VOA慢速英语20060126a

EDUCATION REPORT - As Demands on Cheerleaders Grow, Injuries Take a Big JumpBy Brianna Blake

Broadcast: Thursday, January 26, 2006

This is Shep O'Neal with the VOA Special English Education Report.

About three million young people in the United States are involved in cheerleading. People often think of cheerleaders when they think of school spirit. Cheerleaders are a tradition at football games and other sports events. They help get the crowds excited for their team.


Members of the Mercer County¹ High School cheerleading group from Harrodsburg, Kentucky, compete in the NCA Cheer National Championship last year.

In the past, cheerleading at American schools mostly involved shouting cheers and jumping up and down. But cheerleading has grown into a sport of its own. The moves are more physical. Cheerleaders, for example, are often thrown into the air.

The difficulty of modern cheerleading has led to more injuries. A new study shows that the number nationwide increased one hundred ten percent during the years examined. It says hospital emergency rooms treated more than two hundred thousand cheerleaders between nineteen-ninety and two thousand two.

During that same period, the number of students who became cheerleaders increased by eighteen percent.

Two children's medical researchers in Ohio did the study. The report appeared this month in the Journal² of Pediatrics.

Almost all of the injured cheerleaders were female³. Eighty-five percent of the injuries were in those between the ages of twelve and seventeen.

Leg and foot injuries represented the largest share of cases, thirty-seven percent. Nineteen percent were injuries to the head or neck.

But the study says few cheerleaders were injured seriously enough to be admitted to the hospital. Almost ninety-nine percent were treated and released⁴ from the emergency department.

Researchers say cheerleaders often attempt difficult performances before they are physically⁵ ready. They are often expected to perform risky⁶ moves when they compete for honors⁷ against other schools.

Most school sports are played during one season. Cheerleading is done all year. So it is difficult to compare the injury rates to other sports.

In many American schools, cheerleading is not considered an official sport. This means it is not held to the same rules and requirements. Because of this, the adult coaches who direct cheerleading programs are often not required to complete any special training.

In their report, the researchers call for steps to increase the safety of cheerleading. These include required safety training for all coaches.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Brianna Blake. Read and listen to our reports at www.unsv.com. This is Shep O'Neal.

1 county   

n.县，郡

参考例句：

• When the good news reached there,the whole county rejoiced.喜讯传到那里时，全县的人都欢欣鼓舞起来。
• In that year county after county fell to the enemy.那一年一个又一个的县城沦入敌人手中。

2 journal   

n.日志，日记；议事录；日记帐；杂志，定期刊物

参考例句：

• He kept a journal during his visit to Japan.他在访问日本期间坚持记日记。
• He got a job as editor of a trade journal.他找到了一份当商业杂志编辑的工作。

3 female   

adj.雌的，女(性)的；n.雌性的动物，女子

参考例句：

• We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
• The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。

4 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

5 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

6 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

7 honors   

n.礼仪；荣典；礼节； 大学荣誉学位；大学优等成绩；尊敬( honor的名词复数 )；敬意；荣誉；光荣

参考例句：

• He aims at honors. 他力求名誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We did the last honors to his remains. 我们向他的遗体告别。 来自《简明英汉词典》