Step by Step2000第四册 Unit 8 Love and Help (II)

Unit 8 Love and Help (II)

Part I Warming up

A.

Tapescript:

1. Help the old

The elderly at home and in the neighborhood, especially those living alone, need your care and support. Show your concern and attend to their needs wherever possible. Your support warms their hearts and brings them hope. If you find any elderly people in need of help, call the Social Welfare Department hot line on 23432255 or contact the nearby Family Services Center.

2. Keep Hong Kong clean

Hong Kong not only is one of the world's greatest cities, it's also our home. So let's all start taking more pride in its appearance. Let's keep Hong Kong clean.

3. For a better society

At different stages of life, we have different roles to play. As good citizens, we are willing to do our part for a better society.

4. Don't litter

You can try walking away from litter, but you can't walk away from a fine. Use the bin or risk a $ 25,000 fine and six months' imprisonment.

5. Aids hot line

We are about to use a 4-letter word. This word can clear a room. This word makes some people sick. This word leaves others in disgust. Some people pretend it doesn't exist. Others wish it would go away. You won't hear it in mixed company. You won't hear it used at home. And you certainly won't hear it in schools. The fact is if more people use this word, less people would be affected by it.

6. Equal opportunities

True harmony can only exist when men and women have equal opportunities. Sex discrimination destroys this harmony and is unlawful. Stand up for equal opportunity. The equal opportunities commission hot line: 25118211.

7. For your health

When traveling abroad, you should take preventive measures against cholera, hepatitis A and other diarrheal diseases. Drink only boiled water or bottled and canned drinks. Avoid eating cut fruits or fruits that are not cleansed. When you take shellfish, make sure they are thoroughly cooked. Always keep an eye on food hygiene. Please stay healthy.

B.

1. A cure for AIDS by the year 2025 is not inconceivable. But constrained by economic' reality, these therapeutic advances will have only limited benefit outside the U.S. and Western Europe.

2. Over half of the 1,500 junior high and high school students surveyed aid they were taught how to deal with peer pressure to have sex, where to get and how to use contraception, how to talk to a partner about safe sex, and where to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV Aids.

3. The Narcotics Boards recently published Annual Report for last year is a detailed review of how drugs to treat psychological disorders, including depression, aggressive behavior, and overeating are often given hastily, and without considering the underlying causes of the patients’ problems?

4. It s up to doctors to monitor the use of drugs and to be sure they are prescribing them for the right reasons and not to keep patients quiet, but at the same time, we should recognize drugs can make a big difference and not condemn their increased use, either as a plot by pharmaceutical companies, or as a shortcut by busy doctors.

Part II Anti AIDS campaign

A.

1. As of January 2000, the AIDS epidemic has claimed 15 million lives and left 40 million people living with a viral infection that slowly but relentlessly erodes the immune system

2. Accounting for more than 3 million deaths in the past year alone, the AIDS virus has become the deadliest micr6be in the world.

3. There are 34 developing countries where the prevalence of this infection is 2% or greater.

4. Fortunately, the AIDS story has not been all gloom and doom. Less than two years after AIDS was recognized, the guilty agent- HIV- was identified. 14 AIDS drugs have been developed and licensed in the U.S. and Western Europe.

5. By the year 2025, AIDS will be the major killer of young Africans, decreasing life expectancy to as low as 40 years in some countries and single-handedly erasing the public health gains of the past 50 years.

6. It is Asia, with its huge population at risk, that will have the biggest impact on the global spread of AIDS. The magnitude of the pandemic could range from 100 million to 1 billion, depending largely on what happens in India and China.

7. HIV infection will continue to fester in about 0.5% of the population in the U. S.

8. A cure for AIDS by the year 2025 is not inconceivable. But even if an AIDS vaccine is developed before 2025, it will require an extraordinary effort of political will among our leaders to get to the people who need it most.

Tapescript:

Predicting the future is risky business for a scientist. It is safe to say, however, that the global AIDS epidemic will get much worse before it gets any better. Sadly, this modern plague will be with us for several generations, despite major scientific advances.

