哮喘

Asthma

常速| 四级 偏难 | 1008词 | 5分48秒

刘立军供稿

Part I. QUESTIONS

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

Q1. What correlation does Dr. Sarah Rylance draw between asthma and exercise?

A. Exercise can always alleviate asthma symptoms.

B. Exercise is a definitive trigger for asthma in all cases.

C. Asthma symptoms can worsen with exercise.

D. Exercise has no impact on asthma.

Q2. How does Dr. Rylance describe the role of bronchodilators in asthma management?

A. They reduce inflammation by targeting the immune system.

B. They open up the airways by relaxing muscles around them.

C. They prevent the initial onset of asthma attacks.

D. They are used only in cases of mild asthma.

Q3. According to Dr. Rylance, what is a major issue with the availability of essential steroid inhalers in low-income countries?

A. They are only available in about 40% of low and low-middle income countries.

B. They are rarely needed due to low asthma incidence.

C. They are too expensive for most people in those regions.

D. They are often rejected by local populations.

Q4. What does Dr. Sarah Rylance say about the effectiveness of old-fashioned asthma treatments such as syrups or tablets?

A. They are universally more effective than inhalers.

B. They may cause fewer side effects than inhalers.

C. They are recommended for severe asthma cases.

D. They are widespread but less effective and have more side effects.

Q5. In what way does air pollution act as a growing problem for asthma patients?

A. It mainly affects children under the age of 5.

B. It only triggers asthma in people with genetic predispositions.

C. It contributes to respiratory irritation, aggravating asthma symptoms.

D. It eliminates the need for inhaler use among asthma patients.

Q6. What action does Dr. Rylance recommend to effectively use inhalers for asthma treatment?

A. Use them only during asthma attacks.

B. Adjust inhaler usage based on known asthma triggers.

C. Replace them with syrups or tablets for better outcomes.

D. Utilize them primarily for preventive care.

Q7. What does Dr. Sarah Rylance say about the progression of asthma in children as they grow older?

A. It typically worsens.

B. It usually remains unchanged.

C. It often improves with proper management.

D. It completely disappears without any treatment.

Part II. TRANSCRIPT

Asthma

Dr Sarah Rylance: Asthma treatments work in two main ways. Many people still use old-fashioned and inappropriate treatments.

asthma n. 哮喘

Vismita Gupta-Smith: So, talk to us about triggers for asthma.

Dr Sarah Rylance: These symptoms are often worse at night. This is a growing problem.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Millions of people live with asthma and yet, many of them don’t know it. It is one of the most common conditions among children. Unfortunately, it is also often unknown, underdiagnosed and undertreated. Here to talk about it is Dr. Sarah Rylance. Welcome, Sarah. How would I know if I have asthma?

Dr Sarah Rylance: So asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions and it effects the airways in our lungs. These airways are a network of dividing tubes, and they become smaller and smaller the deeper into the lungs that you go. People who have asthma have particularly sensitive airways and they can become narrowed from time to time. Either due to a tightening of the muscles that surround the airways or due to swelling or inflammation of the lining of the airways. When the airways become narrow, then this causes symptoms, so cough, difficulty breathing, and wheezing. (Q1) These symptoms are not there all of the time, they come and go but they are often worse at night or worse with exercise.

chronic adj. 慢性的

airways n. 气道

inflammation n. 炎症

lining n. 衬里（在本文中指的是气道内壁）

wheeze v. 喘息

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Sarah, what are the treatments for asthma?

Dr Sarah Rylance: Asthma treatments work in two main ways. (Q2) So, one is to open up the airways when they become tight by relaxing the muscles. This type of medicine is called a bronchodilator, or a reliever or rescue medicine, and it can be lifesaving if symptoms are very severe. The second type of treatment is a steroid medicine and that works to reduce the inflammation or the swelling inside the airways. It’s just as important as the bronchodilator. Both types of treatment should be given by an inhaler. This is the most effective way to get the medicine into the airways and the lungs, which is where it needs to be. Even though asthma is common, and these two types of treatments have been around for a long time, (Q3) WHO data shows that essential steroid inhalers are only available in about 40 percent of low and low-middle income countries. (Q4) So, we know that many people still use old-fashioned and inappropriate treatments such as syrups or tablets instead of inhalers, which are less effective, and they have more side effects.

bronchodilator n. 支气管扩张剂

steroid n. 类固醇

inhaler n. 吸入器

syrup n. 糖浆

Vismita Gupta-Smith: You know, my daughter lived in New Delhi from age two to age eleven and the air in New Delhi is very polluted and she developed asthma. So, talk to us about triggers for asthma. Is it air pollution, is it tobacco smoke? Is it allergies? Or is it all of them?

