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环球英语 — 337:Telephones in Afghanistan

时间:2011-09-20 09:07来源:互联网 提供网友:fei   字体: [ ]
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  Voice 1
Hello, I’m Rachel Hobson.
Voice 2
And I’m Mike Procter. Welcome to Spotlight1. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
You will recognize these sounds! Mobile2 telephones seem to be everywhere! Many people love them. They love the fact that they can carry them around. And they cannot imagine surviving without them.
Voice 2
Other people are not so sure. They do not like the way people talk loudly on their mobile telephones in public. They may become angry when telephones ring in quiet places like hospitals. And they do not like the idea that someone could call them at any time, wherever they are!
Voice 1
You may love mobile telephones. Or, you may hate them. But there is no question that they can be very useful. Communications technology is developing3 all the time. And telephone companies compete against each other for business. They are creating more and more complex4 telephones. There are now mobile telephones with cameras. There are mobile telephones that can play your favourite music. There are mobile telephones that can connect to the internet.
Voice 2
In fact, there are telephones on the market which can do all three of these things. For example, one such phone is the Apple iPhone. It is a mobile telephone. But the iPhone is also an internet communications device5, a camera and a music player. From when it was first sold in mid6 2007, it became very popular. Many people considered it a necessary product to own to be modern and “cool”! The price was four hundred dollars! Being cool does not come cheap.
Voice 1
Around the world, the mobile telephone has brought many changes. But in some places, these changes have affected7 the very structure8 of society - not just an individual’s way of life. Afghanistan is one such place. It has experienced9 many periods of conflict10 in its history. From 1996 until 2001, a particular Muslim group called the Taliban ruled the country. During this period, Afghan women had little freedom. They could not go to school. They could not appear in public on their own. They had to cover themselves from head to foot. Life was not always easy for these proud, independent people.
Voice 2
But now, the women’s situation is changing. And one of the reasons for this is the arrival11 of the mobile telephone. Four international telephone companies now do business in Afghanistan. They provide a communications service. Mobile telephone networks cost less than land telephone lines - especially as most people live in the country. And estimates13 say that almost four million [4,000,000] Afghans have a mobile telephone. A large number of those people are women. The telephone companies also work to help the local community. They organize social aid projects. And some of these projects provide women with free telephones.
Voice 1
Shahnaz lives in a small, dark house. She makes clothes. She describes how having a mobile telephone has expanded her business:
Voice 3
“I have seven children. And these three other children belong to my daughter. Her husband left her. My husband left us when my son was only fourteen days old... Then he got married again. We have nothing else. We only have the sewing machine. We are making money for the family. Most of the buyers call us. They give orders for clothes. And then I make them. That is why we have lots of buyers. And that is how we make more money. The mobile telephone has changed our business one hundred per cent. If we did not use mobile telephones we could not work very easily.”
Voice 1
Suheira’s eyes shine out from a half-covered face. She is full of courage and energy. And she has to be. She is only twenty-seven [27]. But already she has five children. She has a husband to care for. And, she runs a fruit and vegetable store. Suheira also has a public call office, or PCO, in her store. People go there and pay to use a mobile telephone. Suheira talks about her experience as one of the few Afghan women store-keepers:
Voice 4
“We are a poor family... My husband does not have a business... the mobile telephone is very good for me and I can get a lot of profit from the P C O. But it depends on how many people come to my store every day. Some days there are lots of people and some days, no one comes. At the very beginning I had difficulties14 with people. They were coming and saying, ‘Why do you have a store?’ It is very unusual for women in Afghanistan to have work like this. Some policemen from the government also came and said, ‘Why are you working here?’ They were trying to make problems for me. They said, ‘We cannot permit15 a woman to have a store.’ They told me to wait. But I told them that I wanted them to permit me to be the first woman in Afghanistan to have a store. And now I do not have any problems.”
Voice 2
The telephone network companies are helping16 women in other ways too. They employ some women in their call centres. Roshan is one of these companies. It operates a call centre in Afghan capital, Kabul. Young men and women sit next to each other in the office. And they answer calls from all around the country. This is a very different situation from only a few years before! Zermina works12 at the centre. She explains what the main problem for Afghan women is now:
Voice 5
“There is no problem between the men and women. They talk with each other. They work with each other. It is a unique environment. Getting permission from the family is also not a problem. The problem is that all the women are without education. Without education, they cannot do a job. Now they can go to school. And they should finish their education. To work in this call centre they must finish high school. They should also have some computer skills. And they should know the two main Afghan languages and English. During the difficult days in Kabul, I never dreamed this could happen! This is the new Afghanistan.”
