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第四章

教育看点

VOA 1

美国帮助促进海地的教育制度?
US Help to Boost Haiti's Education System

新闻背景导读

海地位于加勒比海北部,印第安语意为“多山的地方”,是加勒比海上的一个岛国。首都是太子港(Port-au-Prince)。海地是世界上最为贫困的国家之一,经济以农业为主,基础设施建设非常落后。另外,由于能源不足,海地的工业非常不发达,失业率也极高,三分之二的工人没有固定的工作。美国是海地最大的援助国,1995至1999年间向海地提供了8.84亿美元的援助。

海地法律规定7~13岁的儿童享受免费义务教育,64%的学龄儿童可获得小学教育。1999年中学毕业会考参加人数达10.2万。城市成人文盲率为57%,农村则高达85%。全国中小学校近9000所,其中私立学校占85%以上。有海地大学等7所高等学校。

新闻词汇热身

condition [kənˈdɪʃn] n. 状况,环境

dependable [dɪˈpendəbl] adj. 可依赖的

dysfunctional [dɪsˈfʌŋkʃənl] adj. 功能失调的

campaign [kӕmˈpeɪn] n. 运动

legislation [ˌledʒɪsˈleɪʃn] n. 法律(规),立法

正点新闻播报

US Help to Boost Haiti's Education System

Haiti is among the poorest nations in the world, only about half the children in the country go to primary school. And the United Nations children's agency UNICEF says, fewer than 25 percent attend secondary school.

Many Haitian schools are in poor condition . They lack running water and dependable electricity. The United States Institute of Peace has called the education system in Haiti " dysfunctional ", it says reforms and financial assistance are badly needed.

Last week, U.S. Education Secretary, Arne Duncan visited Haiti to discuss its education system. He met with Haitian President Michel Martelly. Mr. Martelly was elected in 2011, he is working on his campaign promise to make education required and free of charge for every child.

The American Education Secretary spoke with VOA's Creole Service after he returned to the U.S. Mr. Duncan announced that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will invest millions of dollars to improve Haiti's education system. The agency will invest the money through its Room to Learn program, a program seeks to increase equality in opportunities for education. Mr. Duncan said the United States will also provide technical assistance to Haiti's Education Ministry.

He said Haitian lawmakers are considering legislation that would expand funding for education. He said that if the measure passes, the law would be hugely important. Mr. Duncan talked about his visits to several schools in Haiti, these included a school for children who live on the street. Mr. Duncan praised the students for their courage and their efforts to gain a better life.

新闻播报译文

美国帮助促进海地的教育制度

海地是世界上最贫穷的国家之一,在国内仅有大约一半的儿童上小学。而且联合国儿童基金会声称,其中上中学的孩子少于25%。

海地的许多学校状况不好。他们缺乏自来水和可靠的电力。美国和平研究所称海地的教育体制有“功能障碍”,它指出海地急需改革和金融援助。

上周,美国的教育部长阿恩·邓肯访问海地,对海地的教育体制进行了讨论。他与海地总统米歇尔·马尔泰利进行会晤。马尔泰利先生于2011年上台,他致力于完成他的竞选承诺,使教育满足需求和让每个孩子免费上学。

美国教育部长在返回美国后,接受美国之音的克里奥尔服务的采访。邓肯先生宣布美国国际开发署将对海地教育体制投资数百万美元。出资将通过“学习的教室”项目进行一个志在增加受教育机会公平性的项目。邓肯先生声称美国也将向海地教育部门提供技术援助。

他说海地立法者正考虑立法扩大对教育的资金援助。他说如果措施通过,法律将是极为重要的。他谈论了他参观过的海地的几所学校,其中包括一所流浪儿童学校。邓肯先生赞扬了凭借自己的勇气和努力追求一种更好生活的学生。

新闻语言点睛

1. primary school 小学,初等学校

例句 How long have you studied in primary school?

你们在小学学习多长时间?

2. secondary school 中学,中等学校

例句 In secondary school, children get more advanced knowledge.

在中学,孩子获得更深一些的知识。

3. in poor condition 状态不好;情况欠佳

例句 This left him in a poor condition.

这使得他处境困难。

4. free of charge 免费,不收费

例句 Children are free of charge during festivals.

节日期间儿童免票。

VOA 2

利比里亚大学招生标准提高
Admission Standards Toughened at University of Liberia

新闻背景导读

利比里亚大学是利比里亚目前所有的两所国立大学之一,是一所历史悠久的综合性大学。但由于受到长年战争的影响,如今的利比里亚大学校园损毁严重,大部分教学楼被毁,政府和学校暂时还没有能力大面积地进行恢复重建。教学设施极端缺乏,无正常的水电供应,一连几天不能供电的情况经常出现。2013年8月,利比里亚教育部长说,她不敢相信2013年全国没有一个学生通过高考。其中,2.5万名学生几乎全部没有通过利比里亚大学的入学考试。

新闻词汇热身

confusion [kənˈfjuːʒn] n. 困惑,糊涂

oversee [ˌəʊvəˈsiː] v. 监督,监管

performance [pəˈfɔːməns] n. 表现

curriculum [kəˈrɪkjələm] n. 课程

raw [rɔː] adj. 未经训练的

curve [kɜːv] n. 曲线,弧线

正点新闻播报

Admission Standards Toughened at University of Liberia

Entrance examinations have been causing problems and confusion at the University of Liberia in Monrovia. The exams help to decide whom the University will accept as a student. The problems begin after an education specialist James Dorbor-Jallah was named to direct and administer the testing.

