First do no harm

governments pinning their hopes on contact-tracing apps should tread careful tread carefully

第一段

Everything happens faster in a crisis. Faced with covid-19, vaccine-makers are cutting as many corners as they safely can. Anti-viral drugs are being rushed into clinical trials. Even people recorded dead, the wait is agonising . But caution is crucial . Medicine's history is full of promising treatments that, when tested , turned out not to work or even to cause harm.

重点词汇

• vaccine（疫苗）

  • a substance containing a virus or bacterium in a form that is not harmful, prevent people from getting the disease

    • This vaccine protects against some kinds of the bacteria.

• viral（病毒性疾病）

  • caused by a virus

    • On the topic of vaccines and anti-virals, it is indeed true that there are concerns.

• trial（審判）

  • the hearing of statements and showing of objects, etc. in a law court to judge if a person is guilty of a crime

    • trial proceedings
    • Trial by jury is a fundamental right.
    • It was a very complicated trial that went on for months.
    • She's going on/standing trial for fraud.

• agonising（折磨人的）

  • causing extreme physical or mental pain

    • an agonizing death
    • We are faced with an agonizing choice/decision/dilemma.

第二段

Many governments hope salvation can come sooner ,with contact-tracing apps on smartphones-even as a row brews over Apple's and Google's grip on the technology . These apps can be used to automate the difficult process of tracking down people who have been in contact with those diagnosed with covid-19, which is vital for keeping tabs with virus. Countries from Bahrain and Bulgaria to Indonesia and Iceland have developed such apps.

重点词汇

• salvation（救助（途徑））

  • (a way of) being saved from danger, loss, or harm

    • After the diagnosis, getting to know Mary was his salvation.
    • a marriage beyond salvation

• brew(壞事或暴風雨）即將來臨)

  • If an unpleasant situation or a storm is brewing, you feel that it is about to happen.

    • It was too quiet - I felt that trouble was brewing.
    • A storm was brewing in the distance.

• grip(控制，支配)

  • control over something or someone

    • Rebels have tightened their grip on the city.
    • He will do anything to keep his grip on power.

• automate(使自動化)

  • to make a process in a factory or office operate by machines or computers

    • Massive investment is needed to automate the production process.

• diagnosed(診斷（病症）

  • to recognize and name the exact character of a disease or a problem, by examining it

    • The specialist diagnosed cancer.
    • His condition was diagnosed as some type of blood disorder.
    • She was diagnosed with/as having diabetes.

• vital(必不可少的；極其重要的)

  • necessary for the success or continued existence of something; extremely importan

    • A strong opposition is vital to a healthy democracy.
    • She had found out some information of vital importance.
    • The kidney plays a vital role/part in the removal of waste products from the blood.

• keep tabs on sth/sb(密切注意…的動態)

  • to watch something or someone carefully

    • I like to keep tabs on my bank account so that I don't spend too much.

• Bahrain(巴林)

  
  image.png
  • a country in Western Asia
    • 一个位于西亚、邻近波斯湾西岸的岛国

    • 首都麦纳麦

      
      image.png

• Bulgaria(保加利亞)

  
  image.png

  • a country in southeastern Europe

    
    image.png
    • 位于欧洲东南部巴尔干半岛上的国家
    • 与罗马尼亚、塞尔维亚、北马其顿、希腊和土耳其接壤

• Indonesia(印度尼西亞)

  
  image.png

  • a country in Southeast Asia formed of a group of islands

    
    image.png
    • 为东南亚国家；由17,506个[d]岛屿组成[8]
    • 世界上最大的群岛国家,疆域横跨亚洲及大洋洲
    • 人口超过2.7亿，为世界上人口第四多的国家

• Iceland (冰島)

  
  image.png

  • an island country in the North Atlantic Ocean

    
    image.png
    • 北大西洋中的一个岛国，位于北大西洋和北冰洋的交汇处
    • 国土面积为10.3万平方千米，人口为36万
    • 首都是雷克雅未克

第三段

They are an attractive idea . Yet contact-tracing apps are also an untested medical invention that will be introduced without the sort of safe-guards that new drugs are subjected to. Inaccurate information can mislead health officials and citizens in ways that can be as harmful as any failed drug. Governments should processed with care

重点词汇

• official(公職的；)

  • relating to a position of responsibility

    • He visited China in his official capacity as America's trade representative.
    • Number Ten Downing Street is the British prime minister's official residence.

• citizen(公民；市民)

  • a person who is a member of a particular country and who has rights because of being born there

    • The interests of British citizens living abroad are protected by the British Embassy.
    • He applied to become an American citizen.
    • The citizens of Moscow woke up this morning to find they had a new government.

