练习 | 我的写作历程

【导读】本文的作者在中国长大,他一直在努力提升自己的英语技能,所以当他通过电子邮件把自己的文章第一稿发给他的博导时,他很紧张。一周后,他收到博导的回复邮件,改动特别大。起初,看到他的文章有很多需要修改之处,他深感沮丧。但是当他认真研读后,他认识到了他的不足之处。博导把他的很多句子都改成了短句,还建议他不要使用不必要的长句和复杂的短语。这个建议与他在国内准备语言水平考试时学到的恰恰相反。他一直以为,在写作中,使用复杂的语法和高级词汇往往更容易得高分,他就是这样来练习写作的。通过这次文章修改,他意识到,在写作方面,他还有很多需要学习和改进的地方。My writing journey我的写作历程By Yunhe Tong刘立军 选编I grew up in China and was still developing my English skills, so I was nervous when I emailed my Ph.D. supervisor the first draft of a manuscript. One week later, he sent it back full of changes. At first, I was frustrated that my writing required so much editing. But after I took a closer look, I realized where I’d gone astray. He had shortened many of my sentences and commented that I should avoid unnecessarily long and complicated phrases. The advice was counter to what I’d learned when studying for English language proficiency exams. Showing off complex grammar and advanced vocabulary had always brought higher scores, so that’s how I approached writing. But I clearly had more lessons left to learn.I started to learn English when I was 14 years old. I needed to pass a written English exam to be admitted to high school in China, so my teacher had us practice vocabulary and grammar. In later years, I needed to pass other English exams to gain admission to university, and to graduate. Writing wasn’t a huge component of them — instead, they consisted mostly of multiple choice questions testing reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar.The first time I needed to write anything substantive in English was during my master’s program in China, when I wanted to submit a manuscript to an international journal. I didn’t have enough confidence to compose my first draft in English, so I wrote it in Mandarin and used an online translation tool. The paper was accepted, which gave me a feeling that my strategy worked. But as I read more papers in English and reassessed my own writing, I realized that my approach wasn’t ideal. The tool had translated my text word for word, creating sentences that were technically correct but sounded unnatural, in part because sentences are structured differently in Mandarin and English.I knew if I wanted to continue publishing, I would need to write in English directly — and when I went to the United Kingdom for my Ph.D., I had no choice. Suddenly, I not only had to publish papers in English; I also had to write emails and prepare proposals in that language. (I needed to speak English, too, which was its own challenge — but that’s a different story.)At first, I sometimes sat at my computer all day and only ended up with 200 words of text. I couldn’t tell whether my writing was any good. Every time I composed a sentence, I imagined someone laughing at it.One day I’d had enough of writing the same sentence over and over. I decided to write the first draft of a manuscript as quickly as possible. That’s when something magical happened: The sentences seemed to flow out of me, and in a few hours I had a rough draft. I had to go back and edit my work later, but it was a relief to have text to work with — and to know that my draft could only get better.My supervisor’s feedback on the draft was another turning point. Without his comments, I wouldn’t have figured out that complicated sentences and big words might confuse my readers. He also helped me see the importance of telling a story as clearly as possible, paring down tangential details.I now think through my simplified message before I start to write. I also try to get a first draft down quickly, doing my best to quiet the perfectionist voice in my head. Then I go back and take a closer look to see whether I can make my sentences more concise and trim any unnecessary details. I’ve also become more relaxed about editing: Even if I receive a manuscript full of changes again, I will just take it as an opportunity to discover problems I am not aware of. Lately, though, I’ve noticed that my supervisor has made fewer revisions, which gives me confidence I’m making progress.It’s frustrating to know I will probably never write as well as my supervisor. But I take solace in the fact that writing is hard for many native English speakers, too. It’s not like solving a straightforward math problem — there’s an art to it, and it can take years of practice. I hope my journey can help others develop writing strategies that work for them.【词汇】1. go astray: to go in the wrong direction or to have the wrong result 走错方向;误入歧途。例如:Jack’s parents thought the other boys might lead him astray. 杰克的父母认为,其他的男孩可能会把他引入歧途。2. show off: (informal, disapproving) to try to impress others by talking about your abilities, possessions, etc. 炫耀自己;卖弄自己。例如:He’s just showing off because that girl he likes is here. 他不过是在表现自己,因为那位他喜欢的姑娘在场。3. approach v. to start dealing with a problem, task, etc., in a particular way 着手处理;对付。例如:What’s the best way of approaching this problem? 什么是处理这个问题的最佳方式?4. substantive adj. (formal) dealing with real, important or serious matters 实质性的;本质上的;重大的;严肃认真的。例如:substantive issues 实质性问题5. in part: partly; to some extent 部分地;在某种程度上。例如:Her success was due in part to luck. 她的成功在某种程度上是由于运气好。6. end up: to find yourself in a place or situation that you did not intend or expect to be in 最终成为;最后处于。例如:If you go on like this you’ll end up in prison. 如果你继续这样,早晚得进监狱。7. pare down: 减少8. tangential adj. (formal) having only a slight or indirect connection with sth. 稍微沾边的;离题的;不相干的。例如:a tangential argument 牵强附会的论点9. solace n. (formal) a feeling of emotional comfort when you are sad or disappointed; a person or thing that makes you feel better or happier when you are sad or disappointed 安慰;慰藉;给以安慰的人(或事物)。例如:His grandchildren were a solace in his old age. 他晚年从孙辈们身上得到安慰。10. straightforward adj. easy to do or to understand; not complicated 简单的;易懂的;不复杂的。例如:a straightforward process 简单的过程【练习】Choose the best answer.1. What advice did the Ph.D. supervisor give regarding the author’s writing?A. To use more complex grammar and advanced vocabulary.B. To avoid unnecessarily long and complicated phrases.C. To write longer sentences.D. To add more details to his writing.2. What type of exams did the author need to pass in order to gain admission to high school and university in China?A. Multiple choice exams testing writing skills.B. Essay exams testing reading comprehension.C. Multiple choice exams testing reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar.D. Oral exams testing speaking skills.3. What was the author’s reason for using an online translation tool when writing his manuscript for an international journal during his master’s program in China?A. To ensure that the paper was accepted.B. To save time on writing the draft in English.C. To improve his confidence in writing in English.D. To translate the text from Mandarin to English.4. What motivated the author to start writing directly in English?A. The desire to improve his English language skills.B. The need to publish papers in English.C. The challenge of communicating in another language.D. The opportunity to study in the United Kingdom.5. What did the author do to overcome his struggle with writing and produce a rough draft of a manuscript?A. He imagined someone laughing at his writing.B. He spent all day composing 200 words of text.C. He wrote the first draft as quickly as possible.D. He edited his work multiple times.6. What was the author’s supervisor’s feedback on his draft?A. The author needed to use more complicated sentences and big words.B. The author needed to include more tangential details in their writing.C. Complicated sentences and big words might confuse readers.D. Telling a story was not important in his writing.7. What does the author do before he starts writing now?A. He tries to quiet the perfectionist voice in his head.B. He makes a list of complex words to use.C. He spends hours thinking about his writing.D. He writes several drafts before submitting anything.8. What is the author’s attitude towards his writing ability compared to his supervisor’s?A. The author is confident he will eventually write as well as his supervisor.B. The author is frustrated that he may not be able to write as well as his supervisor.C. The author thinks writing is easy for everyone, including his supervisor.D. The author believes his supervisor’s writing ability is not worth admiring.