The USA could soon be encouraging Americans to wear face masks or scarves. There has been a lot of talk about whether or not face masks are effective in helping slow down the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The government is set to encourage Americans to use homemade face coverings like cloth masks, bandanas and scarves. The WHO and other health organizations have recommended that people who are not sick do not need to wear masks or cover their face. However, other organizations say face masks can slow the spread of the virus. They point to countries like Singapore and South Korea, where people wear masks and reported infection rates are lower.
Health experts in the USA believe that wearing a mask could reduce the risk of people spreading the virus and give a little protection to those who have not contracted it. Health officials are worried that if everyone rushes out to buy masks, there may not be enough for nurses, doctors and other key workers. They also say that a mask could make the problem worse because people might feel safe wearing one and mix more with other people. Another thing health experts are worried about is that homemade masks are insufficient to prevent people from catching the virus. The White House said: "The most important thing is the social distancing, washing your hands and not touching your face."
材料来源：
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/
生词表
bandana 花色丝质大手帕
recommend 推荐
infection rates 感染率
contract 感染;得(病)
insufficient 不足的，不够的
social distancing社交距离
参考
译文
美国鼓励使用口罩
美国很快就会鼓励美国人戴口罩或者围巾。关于口罩是否有助于减缓COVID-19冠状病毒的传播，有很多讨论。政府将鼓励美国人使用自制的面膜、绷带和围巾。世卫组织和其他卫生组织建议，没有生病的人不必戴口罩或遮住脸。然而，其他组织说，口罩可以减缓病毒的传播。他们指出，像新加坡和韩国这样的国家，人们戴着口罩，报告的感染率较低。
美国的健康专家认为，戴口罩可以降低人们传播病毒的风险，并对那些没有感染病毒的人提供一点保护。卫生官员担心，如果每个人都赶出去买口罩，可能不够护士、医生和其他主要工作人员使用。他们还说，戴口罩可能会让问题更严重，因为人们可能会觉得戴口罩很安全，而且会和其他人混在一起。卫生专家担心的另一件事是，自制口罩不足以防止人们感染病毒。白宫说：“最重要的是社交距离，洗手不要碰脸。”
EXERCISE
I TRUE / FALSE 判断正误
1. The USA will force people to wear masks.
2. The USA is asking people to make their own masks.
3. The WHO said people who are not sick do not need to wear masks.
4. Some organizations say masks can help to slow the spread of the virus.
5. Health officials believe there are enough masks for nurses.
6. Officials said wearing a mask does not make people feel safer.
7. Officials say homemade masks are great at stopping the virus.
8. The White House said social distancing was very important.
III MULTIPLE CHOICE 阅读理解
Health experts in the USA believe that wearing a mask could reduce the risk of people spreading the virus and give a little protection to those who have not contracted it. Health officials are worried that if everyone rushes out to buy masks, there may not be enough for nurses, doctors and other key workers. They also say that a mask could make the problem worse because people might feel safe wearing one and mix more with other people. Another thing health experts are worried about is that homemade masks are insufficient to prevent people from catching the virus. The White House said: "The most important thing is the social distancing, washing your hands and not touching your face."
材料来源：
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/
生词表
bandana 花色丝质大手帕
recommend 推荐
infection rates 感染率
contract 感染;得(病)
insufficient 不足的，不够的
social distancing社交距离
参考
译文
美国鼓励使用口罩
美国很快就会鼓励美国人戴口罩或者围巾。关于口罩是否有助于减缓COVID-19冠状病毒的传播，有很多讨论。政府将鼓励美国人使用自制的面膜、绷带和围巾。世卫组织和其他卫生组织建议，没有生病的人不必戴口罩或遮住脸。然而，其他组织说，口罩可以减缓病毒的传播。他们指出，像新加坡和韩国这样的国家，人们戴着口罩，报告的感染率较低。
美国的健康专家认为，戴口罩可以降低人们传播病毒的风险，并对那些没有感染病毒的人提供一点保护。卫生官员担心，如果每个人都赶出去买口罩，可能不够护士、医生和其他主要工作人员使用。他们还说，戴口罩可能会让问题更严重，因为人们可能会觉得戴口罩很安全，而且会和其他人混在一起。卫生专家担心的另一件事是，自制口罩不足以防止人们感染病毒。白宫说：“最重要的是社交距离，洗手不要碰脸。”
EXERCISE
I TRUE / FALSE 判断正误
1. The USA will force people to wear masks.
2. The USA is asking people to make their own masks.
3. The WHO said people who are not sick do not need to wear masks.
4. Some organizations say masks can help to slow the spread of the virus.
5. Health officials believe there are enough masks for nurses.
6. Officials said wearing a mask does not make people feel safer.
7. Officials say homemade masks are great at stopping the virus.
8. The White House said social distancing was very important.
III MULTIPLE CHOICE 阅读理解
