VOA慢速英语--视频显示亚马逊最后一个部落仍未灭绝

Video Shows Man Believed to be Last of Amazon Tribe

Brazil’s Indian Foundation has released a video that shows images of a man believed to be the last surviving member of his tribe. No one knows the man’s name or that of his tribe. It appears he has lived alone in Brazil’s Amazon for 22 years.

The video is from 2011. But officials say they last saw evidence he was alive in May.

The man is cutting down a tree in the shaky video shot from a distance through trees and other leafy plants. The recording¹ includes sound of his ax hitting the tree and bird calls.

Altair Algayer leads the team of investigators² that observed the man. He said the foundation was unwilling³ to release the video earlier because it could not ask for the man’s permission. But he also noted⁴ that such images help to bring attention to people who struggle to keep their distance from the outside world.

Algayer spoke⁵ to the AP by phone. He said, “Lots of people are seeking out (this video). They want to know what is he like, how can he be seen, is he still alive. I think that ends up helping⁶ to protect the territory.”

Brazil is home to several native groups that are not in contact with other peoples. Their land is increasingly under threat, as is the land of natives in contact with the outside world. Many outside groups fight over the Amazon’s resources. Last year, 71 people were killed in conflicts over land. Brazil’s Pastoral Land Commission keeps records on the violence. It says 2017 was the most violent year since 2003.

The Indian Foundation began its observation of the man in 1996. It found him living alone in the forest in Rondonia state. The foundation believes farmers and loggers repeatedly attacked his tribe beginning in the 1980s. It suspects the last members were killed in an attack in 1995 or 1996. But the foundation said in recent years, no one has tried to enter the protected area where he lives.

Algayer said the team that tracks him calls him “the Indian of the hole” because of an unusual hole that he dug.

He added that the man appears to be in good health and between 55 and 60 years old.

The foundation’s policy is to let such people live their lives separate from the rest of civilization. But members worried he was in danger because he was alone. They made contact in 2005. The group says he made clear at that time that he wanted no contact. So, it made no further attempts.

A team enters his territory to look for signs that he is still alive about every other month. The last time they saw him was in 2016. But they are able to tell he is still alive by evidence he leaves behind. The team found fresh footprints and a newly cut tree in May.

They have left tools and seeds for the man. They have seen that he has planted corn, potatoes, papayas and bananas.

In a statement, Algayer said, “This man, who is unknown to us, even after losing everything…proved that, even like that, alone in the forest, it is possible to survive and resist joining mainstream⁷ society.”

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in this Story

ax – n. a tool that has a heavy metal blade and a long handle and that is used for chopping wood

mainstream – adj. related to the thoughts, beliefs, and choices that are accepted by the largest number of people

society – n. the people of a particular country, area, time, etc., thought of especially as an organized community

1 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

2 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 helping   

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。

7 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。