【解析】Choose the best answer.1. What advice did the Ph.D. supervisor give regarding the author’s writing?A. To use more complex grammar and advanced vocabulary.B. To avoid unnecessarily long and complicated phrases.C. To write longer sentences.D. To add more details to his writing.【答案】B【解析】根据文章第一段“He had shortened many of my sentences and commented that I should avoid unnecessarily long and complicated phrases.”,可以看出导师建议作者避免使用过长或过于复杂的短语。因此,答案为B选项。A选项与文章中提到的导师的建议相反;C选项与文章中提到的导师的建议相反;D选项未被提及。2. What type of exams did the author need to pass in order to gain admission to high school and university in China?A. Multiple choice exams testing writing skills.B. Essay exams testing reading comprehension.C. Multiple choice exams testing reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar.D. Oral exams testing speaking skills.【答案】C【解析】根据文章第二段的描述,作者在14岁时开始学习英语,为了进入高中和大学需要通过各种英语考试。文章提到,这些考试大多数是选择题,测试的是阅读理解、词汇和语法。因此,C选项“测试阅读理解、词汇和语法的选择题考试”是正确答案。A选项与文章中提到的不符合;B选项中的“essay”(小论文)是错误的;D选项中提到的“oral”(口试)也没有在文章中提到。3. What was the author’s reason for using an online translation tool when writing his manuscript for an international journal during his master’s program in China?A. To ensure that the paper was accepted.B. To save time on writing the draft in English.C. To improve his confidence in writing in English.D. To translate the text from Mandarin to English.【答案】D【解析】根据文章第三段,作者想向国际期刊提交论文。但是由于第一次写论文,他对用英语写作没有足够自信,所以用汉语写好了初稿,然后使用在线翻译工具进行翻译。他最初使用翻译工具的原因是将文本从汉语翻译成英语。因此,答案为D选项。A选项没有被提到,B选项与文章不符,C选项中的“提升自信”未被提到。4. What motivated the author to start writing directly in English?A. The desire to improve his English language skills.B. The need to publish papers in English.C. The challenge of communicating in another language.D. The opportunity to study in the United Kingdom.【答案】B【解析】根据文章第四段,作者需要在国际期刊上发表论文,而在国际期刊发表论文通常需要使用英语进行写作。因此,作者意识到如果想继续发表论文,就需要能直接使用英语写作。因此,答案为B选项。A选项未被提及,C选项不符合文章描述,D选项未被提及。5. What did the author do to overcome his struggle with writing and produce a rough draft of a manuscript?A. He imagined someone laughing at his writing.B. He spent all day composing 200 words of text.C. He wrote the first draft as quickly as possible.D. He edited his work multiple times.【答案】C【解析】根据文章中间部分的信息,作者最初写作时遇到困难。每次写句子时,他总感觉有人在笑话他。后来,作者决定尽快写出草稿,结果灵感涌现,几个小时内就有了初稿。虽然需要后期编辑,但有了草稿让作者感到宽慰,因为他知道以后的初稿只会越来越好。因此,答案为C选项。A选项是作者的担忧,B选项是作者最初的情况,D选项是作者后期的工作,与题目所考查的作者的使用方法不符。6. What was the author’s supervisor’s feedback on his draft?A. The author needed to use more complicated sentences and big words.B. The author needed to include more tangential details in their writing.C. Complicated sentences and big words might confuse readers.D. Telling a story was not important in his writing.【答案】C【解析】根据文章倒数第三段,作者的导师对他的稿件给予了反馈。导师指出,繁杂的句子和过于高级的词汇可能会让读者感到困惑。从导师的评语,作者能够看到把故事讲清楚的重要性,以及要去除那些与故事不相关的细节。因此,答案为C选项。A选项是错误的,因为导师的建议与此相反;B选项也是错误的,与导师的反馈建议相反;D选项与文章相矛盾。7. What does the author do before he starts writing now?A. He tries to quiet the perfectionist voice in his head.B. He makes a list of complex words to use.C. He spends hours thinking about his writing.D. He writes several drafts before submitting anything.【答案】A【解析】根据文章倒数第二段,现在作者开始写作之前会考虑精简后的信息。同时,作者试图压制自己脑子里的完美主义声音。他会尽快将初稿写下来,然后回过头来加以修改,使句子更加简洁,删掉不必要的细节。作者还提到,他在编辑方面心态更加放松:即使他再次收到一篇修改过的稿件,他也会将其视为发现自己没有意识到的问题的机会。因此,答案为A选项。B选项未被提及,C选项也未被提及,D选项与文章中的描述不符。8. What is the author’s attitude towards his writing ability compared to his supervisor’s?A. The author is confident he will eventually write as well as his supervisor.B. The author is frustrated that he may not be able to write as well as his supervisor.C. The author thinks writing is easy for everyone, including his supervisor.D. The author believes his supervisor’s writing ability is not worth admiring.【答案】B【解析】根据文章最后一段,作者感到沮丧的是自己写作能力可能永远无法与他的导师相匹敌。因此,答案为B选项。A选项与文章不符,C选项与文章中的描述相反,D选项错误,因为文章没有表达作者不欣赏导师的写作能力。(封面图片来源于摄图网,版权归摄图网所有)

练习 | 如何撰写学术论文(下)

【导读】如何撰写研究论文,一直困扰着很多写作者。本文中,受访者分享了他们撰写研究手稿的方法以及克服常见障碍的策略。How to write a research paperBY ELISABETH PAIN刘立军 选编(接上篇)In the discussion, I try to explain how the data supports my assertions and how strongly. I feel it is the most difficult section since there is always a risk of under-explaining your data. Giving some thought to how to give a twist to the title or make it unique is important so the paper can be more easily found and remembered in the tide of research manuscripts. For the acknowledgments, I usually keep a spreadsheet with all the individuals and organizations that have supported the research. Finally, I consult with my supervisors or institute's legal office to fill in the declarations about funding, potential conflicts of interest, and compliance with ethical standards and reporting guidelines. The choice of journal may affect the length of the manuscript and order of the sections.- Roshan Paladugu, postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology【练习与解析】8. What is the most difficult section for the author to write?A. Introduction.B. Results.C. Discussion.D. Acknowledgments.【答案】C【解析】According to the text, the author feels that the most difficult section to write is the discussion section. The reason for this is that there is always a risk of under-explaining your data, and the author tries to explain how the data supports their assertions and how strongly.As the main author, at what point is it most crucial to get your supervisor and co-authors involved in the manuscript preparation?My supervisor is involved throughout the writing process. We first make an outline of the manuscript together, as it allows us to have a better sense of what data and experiments are missing for the story and what we have left to do. Once we have this, we contact the co-authors and discuss our plan. Then we ask them to send us the finalized raw data, figures, and methods for the segments they have contributed to, and information about conflicts of interest and funding. We continue to seek their input until everyone is satisfied with the final manuscript. My supervisor and I usually select the target journal based on the novelty and direction of the story being told.- Ho【练习与解析】9. How does the author involve their supervisor in the writing process?A. The supervisor provides raw data and figures for the manuscript.B. The supervisor selects the target journal for publication.C. The supervisor and author make an outline of the manuscript together.D. The supervisor is responsible for contacting co-authors for input.