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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
鱼翅是鲨鱼的鳍,没有买卖就没有杀害....
Yvonne: This is 6 Minute English, I'm Yvonne Archer1 - and Finn has kindly3 joined me
for today's programme. Hello Finn!
Finn: Hello Yvonne – how are you?
Yvonne: Oh, I'm great thanks! Now, 2011 is the year of the Rabbit in the Chinese lunar
calendar - and Finn, your name is a brilliant clue for today's topic.
Finn: It is.
Yvonne: We're talking about a traditional dish that many people expect to find on the
menu to celebrate the New Year!
Finn: Yes, so what could it be? My name is Finn and we're talking about the dish
Yvonne: Excellent! Now, in Taiwan this year, shark's fin soup may be missing from
quite a few menus. But before we find out why – I've a question for you, Finn.
Are you ready?
Finn: Okay, I'm ready.
Yvonne: Good. Which type of shark is the longest fish in the world?
a) the great white shark
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2010
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b) the whale shark or
c) the hammerhead shark
Finn: Okay, let me see. Well, whales are very big so I think - b) the whale shark.
Yvonne: Right - and I'll tell you whether you're right or wrong later on! For some time
now, animal rights activists4 have been calling for a ban on shark's fin soup
because of the way the sharks are treated. Finn, explain what 'a ban' is for us
please, because it doesn't mean the same as 'illegal' does it?
Finn: No, not quite. 'A ban' is an official order or statement saying that something
isn't allowed anymore, rather than a law saying that something is illegal - or
that it's a crime. For example, in the UK, smoking cigarettes in offices is
banned but it's not against the law to smoke cigarettes.
Yvonne: Right. Once their fins5 are chopped off, many sharks are just thrown back into
the sea to die.
.
Finn: Yes, and sadly for the sharks, the simple reason for this is because it saves
space on the fishermen's boats.
Yvonne: Mm, it is very sad. Now the campaign against shark's fin soup is starting to
show small signs of progress. But the BBC's Cindy Sui was still able to find a
restaurant window in Taiwan's capital, Taipei, where a large, dried shark's fin
was on display. Here's what the restaurant's manager told Cindy:
Insert 1: Restaurant owner, Taipei
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Look at our restaurant, there's hardly any business. The media coverage6 has affected7 us,
but many of the fish are caught whole, not just for the fins. In Taiwan, we eat all the
shark, not just the fin.
Yvonne: The restaurant owner says that the media coverage about the campaign to ban
shark's fin soup means he's had fewer customers. As he puts it: "there's hardly
any business". Finn, can you explain what he means by 'the media coverage'
though?
Finn: Yes, well it means things like articles in newspapers and online, as well as
news bulletins8 and programmes on television and radio – all the publicity9, all
gathered together - that's what we call 'media coverage'.
Yvonne: Great. Taiwan catches between 40,000 and 60,000 tons of shark meat each year
for its own use, and the restaurant manager we heard from clearly doesn't agree
that there should be a ban on shark's fin. Now, you lived in Taiwan for a few
years, didn't you Finn?
Finn: I did – yes.
Yvonne: Was this an issue there at the time?
Finn: Well, I lived there about 10 years ago and I have to say there wasn't a lot of
media coverage about banning shark's fin soup at the time.
Yvonne: So, let's find out who is getting involved in the campaign at this time to help
save sharks from a cruel death, from the BBC's Cindy Sui:
Insert 2: Cindy Sui, BBC Correspondent10, Taipai
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In recent years, an increasing number of young people in Taiwan are refusing to order
shark's fin or serve it at their wedding banquets, even though it has long been
considered a must on banquet menus. Celebrities11 have also spoken out against eating
shark's fin.
Yvonne: So celebrities have spoken out against eating shark's fin?
Finn: They have. They've made it clear to the public that they support a ban – they've
spoken out against it.
Yvonne: And young people are refusing to order shark's fin or to serve it at wedding
feasts12, even though it's traditional. We could say they're 'boycotting13' it,
couldn't we Finn?
Finn: We could yes – 'boycotting'.
Yvonne: So when you were in that part of the world Finn, was it really 'a must' – an
essential choice on a good menu for special occasions? And I'm scared to ask,
but have you tried shark's fin soup?
Finn: You know - I have actually. And yes, it was at a special occasion - a wedding
in Taiwan, and it did taste very nice. But at the same time, you feel a bit bad
because of the cruelty to the shark. And of course, it's a very prestigious14 dish
in Chinese culture.
Yvonne: But if the whole fish is being eaten, wouldn't that make a difference?
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Finn: I think yes, if you were to eat the whole fish and it wasn't wasted, then that
would make a big difference. And I think that's really at the core of the issue
here, isn't it?
Yvonne: I think so. Now, earlier Finn, I asked: Which type of shark is the longest fish in
the world.
Finn: Mm-hmm. And I said b) the whale shark. Was I right?
Yvonne: Errr….
Finn: Was I right?
Yvonne: Yes!
Finn: Oh, fantastic!
Yvonne: Well done Finn! And the longest ever recorded was 13.5 metres.
Finn: Now that is very long, isn't it.
Yvonne: Huge – yes.
Finn: That's a big shark!
Yvonne: Now, how about a Chinese New Year greeting to say goodbye from today's "6
Minute English"?
Finn: Yes, this is the beginning of the year of the rabbit, so we can say: "Happy New
Year" which is: "Xin nian kuai le". Yvonne?
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Yvonne: Xin nian kuai le.
Finn: Xin nian kuai le. Happy New Year everyone!
Yvonne: Happy New Year!
Finn: Bye for now
Yvonne: Goodbye!
1 archer | |
n.射手,弓箭手 | |
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2 fin | |
n.鳍;(飞机的)安定翼 | |
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3 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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4 activists | |
n.(政治活动的)积极分子,活动家( activist的名词复数 ) | |
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5 fins | |
[医]散热片;鱼鳍;飞边;鸭掌 | |
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6 coverage | |
n.报导,保险范围,保险额,范围,覆盖 | |
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7 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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8 bulletins | |
n.公告( bulletin的名词复数 );新闻快报;小报;期刊 | |
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9 publicity | |
n.众所周知,闻名;宣传,广告 | |
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10 correspondent | |
n.记者,通信者;adj.符合的,一致的,相当的 | |
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11 celebrities | |
n.(尤指娱乐界的)名人( celebrity的名词复数 );名流;名声;名誉 | |
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12 feasts | |
n.盛会( feast的名词复数 );宴会;宗教节日;使人欢快的事物(或活动) | |
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13 boycotting | |
抵制,拒绝参加( boycott的现在分词 ) | |
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14 prestigious | |
adj.有威望的,有声望的,受尊敬的 | |
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