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英语听力—环球英语 1290 Trapped in the Middle

时间:2012-11-12 05:14来源:互联网 提供网友:jpstudy   字体: [ ]
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   Voice 1

 
  Welcome to Spotlight1. I'm Marina Santee.
 
  Voice 2
 
  And I'm Ryan Geertsma. 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
 
  Imagine working all day under the hot, burning sun. You do not know if you will have work again tomorrow. You are working just to survive. New equipment would help your work go more quickly. It would also help your business make more profits. But you cannot get enough money to purchase new equipment. So instead you just keep working. You want your situation to improve but you do not know how to make it better.
 
  Voice 2
 
  Many medium-sized business owners live like this. And they have become used to it. There are many organizations that offer small loans3 to very poor people trying to start businesses. This is called "microfinance." There are also banks that offer financial aid to larger businesses. However, many other businesses get lost in the middle. They are only medium sized. They are either too big or too small for a loan2. So they cannot compete with other businesses.
 
  Voice 1
 
  Today's Spotlight is on Root Capital, an organization that helps businesses by lending money. They especially lend to businesses that are trapped4 in the middle: too big for microfinance and too small for a bank loan.
 
  Voice 2
 
  Shiwahiade Munuo is a coffee farmer in Tanzania. Shiwahiade did not make enough money as a coffee farmer to support her family. Finally, she almost left her farm. But instead, Shiwahiade joined another group of farmers. They tried to work together to increase their profits. But they still did not make enough money to survive.
 
  Voice 1
 
  Shiwahiade's group of farmers was using an old method to process the coffee beans. Their old method was slow. A lot of the coffee was not good enough to sell. It also wasted a lot of water. No matter how hard they worked, they could not process enough good coffee.
 
  Voice 2
 
  So the group decided5 to buy new coffee processing machines. However, the machines cost a lot of money. Their group business was too small for a bank loan. The banks were worried they would not get their money back. So they thought about asking the government for a loan. But the government would not lend them money because they were too big!
 
  Voice 1
 
  In 2006, Root Capital got involved. They lent Shiwahade's group of farmers enough money to purchase 22 new machines for processing coffee. Now, they make two times as much money for each bag of coffee. This helps every family in the group to live a better life.
 
  Voice 2
 
  This was true for Shiwahade's family. She saw many positive effects, especially for her children. She told Root Capital:
 
  Voice 3
 
  "Our children no longer have to help us with work, so they have time to sit down and study for school."
 
  Voice 1
 
  Root Capital does this all over the world. They tell international companies about the local medium sized businesses. Big companies order goods from the local businesses. Then Root Capital gives the local businesses a loan so they can fill the order.
 
  Voice 2
 
  The local workers use the loan to make their product. They send their product to the big company and the company pays Root Capital for the products they received. Over time this is how the local business's debt6 is paid off. Once the debt is paid off the local workers can use their supplies again and again to make more profits.
 
  Voice 1
 
  Because of Root Capital, medium-sized businesses sell their goods in stores all over the world. Some individuals donate7 money directly8 to Root Capital to support their cause. But most of the money for loans comes from the large companies that promise to buy goods from the local businesses. Root Capital works9 in many countries around the world. In India they work with a company called People Tree. People Tree is a company based in the United10 Kingdom. It makes clothes using cotton. Cotton is one of the world's most important goods. It provides a lot of profit for many developing11 countries.
 
  Voice 2
 
  However, cotton is not simple to grow. Most farmers who grow cotton use pesticides12. These chemicals kill insects that can hurt crops. But pesticides cost a lot of money. Over time, the insects also become resistant13 to pesticides - that is, it takes more and different chemicals to kill them. The farmers spend more and more money for pesticides. They have less and less money for their businesses and families. Many farmers go into debt because of buying all these chemicals.
 
  Voice 1
 
  People Tree works with two companies in India: Agrocel and Assisi Garments14. Agrocel farmers grow cotton without using pesticides. Without pesticides, farmers can save the money they would usually spend on chemicals. This is better for the workers, the environment and the business. Assisi Garments uses this cotton to make beautiful clothes. Through People Tree, Agrocel and Assisi Garments have a big buyer. And People Tree has beautiful, natural cotton clothes to sell. The loans from Root Capital make all of this possible.
 
  Voice 2
 
  Loans from Root Capital make it easier for medium sized businesses to buy the supplies they need to be competitive15. Now local businesses like Agrocel also have enough money to use farming16 methods that are healthy for the environment. Because of Root Capital many medium sized business like Assisi Garments are no longer trapped in the middle between being too big or too small for a loan.
 
  Voice 1
 
  But there are still a lot of families who fight to survive every day. Many farmers are in debt because they depend on chemicals like pesticides. Many businesses struggle because they cannot buy new equipment. Some children still work all day instead of studying. There are still many medium sized, local businesses who need help.
 
