英语听力—环球英语 1324 Red AIDS Ribbon

 　　Voice 1

 

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹. I’m Christy VanArragon.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　And I’m Adam Navis. 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 red circle. A thin red cloth ribbon, turned around a finger, and worn on a shirt. It is a powerful worldwide symbol of the fight against HIV/AIDS.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　In 1991, a small group of artists created the red AIDS ribbon. They lived in New York City, in the United States. But from New York, the ribbon spread around the world. It is now the most common symbol of the fight against HIV/AIDS. Today’s Spotlight is on the AIDS ribbon.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The ribbon was a project of the arts organization Visual AIDS. Visual AIDS wanted people to understand HIV/AIDS - to know that it was a problem. Experts in the United States identified the HIV virus in 1981. By 1991, it was clear that HIV/AIDS was an epidemic². It was spreading and growing. More and more people were sick. In the United States, this was particularly true among artists. Patrick O’Connell started Visual AIDS. He described the situation to the BBC.

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　“You would be trying to work. But then, you would have to go to the hospital to visit a dying³ friend. Everyone was dying. From there, you would go to help with a funeral. When you got home, you would have a message from a friend. He would be afraid and saying, ‘I am sick. What am I going to do?’”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　However, in the early 1990s, particular communities were more affected⁴ by HIV/AIDS in the United States. Many people there did not understand this virus and disease⁵. They thought it only affected certain people - particularly gay⁶ people, or people in Africa.

 

　　This is not true! HIV/AIDS affects all kinds of people. HIV infection does not happen just through casual⁷ touch – like holding hands or sitting near to someone. Most HIV infections happen through unprotected sex. If you have sex with a person who has HIV, you can get sick. Using a condom reduces that risk. These rubber protective⁸ devices⁹ are very important. But the best way to prevent AIDS is to have sex with only one person.

 

　　Knowing the truth about HIV/AIDS is very important. If someone knows the truth she can learn to protect herself from HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, wrong ideas about AIDS are common. When people have wrong ideas about AIDS, then they may not be careful. They may have sex with more people. They may not use condoms. If a person does get sick, he may not get treatment. This makes new AIDS infections more likely. This is why talking about HIV/AIDS is so important.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　But many people do not want to talk about HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is frightening. There is no cure for it. This fear can make people act badly towards people with HIV/AIDS. Many people hope that if they stay away from HIV/AIDS victims, they will be safe. They also blame people for getting the terrible disease. So, people who have HIV/AIDS often hide their sickness. They often do not want anyone to know.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Visual AIDS wanted to fight the problems of shame and bad treatment. Allen Frame¹⁰ was one of the artists. He told the BBC

 

　　Voice 4

 

　　“Even in New York, we knew that many people could not talk about it. Or they did not know about it. Or they had AIDS, but they felt shame to talk about it. We wanted to make people feel more supported and understood.”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　So in 1991, Visual AIDS began its first project. Twelve artists worked together to create the AIDS ribbon. These artists made different kinds of art – they included painters, photographers, film makers¹¹ and clothes designers. Their goal was to make a symbol of support for people with HIV/AIDS.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The artists met in an old school. For just one hour, the artists shared ideas and designs. They quickly decided¹² on a small, simple ribbon. Ribbons are long, thin pieces of cloth. Ribbons are easy to find. They are beautiful. And the artists decided to use the ribbon in a simple way. They brought the ribbon around a finger. This made a small circle, or loop¹³. The loop had two short ends. It had a small, sharp pin so that it could attach to a person’s shirt. The artists also chose the colour red. Frank¹⁴ Moore was another one of the artists. He told the New York Times newspaper,

 

　　Voice 5

 

　　“We chose red for symbolic¹⁵ reasons. The connection to blood, and the idea of strong feelings. These feelings are not just anger, but love.”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Visual AIDS gave ribbons to artists. Around New York, more and more people began wearing them. But Visual AIDS also had a bigger project. They gathered large groups of people. The people worked together to make ribbons. It was like a party! Then, Visual AIDS sent the ribbons to awards shows. Famous actors chose to wear the ribbons at the shows. When reporters asked about the ribbons, these famous people talked about HIV/AIDS. And suddenly, many normal people started to think and talk about HIV/AIDS too.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　The ribbons were not difficult to wear. They were not difficult to understand. They were an easy way to show support for people infected with HIV/AIDS. Patrick O’Connell told the New York Times,

 

　　Voice 3

 

　　“People want to say something about HIV/AIDS. But they do not always want to use anger or have a fight. This lets them. And even if it is only an easy first step, that is great. It will not be their last step.”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　From this start, the AIDS ribbon became an international symbol. People still wear small AIDS ribbons today. And there are still groups that work together to make ribbons. HIV/AIDS is still a big problem in many places. But there are treatments. These drugs help people with HIV/AIDS live longer, healthier lives. However, there is still no cure for the disease. And people with HIV/AIDS still often feel great shame.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　As Patrick O’Connell said, the AIDS ribbon is only the first step. The next step is to encourage and help AIDS victims. Another step is talking about AIDS. And each person can work to prevent it.  One more step is to encourage governments and organizations to prevent the bad treatment of AIDS victims. Providing AIDS drugs is another step. These steps will help lead to the end goal - the end of HIV/AIDS.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Do you see AIDS ribbons where you live? Do you think a symbol can make a difference? Share your ideas on our website, http://www.radioenglish.net

 

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　　Voice 2

 

　　The writer of this program was Christy VanArragon. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from the United States. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called, ‘Red AIDS Ribbon’.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　You can also find us on Facebook. Just search for Spotlight Radio. 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 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

3 dying   

adj.垂死的，临终的

参考例句：

• He was put in charge of the group by the dying leader.他被临终的领导人任命为集团负责人。
• She was shown into a small room,where there was a dying man.她被领进了一间小屋子，那里有一个垂死的人。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

6 gay   

adj.同性恋的；色彩鲜艳的；n.(男)同性恋者

参考例句：

• I don't know he was a gay person.我不知道他是同性恋者。
• Spring comes round to the earth again and everything looks fresh and gay.春回大地，万象更新。

7 casual   

adj.漠不关心，冷漠的；随便的，非正式的；偶然的，碰巧的

参考例句：

• He earns a living by casual labour.他靠做临时工为生。
• The guests wore casual clothes.客人们穿着便服。

8 protective   

adj.防护的，保护的

参考例句：

• A mother naturally feels protective towards her children.做母亲的天生要保护自己的孩子。
• We feel safe with a protective device in the house.我们因为家里有了防护装置而感到安全。

9 devices   

n.设备；装置( device的名词复数 )；花招；（为实现某种目的的）计划；手段

参考例句：

• electrical labour-saving devices around the home 节省劳力的各种家用电器
• modern labour-saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers 诸如洗衣机和洗碗机之类的现代化省力设备

10 frame   

n.框架，结构，体格；vt.构成，设计，制定，使适合，陷害； 框架，（是指在数据链路层中，将网络层数据包加上开始与结尾信息包组成一个框架）

参考例句：

• The house has a wooden frame which is faced with brick.这个房子是木质结构的砖瓦房。
• We must frame up that picture.我们必须给那幅画装上框。

11 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 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。

13 loop   

n.圈，环(状物)；回路，循环；v.(使)成环

参考例句：

• Loop the curtains up.把窗帘卷起来。
• He bends a wire into a loop.他将铁线弯成圆圈。

14 frank   

adj.坦白的，直率的，真诚的

参考例句：

• A frank discussion can help to clear the air.坦率的谈论有助于消除隔阂。
• She is frank and outgoing.她很爽朗。

15 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。