英语听力精选进阶版 14252

Haiti cholera¹ claims

Summary

26 July 2013

A group of top international scientists studying a widespread outbreak of cholera in the Caribbean state of Haiti has found that the disease probably came from United Nations peacekeepers. This discovery could have a big effect on a multi-billion-dollar compensation claim from people affected² by the epidemic³, which has so far claimed over 8,000 lives.

Reporter:

Mark Doyle

Report

The cholera epidemic in Haiti has put the United Nations in an unprecedented⁴ legal and moral crisis. Ever since the outbreak began, in late 2010, all the circumstantial evidence has pointed⁵ to the source of the disease being a military camp for UN peacekeepers from Nepal, where cholera is common. Sewage from the UN camp leaked into a nearby river and was dumped in an open pit. The cholera then spread down the river and into Haiti's towns and cities. 

The United Nations, under massive pressure from the victims, convened⁶ a panel of top scientists in 2011. But they concluded in an official UN report that no group or individual was to blame. Now, the very same group of scientists has looked at new microbiological evidence. And it has concluded that the Nepalese camp was the most likely source of the outbreak. 

The families of people who died in the epidemic are planning to sue the UN for compensation totalling many billions of dollars. The UN says it has legal immunity⁷ from any prosecution⁸. But the victims say they're bringing their case anyway, in a US court. This new evidence will almost certainly bolster⁹ their claim.

1 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

4 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

5 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

6 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

7 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

8 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

9 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。