Coronavirus vs other pandemics

6 Minute English

语言学习

2020-12-24

6 分钟
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  • Hello, this is Six Minute English from BBC Learning English.

  • I'm Neil.

  • And I'm Georgina.

  • I've really had enough of this coronavirus, Georgina.

  • People getting sick,

  • losing their jobs, and to top it off, the pubs in some places are closed.

  • I know it's bad now, but compared to historical pandemics like the Spanish flu and economic crises like the Great Depression, coronavirus isn't actually so bad.

  • You've got to look at the bigger picture, the long-term overall view of a complex situation.

  • Somehow that's not very comforting, Georgina.

  • But tell me more.

  • Well, we've heard lots from politicians and scientists about the spread of coronavirus,

  • but a historian's view might give us a fresh look at the bigger picture.

  • And maybe a more hopeful point of view.

  • So in this program, we'll be hearing from historian,

  • Peter Frankapan, author of Best Selling Book, The Silk Roads.

  • Ah, the title of that book, The Silk Roads, reminds me of my quiz question, Georgina.

  • Are you ready to have a go?

  • I'll try Neil, but the only thing I know about The Silk Roads is that they were the ancient roots along which people traveled the earth.