环球英语 10 Listener Mail 68

　　Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight¹. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m David Bast. 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
You write, and we answer! It’s time for Spotlight’s listener mail program!
Voice 2
In today’s program we will read letters from Augusto in Ecuador, Victor in Brazil, Jozef from Slovakia, and Brother Sylvester in Kenya. Let’s get started!
Voice 1
Our first letter today is from Augusto. He writes to Spotlight from Quito, Ecuador. Augusto recently listened to the program ‘Social Internet.’ In that program we told about the different ways people use the internet. Some people use the internet to make new relationships. Augusto writes:
Voice 3
“...I’m not [a] Christian². But I like very much the [advice] you give about the Bible³ [in] each program. For example, [I like the advice] in this [program called] ‘Social Internet’ ... I think relationships by internet can be strong when there is confidence, truth, and when people want to be a friend - not only to take something... [But the words you quote from the Bible are encouraging] - “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you down the wrong path.”
Voice 2
Thanks for writing Augusto! We are really happy that the words from the Bible can help you. The Bible has good help and guidance for all people. These words are important in any new relationship - friends can lead us in good and in bad ways.
Voice 1
Augusto’s thoughts about internet relationships are also very interesting. It is true that confidence, truth, and honesty are important in any relationship. Relationships based on lies are never good. Augusto also writes:
Voice 3
“I would like to have friends [from] Canada, USA, or [Greece], but I feel a little fear because they are very prepared or they have more education than me. “
Voice 2
Meeting people on the internet can be a very exciting thing! But meeting new people can also be a little frightening. Being prepared and having a good education do not make a person better or more important. But as we said, showing honesty, confidence, and love are often far more important!
Voice 1
e-mail and message boards can help people connect across many barriers. In fact, in the future, you may be able to connect to different people through the Spotlight website! People who visit our website could meet people from many different countries! We hope you can find good friends on the internet. We hope you can help lead them down a good path. And we hope they can lead you down good paths too! Thank you again for writing Augusto!
Voice 2
Our next piece of mail comes from Victor in Brazil. Victor recently heard our program called ‘Thin Models.’ This program looked at clothes models. Many models try to copy a particular style - they try to be extremely thin. Often, they do this by starving themselves. They believe this will help them to find more modeling work. But this is very dangerous. It causes many health problems. And some women die. One of the stories in the program ‘Thin Models’ was about a model in Brazil. But one of our facts was wrong. Victor caught our mistake. He writes:
Voice 3
“Hi, I’m from Brazil and I love to listen to [Spotlight] ... But [I would] like to say that there is an error in the [program] ‘Thin Models.’ You say that the capital of Brazil is Rio de Janeiro. But [Rio de Janeiro] was the capital from 1763 to 1960. [Then] the capital was changed to Bras?lia.”
Voice 1
Victor, you are right! Thank you very much for informing us of this mistake. We apologize for it! Our writers and editors read every program to make sure there are no mistakes. But, unfortunately, sometimes they do miss an important fact. It is important to Spotlight that our programs are correct. So, we have corrected our website. Thank you for writing to us!
Voice 2
Victor’s e-mail got us wondering about these two cities. So, we did a little research about them. Rio de Janeiro is the most famous city in Brazil. But Brasilia is also very interesting. Usually cities develop over many years. People will build one part, and then another part.
Voice 1
But Brasilia is different. Lucio Costa planned the city. And Oscar Niemeyer designed the buildings. Everything in Brasilia was built together - at one time. And everything works⁴ together - from the buildings to the how the city is set out. Some people say that the shape of the city looks like a bird flying. And in 1987 UNESCO declared Brasilia a World Heritage⁵ Site. Brasilia is the only city in the world built in the twentieth [20th] century to be declared a World Heritage Site.
Voice 2
We hope you enjoyed learning⁶ a little more about these cities as much as we did!
Voice 1
Jozef writes our next letter. He is from Slovakia. Jozef writes:
Voice 3
“I have been visiting [your website] and listening to ... Spotlight [for about] five months. They are very good. I wanted to [do] better in English. I hope this is the right way to improve my skills. I have a problem with writing [and] speaking. [But I am good at understanding.] I gave your [website] address to one girl. And after some weeks she told me she [listens] to you very often!”
Voice 2
Jozef, we are so pleased to hear that! As you know, Spotlight does not teach English. But many people do find that Spotlight is helpful for learning English. If you would like more resources for learning English you can visit our website. Go to www . Radio . English . net. Then, click on the ‘links’ page. There you will find links to more websites that may be helpful to you!
Voice 1
And thank you for sharing our website with your friend! It can be fun to discuss programs with other people. It can also be great speaking, listening, and understanding practice!
Voice 2
Our last letter today comes from Brother Sylvester in Kenya. He writes:
Voice 3
“Dear Brothers and Sisters, praise the Lord⁷! ... Your radio ... program is a blessing⁸ to everyone here in our church and we pray our heavenly Father God to strengthen you up and enable⁹ you to continue [making programs].”
Voice 1
We are happy that you enjoy our programs. Thank you for the encouragement. And thank you so much for your prayers. At Spotlight, we believe that prayer is very powerful. We will also pray for you and your whole church!
Voice 2
Well, those are all the letters we have time for today. Thank you for listening to Spotlight. And thank you to Augusto, Victor, Jozef, and Brother Sylvester for writing to us.
 

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 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 bible   

n.《圣经》；得到权威支持的典籍

参考例句：

• According to the Bible we are all the seed of Adam.根据《圣经》所说的，我们都是亚当的后裔。
• This dictionary should be your Bible when studying English.学习英语时，这本字典应是你的主要参考书。

4 works   

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。

5 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

6 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。

7 lord   

n.上帝，主；主人，长官；君主，贵族

参考例句：

• I know the Lord will look after him.我知道上帝会眷顾他的。
• How good of the Lord not to level it beyond repair!上帝多么仁慈啊，竟没有让这所房子损毁得不可收拾！

8 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。

9 enable   

vt.使能够；使可以；使成为可能

参考例句：

• Only teamwork will enable us to get the job done on time.只有团结一致，我们才能按时完成这项工作。
• This will enable China to go a step further in grain production.这是中国粮食生产再上新台阶的巨大动力。