英语听力—环球英语 1124 A New Life for Gangs

 　　Voice 1

 

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹. I'm Liz Waid.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　And I'm Joshua Leo. 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

 

　　Father Gregory Boyle lives in one of the most dangerous places in the United States. He lives in an area of Los Angeles called Boyle Heights. And Boyle Heights has one of the highest gang² violence rates in Los Angeles. Most people stay away from Boyle Heights. They are afraid. However, the danger has not scared Father Greg away. In fact, for over 20 years he has chosen to live and work in Boyle Heights. So why does Father Greg stay?

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Today's Spotlight is on Father Greg and his work with gang members is Los Angeles. Father Greg is a Jesuit Christian⁴ priest⁵. And as part of his work, he has started an organization called "HomeBoy Industries."

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　A gang is a group of people who have something in common. Criminal gangs⁶ are often known for gun violence and illegal drugs. Many criminal gang members have little hope for a future life outside of the gang. Often, they do not know how to live a normal life.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　In 1988, Father Greg decided⁷ to do something about this problem. He started a program called "Jobs for the Future". This program began slowly providing jobs to gang members.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　But in 1992, Father Greg saw that there was a need for faster change. In this year, Los Angeles experienced⁸ a great amount of conflict. Many things caused this terrible violence – police violence, race conflict, a lack of jobs and a culture of gang violence. In many parts of the city there was rioting⁹ and violence. 53 people were killed and many buildings were destroyed.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　These events caused Father Greg to react. And he started the Homeboy Bakery. Homeboy is a word that gang members use. It means something like "friend" or "brother." The Homeboy Bakery sells pies, cakes and bread. And the people who make these foods are former gang members. The bakery provides them with job experience and skills.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Former gang members who work at the Homeboy Bakery often work with members of other enemy gangs. This is very difficult at first. It is hard for gang members to work with people they used to fight. But when gang members work together they learn to value each other. They also learn how to make peace and how to deal with their problems.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　In 1999, the Homeboy Bakery burned down. It was a difficult time for the bakery. It had been a place of hope for many people. Father Greg wrote about this time:

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　"The next day we were able to inform all the bakers¹⁰ about what happened. But we could not find one of them, a young man named Lencho. So when it was time for him to begin working, Lencho steps off the bus wearing his perfect white baker's clothes. His step is light as he walks into the car lot. But once he enters, he sees that the building has burned down. No one needs to explain. He stands there frozen¹¹, puts his head in his hands and begins to cry.

 

　　The bakery was Lencho's reason to get up in the morning. Just as important, it was his reason not to go out with his gang the night before. His relationship with his co-workers, his former enemies, was deeper than anything he had ever known in his family. It was stronger than the friendship he knew in his gang. All we could do was surround him with love and the promise of rebuilding."

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　In 2001, Homeboy Bakery became Homeboy Industries. And today, Homeboy Industries includes many other programs. There is a school and day care program for young area children. There are also many programs to find good jobs for young people. All the gang members go through a job training program. This program gives them the skills that they need to be able to work. Some of the gang members work in the building industry, some in the Homeboy businesses.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　One favourite saying of Homeboy Industries is "Jobs not Jails¹²." A good job provides a way of making money that does not harm other people. It also gives people a sense of value. If a person is working, he feels that he is worth something. It is more difficult for other people to take advantage of him. He can provide for himself and even for his family. But a job is not the most important thing that gang members receive from Homeboy Industries. The most important thing is love.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　In 2010, Father Greg wrote a book called "Tattoos¹³ on the Heart." In it, he writes about his experiences working with gang members. Many gang members mark their skin with permanent pictures or words. These tattoos often show which gang a person belongs to. These are tattoos on the body. However, Father Greg writes about "Tattoos on the Heart." His book is mainly about love. He writes about the love of Jesus Christ³. Father Greg believes that God loves every person. He writes that there is no shame or guilt¹⁴ that is too big for God. And Father Greg writes that God accepts each person just as he or she already is. This is the idea behind all of Father Greg's work.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　This kind of love is unconditional¹⁵. And for many gang members, this kind of love seems too good to be true. Gangs give their members only conditional¹⁶ love. A gang member must always earn their love by performing duties. If a member does not do what they are told, they are punished, removed from the gang or even killed. At Homeboy Industries, Father Greg wants to change the way gang member understand love. He wants to share a love that is unconditional – a love that requires nothing. It is this kind of love that gives people hope and a sense of value.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Now, Father Greg spends some of his time travelling. He meets with people and tells the stories of his Homeboys. He wants to make people aware of what is happening in his community. But he also wants to share his message of unconditional love. He believes that every person needs to hear this message - the message that God accepts and loves them just as they are.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The writer of today's program was Rena Dam. The producer was Liz Waid. The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom and the United States. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. Computer users¹⁷ can visit our website at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called "A New Life for Gangs."

