Spot Light

Mountains Under the Sea
Transcript
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Anne Muir.
Voice 2
And I’m Bruce Gulland. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is
easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Aurélie Spadone knows all about mountains. She lives in Switzerland, close to some of
the highest mountains in Europe. But Aurélie has just been on a trip to study mountains
of a very different sort. Normally you look up to see mountains - but for these
mountains, Aurélie had to look down; deep down. Aurélie has been studying mountains
that are thousands of metres under the sea. Scientists have a special name for these
underwater mountains. They call them ‘seamounts’. Today’s Spotlight is on ‘seamounts’.
Voice 2
To be a true seamount, a mountain has to be completely under the sea. It also has to
be more than 1,000 metres high. All the world’s oceans contain seamounts. There are
over 100,000 of them in the world - and yet scientists have studied only about a hundred
of them in detail. There is still a lot about seamounts that we do not know.
Voice 1
Seamounts are most commonly volcanic. Like volcanoes on land, they are formed by
melted rock coming from under the earth’s surface. In some cases the seamounts can
grow very quickly as fresh rock rises from the sea bed. One example is near the coast
of Grenada. This seamount increased its height by 75 metres in just 20 years. And
because seamounts are volcanic, they are most common in particular areas. These are
the areas where the earth’s continents meet. One of these areas is in the Indian Ocean.
This is where Aurélie’s ship has been.
1
Aurélie is one of 20 scientists who have been on a six week trip to the south-west Indian
Ocean. They wanted to study the creatures that live on the seamounts.
Voice 2
Ocean currents move water across the bottom of the sea all the time. When these
currents meet a seamount they push water up the side of the seamount, towards the
surface. The water carries material from the bottom of the ocean - including small plants
and animals. Fish and other sea animals feed on this material - and so seamounts
become special places where sea life grows very well. This makes seamounts very
interesting to the scientists. On this trip, the scientists studied five seamounts.
Voice 1
The scientists explored the seamounts using an underwater vehicle. They controlled the
vehicle from their ship. No-one rides in this vehicle; instead it is full of cameras and
measuring equipment. It can also collect material from the bottom of the sea, including
plants and animals. It brings them back to the surface for the scientists to study. Aurélie
was clearly excited to see the first dive of the vehicle, with all the different sea animals.
She wrote about it on the trip's Internet website:
Voice 3
“I must admit it was amazing, watching the live pictures from the vehicle, looking at
these small red shrimps, crabs, colourful corals, sponges and fish swimming in front of
the vehicle.”
Voice 1
It is very probable that some of the sea animals that the scientists have found on these
seamounts will prove to be new species - animals unknown before this trip.
Voice 2
But Aurélie and the other scientists have not just been looking for interesting new sea
animals. The main reason for their trip was to protect the seamount environment from
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harm. The problem is that scientists are not the only people who like seamounts. The
fishing industry has discovered that seamounts have plenty of fish. This is because the
rising water brings sea life from the deep sea. Fish feed on this sea life. Fishing boats
come to take advantage of these large numbers of fish. But this leads to a problem. The
fishing boats use large, heavy nets that they pull along the bottom of the sea. The nets
are designed to rub along the bottom of the sea - the sea bed. In this way they catch
the fish that are hiding on or near the sea bed - but they also damage the sea bed.
Doctor Alex Rogers was the chief scientist on the trip. He told the BBC:
Voice 4
“The fishing boats use equipment that destroys natural systems that live on the
seamounts. When the fishing equipment comes near, creatures dive down to the sea
bed. This is how they behave to avoid their natural enemies. But the fishers often use
bottom nets to catch these animals. These nets have huge metal doors to keep the nets
open. The nets also have huge rollers to permit them to bounce along the sea bed.
These nets completely crush very delicate, weak animals like corals.”
Voice 1
The scientists on the ship have no power to prevent the fishing industry from using
these harmful methods. But their studies have increased the knowledge of how serious
the problem is. They found evidence of human damage on all five of the seamounts
that they visited. On one seamount they saw a fishing boat working. The scientists could
clearly see serious damage caused by fishing. They could also see that sea life was
healthy in the areas without fishing.
Voice 2
Aurélie looked back and thought about the wonderful sea creatures she and the other
scientists had seen. She wrote of tall tree-like structures made of coral, bright coloured
shrimps, urchins shaped like sticks, angry-looking crabs, glass-like sponges and funny
looking big-eyed fish. And, she said, the list goes on.
Voice 3
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“We count ourselves among the few honoured people who have seen live images of
these amazing things - a thousand metres and more below the surface of the oceans in
that cold, dark and quiet world.”
Voice 2
So, the scientists finished their trip to the seamounts with mixed feelings. They saw the
wonder of unknown and beautiful sea creatures, but they also saw the damage humans
are doing to these wonderful creatures’ home.
Voice 1
Pierre-Yves Cousteau is a famous expert on underwater life. He wrote about the group's
findings on their Internet website. Let us give him the last word:
Voice 5
“Life is a chance. As far as we know it only exists right here, on this planet. We
mistakenly call this planet ‘Earth’ when really it is mostly covered in water. We must
care for it, or we will watch it drop slowly through our open hands.”
Voice 1
The writer of this programme was Mike Procter. The producer was Luke Haley. The
voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were
adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again,
and read it, on the internet at http://www.radioenglish dot net. This program is called,
‘Mountains Under the Sea’.
We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye
4
Chasing Storms
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Katy Blake.
Voice 2
And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
The warning comes on the radio - a tornado is coming. The storm is moving quickly. It
is very dangerous. The voice on the radio warns you to find shelter. The storm is coming.
The dark clouds in the sky seem to be rolling. It is raining. The loud wind blows trees
and plants. You gather your family and find a safe shelter.
Voice 2
This is the experience of many people around the world when they hear that a tornado
is coming. These dangerous storms can destroy whole cities. Tornadoes are the most
violent of any kind of storm. In a tornado, the wind forms a funnel. It moves in a circle,
forming a kind of tube. The tube is usually wider at the top, and thinner at the bottom.
Voice 1
When most people know a tornado is coming, they find shelter. But there are some
people who do not find shelter. In fact, they travel toward the storm! These men and
women chase storms like tornadoes. But why do they do this? Are these men and
women insane or brave? Today’s Spotlight is on storm chasers.
Voice 2
Tornadoes happen all over the world. But they are especially common in the United
States and Bangladesh. There is a wide area through the middle of the United States
where tornadoes are especially common. Experts even call it “tornado alley”. In
Bangladesh, tornadoes are also common and deadly. In the past, 19 tornadoes have
each killed more than 100 people there.
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Voice 1
Storm chasers follow these tornadoes in all places tornadoes happen. In the United
States, storm chasing began in the 1950s. Chasers listened to weather reports on radios.
The chasers drove to the places where the storm was. Then they took pictures.
Voice 2
However, technology continued to improve. Today, storm chasers often have high-
quality video recorders and cameras. They can use satellite information. They can use
their mobile phones to connect to the internet. This helps them predict, or estimate,
where the storms will go. Often storm chasers also have special vehicles. They protect
their vehicles with extra pieces of metal. They also add specialized equipment.
Voice 1
Much of this equipment gathers information about tornadoes. This information helps
weather experts know when a tornado will form. Howard Bluestein is a meteorology
professor at the University of Oklahoma. Meteorology is the study of the atmosphere
and weather. Bluestein sees great value in studying tornadoes. He told National
Geographic magazine:
Voice 3
“Things like pressure and temperature and humidity - there is no other way to measure
these things. You must make measurements inside the tornado. You need to be on the
ground.”
Voice 2
Getting this information means getting extremely close to a tornado. People who get
that close risk death. Greg Forbes is a severe weather expert. He told USA Today:
Voice 4
“Storm chasing is not something to be taken lightly. Sometimes you chase the tornado.
And sometimes you get in the position where the tornado chases you.”
Voice 1
Mike Bettes works for the Weather Channel in the United States. This television channel
concentrates on weather all over the country. Bettes is an experienced storm chaser.
On May 31, 2013, he was chasing a tornado. He was travelling in a storm-chasing truck
with a few other crew members. Suddenly the tornado picked up their vehicle off of the
ground. Bettes says it was the most frightening time of his life. He told the CNN news
organization about his experience.
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Voice 5
“I imagined people in my life. I saw their faces appear before me. It just seemed for a
minute that everything was moving slowly, especially when we were floating in the
wind. I kind of felt like I was being lifted to heaven. I remember the whole thing, but it
still seems like it was not real.”
Voice 2
The tornado dropped Bettes’ truck 180 meters away. His crew survived. But one man
broke a few bones.
Voice 1
Many storm chasers are researchers like Bettes. They provide valuable information
about tornadoes and other large storms. This information can help warn people when
they need to find a safe shelter. People need to find shelter during tornadoes. However,
many people do not listen to warnings about tornadoes. Weather experts advise people
to seek shelter. But sometimes the tornado does not appear. Or it breaks up before it
causes damage. When people hear the tornado warnings often, they believe they do
not have to find shelter. But, when they finally see the tornado it is too late.
Voice 2
This is one reason Bettes thinks storm chasing is so important. When people see the
live videos and recent pictures from a storm chaser, they believe that a tornado is
coming. They are more likely to find shelter. He says:
Voice 5
“We show weather, and we like to be out there and show people what tornadoes can
do. We help give warning. Storm spotters serve a very valuable purpose. Seeing it in
person, and giving that real time information, I think that really adds to the warning. It
helps people take shelter earlier.”
Voice 1
Some people are concerned that there are too many storm chasers. Some storm chasers
want to experience the amazing excitement of being close to a tornado. But they may
not have the training, equipment, or experience to stay safe. Tornadoes can change
direction very quickly. The chaser could get caught in the storm, like Bettes. Too many
storm chasers can also cause traffic problems. Storm chasers drive toward the storm.
But other people are driving away from the storm. Betsy Randolph is a police officer in
Oklahoma. She told USA Today:
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Voice 6
“When storm chasers put themselves in harm’s way to chase the storms they make it
harder for us. We are trying to work around more people on the highway. We are trying
to rescue more people. And sometimes, the storm chasers end up being part of the
problem.”
Voice 2
Some authorities have even suggested making rules about who can chase storms. Many
storm chasers believe this is a bad idea. They see value in what they do. Cameron
Redwine is a storm chaser in the United States. He takes pictures of storms for
magazines. He sees the destruction tornadoes cause. But he also sees their beauty and
power. He told USA Today why he will continue to chase storms.
Voice 7
“There are other people, like me, who think it is amazing. Tornadoes are as equally
beautiful and inspiring as they are dangerous and destructive.”
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Liz Waid. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices
you heard were from the United Kingdom and the United States. All quotes were
adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can find our programs on the internet
at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called ‘Chasing Storms’.
Voice 2
We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
8
Cleaning the Kidron Basin
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Rena Dam.
Voice 2
And I’m Colin Lowther. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is
Voice 1
A man and a woman stand on a wall. It is the wall of the Mar Saba Monastery. The Mar
Saba Monastery is near the town of Bethlehem in Israel-Palestine. The man and woman
have come a long way to see this famous holy place. They have come to experience its
beauty and peace. They stand looking out over a beautiful, golden valley. But something
is wrong. A horrible smell fills the air. The smell is coming from a river near the
monastery. It is so bad that the man and woman do not even want to breathe. They
are disappointed. They decide to leave.
Voice 2
The river is part of the Kidron Basin. It used to be one of the most beautiful places in
the area. Now, the river is polluted. It smells terrible. However, in recent years, Israelis
and Palestinians have begun to work together to clean it up. Today's Spotlight is on
efforts to clean up the Kidron Basin.
Voice 1
The Kidron Basin is an area of land. It contains the main river of the Kidron Valley. The
Kidron Valley is important for spiritual and cultural reasons. It contains many places that
are special to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The prophet Abraham traveled from the
Kidron Valley to the famous Mount Moriah. Jesus was baptized in the Kidron Valley. The
valley also contains the famous Al-Aqsa Mosque. People travel from all over the world
to see and experience these cultural and religious places.
Voice 2
The Kidron River begins in the city of Jerusalem and empties into the Dead Sea. The
pollution comes mainly from human waste, or sewage. This human waste is not treated
before it enters the river. It is raw sewage. 1/3 of all Jerusalem's raw sewage goes into
the Kidron River. Every year, 15 million cubic meters of this waste runs through the
Kidron Valley into the Dead Sea.
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Voice 1
This pollution causes many problems. Many people in the Kidron Valley do not have
clean drinking water. Their health is in danger. Also, the area loses money, because
tourists do not want to come. The river smells too bad. Farmers also suffer bad effects.
They cannot use the dirty water on their crops. Without this water, they cannot use
their land for farming.
Voice 2
However, many people see the great value of the Kidron Valley. They do not want to
waste this amazing place. They are working to bring environmental health back to the
area. Avner Goren is an archaeologist. He studies ancient places and cultures. He told
Haaretz news,
Voice 3
"This is an important valley. It has been forgotten for many years. We have turned it
into a valley of human waste. It has to stop. We need to give it the honor it deserves."
Voice 1
Avner is part of a team of people who want to clean up the Kidron Valley. The team
includes Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It includes people who live in the Kidron Valley,
local authorities, and other organizations. It also includes different experts, such as
engineers, archaeologists, environmental university professors, and water scientists.
Voice 2
One of the first steps in cleaning up the valley is to build a sewage treatment plant. This
plant would clean the human waste before it entered the river. The cleaned water could
go to farmland to water crops. Also, the river would smell better. The natural flowers
and vegetation of the area would heal, making the whole area more beautiful.
Voice 1
The team also wants to build paths and green spaces throughout the Kidron Valley. This
includes a main walking path from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, as well as many smaller
paths. They also want to improve the historical and cultural places. They plan to build
visitor and cultural centers for information and education about the area. Their goal is
to care for the valley's cultural and environmental treasures and the health and economy
of the local people.
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Voice 2
However, working together can present problems for Israelis and Palestinians. The first
step is the most difficult. The Kidron Basin is controlled by both Israel and the Palestinian
Authority. Everyone agrees that the area needs a sewage treatment plant. But they do
not agree on where to build it. Should it be in Jerusalem? The West Bank? And how can
they share the clean water?
Voice 1
These are difficult questions. Richard Laster is an environmental professor at Hebrew
University. He says that the area is so dirty, they must work together. He told Haaretz
news,
Voice 4
"Now there is no choice. They have to look at the issue in a new way. This way must
be more open. It must lead to talking and problem solving."
Voice 2
The Kidron team is not waiting for the sewage treatment plant before they improve the
Kidron Valley. They are also working together on other projects. They began an
environmental education program for the area's schools. The students visit the river and
learn about the valley. They learn that it is a shared resource for everyone who lives
there. The program also educates families and communities about the importance of
the Kidron Valley's environmental health.
Voice 1
The Kidron team also gives money for local projects. The projects involve citizens in the
larger goal. Some of these projects include community gardens and using photography
and art to document the environment. They are trying to teach people that cleaning the
Kidron Valley will help everyone. Gery Amel is the Manager of the Dead Sea Drainage
Authority. In a Youtube film, he said,
Voice 5
"We are sure that a clean river basin will lead to health and wellness for everyone. It
will be an advantage for local residents and people who visit."
Voice 2
People can divide land by fences and walls. But rivers cannot be divided. They flow
across all the lines on a map. In cleaning up the Kidron River, the Kidron Basin team
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has to work with a land that is divided. They hope that cleaning the river will bring
divided people together.
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Jen Hawkins. The producer was Bruce Gulland. The
adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on
the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Cleaning the Kidron
Basin’.
Voice 2
You can leave a comment on our website. Or email us at radio@radioenglish.net. Or
you can find us on Facebookby searching for Spotlight Radio. We hope you can join us
again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye
12
Flying with Birds
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Colin Lowther.
Voice 2
Voice 1
The baby stork is lost. He was flying with many other birds, including his parents. They
were migrating - making their yearly trip north. But because he is just a baby, the little
stork could not fly fast enough. The other birds left him behind. Now he is in danger.
There are wild animals in the area. He is not strong enough to escape from them. And
he is getting hungry. Big vultures also fly above him. They are waiting for him to die.
All hope seems lost. Then, all at once, another group of storks appear. They too are
flying to the north. With them he is safe, and he flies away with them.
Voice 2
This is part of a recent television series from the BBC. It is called “Earth Flight”. This
series shows the world through the eyes of birds. It follows birds as they migrate, hunt
and raise young. The filmmakers travelled and filmed very close to the birds. Today’s
Spotlight is on “Earth Flight”, and the way filmmakers captured these amazing images.
Voice 1
“Earth Flight” is a series of six programs. Each program covers a different continent.
And the last program shows how the filmmakers made the series. It took the filmmakers
three and a half years to complete the filming. And they used many different ways to
film.
Voice 2
In one part, cameras follow barnacle geese as they migrate through the United
Kingdom. The geese live in the United Kingdom during the winter. Then they migrate
north for the summer months. Several million geese make this trip to have their babies.
They fly in groups in the shape of a large V. They change places with each other to
protect the birds that are less strong.
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Voice 1
The camera seems to float next to these birds as they fly. One camera operator later
said that the birds were close enough to touch! They were flying with the birds. But
they did not frighten the birds. Instead, they were part of the V. This was because of
one man: Christian Moullec.
Voice 2
Christian Moullec lives in France. Since 1996, he has been raising barnacle geese and
other birds. The birds live in his home, with his family. He and his family raise the birds
from eggs. He is like a mother to the birds. They even sleep in the same room with him
and his wife! When it is time for them to fly, he flies with them.
Voice 1
Moullec uses a very small, light airplane. It is like a little chair, with wings, and a small
engine behind. The birds can see him clearly, and can fly close to him. Moullec uses this
“microlite” to guide the birds on their yearly migration. He does this for one simple
reason. The number of barnacle geese has been decreasing. They are in danger of dying
out completely, and becoming extinct. By raising birds this way, and training them,
Moullec and his family can help increase the numbers of geese again.
He told the Daily Mail newspaper,
Voice 3
“My wife and I have worked to save a kind of wild goose. It is on the edge of becoming
extinct. We are working to establish new groups in other good places across Europe. I
thank the birds for the gift they have given me. This gift is to observe them in flight.”
Voice 2
The filmmakers from Earth Flight wanted to work with Moullec, to show the barnacle
geese migration. So they flew with him. They held heavy cameras and flew right next
to the geese. The film shows the birds as they fly over the city of London and across
the United Kingdom. Viewers experience, in a small way, what Moullec experiences
when he flies with the geese.
Voice 1
Filmmakers used similar methods with other geese in North America. In each place, the
methods were a little different. With the geese in North America, filmmakers also
attached small cameras to trained geese. These images show what the goose is seeing
as it travels. It shows the goose’s images of New York City, for example. The geese fly
14
through this great city. The tall buildings send up great gusts of wind, blowing air high.
The geese float on this air, and it gives them a short break - even while they fly!
Voice 2
But this method only works with particular kinds of birds. Vultures are big, heavy birds.
They live in many parts of the world. They also fly high in the air, looking for food. They
eat meat - animals that have died. The filmmakers wanted to film them as they flew.
But they could not train vultures in the same way that Moullec had trained his geese.
So they tried a different method.
Voice 1
They made a model vulture. This vulture would look like a real bird to other vultures. It
would fly, and the filmmakers could control its movements. And it would carry a camera.
The camera recorded many amazing images of the other vultures. Then, the filmmakers
brought the model back to the ground. It had survived surprisingly well. The model only
lost its nose!
Voice 2
But the model was not enough. The filmmakers also trained a real vulture to fly from a
small microlite airplane. Like the North American geese, the vulture carried a camera.
Then, they released this vulture among wild vultures in Africa. The camera recorded the
vultures hunting and nesting - images that could not be recorded in any other way.
Voice 1
The filmmakers used this method with many other birds, including condors in South
America. But they also used normal nature photography to capture some amazing
images. Huge eagles stealing fish from hairy bears in the far north of America. A tiny
swallow catching an insect. Macaws flying through the jungle.
Voice 2
In each situation, the filmmakers show the life and experience of birds. The first words
in the series are: “It is a dream of many, to fly like a bird”. To make these programmes,
men have learned to fly with the birds.
Voice 1
To see videos from the Earth Flight series, visit our website, www.radioenglish.net. You
can see video of the geese, the vultures, and many others.
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Voice 2
The writer of this program was Shelagh Godwin. The producer was Luke Haley. The
voices you heard were from the United Kingdom and the United States. All quotes were
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Flying with
Birds’.
Voice 1
You can also find us on Facebook - just search for spotlightradio. We hope you can join
us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
Cats
Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight program. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
Voice 1
Can you solve this riddle? Do you know what I am talking about?
What animal has nine lives, a long tail, may be good luck or bad luck, and sounds like
this?
If you guessed a cat, you are right! Today’s Spotlight is on cats. These animals have
been the subject of many stories and beliefs all around the world. In some cultures,
people have even worshiped these animals. In today’s Spotlight we look at the history
and stories of the domestic cat.
Voice 2
Cats began as wild animals. But the cats we are talking about today are domestic cats
- cats that have learned to live with people. They are the cats people have as family
pets. Cats have a long history with people. Many experts believe that the first
domesticated cats came from Egypt. Ancient pictures show that cats were a normal part
of Egyptian life for thousands of years!
