世界名人简介 第150期: 海伦·亚当斯·凯勒

 　　Helen Adams Keller was an American author, activist¹ and lecturer.She was the first American deaf and blind person to graduate from college.From an early age she decided² to communicate with the world, despite her barriers to communication.She became a prolific³ author, anti-war campaigner and spokeswoman for women’s and worker’s rights.She is also an inspiration to millions.

　　海伦·亚当斯·凯勒是一位美国作家，激进分子和演讲家。她是美国第一个盲聋的大学毕业生。尽管海伦有交流障碍，但她在早年时就决定与世界交流。海伦是个多产作家，反战联盟人士，女权和工人的代言人。海伦也是数百万人的励志偶像。

　　Helen Keller was born in Alabama in 1880.When she was nineteen months old, she contracted a mysterious illness that left her deaf and blind.She developed a friendship with the daughter of her family’s cook, who created a sign language with her.By the age of seven, Helen wasusing over 60 signs with her family. She knew she could communicate.In 1886, her mother readCharles Dickens'book‘American Notes’about the successful education of a deaf and blind child.She decidedto seek help for Helen and was put in touch with 20-year-old teacher Anne Sullivan.She became Helen’s instructor⁴ and friend for the next 49 years.Helen learnt Braille and used it to learn French, German and Greek.Keller had great ambitions and went on to become a world-famous speaker and author.She campaigned for people with disabilities, among many other causes. She travelled to 39 countries and was friends with US presidents and famous figures, including Charlie Chaplin, and Mark Twain.Keller also wrote twelve books and many articles onsocial issues.Keller died in her sleep in 1968, aged⁵ 87.

　　海伦1880年出生在阿拉巴马州。19个月大时，患了一场严重的病，失去了听觉和视觉。海伦与家庭厨师的女儿产生了友谊，她为海伦发明了一种手语。海伦7岁时，能用60多个手语与家人交流。她知道她可以与别人交流。1886年，海伦的妈妈阅读了查尔斯·狄更斯的书《美国纪行》，里面记录了盲聋孩子的成功教育事例。她决定为海伦寻求帮助，她与一位20岁的教师安妮·苏利文取得了联系。安妮在接下来的49年里都是海伦的指导老师和朋友。海伦学习了盲文，并用它学习了法语、德语和希腊语。海伦志向远大，逐渐成为世界知名的演说家和作者。她为残疾人士参加了很多慈善活动。海伦去过39个国家，与美国总统和许多著名人物如查理·卓别林、马克·吐温等都是朋友。凯勒就社会问题写了12本书和许多文章。凯勒1968年在睡眠中逝去，享年87岁。

　　1.barriers to 障碍

　　例句：So in the NRC world these are the multiple barriers to public exposure and public risk.

　　在NRC的世界里，这些都是多重障碍,对于公众暴露和公众危险来说。

　　2.sign language 手语

　　例句：Sign Language Recognition is a communication way between the deaf and the health.

　　手语识别是聋人与健全人自然交流的途径，是手势识别的重要研究内容。

　　3.seek help 寻求帮助

　　例句：If they cannot be roused, immediately seek help.

　　如果不能被唤醒，立即寻求帮助。

　　4.put in touch with 与…联系

　　例句：Ask to be put in touch with other students from your country or who speak yourlanguage.

　　要和来自家乡或说你本国语言的人保持接触。

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 prolific   

adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的

参考例句：

• She is a prolific writer of novels and short stories.她是一位多产的作家，写了很多小说和短篇故事。
• The last few pages of the document are prolific of mistakes.这个文件的最后几页错误很多。

4 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

5 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。