燕山大学 刘立军 编写

u TRANSCRIPT

The World Health Organization says twelve years ago, India alone was responsible for almost 70 percent of all polio cases around the world. It calls India's success against polio one of the most significant achievements in public health.

WHO officials say India's accomplishment proved the crippling disease can be eliminated in even the most challenging circumstances with a strong political commitment.

The number of polio cases has decreased from an estimated 350,000 a year to 33, since the WHO launched its global eradication campaign in 1988.

WHO spokesman Christian Lindemeier tells VOA, polio remains endemic in only three countries in two of the organization's six regions. He identifies the countries as Nigeria in the African region and Pakistan and Afghanistan in the eastern Mediterranean region.

There has been no wild polio virus detected in Africa since 2016, and we are cautiously optimistic that AFRO, our African region, is on the path to certification as well. EMRO, our eastern Mediterranean region, has only those two countries, which have never stopped polio, unfortunately - Afghanistan, Pakistan.

Lindemeier says the countries are considered a joint reservoir of the virus. Therefore, he says, both are getting most of the focus and support from the WHO's polio eradication program. He says tailored and innovative tactics are being put in place to deal with the challenges in each country.

The strategies include identifying, tracking and vaccinating migrant and hard-to-reach populations. He says community workers will be trained to go door to door to find children who haven't been vaccinated and immunize them against polio.

The World Health Organization notes the polio virus does not respect borders. It says polio will not be eradicated until every last child is protected.

Lisa Schlein, for VOA NEWS.

Adapted from http://www.kekenet.com/broadcast/201904/582541.shtml

u VOCABULARY

1. polio n. an infectious disease that affects the central nervous system and can cause temporary or permanent paralysis (= loss of control or feeling in part or most of the body) 脊髓灰质炎；小儿麻痹症

2. accomplishment n. an impressive thing that is done or achieved after a lot of work 成就；成绩。 achievement 例如：It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments.

那是总统最伟大的成就之一。

3. a crippling disease：严重损害健康的疾病

4. commitment n. a thing that you have promised or agreed to do, or that you have to do 已承诺（或同意）的事；不得不做的事。例如：

l He's busy for the next month with filming commitments. 他正忙于准备已经承诺的下个月拍电影的事。

l Women very often have to juggle work with their family commitments. 妇女经常得两头兼顾，既要工作又要照管家庭。

5. endemic adj. epidemic (in / to…) regularly found in a particular place or among a particular group of people and difficult to get rid of 地方性的；（某地或某集体中）特有的，流行的，难摆脱的。例如：

l Malaria is endemic in many hot countries. 疟疾是许多气候炎热国家的流行病。

l Corruption is endemic in the system. 腐败在这种制度下普遍存在。

l an attitude endemic among senior members of the profession 此行业中的资深者普遍持有的看法

l species endemic to (= only found in) Madagascar马达加斯加特有的物种

l the endemic problem of racism普遍存在的种族主义问题

6. certification n. the act of certifying sth. 证明；鉴定。例如：the medical certification of the cause of death为死因出具医学鉴定

7. reservoir n. (formal) a large amount of sth. that is available to be used （大量的）储备，储藏

8. innovative adj. (approving) introducing or using new ideas, ways of doing sth., etc. 引进新思想的；采用新方法的；革新的；创新的。例如：There will be a prize for the most innovative design.

将设立一项最具创意设计奖。

9. immunize v. (British English also -ise) immunize sb. / sth. (against sth.) to protect a person or an animal from a disease, especially by giving them an injection of a vaccine （尤指通过注射疫苗）使免疫

u QUESTIONS

Listen to the news and choose the best answer to each question you hear.

Which two countries have never stopped polio?

 Pakistan and Afghanistan.

 Afghanistan and Nigeria.

 Nigeria and Pakistan.

 Pakistan and India.

According to the WHO, when will polio be eradicated?

 Countries are considered a joint reservoir of the virus.

 Every last child is protected.

 Community workers will be trained.

 Every migrant is protected.

u KEY

A。细节题。命题出处：There has been no wild polio virus detected in Africa since 2016, and we are cautiously optimistic that AFRO, our African region, is on the path to certification as well. EMRO, our eastern Mediterranean region, has only those two countries, which have never stopped polio, unfortunately - Afghanistan, Pakistan.

B。细节题。命题出处：Lindemeier says the countries are considered a joint reservoir of the virus. Therefore, he says, both are getting most of the focus and support from the WHO's polio eradication program. He says tailored and innovative tactics are being put in place to deal with the challenges in each country. The strategies include identifying, tracking and vaccinating migrant and hard-to-reach populations. He says community workers will be trained to go door to door to find children who haven't been vaccinated and immunize them against polio. The World Health Organization notes the polio virus does not respect borders. It says polio will not be eradicated until every last child is protected.