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Voice 1
No one knows exactly when the first cats in Egypt came from the wild and became
domesticated. But experts say that it was probably about 4,000 years ago.
Voice 2
Many experts believe that the first cats in Egypt were African wild cats. These small wild
cats were skilled at hunting and eating smaller animals like mice, rats, and poisonous
snakes. And these were some of the Egyptians’ biggest problems!
Voice 1
Mice, rats, and snakes attacked food supplies in Egyptian houses and village grain
storage areas. Experts say that wild cats began to enter Egyptian communities. The cats
hunted and killed the mice, rats, and snakes. The Egyptians were probably very grateful
for the assistance of these cats. So, they repaid the animals with small pieces of food.
Experts say that it was only a short time before these wild cats began to enter Egyptian
homes. This was a good deal for everyone!
Voice 2
The wild cats probably began to spend more and more time inside the homes of the
Egyptians. They let the Egyptians take care of them. The cats began to raise their babies
near people. Also, after a time, the wild cat’s diet probably changed. It began to depend
on people for food, instead of hunting its own food.
Voice 1
The Egyptian people probably also encouraged particular cats to mate. This way, they
could breed good characteristics into the cats - making them more friendly. As the cats
became more and more domesticated, they became the perfect pets for Egyptians. The
cats liked to play and they were intelligent. They showed love toward the Egyptians.
And they also kept problem animals away from the food stores.
Voice 2
History experts say that many ancient pictures show cats taking part in everyday
Egyptian life. The Egyptians valued the mysterious qualities of the cat. They believed
that the female cat was a good mother. Evidence even shows that Egyptian people
started naming their children after cats!
Voice 1
And soon, the image and shape of cats began to appear on everyday objects. Cat images
appeared on jewellery that a person would wear around the neck or arm, or on the ear.
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People owned cat statues. Women even began copying the look of the cat. They painted
around their eyes to look more cat-like.
Voice 2
Many Egyptians even worshiped a cat goddess, a female god. She had the body of a
woman, but the head of a cat. They called her Bastet. They believed that Bastet
protected women, children, and domestic cats from harm. Every year, Egyptians had a
celebration for her.
Voice 1
Egyptians valued cats so much, that they worked very hard to protect them. During one
time in Egyptian history, it was illegal to kill a cat - even by accident. The punishment
for this act was death!
Voice 2
Many experts say that domestic cats began to spread quickly from Egypt through other
parts of the world. Today, millions of people around the world still own cats as pets.
Voice 1
And people still recognize the mysterious nature of the cat. In fact, cats have been the
subjects of many beliefs and stories around the world - some good and some bad. You
have probably heard a few interesting beliefs or stories about cats from your own
country. Many of these beliefs are superstitions. Superstitions are beliefs that are not
based in fact. Here are some superstitions about cats from cultures around the world.
Some of these superstitions are very old. But they may still influence cat owners in
particular areas today.
Voice 2
When a cat washes behind his ears, you may expect visitors. This is a Dutch superstition.
Voice 1
An old English superstition says: if a cat leaves a house forever, the people living there
will always be sick.
Voice 2
A very common worldwide superstition says that cats have nine lives.
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Voice 1
Some superstitions say that cats can predict weather. Here are some English
superstitions. If a cat washes behind its ears, it will rain. But, if your cat is sleeping with
all four of its feet under its body, it means you can expect cold weather very soon.
Voice 2
Many superstitions about cats have to do with luck. Cats can be either good luck, or bad
luck - but it depends on the situation.
Voice 1
In the United States, it is bad luck to see a white cat at night. But dreaming of a white
cat is good luck.
Voice 2
In France, it is bad luck to carry a cat while crossing a stream of water.
Voice 1
Have you ever heard a cat sneeze? An old Italian superstition says that a sneezing cat
is a good sign for anyone who hears it.
Voice 2
In the United States, it is bad luck if a black cat walks in front of you. But in Britain, and
many parts of Europe the superstition is different. In these places, a black cat who walks
in front of you means good luck! And in Southern England a newly married woman
may hope that a black cat walks in front of her. There, the superstition says that if that
happens, she will have a very good marriage.
Voice 1
Cats are definitely the subjects of some strange beliefs. These superstitions are not true.
But they all show how full of mystery people believe the cat to be. Do superstitions like
this exist in your community? Do you have a cat? Write to us and tell us your experiences
at radio@radioenglish.net.
Voice 2
The writer and producer of this program was Liz Waid. The voices you heard were from
the United States. Computer users can hear more Spotlight programs on our website
at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called “Cats.” We hope you can join us again
for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!
19
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review!)
The Two Thousand Year Old Seed

Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
Voice 1
The plant sits in a black container. It is green, and has only five leaves. This plant looks
like any other new plant. But it is different. This plant grew from a seed that was 2,000
years old! Scientists are studying it to learn more about ancient medicine. Today’s
Spotlight is on this ancient plant, the Judean date palm.
Voice 2
The story of this particular plant begins about 40 years ago with a group of
archaeologists. Archaeologists study very old places and things. In the 1960s, a group
of archaeologists were digging around an ancient building near the Dead Sea. They
were investigating a large building - a palace - on Mount Masada. An ancient king had
built this palace many years ago.
Voice 1
Mount Masada has a sad history. Over 2,000 years ago Romans took control of areas
around the Dead Sea. The Roman soldiers damaged or destroyed a lot of property. But
a small group of people rebelled against the Roman army. This group of people stayed
at Mount Masada. There, they avoided the armies of Roman soldiers. They did not want
the Roman soldiers to capture them. And in the end, they all killed themselves. However,
before the rebels took their own lives, they carefully stored their food. They wanted the
world to know that they had not died of hunger.
Voice 2
While digging at Mount Masada, archaeologists found this store of ancient food. Inside
one container there were some ancient fruits and their seeds. Plant scientists, or
botanists, identified the seeds as seeds from the Judean date palm tree.
20
Voice 1
In ancient times, people believed that this kind of date palm tree had special healing
qualities. In fact, they called the Judean date palm tree the “tree of life.” They believed
that parts of this tree could cure a pain in a person’s tooth, malaria, and even cancer!
They believed it made people desire sex and it could also help women avoid becoming
pregnant. The Judean date palm tree is even in some ancient writings. The Bible, the
Koran and other ancient writings tell about the good qualities of the tree.
Voice 2
Two thousand years ago Judean Date palms grew in many places around the Dead Sea.
But today, this tree is extinct. There are no more of these trees anywhere in the world.
People around the Dead Sea import other date palms from places like California in the
United States. Scientists believed that the ancient Judean date palm tree was gone
forever.
Voice 1
Scientists estimated that the seeds the archaeologists found were over 2,000 years
old. Tests confirmed that they were. Often seeds this old cannot grow. But they are still
interesting to study. So, the botanists, or plant scientists, stored these ancient seeds in
a safe place to study later.
Voice 2
Doctor Elaine Solowey lives in the community of Kibbutz Ketura in the Middle East. She
is a botanist. She works with seeds and plants that are near extinction. The seeds and
plants she works with are the last of their kind. She has already saved more than one
hundred different kinds of plants from extinction. Her goal is to study the seeds and
plants that ancient people used for cures.
Voice 1
Doctor Sarah Sallon is also from the Middle East. She is an expert in natural medicine.
Sallon investigates whether ancient cures are effective. She heard about these ancient
seeds from the archaeological dig at Mount Masada. Sallon told Solowey about the
interesting seeds. They wanted to try to grow one into a plant. Sallon asked for a few
of the seeds from the storage place. She told Matthew Kalman of the Chronicle Foreign
Service:
Voice 3
“When we asked if we could try and grow some of the seeds they said ‘you are
insane!’. But they gave us three seeds.”
21
Voice 2
The doctors prepared the long, thin, brown seeds for planting. First, they put the seeds
into warm water. Then they added growth chemicals to the water. These chemicals
kept the plant healthy and encouraged it to grow good roots. Then, on January 25,
2005, they planted the seed in fresh sterile soil.
Voice 1
For five weeks, they carefully cared for the small seed. Then, one day, a small green
leaf began to rise out of the soil! Doctor Solowey told the Chronicle Foreign Service:
Voice 4
“The leaves were light, almost white and green. The first two leaves did not look normal.
They were very flat and very light. The third leaf started to have the markings of a
normal date plant. Now it looks perfectly normal to me. The only difference between
this date seedling and other date seedlings I have studied is the length of the third leaf.
That leaf is very unusual.”
Voice 2
Doctor Sallon and Doctor Solowey called the tree Methuselah. This name comes from
the Bible. The Bible says Methuselah lived to be over 900 years old.
Voice 1
The doctors hoped to study the fruit of the Methuselah date palm tree. If the Judean
date palm is able to produce any medicine, the medicine will come from the date fruit.
However, there is a small problem in getting a date fruit. In March 2012, Doctor Solowey
explained to the news organization greenprophet.com:
Voice 4
“Methuselah is now over two and a half meters tall. It has produced flowers. But he is
a male. We are considering breeding him to the closest modern plant relative. This is
the Hiyani date from Egypt. We hope to have fruit within ten years.”
Voice 2
The Methuselah date palm is exciting for medical doctors and historians. But it is also
exciting for people from the Middle East. Doctor Solowey and Doctor Sallon hope that
soon many Judean date palm trees will grow again in the area around the Dead Sea.
22
Voice 1
Today the growing Methuselah Judean date palm tree is planted at Kibbutz Ketura. It
sits, planted in the ground, with a fence around it. This is a major achievement. But
Doctor Solowey and Doctor Sallon are waiting to celebrate. Doctor Sallon tells National
Geographic Magazine:
Voice 3
“We will celebrate when there is peace in the Middle East. We will celebrate when all
people in this area can plant these trees together, and share any medicinal benefits it
brings.”
Voice 2
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘The Two
Thousand Year Old Seed.’.
Voice 1
Hearing Mysterious Infrasound

Voice 1
Voice 2
And I’m Ryan Geertsma. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is
Voice 1
What can this music do to your spirit?
The sound of an organ. The organ is probably the largest of all musical instruments. For
500 years, churches in Europe have used organs. They have a pump and a number of
pipes of different sizes. The pump blows air through the pipes. The pipes make the
sounds. The musician sends the air to different pipes using a keyboard.
23
Voice 2
We can hear most of the sound that an organ makes. But we cannot hear all of it. And
a team of British scientists have said that the hidden part of church music has a strange
effect on us. Today’s Spotlight is on this hidden sound: infrasound.
Voice 1
Some sounds, or musical notes, are so low that we cannot hear them with our ears.
There are high sounds and low sounds. This is the frequency of the sound. Frequency
is not volume - it is not loud or quiet. These very low frequency sounds are called
infrasounds. The word has two parts. The first part comes from the Latin word infra,
meaning below. The second part is sounds - the things that you hear. An infrasound is
lower in frequency than the usual sounds that our ears can hear.
Voice 2
Sounds that our ears cannot hear are real enough. They can be very loud. They can
travel a great distance. But you will not be hearing infrasound now, because your radio
or computer cannot make the sounds. It would be different if you were in the church
standing near the organ. Then the infrasound would be all around you. You would not
hear it with your ears. But you would feel it in your body. Your body would vibrate - it
would move slightly. You would feel the vibrations in your chest especially. Infrasounds
are real sounds, even though the human ear cannot hear them.
Voice 1
Scientists in England did an experiment with infrasound. They tested the idea that
infrasound can produce emotional or spiritual feelings. They built a machine that makes
a very low frequency sound. They hid the machine in a building in London that is used
for musical performances. The building was the Purcell Room. After a performance the
scientists asked the people in the Purcell Room some questions. They found that
emotional and spiritual feelings increased by 22 percent when the infrasound machine
was on. This is strong evidence that the low frequency sound is affecting people. A
scientist from the University of Hertfordshire, Professor Richard Wiseman, was involved
in the research. He told the BBC,
Voice 3
“Some of the experiences of the people listening to infrasound included ‘shaking in the
wrists’ ‘a strange feeling in the stomach’, ‘increased heart rate’, ‘feeling very worried’,
and ‘a sudden memory of some sad event’. This experiment was done under controlled
conditions. It shows infrasound does have an effect. This may explain some of the
unusual experiences people may be having in churches.”
24
Voice 2
These strange effects appear in other places where there is infrasound. Machines that
can make infrasound include airplanes, fast moving cars, and air-cooling devices. Such
sounds may make people feel sick. Sometimes they cause pains in the head or a loss of
balance.
Voice 1
Scientists can also use infrasound to measure distant events. For example, earthquakes
make infrasound. These sounds travel a very long way. Scientists can listen to these
sounds from thousands of kilometres away. Nuclear bomb explosions also create
infrasound. This is how nuclear weapons are controlled. One country can hear the
nuclear tests carried out by another. Infrasound means that no nuclear bomb can ever
be tested in secret.
Voice 2
There is a theory that birds use infrasound to know where they are. Some kinds of bird
fly for thousands of kilometres each year. They are looking for food and a place to lay
eggs. The birds travel by using landmarks such as rivers, islands and coasts. But they
may also use infrasound waves created by the wind and weather. This would help them
to avoid bad weather. It is difficult to test this theory. Birds have wonderful skills for
finding their way around the world. Infrasound is probably only one of several methods
they use.
Voice 1
Another creature using infrasound is the elephant - the world’s largest land animal. The
biologist Katy Payne studies the way that elephants use infrasound. She wrote a book
about African elephants called Silent Thunder. The book shows that elephants can find
members of their family over long distances by using infrasound. One elephant can
signal to another three kilometres away.
Voice 2
The interesting part is the way Katy Payne discovered this infrasound. One day, she was
close to two elephants. The elephants were communicating with deep rumbling sounds.
Payne felt these sounds more than she heard them. It reminded her of being in a church
as a child. It reminded her of what she felt when the church organ was playing its lowest
notes. It was more about feelings than knowledge. Later she was able to use scientific
instruments to prove that the infrasounds were real. She could not hear them through
her ears, but the instruments could measure them. Later, she began a project to record
these sounds. She is trying to understand more about elephant communication.
25
Voice 1
Infrasound shows us that there are things in nature that we cannot hear or see. Our
ears and eyes do not tell the whole story. Few of us would have been able to feel the
sounds made by the elephants. Few of us would have made any sense of the feelings
caused by the church organ, or airplanes. These things help us to remember that what
we can see and hear is not all that there is!
Voice 2
Have you felt infrasound where you live? What caused it? Leave your comments on the
script page for this program.
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Peter Laverock. The producer was Luke Haley. The
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Hearing
Mysterious Infrasound’.
Voice 2
You can also leave your comments on our website. Or you can email us
at radio@radioenglish.net. You can also find us on Facebook - just search for
spotlightradio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
The Rabies Virus

Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Anne Muir.
Voice 2
And I’m Adam Navis. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
Voice 1
A young boy cries out in pain. He wants water. His parents bring it to him. But he is
afraid of it. Saliva flows out of his mouth. His mouth and chin are wet. His eyes roll with
fear. His back lifts off the bed. He is struggling with fear and pain. He sees strange
things. But they are not real. He does not understand what he is seeing. This young
boy is suffering from rabies. And soon, he will die. Today’s Spotlight is on the disease
rabies.
26
Voice 2
Rabies is a very dangerous virus. It is especially damaging because it affects the body
and the mind. Rabies affects a person’s brain and central nervous system. This is the
system of nerves in the body. The first signs of rabies are often physical. A person may
have a fever or a pain in the head. But soon, he or she will begin to experience
neurological signs of the rabies virus. These are problems with the brain.
Voice 1
Some people suffering from rabies cannot sleep. They may feel afraid, anxious, and
confused. They cannot understand normal things. Some people also hallucinate - they
see things that do not exist. Other people become paralyzed - they cannot move. Some
people develop a very wet mouth. They may have problems swallowing. And they may
also become afraid of water. Without treatment, people infected with rabies will die.
Voice 2
Rabies is a problem in many countries, but countries in Asia, Africa and South America
are the most affected. And world-wide, only a few countries are free of the disease.
Experts say that almost 60,000 people die from rabies every year. And 30 to 50 percent
of these are children.
Voice 1
Almost all cases of rabies in humans come from animal bites. This can only happen if
the animal has rabies. Animals infected with rabies do not feel fear. They become very
violent. They attack other animals, spreading the disease. They also try to bite and
attack people. This is how rabies spreads - through the bite and saliva of an animal.
Dogs are the biggest risk in most countries.
Voice 2
Rabies is a serious disease. But it can be prevented. Medical science is a big help.
Vaccines are the most important step in preventing rabies. They protect people from
the disease. People can get the rabies vaccine before or after an attack. If a person gets
the vaccine before the attack, the rabies will not develop. But after an attack it is
important to get the vaccine quickly. The signs of rabies do not appear immediately.
Signs of the disease will usually appear within 20 to 60 days. After an attack, the vaccine
will treat and cure rabies. But it is important to begin the treatment within two days of
a possible infection. After symptoms develop, it is too late for treatment.
27
Voice 1
Unfortunately, victims cannot always get the vaccine. In some places, it is difficult to
get medical treatment. And sometimes people do not know that an animal has bitten
them. This is often the case with bats. Bats are small flying animals. They are only active
at night. If a bat becomes trapped in a house, it might bite a sleeping person. If the bat
has rabies, this is very dangerous. A sleeping person might not know that something
has bitten him. Knowing about rabies can help. If a bat is in your house, check yourself
and your children for bites.
Voice 2
The second step in preventing rabies is animal control. People can become infected
through the dogs that they live with. People and their animals can be infected through
wild animals. It is hard to control wild animals. So, many communities are finding
creative ways to prevent the spread of rabies.
Voice 1
In Jaipur India, as in many places, wild dogs were a big problem. They spread rabies to
local people, and to other animals. So the authorities took action. They sterilized many
of the wild dogs. That is, they stopped the wild dogs from having babies. This reduced
the number of wild dogs. Authorities also treated the remaining wild dogs with an animal
vaccine called V-RG. People can hide this vaccine in food. Animals eat it, and it protects
them from rabies. This way, people do not need to trap the animals. These measures
have prevented many human rabies cases. V-RG has also worked very well in Europe
and in parts of the United States. In these places, authorities use V-RG on other wild
animals, like foxes or raccoons.
Voice 2
In the United States, there is another important prevention method. As in many
countries, many people there like to own dogs. These pets bring their owners a lot of
joy. The government requires that owners treat all young dogs with a vaccine. This
protects the dogs, but it also protects the dog owners! Many local authorities also catch
wild dogs. This helps prevent the disease from spreading.
Voice 1
In the city of Beijing, China, the authorities have a similar plan. Rabies has greatly
increased there over the last ten years. So, to help stop the disease, the government
limits the number of dogs that people can own. Now, people can only own one dog.
And dogs are also banned from public areas. The authorities hope that these actions
will reduce the number of dogs in the city. Other cities have also followed this example.
They believe fewer dogs should result in fewer dog attacks.
28
Voice 2
But some people argue that limiting the number of dogs is not right. Many people do
not want to give up their dogs. And they do not believe that these actions will reduce
rabies. But the authorities hope that fewer dog attacks will result in fewer human cases
of rabies. And some people claim that the remaining dogs will have better care.
Voice 1
All people should be mindful of rabies. Be careful of animals that are acting strangely.
If you own a dog, get your dog vaccinated. And encourage your local government to
take care of wild dogs, and other wild animals. Finally, if you or someone you know is
bitten by a dog or wild animal, get treatment immediately.
Voice 2
What do you know about the rabies virus? Is rabies common where you live? You can
leave a comment on our website. Or email us at radio@radioenglish.net. You can also
find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/spotlightradio.
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Christy VanArragon. The producer was Michio Ozaki.
The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. You can
listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This
program is called “The Rabies Virus”.
Voice 2
Look for our free official app in the Google Play Store and in iTunes. We hope you can
join us for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!
Singing to Save Cape Town

Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
This person is doing something normal. He is singing in the shower! You might do it
too, though you may not admit it. Many people sing in the shower. It is something fun
29
to do while you are cleaning yourself. And some people just enjoy it. But some people
are singing for a very particular reason. These people live in Cape Town, South Africa.
And they are not trying just to enjoy themselves. Instead, they are singing to save their
city. Today’s Spotlight is on the Two Minute Shower Songs Campaign in Cape Town.
Voice 2
Cape Town is one of the largest and oldest cities in South Africa. Part of South Africa’s
government is in Cape Town. And many people visit the city as tourists. It is located
near the Atlantic Ocean. It is a very beautiful and important place.
Voice 1
But Cape Town also does not have much water. It is on the ocean. But people cannot
drink ocean water because there is too much salt in it. And there are no large rivers
near the city. The area is very dry.
Voice 2 To solve this problem, the people of South Africa blocked the flow of water
with dams. Instead of flowing away, the water gathered in one place. This created
several small lakes. Cape Town gets its water from these lakes. As long as they are full,
people have enough to survive. They can use water without thinking about how much
they are using.
