炎炎夏日，漫漫高温路，除了空调，你还有高招打赢这场持久战吗？不如笑傲夏日江湖吧！

I don't know where you live， but there's a heat wave going on where I live and it's not pretty. And there's basically no escaping the direct sunlight， the humidity， the sweating， the dehydration1）， and the sluggishness2）... So what do you do when you just can't beat the heat？ You find air conditioning， and you stay there. Of course then you have to wear a sweatshirt during a heat wave， which makes you look stupid ... Basically， when it comes to heat waves， you just can't win. The only way to make it through an extra hot summer is to have a sense of humor and be able to laugh it off. （A working air conditioner that doesn't turn you into Mr. Freeze helps too.） Now let's just sit back， relax， and learn some fun things about heat waves.

我不知道你住在哪儿，不过我住的地方正逢热浪来袭，这可真是不好受。艳阳炙烤、闷热潮湿、汗流浃背、口干舌燥、全身乏力……这一切根本让人无法逃脱。那当你就是无法战胜高温的时候你会做什么？你会找个有空调的地方待着。当然那样的话，你在大热天里却不得不穿着件长袖运动衫，让你看上去很傻……基本上，在酷暑面前，你就是赢不了。唯一能帮你度过一个炎炎夏季的方法就是有点儿幽默感并能够一笑置之。（一台能用的、不会把你冻成“冰人儿”的空调也管用。）现在让我们舒舒服服坐好，放轻松，一起来看看关于高温天气的一些趣事吧。

What are other countries doing to deal with heat waves？

其他国家如何应对高温酷暑？

Heat waves aren't a new thing and many counties have been working hard to deal with heat wave problems. Below are measures some countries are taking this year.

1. Australia： serve zoo animals iced treats

In an effort to help their residents beat the heat， keepers at Melbourne Zoo have been handing out a variety of iced treats. But forget your typical ice lollies3） and ice cream， these chilly offerings were something a little different. For Honey the Syrian Bear there was a fish， fruit， and vegetable iced combo.

2. America： breed heat-beating chickens

In extreme heat， chickens will die， or like dogs， pant—that changes the chemical balance of their blood， introducing a bitterness to the flavor of the meat. To deal with these problems， American scientists are attempting to develop chickens that can cope with scorching heat. This University of Delaware project is part of a series of government-funded programs looking to adapt to or mitigate4） the effects of extreme weather patterns on the food supply.

US climate agencies predict that by 2060 there will be 12 times as many 100F days in Delaware and Maryland， where poultry farmers produce 600 million birds a year.

3. Brazil： take cooling breaks

FIFA have clarified their position regarding "cooling breaks" at the World Cup. Climate conditions will be evaluated and should the temperature exceed 32 degrees， the FIFA Venue Medical Office will recommend cooling breaks to the FIFA General Coordinator and Match Commissioner. The implementation of the cooling breaks will reside with the referee.endprint

Cooling breaks lasting three minutes in duration are then implemented by the referee at approximately 30 minutes into the run-of-play in both halves of the match （i.e. around the 30th minute and 75th minute respectively）. Three minutes will then be added to stoppage time5） at the end of each half.

4. Athens： turn the metro train into a beach

Anyone who decides to move around the city of Athens using the metro is left speechless by a new ingenious6） design which turns the train into a beach. Waves， sand， footprints， and many more beach related images have filled the trains making everyone think they could be sitting on a beach enjoying the sun.

5. France： set up a warning system

In France， radio and television commercials have been produced to instruct the public of what to do when temperatures jump， such as closing the curtains during the daytime and avoiding drinking alcohol. Douste-Blazy even invited weathermen from the country's most popular television channels to get involved in informing their viewers. Additionally， the government has installed a heat-wave hotline with information and advice， and a national warning system， with four levels of alert.

If you are an average person， you might find the following things fun to do when heat waves come.

1. Close the curtains or hang wet sheets

If you have curtains or blinds7） hanging in your windows， close them. This will keep the outside light from shining in and further heating your home. As an alternative8） to closing the curtains， dampen9） a set of sheets with water and hang them in front of an open window. As the outside air blows through， the wet sheets will create a cooling effect.

2. Build your own "air conditioner"

Need a cooling alternative when you don't have an electric air conditioner？ Place a large bowl of ice in front of a fan. Position the fan so it blows directly on the ice. As the ice melts， the surrounding air is cooled and the fan blows that air toward you.

3. Create a rice-sock ice pack

Steamy10） summer nights can make for awful sleeping conditions. Stay cool under your sheets with an easy-to-make rice-sock ice pack. Simply grab a sock， stuff it with rice and put it in the freezer for a few hours. When it is sufficiently cold， place it under the covers with you. Rice retains the cold for long periods of time， keeping you cool.

4. Drink plenty of water with a twist11）

Drink lots of water. This may seem like a no-brainer， but it may be the most important way to stay cool. To get the most out of your beverage， add a few sprigs12） of mint to your glass. Mint creates a cooling sensation， making the water taste even more refreshing.endprint

5. Make your own lunch outside using solar heat energy

Most people have heard the myth that if it's hot enough outside， it's possible to fry an egg on the sidewalk. On its own， the sidewalk won't get hot enough to actually cook an egg. But if you put the egg on something metal， such as a frying pan or the hood of a car， it will work.

