节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-01-18
难易度:High
关键字:strategic, purify, snugly, deem, particulate respirator
Hello, friends. Welcome back.
Today we are talking about Face Masks.
And earlier, we discussed where they came from.
We learned that Leonardo Da Vinci invented them in the 16th century to help
purify the air that we breathe by wearing tightly woven fabric.
We also learned that from the 19th century on, they have been working to improve
them.
Today we're going to look at where face masks are now in technology and what
uses they have.
So join us on line 14 in your Studio Classroom magazine.
(Music).
Face Masks.
Today's masks are fairly small, fitting snugly around the wearer's nose and
mouth.
Some people wear masks because their professions, such as construction,
agriculture or medicine,
expose them to particles of dust, germs or pollution that they might breathe in.
Others wear masks only in crowds, where they expect to come into contact with
lots of germs.
Other people deem masks uncomfortable and try to avoid wearing them altogether.
However, 3M's new 3M Vflex Particulate Respirator is designed for flexibility,
so the wearer can breathe and speak easily while enjoying its protection.
The hope is that more people will decide to use this type of product as one part
of a healthy lifestyle.
(Music).
Today's masks are fairly small, fitting snugly around the wearer's nose and
mouth.
So maybe they weren't like that in the first place, Ryan.
Maybe they were bigger; they have larger pieces.
But today we do see them fitting snugly on your face.
That's right. Today's masks are "snug." And that means that they fit closely
around something.
If something fits snugly or does something snugly, then maybe it's really close
or wraps around something.
We could say we wrap a baby up very snugly in their blanket.
Wrap them very tight and warm and close so they don't hurt themselves, really.
Yeah. So it's a good thing that some of these masks are so close to the face so
that they protect people either from germs or from dirt.
That's right.
If you think about it, if a mask did not fit snugly, there would be edges that
the air could get through.
And what we're trying to protect ourselves from could get in anyways.
Yeah. So it's really a good thing that they are designed that way.
Well, we see some people wear masks because of their professions.
What are some of those professions, Kaylah?
Well, such as construction, which I mentioned earlier, agriculture or medicine.
These people expose them to particles and dust, germs or pollution that they
might breathe in, so they wear these masks to help with that.
Yeah. And you can see pictures of some of these people in your Studio Classroom
magazine wearing these masks to protect them from certain things in the air when
they're doing their jobs.
That's right. All of these careers and actually a lot of other careers put you
in a place where you can be breathing in harmful things.
That can be dust, or even just certain chemical smells.
And as we see, with doctors, germs.
So it is important.
Yeah. Now Kaylah, obviously um, construction is really dirty.
People can want to wear a mask; or medicine, they want to protect from germs.
What about agriculture?
Well, agriculture is working with plants and farming.
So that would be maybe a farmer who is on a tractor driving through the fields,
there'd be a lot of dust around him.
Or even the spread they put on plants to keep away bugs and insects, so... it is
good in this environment also to wear a mask.
Yeah, you're right. That'll be a very good idea to wear a mask in any of these
jobs where the air might not really be clean.
You know, others wear masks only in crowds, where they expect to come into
contact with lots of germs.
That's actually a really good idea.
You hear a lot about how sicknesses can spread easily in places where people are
close together.
So if you don't want to get sick, and you have to be around a lot of people, you
should probably wear a mask.
That's right. We can breathe out, we can cough out, we can sneeze out all kinds
of germs.
So it might be a good precaution.
That's right.
Now other people deem masks uncomfortable and try to avoid wearing them when
possible.
Now if you "deem" something, what does that mean, Kaylah?
That means you consider it or you judge it as that.
Now I can understand that when you have a mask on it's uncomfortable because you
breathe in your own air multiple times.
So that person would judge or think or deem that the mask is uncomfortable.
Yeah, that's true.
And of course, I actually thought that too.
The first time I put on a mask in Asia, I thought this is weird; it's in my way.
And I would forget it's there and tried to take a drink.
And so I sometimes decided just not to wear it.
Well, I know for myself, sometimes I have to wear glasses.
And if I'm wearing a face mask and my glasses, the mask makes the hot air from
my breath go up and put a fog on my glasses so I can't see.
Yeah. Now that can be a little uncomfortable sometimes.
Absolutely. It's not very comfortable.
However, 3M's new 3M Vflex Particulate Respirator is designed for flexibility.
OK. Now that sounds good.
A "particulate" is referring to very, very small pieces of dirt.
But what is a "respirator," Kaylah?
Well, a "respirator" is a device.
It can be a machine; or in this case, it is a mask that you... that is used to
help with air, to help breathe air.
If you are sick in the hospital, they might put you on a respirator to help your
lungs inflate.
That's right, it helps you breathe.
Or in this case, 3M's Vflex technology helps keep out particulates, those pieces
of dirt in the air.
And it can... the wearer can breathe and speak easily while enjoying its
protection.
The hope is that more people will decide to use this type of product as one part
of a healthy lifestyle.
So 3M is giving us options for good face masks.
That's right. We want to make sure you have a healthy lifestyle and wear your
face mask when you're sick.
Well, that's all the time we have for today.
First, let's visit the Chat Room.
Hey, Bryan.
Hi, Ken.
Can you believe how many people have the flu?
Half the people around me are either coughing or sneezing.
I know! So many of my coworkers are on sick leave today.
So how are you doing?
You seem pretty healthy.
Yes, myself, I'm doing pretty well.
Do you want to know my secret to staying well?
Yeah, tell me.
Well, if you're afraid of getting the flu, don a mask.
Down a mask?
I don't get it.
No, not "down," don, d-o-n.
To "don" means to wear or put on.
Oh. So to don a mask is to put on a mask?
Yes, that's right.
So why didn't you just say "put on a mask"?
Well, Ken, I was just having some fun as "don" is used mostly in formal
situations.
A person doesn't "don" clothing on a daily basis.
Right, we "put on" clothing.
But for example, a priest would don his clerical gowns.
Or a classical actor would don his or her costume.
The queen dons her crown.
It's a word saved for that kind of putting on clothing.
But you were using it in a fun way?
Yes. One might use it in a fun way to say, "I donned my best suit to go to that
important meeting." And people would know right away you were joking,
and that the meeting wasn't really that important.
I see.
Well, I think I should get my hands on a mask so I can don it.
Yes, Ken. That's a good idea.
(Chinese).
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And I guess it's time for us to say goodbye.
Take care and I'll see you next time.
One advantage to the Vflex respirator mask is that it's designed to fit
different size faces, faces with small noses and large noses like mine.
Now a question we've asked before here at Studio Classroom is:
What do you do when you're sick but not sick enough to stay home?
Well, you can wear a mask.
And that's one thing I like about living here in Asia is that if a sick person
must go out to the office or to school or somewhere in public, he or she will
often wear a mask.
It's very considerate of them to think of others and prevent their sickness from
spreading.
So thanks, everyone.
I appreciate that.
Hey, have a great day, and we'll see you all next time.
Bye-bye.