Voice 1 But in 2015, there was a drought in South Africa. This period of dry weather
dried up a lot of water. And the lakes did not fill up again. Then in 2016, a second
drought came. There were also droughts in 2017 and 2018. The lakes had very little
water. By 2017 the people of Cape Town understood that this was an emergency. The
government restricted water use for all homes. The situation was very bad. During the
worst part of the drought, the government restricted each person to 60 litres of water
a day. Most people use more than this taking a ten minute shower!
Voice 2 But the government of Cape Town could not force people to use less water.
Instead, they had to persuade the citizens that it was the right thing to do. Cape Town
used many different methods to change peoples’ minds. They gave fines to people who
used too much water. They held competitions, showing which neighbourhood used less
water. And they used a lot of advertising to reach people.
30
Voice 1
One advertisement came from a business called the King James Group. An insurance
company called Sanlam paid for the advertisement. Susan van Rooyen and Moe Kekana
work for the King James Group. They wanted to inform the public about saving water.
But normal methods did not seem effective. So van Rooyen and Kekana thought of a
better way. They started thinking about showers.
Voice 2
To some people, a shower might not seem like it uses much water. But a ten minute
shower can use up to 190 litres! The city government was asking people to take showers
that only lasted two minutes. Van Rooyen and Kekana decided to help people
understand exactly how much time that was. They would not do this by putting up a
big billboard. Instead, they would help people through song.
Voice 1
Van Rooyen and Kekana sent out a request to different South African music artists.
These artists played all different kinds of music. Some, like Desmond and the Tutus,
play Rock music. Others, like Youngsta, record rap music. But Van Rooyen and Kekana
gave them all the same request. They asked these artists to record their most popular
songs again. But these new recordings would all be under two minutes long.
Voice 2
The idea was simple. Many people already sing in the shower. A two minute song would
help people understand how long their showers were. People could make sure they
were done washing in two minutes. And they could have fun doing it too! Van Rooyen
thought this idea is better than traditional advertising. She told the news website Quartz
Africa:
Voice 3
“People do not like advertisements that make them afraid, like the warnings on cigarette
packs. They want to rebel against them. If you give them a tool that is already part of
their daily life, it is much easier for them.”
Voice 1
31
In the end, ten different artists recorded two minute songs. Van Rooyen and Kekana
created an album of these songs in only two weeks. They released the whole album for
free in November of 2017. The King James Group also created a website called
twominuteshowersongs.com. All of the two minute songs are available there. The
website also tells visitors other ways to save water. It tells people how to use the songs.
It says:
Voice 2
1 - Start the song and turn up the volume.
2 - Get into the shower and start singing along.
3 - Switch off the shower when you soap up.
4 - When the song ends, so should your shower.
Voice 1
The two minute shower songs campaign was a great success. The worst of the crisis
ended in November of 2018. There were strong rains that winter. And the lakes filled
to a safer level. Cape Town still restricts water usage. But the city will not run out of
water. It may experience another crisis. But now people know what to do in times of
water shortage. They have resources like the two minute shower songs. And they have
a culture that is willing to save water. Hellen Zille is the Premier of the Western Cape.
She told the news organization Deutsche Welle:
Voice 4
“I cannot think of any country that has reversed a crisis like this so quickly. In fact,
there is no water crisis. But we must continue the water-saving behaviour. We cannot
relax and use water like we did before. Climate scientists say the weather is now more
difficult to predict. And we do not know when there will be another drought. Saving
water has become our greatest priority.”
Voice 2
Have you ever had to save water? What creative methods would you use? What songs
would you like to hear made into two minute shower songs? You can leave a comment
on our website. Or email us at radio@radioenglish.net. You can also comment
on Facebook at Facebook.com/spotlightradio.
Voice 1
32
The writer of this program was Dan Christmann. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Singing to
Save Cape Town’.
Voice 2
Visit our website to download our free official app for Android or Apple devices. We
hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
Bringing Animals Back to Life
May 5, 2019
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Luke Haley.
Voice 2
And I'm Robin Basselin. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is
Voice 1
Imagine standing in a large city. You are surrounded by people and buildings. The sky
is blue. The sun is shining. Suddenly, you hear a sound far away. It sounds like a storm.
But that is not possible. There is no storm.
Voice 2
You look up. There in the sky, you see a dark cloud. It is not a storm cloud. It is a cloud
made of birds - millions and millions of birds. It is more birds than you have ever seen
before. This cloud of birds is so large that it takes more than an hour for the birds to
pass over you.
Voice 1
These birds are passenger pigeons. In the 1800s, they were the most common birds in
all of North America. It was common to see large groups of passenger pigeons - groups
that made a sound like a storm. There were groups of pigeons so large that it took
hours for them to pass a single place.
33
Voice 2
But there was a problem. For many years, people destroyed the forests where passenger
pigeons lived. People also hunted passenger pigeons for food. And today, there are no
passenger pigeons anywhere in the world. The last passenger pigeon died on September
1, 1914. Passenger pigeons are extinct.
Voice 1
Today, some scientists want to bring passenger pigeons back to life. These scientists
believe it is possible. They would do this using new technology and scientific ideas. They
call this process de-extinction. Today's Spotlight is on the possibility of de-extinction.
Voice 2
Passenger pigeons are only one extinct animal. There are many more. Millions of years
ago, a very large animal lived on earth. This animal was the woolly mammoth. It was
the same size as an elephant. It was covered in thick, dark hair. It had large, white,
ivory teeth called tusks. Scientists think that woolly mammoths began to disappear
because the earth’s climate changed. They did not have enough food. However, they
also died because of people. Ancient humans hunted and killed woolly mammoths.
Humans used the tusks to make weapons and tools. Humans also ate woolly mammoth
meat. Together, climate change and hunting killed all the woolly mammoths.
Voice 1
Passenger pigeons and woolly mammoths demonstrate an important problem. It is a
problem that still exists today: humans can cause extinction. You may remember other
Spotlight programs about endangered species. These are kinds of animals that are in
danger of becoming extinct. When an animal is endangered, there are very few of that
animal left on earth. This often happens because of human behaviour. People have
caused large changes in the places animals live and the food they eat. People also hunt
some of these animals for money or food. And if the remaining endangered animals die,
they will become extinct.
Voice 2
Elephants, small koala bears, and large albatross birds are endangered animal species.
All of them are endangered because of people. However, people have also tried to solve
this problem in many different ways. Laws protect endangered animals from hunters.
Other laws protect the forests and land where these animals live. Some endangered
animals are kept in separate, safe places, called sanctuaries.
34
Voice 1
Some scientists believe that de-extinction may be another solution to this problem. They
hope that new technology and scientific knowledge will help them bring some extinct
animal species back to life.
Voice 2
De-extinction has not happened yet. It is still just an idea. The process of de-extinction
is very difficult. First, scientists must collect DNA from the bodies of extinct animals.
This genetic information is what makes every kind of animal different. DNA provides the
information scientists need to bring an extinct species back to life.
Voice 1
Scientists and researchers kept many passenger pigeon bodies. They use these bodies
to collect and study passenger pigeon DNA. An animal's DNA is in every cell of its body.
Scientists can collect DNA from very small parts of the dead pigeons. They can take this
DNA and put it in the eggs of similar animal species, like rock pigeons. When these rock
pigeons become adults, they will have babies. But these baby birds will not have the
DNA of rock pigeons. They will be passenger pigeons.
Voice 2
Passenger pigeons are not the only animals scientists want to bring back to life. They
believe it is also possible to bring back woolly mammoths and many other animals.
However, not everyone thinks this is a good idea.
Voice 1
Stuart Primm is the world's leading expert on modern animal extinction. He works to
save endangered animals. But he believes that there are many problems with de-
extinction. He believes that bringing extinct animals back to life is bad for the earth. He
believes these animals no longer have a safe place to live. They could cause other
animals to die. In an article for National Geographic News, he wrote,
Voice 3
"The science of changing DNA simply does not address the core problems. At worst, it
makes organizations wrongfully think that they are saving the world. People can hide
their selfish reasons for development. They simply promise to fix things later. It makes
us think about less important things - instead of protecting our planet's biodiversity for
future generations."
35
Voice 2
Many other scientists do not agree with Stuart Primm. They still believe that de-
extinction is important. Stuart Brand is a writer and scientist. He believes de-extinction
is good for many reasons. He believes it is just as important as protecting endangered
species. He believes it can fix the harm humans have caused in the past. He wrote,
Voice 4
"The current generation of children will experience the return of some remarkable
creatures in their lifetime. It may be part of what defines their generation and their
attitude to the natural world. They will take their parents to zoos to see the woolly
mammoth and growing populations of captive-bred passenger pigeons, and maybe even
dodo birds. This will provide a good deal of money for zoos busy with extinct species
revival and restoration. Humans killed off a lot of species over the last 10,000 years.
Some resurrection is in order. Good results for everyone might come with it."
Voice 1
How do you feel about de-extinction? Is it a good answer to an important problem? Or
does it create more problems than it fixes? Tell us what you think. You can leave a
comment on our website. Or email us at radio@radioenglish.net. You can also comment
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Ryan Geertsma. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The
adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can hear this program again, and
read it, on the Internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, "Bringing
Animals Back to Life."
Voice 1
review!)
36
Exploring Deep Caves
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Adam Navis.
Voice 2
And I’m Anne Muir. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
Voice 1
A team of people stand in near darkness. The only light comes from the lights attached
to the hard helmets on their heads. They are trying to decide what to do. They have
been exploring deep under the ground. The cave they are travelling through has become
smaller and smaller.
Voice 2
They are about to go deeper into the cave than anyone has gone before. They make
sure they have power for their lights. The first person must move like a snake to get
through the small spaces. He must bend his body into strange shapes to move around
the rocks. He does not know if the cave will get smaller around his shoulders. He may
need to go back at any moment. But there could be no room to turn around.
Voice 1
But suddenly, the space grows wider. The person calls back for the rest of his team to
follow. He has found a beautiful cave. He starts to set up lights. They shine on a lake
of beautiful green water and amazing rock formations. His team joins him. They stand
in silence and awe as they all look around at something that no other person has ever
seen before. Today’s Spotlight is on exploring the world’s deepest caves.
Voice 2
People have used caves for thousands of years. Caves were humans’ first shelter from
weather and wild animals. People stored food in caves. Today, people use caves less as
homes. But in some places people do still live in caves. Caves are often naturally cool
places. So people still often use caves to store things that need to stay cool. People also
dig for rocks and minerals in caves. And some cities even get their water from caves.
Voice 1
But caves used this way are near the surface of the earth. Some caves are much, much
deeper inside the earth. These caves are less useful. In fact, exploring these deepest
caves is not about shelter or storing things. It is about discovery!
37
Voice 2
Carlos Edmundo Cortez Zorrilla is from San Luis Potosí, in Mexico. He has been exploring
caves for more than ten years. He explained to the website Great Big Story,
Voice 3
“I love going back down into deep caves that I have been to before. It is always a new
experience. It is always different. It is like opening doors to the unknown. And for me,
that is very fulfilling... All caves are different. You find different things in each... It is
something I do every day. I connect with nature, with the caves. I get to know places
that almost nobody has been to. I have been doing this for many years now. I like it a
lot.”
Voice 1
There are caves in every part of the world. Many of these caves connect through cracks
in the underground rock. They form connected cave systems. There are cave systems
in every part of the world, including China, Mexico, Europe, Central America, and North
America.
Voice 2
Imagine a mountain so tall it seems to touch the sky. Now imagine people living next
to that mountain, but never knowing about it. This seems impossible. But this is what
it is like to live near a very deep underground cave. Many of the world’s caves go down
into the earth farther than mountains go up. People walk right on top of them, but never
go into them. Many people do not even know they are there.
Voice 1
Part of the reason for this is because exploring a cave is very dangerous. It has all the
dangers of climbing a mountain, but in the dark. A helicopter could rescue someone off
a mountain, but there is no similar way to rescue someone in a cave.
Voice 2
There are many risks in exploring a cave. One big risk is falling. Sometimes caves go
straight down. The only way to enter them is to drop down on ropes for hundreds of
metres. If something goes wrong, these falls can kill a person. There is also a risk of
being hit by a falling rock.
Voice 1
Caves also get very cold. People must prepare for the cold. If they do not, they can
suffer hypothermia. When a person has hypothermia, her body is dangerously cold. She
may stop moving or thinking well.
38
Voice 2
The risks that may frighten people the most are the risks of losing light or getting lost.
But people can avoid these risks by being well-prepared and careful. Experienced cave
explorers know to bring extra batteries for lights. They never explore a cave alone. And
they know to be careful about how far they go. But there is one kind of cave that can
frighten even experienced cave explorers: river caves.
Voice 1
The country of Slovenia has some of the world’s largest river caves. The Reka River
drops into the earth. But it does not end. Under the ground, it continues to create caves
and lakes. Thirty-eight kilometers later, the river comes back out of the ground in Italy.
Katarina Kosic Ficco is a Slovenian cave explorer. She told National Geographic,
Voice 4
“River caves are amazing because they let the visitor go underground and float the lakes
and giant rivers. He goes where the sun does not shine. He can observe the amazing
power of water in action. He can see aquatic cave animals in their natural environment.
And he will enjoy the beauties of cave formations at the same time.”
Voice 2
People and caves have a long history. Caves are places of safety. But they also are
frightening places. The deep darkness of the caves connects to our deepest fears: fears
of being lost, fears of being alone, fears of the unknown mystery. People both want to
explore caves and are frightened to enter them. But, we know that even after people
have mapped every square metre of the earth, we have only touched the surface. There
is another world just below our feet.
Voice 1
What about you? Are there caves near where you live? Would you like to explore them?
Tell us what you think. You can leave a comment on our website. Or email us
at radio@radioenglish.net. You can also comment on Facebook at
Facebook.com/spotlightradio.
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Adam Navis. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices
you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Exploring
Deep Caves’.
39
Voice 1
Look for our free listening app in the Google Play Store and in iTunes. We hope you can
join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
New Ways to Fight Malaria
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 3
“I felt like lightning was going through my legs. It spread through my body and in my
head. Probably the worst headache, body aches, and chills you could imagine. It felt
like I was being hit again and again by an electric shock gun. It was difficult to control
my movements. The pain was so intense. I believed I was dying. I was crying out in
pain so bad that I was taken to a 24 hour hospital at 3:00 am.”
Voice 1
This is a description of the sickness malaria. It is from Coumba Makalou, a reporter. She
got malaria while working in her home country of Mali.
Voice 2
People in many areas of the world suffer with malaria every day. But is there a way to
stop it? Today’s Spotlight is on new ways to fight malaria.
Voice 1
Malaria is a sickness carried by a small insect called a mosquito. Mosquitoes bite people
and drink their blood. When a mosquito carrying malaria pulls blood out, parasites from
the mosquito enter the human. These microscopic parasites will spread through the
human. The human will get very sick. An infected person can have a fever, headaches,
or damage to the inside of the body. Malaria can be very dangerous. People can die
from the disease.
Voice 2
40
Malaria is most common in warm, wet places where mosquitoes live. Malaria exists
across the world — from Brazil to China, and from Vietnam to large parts of the African
continent. Half the world’s population is at risk of malaria. And over 200 million people
suffer from malaria every year.
Voice 1
People usually fight malaria in three ways. The first way is to use chemicals to kill
mosquito populations where malaria is common. The second way is for people to sleep
under bed-nets. These finely-woven materials protect sleeping people from mosquitoes.
The third way is for people to take medicines to protect or heal themselves. These are
all valuable and effective ways to protect people.
Voice 2
Many places have been malaria-free for many years. But malaria is a very difficult
disease to kill. In several places, the malaria parasite has even adapted and changed.
For example, a common medicine, called Chloroquine, no longer works to treat the
disease in some places. Scientists made a new medicine called Mefloquine. But the
malaria parasite adapted to resist this medicine also. This has also happened with
several other medicines.
Voice 1
Because of this, scientists are trying ways to fight malaria that do not involve people
taking medicines. They are trying to find new and creative solutions to this difficult
problem.
Voice 2
The first solution deals with information. It is difficult to know where a malaria outbreak
will happen. If scientists can have better information, they will know where to attack
mosquito populations. Mobile phones are making it easier and faster to get good
information. Greg Noone wrote about this for the website ‘How We Get to Next’,
Voice 4
“With increased smartphone use across Africa and South Asia, we are able to ask local
people the right questions. Were they bitten by mosquitoes last night? Did they sleep
under a net? Did it rain recently? Answering these questions has become much, much
easier.”
Voice 1
41
Spraying chemicals to kill mosquitoes costs a lot of money. By increasing the amount of
information, countries may be able to react more quickly and directly to malaria
outbreaks. This will not stop all malaria. But it could greatly decrease the effect on
people.
Voice 2
The second way that scientists are trying to fight malaria is through genetic engineering.
Genetic engineering lets people change the genes of a plant or animal. These changes
can make crops need less water. Or they can make animals bigger. A new tool, called
CRISPR/Cas9 lets scientists change the order in genes.
Voice 1
The organization Target Malaria hopes to use this technology to make male mosquitoes
unable to reproduce. Target Malaria would use the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to make
all new mosquitoes unable to make more mosquitoes. It would take several generations,
but this would kill all the mosquitoes in an area.
Voice 2
However, getting people to approve this process is not easy. Communities are unsure
about trying something that has never been tried before. Genetic engineering is an
especially difficult problem. Even if the technology is good, people may not want it.
Tony Nolan is one of the leaders of Target Malaria. He said,
Voice 5
“We are still early in developing this. Any public use is a long way away. It will not
happen without local approval after talking to local people.”
Voice 1
The third solution to malaria may be the best. It uses a kind of bacteria called Wolbachia.
A mosquito carrying Wolbachia bacteria cannot infect people with malaria. Wolbachia
can also make male mosquitoes unable to reproduce. So, scientists infect mosquitoes
with Wolbachia in laboratories. Then they release these mosquitoes in areas known for
malaria. The mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia infect other mosquitoes and spread the
bacteria. Scientists have done trials of this method in Brazil, Colombia, and the United
States.
42
Voice 2
If this method works, it could be good for people and mosquitoes. Normally, after a
malaria outbreak, people try to kill the whole mosquito population. This is also true for
other diseases that mosquitoes carry, such as ebola, dengue fever, and the zika virus.
However, scientists need to be very careful. Even small changes can have a big effect.
If we kill off large populations of insects, it will produce other changes too. Alison Isaacs
works from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She told The Atlantic,
Voice 6
“It will be important to investigate if the genetically engineered bacteria could spread
beyond mosquitoes. We will need to identify all the risks.”
Voice 1
Malaria causes a lot of pain and death for people around the world. But some solutions
raise a lot of questions. For example, what are the wider results of killing a whole
species? Is it right for people to destroy all of one kind of creature? Should people be
able to change genes in mosquitoes? These are questions people will have to answer.
Voice 2
What do you think about these questions? Have you ever had malaria? Tell us what you
think. You can leave a comment on our website. Or email us at radio@radioenglish.net.
You can also comment on Facebook at Facebook.com/spotlightradio.
Voice 1
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘New Ways
to Fight Malaria.’
Voice 2
43
Lawrence Anthony: Elephant Whisperer
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Mike Procter.
Voice 2
Voice 1
In South Africa a group of elephants starts to walk slowly across the land. These large
grey animals walk for more than 12 hours. Their long noses or trunks move from side
to side as they walk. This group or herd of elephants goes to the home of their human
friend. They have not been there for about two years. But they seem to sense that
something has happened.
Voice 2
Something has happened - their human friend has just died. The elephants seem to
mourn his death. They seem to be honouring him. But who was this man? And why was
he special to the elephants? Today’s Spotlight is on this man. His name was Lawrence
Anthony. Many people called him ‘The Elephant Whisperer’. He was a friend to many
wild animals.
Voice 1
Lawrence Anthony lived in Zululand, South Africa. He was a conservationist. He worked
to protect wild animals and the places they live. He owned a game reserve called Thula
Thula. This very large area of land is used to protect wild animals. Such animals do well
in game reserves because they can live in their natural environment.
Voice 2
In 1999, an animal organisation talked to Lawrence Anthony. They told him about a
herd of elephants. These elephants were a big problem. They were very dangerous.
They charged, or ran at vehicles and people. The elephants were so dangerous that the
authorities would have to kill them. But Anthony did not want that to happen. He wanted
to save the elephants. So he decided to give them a home at Thula Thula.
Voice 1
The elephants arrived at Thula Thula in a big truck. They were released into a special
area for keeping animals. This area had strong fences. The elephants would get an
electric shock if they touched the fence. But still the elephants escaped.
44
Voice 2
Anthony had to find the elephants. They had left the safety of Thula Thula. Other people
would shoot the elephants if he did not find them. After many days he found them. But
they had destroyed more property. And they had charged at another man. They were
very dangerous.
Voice 1
Anthony brought the elephants home to Thula Thula again. This time he tried something
different. He decided to live with the elephants!
Voice 2
He lived and slept by the elephants for many weeks. But he did not go too close. The
elephants got angry if he came too near. But Anthony would sing and talk. He did this
for a particular purpose. He wanted the elephants to trust him. He told the BBC World
Service:
Voice 3
‘I would walk around talking to myself. I tried to get them used to my voice. Sometimes
I would sing. I would be there for weeks.’
Voice 1
After a little while the elephants let him come closer to the fence. He talked to them as
if they were people. He told them they were in their new home. He told them that they
would be happy. He wanted to persuade the elephants to stay in Thula Thula.
