英语听力—环球英语 825 Prudence Sings

　　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
This is Prudence². Prudence is a young woman from Zimbabwe. As you can hear, she is very skilled³ at singing. She is the lead singer of a musical group called Liyana. A few years ago, few people had heard of Prudence or Liyana. But today, people all over the world know who they are. Today's Spotlight is on Prudence and her musical group Liyana. Their story has inspired people all over the world! Maybe it will inspire you too!
Voice 2
Prudence Mabhena is 21 years old. When you see Prudence, you will notice there is something different about her. Prudence is disabled. She does not have legs. Her arms are bent⁴ in a strange position. Her spine⁵, or back, is bent forward permanently⁶. She can only move her head, and one arm. Prudence moves around with the use of an electric wheelchair.
Voice 1
Prudence was born with a condition called arthrogryposis. This condition affects a person's joints⁷ - like their knees or shoulders. People born with the condition often have poorly formed arms or legs. They may not be able to walk or move in a normal way. People are born with the condition. And it is permanent.
Voice 2
When Prudence was born, her father's mother wanted to kill her. In many parts of the world, children with disabilities are unwanted. This is often true in Zimbabwe. Sometimes people believe children are born with disabilities because of witchcraft⁸. They believe there is a curse⁹, or promise for injury, on their family. So, the family may kill a disabled child at birth to remove the curse. Prudence was not killed. But her family banned her from her father's home.
Voice 1
Prudence's mother took Prudence and cared for her. She brought Prudence to her own mother's home. But four years later, Prudence's mother left her too. Prudence's grandmother, Rachel, was a working farmer. Rachel carried Prudence on her back as she worked. Rachel sang while she worked, and taught Prudence how to sing too. But when Prudence turned seven years old, Rachel knew she could not provide an education for Prudence. She sent Prudence to live with her father and his new wife, Prudence's stepmother.
Voice 2
Prudence's life with her father and stepmother was terrible. Her stepmother refused to touch her. She called Prudence horrible names, and told her she was worthless¹⁰ and helpless¹¹. In her father's house, Prudence had to pull her body along the floor wherever she wanted to go. No one helped to care for her or clean her. For two years Prudence lived in these terrible conditions. She even attempted to kill herself two times. But Prudence still had hope. She would pull herself behind the house. She would sit under a fruit tree and tell herself that her life would change.
Voice 1
And her life DID change. When Prudence was nine years old, she was accepted to the King George VI School and Center for Children with Physical Disabilities, or KG6. Many people believe disabled children are unable to do anything for themselves. But KG6 aims to encourage the students in their independence. There, students cook, clean, wash their clothes and take care of their personal needs. And everyone works¹² together to help each other.
Voice 2
KG6 believes that every child has a skill. It helps the students try to find what they are good at. Then it gives the student chances to grow and improve that skill. The school's main saying is "Never Give up!" Liyana began as a musical group in the school. And it has now become one of KG6's biggest success stories!
Voice 1
Prudence began a new life when she began attending KG6. She got a wheelchair. She began her education. And she also discovered her gift for singing. She joined the school's singing choir¹³. And soon, she was LEADING the choir!
Voice 2
In 2003, Prudence joined with seven other KG6 students. Together they formed the group Liyana. In the Ndebele language Liyana means "it is raining." It is a word for good luck. All eight members of Liyana are under 21 years old. And they are all disabled. Five use wheelchairs. Two use long crutches¹⁴ to help them walk. And one of the members is deaf - he cannot fully¹⁵ hear.
Voice 1
Liyana uses different musical styles. They mix together Gospel music, Reggae music, and traditional Shone music. They call their style of music Afro-fusion. They have taught themselves how to play their instruments. And they write most of their own songs. They sing in the Shone and Ndebele languages. But they also sing in English, Dutch, German, Hebrew and Spanish!
Voice 2
Together, Liyana is like a family for Prudence. And together, they have become an inspiration¹⁶ and example for people all around the world. There is even a short film about Prudence's story and Liyana's music. Many people love their music. People watching the group do not care about the performer's disabilities. They just know that they make wonderful music!
Voice 1
One of Liyana's most popular songs is called iThemba. This means "hope" in the Ndebele language. Prudence told reporter Kevin Fagan of the San Francisco Chronicle Newspaper:
Voice 3
"The words of iThemba speak of how in my country you find people celebrating when a child is born right. But when a child is disabled the family is in mourning and wants nothing to do with it. My own experience was difficult. I will let my songs tell the rest.
Voice 2
Prudence had a difficult life from the very beginning. But she has found what truly makes her beautiful. She explains.
Voice 3
"My hands are bent. They are not straight. And my legs were also the same. My legs were removed when I was eleven years old. And apart from that, I am beautiful. I am. And, so they say, I have a great smile. I do not really know where my voice comes from. It is a gift God gave me. I guess my voice sounds good to people. Maybe it is because I also use it wisely."
 

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 prudence   

n.谨慎，精明，节俭

参考例句：

• A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems.不够谨慎可能会导致财政上出现问题。
• The happy impute all their success to prudence or merit.幸运者都把他们的成功归因于谨慎或功德。

3 skilled   

adj.(in)熟练的，有技能的；需要技能的

参考例句：

• Unskilled workers usually earn less money than skilled workers.无技能的工人通常比有技能的工人挣钱少。
• She was skilled enough in French to translate a novel.她法语娴熟，足以翻译小说。

4 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

5 spine   

n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊

参考例句：

• He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
• His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。

6 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

7 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

8 witchcraft   

n.魔法，巫术

参考例句：

• The woman practising witchcraft claimed that she could conjure up the spirits of the dead.那个女巫说她能用魔法召唤亡灵。
• All these things that you call witchcraft are capable of a natural explanation.被你们统统叫做巫术的那些东西都可以得到合情合理的解释。

9 curse   

n.祸因，祸根；诅咒，咒骂；骂人话

参考例句：

• His wealth proved a curse to him.他的财富成了祸根。
• The rabbits are a curse in this part of the country.兔子在这一带农村是一种祸害。

10 worthless   

adj.无价值的，无用的，可鄙的

参考例句：

• Don't read worthless books.不要读没有用的书。
• He was worthless as a painter.他作为画家一事无成。

11 helpless   

adj.无助的，无依无靠的；不能自力的

参考例句：

• The other team was helpless and we had a real field day.对方队很弱，我们轻易取胜。
• They felt helpless to do anything about it.他们对这事感到无能为力。

12 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。

13 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

14 crutches   

n.拐杖, 支柱 v.支撑

参考例句：

• After the accident I spent six months on crutches . 事故后我用了六个月的腋杖。
• When he broke his leg he had to walk on crutches. 他腿摔断了以后，不得不靠拐杖走路。

15 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

16 inspiration   

n.灵感，鼓励者，吸气

参考例句：

• These events provided the inspiration for his first novel.这些事件给了他创作第一部小说的灵感。
• What an inspiration she was to all around her!她对于她周围所有的人是一种多么大的鼓舞！