英语听力—环球英语 800 Writing for His Country

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Joshua Leo.
Voice 2
And I'm Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand - no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 3
"I learned² to read at the age of five. It is the most important thing that has ever happened to me. ... Reading changed dreams into life and life into dreams. It placed the universe of literature in my reach."
Voice 1
This was the beginning of a speech by Mario Vargas Llosa. He gave this speech after receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature. Today's Spotlight is on this Peruvian writer, politician, and reporter. Vargas Llosa is one of the most important writers from Latin³ America. He spent most of his life writing about the struggles of normal people against oppression. He even ran for president of Peru. But his writing and ideas have been controversial⁴. Many people disagree with him. But his writing has brought the world's attention to Peru.
Voice 2
Many things in Vargas Llosa's early life influenced his later writing. He was born in 1936. He was born to an average family in Arequipa, Peru. But before he was born, his father left his mother. For several years, he and his mother lived with his grandparents in Bolivia. His mother could not accept that his father had left. So she told Mario that his father was dead. But when he was ten years old, his father returned. Together, the family lived together just outside the capital city of Lima.
Voice 1
As a young man, Vargas Llosa attended a military school in Lima. He later wrote about this experience in many of his books. He hated the school. So he left a year before he finished. Then he began work as a newspaper reporter. He wrote about the events of his city and country. But he also began to write plays. During this time, he saw his first play performed live in a theatre.
Voice 2
Vargas Llosa returned to school to study at university. He published his first two books. And he also got married. After he finished his education, he was able to travel to Europe. He studied in Spain, and then moved to France. This time was very important for his writing. He used many of these experiences in his writing.
Voice 1
Vargas Llosa was part of a group of Latin American writers in the nineteen-sixties [1960s]. This group of writers was part of the "Latin American Boom⁵." These young writers were from many countries in Central and South America. The difficult and changing politics in Latin America influenced their writing. At that time, many governments in Central and South America oppressed⁶ their people. As a result, revolutionary groups formed. In the countries of these writers, violence, poverty, and struggle were common.
Voice 2
Members of this group also include Julio Cortázar of Argentina, Carlos Fuentes of Mexico, and Gabriel García Márquez of Columbia. Their books were powerful and important. However these writers were writing in Spanish. This meant that many Europeans and North Americans were not able to read their books. But soon that changed.
Voice 1
A publishing company in Barcelona, Spain began to translate their work. It published their books in many languages. This brought international attention to these writers. It informed people in many other countries about the political and military struggles of these nations. But it also brought attention and popularity⁷ to Vargas Llosa. He became well known in and out of his country.
Voice 2
Vargas Llosa's first novel was published in nineteen sixty-three [1963]. This long story took time to write. The English name is The Time of the Heroes. In Spanish it is called The City and the Dogs. The book is about a military school in Lima. The information and details are from Vargas Llosa's experience in military school. The book criticises many things about the school. This angered military officials and politicians. This was true of many of his books. He continued to use his writing to criticize⁸ the government and society.
Voice 1
Over time, Vargas Llosa's political views have changed. And this has divided him from many former friends. As a young writer, he supported the Cuban revolutionary government of Fidel Castro. However, his political views changed. He saw how that government took away the rights of some of its people. And he began to disagree with many of the other revolutionary groups in Latin America.
He began to think that protecting business was more important for a country's economic development. He thought that building the economy was more important than social programs.
Voice 2
So in the 1980s and 1990s Vargas Llosa began his political life. Vargas Llosa protested⁹ the economic policies of the government. In particular, he objected to the policy of nationalization. The government was taking control of particular businesses. Vargas Llosa believed it was better for these businesses to be privately¹⁰ owned. He was also concerned about terrorist¹¹ groups in Peru. These groups were growing stronger. Their leaders wanted to create a new government through force. They murdered many innocent¹² people. Peru had become a very dangerous place to live.
Voice 1
In 1990, Vargas Llosa ran for president of Peru. He wanted to stop the terrorist groups. But he also wanted to make many other changes in the country. He wanted to limit government help for the poor. And he wanted to grow big businesses, and share private property. Many people wanted a president to stop the terrorist groups. However, they did not like the other ideas Vargas Llosa had. Vargas Llosa lost the election¹³ to Alberto Fujimori. However, Fujimori was not a good leader. Now he is in prison. After losing the election, Vargas Llosa left politics. But he continued to speak and write against the government.
Voice 2
In 2010, Vargas Llosa received the Nobel Prize for Literature. The Nobel Foundation¹⁴ gives this international award. It said the award was "for creating maps of structures of power and for his sharp images of individual resistance¹⁵, revolt¹⁶, and defeat."
In his speech given while receiving his Nobel Prize, Vargas Llosa said of himself,
Voice 3
"Because of the stories he read, this little boy discovered a way to escape. He escaped the poor house, poor country, and poor reality he lived in. This little boy was able to go to wonderful, magical places. He could see surprising things. Every night brought a more intense¹⁷, thrilling form of happiness."
 