第四段

Coverage is one complication . Epidemiologists reckon that apps might be useful if around 60% of people use them . Yet even in Europe, where adoption is highest , only 76% of people have mobile-internet subscriptions. That number is lower among the elderly, the most vulnerable to covid-19. A recent survey suggested less than half of Americans would use a contact-tracing app.

重点词汇

• Coverage(新聞報道)

  • the reporting of a particular important event or subject

    • What did you think of the BBC's election coverage?
    • There's a good arts coverage in the newspaper, but not much political commentary.
    • I can remember watching live TV coverage of the first lunar landing, so that dates me

• complication(使情況複雜化的事物)

  • something that makes a situation more difficult, or the act of doing this

    • Dave couldn't find his passport at the airport and then there were further complications when Fiona lost her baggage.
    • If any complications arise, let me know and I'll help.

• epidemiologist(流行病學家)

  • someone who studies diseases and how they are found, spread, and controlled in groups of people

    • Snowdon is an epidemiologist studying the causes of Alzheimer's disease.
    • Epidemiologists who led the study say leafy greens and colourful vegetables are especially potent cancer fighters.

• reckon(想；認為，以為)

  • to think or believe

    • I reckon it's going to rain.
    • How much do you reckon (that) it's going to cost?
    • Can you fix my car today?" "I reckon not/so (= probably not/probably)."

• adoption(接受；採用；採納)

  • accepting or starting to use something new

    • Several suggestions have been offered for adoption by the panel.

• subscription(訂閱費)

  • an amount of money that you pay regularly to receive a product or service

    • I decided to take out (= pay for) a subscription to a gardening magazine.
    • Your business can be listed on the website for a low monthly subscription.

• vulnerable(易受影響（或攻擊）的)

  • able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt, influenced, or attacked

    • I felt very vulnerable, standing there without any clothes on.
    • It is on economic policy that the government is most vulnerable.

第五段

Accuracy is an issue, too. Such apps are designed to listen out for nearby mobile phones, registering a contact if another device comes close enough . Yet the strength of the radio signals used to do this is affected by all sorts of things besides distance . Human bodies impede transmission , for instance , meaning a phone in a pocket will behave differently from one in hand.

重点词汇

• Accuracy(準確；精確)

  • the fact of being exact or correct

    • We can predict changes with a surprising degree of accuracy.
    • The latest missiles can be fired with incredible accuracy.
    • Her paintings are almost photographic in their detail and accuracy.
    • The computer will calculate your position with pinpoint accuracy.

• listen out(等著聽，注意聽)

  • to make an effort to hear a noise that you are expecting

    • Would you listen out for the phone while I'm in the garden?

• impede(妨礙，阻礙)

  • to make it more difficult for something to happen

    • Although he's shy, it certainly hasn't impeded his career in any way.

• transmission(（廣播、電視等的）播送，)

  • the process of broadcasting something by radio, television, etc., or something that is broadcast

    • We apologize for the interruption to our transmissions this afternoon.
    • The microphone converts acoustic waves to electrical signals for transmission.

第六段

That could make it hard to calibrate the system- and a mistake would have consequences . Too sensitive , and you risk a deluge of "false positives": contacts deemed close and significant that were actually distant and irrelevant . Too forgiving , and genuine cases of viral transmission will go undetected.

重点词汇

• deluge（暴雨；洪水）

  • a very large amount of rain or water

    • This little stream can become a deluge when it rains heavily.

• distant（遙遠的，遠方的）

  • far away

    • a distant country
    • She could hear the distant sound of fireworks exploding.

• genuine（真正的；非僞造的）

  • If something is genuine, it is real and exactly what it appears to be.

    • genuine leather
    • If it is a genuine Michelangelo drawing, it will sell for millions.

• irrelevant（不相關的）

  • not related to what is being discussed or considered and therefore not important

    • These documents are largely irrelevant to the present investigation.
    • Making a large profit is irrelevant to us - the important thing is to make the book available to the largest possible audience.

• calibrate(劃分刻度，標定)

  • to mark units of measurement on an instrument such so that it can measure accurately

    • a calibrated stick for measuring the amount of oil in an engine

第七段

Moreover , the apps themselves might change behaviour. An over-reassuring app could spur people to go out before it is safe.Privacy must be weighed against transparency, for medical reasons as well as for civil liberty . South Korea publishes detailed summaries of cases uncovered by its contact-tracers. A recent jump in cases was linked to a man who visited gay nightclubs. The resulting stream of homophobic invective could deter others from co-operating with the authorities , electronically or otherwise.

