VOA标准英语2013--Findings Could Help Slash Child Malnutrition

 

Findings Could Help Slash¹ Child Malnutrition²

Child malnutrition is a global problem. It exists even in rich countries. It affects a large number of children in Asia, especially in south Asia. 

In parts of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa, it threatens child survival. 

Dr. Peter Salama represents UNICEF, the United Nations children's agency, in Ethiopia. 

"Almost every country in Africa today has an acute rate of malnutrition. The question is how high it goes," he said. 

New studies published in the Lancet medical journal show that malnutrition causes 45 percent of all deaths in children under the age of five. Other children suffer stunting³, meaning their body and brain fail to develop properly.

The problem starts in the womb, says Dr. Robert Black of Johns Hopkins University, who headed the series. 

“Undernourished mothers have fetuses⁴ that don’t grow as well, so fetal growth restriction⁵ itself is a problem.  Babies who are born small for their gestational age have increased mortality and increased stunting and developmental problems later," he said. 

The researchers say if countries take some simple measures, they can save the lives of one million children a year. 

The proposals include giving pregnant women folic acid and calcium⁶ supplements, promoting breast feeding, and giving young children vitamin A and zinc⁷ supplements.   

The Lancet reports that cutting child malnutrition by 20 percent would cost nine billion dollars.

Harold Alderman is with the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington and one of the Lancet series' authors.   

“For every dollar invested, you can get between eight and ten dollars of economic returns," he said. "And when I do these studies, I say 'look, nobody knows how to say how valuable is saving a life.'" 

Alderman says governments profit when they keep children well fed. 

“I’m a little puzzled as to why governments still think of investments in nutrition, as how you compensate⁸ the poor, 'but we’ll do our productive investments elsewhere.' These are productive investments. There is no question. The numbers are there," he said. 

Alderman says investing in child nutrition will improve a country’s economy because well-fed children do better in school and eventually become a stronger labor⁹ force. That statement is supported by other research showing that adults who were malnourished as children earn 20 percent less than those who had proper nutrition.  

1 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

2 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

3 stunting   

v.阻碍…发育[生长]，抑制，妨碍( stunt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Objective To report three-year-old twin brothers with speech stunting. 目的报道孪生兄弟同患语言发育迟缓的临床结果。 来自互联网
• No one should talk while stunting except coach or back spotter. 在技巧进行的过程中，只有教练或后保能说话。 来自互联网

4 fetuses   

n.胎，胎儿( fetus的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• DNA was extracted from fetuses at mid-gestation, about 10 days past conception. DNA从受孕大约10天后的中期妊娠胚胎中提取。 来自互联网
• Brucellosis is a disease that causes fetuses to abort in cattle. 普鲁士菌病是一种可以导致牲畜胎儿夭折的疾病。 来自互联网

5 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

6 calcium   

n.钙(化学符号Ca)

参考例句：

• We need calcium to make bones.我们需要钙来壮骨。
• Calcium is found most abundantly in milk.奶含钙最丰富。

7 zinc   

n.锌；vt.在...上镀锌

参考例句：

• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
• Zinc is used to protect other metals from corrosion.锌被用来保护其他金属不受腐蚀。

8 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

9 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。