环球英语 — 107： Listener Mail 79

　　Voice 1
Hello. I’m Rachel Hobson.
Voice 2
And I’m Marina Santee. 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 listener² mail programme! We begin with a letter from Lenin in Quito, Ecuador.
Voice 3
‘Thanks Spotlight for the programme, ‘International Day of Disabled Persons.’ It was very important to me. I closed my eyes. And I thought about my physical condition. I thought about people less able - who cannot walk, or see.’
Voice 1
Lenin writes about our programme for International Day of Disabled Persons. This is on the third of December each year. Lenin said that he believes a lot of people today are too proud. And, he includes himself in that statement³! He said that they have forgotten about disabled people.
Voice 2
Thanks for your honesty⁴ Lenin. International Day of Disabled Persons is a good time to think about the different lives other people have. It is a good time to remember other’s difficulties⁵. And it is also a good time to remember the common humanity⁶ that unites us all.
Voice 1
Our next letter is about music in our programmes. A student wrote to tell us that he finds music a helpful learning⁷ tool. Radio programmes often play music under speech. And Spotlight producers also do this. Some people like louder music. Other people like quieter music. Some do not like any music. And other people do not even notice. For example, did you notice the music under these words?
Voice 2
What is your opinion? Do you like music under radio programmes? Does it help you learn? Do Spotlight programmes use enough music? Or maybe you think they use too much? Write and tell us! Our e-mail address is radio @ english . net.
Voice 1
On the subject of music, here is a letter from Mauro in Brazil:
Voice 4
‘Can you please tell me the name of the first song in the programme ‘Poison’?’
Voice 1
The first song in ‘Poison’ is ‘Air on a G String’. It is a version⁸ of a song by Johann Sebastian Bach. People around the world love Bach’s music. Music experts consider him one of the greatest composers⁹ of all time. He wrote hundreds of songs. During his life people loved hearing him play music in church. But they were not very interested in the music he wrote. This only changed many years after his death. Then people recognised his amazing skill.
Voice 2
Much of Bach’s music is religious¹⁰. He used music to express his love for God. He said, “The aim and final end of all music should be...the glory¹¹ of God and the recharging of the spirit.” His music has lifted many people’s spirits. Some people even say they can hear God speak when they listen to his music. You can read more about Bach’s life in the Spotlight programme ‘Bach’s Gift’. You can find it on the Spotlight website radio.english.net.
Voice 1
Andre also writes to us from Brazil. He has a question about some of the words we used in a programme,
Voice 4
‘I listened to the programme called ‘Pizza’. And I observed that you used the words, ‘two times’ instead of the word twice’. Could you explain why?’
Voice 1
Thank you for your message Andre. Your question is a very good one. As you know, in every language there is more than one way to say something. ‘Two times’ is another way to say ‘twice’. In Spotlight we use a wordlist of only one thousand five hundred [1500] words - that is, we only use one thousand five hundred words, instead of the full English vocabulary. In this way Spotlight is easier for people to understand. You can see a list of the words we use on our website at radio.english.net.
Voice 2
And now it is time for our Spotlight Language Hodgepodge. Today we tell some idioms. Idioms can be words, sentences or expressions. However the individual words have a different meaning from the sentence. A famous idiom is:
Voice 1
‘Hold your horses!’
Voice 2
The idiom is not talking about horses. People use this expression to tell people to slow down, to wait, or stop! ‘Hold your horses!’ This expression used to relate to using horses as transport. Or even to holding a horse in battle. ‘Hold your horses’ meant ‘stop where you are going!’
Voice 1
Often unless you know idioms, there is no real way to understand them. You just have to learn them!
Voice 5
‘Do not be a back seat driver!’
Voice 2
This idiom is not talking about cars or driving! It means¹² that a person is trying to take control when they should not be. It is like trying to drive a car from the back seat! Another well known¹³ idiom is:
Voice 5
‘There is a fat chance of that!’
Voice 2
It means, there is little chance of something happening. There is a fat chance people will want to learn idioms about horses or back seat driving!
Voice 1
Well, this may be true. But there may be some people that would like to learn more! If you would like to learn more about idioms there are some good websites! You can read about idioms on the English baby website. We have a link to it on our website - radio.English.net.
Voice 2
And now, another letter from Ecuador! Pastor¹⁴ Pablo writes about a new listener club there:
Voice 3
‘We meet every Thursday. We began with sixty people. I am in charge of the club. It is a real blessing¹⁵ for the people!’
Voice 1
We were very happy to learn about this new listener club in Quito. Listener Clubs are a great way for English learners to meet together. There is even a Spotlight Listener Club website! It provides questions with Spotlight programmes. You can download the teaching¹⁶ material for free. Often churches in local areas manage listener clubs. But anyone can do it! Clubs are a great way to meet other learners, and improve your English skills. If you are interested in managing a club, write to us for more details: radio @ english . net. Thanks for your letter Pablo. We wish you every success with the club!
Voice 2
Well, that is all we have time for today. Thanks to Rodriguez, Mauro, Andre and Pablo for writing to us. And thank you for listening!
 

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 listener   

n.听众；收听者

参考例句：

• I'm a regular listener to her show.我经常收听她的节目。
• She became an attentive listener.她变成了一个专心致志的聆听者。

3 statement   

n.陈述；声明；综述

参考例句：

• The government will put out a new statement tomorrow.政府将于明天发布一项新声明。
• Put down your statement in black and white.把你的话用白纸黑字写下来。

4 honesty   

n.诚实，公正，正直

参考例句：

• I would never question his honesty.我绝不会怀疑他的诚实。
• All respect him for his honesty.他为人诚实，大家都尊敬他。

5 difficulties   

n.困难( difficulty的名词复数 )；难度；难事；麻烦

参考例句：

• I am acutely aware of the difficulties we face. 我十分清楚我们面临的困难。
• the difficulties of English syntax 英语句法的难点

6 humanity   

n.人类，[总称]人(性)，人道[pl.]人文学科

参考例句：

• Such an act is a disgrace to humanity.这种行为是人类的耻辱。
• We should treat animals with humanity.我们应该以仁慈之心对待动物。

7 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。

8 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？

9 composers   

n.（尤指古典音乐）作曲家( composer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He excels all other composers of his period. 他胜过同时代的所有其他作曲家。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Composers write music that is more easily comprehensible without sacrificing originality. 作曲家写出既更易为人们理解，又不失其个人独创风格的音乐作品。 来自辞典例句

10 religious   

adj.宗教性的，虔诚的，宗教上的；n.修道士，出家人

参考例句：

• She is very religious person who goes to church every Sunday.她十分虔诚，每个星期天都上教堂。
• It is hard for me to reject religious beliefs.要我抛弃自己的宗教信仰是困难的。

11 glory   

n.光荣，荣誉；壮丽，辉煌；v.自豪，得意，狂喜

参考例句：

• I was fascinated by the glory of the sunset.落日的壮观把我吸引住了。
• Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom.智者不可夸耀自己智慧。

12 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。

13 known   

adj.大家知道的；知名的，已知的

参考例句：

• He is a known artist.他是一个知名的艺术家。
• He is known both as a painter and as a statesman.他是知名的画家及政治家。

14 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

15 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

16 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。