allergy n. 过敏

Dr Sarah Rylance: So, asthma can be triggered by many different things and its varying from person to person. Often triggers are something that we breathe into our airways, into the lungs and then it irritates the airways. So examples would be things like, cigarette smoke or dust, fumes, chemicals. (Q5) You mentioned air pollution, this is a growing problem. People are exposed indoors, to smoke from cooking stoves, for example, or outdoors, to emissions from cars, traffic, factories. Some people have allergies associated with their asthma and allergens such as tree or grass pollen or animal fur or feathers can make their asthma worse. Viral respiratory infections, changes in the weather, exercise, all of these things are also common triggers. So you can see there are a lot of different exposures that can make things difficult for people who are living with asthma.

irritate v. 刺激

fume n. 烟雾

allergens n. 过敏原

pollen n. 花粉

viral adj. 病毒的

respiratory adj. 呼吸的

Vismita Gupta-Smith: So, talk to us about how we can manage our asthma.

Dr Sarah Rylance: People living with asthma can take several important steps to manage it. If I have asthma, firstly, (Q6) I need to recognize and monitor my symptoms and to identify the things that make my asthma worse. That will allow me to adjust my inhalers and also to take my inhalers proactively if I know that I’m going to be exposed to a trigger. Obviously, it’s better to avoid triggers altogether but sometimes that’s just not possible. For example, if you have days with very high levels of air pollution or pollen. It’s important for me to understand how my different inhalers work and how to use them correctly. Many people with asthma have an asthma action plan provided by their doctor or nurse, which summarizes this information for them. It’s also important to have inhalers ready at hand so they’re available in case of worsening symptoms. So, for example, to have them readily available at school or if people are staying away from home.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: You know, it’s interesting that you say that, when our daughter was young, we made sure that the nurse in school knows about her allergies and her friends knew about it as well. So it’s really good to hear about an asthma action plan for everyone who has asthma. And as she has grown she has needed less and less medicines. So, is there a cure for asthma?

Dr Sarah Rylance: (Q7) So asthma is a chronic medical condition and there is no cure as such but often children’s asthma does get better as they get older. By properly managing the asthma and controlling triggers, then people can live symptom free. So, for example, learn to use the inhalers correctly, avoid tobacco smoke, and make sure that inhalers are available at all times. And if people feel comfortable with it, then please let the people that you work with or your teachers, your friends, your family, know what they can do to help you if you’re having an asthma attack. By knowing what to do and by taking action quickly, then people who are living with asthma can stay well and they can keep active.

Vismita Gupta-Smith: Thank you, Sarah. That was Science in 5 today. Until next time then, stay safe, stay healthy, and stick with science.

Part III. KEY

Q1. C. 细节题。根据“These symptoms...are often worse at night or worse with exercise.”可知哮喘症状通常在晚上或运动时更严重，也就是说运动会加重哮喘症状。因此答案为C。

Q2. B. 细节题。根据“So, one is to open up the airways when they become tight by relaxing the muscles. This type of medicine is called a bronchodilator.” 可知支气管扩张剂是一种缓解哮喘的方法，当呼吸道变紧时，它可以通过放松周围的肌肉来打开呼吸道。因此答案为B。

Q3. A. 细节题。根据“WHO data shows that essential steroid inhalers are only available in about 40 per cent of low and low-middle income countries.” 可知世界卫生组织数据显示，仅大约40%的低收入和低中等收入国家能获得基本类固醇吸入器。因此答案为A。

Q4. D. 细节题。根据“many people still use old-fashioned and inappropriate treatments such as syrups or tablets instead of inhalers, which are less effective, and they have more side effects.”可知很多人仍然使用像糖浆或药片这样的过时和不合适的治疗方法，这些方法效果较差且副作用大。因此答案为D。

Q5. C. 细节题。根据“air pollution... this is a growing problem. People are exposed indoors, to smoke from cooking stoves, for example, or outdoors, to emissions from cars, traffic, factories.” 可知空气污染日益严重，人们接触到室内的烟雾，例如做饭炉灶的烟雾，以及室外的汽车、交通和工厂的排放，都会刺激呼吸道，加重哮喘症状。因此答案为C。

Q6. B. 细节题。根据“recognize and monitor my symptoms and to identify the things that make my asthma worse... adjust my inhalers and also to take my inhalers proactively if I know that I’m going to be exposed to a trigger.”可知要识别和监测症状，并根据已知的哮喘诱因来调整吸入器的使用。因此答案为B。

Q7. C. 细节题。根据“but often children’s asthma does get better as they get older... By properly managing the asthma and controlling triggers, then people can live symptom free.”可知孩子的哮喘通常会随着年龄的增长而有所好转。通过正确管理和控制诱因，哮喘可以得到改善。因此答案为C。

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