英语听力精选进阶版 6171
时间：2019-02-13 作者：英语课 分类：英语听力精选进阶版
A Better Way to Beat Back Pain? 腰疼有救吗？
What is the single largest cause of sick leave in the UK?
The answer is not the common cold or flu, but back pain. Back pain affects one in three British adults, costs the country over ￡5bn every year and is notoriously difficult to treat.
But now Britain's National Health Service (NHS) will be offering a new solution: acupuncture 1.
The ancient Chinese needle therapy has been around in the UK for many years, but this is the first time it has been officially endorsed 2 by the NHS's advisory 3 body, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence 4 (NICE).
Traditionally, doctors in the UK have advised back pain sufferers to stay active, do stretching exercises and take painkillers 5 when necessary. In more serious cases some people are given X-ray treatment or injections with therapeutic 6 substances.
NICE, however, say there is evidence that acupuncture may be more effective than expensive X-rays or injections, so patients who have been suffering for over six weeks should be given a choice.
As an alternative to acupuncture, patients will be able to opt 7 for either a course of spinal 8 manipulation, or a series of special exercise sessions.
In the UK, acupuncture is classed as a complementary therapy, which is the term given to a medical procedure which hasn't been subjected to the strict trials by which scientists prove some treatments work.
While many experts have welcomed the move to make acupuncture available on the NHS, some are still sceptical about its effectiveness.
Research from the US earlier this month found that simulated acupuncture using toothpicks which do not pierce the skin could be as good as using real needles.
So while some are yet to be convinced, back pain sufferers will be hoping that acupuncture helps get them feeling healthy and mobile again. Employers, on the other hand, will be hoping it gets them back to work.
GLOSSARY 词汇表
sick leave 病假
back pain 腰疼
notoriously 有名的(形容不好的方面)
treat 治疗
National Health Service 国家医疗系统
acupuncture 针灸
needle therapy 针疗
officially endorsed 正式批准，认可
advisory body 顾问（咨询）机构
stay active 保持经常运动
stretching exercises 伸展运动
painkillers 止痛药
injections 注射，打针
therapeutic substances 有益于健康，有疗效的物质
spinal manipulation 脊椎推拿
complementary therapy 辅助疗法
strict trials 严格控制的临床实验
sceptical 持怀疑态度
simulated 模拟
mobile 可以自由移动
- Written records show that acupuncture dates back to the Song Dynasty.文字记载表明，宋朝就已经有了针灸。
- It's known that acupuncture originated in China.众所周知，针灸起源于中国。
- The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
- He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。
- His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
- My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。
- The doctor gave him some painkillers to ease the pain. 医生给了他一些止疼片以减缓疼痛。 来自辞典例句
- The primary painkillers - opiates, like OxyContin - are widely feared, misunderstood and underused. 人们对主要的镇痛药——如鸦片剂奥施康定——存在广泛的恐惧、误解，因此没有充分利用。 来自时文部分
- Therapeutic measures were selected to fit the patient.选择治疗措施以适应病人的需要。
- When I was sad,music had a therapeutic effect.我悲伤的时候，音乐有治疗效力。
- They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
- Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？