［Sophia 学习笔记-English］004-America

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-aged whites dying from drug overdoses, suicides and alcohol-related conditions.

A report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), a British think-tank, published on May 14th, suggests that something similar is taking place on the other side of the Atlantic.

▍语言点

witness /ˈwɪtnɪs/: vt. 目击；见证……的发生

· These years have witnessed momentous 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 /dɪ'speə, dɪ'spɛr/: n. 绝望；令人绝望的人或事

academic /academic/: adj. 学术的；理论的

track /træk/: 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 /'fɪsk(ə)l/: 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）

·monetary: adj. 货币的（与货币供应和流通有关）