Recently, about 25,000 high school students took the test but failed. Mr. Dorbor-Jallah says, he and his team want to show that a fair, honest examination can be helped. He says some Liberian think they cannot enter the university unless they make a financial gift in return. He said the University has been trying to decide how to oversee the process, so people's abilities would be measured on the basis of their performances on the examination.

Last year, the University of Liberia accepted about 7,000 new students after they took a similar exam. But that test was judged differently. Mr. Dorbor-Jallah says the university sought his help because it had problems in the past with entrance exams.

Mr. Dorbor-Jallah says he promised the university that his team would document the testing process so anyone could get the same results as his team. Mr. Dorbor-Jallah says that like earlier tests, the 2013 entrance exam was based on the Ministry of Education curriculum . But he also says that the most recent test results were based on raw scores.

A raw score does not provide any grading assistance like a curve based on the performances of a group of students. He said 308 of the more than 25,000 students did meet 50 percent success in math. But he said no student was able to gain 70 percent in English.

新闻播报译文

利比里亚大学招生标准提高

在蒙罗维亚利比里亚大学,入学考试导致问题和混乱局面出现。这种考试决定这所大学将录取什么学生,在教育专家James Dorbor-Jallah被任命指导和管理这项考试后,问题就出现了。

最近,有大约2.5万名高中生参加了考试,但都落榜了。DorborJallah说,他和他的团队希望让大家明白,公平、诚实的考试能起到作用。他说,有的利比里亚人认为要想进大学,除非得送一笔钱。他说大学一直想办法如何监督这一过程,这样人的能力就可以根据其考试表现来衡量。

去年,利比里亚大学在考生参加类似考试后录取了大约7000名新生,但其评判的标准不一样。Dorbor-Jallah说这所大学之所以找自己帮忙,是因为以前在入学考试上遇到问题。

Dorbor-Jallah说,他向大学承诺,他的团队将记录考试过程,这样每个人都能得到和他的团队同样的结果。Dorbor-Jallah说正如之前的考试,2013年的入学考试基于教育部的课程,但他说最近的考试结果基于原始分数。

原始分数并不提供任何评分帮助,比如基于一群学生成绩的曲线。他说2.5万名学生中有308名的数学做对了一半,但他说没人英语做对70%。

新闻语言点睛

1. in return 作为报答

例句 What did you give him in return?

你给他什么作为报答呢?

2. on the basis of 根据,在……的基础上;基于

例句 Don't evaluate a person on the basis of appearance.

不要以貌取人。

3. base on 以……为基础

例句 This story is based on historical facts

这个故事是以历史事实为根据的。

VOA 3

字母不再用来表示成绩了
"C" Isn't Average in All Schools Any More

新闻背景导读

美国中小学常用的课堂评分方法有四种:字母评分制、数字百分制、数字五分制、及格和不及格制。每种评分方法的优点与不足共存。字母评分制是美国中小学法定学科(英语、音乐、艺术、社会科等)的最常见评分方法。其中规定,“A”是最高分,“F”是最低分,中间依次是“B”、“C”和“D”。有时在五个字母上还用“+”和“-”进一步表示分数。

由于字母评分制并不能直接体现出学生成绩好在哪里或差在哪里。并且,有时是由教学管理人员来决定应有多大比例的学生必须达到某一字母水平,而没有规定学生成绩究竟应该达到何种程度。字母评分制带来一定的不便:字母分数的含义随着课程、教师、学校、时间等因素的差异而有所不同,特别是不同教师有着不同评分标准,这不利于客观地评价学生。

新闻词汇热身

lyric [ˈlɪrɪk] n. 歌词

signify [ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪ] v. 表示……的意思,意味

unsatisfactory [ˌʌnˌsӕtɪsˈfӕktəri] adj. 不能令人满意的

harshly [hɑːʃli] adv. 粗糙地,冷酷地

numerical [njuːˈmerɪkl] adj. 数字的,用数字表示的

reflect [rɪˈflekt] v. 反映;反射

subtract [səbˈtrӕkt] v. 减(去)

terminology [ˌtɜːmɪˈnɒlədʒi] n. 术语,术语学

standardize [ˈstӕndədaɪz] v. 使标准化

正点新闻播报

"C" Isn't Average in All Schools Any More

There's an old, but often-playedsong by the late Sam Cooke whose lyrics go, in part:

Now I don't claim to be an "A" student

But I'm trying to be.

And so are millions of other American children each school term. Being an "A" student signifies being the best, the smartest, the highest achiever. "B" means good but not best, "C" stands for average, "D"for below average, and either "E" or "F" for unsatisfactory , or to put it more harshly , failure.

But in hundreds, maybe thousands, of American schools, nobody's an A student any more. And the idea of getting "straight A's" — and thus being the best of the best —is gone as well. There aren't B or C or F students, either. Thanks to something called "standards-based" report cards, these students are receiving a numerical rating — a number instead of a letter — for their performance in each class.

Those numbers — usually 4 for best, down to 1 — reflect a lot more than just mastery of the subject matter. In a math class in New York State schools, for instance, a 4 means the student can not only add and subtract but has, in the new terminology , displayed high skill in "number sense and operations."

The switch from letter grades to numbers has something to do with national education standards, which are tied to student performance on standardized tests. That performance is measured in numbers. And now, so is their work in the classroom.

This means a lot more work for teachers, because they're being asked to factor as many 50 detailed skill areas into their ratings of student success in each class.

