英语听力—环球英语 486 Guatemala

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I’m Marina Santee,
Voice 2
And I’m Steve Myersco. 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
In today’s Spotlight we are looking at one particular country. It is the country with the largest population in Central America. But the average length of life for someone in this country is the lowest in the area. In the late twentieth century war and violence troubled the country. But the rich history of this nation stretches back over two thousand years. The country is Guatemala.
Voice 2
For 36 years, Guatemala was at war. This war still lives in the memory of many people in the country today. The war was between different groups in the country. This civil war finally ended in 1996. One person still suffering from it effects is Don Andres. His daughters disappeared during the civil war. In 2008, two students from Haverford College in the United States met Don Andres. They wrote about the terrible discovery of Don Andres’s missing² daughters.
Voice 3
‘Don Andres was digging in the ground. As the soil broke up, a piece of green cloth appeared. The 82 year old man stopped and began to cry. And so did we... The tears of Don Andres represented 25 years of sadness. He had not known where his daughters were for all those years. Knowing about his country’s history, he was sure they were dead. The same was true of his nine month old grandson... As we dug up the three bodies, our hearts bled for Don Andres. But after thinking, we understood that this was not just one single tragic³ event. There are five hundred thousand people like Don Andres.’
Voice 1
A report by the United Nations estimates⁵ that 200,000 people were killed during the Guatemalan Civil war. Violent groups took many of these people and hid their bodies. In Guatemala the name for these missing people is 'Los Desaparecidos', Spanish for ‘the disappeared ones’. Some people, like Don Andres, are only now discovering the bodies of their family. Other 'disappeared ones’ may never be found.
Voice 2
There are a number of groups working in Guatemala trying to bring more peace to the country. One such group works⁶ to ensure that the people who disappeared during the war are not forgotten. The group’s short name is HIJOS. In full, their name means Sons and Daughters for Identity⁷ and Justice, against Forgetfulness and Silence. They want the authorities⁸ to recognise the human rights crimes that happened during the war. They also want to keep the memory of the disappeared ones in people’s minds.
Voice 1
One of the many other organisation⁹ working in Guatemala is the YMCA. This Christian¹⁰ organisation works all over the world. In August two thousand and eight, three young YMCA workers in Guatemala were killed. They were beaten and shot. The workers from the YMCA had been working with young people at risk of joining criminal gangs¹¹.
Voice 2
Much of today’s violence in Guatemala is caused by these criminal gangs. These are groups of criminals fighting against each other. Often they are involved in the trade of illegal drugs. The drugs trade is a big problem for Guatemala. Illegal drugs are transported through Guatemala from South America to the United States. One such drug is cocaine¹². Experts estimate⁴ that 75 percent of the cocaine illegally imported into the United States passes through Guatemala.
Voice 1
Another problem facing Guatemala is the lack of equality in the country. People living in country areas are generally a lot poorer than the people living in the cities. Much of Guatemala’s money does not reach the people who need it.
Voice 2
Guatemala does have its problems. But many people choose to visit the country on holiday. About one and a half million [1,500,000] people visit the country each year. Many come for the country’s amazing cultural history and environment. The country has beautiful coasts, rainforests, mountains and volcanoes¹³.
Voice 1
Some of the most popular places to visit are the ancient Mayan ruins. The Mayan people have lived here for over two thousand years. They built huge stone cities and temples. At the time they were a very successful nation. However this successful kingdom mysteriously ended around one thousand years ago. But much of their culture still remains¹⁴ in the Native American people living in the area today.
Voice 2
Guatemala has a lot to offer to holiday visitors. But many are discouraged from going because of the problems in the country. In recent years, Guatemala has been the victim of some terrible weather.
Voice 1
Storms and wet weather can bring serious trouble for Guatemala. Every year people are killed by landslides¹⁵. These happen when wet land falls down a hill. Dozens of people are hit or buried by these landslides every year. The weather was particularly bad in 2005. In this year a huge storm, a hurricane, hit the country. Hurricane Stan killed up to two thousand people. It affected¹⁶ about one and a half a million people. Many were made homeless. The hurricane also caused millions of dollars' worth of damage in the country.
Voice 2
In November 2007 Guatemala elected a new President - Alvaro Colom. He argued that the answer to the problem of violence in Guatemala is to reduce poverty. Colom also said he wanted to get rid of dishonest judges and policemen. The President spoke¹⁷ to a group called Strategic¹⁸ Media about the hopes for his country. He said,
Voice 4
‘Guatemala is a special country. Together we share 108,000 square kilometres. This is shared between 23 different people groups with 23 cultures. Each has its own hopes and ideas for the country... I have faith that there are going to be important changes in the future. We have to get the job done with what we have, even if it takes a while and at times seems too difficult.’
Voice 1
Change is what many people in Guatemala want. And many of them are working to make sure it happens. The country has suffered a lot over recent years. It has been troubled by war and violence and attacked by the weather. But hope still remains that the success once experienced¹⁹ by the ancient Mayan kingdom, may once again return to the land.
 

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 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

3 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

4 estimate   

n.估计，估量；评价，看法；vt.估计，估量

参考例句：

• We estimate the cost to be five thousand dollars.我们估计费用为5000美元。
• The lowest estimate would put the worth of the jewel at ＄200.按最低的评估这块宝石也值200美元。

5 estimates   

估计

参考例句：

• Unofficial estimates put the figure at over two million. 非官方的估计数字为200万以上。
• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 identity   

n.身份，本体，特征；同一(性)，一致

参考例句：

• He never revealed his identity.他从未暴露过自己的身份。
• He showed his identity card and went in.他把工作证亮了一下就进去了。

8 authorities   

n.当局，权力，权威；权威( authority的名词复数 )；权力；学术权威；[复数]当权者

参考例句：

• They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
• At his instigation we conceal the fact from the authorities. 我们受他的怂恿向当局隐瞒了事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 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。

10 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

11 gangs   

n.（罪犯有组织的）一帮( gang的名词复数 )；一伙；（闹事青少年的）一群；（工人有组织的）一队

参考例句：

• Gangs of youths went on the rampage in the city yesterday. 成群结伙的年轻人昨天在城里横冲直撞。
• a vicious turf war between rival gangs of drug dealers 对立贩毒团伙之间的猛烈火并

12 cocaine   

n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂）

参考例句：

• That young man is a cocaine addict.那个年轻人吸食可卡因成瘾。
• Don't have cocaine abusively.不可滥服古柯碱。

13 volcanoes   

n.火山( volcano的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Volcanoes and geysers erupt. 火山和间歇喷泉均能喷发。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He has been able to tell us more about active volcanoes than any man alive. 他现在比任何人都能更多地向我们讲述有关活火山的情况。 来自《用法词典》

14 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。

15 landslides   

山崩( landslide的名词复数 )； （山坡、悬崖等的）崩塌； 滑坡； （竞选中）一方选票占压倒性多数

参考例句：

• Landslides have cut off many villages in remote areas. 滑坡使边远地区的许多村庄与外界隔绝。
• The storm caused landslides and flooding in Savona. 风暴致使萨沃纳发生塌方和洪灾。

16 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。

17 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。

18 strategic   

adj.战略（上）的，战略上重要的

参考例句：

• The army moved for strategic reasons.军队作了战略转移。
• The bridge is of strategic importance to us.这座桥对我们至关重要。

19 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。