介绍:
1 / Student-don relationship ban
牛津大学拟禁止师生恋
Oxford University is considering banning romantic and sexual contact between academics and students. The proposed shake-up would see the institution become only the second top UK university to outlaw such relationships. Any don found flouting the policy, which would apply to any academic directly teaching or supervising a student, could face sanctions, ranging from a formal warning to dismissal.
牛津大学正考虑颁布新规，禁止教师与学生发展恋爱关系以及发生性接触。牛津大学或将成为第二个明令禁止"师生恋"的英国顶级高校。新规将针对所有授课教师或学生导师，若违反禁令，轻者会被正式警告，重者将被解雇。
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There are fears that an unofficial acceptance of romantic liaisons between staff and students puts women at risk of harassment. There are also concerns that students' grades could suffer if they complain. Earlier this year, University College London became the first Russell Group university to introduce a ban on romantic and sexual relationships between lecturers and their students.
一些人担心若学校默许师生之间存在亲密关系，女性会有被骚扰的风险，还有人担心举报教师性骚扰行为的学生的成绩可能会受到影响。今年早些时候，伦敦大学学院成为罗素盟校中第一所禁止师生恋的大学。
重点词汇
1、shake-up
英 /ˈʃeɪk ʌp/ 美 /ˈʃeɪk ʌp/
n. (组织) 大改组; (体系) 剧变；动摇
2、outlaw
英 /ˈaʊtlɔː/ 美 /ˈaʊtlɔː/
n. 逃犯，歹徒，罪犯；亡命之徒；被剥夺法律保护者
v. 宣布…为非法；禁止，取缔；将……放逐；剥夺……的法律保护
3、dismissal
英 /dɪsˈmɪsl/ 美 /dɪsˈmɪsl/
n. 解雇；免职；轻视
4、harassment
英 /ˈhærəsmənt; həˈræsmənt/ 美 /həˈræsmənt,ˈhærəsmənt/
n. 骚扰；烦恼
2/ Global vaccine supply increases
世卫将获近20亿剂疫苗
The WHO announced that COVAX has agreements in place to access nearly 2 billion doses of several promising vaccine candidates on Friday, and first deliveries are anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2021. The initiative said it aims to deliver 1.3 billion doses of approved vaccines next year to 92 eligible low- and middle-income economies.
世界卫生组织12月18日宣布，已与多个疫苗研发或生产机构就疫苗采购事宜签署协议或意向声明，保证世卫组织主导的COVAX全球新冠疫苗计划将能获得近20亿剂新冠疫苗，这些疫苗最快将从明年一季度起提供给参与计划的各经济体。COVAX明年将向92个符合条件的中低收入经济体提供13亿剂获批疫苗。
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All 190 economies that have signed up to COVAX will “have access to doses in the first half of 2021, with first deliveries anticipated to begin in the first quarter of 2021 – contingent upon regulatory approvals and countries’ readiness for delivery,” it said in a statement. New agreements announced on Friday include an advance purchase agreement with AstraZeneca for 170 million doses, and a memorandum of understanding for 500 million doses from Johnson & Johnson.
COVAX在一份声明中表示，所有190个签署了COVAX协议的经济体“将在2021年上半年获得疫苗，根据监管机构的批准和各国准备就绪情况，预计2021年第一季度开始交付首批疫苗。”12月18日宣布的新协议包括与阿斯利康签订的1.7亿剂疫苗预购协议，以及与强生签署的5亿剂疫苗谅解备忘录。
重点词汇
1、readiness
英 /ˈredinəs/ 美 /ˈredinəs/
n. 敏捷，迅速；准备就绪；愿意
2、memorandum
英 /ˌmeməˈrændəm/ 美 /ˌmeməˈrændəm/
n. 备忘录；便笺
复数 memorandums或memoranda
3/ 2020 deadliest year in US history
美死亡人数为历史之最
This is the deadliest year in US history, with deaths expected to top 3 million for the first time - due mainly to the coronavirus pandemic. Final mortality data for this year will not be available for months. But preliminary numbers suggest that the US is on track to see more than 3.2 million deaths this year, or at least 400,000 more than in 2019. US deaths increase most years, so some annual rise in fatalities is expected.
