VOA慢速英语(翻译+字幕+讲解):肯尼亚干旱使得牧民变农民

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•       第 1 页：听力文本
•       第 2 页：词汇解释
•       第 3 页：内容解析
•       第 4 页：参考译文

      FromVOALearningEnglish, thisistheAgricultureReport.

      ThenorthernpartoftheEastAfricannationofKenyaishotandgetslittlerain. Theareahasbeensufferingfromperiodsofsmallamountofrainfallsanddroughts, whenalmostnorainfalls. Thishasbeengoingonformanyyears. Peoplewholivetheresaythedroughtsarebecomingmoresevere.

      Herdersareamongthosesufferingthemost. Theyarepeoplewhomovewiththeiranimalsfromplacetoplace. Butoverthepastfewyears, manyoftheanimalshavedied. Thelackofrainhasstoppedthegrowthofgrassesandotherfoodstheanimalseat.

      Manyoftheherdershavenoanimalsleft, sotheyareforcedtobecomefarmers. Intheirculture, beingaherderbringsthempowerandrespect. Farmersarenotasrespectedasherders.

      AliAbdiwasaherder. Hisfamilywasconsideredwealthy. HehadrespectfrompeopleinhishomedistrictofGarissa, innorthernKenya. Mr. Abdihadabout 100 goats. Hemovedwhentheseasonschanged, searchingfornewplacesforthegoatstoeat. Butin 2012 and 2013, littlerainfell, andMr. Abdi'sworldchanged.

      Asthepasturesdriedup, hesays, hisanimalslostweight, thenstartedtodie. Bytheendofthedrought, morethantwo-thirdsofhisgoatsweregone. Theyweretheonlywayhecouldfeedhisfamily.

      AhmedSheikhworksattheKenyaAgriculturalandLivestockResearchOrganization. HesaysMr. Abdiwasnottheonlyherderwhosuffered.

      "Mostpeopleactuallywentintodestitution. Peoplewhohad 100 headsofcattleremainedwith 10, goatsthesame. Theherdsizeiswhatmakespastoralismabiteconomical, butoncetheherdsizeshrinksitbecomesreallyuneconomical."

      ThisyeardroughthasagainhitGarissa, soMr. Abdimadeadifficultdecision.

      Mr. Abdiandabouttwelveothermenandwomenaretryingtogrowcrops. Thegrouppreparedaboutthreehectaresoflandusinglongknives.

      Itwassodifficultthatsomeofthemthoughtitwouldbeimpossible. Butnowtheyaregrowingfruitsandvegetables, includingbananas, tomatoes, chiliesandlemons.

      SomelocalpeoplecriticizedMr. Abdiforchoosingtobecomeafarmer.

      Mr. Abdisayshiswifewasunhappy, becauseintheirsocietyamanwhofarmsisconsideredlowlyandpoor. Thisisstilltrue, hesays, eventhoughhenowmakesmoremoneyfromhisfarmthanhedidwithhisgoats.

      Andthat'stheVOALearningEnglishAgricultureReport. I'mMarshaJames.