万花筒2008-03-30:怀孕的男人

Experts say a man's claim of pregnancy¹ might not be impossible

The web page certainly grabs your attention, but could it be real? Could it be that this man, Thomas Beatie, is actually pregnant?  

Quite frankly², I think it's a hoax³, I saw him just a few days ago, he didn't look like that. "Neighbours in otherwise quiet Bend Oregon may not believe it, but Beatie writes in the online maganzine "The Advocate" that there is an explanation: he is transgender, was born a woman and has had surgery to outwardly appear to be a man. In fact, this was Beatie eight years ago in Hawaii when he was still known as Tracy Lagondino, since then, a lot has changed, he says he kept his reproductive organs and after artificial insemination, he's now expecting a baby girl along with his wife, Nancy.  

The couple won't agree to talk just yet, though the Advocate's editors say" They have a reason to believe the story".  

"We asked Thomas to provide us the name of his doctor, we called her and she confirmed with us that Thomas is pregnant and that his pregnancy is proceeding⁵ as it should". Beatie writes in the article "Our situation sparks legal, political and social unknowns", he goes on to address one of the burning practical questions, "To Nancy, I am her husband carrying our child, I will be my daughter's father, and Nancy will be her mother. We will be a family. "  

Doctors say it is possible, "It is possible for a man like Thomas Beatie to be pregnant because he has a uterus. The pair's neighbours remain skeptical⁶, "I couldn't say that he looks pregnant, I mean, I didn't stick my stomach out and almost make it look like that". They see the due day is July 3rd, and if it does work out and this man does give birth, the fireworks may just come early this year. For "Good Morning America" Neal Karlinsky, ABC News, Seattle.  

WORDS IN THE NEWS     

1. hoax : n-count

A hoax is a trick in which someone tells people a lie, for example that there is a bomb somewhere when there is not, or that a picture is genuine when it is not.

2. transgender : adj

Transgender people, such as transsexuals, do not have a straightforward⁷ gender⁴ identity.

3. outwardly : adj

You use outwardly to indicate the feelings or qualities that a person or situation may appear to have, rather than the ones that they actually have.

4. artificial insemination : n-uncount (人工授精)

Artificial insemination is a medical technique for making a woman pregnant by injecting previously⁸ stored sperm⁹ into her womb. Female animals can also be made pregnant by artificial insemination. The abbreviation AI is also used.

5. burning : adj

A burning issue or question is a very important or urgent one that people feel very strongly about.

eg: The burning question in this year's debate over the federal budget is: whose taxes should be raised?

6. uterus : n-count  (子宫)

The uterus of a woman or female mammal is her womb. (MEDICAL)

1 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

2 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

3 hoax   

v.欺骗，哄骗，愚弄；n.愚弄人，恶作剧

参考例句：

• They were the victims of a cruel hoax.他们是一个残忍恶作剧的受害者。
• They hoax him out of his money.他们骗去他的钱。

4 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

5 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

6 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

7 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

8 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

9 sperm   

n.精子，精液

参考例句：

• Only one sperm fertilises an egg.只有一个精子使卵子受精。
• In human reproduction,one female egg is usually fertilized by one sperm.在人体生殖过程中，一个精子使一个卵子受精。