普通话正在纽约扎根

江苏 章小梅

在纽约，一些救援人员都要学习普通话，这是为什么呢？

First responders are the first emergency workers to arrive at a fire, traffic accident or other emergency.Some first responders are firefighters,while others can be emergency medical technicians.

In Brooklyn, New York, over 20 first responders are studying Mandarin Chinese for about two hours a week. The class is the first of its kind. It is offered by the New York City Fire Department Foundation.

The U.S. Census Bureau recently reported that some New York neighborhoods are made up mostly of immigrants. Some people have predicted that the Chinese community is likely to become New York's largest immigrant group. They think the city will have the largest Chinese community outside of Asia.

The Census Bureau also found that almost 200 languages are spoken in the city. So, knowing different languages is important, especially if you are a first responder.

Lieutenant (中尉) Steve Lee is president of the Fire Department's Phoenix Society. He says that first responders must be able to communicate quickly and effectively when an emergency happens. He explains that first responders enter neighborhoods and communities to assist regardless of where they are from. Many times first responders do not speak the same language as the people they are called to help. He adds that it is vital, or very important, that first responders be able to communicate with the people calling for help.

Without help from homeowners and others, Lee adds, discovering exactly where a fire is burning can be a real problem. First responders need to ask questions such as “What building? What address?What aparment?” And the most important question, “Is there anybody left in the building and where?”

Reading Check

1. Who are first responders according to paragraph 2?

本文实证数据主要来源于联合国开发计划署(UNDP)联合国人类发展报告、世界银行数据库、国际货币基金组织(IMF)以及荷兰格罗宁根大学格罗宁根增长和发展中心。

A. People first learning the emergency.

B. Persons leading the emergency rescue.

C. Rescuers first reaching the spot of the emergency.

D. People first find the emergency.

2. Why are the first responders in New York studying Mandarin Chinese?

A. To show respect for the Chinese immigrants.

B. To learn about Chinese cultures much better.

C. To meet the rapid growth of Chinese population there.

D. To find a better job in Chinese communities.

3. What do first responders concern most?

A. The place where the fire occurs.

B. The people trapped in the fire.

C. The language to communicate.

D. The distance covered to the fire.

4. What can also serve as the title for the text?

A. Mandarin being a must for emergency workers

B. New York's emergency crews learning Mandarin

C. Language problem disturbing first responders' work

D. Importance of languages used in emergency rescue

Language Study

Sentence for writing

He adds that it is vital, or very important, that first responders be able to communicate with the people calling for help.

【信息提取】It be vital/important that... 意为“非常重要的是……”，that引导的从句要使用“（should）+动词原形”的虚拟语气形式。

【句式仿写】作为学生，我们必须了解和继承我们的传统文化。

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