英语听力—环球英语 1045 Slow Food

 　　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

 

　　What is your favorite food? Is it something that you make at home? Is it something that you buy at a restaurant? Does it take a long time to make or is it fast food? Today's Spotlight is on a group of people asking questions like these. They are part of the Slow Food Movement.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The slow food movement started in 1986. In the city of Rome, Italy, a new restaurant was opening. But some people were not happy about it. The restaurant was a McDonalds. This American restaurant is famous for fast food – American style food served quickly, for very little money. It was opening in Piazza² di Spagna, close to the world famous Spanish Steps. It is one of the many important historical⁴ places in the city. Many people would recognize this square, with the large and beautiful fountain⁵ in the middle. And some people did not want a McDonalds restaurant in such a beautiful historic³ place. People stood outside the McDonalds and shouted "We do not want fast food, we want slow food!"

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　But this event was not the only thing that started the Slow Food Movement. Carlo Petrini was in that crowd at the Spanish Steps. He lives in Italy. One day he went to a restaurant to eat a traditional meal called peperonata. But when he ate the food this time it did not have the same taste he remembered. He asked the owner of the restaurant why the food tasted different. The owner said that it was the pepper⁶ vegetables he used. These peppers⁷ were grown in the Netherlands. They were grown using modern scientific methods. The peppers were shipped in boxes to Italy. The prices were low. So many local farmers in Italy stopped growing the peppers. They could not compete with the price of the peppers from the Netherlands. But these peppers from the Netherlands did not have the same good taste as local peppers.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Carlo believed that this way of getting food was damaging local culture and food. Italian farmers no longer grew Italian peppers for Italian food. And this was a change happening in many other places too!

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Carlo wanted people to care about where their food came from. He wanted people to care about foods that made their culture special. These were "slow foods" - the opposite of fast food! So Carlo started a group to encourage this idea. It became the Slow Food movement.

 

　　The Slow Food movement says that their goal is to have Good, Clean, Fair food for all people. Let's look at these three things.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　First, what is Good food? The Slow Food Movement believes good food is fresh. The vegetables are eaten close to the place that grew them. The fish has not been sitting for days before it is eaten. It should be in season - grown at the best time of the year for that food. Good food satisfies⁸ the senses. It should look good, smell good and taste good. And finally, good food is part of a local culture. Each country has special foods that make it different. Good food is cultural food!

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Second, food should be Clean. Today, there are great concerns about the way people grow and produce food. For example, by using large amounts of chemicals on fruits and vegetables. Farmers use these chemicals to kill insects, and feed plants. But the chemicals can also harm the natural environment around farms. Over time, they can cause health problems in people too. Clean food means⁹ food that does not harm our bodies or the environment.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　And third, food should be Fair. Food should not cost too much money. All people should be able to buy healthy food. The people who grow and make food should be paid fairly¹⁰ for their work. They should work in safe, healthy conditions.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The idea of Slow Food may sound easy in places like Italy. Italy has a history of strongly caring about their traditional foods and culture. But the Slow Food Movement has expanded out of Italy. Around the world, groups hold special events in November and December to celebrate their own local Slow Food culture.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Elburgon Kenya is located¹¹ in the Mau forest. The people in this area depend on the forest for their food. They hunt and gather wild fruits and plants. They pass down hunting traditions from generation to generation. Many different kinds of foods were on the tables: Mushunu chicken, Lare pumpkin¹², wild fruits and honey, and deer meat. The people celebrated¹³ their cultural food. But they also learned¹⁴ about the importance of the forests.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　This was especially important because large farm businesses are cutting down the Mau forest. Then, they grow wheat, corn and tea on the land. This damages traditional life for these communities. Their culture, food, and lives depend on healthy forests. So during the Slow Food celebration¹⁵, people also planted native trees in the area.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　In Thailand, the Karen people group held their own event. November is their traditional time to harvest rice. The Karen used to be a nomadic¹⁶ tribe¹⁷. They moved to a new place every year. In each place, they grew rice. After the harvest, they would burn the rice plants. Then, they would move to a new area. They would not return for seven years, so that the land could rest.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　But in 1968 the government said that the Karen people could not continue to move from place to place. They could still farm, but they could not use their traditional methods. So ten Karen families used their Slow Food Day to discuss these issues¹⁸ and prepare traditional foods. Older Karen group members shared some of the traditions and stories with younger people at the event.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　In Palestine, many people do not eat foods grown on local farms. It is easier to get imported foods, and these foods cost less money. Many traditional Palestinian foods are at risk of being forgotten. In Palestine, women's groups held two events, called "Back to Old Kitchens in the Gaza Strip¹⁹" and "Back to Old Kitchens in the West Bank."

