英语听力精选进阶版 6170

Swine Flu Prompts Karaoke Boom 猪流感引发卡拉OK热

The global pandemic that is Influenza¹ H1N1, more commonly known as swine flu, continues its rapid and virulent² spread. The World Health Organisation³ reported the number of infected people to have reached 9,830 across 40 countries.

The virus, which is thought to have originated in Mexico, has now spread as far south as Australia and as far east as Japan. With over 170 reported cases, Japan has one of the highest instances of infection in Asia.

In response, Japan, like many other badly infected regions, has tried to contain any further spread of the virus. One measure taken has been the temporary closure of 4,000 schools, colleges and nurseries in and around Hyogo and Osaka.

Students have been advised to stay at home until further notice but a few restless individuals have found a more entertaining and musical way to spend their new-found free time.

It appears some Japanese students are not spending their time worrying about the virus, but spending it practising their singing instead.

In fact, a few karaoke club owners in Japan have reported record numbers of customers. One club manager told the AFP news agency: "We suddenly had a number of high school students after 2pm yesterday, right after the announcement that schools would close for a week."

Neither students nor club owners appear overly worried about the virus. So just how concerned should they be?

Well, according to a recent statement from Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization:

"With the exception of the outbreak in Mexico, which is still not fully⁴ understood, the H1N1 virus tends to cause very mild illness in otherwise healthy people. Outside Mexico, nearly all cases of illness, and all deaths, have been detected in people with underlying⁵ chronic⁶ conditions."

GLOSSARY 词汇表

pandemic (疾病)普遍流行的

influenza (医) 流行性感冒

swine flu 猪流感

rapid 迅速的

virulent 致命的，致病性的

spread 传播

infected 被传染了

virus 病毒

contain 控制

temporary closure 暂时关闭

restless 焦躁不安的

free time 空闲时间

worrying 忧虑

karaoke 卡拉OK

record numbers 创纪录人数

neither…nor… 既不…也不… (两者都不)

concerned 担心

outbreak 爆发

mild illness 轻微的病状，小病

underlying chronic conditions 固有的长期疾病

1 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

2 virulent   

adj.有毒的，有恶意的，充满敌意的

参考例句：

• She is very virulent about her former employer.她对她过去的老板恨之入骨。
• I stood up for her despite the virulent criticism.尽管她遭到恶毒的批评，我还是维护她。

3 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

4 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。

5 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

6 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。