The Water Babies

All mammals, except man and the monkey, swim naturally from birth. For man, like the monkey, it is not instinctive to float. Deaths by drowning are common everywhere. In the United States alone, about 7,000 children under four drown each year.

Everything possible is done to prevent such tragedies. One solution is particular effective-teaching children to swim while they are still babies. Most large towns in Florida and California already run lessons for babies. The idea has spread to Europe where, in several countries, special courses are now arranged for children seven to twenty-four months.

The first step is to have the child get rid of his fear of the water. Next, he is taught to float. Once he can do this naturally and without fear, grasps the technique and can push himself forward through the water.

Vocabulary:

l   mammal[tm@mx](n.)哺乳動物

l   except[ahtkUdf](prep.)除...之外

l   naturally[tn@fXQqQpa](ad.)天生地,天然地;自然地

l   instinctive[antkfaVhfaj](a.)本能的;天性的;直覺的

l   death[gUZ](n.)死,死亡

l   drowning淹溺;溺水

l   alone(a.)只有,僅;單單

l   under至少；起碼

l   tragedy[tfq@gYQga](n.)悲劇;慘案;災難

l   particular[dRtfahsQpR](a.)講究的;苛求的,挑剔的;特殊的;特定的;特別的

l   effective[atiUhfaj](a.)有效的;實際的,事實上的;有戰鬥力的

l   spread(spread-spread-spreading)[kdqUg](v.)伸展,延伸;延長;分佈;延續

l   course[hcqk](n.)課程,科目;過程;進程;路線;方向

l   arrange(arranged-arranged-arranging)[QtqTngY](v.)安排;籌備; 整理;佈置

l   get rid of消除;擺脫

l   rid(rid, ridded-rid, ridded-ridding)[qag](vt.)使免除;使擺脫;從...清除

l   fear(feared-feared-fearing)[iaq](n.v.)害怕,恐懼;擔心,憂慮

l   grasp(grasped-grasped-grasping)[vq@kd](v.)抓牢;握緊;抱住

l   technique[fUhtn`h](n.)技巧;技術;技法;手段,方法

l   forward[tiOqrRg](ad.)向前;向將來;今後