重点词汇

• reassuring(令人感到寬慰的)

  • making you feel less worried

    • He smiled at me in a reassuring way.
    • The two men who called at the house were well-spoken and had a reassuring manner.
    • It's very reassuring to know that you'll be there.

• spur(激勵，鞭策)

  • to encourage an activity or development or make it happen faster

    • Rising consumer sales have the effect of spurring the economy to faster growth.
    • Spurred (on) by her early success, she went on to write four more novels in rapid succession.

• privacy(隱私權)

  • someone's right to keep their personal matters and relationships secret

    • The new law is designed to protect people's privacy.
    • I hate sharing a bedroom - I never get any privacy.

• transparency(透明性，透明)

  • the characteristic of being easy to see through

    • The old-fashioned type of plastic lacked transparency.

• liberty(自由)

  • the freedom to live as you wish or go where you want

    • For most citizens, liberty means the freedom to practise their religious or political beliefs.
    • Hundreds of political prisoners are to be given their liberty (= released from prison).

• homophobic

  • involving a fear or dislike of gay people:

    • involving a fear or dislike of gay people:
    • His critics say he is racist and homophobic.

• invective

  • criticism that is very forceful, unkind, and often rude:

    • A stream of invective from some sectors of the press continues to assail the government.

• deter(阻止）

  • to prevent someone from doing something or to make someone less enthusiastic about doing something

    • These measures are designed to deter an enemy attack.
    • High prices are deterring many young people from buying houses.

第八段

The efforts of some governments , including those of Britain , France and Germany, have been complicated by Apple and Google, which between them hold sway over almost every smartphone on the planet. The firms have made privacy a priority, deeming that users will be anonymous and information stored mostly on devices rather than uploaded to central repositories . That has infuriated many officials. Centralisation offers advantages , they say . And in any case, why should coders in Silicon Valley overrule decisions made by medical experts and elected officials?

重点词汇

• complicated（複雜的）

  • involving a lot of different parts, in a way that is difficult to understand:

    • complicated instructions
    • I had to fill in this really complicated form.
    • The rules are rather complicated to follow.

• hold sth over

  • to delay something

    • The nomination was held over until the Senate adjourned.

• priority（优先考虑的事）

  • something that is very important and must be dealt with before other things:

    • The management did not seem to consider office safety to be a priority.
    • My first/top priority is to find somewhere to live.

• deeming（認為，視為,）

  • to consider or judge something in a particular way:

    • The area has now been deemed safe.
    • We will provide help whenever you deem it appropriate.
    • The story was deemed too controversial and so they spiked it.

• anonymous（匿名的）

  • made or done by someone whose name is not known or not made public:

    • The money was donated by an anonymous benefactor.
    • Police said an anonymous caller warned that a bomb was about to go off.

• repositories

  • a place where things are stored and can be found

    • She's a repository of knowledge about our family history.

• infuriated（使大怒）

  • to make someone extremely angry:

    • His sexist attitude infuriates me.

• centralisation

  • the act or process of centralizing a system, company, country, etc. (= removing authority to one central place):

    • What I see is more and more centralization of power into the hands of the President.
    • He protested against the centralization of �government.

• overrule（否決，駁回）

  • (of a person who has official authority) to decide against a decision that has already been made:

    • In tennis, the umpire can overrule the line judge.

第九段

As a rule , governments are right to worry about the unaccountable power of the tech giants. In this case, though, Google's and Apple's cautious approach is sensible. In a pandemic , experimenting with novel public-health responses such as mass surveillance should be done carefully , in case it subsequently turns out to have nasty side-effects. With high-tech software, caution is as valuable as it is with pills and potions.

sensible（理智的, 明智的）

• based on or acting on good judgment and practical ideas or understanding

  • a sensible answer/approach/compromise/option
  • a sensible person

surveillance（監視，盯梢）

• the careful watching of a person or place,

  • The police have kept the nightclub under surveillance because of suspected illegal drug activity.
  • More banks are now installing surveillance cameras.

nasty（糟糕的, 令人不快的）

• bad or very unpleasant:

  • bad or very unpleasant:
  • There's a nasty smell in here.
  • He had a nasty cut above the eye.

side-effects（副作用）

• an unpleasant effect of a drug that happens in addition to the main effect:

  • Does this drug have any side effects?

pill（药, 药丸）

• a small solid piece of medicine that a person swallows without chewing (= crushing with the teeth):

  • a sleeping pill
  • a vitamin pill

potions（魔水, 藥劑,）

• a liquid that is believed to have a magical effect on someone who drinks it:

  • a love/magic potion