国家地理:为了结束这场流行病 我们必须相信科学(9)

As new findings, even weak or conditional¹ ones, are publicized that contradict earlier findings, those of us trying to follow along can end up frustrated² and confused. But while frustration³ and confusion among the science-minded might be unfortunate, it's not deadly. What really worries me is that those skeptical⁴ of science might see the apparent flip-flops as reason to turn against evidence-based advice altogether.

当公开发表的新发现（即使证据不足或有附带条件）与先前的发现相互矛盾时，试图跟上进度的我们最终可能会感到挫折而困惑。有科学头脑的人感到挫折与困惑或许让人不太开心，但并不致命。真正令我担忧的是那些怀疑科学的人，他们或许会把这些看似反复的信息当成理由，反对所有基于科学实证的建议。

Maybe, in a weird⁵ way, watching scientists try to build a plane while they're flying it -- as some have described coronavirus research -- will be good for our overall understanding of the scientific process. Maybe the pandemic will persuade even the skeptics how crucial scientific discovery is to human flourishing.

说来奇怪，但或许看着科学家试图一边开飞机一边造飞机--正如某些人所描述的新冠病毒研究现状--有助于我们对科学过程的整体了解。这场全球大流行或许甚至能让怀疑论者相信，科学发现对人类的繁盛有多重要。

That's the hope of Lin Andrews, director of teacher support at the National Center for Science Education. "People innately⁶ trust scientists overall, but when it's a polarized topic, things can go wonky," said Andrews, a former high school biology teacher. She and 10 colleagues, seeing the pandemic as a teachable moment, have devised a five-part lesson plan, good for classroom or home use depending on whether particular school districts are open. It focuses on epidemiology as a way to educate high school students -- and, by extension, their parents -- about what the scientific process entails⁷.

这正是美国国家科学教育中心的教师支持主任林·安德鲁斯的希望。曾经担任高中生物老师的安德鲁斯说：“人们一般而言会本能地信任科学家，但若遇上两极化的议题，就可能会出岔子。”她和十名同事视这场大流行为一个教育机会，设计出分成五个部分的课程计划，在教室和家里都可以操作，视校区是否开放而定。该计划以流行病学为重点，教导高中生及他们的家长了解何谓科学过程。

The course shows how scientists construct their theories, Andrews said, by emphasizing "all these stumbles that were made along the way." It includes milestones⁸ in epidemiology, such as when British scientist John Snow traced the London cholera⁹ outbreak of 1854 to contaminated drinking water. No one believed Snow -- the prevailing¹⁰ theory was that cholera was spread through the air in a contagious¹¹ "miasma¹²" -- until he had the handle removed from the water pump on Broad Street, shutting off the contaminated water supply and stopping the outbreak.

安德鲁斯表示，这个课程通过强调“一路上遭遇的种种挫折，”介绍科学家如何建构他们的理论。它包含流行病学的里程碑，例如英国科学家约翰·斯诺追查到伦敦在1854年爆发的霍乱源头是受污染的饮用水。当时没有人相信他--主流理论认为，霍乱是通过一种具传染性的“瘴气”在空气中传播--直到他将布罗德大街上的水泵把手拆除、切断污染水源的供给并终止霍乱疫情后才改观。

1 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。

2 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

4 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

5 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

6 innately   

adv.天赋地；内在地，固有地

参考例句：

• Innately conservative, Confucius was fascinated by the last of these disciplines. 由于生性保守，孔子特别推崇“礼”。 来自英汉非文学 - 文明史
• Different individuals are innately fitted for different kinds of employment. 不同的人适合不同的职业，这是天生的。 来自互联网

7 entails   

使…成为必要( entail的第三人称单数 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需

参考例句：

• The job entails a lot of hard work. 这工作需要十分艰苦的努力。
• This job entails a lot of hard work. 这项工作需要十分努力。

8 milestones   

n.重要事件( milestone的名词复数 )；重要阶段；转折点；里程碑

参考例句：

• Several important milestones in foreign policy have been passed by this Congress and they can be chalked up as major accomplishments. 这次代表大会通过了对外政策中几起划时代的事件，并且它们可作为主要成就记录下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dale: I really envy your milestones over the last few years, Don. 我真的很羡慕你在过去几年中所建立的丰功伟绩。 来自互联网

9 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

10 prevailing   

adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的

参考例句：

• She wears a fashionable hair style prevailing in the city.她的发型是这个城市流行的款式。
• This reflects attitudes and values prevailing in society.这反映了社会上盛行的态度和价值观。

11 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

12 miasma   

n.毒气；不良气氛

参考例句：

• A miasma rose from the marsh.沼泽地里冒出了瘴气。
• The novel spun a miasma of death and decay.小说笼罩着死亡和腐朽的气氛。