新闻播报译文

字母不再用来表示成绩了

已故的山姆库克有首老歌经常有人表演,它的部分歌词是这样的:

如今,我不再自称是A等生了

但是,我还为之努力

成千上万的其他美国孩子每个学期也是如此。成为一个A等生被认作是非常出色的、最聪明的、最高等的荣誉获得者。B意味着优秀但不出众,C表示中等,D就低于平均水平了。不论E还是F都是令人失望的,或者更严厉的说,失败。

但是在几百所,可能是几千所的美国学校中,没有人能再成为A等生了,成为全优生的想法——成为顶尖的学生——也不存在了。也没有B、C或是F等级的学生了,多亏了名为“基础标准”的报告,现在学生接受数字评级,用一个数字而不是字母来评价他们在每堂课的表现。

那些数字中,4经常代表最好,4至1能够反映很多信息而不仅仅是科目掌握程度问题。在纽约州立学校的一堂数学课上,比如一个4意味学生不仅仅会加减运算,从新术语角度来讲就是在“数感和运算”方面有很高的天赋。

字母成绩数字化的转变与国家教育标准有关,该标准是和学生在标准测试的表现挂钩的。表现的好坏则用数字来衡量,现在,他们在课堂上的表现也用数字来评判了。

这意味着老师有更多的工作要做,因为他们被要求根据学生50项具体技能标准来衡量他们的课室表现。。

新闻语言点睛

1. millions of 许许多多的;成百万的

例句 The programme attracted millions of viewers.

这个节目吸引了数百万电视观众。

2. stand for 代表

例句 What do the letters N.B. stand for?

N.B.这两个字母代表什么?

3. instead of 代替,而不是

例句 I gave him advice instead of money.

我给了他忠告,而不是钱。

VOA 4

多哥学者拯救语言遗产
Togolese Academics Fight for Linguistic Heritage

新闻背景导读

多哥共和国(法语:République Togolaise),西非国家之一,东面与贝宁,北面与布基纳法索,西面与加纳相邻,南面有一小段海岸线面向几内亚湾。首都及最大城市为洛美。全国分为滨海区、高原区、中部区、卡拉区和草原区五大经济区。多哥的官方语言是法语,此外,埃维语、米纳语、卡布列语、达戈姆巴语等也在多哥流行。

新闻词汇热身

estimate [ˈestɪmət] v. 估计,估量

disappear [ˌdɪsəˈpɪə(r)] v. 不见,消失

academic [ˌӕkəˈdemɪk] adj. 学校(院)的;学术的

heritage [ˈherɪtɪdʒ] n. 遗产,继承物,传统

ritual [ˈrɪtʃuəl] n. (宗教等的)仪式;例行公事

ethnic [ˈeθnɪk] adj. 种族的

interaction [ˌɪntərˈӕkʃn] n. 相互作用,相互影响

urban [ˈɜːbən] adj. 城市的

linguist [ˈlɪŋɡwɪst] n. 语言学家

正点新闻播报

Togolese Academics Fight for Linguistic Heritage

Experts estimate that by the end of the century, half of the 6,000 languages spoken on our planet will have disappeared . In West Africa, academics in Togo are trying to protect the small country's rich cultural and language heritage .

At the University of Lome, Professor N'bueke Adovi Goeh-Akue shows a visitor some video groups of Gen cultural ritual . The Professor is a cultural heritage specialist. He is also a Gen, one of many ethnic groups in Togo.

He is making films of Gen cultural customs with financial help from the United States. He says the Gen have an important place in Togo's history and culture. Gen rituals show how its people see their world; the interaction between the living and the dead, the seen and the unseen."

Gen is one of about 39 languages spoken in Togo. A specialist in the UNESCO endangered language program says, by the end of the century, more than half of Africa's languages will be gone.

Socio-linguist Komlan Essizewa says that today many young urban Togolese switch among several languages, these include the Mina language spoken in cities.

"As a linguist, we have to be very worried about it. Because today, even when people move back to their village, they don't use the language of the village as it is."

新闻播报译文

多哥学者拯救语言遗产

专家预计在本世纪末,地球上的6000种语言中近一半将消失。在西非,多哥学者正试图保护这个渺小的国度里丰富的文化和语言遗产。

在洛美大学,N'bueke Adovi Goeh-Akue教授向一位访客放映了一些Gen部族文化仪式的视频。该教授是文化遗产专家,也是Gen部族的人,这个部族是多哥众多部族中的一支。

在来自美国的资金援助下,他正在制作Gen部族文化风俗的影片。他说,Gen部族在多哥的历史和文化上有举足轻重的地位。Gen族仪式展示了这里的人们如何看待他们的世界,他们的生与死、已知与未知的相互作用。

Gen族语言是多哥的39种语言之一。联合国教科文组织濒危语种项目组的专家说,截止本世纪末,半数以上的非洲语种将消失。

社会语言学家Komlan Essizewa说道,今天许多住在都市里的多哥年轻人在几种语言中转换使用,这些语言包括在城市里使用的迈纳语种。

“作为一名语言学者,我们不得不对这一现象忧心忡忡。因为现在即使人们返回他们的村落,他们也不会像以前一样使用他们村落的语言了。”

新闻语言点睛

1. by the end of 到……为止

例句 The loan is due for repayment by the end of the year.

这笔借款要在年底还清。

2. be worried about 为……忧虑,为……担心

例句 There seems nothing to be worried about.

似乎没有什么值得忧虑的。

VOA 5

网上课程可能会彻底改变大学
Online Classes Might Revolutionize Colleges

新闻背景导读

网络课程就是通过网络表现的某门学科的教学内容及实施的教学活动的总和,是信息时代条件下课程新的表现形式。它包括按一定的教学目标、教学策略组织起来的教学内容和网络教学支撑环境。其中网络教学支撑环境特指支持网络教学的软件工具、教学资源以及在网络教学平台上实施的教学活动。网络课程具有交互性、共享性、开放性、协作性和自主性等基本特征。

新闻词汇热身

complete [kəmˈpliːt] v. 完成,完整

solution [səˈluːʃn] n. 解决;解答

revolutionize [ˌrevəˈluːʃənaɪz] v. 变革,彻底改革

restructure [ˌriːˈstrʌktʃə(r)] v. 重建,改建,重组

competition [ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃn] n. 竞争,比赛

正点新闻播报

Online Classes Might Revolutionize Colleges

American colleges face what some people are calling a "perfect storm" of problems, college costs are rising, there are not enough jobs for all those completing study programs. Yet employers say they cannot find enough workers with technical skills.

