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The massive decline in sleep happened so slowly and quietly that few seemed to notice the trend.
人们的睡眠时间在逐渐减少，然而这一发展趋势是如此缓慢、悄然，以至于很少有人察觉。
Was it because of the growing attraction of the Internet, video games and endless TV channels? Never disconnecting from work?
是因为网络、视频游戏和无间断播放的电视节目吸引力太大了吗？还是因为处于工作需要要时刻保持联络方式畅通？
No matter how it happened, millions of Americans are putting their health, quality of life and even length of life in danger.
无论是什么原因，美国人都已经让自己的健康、生活品质甚至寿命面临风险。
New evidence shows why getting enough sleep is a top priority.
有新证据证明了充足睡眠的头等重要地位。
Some 40 percent of Americans get less than seven hours of shut-eye on weeknights.
40%的美国人在工作日每天睡眠时间少于7个小时。
"The link between sleep and health, and bad sleep and disease, is becoming clearer and clearer," says Lawrence Epstein, a sleep expert at Harvard University.
哈佛大学睡眠研究专家，劳伦斯·艾普斯坦说，“睡眠与健康之间，以及缺乏睡眠与疾病之间的联系已经日益明显”。
For example, sleep duration has declined from some eight hours in the 1950s to seven in recent years.
比如：近年来人们的睡眠时长已经从20世纪50年代的八小时缩短到七小时。
At the same time, high blood pressure has become an increasing problem.
同时，高血压的发病率在不断升高。
Blood pressure and heart rate are typically at their lowest levels during sleep;
通常，人睡着时血压和心率处于最低水平。
people who sleep less tend to have higher blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes, weight gain and other problems.
睡眠少的人可能患上高血压、心脏病、糖尿病；或者出现肥胖等其他问题。
Sleeping better may help fight off illness.
好的睡眠能够抵御疾病。
"When people are sleep-deprived, there are higher levels of stress hormones in their bodies, which can decrease immune function,"
“人们缺乏睡眠时，体内的压力荷尔蒙水平较高，导致免疫功能降低，”
says Dr. Phyllis Zee of Northwestern University in Chicago.
芝加哥西北大学菲利斯·徐说道。
A University of Chicago study shows people who sleep well live longer.
芝加哥大学一项研究表明睡眠质量好的人寿命更长。
So say good night sooner, and it may help you stay active and vital to a ripe old age.
所以，早点睡觉，这样你才能有一个充满活力的晚年。
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
请根据你听到的内容回答16-18题。
Question 16. What is the speaker mainly talking about?
问题16：说话者主要讨论了什么问题？
Question 17. What do we learn from the talk about today's Americans?
问题17：根据以上内容我们对如今的美国人有什么了解？
Question 18. What does the speaker say will happen to people who lack sleep?
问题18：说话者认为缺乏睡眠的人会怎样？
译文属可可原创，仅供学习和交流使用，未经允许不得转载
