英语听力：自然百科 神秘的驱魔术

In the seaside village of Navotas in the Philippines, Eric Haramiarno has been behaving erratically¹ for months. People here believe that his soul is under siege by none other than the devil himself. The Philippines is home to over 16 million Catholics. For most Filipinos, their concept of evil is based on the Christian² belief in the devil. Eric's mother Elena Haramiarno fears for her son's soul. Every night she reads the Bible and prays for him, often that's when the trouble starts. Tonight, a reading from Scripture³ triggered something in Eric. His hands shake, his eyes roll back in his head. 

Whenever he has an attack, his reaction changes, his eyes become vicious, he shakes. Sometimes I'm afraid. 

Elena believes evil has descended⁴ upon her son. He claims not to remember what happens during his attacks. By Catholic tradition, only priests can conduct exorcisms. But one of Manila's most famous exorcists is a former Catholic, who offers services for free. He'll see hundreds of patients at a day. They call him Carl Emmons. Convinced the evil spirits possessed⁵ her son, Elena seeks help from Carl Emmons. To purge⁶ the spirit, the exorcist must first identify it.

We'll try to find out who's possessing you, okay?

He places feathers between Eric's toes in the belief that they will evoke⁷ the spirit. Satan is just one possible source of the evil in Eric. Before Filipinos adopted Christianity, they believed in the whole host of evil spirits. To this day, demons⁸, evil dwarves⁹ and trolls are blamed for a variety of maladies. But the exorcist suspects that this time the devil himself is involved. 

The first time this time visited me, I immediately knew this wasn't an ordinary case of possession. When I touched the feet, I felt the shiver. I knew it was a bad one. 

Carl Emmons tries to communicate with the spirit. 

Whoever you are, I just wanna speak with you. I wish you no harm. 

To the exorcist, it appears that the spirit has seized control. He demands answers. 

Why are you in the child? Go ahead, speak. What is the reason? Is there something you need from him? 

In a state of possession, Eric began to scribble¹⁰. It's a disturbing message, garbled¹¹ words about darkness and the devil. 

For two days, just go to church, show that your prayer comes from your heart. 

Two days have passed, Eric and Elena returned to the exorcist. Carl Emmons begins again by placing the feathers between Eric's toes. He tries to contact the spirit. 

Is that hurt? Nothing?

Carl Emmons finds nothing wrong. He believes the powerful combination of the earlier exorcism and Elena's prayers have vanquished¹² the evil spirit. 

They won't come back. It's over. You've got through it.

Elena is relieved. Eric seems better. But to be sure, she seeks further guidance from her priest. Father Rick has performed nine exorcisms sanctioned by the church. But he's skeptical¹³ whether Eric was really possessed. Within minutes, the priest uncovers another possible reason. Eric's father died several months ago and Eric only heard about it three months later. The attacks started around the same time. Father Rick suspects Eric has been suffering from psychological trauma¹⁴. The priest thinks the exorcism might have made the attacks worse by convincing Eric that the spirit was to blame. But Carl Emmons still believes he saved the boy. He says the church disapproves¹⁵ his work because he is not a priest. 

1 erratically   

adv.不规律地，不定地

参考例句：

• Police stopped him for driving erratically. 警察因其驾驶不循规则而把他拦下了。 来自辞典例句
• Magnetitite-bearing plugs are found erratically from the base of the Critical Zone. 含磁铁岩的岩栓不规则地分布于关键带的基底以上。 来自辞典例句

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 scripture   

n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段

参考例句：

• The scripture states that God did not want us to be alone.圣经指出上帝并不是想让我们独身一人生活。
• They invoked Hindu scripture to justify their position.他们援引印度教的经文为他们的立场辩护。

4 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

5 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

6 purge   

n.整肃，清除，泻药，净化；vt.净化，清除，摆脱；vi.清除，通便，腹泻，变得清洁

参考例句：

• The new president carried out a purge of disloyal army officers.新总统对不忠诚的军官进行了清洗。
• The mayoral candidate has promised to purge the police department.市长候选人答应清洗警察部门。

7 evoke   

vt.唤起，引起，使人想起

参考例句：

• These images are likely to evoke a strong response in the viewer.这些图像可能会在观众中产生强烈反响。
• Her only resource was the sympathy she could evoke.她以凭借的唯一力量就是她能从人们心底里激起的同情。

8 demons   

n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念

参考例句：

• demons torturing the sinners in Hell 地狱里折磨罪人的魔鬼
• He is plagued by demons which go back to his traumatic childhood. 他为心魔所困扰，那可追溯至他饱受创伤的童年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 dwarves   

n.矮子( dwarf的名词复数 )；有魔法的小矮人

参考例句：

• Everyone will try to claim it: Men, Dwarves, wizards. 每个种族都会争取它的拥有权：人类，矮人，巫师。 来自电影对白
• Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves? 难道你还不了解那个矮人的倔强吗？ 来自电影对白

10 scribble   

v.潦草地书写，乱写，滥写；n.潦草的写法，潦草写成的东西，杂文

参考例句：

• She can't write yet,but she loves to scribble with a pencil.她现在还不会写字，但她喜欢用铅笔乱涂。
• I can't read this scribble.我看不懂这种潦草的字。

11 garbled   

adj.（指信息）混乱的，引起误解的v.对（事实）歪曲，对（文章等）断章取义，窜改( garble的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He gave a garbled account of what had happened. 他对所发生事情的叙述含混不清。
• The Coastguard needs to decipher garbled messages in a few minutes. 海岸警卫队需要在几分钟内解读这些含混不清的信息。 来自辞典例句

12 vanquished   

v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制

参考例句：

• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I vanquished her coldness with my assiduity. 我对她关心照顾从而消除了她的冷淡。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

13 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

14 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

15 disapproves   

v.不赞成( disapprove的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She disapproves of unmarried couples living together. 她反对未婚男女同居。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her mother disapproves of her wearing transparent underwear. 她母亲不赞成她穿透明的内衣。 来自辞典例句