流感季来袭，你准备好了吗？

Flu season is here. Are you ready?

慢速| 六级（CET-6）较难 | 856词 | 5min42s

刘立军供稿

Part I. QUESTIONS

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

Q1. What is the primary mechanism by which the influenza virus evades immunity?

A. By hiding within host cells.

B. By jumping between species.

C. By constantly changing its strains.

D. By developing resistance to antibiotics.

Q2. How does the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System facilitate the update of the influenza vaccine?

A. By providing financial support to laboratories.

B. By conducting clinical trials for new vaccines.

C. By training public health officials in various countries.

D. By collecting and analyzing virus samples and sharing data with WHO.

Q3. How does the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System safeguard public health?

A. By updating vaccine strains.

B. By controlling international travel.

C. By treating influenza patients globally.

D. By creating new health regulations.

Q4. According to Dr. Shoshanna Goldin, which of the following groups is at the highest risk of severe complications from seasonal influenza?

A. Young and healthy adults.

B. Children under the age of five.

C. Pregnant women and individuals with chronic health conditions.

D. People who live in tropical regions.

Q5. What is the significance of the fact that the influenza vaccine has been used for over seventy years?

A. It is no longer effective due to virus mutations.

B. It is a testament to its safety and efficacy.

C. It indicates that the virus has not changed much.

D. It means that the vaccine is no longer necessary.

Q6. Why is it still beneficial to get vaccinated even if one has already missed the recommended early season vaccination?

A. The vaccine provides immediate protection.

B. The peak of the flu season is yet to come.

C. Vaccination can prevent all flu cases.

D. The vaccine takes two weeks to become effective, offering protection for the rest of the season.

Q7. What can be inferred from the statement that the seasonal influenza vaccine is like an umbrella?

A. The vaccine provides partial protection against the flu.

B. The vaccine is not effective in preventing the flu.

C. The vaccine is only effective in certain weather conditions.

D. The vaccine can prevent all cases of severe influenza.

Q8. What is the main purpose of the conversation between VGS and Dr. Shoshanna Goldin?

A. To discuss the latest treatments for influenza.

B. To highlight the importance of the influenza vaccine.

C. To debate the safety of vaccines.

D. To compare influenza with the common cold.

Part II. TRANSCRIPT

Flu season is here. Are you ready?

VGS: The influenza virus is smart. (Q1) It has many strains. It keeps changing to overcome immunity and it jumps species. It exists in every country and every year, hundreds of thousands of people die because of seasonal influenza. How do experts and scientists keep ahead of this virus? We are talking today to Dr Shoshanna Goldin about how experts and public health scientists keep us safe and protected from this virus.

SG: Vismita, you’re right. The influenza virus is complex and it’s always changing. Our best tool to protect against severe influenza, illness and death is the vaccine. So what this means is that we are always in a race between the influenza virus and keeping our vaccine up to date. Over the last seventy years, we’ve developed a sophisticated network to allow us to keep up with the virus’ evolution. The Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System is a network of more than a hundred and fifty laboratories in one hundred and thirty countries around the world. (Q2) These laboratories are collecting influenza virus samples, they’re analyzing what strains of influenza are circulating and they share that information back with WHO. Twice a year, WHO convenes global experts to analyze this data and determine what influenza strains are predominantly circulating and should be included in the next influenza vaccine.

predominantly adv. 主要地，通常地

VGS: Shoshanna, how does this network protect us?

SG: (Q3) This network protects you by making sure that the influenza vaccine is as up to date as possible. It also helps us to understand if there are new influenza viruses that are emerging. This network has been an effective global collaboration for more than seventy years.

VGS: We’re talking about seasonal influenza, right? So, people could say, “Well, it’s a common cold. You’ll get over it.” How serious can seasonal influenza be and who should be vaccinated?

vaccinate v. 接种疫苗

SG: Seasonal influenza is serious. It causes up to five million hospitalizations each year and is estimated to cause 650 thousand respiratory derived deaths alone. That’s quite a significant global health burden. The people who should be vaccinated to protect themselves against this virus are the people who are most likely to get severe disease or die from an influenza complication. (Q4) These include people like your elderly parents so, older adults, pregnant women, people with chronic conditions, so they might have underlying heart issues, lung issues, they could have diabetes, obesity, or have an immune system that’s compromised because of a virus such has HIV or cancer. WHO does also recommend that health workers be vaccinated against influenza each year because they are exposed to so much influenza through their workplace.

respiratory adj. 呼吸的，呼吸系统的

VGS: So is this vaccine safe?

