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Cutting down, eating up

时间:2009-08-29 08:19来源:互联网 提供网友:Lucy2008   字体: [ ]
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    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Cutting down, eating upJackie: Hello, welcome to 6 minute English! I’m Jackie Dalton, with me isNeil Edgeller – hello!
  Neil: Hello!
  Jackie: Today we’ll be looking at how changes in the economy are affecting what people eat. As we do this, we’ll look at the language of moneyand economies. First, a tricky1 question for you Neil… The word‘economy’ comes from the Ancient Greek word, ‘oikonomia’. What,literally, did the term ‘oikonomia’ mean? Was ita) the practice of making money and wealth move aroundb) management of a householdc) saving2 as much money as possibleNeil: (answers)Jackie: We’ll find out if you’re right at the end of the programme. Now,Britain is currently3 officially in recession4 – now that’s a word we’vebeen hearing every day for many weeks, now…Neil: Yes, a recession is a period of reduced economic activity: often duringa recession many people lose their jobs, businesses find it moredifficult to survive, there’s less trade. Britain is in a recession at themoment and so the economy is suffering.
  Jackie: We hear other related5 terms like ‘economic slowdown’ which isn’tquite as serious as a recession, but it’s a time when the economy isn’tdoing so well - an economic slowdown.
  Neil: Yes, a similar expression is ‘an economic downturn’. Or you could saythere’s ‘a slump’ in the economy.
  Jackie: Of course, a recession may have all kinds of effects on people,including the obvious effects such as people losing their jobs or beingunable to find work, but it’s also having an effect on what we eat. Inwhat way? Are we eating better or worse? Listen to our New Yorkcorrespondent Mathew Price to find out.
  Mathew PriceAs customers cut down on spending there's evidence that they're also changing whatthey buy. Shifting6 from the stuff7 that's good for them ... <crunch> ... And insteadmunching away <crunch> on fast food.
  Neil: Well it would seem we’re not eating so healthily, instead, we’re eatingmore fast food.
  Jackie: Yes, Mathew talked about people cutting down on spending.
  Neil: Yes, ‘cut down’ is a handy8 phrase for talking about things that we startto do less. My friend Pete, is trying to cut down on smoking, becausehe knows it’s bad for him. People are cutting down on spendingbecause they need to save money.
  Jackie: So as people cut down on spending, they’re also changing what theyeat and eating less healthy food. Is that what you’re doing Neil?
  Neil: (answers)Jackie: You’re listening to bbclearningenglish.com. Listen to this next clip,where we’ll hear Mathew go on to talk about how the changes in whatpeople are eating are affecting certain businesses. Which business?
  Mathew PriceHence, the so-called9 recession beating companies. Like McDonald's. As with someother budget food retailers10 they're planning to expand this year. Helped in part by theattraction of their one dollar menu.
  Jackie: So the effect of people cutting down on spending is that certaincompanies, like fast food companies are doing well.
  Neil: Yes, Mathew describes these as ‘recession beating’ companies – firmsthat aren’t actually suffering from the recession.
  Jackie: And in this case, the recession beating firms are fast food chains, thatdo cheap food. Mathew used another word there to mean cheap…Neil: He used the term ‘budget’, which means low cost. A ‘budget airline’,for example, is an airline that offers services at quite a low cost.
  Budget food retailers are firms that sell cheap food.
  Jackie: And the figures suggest that certain budget food retailers are planningto expand – to get bigger.
  Neil: Yes, ‘expand’ is a term we might often hear when we talk about thegrowth of the economy or a business. When the recession is over,hopefully the economy will start to expand again. McDonald’s isplanning to expand this year – it wants to open more stores.
  Jackie: Let’s hear more from Mathew. He’s going to talk about a studyshowing how a lack of money affects obesity11 rates – the numbers of6 Minute English ?
people who are seriously overweight. Does having less moneynowadays tend to make people fatter or thinner?
  Mathew PriceNot so many decades ago a slimmed down wallet meant a slimmer waistline(腰围). To bepoor was to be underfed, and more often than not - skinny. Not so these daysapparently. A study in California has concluded that when poverty rates increase by10%, obesity rates also go up by 6%.
  Jackie: Neil, does poorer mean fatter or thinner?
  Neil: Well strangely – at least in the western world – nowadays less moneymeans fatter. Mathew says a ‘slimmed down wallet’ – in other words, awallet that’s thinner because it doesn’t have much money in it – doesnot mean a slimmer waistline.
  Jackie: Yes, less money actually means fatter. Let’s have a reminder12 of someof today’s key words and expressions.
  a recessionan economic slowdownan economic slumpto cut downbudgetto expandJackie: And finally, the answer to today’s question! Oikonomia means"management of a household". Goodbye for now, join us again soonfor more 6 minute English!
  Neil: Goodbye!(本文由在线英语听力室)

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 tricky 9fCzyd     
adj.狡猾的,奸诈的;(工作等)棘手的,微妙的
参考例句:
  • I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手,你能帮我吗?
  • He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题,只做了个笼统的表述。
2 saving XjYzGK     
n.节省,节约;[pl.]储蓄金,存款
参考例句:
  • Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
  • Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。
3 currently SvMzI2     
adv.通常地,普遍地,当前
参考例句:
  • Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
  • Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。
4 recession GAozC     
n.(工商业的)衷退(期),萧条(期)
参考例句:
  • Manufacturing fell sharply under the impact of the recession.受到经济萧条的影响,制造业急剧衰退。
  • A rise in interest rates plunged Britain deeper into recession.利率的提高导致英国经济更加萧条。
5 related vkGzSv     
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。
6 shifting wiPze5     
n.移位;转移,偏移;狡猾v.改变(shift的现在分词)adj.移动的;多变的;狡诈的
参考例句:
  • It's impossible to prove him wrong because he keeps shifting his ground. 要证明他错是不可能的,因为他不断地改变立场。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • These tree belts effectively protect the farmland against shifting sand. 这些防护林带有效地保护了农田,使之免受流沙侵袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 stuff Itsw1     
n.原料,材料,东西;vt.填满;吃饱
参考例句:
  • We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
  • He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。
8 handy de0zX     
adj.方便的;手边的,近便的;手巧的
参考例句:
  • A few more traveler's checks may come in handy on holiday.多带几张旅行支票,度假时会有用的。
  • She is a handy girl who can turn her hand to anything.她是个心灵手巧的姑娘。
9 so-called jwvwy     
adj.所谓的,号称的
参考例句:
  • These were the so-called mainframe machines.它们被称为主机。
  • Let's see what this so-called button does.让我们来看看为什么这个按钮叫这个名字。
10 retailers 08ff8df43efeef1abfd3410ef6661c95     
零售商,零售店( retailer的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
  • Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。
11 obesity Dv1ya     
n.肥胖,肥大
参考例句:
  • One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
  • Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。
12 reminder WkzzTb     
n.提醒物,纪念品;暗示,提示
参考例句:
  • I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
  • It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知,她才付应该交的房租。
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