hate the hustle and bustle so packed up and moved to a rural area.

4. Your cottage is so beautiful – it’s picturesque.

5. The area that I live in is really quiet – it has a slower pace of life.