VOA英语听力原文(passage11~20)
Passage 11
Health Report - Something a Bone Will Never Say: Give Me a Break
An explanation of different kinds of fractures and treatments. Transcript of radio broadcast:
This is the VOA Special English Health Report. The medical term for a broken bone is a fracture. But there are different kinds of fractures.
A single fracture is when a bone is broken in just one place. You may have heard the term hairline fracture. This is a single fracture that is very small, like the width of a hair. A complete fracture is when the bone comes apart.
When a bone is broken in more than two places or (1)gets crushed, the name for it is a comminuted fracture.
Still another condition is called a bowing fracture. This happens with a bone that bends but does not break. It happens mostly in children.
Ever heard of a greenstick fracture? This is when (2)a bone is bent and breaks along only one side, like a young stick of wood.
Another kind of break is an open or compound fracture. This is when the bone breaks the skin. This is very serious. Along with the bone damage there is (3)a risk of infection in the open wound.
A lot of things happen as the body reacts to an injury like a broken bone. You might suddenly feel lightheaded. You might also (4)feel sick to your stomach.
People who are seriously injured can go into shock. They might feel cold, dizzy and unable to think clearly. Shock requires immediate medical attention.
But while broken bones can be (5)painful, they are generally not (6)life-threatening. Still, broken bones should be treated quickly because they can restrict blood flow or cause nerve damage. Also, the break will start to repair itself, so you want to make sure the bone is lined up correctly.
X-rays are taken to see the break. Treatment depends on the kind of fracture that is identified.
A doctor sets a broken bone to make sure it is (7) in the correct position. Severe breaks may require an operation to hold the bone together with metal plates and screws.
Then, a hard cast may be put around the area of the break to hold the bone in place while it heals. Casts are usually worn for one to two months. In some cases, instead of a cast, a splint made of plastic or metal will be secured over the area to (8) restrict movement.
Bones need calcium and (9) vitamin D to grow and reach their full strength. Keeping bones strong with exercise may also help prevent fractures, especially if you wear the right sports protection during activities. If you think elbow and knee pads might be (10) restrictive, try wearing a cast.
Passage 12
IN THE NEWS - Iran Marks the 30th Anniversary of its Islamic Revolution
Iran has raised concerns among western nations with its nuclear program and recent satellite launch. Also, Iraq’s elections show strong support for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s coalition.
This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
Iran is observing the thirtieth (1) anniversa
ry of the country's Islamic revolution with a ten-day celebration that began last Saturday. The nineteen seventy-nine revolution forced Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi out of power and made Ayatollah Khomeini the country's leader. The revolution replaced the country's monarchy with an Islamic religious government. Between two and three million Iranians left the country during and after the revolution.
The revolution was meant to end a repressive rule. Yet pro-democracy reformists say the changes have not brought the (2) freedom and justice for which many had hoped.
The anniversary (3) celebration is called "Ten Days of Dawn." It comes about four months ahead of the nation's presidential elections in June. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is seeking re-election for another four-year term.
Also this week, the country launched its first Iranian-made satellite into space. President Ahmadinejad reportedly called the satellite launch "a message of brotherhood and peace" to the world. But the satellite launch caused international concern.
Western nations are concerned that Iran could use the missile technology to (4) launch a nuclear weapon, which Iran is suspected of building. Iran says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. The United States government said it will use "all elements" of its national power to deal with Iran.
On Wednesday, diplomats from six major powers met in Germany. They discussed steps to take in dealing with Iran and its nuclear program. The (5) representatives from France, Germany, the United States, China, Russia and Britain said they would seek a diplomatic solution. They also (6) urged Iran to honor the United Nations demands to stop enriching uranium and open its nuclear program to international inspectors.
Also this week, early results were announced from provincial elections held in neighboring Iraq. The results from last Saturday's elections show Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's coalition won a strong victory over Shi'ite religious parties. Prime Minister Maliki is Shi'ite. But he has taken action against religious extremist (7) military groups.
Fourteen of Iraq's eighteen provinces voted for ruling councils. It was the nation's (8) first election since two thousand five. United Nations officials were (9) heavily involved in planning the elections, which took place without any major violence. The elections are being seen as a vote on Mister Maliki's leadership ahead of national parliamentary elections to be held later this year.
In Washington, President Obama said (10) the provincial elections were very important. He said they showed that Iraqis are ready to take over more of their own security.
Passage 13
Agriculture Report - Not All Carrots Are Orange
This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
We talked last week about growing beets. Today we have advice about growing another root vegetable, carrots. Carrots are (1) easy to raise and easy to harvest. They taste go
od. And they contain a lot of carotene, which the body makes into vitamin A.
When people think of carrots, they usually (2) picture in their mind a vegetable that is long, thin and orange. But carrots come in many different sizes and shapes. And not all carrots are orange.
