新奇事件簿 越南街道安装免费大米ATM机

A Vietnamese entrepreneur has come up with an ingenious idea to help hungry people in Vietnam. Businessman Hoang Tuan Anh designed an ATM that dispenses¹ rice instead of cash. He arranged for the ATMs to be installed on streets in cities across Vietnam. Mr Anh said he was troubled by the number of people going hungry after losing their jobs in the coronavirus. An estimated five million people lost their livelihoods² as a result of the pandemic. The "free-rice ATMs" have become so popular that Anh is arranging for more to be manufactured and installed. He told reporters that other businesses, sponsors and donors³ have offered to help fund his project, allowing him to extend the reach of the ATMs.

Mr Anh explained what was behind his initiative. He told the BBC: "I wanted to invent a 24/7 automatic dispensing⁴ machine providing free rice for people out of work following an ongoing⁵ nationwide lockdown to curb⁶ the spread of the novel coronavirus." Mr Anh estimated that his machines have dispensed⁷ around 3,000 tons of free rice to those in need. People are permitted to "withdraw" 1.5kg of rice twice a day. Many people are appreciative⁸ of Mr Anh's efforts. A mother who recently lost her job told the Reuters news agency: "I read about this rice ATM on the Internet. I came to check it out, and couldn't believe it came out of the ATM. I really hope the sponsors keep doing this."

一名越南企业家想出了一个帮助越南饥民的绝妙主意。商人Hoang Tuan Anh设计了一款分发大米而非现金的自动出纳机。他安排将这些ATM机安装在了越南各城市的街道上。Anh表示，很多人因在新冠期间丢了工作而挨饿，他为此感到困扰。估计有五百万人因疫情而失业。这个“免费大米ATM机”非常受欢迎，因此Anh正在安排制造和安装更多该款机器。他告诉记者，其他企业、赞助商和捐助者已经表示愿意为他的项目提供资金，这使他能够扩大ATM机的使用范围。

Anh解释了该计划背后的动机。他告诉BBC：“为遏制新冠病毒的传播，国家实施全国封锁，我想发明一款全天候自动分发机器，为因此而失业的人提供免费大米。”Anh预计，他的机器已为需要的人分发出了约三千吨免费大米。人们可以“提取”1.5公斤大米，每天二次。很多人对Anh的努力表示赞赏。一位近期失业的母亲告诉路透社：“我在网上看到了这个大米ATM机的消息。我就去看了看，我简直不敢相信大米是从ATM机里出来的。我真的希望赞助商能继续这样做。”

1 dispenses   

v.分配，分与；分配( dispense的第三人称单数 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• The machine dispenses a range of drinks and snacks. 这台机器发售各种饮料和小吃。
• This machine dispenses coffee. 这台机器发售咖啡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

3 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 dispensing   

v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• A dispensing optician supplies glasses, but doesn't test your eyes. 配镜师为你提供眼镜，但不检查眼睛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The firm has been dispensing ointments. 本公司配制药膏。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

6 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

7 dispensed   

v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• Not a single one of these conditions can be dispensed with. 这些条件缺一不可。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• They dispensed new clothes to the children in the orphanage. 他们把新衣服发给孤儿院的小孩们。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 appreciative   

adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的

参考例句：

• She was deeply appreciative of your help.她对你的帮助深表感激。
• We are very appreciative of their support in this respect.我们十分感谢他们在这方面的支持。