短暂的相遇 也能是一条救命绳索 Life-Saving Power of Chance Meetings
Life-Saving Power of Chance Meetings
#克漏字 #心灵·疗愈 #健康
11/4 解析英语
作者 David J. Hurfurt
阅读时间 10分钟
听讲解 听朗读
本图文出处:
https://www.ivy.com.tw/newsLetter/an...071014135355498MP3:
短暂的相遇 也能是一条救命绳索 Life-Saving Power of Chance Meetings
就在她准备迈出人生的最后一步时，一位陌生人接近她，并提出了一个意料之外的请求：「不好意思，你能帮我拍张照片吗？」
目录 / Tips & Analysis / More to Learn / 中文翻译(& 答案)
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Billy Lezra stood on the edge of a train platform, with her heart pounding and her mind clouded by despair. At 23, she faced her mother’s suicide attempt and spiraled into depression and alcohol addiction. She saw no way out, and just as she was about to take the final step, a stranger __1__ her with an unexpected request: “Excuse me, but would you mind taking my picture?”
This simple, unforeseen meeting was enough to pull Billy back from the brink. __2__ that fateful day, Billy has been on a journey of recovery and discovery, determined to understand what drives people to the edge and how to bring them back.
Billy’s research reveals startling statistics. The child of a parent who has tried to take their own life is five times more likely to develop suicidal __3__ than the child of a parent with no history of self-harm. Also, the likelihood of someone with an alcohol use disorder attempting suicide is 120 times greater than that of someone who is not __4__ alcohol. Other factors include depression, life crises, financial problems, and chronic pain.
According to the World Health Organization, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15-29. While many charities strive to prevent it, Billy’s story shows that sometimes, all it takes is __5__ to stop a tragedy from happening. Now, Billy comes up to lonely or depressed individuals and offers to do some small things for them. This simple act often brings a smile and a moment of connection, reminding us of the power we all have to change a life.
1. (A) observed (B) approached (C) informed (D) embarrassed
2. (A) Through (B) Until (C) Since (D) On
3. (A) tendencies (B) possessions (C) resemblances (D) capacities
4. (A) appealing to (B) beneficial for (C) ignorant of (D) dependent on
5. (A) a random encounter (B) a brief vacation
(C) a comforting thought (D) a polite greeting
↓ 完整文章版本（无挖空）
Billy Lezra stood on the edge of a train platform, with her heart pounding and her mind clouded by despair. At 23, she faced her mother’s suicide attempt and spiraled into depression and alcohol addiction. She saw no way out, and just as she was about to take the final step, a stranger approached her with an unexpected request: “Excuse me, but would you mind taking my picture?”
This simple, unforeseen meeting was enough to pull Billy back from the brink. Since that fateful day, Billy has been on a journey of recovery and discovery, determined to understand what drives people to the edge and how to bring them back.
Billy’s research reveals startling statistics. The child of a parent who has tried to take their own life is five times more likely to develop suicidal tendencies than the child of a parent with no history of self-harm. Also, the likelihood of someone with an alcohol use disorder attempting suicide is 120 times greater than that of someone who is not dependent on alcohol. Other factors include depression, life crises, financial problems, and chronic pain.
According to the World Health Organization, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among people aged 15-29. While many charities strive to prevent it, Billy’s story shows that sometimes, all it takes is a random encounter to stop a tragedy from happening. Now, Billy comes up to lonely or depressed individuals and offers to do some small things for them. This simple act often brings a smile and a moment of connection, reminding us of the power we all have to change a life.
单字片语整理
Words in Use
●
pound [paʊnd]
vt. & vi. 猛击，连续重击
n. 英镑（货币单位，缩写为 £）（= pound sterling）； 磅（重量单位，缩写为 lb）
●
despair [dɪˋspɛr]
●
suicide [ˋsuə͵saɪd]
n. 自杀
●
spiral [ˋspaɪrəl]
n. . 螺旋
vi. 螺旋下降 (飞机以螺旋形状向下坠落)
●
depression [dɪˋprɛʃən]
n. 沮丧；忧郁症；（经济）萧条，不景气
●
addiction [əˋdɪkʃən]
n. 上瘾
n. . 上瘾（与介词 to 并用）
●
unforeseen [͵ʌnforˋsin]
a. 预料之外的
●
fateful [ˋfetfəl]
a. 灾难性的
●
statistics [stəˋtɪstɪks]
n. 统计学（不可数）
●
likelihood [ˋlaɪklɪ͵hʊd]
n. 可能性
●
chronic [ˋkrɑnɪk]
a. 慢性的
●
depressed [dɪˋprɛst]
a. 沮丧的
●
drive [draɪv]
vt. 迫使；驱动
vt. & vi. 开车
n. 驾车路程；干劲（此意不可数）
Extra Words
●
startling [ˋstɑrt!ɪŋ]
a. 令人惊讶的
●
a chance meeting 偶然相遇
Practical Phrases
●
be in despair 陷入绝望
Paula was in despair when her husband left her for another woman.