For example, Paris Market carrots are about five centimeters around. Imperator carrots are thin and about twenty-five centimeters long. And Belgian White carrots are, as their name suggests, white.
For the best results, carrots should be grown (3) in sandy soil that does not hold water for a long time. The soil also should have no rocks.
To prepare your garden for carrots, dig up the soil, (4) loosen it and turn it over. Then, mix in some plant material or animal fertilizer.
Weather, soil conditions and age will affect the way carrots taste. Experts say warm days, cool nights and a medium soil temperature are (5) the best conditions for growing carrots that taste great.
Carrots need time to develop their full sugar content. This gives them their taste. If they are harvested too early, (6) they will not have enough sugar. But carrots loose their sweetness if you wait too long to pull them from the ground.
The best way to judge if a carrot is ready to be harvested is by its color. Usually, (7) the brighter the color, the better the taste.
Many people do not know that carrots can be grown during the winter months. If (8) the winter is not cold enough to freeze the ground, you can grow and harvest carrots the same way as during the summer months.
If the ground does (9) freeze in your part of the world, simply cover your carrot garden with a thick layer of leaves or straw. This will prevent the ground from freezing. You can remove the ground cover and harvest the carrots as they are needed.
Carrots are one of the world's most popular vegetables. They can be cooked and prepared many different ways. Or, once they are washed, they can be eaten just as they (10) come out of the ground.
Passage 14
Development Report - Getting Into a Job Market by Mobile Phone
A company is working on a system in developing countries to use technology to connect job seekers with employers. Transcript of radio broadcast:
This is the VOA Special English Development Report.
In two thousand seven, five young people in the American state of Massachusetts developed an idea. The team knew that the world is (1) filled with mobile phones. About eighty percent of all people are said to live within reach of a (2) wireless telephone signal.
The idea was to use mobile phones and the Internet to connect job seekers with employers. The young people wrote a business plan and formed a company called Assured Labor.
Assured Labor won (3) a development competition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Three of the founders were graduate students there. Assured Labor is an electronic marketplace. It has two parts. One is for the United States. That operation was (4) launched in January in
Boston. It links people with employers offering temporary jobs.
The other arm of the business is for developing markets. That operation is meant to (5) help people get more permanent jobs. A representative is currently building partnerships with universities and international companies in Central America.
Assured Labor's president, David Reich, says the companies now place (6) job advertisements on radio or in newspapers. Some even drive around in cars with loudspeakers announcing that jobs are (7) available. He says the companies are interested in having more modern hiring practices.
Through Assured Labor, companies will list open positions on the Internet. People who think they could do the job could reply (8) by text message or on their cell phones.
This how the system works in Boston:
The jobs available include house cleaning, dog walking and home repair. People who want their house cleaned, for example, can look online at a list of twenty housekeepers. The list tells (9) what services they offer and how much they want to be paid. People need two letters praising their work to get on the list of service providers.
The employer chooses workers they would like to hire. The company then sends the workers a text or e-mail message so they can respond quickly to an offer.
After a job is completed, the employer and employee rate each other. The rating is kept for future use. Assured Labor is not (10) charging anyone right now, but the plan is to have employers pay for the service.
Passage 15
This is the VOA Special English Education Report.
The average college student in America spent an (1)estimated seven hundred dollars on textbooks last year. The National Association of College Stores reported more than five billion dollars in sales of textbooks and course materials.
Association spokesman Charles Schmidt says electronic textbooks now represent just two to three percent of sales. But he says that is expected to (2)reach ten to fifteen percent by two thousand twelve.
Online versions are now available for many of the most popular college textbooks. E-textbooks can cost half the price of a new print textbook. But students usually lose (3)access after the end of the term. And the books cannot be placed on more than one device, so they are not easy to share.
So what do students think of e-textbooks? Administrators at Northwest Missouri State University wanted to find out. Earlier this year they tested them with five hundred students in twenty classes.
The university is unusual. It not only provides laptop computers to all seven thousand of its full-time students. It does not (4)require students to buy their textbooks either. They rent them to save money. The school aims(5) to save even more by moving to e-textbooks.
The students in the survey reported that downloading the books from the Internet was easy. They liked the idea of (6)carrying lighter backpacks. And fifty-six percent said they were
better able to find information.
But most found that using e-textbooks did not change their study habits. And sixty percent felt they read more when they were reading on paper. In all, almost half the students said (7)they still liked physical textbooks better.
But the survey found that cost could be a big influence. Fifty-five percent said they would choose e-textbooks if using them meant (8)their textbook rental fee would not increase.
Roger Von Holzen heads the Center for Information Technology in Education at Northwest Missouri State. He tells us that administrators are disappointed with the e-textbooks now available (9)because the majority are not interactive.
