英语听力—环球英语 545 Living in Balance in Africa

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I'm Joshua Leo. 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
For hundreds of years, native people in Africa lived in balance with nature. Then colonists² from Europe came to parts of Africa. Europeans took control of some cities and countries. They made new laws. But over time people saw that it was important to protect the animals and natural areas all across Africa.
Voice 2
But the Europeans were not sure how to protect these natural areas. So, they decided³ to follow the example of national parks in the United⁴ States. In the United States, national parks protect large areas of land. The government does not let people farm this land. No one can build homes or businesses in these areas. And to enter a national park a person must enter through a special road with permission from the government.
Voice 1
To create these parks, the government forced people off the land - even people who had been living there for many years. This is also what Europeans did in Africa. They forced thousands of native people from their homes. It was difficult for these native people to change the way they lived. For generations, these people had lived in balance with nature. They hunted animals for food, but not for sport. The Europeans made this illegal⁵.
Voice 2
Europeans had a particular idea of what "wild Africa" should look like. They thought that animals should exist separate⁶ from humans. The Europeans changed the native African people's opinions about nature. Even after the European governors⁷ left, African governments still forced people to follow these laws. Native people were not permitted⁸ to hunt animals for food. And they were not allowed to live in national parks.
Voice 1
But there was a problem with the government's plan. Seventy percent of the animals in Africa do not live in national parks. People grew crops for food but elephants and buffalo⁹ would destroy the plants. Native antelope¹⁰ would eat the grass meant for people's livestock¹¹, or cows. And sometimes, predator¹² animals such as lions killed farm animals.
Voice 2
Over time, African people began to see native animals as "white man's property¹³."  That only caused them problems. They were not permitted to kill the wild animals that damaged their crops and livestock. Then problems with lack of water happened. And African farmers became more angry. People would break the law and kill wild animals. Something had to change.
Voice 1
This was especially true in the village of Il Ngwesi in Kenya. The Maasai people are a cattle¹⁴ culture. They lived by raising cows for milk and meat. When there was no rain, the Maasai people hunted wild animals. This was because the wild animals competed for water and food with the Maasai people's cattle. And some animals attacked the cattle and even children. But the Kenyan government banned all hunting of wild animals.
Voice 2
The Maasai were hurt by the government protecting the wild animals. The Il Ngwesi Maasai community did not know what to do. But then a white land owner who lived near the village had an idea. Ian Craig's family had lived in Kenya for three generations. He owned a cattle farm but decided to turn the land into a wildlife sanctuary¹⁵, a place where native animals could live freely¹⁶.
Voice 1
The Maasai did not understand why anyone would stop raising cattle and give the land to wild animals. The grass was growing strong on Ian's land. It was perfect food for cattle. But Ian had bigger plans. He asked the Maasai if they wanted to join him. He asked them if they wanted to sell most of their cattle and use their land for wild animals. In return, Ian would help the Maasai people make their land into a business where people could see what Africa is like.
Voice 2
The business plan included buildings for people to sleep and areas to eat and prepare food. But it was important for Ian that the Ngwesi people owned and managed the business. Ian wanted the Maasai to support themselves by running an eco-lodge¹⁷.
Voice 1
Eco-lodges are a growing business. They are part of the eco-tourism industry. People who live in big cities visit these eco-lodges to experience nature. They get to live comfortably in wild areas for a short period of time. Ian wanted the Maasai to be part of this industry.
Voice 2
The Il Ngwesi people were not sure about this idea. The village elders feared that Ian would take their land from them. They worried that people from outside the community would control the land. It took much discussion¹⁸ before they decided to join Ian.
Voice 1
The Il Ngwesi lodge is the first tourist lodge in Kenya that is owned, operated, and helping¹⁹ the native people. The lodge has improved the environment in the area. And more wild animals are going there.
Voice 2
Before, if there was a lack of rain the cattle would die and the Il Ngwesi people would suffer. But now, visitors come to see the wild animals if there is rain or not. And wild animals can live through dry times better than cattle. The new eco-lodge system is more stable²⁰. The Lodge is also helping the Il Ngwesi community to grow. The lodge provides jobs, money for schools, transportation²¹, and medical care.
Voice 1
A similar thing happened in Namibia. Namibia became a country in 1990. The country was able to make new laws to protect the environment. Before this, white people were permitted to hunt animals, but native Africans were not. But with the new government, these rules changed.
Voice 2
Native people in the Kunene region²² are working with aid groups to use their land wisely. The groups help the people to make money from the plants and animals native to their land.
Voice 1
One of the new ways people are making money is by helping create nice-smelling liquid perfumes²³. In November of 2004, an aid group saw an opportunity for the people living in Kunene. The commiphora plant grows in this area. They could collect the thick liquid resin²⁴ inside these plants in the dry season.
Voice 2
In 2007, the Native women were collecting this resin for a French company. The women made sure that they collected the resin in a sustainable²⁵ way. They collected it in a way that made sure the plants would always be around for them to use.
Voice 1
When the men in the villages saw the money the women were making, they joined in the harvest. At first the women were not sure that the men could collect the resin as well as they could. But together the native men and women have worked to collect about 30,000 dollars worth of resin each year.
Voice 2
All across Africa, native people are working with aid groups and businesses to make their lives better. They are once again living their lives in balance with nature.
 

