(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report.
When a grain becomes popular worldwide, there are two main effects: farmers who grow the grain earn more in profits, and people who use it for food pay more.
Quinoa, a grain native to South America has become popular in many areas in recent years. In fact, the United Nations General Assembly approved a declaration making 2013 the International Year of the Quinoa.
Threshing quinoa
Quinoa is a traditional food crop in the Andes Mountains. The plant grows in an area near Lake Titicaca, along the border of Peru and Bolivia. Historical evidence shows that local people were growing quinoa as far back as 5,000 to 7,000 years ago. During this period, they used both the seeds and leaves of this wild plant.
There are many kinds of quinoa. The plant can be grown in different climates and it does not require a lot of water. Both the seeds and leaves can be used as food.
The seed is the most commonly used part. Quinoa can be ground into flour or cooked whole. It is used in cereals, drinks and fresh salads. It can also be mixed with vegetables or beans for a full meal. The leaves and stems can also be used for medicinal purposes. Some people use them to reduce pain, heal wounds, and even keep insects away.
Quinoa is full of amino acids and minerals. Amino acids are organic compounds that form protein. The body needs them to help break down food, and to grow, and repair tissue.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization believes that quinoa can be used to fight hunger, and feed a growing world population. The reason is the high value of protein provided by quinoa.
The crop has also become popular among those seeking healthier ways to eat. The center of the seed contains up to 45 percent protein.
Quinoa is currently grown in more than 70 countries. Peru and Bolivia together produce 92 percent of the crop. The rest comes mainly from the United State, Ecuador, Canada and Argentina.
Starting about 10 years ago, the popularity of quinoa caused its price to rise quickly. Many Bolivian farmers have gained from this increase by earning more. They have been able to buy vehicles and other goods with the increased profits.
However, other Bolivians have had to give up their main food because it costs to much. Instead, they are buying and cooking with other foods that are not as rich in healthy minerals and proteins.
And that's the Agriculture Report from VOA Learning English. You can find more agriculture stories at our website learningenglish.voanews.com. You can also leave comments at our website, or email them to us atlearningenglish@voanews.com. I'm Christopher Cruise.
文本来自51voa，译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载
词汇解释
1.quinoa n. 藜麦；奎奴亚藜（原产于安第斯山脉地区）；印第安麦
Grains, including oats, quinoa and wild rice, lower the risk of heart disease.
谷物，包括燕麦、藜麦、和绿色水稻，能够降低心脏病的风险。
2.flour n. 面粉；粉状物质 vt. 撒粉于；把…磨成粉
He added some flour to thicken the soup.
他加了一些面粉使汤浓些。
3.amino acid n. [生化] 氨基酸
The vacuolar amino acid pool is utilized during initiation of budding.
当出芽开始时，液泡的氨基酸库被利用。
内容解析
1.The body needs them to help break down food, and to grow, and repair tissue.
break down 分解；发生故障；失败；毁掉；制服
Their car broke down.
他们的车抛锚了。
Over time, the protein in the eggshell breaks down into its constituent amino acids.
随着时间的推移,蛋壳中的蛋白质分解成其构成成分氨基酸。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语农业报道。
当一种谷物风靡全世界时，就出现两个效应：一个种这种谷物的农民赚得更多，而用它作为食物的人要支付更多。
最近几年，原产地在南美的藜麦开始在很多地区流行起来。事实上，联合国大会通过宣言，将2013年命名为国际藜麦年。
藜麦是安第斯山脉的传统谷物，这种作物生长在沿秘鲁和玻利维亚边境的的的喀喀湖邻近地区。历史记载表明当地人种植藜麦的历史可追溯到5000到7000年前。在此期间，他们将这种野生作物的种子和叶子都物尽其用。
藜麦有很多种，能在各种气候条件下生长，而不需要大量的水。种子和叶子都能用作食物。
用的最多的还是种子，藜麦可以磨成面粉，或整个的烹调，用在谷类食品、饮料和新鲜沙拉上，还可和蔬菜和豆类搭配着吃。叶子和根茎还有医用，有人用它们来减轻疼痛、治愈伤口，甚至驱赶昆虫。
藜麦富含氨基酸和矿物质，氨基酸是构成蛋白质的有机成分。人体需要氨基酸来帮助分解食物，让组织生长和修复。
联合国粮农组织认为可以用藜麦来对抗饥饿，喂养全世界增长的人口，原因是藜麦能提供高质量的蛋白质。
藜麦还在那些希望过健康生活的人中流行开来，这种作物种子的中心含有45%的蛋白质。
藜麦目前在70多个国家都有种植，秘鲁和玻利维亚产出92%的藜麦，其余的主要来自美国、厄瓜多尔、加拿大和阿根廷。
就在10年前，藜麦的风靡使得其价格飙升。很多玻利维亚农民从中受益，赚了很多钱。他们现在能用多赚的钱来购买车辆等物品了。
然而，其他玻利维亚人只得放弃这种主食，因为它太昂贵了。他们开始购买和烹调其他食物，这些食物不像藜麦那样富含矿物质和蛋白质。
这就是美国之音慢速英语农业报道，登陆网站learningenglish.voanews.com获得更多农业报道，发邮件到learningenglish@voanews.com，我是克里斯多夫·克鲁斯。