One solution may be found in the growing number and quality of online classes, such classes might revolutionize colleges the way the Internet has already changed music, publishing, sales, and other businesses.

"This is pretty amazing." That is David Evans of the University of Virginia, he is teaching a Computer Science class on the Internet.

Many top universities now offer online classes, they teach everything from computer programing to the science of cooking. Many classes are at little or no cost, they are restructured more often than traditional college programs.

At most colleges, a professor or teaching assistant gives a lecture to students, who then do research, study, and homework alone. Student and blogger John Haber says online classes change everything around.

Georgetown University labor economist Tony Carnevale says he would welcome these changes, he says a college education has to be less costly, and then to skills needed by employers.

Chris Cullen is a college marketing expert, he says competition from online schools, and concerns about costs, will change universities.

新闻播报译文

网上课程可能会彻底改变大学

美国大学面临着所谓的“屋漏偏遇连阴雨”的问题,大学学费在涨,毕业生没有足够的就业机会。然而雇主却说他们找不到具备相关技能的员工。

数量和质量不断提高的网上课程可能是解决办法之一。这类课程可能会彻底改变高校,就像互联网已经改变了音乐、出版、销售和其它行业一样。

“这很了不起。”这是弗吉尼亚大学的大卫·埃文斯的评价,他在互联网上教计算机科学课程。

现在许多顶尖大学都提供网上课程,教授从电脑编程到烹调的各种课程。许多课程费用很低或免费,这些课程比传统大学课程调整得更频繁。

在大多数高校中,教授或助教给学生们讲课,然后学生们独自研究、学习和做功课。作为学生和博主的约翰·哈伯表示,网上课程改变了周围的一切。

乔治敦大学的劳动经济学家托尼·内瓦莱表示,他对这些改变表示欢迎。他说,大学教育费用应该更低,同时注重培养学生具备雇主需要的技能。

克里斯·卡伦是一位高校营销专家,他表示,来自网络学校的挑战,以及对费用的关注将会改变大学。

新闻语言点睛

1. technical skill 专门技术

例句 The job calls for technical skill.

做这项工作需要专门技术。

2. concern about 关心,担心

例句 Teachers have expressed concern about the changes.

教师对这些变化表示忧虑。

VOA 听力点睛

怎样理解新闻中的代词

代词在英语广播中使用的频率很低,这是广播文体的一大特点,是由广播的传播特点所决定的。据我们统计,代词的使用仅占总词数的1%。代词数量减少,但人名、地名却大大增多,具体名词也增多了,这样,能使语言表达更为精确,减少产生混乱、引起误解的可能性。但根据需要或使语言简洁起见,新闻广播中有时还会出现一定数量的代词。代词的理解在阅读中常常是中国学生的一个难点,在收听VOA新闻时,这一问题就显得更为突出了。所以我们应更加注意代词的用法,在收听时做到以下几点:

(1)根据上下文来理解代词。

(2)通过对照收听Special English和Standard English同一内容的新闻来明确代词。

(3)利用历史背景知识来理解代词。世界上的许多事情,比如几大战争热点,都有其历史根源,两国之间的缓解与恶化也都有其时代背景。所以如果听众不断丰富自己的国际知识,也将有助于对新闻中代词的理解。

(4)坚持收听VOA对有关事件的系列报道。通过了解某一具体事件的发生、发展和结束这一全过程来判断代词。VOA新闻广播中代词的使用有时并不是以一天的某一事件为出发点,而是从有关事件的一系列报道来措辞的。因此坚持收听也是理解代词解决问题的有效方法之一。 zYLV3noFMXMeSHZJd8WuRISxPwS+qx8+qJLiPVXAucwOTnHJJMCCWgsRvKymgnLN



第五章

农林絮语

VOA 1

粮食价格上涨的担忧可能缓解?
Worries About Rising Food Prices May Ease

新闻背景导读

全球主要粮食生产国美国今年遭遇了半个世纪以来的罕见干旱,在玉米、小麦、大豆等农作物严重减产的预期下,国际大宗商品市场谷物价格6月以来一路飙升,全球粮食价格上涨趋势日渐明朗,特别是大米价格的涨幅超过50%。全世界粮食价格涨声一片,成为多个国家的难题。粮价上涨使很多国家贫民的生活陷入了困境,有些地方人们甚至将一天三餐改为两餐。

新闻词汇热身

sharply [ˈʃɑːpli] adv. 剧烈地

drought [draʊt] n. 干旱,旱灾

expectation [ˌekspekˈteɪʃn] n. 期待,预期

reduction [rɪˈdʌkʃn] n. 减少,缩小;下降,降低

maize [meɪz] n. 玉米

cereal [ˈsɪəriəl] n. 谷类植物,谷物

volatile [ˈvɒlətaɪl] adj. 动荡不定的;反复无常的

正点新闻播报

Worries About Rising Food Prices May Ease

A United Nations report says world food prices stayed the same in August. Prices were unchanged after rising sharply in July.

A summer of drought in the United States and Russia has reduced expectations for corn and wheat supplies. As a result, a measure of food prices by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization rose six percent in July. But FAO economist Concepcion Calpe says the expected reductions did not get any worse in August.

