VOA常速：美国一大学生因压力过大酗酒身亡

燕山大学 刘立军 编写

 TRANSCRIPT

Mary Ciammetti lost her college-age son 20-year-old Christian Ciammetti from alcohol poisoning in 2015. "My son died in the hospital when we found out that he had been binge drinking and he died from alcohol poisoning, from the effects of alcohol poisoning. I was home from work and then I was literally grieving and laying on a couch and I couldn’t do anything." Each year in the U.S. more than 1,800 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related injuries including motor vehicle crashes, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports. Despite the potential risks taking the edge off stress is why some students say they drink. 

Definitely for students at least nowadays a lot of it is stress, students like to work hard, play hard mentality. And they after a long week of classes and overachieving, they want to head to the bar, head to the club, head to their friends house and drink. But experts disagree that drinking relieves stress. So there is a misperception a lot of students will say that they drink to relieve stress. But in fact the studies and literature show that when students are drinking it actually increases stress in their lives.

Mitchell urges for stricter alcohol policies at colleges. We encourage colleges to adopt policies that reduce the access to alcohol that send the message to students that alcohol and excessive alcohol use are not a normal part of your college experience. Ciammetti who now runs a non-profit to educate young people about the harms of binge drinking admits that as a parent she should have been more vigilant of her son’s activities. "What I do believe is that as a parent now when if anybody asks me I say go into their rooms, go into their college dorms and go see what is there. Now looking back I would do anything I could to get Christian back. And it’s too late. But not too late for other parents to prevent the same thing that happened to Christian from happening to their child."

Adapted from http://www.kekenet.com/broadcast/201909/594257.shtml

 VOCABULARY

1. binge n. (informal) a short period of time when sb. does too much of a particular activity, especially eating or drinking alcohol （短时间的）狂热行动，大吃大喝。例如：

 to go on a binge 饮酒作乐

 One of the symptoms is binge eating. 症状之一是饮食无度。

2. literally adv. (informal) used to emphasize a word or phrase, even if it is not literally true （加强即使字面意义并不真实的词语）简直。例如：I literally jumped out of my skin. 我简直给吓了一大跳。

3. mentality n. the particular attitude or way of thinking of a person or group 心态；思想状况；思想方法。例如：I cannot understand the mentality of football hooligans. 我无法理解足球流氓的心态。

4. misperception n. 错误知觉

5. vigilant adj. (formal) very careful to notice any signs of danger or trouble 警觉的；警惕的；警戒的；谨慎。(同义词) alert, watchful 例如：A pilot must remain vigilant at all times. 飞行员必须随时保持警惕。

 QUESTIONS

TASK I

Listen to the news and answer the following questions.

(Q1) How many college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related injuries in America?

(Q2) Mitchell urges for stricter alcohol policies at colleges. What is the “stricter alcohol policies”?

TASK II

Read the following statements and decide whether they are true or false.

 1. Each year in the U.S., more than 1,800 male college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related injuries. 

 2. Experts disagree that drinking relieves stress. 

 3. Studies and literature show that when students are drinking, it actually increases stress in their lives.

 4. Ciammetti urges for stricter alcohol policies at colleges. 

 5. Mitchell now runs a non-profit to educate young people about the harms of binge drinking.

 KEY 

TASK I

Listen to the news and answer the following questions.

(Q1) More than 1,800. (命题出处) Each year in the U.S. more than 1,800 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related injuries including motor vehicle crashes, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports.

(Q2) The policies that reduce the access to alcohol that send the message to students that alcohol and excessive alcohol use are not a normal part of your college experience.

(命题出处) Mitchell urges for stricter alcohol policies at colleges. We encourage colleges to adopt policies that reduce the access to alcohol that send the message to students that alcohol and excessive alcohol use are not a normal part of your college experience.

TASK II

Read the following statements and decide whether they are true or false.

(F) 1. Each year in the U.S., more than 1,800 male college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related injuries. (正确表达) Each year in the U.S., more than 1,800 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related injuries. 

(T) 2. Experts disagree that drinking relieves stress. 

(T) 3. Studies and literature show that when students are drinking, it actually increases stress in their lives.

(F) 4. Ciammetti urges for stricter alcohol policies at colleges. (正确表达) Mitchell urges for stricter alcohol policies at colleges. 

(F) 5. Mitchell now runs a non-profit to educate young people about the harms of binge drinking. (正确表达) Ciammetti now runs a non-profit to educate young people about the harms of binge drinking.