Voice 2
The leader of the elephants was a female called Nana. Nana was the matriarch. Anthony
concentrated his efforts on her. As the weeks passed Nana let him move nearer and
nearer. Then one day she put her long trunk through the fence. Anthony moved closer.
She reached out. And Nana touched Anthony with her trunk! She had accepted him.
Anthony said that everything changed after this happened. He discovered that all the
other elephants accepted him too. He told the BBC World Service:
Voice 3
‘I began to understand that once the matriarch makes a decision she communicates it
to the herd. The next day there was no tension. The elephants were calm.’
45
Voice 1
That day Anthony released the elephants from the fenced area. This was a big decision.
If the elephants left Thula Thula they would be shot and killed. But it worked. The
elephants knew how to escape. But they chose to stay.
Voice 2
Anthony formed a very special link with the elephants. They became very close. They
were friends. His son, Jason, told BBC Radio 4:
Voice 4
‘He could stand and call to them. And call and call and call. And they would come and
touch him. An amazing relationship!’
Voice 1
Anthony had a special relationship with elephants. But he wanted to protect other
animals too. In 2003, he saw television news of the bombing of Baghdad, Iraq. He knew
that there was a big zoo there. He discovered that no-one planned to save the zoo
animals. So he decided to save them himself!
Voice 2
He flew to Kuwait. There he collected supplies. He drove to the border of Kuwait and
Iraq. The guards at the border were very surprised to see him. Iraq was a war area.
Everyone else was trying to leave Iraq. But Anthony was trying to enter. He explained
that he was going to rescue the zoo animals. The guard said that the idea was insane.
But he let Anthony into Iraq.
Voice 1
Anthony got to Baghdad. He saw ruined buildings. And he heard gunfire. There was still
fighting in the city. But Anthony found the zoo. It was wrecked. Anthony saw many
dead animals. Flies were all around them. Other zoo animals had been eaten by local
people. But dangerous animals such as lions and tigers had survived. However these
animals were deeply shocked. And they were starving.
Voice 2
Anthony and some helpers immediately began to save the animals. Anthony bought
donkeys to feed the zoo animals. He paid zoo workers to return to work. It was hard
work repairing the zoo. Soon American soldiers started to help. A few weeks later former
Iraqi soldiers helped too. These men had been killing each other on the battlefield only
recently. Anthony told the BBC:
46
Voice 3
‘American soldiers were fighting during the day. They put down their weapons at night.
Then they would come across to the zoo and help. I was watching American soldiers
and Iraqi soldiers both working to help these animals. Completely amazing.’
Voice 1
Anthony stayed in Baghdad for six months. When he left the animals were healthy and
the zoo was clean. The zoo had been saved.
Voice 2
Anthony’s work protecting animals could be dangerous. But he learned a lot from
animals. In his book ‘Elephant Whisperer’ he explained:
Voice 3
‘They taught me that all life forms are important to each other. There is more to life
than just yourself, your family, or your kind.’
Voice 1
The writer of this programme was Katy Blake. The producer was Nick Mangeolles. The
adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can find our programmes on the internet
at www.radioenglish.net. This programme is called ‘Lawrence Anthony: Elephant
Whisperer.’
Voice 2
We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight programme. Goodbye.
review!)
Norway’s Mountain Rules
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Bruce Gulland.
Voice 2
Voice 1
47
A large flat rock extends like a part of a floor over a beautiful blue lake. There are
mountains in the distance. People stand on the rock to take pictures in this famous place
in Norway. It is called Trolltunga. In English this means “Troll’s Tongue”. This large rock
hanging over the lake looks like a tongue.
Voice 2
Trolltunga was formed by large pieces of ice a long time ago. Visitors often walk for
seven to twelve hours to visit this special place. But some people never reach Trolltunga.
They have to return to where they started. Others arrive but become sick or injured.
And some visitors have even died. These different experiences have led many people
to discuss important rules for walking in nature. Today’s Spotlight is on some of these
rules - Norway’s mountain rules.
Voice 1
People all over the world enjoy walking in nature and hiking through forests and fields.
In Norway, there are two main rules that are important for people who spend time
outside. In the Norwegian language they are: allemannsretten and fjellvettreglene.
Voice 2
Allemannsretten is often called the freedom to roam or wander. It means that you can
walk any place in nature you would like. However, you must respect nature and other
people. The freedom to roam has been a tradition in Norway since ancient times. But
allemannsretten became an official part of Norway’s Outdoor Recreation Act in 1957.
Voice 1
The parts of allemannsretten are simple. You can sleep anywhere, but you must stay
more than 150 meters away from the nearest house. And if you want to sleep more
than two nights in the same place, you must ask the people who own the land if they
will let you stay. Most important, you need to respect nature, wildlife, and the local
people. Norway is not the only country that has that idea. The right to roam is also
found in Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Latvia, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.
Voice 2
Sometimes hikers get into trouble when they use their right to roam. They walk into
dangerous situations and need to be rescued. People often experience this problem at
Trolltunga. Erlend Indrearne is a guide to Trolltunga. He shared with the BBC how
people are often unprepared for the weather and for the difficulties of hiking:
48
Voice 3
“At least one or two people in every group turn back. Many of them come unprepared
and do not understand how intense nature is here. Or they come with no respect and
leave their waste everywhere.”
Voice 1
This is why Norway’s second rule, fjellvettreglene, is still very important. Fjellvettreglene
is known as Norway’s “mountain rule.” A Norwegian hiking group and the Red Cross
introduced this idea in 1967. It was in response to a few accidents where people died
while hiking.
Voice 2
Fjellvettreglene encourages people to have a healthy and respectful relationship with
nature. There are nine main rules in this mountain code. The rules encourage people to
plan their trip, report where they go, bring the right equipment, and seek shelter if
necessary. One of the most important points is to not feel shame if you must turn
around. Expert guide Indrearne told the BBC:
Voice 3
“Fjellvettreglene taught us that nature does not care about how we feel. We should
show as much respect and take as much care as possible. Think about the hike to
Trolltunga, for example. For people who are not experienced hikers, this is considered
extreme. Not many people know that. For Norwegians, we are hikers. We grew up with
this nature. We know how powerful it can be.”
Voice 1
But some people learn this lesson the hard way. Addie Minnis and her friends hiked
Trolltunga in 2015. She wrote about her experiences on the internet. Visit Norway also
shared her story to help hikers make better choices. Minnis wrote that they did
everything wrong. She and her friends wore the wrong shoes and the wrong clothes for
the weather. They did not research Trolltunga before traveling there. They did not know
what to expect with the land and the weather. Minnis and her friends put themselves in
danger because they did not prepare. Visit Norway shares part of the troubles:
49
Voice 4
“They were warned that rain and fog would make the trip difficult. And they were
warned that they started too late. But Minnis and her friends wanted to prove that they
could reach the mountain edge and back before sundown. If conditions are hard, the
trip can take up to ten hours to complete. That is a lot more than the two hours they
had thought it would take.”
Voice 2
Minnis and her friends thought that they did not have to listen to other people or plan
for their trip. But they were wrong. The weather was too cold. She began to get
hypothermia. This is a medical emergency caused when a person loses more body heat
than she produces. Minnis wrote on her blog how she felt when she saw how much
danger they were in:
Voice 5
“I was very afraid. I have never been close to getting hypothermia, and I thought I was
going to die. When the cold gets to the point where you cannot feel any of your fingers
or toes, it makes you understand that you can die.”
Voice 1
Minnis and her friends are not the only visitors who have made mistakes at Trolltunga.
In 2016, rescuers helped injured and tired hikers 40 different times. These issues led
Norwegians to add more help at Trolltunga. Area officials added watchmen along the
trail. They also improved paths and added new bridges. These changes helped reduce
rescues to only 21 in 2017.
Voice 2
In Norway and other countries, people enjoy nature. However, people must also
remember the mountain rules: Respect nature, prepare yourself, and do not be afraid
to turn back.
Voice 1
Do you have rules for walking in nature? Does your country have rules about these
places? Tell us what you think. You can leave a comment on our website. Or email us
50
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Lauren Anders Visser. The producer was Michio Ozaki.
The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom and the United States. All quotes
were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program
again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called,
“Norway’s Mountain Rules.”
Voice 1
Visit our website to download our free official app for Android and Apple devices. We
Alejandro Aravena: Good Housing for All
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
On February 27, 2010, the country of Chile experienced a major earthquake. For three
minutes, the ground moved violently. Cities all over the country felt the effects. The
earthquake caused major damage to buildings, roads and bridges. And it killed hundreds
of people. It was one of the strongest earthquakes officials ever recorded.
Voice 2
For cities like Constitución, Chile, the disaster did not end when the earth stopped
shaking. Eighteen minutes after the earthquake began, a tsunami hit the coast. A six-
meter-tall wave of water crashed onto the city. It flooded Constitución and caused even
further damage.
Voice 1
A few weeks later, Alejandro Aravena visited the city of Constitución. He rode in a
helicopter, high above the ground. From the sky, he could see the wide- spread damage.
Aravena is an architect. He designs buildings. Government officials and a local business
brought Aravena there. They hoped he would help rebuild the city.
51
Voice 2
After seeing the damage, Aravena knew he wanted to help. Since that time, Aravena
and his organization ELEMENTAL have redesigned and rebuilt the city of Constitución.
But he has also designed other cities in need. Today’s Spotlight is on Alejandro Aravena
and his desire to produce good housing for all people.
Voice 1
Alejandro Aravena studied architecture in his home country of Chile. He later continued
studying architecture in Italy. Since then, he has designed many famous, large, and
beautiful buildings in Chile, the United States, Mexico, China, and Switzerland.
Voice 2
But Aravena wants to do more than just design beautiful buildings. His goal is to help
provide good housing for poor communities in the world’s cities. The world’s cities
continue to grow at a very fast rate. Aravena recognizes that this will cause a major
housing crisis in cities around the world. In 2014, Aravena gave a TED talk speech. In
the speech, he explained,
Voice 3
“By the year 2030, five billion people will live in cities. Two billion of those people will
be living in poverty. That means, for the next 15 years, we will have to build a one-
million-person city every week. And we will only have $10,000 dollars to spend for each
family. If we do not solve this problem, people will not stop coming to the world’s cities.
They will still come. But they will live in slums, favelas, and other unofficial and poor-
quality communities.”
Voice 1
Because of this problem, Aravena decided to start an architectural organization called
ELEMENTAL. ELEMENTAL is a “Do Tank.” You may recognize the term “Think Tank”. A
“Think Tank” is an organization that ‘thinks’ of new solutions to problems. But Aravena
calls ELEMENTAL a “Do Tank” because ELEMENTAL wants to do more than just ‘think’
about solutions. It wants to ‘do’ something to solve the problem of poor quality housing
in the world’s cities.
Voice 2
ELEMENTAL wants to design homes that are good quality. But they want their designs
to be easy to build, copy, and use in many parts of the world. Aravena told the New
York Times news organization,
Voice 3
52
“We do not think of ourselves as artists. Architects usually like to build things that are
unusual and different. But if something is unusual, it cannot be repeated. So, it has
close to zero value for serving many people in many places.”
Voice 1
ELEMENTAL produces good quality social housing through ‘incremental’ housing. It is a
process that moves in increments - small steps - toward progress. They design complete
homes and communities. However, they design their homes knowing that they will only
build half of the home at first. Building only half the home keeps the original cost of the
home low. Families that live in ELEMENTAL homes must promise to build the second
half of the home. It may take months or years for the family to save enough money to
build the rest of the house. However, they can live in the small, good-quality home until
they are able to pay for the remaining part. The people build these communities slowly
over time. But the end product is a very high quality community.
Voice 2
ELEMENTAL and Aravena redesigned the city of Constitución using this ‘incremental’
approach. They also spent a lot of time listening to the people of Constitución. Aravena
believes that good design is more successful when the people are involved in making
decisions. When redesigning Constitución, many leaders and officials wanted to build a
large wall along the coast. They wanted to protect the new city from future tsunamis.
However, most of the people did not want this wall. Tsunamis were very rare. The
people were more worried about yearly flooding and a lack of community green spaces.
Voice 1
So, Aravena proposed another idea. He suggested not building the wall. He also
suggested not rebuilding the tsunami-damaged area. Instead, he suggested making this
area a public park ― a place where the citizens of Constitución could enjoy nature. In
the future, if a tsunami or flooding happened, the public area could flood. But no homes
would be in danger.
Voice 2
Constitución is only one example of Aravena’s social housing design. ELEMENTAL has
designed and built low-cost housing for many communities. And in 2016, Aravena
announced that ELEMENTAL would release their designs to the public ― for free. During
a press release at the United Nations headquarters, Aravena announced,
Voice 3
“We put all the plans and information of the successful projects that we have done so
far on the Internet. They will be public knowledge.”
53
Voice 1
Aravena’s social approach to architecture is different. But many experts have noticed
his work. In 2016, officials gave Aravena the Pritzker award. This is the world’s highest
award for architecture. When the Pritzker officials announced that Aravena was their
2016 winner, they explained why.
Voice 4
“The job of the architect is now being challenged to serve greater social and human
needs. Alejandro Aravena has clearly, freely and fully responded to this challenge.”
Voice 2
Is good, low-cost housing a problem in your city? Do you think ELEMENTAL’s
‘incremental’ housing plan would work well where you live? What ideas do you have for
solving the world’s growing housing crisis? Tell us what you think. You can leave a
comment on our website. Or email us at radio@radioenglish.net. And find us
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Robin Basselin. The producer was Bruce Gulland. The
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, “Alejandro
Aravena: Good Housing for All.”
Voice 2
You can also get our programmes delivered directly to your Android or Apple device
through our free official ‘Spotlight English’ app. We hope you can join us again for the
next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
Life in the Chernobyl Zone
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Ryan Geertsma.
Voice 2
for people to understand - no matter where in the world they live.
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Voice 3
“You have got to go in spring. It is just full of trees and birds and insects. And it has
accidentally become this huge wild, natural area. There is nothing like it. It is a
completely special place. And most of it is just beautiful."
Voice 1
Andrew Blackwell is a reporter. He writes about the environment. Here, he is telling the
news organization NPR about a beautiful, wild place. But this place is also very
dangerous. It is the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Today, this area is in the countries of
Ukraine and Belarus. Many years ago the world’s largest nuclear accident happened
here. But what has happened in this zone since the nuclear accident? How can it be so
beautiful and yet so dangerous? Today’s Spotlight is on the Chernobyl exclusion zone.
Voice 2
In 1986 there was a terrible accident. There was an explosion at a nuclear power plant
in the former Soviet Union. The Chernobyl power plant made energy using radioactive
chemicals. Radiation is very dangerous. It destroys living things. People who are near
radiation get radiation sickness. If it is serious, people die from radiation sickness. Some
radiation sickness can be treated but it is still very painful. Radiation can also cause
cancer. This can happen many years after the person has been near the radiation.
Voice 1
The Chernobyl nuclear accident created a big cloud of radioactive dust. The radiation in
this dust spread across Europe. But it was most dangerous in the area near the
Chernobyl plant. So the government made the area around the power plant into an
exclusion zone. They put a border around 1,000 square miles. This land had very high
levels of radiation. It was not safe for people to live there. Four hundred thousand
people left their homes. They could not take anything with them – everything was
covered with radioactive chemicals.
Voice 2
After the accident, people left the exclusion zone. But plants and animals stayed. No
one knew what would happen. Many people thought the animals would die. Or the
animals might have other health problems like cancer. Other people thought the plants
and animals would grow strangely - with body parts that did not form correctly.
Scientists have found some of these problems. But not as many as they expected.
55
Voice 1
The power plant was near a city named Pripyat. All the people in this city left in 1986.
But the city does not look empty. Pripyat is full of plants. Trees grow inside buildings
and in the middle of the city square. Green branches cover buildings. Tree roots break
through the roads. Colourful flowers grow wild. The town looks fresh and alive.
Voice 2
Plants are not the only things living in the exclusion zone. Birds build nests. Rivers are
full of fish. Large animals like moose, bison and horses run freely. And in the empty
towns and countryside there are many wolves. These wild animals look like dogs.
Voice 1
But are these plants and animals in the zone healthy? After the Chernobyl accident the
radioactive dust became part of the soil. The soil and water in the zone are full of
radioactive chemicals. Plants use this soil and water to grow. So the chemicals enter the
plants. Then, animals eat the plants and became full of radioactive chemicals too. Their
organs and bones have radiation in them.
Voice 2
Scientists come to the zone to study the area. They want to see how the radiation
affects the plants and animals. One group of scientists studied the wolves. The television
program PBS Nature explains why the wolves are so important:
Voice 4
“The state of the wolf population says a lot about the whole environmental area. Wolves
are the top hunters here - they eat many other animals. So they can show us about the
radioactivity across all of Chernobyl.”
Voice 1
Wolves eat many other animals. In the zone, this means that the wolves are eating
animals full of radioactive chemicals. The scientists wanted to learn how this affects the
wolves. So they followed the wolves. They looked at what they ate and where they
lived. They found that the number of wolves in the zone is growing. The wolves are
even having babies in the zone. In total, scientists found about 120 wolves in the zone.
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Voice 2
Some scientists even think the zone may be a good place for wolves and other animals
to live. There isradiation. But there are no people. Humans hunt, farm and mine. They
build cities and put dams in rivers. This often decreases the population of animals and
plants. Without people the plants and trees are growing very fast. In some areas, animal
populations are also growing.
Voice 1
Does this mean that the radioactive zone is a healthy place for animals to live? Scientists
have different opinions about this. Professor Tim Mousseau of Canada leads a scientific
research team. They study the environment in the zone. He says that the radiation
makes it a difficult place for animals. He told the BBC:
Voice 5
"Many people come here expecting it to be like the moon. So when they see trees, and
birds and a few animals, they are surprised. They think, 'Well maybe it is not so bad'.
But we are finding a big effect on the number of different animals in the zone. And
these numbers are directly related to the level of radioactivity. In areas of high radiation
there are only about half as many animals."
Voice 2
Dr. Jim Smith has a different opinion. He has been studying Chernobyl for 20 years. Dr.
Smith told the BBC that the damage to animals in the zone may not be so serious:
Voice 6
"Now the people have moved out the results are clear. Normal human activity did much
more damage than the radiation left by the accident. Whether radiation is damaging
wildlife in Chernobyl is still an open question."
Voice 1
The future for the wildlife in the zone is still not clear. Dr. Mousseau says it is important
for people to know what happens in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. People can learn
about the effects of radiation over many years. He told the BBC that scientists will
continue to study this zone:
Voice 5
"This place gives us the chance to do research that we cannot do anywhere else in the
world. It is very important for us to do more of these studies. We will be back next
spring."
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Voice 2
The writer of this program was Rena Dam. The producer was Mark Drenth. The voices
at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called ‘Life in the Chernobyl Zone’.
Voice 1
Black Mambas, Women Protecting South Africa
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 3
“Lots of people say - how can you work out in the wild when you are a woman? But I
can do anything I want. Many other people, especially young women like us, they want
to join us. I am a woman. I am going to have a baby. I want my baby to see a rhino.
That is why I am protecting it.”
Voice 1
Leitah Michabela said this to The Guardian newspaper. Michabela is part of a group in
South Africa called The Black Mambas. They work to protect wild animals, particularly
one special animal - the rhinoceros, or rhino. Today’s Spotlight is on The Black Mambas
of South Africa.
Voice 2
South Africa is a large and beautiful country. Like many countries, it has some special
areas that are kept only for nature. People do not live in these game parks or reserves.
The areas are separated to protect the plants and animals there. These include large
elephants, tigers, lions, and many kinds of smaller animals too. Rhinos also live there.
These large grey animals have large pointed horns on their face.
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Voice 1
Rhinos are protected by the laws of the country. But people still hunt them. Some people
think that the rhino horn has special powers. They will pay a lot of money for it. Because
of this, people illegally kill, or poach, rhinos in South Africa’s game reserves. Now, there
are not many rhinos left. If people do not stop killing them, in ten years, there will be
none.
Voice 2
In Kruger National Park in South Africa, the park officials have worked for a long time
to stop poachers. Like other National Parks, they employed male rangers with guns to
patrol the park. These rangers would shoot or arrest anyone that they found trying to
kill the rhinos. The punishment for poaching a rhino is up to 20 years in prison. There
is also a fine of over $100,000.
Voice 1
But even with punishments and armed rangers, the rate of rhino deaths in Kruger Park
was still very high. Authorities needed another solution to save the rhinos. So they
formed a new group in a nearby area called Balule Nature Reserve. This group has
reduced trapping and poaching in their area by 76 percent!
Voice 2
This new force is made up only of women. They are named the Black Mambas after a
deadly kind of snake. The Black Mambas do not carry guns. Instead they concentrate
on protecting the animals and natural environment in the Park. Siphiwe Sithole is one
of the Black Mambas. She explains to The Guardian why her group is so important:
Voice 4
“There were men rangers carrying guns. But still the rhinos were being killed and lots
of animals were being poached.
I think they said ‘Let us start something and add women and see what happens.’ Women
are more loyal to their jobs. So they feel very strongly about what they do.”