CONCEPCION CALPE: "We're not in a bad situation, or as bad situation as we were last month because the prospects are not worsening further. And this is already good news."

Demand remains high for food commodities like maize and wheat. The U.N. estimates that more cereal crops will be consumed this year than will be produced. That means markets will have to use some of the supplies that have been kept in reserve. Concepcion Calpe says those reserves have been low for several years.

She says there will be ups and downs in prices until production meets the level of demand. Still, many experts do not expect a repeat of the crisis of two thousand seven and two thousand eight. Prices jumped, playing a part in civil unrest in several countries.

For one thing, these experts point out that energy prices are lower now. That means producing and transporting food is not so costly. And Gary Ellerts at the United States Agency for International Development says this year's bad weather has not affected another important crop: rice. Mr. Eilerts is head of the agency's Famine Early Warning System.

GARY EILERTS: "Rice is very calm, very nice. Prices are not volatile . There's a large supply. And so, countries that depend on that, that were hurt a great deal in two thousand eight, are not being touched right now."

新闻播报译文

粮食价格上涨的担忧可能缓解

联合国一份报告称,8月份世界粮食价格保持不变。7月份大幅上涨后,8月份粮价基本持平。

美国和俄罗斯夏季的干旱使玉米和小麦的供应较预期减小。因此,联合国粮农组织的食品价格指数7月份上涨了6%。但粮农组织经济学家康塞普西翁·卡尔佩(Concepcion Calpe)表示,预期的减少在8月份并没有继续恶化。

卡尔佩:“现在的情况还好,或者说不像上个月那么差。形势没有进一步恶化,而这就是好消息。”

玉米和小麦等食品类商品的需求仍然很大。据联合国估计,今年消耗的谷类作物会超出生产的谷类作物。这意味着市场将不得不动用一些储备粮食。卡尔佩说,储备量多年来一直都很低。

她说,价格会起起伏伏,直到粮食生产满足需求。尽管如此,许多专家并不认为2007年和2008年的危机会重演。物价暴涨对一些国家的内乱也起到了一定作用。

这些专家指出原因之一是目前能源价格较低,这意味着生产和运输食品没那么昂贵。美国国际开发署的加里·埃勒(Gary Ellerts)表示,今年的恶劣天气没有影响到另一种重要作物:水稻。埃勒先生是该机构饥荒早期预警系统的负责人。

埃勒:“水稻价格非常平稳,没有波动,供应充足。因此那些在2008年受到极大损害的、依赖水稻的国家当前没有受到影响。”

新闻语言点睛

1. stay the same 保持不变

例句 I know things will change, but Casey stays the same.

我知道事物将改变,但是凯西没有变。

2. as a result 结果

例句 He was late as a result of the snow.

由于大雪他迟到了。

3. keep in reserve 留作预备;储存

例句 It is advisable to keep a little food in reserve in case of emergency.

最好储备一点食物,以应急需。

4. ups and downs 起伏;兴衰

例句 Life is full of ups and downs.

生活是充满曲折的。

VOA 2

水灌溉带来疟疾
Irrigation Brings Malaria Along with Water

新闻背景导读

据《联合早报》报道,在瑞典斯德哥尔摩举行的“世界水周”大会上,国际水源管理研究所发表一份报告说,在第三世界国家里,70%城市周围一半的农田都用污水灌溉,这可能助长流行疾病的传播。水源专家指出,每年全球有140万儿童因为腹泻和卫生条件差而死亡,并称全球性厕所卫生危机是“世界最大的环境问题”。

专家说,对水源和食品需求的增长,刺激了污水灌溉的兴起;而且在很多时候,对缺少净水的农民来,污水是唯一的水源。

新闻词汇热身

irrigation [ˌɪrɪˈɡeɪʃn] n. 灌溉

agricultural [ˌӕɡrɪˈkʌltʃərəl] adj. 农业的

malaria [məˈleəriə] n. 疟疾

mosquito [məˈskiːtəʊ] n. 蚊子

reproduce [ˌriːprəˈdjuːs] v. 繁殖,生殖

habitat [ˈhӕbɪtӕt] n. 栖息地,住处

transition [trӕnˈzɪʃn] n. 过渡,转变

intervention [ˌɪntəˈviːn] n. 介入,干涉,干预

vector [ˈvektə(r)] n. (传播疾病的)媒介生物

正点新闻播报

Irrigation Brings Malaria Along with Water

Irrigation systems can make a big difference in agricultural production. Irrigation can also improve the lives of farm families. However, the addition of water to the land or soil may cause problems in some areas. A new study describes how irrigation water can lead to an increase in malaria cases that could last for ten years or more.

Malaria is spread by mosquitoes , the insects like to reproduce in standing water. So when a dry area is irrigated, the disease can appear and spread.

Mercedes Pascual is a scientist at the University of Michigan. She and her team studied areas in northern India where irrigation systems were built over a number of years. They compared how malaria progressed with the spread of irrigation.

"What happens is that when you irrigate, there is more, in a sense, more breeding habitats for the mosquito."

She and the other scientists found that after farmers began irrigating their crops, the risk of malaria rose sharply. At first, her team thought maybe the number of cases rose because there was little effort to control the mosquitoes that spread the disease. But they were wrong.

"In fact, we saw the opposite. This transition stage was characterized not just by heightened malaria risk, but also by more intervention to control the mosquito vector ."