【答案】C【解析】According to the text, the author involves their supervisor in the writing process by making an outline of the manuscript together. This allows them to have a better sense of what data and experiments are missing for the story and what they have left to do.My Ph.D. mentor and I found a writing dance that worked for us. After chunks of time writing on my own, we would have 1 to 2 continuous hours of one-to-one meetings to make edits. They would explain the reasons for specific changes, which greatly helped me improve my writing skills and find my own voice. Once, in a frantic race toward submission, a conference call was held with three co-first authors (including me) and three co-senior authors present and each modifying different sections simultaneously online. This was highly effective - the manuscript was ready to submit in about a month.- Diehl【练习与解析】10. How did the author and his Ph.D. mentor approach the writing process?A. They continuously wrote together for long periods of time.B. They held conference calls with multiple co-authors to make edits.C. They had regular meetings to edit the manuscript and improve writing skills.D. They worked on different sections of the manuscript separately using Google Docs.【答案】C【解析】According to the text, the author and his Ph.D. mentor held regular meeting to edit the manuscripts. During the meetings, the mentor would explain the reasons for specific changes, which greatly helped the author improve their writing skills and find their own voice.I usually meet my co-authors after data interpretation with an outline for a manuscript. All the collaborators are asked for their input on the manuscript structure and about suitable journals. Once the manuscript is complete and gets reviewed by all co-authors at least three times - with one month’s deadline - I consider it ready to be pushed off to the journal.- Paladugu【练习与解析】11. When does the author typically ask for input from co-authors on the manuscript?A. After data interpretation with an outline for a manuscript.B. During the data collection phase.C. Once the manuscript has been submitted to a journal.D. After the manuscript has been reviewed by the editor.【答案】A【解析】According to the text, the author usually meets their co-authors after data interpretation with an outline for a manuscript. All collaborators are then asked for their input on the manuscript structure and suitable journals at this stage.What writing challenges have you experienced, and what ways did you find around them? Are there some potential mistakes that you would like to warn early-career researchers against? Any further advice?In the beginning, I can easily get tangled up in too much thinking and too little writing. I try to dive in with an idea and remind myself that at this stage it is more important to just get into the flow of writing, knowing that I can always rewrite and rearrange later. Whenever I get stuck, I will either read a bit of the literature or prepare figures for an hour. Beyond easing me into the academic style, these activities can provide new starting points for writing.- Gebauer【练习与解析】12. What does the author do when he gets stuck in the writing process?A. Read a bit of the literature or prepare figures.B. Stop writing and take a break.C. Rewrite and rearrange what has already been written.D. Continue to think until a new idea emerges.【答案】A【解析】According to the text, whenever the author gets stuck in the writing process, he either read a bit of the literature or prepare figures for an hour.I find that taking a break or getting up to walk usually helps when I hit writer’s block. Sometimes, it can be several days before I start writing again. I use this in-between time to polish figures, collate my data sets, or complete additional control experiments.- Ho【练习与解析】13. What does the author do when she hits writer’s block?A. Continue to write until the block is overcome.B. Take a break or get up to walk.C. Delete what has already been written and start over.D. Seek input from co-authors.【答案】B【解析】According to the text, when the author hits writer’s block, she finds that taking a break or getting up to walk usually helps.Do not limit the circle of people who provide comments on your manuscript to direct collaborators. Feedback from a colleague in a different discipline can help you identify issues you might otherwise overlook. Having an English native-speaker pal who can proofread your drafts and give comments can also be very helpful. Read other articles not only for their content but also to understand how they are structured. Also, make sure to check out the journal’s publishing guidelines and know the ethical standards in your field. But most importantly, be sure of what you are writing!- Parker【练习与解析】14. What is a potential benefit of receiving feedback on a manuscript from someone in a different discipline?A. They can help to identify issues that might otherwise be overlooked.B. They can proofread the manuscript for grammatical errors.C. They can provide additional data for inclusion in the manuscript.D. They can help to identify suitable journals for submission.【答案】A【解析】According to the text, a potential benefit of receiving feedback on a manuscript from someone in a different discipline is that they can help to identify issues that might otherwise be overlooked.Adapted from https://www.science.org/content/article/how-write-research-paper【词汇】1. protocol n. a plan for performing a scientific experiment or medical treatment 方案2. converge v. to move towards each other and meet at a point (向某一点)相交,会合。例如:There was a signpost where the two paths converged. 两条小路的相交处有一路标。3. pertinent adj. appropriate to a particular situation 有关的;恰当的;相宜的。例如:a pertinent question / fact有关的问题 / 事实4. daunting adj. to make somebody feel nervous and less confident about doing something使人气馁的(封面图片来源于摄图网,版权归摄图网所有)

教学素材 | 看电影学英语——流浪地球2的翻译之妙

看电影学英语---流浪地球2的翻译之妙供稿 刘伟要说今年最火的科幻电影,几乎所有人都会想到《流浪地球2》。今年贺岁电影档中,《流浪地球2》凭借精美震撼的视觉效果、动人心弦的故事情节,收获好评如潮,给观众奉上了一道视觉盛宴。它所展现的全人类团结起来面对危机、努力延续文明的图景也十分发人深省。电影的字幕翻译也是可圈可点。在电影中,刘培强和张鹏的师徒情戳中了很多人的泪点,而张鹏幽默风趣的方言也给电影增添了许多趣味。而要想翻译好方言,字对字翻译是行不通的,只有充分理解其在源语语境中的意思,才能在译语中找到合适的表达,达到近似源语中的效果。《流浪地球2》里有哪些“神翻译”?我们快来一起学习一下吧!1. 赶紧摇人。在太空电梯危机之中,诺夫被无人机追杀。由于无人机数量太多,张鹏大喊“摇人儿”。这是一句东北方言,指的是叫更多人来帮助自己。但是在电影当中,字幕翻译为:“Shake them off.”,那“shake off”是什么意思呢?Shake offIf you shake off someone who is following you, you manage to get away from them, for example by running faster than them. 甩掉,摆脱(跟随的人)例句:He was unaware that they had shaken off their pursuers.他不知道他们已经甩掉了追捕者。If you shake off someone who is touching you, you move your arm or body sharply so that they are no longer touching you. 甩开,甩掉(使不接触)例句:She shook off his restraining hand.她甩开了他的手。If you shake off something that you do not want such as an illness or a bad habit, you manage to recover from it or get rid of it. 治好(疾病),摆脱(坏习惯等)例句:He was generally feeling bad. He just couldn't shake it off.他整个人感觉不太舒服,总是好不了。所以这里是翻译错误吗?不是的,这里应该是字幕组刻意为之,目的是突出他们携带的同声传译设备无法准确地处理跨文化翻译,只能翻译字面意思,而无法理解其文化内涵。张鹏喊的是“摇人儿”,诺夫接收到的指令却是“甩开他们”。正是因为这一差错,后面诺夫才会说“Working on it.”,然而对应的中文字幕是“我正摇着呢。”,这也是张鹏接收到的反馈。短短几句话形成了一个奇妙的闭环。明明是鸡同鸭讲的“跨服聊天”,结果彼此都没有发现沟通出了问题。最后诺夫大喊“乌拉”,没有去呼叫援军,反而是一通炫技甩掉了无人机。这样一个有趣的情节设计,凸显了电影的别具匠心,也给观众带来更多的欢乐。2. 当年全校第一,不是浪得虚名。诺夫甩掉无人机后开始洋洋得意地炫耀起自己的本领,说:“当年全校第一,不是浪得虚名。”这里出现了一个中国的成语“浪得虚名”,大家可以先想一想怎么翻译?评论区欢迎你的奇思妙想。成语和方言一样,可千万不能字对字翻译,而是要放到语境中充分理解它的内涵。更重要的是,字幕翻译要尽量简洁,最好长度和原文相差不大,在屏幕上展示的时间能够吻合。因此,如果去解释“浪”和“虚名”,译文就难免太过啰嗦。字幕组则直接译为“I was the top figure in school for a reason.”,指的是“我当年全校第一是有道理的”。“for a reason”用得很好,值得我们学习。英语中也经常会说:“Everything happens for a reason.(万事皆有因)”。3. 别浪了。正当诺夫洋洋得意之时,张鹏对诺夫说“别浪了,援军来了。”大家有没有发现,这里又出现一个“浪”字,但此“浪”非彼“浪”。“浪”在这个语境里指的是诺夫的得意忘形、自信膨胀的状态。那你能想到什么词来描述这种状态呢?译文这里用了“swagger”这个词,翻译为“cut the swagger.”我们来一起学习一下。Swaggerv.to walk in an extremely proud and confident way 神气十足地走;大摇大摆地走例句:They swaggered into the room.他们大摇大摆地走进了房间。n. a way of walking or behaving that seems too confident 神气十足;大摇大摆例句:Underneath all his swagger (= way of acting that shows he is very confident and thinks that he is important) , he's actually quite nervous.虽然表面上一副自命不凡的样子,但实际上他很紧张。4. 削他们。这句话估计大家一看就懂,然后会心一笑。英文当中类似意思的表达不少,如果直接翻译成“Attack them”未免太过平淡,没有传达出源语的语气。因此,字幕组在这里使用了一个英文俗语:“Give them hell!”。“hell”本意是“地狱”,“让他们下地狱吧!”既传达了意思,又带有恶狠狠的语气。give somebody hell(informal) to make life unpleasant for somebody 让某人受罪;使某人不好受例句:He used to give his mother hell when he was a teenager.他年少时常常给他妈妈找麻烦。2019年,《流浪地球》开启了中国电影“科幻元年”;2023年,《流浪地球2》再次创造票房奇迹。当张鹏喊出:“中国航天中队,五十岁以上出列”,无数人在电影院热泪盈眶;当周喆直坚定地说:“危难当前,唯有责任”,又有多少人为之动容!影片中好的台词总是令人津津乐道,让人感触颇深。而从这些台词的翻译当中,我们也可以学到很多知识。大家可以尽情挖掘,在评论区分享你们注意到的精妙翻译。不说啦,小编要去二刷三刷啦!(封面图片来源于摄图网,版权归摄图网所有)

