高中英语人教版必修第三册18

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[00:03.97]ANGELS IN WHITE

[00:06.09]Fear had gripped 1 the nation,

[00:09.09]indeed the whole world.

[00:10.74]An unknown deadly virus had infected thousands of people and was spreading quickly.

[00:17.11]There was no cure and the number of cases was rising every day.

[00:22.36]In the media, SARS seemed to the topic of every headline and news report.

[00:28.63]In Beijing, usually a lively and busy city,

[00:32.86]the streets were empty as people stayed at home in order to avoid the virus.

[00:31.86]The few who had to go outside covered their mouths with masks,

[00:36.72]which were soon to become symbols of the epidemic 2.

[00:39.96]The numbers of new and suspected cases were announced on the news each day,

[00:45.84]as was the number of deaths.

[00:48.08]As horrible as it was,

[00:51.04]SARS was not strong enough to break the determination of the Chinese people.

[00:55.95]Once the seriousness of the situation was fully 3 understood,

[01:00.31]the government took quick and forceful action.

[01:03.78]Important safety rules were put in place,

[01:06.60]a new hospital was built in record time in Beijing,

[01:10.44]and schools were closed to prevent further spreading of the disease 4.

[01:15.09]Funds were provided 5 to make sure that people who didn’t have medical insurance could still get treatment.

[01:21.86]Doctors and scientists worked around the clock to determine the origin of the disease and everyone did what they could to fight this new enemy.

[01:31.89]But what was perhaps most impressive 6 were the fearless efforts of the workers on the front line.

[01:38.66]Despite the risks, thousands of nurses, doctors, and hospital staff risked their lives to take care of the infected patients.

[01:48.30]The danger was very real, especially in the beginning,

[01:52.82]when little was known about the new disease.

[01:55.74]Of the nearly 5,000 SARS cases in China,

[01:59.58]almost 19% were medical workers,

[02:02.72]and many more were among the suspected cases.

[02:06.56]Dressed in hot protective 7 suits,

[02:09.30]separated from their families,

[02:11.73]these real-life heroes worked under great pressure.

[02:15.49]The brave doctors and nurses,

[02:18.13]who came to be known as the “Angels in White”,

[02:21.00]risked their lives in order to protect the country.

[02:24.32]Without their hard work and dedication 8,

[02:27.38]the steps taken by the government would have been useless.

[02:30.90]The difficult challenge brought out the best in many people,

[02:34.87]but it was the women who made the difference.

[02:37.51]More than half of the health care workers in China are women,

[02:41.43]and during the SARS period they showed just how important and brave they are.

[02:46.65]One of the “angels”, Zhang Jihui, head nurse of Guangzhou First Municipal 9 People’s Hospital,

[02:53.52]kept a journal 10 which was published in People’s daily and on the Internet.

[02:57.94]The journal shows of only the skill and discipline of the hospital workers

[03:03.06]but also the love and friendship that helped them deal with the terrible challenges.

[03:08.70]In her journal, Zhang Jihui describes a phone call from her child:

[03:13.82]February 19, Wednesday

[03:16.36]I haven’t been home for several days.

[03:19.59]Today, I received a call from my daughter.

[03:22.73]“Mum, I really miss you.

[03:25.50]I promise not to upset you any more,”

[03:28.45]she said in her lovely, pleading 11 voice.

[03:31.38]“Will it make you happy if I sing a song for you?”

[03:35.50]I couldn’t help but cry, letting my tears freely 12 run down my face.

[03:40.86]The SARS epidemic ended in the summer of 2003 after nearly eight months of fear and suffering.

[03:48.93]The human and economic losses will be felt for years to come,

[03:53.45]and the emergency also several of the shortcomings of the country’s medical and health care system.

[04:00.11]Some of the heroic 13 sacrifices of the “Angels in White” could have been avoided.

[04:05.47]In the early stages of the epidemic, doctors,

[04:08.70]nurses and other hospital workers were needlessly 14 exposed to great danger as a result of poor administration 15 and a lack of resources. Many important lessons have been learnt

[04:14.27]and the country is now better prepared to deal with future epidemics 16 and emergencies.

[04:18.68]Many important lessons have been learnt, and the country is now better prepared to deal with future epidemics and emergencies.

[04:26.83]The “Angels in White” do not wish no be called heroes.

[04:30.60]Instead, they insist that they were simply doing their duty.

[04:34.64]In a time of fear and sadness, they provided hope and comfort for all of us.

[04:40.60]Not all the health care workers who were infected with the SARS virus recovered.

[04:46.06]Many died in the line of duty and left their families,

[04:50.42]friends, fellow workers, and patients deeply saddened by the loss.

[04:55.07]Those who died will not be forgotten.

[04:57.95]On International Nurses’ Day,

[04:59.98]vice Premier 17 and Health Minister Wu Yi honoured the nation’s nurses,

[05:05.26]saying that they had made an important contribution not only by fighting SARS but also by improving public health care in China.

[05:14.82]In the hearts and minds of the Chinese people,

[05:17.67]the memories of the brave “Angels in White” will live on forever