人教全日制普通高中英语（必修）高三UNIT9-3

Fear had gripped¹ the nation, indeed the whole world. An unknown deadly virus had infected thousands of people and was spreading quickly. There was no cure and the number of cases was rising every day. In the media, SARS seemed to be the topic of every headline and news report. In Beijing, usually a lively and busy city, the streets were empty as people stayed at home in order to avoid the virus. The few who had to go outside covered their mouths with masks, which were soon to become symbols of the epidemic². The numbers of new and suspected cases were announced on the news each day, as was the number of deaths.
 
       As horrible as it was, SARS was not strong enough to break the determination of the Chinese people. Once the seriousness of the situation was fully³ understood, the government took quick and forceful action. Important safety rules were put in place, a new hospital was built in record time in Beijing, and schools were closed to prevent further spreading of the disease⁴. Funds⁵ were provided⁶ to make sure that people who didn't have medical insurance could still get treatment. Doctors and scientists worked around the clock to determine the origin of the disease and everyone did what they could to fight this new enemy.
 
       But what was perhaps most impressive⁷ were the fearless efforts of the workers on the front line. Despite the risks, thousands of nurses, doctors, and hospital staff risked their lives to take care of the infected patients. The danger was very real, especially in the beginning, when little was known about the new disease. Of the nearly 5,000 SARS cases in China, almost 19% were medical workers, and many more were among the suspected cases. Dressed in hot protective⁸ suits, separated from their families, these real-life heroes worked under great pressure. The brave doctors and nurses, who came to be known as the "Angels in White", risked their lives in order to protect the country. Without their hard work and dedication⁹, the steps taken by the government would have been useless.
 
      The difficult challenge brought out the best in many people, but it was the women who made the difference. More than half of the health care workers in China are women, and during the SARS period they showed just how important and brave they are.
 
      One of the "angels", Zhang Jihui, head nurse of Guangzhou First Municipal¹⁰ People's Hospital, kept a journal¹¹ which was published in People's Daily and on the Internet. The journal shows not only the skill and discipline of the hospital workers, but also the love and friendship that helped them deal with the terrible challenges. In her journal, Zhang Jihui describes a phone call from her child:
                 February 19, Wednesday
       I haven't been home for several days. Today, I received a call from my daughter. "Mum, I really miss you. I promise not to upset you any more," she said in her lovely, pleading¹² voice. "Will it make you happy if I sing a song for you?" I couldn't help but cry, letting my tears freely¹³ run down my face.
 
      The SARS epidemic ended in the summer of 2003 after nearly eight months of fear and suffering. The human and economic losses will be felt for years to come, and the emergency also showed several of the shortcomings of the country's medical and health care system. Some of the heroic¹⁴ sacrifices of the "Angels in White" could have been avoided. In the early stages of the epidemic, doctors, nurses and other hospital workers were needlessly¹⁵ exposed to great danger as a result of poor administration¹⁶ and a lack of resources. Many important lessons have been learnt, and the country is now better prepared to deal with future epidemics¹⁷ and emergencies.
 
      The "Angels in White" do not wish to be called heroes. Instead, they insist that they were simply doing their duty. In a time of fear and sadness, they provided hope and comfort for all of us. Not all the health care workers who were infected with the SARS virus recovered. Many died in the line of duty and left their families, friends, fellow workers, and patients deeply saddened by the loss. Those who died will not be forgotten. On International Nurses' Day, Vice¹⁸ Premier¹⁹ and Health Minister Wu Yi honoured the nation's nurses, saying that they had made an important contribution not only by fighting SARS but also by improving public health care in China. In the hearts and minds of the Chinese people, the memories of the brave "Angels in White" will live on forever.

1 gripped   

v.抓紧( grip的过去式和过去分词 )；吸引；引起；使感兴趣

参考例句：

• He gripped his brother's arm lest he be trampled by the mob. 他紧抓着他兄弟的胳膊，怕他让暴民踩着。
• He gripped the wheel until his knuckles whitened. 他紧紧握住方向盘，握得指关节都变白了。

2 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

5 funds   

n.pl.资金

参考例句：

• He absconded with the company funds. 他卷走公司的资金潜逃了。
• They held a harambee meeting to raise funds for a new classroom. 他们为筹款建新教室而办了个募捐会。

6 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

7 impressive   

adj.给人深刻印象的，感人的

参考例句：

• This cinema is so impressive that we can't help crying.这影片如此感人以至我们禁不住流下泪来。
• The suit made him look especially impressive.他穿上这套衣服真精神。

8 protective   

adj.防护的，保护的

参考例句：

• A mother naturally feels protective towards her children.做母亲的天生要保护自己的孩子。
• We feel safe with a protective device in the house.我们因为家里有了防护装置而感到安全。

9 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

10 municipal   

adj.市的，市政的；n.政府证券

参考例句：

• The municipal authorities have kept the roads up well.市政当局把道路保养得不错。
• The city is planning to build a municipal library.该市正计划建一座市立图书馆。

11 journal   

n.日志，日记；议事录；日记帐；杂志，定期刊物

参考例句：

• He kept a journal during his visit to Japan.他在访问日本期间坚持记日记。
• He got a job as editor of a trade journal.他找到了一份当商业杂志编辑的工作。

12 pleading   

n.恳求

参考例句：

• She went down on her knees, pleading for mercy. 她双膝跪下，乞求谅解。
• His pleading melted her. 他的乞求软化了她。

13 freely   

adv.自由地，随便地，无拘无束地

参考例句：

• She was unable to keep back her tears,and wept freely.她抑制不住泪水，痛痛快快地哭了起来。
• A liquid flows freely and has no fixed shape.液体能自由流动，无固定形态。

14 heroic   

adj.英雄的，英勇的，崇高的

参考例句：

• Many people have heard of the man's heroic deeds.许多人都已经听说了这个人的英雄事迹。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

15 needlessly   

adv.不需要地，不必要地

参考例句：

• Thousands of children in the world today suffer needlessly. 当今世界有成千上万的儿童遭受着不必要的痛苦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Yet they were built on stilts, quite needlessly. 半山上也用吊脚楼形式，这形式是必须的吗？ 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译

16 administration   

n.经营，管理；行政，行政机关，管理部门

参考例句：

• Who is in charge of the administration of your company?你们公司的行政工作由谁负责？
• The teachers are responsible to the school administration.教师向学校行政负责。

17 epidemics   

n．流行病

参考例句：

• Reliance upon natural epidemics may be both time-consuming and misleading. 依靠天然的流行既浪费时间，又会引入歧途。
• The antibiotic epidemics usually start stop when the summer rainy season begins. 传染病通常会在夏天的雨季停止传播。

18 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

19 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。