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　You can also visit our website to talk to other English learners on our discussion¹⁸ boards. If you have a comment or question about this program you can leave a comment on the script¹⁹ page. Or you can email us. Our email address is radio @ radioenglish . net. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter. Just search for spotlightradio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!

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 gang   

n.一伙，一帮；结伴的朋友

参考例句：

• The gang live abroad,beyond reach of the British police.这帮匪徒住在国外，英国警方鞭长莫及。
• Some gang came in and shot the place up.有股匪帮进来对这个地方开枪扫射。

3 Christ   

n.基督，救世主，耶稣

参考例句：

• I regarded him as the Christ.我把他当作救世主。
• Christ preached that we should love each other.基督在布道中说人们应该互爱。

4 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。

5 priest   

n.神父，牧师，司铎，司祭，领导者，神甫；vt.使成为神职人员

参考例句：

• He confessed to a priest that he had sinned.他向神父忏悔他犯了罪。
• The priest visited all the old people in the parish.牧师探望了教区里的所有老人。

6 gangs   

n.（罪犯有组织的）一帮( gang的名词复数 )；一伙；（闹事青少年的）一群；（工人有组织的）一队

参考例句：

• Gangs of youths went on the rampage in the city yesterday. 成群结伙的年轻人昨天在城里横冲直撞。
• a vicious turf war between rival gangs of drug dealers 对立贩毒团伙之间的猛烈火并

7 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。

8 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

9 rioting   

暴乱，骚乱

参考例句：

• There were ugly scenes in the streets last night as rioting continued. 昨晚暴乱持续之际，街上险象环生。
• They are rioting in the streets. 他们在街上闹事。

10 bakers   

n.面包师( baker的名词复数 )；面包店；面包店店主；十三

参考例句：

• The Bakers have invited us out for a meal tonight. 贝克一家今晚请我们到外面去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The bakers specialize in catering for large parties. 那些面包师专门负责为大型宴会提供食品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 frozen   

adj.冻结的，冰冻的

参考例句：

• He was frozen to death on a snowing night.在一个风雪的晚上，他被冻死了。
• The weather is cold and the ground is frozen.天寒地冻。

12 jails   

监狱( jail的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Accounts of cruel tortures in the jails of the reactionary government would curl one's hair. 关于反动政府监狱里酷刑情况的介绍听了会叫人毛骨悚然。
• The jails were full of prominent citizens and there they stayed without hope of early trial. 监狱里关满了有声望的市民，他们待在那里没有获得早日审判的希望。

13 tattoos   

n.文身( tattoo的名词复数 )；归营鼓；军队夜间表演操；连续有节奏的敲击声v.刺青，文身( tattoo的第三人称单数 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击

参考例句：

• His arms were covered in tattoos. 他的胳膊上刺满了花纹。
• His arms were covered in tattoos. 他的双臂刺满了纹身。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 guilt   

n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责

参考例句：

• She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
• Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

15 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

16 conditional   

adj.条件的，带有条件的

参考例句：

• My agreement is conditional on your help.你肯帮助我才同意。
• There are two forms of most-favored-nation treatment:conditional and unconditional.最惠国待遇有两种形式:有条件的和无条件的。

17 users   

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。

18 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

19 script   

n.剧本，广播稿；文字体系；笔迹，手迹

参考例句：

• It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
• The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。