英语听力精选进阶版 7250

科学家们说亚洲离校生中患有视力问题的人数这几年急剧上升。研究人员在科学杂志《The Lancet》上发表报告指出几乎90%的年轻人患有近视—他们认为主要原因是学生们有繁重的功课及没有足够的室外活动而缺乏室外光线。

The strong emphasis on educational achievement in China, Japan and other parts of South East-Asia may be coming at a heavy price. Researchers say that hard work at school plus the lack of exposure to outdoor light is damaging the eyes of almost nine out of ten students - with one in five at serious risk of visual impairment and blindness.

The scientists say that young people need up to three hours a day of outdoor light, but many infants are also missing out as they nap during lunch time. Dr. Ian Morgan is the lead author of the study:

I think what's happened in South-East Asia is we've got a double whammy. We've got the massive educational pressures and we've got the construction of a child's day in a way that really minimises the amount of time they spend outside in bright light.

The scientists say that genetic¹ factors, long thought to play a big role in short-sightedness, are not as important as the environment. They point to Singapore as a place with several distinct ethnic² groups, all of whom are now suffering high levels of myopia.

The authors suggest that mandatory³ time outdoors should be considered by educational authorities across South-East Asia as a way of dealing⁴ with the problem.

听力测验

What is the risk of lack of exposure to outdoor light to students in Asia?

The students risk developing eye sight problems.

Why are infants not getting enough outdoor light during the day?

Because infants tend to take a nap during the day.

Do scientists think hereditary⁵ factors still play a big role in short-sightedness?

No, genetic factors do influence short-sightedness, but not as important as environmental factors.

Should educational authorities force children to go outdoors in order to deal with the short-sightedness problem?

Yes, scientists suggest that all children should be made to go outside during the day to get more exposure to natural day light.

Glossary 词汇表

emphasis 强调

a heavy price 沉重的代价

exposure 暴露

visual impairment 视力损害

nap 小睡

genetic 基因的

a big role 一个大的因素

ethnic groups 多民族

myopia 近视

mandatory 强制性的

1 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 mandatory   

adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者

参考例句：

• It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
• There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。

4 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。

5 hereditary   

adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的

参考例句：

• The Queen of England is a hereditary ruler.英国女王是世袭的统治者。
• In men,hair loss is hereditary.男性脱发属于遗传。