VOA常速英语2008年-Annie Lennox Steps Up, Sings Out to Fight AIDS

By Mandy Clark
London
19 March 2008
 

The global human rights organization, Amnesty International says that HIV and AIDS are devastating¹ poor women and children in South Africa.  In a report released in London, Amnesty says that poverty, gender² inequality and unemployment remain major contributing factors. 

Pop Singer Annie Lennox is highlighting the issue with her new charity tune³ called "Sing."  On a recent trip to Africa, she says she learned how the disease affects women -- especially pregnant mothers and their unborn children -- much more than it does men. VOA's Mandy Clark reports.

1 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

2 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

3 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。