VOA标准英语2008年-Political Unrest In India's East Affects Tea, T

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
20 June 2008

Political unrest in India's eastern hills is hitting the famed tea and tourist industries in the region. Anjana Pasricha, reports from New Delhi, India is the world's largest tea producer.

June is usually one of the busiest months across hundreds of tea plantations¹ that lie on the Darjeeling hills in India's West Bengal state.

It is the time of the year when workers are busy plucking fresh leaves off blooming tea bushes.
　

Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM)activist participates in demonstration2, 13 Jun 2008

But a strike called by the ethnic³ "Gorkha" group demanding a separate state has raised fears that exports of the famed Darjeeling tea will be hit this year.

The protest has disrupted transport links, blocked roads, and shut down many businesses.

Rajiv Lochan, secretary of the Siliguri Tea Traders Association, says the strike has
affected⁴ operations in the region's tea estates.

"There is a drop in production, there is a drop in quality which is a very serious concern because this is the best time for production, and we are not able to pluck the
leaves in time from the bush, so the disruption in the plucking season has greatly impaired⁵ the quality," Lochan said.

The industry estimates that it is piling up losses of half a million dollars a day due to the strike, and exports could be down by 25 percent this year.

The region produces about 10 million kilograms of high quality brews⁶ - the fragrant⁷ Darjeeling teas are considered the finest in the world. Much of it is exported to the
Middle East, Pakistan, Russia and Germany.

Tea is not the only industry to be affected by political unrest in the region.

Tourists have also been scared away from the region after protestors blocked a key highway. Thousands who were in the hills when trouble broke out earlier this month left
the region. Others have cancelled bookings.

About half a million tourists visit the region every year in the summer months.

The tea and tourism industries are the mainstay of the local economy in the region.

India accounts for about one-third of the global production of tea. Not all of it is grown on the Darjeeling hills - there are sprawling⁸ tea estates in other hilly regions as well.

The protestors have warned their strike will continue until the federal government opens talks with them.

1 plantations   

n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Soon great plantations, supported by slave labor, made some families very wealthy. 不久之后出现了依靠奴隶劳动的大庄园，使一些家庭成了富豪。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Winterborne's contract was completed, and the plantations were deserted. 维恩特波恩的合同完成后，那片林地变得荒废了。 来自辞典例句

2 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

3 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

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 impaired   

adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Much reading has impaired his vision. 大量读书损害了他的视力。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• His hearing is somewhat impaired. 他的听觉已受到一定程度的损害。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 brews   

n.（尤指某地酿造的）啤酒( brew的名词复数 )；酿造物的种类；（茶）一次的冲泡量；（不同思想、环境、事件的）交融v.调制( brew的第三人称单数 )；酝酿；沏（茶）；煮（咖啡）

参考例句：

• He brews beer at home. 他在家里酿造啤酒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They produce the country's best brews of beer. 他们生产该国的佳酿啤酒。 来自辞典例句

7 fragrant   

adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的

参考例句：

• The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
• The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。

8 sprawling   

adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
• a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