练习 | 越来越多的人靠ChatGPT出书赚稿酬

VOA慢速:越来越多的人靠ChatGPT出书赚稿酬刘立军 供稿u TRANSCRIPTA growing number of people are using ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence program, to create books for sale.Although sales have so far been slow, human writers are worried that ChatGPT-created books might hurt the writing and publishing industry.Until recently, Brett Schickler never imagined he could be a published author.But after learning about the ChatGPT artificial intelligence program, Schickler decided that he had a good chance.“The idea of writing a book finally seemed possible,” said Schickler, a salesman in Rochester, New York. “I thought ‘I can do this.’“Using the AI software, Schickler created a 30-page illustrated children’s e-book in a few hours.He offered it for sale in January through Amazon’s self-publishing section.The e-book, which is named The Wise Little Squirrel: A Tale of Saving and Investing, has made Schickler less than $100, he said.While that may not sound like much, it is enough to make him want to create other books using the software.“I could see people making a whole career out of this,” said Schickler.There were over 200 e-books in Amazon’s Kindle store as of mid-February that say ChatGPT is a writer or co-writer.And the number is rising daily.But due to the nature of ChatGPT and many writers’ failure to admit that they have used it, it is nearly impossible to get a full count of how many e-books may be written by AI.Some professional writers are becoming worried about the effects that ChatGPT could have on the book publishing industry.Mary Rasenberger is the executive director of the Authors Guild, a writer’s group.She said, “This is something we really need to be worried about, these books will flood the market and a lot of authors are going to be out of work.”Rasenberger noted that the industry has a long tradition of ghostwriting ― an accepted practice of paying someone to write books or speeches under another author’s name.But she is worried that the ability to create with AI could turn book writing from an art into a commodity ― a kind of simple raw material that is bought and sold.“There needs to be transparency from the authors and the platforms about how these books are created or you’re going to end up with a lot of low-quality books,” she said.When asked for comment by Reuters, Amazon did not say whether it has plans to change or look at policies around authors’ use of AI or other automated writing tools.Amazon spokeswoman Lindsay Hamilton said via email that books in the store must meet its guidelines regarding “intellectual property rights” and other laws.Amazon is by far the largest seller of both physical and e-books.It has well over half of the sales in the United States and, by some estimates, over 80 percent of the e-book market.In 2007, Amazon created Kindle Direct Publishing to enable anyone to sell and market a book without the expense of seeking out book agents or publishing houses.Generally, Amazon lets authors publish without any oversight.The company then splits whatever money is made with the writer.This service has drawn new AI-assisted writers like Kamil Banc to Amazon.He told his wife that he could make a book in less than one day.Using ChatGPT, an AI image creator and instructions like “write a bedtime story about a pink dolphin that teaches children how to be honest,” Banc published an illustrated 27-page book in December.Banc has since published two more AI-generated books, including an adult coloring book, with more in the works.“It actually is really simple,” he said, “I was surprised at how fast it went from concept to publishing.”Not everyone is impressed by the software.Mark Dawson, who has reportedly sold millions of copies of books he wrote himself through Kindle Direct Publishing, was quick to call ChatGPT-assisted novels “dull” in an email to Reuters.Dull means not interesting.Dawson said that merit ― a good quality that deserves to be praised ― is important in the book business.“Merit plays a part in how books are recommended to other readers. If a book gets bad reviews because the writing is dull then it’s quickly going to sink to the bottom.”I’m John Russell.u VOCABULARY1. ghostwrite n. to write a book, an article, etc., for another person who publishes it as their own work 代人写作;为人捉刀;代写2. transparency n. the quality of being easy to understand or know about 易懂;清楚;透明度3. oversight n. the state of being in charge of sb/sth 负责;照管uQUESTIONSTASK 1: 判断Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Then correct the false statements.1. There are a growing number of people who are using ChatGPT to create and sell their own books.2. Human writers are concerned that ChatGPT-created books could hurt the writing and publishing industry.3. Using the AI software, Schickler was able to create a 13-page illustrated children’s e-book in a matter of hours.4. As of mid-February, there were more than 200 e-books in Amazon’s Kindle store that listed ChatGPT as an author or co-author.5. All professional writers are concerned about the impact that ChatGPT could have on the book publishing industry.6. Mary Rasenberger is concerned that the ability to create with artificial intelligence could turn the writing of books from an art into a commodity.7. When asked for comment by Reuters, Amazon said that it had some plans to change or review its policies on the use of AI by authors.8. For both physical and e-books, Amazon isn’t by far the largest seller.9. In general, Amazon allows authors to publish without any oversight whatsoever.10. Everyone is a fan of the ChatGPT software.TASK 2: 选择题Choose the best answer.1. What is ChatGPT?A. A book publisher.B. An artificial intelligence program.C. A book critic.D. A self-publishing website.2. How do human writers feel about ChatGPT-created books?A. They are excited to have new competition.B. They believe they will benefit from the program.C. They are concerned that the program will harm the writing and publishing industry.D. They think the program is a great way to make money.3. How did Brett Schickler feel about writing a book before he learned about ChatGPT?A. He believed it was impossible.B. He was excited to try.C. He was already a published author.D. He had never thought about it.4. What did Brett Schickler create using the AI software?A. A 30-page illustrated children’s e-book.B. A 100-page novel.C. A self-publishing website.D. An article about the writing industry.5. What is Mary Rasenberger worried about regarding the impact of ChatGPT on the book publishing industry?A. The inability to create quality books.B. A flood of books in the market.C. The rise of AI in the industry.D. A lack of transparency from authors and platforms.6. What is ghostwriting according to Mary Rasenberger?A. The process of selling books under another author’s name.B. The practice of hiring someone to write books under another author’s name.C. The art of turning book writing into a commodity.D. The act of buying and selling low-quality books.7. What is Amazon’s response to the question about its policies regarding authors’ use of AI or other automated writing tools?A. Amazon declined to comment on the matter.B. Amazon stated that it has no plans to change its policies.C. Amazon stated that it will investigate the use of AI in book writing.D. Amazon stated that it will require authors to disclose the use of AI in their books.8. What is Mark Dawson’s opinion about ChatGPT-assisted novels?A. He thinks they are interesting and exciting.B. He thinks they are innovative and creative.C. He thinks they are dull and lack merit.D. He thinks they are high-quality and deserving of praise.u KEYTASK 1: 判断Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Then correct the false statements.