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 colonists   

n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Colonists from Europe populated many parts of the Americas. 欧洲的殖民者移居到了美洲的许多地方。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some of the early colonists were cruel to the native population. 有些早期移居殖民地的人对当地居民很残忍。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 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。

5 illegal   

adj.不合法的，非法的，犯法的

参考例句：

• I don't want to get mixed up with any illegal organization.我不想与任何非法组织有牵连。
• It's illegal for people under 17 to drive a car in Britain.在英国，不满17岁的人驾驶车辆是违法的。

6 separate   

n.分开，抽印本；adj.分开的，各自的，单独的；v.分开，隔开，分居

参考例句：

• Are they joined together or separate?它们是合在一起还是分开的？
• Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering.洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。

7 governors   

主管( governor的名词复数 )； 理事； （美国的）州长； （学校、学院、医院等机构的）董事

参考例句：

• The teachers have the full backing of the school governors. 老师们获得校董的全力支持。
• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。

8 permitted   

允许( permit的过去式和过去分词 )； 许可； 许用

参考例句：

• Radios are not permitted in the library. 图书馆内不许使用收音机。
• Entrance is permitted only on production of a ticket. 出示门票才可进入。

9 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

10 antelope   

n.羚羊；羚羊皮

参考例句：

• Choosing the antelope shows that China wants a Green Olympics.选择藏羚羊表示中国需要绿色奥运。
• The tiger was dragging the antelope across the field.老虎拖着羚羊穿过原野。

11 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

12 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。

13 property   

n.财产，所有物，所有权，性质，特性，（小）道具

参考例句：

• He has made over his property to a hospital.他已将财产转交给了一家医院。
• Oil has the property of floating on water.油有浮在水上的特性。

14 cattle   

n.牛，牲口，畜生

参考例句：

• He has twenty head of cattle on the farm.他在农场养了20头牛。
• On big farms cattle are usually stamped with brands.在大农场，牲畜通常是打烙印的。

15 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

16 freely   

adv.自由地，随便地，无拘无束地

参考例句：

• She was unable to keep back her tears,and wept freely.她抑制不住泪水，痛痛快快地哭了起来。
• A liquid flows freely and has no fixed shape.液体能自由流动，无固定形态。

17 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

18 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

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 stable   

adj.稳定的；稳固的

参考例句：

• I'm glad she has become such a stable character.我很高兴她变得如此沉稳。
• This chair isn't very stable.这把椅子不大稳固。

21 transportation   

n.运输，运输系统，运输工具

参考例句：

• The transportation of goods by air costs a lot.航空运输货物花费很高。
• He finally solved the difficulty of transportation.他终于解决了运输的困难。

22 region   

n.地区，地带，区域；范围，幅度

参考例句：

• The students went to study the geology of that region.学生们去研究那个地区的地质情况。
• It is unusual to see snow in this region.这个地区难得见到雪。

23 perfumes   

n.香气( perfume的名词复数 )；芳香；香味；馨

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfumes and stimulant. 麝香被用作香料和兴奋剂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The odors pleasing to most human noses are used as perfumes. 这些使大多数人感到喜悦的气味，可用作香料。 来自辞典例句

24 resin   

n.树脂，松香，树脂制品；vt.涂树脂

参考例句：

• This allyl type resin is a highly transparent, colourless material.这种烯丙基型的树脂是一种高度透明的、无色材料。
• This is referred to as a thixotropic property of the resin.这种特性叫做树脂的触变性。

25 sustainable   

adj.足可支撑的，养得起的，可以忍受的

参考例句：

• What is sustainable economic development?什么是可持续的经济发展？
• Our capability for sustainable development was enhanced.我们可持续发展能力增强。