环球英语 — 206:Equiano: The Slave Made Free
时间:2019-02-21 作者:英语课 分类:环球英语 Spotlight
Voice 1
Hello, I’m Ruby 1 Jones.
Voice 2
And I’m Rachel Hobson. Welcome to Spotlight 2. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 3
“We arrived at the coast. The first thing I saw was the sea. And then a ship for carrying slaves 4. The slave 3 ship was waiting for the sailors to load goods onto it. What I saw filled me with great surprise. This surprise soon changed to terror 5. I cannot truly describe the feelings of my mind. Soon, I was carried onto the ship. Immediately, some of the sailors started to throw me around. They wanted to examine my physical state. I felt sure that I was in a world of bad spirits. I thought they were going to kill me.”
Voice 1
A man called Olaudah Equiano, wrote these words. They are from the book he wrote about his life: “The Interesting Narrative 6 of the Life of Olaudah Equiano”. Today, we tell his amazing story.
Voice 2
Equiano was born in the 1740s. History experts argue about where Equiano was born. But they are sure he was of West African origin. Equiano wrote that his father was a tribal 7 chief in Nigeria. One day, Equiano and his sister were playing near their home. Some slave traders 9 passed by. They kidnapped the two children and took them to a slave ship. When the ship was full, it sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. Slave ships took African people to the West Indies. There, the slave traders sold the people who had survived the crossing. It was a terrible experience for the African people stored on the ships. Equiano wrote:
Voice 3
“The smallness of the place. The heat of the climate. The number of people in the ship — all these things almost prevented us from breathing. Women cried out. Dying 10 people groaned 11 quietly. The level of suffering was hard to believe... I soon became very sick. So the sailors kept me on the ship’s deck 12. There on the top, I could breathe in fresh air. My health could improve. But I wished for death. I considered those slaves who had drowned to be happier than me. At least now they were free.”
Voice 1
After many weeks, the ship arrived in the West Indies. But that was not the end of Equiano’s travels. Traders moved him to a British colony 13 in North America. There, a man called Michael Pascal bought Equiano. Pascal was an officer in the British Navy 14. He decided 15 to send Equiano to school in England. There, the young man learned 16 to read and write. But often his master would take him away from school to serve on his ship. At that time, Britain was at war with France. And the British navy needed as many sailors as it could find.
Voice 2
At last, Britain defeated the French. Each ship’s captain received prize money. The captains were supposed to share this money among all the sailors. Equiano believed that he would receive some prize money too. He wanted to save to buy his freedom. But he did not receive any money. And, things got worse. Pascal sold Equiano to another sea—captain.
Voice 1
Once again, Equiano went to the West Indies. This time, a sea trader 8 called Robert King bought him at the slave market. King took Equiano to work on his ships. He did not want to waste Equiano’s reading and writing skills. So, King made Equiano responsible 17 for controlling the quality of his goods. Equiano was pleased to have this work. But during this time he saw how terribly other slaves suffered. He firmly decided to save enough money to buy his freedom. He did this by trading his own goods privately 18. It took him three years. And in 1766, the great day came. Equiano wrote:
Voice 3
“In the morning, I had been a slave. I had obeyed the will of another person. But now, I was my own master — I was completely 19 free! This was the happiest day that I had ever experienced 20.”
Voice 2
Equiano returned to England. He tried a number of jobs. But soon, he went back to sea — this time, as a free man. Over the next twenty [20] years, he travelled to many different places. During his travels he experienced many dangers: storms, sickness, almost drowning. He began to fear he would die at sea. And he wondered what would happen to him when he died.
Voice 1
Back in England, Equiano could not get the thoughts of death from his mind. He was worried. What happens to people when they die? Would he, Equiano, go to heaven? How was it possible for someone to reach heaven? Did he just have to live a good life? Equiano studied the Christian 22 Bible 23 to find some answers. And, he attended many churches. He asked religious 24 people about their faith. But they all seemed to tell him something different. Equiano was very troubled. He could find no peace in his heart.
Voice 2
Once more, Equiano returned to the sea. He went to work on a ship going to Spain. This is what he wrote about his experience at that time:
Voice 3
“One evening, I was reading the Bible. I thought about my past acts. And, I wondered if I had been good enough to enter heaven. Was good behaviour the way to heaven? Or was entry into heaven a gift from God? And if it was a gift, how could I receive it? Suddenly, the Lord 25 was pleased to break into my thoughts. It was like a light from Heaven, shining in my mind. Then I saw things clearly. I saw that I had broken God’s law. But it was Jesus Christ 21 who had died instead of me. I felt a huge change. The weight of my wrong behaviour and the fears of death — they lost their power over me. I had never experienced such joy.”
Voice 2
Equiano’s faith in God became very important to him. He became more concerned for people who were still slaves. In the 1780s he joined a group of men in London. They were trying to persuade the government to pass a new law. This law would stop the slave trade in all British colonies 26. It was then that Equiano wrote the book about his life. He sold many copies around England. People were shocked by what they read. And many of them supported the anti—slave trade group.
- She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
- On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。
- This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
- The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。
- Don't be a slave to custom.不要做风俗习惯的奴隶。
- Why should I slave away all my life!我为什么要辛辛苦苦地干一辈子呀!
- Slaves were not emancipated until 1863 in the United States. 美国奴隶直到1863年才获得自由。
- fashionistas who are slaves to the latest trends 被潮流牵着鼻子走的赶时髦者
- We were in mortal terror of being found out. 我们非常害怕被发现。
- That guy is a proper terror. 那家伙真是讨厌。
- He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
- Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。
- He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
- The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。
- Beware of dishonest traders in the tourist areas. 在旅游区一定要谨防奸商。
- Many traders went under during the war. 战争时期,许多商人破产。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He was put in charge of the group by the dying leader.他被临终的领导人任命为集团负责人。
- She was shown into a small room,where there was a dying man.她被领进了一间小屋子,那里有一个垂死的人。
- He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
- The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Let's have a walk round the deck.我们去甲板上散步吧。
- The sea wind swept over the deck.海风席卷过甲板。
- There lived a colony of bees on the tree.树上生活着一群蜜蜂。
- They live in an artists'colony.他们住在艺术家聚居区。
- My brother is in the navy.我兄弟在海军服役。
- He has transferred from the army to the navy.他从陆军转到海军。
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
- He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
- In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里,他被视为有学问的人。
- He must be responsible to me for this matter.这件事他必须对我负责。
- The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
- Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
- The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。
- She never completely gave up hope.她从不完全放弃希望。
- I feel completely in the dark on this question.这件事使我感到茫然。
- Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
- Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好,你比我更有经验。
- I regarded him as the Christ.我把他当作救世主。
- Christ preached that we should love each other.基督在布道中说人们应该互爱。
- They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
- His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
- According to the Bible we are all the seed of Adam.根据《圣经》所说的,我们都是亚当的后裔。
- This dictionary should be your Bible when studying English.学习英语时,这本字典应是你的主要参考书。
- She is very religious person who goes to church every Sunday.她十分虔诚,每个星期天都上教堂。
- It is hard for me to reject religious beliefs.要我抛弃自己的宗教信仰是困难的。
- I know the Lord will look after him.我知道上帝会眷顾他的。
- How good of the Lord not to level it beyond repair!上帝多么仁慈啊,竟没有让这所房子损毁得不可收拾!