Hello, I'm Tom Watts with the BBC News. More than half a million people worldwide have now lost their lives as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. By far, the worst affected country is the United States, with more than 125,000 deaths. Nicolas Rusher has more details. The figures are grim. Besides the record number of deaths, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 earlier reached a new milestone of 10 million. But there are significant regional differences. While most European countries believe they have the situation under control, in the Americas the virus is spreading like wildfire. In Brazil, the worst affected country after the US, more than 57,000 people have died. And while the number of deaths in Russia and India is relatively low, the number of confirmed cases is dangerously high, racing the prospect of more deaths in the future.

1. grim adj. unpleasant and depressing 令人不快的；令人沮丧的。例如：grim news令人沮丧的

消息

2. milestone n. a very important stage or event 

in the development of sth. 重要事件；重要阶段；转折点；里程碑

1. Less than half a million people worldwide have now lost their lives because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

2. By far, the worst affected country is the United States, with more than 125,000 deaths. 

3. Besides the record number of deaths, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 earlier reached 11 million. 

4. Most European countries believe they have the situation under control. 

5. In America, the virus is spreading like wildfire. 

6. Brazil is the worst affected country after the US, more than 57,000 people have died. 

7. The number of deaths in Russia and Iran is relatively low, however, the number of confirmed cases is dangerously high, racing the prospect of more deaths in the future.

(F) 1. Less than half a million people worldwide have now lost their lives because of the coronavirus pandemic. （正确表达） More than half a million people worldwide have now lost their lives because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

(T) 2. By far, the worst affected country is the United States, with more than 125,000 deaths. 

(F) 3. Besides the record number of deaths, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 earlier reached 11 million. （正确表达）Besides the record number of deaths, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 earlier reached 10 million. 

(T) 4. Most European countries believe they have the situation under control. 

(F) 5. In America, the virus is spreading like wildfire. （正确表达）In the Americas, the virus is spreading like wildfire. 

(T) 6. Brazil is the worst affected country after the US, more than 57,000 people have died. 

(F) 7. The number of deaths in Russia and Iran is relatively low, however, the number of confirmed cases is dangerously high, racing the prospect of more deaths in the future. （正确表达） The number of deaths in Russia and India is relatively low, however, the number of confirmed cases is dangerously high, racing the prospect of more deaths in the future.