【English Corner 快樂英語角Week 222】好文趣事
文章一：
What Is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a tiny, round virus about 100 nanometers wide—so small that a thousand could fit across the width of a human hair.
Hantaviruses are a genus of viruses belonging to the Hantaviridae (formerly under Bunyaviridae) family, and primarily carried by rodents, especially mice and rats. In North America, the most common carriers of hantavirus are deer mice.
The virus is transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, or through inhalation of aerosolized particles contaminated with these excretions.
More than 50 recognized species exist worldwide, and infection can cause two distinct syndromes: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which leads to life-threatening lung and heart problems, and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), a severe disease affecting the kidneys.
1. 根據本文，下列何者敘述錯誤？
（1）全球已知的漢他病毒少於50種。
（2）漢他病毒會經由老鼠的糞便傳染。
（3）在北美，漢他病毒最常見的攜帶者是小鹿鼠。
（4）一千株漢他病毒排列等同人類頭髮的寬度。
2. 根據本文，漢他病毒的主要攜帶者（carrier）是誰？
3. 讀完本文後，你有什麼印象深刻之處？
（文章來源：英文大紀元時報）
大自然的聲音有助減輕壓力、放鬆身心，是日常安定情緒的簡單方法。（123RF）文章二：
Nature Sounds Can Provide ‘Meaningful’ Relief
Natural soundscapes are a low-cost, quick, and easy way to support basic mental well-being, Psychiatrist Saranga said.
While listening to nature sounds can benefit anyone, he noted, it can be particularly beneficial for people in big cities who don’t have many options for getting into nature or who may have mobility issues that prevent them from getting into real nature.
Nature sounds are a great way to reduce stress and help someone relax, but, he added, they are in no way meant to replace traditional mental health care for people with more significant issues, such as major depression. “They can indeed provide meaningful short-term relief and be used in conjunction with mental health treatment,” Saranga noted, but they just aren’t going to be effective on their own.
Natural soundscapes can support mental well-being in stressful situations, such as the office, or help someone unwind before bedtime, he said. “But I still encourage my patients to get into real nature when they can.”
You have to take a whole day driving to the mountains. “Even just soaking in some natural sunlight for 10 to 15 minutes in the morning, or finding a green space to sit and eat lunch, can be very beneficial,” Saranga said.
1. 根據本文，下列何者有誤？
（1）聆聽大自然的聲音對住在城市的人特別有益。
（2）大自然的聲音能單獨治癒憂鬱症。
（3）在辦公室播放大自然音樂能減輕些壓力。
（4）開車就算要花上一天才能到山裡享受大自然，也絕對值得。
2. 根據本文，如果心理健康出現較嚴重的問題，醫生Saranga建議可如何運用大自然的聲音？
3. 讀完本文，你有何感想？你也喜歡聆聽大自然的聲音嗎？你最喜歡哪些種類的聲音？理由？
（文章來源：英文大紀元時報）
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【解答】
文章一：
1. （1）
2. Hantaviruses are primarily carried by rodents, especially mice and rats.（漢他病毒主要由囓齒類動物攜帶，尤其像是鹿鼠和家鼠。）
文章二：
1. （2）
2. “They can indeed provide meaningful short-term relief and be used in conjunction with mental health treatment.” （「它們（大自然聲音）確實能提供有意義的短期緩解，並可與心理健康治療並用。」）◇