As of January 2000, the AIDS epidemic has claimed 15 million lives and left 40 million people living with a viral infection that slowly but relentlessly erodes the immune system. I Accounting for more than 3 million deaths in the past year alone, the AIDS virus has become the deadliest microbe in the world, more lethal than even TB and malaria. There are 34 developing countries where the prevalence of this infection is 2 percent or greater. In Africa nearly a dozen countries have a rate higher than 10 percent, including four southern African nations in which a quarter of the people are infected. And the situation continues to worsen; more than 6 million new infections appeared in 1999. This is like condemning 16,000 people each day to a slow and miserable death.

Fortunately, the AIDS story has not been all gloom and doom. Less than two years after AIDS was recognized, the guilty agent- human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV -- was identified. We now know more about HIV than about any other virus, and 14 AIDS drugs have been developed and licensed in the U. S. and Western Europe.

The epidemic continues to rage, however, in South America, Eastern Europe. and sub-Saharan Africa~ By the year 2025, AIDS will be by far the major killer of young Africans, decreasing life expectancy to as low as 40 years in some countries and single-handedly erasing the public health gains of the past 50 years.

It is Asia, with its huge population at risk, that will have the biggest impact on the global spread of AIDS. The magnitude of the pandemic could range from 100 million to 1 billion, depending largely on what happens in India and China. Four million people have already become HIV-positive in India, and infection is likely to reach several percent in a population of 1 billion.

An explosive AIDS epidemic in the U.S. is unlikely. Instead, HIV infection will continue to fester in about 0.5 percent of the population.

A cure for AIDS by the year 2025 is not inconceivable. But constrained by economic reality, these therapeutic advances will have only limited benefit outside the U.S. and Western Europe.

A vaccine is our only real hope to avert disaster unparalleled in medical history. A large, concerted effort of research was launched three years ago in the U.S. and hints of promising strategies are emerging from experiments in monkeys. But even if an AIDS vaccine is developed before 2025, it will require an extraordinary effort of political will among our leaders to get to the people who need it most.

B.

B1.

1. By the 12th grade, 90% of all public school students have taken at least two sex education courses.

2. Beginning in the 7th and 8th grades, over half of the 1,500 junior high and high school students surveyed said they were taught how to deal with peer pressure to have sex, where to get and how to use contraception, how to talk to a partner about safe sex, and where to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV Aids.

3. Although one third of the schools in the study focused exclusively on abstainers, the main message in about 80% of all sex education courses is this: young people should wait to have sex, but if they don't, they should use birth control and practice safe sex.

4. 40% of schools invited parents to attend sex education classes. But a surprising 22% of schools did not notify parents at all.

5. One third of the students surveyed decided parents as a source of information about sex. 61% said that most of what they do know about sex they learned from their friends, followed by television, movies and magazines.

B2.

1. When does sex education usually start in the U. S. ? elementary school

2. What are some of the topics that most parents think are appropriate in a sex education class?

abstainers / basics of human reproduction / HIV Aids / sexually transmitted diseases / rape / safe sex / condoms / birth control / abortion / homosexuality

2. What is the attitude of most parents towards sex education?

want schools to teach more

4. Why is there a surprising level of support from more sex education according to the researchers?

parents / don't talk about sex / want schools to do it

5. What is the important message that educators should know?

a need for more sex education / more practical approach to dangers and risks

Tapescript:

Most students in the nation's public schools receive some form of sex education. But it's not always clear what schools are teaching or what educators, parents and children think about it. Kids are learning a lot more about sex than many people think, and parents want schools to teach them even more.

Sex education usually starts in elementary school as part of a health curriculum. By the 12th grade, 90 percent of all public school students have taken at least two sex education courses.

"A large majority are providing some information about HIV Aids. Most are talking about abstainers, providing messages about the importance of waiting to have sex."

Beginning in the 7th and 8th grades, over half of the 1,500 junior high and high school students surveyed said they were taught how to deal with peer pressure to have sex, where to get and how to use contraception, how to talk to a partner about safe sex, and where to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV Aids. Although a third of the schools in the study focused exclusively on abstainers, the main message in about 80 percent of all sex education courses is this: young people should wait to have sex, but if they don't, they should use birth control and practice safe sex.

