英語高級視聽說下原文

英語高級視聽說下原文英語高級視聽說下原文英語高級視聽說下原文資料僅供參考文件編號：2022年4月英語高級視聽說下原文版本號：A修改號：1頁次：1.0審核：批準:發(fā)布日期：UNIT3APILLTOFORGET(CBS)Ifthereweresomethingyoucouldtakeafterexperiencingapainfulortraumaticeventthatwouldpermanentlyweakenyourmemoryofwhathadjusthappened,wouldyoutakeitAscorrespondentLesleyStahlreports,it’sanideathatmaynotbesofaroff,andthathassomecriticsalarmed,andsometraumavictimsfilledwithhope."Icouldn'tgetmybodytostopshaking.Iwastrembling,constantlytrembling.Memoriesofitwouldjustcomeback,reoccurringoverandoverandover,"subwayconductorBeatrizArguedasrecalls.LastSept.30,BeatrizwasdrivinghernormalrouteontheRedLineinBostonwhenoneofherworstfearscametopass:"Uponenteringoneofthebusieststations,amanjumpedinfrontofmytrain,tocommitsuicide,"sheexplains.Beatrizsawthemanjump."WesortofmadeeyecontactandthenIfeltthethudfromhimhittingthetrainandthenthecracklingsoundunderneaththetrainand,then,ofcourse,myheartstartsthumping,"sherecalls."Shecameintoouremergencyroomafterwards,veryupset.Nophysicalinjury.Entirelyapsychologicaltrauma,"saysDr.RogerPitman,apsychiatristatHarvardMedicalSchoolwhohasstudiedandtreatedpatientswithpost-traumaticstressdisorder,orPTSD,for25years."They'recaughtupsomuchwiththispasteventthatit'sconstantlyintheirmind,"Pitmanexplains."They'relivingitoverandoverandoverasifit'shappeningagain.Andtheyjustcan'tgetinvolvedinreallife."WhenBeatrizarrivedintheemergencyroom,Pitmanenrolledherinanexperimentalstudyofadrugcalledpropranolol,amedicationcommonlyusedforhighbloodpressure...andunofficiallyforstagefright.Pitmanthoughtitmightdosomethingalmostmagical–trickBeatriz’sbrainintomakingaweakermemoryoftheeventshehadjustexperienced.Inthestudy,whichisstillunderway,halfthesubjectsgetpropranolol;halfgetaplacebo.AskedwhetherheknowsifBeatrizgotthedrugortheplacebo,Dr.Pitmansayshehasnoideaandneitherdoesshe,andthattheresearchteamwon'tknowforanothertwoyears.IfPitmanisright,theresultscouldfundamentallychangethewayaccidentvictims,rapevictims,evensoldiersaretreatedaftertheyexperiencetrauma.Thestorybeginswithsomesurprisingdiscoveriesaboutmemory.ItturnsoutourmemoriesaresortoflikeJello–theytaketimetosolidifyinourbrains.Andwhilethey'resetting,it'spossibletomakethemstrongerorweaker.Italldependsonthestresshormoneadrenaline.ThemanwhodiscoveredthisisJamesMcGaugh,aprofessorofneurobiologyattheUniversityofCalifornia,Irvine.McGaughstudiesmemoryinrats,andheinvitedStahltowatchthemakingofaratmemory–inthiscasehowaratwho'sneverbeeninthistankofwaterbeforelearnshowtofindaclearplasticplatformjustbelowthesurface."He’llswimaroundrandomly,"McGaughexplains.Theratcannotseetheplatform,sincehiseyesareonthetopofhishead.Theratwillswimaroundtheedgeforalongtime,untileventuallyheventuresoutandbychancebumpsintotheplatform.Thenextday,he'llfindtheplatformalittlebitfaster.Butanotherrat,whohadlearnedwheretheplatformwasthedayprior,andthenreceivedashotofadrenalineimmediatelyafterwards,todayswaminstantlytotheplatform.Adrenalineactuallymadethisrat'sbrainrememberbetter,andMcGaughbelievesthesamethinghappensinpeople."SupposeIsaidtoyou,'Youknow,I'vewatchedyourprogramsalotovertheyears,andalthoughitpainsmetohavetotellyouthis,Ithinkyou'reoneofworstpeopleI'veeverseenon…nowdon'ttakeit,don'ttakeitpersonally,'"McGaughsays."So,mystresssystemwouldgointooverdrive,noquestion,"Stahlsays."Evenwithmytellingyouthatit'snottrue,there'snothingtokeepyoufromblushing,fromfeelingwarmallover,"McGaughpointsout."That'stheadrenaline.AndIdaresaythatyou'regonnaremembermyhavingsaidthatlongafteryou'veforgottentheotherdetailsofourdiscussionhere.Iguaranteeit."McGaughsaysthat’swhywerememberimportantandemotionaleventsinourlivesmorethanregularday-to-dayexperiences.Thenextstepinhisresearchwastoseewhatwouldhappenwhenadrenalinewasblocked;hestartedexperimentingwithpropranolol."Propranololsitsonthatnervecellandblocksit,sothat,thinkofthisasbeingakey,andthisisalock,theholeinthelockisblockedbecauseofpropranololsittingthere.Soadrenalinecanbepresent,butitcan'tdoitsjob,"McGaughexplains.McGaughshowedStahlathirdratthathadlearnedwheretheplatformwasonthepreviousdayandthenreceivedaninjectionofpropranolol.Thenextday,theratswamaroundtheedge,asifhehadforgottenthereeverwasaplatformoutthere.AcrossthecountryatHarvard,RogerPitmanreadMcGaugh'sstudiesandalightbulbwenton."WhenIreadaboutthis,Isaid,'Thishasgottobehowpost-traumaticstressdisorderworks.'Becausethinkaboutwhathappenstoaperson.Firstofall,theyhaveahorriblytraumaticevent,andtheyhaveintensefearandhelplessness.Sothatintensefearandhelplessnessisgonnastimulateadrenaline,"Pitmansays."Andthenwhatdowefindthreemonthsorsixmonthsor20yearslaterExcessivelystrongmemories."Pitmanfiguredhecouldblockthatcyclebygivingtraumavictimspropranololrightaway...beforeadrenalinecouldmakethememoriestoostrong.Hestartedrecruitingpatientsforasmallpilotstudy.OneofthefirstwasKathleenLogue,aparalegalwhohadbeenknockeddowninthemiddleofabusyBostonstreetbyabicyclist."Hejusthitthewholeleftsideofmybody.AnditseemedlikeforeverthatIwaslayinginthemiddleofStateStreet,downtownBoston,"Logueremembers.Shesaysshewasterrifiedthatshewasjustgoingtogetrunover.Aspartofthestudy,Loguetookpropranololfourtimesadayfor10days.Liketheotherswhogotthedrug,threemonthslatersheshowednophysiologicalsignsofPTSD,whileseveralsubjectswhogotaplacebodid.ThoseresultsgotPitmanfundingforalargerstudybytheNationalInstitutesofHealth.ButthenthePresident’sCouncilonBioethicscondemnedthestudyinareportthatsaidourmemoriesmakeuswhoweareandthat"re-writing"memoriespharmacologically…risks"underminingourtrueidentity.""Thisisaquote.'Itrisksmakingshamefulactsseemlessshamefulorterribleactslessterriblethantheyreallyare,'"StahlreadstoLogue."Aterribleact,"shereplies."WhyshouldyouhavetolivewithiteverydayofyourlifeItdoesn'terasethefactthatithappened.Itdoesn'teraseyourmemoryofit.Itmakesiteasiertorememberandfunction."DavidMagnus,directorofStanfordUniversity’sCenterforBiomedicalEthics,saysheworriesthatitwon'tbejusttraumavictimstryingtodullpainfulmemories."Fromthepointofviewofapharmaceuticalindustry,they'regoingtohaveeveryinterestinhavingasmanypeopleaspossiblediagnosedwiththisconditionandhaveitusedasbroadlyaspossible.That'stherealityofhowdrugsgetintroducedandutilized,"Magnusargues.He’sconcerneditwillbeusedfortrivialreasons."IfIembarrassmyselfatapartyFridaynightandinsteadoffeelingbadaboutitIcouldtakeapillthenI'mgoingtoavoid–nothavetoavoidmakingafoolofmyselfatparties,"Magnussays."Soyouthinkthatthatembarrassmentandallofthatisteachingus"Stahlasks."Absolutely,"Magnussays."Ourbreakups,ourrelationships,aspainfulastheyare,welearnfromsomeofthosepainfulexperiences.Theymakeusbetterpeople."Butwhiletheethicistsdebatetheissue,thescienceismovingforward.Researchershaveshowninratstudiesthatpropranololcanalsobluntoldmemories.Pitmanwondered:CoulditworkinhumansHeteamedupwithCanadiancolleagueAlainBrunet,whosearchedforpeoplewithlong-standingPTSD,likeRitaMagil.Shehadsufferedforthreeyearsfromnightmaresafteralife-threateningcaraccident.AnotherstudysubjectisLouiseO'Donnell-Jasmin,whowasrapedbyadoctorattheageof12."Herapedmeonhisdesk,onachair,andonthefloor.It,forme,itwaslikeIwasdyinginside,"sheremembers."Theworldhadended."O'Donnell-Jasminwashauntedbytherapeformorethan30years.Sheneverfeltcomfortableundressinginfrontofherhusbandandsufferedfromrecurrentflashbacksandnightmares.Thestudywassimple:Subjectscameinandwereaskedtothinkaboutandwritedowneverydetailtheycouldrememberabouttheirtrauma;inMagil'scase,hercaraccident,reactivatingthememoryinherbrain.Shewasthengivenpropranolol.Ritasaysshesufferednosideeffects.Aweeklater,electrodesmeasuredherbody’sstressresponseasshelistenedtoaretellingofhertrauma.Askedwhathappened,Magilsays,"Noreaction."Andshesaysshehadnomorenightmares.ThepatientwhomadethemostdramaticrecoveryturnedouttobeO'Donnell-Jasmin,butthere'sacatch,becauseshewasinacontrolgroupandthereforewasn’tsupposedtoimproveatall.O'Donnell-Jasminwasgivenpropranolol,butunlikeMagil,shetookthedrugwhilewatchingapleasantmovie,notaftertellingeverydetailaboutherrape.Andyet,aweeklater,shenoticedachange."Iwakeup.AndIfindmyselfundressing.Andmyhusbandisthere.AndIrealizeI'mundressing,andI'mnotfeelingasthoughIneedtohideunderthebedanymore,"sheexplains.Askedifitisgone,O'Donnell-Jasminsays,"Yes.Thelink,whatheldtheemotionstothememories,it'sliketheumbilicalcordhasbeencut.AndthereisnowayIcanaccesstheemotionsanymore.Andfurthermore,everydayitgetsbetter.""Louisegotagreatresult.But,scientifically,itconfusedthings,"Pitmansays.Hespeculatesthatdespitethepleasantmovie,O'Donnell-Jasminmayhavebeenthinkingabouttherapewhenshetookthepropranolol,andthat'swhyitworked."Theonlywaywe'regoingtoknowistostudyanother10orahundredpatientslikeLouiseandseehowitpansout,”Pitmansays.Thatthisdrugcouldactuallyalterandweakenoldmemoriesmeanswe'retalkingaboutapotentiallyrevolutionaryadvanceintreatingposttraumaticstressdisorder."Areyouatallconcernedthatsincepropranololisalreadyoutthereavailablefordoctorstoprescribeforheartconditions,forstagefright,thatsomesoldierwho’scomebackandishavingterriblenightmarescangotohisdoctorandgetitrightnowIsthataconcernforyou,ornotaconcern"StahlasksMcGaugh.

"No.Notaconcernforme.Notaconcern,"hereplies."Ifithelps,whynot.""Letmetellyousomethingthatyoutoldusbefore.I'mquotingyou.'It'sliketheywentinandalteredmymind,'"StahltellsLouise.O'Donnell-Jasminadmitsit'sverycreepy."Thisstudyhastakenawayapartofmethat'sbeeninmeforsolong,andthatIfindveryweird,"shesays."It'snotnormaltohavegonethrougharapeandfeelnothing.Ortohavegonethroughsomethingtraumatic…andfeelasthoughithappenedtosomebodyelse,"StahltellsPitman."Let'ssupposeyouhaveapersonwhocomesinafteraphysicalassaultandthey'vehadsomebonesbroken,andthey'reinintensepain.ShouldwedeprivethemofmorphinebecausewemightbetakingawaythefullemotionalexperienceWhowouldeverarguethat"Pitmanreplies.

