英语听力—环球英语 722 Destroying Smallpox

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I'm Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
In 1763, Great Britain and France were at war in North America. The people already living there, the Native Americans, were caught in the middle. Writer Helen Jaskoski shares a story from the war about a group of Native Americans called the Ottawas.
Voice 2
The Ottawas received a gift in a tin box. They were not to open it until they arrived back to their people. They believed that inside the box there was something to help their people. When the Ottawas arrived at their home, they opened the box. Inside there was another box, and another. Finally, they came to a very small box - only a few centimeters long. Inside this box was a small amount of particles that looked like dust.
Voice 1
The Ottawas investigated the dust. Many of them looked at it closely, but they did not know what it was. Soon after this, a terrible sickness invaded the Ottawa camp. Everyone who got this sickness died. Records say that there were bodies everywhere.
Voice 2
Today's Spotlight is on this terrible sickness – smallpox². This disease has always been extremely dangerous. But today, people have the chance to destroy it completely. But should we? In today's program we tell about this disease and the debate about destroying it.
Voice 1
Smallpox is a terrible and deadly disease. About two weeks after a person becomes infected, he begins to show symptoms, or signs, of smallpox. After this two week period, he experiences two to four days of high fever. Then a rash³ appears - areas of the skin show red bumps⁴, small raised areas. The rash begins on the face and legs. Then it spreads around the body. The rash becomes worse and worse. It turns into large bumps filled with liquid - pustules. After a time these pustules form scabs - skin that dries over the wounds. During this time of the virus, an infected person can spread the disease. Small particles fall off the pustules and scabs. People breathe the particles and become infected. Smallpox is very contagious⁵ - it spreads very easily.
Voice 2
The disease is finally finished about two weeks after symptoms begin. But many people will not survive that long. The smallpox virus kills about 30% of the people who get it. And in weaker populations, the number is even higher. People who survive often show permanent marks of the virus. Many become blind. There is no cure for smallpox. When people become infected, the only treatment is to try and make them more comfortable.
Voice 1
Smallpox has been a serious world health problem for many years. Experts believe that smallpox first appeared in Egypt over ten thousand years ago. Preserved bodies from ancient Egypt show evidence of smallpox marks. From Egypt, it spread to India, and through the rest of the world. The first officially recorded case of smallpox was in China. That was 2,000 years ago. In the 1500s the South American Aztec, Mayan and Inca kingdoms were all destroyed by smallpox. People all over the world feared this deadly virus. And it is easy to see why!
Voice 2
But in 1796 Edward Jenner produced a form of protection from smallpox - a vaccine⁶ drug. Slowly, Jenner's vaccine gained popularity⁷. It also became more and more safe. People who received the vaccine injection before they got smallpox were safe. Soon, people all over the world were using this vaccine.
Voice 1
In the 1950s and 60s the World Health Organization and other world leaders became serious about fighting smallpox. They produced a great amount of the newest smallpox vaccine. Teams travelled the world, giving the vaccine to every person. Then something happened that had never happened before in the history of the world. No person in the world had smallpox. The last natural case of smallpox was in Somalia in 1977. And in 1980, the WHO declared the world officially FREE of smallpox.
Voice 2
Today, people do not get the vaccine for smallpox - they do not need it. However, small amounts - samples - of this disease exist. There are two official samples. They are in two laboratories: at the US Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and at VECTOR in Russia. During the WHO's fight against smallpox, these two places were important. So after smallpox was gone permanently⁸, the WHO ordered countries around the world to send their samples of the virus to one of these two laboratories. Today, the samples of smallpox are stored safely in liquid nitrogen freezers. They are protected by many security measures. But the question is now: what do we do with these samples of this deadly virus?
Voice 1
Some experts believe that we should destroy the virus samples. They say we have enough information about the virus. We have a map of its DNA⁹. We do not need the samples - instead we can look at the information we already have. They say the virus samples are dangerous. One dishonest scientist could steal a small sample of the disease. He could sell it to be used as a weapon. Even a very small amount of the virus could grow and be very deadly. Or, the virus could even be released accidentally.
Voice 2
But other experts say that destroying the smallpox samples would be a terrible mistake. They say people still have a lot to learn from the smallpox virus. Scientists still do not know EXACTLY how it affects people - why it is SO deadly. Or it is possible that the smallpox virus samples could be useful in fighting a different disease.
Voice 1
Also, the samples in the US and Russia are registered - they are official samples. But other countries might have illegal unregistered samples. If the official samples are destroyed, these countries could use their samples as weapons. If someone DID create a weapon using smallpox, it would be useful to have the samples. Some experts say that we cannot know what will happen in the future. These smallpox samples may be very useful - even if we do not know it yet.
Voice 2
Finally, can people really decide to destroy something completely from the earth? The smallpox virus is deadly. But it is alive. Many people around the world believe that only God should have the power to destroy something completely.
Voice 1
In the past, the World Health Assembly has voted a few times to destroy the virus samples. But, then they vote again later to keep the samples. In May 2011, this issue will appear again. The World Health Assembly will discuss the destruction of the smallpox virus. Will they vote to destroy the samples? Will they vote to keep the samples? There are good reasons for both sides. Tell us what you think by emailing us at radio @ english . net.
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 smallpox   

n.天花

参考例句：

• In 1742 he suffered a fatal attack of smallpox.1742年，他染上了致命的天花。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child?你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

3 rash   

adj.轻率的；n.（皮）疹，爆发的一连串

参考例句：

• My skin has broken out in an itchy rash.我的皮肤上突然长出一片让人发痒的皮疹。
• Don't be rash in making your decision.别轻率做出决定。

4 bumps   

碰撞( bump的名词复数 )； 肿块； 轻微撞车事故； 隆起物

参考例句：

• I had goose bumps when we watched the fireworks. 我们看烟火的时候，我起鸡皮疙瘩。
• E was kind of zig-zagging across the pavement, and I bumps into 'im accidental-like. 他有点歪歪斜斜地在人行道上走，我一不小心撞到了他的怀里。 来自英汉文学

5 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

6 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

7 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

8 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

9 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。