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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Voice 1
Hello. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Elizabeth Lickiss. 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
Milk chocolate.
Voice 2
Dark chocolate.
Voice 1
White chocolate.
Voice 2
Fruit or nuts covered with chocolate.
Voice 1
Chocolate milk.
Voice 2
Hot chocolate milk.
Voice 1
Chocolate biscuits.
Voice 2
Chocolate cake.
Voice 1
Chocolate ice cream.
Voice 2
There are many different ways to enjoy chocolate. People all over the world enjoy a chocolate treat.
Chocolate is made from cocoa2 beans. Farmers spend many hours looking after and harvesting their crop of beans. Many farmers use chemical fertilizers3 to help their crops grow. They use other chemicals to kill the insect pests that attack the plants. But some farmers in Venezuela are choosing another way to farm cocoa beans. They are going back to traditional methods. They are growing their beans without using chemicals. This makes the job much harder for them. It is a risky4 business. The farmers have to spend a lot more time looking after their crops. They have to protect them from disease5 and insect pests. But these farmers believe that this natural way of farming6 is best. It is called organic7 farming. Today we look at the organic farming of chocolate and ask - why is organic farming becoming so popular?
Voice 1
So where did the world’s love of chocolate first originate8? Experts say that the ancient Aztec communities in South America first used cocoa beans. They paid each other using cocoa beans. They used the beans like we use money. The beans were very popular. The Aztec people used the beans to make a special drink. In ancient times people believed that chocolate was linked to power, religion and love. Some ancient people believed that chocolate made a person more fertile9. They believed that chocolate helped them think more clearly. Some people even believed that chocolate had special healing10 powers.
Voice 2
Spanish sailors arrived in South America in the sixteenth [16th] century. They observed how the Aztec people used the cocoa beans. They heard them speak about the special powers of the cocoa bean drink. The Spanish sailors decided11 to bring some beans back with them to Spain. The Spanish people also made a hot drink with the beans. But they decided to add sugar. The sweet ‘chocolate’ was very popular. Soon everyone in Europe and America were enjoying it.
Voice 1
There were many stories concerning12 the sweet chocolate. Some people believed that chocolate would cure heart disease. Others said that it made the skin look better. A group of chocolate-makers made an even more surprising claim. They said that their chocolate would stop people from getting old! There were many untrue13 beliefs about chocolate. But one thing was true. And it is true today. Almost everyone likes chocolate. Give a child a chocolate and they will smile. Offer an adult a chocolate and they will smile too!
Voice 2
So what is it about chocolate that makes people happy? Doctors and scientists believe they have the answer. They have identified special chemicals in chocolate. These chemicals react14 with a person’s brain. They make them feel happier. Maybe that explains why chocolate remains15 one of the worlds most popular treats.
Voice 1
In fact so many people like chocolate that it has become big business. Cocoa farmers work hard to provide the world with enough cocoa beans.
Voice 2
Deep inside Venezuela’s forest Jose Lugo looks after his cacao trees. He spends five hours a day, every day, taking care of them. These trees will provide him with the special cocoa beans. So he protects them against pest, insects and bad weather. He never uses any chemicals. Jose is an organic farmer. Organic farming is hard work. It takes two times as long to farm this way. So why are the farmers doing it?
Voice 1
It may be hard work by Jose believes it is worth it. He gets four times more money for his organic cocoa beans. Everyone in the chocolate industry wants organic cocoa beans.
Normally16 farmers sell their beans to a ‘middle man’. This man then sells the beans to the factory. The ‘middle man’ takes some of the profit from selling the beans.
But the organic beans are in great demand. Jose can sell his beans straight to the chocolate factories. He does not need a ‘middle man’. The factories give him a good price for his beans.
Voice 2
The government of Venezuela is happy to encourage organic farming. Growing more cocoa beans will further protect the forest. Cocoa beans do not grow well without the protection17 of the forest trees. So the more cocoa bean farming that takes place the better. It will ensure that the forests are kept and developed. They will not be cut down for other crops. Organic cocoa bean production also helps to develop Venezuela’s export industry. It increases the countries economic wealth. The government has given around ten million dollars [$10,000,000] to encourage organic farming. The government has used this money to give farmers training in organic farming methods. Now farmers like Jose are prepared. They have the knowledge they need to produce good strong organic crops. Jose sells his beans to several major chocolate manufacturers18 in Italy, France and America. They consider his organic beans to be the very best.
Voice 1
So why do people want organic produce? Why is there such a demand for organic chocolate? Organic food costs more to produce. So it costs more to buy. But some people are concerned about the effects of chemicals. They worry that the chemicals are bad for the environment. They also worry that the chemicals are bad for their bodies. They believe that organic food is better for people and the environment.
Voice 2
It is strange to think that when we purchase food we have power. We have the power to influence how it is produced in the future. But it is true. The desire for organic food has led to more changes in farming methods. These farming methods are better for the environment. They may also prove to be better for people’s health. But do we really consider the story behind all the things we buy? Not just food but other items19. For example, do you know who made your shoes? Was the person who made them paid a fair price? What are the shoes made from? Are they made from the skin of a rare20 animal? Many people are starting to think more seriously about these issues21.
Voice 1
But not everyone has enough money to make these choices. They have to buy what they can with the money they have. Jesus Christ22 said that people who have much have a greater responsibility23. Responsibility comes with power, position and wealth. If those who are able take their responsibilities24 seriously they can make life better for everyone.
收听单词发音 |
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spotlight
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| n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目 | |
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cocoa
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| n.可可粉，可可饮料，可可色 | |
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fertilizers
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| 肥料，化肥( fertilizer的名词复数 ) | |
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risky
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| adj.有风险的，冒险的 | |
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disease
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| n.疾病，弊端 | |
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farming
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| n.农事；耕作 | |
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organic
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| adj.有机的，有机物的；有组织的 | |
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originate
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| vi.起源于，来自；vt.创造，创始，开创 | |
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fertile
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| adj.肥沃的，富饶的；多产的，丰产的 | |
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healing
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| n.康复，复原adj.有治疗功用的v.（使）愈合( heal的现在分词 )；治愈；（使）结束；较容易忍受 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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concerning
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| prep.关于，论及 | |
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untrue
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| adj.不正确的，不忠实的 | |
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react
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| vi.起反应，起作用；反抗，起反作用 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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normally
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| adv.正常地，通常地 | |
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protection
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| n.保护，防卫，保护制度 | |
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manufacturers
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| 制造商，制造厂( manufacturer的名词复数 ) | |
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items
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| n.物料项目 （任何一种自制或采购的零部件或组装件，如最终产品、部件、子部件、零件或原材料）；条( item的名词复数 )；一项；一则；一件商品（或物品） | |
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rare
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| adj.稀罕的，罕有的，珍贵的，稀薄的，半熟的，非常的；adv.非常 | |
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issues
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| （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 | |
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Christ
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| n.基督，救世主，耶稣 | |
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responsibility
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| n.责任，职责 | |
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responsibilities
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| 责任( responsibility的名词复数 )； 职责； 责任感； 责任心 | |
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