【一起听英语】孟加拉国的蛇

 孟加拉国的蛇为什么会让人毛骨悚然呢？

Dima: Hi, welcome to this edition of 6 Minute English with me, Dima Kostenko

Kate: and me, Kate Colin. Hi.

Dima: And today we're talking about some animals… Kate, forgive me for asking a

banal 1 question but - do you like animals?

Kate: Responds + brief chat

Dima: Well, the animals we're talking about today are nothing like your average cute

and fluffy 2 pet. We'll be listening to a recent report from a BBC correspondent

in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, about a different kind of animals.

They are long and relatively 3 thin, they can bite you and many of them can

actually poison you. Any idea what type of creature I have in mind Kate?

Kate: Guesses

Dima: Responds. Well apparently 4 in Bangladesh snake bites are a serious problem.

Almost 700,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes there every year, and

6,000 people lose their lives. However, according to a new survey, only 3% of

cases are treated in hospital. So who's dealing 5 with the remaining 97% and

how?

Kate: Well, before we find out, shall I take us through some of the vocabulary we're

about to hear?

Dima: Good idea Kate. 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

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Kate: OK. First of all, the word combination 'mystic healers'. This means people who

claim to be able to treat and cure a wound or an illness using special powers

that are difficult to understand or explain. Possibly some supernatural abilities.

Then the expression 'to be frowned upon'. If something is frowned upon by

someone, they discourage its use and generally consider it undesirable 6. We'll

also hear the word 'poison', meaning a very harmful substance that can cause

illness or, in extreme cases, even death. The adjectives with the same meaning

are 'poisonous' and 'venomous'. And another word for you, 'tourniquet 7'. A

'tourniquet' is a strip of cloth which is tied tightly round an injured leg or arm

to stop it bleeding.

Dima: So that's 'mystic healer', 'to be frowned upon', 'poison' and 'tourniquet'. Let's

now listen to our Dhaka correspondent Mark Dummett and as we're listening,

our task will be to try and catch those key words and phrases.

Clip 1 0'30"

The doctors who conducted this survey said that many more Bangladeshis would survive

snake bites, if the country's traditional healers and snake charmers received training in modern

techniques. The vast majority are treated by mystic healers known as an Ojhas. By tradition,

these men are snake experts. They try to save bite victims by using techniques that are

frowned upon by modern science - such as applying tourniquets 8, sucking out poison and

massaging 9 affected 10 limbs.

Kate: It sounds like the survey encourages traditional healers to combine their skills

with a knowledge of modern medical techniques. It says that, rather than just

relying on the mystic methods of the past, for example applying tourniquets or

sucking out poison, the healers should also learn modern medicine, in order to

help save people's lives.

Dima: Thanks for this re-cap Kate. In a moment we'll hear from Mark Dummett again

but before that, here comes the exciting part of the programme - this week's 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

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question! And I'm afraid I need you Kate to explain the meaning of one more

word: monsoon 11.

Kate: Monsoon? This is the name for the season of heavy tropical rainfall in hot

Asian countries, including Bangladesh.

Dima: OK, in the next part our correspondent explains that there is a particular season

in Bangladesh when you are more likely to get bitten by a snake than at other

times. Which season do you think it is Kate? Is it

a) the hot, humid summer from March to June

b) the monsoon season from June to October, or

c) the mild winter from October to March?

Kate: Guesses

Dima: Let's listen to Mark Dummett to check if you've guessed correctly:

Clip 2 0'12"

The most dangerous time of year is now, when during the annual monsoon, about half of

Bangladesh disappears under water, and both snakes and people are forced to move to dry

land.

Dima: So which season in Bangladesh is particularly dangerous for snake bites Kate?

Kate: Monsoon. I was right/wrong

Dima: Responds. Our correspondent says the most dangerous time of year is now,

during the annual monsoon. And why? 

6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009

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Kate: Because of flooding. Snakes, in the same way as people, are forced by rising

water to move to dry land, making their encounters more likely.

Dima: And of course you can find out more about the story by following the links

from our website, bbclearningenglish.com. But just before you log on, stay

with us another couple of seconds as Kate takes you through today's key words

and phrases again.

Kate: Responds. OK, we heard about 'mystic healers', meaning people who claim to

be able to treat and cure wounds or illnesses using some special, possibly

supernatural powers. We also talked about 'poisonous', or 'venomous'

substances. If you're affected by 'poison', you can become ill or, in extreme

cases, even die. We mentioned the word 'tourniquet'. A 'tourniquet' is a strip

of cloth which is tied tightly round an injured arm or leg to stop it bleeding.

And we discussed the expression 'to be frowned upon'. If something is

frowned upon by someone, they discourage its use and generally consider it

undesirable. And finally, a weather related term, 'monsoon'. This is the name

for the season of heavy tropical rain in hot Asian countries.

Dima: Thanks for that Kate. Well, I'm afraid that's all we have time for today. Until

next week.

Both: Goodbye!