环球英语 07 Betel Nut Beauties

　　Voice 1
Hello. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Rachel Hobson. Welcome to Spotlight¹. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
It is late in the day. But the streets of Taiching, western Taiwan, are still busy. Brightly coloured stores light up the streets. Jai Sheng stands outside her store. She is small - even with her high heeled² shoes. She pushes her long dark hair from her face. She is beautiful. Men in the street look at her. Jai is wearing very few clothes. The small top and skirt only covers parts of her body. Some men in a truck stop at the side of the road. Jai walks over. The men seem to know exactly what they want. And she knows too. She reaches forward. The men give her some money. And she passes them their small purchase. Then, they drive off. Jai returns to the front of the store. She looks up the brightly lit street. Other women and girls stand on the roadside. There is much competition. The women are wearing less and less to win customers. But what are they selling? They are selling betel nuts. These women are the ‘Betel Nut Beauties of Taiwan.’
Voice 2
Betel nuts are the seeds of the Betel or Areca plant. There are different ways to prepare the nuts. Jai rolls hers in betel plant leaves. Sometimes she adds tobacco³, the leaves that make cigarettes. She also adds some sugar and fruit. This sweetens the taste. Local people call them ‘betel chews⁵’. They put the betel chews between their teeth and the sides of their mouths. They press the chews with their tongues. In this way they can suck⁶ and chew⁴ the nuts like sweets. Their bright red mouths part, showing blackened teeth - a sure sign of the betel nut chewers! They spit⁷ the red liquid from their mouths to the floor.
Voice 1
Truck drivers use the betel chews to stay awake on their long trips. The nut contains chemicals that affect the brain. Users⁸ say they feel more awake. They speak of a warm, good feeling inside their minds. The chemicals can also increase the heart rate and blood pressure. Betel chews are popular. And the ‘betel nut beauties’ of Taiwan are making the most of this.
Voice 2
Lin Wei is a betel nut beauty. Before this, she worked in a factory - making little money. Now she sells betel nuts in the central town of Toufen. On average, Lin says she makes forty percent [40%] profit. ‘It is a good job,’ she says.
Voice 1
However, women’s rights groups have criticised the trade. They say that it is not a good way of making money. They warn⁹ that the work can lead to dangerous situations. Betel nut girls may become involved in the sex trade, or use drugs. Many of the betel nut girls are only young. Some have left school early. For others, their family members have forced them into the work. On the streets, men may think the young girls are selling more than betel nuts. Local governments did ban betel nut girls from wearing nothing. But even today, they wear very little clothing. Patricia Huang is a spokeswoman for the Government Ministry¹⁰ of Internal¹¹ Affairs. She said that the girl’s lack of clothing may stop drivers looking at the road. This could cause road accidents. And, it also puts the girls in a dangerous position. Men may attack them.
Voice 2
However, betel nut traders¹² say that there is nothing wrong with the industry. And, some women’s groups have also defended the rights of the betel nut girls. They say that sexy images of international models are acceptable¹³. They point out that supermodels and singers wear very little clothing. And, they say people accept and respect them! The girls should be able to work to improve their economic situation, they say.
Voice 1
There are also health concerns with betel chewing¹⁴. Doctor Jin-Heng Li is a specialist¹⁵ at Taiwan’s Department of Health. He said,
Voice 3
‘Over ninety percent [90%] of cancer cases in Taiwan are linked to betel-nut chewing. There are even cases of twenty year olds with mouth cancer.’
Voice 1
Mouth cancer is not only a problem in Taiwan. The betel nut beauties may only be in this country. But, chewing betel leaves is popular in many pacific and Asian cultures. In particular, risks are great when the betel nuts are combined with tobacco. Health officials would like to see health warnings¹⁶ on betel nut packages.
Voice 2
However, for many people betel chewing is an important part of social life and customs¹⁷. In India, ‘pan¹⁸’ is a more common name for betel chews. Here, people have used pan for hundreds of years. In the early Kings’ courts, people offered pan as a sign of friendship and love. In the Hindu religion, some people also use it as an offering¹⁹.
Voice 1
The pan is different in North and South India. They grind²⁰ different mixtures with the betel nuts. Some are sweet, some are not. In South India betel leaves play an important part in traditional weddings and celebrations²¹.
Voice 2
Betel leaves are also part of Vietnamese marriage ceremonies. Betel nuts are a sign of love and marriage.
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 offensive²². They no longer like to spit the red liquid from their mouths in the street.
Voice 2
But for others, the betel nut remains²³ an important part of their tradition and culture.
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 surely²⁴ something to chew over.
Voice 1
Is betel chewing popular in your country? Is it one of your customs? Is it socially acceptable? Write and tell us: radio @ english . net!
Voice 2
The writer and producer of today’s programme was Marina Santee. The voices you heard were from the United²⁵ Kingdom and South Africa. Computer users can hear our programmes, read our scripts²⁶ and see our word list on our website at . This programme is called, ‘Betel Nut Beauties.’
 

