环球英语 — 423：Finding a Home for Young People

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Adam Navis.
Voice 2
And I'm Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Andrew was like many fifteen year old boys. Sometimes, he would argue with his mother. But for Andrew, these fights became very bad. At these times, Andrew would run away from home. Other times his mother would tell him to leave. Andrew spent a lot of time walking the streets. He began to stay with friends, or sleep in a car, or on the ground. Once in a while he would ask his mother if he could come home. Some times she said, "Yes." Some times she said, "No."
Voice 2
Andrew lived this way for two years. Then he called the police. He told them how his mother treated him. The police removed him from her care. They sent him to live with two other families. For a time, Andrew's life was good. He completed secondary² school. Then he went to school to learn how to cook. After working as a cook for a while, he lost his job. He soon had no money, no job, and no place to live. He needed help. Then a friend told him about an organization called Urban³ Peak⁴. He got involved in several of their programs. On Urban Peak's website, he says,
Voice 3
"Just because you are in a particular situation, you do not have to always be in that situation. You can change it. No matter how many times you fall, you can get back up again."
Voice 1
Today's Spotlight is on the organization Urban Peak. Urban Peak is an organization that teaches life-skills to homeless young people. These include getting a job, finding⁵ a place to live, and even believing in your self. It is called Urban Peak because it is located⁶ in the city of Denver in the United⁷ States. Denver is a large city. It is also surrounded by the tops of mountains, or peaks⁸. So, the name describes the organization's location⁹. The name Urban Peak also communicates another idea. Solving the problems of homelessness can feel like climbing a mountain.
Voice 2
There are around 1000 young people living on the streets of Denver. These people are between 18 and 25 years old. Many of these young people did not grow up in healthy homes. 65% have experienced¹⁰ some form of bad treatment, or abuse¹¹. It could have been physical abuse, sexual¹² abuse, or mental abuse. Many of these young people do not know how to get even a low-paying job. And even if they could, these jobs would not pay enough for housing¹³ and food.
Voice 1
Without a place to live, it is very hard to get a job. To help in this process, Urban Peak operates a shelter¹⁴ which provides a warm, safe place to sleep. The shelter also provides food, clothing, basic medical care, and mental health testing. Lindsey is one girl who spent time at the shelter. She had moved around a lot. She also got into trouble because she could not control her anger. She says,
Voice 4
"Before coming to Urban Peak, I thought I had failed. I was never going to be successful in life. The shelter case managers helped me to think about the future. They helped me to believe in myself more. Now I know I can do it."
Voice 2
But Urban Peak is more than a place to stay. While staying at the shelter, Lindsey connected with the Education and Employment¹⁵ part of Urban Peak. She entered a program called Job Readiness Training. This program teaches young people how to get a job. Lindsey improved her computer skills. She also learned¹⁶ how to manage her anger. Urban Peak even owns several apartments, buildings with rooms for rent. Because of her hard work in the program, Lindsey was able to live in one of these apartments. She says,
Voice 4
"I do not involve myself in situations like I used to. I think forward to the future. I think about the results of my actions before I do them. I surround myself with healthy people."
Voice 1
In addition to providing a place to sleep and job skills, Urban Peak provides human services. Many homeless young people were never taught to manage their health. Some of the people who come to Urban Peak are sick mentally¹⁷. Other people may have drug problems or are physically¹⁸ disabled. Or they may simply lack a support network, a group of friends and family to help them in times of trouble. Urban Peak tries to be this support network for these young adults. They try to help them identify their problems and get the help they need.
Voice 2
Urban Peak is helping¹⁹ a lot of people. In two thousand eight, they served over 20,000 meals. And the sleeping shelter was used over 10,000 times. They provided²⁰ almost 200 young people with safe, independent housing. But these are just numbers. What do some of the young people have to say? One boy named Anton says:
Voice 5
"Before I was at Urban Peak I was struggling to survive with nothing. No future. Now, coming from the bottom, the only way to go is up. I am excited."
Voice 2
Another young person named Danny says:
Voice 6
"The people of Urban Peak got me off the streets. The shelter keeps me off the streets and away from drugs. I am getting my degree. I will go to college. And soon, I will have my own place to live. I am finally doing good."
Voice 1
And what about Andrew, the boy who ran away from home? He is working. He attends university to learn new cooking skills. He is meeting new people who share his love for cooking. His dream is to open his own restaurant. His attitude has changed. He now believes in himself. He says:
Voice 3
"If doors do not open for you, then you just build your own door. People are always saying, ‘I want to do that', or ‘I wish I could do that'. Instead of just saying ‘I am going to do it'."
 

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 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。

3 urban   

adj.都市的，住在都市的，习惯于都市的

参考例句：

• Traffic is a major urban problem.交通是城市的一个主要问题。
• The spread of urban areas endangers wildlife.扩大城市面积危害着野生物。

4 peak   

n.山峰，巅，山顶，顶点，尖峰，帽舌；adj.最高的，最大值的；vi.到达最高点，消瘦，变憔悴，逐渐缩小；vt.使竖起，使达到最高点

参考例句：

• Traffic reaches a peak between 8 and 9 in the morning.早晨八九点钟是交通的高峰时刻。
• He was the first to top the mountain peak.他是第一个登上这座山峰的人。

5 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。

6 located   

adj.处于，位于

参考例句：

• The mechanic located the fault immediately. 机修工立即找到了出故障的地方。
• a small town located 30 miles south of Chicago 位于芝加哥以南30英里的一个小镇

7 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。

8 peaks   

n.山峰( peak的名词复数 )；最高点；尖端；帽舌

参考例句：

• There have been peaks and troughs in the long-term trend of unemployment. 长期以来失业率一直时起时伏。
• We looked up at the rocky peaks towering above us. 我们抬头观望高高耸立的遍布岩石的山峰。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 location   

n.地点，位置，定位

参考例句：

• It is a suitable location for a new school.那是建一所新学校的合适地点。
• I have to find a convenient location for the shelves.我得找一合适的地方放这些书架。

10 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。

11 abuse   

vt.滥用；辱骂；诋毁；n.滥用；恶习；弊端

参考例句：

• You can't make personal abuse on her.你不可对她进行人身攻击。
• She screamed abuse at me.她尖声责备我。

12 sexual   

adj.性的，两性的，性别的

参考例句：

• He was a person of gross sexual appetites.他是个性欲旺盛的人。
• It is socially irresponsible to refuse young people advice on sexual matters.拒绝向年轻人提供性方面的建议是对社会不负责任。

13 housing   

n.房屋，住宅；住房建筑；外壳，外罩

参考例句：

• Do you think our housing sales will turn around during this year?你认为今年我们的住宅销路会好转吗？
• The housing sales have been turning down since the summer.入夏以来，房屋的销售量日趋减少。

14 shelter   

n.掩蔽，掩蔽处，避身处；庇护所，避难所，庇护；vt.庇护，保护，隐匿；vi.躲避

参考例句：

• We took shelter from the rain in a cave.我们在一个山洞里避雨。
• Trees are a shelter from the sun.树木可以遮挡阳光。

15 employment   

n.雇用；使用；工作，职业

参考例句：

• A large office requires the employment of many people.一个大办事处需要雇用好多人员。
• The state of employment in this city is improving.这个城市就业状况正在改善。

16 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。

17 mentally   

adv.精神上，理智上，在心中

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Male nurses are often employed in hospitals for the mentally ill.精神病院常雇用男护士护理精神病人。

18 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

19 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。

20 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。