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Is Humanity Getting Dumber as Academic Achievement Declines?
学业成绩下滑：人类真的越来越笨了吗？
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Is Humanity Getting Dumber as Academic Achievement Declines?
学业成绩下滑：人类真的越来越笨了吗？
最新公布的国际学生评估结果显示，全球学生的阅读和数学成绩大幅下滑，跌至历史新低。专家指出，频繁使用智能手机是主要诱因，长时间刷手机养成的仓促阅读习惯正严重侵蚀着学生的阅读理解能力和课堂专注力。鉴于阅读能力的下降已波及数学和科学等学科的解题水平，欧洲多国已紧急采取措施，着手重振学生的基础学力。
Student test scores around the world have plunged to a record low.
全球学生的考试成绩骤降至历史最低水平。test scores 考试成绩 / plunged 暴跌 / record low 历史新低
The latest global PISA report shows a steep decline in reading and maths.
最新的 PISA 报告显示，学生的阅读和数学成绩均出现断崖式下跌。latest report 最新报告 / steep decline 急剧下降 / reading and maths 阅读与数学
Over 760,000 teenagers took the test,
共有超过 76 万名青少年参加了这项测试，took the test 参加了测试
and reading scores fell by 28 points across OECD countries.
OECD 成员国的阅读成绩平均下降了 28 分之多。fell by 下降了 / across OECD countries 在所有经合组织国家中
This sharp drop has sparked serious questions about smart devices.
如此剧烈的下滑引发了人们对智能设备的普遍担忧与反思。sharp drop 剧烈下滑 / sparked serious questions 引发了严肃质疑
Many experts wonder if phones are making humans less capable.
不少专家担心，智能手机是否正在削弱人类的基本能力。wonder if 想知道是否 / less capable 能力更低
French Education Minister Édouard Geffray warned that
法国教育部长爱德华·热弗雷警告称：warned that 警告说
phones are causing the cognitive destruction of young people.
智能手机正在对青少年的认知能力造成毁灭性打击。causing 引起 / cognitive destruction 认知破坏
He said distracted students can lose two full years of learning.
他表示，注意力分散的学生可能会平白损失整整两年的学习成效。distracted students 分心的学生 / lose two full years 损失整整两年
Pupils who spend hours scrolling often develop rushed reading habits,
长时间刷屏幕的学生很容易养成仓促浮躁的阅读习惯，spend hours scrolling 花几个小时刷屏幕 / rushed reading habits 仓促阅读的习惯
so they stop reading longer books for enjoyment.
长此以往，他们甚至不再愿意出于兴趣去阅读长篇书籍。longer books 更长篇的书籍 / for enjoyment 出于兴趣
Without good comprehension, students cannot solve hard math or science problems.
如果缺乏良好的阅读理解能力，学生也无法解答高难度的数学或科学题。good comprehension 良好的理解力 / solve hard problems 解答难题
In addition, over a quarter of students get distracted by devices during class.
此外，超过四分之一的学生在课堂上会被电子设备分散精力。over a quarter 超过四分之一 / get distracted 分心
European leaders now pledge urgent action to reverse this decline,
欧洲各国领导人已承诺紧急采取行动以扭转这一颓势，pledge urgent action 承诺紧急行动 / reverse this decline 扭转这一下滑趋势
and several countries are preparing new plans to rebuild basic skills.
多个国家也正在制定新方案，全力重塑学生的基础能力。preparing new plans 正在制定新计划 / rebuild basic skills 重建基础能力
Quiz 🧠
Q1. Constant phone distractions in class usually lower a student's learning progress.
查看答案
✅ True
上课时频繁使用手机会分散注意力，导致学生很难掌握基础学习技能。
Using phones during school distracts students, making it much harder to focus and learn basic skills.
Q2. What does "plunged" mean in "test scores plunged"?
查看答案
✅ fell sharply
'plunge' 指猛跌、骤降或大幅度下挫。
To plunge means to drop or fall down suddenly and steeply.
Q3. Why does poor reading skill make math and science harder for students?
查看答案
✅ Problems become hard to understand
想要解答复杂的数学和科学题，首先必须准确阅读并理解文字与题干条件。
Solving complex math and science tasks requires reading and understanding written problems clearly.
Dialogue 🎧
Alex: Did you see the latest global test scores? They plunged to a record low.
Alex: 你看到最新的全球学生能力测试结果了吗？成绩居然跌到了历史新低。
Charlotte: Yeah, the PISA report. Over 760,000 teenagers took the test worldwide.
Charlotte: 看了，你说的是 PISA 报告吧。全球有 76 万多名中学生参加了呢。
Alex: That is a massive group! Was the drop really that severe?
Alex: 人数真庞大！下滑幅度真的有那么夸张吗？
Charlotte: Reading scores fell by 28 points across OECD countries.
Charlotte: 在整个 OECD 成员国里，阅读平均分整整掉了 28 分。
Charlotte: Maths had a steep decline too.
Charlotte: 数学成绩也同样遭遇了断崖式下跌。
Alex: Oof. That is alarming. What is causing such a crash?
Alex: 天哪，这也太让人担忧了。到底是什么原因导致了这种雪崩式的下滑？
Charlotte: Smart devices are taking the blame. Experts wonder if phones make us less capable.
Charlotte: 大家把矛头指向了智能设备。专家们也都在怀疑，手机是不是正在削弱人类的能力。
Alex: Wait, so endless scrolling is actually hurting our minds?
Alex: 等等，无休止地刷手机，真的会把脑子刷坏吗？
Charlotte: French Education Minister Édouard Geffray warned of "cognitive destruction" among young people.
Charlotte: 法国教育部长爱德华·热弗雷甚至直言，智能手机正在对年轻人造成‘认知摧毁’。
Alex: Cognitive destruction? Wow, that is dramatic language.
Alex: 认知摧毁？这词用得也太重了吧。
Charlotte: He said distracted students can lose two full years of learning.
Charlotte: 他说注意力不集中的学生，可能会白白荒废整整两年的学业。
Alex: Two full years? That is terrifying.
Alex: 整整两年？这后果太可怕了。
Charlotte: Pupils scrolling constantly develop rushed reading habits. They stop reading longer books for enjoyment.
Charlotte: 整天刷屏幕的学生很容易养成一目十行的浮躁阅读习惯，久而久之，连出于兴趣去读一本长篇书籍的耐性都没了。
Alex: I feel that myself. When I skim online articles, my attention span vanishes.
Alex: 我深有同感。在网上走马观花浏览文章时，我的注意力一下子就涣散了。
Charlotte: Exactly. And without solid comprehension, students cannot solve hard math or science problems.
Charlotte: 谁说不是呢。更何况，要是阅读理解不过关，复杂的数学题和科学题根本就读不懂、做不出来。
Alex: So poor reading drags down every other subject.
Alex: 也就是说，阅读能力一滑坡，所有学科都会被连累。
Charlotte: Yes. Plus, over a quarter of students get distracted by devices during class.
Charlotte: 没错。而且课堂上被数码设备分散注意力的学生占比已经超过了四分之一。
Alex: A quarter of the class? How can anyone teach like that?
Alex: 一个班里能有四分之一？这课还怎么上得下去？
Charlotte: They cannot. European leaders now pledge urgent action with plans to rebuild basic skills.
Charlotte: 根本没法上。所以欧洲多国领导人已经承诺要采取紧急行动，制定新方案重抓基础学力。
Alex: Good. Honestly, this makes me want to lock my phone away tonight.
Alex: 那就好。说真的，看完这些，我今晚都想把自己的手机锁起来了。