环球英语 — 60：Listener Mail 77

　　Voice 1
Hello, I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Rachel Hobson. Welcome to Spotlight¹. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Welcome to our listener mail programme.
Voice 2
Our first letter is from Josef Oravc in Slovakia. He writes about his home country;
Voice 5
‘Slovakia is a small country in central Europe. You can find everything here. There are the old castles with interesting histories. There are towns and villages with their traditions. The most visited mountains in Slovakia are the high Tatras and Low Tatras and Slovak paradise². Tourists like these very much. The hot summers, you can spend by many lakes or swimming pools. There are many forests, rivers, and plenty of animals.’
Voice 1
Your country sounds beautiful Josef!! I hope we visit there one day! We like to hear about our listeners’ countries. Write and tell us about yours! radio @ english . net.
Voice 2
Our next letter comes from Mercedes Herminia Chamba Herrera. Mercedes listens to Spotlight in Ecuador. She writes:
Voice 4
“Thank you for the Spotlight scripts³. I read them all. They are very interesting. It is amazing to know how the sport of rugby was born”.
Voice 1
We broadcast the program ‘Rugby World Cup’ in September. We talked about the Rugby World Cup competition. We told the story of Romania’s rugby team - their struggles and successes. Sadly, Romania only won a single game in the whole competition. But some teams surprised everyone! Fiji and Argentina are not famous rugby-playing nations. But they managed to beat two of the top teams - Wales and France! It was an exciting competition. And it has helped to make rugby more popular around the world.
Voice 2
Mercedes also writes about our programme, ‘The Ninth of September’:
Voice 4
“Another subject that I did not know much about is, ‘The Ninth Day of the Ninth Month.’ I did not know how alcohol⁴ can affect an unborn baby. I also did not know that September the ninth was celebrated⁵ by ringing bells or playing other instruments.”
Voice 2
“The Ninth of September” is our programme about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome⁶, or FAS. FAS affects unborn babies, fetuses⁷, and their growth. These problems are alcohol related⁸. When pregnant⁹ women drink alcohol, it is like their unborn babies are drinking alcohol too. This damages the unborn baby. The programme tells how some concerned people began an organization called FASWorld. They wanted to spread information about foetal alcohol issues around the world. They chose the ninth day of the ninth month to remember FAS. And on that day, they encourage people to ring bells or to play musical instruments. Or they can simply spend a minute in silence. They remember children at risk from FAS.
Mercedes finishes:
Voice 4
“I think the best way we have to help change the world is to spread more information about FAS around our friends.”
Voice 1
Next, Reza wrote to us about Spotlight’s speaking speed:
Voice 5
‘I like your program. I want to ask you to present your programme in normal speed also! Thank you.’
Voice 1
Thanks for this suggestion. Spotlight uses a special method, so that people everywhere can understand it. We know that this is helpful for many people. And we do not plan to change the speed of our current programmes. But recently, some listeners, including Reza, have requested a faster speed version¹⁰ of Spotlight, as well as our slower speed programmes. What do other listeners think? Would you like to hear the same programme a little faster? Write and tell us your opinions:
radio @ English . net.
Voice 2
And now, a letter from Vietnam. The Dalat Language Club often listens to Spotlight. Their teacher is Dennis Pitman. He writes:
Voice 6
“Our members really loved “The Zimmers” program. They now joke about me, their ancient old “fool ” of a teacher! Your stories are a little bit negative at times. But “The Zimmers” programme made our spirits fly high!”
Voice 2
Well Dennis, the Spotlight team apologizes for causing your students to make fun of you! But we are very glad that you all enjoyed our Zimmers programme. The ‘Zimmers’ are a singing rock group. The group has the oldest members in the world. One member is over a hundred [100]! And the lead singer is ninety [90]!
Dennis ends his letter with a quotation¹¹ from a poem. It says:
Voice 6
“A man’s reach should exceed¹² a man’s grasp or what’s a heaven for?”
Voice 2
This is a line from a poem by Robert Browning. And it is the subject of today’s hodgepodge!
Robert Browning lived in England in the late 1800s. He was famous for writing dramatic¹³ monologues¹⁴ - long speeches said by one person. He wrote a series of monologues about famous historical painters. In these poems, Browning imagined what the painters might say about their lives. One of these painters was Andrea Del Sarto. Browning imagines him sitting by his wife at a window. Del Sarto is looking back at his life and work. He seems a little sad. He has not achieved as much as he thought he could. He says:
Voice 6
“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp,
Or what’s a heaven for?...
I regret little, I would change still less.
Since there my past life lies, why change it?”
Voice 1
Del Sarto knows that a person needs to aim for more than what he has within his hands - within his grasp. His aim should be greater than this, exceed this. There is no point in only doing what he knows he CAN do. He must try to achieve more to be truly happy. Del Sarto says that he does not regret much in his life. Yet there is some feeling of sadness in the poem. It is like Del Sarto has not achieved the success that he wanted. However, he has one final hope. He hopes that in heaven people will recognise his artwork as good. He says;
Voice 6
“In heaven, perhaps, new chances, one more chance.”
 

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 paradise   

n.伊甸乐园，天堂

参考例句：

• My house had a small backyard,the paradise of children.我那幢房子有一个小后院，那是孩子们玩耍的乐园。
• On a hot day a dip in the sea is sheer paradise.热天洗个海水澡是十分令人惬意的事。

3 scripts   

剧本( script的名词复数 )； 文字； 笔迹； （一种语言的）字母系统

参考例句：

• Many felt he was prostituting his talents by writing Hollywood scripts. 许多人觉得他给好莱坞写剧本是滥用自己的才华。
• The scripts had a rather tired plot. 这部陈旧的剧本的情节是非常俗套的。

4 alcohol   

n.酒精，乙醇；含酒精的饮料

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
• The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。

5 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。

6 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

7 fetuses   

n.胎，胎儿( fetus的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• DNA was extracted from fetuses at mid-gestation, about 10 days past conception. DNA从受孕大约10天后的中期妊娠胚胎中提取。 来自互联网
• Brucellosis is a disease that causes fetuses to abort in cattle. 普鲁士菌病是一种可以导致牲畜胎儿夭折的疾病。 来自互联网

8 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。

9 pregnant   

adj.怀孕的，怀胎的

参考例句：

• She is a pregnant woman.她是一名孕妇。
• She is pregnant with her first child.她怀了第一胎。

10 version   

n.版本；型号；叙述，说法

参考例句：

• His version of the events is pure supposition.他对这件事的说法纯属猜测。
• What is your version of this matter?你对这件事情的看法 怎么样？

11 quotation   

n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情

参考例句：

• He finished his speech with a quotation from Shakespeare.他讲话结束时引用了莎士比亚的语录。
• The quotation is omitted here.此处引文从略。

12 exceed   

vt.超过，胜过，越出

参考例句：

• The expenses shall not exceed 200 yuan.费用以200元为限。
• Exports yearly exceed imports.输出每年超过输入。

13 dramatic   

adj.引人注目的；戏剧的；演戏的

参考例句：

• She plays a very dramatic woman with flashing eyes.她饰演一位双眼闪光的引人注目的妇人。
• His speech was dramatic.他的演说激动人心。

14 monologues   

n.（戏剧）长篇独白( monologue的名词复数 )；滔滔不绝的讲话；独角戏

参考例句：

• That film combines real testimonials with monologues read by actors. 电影中既有真人讲的真事，也有演员的独白。 来自互联网
• Her monologues may help her make sense of her day. 她的独白可以帮助她让她一天的感觉。 来自互联网