The British army has a global reputation for efficiency and performance, but new figures published on Sunday suggest that its soldiers might be getting a little soft.
英國軍人的效率與表現全球知名，但週日公布的新數據顯示英軍或許有點軟弱。
More than 32,000 soldiers failed a basic fitness test at some point in the past three years, and more than 22,000 were found to be overweight and at risk of health problems, according to Ministry of Defence figures.
超過3萬2000名軍人在過去3年中的某個時刻，其基本體能測驗未過，逾2萬2000人被判定過重，而且有健康問題上的風險，根據國防部的數據。
All soldiers in the British army are required to complete a personal fitness assessment twice a year, and those who fail must retake the test within seven days. Multiple failures could result in being discharged.
英國所有軍人規定1年內要完成2次個人體能評估，未過關者必須在7天內重考。多次失敗恐導致退役。
Men under the age of 29 must complete 44 press-ups in two minutes, followed by 50 sit-ups in two minutes, and a 2.4-kilometre run within 10.5 minutes.
29歲以下的男性軍人必須在2分鐘內完成44下伏地挺身，接著2分鐘完成50下仰臥起坐，以及在10.5分鐘內跑完2.4公里路程。
Women have a slightly easier test, with 21 press-ups, 50 sit-ups and 13 minutes in which to complete the run.
女兵的測驗稍微輕鬆一點，分別是21下伏地挺身、50下仰臥起坐，以及13分鐘內完成路跑。
According to the figures obtained by the Sunday Times newspaper, 29,600 men and 2,819 women failed their fitness tests between April 2011 and March 2014.
根據週日泰晤士報取得的數據，2011年4月至2014年3月間，有2萬9600名男性軍人與2819名女兵未能通過體能測驗。
"This figure represents 11 percent of the army serving in that period and many of those who failed will have subsequently passed their fitness test," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
「該數據佔該時期服役軍人的11%，而那些不及格者之中，許多後來通過體能測試，」國防部聲明說。
The Sunday Times also revealed that more than 22,000 troops were found to be at increased risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease because they were so unfit. （AFP）
週日泰晤士報也披露，超過2萬2000名兵員有越來越高的風險罹患第2型糖尿病、高血壓及心臟病，因為他們非常不健康。（法新社）
新聞辭典
retake：動詞，重考、重學、再取，例句：The allies retook the city after severe fighting.（經過激戰後，盟軍重奪該城。）
press-up：名詞，伏地挺身。例如，one-arm press-ups（單臂伏地挺身）
sit-up：名詞，仰臥起坐。例句：How many sit-ups can you do in 1 minute? （你1分鐘可做幾下仰臥起坐？）
宏浩翻譯引用 http://iservice.ltn.com.tw/Service/english/english.php?engno=823539&day=2014-10-22
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