A modern winter

在科技并不发达的过去，人们可能会为如何在严寒天气里更好地保暖而倍感困扰。现如今，每值严冬时节，虽然温度骤降、天气恶劣，但随着各类智能保暖产品的问世，冬天也能变得舒适宜人。人们凭借科学技术发明了各式各样的防寒方法。比如，用智能电子设备调节屋内和衣物的温度；使用无线科技制造会自动发热的服饰等，这些物件让你的冬天从此不再寒冷！

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In my memory, winters always used to be really unpleasant. You had to bundle up just to keep warm when you went outside. You were often cold, wet and never more than a sodden misstep away from a patch of black ice. If you didn't have a nasty slide, you'd arrive home to an ice-cold house. And that would mean turning on the heating and waiting. It's a miracle you didn't get chilled to the bone.

Fortunately, things don't have to be so challenging any more. Technology, engineering and design have advanced giving us new solutions to old problems. It means dealing with winter needn't be like skating on thin ice.

With a smart thermostat, our homes can be toasty when we need them to be. Many models feature smartphone apps that allow you to regulate temperature remotely, so we can warm up the house before we arrive home. According to techradar.com, the largest UK-based consumer technology news and reviews website, Tado's model features voice control, while the Nest 'learns' your habits and automatically heats the home for you.

Clothes have been given an upgrade, too. Electronic thermal jackets, hoodies and parkas heat up when you turn them on. What better way to keep snug in the dead of winter? At the touch of a button, or through an app on our phones, the clothing generates heat from elements placed inside. Many models offer three levels of heating which stay warm for over 12 hours.

Finally, there is the headgear - Beanies and earmuffs that feature speakers included in the fabric using Bluetooth technology so we can listen to our favorite music or, in some cases, have a phone call using the in-built microphone. All while keeping the head warm and avoiding a chill.

For many, the thought of winter used to be enough to make their blood run cold. But using technology, life needn't freeze up. With the right solutions, there's no reason why winter can't be really, really "cool".

vocabulary

bundle up [ˈbʌndl ʌp] 穿暖和，多穿衣服
sodden 湿漉漉的
black ice （路面上的）薄冰
slide 滑倒
be/get chilled to the bone 寒冷刺骨的
skating on thin ice 如履薄冰
thermostat 温度自动调节器
toasty 暖烘烘的，暖意绵绵的
regulate 调节、控制
(regulate temperature 控制温度；regulate emotion 控制情绪)
thermal （衣物）有保暖功能的
snug 暖和舒适的 (keep snug 保暖)
in the dead of winter 隆冬时节
element 电热元件
headgear 头饰，帽子
beanie （无檐的）毛线便帽
earmuff 耳套
chill 受凉
(avoid a chill 避免受凉感冒)
make someone’s blood run cold 使人不寒而栗
freeze up 冻滞不前，失去生机
cool 很棒的（又指 “凉爽的”，这里是双关语）

make sentences

1. You need to wear more than that! It's snowing and you'll be chilled to the bone.

2. John, I'm tired of telling you off . You are skating on thin ice. Sit down and study please.
   *tell sb off：责备，斥责；在此句中skating on thin ice 是形容成绩濒临不及格的边缘。

3. I had forgotten my umbrella. By the time I got home, my coat was sodden and I was exhausted.

4. Our heating isn't working. I think the element in the boiler might be broken.

5. Once we'd lit a fire, the little wooden cabin became quite snug. It was lovely.

P.S.,大家是不是一想到温暖，就只能想到“warm”呢？这篇文章中也给了大家很多可以替换“warm”的高级词哦，整理一下：
toasty，snug，thermal

形容“冷”的词：
sodden 湿
be/get chilled to the bone
in the dead of winter
make someone’s blood run cold
freeze up

Finally, wish you a snug winter!