英语听力—环球英语 1265 A Man at Peace

 　　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

 

　　A small group of people sit together. They are sharing a meal in a restaurant, a public eating place. The men have not seen each other in several years. When their food arrives, it includes a small serving of rice. Without warning², one of the men shouts in anger. Why would a small serving of rice make someone so angry?

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　One of the men at the table was Louis Zamperini. Louis has been many different things in his life: a star runner, a soldier, a prisoner³. He experienced⁴ many terrible things. These experiences almost destroyed his life. But now, Louis Zamperini shares an unexpected⁵ story. A story of hope and forgiveness. Today’s Spotlight is on the life of Louis Zamperini.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　In 1943, the United⁶ States and Japan were at war. Louis was a soldier in the United States Air Force. But in the month of May, his airplane crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Only three men survived. The men had a small boat, but they did not have food or water. They hoped for rescue. But no-one came for them.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The men floated for forty seven days on the ocean. They drank rain water and they caught a few fish and birds to eat. They faced many dangers. They fought sharks. Enemy airplanes shot⁷ at them. The United States military⁸ told their families they were dead. Finally, one man did die.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　They floated more than 3000 kilometres. Finally, Louis and the other man were found. But the men who found them were Japanese soldiers. Louis and the other man were now prisoners⁹.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Both men were very weak. Each had lost half of their body weight. They could not stand without help. They were given some food and put in a hospital for two days. After that, the Japanese military sent them to a prison camp for captured¹⁰ soldiers.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　For the next two years, Louis stayed in the prison camp. The conditions were terrible. He had very little food to eat - usually just one small serving of rice each day. It was the memory of these meals that made the men angry many years later.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The guards forced him to work hard. And they beat him often. One guard took a special interest in Louis. The prisoners called this man “The Bird.” The Bird hurt many people, and he hurt Louis most of all. Every day for one year, the Bird tortured¹¹ Louis. He beat Louis with a long belt from around his waist¹². He hit Louis with his hands, and with hard wooden sticks.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Why did the Bird choose Louis for these beatings? No one knows for sure. But it may be because of who Louis was. Before World War Two, Louis had been a star sports player. As a runner, he had set records. And he competed in the 1936 Olympic Games. The Bird knew about this success. It may have made him feel important to beat someone who had been great.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The war finally ended in 1945. Like thousands of other soldiers, Louis returned to his family in the United States.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　But things did not go well for Louis at home. He continued to suffer. He had left the prison camp. But he could not forget his experiences. These bad times were always with him. He could not sleep at night. In his dreams, The Bird would visit him and beat him again.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Three years after the war had ended, Louis was not at peace. He felt lost. He was often angry. He dealt with this by drinking alcohol¹³. But it did not help. He got into fights. He only wanted one thing. He wanted to return to Japan. He wanted to find The Bird and murder him.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　During this time, Louis met a woman named Cynthia. They got married. But Louis’ problems continued. Some nights when he was fighting The Bird in his dreams, he would attack his wife instead. Finally, Cynthia decided¹⁴ to divorce¹⁵ Louis.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Then, in 1949, Cynthia went to an event that would change their lives. She went to hear a Christian¹⁷ minister named Billy Graham. He was speaking in large meetings to many people. Graham’s message was simple. He talked about Jesus Christ¹⁶. He said that Jesus Christ offered peace and forgiveness to all people. He said that following Jesus changed people’s lives. As a result of his message, Cynthia decided not to divorce Louis. She had changed. She believed that Louis could change too. The next day, she asked Louis to go and hear Billy Graham’s message.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Louis agreed. But the message made Louis uncomfortable. He left in the middle of the meeting. His bad dreams, drinking and fighting continued. But Cynthia did not stop. She asked him to go hear the message again.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　This second meeting changed Louis’ life. He became a follower¹⁸ of Jesus Christ. That night, for the first time since the war ended, Louis did not dream about The Bird. Through Jesus Christ, peace finally came to Louis. This peace continued for the rest of his life. Louis became a Christian speaker. He shared his story with other people. He even travelled to Japan. Earlier, he wanted to hurt the guards who had hurt him. But now, he had a different message. He forgave his former guards. He had new love for his former enemies.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　In 1998, the Olympic Games were in Japan. At the beginning of every Olympic Games, there is a special ceremony. It involves the Olympic torch¹⁹. The torch holds a fire. It travels around the world, from Greece. People from many countries carry it for short distances, all the way to the Games.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　That year, Louis carried the torch in Japan. He carried it past the place where he had been a prisoner. Crowds of Japanese people cheered for him - people who knew his story, and his experiences. Louis felt great joy and great love. He was a man at peace. He told the news organization CBS,

