环球英语 — 147：Young Runners

　　Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for Spotlight¹. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Running races is very popular around the world. But being an excellent runner takes skill. Budhia Singh is an excellent runner from India. He trains every day. Budhia runs many kilometres every morning. He holds running records in India. He has inspired many people to start running. But his story has also caused many disagreements². You see, Budhia is only four years old.
Today’s spotlight is on four-year-old long distance runner Budhia Singh.
Voice 2
Budhia’s story begins near the city of Bhubaneswar. Budhia’s family was very poor. His father did not have a job. And he was an alcoholic³. He died when Budhia was two years old. Budhia’s mother could not support her four children without her husband. So she made a hard decision. She sold Budhia to a man for eight hundred [800] rupees or about eighteen [18] dollars. Soon, Budhia was living on the streets
Voice 1
A few months later, a man named Biranchi Das saw Budhia. Budhia had a badly injured⁴ leg. So Biranchi decided⁵ to care for Budhia
Voice 2
Biranchi is a judo⁶ teacher. Judo is a form of skilled⁷ fighting. Biranchi let Budhia live in his judo school. He fed and clothed⁸ Bhudia. He even taught Budhia judo. Soon, Budhias leg began to heal⁹. Budhia became more healthy.
Voice 1
One day, Biranchi heard Budhia using bad language. Biranchi decided to punish Budhia. He told Budhia to start running. Soon, Biranchi became busy. He forgot about Budhia and his running punishment. Biranchi left the Judo School for five hours. When he returned, he saw Budhia. Budhia was still running. Budhia had been running the whole time Biranchi was gone.
Voice 2
Biranchi was very surprised that such a young boy could run for such a long time. Biranchi knew quickly that Budhia had a skill for running. He decided to start training the little boy.
Voice 1
Biranchi did not have experience with long-distance running. But that did not stop him from training Budhia. Biranchi gave Budhia a special diet. And every day, Biranchi made Budhia run longer distances
Voice 2
Budhia trains very hard. He wakes up at five o-clock in the morning and starts running. He does not stop running until noon. Biranchi does not let Budhia drink water while he is running. Biranchi believes that drinking water while running makes Budhia weak. But, he makes sure Budhia drinks before and after running.
Voice 1
After many months of training, Budhia was ready to test his running skills. Biranchi entered Budhia into a half marathon¹⁰ race in the city of Delhi. A marathon is a long distance race of forty-two [42] kilometres. Only the best trained runners can run marathons and half marathons.
Voice 2
On the train ride to Delhi, Budhia ran from one end of the train to the other end to prepare for the race. When he arrived at the race, he was very excited to run. But race officials said that Budhia was not allowed to run in the half marathon. Many people at the half marathon had heard of Budhia. They were sad that Budhia could not run in the race. So race officials allowed Budhia to run a shorter race.
Voice 1
Budhia finished the race and was still full of energy. So Biranchi took him to a party. There he met Tim Hutchins. Tim Hutchins organizes the London Marathon. He was sad to see Budhia. You see, he does not think Budhia should run so much. Mr. Hutchins says that children’s bodies are not made for hard training until they are fifteen or sixteen years old. He says that Budhia’s bones are not ready for that kind of pressure. He says that no doctor or running expert would let Budhia run.
Voice 2
Mr Hutchins is not the only person who is worried about Budhia’s health. Pramila Mallick is the child welfare¹¹ minister for the Indian state where Budhia lives. She does not think Biranchi cares for the health of Budhia. She says that running long distances will damage Budhia’s body. She worries that Biranchi is using Budhia to become rich and famous. Biranchi does not agree with the people who criticize¹² him. He believes Budhia has a special skill. Biranchi says Budhia will be a great Olympic runner someday.
Voice 1
A few months after the Delhi half marathon, Budhia ran a very special race. This race put him in the record books. Budhia became the youngest endurance¹³ runner in the world. But this prize came at a cost.
Voice 2
Budhia was to race seventy [70] kilometres. Budhia ran for seven [7] hours and two [2] minutes in very hot weather. But he began to feel uncomfortable. He started to look sick. Five [5] kilometres before the finish line, Budhia fell down. His little body could not go on. Budhia had to stop running to rest his body.
Voice 1
But Biranchi did not give much Budhia to recover. Only an hour after Budhia fell down, Biranchi brought him out for celebrations¹⁴. Budhia received an award for running so far. He then went to every television station in the city.
Voice 2
Budhia was happy to make a world record. But other people were not happy. Three [3] days after the race, police arrested Biranchi. They charged him of harming Bhudia. Many doctors performed tests on Budhia. They discovered that he had high blood pressure. He did not have enough vitamins¹⁵ or minerals in his body. Doctors also said that running had damaged his bones. The damage was preventing him from growing normally¹⁶.
Voice 1
The child welfare minister banned Budhia from running any more long races in the state where he lives. She threatened to take Budhia away from Biranchi. But Biranchi says that no one can stop Budhia from running. He loves running and will continue no matter what anyone says.
Voice 2
Budhia has inspired children all through India to start running. Ten [10] year old Anastasia Barla ran seventy two [72] kilometres. Dillip Rana ran ninety [90] kilometres during training. He now wants to compete in an official race of one hundred [100] kilometres!
Voice 1
Indian government officials have put limits on children running long races. But more and more children in India are interested in it. There are healthy ways for children to run. But people are still trying to find a balance between working children too hard and encouraging them.
 

