英语听力—环球英语 1292 Talking to Children About Disasters

 　　Voice 1

 

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹. I’m Robin² Basselin.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　And I’m Ryan Geerstma. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand - no matter where in the world they live.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　It was December 26th, 2004. Ing was 11 years old. On this day, she watched a large wave of water destroy her village in the country of Thailand. This tsunami³ damaged hundreds of towns, in 14 South Asian countries. The physical damage of the Indian Ocean tsunami was huge. In all, this major natural disaster killed over 200,000 people. Many other people were injured⁵ or lost their homes. But the damage from the tsunami was not just physical. Survivors⁶ and even people outside of South Asia suffered emotionally⁸ - especially children. This was true for Ing and for many other children around the world.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　It is normal for children to fear terrible events like natural disasters. For Ing, she feared tsunamis⁹ because she experienced¹⁰ one. But a child does not have to experience a terrible event to be afraid of it. In fact, children often hear about disasters at school or through radio and television. This is why adults must be prepared to talk to children when natural disasters happen. Today’s Spotlight is on how to talk to children about natural disasters.

 

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　　There are many kinds of natural disasters - tsunamis, earthquakes, fires and even the strong wind and rain of a hurricane¹¹ or cyclone¹². These natural forces can be powerful¹³ and deadly. People often fear them because they cannot control them. Children fear natural disasters for these same reasons. Here are five things adults can do when children show fear about natural disasters.

 

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　　First, adults should be willing¹⁴ to talk with children. It may seem like a bad idea to talk to children about things that make them afraid. However, children are often more afraid when adults avoid their questions or talk quietly with other adults about a disaster. Experts say it is better to talk about fears than to act like they do not exist.

 

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　　When children are permitted¹⁵ to talk about their fears, they feel safer. Sometimes, the best thing an adult can do is just listen. Children will talk about what frightens them. They may be afraid that a natural disaster will ruin their home. Or they may be afraid that their family will get hurt by one. Whatever the fear, it is important to listen and be patient with the child.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Second, let children ask questions. They may want to know what will happen if a natural disaster comes to their home. What will they do? Where will they go? What will happen to their friends? When answering their questions, it is best to give short, honest answers. If you do not know the answer, you can be honest and say that you do not know.

 

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　　Third, it is important to wait until a child is ready to talk about a natural disaster. Adults should not force children to talk - especially if they are not showing signs of being afraid.

 

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　　Fourth, help the child feel safe. There are many ways to do this. One way is very simple: an adult can tell a frightened child that they love them. They may also want to spend more time with the child. It is also important for the child to do the same things they do every day. Simple things like going to school and eating dinner can help a child feel normal - even when he is struggling with fear.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　There are also fun games adults can play to help children feel safe. The United¹⁶ States’ National Institute of Health suggests a game called “Ties That Bind¹⁷.” In this game, a family or group sits together in a circle. They use a ball made of long, thin rope called string. Each person in the circle takes a turn holding the ball of string.

 

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　　The first person explains one way they help another person in the circle. For example, a person could say, “I help Mary take care of her cat.” Then, the first person holds onto the end of the string. And they pass the ball to the second person. The second person now says how they help a different person in the circle. They continue holding onto the string. Then they pass the ball to a new person. The group keeps passing the ball until everyone in the circle has talked about how they help each other. When they are finished, everyone will be connected by the piece of string. This simple game shows that everyone in the group is safe because they are not alone. They are surrounded by people who help them.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Fifth, use activities to help children communicate their fears. For example, a child can create a picture. Then she can talk to an adult about the picture and what it represents¹⁸. Children can also perform a play. Or they can use play dolls or animals to speak for them. Children can also write short stories about what they saw or how they feel about natural disasters.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Heshani was 13 when the Indian Ocean tsunami ruined her house in Sri Lanka. One year later, she was still struggling emotionally. She did not like to visit her ruined house. And she did not want to talk about the problems her family had. However, she loved to write. And she often shared her feelings about the tsunami in her poems. Writing poems was a way for her to share her fears since she did not like to talk about them.

 

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　　Dr⁴. John A. Call is a psychologist¹⁹, a doctor who helps people with mental and emotional⁷ issues²⁰. On the website Psychology²¹ Today, he wrote these encouraging words about children and disasters,

 

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　　“If they have a strong support system, knowledge that everything will be fine, and extra love and care from the family, children will usually recover fully²² from a disaster.”

