The health of Chancellor Angela Merkel has become an issue in Germany after she appeared to suffer uncontrolled shaking at three public events in as many weeks. Merkel has brushed off concerns, saying she's fine and has continued her famously grueling schedule. But the German media's questioning is now more insistent, as NPR's Deborah Amos reports from Berlin.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

DEBORAH AMOS, BYLINE: As the German national anthem played in a public ceremony today, Angela Merkel sat on a white upholstered chair on a red carpet. This was new for the long-serving chancellor; she would normally stand. A last-minute change in protocol fueled even more media speculation about her three bouts of trembling. Merkel has cited dehydration, an attack of nerves, and today, just before her 65th birthday, she cited age.

CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL: (Foreign language spoken).

AMOS: But she insisted again that she was fine; it's just something she'll have to live with for some time. Does Angela Merkel have a health problem? Nobody knows. She said on Wednesday, my comments on this are done, and I think my statement that I am fine can find acceptance. In Germany, the health of public figures is generally considered a private matter, and the privacy laws are strict. But this time is different. Critics have been tweeting that the health of the leader of the government is not a private matter.

We don't have the American system here, says Mohamed Amjahid, the political editor of Die Zeit newspaper, where politicians are expected to reveal health issues.

MOHAMED AMJAHID: Compared to you guys in the U.S., you are like open books. I think it's a new thing with the politicians in Germany to say, I need to be transparent, and talk openly about their health situation.

AMOS: He says the German media has been filled with speculation, citing medical experts who opine about the chancellor shaking. She's been in office since 2005. Merkel is known to keep an exhausting schedule, and she said publicly that she doesn't sleep much. Last year, she said that she won't seek a fifth term as chancellor, and she won't seek another political role after her term ends in 2021. Still, there is endless conversation in the media and on the streets about her longevity in office. It's mostly sympathetic, says Amjahid. For the German public, he says, health matters are private, even for the country's leader.

AMJAHID: There is a lot of criticism. Why are you showing all that footage of her shaking? This is disrespectful. And why would you do that?

AMOS: Merkel's decision to sit for the national anthem, getting through the ceremony without a tremor, was noted, and the health watch is intense. But August is near, the time of vacations for Germans, including the chancellor. It's time for rest and recharging for Angela Merkel and for the German media.

Deborah Amos, NPR News, Berlin.

Adapted from: 

1. brush off: to be removed by brushing 被刷掉；被拂去。例如：Mud brushes off easily when it is dry. 泥巴干了容易刷掉。

2. grueling adj. 紧张的，激烈的，使极度疲劳的

3. anthem n. a song which has a special importance for a country, an organization, or a particular group of people and is sung on special occasions 国歌；（组织或群体的）社歌，团歌。例如：The European anthem was played at the opening and closing ceremonies. 欧洲颂歌在开幕式和闭幕式上演奏。

4. upholstere n. 软垫

5. protocol n. 协议

6. bout n. bout (of sth./of doing sth.) a short period of great activity; a short period during which there is a lot of a particular thing, usually sth. unpleasant 一阵；一场；（尤指坏事的）一通，一次。例如：

 a drinking bout狂饮一通

 the latest bout of inflation最近一阵通货膨胀

7. dehydration n. (不可数名词) to suffer from dehydration受脱水之苦

8. transparent adj. (of glass, plastic, etc. 玻璃、塑料等) allowing you to see through it 透明的；清澈的。例如：The insect's wings are almost transparent. 这昆虫的翅膀几乎是透明的。(反义词)

opaque

9. opine v. (动词 (+ that从句)) (formal) to express a particular opinion 表达，发表（意见）。例如：He opined that Prague was the most beautiful city in Europe. 他认为布拉格是欧洲最美丽的城市。

The health of Chancellor Angela Merkel has become an (Q1) ___________________ in Germany after she appeared to suffer (Q2) _________________________________ at three public events in as many weeks. Merkel has brushed off concerns, saying she's fine and has continued her famously grueling schedule. But the German media's questioning is now more (Q3) _______________, as NPR's Deborah Amos reports from Berlin.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

DEBORAH AMOS, BYLINE: As the German national anthem played in a public ceremony today, Angela Merkel sat on a white upholstered chair on a red carpet. This was new for the long-serving chancellor; she would normally (Q4) __________________. A last-minute change in protocol fueled even more media speculation about her three bouts of trembling. Merkel has cited dehydration, an attack of (Q5) ___________________, and today, just before her 65th birthday, she cited age.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL: (Foreign language spoken).