He thinks growth will come when more digital books include video, activities, games and other ways to interact with the information. (10)The technology is improving. But for now, most of the books are just words on a screen.
Passage 16
Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
Today's program is all about eyes. When it comes to relationships, people's eyes can be a window into their hearts. This means that their eyes can (1)tell a lot about how they feel. We will tell a story about a man and woman who are teachers at the same school. The woman is interested in the man. She uses many methods to (2)catch his eye, or get him to notice her. Once he sets eyes on her, or sees her, she might try to get him interested in her by acting playful. In other words, she might try to (3)make eyes at him or give him the eye.
Let us suppose that this man gets hit between the eyes. In other words, the woman has a strong affect on him. He wants to spend time with her to get to know her better. He asks her out on a date.
She is so happy that she may walk around for days with (4)stars in her eyes. She is extremely happy because this man is the apple of her eye, a very special person. She might tell him that he is the only person she wants, or "I only have eyes for you."
On their date, the couple might eat a meal together at a restaurant. If the man is really hungry, his eyes might be bigger than his stomach. He might order more food than he can eat. When his food arrives at the table, his (5)eyes might pop out. He might be very surprised by the amount of food provided. He might not even believe his own eyes. If fact, all eyes would be watching him if he ate all the food. This might even cause (6)raised eyebrows. People might look at the man with disapproval.
During their dinner, the couple might discuss many things. They might discover that they see eye to eye, or agree on many issues. They share the same beliefs and opinions. For example, they might agree that every crime or injury should be punished. That is, they firmly believe in the idea of (7)an eye for an eye. They might also agree that it is wrong to (8)pull the wool over a person's eyes. This means to try to trick a person by making him believe something that is false. But the man and woman do not believe
in the evil eye, that a person can harm you by looking at you.
The next day, at their school, the woman asks the man to (9)keep an eye on, or watch the young students in her class while she is out of the classroom. This might be hard to do when the teacher is writing on a board at the front of the classroom. To do so, a teacher would need to have (10)eyes in the back of his head. In other words, he would know what the children are doing even when he is not watching them.
Passage 17
This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
Human genes are normally (1) organized along forty-six chromosomes in our cells, twenty-three from each parent.
But some people are born with an extra copy of the twenty-first chromosome. This third copy is (2) a result of a mistake in cell division. The name for this condition is Down syndrome.
A British doctor named John Langdon Down first described it in the eighteen sixties. An estimated three hundred fifty thousand people in the United States have Down syndrome.
Many babies with Down syndrome have low muscle tone, so they need (3) extra support when they are held. Their heads are smaller than average and they can have unusually shaped ears. Also, their eyes often angle upward.
People with Down syndrome often have other conditions. These include problems with their heart and with their breathing and hearing. A lot of these conditions, though, are (4) treatable.
About one in every one hundred people with Down syndrome will develop leukemia, a cancer of the blood. But the National Down Syndrome Society says many of these cases are (5) curable as well.
As a result, people with Down syndrome are living longer. In the early nineteen eighties they lived an average of just twenty-five years. Today (6) the life expectancy for someone with Down syndrome is sixty years.
But with that longer life, people with Down syndrome may have an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease at an early age. An estimated twenty-five percent of those thirty-five and older show signs of the (7) brain-wasting disease. It slowly destroys memory, thinking and reasoning skills. Alzheimer's is usually not found in the general population until people are over the age of sixty-five.
Down syndrome is (8)the most common genetic cause of mental retardation. Most people with Down syndrome are mildly to moderately retarded. (9)Many, however, are able to attend regular classes with other students. And later, as adults, many are able to hold jobs and lead independent lives.
There are tests that can be done to look for Down syndrome during pregnancy.
The risk of having a baby with Down syndrome increases with the mother's age. The rate is one in every one thousand two hundred births at age twenty-five. (10)At thirty-five it rises to one in three hundred fifty births. And at forty-five the rate is one in thirty.
Passage 18
This is the VOA Special English Education Report.
Less than sixty percent of students now entering four
-year American colleges are likely to (1)graduate. The completion rate is lower than for almost any other wealthy country, and worst for poor and minority students.
A new book about America's public universities explores the complex causes of (2)the high dropout rate. The book is called "Crossing the Finish Line."
President Obama wants the United States to again have the world's highest percentage of college graduates by two thousand twenty. But to finish college, children first have to (3)reach the starting line by getting there.
On Tuesday the president gave a nationally broadcast speech to students about the importance of staying in school. He spoke on the first day of classes at a high school in Virginia. He talked about (4)personal responsibility, and used himself as an example of someone who overcame difficulties.
BARACK OBAMA: "My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. (5)There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn't fit in."
But he told students that problems in their own lives should not stop them from learning.