新闻播报译文

水灌溉带来疟疾

灌溉系统在农业生产中能产生巨大的影响。灌溉也能改善农村家庭的生活。但是,流向土壤的水中附属物可能会在某些地区造成问题。一项新的调查介绍了灌溉水如何造成可持续十年或者更长时间的疟疾病例的增加。

疟疾是通过蚊子传播,蚊虫喜欢在静水中繁殖后代。所以,当干旱的地区被灌溉了,这种疾病就会开始出现或者蔓延。

默西迪丝·帕斯奎尔是美国密歇根大学的一名科学家。她和她的团队研究了灌溉系统已经建成多年的印度北部地区。他们比较了疟疾如何同灌溉的深入一同发展的。

“从某种意义上说,灌溉会产生更多的蚊虫的繁殖地。”

她和其他科学家发现,农民开始灌溉庄稼后,疟疾的风险也大幅上升。起初,她的团队认为,疟疾风险上升的原因是控制能够传播疾病蚊子的措施不到位,但是他们错了。

“事实上,我们看到的恰恰相反。这个过渡阶段的特点不仅是疟疾风险的增加,还包括很多控制蚊虫媒介的未预措施。”

新闻语言点睛

1. make a big difference 产生巨大影响

例句 It won't make much difference whether you go today or tomorrow.

你今天去或明天去没有多大关系.

2. the risk of ……的危险

例句 I'd rather you do not run the risk of being punished.

我宁愿你不冒受罚之险。

3. a number of 许多,若干

例句 A number of invitations have been sent.

许多请帖已经发出去了。

VOA 3

植物杀菌剂或会伤害蜜蜂
Plant Fungicide Might Harm Honeybees

新闻背景导读

凡是能杀死病原体或抑制其生长,但又不防碍植物正常生长的药剂,统称为杀菌剂。杀菌剂的种类很多,按照它的作用方式可分为三类。1. 植物保护剂:这类药剂分布在植物体的表面后会形成一层药膜,病原微生物接触到药膜后会被杀死,保护植物免受其害。这种杀菌剂由于对植物体的副作用小,得到了广泛的应用。2. 植物治疗剂:如果病原微生物已经浸入植物体内,但植物表现病症处于潜伏期。这时就要使用治疗剂了。使用治疗剂后,药物从植物表皮渗入植物组织内部,经输导、扩散、或产生代谢物来杀死或抑制病原,使病株不再受害,并恢复健康。3. 植物铲除剂:指植物感病后能直接杀死已侵入植物的病原物的药剂。这是一种强力杀菌剂。但不能用于生长期间的花卉,如果在植物的生长期用铲除剂会对植物造成一定的伤害。铲除剂适用于铲除休眠期间花卉表面的病原菌,同时,铲除剂对土壤也有消毒作用。

新闻词汇热身

commonly [ˈkɒmənli] adv. 一般地;通常

widespread [ˈwaɪdspred] adj. 分布(或散布)广的,普遍的

insect [ˈɪnsekt] n. 昆虫

pollen [ˈpɒlən] n. 花粉

fertilize [ˈfɜːtəlaɪz] v. 使肥沃;使多产

pollination [ˌpɒləˈneɪʃn] n. 授粉,传粉

pesticide [ˈpestɪsaɪd] n. 杀虫剂,农药

fungicide [ˈfʌnɡɪsaɪd] n. 杀真菌剂

正点新闻播报

Plant Fungicide Might Harm Honeybees

New studies have found that a chemical commonly used to fight plant disease is harming honeybees. Experts say the chemical may be partly to blame for the widespread loss of honeybees in the United States.

The insects are important to farmers. When a honeybee lands on a flower in plant, pollen sticks to its legs. When the bee lands on another flower, some of the pollen falls off and fertilizes the second plant.

The act of pollination is responsible for many fruits, vegetables, nuts and other crops. Yet about 30 percent of honeybees in the United States and other areas have died in recent years.

Dennis Van Engelsdorp is a researcher at the University of Maryland. He wants to learn why so many bees are dying.

His research team examined the pollen grain that honeybees carried to their homes. They found that the pollen contained high levels of 35 different pesticides , chemicals use to protect plants. They also found that bees eating some fungicides of biological organisms became infected with a deadly micro-organism called Nosema.

Yet fungicides are necessary to use for agricultural purposes in the United States. Mike Leggett studies pesticide for the pest management industry group —Crop Life America. "Fungicides are used, and have been used, pretty broadly, for centuries, for protection of plants from plant disease."

Honeybees are important to agriculture. This makes the search for an answer to their death especially urgent for Mr. Van Engelsdorp's team. As he knows, one in every three bites of food we eat is somehow pollinated by honeybees.

新闻播报译文

植物杀菌剂或会伤害蜜蜂

新的研究发现,在抗植物病害中普遍使用的一种化学物质正对蜜蜂造成伤害。专家表示这种化学物质可能是美国蜜蜂大量消亡的原因之一。

昆虫对于农民来说是极其重要的。当一只蜜蜂降落在植物的花朵之上时,花粉便粘到了它的腿上。而当这只蜜蜂降落在另一花朵时,一些花粉落下从而使这第二株植物受精。

授粉这一行为使得许多水果、蔬菜、坚果以及其他作物得以孕育。然而在最近几年里,美国和其他地区的蜜蜂却死亡了30%。

丹尼斯·范安吉斯多是马里兰大学的一名研究员。他准备研究为什么这么多的蜜蜂会死去。

丹尼斯的研究团队对蜜蜂带回蜂巢的花粉粒进行了检测,发现花粉中含有高达35种不同类型的杀虫剂及用于保护植物的化学品。他们同时发现,吃过含有生物有机体杀菌剂的蜜蜂会感染一种叫做微孢子虫的致命微生物。

然而杀菌剂对于美国农业是必不可缺的。为美国croplife公司,一家害虫管理工业集团,进行杀虫剂研究的迈克·莱格特说:“几个世纪以来,杀虫剂曾经并正在广泛地使用于植物病害防护。”

对于农业来说,蜜蜂尤为重要。这使得查寻它们死亡原因的研究对于范安吉斯多的团队显得极其迫切。据他所知,人们所吃食物每三口中的一口在某种程度上都是由蜜蜂进行授粉的。

新闻语言点睛

1. be to blame for 应受责备,对……应负责任

例句 Which driver was to blame for the accident?

