麻疹：日益增长的威胁

Measles: a growing threat

常速 | 六级（中等）| 619词 | 3min39s

刘立军供稿

Part I. QUESTIONS

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

Q1. Why is measles considered highly contagious?

A. It spreads only through physical contact.  

B. It can infect every unvaccinated child in a classroom.  

C. It is transmitted only by direct interaction with an infected person.  

D. It primarily spreads through contaminated food or water.  

Q2. What are some of the severe complications caused by measles?

A. Blindness, deafness, and brain infection.  

B. Fever and mild rash.  

C. Fatigue and temporary memory loss.  

D. Digestive issues and muscle pain.  

Q3. Why have measles cases risen globally in recent years?

A. New strains of the virus have emerged.  

B. Parents have become more cautious about vaccinations.  

C. The vaccine has become less effective over time.  

D. Fewer children were vaccinated during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Q4. How effective is the measles vaccine according to Dr. Natasha Crowcroft?

A. It provides partial protection with one dose.  

B. It is the least effective vaccine in the routine programme.  

C. It has saved more than 60 million lives since 2000.  

D. It is effective only when administered to children under one year old.  

Q5. What advice does Dr. Natasha Crowcroft give to parents about protecting their children from measles?

A. Avoid crowded places to reduce the risk of infection.  

B. Ensure their children receive the safe and effective measles vaccine.  

C. Wait until their children are older to decide about vaccination.  

D. Focus on improving their children’s nutrition to boost immunity.  

Part II. TRANSCRIPT

麻疹：日益增长的威胁

Measles: a growing threat

VGS: (Q1) There is a disease so contagious that if a child infected with it walks into a classroom every child that is not vaccinated will most certainly get infected. We are talking about measles today with our expert, Dr. Natasha Crowcroft. Welcome, Natasha. Talk to us about why parents need to be concerned about measles.

vaccinate v. 接种疫苗  

measles n. 麻疹  

NC: Measles is not just a rash, it’s a very serious infection that can put your child in the hospital. A hundred and ten thousand children died from measles last year. (Q2)It can cause blindness, it can cause deafness. It causes pneumonia and worse case, it causes death. And also a brain infection that occurs later on, years later after a child has apparently recovered from measles. So, all of these complications of measles they are devastating but they’re all completely preventable through vaccination.

pneumonia n. 肺炎  

VGS: Why are measles cases increasing all around the world?

NC: So measles is on the rise because not enough children have been vaccinated. (Q3) There was a big fall in the number of children being vaccinated during the Covid-19 pandemic and so, there is a big gap in our immunity. About 22 million children missed out completely on their measles vaccine in 2023. And that’s led to big outbreaks of measles all around the world with a big increase in the number of cases.

pandemic n. 大流行病

VGS: What about the measles vaccine? Is it safe? Is it effective?

effective adj. 有效的，起作用的  

NC: It’s safe, it’s effective. (Q4) In fact, it’s so effective that the measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine we have in our routine programme today. We estimate about 60 million, or, in fact, more than 60 million children’s lives were saved by the measles vaccine in the years since the year 2000. So, imagine that, there are 60 million children who are alive and healthy because of vaccination which is a miracle.

VGS: Now, the measles vaccine has to be administered at a certain age and there’s a second dose. Talk to us about it.

NC: The first dose is routinely given at nine months of age in countries where there’s quite a lot of measles around to get protection in early. But in countries where there is less measles we leave it a bit later until twelve months or older. And then the second dose is given at least three months afterwards or it can be a few years later, depending on the country’s schedule. So two doses is really needed but with two doses, you get close to a hundred percent effectiveness against measles which is fantastic.

VGS: So, this is one of the most infectious diseases and we have an effective vaccine that has saved millions of lives. If you were to speak to parents, what would be the one thing you would want them to know about measles and how to protect their children?

NC: As a parent myself, I know that the most important thing as a parent is to make sure your child is safe and healthy and grows up to be healthy. (Q5) Measles vaccine is incredible because it’s so effective at preventing measles and measles has such devastating impact that the impact of the vaccine, which has saved 60 million lives since 2000, it actually makes children healthier so they do better at school. It makes economies flourish. It’s a fantastic way to protect your child for communities. So, I would just say, the one thing you need to know as a parent is that the vaccination, it’s safe and effective and it’s the best way to protect your child.

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

Part III. KEY

Q1. B.【解析】细节题。根据“There is a disease so contagious that if a child infected with it walks into a classroom every child that is not vaccinated will most certainly get infected.”，可知麻疹的传染性极强，如果一个感染了这种疾病的孩子进入教室，所有未接种疫苗的孩子几乎都会被感染。因此答案为B。  

Q2. A.【解析】细节题。根据“It can cause blindness, it can cause deafness. It causes pneumonia and worse case, it causes death. And also a brain infection that occurs later on, years later after a child has apparently recovered from measles.”，可知麻疹可能导致失明、耳聋、肺炎，最严重的情况是导致死亡。此外，在孩子康复几年后还可能导致一种脑部感染。因此答案为A。  

Q3. D.【解析】细节题。根据“There was a big fall in the number of children being vaccinated during the Covid-19 pandemic and so, there is a big gap in our immunity. About 22 million children missed out completely on their measles vaccine in 2023.”，可知在新冠疫情期间，接种疫苗的儿童数量大幅下降，因此免疫力存在很大的缺口。大约有2200万儿童在2023年完全错过了麻疹疫苗接种。因此答案为D。  

Q4.C.【解析】细节题。根据“In fact, it’s so effective that the measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine we have in our routine programme today. We estimate about 60 million, or, in fact, more than 60 million children’s lives were saved by the measles vaccine in the years since the year 2000.”，可知麻疹疫苗是非常有效的，自2000年以来，麻疹疫苗拯救了大约6000万，甚至超过6000万儿童的生命。因此答案为C。  

Q5. B.【解析】主旨题。根据“Measles vaccine is incredible because it’s so effective at preventing measles... it’s safe and effective and it’s the best way to protect your child.”，可知麻疹疫苗在预防麻疹方面非常有效……它是安全且有效的，也是保护孩子的最佳方式。明确指出接种安全有效的麻疹疫苗是保护孩子的最佳方式，因此答案为B。  

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