BARACK OBAMA: "That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class or dropping out of school. (6)That's no excuse for not trying."
This was not the first presidential speech to students. Ronald Reagan spoke from the White House in nineteen eighty-eight. And George H.W. Bush spoke from a school in Washington in nineteen ninety-one.
But many conservatives criticized plans for the speech. Some called it "socialized education" or federal interference in local schools. (7)Others feared it would be too political. Some schools decided not to show the speech. But the White House released the text on Monday, and that calmed a lot of critics.
On Sunday, on the CBS program "Face the Nation," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said (8)thirty percent of students do not graduate from high school. He called the dropout rate "staggering." It represents more than a million students every year who entered ninth grade but do not complete twelfth grade.
The education secretary called the objections to the president's speech "silly." But he also said one of the activities suggested for students (9)"wasn't worded quite correctly." It related to the goal of increasing college graduation rates. It suggested that students "Write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president." But after conservatives objected, the activity was changed to (10)writing about personal goals.
Passage 19
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.
(MUSIC)
A person’s nose is important for breathing and smelling. The nose is also used in many popular expressions.
Some people are able to (1)lead other people by the nose. For example, if a wife leads her husband by the nose, she makes
him do whatever she wants him to do.
Some people are said to be hard-nosed. They will not change their opinions or positions on anything. If someone is hard-nosed, chances are he will never (2)pay through the nose, or pay too much money, for an object or service.
It is always helpful when people keep their nose out of other people’s business. They do not interfere. The opposite of this is someone who (3)noses around all the time. This kind of person is interested in other people’s private matters. He is considered nosey.
Someone who keeps his nose to the grindstone works very hard. This can help a worker (4)keep his nose clean or stay out of trouble.
One unusual expression is that is no skin off my nose. This means that a situation does not affect or concern me. We also say that sometimes a person cuts off his nose to spite his face. That is, he (5)makes a situation worse for himself by doing something foolish because he is angry.
More problems can develop if a person looks down his nose at someone or something. The person acts like something is unimportant or worthless. This person might also (6)turn up his nose at something that he considers not good enough. This person thinks he is better than everyone else. He has his (7)nose in the air.
In school, some students thumb their nose at their teacher. They refuse to obey orders or do any work. Maybe these students do not know the correct answers. My mother always told me, if you study hard, the answers should be (8)right under your nose or easily seen.
I think we have explained the nose expressions. What about ears? Well, I hope you are all ears or very interested in hearing more expressions. We might even (9)put a bug in your ear or give you an idea about something. We also advise you to keep your ear to the ground. This means to be interested in what is happening around you and what people are thinking.
If you are a good person, you will lend an ear to your friends. You will listen to them when they have a problem they need to talk about. Our last expression is to (10)play it by ear. This has two meanings. One is to play a song on a musical instrument by remembering the tune and not by reading the music. Play it by ear also means to decide what to do at the last minute instead of making detailed plans.
Passage 20
This is the VOA Special English Education Report.
Here is a question for a college admissions test. Who was Stanley Kaplan? Did he A) start a test preparation company, B) start (1) the test preparation industry, or C) die last month at age ninety? The correct answer is D) all of the above.
Stanley Kaplan was an educator and private tutor. In the nineteen forties, he began preparing students for (2)the Scholastic Aptitude Test, now just called the SAT.
His parents were European immigrants who did not go to college, and he himself (3)was rejected from medical school. He thought all Americans should have an equal chance at the best colleges, not just childr
en of wealthy families.
These days, more students go to college. Yet wealthier families are the ones best able to pay for test preparation. Many programs cost up to one thousand dollars or more, though some (4)are available for poor families.
Parents may hate the whole idea, but they feel nervous seeing others doing it. Then, after college, there are graduate admissions tests to prepare for.
How much do American (5)spend on this largely unsupervised industry? At least one billion dollars a year, estimates David Hawkins at the National Association for College Admission Counseling. The research company Outsell puts the amount at two and a half billion.
The two biggest providers in the United States -- Kaplan and Princeton Review -- both operate in more than twenty countries.
Thirty years ago, the Federal Trade Commission found that Stanley Kaplan's program could (6)raise SAT scores -- but only by about twenty-five points. The association for college admission counseling recently found a thirty-point increase with Kaplan and other programs.
Still, the group says this is not enough to (7)make a difference for most students. It might help some get into a top college, (8)but only if they have above-average scores in the first place. The report suggested saving money by considering "less costly forms" of test preparation.
Now, more about our story last week on President Obama's nationally broadcast speech to students. We noted that many conservatives raised objections before the speech. But in nineteen ninety-one, Democrats (9)accused President George H.W. Bush of using the last such speech for political purposes.
Then as now, Democrats led Congress. (10)They demanded an investigation. It found no misuse of public money to support the speech.