SG: (Q5) The influenza vaccine is very safe. It’s been used for more than seventy years around the world. Influenza vaccines can be used by people aged six months and older and they should be taken annually. What I think is a very fun fact, is that influenza vaccines are one of the most commonly used vaccines around the world with nearly one billion doses used each year.

VGS: So, it’s flu season here and I missed my vaccination. Is it too late for me now?

SG: (Q6) It’s not too late to get vaccinated. The season for influenza lasts several months. While we do recommend that you get vaccinated as early in the season as possible to protect yourself throughout the full duration, you could be vaccinated now and protect yourself from the peak. What’s important to remember is that it does take about two weeks for the influenza vaccine to protect you for you to develop that full immunity to influenza. So, it’s better to get vaccinated now and not wait any longer. When you go off to get vaccinated, if you’re eligible, you could also get influenza and COVID-19 vaccination in your same visit.

VGS: So for our audiences who may be watching from different parts of the world, whenever their flu season is, how can they protect themselves?

SG: There are several ways you can protect yourself from seasonal influenza. Washing your hands regularly, staying in well-ventilated areas, and if you’re medically vulnerable, so if you are a member of one of those high-risk groups you may want to consider wearing a mask if you’re likely to be exposed to influenza, such as in a crowded setting. But it’s important to remember that our best tool to protect against severe influenza and death is actually the vaccine. Getting vaccinated every year can help to keep you safe. (Q7) Think about it like an umbrella, an umbrella may not keep you completely dry but it will make sure that you and your loved ones standing close to you are not drenched in the rain. The seasonal influenza vaccine works in a very similar way. By taking the seasonal influenza vaccine, you protect yourself from severe illness and death. It may be possible that you still get a case of influenza but it will be a mild case rather than a severe one.

drench v. 使湿透，使浸水

VGS: Thank you, Shoshanna, that was Science in 5 today. Until next time then, stay safe, stay healthy and stick with science.

Part III. KEY

Q1. C.【解析】细节题。根据“It has many strains. It keeps changing to overcome immunity”，可知流感病毒有许多株系，它不断变化以克服免疫力。因此，答案是C。

Q2. D.【解析】细节题。根据“These laboratories are collecting influenza virus samples, they’re analyzing what strains of influenza are circulating and they share that information back with WHO.”，可知这些实验室收集流感病毒样本，分析正在传播的流感病毒株，并将这些信息与世卫组织共享。因此，答案是D。

Q3. A.【解析】细节题。根据“This network protects you by making sure that the influenza vaccine is as up to date as possible.”，可知其作用是通过确保流感疫苗尽可能保持时效性来保护公众健康。因此，答案是A。

Q4. C.【解析】细节题。根据“These include people like your elderly parents so, older adults, pregnant women, people with chronic conditions, so they might have underlying heart issues, lung issues, they could have diabetes, obesity, or have an immune system that’s compromised because of a virus such has HIV or cancer.”，可知高风险人群包括老年父母、老年人、孕妇、有慢性疾病的人，他们可能有潜在的心脏问题，肺部问题，可能有糖尿病，肥胖，或者因为像HIV或癌症这样的病毒而免疫系统受损的人。因此，答案是C。

Q5. B.【解析】细节题。根据“The influenza vaccine is very safe. It’s been used for more than seventy years around the world.”，可知流感疫苗非常安全。它已在全球使用了七十多年，这表明疫苗的安全性和有效性得到了长期验证。因此，答案是B。

Q6. D.【解析】细节题。根据“It’s not too late to get vaccinated... it does take about two weeks for the influenza vaccine to protect you for you to develop that full immunity to influenza.”，可知及时错过了推荐接种的时间，现在接种疫苗也还不晚，因为接种疫苗后需要大约两周的时间产生免疫力，仍能为流感剩余时间提供防护，因此，答案是D。

Q7. A.【解析】推理题。根据“Think about it like an umbrella, an umbrella may not keep you completely dry but it will make sure that you and your loved ones standing close to you are not drenched in the rain.”，可知伞可能不能完全让你保持干燥，但能确保你不会被大雨浇透，将疫苗比作雨伞，这表明疫苗能提供一定程度的保护，但并不是完全免疫。因此，答案是A。

Q8. B.【解析】主旨题。整个对话的主要目的是强调流感疫苗的重要性，这一点在对话中多次提及，特别是在讨论疫苗的作用、安全性以及为什么某些群体应该接种疫苗时。因此，答案是B。

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