降低網路負荷
As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, YouTube has reduced streaming quality across the world to lessen the strain on internet infrastructure.
新冠肺炎疫情肆虐，YouTube為降低網路負荷，已調降全世界影片的觀看畫質。
coronavirus(n)冠狀病毒novel coronavirus新型冠狀病毒pandemic(n.)大流行rage(v.)激烈進行;猛烈發作;肆虐infrastructure(n.)基礎建設
The move came just a few days after the company said it would reduce default streaming bitrates in Europe to ease internet traffic as many people stay home due to quarantine and lockdowns.
YouTube早先便宣佈，因應許多人因隔離或封城而待在家裡，為減輕網路流量，將針對歐洲區調低預設畫質。
default(n.)預設值、不履行債務bitrate(n.)位元速率、傳輸速度quarantine (n.)(v.)隔離檢疫(期)lockdown(n.)(建築或地區)因緊急情況而被封鎖
The streaming giant revealed that it usually observed a peak in usage in the evening as people returned home from work.
YouTube透露以往流量巔峰多出現在人們下班後回家時，也就是傍晚，
peak (n.)最高峰、頂峰
However, the measures to keep people at home, in order to curb the spread of the virus, have seen people expand their viewing demand throughout the day.
不過最近因為防疫，人們被要求待在家裡，白天觀看影片的需求增加了。
curb(v.)抑制;控制=control=containexpand(v.)增加=increase
As part of the change, the default video quality has been switched to standard definition or 480p.
YouTube已將預設畫質切換為標準清晰度，即480p，
switch sth. to… 將…切換至…standard definition標準清晰度
The company clarified that users can still watch videos in high resolution, but they must manually select the option.
澄清用戶仍然可以以高畫質觀看影片，但必須手動選取。
clarify(v.)澄清resolution(n.)(電腦、電視螢幕的)解析度、清晰度manually(adv.)手動地
The measure started on March 24 and is expected to last 30 days, though it is possible that YouTube may extend it if there remains a strain on networks in the future.
該措施已於3月24日開始實行，預計將持續30天，不過若未來網路流量還是很大，可能會延長實施時間。
be expected to RV預計;預期extend(v.)(時間)延長
“We continue to work closely with governments and network operators around the globe to do our part to minimize stress on the system during this unprecedented situation,” said YouTube in a statement.
YouTube聲明表示：「我們會繼續與全球各國政府和電信營運商密切合作，盡我們所能，在這種前所未有的處境下，將系統壓力降至最低。」
minimize(v.)使…降到最低minimum(n.)最小值(adj.)最小的;最低的minimum wage最低工資maximum(n.)最大值maximum profits最大利益unprecedented(adj.)史無前例的、空前的
YouTube is not the only stream provider that has reduced image quality to limit data usage.
YouTube並不是唯一一家降低影片畫質以限制流量的串流平台，
limit(v.)限制=restrict
Netflix has reduced its bitrates in Europe to ease up its streaming platform’s burden on broadband. Apple and Amazon have also taken similar steps.
Netflix最近也調降歐洲區影片的觀看畫質，以減輕網路頻寬的負荷，蘋果和亞馬遜也採取了類似的措施。
broadband(n.)頻寬