(T) 1. There are a growing number of people who are using ChatGPT to create and sell their own books.(T) 2. Human writers are concerned that ChatGPT-created books could hurt the writing and publishing industry.(F) 3. Using the AI software, Schickler was able to create a 13-page illustrated children’s e-book in a matter of hours.(正确表达)Using the AI software, Schickler was able to create a 30-page illustrated children’s e-book in a matter of hours.(T) 4. As of mid-February, there were more than 200 e-books in Amazon’s Kindle store that listed ChatGPT as an author or co-author.(F) 5. All professional writers are concerned about the impact that ChatGPT could have on the book publishing industry.(正确表达)Some professional writers are concerned about the impact that ChatGPT could have on the book publishing industry.(T) 6. Mary Rasenberger is concerned that the ability to create with artificial intelligence could turn the writing of books from an art into a commodity.(F) 7. When asked for comment by Reuters, Amazon said that it had some plans to change or review its policies on the use of AI by authors.(正确表达)When asked for comment by Reuters, Amazon did not say whether it had any plans to change or review its policies on the use of AI by authors.(F) 8. For both physical and e-books, Amazon isn’t by far the largest seller.(正确表达)For both physical and e-books, Amazon is by far the largest seller.(T) 9. In general, Amazon allows authors to publish without any oversight whatsoever.(F) 10. Everyone is a fan of the ChatGPT software.(正确表达)Not everyone is a fan of the ChatGPT software.TASK 2: 选择题Choose the best answer.1. What is ChatGPT?A. A book publisher.B. An artificial intelligence program.C. A book critic.D. A self-publishing website.【答案】B【解析】第一句提到ChatGPT是一种人工智能程序。2. How do human writers feel about ChatGPT-created books?A. They are excited to have new competition.B. They believe they will benefit from the program.C. They are concerned that the program will harm the writing and publishing industry.D. They think the program is a great way to make money.【答案】C【解析】第二句提到人类作家担心ChatGPT创作的书籍可能会损害写作和出版行业。3. How did Brett Schickler feel about writing a book before he learned about ChatGPT?A. He believed it was impossible.B. He was excited to try.C. He was already a published author.D. He had always thought about it.【答案】A【解析】第三句提到Brett Schickler以前从未想过自己能成为一名作家。4. What did Brett Schickler create using the AI software?A. A 30-page illustrated children’s e-book.B. A 100-page novel.C. A self-publishing website.D. An article about the writing industry.【答案】A【解析】第六句提到Brett Schickler使用AI软件创作了一本30页的儿童绘本。5. What is Mary Rasenberger worried about regarding the impact of ChatGPT on the book publishing industry?A. The inability to create quality books.B. A flood of books in the market.C. The rise of AI in the industry.D. A lack of transparency from authors and platforms.【答案】 B【解析】Mary Rasenberger担心ChatGPT可能对图书出版业产生影响,特别是书籍的大量增加。她认为,这些书籍将会充斥市场,导致许多作家失业。选项A、C、D在原文中并没有被提到。6. What is ghostwriting according to Mary Rasenberger?A. The process of selling books under another author’s name.B. The practice of hiring someone to write books or speeches under another author’s name.C. The art of turning book writing into a commodity.D. The act of buying and selling low-quality books.【答案】B【解析】在原文中,Mary Rasenberger提到了ghostwriting是一种为人所接受的做法,即雇佣他人代笔写稿或演讲辞,且使用另一位作者的名字。因此,选项B是正确的。选项A、C、D与原文描述不符。7. What is Amazon’s response to the question about its policies regarding authors’ use of AI or other automated writing tools?A. Amazon declined to comment on the matter.B. Amazon stated that it has no plans to change its policies.C. Amazon stated that it will investigate the use of AI in book writing.D. Amazon stated that it will require authors to disclose the use of AI in their books.【答案】A【解析】当被路透社要求发表评论时,亚马逊没有表示是否计划改变或审查关于作者使用AI或其他自动化写作工具的政策。因此,答案为A,即亚马逊拒绝就此事发表评论。8. What is Mark Dawson’s opinion about ChatGPT-assisted novels?A. He thinks they are interesting and exciting.B. He thinks they are innovative and creative.C. He thinks they are dull and lack merit.D. He thinks they are high-quality and deserving of praise.【答案】C【解析】马克·道森认为ChatGPT协助的小说“乏味”,并在给路透社的一封电子邮件中说道:“品质在书业中起着重要的作用。如果一本书因其乏味的写作而受到差评,那么它很快就会沉入谷底。”因此,答案为C,即马克·道森认为这些小说乏味且缺乏价值。(封面图片来源于摄图网,版权归摄图网所有)

练习 | 做好决策的步骤

做好决策的步骤7-Step Guide to Good Decision-Making刘立军 供稿u TRANSCRIPTWelcome to Mind Tools’ Video Learning Series.Some decisions are almost automatic. We don’t even know we’re making them. When you’re driving, for example, or cooking your favorite meal. But others are complex and tricky, like deciding on whether to invest in a new business or launch a new product.When you have to make difficult decisions like these, you’ll need to weigh up many competing factors and consider lots of different potential outcomes. After all, you don’t want to get it wrong. But how can you ensure that the decisions you make are as risk-free as possible?First, consider the decision in context. What’s the real issue here? Is it a straightforward problem or part of something that’s much deeper and more complex? Chances are there’s more than one factor that you’ll need to consider. So be sure to gather as much feedback and information as possible from all of the people or departments involved.Your decision will likely impact others. So be sure to involve them in the process. This is especially true if you will be relying on other people to implement your decision. Think about who you should include in the process and create an environment where they feel safe to share their ideas and thoughts freely.When you have lots of options to choose from, you may feel overwhelmed, but actually, the more alternatives, the better your final decision will be. So be as creative as possible when brainstorming solutions.When you are satisfied, you’ve got a viable range of realistic options. Explore them thoroughly. How feasible are they? What risks are involved? And what impact will they have on colleagues, departments, and the organization?Now, it’s time to make your final decision. If you have various criteria, you need to evaluate your decisions against. Tools like Decision Matrix Analysis or Paired Comparison Analysis can be useful.Remember to build fairness and impartiality into this final decision-making stage. You could, for example, use the Delphi method, which involves getting people to participate in cycles of anonymous, written discussion and argument. Doing this ensures all opinions are considered equally before you go ahead.Once you have made your final decision, sense-check it. Delve deep into the implications and be objective. Remember, your final decision is only as good as the data and research you based it on. So double-check that your information is trustworthy. Discuss your conclusions with key stakeholders. And give them time to provide feedback.Now that the decision’s been given final approval, communicate it to everyone affected. Be clear on the detail and underline the positives. People will be more motivated to get on board if they can understand why the decision’s been made, and how it will benefit them and the organization.Finally, be open to criticism as long as it’s constructive. Someone might raise a good point that you hadn’t considered. If this happens, review your plans and adapt them.u VOCABULARY1. weigh up: to consider something carefully so that you can make a decision about it 仔细考虑,权衡2. risk-free n. 