文字稿

據英國國家統計局最新發表的數字顯示，在英格蘭和威爾士的部分地區，人們的身體健康水平從47歲就開始走下坡路。另外，對某些地區的分析結果顯示，造成健康預期壽命不均等的因素包括人們的居住地。

A baby girl born in part of Middlesbrough in the North East of England can expect to have 35 fewer years of good health than a similar girl born in a rich part of Guildford in Surrey - just 48 years compared to 83. The inequality is startling – and it's a similar story for males: a baby boy born in a deprived district of Blackpool can expect just 47 years of healthy life, while in Knightsbridge in London it's 79.

These figures come just a week after official data showed that after decades of improvement, healthy life expectancy and overall life expectancy for baby girls in the poorest ten per cent of English and Welsh households is now falling.

The problem emerges as worst in places like Stockton-on-Tees and Stoke-on-Trent, where life expectancy's fallen more than nine months in the last three years. For men, the falls have been greatest in Southend-on-Sea, Walsall and the Isle of Wight. The reasons for the falls is unclear but rising obesity rates and cuts to public spending have both been blamed.

一名出生于英格蘭東北部米德爾斯堡的女嬰和一名出生于薩里郡吉爾福德的女嬰相比，前者“較為健康地生活”時間要比后者少35年，也就是說，前者可以健康地生活48年，而后者為83年。這個地區不均等的數字是驚人的，對于男性的分析預測結果相似：一名出生于貧困地區，布萊克浦的男孩可以健康地生活47年，而對出生于倫敦騎士橋區域的男孩來說，這個數字則是79。

就在這些數據發布前一周，官方數據顯示，盡管經過幾十年的不斷改善，生活在英格蘭和威爾士最貧窮的10%家庭中的女嬰，其健康預期壽命和預期壽命都在下降。

出現這個問題最嚴重的地區是蒂斯河畔斯托克頓和斯托克城，在過去三年里，生活在那里的人們的平均壽命下降了九個多月。對于男性來說，預期壽命縮短幅度最大的地區是濱海紹森德，沃爾薩爾和懷特島。預期壽命縮短的原因尚不清楚，但肥胖率的上升和公共支出的削減都被指為潛在因素。

1. 詞匯表

inequality 不均等
startling 驚人的，令人震驚的
deprived 貧困的
decades 幾十年
emerges 出現
obesity 肥胖
blamed 被批評，被指責

2. 閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題 。

1. According to this report, a baby girl in which town will have more years of good health?

2. True or false? A baby boy born in Knightsbridge, London will have 47 years more healthy life than one who was born in Blackpool.

3. Which people are worst effected by falling healthy life expectancy figures?   

4. Name somewhere mentioned in the report where life expectancy has decreased the most.

3. 答案

1. According to this report, a baby girl in which town will have more years of good health?
A girl born in a rich part of Guildford in Surrey is expected to have 83 years of good health.

2. True or false? A baby boy born in Knightsbridge, London will have 47 years more healthy life than one who was born in Blackpool.
False. A baby boy born in a deprived district of Blackpool can expect just 47 years of healthy life, while in Knightsbridge in London it's 79.

3. Which people are worst effected by falling healthy life expectancy figures?
Healthy life expectancy and overall life expectancy for baby girls in the poorest ten per cent of English and Welsh households is now falling.

4. Name somewhere mentioned in the report where life expectancy has decreased the most.
Stockton-on-Tees and Stoke-on-Trent.