环球慢速英语 槟榔西施(5)

Voice 2: Betel leaves are also part of Vietnamese marriage ceremonies. Betel nuts are a sign of love and marriage.

声音2：槟榔叶在越南婚礼上也发挥着重要的作用。槟榔果是爱情和婚礼的象征。

Voice 1: Some reports show that betel chewing is less popular in Asian cities today. They say that in particular, young people are rejecting the custom. Many of them have travelled to the west for an education. Because of this Western influence, they find the custom socially unacceptable and offensive². They no longer like to spit the red liquid from their mouths in the street.

声音1：一些报告指出，现在嚼槟榔在亚洲地区没有以前那样受欢迎。他们说，尤其是年轻人拒绝这一习俗。许多年轻人前往西方接受教育。因为受到西方文化的影响，他们认为这一习俗不被社会所接受，而且有些无礼。他们不再将嘴里的红色汁液吐到街上。

Voice 2: But for others, the betel nut remains³ an important part of their tradition and culture.

声音2：但是对其他人来说，槟榔果仍在他们的传统和文化中发挥着重要的作用。

The betel nut. A health destroying drug? A sign of love and marriage? A danger to betel beauties? Or a way out of poor economic conditions? The debate continues. Whatever people think, the betel nut is surely something to chew over.

槟榔果是摧毁健康的毒品吗？还是爱情和婚姻的象征？或者对槟榔西施来说是种危险？又或者是摆脱恶劣经济情况的方法？争论仍在继续。无论人们怎么想，槟榔果肯定需要嚼碎。

Voice 1: Is betel chewing popular in your country? Is it one of your customs? Is it socially acceptable¹?

声音1：嚼槟榔在你的国家受欢迎吗？是你们的习俗吗？在社会上被接受吗？

1 acceptable   

adj.可接受的，合意的，受欢迎的

参考例句：

• The terms of the contract are acceptable to us.我们认为这个合同的条件可以接受。
• Air pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable levels.这座城市的空气污染程度曾高达可接受标准的四倍。

2 offensive   

adj.令人不快的，侮辱的，攻击用的；n.进攻

参考例句：

• His mode of doing business is offensive to me.他干事情的方式叫我很不喜欢。
• If all else fails,I will take the offensive.如果其他方法不行，我将采取攻势。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。