英语听力—环球英语 574 Traditional Music in Afghanistan

　　Voice 1
Hello and welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Ruby² Jones.
Voice 2
And I'm Marina Santee. 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
This music was recorded in the 1980s in Pakistan. A group of refugees³ from Afghanistan played the traditional musical instruments that you hear. It is not easy to find traditional music like this today. These songs come from an old dusty music record. Sadly, this is the state of much traditional music in Afghanistan today. Not many people own traditional music now.
Voice 2
Politics and war have had negative effects on the traditional music industry in the country. However, all this is beginning to change. In today's Spotlight we hear about a group helping⁴ to lead these changes - The Revival⁵ of Afghan Music! And we hear from the founder⁶ of the organisation⁷ - Doctor Ahmad Sarmast.
Voice 1
The sound of musical instruments comes from an old building in the capital city of Kabul, Afghanistan. Like many buildings, this one was damaged in the war. The broken doors have big locks on them. And the rooms are almost empty. But this building is still important to the young people inside. It is Afghanistan's only music school for older children. There are around ninety students at the school. They share the few instruments between them. The city is not an easy place for music lovers. The country's war and politics has destroyed much of the traditional music and arts. However, all this could change if Doctor Ahmad Sarmast has his way.
Voice 2
Ahmad Sarmast has studied music for many years. He is a doctor of music. Today, he is the founder of an exciting project called ROAM⁸ - The Revival of Afghan Music. The aim of ROAM is to give new life to music in Afghanistan - to ‘revive⁹' it. ROAM seeks to make music a central part of life again. Doctor Sarmast explained how the past has severely¹⁰ affected¹¹ the traditional music in Afghanistan:
Voice 3
‘Music is an important part of social and cultural life in Afghanistan... But traditional music has suffered over the last thirty [30] years. It has suffered for a number of reasons including Taliban rule, civil war and people leaving the country.'
Voice 1
However, traditional music never completely disappeared from Afghanistan. It is too important in Afghan culture. Doctor Sarmast said:
Voice 3
‘No one has ever managed to prevent the people of Afghanistan from singing. Even in the most difficult times for music, the people managed to find a way to listen to music.'
Voice 2
The idea of ROAM is to bring music out into the open again! It is to revive music and make it truly alive again in Afghanistan! Members of the ROAM project believe now is the time for a music revival!
Voice 1
ROAM has different groups working together to make this happen. Monash University in Australia is a member of ROAM. This is where Doctor Sarmast used to teach music. Friends of ROAM is a group of Afghan and Australian people. They all have different musical and teaching skills. These people give their time freely to the ROAM project. Together, they are working for change in several ways.
Voice 2
One of ROAM's projects aims to rebuild and improve the lives of music players in Afghanistan. Doctor Sarmast explained that many music players left the country during the war. Some of them went to countries close by. Others travelled greater distances - to America or Europe. ROAM hopes to help the music players that remained in the country.
Voice 1
The project also plans to develop a national music education policy. It wants to encourage younger people in Afghanistan to rediscover traditional music. It wants them to be proud of it! Doctor Sarmast said he would like to see the country have a national orchestra¹²! At present, there is no such group of skilled music players. His dream for the future is to hear Afghan musicians play their national song in an orchestra!
Voice 2
A new music school is another important part of the ROAM project. The plan is to turn the old music college into the National Institute of Music for Afghanistan. The institute will have new specialist music teachers to help the existing ones. The National Institute has the support of the World Bank and international music colleges. For example, Germany is sending two hundred [200] musical instruments. The new institute will not be lacking students either. Young people have already signed up to join! Doctor Sarmast explained that they are making sure that fifty [50] percent of the places go to the most needy¹³ Afghan children. He said:
Voice 3
‘The school is the first part of the whole project. It aims to give children without parents the chance to receive a music education. At the same time, it will provide them with a higher education. This is so important in a country with limited employment.'
Voice 1
Doctor Sarmast has high hopes for the project. He believes it can help the young people of Afghanistan in many ways. Music can help to heal some of the emotional wounds of the past. And education can help to increase employment and make the country stronger. He also points out that the Institute is not just about music. Doctor Sarmast said:
Voice 3
‘We have millions of children... living in the streets of Kabul and other areas of Afghanistan. These children do not have any kind of education. I am not talking about music education. This project is not just about music. It is about general education. It is about reducing poor conditions. It is about uniting the people of Afghanistan. And clearly it is about the healing power of music.'
 

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 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。

3 refugees   

n.避难者，难民( refugee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The UN has begun making airdrops of food to refugees. 联合国已开始向难民空投食物。
• They claimed they were political refugees and not economic migrants. 他们宣称自己是政治难民，不是经济移民。

4 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。

5 revival   

n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振

参考例句：

• The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
• He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。

6 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

7 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。

8 roam   

vi.漫游，闲逛，徜徉

参考例句：

• He used to roam the streets for hours on end.他过去常逛大街，一逛就是几个小时。
• I like to roam about over the countryside.我喜欢在乡间走一走。

9 revive   

v.（使）复苏，（使）重振活力，恢复生机，复兴

参考例句：

• These flowers will revive in water.这些花在水中会再活。
• They managed to revive the injured driver with cardiac massage.他们通过心脏按压使受伤的司机苏醒了过来。

10 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

11 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。

12 orchestra   

n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购

参考例句：

• He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
• I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。

13 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。