英语听力—环球英语 783 Between Memories and Truth

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Robin² Basselin.
Voice 2
And I'm Ryan Geertsma. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
A young man returns to his home town of Aracataca, Colombia. He visits the house where he lived as a child. Here, he remembers the most important memories of his childhood. Standing³ in front of his old house, the young man makes an important decision. He says to himself,
Voice 3
"I will start my life over again. I will become a writer."
Voice 2
This man is world famous writer, Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Voice 1
He has become one of the most important Latin⁴ American writers ever. But his story starts in a small river town in the country of Colombia. Today's Spotlight is on Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Voice 2
Gabriel Garcia Marquez was born on March 6, 1928. When he was two years old, his parents moved to the city of Sucre. But they left him living in the city of Aracataca. For nine years he lived there with his grandparents. These years would influence his stories for the rest of his life.
Voice 1
During his early life, Garcia Marquez's grandmother and grandfather told him many stories. His grandmother would tell him legends⁵ – traditional stories that people believe to be true, but that they cannot prove. His grandmother would tell him these stories as if they were real. She could make the most normal events sound amazing. Garcia Marquez says that his grandmother's way of storytelling later influenced his own methods.
Voice 2
Garcia Marquez's grandfather would also tell him stories – stories about real life. For example, his grandfather had fought in the Thousand Day's War in Colombia. And he would tell young Garcia Marquez about the terrible events of war. He told Marquez that there was no greater pain than to have killed a man.
Voice 1
When he was 9 years old, his grandfather died. At this time, he returned to his parents in Bogota. Garcia Marquez's time in Aracataca was short. But he would always remember he stories of his grandmother and his grandfather. And their stories would later help him to produce some of his greatest works⁶ of literature.
Voice 2
When Gabriel Garcia Marquez was about 20 years old, he attended university. He began studying law because this is what his father wanted him to study. However, Garcia Marquez was not happy.
Voice 1
During this time Garcia Marquez returned to Aracataca, his first home. It was on this visit that he realized he must stop studying law. And he recognized that he must return to the passion⁷ of his childhood – writing. Soon after he returned from his visit, he did stop studying law. Instead, he began writing as a journalist – he wrote news reports for newspapers.
Voice 2
For the next few years, Garcia Marquez wrote for many different newspapers. And in 1955, he published his first book called "Leaf Storm." In 1958, he married Mercedes Barcha. And in 1961, they moved to Mexico City.
Voice 1
For many years, Garcia Marquez knew he wanted to write about his grandfather's house in Aracataca. Now, he was ready to write. To write this book, Garcia Marquez and his wife had to sell almost all of their property⁸ to survive. But their sacrifice was worth it. The book, "One Hundred Years of Solitude⁹" was immediately successful. And this book created a path for Garcia Marquez's future success.
Voice 2
"One Hundred Years of Solitude," tells a long history of a family who lived in the imaginary¹⁰ South American village of Macondo. The story follows seven generations of the Buendia family. It starts with those who built the village of Macondo.
Voice 1
"One Hundred Years of Solitude" is not a story about Garcia Marquez's life. But there are many similarities¹¹ to his life in Aracataca. Garcia Marquez even said that the opening story in the book is from a real event in his life – a time when his grandfather took him to see ice that was stored at a local fruit company.
Voice 2
But this is not the only book Garcia Marquez wrote that was influenced by real life events. Many of his other books are as well - including one of the most famous love stories in the world, "Love in the Time of Cholera¹²." The book was based in part on the love story of his parents.
Voice 1
In 1982, Gabriel Garcia Marquez was given the Nobel Prize in Literature for his book "100 Years of Solitude." He was the first Colombian and the fourth Latin American to win a Nobel Prize for Literature. After receiving his award, he told a reporter:
Voice 3
"I have the belief that they considered all the literature of Latin America when they gave me this prize. They have given me the award as a way of giving the award to all of this literature."
Voice 2
In recent years Garcia Marquez has become more involved in Latin American politics¹³. He wants to bring positive change to the country and continent that gave him such wonderful memories. Many people believe Garcia Marquez has the power to bring about great political¹⁴ and social change in Latin America. But Garcia Marquez believes it is his continent that has changed him the most.
Voice 1
There is a sign on the road in Aracataca, Colombia. It repeats the words of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It reads,
Voice 3
"I feel Latin America from every country, but I have never forgotten the memories of my homeland: Aracataca. One day I returned to this city and discovered the natural materials for my writing: a place between my memories and the truth."
Voice 2
In 1999, the doctors told Gabriel Garcia Marquez that he had cancer. Although the cancer was going away, Marquez still decided¹⁵ to write his autobiography¹⁶. This book told the story of his life. He called it "Living to Tell the Tale." He published it in 2002.
Voice 1
Robert Pombo is a close friend and co-worker¹⁷ of Garcia Marquez. When Pombo read the autobiography, he discovered something new about his friend's writing. Pombo realized Garcia Marquez was greatly influenced by the experience at his grandfather's house in Aracataca. Pombo described this discovery to the New York Times.
Voice 4
"What you discover is that all of Garcia Marquez's works are in the memories that come to him when he stands in front of that house."
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Corrie Haluga. The producer was Ryan Geertsma. The voices you heard were from the United¹⁸ States and the United Kingdom. All quotes¹⁹ were adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can find our programs on the internet at http://www.RadioEnglish.net. This program is called, "Between Memories and Truth."
Voice 1
We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!
Commentsnguyenvietthuan22 said on June 06, 2011
I have 1 question to all people over the world.
speaking skill of English is very bad.So i ask “how improve my speaking skill”.thanks very much.
GelezniyDen said on June 09, 2011
Hello, hey and good evening all people in the beautiful world.I never hear about that writer may be his books even were translated on Russian me need check his fact.
nguyenvietthuan22 I am answering on your question:
In general you should dive in English’s environment that mean you should write and speak and read in English language as often as possible. You can add me to friends into skype i will glad communicate with you with help voice and writing. My skype is following: gelezniyden.
 