今年是美国历史上死亡人数最多的一年，预计将首次超过300万——造成这一局面的主要原因是****疫情。今年的死亡率最终数据要数月后才会公布。但初步数据显示，美国今年死亡人数可能达到320万以上，比2019年至少多出40万。美国的死亡人数逐年增多，因此今年死亡人数上升可以预见。
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But the 2020 numbers amount to a jump of about 15percent, and could go higher once all the deaths from this month are counted. That would mark the largest single-year percentage leap since 1918. Life expectancy for 2019 rose by about six weeks to 78.8 years, but it could end up dropping as much as three full years in 2020, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The coronavirus pandemic has become the third leading cause of death, behind only heart disease and cancer.
但2020年的死亡人数将增长约15%，如果加上本月的死亡人数，数字可能会更高。这将是1918年以来美国死亡人数增长幅度最大的一年。美国疾病控制和预防中心表示，美国2019年人均预期寿命增加了大约6周，至78.8岁。但美国2020年人均预期寿命最多可能减少3年。****已成为今年美国人口第三大死因，仅次于心脏病和癌症。
重点词汇
1、deadliest
adj. 最致命的；致死的
4/ Bottled air for homesick expats
英推出罐装空气解乡愁
Over in the UK, a fast-spreading new coronavirus variant has led to several countries around the world imposing bans and restrictions on travel to the nation, meaning a large number of residents currently abroad will not be able to return any time soon. However, relocation website My Baggage has dreamed up a special gift for homesick residents that's quite literally a breath of fresh air. The company is currently selling bottles of "authentic" air from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to provide UK residents overseas with the scent of home.
在英国，一种迅速蔓延的新冠病毒新变种导致世界各地的多个国家对英国实施了旅行禁令和限制令，这意味着许多海外游子短期内将不能回国。然而，海外搬迁公司网站"我的行李"为思乡游子想出了一份特别的礼物，没错，就是一口新鲜空气。该公司目前正在出售来自英格兰、苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰的"正宗"罐装空气，让海外的英国人可以闻到家乡的气息。
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Priced at ￡25, the 500 milliliter bottle comes with a cork stopper, so the recipient can keep opening it up and taking in the aroma whenever they need a pick-me-up. Aside from the four UK countries, the company also can take on special requests for any other specific UK locations. Meanwhile, special limited edition bottles featuring air taken from the London Underground or a fish and chip shop in Norfolk are also available.
这款罐装空气定价25英镑(约合人民币221元)，容量500毫升，带有软木塞，让用户可以在需要提振精神时随时打开吸一口。除了这四个英国地区外，该公司还可以根据特别需求采集英国特定地区的空气。与此同时，该公司还出售采集自伦敦地铁或诺福克炸鱼薯条店的特别限量版罐装空气。
重点词汇
1、variant
英 /ˈveəriənt/ 美 /ˈveriənt,ˈværiənt/
n. 变体；转化
adj. 不同的；多样的
2、relocation
英 /ˌriːləʊˈkeɪʃn/ 美 /ˌriːloʊˈkeɪʃn/
n. 重新安置；再布置；变换布置
3、homesick
英 /ˈhəʊmsɪk/ 美 /ˈhoʊmsɪk/
adj. 想家的；思乡病的
4、authentic
英 /ɔːˈθentɪk/ 美 /ɔːˈθentɪk/
adj. 真正的，真实的；可信的
5、milliliter
美 /ˈmɪlɪˌliːtər/
n. 毫升
6、cork
英 /kɔːk/ 美 /kɔːrk/
n. 软木橡树皮；瓶塞；软木塞
vt. 用瓶塞塞住
7、stopper
英 /ˈstɒpər/ 美 /ˈstɑːpər/
n. 塞子；阻塞物；制止者；妨碍物
vt. 用塞子塞住
