课文内容

词汇：Poverty 贫穷

When looking at Western Europe, we don't usually think about poverty - but in fact, some people in modern-day Britain are so hard up that they can't afford to buy food.

当我们看到西欧的时候，我们通常不会想到贫穷，但事实上，现代英国的一些人非常穷，他们买不起食物。

Back in 2008, the financial crisis caused a lot of redundancies. Then there were the cuts to the welfare system in 2013 which added to the problem - and many British people fell into debt. It's estimated that 500,000 people in the UK have turned to food banks, just to get by.

早在2008年，金融危机就造成了大量裁员。2013年，政府削减了福利制度，这加剧了这个问题，许多英国人陷入了债务之中。据估计，英国有50万人求助于食物银行，勉强度日。

Steph Hagen, who works in a Nottingham food bank, says: "People do not go to a food bank because it's an open door. It's a case of they go to it because they need to. With our food bank - we are an independent one, and we have limited stocks - everyone who comes through our door has no income whatsoever."

在诺丁汉一家食品银行工作的斯蒂芬•哈根(stephen Hagen)表示:“人们不会去食品银行，因为那是一扇敞开的大门。他们之所以去是因为他们需要去。我们的食品银行是一个独立的机构，我们的库存有限，每个来我们这里的人都没有任何收入。”

There are checks and referrals to make sure nobody is abusing the system. If a doctor or a social worker thinks someone needs to use a food bank - even for a short time - they can give them vouchers. Then the people in need take the vouchers along to the food bank and they get handouts for three days.

有检查和转介，以确保没有人滥用该系统。如果医生或社会工作者认为有人需要使用食物银行，即使是很短的时间，他们也可以给他们发放代金券。然后有需要的人拿着代金券去食品银行，他们会得到三天的救济。

Churches and individual donors provide most of the food in the banks. But some businesses might help out too.And what sort of food is offered in food banks? Hagen says: "Basically, we've got porridge. We do occasionally get fresh produce but it's very rare, especially in the winter months. It's like, tinned fruit, tinned ready meals. We have to give out 'no-cooking' food parcels because people can't afford the gas and electricity".

教堂和个人捐赠者提供了银行里的大部分食物。但一些企业可能也会提供帮助。食物银行提供什么样的食物?哈根说:“基本上，我们有粥。我们偶尔会有新鲜的农产品，但非常罕见，尤其是在冬季。就像罐头水果，罐头即食食品。我们不得不分发‘免煮’食品包裹，因为人们负担不起燃气和电力。”

Community spirit has a lot to do with food banks. Volunteers say they are a great meeting place for people who are lonely and depressed. And when facing a crisis, some beneficiaries might need to feed not only their belly - but also their soul.

社区精神与食物银行有很大关系。志愿者们说，对于那些孤独和沮丧的人来说，他们是一个很好的聚会场所。当面临危机时，一些受益者可能不仅需要养活自己的肚子，还需要养活自己的灵魂。

词汇表

hard up 拮据，经济困难

to afford 负担得起，买得起

financial crisis 金融危机

redundancy 裁员

welfare system 福利体系

to fall into debt 负债

a food bank 食物银行（食物赈济处）

to get by 勉强过活

limited stock 有限的存货，库存有限

a referral （官方的）送交、移交，引见

to abuse the system 滥用制度、体系

a voucher 票券，代金券

a handout 救济品

a donor 捐赠者

a ready meal 现成食品

community spirit 社区精神

a volunteer 志愿者

a beneficiary 受益者，受惠者

测验与练习

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What caused many British people to fall into debt?

2. How do food banks make sure people are genuinely in need?

3. Where do the items in food banks come from?

4. Why do food banks mostly offer people tinned food?

5. Which word in the article means 'stomach'?

2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。

1. Martin lost his job about a year ago. Now he lives off _________ from his parents.

a voucher      handouts      referrals      redundancies

2. Ann needs _________ to help her distribute food and clothes to the victims of the earthquake.

volunteers      beneficiaries      doctors      welfare system

3. You've got to control your spending! It's not good to _________.

get by      cut the welfare system      afford nothing      fall into debt

4. Mr Jones, take this _________ to the food bank and they will give you a food parcel.

handout      voucher      income      crisis

5. Sorry, mate, I can't lend you money. I'm _________ myself.

volunteer      handout      redundancies      hard up

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What caused many British people to fall into debt?
The 2008 financial crisis and redundancies, followed by the cuts to the welfare system in 2013.

2. How do food banks make sure people are genuinely in need?
They use checks, referrals and a voucher system to make sure that only the needy are able to access the food banks.

3. Where do the items in food banks come from?
They are donated mainly by churches, individuals and some businesses.

4. Why do food banks mostly offer people tinned food?
Because the beneficiaries might not have gas or electricity, and most of these items don't need refrigeration or cooking.

5. Which word in the article means 'stomach'?
Belly.

2. 请你在不参考课文的情况下完成下列练习。选择一个意思合适的单词填入句子的空格处。

1. Martin lost his job about a year ago. Now he lives off handouts from his parents.

2. Ann needs volunteers to help her distribute food and clothes to the victims of the earthquake.

3. You've got to control your spending! It's not good to fall into debt.

4. Mr Jones, take this voucher along to the food bank and they will give you a food parcel.

5. Sorry, mate, I can't lend you money. I'm hard up myself.

文章来源BBC，侵权删。