But even fear of HIV Aids and sexually transmitted diseases

or getting pregnant doesn't always stop kids from having sex. Well, our parents know this?

"I think many parents have no idea what's actually happening in the schools."

Parents should have the right to keep their children out of sex education classes that teach things that they don't agree with. Many schools do notify parents when their child starts sex education, but in most cases, schools don't need the parents' permission. Instead 40 percent of schools invited parents to attend sex education classes. A surprising 22 percent of schools did not notify parents at all. Still a clear majority of parents wanted to see more sex education in schools, not less. And they don't just want abstainers or the basics of human reproduction. Over 90 percent of parents want schools to cover HIV Aids and sexually transmitted diseases, rape, safe sex. Most said condoms and birth control needed to be discussed. They thought abortion was an appropriate topic, and thought that homosexuality should be included, too. Researchers say this surprising level of support from more sex education may be due to the fact that parents don't talk to their children about sex, so they want schools to do it. We have a third of the students surveyed decided parents as a source of information about sex. Sixty-one percent said that most of what they do know about sex they learned from their friends, followed by television, movies and magazines.

The message that educators should know is that there is a need for more sex education not less, and more practical approach to the dangers and risks of sexual behavior.

Part III Drug therapy

A. You are going to hear a report about drug therapy.

A1.

1. What is the worry put forward by a United Nations drug agency?. Some legal prescription drugs are being taken in worrying quantities in the West.

2. What problems are growing in developed countries?

In developed countries, the prevalence of anxiety and insomnia and the consumption of sedative hypnotics are growing

3. What kind of drugs are often given hastily?

Drugs to treat psychological disorders are often given hastily, and without considering the underlying causes of the patients' problem.

4. Why is Professor Steven Rose worried? And what is his fear? Advances in biochemistry are being used to mask what children really need -- more discipline or more care. And Prof. Rose is afraid that Western culture is now so wedded to pharmaceutical answers, patients and parents are unwilling to accept that drugs are not the answer to everything.

A2.

Areas of treatment Supporting examples

Overeating Carol -- compulsive eater / 115 kilos

Adifax-- slimming drug /

only as emergency treatment /

but prescribed long periods

Badly behaved children Young people -- depression

Prozac -- instant relief / frightening dreams

/ suicidal feelings / dangers emerge

/ long- term effect?

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

Reese -- learning difficulties / lose temper /

aggressive

Ritalin -- power amphetamine / help

control temper / do better at school

Tapescript.

A United Nations drug agency has warned that legal prescription drugs like Viagra, steroids, and diet pills are being taken in worrying quantities in the West. Dan Damon now asks whether people in the industrialized world really are in need of medication for illnesses like depression or whether it's simply becoming easier and more socially acceptable to try and correct mood and behavior through controlled drugs.

Generally, we think drug problems are something to do with contraband, and illicit street corner deals. But, the International Narcotics Control Board, which monitors the effectiveness of government measures to control the illegal drugs trade also checks the use of prescription pharmaceuticals. And here too, there are serious problems.

In developed countries, the prevalence of anxiety and insomnia and the consumption of sedative hypnotics are growing. The Board notes with concern the frequent long term use, sometimes indefinitely, of psychotropic substances for treating psychological reactions to social pressure, without a diagnosis for a specific disorder.

The Narcotics Board's recently published Annual Report for last year is a detailed review of how drugs to treat psychological disorders, including depression, aggressive behavior, and overeating are often given hastily, and without considering the underlying causes of the patients' problems.

Carol was a compulsive eater who never felt full. She reached 18 stone, that's more than 115 kilos. She was prescribed the slimming drug Adifax, which used only to be available as an emergency treatment for just a few days, but is now prescribed over long periods.

Another controversial area for the use of drug therapy involves badly behaved children. In America, young people suffering from depression are increasingly being given the drug Prozac. For many children, some as young as 7, it provides instant relief from frightening dreams, and suicidal feelings. But, dangers are emerging. The drug works by increasing production in the brain of the chemical serotonin, but we don't know the long-term effect of that, especially in children.

