【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

banal¹ 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 fluffy² 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 relatively³ 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 apparently⁴ 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 dealing⁵ 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

Page 2 of 4

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 undesirable⁶. 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, 'tourniquet⁷'. 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 tourniquets⁸, sucking out poison and

massaging⁹ affected¹⁰ 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

Page 3 of 4

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

word: monsoon¹¹.

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

Page 4 of 4

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! 

1 banal   

adj.陈腐的，平庸的

参考例句：

• Making banal remarks was one of his bad habits.他的坏习惯之一就是喜欢说些陈词滥调。
• The allegations ranged from the banal to the bizarre.从平淡无奇到离奇百怪的各种说法都有。

2 fluffy   

adj.有绒毛的，空洞的

参考例句：

• Newly hatched chicks are like fluffy balls.刚孵出的小鸡像绒毛球。
• The steamed bread is very fluffy.馒头很暄。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 undesirable   

adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子

参考例句：

• They are the undesirable elements among the employees.他们是雇员中的不良分子。
• Certain chemicals can induce undesirable changes in the nervous system.有些化学物质能在神经系统中引起不良变化。

7 tourniquet   

n.止血器，绞压器，驱血带

参考例句：

• Twist the tourniquet tighter.把止血带扎紧点。
• The tourniquet should occlude venous and lymphatic return.止血带应阻断静脉及淋巴回流。

8 tourniquets   

n.止血带( tourniquet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Can tourniquets be used in patients with sickle cell disease? 止血带能否用于镰状细胞病患者？ 来自互联网
• Fig. 1-1 A, Straight (rectangular) tourniquets fit optimally on cylindrical limbs. 图1-1A直（长方形）止血带最适合用于柱状的肢体。 来自互联网

9 massaging   

按摩，推拿( massage的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He watched the prisoner massaging his freed wrists. 他看着那个犯人不断揉搓着刚松开的两只手腕。
• Massaging your leg will ease the cramp. 推拿大腿可解除抽筋。

10 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

11 monsoon   

n.季雨，季风，大雨

参考例句：

• The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
• The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。