Voice 1
In 2013 the Park employed 26 women from the surrounding community. The women
come from poor communities around the Park. Before they begin, they receive military
training and wildlife education. They learn methods to follow poachers’ footprints and
to take apart traps.
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Voice 2
Since 2013, the Mambas have patrolled the metal fence which marks the Park area.
They watch for poachers. They remove traps, or snares, set by poachers. And they
report everything they see. The Mambas also go into the community. There, they
educate people, especially children, about protecting animals.
Voice 1
And the women of the Black Mambas have made a big difference. The Guardian says in
the six months before they began, 16 rhinos were killed in Balule. In the year after the
Black Mambas started, only three rhinos were killed. Siphiwe Sithole says:
Voice 4
“The Black Mambas are winning the war on poaching. We have zero acceptance of rhino
poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. The poachers will fall - but it will not be with guns
and bullets.”
Voice 2
People all over the world have noticed the Black Mambas’ success. The New York Times
published pictures of them. They won an award from the UK organization Helping
Rhinos. And the UN gave them the Champions of the Earth prize in 2015 for their
courage. The Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Achim
Steiner said:
Voice 5
“Their many successes are a result of their great courage and strong desire to make a
difference in their community. The Black Mambas are an inspiration, not only locally,
but across the world to all those working to stop the ugliness of the illegal wildlife trade.”
Voice 1
Winning awards like this shows people that it is possible to prevent poaching. It also
shows local people that the Black Mambas are valuable. Mamba Felicia Mogakane
explains:
60
Voice 6
“It is about knowing that people in South Africa love and are thankful for what we are
doing. They are so happy that there are Mambas. Some years ago, they used to say
this job is for men. Now there are women who are working to protect the wildlife. It
means a lot to us and makes us continue to do our job when we know that people are
behind us, supporting us. If I were not doing this, I would be sitting at home without a
job. Jobs are limited in South Africa. So this is a big chance for me because I am able
to take care of my family.”
Voice 2
The Black Mambas are doing important work to save rhinos. But they are also doing
important work in their communities. They are supporting their families by earning
money. And people respect and honour them because of the work that they do. The
Black Mambas show that communities and nature can work together. They bring hope
for both people and animals in South Africa. We close our program today with the words
of another Mamba, Collette Ngobeni, who shares her hope for the future:
Voice 7
“If we work together as a community we can solve this problem. People need to open
their minds and their hearts. It is not about money. It is about our culture, our future.”
Voice 1
The writer of this programme was Rena Dam. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The
adapted for this programme and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program
again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This programme is called
‘Black Mambas, Women Protecting South Africa’
Voice 2
You can also leave a comment on our website. Or email us at radio@radioenglish.net.
And find us on Facebook - just search for Spotlight Radio.
Voice 1
Look for our free listening app in the Google Play store and in iTunes. We hope you can
join us again for the next Spotlight programme. Goodbye.
61
Finding Your Food
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
Sergei Boutenko was 13 years old. His family decided to go on a long hike. They planned
to walk for many days through forests and mountains. They would carry everything they
needed. They planned everything well. But a few days into their hike, the family had no
more food. However, they did have a book that identified which plants they could eat.
They survived by eating plants they found. Boutenko explains in his book about finding
food,
Voice 3
“Wild food grew everywhere along the trail, so it soon became the main thing we ate.
By the end, most of our diet was wild plants. All of the new plants we used in our meals
were fresh and very good for our bodies. We were amazed how much we enjoyed the
flavor of our food and always looked forward to the next meal. In short, discovering
wild food let us successfully finish our hike.”
Voice 2
This event started Boutenko’s love for finding food in nature. There are many people
just like him in many parts of the world. They love to forage or search, for food. Foraging
can save money, improve health, and change how people see the world. Today’s
Spotlight is on foraging for food.
Voice 1
For most of human history, people did not get their food from a store. There were no
large factory farms that put food in boxes and cans. People ate the food they grew on
their own land. They hunted wild animals. And many people want to return to this way
of living.
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Voice 2
Foraging has become popular in recent years. People like Boutenko understand that
there is food all around us. People have just forgotten how to see it. Brigit Anna McNeill
teaches people how to forage. She also writes on her blog about foraging and how it
connects people to the earth.
Voice 4
“There is a lack of connection in our modern lives. It cannot be replaced with the latest
iPhone, dress, bag, shoes or party. Many people live and work surrounded by concrete
and steel. They eat processed foods. This limits contact with nature. Eating and
gathering wild food brings me to nature. I know when I am eating more wild food, I
feel more alive. I think of food as the greatest medicine and wild food is full of so much
goodness that it heals me from the inside.”
Voice 1
People who forage for food say there are many benefits to foraging. The first is that it
can be very fun to do. Walking through nature is good for everyone. Children especially
love to find plants they can eat. It can feel like hunting for treasure. It is a wonderful
way for families to spend time together.
Voice 2
Foraging can also save money. No matter where you live in the world, people spend a
lot of money of food. Foraging can reduce the amount of money spent of food.
Voice 1
And eating wild food both tastes good and is good for you. It is healthy food. There are
berries, fruits, mushrooms, seeds, ocean mussels, flowers, and spices and herbs that
grow wild. And wild food grows everywhere. You can forage no matter where you live.
Voice 2
Foraging can also change the way you see the world. When you can walk through a
park or a forest and see food all around you, it changes you. People who forage are
able to see that the world is not a frightening place. It is full of life. Everything we need
to live has been provided for us.
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Voice 1
If you want to start foraging there are a few steps you should follow before you start
eating what you find. First, find an experienced forager. Not all plants are edible. Some
can make you very sick. An experienced forager will help you know which plants are
safe to eat. Many places around the world have foraging groups or clubs. People in
these clubs forage together. They share knowledge and information about what plants
are good to eat and what plants to avoid.
Voice 2
Second, get a good guide book. A good guide book will identify all the edible plants
where you live. It will have pictures of the plants. It will also tell you what parts of the
plant you can eat. Plants have leaves, roots, stems, flowers and fruit. Just because you
can eat one part does not mean you can eat all parts.
Voice 1
Third, learn the common poisonous plants in your area before you begin to forage. This
will help you feel more comfortable foraging. And before you eat any plant you find,
you should know it is completely safe to eat. Never guess if a plant is safe or not.
Voice 2
Fourth, use all of your senses to identify plants you find. Plants smell, feel, and look
different from each other. Use all of these senses to identify a plant.
Voice 1
Finally, foragers must remember a few simple rules for foraging. Robin Shreeves wrote
about foraging in Finland for the website Mother Nature Network. She suggested a few
general rules to follow when you forage.
Voice 5
“For your own safety, know how to correctly identify edible plants. Many plants can be
poisonous. If you are in an area that has been sprayed with chemicals, like a public
park, the edge of a farm, or someone's back yard - those wild plants could be covered
with chemicals. Also, take only what you will use. Leave at least half, even if you could
use more. Do not step on other plants to get to your desired food. And make sure you
have permission to forage on the land. If you are on private property or publicly owned
property such as a park or nature area, foraging may not be permitted. Finally, if a plant
has damaged leaves, mold, dark spots or other signs of being unhealthy, do not eat
from it.”
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Voice 2
Foraging can be fun, save money, and make you healthy. But some people do not like
the idea of finding their own food. Do you think you would like to try foraging for food?
Do you already forage for food? Tell us about your experiences. You can leave a
comment on our website. Or email us at radio@radioenglish.net. You can also comment
Voice 1
you heard were from United States and The United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted
for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read
it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Finding Your Food’.
Voice 2
Visit our website to download our free official app for Android and Apple devices. We
Rain of Fish
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
Lajamanu, Australia. Less than 700 people live in this small town. February 25, 2010,
began as a normal day. However, it soon became a day that was definitely not normal.
Voice 2
It began to rain. Water poured down heavily from the sky. But there was also something
strange in the rain - living fish. Christine Balmer lives in Lajamanu. She was walking
home when the fish began falling from the sky. She told reporter Richard Shears:
65
Voice 3
“The fish fell in their hundreds and hundreds everywhere. The local people were running
around everywhere collecting them. The fish were all alive when they hit the ground.
So they would have been alive when they were up there flying around the sky. When I
told my family, who live in another part of Australia, about the fish falling from the sky,
they thought I was insane.”
Voice 1
This sounds like a very strange experience. And yet, it is more common than you may
think! Throughout history, people have written about animals that fall from the sky.
Some records from about 2,000 years ago tell about fish and frogs falling from the sky.
People call events like these “animal rain”. There is one place on earth where animal
rain is common. This place is the city of Yoro, in Honduras. In fact, in Yoro, fish fall from
the sky in May or June every year.
Voice 2
The people of Yoro call this particular animal rain “lluvia de peces”. In the Spanish
language, this means “Rain of Fish”. The rain of fish begins with a lot of heavy rain. The
skies are gray. The wind moves quickly. The storms can last up to three hours. But after
the storm passes, the fish cover the streets! The fish are small and silver-colored. They
are even still alive. People can collect the fish to eat.
Voice 1
But where have these fish come from? People who have studied them say the fish are
freshwater fish. That is, they do not come from the ocean, but from rivers or lakes. The
fish are also all blind. They have eyes, but they cannot see. This leads some researchers
to believe the fish usually live under the ground.
Voice 2
There are some theories about where the fish come from. One theory does not come
from science. It comes from a story. This is a story about a Catholic priest. His name
was Father Jose Manuel Subirana. He lived in Yoro from 1856 until 1864. In Yoro, Father
Subirana saw people starving. He felt concerned by this and he wanted to help. So
Father Subirana prayed to God for three days and three nights. He prayed for a miracle
- that God would give the people of Yoro food. The story says that after Father
Subirana’s prayer ended, a storm began. During the storm, fish rained from the sky.
Since that time, the rain of fish comes one time every year to the city of Yoro.
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Voice 1
Other people have more scientific explanations of the rain of fish. One theory is that the
animals move themselves from their homes onto the ground during the storm. Then,
when the storm ends, they are not able to return back to their homes. This theory does
explain some parts of the rain of fish. It would explain why the fish are blind. If they
came from under the ground, they would not need to see.
Voice 2
Or, one theory is that the rivers flood very quickly when the rains appear. Fish move
through the water onto the land. But when the water drains back into the rivers, the
fish are caught on the ground. It may seem like the fish have come from the sky, but
they have really come from floods.
Voice 1
Another theory is that water spouts carry the fish. This is the theory most scientists
believe. They believe water spouts cause most animal rains. Water spouts are similar to
tornadoes. But they are not as strong as tornadoes. Water spouts are areas of fast-
moving wind. This wind is strong enough to lift small animals, like fish, from the water.
So, during a storm, a water spout forms over the water. It gathers fish from the water
into the clouds. Then the clouds travel across land, following normal weather
movements. Finally, the storm ends. The fish drop to land.
Voice 2
This theory does explain how most animal rains happen. However, this theory does
have some problems. Many people do not believe the rain of fish in Yoro comes from a
water spout. That is because most animal rains are random. That is, they do not happen
often - or year after year. The rain of fish in Yoro happens every year, near the same
time. And it has happened for over 100 years in this way!
Voice 1
Many people report that researchers have observed the rain of fish. National Geographic
magazine sent these researchers to Yoro in the 1970s. The researchers found no clear
explanation for the rain of fish. Today, experts still cannot explain Yoro’s rain of fish.
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Voice 2
But people in Yoro do not need a scientific explanation. They know that their city is
special. In 1998 they began celebrating the rain of fish with a festival. The date of this
festival is not always the same. It depends on when the rain of fish happens! People
gather together after the rain of fish. They have a parade through the streets. In the
parade they carry an effigy, or model, of Father Subirana. They remember that he
prayed to God for food. The festival also includes a carnival. People everywhere in the
city celebrate.
Voice 1
People may never know the scientific reason behind Yoro’s rain of fish. But the people
of Yoro do not seem to need a scientific explanation. They call it a miracle.
Voice 2
you heard were from the United States. All quotes were adapted for this program and
voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet
at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called ‘Rain of Fish’.
Voice 1
The website also has many other Spotlight programs, our word list, more information,
and comments from other listeners. If you have a comment or question about any
Spotlight program you can email us at radio@radioenglish.net. Or you can leave a
comment on the script page of the program on our website, radioenglish.net.
Voice 2
You can also find us on Facebook - just search for Spotlight Radio. We hope you can
review!)
Hope for the Oceans
Voice 1
Voice 2
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Voice 1
Dr. David Vaughan works in his laboratory. It is located at Mote Tropical Research
Centre in Florida, in the United States. Dr. Vaughan’s laboratory is not a small room like
other laboratories. He works outside by the ocean. Vaughan is a marine biologist. He
works with very small creatures that live in the sea. People may not think this work is
very important. But Dr. Vaughan has a question for such people. He asks:
Voice 3
“Do you like to breathe?”
Voice 2
All life on earth depends on life in the ocean. Human activities have been destroying
ocean life for many years. But now there is some good news for the oceans. Today’s
Spotlight is on Dr. Vaughan’s work with underwater animals called corals.
Voice 1
Many people think that coral is a plant or a shell. But corals are small animals that live
under the ocean. These animals group together. They create beautiful shells made of
minerals. This shell can grow in many colours and shapes. It can look like a wrinkled
brain or a cabbage. It can even look like a tree or grow into tall, round pillars.
Voice 2
Many coral shells together are called a coral reef. Reefs are found in more than 100
countries around the world. The largest and most famous is the Great Barrier Reef. It
is off the north-eastern coast of Australia. This reef is thousands of kilometres long.
Coral reefs can be large but they are also very delicate – it is easy to destroy them.
Voice 1
A lot of the world’s coral has died. This is mostly because of changes in the environment.
People pollute the water and cause changes to the oceans. Rising carbon dioxide levels
are making the ocean hotter and more acidic. People also overfish - they catch and
remove the fish that support coral.
Voice 2
The World Resources Institute did a study of coral reefs in 2011. They found that 60
percent of the world’s coral reefs are threatened. And they think that by 2030 more
than 90 percent will be in danger.
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Voice 1
This would be very bad for the earth. Coral reefs are not just beautiful underwater
areas. They are also homes for thousands of different species of creatures. This includes
many kinds of fish, plants, and other underwater animals.
Voice 2
Reefs are important to land too. Corals provide a barrier for many coastlands. Reefs
protect land from high water and strong winds. They can stop damaging forces before
they hit the coast.
Voice 1
And reefs are good for people too. Recently, scientists have found that parts of coral
can be used to treat diseases such as cancer, arthritis, asthma, and heart disease.
Voice 2
Finally, Creatures on land – including humans - need underwater creatures like coral to
be able to breathe. The plants in the ocean produce most of the world’s oxygen gas.
These plants depend on coral for protection and particular chemicals.
Voice 1
Scientists like David Vaughan have worked for decades to find ways to protect the coral
reefs. Vaughan is over 60 years old. He has seen the coral reefs decrease over his
lifetime. This made him very sad. But one day, he discovered something new to him. It
was a very simple technology. And it changed everything for him. In a video published
by The Atlantic, Dr. Vaughan said:
Voice 3
“Ten years ago I was planning to work for two more years. But when we saw that there
was this new technology for restoration, I had to stay working until it was done.”
Voice 2
The new technology that Dr. Vaughan discovered is called “micro-fragmentation”. This
technology works with micro-fragments - very small broken-up pieces. Scientists break
the corals into small pieces. The coral grows very quickly using its own natural healing
process. Using micro-fragmentation, corals grow 25 to 50 times faster than they would
in other situations.
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Voice 1
Dr. Vaughan discovered this process accidentally. One day he broke an old piece of
coral apart. He thought it would die but it did the opposite! Vaughan told the Herald
Tribune about it.
Voice 3
“I picked up the coral, expecting to see it was worse. But it had completely grown over
a hole the size of a large coin. From birth, it took that coral two years to grow to that
size and it had grown back in two weeks.”
Voice 2
Dr. Vaughan’s team is now producing thousands of corals by micro-fragmentation. They
work mostly with the coral in Florida Reef Tract, on the south-eastern coast of the US.
They grow the coral in large tanks of water in his research laboratory. Then they put
them back into the ocean. They attach the new corals to old corals that have died. Some
of the new planted coral has died. But most of it continues to grow. And Dr. Vaughan
and his team are learning more every day about how to make the new coral successful.
Voice 1
These fast growing corals are an amazing new hope for oceans. But Dr. Vaughan himself
also brings hope. Many people who are Dr. Vaughan’s age stop working and retire. But
he is continuing to work. Lindsay Arick works with Dr. Vaughan. She talked to the AARP
- an organization in the United States for people over 50 years old. In a video, she said:
Voice 4
“Dr. Vaughan has seen the coral reef destroyed even more than any of us has. He saw
it when it was beautiful. Now I may see it when I am Dr. Vaughan’s age the way he
saw it when he was my age! So we are going to switch the generations. I can finally
see what the reef looked like 60 years ago compared to now.”
Voice 2
Dr. Vaughan says that he will not stop working until there are a million corals back on
the reef. He thinks this can be done in three to five years. He tells the AARP why he
thinks his method will be successful. He says:
Voice 3
“People think that we have ruined this planet with technology. But with technology we
can bring it back.”
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Voice 1
Have you ever seen coral in real life or pictures? What do you think people can do to
protect areas of coral? Tell us what you think on our website. Or email us
Voice 2
The writer of this programme was Rena Dam. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The
adapted for this programme and voiced by Spotlight. You can hear this program again,
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This programme is called “Hope
for the Oceans”.
Voice 1
Growing Chairs
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
Have you ever walked through a field of trees? What did you see growing there? Was
it fruit? It may have been something like apples or oranges or pears. But in one farm in
England, there is a very different kind of field of trees. These trees do not produce fruit.
In fact, they do not make anything you can eat. This farm is growing furniture! There
are lines of trees growing into chairs, tables, lamps, mirror frames and other useful
things for a home.
Voice 2
Gavin Munro is the person growing these chairs and other things. His project is called
“Full Grown”. Today’s Spotlight is on this special project of growing trees into furniture.
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Voice 1
Gavin Munro grew up in the United Kingdom. When Munro was a small boy, he had
many medical operations. These operations made the bones in his back straight. After
each operation he could not move very much. He had to be very still while the bones
healed. As a boy, he had a lot of time to look at the forest outside his window. He
remembers one particular tree. It was a wild tree, but it had grown into the shape of a
chair.
Voice 2
Years later, Munro’s back was fixed. But he still thought about that tree shaped as a
seat. Munro liked to make furniture. He used the wood that washed up on the sand
after floating in the ocean. But then he had another idea. He told The Guardian news
organization:
Voice 3
“Why do we cut the trees down, then make them small, then stick them back together
again? We can just start from growing the tree from the beginning.”
Voice 1
Munro wanted to make chairs and tables in a very different way. On the Full Grown
website he writes:
Voice 3
"I was left with the desire to do more than just to make things as beautifully as I could.
I wanted to make the whole creative process as simple and elegant as possible."
Voice 2
Traditionally, making furniture is a complex process. Large trees are cut down. Trucks
take the cut trees to mills. Mills cut and dry the wood. They may even cut the wood
again into smaller pieces. These pieces go to stores. The stores sell the pieces to people
who again cut and shape them into what they are making. This process takes many
people and a lot of energy. It also produces a lot of wasted wood every time a piece
gets cut smaller.
Voice 1
Munro wanted to change this process. He wanted to make things slowly, in a way that
did not waste wood. And he wanted his way to take care of the environment. He told
the Guardian:
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Voice 3
“When you look at the process from a manufacturing point of view and from a design
point of view, it makes total sense. Why would you grow trees and do all the extra
work? Why not just grow the shape you want? You can make thousands of chairs the
same way as you can make ten. But each one is different.”
Voice 2
But how do you grow a chair? Munro begins by planting a young tree. Then he shapes
it around a plastic guide as it grows. He cares for the tree. He moves it and cuts the
extra parts off of it. He ties some of the branches together. After a time, the branches
begin to grow together to form the shape of a chair. The process is very slow and very
complex. Munro explains that,
Voice 3
“What we are doing is neatly organizing a small forest. I am only making 50 or so pieces
a year. But for every 100 trees you grow, there are 1,000 branches you need to care
for. There are 10,000 parts of trees you have to cut at the correct time. It is an art form
just organizing everything.”
Voice 1
It took Munro a long time to test how to grow trees into chairs. It takes about four to
eight years to grow a single chair. And there were also problems he could not have
expected. Early in this project, cows ran through the property. They damaged many of
the young trees. This delayed the project.
Voice 2
The good news for Munro is that people like his chairs. So many people want to buy
one of his chairs that there is a waiting list. Some people like the process Munro uses.
Other people like the beautiful chair. Munro thinks that people should not have to
choose. He believes the chairs will not just be useful but also comfortable. He says they
could last longer than furniture made in other ways. The chairs grow in one solid piece
so there are no joints, nails, or glue that can break apart.
Voice 1
Munro’s chairs currently cost a lot of money. People who buy them believe they are a
work of art more than something to sit on. One of Munro’s early chairs is even on display
in the National Museum of Scotland. But Munro hopes that as his company expands,
the cost of the chairs will come down.
