夏说英语新闻晨读 第626期:英美"绝望死"人数攀升

 

In recent years America has witnessed a troubling trend: a rise in what have become known as "deaths of despair". Sir Angus Deaton and Anne Case, an academic couple both of Princeton University, have tracked an increase in the number of middle-aged¹ whites dying from drug overdoses, suicides and alcohol-related conditions. A report by the Institute for Fiscal² Studies (IFS), a British think-tank, published on May 14th, suggests that something similar is taking place on the other side of the Atlantic.

witness: vt. 目击；见证……的发生

These years have witnessed momentous³ changes in China.

这些年中国发生了巨大的变化。

China has witnessed quite a few changes over the years.

中国多年来经历过很多变革。

despair: n. 绝望；令人绝望的人或事

academic: adj. 学术的；理论的

track: vt. 追踪

alcohol-related: 与酒精相关的

pollution-related illnesses: 与污染相关的疾病

stress-related illnesses: 与压力相关的或是由压力引发的疾病

fiscal: adj. 财政的（政府税收相关）

financial: 与金融相关的（在商业活动中提供资金或资本等）

monetary⁴: adj. 货币的（与货币供应和流通有关）

1 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

2 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

3 momentous   

adj.重要的，重大的

参考例句：

• I am deeply honoured to be invited to this momentous occasion.能应邀出席如此重要的场合，我深感荣幸。
• The momentous news was that war had begun.重大的新闻是战争已经开始。

4 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。