这事故是哪个司机的责任?

2. stick to 粘附在……上

例句 Although I moistened it, the flap doesnˈt stick to the envelope.

我把信封弄湿了,可是信封口盖还是粘不上。

3. fall off 脱落

例句 Ripe apples are beginning to fall off the trees.

成熟的苹果开始从树上落下来了。

4. be responsible for 承担责任

例句 You should be responsible for all the consequences.

你应当为这一切后果承担责任。

5. be necessary to 必要的

例句 It may be necessary to buy a new one.

也许有必要买个新的了。

VOA 4

公共媒体帮助农场主避免食物浪费
Social Media Helps Farmers Avoid Food Waste

新闻背景导读

美国自然资源保护委员会日前发布报告说,美国人每年食物浪费量占生产量的40%,造成大约1650亿美元损失。其中农产品浪费情况尤为突出,浪费数量超过海鲜、肉类、谷物和乳制品。调查显示,农贸市场和食品杂货店腐烂的水果蔬菜造成每年150亿美元损失;饭馆和家庭厨房同样是造成农产品浪费的重要场所。2013年,美国遭遇历史上最干旱、最炎热夏季,旱灾导致食物短缺、物价上涨。自然资源保护委员会呼吁美国人珍惜食物,减少浪费。

新闻词汇热身

population [ˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃn] n. 人口

unsold [ˌʌnˈsəʊld] adj. 未出售的

leafy [ˈliːfi] adj. 叶状的;叶茂的

storage [ˈstɔːrɪdʒ] n. 贮藏,存储

status [ˈsteɪtəs] n. 情形,状况

organic [ɔːˈɡӕnɪk] adj. 有机(体)的,有机物的

broccoli [ˈbrɒkəli] n. 花椰菜

fertilizer [ˈfɜːtəlaɪzə(r)] n. 肥料

donate [dəʊˈneɪt] v. 捐赠,赠送

正点新闻播报

Social Media Helps Farmers Avoid Food Waste

On World Environment Day in June, the United Nations reported at least one third of all food produced is wasted. The report came at a time when many people are concerned about how to feed a growing world population .

In the United States, Farmers who are struggling to earn money find the situation difficult to deal with. The United States Department of Agriculture found that more than half of the small farms in California do not make a profit.

One California farm family is using social media in an effort to change the situation and reduce wasted food. Nick Papadopoulos is general manager of Bloomfield Farms in Sonoma County. It was difficult for him to watch his employees returning from several weekend farmer's markets with top quality unsold produce.

Mr. Papadopoulos said he would find boxes of leafy greens, herbs and carrots left in a storage yard. The vegetables would go bad before the next market day. As a result, Mr. Papadopoulos came up with a plan to offer the food at a low price by advertising it on the farm's Facebook status page on Sunday nights.

Nick Papadopoulos began using social media after he went to work on a farm belonging to his wife's father. One night, he began thinking about the issue of wasted food, when he could not find a place to donate 32 cases of organic broccoli . He ended up giving some of the food to chickens and using the rest to make fertilizer .

"I don't believe we should let it go to waste, I believe we should share it, donate it, whatever it takes. And if possible, as farmers, we would like to recover a small portion of our costs."

新闻播报译文

公共媒体帮助农场主避免食物浪费

在六月份的世界环境日中,联合国报道至少三分之一的食物被浪费。报道播出时间正是许多人担心如何以充足的食物来供养持续增长的世界人口。

在美国,正在努力赚钱的农场主们发现目前的情形很难解决。美国农业部发加利福尼亚超过半数的小型农场处于不盈利的境地。

一个来自加利福尼亚的农场家庭正利用公共媒体制造声势,以此改变处境、减少食物浪费。尼克·帕帕多普洛斯是索诺马布鲁姆菲尔德农场的经理。对他而言,过几周就看到他的职员带回农贸市场的返货,这些都是品质优良但却没有卖出去的农产品。

帕帕多普洛斯先生说他发现一些装满多叶的绿色蔬菜,香草和胡萝卜的盒子被放在贮藏室。在要运往超市之前,蔬菜会慢慢变质、腐烂。最终,帕帕多普洛斯先生想出一个办法,星期天晚上在农场的脸书公共主页上通过打广告将食物低价出售。

尼克·帕帕多普洛斯在为岳父的农场工作之后,开始利用公共媒体。一天晚上,当已经没有地方能捐出32箱有机花椰菜的时候,他开始思考如何解决浪费食物的问题。他停止把剩菜喂鸡和沤肥。

“我不相信我们会让浪费现象继续滋生,我相信我们可以分享食物,捐赠食物,无论它是否会给我们带来盈利。如果可能,作为农场主,我们还是想要赚回我们的部分成本。

新闻语言点睛

1. make a profit 获利,赚钱

例句 We can't undertake that you will make a profit.

我们不能保证你会获利。

2. in an effort to 试图,为了达成

例句 The company has laid off 150 workers in an effort to save money.

公司为节省资金遣散了150名工人。

3. come up with 提出,想出

例句 I hope you can come up with a better plan than this.

我希望你们能提出一个比这个更好的计划。

4. at a low price 低价,廉价

例句 I bought this watch at a low price.

我以低价买了这只表。

5. belong to 属于

例句 He did not belong to his set of friends.

他与他那伙朋友不一样。

6. end up 结束

例句 Suppose we end up by meeting each other halfway.