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Voice 2
This could take time. But Munro has learned to be patient. He learned patience as a
child recovering in the hospital. He learned that results take time. But he used his
experience do something new and creative. Shaping trees into chairs takes a lot of time.
Not everyone would be patient enough. Munro also wants his business to do well. He
has created other products that take less time to grow. These include lamps, mirror
frames, and tables. But he wants to work with nature, not against it. He says,
Voice 3
“The trees are growing and all we are doing is shaping the ends as it grows along. The
secret is to let the tree grow and just guide it as you go along. That is the beauty of it.
It is so simple.”
Voice 1
What about you? Have you ever had to wait for something you wanted? Was it worth
the wait? Tell us what you think. You can leave a comment on our website. Or email us
Voice 2
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called ‘Growing
Chairs’.
Voice 1
Look for our listening app in the Google Play Store and in iTunes. We hope you can join
us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
Fire Safety
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Adam Navis.
Voice 2
And I'm Anne Muir. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
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Voice 1
We use it to cook. We use it to heat our homes. Using it, we can see in the dark. And
for thousands of years people have sat around it telling stories. What is this thing? It is
fire.
Voice 2
Fire is very helpful. But it is also extremely dangerous. Today's Spotlight is on using fire
in a safe way.
Voice 1
Fire can cause a lot of damage. It can reduce a home to nothing but ashes. Even when
a fire does not burn a whole house, the damage from smoke can ruin clothing, food,
books, and pictures. When people use water to fight a fire, the water can damage floors,
walls, paper, blankets and beds. But fire causes more than just damage to things. Even
worse, fire can kill people.
Voice 2
Still, many people need to use fire in their daily activities. But there are ways to use fire
safely. Here are a few ways people use fire, and how to use it safely.
Voice 1
The most important thing to do when you use fire is to use your head and think about
what is happening around you. This is very simple, but very important. When we are
around something often, we can become careless. If you have a fire in your house for
cooking or heating, look around for possible dangers. Is there anything near that could
catch on fire? Are children playing too near the heat? Knowing what is happening around
you is an easy way to stay safe.
Voice 2
Smoking cigarettes can also be a fire danger. Many fires begin when cigarettes fall on
to furniture or beds. Cigarettes are small, but they burn at a temperature of 700 degrees
Celsius. This is more than hot enough to burn paper, cloth, or skin. When you are done
smoking, always make sure the cigarette is no longer burning.
Voice 1
In the same way, be careful if you use candles. The small fire from candles is good for
seeing in the dark, especially without electricity. They can also create a romantic
atmosphere for love. But do not let your romance cause you to forget about them! If a
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candle falls, it can burn for a long time. This gives it plenty of time to light other things
on fire.
Voice 2
Cigarettes and candles are small fires that can grow out of control. But it is even easier
to lose control of a large fire. Many people deal with unwanted leaves, branches, or
waste by burning them. These things burn very easily and quickly. A fire like this can
get out of control in seconds. If you are going to burn waste or leaves, follow these
rules.
Voice 1
Make sure you are away from buildings and people. Do not burn things on a windy day.
The wind can blow the fire out of your control. Have dirt, sand, and water around to
put out the fire if it gets too big. Do not burn everything at once. Instead, add things to
the fire slowly. But most importantly, make sure someone is watching at all times.
Voice 2
Any of these common acts can cause a dangerous fire. But being prepared can save
lives and limit damage. One way to prepare for a fire is to create an escape plan for
each member of your family. If there is a fire in your home, you can follow the plan.
Decide on a path for each person that leads them out of the home. Then choose a place
where everyone will meet together. Make sure it is far enough away to be safe. But it
should be close enough to get to quickly. Try your plan by acting it out. Then you can
be sure that everyone knows what to do.
Voice 1
There are also some things that can make your home safer. See if these things are
available in your area.
Voice 2
Smoke detectors are small electronic devices. A smoke detector makes noise if it senses
smoke. Because smoke rises, these are placed high up in most rooms. Putting these in
your home will signal you to the first sign of a fire. If a fire starts when you are sleeping,
the noise of the smoke detector will wake you from sleep.
Voice 1
Fire extinguishers are another good tool for fighting fire. They all look similar. They are
cans with a handle and a tube. People use them to put out fires. But not all fire
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extinguishers put out the same kind of fire. Here are the three main kinds of fire
extinguishers.
Voice 2
Class A fire extinguishers are for fires from wood, cardboard, and plastics. They use
water to put out fires. These are the most common fire extinguishers.
Voice 1
Class B fire extinguishers are used for liquid sources like gasoline, grease, and oil. They
use a white substance to put out fires. If you use a Class A extinguisher on a Class B
fire, you will spread the fire and make it worse.
Voice 2
Class C fire extinguishers are for fires from electricity. If you use a Class A fire
extinguisher on a class C fire, you risk giving yourself, or someone near you, an electric
shock.
Voice 1
If you are caught in a fire you should try to cover your mouth with a wet cloth. Breathing
in smoke can harm your mind. It can cause you to stop thinking clearly. Also, stay low
to the ground. Heat and smoke rise up. Near the ground, it is cooler and there is less
smoke.
Voice 2
If you do catch on fire, you need to remember three steps. First, stop. Do not try to run
away. Second, you need to drop. Fall onto the ground. And third, roll. Roll around on
the ground. This movement cuts off air from the fire and will make it go out. So
remember: stop, drop, and roll.
Voice 1
Fire is very useful. No other creature on earth has learned to use fire the way humans
have. However, fire can be like a wild animal. It can get out of control and do damage
to people and property. But following rules for fire safety can make it more likely that
you and your home stay safe.
Voice 2
Have you ever experienced a fire that got out of control? Tell us about it. You can leave
a comment on our website. Or email us at radio@radioenglish.net. You can also
comment on Facebook at Facebook.com/spotlightradio.
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Voice 1
you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. You can listen to this
program again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is
called, “Fire Safety”.
Voice 2
Look for our free listening app in the Google Play Store or in iTunes. We hope you can
Extreme Survival
Voice 1
Voice 2
And I’m Mike Procter. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is
Voice 1
A young man is trapped on a mountain. He is alone. A young woman is lost in a forest.
She is also alone. Both face death. And both work hard to survive. Today’s Spotlight is
on these two young people and how they survived extreme accidents.
Voice 2
In April 2003 Aron Ralston was 27. He lived in Utah, in the United States. He loved to
hike, to take long walks in nature. On April the 26, he went alone. He climbed into a
deep, narrow valley. But then he had an accident. A huge rock fell down the mountain.
The rock landed on his hand, crushing it. Ralston was trapped.
Voice 1
Ralston had not told anyone where he was going to walk. So he knew that no one would
be searching for him. People did not usually hike in the area. He knew that he would
die if he could not free his hand.
Voice 2
He tried to move the rock. He wanted to release his hand. He tried very hard. But he
could not move the rock. Finally, on the second day, he considered cutting off his arm.
But he only had a small knife. It would not cut through the bones in his arm.
79
Voice 1
He struggled to escape for five days. By then he had no more water to drink. He was
very weak. And he could not think clearly. He thought he was going to die. So he wrote
his name on the side of the mountain. And he recorded a final message for his family.
Then he went to sleep.
Voice 2
The next morning he was still alive! He was very surprised. Suddenly he had new
energy. He had a new idea. He decided to use his own body weight to break the bones
in his arm. Then he cut off his hand with his small knife. It took him a long time to cut
his hand off. And it was very painful. But at last he was free.
Voice 1
But Ralston was still not safe. He was almost 13 kilometres from his car. And he had no
telephone. So he had to go and find help. He climbed down a 19 metre mountain wall.
Then he started to walk out of the valley. The sun was hot. And he had no water to
drink. He was also losing a lot of blood.
Voice 2
But then he found a group of people. It was a family who were on holiday. They helped
him. They gave him water to drink. Finally, he was rescued. It was only six hours after
cutting off his arm.
Voice 1
Later doctors fitted a false hand to his arm. It includes special climbing tools. So Ralston
can still go climbing. He has climbed many mountains since the accident. But now he
always tells people where he is going.
Voice 2
In December 1971 Juliane Koepcke was 17. She and her mother were flying home for
Christmas. The airplane was over Peru. But the airplane flew into a very bad storm. The
airplane went up and down. Then lightning hit it. The engines stopped, and the airplane
began to fall towards the ground. When it was three kilometres above the earth, it broke
into pieces.
Voice 1
Koepcke was still tied into her seat. She fell through the air alone. All she heard was the
noise of the wind going past her ears. Then she hit the ground very hard. The seat
80
saved her from being killed. But she suffered a broken bone in her chest. She had deep
cuts on her body. And she could not open her right eye.
Voice 2
Koepcke had landed in the Amazon rain forest. She looked for her mother. But she could
not find her. She heard rescue airplanes above the trees. But the forest was very thick.
So she could not see the airplanes, and rescuers could not see her.
Voice 1
But Koepcke knew how to survive in the forest environment. Her parents were scientists.
They studied birds and animals that lived in the rain forest. And Koepcke had lived in
the rain forest with her parents.
Voice 2
She found a very small river. And she began to walk in it. She followed the direction the
river flowed. She knew it would bring her to people. It also provided her with clean
water to drink. However, Koepcke had no food. She only had a few sweet candy treats.
Voice 1
She avoided snakes by walking in the water. But she could not avoid insects. They bit
her a lot. And the bites became infected. It was very hot and wet in the day. And it was
very cold at night.
Voice 2
By the tenth day, Koepcke was very weak, and very lonely. She began walking near a
larger river. Then Koepcke saw a big boat. She thought she was dreaming. She went to
touch the boat. It was real! Near the boat was a shelter. This discovery gave her new
hope. She knew there must be people in the area.
Voice 1
Several hours later some men returned to the shelter. They worked in the forest, cutting
trees. They cared for her injuries. And they gave her food. The next day they took her
down the river to find help. The boat trip took seven hours.
Voice 2
Koepcke’s father was waiting for her. They held each other. They still did not know if
Koepcke’s mother was alive. There had been 92 passengers and crew on the airplane.
Later they discovered that Koepcke was the only survivor of the crash.
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Voice 1
More than 40 years later, Koepcke spoke to reporter Tom Littlewood. She told him,
Voice 3
‘I had bad dreams for many years. The sadness about my mother’s death and that of
the other people came back again and again. The thought ‘Why was I the only survivor?’
never leaves me. It never will.’
Voice 2
Koepcke now lives in Germany. She returns to Peru every year. She loves the rain forest.
And she works to protect it.
Voice 1
Ralston and Koepcke both had advantages in these situations. They were both young
and strong. They both had experience being in wild places. But they had something else
in common too. They both had a strong desire to survive. Do you think that you could
survive in situations like these?
Voice 2
The writer of this programme was Joy Smith. The producer was Nick Mangeolles. The
adapted for this programme and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this programme
again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called
‘Extreme Survival’.
Voice 1
To hear another program about extreme survival, visit our website. We hope you can
(Get our app for Android or for iOs. Let us know how you like it and write a review!)
Sea Women of South Korea

Voice 1
Voice 2
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Voice 1
A woman walks to the beach on Jeju Island, South Korea. She is going to work. The
woman wears a black wetsuit that covers her whole body. She has a mask on her face
to keep water out of her eyes. She dives deep down into the water. She does not have
an oxygen tank. She holds her breath. The woman gathers shellfish from the bottom of
the ocean. Then she swims back to the surface with her catch. She will do this up to
100 times this day. And she is 70 years old! This woman is part of the haenyeo. In
Korean this means sea women. There are thousands of haenyeo on Jeju Island. Today’s
Spotlight is on these strong women of the sea.
Voice 2
Jeju Island is mostly made of black volcanic rock. Before modern farming equipment,
people could not grow much food here. So, they dove into the sea for food. Many
creatures live in shells deep in the ocean. The people of Jeju ate and sold this shellfish
to support their families. But by the 1600’s many men from Jeju left the island. They
went to fight or to work on ships. The work of diving for shellfish became a job for
women – the haenyeo.
Voice 1
The money earned from the haenyeo’s shellfish trade is a large part of Jeju’s economy.
But being a haenyeo is also a way of life. They have a deep respect for the ocean. They
also have a close connection to each other. And the haenyeo hold a special place in
Korean society. Here, it is not common for women to do physical work as the main
support for their families.
Voice 2
A haenyeo’s work is very physically and mentally challenging. The sea is very cold. It
moves with currents and waves. In the past, women dove in light cotton clothing. Today,
the haenyeo have diving masks and wetsuits. But these smell very strongly. And the
women are often sick from the sea. Working in the ocean is also very dangerous. They
dive up to six hours a day. The haenyeo must hold their breath for up to two minutes
at a time. Diving can cause injury and even death. The New York Times reports that in
the last ten years more than 40 haenyeo have died.
Voice 1
This danger is one reason why the number of haenyeo is decreasing. Many modern
Korean girls do not want to do such dangerous, physical work. The New York Times
reports that in the 1960’s, there were 26,000 haenyeo. There are now only about 4,500.
And the working haenyeo are growing old. Eighty-four percent of them are over the age
of 60.
83
Voice 2
But people are interested in haenyeo culture, both in South Korea and around the world.
Brenda Paik Sunoo lives on Jeju Island. She wrote a book called Moon Tides: Jeju Island
Grannies of the Sea. She explains to the travel website Roads and Kingdoms:
Voice 3
“Over the past 15 years or so, the respect for the haenyeo has risen. The haenyeo’s gift
is not just economic. It is social. It is cultural.”
Voice 1
The haenyeo are an important symbol of traditional culture. They show the values of
hard work, independence and community. Some people may look down on the haenyeo
because they do physical labour. Other people respect their hard work and position in
society. The haenyeo are a special combination of strength and gentleness.
Voice 2
And there are some good things about being a haenyeo. They have a way to make
money that gives them financial independence. Haenyeo are also part of an important
social community. Ji-ae Chae is a young single mother. She used to work in the capital
city, Seoul. But she returned to Jeju to work as a haenyeo. She says that the best part
of the work is the support from the other women. Chae tells Roads and Kingdoms:
Voice 4
“They take care of my children. It is very good. My children have grandmothers all
around them. The women divers are a big community. When I was in Seoul, I did not
like people. When I became a woman diver, I liked people again.”
Voice 1
Chae is one of the few younger haenyeo. But it is possible that in the future there will
be no haenyeo left. It takes a long time to train new divers. And not enough women
are making the same choice that Chae has. Yang Hi-bum is a government official on
Jeju. He told the New York Times:
Voice 5
“Most of the haenyeo will be gone in 20 years unless more women join them.”
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Voice 2
The government on Jeju Island is working to save the tradition of the haenyeo. They
opened a Haenyeo Museum in 2006. And since 2015, the Jeju government helps the
haenyeo pay for equipment and accident and medical insurance. Globally, people also
respect and support the haenyeo. In 2016, the divers gained the title of UNESCO
Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognizes the special spirit of the haenyeo. It also
awards their good methods. They are always careful of the environment. Sometimes
they do not dive for shellfish, even if they could make a lot of money. This way they
protect the natural balance of the ocean. Brenda Sunoo talks about how this also
protects the haenyeo:
Voice 3
“They have to use faith to know when to stop. To have enough breath to come up
slowly. To not take too much time to take that final sea urchin or abalone that is trapped
under the rock.”
Voice 1
The haenyeo show the world courage and patience. They also show the importance of
balance. They must balance their lives above and below water. They must balance the
money they get with environmental health. This wisdom and practice of balance keeps
the women of the seas alive. The future will show whether their tradition stays alive as
well.
Voice 2
Have you ever heard of these women? Are there similar communities in your area? You
can leave a comment on our website. Or email us at radio@radioenglish.net. You can
also comment on Facebook at Facebook.com/spotlightradio.
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Rena Dam. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Sea
Women of South Korea’.
Voice 2
Visit our website to download our free app for Android and Apple devices. We hope you
can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
85
The True Unicorn
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
Imagine a large white horse. It has a long, pointed horn coming out of the middle of its
head. It is gentle, but powerful. This creature seems to be surrounded by magic. It is
full of majesty, grace, and beauty. It seems to shine with a silver-colored light. You
probably already know what this imaginary creature is called. This is a unicorn.
Voice 2
Unicorns are the magical one-horned creatures from myths and stories. People often
imagine unicorns that look like the description above. Unicorns are imaginary. But they
may be based on a true animal. Today’s Spotlight is on unicorns.
Voice 1
All over the world, people of all ages love to tell stories about unicorns. Unicorns have
even inspired modern clothing fashion and art. But the unicorn has also become a very
serious symbol. It represents hope and brightness to many people. Alice Fisher is a
reporter for the Guardian Newspaper. She writes that people wantto be open to new
ideas. They want to believe in the possibility of a magic creature. She says that it is
even more important in our modern times. She writes:
Voice 3
“Every era we use myths and stories to help make sense of the world. In recent times
people have used aliens, zombies and vampires. But in our uncertain times, we have
chosen the unicorn - a symbol of hope and purity and strangeness.”
Voice 2
The unicorn is a modern symbol. But this creature’s story is very old. And it is not just
one story. There is no single version of the unicorn. In the Middle Ages, European people
believed unicorns were real. For them, the unicorn was a holy creature with great
intelligence. It could heal wounds with a touch of its horn. But the unicorn was very
difficult to catch. Only a pure person could see a unicorn for more than a moment.
86
Voice 1
There are stories of unicorns that come from before the Middle Ages. In fact, there is a
version of the unicorn in most cultures. Pliny the Elder was a writer from ancient Greece.
He wrote some of the first books on natural history. In one of them, he describes a
creature called the monoceros. It was a one-horned creature that lived in modern-day
India.
Voice 2
The monoceros had the body of a horse, the head of a stag, the feet of an elephant,
and the tail of a wild pig. It had one black horn that grew out of the middle of its
forehead. Pliny the elder said that people there hunted the monoceros - but they could
never capture it. This animal was not real. But some people think the story of the
monoceros inspired unicorn stories.
Voice 1
The ancient Chinese told of a creature similar to the unicorn. It was called the Qilin.
Some writers say it had scales like a snake. But it walked on four legs. It had hooves,
like a horse. And it had a single horn growing from its head. The Qilin was very important
in Chinese culture. It was very rare, so the people believed that the Qilin was lucky. It
only appeared when a great king or holy person was born. Like the Unicorn, it was a
very powerful magic animal. The stories are so similar that some western people call
the Qilin a “Chinese unicorn.”
Voice 2
But scientists have found evidence of a real creature with one horn. It was called the
Elasmotherium. Elasmotherium was a huge creature that lived thousands of years ago.
Scientists found its bones in modern-day Russia. Elasmotherium had long hair over its
whole body. And it had a horn on its head the size of a person. It was a very powerful
animal. People may have hunted them for food or their skin or horn.
Voice 1
There are many other creatures like unicorns in stories from around the world. These
stories are all similar. Some people believe that the unicorn may once have been a real
animal, like Elasmotherium. People may have told stories about this real animal. Then,
over time, the stories changed. People described the creature in more and more
amazing ways. Over time, the unicorn creature of the story became different from the
real animal.
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Voice 2
These stories had another purpose. Storytellers used them to teach lessons. And they
shaped the animal to fit those teachings. Most people had never seen an animal like a
unicorn. But it became part of a tradition. In this way, people did not forget the special
power of these animals. Their power simply changed.
Voice 1
In the modern world, most people do not believe they will ever see a creature like a
unicorn. People are moving more and more to a scientific view of the world. But stories
and myths are still valuable!
Voice 2
Joel Dubois is a professor at the University of California at Sacramento. He teaches
mythic storytelling. He says that many people think the word myth means stories are
false. But he says science cannot tell us everything. On the university website Dubois
writes how life is more than just science - the things we can see:
Voice 4
“People who share myths usually believe that reality is too complex to understand in
one way. So they often use stories to show that complexity. For storytellers, stories
about mythic worlds are more real in some ways than stories of facts we can observe
with our own eyes. These storytellers know myths are about people in other worlds,
living a special story. But they also point out hidden connections between myths and
the normal people, places, things and events that people experience every day.”
Voice 1
Myths and stories are more about people than the creature that they talk about. Myths
help us understand important times in our lives. They take us through difficult journeys.
Myths can connect to people of any culture, in any time and place. The myth of the
unicorn is one myth that will likely continue. It is a beautiful story in a troubling world.
Voice 2
Do you have any myths in your family or community? What do they mean to you? Do
you like unicorns? Tell us what you think. You can leave a comment on our website. Or
email us at radio@radioenglish.net. You can also comment on Facebook at
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Voice 1
The writer of this program was Dan Christmann. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘The True
Unicorn’.
Voice 2
Mike Brown and Planet Nine

Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
Look up at the night sky. If you are in a very dark area, you will see billions of stars.
You can look through a telescope to make objects in the sky look bigger and closer.
Then you will also see planets that orbit our sun. In all, there are eight of them. The
planets Mercury and Venus are closer to the sun than our planet Earth. But Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are further away from the sun than the Earth.
Voice 2
But some people think that there are more than eight planets orbiting the sun. Pluto
also orbits the sun. It orbits at an even greater distance than Neptune. For many years,
people called Pluto a planet. However, about ten years ago scientists decided that was
not correct - Pluto was not a real planet. But now some people think that
they have found another real planet - Planet Nine.