And an even more contentious area is what's called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Ten-year-old Reese has been diagnosed with learning difficulties by an educational psychologist. He's also prone to lose his temper quickly, and be aggressive. His parents found a consultant who was willing to try Ritalin, a power amphetamine. Ritalin has helped Reese to control his temper, and he's doing better at school.

Professor Steven Rose from Britain's Oakland University is worried that advances in biochemistry are being used to mask what children really need -- more discipline or more care. And Professor Rose is afraid that Western culture is now so wedded to pharmaceutical answers, patients and parents are unwilling to accept that drugs are not the answer to everything.

B.

1. How does the time credit system -- "Time Banking" -- work?

Patients are linked together with a time broker who involves them in projects to build up time credits.

2. What is the advantage of "Time Banking"?

Where money is short, this kind of time credit system can bring people with social problems a lot of benefit.

3. What do themes like "Time Banking" remind us of?

Themes like that do remind us that chemicals are only part of the answer to social problems, and a well-functioning society must be the background to any therapy. Loneliness, low self-esteem and anger need to be seen as problems of relationship, not just brain chemistry.

Tapescript:

It's up to doctors to monitor the use of drugs and to be sure they are prescribing them for the right reasons and not to keep patients quiet, but at the same time, we should recognize drugs can make a big difference and not condemn their increased use, either as a plot by pharmaceutical companies, or as a shortcut by busy doctors. That doesn't answer the problem of time. One simple and revolutionary idea has emerged from a doctor in South London.

"He was really sick and tried of prescribing anti-depressants for people's loneliness and anxiety and he thought there must be a way we can do something better than this; why aren't we prescribing time?"

Sarah Burns is from the New Economics Foundation, a reform group based in London. She's been working with that doctor and with a growing number of others to develop what's called "Time Banking." Patients who need more human contact to help them with their difficulties are linked together by a time broker who involves them in projects to build up time credits.

Where money is short, as in any state-funded health service, this kind of time credit system can bring people with social problems a lot of benefit.

Themes like that do remind us that chemicals are only part of the answer to social problems, and a well-functioning society must be the background to any therapy. Loneliness, low self-esteem and anger need to be seen as problems of relationship, not just brain chemistry.

Part IV Listen and relax

Tapescript:

L -- Link W -- Woman M -- Stephen Marriott

L. And now the third program in our series "What would you do?" Today we look at the way people respond to street violence. Would you go to help someone in trouble in the street? Of course most people would say yes, but it isn't as easy as that as Stephen Marriott, a 32-year-old football coach, found out one cold night in Gateshead.

W. Stephen, you were the victim of an attack in the street once, weren't you?

M- That's right, yeah. A couple of years ago now.

W: What happened exactly?

M: Well, I was walking home one evening, it was about 10:30, I suppose, when I heard someone screaming and I saw these two teenage lads kicking an old man on the ground.

W: So you went to help?

M- That's right. In fact, there were two other men walking past at the same time, but they didn't do anything. Just walked past. I couldn't believe it. Anyway, I shouted at the two lads to stop but they just said "Push off!" or words to that effect. So I went to help the old man and one of them hit me over the head with a brick.

W. Didn't that knock you out?

M. Well, nearly. I think I was only half conscious. And they grabbed my arms and cut my face with a piece of broken glass. Then they ran away.

W: It all sounds absolutely horrific. Wasn't there anyone around to help you?

M: No, it all happened so fast. So, anyway, I lay there. I didn't feel a thing at the time. I remember that. Then I told the old man to get away.

W. He was still there, was he?

M. Yes, but he could walk so he went off and then I went into a pub to ask for help to get to the police station. I only realized later that I was covered in blood. Several people ignored me but in the end a woman gave me a lift to the police station, which was very good of her.

W: How badly were you hurt?

M. Well, I had to have several stitches in my head and on my face. I was in a pretty bad state -- you know -- mentally for quite a time. Couldn't sleep, had nightmares and all that. And of course I'll always have a scar on my face.

W: Did the police catch the boys in the end?

M: Yes, one got two years in prison and the other got fifteen months. But they only served part of their sentences. I see them on the streets occasionally and, well, it makes me very bitter.