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 heeled   

adj.有后跟的，带手枪的，带着钱的

参考例句：

• She teetered after him in her high-heeled shoes. 她穿着高跟鞋一步三晃地跟在他后面走。
• They heeled the sloop well over, skimming it along to windward. 他们使单桅小船倾斜适当，让它顶着风向前滑去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 tobacco   

n.烟草；烟草制品；抽烟

参考例句：

• Tobacco is considered by some to be an evil.烟草被有些人认为是一种祸害.
• A large amount of money is spent on tobacco every year.每年在烟草上花去大量的钱.

4 chew   

vt.咀嚼，嚼碎；vi.咀嚼，细想；n.咀嚼，咀嚼物

参考例句：

• This candy is so hard that no one can chew it.这种糖太硬，没人嚼得动。
• You should chew over this thing.你应当好好思量这件事。

5 chews   

v.咀嚼，咬( chew的第三人称单数 )；（因为紧张等）咬住，不停地啃，（为尝味道）不停地咀嚼；中粒煤

参考例句：

• She chews it over. It'seems hard to digest. 她在仔细考虑那件事，感到不是滋味儿。 来自辞典例句
• In the mouth the water melts away and the seed chews sharp and bitter. 一进口，水就化了，种籽又辣又苦。 来自英汉文学 - 热爱生命

6 suck   

vt.吸，吮，吸入，吮吸，吸收，获得；vi.吸，吸奶；n.吸，吸入，吮吸

参考例句：

• It's good to suck in such clean fresh air for a change.换个环境，吸点清新空气，真是好极了。
• Bees suck honey from flowers.蜜蜂从花中吸吮蜜汁。

7 spit   

n.唾液，唾吐，小雨；v.唾吐，吐出，降小雨

参考例句：

• It's very rude to spit at someone.向人吐唾沫是非常粗野的行为。
• Don't spit on the sidewalk.别在人行道上吐痰。

8 users   

用户，使用者( user的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
• Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。

9 warn   

vt.警告，注意，远离；vi.提醒

参考例句：

• I must warn you that my patience is almost at an end.我必须警告你我已经没有耐心了。
• If you warn me in advance,I will have your order ready for you.你若预先通知我，我就能给您准备好了。

10 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

11 internal   

adj.内的，内部的；国内的，内政的

参考例句：

• He is talking to Tom on the internal telephone.他正在内线电话上与汤姆交谈。
• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。

12 traders   

n.商人( trader的名词复数 )；经商者；商船；（证券交易中不为他人作代理而自行交易的）交易人

参考例句：

• Beware of dishonest traders in the tourist areas. 在旅游区一定要谨防奸商。
• Many traders went under during the war. 战争时期，许多商人破产。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 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。

14 chewing   

v.咀嚼，咬( chew的现在分词 )；（因为紧张等）咬住，不停地啃，（为尝味道）不停地咀嚼

参考例句：

• She was admonished for chewing gum in class. 她在课堂上嚼口香糖，受到了告诫。
• cows chewing the cud 在咀嚼反刍食物的牛

15 specialist   

n.（医学）专家，专科医生；专家；专业人员

参考例句：

• She is a specialist in English.她是一位英语专家。
• The peasants looked up to him as a specialist.农民们尊他为专家。

16 warnings   

n.发出警告( warning的名词复数 )；征候；（解雇、辞职等的）预先通知；可引以为戒的事（或人）

参考例句：

• Early warnings of rising water levels prevented another major catastrophe. 提前发出的洪水水位上涨警报防止了又一次的重大灾害。
• Warnings were issued to people living downwind of the fire to stay indoors. 已经向住在火势下风处的人们发出不要出门的警告。

17 customs   

n.海关，关税

参考例句：

• The customs officials turned the man over to the French police.海关官员把那个人移交给了法国警察。
• They are collecting customs.他们正在收缴关税。

18 pan   

n.平底锅；v.严厉批评

参考例句：

• The water had all boiled away and the pan was burned.水煮干了，锅也烧坏了。
• The eggs were frying in the pan.鸡蛋正在锅里煎。

19 offering   

n.提供，奉献物，牲礼

参考例句：

• What is your competition offering?你的竞争者提出的条件是什么？
• The police are offering a big reward for information about the robbery.警方出大笔赏金要求提供那起抢劫案的破案线索。

20 grind   

n.（常贬义）用功的学生，书呆子；vt.磨，磨碎

参考例句：

• Would you please grind a pound of coffee for me? 请给我磨一磅咖啡好吗？
• Do you find learning English a grind?你觉得学英语是一件苦差事吗？

21 celebrations   

n.庆祝( celebration的名词复数 )；庆祝会（仪式）

参考例句：

• The mayor was there to dignify the celebrations. 市长的光临为庆祝活动增辉。
• Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations 维多利亚女王登基50周年庆典

22 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。

23 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。

24 surely   

adv.确实地，无疑地；必定地，一定地

参考例句：

• It'should surely be possible for them to reach an agreement.想必他们可以达成协议。
• Surely we'll profit from your work.我们肯定会从你的工作中得到益处。

25 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。

26 scripts   

剧本( script的名词复数 )； 文字； 笔迹； （一种语言的）字母系统

参考例句：

• Many felt he was prostituting his talents by writing Hollywood scripts. 许多人觉得他给好莱坞写剧本是滥用自己的才华。
• The scripts had a rather tired plot. 这部陈旧的剧本的情节是非常俗套的。