英语听力—环球英语 1169 Girl Scouts: Changing Girls’ Lives

 　　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

 

　　A group of girls stands together. They wear white shirts. Each girl wears a brown sash of material over one shoulder and across her chest.  The sash is covered with small badges². These small pieces of cloth show numbers, letters or pictures. The girls are each holding up their right hand. Each girl holds down her smallest finger with her thumb. Each stands with their three middle fingers pointing up. Then all the girls speak together:

 

　　“On my honor³, I will try:

 

　　To serve God and my country,

 

　　To help people at all times,

 

　　And to live by the Girl Scout⁴ Law:

 

　　I will do my best to be

 

　　honest and fair,

 

　　friendly and helpful,

 

　　considerate and caring,

 

　　courageous⁵ and strong, and

 

　　responsible for what I say and do.

 

　　and I will also

 

　　respect myself and others,

 

　　respect authority⁶,

 

　　use resources wisely,

 

　　make the world a better place, and

 

　　be a sister to every Girl Scout.”

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　These girls are part of a large organization called the Girl Scouts⁷. They teach skills and values to girls all over the world. Today’s Spotlight is on the Girl Scouts.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The Girl Scouts call the year 2012 ‘The Year of the Girl.’ It is their 100th anniversary⁸. In the year 1912 an American woman named Juliette Gordon Low created the Girl Scouts. Low felt that girls needed opportunities to grow mentally, physically⁹ and spiritually. Low saw that many girls were in their houses all day. They were often alone. She wanted them to be outside, spending time with friends.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Soon, the girls became involved in community service. They learned¹⁰ new skills. The Girl Scouts went on long hikes - walking and learning¹¹ about nature. They played sports and went on camping trips. They learned to tell time by the position of the stars. They studied first aid - emergency treatment for people who are sick or hurt.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　But the Girl Scouts do not just teach skills. The Girl Scouts also teach good values. These values include respect for other people, protecting the earth’s environment and serving the community. They teach girls to accept and love other people - even if they are different. The Girl Scouts teach girls to see themselves and others in positive ways.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Girl Scouts everywhere learn these same things. Each Girl Scout group usually meets once a week. They have adult leaders. At the start of the meeting they say the pledge¹² that we heard at the beginning of the program. Then the girls practice skills, learn lessons and work in their community. As the girls gain skills and experience they get awards. These awards are badges. They attach these small pieces of cloth to their sashes. Then they proudly wear it to show the many things that they are learning.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Girls can join the Girl Scouts from age five. Every two or three years, as they learn more skills, they move up to a higher level. The highest level is Girl Scout Ambassador¹³. These girls are usually between the ages of 16 and 18.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　However, Girl Scouts of all ages are often connected with one thing - cookies! Girl Scouts have been selling these round, sweet treats for many years. Laura from the United States was a Girl Scout. She grew up to become a successful business woman. She explains what she learned from selling Girl Scout cookies:

 

　　Voice 4

 

　　"When I was a girl I walked from house to house selling my Girl Scout cookies. Doing this every year helped teach me how to run a successful business. I learned two things that stayed with me for a long time. Firstly that all money made in business is not personal profit - I had to turn in all my money. And, that if I eat my own product then I have to pay for it!"

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Starting in 1917, girls baked cookies at home. They then sold them to make money for the Girl Scouts. People loved to buy and eat Girl Scout cookies! It grew into a big business. By 1948 professional bakers¹⁴ made the cookies and the Girl Scouts sold them.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　This tradition continues today. The Girl Scouts gain awards for selling many boxes of cookies. But the girls also gain experience in business and using money. And all the money goes to expand and improve the Girl Scouts program.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Today there are over ten million girls and women involved in the Girl Scouts. There are Girl Scouts in 145 countries. This was part of Juliette Gordon Low’s plan. She wanted to spread Girl Scouting¹⁵ around the world. She wanted children to have relationships with children from other countries. She hoped that this would encourage them to work for peace in the world.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　In the United States alone, over 59 million women have been involved in the Girl Scouts. Many Girl Scouts went on to become famous and successful. Girl Scouts grow up to be presidents of big companies, government officials and scientists. They play sports, act in films and write books.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Many women who were Girl Scouts say that the experience changed their life. Kristin Jendras is from the United States. She became involved with the Girl Scouts as an adult. Jendras spent six months volunteering in England. She talks about what she learned from this experience:

 

　　Voice 5

 

　　“I met so many wonderful people. Now I have new friends from around the world – Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea and Ghana. I learned about compromise¹⁶ and having an open mind. Also, I gained skills in customer service, cleaning AND cooking.  I can take these skills with me.  I used to be a shy, quiet person. Now, I am more confident. I voice my thoughts and opinions as a fully¹⁷ independent woman.

 

　　My experience also made me a more understanding person. This will make me a better friend, daughter and sister.  As for the future, I would love to work for the Girl Scouts to promote Girl Scouting or Guiding. Then new generations can have the same great experiences that I did!”

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The Girl Scouts’ goal is to “build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” After one hundred years, they are still doing exactly that.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The writer and producer of this program was Rena Dam. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called, ‘Girl Scouts: Changing Girls’ Lives’.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　You can also leave your comments on our website. Or you can email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook - just search for spotlightradio. 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 badges   

n.徽章( badge的名词复数 )；象征；证章；[美国俚语]警察

参考例句：

• Mayors wear chains round their necks as badges of office. 市长们戴着象征职位的项链。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The badges come in twenty different colors and shapes. 这种徽章有20种不同的颜色和形状。 来自辞典例句

3 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

4 scout   

n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索

参考例句：

• He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。
• The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。

5 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

6 authority   

n.当局，官方；权力，权威，威信；当权者

参考例句：

• He is recognized internationally as an authority in this field.国际上承认他是这方面的一个权威。
• Professor White is looked upon as an authority on mathematics.怀特教授被看成数学权威。

7 scouts   

侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员

参考例句：

• to join the Scouts 参加童子军
• The scouts paired off and began to patrol the area. 巡逻人员两个一组，然后开始巡逻这个地区。

8 anniversary   

n.周年(纪念日)

参考例句：

• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。
• Today is my parents'30th wedding anniversary.今天是我父母结婚30周年纪念日。

9 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

10 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。

11 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

12 pledge   

n.保证，誓言，抵押，抵押品；vt.保证，誓言，举杯祝...健康

参考例句：

• Take this ring as a pledge of our friendship.收下这枚戒指当作我们友谊的信物。
• The old man is willing to pledge for him.那位老人愿意为他担保。

13 ambassador   

n.大使，特使，（派驻国际组织的）代表

参考例句：

• He took up office as an ambassador for ten years continuously.他连任十年大使。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

14 bakers   

n.面包师( baker的名词复数 )；面包店；面包店店主；十三

参考例句：

• The Bakers have invited us out for a meal tonight. 贝克一家今晚请我们到外面去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The bakers specialize in catering for large parties. 那些面包师专门负责为大型宴会提供食品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 scouting   

守候活动，童子军的活动

参考例句：

• I have people scouting the hills already. 我已经让人搜过那些山了。
• Perhaps also from the Gospel it passed into the tradition of scouting. 也许又从《福音书》传入守望的传统。 来自演讲部分

16 compromise   

n.妥协；妥协方案；vt.损害；vi.妥协，让步

参考例句：

• The spokesman made it clear that no compromise was yet in sight.发言人表明，目前还不会妥协。
• The probable outcome of the talks is a compromise.会谈的结果很可能是妥协。

17 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。