"No,"Stahlsays."WhyshouldpsychiatrybedifferentIthinkthatsomehowbehindthisargumentlurksthenotionthatmentaldisordersarenotthesameasphysicaldisorders.Thattreatingthemornotismoreofanoptionalthing,"Pitmansays.Thestudiesarestillintheirearlystages,soO'Donnell-Jasmin'sapparentpositiveresultisn'tconclusive,thoughtoher,it'sabsolutelyreal.Askedifthereisanysensethatshehaslostanyofheridentity,O'Donnell-Jasminsays,"Ihaveregainedmyidentity.WhatwasbrokenwhenIwas12wasfixed.Theyhavegivenmebackmyself."AndnowtheU.S.militaryhastakennote:PitmanrecentlyheardfromtheArmythathewillbereceivingfundingstartingnextsummertotrythesamepropranololexperimentdonewithMagilandO'Donnell-JasminotreatAmericansoldiersreturningfromAfghanistanandIraqUnit4BrainManAlmost25yearsago,60MinutesintroducedviewerstoGeorgeFinn,whosetalentwasimmortalizedinthemovie"RainMan."Georgehasaconditionknownassavantsyndrome,amysteriousdisorderofthebrainwheresomeonehasaspectacularskill,evengenius,inamindthatisotherwiseextremelylimited.MorleySafermetanothersavant,DanielTammet,whoiscalled"BrainMan"inBritain.Butunlikemostsavants,hehasnoobviousmentaldisability,andmostimportanttoscientists,hecandescribehisownthoughtprocess.HemayverywellbeascientificRosettastone,akeytounderstandingthebrain.________________________________________Backin1983,GeorgeFinn,blessedorobsessedwithcalendarcalculation,couldgiveyouthedayifyougavehimthedate."WhatdayoftheweekwasAugust13th,1911"SaferquizzedFinn."ASunday,"Finnreplied."WhatdayoftheweekwasMay20th,1921"Saferasked."Friday,"Finnanswered.GeorgeFinnisasavant.Inmorepoliticallyincorrecttimeshewouldhavebeencalledan"idiotsavant"-amentallyhandicappedorautisticpersonwhosebrainsomehowpossessesanislandofbrilliance.Askedifheknewhowhedoesit,FinntoldSafer,"Idon'tknow,butit'sjustthat,that'sfantasticIcandothat."Ifthisallseemsfamiliar,there?sareason:fiveyearsafterthe60Minutesbroadcast,DustinHoffmanimmortalizedsavantslikeGeorgeinthemovie"RainMan."Whichbringsustothatothersavantwementioned:DanielTammet.HeisanEnglishman,whoisa27-year-oldmathandmemorywizard."IwasbornNovember8th,1931,"Saferremarks."Uh-huh.That'saprimenumber.1931.AndyouwerebornonaSunday.Andthisyear,yourbirthdaywillbeonaWednesday.Andyou'llbe75,"TammettellsSafer.Itisestimatedthereareonly50truesavantslivingintheworldtoday,andyetnonearelikeDaniel.Heisarticulate,self-sufficient,blessedwithallofthespectacularabilityofasavant,butwithverylittleofthedisability.Takehismathskill,forexample.Askedtomultiply31by31by31by31,Tammetquickly-andaccurately-respondedwith"923,521."Anditsnotjustcalculating.Hisgiftofmemoryisstunning.Brieflyshowhimalongnumericalsequenceandhellreciteitrightbacktoyou.Andhecandoitbackwards,toboot.