无风险的3. implement v. to make sth. that has been officially decided start to happen or be used 使生效;贯彻;执行;实施4. stakeholder n. a person or company that is involved in a particular organization, project, system, etc., especially because they have invested money in it (某组织、工程、体系等的)参与人,参与方;有权益关系者5. get on board 入伙;参与,加入uQUESTIONSTASK 1: 填空Read the passage. Then listen to the news and fill in the blanks with the information (words, phrases or sentences) you hear.Welcome to Mind Tools’ Video Learning Series.Some decisions are almost (Q1) ______________. We don’t even know we’re making them. When you’re driving, for example, or cooking your favorite meal. But others are complex and tricky, like deciding on whether to invest in a new business or launch a new product.When you have to make difficult decisions like these, you’ll need to (Q2) ___________ many competing factors and consider lots of different potential outcomes. After all, you don’t want to get it wrong. But how can you ensure that the decisions you make are as risk-free as possible?First, (Q3) ____________________ in context. What’s the real issue here? Is it a straightforward problem or part of something that’s much deeper and more complex? Chances are there’s more than one factor that you’ll need to consider. So be sure to gather as much feedback and information as possible from all of the people or departments involved.Your decision will likely impact others. So be sure to (Q4) _____________ them in the process. This is especially true if you will be relying on other people to implement your decision. Think about who you should include in the process and create an environment where they feel safe to share their ideas and thoughts freely.When you have lots of options to choose from, you may feel overwhelmed, but actually, the more (Q5) _______________, the better your final decision will be. So be as creative as possible when (Q6) __________________ solutions.When you are satisfied, you’ve got a viable range of realistic options. (Q7) _________ them thoroughly. How feasible are they? What risks are involved? And what impact will they have on colleagues, departments, and the organization?Now, it’s time to make your final decision. If you have various criteria, you need to (Q8) ___________ your decisions against. Tools like Decision Matrix Analysis or Paired Comparison Analysis can be useful.Remember to build fairness and impartiality into this final decision-making stage. You could, for example, use the Delphi method, which involves getting people to participate in cycles of anonymous, written discussion and argument. Doing this ensures all opinions are considered equally before you go ahead.Once you have made your final decision, sense-check it. Delve deep into the implications and be objective. Remember, your final decision is only as good as the data and research you based it on. So double-check that your information is trustworthy. Discuss your conclusions with key stakeholders. And give them time to provide feedback.Now that the decision’s been given final approval, (Q9) _______________ it to everyone affected. Be clear on the detail and underline the positives. People will be more motivated to get on board if they can understand why the decision’s been made, and how it will benefit them and the organization.Finally, be open to criticism as long as it’s constructive. Someone might raise a good point that you hadn’t considered. If this happens, (Q10) _____________ your plans and adapt them.To learn more about how to make good decisions, read the article that accompanies this video.TASK 2: 选择Choose the best answer.1. According to the passage, what should you do when you have to make difficult decisions?A. Consider only one factor.B. Gather feedback and information from all involved.C. Rely solely on your own opinions.D. Choose the easiest option.2. What should you do when you have lots of options to choose from?A. Choose the one that is most common.B. Be as creative as possible when brainstorming solutions.C. Avoid considering too many options.D. Choose the easiest option.3. What is the Delphi method?A. A tool for evaluating decisions based on various criteria.B. A method for involving others in the decision-making process.C. A technique for brainstorming solutions.D. A process for building fairness and impartiality into the decision-making stage.4. What is the importance of communicating the final decision to everyone affected?A. To get people on board and motivated.B. To ensure all opinions are considered equally.C. To sense-check the decision.D. To brainstorm solutions.u KEYTASK 1: 填空Read the passage. Then listen to the news and fill in the blanks with the information (words, phrases or sentences) you hear.Welcome to Mind Tools’ Video Learning Series.Some decisions are almost (Q1) automatic. We don’t even know we’re making them. When you’re driving, for example, or cooking your favorite meal. But others are complex and tricky, like deciding on whether to invest in a new business or launch a new product.When you have to make difficult decisions like these, you’ll need to (Q2) weigh up many competing factors and consider lots of different potential outcomes. After all, you don’t want to get it wrong. But how can you ensure that the decisions you make are as risk-free as possible?First, (Q3) consider the decision in context. What’s the real issue here? Is it a straightforward problem or part of something that’s much deeper and more complex? Chances are there’s more than one factor that you’ll need to consider. So be sure to gather as much feedback and information as possible from all of the people or departments involved.Your decision will likely impact others. So be sure to (Q4) involve them in the process. This is especially true if you will be relying on other people to implement your decision. Think about who you should include in the process and create an environment where they feel safe to share their ideas and thoughts freely.When you have lots of options to choose from, you may feel overwhelmed, but actually, the more (Q5) alternatives, the better your final decision will be. So be as creative as possible when (Q6) brainstorming solutions.When you are satisfied, you’ve got a viable range of realistic options. (Q7) Explore them thoroughly. How feasible are they? What risks are involved? And what impact will they have on colleagues, departments, and the organization?Now, it’s time to make your final decision. If you have various criteria, you need to (Q8) evaluate your decisions against. Tools like Decision Matrix Analysis or Paired Comparison Analysis