Voice 1
Dr Mike Brown is a scientist at the California Institute of Technology. He is an
astronomer who observes the planets in our solar system. Today’s Spotlight is on Dr
Mike Brown and his work on Pluto and Planet Nine.
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Voice 2
Astronomers discovered Pluto in 1930. They had very little information about it. But
they called it the ninth planet. During the next 60 years the telescopes and technology
used by astronomers improved. Astronomers could see more and more in the sky. By
the 1990s astronomers started to see other objects in the same area as Pluto. The
astronomers called this area the Kuiper Belt. There were many Kuiper Belt Objects. And
some were similar to Pluto. Some scientists began to ask a very important question.
Were these objects planets like Pluto? Or was Pluto not a planet?
Voice 1
Then in 2005 Dr Mike Brown made an important discovery. He saw a bright object in a
computer picture from a telescope. He had found a large object in the Kuiper Belt.
Scientists later called it Eris. Brown saw that Eris had a larger mass than Pluto.
Immediately he knew that Eris would cause trouble for planet Pluto. He told the
Washington Post,
Voice 3
‘I did a quick estimate to see how big this object was. We did not know exactly how big
it was at the time. But it was clearly the size of Pluto or much bigger. Either this was
going to be a new planet, or Pluto was in trouble.’
Voice 2
Brown was right. Some people may ask why calling Pluto a planet or not even matters.
But defining something correctly helps people understand it better. So, in 2006 the
International Astronomical Union decided that the word ‘planet’ should have a new
definition. They said that a true planet must also clear the area around its orbit. But
Pluto shares its orbit with other Kuiper Belt Objects. So Pluto - and Eris - were not true
planets.
Voice 1
Some scientists did not agree with this decision. Other people just did not like losing
Pluto as a true planet. Some of them blamed Brown. And he even received some
unpleasant letters and telephone calls about Pluto. These people felt both anger and
sadness that Pluto was not a planet. Brown also gained a new name – ‘Pluto Killer’.
Voice 2
Brown’s daughter, Lilah, was also sad that Pluto was not a planet. Later she told him
that she would forgive him if he found a new planet. Brown remembers that she said
to him,
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Voice 4
‘Daddy, what you need to do is go find a new planet so that people will no longer be
sad about Pluto.’
Voice 1
Then in 2016 Brown and his co-worker, Konstantin Batygin, surprised everyone. They
announced that they had good evidence for another planet. They had used computer
modeling to find the planet. The new planet was on the far outer edge of the solar
system. They called it “Planet nine”. They had not seen the planet directly. But they had
observed its effect on other objects in the Kuiper Belt. These objects were affected by
the pull of gravity of a much larger object. Brown told the BBC,
Voice 3
‘So we have not seen it yet. But I would say that we have felt it. Or, we can see its
gravitational affect on the outer part of the solar system. That is really the sign. We see
that it is pushing around these very very far away objects.’
Voice 2
Brown and Batygin believe that Planet Nine is a big gas planet far away. It takes
between 10,000 and 20,000 years to orbit the sun. It is ten times larger than Earth.
Voice 1
Brown and Batygin know that other scientists must see Planet Nine before they can
accept it as a real planet. So they want other people to look for it too. Brown accepts
that he may not be the person who finds the planet. He says that he wants a worldwide
search for this ninth planet. He told the Washington Post,
Voice 3
‘In the end discovery means it has been seen. We think we know the orbit. But we do
not know where on the orbit that planet is. And we have not seen it yet. This document
we published is like giving everyone a treasure map. It is going to depend on the luck
of the person who points the telescope in the right place first. It is going to take a lot
of hard work, but also a lot of luck.’
Voice 2
But what will Planet Nine be called when someone finds it? Brown and Batygin do not
know. They think that giving a planet a name is something too big and important for
one person to decide. Brown’s daughter suggested it be named for her - The Lilah
Planet. Brown and Batygin discussed calling it George. Brown told the BBC,
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Voice 3
‘The first proposed name for Uranus was George. William Hershal discovered it and he
wanted to name it after King George. He did not get his way. We have talked about
maybe we should call this one George just to honour Herschal.’
Voice 1
What do you think Planet Nine should be called? What name would you give it and why?
You can leave a comment on our website. Or email us at radio@radioenglish.net. You
can also comment on our Facebook page at facebook.com/SpotlightRadio.
Voice 2
The writer of this programme was Katy Blake. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The
adapted for this programme and voiced by Spotlight. This programme is called ‘Mike
Brown and Planet Nine’.
Voice 1
You can also get our programmes delivered directly to your Android or Apple device
through our free official ‘Spotlight English’ app. We hope you can join us again for the
next Spotlight programme. Goodbye.
Save The Butterflies

Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Joshua Leo.
Voice 2
Voice 3
“I was watching a butterfly the other day, and I could not stop watching this beautiful
flying insect with its colorful wings. I enjoy watching the activities of many insects and
animals. But I wondered why I found this butterfly so interesting. Then I understood.
It was because I had not seen a butterfly for months.”
Voice 1
These are the words of Michael Bloch. Michael is a blogger in Australia. On his internet
blog, Green Living Tips, he writes about living in a way that is good for the earth. He
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writes about what he sees in nature. And in 2007, he wrote about how he was seeing
fewer and fewer butterflies.
Voice 2
Michael is not the only one who has noticed that butterflies are disappearing. Experts
around the world have noticed too. Over the past 50 years, the number of butterflies
worldwide has been decreasing. On today’s Spotlight we look at one particular butterfly
- the monarch. We look at some of the reasons why there are fewer of these butterflies.
And we look at some solutions for this problem.
Voice 1
Like many butterflies, monarch butterflies are beautiful. The monarch’s wings are bright
orange and black. The black edges of their wings also have small white marks. The
monarch is usually about nine to ten centimeters wide.
Voice 2
Monarch butterflies live in many places around the world. But the largest number of
monarchs live in North America. And the monarchs of North America are famous for a
long journey they travel every year. Each autumn, millions of monarchs leave the places
they were born. Together, they leave the United States and Canada. They fly thousands
of kilometers south to Mexico. They do this to escape the cold winter months. This is
the yearly Monarch migration. In the spring they travel the other direction - from Mexico
to the United States and Canada. Then they mate and reproduce.
Voice 1
Ernest H. Williams and Dr. Chip Taylor have studied the monarch migration for many
years. Williams teaches biology at Hamilton College. Dr. Taylor studies insects at the
University of Kansas and leads a group called monarch Watch. Recently, they were part
of a group of scientists that released a new study.
Voice 2
This study looked at the monarch migration. It measured the number of butterflies that
reached Mexico every year for almost 20 years. Scientists cannot count every butterfly.
Instead, they look at how much land the group of butterflies uses to rest on. Then they
estimate the number of butterflies. The scientists found that the group of monarchs in
Mexico covers less land than before. In fact, the amount of monarchs spending the
winter in Central Mexico is at the lowest level in 17 years.
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Voice 1
But why are monarch butterflies disappearing? The study suggests a few reasons. One
reason is the loss of their natural resting place. Migrating monarchs all gather on the
same mountains every year. There are only 12 of these mountains. Here, millions of
butterflies hang together on the trees. They cover every centimeter of the trees. The
monarchs rest here for the winter. Mexican authorities have tried to protect these
natural forest areas. But, people enter illegally. They cut down the trees. Experts believe
this may be a major reason there are fewer monarchs.
Voice 2
Experts believe that people are also killing the monarch’s living spaces in the United
States and Canada. Milkweed plants are very important throughout the life of the
monarch butterfly. Female butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed plants. When the eggs
open, the young caterpillars eat the milkweed leaves. After the caterpillars change into
butterflies, the adult butterflies feed on the flowers of the milkweed plant.
Voice 1
But in the last 20 years, milkweed in the United States and Canada has greatly
decreased. There may not be enough milkweed for the monarchs to use. One way
people destroy milkweed is through land development. People destroy many natural
places in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. They turn these natural spaces into
houses, stores, and roads.
Voice 2
Milkweed is also disappearing from farms. Farmers usually try to get rid of weeds -
plants they do not want. This includes milkweed. In the past, there has still been enough
milkweed for butterflies to use. But recently, farmers have been using stronger ways of
controlling weeds.
Voice 1
They use a weed killer called Roundup. It is made of strong chemicals that kill weeds.
The makers of Roundup also produce seeds. These seeds are genetically modified -
their genes are different from normal crops. Farmers can plant these special crops, and
then spread Roundup on them. The Roundup does not kill the crops. But it kills every
weed. Along with the other weeds, Roundup kills milkweed. The study suggests that
the use of genetically modified crops may be one cause of the lack of milkweed.
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Voice 2
Robert G. Hartzler studies how people use science and technology to produce food. In
a recent study, he looked at the amount of milkweed plants on farms in the states in
the middle of the US. He looked at ten years worth of information - from 1999 to 2009.
He found that during this time, the amount of milkweed plants on farms in the state of
Iowa decreased by 90%! But this is not just a problem in Iowa. Dr Taylor told the New
York Times:
Voice 4
“This milkweed has disappeared from at least 400,000 square kilometers of these row
crops like soybeans and corn. The milkweed is basically gone.”
Voice 1
Many butterfly experts believe people must continue working to save monarch
butterflies. The group Monarch Watch works to stop the decrease of monarchs. They
suggest that people living near monarch paths can do one very easy thing. They can
plant milkweed wherever they can. Dr Taylor says that monarch butterflies need all the
help they can get. He told the Kansas City Star newspaper:
Voice 4
“Monarch Watch is a program with no end in sight. If we are going to save this butterfly
migration, we need to have a lot of people helping us.”
Voice 2
This is true for saving butterflies all around the world. There are organizations, like
Monarch Watch, that work to increase the butterfly population in many parts of the
world. Are you interested in increasing the butterfly population in your area? You can
find links to these international organizations on the script page of this program. Maybe
you can help save the butterflies in your area!
Voice 1
The writer and producer of this program was Liz Waid. All quotes were adapted and
voiced by Spotlight. You can find our programs on the Internet at www.radioenglish.net.
This program is called ‘Save The Butterflies’. We hope you can join us again for the next
Spotlight program.
Some of the music in this program came from Podington Bear.
The Fire Beetle
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Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for Spotlight! I’m Ryan Geertsma.
The Fire Beetle

Voice 2
Voice 1
Fires like this make many people afraid. It is difficult to control fires. They can cause
harm to buildings and property like homes, schools and businesses. But they can also
cause a lot of harm to living things like people, animals and insects. When a fire alarm
sounds people leave an area immediately. When people, animals, or insects see smoke,
they do not stay still; they run in the other direction.
Voice 2
But there is at least one living thing that reacts to fire in a different way. It is an insect.
In fact, when this insect senses fire, it flies directly toward the fire. It needs fire. Today’s
Spotlight is on this very unusual insect - the Black Jewel Beetle. The common name for
this beetle is the “fire beetle.”
Voice 1
Fire beetles live in many places around the world. They are small round insects. Their
protective shell is also very beautiful. In fact, this is where they get their name. A fire
beetle’s shell is covered in bright beautiful colors. This helps the beetle hide in a colorful
forest. Fire beetles are beautiful insects. But scientists are particularly interested in the
fire beetle because it has an interesting and special ability.
Voice 2
Fire beetles can sense fire from up to 80 kilometres away. This ability is important to a
fire beetle. That is because the burned and destroyed remains of a forest are the perfect
place for the fire beetle to lay their eggs. After a large fire has destroyed a forest, the
beetle travels to the burned remains. In fact, large groups of beetles meet at the
remains. Fire beetles can mate there in peace. No other animals or insects will eat or
attack them. All the other animals and insects have run away because of the fire.
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Voice 1
The fire beetles lay their eggs in the burned wood. No other animals or insects will harm
the beetles’ eggs. The burned wood is food for the young beetles when they are born.
And the young beetles will not have to compete with other insects to live.
Voice 2
For the fire beetle, eating burned wood is better than eating healthy or living wood.
Eating wood from a live tree can be dangerous for a beetle. Living trees can defend
themselves against beetles. The trees can produce substances that harm or trap the
beetle. Dying or dead trees cannot defend themselves.
Voice 1
The fire beetle looks almost like any other beetle. But it does have one important
difference from other beetles. The fire beetle has very small pits, or holes, on the bottom
of its body. The pits are not deep. But scientists who study the fire beetle say that these
pits have a very important purpose. The fire beetle uses these pits to sense a fire.
Voice 2
Professor William George Evans studied insects. In 1960 he studied his first fire beetle.
He was especially interested in the pits in the beetle’s body. He believed that the pits
told the beetle where there was a fire. He believed that there were many sensors in
each pit. These sensors could receive infrared radiation. A fire produces infrared
radiation. When the beetle’s sensors received this information they told the beetle where
to fly to find the fire. Professor Evans believed that the sensors were very sensitive. He
believed they could sense a fire from a great distance.
Voice 1
For almost 40 years many other scientists did not believe Professor Evans. But today,
after years of research, scientists finally agree that the fire beetle can sense fire. In fact,
they agree that it is very good at sensing fire!
Voice 2
Doctor Helmut Schmitz also studied insects. He believed that the fire beetle was able to
do even more than Professor Evans said! Doctor Schmitz believed that the fire beetle
was able to see, hear and even smell the effects of a fire! And it could do all these
things from very far away.
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Voice 1
Each pit in a fire beetle contains about 60 to 70 sensors. Each of these sensors is covered
in a small hard ball. This ball of material is the same material that makes up a beetle’s
hard shell. These balls are connected to nerves inside the beetle.
Voice 2
When a forest burns it sends off heat. The heat travels as infrared radiation. Scientists
describe infrared radiation in the form of a wave. Scientists also describe light in the
form of a wave. Infrared radiation waves are like light, but a different wavelength. And
they can travel very far. People cannot see, feel, taste, hear, or touch infrared radiation
waves. They cannot sense them at all. But the fire beetle can.
Voice 1
The infrared radiation travels into the pits on the beetle. It affects the sensors and small
round balls. When this happens, the beetles know there is a fire. They travel toward the
fire to mate and produce eggs.
Voice 2
The fire beetle can sense extremely small amounts of infrared radiation waves. It seems
like the fire beetle was especially designed to find these particular waves!
Voice 1
Research teams have studied these beetles very closely. They want to know how the
beetle’s infrared sensors can identify and find the infrared radiation waves. The
scientists think of the fire beetle as a starting point for research. They want to know if
they can copy the methods that the fire beetles use to find fire. Scientists want to use
the knowledge they gain from their studies to build equipment that senses fire like the
fire beetle. Fire fighters believe that using this kind of sensor to find infrared radiation
could help to save property and people all over the world. The sensor could find fires
while they were still small. It could help prevent large fires.
Voice 2
When people look at nature it can inspire them. That is, looking at nature encourages
people to try new things. It can show people amazing ways to solve problems. Nature
is full of mysteries for people to discover. Studying the fire beetle is helping scientists
to improve life for many people. Think about all the other things people could learn from
nature. It is a beautiful thing when people and nature can work together.
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Voice 1
the United States. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet
at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called “The Fire Beetle”.
Voice 2
at radio@radioenglish.net. You can also find us on Facebook - just search for Spotlight
Radio. Receive Spotlight programs every week with the Spotlight podcast. Just follow
the podcast link on the Spotlight website – radioenglish.net. We hope you can join us
again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!
Dogs and Humans

Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
There is a large square stone near a river in Northern Wales. Grass and trees surround
it. This gray stone marks where someone is buried. One side of the burial stone is
covered with writing. It tells this story:
Voice 3
“In the 13th century the son of the king of North Wales had his home here. His name
was Prince Llewelyn. One day Prince Llewelyn went out hunting. He went without his
faithful dog, Gelert. When Llewlyn came home, Gelert joyfully ran and jumped to meet
him. But the dog was covered with blood. The Prince was frightened. Quickly, he ran to
find his son. He found the baby’s bed empty. The blankets and floor were covered with
blood. Llewelyn felt insane with anger. He thought his dog had killed his baby. He quickly
killed Gelert with his sword. The dog’s dying cry was followed by a baby’s voice. The
Prince searched and discovered his son. The boy was not hurt. But next to the baby lay
the dog-like body of a large wolf. Gelert the dog had killed this wild and fierce animal.
The Prince was full of regret. People say he never smiled again. The prince buried Gelert
here.”
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Voice 2
The dog Gelert and the wolf may have looked very similar. But they did not treat the
people around them in the same way. Today’s Spotlight is on dogs and their relationship
with humans.
Voice 1
So what made Gelert and the wolf so different? Many years ago, dogs and wolves were
the same. But about 14,000 years ago, some wolves began to change. They were no
longer as wild. No one knows exactly how this happened. Angus Phillips of National
Geographic Magazine thinks it may have happened like this:
Voice 4
“Some wolves moved close to human cooking fires after smelling something good to
eat. Then they worked to get closer to groups of humans. They did this by being helpful
or proving they would not hurt people. The humans might have used the wolves’ better
hunting skills to help them hunt animals. The wolves could warn humans of danger at
night.”
Voice 2
Humans and wolves both lived in groups. The groups usually had a leader. The smaller,
weaker wolves knew how to obey the wolf leader. So it was easy for them to learn to
obey a human leader. Both humans and these smaller wolves got something good from
this relationship. Angus Phillips explains the result:
Voice 4
“Over thousands of years, humans kept the large, rough wolves out of the human
camps. This led to the development of different kinds of dogs that were more friendly
to people. They began to look different than wolves. They were generally smaller than
wolves, with a shorter nose.”
Voice 1
Today, there are about 400 different kinds of dogs. People can see many of these kinds
of dogs at dog shows. At these shows, people bring their dogs to compete for a prize.
The dogs run, walk and do tricks for judges. Some of the dogs are as tall as the waist
of a person. Others are small enough to be carried in one hand. Some dogs have long
hair that reaches to the ground. Others have no hair at all.
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Voice 2
Dogs can be very different in size, shape and colour. Peter Tyson works for the science
magazine NOVA. He explains why there are so many kinds of dogs:
Voice 5
“There are so many kinds of dogs mainly because of human and not natural selection.
Through the late 19th century, humans would mate dogs for special skills they wanted.”
Voice 1
Humans mated or bred dogs such as the greyhound for hunting. This dog is thin and
very fast. It can run for a long time without getting tired.
Voice 2
Humans have also bred dogs to work with the police. In Thailand, police use the dog’s
good sense of smell to look for land mines. Other dogs work on farms. They help farmers
who have many sheep or cows. These herding dogs help move and protect the animals.
Voice 1
Dogs are trained to work with humans in many ways. But humans also breed dogs for
something other than work. Peter Tyson of NOVA explains:
Voice 5
“It was not until the late 1800s that breeding for looks more than for behaviour began.
Breeders wanting to design the perfect breed are the reason why today we have so
many different looking dogs.”
Voice 2
Humans have spent a lot of time and effort breeding different kinds of dogs. But most
dogs are not show dogs. Most dogs do not even work. Today, the most common use of
a dog is for friendship. Some people even consider their dog to be a part of their family.
Scientists are finding that dogs can even understand human emotions.
Voice 1
Around the world today there are more than 400 million dogs. But their relationship
with people is not always close. Some of these dogs do not have a home. They are
strays. They live on the streets and often eat garbage. Diana Bharucha is from
Bangalore, India. She started a program called ‘Stray Dogs Free Bangalore.’ She says
that dogs should have a home with a human master. If not, she thinks that the dogs
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should be killed in a way that does not cause them pain. Diana told the newsmagazine
‘Citizens Matters’:
Voice 6
“If the dog population continues to increase, they will go back to living in a group and
turn wild. They will start hunting like wild animals. This will be a danger for human life.”
Voice 2
Rajesh Shukla also lives in Bangalore. He does not want to kill the stray dogs. He offers
a different solution:
Voice 7
“If the city begins a waste management system that works well, the food for stray dogs
will be limited. This will limit the number of stray dogs in the area.”
Voice 1
Humans are still learning how to live together with dogs. This relationship can be
wonderful but difficult - like in the story of Prince Llewelyn and his dog Gelert. But
people will continue to share their lives with man’s best friend: the dog.
Voice 2
The writer and producer of this program was Rena Dam. The voices you heard were
from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted for this
program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on
the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Dogs and Humans’.
Voice 1
You can also leave your comments on our website. Or you can email us at radio@
radioenglish. net. You can also find us on Facebook - just search for SpotlightRadio. We
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Protecting the Albatross
Voice 1
Voice 2
And I’m Nick Page. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
Voice 1
The fierce storm is violently pushing the boat. Ellen fights back. She manages to gain
control of the boat. She turns it into the waves and sails into the distance. A large bird
flies beside her. Today’s Spotlight is on this large bird, the albatross.
Voice 2
Ellen MacArthur is a famous sailor. She has sailed in boats around the world several
times. And in 2004 she set a world record for sailing around the world alone. This trip
took many months. And it was very difficult. Ellen battled her way through stormy seas.
She had little food to eat, and water to drink. But Ellen says that being lonely was the
hardest thing. In these months, she was far from home. She only had a radio and sea
birds for company. The huge albatross sea birds often chose to fly close to Ellen’s boat.
She remembers looking at them. She told the BBC.