Thatfeatisjustawarm-upforDanielTammet.HefirstmadeheadlinesatOxford,whenhepubliclyrecitedtheendlesssequenceofnumbersembodiedbytheGreekletter"Pi."Pi,thenumbersweusetocalculatethedimensionsofacircle,areusuallyroundedoffto3.14.Butitsnumbersactuallygoontoinfinity.Danielstudiedthesequence-athousandnumberstoapage."AndIwouldsitandIwouldgorgeonthem.AndIwouldjustabsorbhundredsandhundredsatatime,"hetellsSafer.IttookhimseveralweekstoprepareandthenDanielheadedtoOxford,wherewithnumbercruncherscheckingeverydigit,heopenedthefloodgatesofhisextraordinarymemory.Tammetsayshewasabletorecite,inaproperorder,22,514numbers.Ittookhimoverfivehoursandhediditwithoutasinglemistake.Scientistssayamemoryfeatlikethisistrulyextraordinary.Dr.V.S.RamachandranandhisteamattheCaliforniaCenterforBrainStudytestedDanielextensivelyafterhisPiachievement.Whatdidhemakeofhim?"Iwassurprisedathowarticulateandintelligenthewas,andwasabletointeractsociallyandintrospectonhisown-abilities,"saysDr.Ramachandran.Andwhilethatintrospectionisextremelyrareamongsavants,Daniel?sabilitytodescribehowhismindworkscouldbeinvaluabletoscientistsstudyingthebrain,ourleastunderstoodorgan."EvenhowyouandIdo17minusnineisabigmystery.Youknow,howaretheselittlewispsofjellyinyourbraindoingthatcomputationWedon'tknowthat,"Dr.Ramachandranexplains.Itmayseemtodefylogic,butRamachandranbelievesthatasavant?sgeniuscouldactuallyresultfrombraininjury."Onepossibilityisthatmanyotherpartsofthebrainarefunctioningabnormallyorsub-normally.Andthisallowsthepatienttoallocateallhisattentionalresourcestotheoneremainingpart,"heexplains."Andthere'salotofclinicalevidenceforthis.Somepatientshaveastrokeandsuddenly,theirartisticskillsimprove."ThattheoryfitswellwithDaniel.Attheageoffour,hesufferedamassiveepilepticseizure.Hebelievesthatseizurecontributedtohiscondition.Numberswerenolongersimplynumbersandhehaddevelopedararecrossingofthesensesknownassynesthesia."Iseenumbersinmyheadascolorsandshapesandtextures.SowhenIseealongsequence,thesequenceformslandscapesinmymind,"Tammetexplains."Everynumberupto10,000,Icanvisualizeinthisway,hasit'sowncolor,hasit'sownshape,hasit'sowntexture."Forexample,whenDanielsaysheseesPi,hedoesthoseinstantcomputations,heisnotcalculating,butsaystheanswersimplyappearstohimasalandscapeofcolorfulshapes."Theshapesaren'tstatic.They'refullofcolor.They'refulloftexture.Inasense,they'refulloflife,"hesays.Askediftheyrebeautiful,Tammetsays,"Notallofthem.Someofthemareugly.289isanuglynumber.Idon'tlikeitverymuch.Whereas333,forexample,isbeautifultome.It'sround.It's."

"Chubby,"Saferremarks.'It's-yes.It'schubby,'Tammetagrees.Yetevenwiththedevelopmentoftheseextraordinaryabilitiesasachild,nobodysensedthatDanielwasaprodigy,includinghismother,Jennifer.Buthewasdifferent."Hewasconstantlycountingthings,"Jenniferremembers."Ithink,whatfirstattractedhimtobooks,wastheactualnumbersoneachpage.Andhejustlovedcounting."Askedifshethinksthere?saconnectionbetweenhisepilepsyandhisraretalent,shetellsSafer,"Hewasalwaysdifferentfrom-whenhewasreallyafewweeksold,Inoticedhewasdifferent.SoI'mnotsurethatit'sentirelythat,butIthinkitmighthaveescalatedit."DanielwasalsodiagnosedwithAsperger?sSyndrome-amildformofautism.Itmadeforapainfulchildhood."IwouldflapmyhandssometimeswhenIwasexcited,orpullatmyfingers,andpullatmylips,"Tammetremembers."Andofcourse,thechildrensawthesethingsandwouldrepeatthembacktome,andteasemeaboutthem.AndIwouldputmyfingersinmyearsandcountveryquicklyinpowersoftwo.Two,four,eight,16,32,64.""Numbersweremyfriends.Andtheyneverchanged.So,theywerereliable.Icouldtrustthem,"hesays.Andyet,Danieldidnotretreatfullyintothatmysteriousprisonofautism,asmanysavantsdo.Hebelieveshislargefamilymayhaveactuallyforcedhimtoadapt."Becausemyparents,havingninechildren,hadsomuchtodo,somuchtocopewith,IrealizedIhadtodoformyself,"hesays.Henowrunshisownonlineeducationalbusiness.HeandhispartnerNeiltrytokeepalowprofile,despitehisgrowingfame.Yetthelimitsofhisautismarealwaysthere."Ifinditdifficulttowalkinthestreetsometimesiftherearelotsofpeoplearoundme.Ifthere'slotsofnoise,Iputmyfingersinmyearstoblockitout,'hesays.Thatanxietykeepshimclosetohome.Hecan?tdrive,rarelygoesshopping,andfindsthebeachadifficultplacebecauseofhiscompulsiontocountthegrainsofsand.Anditmanifestsitselfinotherways,likemakingaveryprecisemeasurementofhiscerealeachmorning:itmustbeexactly45gramsofporridge,nomore,noless.DanielwasrecentlyprofiledinaBritishdocumentarycalledBrainman.Theproducersposedachallengethathecouldnotpassup:Learnaforeignlanguageinaweek-andnotjustanyforeignlanguage,butIcelandic,consideredtobeoneofthemostdifficultlanguagestolearn.

InIceland,hestudiedandpracticedwithatutor.WhenthemomentoftruthcameandheappearedonTVlivewithahost,thehostsaid,"Iwasamazed.Hewasrespondingtoourquestions.HedidunderstandthemverywellandIthoughtthathisgrammarwasverygood.Weareveryproudofourlanguageandthatsomeoneisabletospeakitafteronlyoneweek,that?sjustgreat.""DoyouthinkthatDaniel,inacertainway,representsarealpathwaytofurtherunderstandingthebrain"SaferasksDr.Ramachandran."Ithinkonecouldsaythattimeandagaininscience,somethingthatlookslikeacuriosityinitiallyoftenleadstoacompletelynewdirectionofresearch,"Ramachandranreplies."Sometimes,theyprovidethegoldenkey.Doesn'talwayshappen.Sometimesit'sjustmumbo-jumbo.Butthatmaywellbetruewithsavants."Danielcontinuestovolunteerforscientistswhowanttounderstandhisamazingbrain.Butheisreluctanttobecomewhathecallsaperformingsealandhasrefusedmostofferstocashinonhisremarkableskills.

"Peopleallthetimeaskingmetochoosenumbersforthelottery.Ortoinventatimemachine.Ortocomeupwithsomegreatdiscovery,"heexplains."ButmyabilitiesarenotthosethatmeanthatIcandoateverything."Buthehaswrittenabookabouthisexperiences,entitled"BornonaBlueDay."Healsodoesmotivationalspeechesforparentsofautisticchildren-yetonemoregiftofhisremarkablebrain.Butattheendoftheday-geniusornot-thatbraindoesworkalittledifferently."Onehourafterweleavetoday,andIwillnotrememberwhatyoulooklike.AndIwillfinditdifficulttorecognizeyou,ifIseeyouagain.Iwillrememberyourhandkerchief.AndIwillrememberyouhavefourbuttonsonyoursleeve.AndI'llrememberthetypeoftieyou'rewearing.It'sthedetailsthatIremember,"TammettellsSafer.Andit?sthedetailsthatmakeusallsodifferent.Onemanmayseenumbersasatediousnecessityofmodernlife,anotherseesthemastheessenceoflife."PiisoneofthemostbeautifulthingsinalltheworldandifIcansharethatjoyinnumbers,ifIcansharethatinsomesmallmeasurewiththeworldthroughmywritingandthroughmyspeaking,thenIfeelthatIwillhavedonesomethinguseful,"hesays.Unit5Weallknowhowshipsareborn,howmajesticvesselsarenudgedintotheoceanwithabottleofchampagne.Butfewofusknowhowtheydie.Andhundredsofshipsmeettheirdeatheveryyear.Fromfive-