随着COVID-19疫情持续升温，对全球经济产生重大影响，也使美国失业人数创下历史新高。各国政府纷纷祭出防疫措施，包括订出社交距离、要求有感染风险的人自我隔离。今天就来看看与防疫措施相关的单词有哪些吧！
Social Distancing 社交距离
Canceling events that are likely to draw crowds is an example of social distancing. Social distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Staying at least six feet away from other people lessens your chances of catching COVID-19.
（取消有可能吸引大量人潮的活动是社交距离的一个例子。社交距离即是刻意地增加人与人之间的实际距离，以便避免散播疾病。与他人保持至少6英尺的距离可减少感染COVID- 19的机率。）
● distance (v.) 保持距离
这里distance作为动词使用，意指「保持距离」，也可作为名词，如keep a distance，两者差异是词性不同。 distant则是形容词，意指「距离遥远的」；还有个同义词是remote，最近因应疫情流行的远距教学／工作英文表达便是remote education/work，但不可用distant替换。
● deliberately (adv.) 故意地；刻意地
这个单字通常用于负面的语意表达。不过在a deliberate decision这个片语中，则有「审慎的；沉稳的」意思。此外deliberate也可当动词用，表示「审慎考虑、仔细讨论」，如：
The committee has deliberated the question at great length.
（委员会已经仔细讨论过这个问题了。）
名词型态则为deliberation，有「考虑、讨论」之意。
● lessen (v.) 减少
这是less（较少）的动词变化， less则是little这个形容词的比较级，注意后面须接不可数名词；相对的few-fewer要接可数名词。同义词有decrease（减少）。注意其发音和lesson（课程）相同，可从前后文判断。
Self-quarantine 自我隔离
People who have been exposed to the new coronavirus and who are at risk for coming down with COVID-19 might practice self-quarantine. Health experts recommend that self-quarantine lasts 14 days. Two weeks provides enough time for them to know whether or not they will become ill and be contagious to other people.
（曾接触过COVID-19、以及有感染风险的人可能需要自我隔离。健康专家建议他们自我隔离14天。两周让当事者有足够的时间来判断他们是否会生病，或对他人有没有感染风险。）
● expose (v.) 暴露
这里的用法是被动态-be exposed to~「暴露在～（环境）下」，主动态通常用法为expose oneself to~，如：
Don’t expose yourself to the coronavirus.
（不要暴露在有新冠病毒的环境之下。）
名词是exposure，介系词与动词相同都是to。另外也有「曝光（消息）」、「揭露（讯息）」的意思；而若直接将expose作为名词使用，则是代表「令人震惊的曝光报导」。
● quarantine (n.) 隔离
可作为动词和名词使用，如：
The horse had to spend several months in quarantine when it reached Britain.
（那匹马到达英国后要进行几个月的隔离检疫。）
注意介系词要用in，表示「在隔离情况下」的意思。形容词为quarantined，相反词则是unquarantined。另一个形容词quarantinable则是「可隔离的」。
● contagious (adj.) 会（接触）感染的；有感染力的
名词变化是contagion。 「-ous」是常见的形容词字尾，如dangerous（危险的）、infectious（有感染力的）等。
contagious和infectious的差别在于，前者强调「接触性的感染」，英文解释为「communicable by contact」；而后者则不一定限定于接触感染，英文解释为「a disease involving a microorganism that can be transmitted from one person to another only by a specific kind of contact」，可指藉由微生物传染的疾病。
【模拟试题】
December 7, 2010/09/28
Global Magazine
385 Queens Ave.
To whom it may concern
I am writing to inform you that I would like to cancel my ____1.____ to Global Magazine effective on the next year issue. Although I would like to continue the subscription, I don't have much time to enjoy the magazine.
1.
(A) verification
(B) subscription
(C) contribution
(D) collision
I would appreciate if you could please refund ____2.____ is left on my payment, if possible. Is there any procedure I have to take for a refund?
2.
(A) in which
(B) that
(C) which
(D) whatever
I would also appreciate if you can give me a written ____3.____ about my cancellation of your Global magazine. If you have any questions about this matter, please let me know.
3.
(A) confirmation
(B) accusation
(C) appointment
(D) claim
Sincerely Yours,
Nancy Brown
解析：
1. 正解为(B)。题意为「I am writing to inform you that I would like to cancel my ________ to Global Magazineeffective on the next year issue.」（我写这封信是想要告诉您，我希望在下期取消《全球杂志》的_ _____。）从信开头的收件者Global Magazine可以看出写信者的对象是一间杂志社， issue则可以指杂志的一期，而(A)意为「验证」，(C)意为「捐献」，(D)意为「碰撞」，因此判断空格应选(B)「订阅」。
2. 正解为(D)。题意「I would appreciate if you could please refund ________ is left on my payment」（如果您能退回________我帐目上的余额，我将会非常感激。）空格要选适合的关系代名词，写信者希望对方能将帐目上剩下的所有款项全部退还，因此(D) whatever「任何剩下的款项」是较合理的选项。
3. 正解为(A)。题意「I would also appreciate if you can give me a written ________ about my cancellation of your Global magazine」如果你能提供一份手写的_________载明我已取消订阅《全球杂志》，我也会不胜感激。 ）接在written后面，(B)为「指控」，(C)为「任命」，(D)为「索赔」，最合理的答案应该是(A)「确认书；证明书」。