Voice 1
A lonely woman, speaking to her family who live far away. A single woman, receiving orders for work that will help her support her family. A young woman, starting her first job in a call centre. In these small ways, the mobile telephone is helping to bring more freedom and hope to the women of Afghanistan.
Voice 2
The writer and producer of today’s programme was Ruby17 Jones. The voices you heard were from the United18 States, the United Kingdom and South Africa. All quotes19 were adapted for this programme. This programme is called, “Telephones in Afghanistan.” Thank you for joining us today, goodbye.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 spotlight 6hBzmk     
n.公众注意的中心,聚光灯,探照灯,视听,注意,醒目
参考例句:
  • This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
  • The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。
2 mobile l6dzu     
adj.可移动的,易变的,机动的;n.运动物体
参考例句:
  • The old lady sits on a mobile chair every morning.那位老妇人每天上午坐在一把可携带使用的椅子上。
  • She's much more mobile now that she's bought a car.自从她买了汽车后,活动量就大多了。
3 developing futzl4     
adj.发展中的
参考例句:
  • Transport has always been the key to developing trade.运输一直是发展贸易的关键。
  • They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
4 complex kOez4     
adj.复杂的,合成的,综合的;n.联合体
参考例句:
  • What he said was too complex for me to understand.他说的太复杂了,我无法了解。
  • Justice is part of the complex machinery of the law.正义是复杂的法律机器的一部分。
5 device Bv8x6     
n.器械,装置;计划,策略,诡计
参考例句:
  • The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
  • The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。
6 mid doTzSB     
adj.中央的,中间的
参考例句:
  • Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
  • He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。
7 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
8 structure PtNw5     
n.结构,构造,建筑物;v.构成;
参考例句:
  • Doctors study the structure of the human body.医生研究人体构造。
  • A flower has quite a complicated structure.一朵花的结构相当复杂。
9 experienced ntPz2t     
adj.有经验的;经验丰富的,熟练的
参考例句:
  • Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
  • Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好,你比我更有经验。
10 conflict AYZy9     
n.冲突,矛盾,争执;vi.争执,撞斗,冲突,抵触
参考例句:
  • Your statement is in conflict with the rest of the evidence.你的陈述同其余证据有矛盾。
  • The conflict between them seems ceaseless.他们之间冲突似乎没个止息。
11 arrival jNhyC     
n.到达,达到,到达者
参考例句:
  • She's impatient for her father's arrival.她急切地盼望着父亲的到来。
  • The new arrival was none other than the President.刚到的不是别人,正是总统。
12 works ieuzIh     
n.作品,著作;工厂,活动部件,机件
参考例句:
  • We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
  • The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
13 estimates d72749910e71e75279b310239e18f36f     
估计
参考例句:
  • Unofficial estimates put the figure at over two million. 非官方的估计数字为200万以上。
  • We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后,接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 difficulties b11a578a3831f34c2044c055223e93c4     
n.困难( difficulty的名词复数 );难度;难事;麻烦
参考例句:
  • I am acutely aware of the difficulties we face. 我十分清楚我们面临的困难。
  • the difficulties of English syntax 英语句法的难点
15 permit jMixB     
n.许可证,许可,执照;vt.允许,容许;vi.容许
参考例句:
  • The doctor will not permit mother up until her leg is better.在母亲的腿好些之前,医生不允许她起床。
  • The soldiers had orders to permit no stranger through.士兵们接到命令不许任何陌生人通过。
16 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
17 ruby iXixS     
n.红宝石,红宝石色
参考例句:
  • She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
  • On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。
18 united Yfmz2c     
adj.和谐的;团结的;联合的,统一的
参考例句:
  • The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
  • The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。
19 quotes 2150fd65034a9bcdb357943b3900a918     
v.引用,援引( quote的第三人称单数 );报价;引述;为(股票、黄金或外汇)报价
参考例句:
  • He quotes a few verses from Tennyson in his paper. 他在论文中引用了英国诗人丁尼生的几行诗句。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He quotes (from) the Bible to support his beliefs. 他引用圣经来支持自己的信念。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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