源自恒星英语网，翻译详见原网https://m.hxen.com/englishlistening/rumen/huanqiu/2019-11-22/527556.html
Organic Chocolate
有机巧克力
Hello. I'm Marina Santee.
AndI'm Elizabeth Lickiss. Welcome to Spotlight. This programme uses a specialEnglish method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, nomatter where in the world they live.
Milkchocolate.
Darkchocolate.
White chocolate.
Fruit or nuts covered with chocolate.
Chocolate milk.
Hotchocolate milk.
Chocolate biscuits.
Chocolate cake.
Chocolate ice cream.
There are many different ways to enjoy chocolate. People all over the worldenjoy a chocolate treat.
Chocolate is made from cocoa beans. Farmers spend many hours looking after andharvesting their crop of beans. Many farmers use chemical fertilizers to helptheir crops grow. They use other chemicals to kill the insect pests that attackthe plants. But some farmers in Venezuela are choosing another way to farmcocoa beans. They are going back to traditional methods. They are growing theirbeans without using chemicals. This makes the job much harder for them. It is arisky business. The farmers have to spend a lot more time looking after theircrops. They have to protect them from disease and insect pests. But thesefarmers believe that this natural way of farming is best. It is called organicfarming. Today we look at the organic farming of chocolate and ask - why isorganic farming becoming so popular?
Sowhere did the world's love of chocolate first originate? Experts say that theancient Aztec communities in South America first used cocoa beans. They paideach other using cocoa beans. They used the beans like we use money. The beanswere very popular. The Aztec people used the beans to make a special drink. Inancient times people believed that chocolate was linked to power, religion andlove. Some ancient people believed that chocolate made a person more fertile.They believed that chocolate helped them think more clearly. Some people even believedthat chocolate had special healing powers.
Spanish sailors arrived in South America in the sixteenth century. Theyobserved how the Aztec people used the cocoa beans. They heard them speak aboutthe special powers of the cocoa bean drink. The Spanish sailors decided tobring some beans back with them to Spain. The Spanish people also made a hotdrink with the beans. But they decided to add sugar. The sweet 'chocolate' wasvery popular. Soon everyone in Europe and America were enjoying it.
There were many stories concerning the sweet chocolate. Some people believedthat chocolate would cure heart disease. Others said that it made the skin lookbetter. A group of chocolate-makers made an even more surprising claim. Theysaid that their chocolate would stop people from getting old! There were manyuntrue beliefs about chocolate. But one thing was true. And it is true today.Almost everyone likes chocolate. Give a child a chocolate and they will smile.Offer an adult a chocolate and they will smile too!
Sowhat is it about chocolate that makes people happy? Doctors and scientistsbelieve they may have the answer. They have identified special chemicals inchocolate. These chemicals react with a person's brain. They make them feelhappier. Maybe that explains why chocolate remains one of the worlds mostpopular treats.
Infact so many people like chocolate that it has become big business. Cocoafarmers work hard to provide the world with enough cocoa beans.
Deepinside Venezuela's forest Jose Lugo looks after his cacao trees. He spends fivehours a day, every day, taking care of them. These trees will provide him withthe special cocoa beans. So he protects them against pest, insects and badweather. He never uses any chemicals. Jose is an organic farmer. Organicfarming is hard work. It takes two times as long to farm this way. So why arethe farmers doing it?
Itmay be hard work by Jose believes it is worth it. He gets four times more moneyfor his organic cocoa beans. Everyone in the chocolate industry wants organiccocoa beans.
Normally farmers sell their beans to a 'middle man'. This manthen sells the beans to the factory. The 'middle man' takes some of the profitfrom selling the beans.
But the organic beans are in great demand. Jose can sell hisbeans straight to the chocolate factories. He does not need a 'middle man'. Thefactories give him a good price for his beans.
Thegovernment of Venezuela is happy to encourage organic farming. Growing morecocoa beans will further protect the forest. Cocoa beans do not grow wellwithout the protection of the forest trees. So the more cocoa bean farming thattakes place the better. It will ensure that the forests are kept and developed.They will not be cut down for other crops. Organic cocoa bean production alsohelps to develop Venezuela's export industry. It increases the countries economicwealth. The government has given around ten million dollars to encourageorganic farming. The government has used this money to give farmers training inorganic farming methods. Now farmers like Jose are prepared. They have theknowledge they need to produce good strong organic crops. Jose sells his beansto several major chocolate manufacturers in Italy, France and America. Theyconsider his organic beans to be the very best.
Sowhy do people want organic produce? Why is there such a demand for organicchocolate? Organic food costs more to produce. So it costs more to buy. Butsome people are concerned about the effects of chemicals. They worry that thechemicals are bad for the environment. They also worry that the chemicals arebad for their bodies. They believe that organic food is better for people andthe environment.
Itis strange to think that when we purchase food we have power. We have the powerto influence how it is produced in the future. But it is true. The desire fororganic food has led to more changes in farming methods. These farming methodsare better for the environment. They may also prove to be better for people'shealth.
Butdo we really consider the story behind all the things we buy? Not just food butother items. For example, do you know who made your clothes? Was the person whomade them paid a fair price? What are your shoes made from? Are they made fromthe skin of a rare animal? Many people are starting to think more seriouslyabout these issues.
Butnot everyone has enough money to make these choices. They have to buy what theycan with the money they have. Jesus Christ said that people who have much havea greater responsibility. Responsibility comes with power, position and wealth.If those who are able take their responsibilities seriously they can make lifebetter for everyone.
用户评论