(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Venezuelans Seek Treasure in Polluted River
Venezuela was once one of the wealthiest countries in Latin America.
Today, images of poor Venezuelans eating from food waste in Caracas are evidence of the country's deepening economic crisis.
Young men and boys often search the dirty waters of the Guaire River for small pieces of metal that might help feed their families.
One of those young men is 26-year-old Angel Villanueva. He searches the dirty, brown water for lost rings or other objects he may be able to trade for money.
"Working in the Guaire isn't easy," he told the Associated Press. "When it provides, it provides. When it takes, it takes your life."
The waters of the Guaire are known for being filthy. The river acts as a drain. It carries away rainwater from the streets and sewers, as well as industrial waste.
Alejandro Velasco is a native of Caracas and teaches Latin American history at New York University. He says ,"As long as I can remember, the Guaire was this open sewage. It certainly seems to reflect the depth and extent of the desperation that this particular crisis has spawned."
Venezuelans have lived under socialist rule for nearly 20 years. During that period, food and oil production have dropped sharply. Poor organization of state resources and a drop in world oil prices have made many Venezuelans desperate.
Each morning, people go to the Guaire River from nearby neighborhoods to search for treasure. Some cover their fingertips in tape to protect from cuts and infections. They largely ignore any possible long-term health effects from standing in dirty water for hours each day.
Calls to clean up the river and the large amount of money already spent have had no result.
In 2005, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez recognized the river's filthy condition and promised a full cleanup.
Seven years later, the Inter-American Development Bank provided a $300 million loan to build wastewater centers and treat waste that goes into the river.
Nearly six years later, the water remains filthy. Bank officials refused to comment on the project. Venezuelan government leaders have also been silent on when the Guaire might be cleaned.
Some parts of the river smell of sewage. Other parts produce a toxic, harmful smell.
Most days, the treasure hunters go unnoticed by other people as they drive vehicles over the river on a major road.
Angel Villanueva lives with his father in one of the poorest and most dangerous parts of Caracas. The son wanted to earn money, but he could only get low-paying jobs, such as cleaning the streets. The lowest legal wage for public employees in Venezuela is less than $7 a month.
Food has become increasingly hard to find or very costly. One recent study estimated that 75 percent of Venezuelans lost an average of 8.7 kilograms last year.
Angel Villanueva first started searching in the river six months ago. His first day's work resulted in finding $20 worth of materials. People back in his neighborhood often tell him to keep away because he smells like the Guaire.
Villanueva dreams of leaving Venezuela to find a better job. But for now he is taking his chances searching for treasure in the river.
I'm Jonathan Evans.
重点解析
1.economic crisis 经济危机
The war has aggravated an acute economic crisis.
战争加剧了原本已很严重的经济危机。
2.keep away 远离
Keep away from the doors while the train is moving
列车运行过程中要远离车门。
3.an average of 平均...
The boats remain at sea for an average of ten days at a time.
这些船只每次在海上平均航行10天。
4.public employees 公职人员
Public employees, teachers and liberals are circulating a petition for his recall.
公务员、教师和自由派人士正在散发请愿书，要求将他召回。
5.Calls to clean up the river and the large amount of money already spent have had no result.
clean up 清理
After years of neglect and decline the city was cleaning itself up.
多年的玩忽职守和经济萧条过后，这个城市在进行自我整顿。
Nina and Mary were in the kitchen, cleaning up after dinner.
吃过晚饭，尼娜和玛丽在厨房里收拾。
6.He says ,"As long as I can remember, the Guaire was this open sewage.
As long as 只要
As long as I deliver the goods, my boss is very happy.
只要我做好本职工作，我的老板就很高兴。
He has been on a diet for as long as any of his friends can remember
在朋友的记忆中，他一直都在节食。
参考译文
委内瑞拉人污水沟中淘金
委内瑞拉曾经是拉丁美洲最富有的国家之一。
近日，居住在委内瑞拉加拉加斯的穷人吃残羹剩菜的照片成为该国经济危机不断恶化的证据。
为了养家糊口，青年男性常常在Guaire河污浊的水沟里寻找小块金属。
26岁的Angel Villanueva就是其中之一。他在浑浊、棕色的水沟中寻找别人遗失的戒指或其它能交易的物品。
他对美联社表示：“在Guaire河中淘金并非易事。走运的话，能淘到值钱物品，不幸的话，命丧河中。”
Guaire河水因肮脏而闻名。这条河充当着下水道，这里流经着街道和下水道的雨水，还有工业废水。
Alejandro Velasco是加拉加斯本地人，在纽约大学教授拉美历史。他说：“打我记事起，Guaire河就是露天式的下水道。它似乎反映了这场特定危机所催生的绝望的深度和广度。”
委内瑞拉人在社会主义统治下生活了近20年。期间，食品和石油产量大幅下降。国家资源组织监管不善及全球石油价格下跌让许多委内瑞拉人深感绝望。
每天早上，附近社区的居民都会到Guaire河淘金。有些人用胶带缠着指尖防止划伤和细菌感染。他们大多忽视了每天数小时泡在污水中可能产生的长期、有害健康的影响。
要求清理污水沟的呼声和投入的大量资金并没有产生明显效果。
2005年，委内瑞拉总统查韦斯意识到这条河的糟糕状况并承诺会进行全面清理。
7年后，美洲开发银行提供了3亿美元的贷款建造污水处理中心并处理流入河流的废水。
约莫6年后，河水仍然肮脏不堪。银行官员拒绝对该项目置评。委内瑞拉政府领导人也绝口不提Guaire河何时才能完成治理。
该河流的部分河段散发着恶臭，其它河段产生了有毒、有害的气体。
大多数时候，开车经过这条河流的其他人不会注意到这些淘金者。
Angel Villanueva和父亲居住的地方是加拉加斯最贫穷和危险的地区之一。Villanueva想赚钱谋生，但是他只能从事低薪职业，如清理街道。委内瑞拉公共雇员的最低法定工资是每月7美元。
在这里，食物愈加稀缺或非常昂贵。最近一项研究估计，去年，75%的委内瑞拉人的平均体重下降了8.7公斤。
6个月前，Villanueva开始了淘金之旅。开工首日他找到了价值20美元的金属。他的邻居经常警告他离远点，因为他身上散发着Guaire河的恶臭。
Villanueva梦想着离开委内瑞拉找一份待遇更好的工作，而现在，他只能在污水沟里淘金。
乔纳森·埃文斯为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
