VOA慢速英语--新冠肺炎爆发,芝麻街的布偶教孩子们保持个人卫生

The coronavirus pandemic continues to be a health threat around the world. So, governments, businesses, communities and individuals are looking for ways to teach children how to protect themselves.

Children, however, often do not want to listen to grownups. But they might want to listen to imaginative creatures that are adorable, colorful and furry¹!

Muppets are puppets from the children's show Sesame Street. They are helping² to keep children healthy and safe during a difficult time.

Elmo, Grover and other Sesame Street Muppets star in new public service advertisements, or PSAs, from the Sesame Workshop.

These PSAs teach children about the importance of handwashing and safe ways to sneeze, limiting the spread of germs. The PSAs also spread the message to children that all of these actions show care and concern for others.

The short videos are part of a campaign called Caring for Each Other. Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that created the television show Sesame Street.

In a statement to the press, Sesame Workshop said that its campaign is aimed at helping families stay physically⁴ and mentally healthy during the coronavirus pandemic.

The project includes messages for children and caregivers. It offers reading, math and science activities along with songs and fun, educational videos.

Elmo is probably one of the most famous Muppets. He is known for a song about brushing teeth called "Brushy Brush." That song has been updated to "Washy Wash" and teaches good handwashing.

Wash, washy wash, washy, wash, wash your hands, Scrub 'em while you sing this song...

Elmo reminds children to wash between the fingers and the tops of the hands. The video also reminds children to wash their hands for a full 20 seconds.

Another video in the Caring For Each Other campaign features Grover. This silly blue Muppet teaches children how to safely cough and sneeze.

Learn to cough and sneeze with your pal⁵ Grover! Step 1: Realize you're about to sneeze. Step 2: Move your elbow toward your nose and mouth. Step 3: Ah choo! Gesundheit!

Health experts recommend having a routine while quarantined. A set of things you normally do can help you to stay mentally healthy. So, Elmo explains his daily morning routine.

The loveable, red Muppet even uses a checklist that includes breakfast, brushing his teeth and exercise.

Oh, good morning, everybody! Elmo's in the middle of his morning routine. Yeah. Even though things may be a little different right now, Elmo's mommy and daddy say keeping a daily routine is very important. Here's Elmo's morning routine.

Dr. Rosemarie Truglio is Senior Vice³ President for Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop.

In the statement, Dr. Truglio said, "Around the world, young children's lives are being turned upside down, and parents and caregivers are looking for ways to give their children—and themselves—a sense of stability in this new normal."

The Associated Press reports that the new Sesame Street PSAs will be released around the world in 19 languages. Partners include HBO, PBS Kids, YouTube and the Ad Council.

Words in This Story

pandemic – n. medical : an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world

adorable – adj. very appealing or attractive : very lovable

furry – adj. covered with fur a hairy coat like an animal especially when it is soft and thick

germ – n. a microorganism (as a bacterium) that causes disease

silly – adj. not serious

Gesundheit : German Expression : used to wish good health especially to one who has just sneezed

quarantined – v. to isolate⁶ from normal relations or communication

checklist – n. a list of things to be checked or done

turned upside down – idiomatic⁷ expression informal : to make (something) very untidy —often used figuratively : His whole world was turned upside down when his mother died.

stability – n. the quality or state of something that is not easily changed or likely to change

1 furry   

adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的

参考例句：

• This furry material will make a warm coat for the winter.这件毛皮料在冬天会是一件保暖的大衣。
• Mugsy is a big furry brown dog,who wiggles when she is happy.马格斯是一只棕色大长毛狗，当她高兴得时候她会摇尾巴。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 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。

5 pal   

n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友

参考例句：

• He is a pal of mine.他是我的一个朋友。
• Listen,pal,I don't want you talking to my sister any more.听着，小子，我不让你再和我妹妹说话了。

6 isolate   

vt.使孤立，隔离

参考例句：

• Do not isolate yourself from others.不要把自己孤立起来。
• We should never isolate ourselves from the masses.我们永远不能脱离群众。

7 idiomatic   

adj.成语的，符合语言习惯的

参考例句：

• In our reading we should always be alert for idiomatic expressions.我们在阅读过程中应经常注意惯用法。
• In his lecture,he bore down on the importance of idiomatic usage in a language.他在演讲中着重强调了语言中习惯用法的重要性。