  Voice 2
 
  Rolando Lazo was one of these people. He is a coffee farmer in Nicaragua. Before getting a loan from Root Capital, Rolando did not even have a house for his family. He would work on other farms and sell coffee when he could. He never knew if he was selling it at the right price. Rolando said,
 
  Voice 4
 
  "There was no hope. You just work to survive."
 
  Voice 1
 
  Like Shiwahade, Rolando joined a group of coffee farmers. Root Capital gave a loan to this group to help all their farmers buy land. Now Rolando has a home for his family. He has land to grow coffee. He said,
 
  Voice 4
 
  "I feel excited and at peace. It is like being born again."
 
  Voice 2
 
  The writer of this program was Corrie Haluga. The producer was Mark Drenth. All quotes17 have been adapted and voiced by Spotlight. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. Computer users18 can hear our programs, read our scripts19, and see our word list on our website at http://www.radio.english.net This .program is called "Trapped in the Middle." We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 spotlight 6hBzmk     
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 loan w0RxB     
n.贷款;借出的东西;借;vt.借出;贷予
参考例句:
  • I asked the bank to help me with a loan.我请银行给我一笔贷款。
  • Has the bank okayed your request for a loan?银行批准你的贷款要求了吗?
3 loans f806527a4b4ecb554edad98174334a70     
n.借出物,借款( loan的名词复数 )v.借出,贷与(尤指钱)( loan的第三人称单数 );出借(贵重物品给博物馆等)
参考例句:
  • They are offering loans at extortionate rates of interest. 他们在放高利贷。
  • Government loans have been the salvation of several shaky business companies. 政府的贷款救活了几家濒临倒闭的公司。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
4 trapped trapped     
adj. 捕获的,被困的,截留的 动词trap的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句:
  • Two passengers are still trapped in the wreck. 有两名乘客仍被困在失事的车辆里。
  • The thief was trapped by the police in an old house. 小偷被警察困在一所旧房子里。
5 decided lvqzZd     
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 debt yO7zW     
n.债务,义务,负债状态,罪,过失
参考例句:
  • The man was pressed to pay off his debt.那人被逼还债。
  • The firm had to charge off the debt as hopeless.公司只得把那笔没希望要回的债务注销。
7 donate 7slxH     
v.捐赠,赠予
参考例句:
  • They used to donate to the Red Cross every year.他们每年捐钱给红十字会。
  • She is willing to donate money to a worthy cause.她愿为高尚的事业捐款。
8 directly DPIzn     
adv.直接地,径直地;马上,立即
参考例句:
  • I will telephone you directly I hear the news.我一听到消息,马上打电话给你。
  • She answered me very directly and openly.她非常坦率地、开门见山地答复了我。
9 works ieuzIh     
n.作品,著作;工厂,活动部件,机件
参考例句:
  • We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
  • The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
10 united Yfmz2c     
adj.和谐的;团结的;联合的,统一的
参考例句:
  • The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
  • The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。
11 developing futzl4     
adj.发展中的
参考例句:
  • Transport has always been the key to developing trade.运输一直是发展贸易的关键。
  • They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
12 pesticides abb0488ed6905584ea91347395a890e8     
n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 );除害药物
参考例句:
  • vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
  • There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 resistant 7Wvxh     
adj.(to)抵抗的,有抵抗力的
参考例句:
  • Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
  • They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。
14 garments 11c5915edf3f33bd897b8ea21bff69a5     
服装,衣着; (一件)衣服( garment的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • They priced the garments before putting them on display. 他们先给服装标好价格再摆出来卖。
  • This shop sells garments of all kinds. 这个商店出售各种衣服。
15 competitive yOkz5     
adj.竞争的,比赛的,好竞争的,有竞争力的
参考例句:
  • Some kinds of business are competitive.有些商业是要竞争的。
  • These businessmen are both competitive and honourable.这些商人既有竞争性又很诚实。
16 farming ituzIo     
n.农事;耕作
参考例句:
  • He lives by farming.他靠务农过活。
  • He is farming in Africa.他在非洲经营农场。
17 quotes 2150fd65034a9bcdb357943b3900a918     
v.引用,援引( quote的第三人称单数 );报价;引述;为(股票、黄金或外汇)报价
参考例句:
  • He quotes a few verses from Tennyson in his paper. 他在论文中引用了英国诗人丁尼生的几行诗句。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He quotes (from) the Bible to support his beliefs. 他引用圣经来支持自己的信念。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
18 users 9bc65c2abec141778ffaa729489f3e87     
用户,使用者( user的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
  • Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。
19 scripts d6c5855a62cf32a4dadbc2831f0f295f     
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。
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