环球英语 — 191： Comfort’s Shoes

　　Voice 1
Hello, I’m Mike Procter.
Voice 3
I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Ruby¹ Jones. Welcome to Spotlight². 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 3
In a child’s mind, one problem can control the world. It was late in the day. Children were still playing on the dusty streets of Benaba, Ghana. But one little girl sat on her own. Sadly, she looked down at her feet. Why was she so worried? She was no different from all of the other village children. But, she was worried. She did not feel that she could ask her mother and father for help. They loved her and her sisters very much. But they only seemed to be interested in one thing - the future, not the present. Her mother and father could not help to solve her problem. And the little girl needed an answer - quickly!
Comfort was 14 years old. Soon, she would leave her small village. Why? Well, she was going away to school. And one thing especially worried her - Comfort did not have any shoes. She had never had any shoes. She was like most children in her village of Benaba. She had hard feet. She did not need shoes - until now. She was sure that all the other children at the new school would have shoes. And they would make fun of her.
Finally, the day came for Comfort to leave. She kissed her mother and father goodbye. Then she got onto the bus. After some time, the bus arrived at Comfort’s new school. Usually, children feel excited at starting a new school. But Comfort just felt very afraid. She could only see a few new girls like her. All the rest of the students were boys! There was an army of them. Comfort had never seen so many boys in one place. And they all seemed to be looking at one thing - her feet! Some of the boys started to say unpleasant things about Comfort. Some of the boys laughed at her. Comfort felt so sad. She did not know what to do.
Suddenly, she heard a warm, kind voice speaking to her. “Where are your shoes, Comfort?”
A tall, beautiful woman was now standing³ next to her. “I do not have any shoes, madam,” Comfort said quietly. She looked at the ground. She did not have enough courage to look up at this friendly person next to her. But, the woman spoke⁴ to her. “Here - take this money. Go quickly and buy some shoes. It is not good to have no shoes at school.”
Comfort could not believe it - how kind this person was! She thanked the woman many times. Then she took the money. She hurried away quickly. She was going to buy her first pair of shoes! Not many people remember their first pair of shoes. But Comfort will never forget hers. Nor will she forget the kind woman who gave her the money to buy them.
Voice 1
But who was the kind stranger who had helped Comfort? Her name was Rebecca Hawa Ayebo Ogede Yakubu. This woman played an important part in many children’s lives in Ghana. In fact, her life affected⁵ the whole country. She was a woman of power and authority⁶. Yet her own life began in a similar way to Comfort’s. Rebecca Yakubu had been one of the few girls to come to Navrongo Secondary⁷ School. At that time, not many girls in Ghana received an education above junior school. And in the beginning, she too had felt afraid. So Rebecca Yakubu knew exactly how Comfort felt. And she wanted to help this young girl to have the best possible time at school. In fact, this became one of the main purposes of Rebecca’s life - to help improve the position of all women in Ghana.
Voice 2
Rebecca Hawa Yakubu was a young girl when her country experienced⁸ great political changes. In 1957, Ghana was the first black African country to win independence from the United Kingdom. Kwame Nkrumah became Ghana’s new leader. He had some big ideas - but not just for his country. He had big ideas for the whole of the African continent. He wanted all African countries to be free to decide their own future. And he also wanted to see the countries of Africa share the same political values. Rebecca Yakubu learned⁹ about Nkrumah’s political ideas and opinions. They influenced her own ideas about the world. Later, she decided¹⁰ to enter the world of politics.
In 1979, people voted for her to become a member of Ghana’s parliament¹¹. But this government only lasted two years. Some military leaders took control of the country by force. Many members of the government went into exile¹² - including Rebecca. She went to live in London.
Voice 1
Slowly, the situation in Ghana improved. And in 1991, Rebecca returned to her beloved¹³ Ghana. The following year, the people of Ghana elected a new, democratic¹⁴ government. And Rebecca was part of it. At first, she decided not to join a political party. Instead, she chose to stand as an independent candidate¹⁵. Rebecca had a strong faith in God. She believed that God had made everyone with equal value. And she wanted to be in a position to treat every person she met with honesty and fairness.
Voice 2
Rebecca Hawa Yakubu remained part of the government until 2004. She fought hard for women’s rights. She was the champion of the poor and weak in society. She treated people the same - no matter where they came from. One newspaper writer said this about Rebecca:
Voice 4
“She cut across all divides - political, religious and tribal¹⁶. She tried very hard to have an effect on the people’s lives - even if she only spent a little time with them.”
Voice 1
Sadly, in March 2007, Rebecca Hawa Yakubu died. She was suffering from cancer. Many people attended her funeral. They gathered in her home town of Pusiga. The women of Ghana felt especially sad at her death. Rebecca had done so much to fight for their rights. The president of Ghana is John Agyekum Kufuor. He understood the feelings of those women. But he was sure that other women would continue the work that Rebecca had started. He said:
Voice 5
“Ghana has lost a fearless voice. Many people liked her willingness to hear different opinions. But Rebecca always made up her own mind. She was a positive influence and great role model for women.”
Voice 2
And people like Comfort would agree. Rebecca Yakubu’s care and concern greatly influenced her life. And the effect of her influence will live on, for many years to come.
 

1 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

2 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。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 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。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 authority   

n.当局，官方；权力，权威，威信；当权者

参考例句：

• He is recognized internationally as an authority in this field.国际上承认他是这方面的一个权威。
• Professor White is looked upon as an authority on mathematics.怀特教授被看成数学权威。

7 secondary   

adj.中级的，中等的，次要的；n.次要位置，副手

参考例句：

• It's a question of secondary importance.这是个次要的问题。
• Secondary school means junior school and high school.中学是指初中和高中。

8 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

9 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。

10 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

11 Parliament   

n.议会，国会

参考例句：

• She won a seat in Parliament at the election.她在选举中赢得了议会中的席位。
• The drug was banned by an act of parliament.议会的法案明令禁止该药品。

12 exile   

n.流放，被流放者；vt.流放，放逐，使流亡

参考例句：

• After an exile of eight years her uncle returned to Cairo.她叔叔背井离乡8年后返回开罗。
• Napoleon was sent into exile on an island.拿破仑被流放到一个岛上。

13 beloved   

adj./n.受爱戴的，敬爱的；爱人，被心爱的人

参考例句：

• She longs for the early return of her beloved.她盼着心上人早日归来。
• She is Tom's beloved wife.她是汤姆的爱妻。

14 democratic   

adj.民主的；民主主义的，有民主精神的

参考例句：

• Their country has democratic government.他们国家实行民主政体。
• He has a democratic work-style.他作风民主。

15 candidate   

n.候选人；候补者；投考者，申请求职者

参考例句：

• Voters like a candidate who has the common touch. 投票者喜欢那些平易近人的候选人。
• The local newspapers dressed up the candidate as a boxer.当地报纸把那个候选人描绘成一个拳击手。

16 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。