一項研究顯示，患有關節炎等長期健康問題的人在潮濕的天氣里更容易感到疼痛。民間流傳，寒冷會使疼痛更嚴重，但實際上人們對這類天氣的影響研究甚少。曼徹斯特大學的這項研究分析了從2500人的智能手機上收集來的數據，結果發現，在溫暖潮濕的日子里，疼痛的癥狀其實更嚴重。

Many people assume that it's temperature that influences the pain experienced by those who live with conditions such as arthritis.

許多人認為是溫度影響了關節炎等疾病患者的疼痛感。

But researchers found that rather than a cold snap, participants felt the greatest pain on days during which there was high humidity. Low air pressure and windy conditions were also linked to painful days. Dry, still days were the least likely to be painful.

但研究人員發現，寒潮并非罪魁禍首，參與調查的人們在濕度較大的日子里感受到的疼痛最嚴重。低氣壓和多風的天氣環境也與疼痛的程度有關。在干燥、平和的日子里，人們感到疼痛的可能性最低。

The researchers say their findings could help to develop a pain forecast, which would allow people to plan activities for the least painful days. It could also shine a light on the mechanisms of pain and lead to the development of new treatments.

研究人員表示，他們的發現可能有助于開發一種疼痛預測系統，使人們能在痛感最低的日子里安排活動。它還可能幫助人們進一步理解疼痛的機制并帶動新治療方法的發展。

詞匯

temperature 溫度
pain 疼痛
experienced 體會到的，感受到的
arthritis 關節炎
cold snap 寒潮，乍寒期
humidity 濕度
air pressure 氣壓
windy 多風的，刮風的
still （天氣）平靜的
forecast 預測、預報
shine a light on 為……提供解釋
mechanisms 機制

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. What do many people assume influences the pain experienced by those with arthritis?

2. Besides humidity, what weather conditions were also linked to the participants’ feeling pain?

3. True or false? According to the research, wet and cold days are the least likely to be painful.

4. Which word in the text means both ‘types of diseases’ and ‘states of the weather’?

答案

1. What do many people assume influences the pain experienced by those with arthritis?
Many people assume that it’s temperature that influences the pain experienced by those who live with conditions such as arthritis.

2. Besides humidity, what weather conditions were also linked to the participants’ feeling pain?
Besides humidity, low air pressure and windy conditions were also linked to painful days, according to the research.

3. True or false? According to the research, wet and cold days are the least likely to be painful.
False. According to the research, dry and still days are the least likely to be painful.

4. Which word in the text means both ‘types of diseases’ and ‘states of the weather’?
Conditions. (‘Many people assume that it's temperature that influences the pain experienced by those who live with conditions such as arthritis.’ ‘Low air pressure and windy conditions were also linked to painful days.’)