1 spotlight   

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 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 Latin   

adj.拉丁的，拉丁语的，拉丁人的；n.拉丁语

参考例句：

• She learned Latin without a master.她无师自通学会了拉丁语。
• Please use only Latin characters.请仅使用拉丁文字符。

5 legends   

n.传说( legend的名词复数 )；民间传说；（地图或书中图表的）图例；传奇人物

参考例句：

• They drew the material of their plays chiefly from myths and legends. 他们主要从神话传说中提取剧本的素材。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Both men were legends in their own time. 这两个人在他们各自的时代都是传奇式人物。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 works   

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。

7 passion   

n.热爱，强烈的感情，热情，耶稣的受难

参考例句：

• He had a passion for music.他酷爱音乐。
• In his passion,he tore the letter into pieces.在盛怒之下，他把那封信撕得粉碎。

8 property   

n.财产，所有物，所有权，性质，特性，（小）道具

参考例句：

• He has made over his property to a hospital.他已将财产转交给了一家医院。
• Oil has the property of floating on water.油有浮在水上的特性。

9 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

10 imaginary   

adj.想象中的，假想的，虚构的，幻想的；虚数的

参考例句：

• All the characters in this book are imaginary.此书中的所有人物都是虚构的。
• The boy's fears were only imaginary.这小孩的恐惧只是一种想象。

11 similarities   

[ similarity ]的复数形式； 类似( similarity的名词复数 )； 相像性； 相仿性； 类似性

参考例句：

• similarities between human and non-human animals 人和其他动物之间的相似之处
• The panel shows marked similarities with mosaics found elsewhere. 这块嵌板和在其他地方找到的镶嵌图案有明显的相似之处。

12 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

13 politics   

n.政治，政治学；政纲，政见，策略

参考例句：

• They seldom talk on politics in those days.那时人们很少谈论政治。
• The two brothers differed about politics.这兄弟俩政见不同。

14 political   

adj.政治上的，政党的，政略性的，政治的

参考例句：

• He was forced to leave his homeland for political reasons.因为政治原因他被迫离开自己的祖国。
• In ideas those two political parties are worlds apart.那两个政党在思想上有巨大分歧。

15 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

16 autobiography   

n.自传

参考例句：

• He published his autobiography last autumn.他去年秋天出版了自己的自传。
• His life story is recounted in two fascinating volumes of autobiography.这两卷引人入胜的自传小说详述了他的生平。

17 co-worker   

n.共同工作者；同事

参考例句：

• I went to visit my co-worker on Saturday.周六去同事家做客了。
• My new co-worker comes to work late every day.我的新同事每天上班都迟到。

18 united   

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   

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》