本集文稿：

Do you know that in Japan when women want to seek sterilization procedures, they will encounter conditions that are the most burdensome in the world? How so? First they must already have children and have to prove that pregnancy might endanger their health. Moreover they are required to obtain the consent of their spouses. Therefore surgeries like hysterectomies（子宮切除術）, tubal ligation（輸卵管結紮）are impossible for single, childless women to obtain. Currently five women are suing Japanese government for violating their constitutional rights to equality and self-determination, demanding laws like Maternal Protection Act be overturned. They described the law as excessive paternalism and said it encouraged the society to view women’s bodies as only a birthing vessel. Experts say that plaintiffs（起訴人）may face considerable barrier and pushback because the government is pushing to increase birth rate in Japan, which is among the lowest in developed countries.

精選字彙：

seek (v.) 尋找

sterilization procedure (n.) 結紮手術

burdensome (a.) 負荷的

pregnancy (n.) 懷孕

obtain (v.) 取得

consent (n.) 贊成

spouse (n.) 配偶

hysterectomies (n.)子宮切除術

tubal ligation (n.) 輸卵管結紮

single (a.) 單身的

childless (a.) 無子的

constitutional rights (n.) 憲法性權利

equality (n.) 平等

self-determination (n.) 自主決定

Maternal Protection Act (n.) 母性保護權

excessive (a.) 過度的

encourage (v.) 鼓勵

birthing vessel (n.) 生產工具

plaintiffs (n.) 起訴人

barrier (n.) 障礙

to increase (v.) 增加

developed countries (n.) 已開發的國家

感謝高雄書林今年在盛夏的邀約！我們即將在113/08/19（一）～113/08/21（三）在高雄的書林書店，舉辦【洞見文學：暑期文學快充課】

我們將透過青少年小說Holes《別有洞天》，引領有興趣的學生與讀者，透過李老師精心設計的引導式問題，帶你深度體驗閱讀的樂趣，絕對是有別於以往枯燥且乏味的閱讀課，同場還加映國際時事英聽，不只要快充你的閱讀能力，更要讓你的聽力加倍提升！

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李老師與小幫手Aaron期待今夏與你的見面！

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