VOA标准英语2010年-World Bank Computer Game Invites Youth

The game was originally designed for university students in Africa. But in the first few days, 8,000 players from around the world -- most from the United States --signed on.

The World Bank Institute, the learning arm of the World Bank, has launched an online computer game called EVOKE¹, designed to get young people involved in finding  solutions to urgent problems like hunger, poverty and education.  The winners of the ten week game could be mentored² by social innovators and business leaders and win a trip to a conference in Washington DC. 

This is a computer game with worldwide implications. It's a crash course in changing the world and an urgent call for innovation.

Each week until the middle of May, players are presented with a different world problem that needs to be resolved.  Bob Hawkins, at the World Bank Institute in Washington, produced the game.

"The entire game revolves³ around this graphic⁴ novel, this comic book which occur 10 years into the future," Hawkins explained.

The game's story follows a mysterious network of Africa's best problem-solvers. Participants can play alone or in groups, interacting with other players. They brainstorm⁵ solutions to problems like world hunger, poverty, health and education.

"The game encourages young people to think about what the challenges are and what they might do individually and collaboratively to address these challenges," he said.
 
The game was originally designed for university students in Africa. But in the first few days, 8,000 players from around the world -- most from the United States --signed on. Here is one student from South Africa.

Hawkins recognizes that of all Africans, only one percent makes it to university and that Internet access is not widespread in some regions.  "We have designed the game so that it is compatible with Opera Mini which is a browser⁶ that you can use on your cell phones," he said. "We mirror the content into Facebook which is a very popular application for students and young people on their mobile phone."

By the end of the game, the top players will be mentored by business leaders and also win a trip to a conference next year in Washington.  

This could be the first in a series of games, ferreting out the innovators of the future.
 

1 evoke   

vt.唤起，引起，使人想起

参考例句：

• These images are likely to evoke a strong response in the viewer.这些图像可能会在观众中产生强烈反响。
• Her only resource was the sympathy she could evoke.她以凭借的唯一力量就是她能从人们心底里激起的同情。

2 mentored   

v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They had a fantastic dean who really mentored a lot of people. 那儿的教务长非常出色，的确为许多人提供了指导。 来自互联网
• The famous professor mentored him during his years in graduate school. 那位著名的教授在他读研究生期间指导他。 来自互联网

3 revolves   

v.（使）旋转( revolve的第三人称单数 )；细想

参考例句：

• The earth revolves both round the sun and on its own axis. 地球既公转又自转。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Thus a wheel revolves on its axle. 于是，轮子在轴上旋转。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

5 brainstorm   

vi.动脑筋，出主意，想办法，献计，献策

参考例句：

• The women meet twice a month to brainstorm and set business goals for each other.她们每个月聚会两次，在一起出谋献策，为各自制定生意目标。
• We can brainstorm a list of the most influential individuals in the company.我们可以集体讨论，列出该公司中最有影响的人员的名单。

6 browser   

n.浏览者

参考例句：

• View edits in a web browser.在浏览器中看编辑的效果。
• I think my browser has a list of shareware links.我想在浏览器中会有一系列的共享软件链接。