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 disagreements   

n.分歧，意见不合( disagreement的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Despite our disagreements, we have been able to find some common ground. 尽管我们存在分歧，但仍能找到一些共同点。
• These disagreements are symptomatic of the tensions within the party. 出现意见分歧表明该党内部的关系紧张。

3 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。

4 injured   

adj.受伤的

参考例句：

• Our best defender is injured and won't be able to play today.我们最佳的防守员受伤了，今天不能参加比赛。
• The injured men have been dug out of the snow.受伤人员从雪中被挖了出来。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 judo   

n.柔道

参考例句：

• The judo is a kind of fighting sport.柔道是一种对抗性体育活动。
• Which is more important in judo, strength or techniques?柔道运动中，力量和技术哪个更重要？

7 skilled   

adj.(in)熟练的，有技能的；需要技能的

参考例句：

• Unskilled workers usually earn less money than skilled workers.无技能的工人通常比有技能的工人挣钱少。
• She was skilled enough in French to translate a novel.她法语娴熟，足以翻译小说。

8 clothed   

v.clothe的过去式和过去分词；穿…；授以adj.穿…衣服的；覆盖著…的

参考例句：

• a man clothed in black 黑衣男子
• Her partially clothed body was found in woods nearby. 在附近的小树林里发现了她半裸的尸体。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 heal   

v.使愈合，治愈，使康复；平息(争吵等)；消除，解决(分支等)

参考例句：

• Time helped heal the old wounds.时间有助于治愈旧创伤。
• This wound will soon heal if yon keep it clean.如果你保持伤口清洁，它很快就会痊愈。

10 marathon   

n.长距离赛跑；需要耐力的比赛；(M-)马拉松

参考例句：

• I'm hoping to be in the marathon next year.我希望明年能参加马拉松赛。
• The meeting was a bit of a marathon.这次会议有点马拉松赛的味道。

11 welfare   

n.幸福，福利，安康

参考例句：

• They are concerned about my welfare.他们关心我的健康。
• Patrick works for social welfare.帕特里克为社会福利工作。

12 criticize   

vt.批评；批判，指责；评论，评价

参考例句：

• Whenever you criticize him,he always has an excuse.你批评他，他总有说头儿。
• You are free to criticize my work.你可以随意批评我的工作。

13 endurance   

n.耐久力，忍耐力，耐久的时期，持续的时间

参考例句：

• She reached the end of endurance.她到了忍受的极限。
• The exercise obviously will improve strength and endurance.这种锻炼会明显改善体力增加耐力。

14 celebrations   

n.庆祝( celebration的名词复数 )；庆祝会（仪式）

参考例句：

• The mayor was there to dignify the celebrations. 市长的光临为庆祝活动增辉。
• Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations 维多利亚女王登基50周年庆典

15 vitamins   

n.维生素（ vitamin的名词复数 ）

参考例句：

• essential proteins and vitamins 必不可少的蛋白质和维生素
• the vitamins that are vital for health 保持健康必不可少的维生素

16 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。