新西兰英语 618 Baby milk powder shortage

 　　New Zealand mothers are having difficulty finding cans of baby formula in the supermarkets. Some supermarkets are limiting the number of cans to two per customer.

　　The shortage¹ may be because Chinese in New Zealand are buying cans of formula to send back or to take back to families in China. One Chinese exporter bought $170,000 worth of baby formula from a supermarket in Auckland to send to China.

　　The problem could get worse this year which is the year of the Dragon. Many Chinese believe this is a lucky year for a baby to be born. There could be more babies born this year.

　　Milk powder for adults is also in short supply at the moment, again because a lot is sent to China. Pregnant² women and older people like to drink milk.

　　The problem is linked to the baby formula scandal³ in China when melamine was added to the milk powder and babies became sick. As a result, Chinese mothers do not trust the quality of Chinese milk powder.

　　Listen to January 25th 2009 to hear about this scandal.

　　Vocabulary

　　baby formula – milk powder which is closest to mother’s milk

　　limit – not more than this number

　　shortage – not enough

　　pregnant women – expecting a baby

　　linked – connected

　　scandal –something that caused anger to the customers and disgrace to the company

　　melamine – white powder, often used to make plastics

　　trust – believe that it is good quality

1 shortage   

n.缺少，缺乏，不足

参考例句：

• The city is suffering a desperate shortage of water.这个城市严重缺水。
• The heart of the problem is a shortage of funds.问题的关键是缺乏经费。

2 pregnant   

adj.怀孕的，怀胎的

参考例句：

• She is a pregnant woman.她是一名孕妇。
• She is pregnant with her first child.她怀了第一胎。

3 scandal   

n.丑事，丑闻，流言蜚语，反感，愤慨

参考例句：

• Scandal and gossip are meat and drink to him.各种丑闻和流言蜚语是他最感兴趣的事。
• His theft from the shop caused scandal in the village.他因偷商店的东西引起全村的公愤。