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 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

3 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。

4 controversial   

adj.引起争论的，有争议的

参考例句：

• The topic of argument is controversial.这个议题是很有争议的。
• Immigration is a controversial issue in many countries.在很多国家，移民都是一个颇有争议的问题。

5 boom   

n.隆隆声；vt.发隆隆声

参考例句：

• The country is having a great boom in industry.这个国家的工业正蓬勃发展。
• Boom!Boom!Boom!A series of explosions shook the valley.轰！轰！轰！一连串爆破声震撼山谷。

6 oppressed   

adj. 被压迫的，郁闷的 动词oppress的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• It'seemed that the realisation of his life's dream oppressed him with overjoy. 夙愿得偿似乎使他欣喜若狂。
• The bad eggs wielded power, while the good people were oppressed. 坏人当道，好人受气

7 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

8 criticize   

vt.批评；批判，指责；评论，评价

参考例句：

• Whenever you criticize him,he always has an excuse.你批评他，他总有说头儿。
• You are free to criticize my work.你可以随意批评我的工作。

9 protested   

v.声明( protest的过去式和过去分词 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• He protested he was being cheated of his rightful share. 他提出抗议说他被人骗取了他依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Amy protested she was being cheated of her rightful share. 艾米提出抗议，说有人骗取了她依法应得的份额。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

11 terrorist   

n.恐怖主义者，恐怖分子

参考例句：

• Without the gun,I'm a sitting duck for any terrorist.没有这支枪，我就成了恐怖分子下手的目标了。
• The district was put on red alert during a terrorist's bomb scare.这个地区在得到恐怖分子炸弹恐吓后作了应急准备。

12 innocent   

adj.无罪的，清白的；无害的；天真的，单纯的

参考例句：

• I'm not quite so innocent as to believe that.我还不至于简单到相信那种事的地步。
• I was very young,and very innocent.我那时非常年轻，幼稚无知。

13 election   

n.选举，选择权；当选

参考例句：

• There is no doubt but that he will win the election.毫无疑问，他将在竞选中获胜。
• The government will probably fall at the coming election.在即将到来的大选中，该政府很可能要垮台。

14 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

15 resistance   

n.抵抗力，反抗，反抗行动；阻力，电阻；反对；adj.抵抗的

参考例句：

• Very little resistance was put up by the enemy.敌人没怎么进行抵抗。
• An aircraft has to overcome the resistance of the air.飞机须克服空气的阻力。

16 revolt   

n.叛乱，反抗，反感；v.叛乱，起反感，使...恶心

参考例句：

• The revolt was suppressed in a matter of hours.叛乱在几小时之内就平息下去了。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。

17 intense   

adj.认真的，专注的；强烈的；紧张的；热情的

参考例句：

• Susan was an intense young lady.苏珊是一个热情的年轻姑娘。
• The quarrel caused her intense unhappiness.争吵令她极其不快。