 

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　　However, sometimes children will have problems dealing²³ with natural disasters - no matter what adults do to help them. Therefore, the sixth thing adults can do is watch for serious changes in the child’s behavior. For example, a child may refuse to go to school or play with other children. Or a child may demonstrate²⁴ negative behaviour - like fighting. These may be signs that a child needs more help.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Dr. Call says that adults who notice such changes should seek expert help for the child. A mental health expert can help the child process his emotions. And the expert can help the child understand his thoughts about the disaster.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Natural disasters are terrible events. They are difficult for adults and children. But adults should not be afraid to talk to children about natural disasters. Talking can not stop natural disasters from happening. But talking can help children feel more safe and less afraid of the future.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The writer of this program was Lauren Anders. The producer was Ryan Geertsma. The voices you heard were from the United States. All quotes²⁵ were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can find our programs on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called, “Talking to Children about Disasters.”

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program.

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

3 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

4 Dr   

n.医生，大夫；博士(缩)（= Doctor）

参考例句：

• Dr.Williams instructs us in botany.威廉博士教我们植物学。
• The ward of the hospital is in the charge of Dr.Green.医院的这间病房由格林医生负责。

5 injured   

adj.受伤的

参考例句：

• Our best defender is injured and won't be able to play today.我们最佳的防守员受伤了，今天不能参加比赛。
• The injured men have been dug out of the snow.受伤人员从雪中被挖了出来。

6 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

7 emotional   

adj.令人动情的；易动感情的；感情(上)的

参考例句：

• Emotional people don't stop to calculate.感情容易冲动的人做事往往不加考虑。
• This is an emotional scene in the play.这是剧中动人的一幕。

8 emotionally   

adv.感情上，情绪上，冲动地

参考例句：

• a special school for emotionally disturbed children 为精神异常儿童开办的特殊学校
• A wide range of emotionally stressful events may trigger a relapse. 多种令人情绪紧张的事情都可能引起旧病复发。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 tsunamis   

n.海啸( tsunami的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our oceans are alive with earthquakes, volcanoes, and more recently, tsunamis. 海中充满着地震、火山，包括最近发生的海啸。 来自常春藤生活英语杂志-2006年2月号
• Please tell me something more about tsunamis! 请您给我讲讲海啸吧！ 来自辞典例句

10 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

11 hurricane   

n.飓风，暴风，暴风雨

参考例句：

• The hurricane destroyed the whole village.飓风把整个村子都毁掉了。
• A hurricane struck the city.飓风袭击了该城市。

12 cyclone   

n.旋风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• An exceptionally violent cyclone hit the town last night.昨晚异常猛烈的旋风吹袭了那个小镇。
• The cyclone brought misery to thousands of people.旋风给成千上万的人带来苦难。

13 powerful   

adj.有力的，有权力的，强大的

参考例句：

• The UN began to get more and more powerful.联合国开始变得越来越强大了。
• Such are the most powerful voices of our times!这些就是我们时代的最有力的声音！

14 willing   

adj.愿意的，自愿的，乐意的，心甘情愿的

参考例句：

• We never lack food and clothing if we're willing to work.如果我们愿意工作,就不会缺吃少穿。
• He's quite willing to pay the price I ask.他很愿意照我的要价付钱。

15 permitted   

允许( permit的过去式和过去分词 )； 许可； 许用

参考例句：

• Radios are not permitted in the library. 图书馆内不许使用收音机。
• Entrance is permitted only on production of a ticket. 出示门票才可进入。

16 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

17 bind   

vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬

参考例句：

• I will let the waiter bind up the parcel for you.我让服务生帮你把包裹包起来。
• He wants a shirt that does not bind him.他要一件不使他觉得过紧的衬衫。

18 Represents   

v.表现( represent的第三人称单数 )；代表；体现；作为…的代表

参考例句：

• This represents a volte-face in government thinking. 这代表着政府观点的彻底转变。
• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history. 俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 psychologist   

n.心理学家；心理学研究者

参考例句：

• Dr.Sinclair is a child psychologist.辛克莱博士是一位儿童心理学专家。
• Psychologist is expert who studies at psychology.心理学家是研究心理学的专家。

20 issues   

（水等的）流出( issue的名词复数 )； 出口； 放出； （特别重要或大众关注的）问题

参考例句：

• Let's start with the more easily addressable issues. 我们先从较容易处理的问题着手。
• Employment and taxation are the bread-and-butter issues of politics. 就业和征税是很重要的政治问题。

21 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

22 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

23 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

24 demonstrate   

vt.论证，证明；示范；显示；vi.示威游行

参考例句：

• Let me demonstrate to you how this machine works.我给你演示一下这台机器的运转情况。
• How can I demonstrate to you that my story is true?我怎样才能向你证明我的话是真实的呢？

25 quotes   

v.引用，援引( quote的第三人称单数 )；报价；引述；为（股票、黄金或外汇）报价

参考例句：

• He quotes a few verses from Tennyson in his paper. 他在论文中引用了英国诗人丁尼生的几行诗句。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He quotes (from) the Bible to support his beliefs. 他引用圣经来支持自己的信念。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》