VOA慢速英语-Development Report - 2008 AIDS Conference Opens in M

This is the VOA Special English Development Report.
　

People carry a gay pride flag during a march in Mexico City on August 2, 2008

The seventeenth International AIDS Conference opened Sunday in the Mexican capital, Mexico City. About twenty-five thousand people are taking part in the six-day event. They include AIDS researchers, community leaders, policy experts, activists¹ and delegations² of young people from around the world.

The conference is expected to call for improvement in the prevention and treatment of H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS. Delegates are also expected to praise the greater ability of patients to receive anti-retroviral drugs. Several meetings at the conference will examine efforts to discover a vaccine³ to prevent the disease.

Pedro Cahn is one of the leaders of the AIDS conference. He says there is growing support for efforts to guarantee that all people are able to receive HIV prevention and treatment. An estimated thirty-three million people are living with H.I.V./AIDS. About seven thousand people become infected with H.I.V. every day.

There is no cure for AIDS. However, a report last week from a United Nations agency says fewer people are dying because of it. UNAIDS says the number of deaths linked to AIDS dropped to about two million last year. This is two hundred thousand fewer than the number reported in two thousand five.

UNAIDS also notes some major gains in preventing new H.I.V. infections. Such gains are based on changes in sexual behavior and improved government programs. The report also calls for long-term financing to fight the spread of AIDS. This is needed because people with the disease are living longer because of improved treatment.

In Washington last week, President Bush signed legislation promising⁴ forty-eight billion dollars over the next five years to battle AIDS, malaria⁵ and tuberculosis⁶. The bill greatly expands the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Mister Bush announced the five-year, fifteen billion dollar program in two thousand three. He has since made it a major part of his foreign policy. Efforts have centered on fifteen nations in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia.

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by Jill Moss⁷. You can learn more about AIDS and other issues facing developing countries at voaspecialenglish.com.

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

3 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

4 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

5 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

6 tuberculosis   

n.结核病，肺结核

参考例句：

• People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
• Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。

7 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。