AMOS: But she insisted again that she was fine; it's just something she'll have to live with for some time. Does Angela Merkel have a health problem? Nobody knows. She said on Wednesday, my comments on this are done, and I think my statement that I am fine can find acceptance. In Germany, the health of public figures is generally considered a (Q6) ____________________ matter, and the privacy laws are strict. But this time is different. Critics have been tweeting that the health of the leader of the government is not a private matter.

We don't have the American system here, says Mohamed Amjahid, the political editor of Die Zeit newspaper, where politicians are expected to (Q7) ___________________________.

MOHAMED AMJAHID: Compared to you guys in the U.S., you are like open books. I think it's a new thing with the politicians in Germany to say, I need to be (Q8) ____________________, and talk openly about their health situation.

AMOS: He says the German media has been filled with (Q9) _______________________, citing medical experts who opine about the chancellor shaking. She's been in office since 2005. Merkel is known to keep an exhausting (Q10) __________________________, and she said publicly that she doesn't sleep much. Last year, she said that she won't seek a fifth term as chancellor, and she won't seek another political role after her term ends in 2021. Still, there is (Q11) ____________________ in the media and on the streets about her (Q12) ______________________________ in office. It's mostly (Q13) ________________________, says Amjahid. For the German public, he says, health matters are private, even for the country's leader.

AMJAHID: There is a lot of (Q14) ___________________. Why are you showing all that footage of her shaking? This is disrespectful. And why would you do that?

AMOS: Merkel's decision to sit for the national anthem, getting through the ceremony without a tremor, was noted, and the health watch is intense. But August is near, the time of vacations for Germans, including the chancellor. It's time for (Q15) _____________________________ for Angela Merkel and for the German media.

Deborah Amos, NPR News, Berlin.

The health of Chancellor Angela Merkel has become an (Q1) issue in Germany after she appeared to suffer (Q2) uncontrolled shaking at three public events in as many weeks. Merkel has brushed off concerns, saying she's fine and has continued her famously grueling schedule. But the German media's questioning is now more (Q3) insistent, as NPR's Deborah Amos reports from Berlin.

DEBORAH AMOS, BYLINE: As the German national anthem played in a public ceremony today, Angela Merkel sat on a white upholstered chair on a red carpet. This was new for the long-serving chancellor; she would normally (Q4) stand. A last-minute change in protocol fueled even more media speculation about her three bouts of trembling. Merkel has cited dehydration, an attack of (Q5) nerves, and today, just before her 65th birthday, she cited age.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL: (Foreign language spoken).

AMOS: But she insisted again that she was fine; it's just something she'll have to live with for some time. Does Angela Merkel have a health problem? Nobody knows. She said on Wednesday, my comments on this are done, and I think my statement that I am fine can find acceptance. In Germany, the health of public figures is generally considered a (Q6) private matter, and the privacy laws are strict. But this time is different. Critics have been tweeting that the health of the leader of the government is not a private matter.

We don't have the American system here, says Mohamed Amjahid, the political editor of Die Zeit newspaper, where politicians are expected to (Q7) reveal health issues.

MOHAMED AMJAHID: Compared to you guys in the U.S., you are like open books. I think it's a new thing with the politicians in Germany to say, I need to be (Q8) transparent, and talk openly about their health situation.

AMOS: He says the German media has been filled with (Q9) speculation, citing medical experts who opine about the chancellor shaking. She's been in office since 2005. Merkel is known to keep an exhausting (Q10) schedule, and she said publicly that she doesn't sleep much. Last year, she said that she won't seek a fifth term as chancellor, and she won't seek another political role after her term ends in 2021. Still, there is (Q11) endless conversation in the media and on the streets about her (Q12) longevity in office. It's mostly (Q13) sympathetic, says Amjahid. For the German public, he says, health matters are private, even for the country's leader.

AMJAHID: There is a lot of (Q14) criticism. Why are you showing all that footage of her shaking? This is disrespectful. And why would you do that?

AMOS: Merkel's decision to sit for the national anthem, getting through the ceremony without a tremor, was noted, and the health watch is intense. But August is near, the time of vacations for Germans, including the chancellor. It's time for (Q15) rest and recharging for Angela Merkel and for the German media.

Deborah Amos, NPR News, Berlin.