Here's something else to try. Cover the outside of a shoebox with black construction paper and the inside with aluminum foil13）. Cut a hole in the top of the box to let sunlight in. Put a hot dog or two inside the box and set it outside in direct sunlight. The foil will become hot enough to reflect heat onto the hot dog and cook it.

Besides these above， try to find yourself more fun things to laugh the heat off with. Cause before we know it， it'll be 17 degrees again and we'll be sad that summer's over—that's how the vicious cycle works.

高温酷暑并非什么新鲜事物，许多国家都在努力应对它带来的问题。以下是一些国家今年（编注：本文写于2014年6月）采取的措施。

1. 澳大利亚：为动物园里的动物提供冰镇大餐

墨尔本动物园的管理员们为了帮助园中居民消暑，一直在向它们发放种类丰富的冰镇大餐。不过，可别想着你平常吃的冰棍和冰淇淋，这些冰冰凉的大餐可跟你吃的不太一样。比如叙利亚棕熊Honey得到的就是一块用鱼、水果和蔬菜冻成的大冰块。

2. 美国：培育耐高温鸡种

在极端高温下，鸡会死亡，或会像狗那样大口喘气来散热——这会使鸡血液中的化学平衡发生改变，使鸡肉变得发苦。为了解决上述问题，美国科学家们正在尝试培育能够耐受酷热天气的鸡种。特拉华大学的这一研究课题是由政府出资的一系列研究计划中的一项，这些研究旨在寻求适应或缓解极端天气模式对食品供应的影响。

美国多家气象部门预测，到2060年，特拉华和马里兰地区达到100华氏度（编注：约37.8摄氏度）的高温天数将会是现在的12倍，而这两地的家禽养殖者现在每年可供应6亿只家禽。

3. 巴西：实行“降温歇”

国际足联已经澄明了他们对世界杯期间考虑实行“降温歇”的态度（编注：在2014年5月他们曾声明不打算实行“降温歇”，结果招致很多人的指责）。国际足联赛场医疗部门会对天气情况进行评估，一旦气温超过32度，他们就会向国际足联的总协调员和赛事专员提出启动“降温歇”的建议，而这一建议的履行将由裁判决定。

于是，时长为三分钟的“降温歇”会在每个半场，当比赛进行到30分钟左右（大致分别在全场比赛的第30和第75分钟）时由裁判执行。每个半场结束时，这三分钟将被加入伤停补时的时间。

4. 雅典：地铁车厢变身为海滩

任何一个决定在雅典搭乘地铁出行的人都会被一个新的创意设计惊得说不出话来。该创意设计将地铁车厢变成了海滩。海浪、沙滩、脚印以及更多与海滩相关的图案遍布地铁车厢内，令每位乘客恍若置身于海滩之上，尽情享受阳光。

5. 法国：建立预警系统

法国制作了一系列广播和电视广告，告知公众在气温猛升时应该做什么，比如在白天拉上窗帘以及避免饮酒。杜斯特-布拉齐（编注：曾任法国卫生部长）甚至请来法国最受欢迎的电视频道的气象主播向观众进行宣讲。此外，法国政府还开通了一个高温热线，为公众提供信息和建议，并设立了分为四个警报级别的国家级预警系统。

如果你是个普通人，当高温来袭时，你会发现下面这几招十分好玩。

1. 拉上窗帘或者挂湿床单

如果你的窗户上挂着窗帘或者百叶窗，那就拉上它们。此举可以防止外面的光线照入室内进而使房间升温。如果不拉窗帘，还可以把床单弄湿，挂在开着的窗前。当风从室外吹进来时，这些湿床单就可以起到降温的作用。

2. 自制“空调”

没有电力空调的时候需要一个可以降温的代替品？那就在风扇前放一大碗冰块，把风扇放在一个可以直接对着冰块吹的位置。随着冰块融化，冰块周围空气的温度会降低，而风扇则会把这股清凉的风吹向你。

3. 自制“充米冰袋”

闷热潮湿的夏夜会让睡眠环境很糟，用一个易于制作的“充米冰袋”可以让你的被窝保持凉爽。只要找只短袜，塞满大米，再把它放到冰箱里冻上几个小时就行。等它变得足够冷，将它放进你的被窝里。大米可以长时间保持低温，让你一直觉得凉快。

4. 多喝带味道的水

多喝水。这可能看上去有点蠢，但它或许是保持凉爽最重要的办法。为了让这些水发挥更大的功效，不妨在杯中加几枝薄荷。薄荷会产生一种清凉的口感，让水喝起来更爽口。

5. 利用太阳热能在室外准备午餐

大多数人都听到过这种传言：当室外足够热的时候，人行道上可能可以煎鸡蛋。人行道本身获得的热量不足以真的煎熟鸡蛋。但是，如果你把鸡蛋放在一个金属制品上，比如煎锅或汽车的引擎盖，就能把它煎熟。

你还可以试试下面这招。在鞋盒外面包上黑色的美术纸，在鞋盒内则铺上铝箔。在鞋盒盖上方开一个孔好让阳光能照进去。然后在盒里放上一两根热狗，拿到烈日下曝晒。铝箔会变得足够烫，并将热量反射到热狗上，把它烤熟。

除了以上这些，你还可以试着自己找更多乐子笑对高温。因为很快气温又会降回到17度，那时我们又会为了夏天的逝去感到沮丧——这个讨厌的怪圈就是这样循环往复。endprint