staroceanliners,togrubbyfreighters,literallydumpedwithalltheirsteel,theirasbestos,theirtoxinsonthebeachesofsomethepoorestcountriesintheworld,countrieslikeBangladesh.Youcan'treallybelievehowbaditishere,untilyouseeit.Itcouldbeascloseasyou'llgettohellonearth,withthesmoke,thefumes,andtheheat.Themenwholaborherearethewretchedoftheearth,doingdirty,dangerouswork,forlittlemorethan$1aday.It'snotmuchofafinalrestingplace,thisdesolatebeachnearthecityofChittagongontheBayofBengal.Shipsarelineduphereasatanyport,butthey'llneverleave.Instead,theywillbedissected,boltbybolt,rivetbyrivet,everypieceofmetaldestinedforthefurnacestobemelteddownandfashionedintosteelrods.Theshipsdon'tdieeasily-theyarebuilttofloat,nottoberippedapart,spillingtoxins,oilandsludgeintothesurroundingseas.Themenwhoworkherearedwarfedbytheshipstheyaredestroying.Andtheydissecttheshipsbyhand.Themostsophisticatedtechnologyonthebeachisablowtorch.Themencarrymetalplates,eachweighingmorethanatonfromtheshorelinetowaitingtrucks,walkinginsteplikepallbearers,orlikemembersofachaingang.Theypaintimagesofwheretheywouldliketobeonthetrucks-picturesofparadisefarfromthiswasteland.Andwhennightfalls,theworkcontinuesandthebeachbecomesaninfernoofsmokeandflamesandfilth.Thisindustry,whichemploysthousandsandsuppliesBangladeshwithalmostallitssteel,beganwithanaccident-acyclonetobeprecise.In1965,aviolentstormleftagiantcargoshipbeachedonwhatwasthenapristinecoastline.Itdidn'ttakelongbeforepeoplebeganrippingtheshipapart.Theytookeverythingandbusinessmentooknote-perhapstheydidn'tneedastormtobringshipsontothisbeachhere.MohammedMohsin'sfamilyhasbecomeextremelywealthybringingshipsontothesebeaches.Hepaysmillionsofdollarsforeachshipandmakeshisprofitfromthesteelhesells.ThenameofhiscompanyisPHP,whichstandsforPeace,HappinessandProsperity.Hislatestacquisitionisashipweighinginat4,000tonsbutMohsintellsSimonthat'ssmallbycomparisontoothervesselsthathavebeenguttedonthebeaches.Theyhavehandledshipsaslargeas68,000tons.ThisthefirsttimeMohsinhasseenthe4,000tonshipcloseup.Infactbuyingashipisnotatalllikebuyingacar.Hedidn'tevenneedtoseeapicturebeforeheboughtitfor$14million.Allheneededtoknowwasitsweightandhowmuchtheownerswerechargingforeachtonofsteel.Oneofthesinglemostvaluablepartsoftheshipisthepropeller.The"small"shipspropelleriswortharound$35,000alone,Mohsinestimates.ItmaybeasmallshiptoMohsin,butgettingontoitfromthebeachisstillabitdelicate.Mohsin'sshipsdon'thaveseafaringcaptainsanymore-heisthecaptainnowofdyingshipsandthecaptainofoneofthelargestof30shipyardsonthis10-milestretchofbeach.Some100shipsarerippedapartonthebeacheachyear,mostofthemfromthewest."Itisthewest'sgarbagedump,"saysRolandBuerk,wholivesinBangladesh.Hespentayearintheseyards,writingabookabouttheindustry.60MinuteshiredhimtoguideSimonthroughthetangledworldofshipbreaking.TodothesameworkinAmericaorEnglandwouldbeveryexpensive."ItwouldbebecauseinEuropeandAmericawhentheydothis,theydoitindrydocks,"Buerkexplains."Soinactualfact,theownersoftheseshipsaresellingthemtotheyardownersheretobreakup.IftheyhadtodoitinAmerica,they'dhavetopayforthatprocesstobecarriedout.Soyouseeitmakesrealeconomicsensetodoithere.""Soold,out-datedshipsthatwerepreviouslyaliability,arenowanasset,"Simonremarks."Exactly,"Buerkagrees."Andthat'swhytheyendupontheseshores."Theyaretheshoresofthemostdenselypopulatednationandoneofthe