can be useful.Remember to build fairness and impartiality into this final decision-making stage. You could, for example, use the Delphi method, which involves getting people to participate in cycles of anonymous, written discussion and argument. Doing this ensures all opinions are considered equally before you go ahead.Once you have made your final decision, sense-check it. Delve deep into the implications and be objective. Remember, your final decision is only as good as the data and research you based it on. So double-check that your information is trustworthy. Discuss your conclusions with key stakeholders. And give them time to provide feedback.Now that the decision’s been given final approval, (Q9) communicate it to everyone affected. Be clear on the detail and underline the positives. People will be more motivated to get on board if they can understand why the decision’s been made, and how it will benefit them and the organization.Finally, be open to criticism as long as it’s constructive. Someone might raise a good point that you hadn’t considered. If this happens, (Q10) review your plans and adapt them.TASK 2: 选择Choose the best answer.1. According to the passage, what should you do when you have to make difficult decisions?A. Consider only one factor.B. Gather feedback and information from all involved.C. Rely solely on your own opinions.D. Choose the easiest option.【答案】 B【解析】文章第三段提到在做艰难的决策时,需要考虑许多相互竞争的因素和很多潜在的结果。所以需要尽可能多地收集相关反馈和信息,故选B。2. What should you do when you have lots of options to choose from?A. Choose the one that is most common.B. Be as creative as possible when brainstorming solutions.C. Avoid considering too many options.D. Choose the easiest option.【答案】B【解析】文章第六段提到,当你有许多选择时,你可能会感到不知所措,但实际上,选项越多,你最终的决定会更好。因此,在寻找解决方案时,应该尽可能创新,故选B。3. What is the Delphi method?A. A tool for evaluating decisions based on various criteria.B. A method for excluding others in the decision-making process.C. A technique for brainstorming solutions.D. A process for building fairness and impartiality into the decision-making stage.【答案】D【解析】在倒数第四段中提到“Remember to build fairness and impartiality into this final decision-making stage. You could, for example, use the Delphi method, which involves getting people to participate in cycles of anonymous, written discussion and argument.”。这里明确指出Delphi method是一种让最终决策过程更公正无私的方法。4. What is the importance of communicating the final decision to everyone affected?A. To get people on board and motivated.B. To ensure all opinions are considered equally.C. To sense-check the decision.D. To brainstorm solutions.【答案】A【解析】在倒数第二段中提到“People will be more motivated to get on board if they can understand why the decision’s been made, and how it will benefit them and the organization.”。 这里明确指出将最终决策告知所有受影响的人,可以让他们更容易理解如此决策的原因以及决策如何使他们和组织受益,从而激励他们也参与其中。(封面图片来源于摄图网,版权归摄图网所有)

练习 | 食物过敏

食物过敏What’s a Food Allergy - and What’s Not?刘立军供稿uTRANSCRIPTPeople often confuse food allergies andfood intolerances. But it’s important to know the difference because they each require a different treatment. So what is the difference?A food allergy is your body’s immune system responding to specific proteins in certain foods. For instance, in shellfish, one of the triggers for allergic reactions is a protein calledtropomyosin. And with peanuts, it can be a reaction to one of its many proteins. When a food particle enters the body of someone who’s allergic, the body’s immune system perceives it as a problem, an invader. Just as your body might respond to a virus as a threat, with food allergies, part of your immune system sees the protein of the food as a threat.The allergic reaction can be thought of as adisproportionateand inappropriate response from the immune system to the food. Allergic reactions can range from being mild:tinglesin the mouth,hives, andrashes, to being extremely severe, like having trouble breathing. And they can even be life-threatening. Allergic reactions, with some exceptions, almost always happen quickly, within 30 minutes of eating or exposure to the food.A food intolerance, on the other hand, is usually our body having trouble digesting certain foods. Unlike allergies, food intolerances are not related to the immune system. For instance, beinglactoseintolerant means you don’t have enough of theenzymethat breaks down the lactose in dairy. Intolerance to certain foods can often result in digestive issues, includingbloating,diarrheaor just generally feeling unwell. Intolerance to food can happen pretty quickly, too, but could also show up in the next few days. In other words, if you experience unpleasantness from something you’ve eaten a day before, most of the time, it’s not an allergy.There’s a third kind of reaction that’s neither an allergy or an intolerance. For example,celiacdisease is anautoimmunecondition triggered by eating foods containinggluten. Celiac disease may share some similar symptoms to a food intolerance, such as bloating or belly pain. But unlike celiac disease, food intolerances don’t damage the smallintestine.So with all these real butnuanceddifferences, what’s the best way to get a proper diagnosis? Don’t get one of those “do-it-yourself at-home food-sensitivity” kits. Those tests are not scientifically proven to do what theypurportto do, and they aren’t reliable diagnostic tools. If you wonder whether you have an allergy or an intolerance or celiac disease, talk to your doctor. They’ll be able to recommend the right course of action.And in the case of food allergies, anallergistis yourgo-toperson. The two common ways they’ll be able to diagnose you is by taking a really good food history and giving you an oral food challenge by giving you certain foods and seeing what happens in a medically safe and controlled environment. An allergist can also come up with a plan in case you’re exposed to a food you’re allergic to and may even be able to recommend treatments for some of those allergies.uVOCABULARY1.food intolerance:(医)食物耐受不良2.tropomyosinn.原肌球蛋白3.disproportionateadj. too large or too small when compared with sth. else不成比例的;不相称的;太大(或太小)的4.tinglen.a slight stinging or uncomfortable feeling in a part of your body刺痛感5.hivesn.red spots on the skin that itch (= make you want to scratch), caused by an allergic reaction, for example to certain foods荨麻疹6.rashn.an area of red spots on a person's skin, caused by an illness or a reaction to sth.皮疹;疹7.enzymen.酶8.bloatv.to swell or make sth. swell, especially in an unpleasant way(使)膨胀,肿胀9.diarrhean.腹泻10.celiacdisease:a disease in which sb. cannot digest food (= break it down in their body) because their body is very sensitive to gluten (= a protein that is found in wheat )乳糜泻,腹腔疾病(因麸质过敏引起消化不良)11.autoimmuneadj.自体免疫的;自身免疫的12.glutenn.谷蛋白13.intestinen.肠14.nuancedadj.有细微差别的15.purportv.自称;标榜16.allergistn.变(态反)应症专科医师17.go-toadj.