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Erasing the Borders 消弭国界

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

In a makeshift hospital bed, young Magda lies in pain. Her country is at war, and she has recently survived a terrible bombing of her village. She will live, but her bruises and cuts need attention. Later, she falls asleep, and when she wakes, she sees the kind doctors who have been treating her for several days. She wants to thank the doctors. However, she has learned that they don’t speak her language.

年轻的玛格达痛苦地躺在临时搭建的医院病床上，她的国家正处于战乱，而她也刚从她村子里一件可怕的爆炸事件中侥幸地活了下来。她不会死，但她的伤势需要治疗，后来她睡着了，醒来时她看到那些治疗她好几天的好心医生。她很想谢谢那些医生，却发现他们讲的是不同的语言。

The doctors come from far-off countries. In fact, they are members of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), a volunteer group that operates in some of the poorest and most dangerous countries in the world. MSF doctors don’t care which side of the war Magda is on, nor the color of her skin, her language, or religion. To them, children like Magda are simply patients in need of care.

那些医生来自远方的国家，他们其实是「无国界医师」组织的成员，这个组织是一个世界上一些最贫穷及最不安全国家内运作的志工团体。无国界医师们不在乎玛格达在这场战争是站在哪一边，也不在乎她的肤色、语言或宗教信仰。对他们而言，玛格达这样的孩子就只是需要照料的病人。

MSF was created in 1971 by a group of French doctors led by Bernard Kouchner. Today, the organization is international, operating in more than 80 countries. The goal of MSF is twofold: first, to provide emergency relief in countries experiencing war, famine or natural disasters; second, to help poor countries develop proper health care systems. MSF doctors work with local governments to vaccinate children and train local health care workers.

无国界医师是由一群以伯纳库什那为首的法国医生在1971年创立的。如今，它已是个国际性的组织，并有在80多个国家运作。无国界医师的宗旨有两个:第一是提供紧急救援给那些经历战争、饥荒或天灾的国家；第二是协助贫穷国家研发适当的医疗保健系统。无国界医师的医生会与当地政府合作，为孩童注射疫苗及训练当地的医疗保健人员。

Every year thousands of volunteers join MSF teams. Thanks to them, millions of poor people have received the health care they so desperately needed.

每年有数千人志愿加入无国界医师组织。多亏了他们，无数的穷人已得到他们迫切需要的保健照顾。

Vocabulary

单词发音

volunteer [͵vɑlənˋtɪr] n. 自愿参加者，志愿者，义工

emergency [ɪˋmɝdʒənsɪ] n. 紧急情况

relief [rɪˋlif] n.（痛苦，负担等的）缓和，减轻

desperately [ˋdɛspərɪtlɪ] adv.【口】极度地

More Information

单词发音

makeshift [ˋmek͵ʃɪft] adj. 临时代用的

at war 处于交战状态

bruises and cuts  擦伤和划破

bruise [bruz] n. 擦伤

far-off [ˋfɑrˋɔf] adj.（时间、地点等）遥远的

in need of 需要, 急需...

twofold [ˋtuˋfold] adj. 有两部分的，双重的

famine [ˋfæmɪn] n. 饥荒

vaccinate [ˋvæksn͵et] v. 给……注射疫苗

课文讲解

The doctors from an organization called Médecins Sans Frontièresare often the first on the scene in countries suffering from war, famine, or natural disasters. They distribute food, clean water, and blankets to anyone in need. They bandage wounds, perform surgery, and dispense medicine. They may even be called upon to counsel people who have been traumatized by the disaster around them, such as the victims of last December’s tsunami.

来自无国界医师这个组织的医生通常是最先抵达遭受战乱、饥荒或天灾之苦的国家的人。他们将食物、干净的水及毯子发给每位急需的人，他们也包扎伤口、执行手术及配药。他们甚至可能被召去为那些因灾难受创的人提供咨询，好比说去年十二月大海啸的灾民们。

The volunteers at MSF are truly inspiring people. As highly trained and educated professionals, they could make a lot of money in their own countries. But instead, they volunteer to live and work in places that can offer no financial reward. MSF workers are also brave. The places they go to are among the most dangerous in the world. Volunteers face killer diseases, poor food and water supplies, and wars. Accidents and deaths are not common, but they do occur. Just last year five MSF workers died in an ambush in Afghanistan.

无国界医师的志工是一群非常激励人心的人，他们是受过良好训练及高等教育的专业人士，可以在自己的国家赚多钱。相反地，他们自愿去那些无法提供任何报酬的国家居住并在那里工作。这群医生也很勇敢，去的地方都是世界上最危险的国家之一，他们会面临致命疾病、贫乏的食物与水资源，以及战争。意外事故和死亡虽不常见，但确实会发生，去年五月就有五名无国界医师成员在阿富汗境内中埋伏而死。

But still, the work goes on. In 2004, MSF provided around $400 million worth of aid around the world. The money to fund these projects mostly came from private citizens. Only a little came from the world’s governments. After all, Médecins Sans Frontièresmeans DoctorsWithout Borders. When you work for them, you work for humankind.

但救援工作依然持续着，在2004年，无国界医师提供了全球价值约四亿美金的援助。这些援助的资金多半来自民间团体，只有一些是来自世界各国的政府。毕竟，无国界医师指的是「没有」国界的医生，当你为他们付出时，你其实是为全人类付出。

－by Trudy Lynette Barnes

Vocabulary

单词发音

distribute [dɪˋstrɪbjʊt] v. 分发；分配

surgery [ˋsɝdʒərɪ] n.（外科）手术

counsel [ˋkaʊns!] v. 提议; 忠告

reward [rɪˋwɔrd] n. 报答；报偿

More Information

单词发音

on the scene 在场; 出现

bandage [ˋbændɪdʒ] v. 用绷带包扎

dispense [dɪˋspɛns] v. 配（药），配（方）

call upon 〔正式〕要求〔某人做某事〕to make a demand or a series of demands on

traumatize [ˋtraʊmə͵taɪz] v. 使受损伤,使受精神上创伤

killer [ˋkɪlɚ] adj.  致命的 causing death or destruction

ambush [ˋæmbʊʃ] n. 埋伏；伏击

go on (指情况或状态) 继续

worth [wɝθ] n. 价值

Reading Questions

1.  The fact that Médecins Sans Frontièresdoctors are volunteers explains ____.

A.  why the doctors are brave

B.  why they are highly trained

C.  why poor countries are able to afford their service

D.  why five MSF doctors died last year

2.  Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the article?

A.  MSF doctors distribute emergency relief.

B.  Magda spent several days in hospital.

C.  Magda was unable to thank the doctor who treated her.

D.  MSF is successfully treating children with AIDS.

3.  Which of the following is TRUE about MSF doctors?

A.  They are sometimes killed in work-related accidents

B.  They work with local governments to make a good living.

C.  They only help people suffering from war.

D.  They help just poor people in France.

4.  What is the main point of the article?

A.  Médecins Sans Frontièresis a worthless organization to work for.

B.  Volunteers from Médecins Sans Frontièresdo important work around the world.

C.  Wars, famines, and natural disasters cause the most suffering in poor countries.

D.  Médecins Sans Frontièresdoesn’t need the help of world governments.

About Doctors Without Borders- Medecins Sans Frontieres

Answer