VOA慢速英语 2008 1029b

This is the VOA Special English Health Report.

A new study from the World Health Organization says fifty-nine million people died from all causes in two thousand four. Ten million of them were children.

The report says almost half of all the people who died were under the age of sixty. About twenty percent of them were under fourteen.

Colin Mathers was the lead author of the study. He is the W.H.O.'s coordinator¹ for epidemiology and burden of disease. He says the research points to major differences around the world.

COLIN MATHERS: "Africa stands out. The burden of disease, premature² mortality is twice as high as for other developing regions in the world. And a substantial component³ of that burden is because of the high levels of child mortality in Africa compared to other regions. Half of all deaths in Africa are children under fifteen to compare with high income countries where one percent of deaths are under fifteen -- a huge difference."
　

Sam Jones from Doctors Without Borders treats a patient in southern Sudan

The number one cause of death around the world is heart disease, followed by strokes. Four of the ten leading causes of death worldwide are infectious diseases. These are pneumonia⁴, infectious diarrhea, H.I.V./AIDS and tuberculosis⁵. Other leading causes of death are lung disease, cancers of the windpipe and lungs, road accidents and low birth weight.

The research also shows that between the ages of fifteen and sixty, men have a much higher risk of death than women. The researchers say this is mainly because of injuries from violence, including war.

The study found that the Middle East produced fifty-five percent of the world's war dead in two thousand four. The Middle East has about eight percent of the world population.

Africa has the highest risk of death for men under sixty, followed by eastern Europe. The report says early deaths in Eastern Europe are mostly the result of injuries and heart and lung disease. But deaths from accidental alcohol poisoning are also common.

Worldwide, almost fifteen percent of deaths in women of reproductive age in two thousand four were related to pregnancy⁶. More than five hundred thousand women died of preventable problems during pregnancy or childbirth.

Another finding in the report is a prediction that by two thousand thirty, tobacco will cause ten percent of all deaths worldwide.

And that's the VOA Special English Health Report. Transcripts⁷ and MP3s of our reports are at voaspecialenglish.com. If you have a general question about health, send it to [email protected]. And please tell us your name and where you are. I'm Doug Johnson.

1 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

2 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

3 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

4 pneumonia   

n.肺炎

参考例句：

• Cage was struck with pneumonia in her youth.凯奇年轻时得过肺炎。
• Pneumonia carried him off last week.肺炎上星期夺去了他的生命。

5 tuberculosis   

n.结核病，肺结核

参考例句：

• People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
• Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。

6 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

7 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句