in a more informed and productive manner.

对付当今世界发生的事件
Since I've mentioned influenza,

既然我已经提到了流感
we'll certainly ask in passing--

我就顺带问一个问题
and I hope some of you will answer the question--

我希望你们有人能回答
why it is that the most threatening pandemic afflictions

为什么在二十一世纪全球最恐怖的苦难
of the twenty-first century seem to be respiratory diseases?

会是呼吸疾病
Why is that?

为什么会是它
How did that come about?

究竟是怎样发生的
Then I want to talk with you for a couple of minutes

之后我想花几分钟
about the diseases that we'll be examining.

跟你们说说将要考试的疾病
I've told you so far the ones we mostly won't be looking at.

到目前为止我已经告诉你们那些不讨论的疾病
Well, first, what are the criteria by which i've chosen them?

那么我选这些疾病是以什么分类的呢