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　“I think back to 1945, when we left the prison camp. It was such a horrible²⁰ place in our minds. I could not look back. But when I leave here today, I will look back. And I will never forget.”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The writer of today’s program was Jeff Munroe. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom and the United States. All quotes²¹ were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can find our programs on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called “A Man at Peace.”

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　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 warning   

n.警告，告诫，训诫，警戒，警报

参考例句：

• The other side paid no attention to our warning.对方不重视我方的警告。
• He realized that his doctor was warning him off drink.他意识到医生在告诫他戒酒。

3 prisoner   

n.俘虏，囚犯，被监禁的人

参考例句：

• The soldier reported that a prisoner was at large.士兵报告说一名囚犯在逃。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 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。

5 unexpected   

adj.想不到的，意外的

参考例句：

• I always keep some good wine in for unexpected guests.我总保存些好酒，用来招待不速之客。
• His promotion was unexpected.他的升迁出人意料。

6 united   

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。

7 shot   

n.炮弹，射击，射手；v.射击，发出，发芽；vbl.射击，发出，发芽

参考例句：

• He shot a wild duck.他射中一只野鸭。
• All the children shot out their hands for the money.所有的孩子突然伸出手来要钱。

8 military   

n.军队；adj.军事的，军人的，好战的

参考例句：

• The area has been declared a closed military zone.这个地区已宣布为军事禁区。
• The king was just the tool of the military government.国王只是军政府的一个傀儡。

9 prisoners   

n.囚徒( prisoner的名词复数 )；俘虏；被夺去自由的人[动物]等

参考例句：

• The president granted a general amnesty for all political prisoners. 总统大赦了所有的政治犯。
• The prisoners were living in appalling conditions. 囚犯的居住条件极为恶劣。

10 captured   

俘获( capture的过去式和过去分词 )； 夺取； 夺得； 引起（注意、想像、兴趣）

参考例句：

• Allied troops captured over 300 enemy soldiers. 盟军俘虏了300多名敌方士兵。
• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。

11 tortured   

使痛苦( torture的过去式和过去分词 )； 使苦恼； 使焦急

参考例句：

• There were several problems which tortured the elderly man. 有几个问题折磨着那老人。
• They tortured the man to make him confess his crime. 他们拷打那个人，使他招认他的罪行。

12 waist   

n.腰，腰部，腰身，背心

参考例句：

• The coat is a bit tight at the waist.这件上衣腰身瘦了点。
• The sound is from the waist of a violin.声音是从小提琴的中间部分发出的。

13 alcohol   

n.酒精，乙醇；含酒精的饮料

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
• The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。

14 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。

15 divorce   

n.离婚；分离；vi.离婚；vt.离婚；脱离

参考例句：

• Did he divorce his wife or did she divorce him?是他要和妻子离婚，还是妻子要和他离婚？
• None of us like the divorce of word and deed.我们都不喜欢言行不一。

16 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。

17 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。

18 follower   

n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒

参考例句：

• He is a faithful follower of his home football team.他是他家乡足球队的忠实拥护者。
• Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。

19 torch   

n.火炬

参考例句：

• They are looking for volunteers to carry the torch.他们正在寻找火炬传递的志愿者。
• A famous athlete held a torch and ran to the stadium.一个著名的运动员举着火炬跑到运动场。

20 horrible   

adj.可怕的，极可憎的，极可厌的

参考例句：

• This is a horrible monster.这是一个可怕的怪物。
• That is a horrible accident.那是一次可怕的事故。

21 quotes   

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》