环球英语 — 390：The Maasai Marathon Runners

　　Voice 1
Hello, I’m Ruby¹ Jones.
Voice 2
And I’m Ryan Geerstma. 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 1
London. The 13th of April 2008. Grey clouds hang heavy with rain. But the bad weather does not seem to trouble the gathered crowds. They are standing³ patiently behind metal barriers⁴. The barriers keep the centre of the road clear. Some people are carrying coloured flags. Other people hold up large signs with different names on them. The atmosphere is tense but exciting! Suddenly, part of the crowd begins to cheer. “Here they come!” somebody shouts. Everybody looks in the same direction. In the distance, thousands of people are running towards them. The waiting crowds start to shout and cheer and wave their flags and pieces of paper. They are there to support these runners. They are there to encourage them to keep going. They are there to witness⁵ one of the most famous races in the world - the London Marathon⁶!
Voice 2
Many runners pass by the crowds. Most wear normal running clothes and shoes. But some of them are wearing strange clothes. They look like characters from a film or a television programme. The crowds cheer and laugh as these runners pass by. But one group of six young men receives an especially loud cheer. No one else is wearing clothes and shoes like theirs! And they are surely⁷ the only runners carrying African weapons - large protective⁸ shields⁹ and sticks! So who are they? And why are they running in the London Marathon?
Voice 1
The six young men are a long way from home. They come from Tanzania, a country in central Africa. They are members of the Maasai tribe¹⁰. Maasai people are nomads¹¹. They move around with their animals when they need to find new supplies of food and water. When they have found a good place, they settle¹² there for as long as those supplies last.
Voice 2
Young Maasai men are called “warriors¹⁴”. It is true that they carry the weapons of war: swords¹⁵, shields and spears¹⁶. But they would only use these weapons to protect their families and animals. And, as well as protection¹⁷, the warriors’ job is also to provide food. But this is becoming more and more difficult. The government has claimed much of the traditional Maasai land. They have used it to create national wildlife parks. These are places where visitors can come and safely experience Tanzania’s natural beauty. And the visitors’ money provides much needed help for Tanzania’s economy¹⁸.
Voice 1
It is important, then, for the Maasai to get the most from the land that they can still use. But an ever-present problem is finding¹⁹ water. Often, people have to walk for many hours to find a clean supply. In the Maasai village of Eluai, two out of every three children die because of the dirty water. So, six young warriors from Eluai decided²⁰ to do something about the situation in their village. They looked for a way to raise money. They wanted to pay for water engineers to come to their village. The engineers would bring machines to drill²¹ deep holes to try and find water underground. But the cost would be one hundred and twenty thousand [120,000] dollars. How were they going to find such a large amount of money?
Voice 2
Greenforce is an environmental²² aid organisation²³. It works²⁴ in areas where the environment is threatened in some way. Greenforce works with local communities in these areas. It advises them on how best to manage their environment while keeping their traditional way of life. There were Greenforce workers in Eluai village at the time the people were thinking about the cost of the water project!
Voice 1
The six young warriors had an idea of how to raise money. And they explained their plan to the Greenforce workers. What do Maasai warriors do best? Run very long distances! So, why not travel to London to run the marathon race? This would inform people about the lack of water in their village. And, if people wanted to help, they could give them money!
Voice 2
Everybody in the village loved the idea. So, Greenforce entered the six warriors into the London Marathon. The marathon race organiser is Dave Bedford. He said:
Voice 3
“We are very happy to offer help to these Maasai warriors. They want to raise money for their village. And water is something that we here all accept without question. It will be great to see two different cultures coming together at this sporting event. They will help a deserving²⁵ project. We support it one hundred percent.”
Voice 1
And so, on the thirteenth of April, the six Maasai warriors joined thousands of other runners around the streets of London. They wore traditional Maasai clothes. And they ran in shoes made from old rubber car tyres²⁶. One of the warriors is Ngouvu. He remembers:
Voice 4
“The crowds, they cheered us a lot. It was a big noise. They all clapped and said: ”Maasai come on, Maasai come on” almost all the way. It was a little cold but lots of fun. We wanted to make enough money for the water equipment our village needs. We do not have rain like here in Britain so we need a little help.”
Voice 2
Sadly, only four of the six warriors finished the forty-two [42] kilometre race that day. One of them, Isaya, became sick half way through. Race officials took him to hospital and another warrior¹³, Taico, went with him for company. But the Maasai warriors are very proud people. And nothing would stop Isaya from finishing the race that he had come to run! He left hospital the following day. And Isaya and Taico completed the remaining twenty-one [21] kilometres - encouraged by some other people who ran with them!
Voice 1
People everywhere heard about the Maasai warriors’ desire to help their community. Soon, the target of one hundred and twenty thousand [120,000] dollars was reached! The warriors had achieved their goal. They returned to their village as proud men. They had acted to help their community - and earned international respect for it. And, they continue to run - not under the grey clouds of London! But back under their beautiful African skies once again.
 