寻求协助的,征询意见的uQUESTIONSTASK 1:填空Read the passage. Then listen to the news and fill in the blanks with the information (words, phrases or sentences) you hear.People often confuse (Q1) ________________________. But it’s important to know the difference because they each require a different treatment. So what is the difference?A food allergy is your body’s (Q2) ______________ responding to specific proteins in certain foods. For instance, in (Q3) ___________, one of the triggers for allergic reactions is a protein called tropomyosin. And with (Q4) ______________, it can be a reaction to one of its many proteins. When a food particle enters the body of someone who’s allergic, the body’s immune system perceives it as a problem, an invader. Just as your body might respond to a virus as a threat, with food allergies, part of your immune system sees the protein of the food as a (Q5) _________.The allergic reaction can be thought of as a disproportionate and inappropriate response from the immune system to the food. Allergic reactions can range from being (Q6) ________: tingles in the mouth, hives, and rashes, to being extremely (Q7) __________, like having trouble breathing. And they can even be life-threatening. Allergic reactions, with some exceptions, almost always happen quickly, within 30 minutes of eating or (Q8) ____________ to the food.A food intolerance, on the other hand, is usually our body having trouble (Q9) __________ certain foods. Unlike allergies, food intolerances are not related to the immune system. For instance, being lactose intolerant means you don’t have enough of the enzyme that breaks down the lactose in dairy. Intolerance to certain foods can often result in (Q10) __________ issues, including bloating, diarrhea or just generally feeling unwell. Intolerance to food can happen pretty quickly, too, but could also show up in the next few days. In other words, if you experience unpleasantness from something you’ve eaten a day before, most of the time, it’s not an allergy.There’s a third kind of reaction that’s neither an allergy or an intolerance. For example, celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by eating foods containing (Q11) _________. Celiac disease may share some (Q12) ___________________ to a food intolerance, such as bloating or belly pain. But unlike celiac disease, food intolerances don’t damage the small intestine.So with all these real but nuanced differences, what’s the best way to get a (Q13) _____________? Don’t get one of those “do-it-yourself at-home food-sensitivity” kits. Those tests are not scientifically proven to do what they purport to do, and they aren’t reliable diagnostic tools. If you wonder whether you have an (Q14) __________ or an intolerance or celiac disease, talk to your doctor. They’ll be able to recommend the right course of action.And in the case of food allergies, an allergist is your go-to person. The two common ways they’ll be able to diagnose you is by taking a really good food history and giving you an oral food challenge by giving you certain foods and seeing what happens in a (Q15) ________________________________. An allergist can also come up with a plan in case you’re exposed to a food you’re allergic to and may even be able to recommend treatments for some of those allergies.TASK 2:选择Choose the best answer.1. What is the difference between food allergies and food intolerances?A. Food allergies are caused by intolerance to certain foods.B. Food allergies and food intolerances require the same treatment.C. Food allergies involve the immune system reacting to specific proteins in foods, while food intolerances do not.D. Food intolerances are more severe than food allergies.2. What is the best way to get a proper diagnosis for food allergies, intolerances or celiac disease?A. Get one of those at-home food-sensitivity kits.B. Talk to your doctor.C. Wait and see if symptoms improve.D. Research online for self-diagnosis.uKEYTASK 1:填空Read the passage. Then listen to the news and fill in the blanks with the information (words, phrases or sentences) you hear.People often confuse (Q1)food allergies and food intolerances. But it’s important to know the difference because they each require a different treatment. So what is the difference?A food allergy is your body’s (Q2)immune systemresponding to specific proteins in certain foods. For instance, in (Q3)shellfish, one of the triggers for allergic reactions is a protein called tropomyosin. And with (Q4)peanuts, it can be a reaction to one of its many proteins. When a food particle enters the body of someone who’s allergic, the body’s immune system perceives it as a problem, an invader. Just as your body might respond to a virus as a threat, with food allergies, part of your immune system sees the protein of the food as a (Q5)threat.The allergic reaction can be thought of as a disproportionate and inappropriate response from the immune system to the food. Allergic reactions can range from being (Q6)mild: tingles in the mouth, hives, and rashes, to being extremely (Q7)severe, like having trouble breathing. And they can even be life-threatening. Allergic reactions, with some exceptions, almost always happen quickly, within 30 minutes of eating or (Q8)exposureto the food.A food intolerance, on the other hand, is usually our body having trouble (Q9)digestingcertain foods. Unlike allergies, food intolerances are not related to the immune system. For instance, being lactose intolerant means you don’t have enough of the enzyme that breaks down the lactose in dairy. Intolerance to certain foods can often result in (Q10)digestiveissues, including bloating, diarrhea or just generally feeling unwell. Intolerance to food can happen pretty quickly, too, but could also show up in the next few days. In other words, if you experience unpleasantness from something you’ve eaten a day before, most of the time, it’s not an allergy.There’s a third kind of reaction that’s neither an allergy or an intolerance. For example, celiac disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by eating foods containing (Q11)gluten. Celiac disease may share some (Q12)similar symptomsto a food intolerance, such as bloating or belly pain. But unlike celiac disease, food intolerances don’t damage the small intestine.So with all these real but nuanced differences, what’s the best way to get a (Q13)proper diagnosis? Don’t get one of those “do-it-yourself at-home food-sensitivity” kits. Those tests are not scientifically proven to do what they purport to do, and they aren’t reliable diagnostic tools. If you wonder whether you have an (Q14)allergyor an intolerance or celiac disease, talk to your doctor. They’ll be able to recommend the right course of action.And in the case of food allergies, an allergist is your go-to person. The two common ways they’ll be able to diagnose you is by taking a really good food history and giving you an oral food challenge by giving you certain foods and seeing what happens in a (Q15)medically safe and controlled environment. An allergist can also come up with a plan in case you’re exposed to a food you’re allergic to and may even be able to recommend treatments for some of those allergies.TASK 2:选择Choose the best answer.1. What is the difference between food allergies and food intolerances?A. Food allergies are caused by intolerance to certain foods.B. Food allergies and food intolerances require the same treatment.C. Food allergies involve the immune system reacting to specific proteins in foods, while food intolerances do not.D. Food intolerances are more severe than food allergies.【答案】C【解析】这篇听力讲述了食物过敏和食物不耐受之间的区别。食物过敏是身体的免疫系统对特定蛋白质的反应。当一个过敏者摄入某种食物时,身体的免疫系统会将其视为入侵者,并对其进行反应。因此,正确答案是C,食物过敏涉及免疫系统对特定蛋白质的反应,而食物不耐受则不涉及。A选项错误,B选项错误,D选项不正确。2. What is the best way to get a proper diagnosis for food allergies, intolerances or celiac disease?A. Get one of those at-home food-sensitivity kits.B. Talk to your doctor.C. Wait and see if symptoms improve.D. Research online for self-diagnosis.【答案】B【解析】文章指出,那些自己在家做的食物敏感测试工具并没有科学证明它们所声称的功能,也不是可靠的诊断工具。如果你想知道自己是否患有食物过敏、不耐受或乳糜泻,最好咨询医生并按照医生的建议行事。对于食物过敏的诊断,过敏专家是最好的选择。他们通常会通过了解患者食物摄入史和让患者在特定环境下摄入不同食物诊断过敏症,并且可能会制定预防措施和治疗方案。因此,正确答案是B。(封面图片来源于摄图网,版权归摄图网所有)

特色工具

系统产品

重点教材