节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-08-24
难易度:High
关键字:ditch, pedestrian, exclude, fatal, surveillance, archive
OK. Welcome back, everybody.
If you are like me, then you like to listen to your iPod while you exercise.
You listen to inspirational podcasts, motivational music,
or educational English lessons to help take your mind off the pain you're
putting your body through.
But doing that, according to our lesson today, could create a problem.
Why do we need to be extra alert when we wear headphones?
Let's look at some more statistics down on line 11.
Study suggests Hazards of Wearing Headphones Outside.
Cases in which people were using mobile phones (including hands-free devices)
were excluded.
Over the years the number of cases increased, from 16 in 2004 and 2005 to 47 in
2010 and 2011.
The victims' average age was 21, and most (68 percent) were male.
The majority (67 percent) were under the age of 30.
Most (55 percent) were hit by trains, and 70 percent of the crashes, most of
which were in urban areas, were fatal.
(Music).
All right, friends.
So between 2004 and 2011 there have been 116 cases where people have died or
gotten injured because they were, well,
in an accident while they were wearing headphones.
Well, cases in which people were using mobile phones, including hands-free
devices, were excluded from this study.
So this is talking specifically about wearing headphones, not using your cell
phone but just having your headphones on.
Exactly. Kaylah, they said they were even using hands-free devices.
Those were things like a headset called the Bluetooth or your headphones.
And those were not... those were excluded.
And the word "exclude" means to not include or not be a part of.
That's right. So these were not a part.
These cases - cases of using cell phones or using Bluetooth hands-free devices -
would be another study.
But this one is specifically talking about headsets.
So friends, you cannot excuse your behavior saying that it was a cell phone
issue; it's a headphones issue.
Exactly. Now over the years the number of cases has increased from 16 in 2004
and 2005 to 47 in 2010 and 2011.
I think, Ryan, that shows that we've had an increase of people wearing
headphones while they're walking around,
but also, that is an increase in the amount of accidents that do happen.
OK. Now friends, let's take a look at some more numbers here.
The average age of people in these accidents was 21.
And the most, which is 68 percent, were male, and not female.
Well, I think this kind of makes sense, Ryan.
Typically, men tend to listen to music louder on their headphones.
So it would be harder for them to hear things around them.
And if you're 21, that means you're probably listening to very loud music.
That's true.
I... I do that sometimes.
Especially when I'm exercising, I listen to louder music and I really enjoy
that.
But you're not 21.
No, I'm... I'm over 21.
OK. I'm still young, though.
Well, the age of these people was definitely considered because these are very
young people going through these accidents.
OK. The majority (67 percent) were under the age of 30.
Hmm. So most of these people are very young, they are under the age of 30.
Now most (55 percent) were hit by trains.
Oh, dear. OK.
So the majority of people running, their headphones were on and they were so
loud they couldn't even hear a train coming.
And get this, 70 percent of the crashes, most of which were in urban areas, were
fatal.
That's right.
So we said that there was only... that in these accidents, we're looking at
about 116 of them.
Now most of them, unfortunately, were not just injuries, but were fatal.
And to be "fatal" means it causes death.
Yeah. People actually did die from this.
And the majority of them, in this case, did end up dying.
And they mostly happened in urban areas.
Which makes sense because that's where you're going to have more trains coming
in and out of.
An urban area refers to a city area.
So friends, this study is looking at the safety you have wearing your headphones
while walking around in a city environment,
or even in a country environment but to be aware of your surroundings.
It... this is what we're trying to encourage.
Yes, it is.
Friends, this is very important.
Are you aware of what's going on around you?
If you are exercising, especially if you are in a city, are you wearing
headphones?
If so, do you really know what's going on, and could you hear a car if it were
coming?
Now we did talk about texting while walking.
And probably the most embarrassing thing was falling into a water fountain.
But friends, this could be fatal.
So it is incredibly important to keep your music down while walking wearing
headphones.
OK. So what can you do?
Well, join us tomorrow as we keep talking about this.
For now, let's watch the skit.
Hey! Hey, you.
You, come here.
Me?
Officer, did I do something wrong?
It's your headphones.
You might want to ditch those headphones.
What?
Ditch your headphones.
Ditch my headphones?
Yeah. Listening and walking outside can be dangerous.
Oh. Don't worry, officer. I'm fine.
But this recent study suggests headphones hazards.
Headphone hazards?
Yes. Accidents involving pedestrians wearing headphones have tripled.
Accidents have tripled?
Yes. I'm warning you, headphones can cause injury or death.
Injury or death?
Yes. According to this report, 116 cases of injury or death involve pedestrians
wearing headphones.
Yeah, but...
And the number of headphone-related incidents is increasing.
I had no idea.
Yeah. The majority of victims were under 30 and male.
I'm under 30 and male.
Well, many of the crashes were in urban areas.
Wait a second.
This is an urban area.
And most were... fatal.
Fatal?
Mmhm, fatal.
So ditch those headphones, son, while you still have a chance.
But... but.... but... I love my headphones.
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And that concludes our Language Tips today.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Bye-bye.
Studies suggest that wearing headphones outside can be a safety hazard.
Now admittedly, the numbers aren't that overwhelming.
In America, for the last 8 years or so, there was an average of one or two
accidents a month.
But don't let that fool you into thinking all is well.
With the popularity of iPods and MP3 players, accidents are on the rise.
And it's likely they'll continue to go up.
OK, everyone, please join us tomorrow for more hazards of headphones.
And if you go out with headphones today, please be safe.
Bye-bye.