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　In the Gaza strip women prepared a meal using ancient recipes²⁰. They used vegetables grown in local gardens. These gardens help the women save money on food. In the West Bank, the event brought older women to teach younger women how to cook traditional foods. These events brought people closer together and helped them celebrate their culture through food.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The Slow Food movement wants people to think about food as more than just something to put in your mouth. Food is a part of culture. Food is a part of health. Food is a part of social justice. Food is a part of the environment. What does food mean to you? Are there any ways that you celebrate Slow Food? Share your ideas on our website at http://www.radio.english.net

 

　　.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The writer and producer of this program was Joshua Leo. The voices you heard were from the United²¹ States. This program is called "Slow Food".

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!

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 piazza   

n.广场；走廊

参考例句：

• Siena's main piazza was one of the sights of Italy.锡耶纳的主要广场是意大利的名胜之一。
• They walked out of the cafeteria,and across the piazzadj.他们走出自助餐厅,穿过广场。

3 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

4 historical   

adj.历史的，史实的，历史上的

参考例句：

• The book is based on historical events.这本书是根据历史事件写成的。
• We have shared the same historical experiences.咱们有着共同的历史遭遇。

5 fountain   

n.喷泉，源泉，储水容器，泉水；v.使像喷泉一样流

参考例句：

• At the centre of the park there is a fountain.公园正中有一个喷泉。
• Ancient Greece was a fountain of wisdom and philosophy.古希腊是智慧和哲学的发源地。

6 pepper   

n.胡椒(粉)；辣椒(粉)

参考例句：

• He put some pepper in the bowl.他放了一些胡椒粉在碗里。
• This pepper is really hot.这辣椒真够劲儿。

7 peppers   

n.胡椒粉( pepper的名词复数 )；辣椒

参考例句：

• She takes a few peppers in the hand. 她拿了一些辣椒在手里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Peppers sting the tongue. 胡椒蜇舌头。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 satisfies   

v.使满意，满足( satisfy的第三人称单数 )；使确信；符合，达到（要求、规定、标准等）

参考例句：

• Nothing satisfies him—he's always complaining. 什么都难如他的意—他老在抱怨。
• The food here satisfies gourmands rather than gourmets. 这里的食物可以管饱却不讲究品质。 来自辞典例句

9 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

10 fairly   

adv.公正地，正当地；相当；完全，简直

参考例句：

• I think I was quite fairly treated by the police.我认为警察对我非常公正。
• It fairly destroyed the machine.它将那部机器完全毁了。

11 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

12 pumpkin   

n.南瓜

参考例句：

• They ate turkey and pumpkin pie.他们吃了火鸡和南瓜馅饼。
• It looks like there is a person looking out of the pumpkin!看起来就像南瓜里有人在看着你！

13 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

14 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。

15 celebration   

n.庆祝，庆祝会；典礼

参考例句：

• The celebration passed off successfully.庆祝活动圆满结束。
• The celebration of Christmas is a custom.庆祝圣诞节是一种习俗。

16 nomadic   

adj.流浪的；游牧的

参考例句：

• This tribe still live a nomadic life.这个民族仍然过着游牧生活。
• The plowing culture and the nomadic culture are two traditional principal cultures in China.农耕文化与游牧文化是我国传统的两大主体文化。

17 tribe   

n.部落，种族，一伙人

参考例句：

• This is a subject tribe.这是个受他人统治的部落。
• Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.这部落的许多风俗、仪式都极其古老。

18 issues   

（水等的）流出( issue的名词复数 )； 出口； 放出； （特别重要或大众关注的）问题

参考例句：

• Let's start with the more easily addressable issues. 我们先从较容易处理的问题着手。
• Employment and taxation are the bread-and-butter issues of politics. 就业和征税是很重要的政治问题。

19 strip   

n.长条，条状；连环漫画；n.脱衣舞；vt.脱衣，剥夺；挤干(牛奶)；vt.拆卸；去除(烟叶的茎)；vi.脱衣，表演脱衣舞；剥落

参考例句：

• I need one more strip of cloth to finish this decoration.我还要一根布条来完成这个装饰品。
• We had to strip the old paint from the doors.我们只好把门上的旧漆刮掉。

20 recipes   

n.烹饪法( recipe的名词复数 )；食谱；方法；秘诀

参考例句：

• recipes that make imaginative use of seasonal vegetables 妙用时令蔬菜的菜谱
• recipes for people who are gluten intolerant 谷蛋白过敏人士的食谱

21 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。