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 barriers   

n.障碍( barrier的名词复数 )；屏障；栅栏；分界线

参考例句：

• The crowd had to stand behind barriers. 人群只好站在障碍物后面。
• the dissolution of barriers of class and race 阶级和种族隔阂的消除

5 witness   

n.证人，目击者，证据，证明，证词；vt.目击，作证，证明，表明，经历；vi.作证人

参考例句：

• She was a witness of the incident.她是事件的目击者。
• A witness was examined by him in a court of law.他在法庭上质问一个证人。

6 marathon   

n.长距离赛跑；需要耐力的比赛；(M-)马拉松

参考例句：

• I'm hoping to be in the marathon next year.我希望明年能参加马拉松赛。
• The meeting was a bit of a marathon.这次会议有点马拉松赛的味道。

7 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。

8 protective   

adj.防护的，保护的

参考例句：

• A mother naturally feels protective towards her children.做母亲的天生要保护自己的孩子。
• We feel safe with a protective device in the house.我们因为家里有了防护装置而感到安全。

9 shields   

n.盾( shield的名词复数 )；护罩；盾形奖牌；保护人v.掩护( shield的第三人称单数 )；庇护；给…加防护罩

参考例句：

• Spears hurtled against shields. 矛猛击在盾上。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Radiation shields are commonly used to reduce radiation errors. 辐射屏蔽罩一般用于降低辐射误差。 来自辞典例句

10 tribe   

n.部落，种族，一伙人

参考例句：

• This is a subject tribe.这是个受他人统治的部落。
• Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.这部落的许多风俗、仪式都极其古老。

11 nomads   

n.游牧部落的一员( nomad的名词复数 )；流浪者；游牧生活；流浪生活

参考例句：

• For ten years she dwelled among the nomads of North America. 她在北美游牧民中生活了十年。
• Nomads have inhabited this region for thousands of years. 游牧民族在这地区居住已有数千年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 settle   

vi.安家；定居；停留；vt.使定居；安排；解决

参考例句：

• I have to settle my affairs before leaving here.离开这儿以前，我得把一些私人的事情安排妥当。
• She has decided how she should settle the matter.她已做出决定如何来了解这件事。

13 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

14 warriors   

武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
• The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

15 swords   

n.剑，刀( sword的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sun gleamed on naked swords. 阳光把出鞘的剑照得闪闪发亮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They cross verbal swords with each other. 他们彼此唇枪舌剑地交锋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 spears   

矛( spear的名词复数 )； 枪； （某些植物的）嫩枝； 幼芽

参考例句：

• Spears hurtled against shields. 矛猛击在盾上。
• With a flourish of their spears, the two men started sparring with each other. 两人拿长枪一比试，便打了起来。

17 protection   

n.保护，防卫，保护制度

参考例句：

• The protection of the country is the duty of everyone.保卫国家是每个人的责任。
• The young in our society need care and protection.我们社会的年轻人需要关怀和照顾。

18 economy   

n.经济；节俭；秩序；机体

参考例句：

• We must do our best to develop the national economy.我们必须努力发展国民经济。
• The country's economy is not very healthy.国家的经济不很景气。

19 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

20 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。

21 drill   

v.练习；操练；钻孔；n.操练；练习；钻孔(机)

参考例句：

• He used a drill to bore a hole in the door.他用钻在门上钻孔。
• You should drill some manners into the boy.你应该教这孩子懂点礼貌。

22 environmental   

adj.环境的

参考例句：

• A global environmental meeting is going to be held here.一个全球环境会议将在这里举行。
• We need to cure our environmental problems.我们需要解决环境问题。

23 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

24 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

25 deserving   

adj.值得的；应得的；有功的；值得帮助的v.应得；值得；应得报酬；应得赔偿

参考例句：

• to give money to a deserving cause 把钱捐给值得赞助的事业
• All the causes seem equally deserving. 看来所有的这些事业都同样值得投身。 来自《简明英汉词典》

26 tyres   

n.轮胎( tyre的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• acrid smoke from burning tyres 燃烧轮胎产生的刺鼻气味
• Overinflated tyres burst more easily. 充气过量的轮胎更容易爆裂。