我看我们最后彼此都得做些让步。

VOA 5

种植红辣椒
Growing Chili Peppers

新闻背景导读

辣椒属于一年生草本植物。茎直立,多分枝。单叶互生,叶片卵形,先端渐尖,叶柄较长。花单生于叶腋内,花冠黄色或绿色。花萼杯状,花白色。果实通常成圆锥形或长圆形,有朝天或向下之分;未成熟时呈绿色,成熟后变成酱色、鲜红色、黄色或紫色,以红色最为常见。红辣椒含有丰富的维生素等,食用辣椒,能增加饭量,增强体力,改善怕冷、冻伤、血管性头痛等症状。辣椒含有一种物殊物质,能加速新陈代谢,促进荷尔蒙分泌,保健皮肤。富含维生素C,可以控制心脏病及冠状动脉硬化,降低胆固醇。含有较多抗氧化物质,可预防癌症及其他慢性疾病。可以使呼吸道畅通,用以治疗咳嗽、感冒。辣椒还能杀死或抑制胃腹内的寄生虫。

新闻词汇热身

chili [ˈtʃɪli] n. 红辣椒

vermiculite [vɜːˈmɪkjʊˌlaɪt] n. 蛭石

nutrient [ˈnjuːtriənt] n. 营养品,滋养物

transplant [trӕnsˈplɑːnt] v. 移栽,移植

pinch [pɪntʃ] v. 捏,掐

potash [ˈpɒtӕʃ] n. 钾,(尤指)碳酸钾,氢氧化钾

正点新闻播报

Growing Chili Peppers

If you plant chili peppers inside, fill an eight-centimeter pot with soil. The pot should have holes in the bottom, so water can run out. Tap the sides of the pot to settle the soil.

Drop several seeds over the surface of the pot and cover with a thin layer of vermiculite . Vermiculite is a material that can hold air, water and nutrients . Then cover the top of the pot with a see-through plastic bag. Hold the bag in place with a rubber band. Place the pot in a warm area.

When the chilies start growing, take off the bag. When the plants have reached about two centimeters high, place each one carefully in its own eight-centimeter pot.

When the roots show through the holes in the bottom of the pot, transplant each seedling into a twelve-centimeter pot. When the plants are twenty centimeters high, tie the plants to a stick placed in the pot to support them.

When the chili peppers are thirty centimeters high, pinch the tops off with your fingers. That should get new branches to grow. When the first flowers show, give the plants some potash fertilizer. When the weather is warm, put them into five-liter pots and place them outside. Make sure they get a good amount of light and water.

Some people like mild chilies, others like plenty of heat. Some like to harvest the plants when the chilies are green. Others like their chilies red. Either way can give color and taste to many different foods.

新闻播报译文

种植红辣椒

如果你在室内种植红辣椒,把它们种植在一个装满泥土的直径为8厘米的土盆里。这个盆的底部要有一些孔能让水流出去。轻拍花盆边缘固定土壤。

在土盆的表面撒上一些种子,然后撒上薄薄的一层蛭石。蛭石是一种能保持通风,留住水分和营养物质的材料。用一层透明的塑料膜盖住土盆的顶部,用橡皮筋把膜固定好。再把花盆放在一个温暖的地方。

当辣椒开地始生长,打开这层塑料膜。当植物达到2厘米高的时候,就要小心地把每株苗放在各自的8厘米的土盆了。

在盆的底部能看到这些辣椒的根的时候,把这些辣椒的植株重新放到一个12厘米的盆里头去。当这些植物长到20厘米高的时候,在盆里用根棍子绑住支撑它。

当这些红辣椒到了30厘米高的时候,用手指将植株顶部掐掉。这样就会有新的分枝长出来。当第一朵花长出来的时候,给他们进行施肥。当天气暖和的时候,把他们放进5升的盆里,将植物放在外面。确保他们有足够的水分和光照。

有些人喜欢味道温和的红辣椒,有些人则喜欢味道强烈的红辣椒。有些人喜欢在辣椒还是绿色的时候就摘了,有些人则喜欢等到他们变红。不管那种方式都能给其他食物带来更丰富的颜色和味道。

新闻语言点睛

1. in the bottom 在底部

例句 There are tea leaves in the bottom of my cup.

我的杯底有茶叶。

2. run out 流出

例句 The tide was running out.

潮水正在消退。

3. take off 拿掉,脱下

例句 He took off his gloves.

他脱下手套。

VOA 听力点睛

重视新闻导语的核心作用

新闻导语是每条新闻的中心要点,它扼要地叙述了每条新闻的主要内容,如果我们首先听懂了导语,理解了导语的基本意思,那么随着播音员一步一步地向纵深发展,我们就能对所播内容有一个全面的了解。

在叙述的过程中,播音员常常用一句话对事件前一阶段的情况进行简单地回顾或对本次事件有直接影响的历史问题进行扼要地说明。以唤起听众的回忆,引起联想,帮助听众理解新闻。我们应该给予特别重视。一般说来,Special English新闻可利用电头来抓住导语,播音员在读完每一个电头之后,都有1-3秒钟的停顿,接着便是该条新闻的导语。所以Special English的导语是不难抓住的。

但Standard English就不一样了。Standard English速度快,第一句话常常来得突然,要立即听懂,并留下较深的印象的确比较困难。但只要有目的、有意识地坚持进行训练,抓住导语是完全可能的。刚开始收听标准英语广播时,我们可能连每条新闻之间的间隔都难以分清,这就需要充分利用播音员的语调所提供的信息。 zYLV3noFMXMeSHZJd8WuRISxPwS+qx8+qJLiPVXAucwOTnHJJMCCWgsRvKymgnLN

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