Paragraph 10:
Governments can do a lot to put self-slaughter a little further out of reach. The most toxic pesticides account for one-seventh of suicides. When South Korea outlawed paraquat in 2011, it saw a decline in suicides but no drop in agricultural output. Requiring potentially lethal medicines to be sold only in small quantities, as some countries have done with aspirin and paracetamol, has also been shown to help. But the most effective measure of all is limiting access to guns. Half of all Americans who commit suicide shoot themselves, and the overall rate in America is about twice that in Britain, which has strict gun controls. The difference in gun ownership largely accounts for the state-by-state variation in suicide rates.
段落解析:
本段主要是说政府的举措可以使得自杀行为不是那么容易实现。主要从控制剧毒农药的禁售、致命药物的小剂量出售和枪支管制方面,通过举出韩国、美国、英国的例子来重点阐述的。
词句精读:
outlaw,动词,意思是“将…定为非法,全面禁止”,to completely stop something by making it illegal. 本文中是指韩国2011年全面禁止paraquat,paraquat不知道是什么没关系,因为上文提到了,是“the most toxic pesticide”。outlaw还有个名词形式,意思是“不法之徒,逃犯”,someone who has done something illegal, and who is hiding in order to avoid punishment.
比如我们想表达,这项法案将全面禁用几种枪支,就可以说:
The bill would have outlawed several types of guns.
再比如我们想说,罗宾汉是英国最著名的亡命之徒,就可以说:
Robin Hood is Britain's most famous outlaw.
state-by-state,各州的,本文中的理解是“对于枪支持有情况的不同很大程度上造成各州自身率的不同”,也就是说枪支持有率高的州自杀率也高。除了可以说state-by-state,还可以延伸来说“country-by-country”(各国的)或是“industry-by-industry”(各行业的),经常使用的表达是“on a state-by-state/country-by-country/industry-by-industry basis”表示“以州/国家/行业为单位”。
比如我们想表达,“不应逐个产业或逐个国家地来处理,因为这样做往往会促使产业转移到不采取任何改变措施的国家”,就可以说:
It should not be done on an industry-by-industry or country-by-country basis because that tends to encourage industry to move to a country that hasn’t implemented any changes.
Paragraph 11:
The media can also do their bit. Suicide is strangely contagious. When Robin Williams, an actor, killed himself in 2014, his method and motives were reported in great detail. Researchers calculated that there were 1,800 more suicides than would otherwise have been expected in the next four months, often using the same method. Journalists should cover such tragedies in less detail, and with more restraint.
段落解析:
本段是说导致自杀的发生,媒体也要负一定的责任。因为自杀奇怪的传染性,用演员Robin Williams自杀的例子来说明,他去世的那段时间,由于媒体过于细节性质的报道,导致采取和他相同方式自杀的案件明显增多。建议记者报道时要少细节,多约束。
词句精读:
do one's bit,意思是“尽一份力”,本文指媒体的因素也起到一定的作用。本篇文章中其他段落还用“play a role,is also a factor”等来表示“起到一定的作用”。还可以延伸说,do my bit,就是“尽自己微薄之力”。
比如我们想表达,我将努力工作为把中国建成世界上最强大的国家之一而做出自己应有的贡献,就可以说:
I will work hard and do my bit in building China into one of the strongest countries in the world.
restraint,意思是“限制”, rules or conditions that limit or restrict someone or something. 本文是指记者在报道像自杀这样的悲剧时应当少披露细节,多加些限制。
比如我们想表达,政府对公司合并实行了限制,就可以说:
The government has imposed restraints on corporate mergers.
Paragraph 12:
For a few people—those who are terminally ill, in severe pain and determined to die—suicide may be the least terrible option. In such circumstances, and with firm safeguards, doctors should be allowed to assist. But many of the 800,000 people who kill themselves each year act in haste, and more could be saved with better health services, labour-market policies and curbs on booze, guns, pesticide and pills. America, in particular, could spare much pain by learning from the progress elsewhere.
段落解析:
本段是说对于重症患者,通过自杀来缓解疼痛也是不得已而为之的选择。在这种特殊情况下,医生应当提供帮助,也就是提供“安乐死”。最后一句话精炼地总结全文,通过更好的医疗服务、劳工市场的政治、控酒、控枪、控杀虫剂、控药等方式,可以减少自杀率。美国,学学其他国家吧!
词句精读:
act in haste,意思是“采取匆忙的措施,仓促行事”,本文是指那些仓促之中采取自杀方式的人们。haste本身是指“匆忙,仓促”,great speed in doing something, especially because you do not have enough time. 有句表达“haste makes waste”,欲速则不达。
比如我们想表达,不宜操之过急,就可以说:
You should not act in haste.
spare...pain,意思是“免除...痛苦”,文末这句是指美国应该向其他国家学习一下来减少自杀率升高带来的痛苦,其实是有戏谑美国的成分在其中。spare除了和pain,还可以和trouble/difficulty连用,“spare sb the trouble/difficulty/pain etc (of doing sth)”的表达,是指“免除某人(做某事)的麻烦/困难/痛苦”,to prevent someone from having to experience something difficult or unpleasant.
比如我们想表达,我不想让他们费事给我买礼物了,就可以说:
I wanted to spare them the trouble of buying me a present.
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