The Wonders of the Dead Sea

神奇的死海

Sunny Chao

【新聞關鍵字】

1. Jordan: n. 約旦

2. Dead Sea: n.　死海

3. mud: n.　泥巴; 泥漿

4. mineral: n. 礦物; a. 礦物的

5. apply: v. 塗; 應用; 申請

6. lotion: n. 化妝水; 洗滌劑

7. cure: v. 治療

8. ailment: n. 病痛

9. illness: n. 疾病

Tourists from around the globe come to Jordan’s unique Dead Sea.

遊客從世界各地來到約旦這個獨特的死海。

But most tourists don’t come here to just laze in the sun or swim in its salty waters. What they are after is its thick black mud.

但來這裡的大部分遊客不只是在陽光下懶散的偷閒或在鹹鹹的海水中游泳。他們來這裡是為了死海那厚厚的黑泥漿。

This mud comes from the Dead Sea’s floor and is laden with Magnesium and 35 other rich minerals such as Sodium, Potassium, and Calcium.

這些泥巴在死海底層，裡面富有鎂和35種豐富的礦物質，如鈉，鉀和鈣。

When applied onto the skin, it becomes a natural lotion that helps cure skin ailments such as eczema and other illness such as rheumatism.

把這些泥巴塗在皮膚上，就變成一種天然的化妝水，可以治療像濕疹這樣的皮膚病，和其它如風濕病等疾病。

【新聞關鍵字】

10. substance: n. 物質; 本質

11. excellent: a. 出色的;傑出的

12. therapeutic: a. 有療效的; 有益於健康的

13. joint: n. 關節; 接合點

14. patient: n. 病患; a. 耐心的

15. benefit: n. 利益; 救濟金

[Zuheir Bisharat, Dermatologist]:

“All minerals in the Dead Sea, which make up 29 percent of the water, as well as other substances can be found in the mud. The mud has excellent therapeutic effect on joints. Its second benefit is cosmetics as it softens the skin and pulls it."

皮膚科醫生必沙拉特說：「死海中的礦物質，佔死海百分之二十九。在這些泥巴中還能找到其它物質。這些泥漿對關節病具有良好的療效。另一個好處是保養方面的，它具有使皮膚柔軟和拉皮的功效。」

But according to Mr. Bisharat, patients with respiratory problems can also benefit greatly from breathing by the Dead Sea.

必沙拉特先生還說，死海的空氣對有呼吸道問題的病患也很有用。

【新聞關鍵字】

16. oxygen: n. 氧氣

17. respiratory: adj. 呼吸的

18. mud therapy: n. 泥巴療法

19.chronic eczema: n. 慢性濕疹

20. side effect: n. 副作用

21. cashing in on: phr. 賺錢

[Zuheir Bisharat, Dermatologist]:

“The air from the Dead Sea is different from any other air. Do you know why? Because it’s rich in oxygen, it’s richer than any other place in the world. The higher you go up a mountain, the less the oxygen you get. We are at 415 meters below Sea Level, therefore this air is healthy and beneficial to patients with respiratory problems."

皮膚科醫生必沙拉特說：「死海的空氣和其它地方的空氣都不一樣。你知道為什麼嗎？因為它比世界上任何地方都含有更多的氧氣。你爬山爬得越高，氧氣就越少。死海在海平面415公尺以下，所以這裡的空氣對有呼吸道問題的病患很有幫助。

For this retired German patient, the mud therapy has had some good effect.

對於這位退修的德國病患來說，死海的泥巴療法確實已達到良好的效果。

[Beata, Dead Sea Clinic Patient]:

" I come here every year to treat my chronic eczema and the pain in my joints. The results are excellent, so I spend here each year from three weeks to one month. When I’m here I don’t have to use medication that gives side effects."

死海診所病人貝婭塔說：「我每年來這裡治療慢性濕疹和關節痛，效果非常好。所以我每年來這裡三個星期到一個月。我來這裡時，就不需要服用那些有副作用的藥物了。」

Local businesses are also cashing in on the Dead Sea mud. Over thirty companies produce and export Dead Sea products to the international market.

當地的商人也利用死海的泥漿賺錢。超過30家公司生產和出口死海產品到國際市場上。

本則影音新聞出處：新唐人電視台英語新聞 http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_me/2009-04-21/901106990657.html