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Why Can't America Agree on Ending Daylight Saving Time?

為什麼美國無法就廢除日光節約時間達成共識?

#daylight saving time#United States#time change#US Congress
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Every year, millions of Americans have to change their clocks twice. Many people dislike losing an hour of sleep in the spring and feeling tired after the time changes. Now, lawmakers are trying to stop this routine, but deciding how to set the clock is not easy.

The US House of Representatives recently voted to end the twice-a-year clock change. Under the proposed plan, daylight saving time would become permanent, meaning people would no longer need to adjust their clocks every spring and autumn.

no longer= 不再……;不再需要……

However, the bill faces strong disagreement in the US Senate. Senators remain divided on whether permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time is better for safety, school schedules, and daily routines.

remain divided on whether ... or ...= 對於……或……依然分歧、無法達成共識

This is not the first time the country has tried to fix the clock system. The US previously introduced permanent daylight saving time, but lawmakers quickly reversed course after complaints about dark winter mornings. Because of this history and conflicting opinions, ending the clock change remains a controversial issue.

reverse course= 改變方針、反轉決定

學習筆記

文法整理

句型意思
no longer不再……;不再需要……
remain divided on whether ... or ...對於……或……依然分歧、無法達成共識
reverse course改變方針、反轉決定

詞彙整理

單字等級意思
daylight saving timeB1日光節約時間、夏令時間
lawmakersB1立法議員、國會議員
permanentB1永久的、常態的
adjustB1調整、微調
controversialB2有爭議的、引發爭論的

延伸學習

  • 日光節約時間(夏令時間)最初是在第一次世界大戰期間為節約能源而引入,但現代研究對其節能效果意見分歧,且健康專家常指出時間切換對睡眠與作息帶來的負面影響。
  • 美國國會曾推動《陽光保護法案》(Sunshine Protection Act)企圖將日光節約時間永久化,然而醫學界與教育界對於「永久日光節約時間」與「永久標準時間」何者更有利於健康與安全仍存有高度分歧。

練習

測試你剛學到的內容。

  1. Under the proposed plan, daylight saving time would become  , meaning people would no longer need to adjust their clocks every spring and autumn.

  2. Why did US lawmakers reverse course after previously introducing permanent daylight saving time?

  3. What does the pattern 'remain divided on whether ... or ...' mean in the article?

Source: Al Jazeera