How rural life becomes a modern fantasy

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?
连绵起伏的山丘和一望无际的绿色牧场——当想到田园般的乡村生活时，我们很容易联想到这些画面。在疫情期间，许多国家实施了封锁措施，社交媒体似乎被乡村小屋和村庄生活的照片所占据——人们纷纷远离尘嚣。那么，为什么乡村生活成为了现代的幻想？考虑放慢生活节奏是否有益处呢？

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.
一些人希望放弃拥挤嘈杂的城市街道，转而享受传统乡村生活的宁静，这是有道理的，尤其是在发生疫情这样的事件时。封锁和长时间在家工作让人们有时间思考自己想要的生活。但这不仅仅是为了让窗外有更绿的景色。

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.
有更多证据表明，农村生活好处多多。乡村通常没有我们在城市中心看到的“走走停停”的交通，没有公交车与出租车的争夺，也没有地铁系统中从一个站到另一个站的呼啸而过的列车。总之，乡村僻静处的空气污染较少，而空气污染会增加患呼吸道疾病或心脏病的几率。你也有更多的机会长时间散步和观赏风景，这意味着你可以得到更多的锻炼。根据英国政府在2012年进行的一项研究，噪音少、散步多、空气好还能减轻压力和延长寿命。

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.
不过，有些事情还是需要考虑的。远离城市的喧嚣意味着有些人可能会感到与世隔绝甚至孤独。而且随着年龄的增长，远离医生或公共交通的生活可能会成为一种挑战。因此，如果你正在考虑改变生活节奏，搬到一个风景如画的村庄，那么在做出决定之前，需要考虑一系列的利弊。

词汇表
rolling hills [ˈrəʊlɪŋ] 绵延起伏的山丘
pasture [ˈpɑːstʃə(r)] 牧场，牧草地；
idyllic [ɪˈdɪlɪk] 田园风光的，恬静的
lockdown [ˈlɒkˌdaʊn] 封锁，封城
descend upon [dɪ'send] 降临，突然来访
dominate [ˈdɒmɪneɪt] 支配，占据
cottage [ˈkɒtɪdʒ] 乡村小屋，村舍
village ['vɪlɪdʒ] 村庄，乡村
get away from it all 远离尘嚣；逃离纷扰
tranquillity [ˈtræŋkwɪlətɪ] 宁静，平静
extensive periods [ɪk'stensɪv] 长时间，长期
rural [ˈrʊərəl] 乡村的，田园的，农村的
be subject to 遭受，易受影响
stop-go traffic 走走停停的交通；间歇性拥堵
metro system [ˈmetrəʊ] 地铁系统
retreat [rɪˈtriːt] 退隐处，静居处，僻静处
respiratory conditions [rɪˈspɪrət(ə)ri] 呼吸系统疾病
life expectancy [ɪk'spektənsi] 预期寿命
hustle and bustle ['hʌs(ə)l]['bʌs(ə)l] 喧嚣，熙熙攘攘，忙碌
isolated [ˈaɪsəˌleɪtɪd] 与世隔绝的，孤立的
picturesque [ˌpɪktʃəˈresk] 风景如画的，美丽的
take the plunge [plʌndʒ] 决定尝试，打定主意

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