老公跟别的女人跑了之后，宝拉陷入了绝望。
●
drive sb to + 地方 开车载某人到某地
I drive my son to school every day.
我每天开车送我儿子上学。
●
take one’s own life 自杀
The criminal took his own life en route to the police station.
该罪犯在前往警局的路上自杀了。
●
strive to + V 努力要……
The coach encouraged his team to strive to win the championship.
教练鼓励他的球队要努力争取冠军。
●
come up to sb （为了攀谈而）走到某人跟前
The stranger came up to me and asked me how to get to the train station.
那个陌生人走到我跟前来问我火车站要怎么去。
Tips & Analysis
1. She saw no way out, and just as she was about to take the final step, a stranger approached her with an unexpected request: “Excuse me, but would you mind taking my picture?”
理由
空格后提到，那名陌生人提出了一个请求，可知那个人应是「接近」比莉以提出请求，故 (B) 项应为正选。
2. Since that fateful day, Billy has been on a journey of recovery and discovery, determined to understand what drives people to the edge and how to bring them back.
理由
空格前一句提到与该陌生人的意外相遇将比莉从边缘带了回来，而本句后半时态为现在完成式，可知应选 (C) Since 与其并用，表「自」那命运的一天「以来」，比莉踏上了一段康复和探索之旅。
3. The child of a parent who has tried to take their own life is five times more likely to develop suicidal tendencies than the child of a parent with no history of self-harm.
理由
空格前提到比莉决心研究人们是如何被逼到边缘，且她的研究揭露了惊人的统计数据，可推测本句说明的应是与自杀「倾向」有关，也就是比起父母没有自残史的孩子，父母曾试图自杀的孩子发展出自杀「倾向」的可能性高出了五倍，故选 (A)。
4. Also, the likelihood of someone with an alcohol use disorder attempting suicide is 120 times greater than that of someone who is not dependent on alcohol.
理由
本句前半提到的是有酗酒问题的人，可知其应是与没有酒精「依赖」的人相比，而前者试图自杀的可能性是比后者高出一百二十倍，故选 (D)。
5. While many charities strive to prevent it, Billy’s story shows that sometimes, all it takes is a random encounter to stop a tragedy from happening.
理由
本文中的比莉原先想要结束自己的生命，一位陌生人却打断了她的思绪，进而拯救了她，可知她的故事应是显示出，有时只需要一次「偶然的相遇」就能阻止一场悲剧的发生，故选 (A)。
More to Learn
edge n. 边缘
• The castle was built on the edge of a steep cliff.
那座城堡建在陡峭的悬崖边上。
下面再介绍几个表「边缘」的字，有时可互换使用：
a. brink n.（事情发生的）边缘
• Lisa is definitely on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
丽莎肯定是濒临精神崩溃的边缘。
b. brim n.（容器的）边缘
• My glass is filled to the brim with juice.
果汁已经满到我的玻璃杯杯缘。
c. margin n. 边缘；页边的空白处
• Timmy wrote his contact information in the margin.
提米在页边空白处写下联络资讯。
d. rim n.（圆形物体的）边缘；框边
• The rim of the glass cracked when Ken poured hot water into it.
阿肯将热水倒进玻璃杯时，杯缘就裂掉了。
e. verge n. 边缘；边际
• The company was on the verge of collapse due to poor management.
这间公司因为管理不当而濒临倒闭。
f. on the edge / brink / brim / verge of...
在……的边缘；濒临……
• Many rare animals are on the edge of extinction.
很多稀有动物濒临绝种。
中文翻译(& 答案)
比莉‧莱斯拉站在火车月台的边缘，她的心跳加速，思绪被绝望所笼罩。在二十三岁时，她面临了母亲意图自杀的状况后，陷入忧郁和酗酒的漩涡中。她看不到出路，就在她准备迈出人生的最后一步时，一位陌生人接近她，并提出了一个意料之外的请求：「不好意思，你能帮我拍张照片吗？」
这简单而意外的相遇足以将比莉从边缘拉回来。自那命运的一天以来，比莉踏上了一段康复和探索之旅，决心要了解是什么把人们逼到边缘，以及该如何把他们带回来。
比莉的研究揭露了惊人的统计数据。比起父母没有自残史的孩子，父母曾试图自杀的孩子发展出自杀倾向的可能性高出了五倍。此外，比起没有酒精依赖的人，有酗酒问题的人试图自杀的可能性高出一百二十倍。其他因素还包括忧郁症、生活危机、经济问题和慢性疼痛。
根据世界卫生组织的数据，自杀是十五至二十九岁人群的第四大死因。尽管许多慈善机构努力防止自杀，但比莉的故事显示出，有时只需要一次偶然的相遇就能阻止一场悲剧的发生。现在，比莉会接近孤独或抑郁的人，并主动提出帮他们做一些小事。这个简单的举动常常会带来一抹微笑和片刻的连结，提醒着我们每个人都有改变生命的力量。
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