Voice 3
‘They are such graceful birds. When you see them out at sea, so far away from land,
you feel you are not alone. I remember my first trip around the world. I was at the front
of the boat. I looked up and a few feet away, there was an albatross. It was looking
right at me. There was a communication between me and that bird. To feel that, in the
middle of the ocean, when I had not seen land for weeks, it was extraordinary.”
Voice 1
The albatross birds gave Ellen hope. She believes that seeing them helped her to fight
through difficult times during her around-the-world trip. But now the albatross has its
own fight to win. Many kinds of albatross are now in danger of extinction. They may all
die and not exist in the world anymore. Ellen MacArthur is just one person who is joining
the battle to save these special birds.
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Voice 2
Most albatrosses live in the South Pacific area. But some, like the Wandering Albatross,
are found in the North Pacific. They mainly eat fish. And they can fly long distances
without stopping.
Voice 1
There are many different kinds of albatross. The largest is the Albatross Diomedea
Exulans, or Wandering Albatross. Its wingspread measures over three meters. It can
weigh nearly ten kilograms. This makes it one of the largest flying birds alive today.
Voice 2
At mating time, albatrosses gather in large groups, called colonies. They do this to
protect the young birds. The female bird produces a single white egg. Both male and
female birds look after the egg. They will guard the egg for two or three months. They
will also share the responsibility of caring for their young.
Voice 1
The albatross is so heavy that it needs a strong wind to fly. So in calm weather sailors
do not usually see the albatross in the sky. Many years ago sailors thought that
albatrosses controlled the wind.
Voice 2
For this reason, sailors considered it very back luck to kill an albatross. Samuel Taylor
Coleridge wrote a famous poem called ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’. In this poem
crew members on a sailing ship punished a sailor for killing an albatross. They made
him wear the dead bird around his neck.
Voice 1
Because of this poem people use the word ‘albatross’ to describe guilt. People may say
to one another, “He is guilty - he looks as if he has an albatross around his neck.”
Voice 2
But today, albatross birds are facing a serious threat. This threat to albatrosses comes
mainly from the fishing industry. In particular, it comes from longline fishing. The aim
of longline fishing is to catch tuna fish. Fishermen get a lot of money for this kind of
fish. Longline fishing involves putting out a long line of metal fishing hooks. Each hook
is baited - it has food on the end. Fish eat the food and swallow the hooks. Then, they
are caught. Longlines may stretch for over 120 kilometres. They contain thousands of
hooks.
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Voice 1
It is a very effective way of fishing. But it also creates great dangers to birds like the
albatross. Experts have observed that the albatrosses fly thousands of kilometres every
year to their mating area. Here the birds produce and raise their young. But during their
long travels they have to eat. They catch fish. The long fishing lines float close to the
surface of the water. When the albatrosses dive into the water for fish they become
caught in the longlines. They either die from their injuries or drown. Experts estimate
that over 100,000 albatrosses die this way every year.
Voice 2
In the United Kingdom, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is working to help
the albatross. The RSPB says that simple changes in the way people fish can help save
the birds. The RSPB has set up a group called ‘Operation Ocean Task Force’. This group
will help train fishermen in new fishing methods. Many of the ideas are easy. They do
not cost a lot of money. For example, attaching weights to the long fishing lines will
help them to sink. This will help stop the birds from becoming trapped. And if the correct
weights are used, the fishermen will still catch their tuna.
Voice 1
Many important and famous people are supporting the RSPB, including Ellen MacArthur.
At an event for the albatross, Prince Charles, from the United Kingdom, said:
Voice 4
“To me the problems caused to albatrosses may be the biggest test for mankind. Are
we serious about looking after our world? Are we able to co-exist on this planet with
other creatures?”
Voice 2
The RSPB is not alone in its struggle to save albatrosses. Many countries across the
world also want to help. Leaders from 13 different countries have signed an agreement.
It is called the ‘Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels’ or A-CAP. A-
CAP members do research projects to save the birds. They have agreed to protect the
colonies of young birds. A-CAP members have also agreed to work with the fishing
industry. They have agreed to develop new ideas for fishing that are safe for birds.
Voice 1
Ellen MacArthur supports the work of A-CAP. She says that losing the albatross bird
would be tragic. She says:
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Voice 3
“Albatrosses live in the middle of nowhere - they do not affect man, but man is affecting
them. I would be really sad, and so would many other people, if the albatross
disappeared.”
Voice 2
The writer of today’s programme was Elizabeth Lickiss. The producer was Michio Ozaki.
The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes
were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program
again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. The programme is called
‘Protecting the Albatross’.
Voice 1
Raccoons Living in Cities

Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Colin Lowther.
Voice 2
And I'm Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
Voice 1
It is the middle of the night. All the houses are dark. It is very quiet. Most people and
animals are sleeping. Near one house, there is a large, plastic waste can. It is full of
garbage and food waste. A long rope and small hook hold it closed. This rope and hook
help to keep animals out.
Voice 2
Suddenly, a small animal runs to the waste can. It has short, brown hair and a long tail.
The animal climbs the side of the can. It reaches out its arm, and puts its small fingers
around the hook. The animal pulls on the hook. The hook becomes loose. The animal
pulls harder, and the hook comes off the can. The can is open. The animal chooses food
it likes and begins to eat.
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Voice 1
This intelligent, difficult animal is a raccoon. Raccoons are native to North America. But
they have spread to many other places in the world. There, they cause problems for
people, buildings, and the environment. Today's Spotlight is on raccoons.
Voice 2
From a far distance, raccoons may appear to be large cats. But raccoons are very
different from cats. Raccoons have dark circles around their eyes. These circles look like
a mask over their eyes. On television programs, criminals sometimes wear dark masks
like these. So some people say that the circles make raccoons look like criminals wearing
masks.
Voice 1
Raccoons also have very sensitive hands, or paws. These sensitive paws help raccoons
learn by touching. Raccoons can decide if something is good to eat just by holding it.
Raccoons can even use water to make their paws more sensitive. They often put things
in water to learn more about them. Because of this, raccoons almost always live near
water. And in some places, raccoons are called wash bears. This is because they look
like they are washing their food.
Voice 2
Raccoons are ancient animals. Thousands of years ago, most raccoons lived in warm
climates, far away from humans. They lived near rivers and large forests. But humans
destroyed many of the forests where raccoons lived. Raccoons are very intelligent, so
they began to change. They learned to live near humans. Today, most raccoons live in
large cities.
Voice 1
Living in cities has been good for raccoons. In the wild, many other animals hunt
raccoons. But most wild animals are not able to live in cities. So in the city, raccoons do
not have many natural enemies.
Voice 2
Cities also provide raccoons with food. Raccoons and humans are both omnivores. That
is, their diet includes meat and plants. City raccoons have changed their diet to be
similar to a human diet. Most of their food comes from human food waste. And cities
provide a large supply of food waste.
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Voice 1
In North America, people have lived with raccoons for hundreds of years. People there
know how to deal with the problems raccoons can cause. But raccoons have recently
moved to other countries. In these countries, raccoon problems are more difficult to
deal with.
Voice 2
In the 1930s farmers brought raccoons to Germany. They kept them on their farms for
fur and meat. However, some of these raccoons escaped. Soon, there were hundreds
of wild raccoons in Germany. Then there were thousands. Today, more than one million
wild raccoons live in the forests and cities of Germany.
Voice 1
This creates problems for people living in German cities. As raccoons search for food in
cities, they leave their waste behind. This raccoon waste carries dangerous diseases. If
people touch raccoon waste, they can become infected.
Voice 2
Raccoons also damage buildings and homes as they search for food. With their paws,
raccoons make holes in walls. They use their teeth to chew wires. And they often spread
food waste to places where it is not supposed to be.
Voice 1
German scientists have tried to fix their raccoon problem. They tried killing as many
raccoons as possible. But this did not help. So they studied raccoons' movement. They
found that most raccoons damage buildings by climbing a water pipe.
Voice 2
Frank Beeker is a famous German hunter. He helped German scientists create a special
protection device. This device stops raccoons from climbing up water pipes. In the
documentary film, "Raccoon Nation," he said,
Voice 3
"Raccoons have learned to live in cities very quickly. The first thing they learned was
how to climb up the water pipe. But with this device, raccoons cannot climb up any
longer. Stopping these raccoons is the same as a hunt. It is a power struggle to find out
who is better, me or the raccoon. Sometimes I find a raccoon that is very intelligent.
And I must find a new way to stop it."
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Voice 1
In 1977, people also brought raccoons to Japan. But they did not bring these raccoons
for their fur or meat. There was a popular children's television show in Japan called
Araiguma Rasukaru. This show was about a young boy named Sterling North. Sterling
kept a raccoon as a pet. Because of the show, many Japanese people wanted their own
raccoons. So they paid to have young raccoons brought from North America to Japan.
Voice 2
During the final Araiguma Rasukaru television show, Sterling North released his raccoon
into the forest. He let his raccoon return to live alone as a wild animal. Many of the
Japanese families who owned wild raccoons decided to do the same thing. They
released thousands of raccoons into the forests of Japan. These raccoons spread quickly
across the country. Today, millions of raccoons live in Japan.
Voice 1
Like in Germany, these raccoons in Japan cause many problems. They ruin crops like
corn, soybeans, rice, and other foods that are very important in Japan. They damage
and destroy buildings. Racoons have even destroyed some ancient Buddhist temples
and shrines.
Voice 2
Because of these problems, Japan considers raccoons an invasive species. And the
government has tried to kill these raccoons to stop the problem. Japanese hunters and
scientists trap and kill over 10,000 raccoons each year. However, raccoons continue to
spread faster than the Japanese government can hunt them. For the people of Japan,
raccoons are still a very serious problem.
Voice 1
Are there raccoons where you live? If so, how have they affected your environment?
Can you think of any ways to stop the problems they cause? You can email us your
thoughts at radio@radioenglish.net.
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Ryan Geertsma. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The
voices you heard were from the United Kingdom and the United States. You can hear
this program again, and read it, on the Internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program
is called, "Raccoons Living In Cities."
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Voice 1
Question:
Do you have a pet? If you do, what kind? Is it a good animal for a pet? If you do not
have a pet, would you like to have one?
Niagara Falls
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 3
“It was a terrible day, cold and wet. Within a few minutes, I saw two great white clouds
rising up slowly from deep in the earth. For the first time, I heard the mighty rush of
water. I felt the ground shake under my feet.”
Voice 1
These are the words of the great English writer Charles Dickens. He wrote them in 1842.
He was visiting Niagara Falls. This waterfall is on the border of the United States and
Canada. It is one of the largest in the world. Each year, more than 12 million people
visit it. Today’s Spotlight is on Niagara Falls. Dickens wrote,
Voice 3
“I could see a huge flow of water, coming down fast from very high. I had no idea of
shape, or situation, or anything. It was just so big.”
Voice 2
This is what many people experience at Niagara Falls. People describe the waterfall as
“great”, “mighty”, and “huge”! The sound is incredible. The Falls are on the Niagara
River. The river divides just before the waterfall, and then each part drops over a rocky
edge. Because of this split, there are actually two waterfalls, separated by a small island.
On the American side is ‘American Falls’. It is over 300 metres across. On the Canadian
side is ‘Horseshoe Falls’. The name comes from its shape - like a horseshoe, in a half
circle. Horseshoe Falls is nearly 700 metres across!
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Voice 1
Niagara Falls is not the tallest waterfall in the world. However, the Falls are one of
the widest in the world. Over 2 million litres of water fall over Niagara every second!
Voice 2
People have been visiting Niagara Falls for thousands of years. Native people knew the
waterfall well. More than 300 years ago, European explorers told the rest of the world
about them. One of these explorers was Louis Hennepin. Hennepin was from Belgium.
He was both amazed and afraid of what he saw there. He wrote a book about his
adventures. In the book, he described his first time seeing the great waterfall. He wrote
that it was one of the most wonderful things he had seen. He described the water
hurrying over the edge, like a group of wild animals. He said that the noise was louder,
and more terrible, than thunder in a storm.
Voice 1
For many years, Hennepin was the only person to write about the waterfall. Many people
in Europe read what he wrote. The waterfall was one of the many amazing things about
America. But it was a long time before many other people could see the waterfall. It
was a long, difficult trip to visit it.
Voice 2
As more people moved to the Americas, some people did make the trip. But it was not
until the 1840s that Niagara Falls became a popular place. Trains made travel much
easier. It also cost less money. At the same time, people in North America were also
starting to take holiday trips. Many people lived in cities. So natural places, like Niagara
Falls, were very popular. The area became a tourist attraction - a place that many people
visited.
Voice 1
As a result, businesses around the waterfall grew. There were hotels, and restaurants.
Most people just wanted to see the natural beauty of the waterfalls. But some people
also used the waterfalls to perform stunts - dangerous acts. Over the next hundred
years, people did many insane things at the falls. One of the first was a woman named
Annie Edison Taylor.
Voice 2
Annie Edison Taylor was a poor woman. But at the age of 63, she had an idea to make
money. She hoped to survive a fall over Niagara Falls. If she did, she believed that she
would become famous - and that would make her rich!
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Voice 1
Taylor got a very strong container - a round, wood barrel. Barrels usually hold liquid, so
they do not let anything in or out. Taylor added a soft mattress inside it, to make the
trip easier. On October 24 1901, friends closed her inside the barrel, and she began her
trip down the river. The trip only took 20 minutes. The water shook the barrel very hard,
but Taylor survived!
Voice 2
Taylor succeeded in her trip, but she did not get rich. Instead, her act inspired many
other people. A man named Sam Patch jumped off the waterfalls into the river below.
A man named Jean Francois Gravelet walked over the falls on a high tight-rope. Some
people also tried to copy Taylor - but they did not all survive. Now, it is not legal to
perform these kinds of acts at Niagara Falls. It is too dangerous.
Voice 1
People mainly know about Niagara Falls because of its natural beauty. However, the
Niagara River is also an important source of electricity. The Niagara River flows very
fast, with a large amount of water.
Voice 2
In the 1890s, the Westinghouse Electric company built the world’s first large power
system on the river. Many other companies also hoped to use the land for factories and
power systems. However, around the same time, many people began to work to protect
the natural area. Soon, the governments of the United States and Canada got involved.
They protected the land around Niagara Falls. They made parks – green, natural areas.
No one could buy this land for factories or other industrial development.
Voice 1
The governments also made agreements to protect the water going over Niagara Falls.
Power systems move water out of the river to create electricity. So these agreements
limit the amount of water power companies can take. This means that there is always
enough water to flow over Niagara Falls.
Voice 2
For hundreds of years, Niagara Falls has inspired people through its size and beauty. In
the years to come, it will continue to inspire. To see it for yourself, visit our website. We
have links there to images and video.
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Voice 1
The writers of this program were Sara DeKoster and Christy Van Arragon. The producer
was Michio Ozaki. The voices you heard were from the United States. All quotes were
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Niagara
Falls’.
Voice 2
(Get our app for Android and here for Apple. Let us know how you like it and write a
review!)
Question:
What is the most amazing thing you have seen in nature?
New World Wonders

Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
Imagine a large, beautiful, round building. This building stands at the centre of an
ancient city.
Voice 2
Think of a high stone wall that is thousands of miles long. It stretches over mountains
and sandy deserts.
Voice 1
Imagine a tall white statue. This statue rises high in the air above the sea.
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Voice 2
What names come to you when you think of these things? If you said the Colosseum in
Rome, the Great Wall of China, and the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil then you
are right! Each one of these structures is famous. Each one is loved by many people
around the world. But they have something else in common too. Today’s Spotlight is on
this common factor: New World Wonders.
Voice 1
In an earlier Spotlight programme we talked about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient
World. Only one of these original seven wonders still exists today – the great pyramid
at Giza in Egypt. The people of ancient Greece made this list. They were very interested
in things that had been built. Groups of writers there made lists of the most wonderful
structures that they knew. They wrote about buildings that were very large. They took
note of others that were very beautiful. Every one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient
World was special in some way.
Voice 2
In 2001, a Swiss filmmaker named Bernard Webber was thinking about these ancient
wonders. He was also thinking about the modern world and the many places in it. He
told the BBC:
Voice 3
“The famous list of world wonders is more than 2000 years old, it is time to make a new
one!”
Voice 1
Bernard Webber wanted his list to be different from the ancient one. He decided that
his list should not be made by only a few people. Webber wanted to ask the people of
the world for their opinions. He wanted them to choose the seven structures that would
be on the list.
Voice 2
Webber worked with organisers around the world. These groups began to ask people:
‘Which structures should be on the list?’ After several years, they had received a large
number of suggestions – too many, in fact! To solve this problem, Webber employed a
group of experts. Many of these experts were famous architects – they had all designed
modern buildings. They reduced the number of possible Wonders to just 21.
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Voice 1
Voting for the new world wonders began at the start of 2006. There were 21 candidates.
But only seven could be chosen. People voted on the Internet or by telephone. And
many people did so. The organisers received thousands of votes. People from every
country of the world made their choices. After more than 18 months, the voting finally
stopped. On July 7, 2007, the ‘New’ Seven Wonders of the World were declared!
Voice 2
Do you know which structures were chosen? You can probably guess three of them! At
the start of this programme we talked about the Colosseum in Rome, the Great Wall of
China and the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil. Each one was a winner in the
competition.
Voice 1
Three of the other winners are ancient cities. They are Petra in Jordan, Machu Picchu
in Peru, and Chichen Itza, in Mexico. These beautiful cities all provide a window into the
past. The ancient buildings in them are amazing to see. They are symbols of the great
skill of the ancient people who made them. And they are important for the history and
culture of the local people.
Voice 2
The final winner of the competition is a very famous building – the Taj Mahal, in Agra,
India. It was built by a great king almost 400 years ago. He built it after his wife died.
The beautiful white stone building is a symbol of his love for her. People have enjoyed
the detailed stone structure and beautiful gardens of the Taj Mahal for hundreds of
years.
Voice 1
Bernard Webber was very happy with his teams’ list of new world wonders. He hoped
that by encouraging people to think about the beautiful places of the world he could
achieve something else too. Webber hoped that people around the world would come
together. He hoped that they would understand the value of different cultures.
Voice 2
But some people were not happy with this competition. Some groups criticised the way
the event was organised. UNESCO would not give its support. They felt the project was
a commercial one. They did not think that anyone should make money from it.
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Voice 1
Other people were worried about the effects the competition could have. A group of
archaeologists was concerned about what would happen to the winning structures. They
felt that the competition could encourage too many people to visit these places. These
new visitors may not be careful and respectful. They may cause damage to important
buildings and cities.
Voice 2
But, in the end, Bernard Webber felt that the competition had been a success. More
than 100 million people had voted. And many had voted for structures far away from
the countries where they lived. Tia Viering is one of the organisers. She talked about
how the competition was the first ever global vote. She told the BBC:
Voice 4
“It is so exciting. There are not many things that could bring the world together like
global culture. This is something that every single person in the world can have an
interest in.”
Voice 1
In recent years, Webber has expanded his project. He has added competitions to choose
seven wonders of nature, and seven wonderful cities. People continue to vote and
choose amazing places and things from around the world. On his website, Webber
explains,
Voice 3
“If we want to save anything, we first need to truly understand and recognize it.”
Voice 2
What do you think about the Seven ‘New’ Wonders of the World? Do you think this kind
of competition brings people around the world closer together? You can share your
comments on our website at www.radioenglish.net.
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Nate Hobson. The producer was Rena Dam. The voices
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘New World
Wonders’.
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Voice 2
review!)
Question:
Have you ever seen the Colosseum? The Great Wall of China? The statue of Christ the
Redeemer? Would you want to? What other wonders of the world would you like to
see?
Seven Wonders of the World

Voice 1
Voice 2
And I’m Rena Dam. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
Voice 3
How many can I name? The Pyramids of Giza, the Lighthouse of Alexandria. And the
Colossus of Rhodes … um … the Hanging Gardens of Babylon …
Voice 1
You may have heard of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. But could you name
them? Did you know that only one of the Seven Wonders is still standing today? Today’s
Spotlight program is on those seven famous structures - the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World.
Voice 2
The Seven Wonders of the World were structures in the lands around the east of the
Mediterranean Sea. They were in the countries that are now Egypt, Turkey, Greece and
Iraq. Ancient people had built them. The Seven Wonders of the World were important
because of their size, their beauty, or because they had some other unusual quality.
Voice 1
The people of ancient Greece loved to make lists of the great structures in their world.
When we think of the Seven Wonders of the World today, we think of one list. But there
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were several lists, written by different ancient Greek writers. The list of Seven Wonders
that people use today is a collection of these old lists.
Voice 2
At that time, the Greek people did not know about many places in the world. They only
knew of the areas of their empire, that is, the area around today’s Middle East. The
Ancient Greeks chose the seven most wonderful places that they knew about.
Voice 1
Sadly, only one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world is still standing today. That
is the Great Pyramid of Giza, in Egypt. The Pyramids of Giza are large stone buildings,
pointed at the top. They were built over 4000 years ago. Ancient Egyptian kings built
them as burial places. There are three pyramids in Giza, but only the largest Pyramid is
on the list of the Seven Wonders. For centuries it was the tallest building in the world!
It is 145 metres tall! This Great Pyramid is a mystery to many people. Even today,
experts are not sure how the pyramids were built.
Voice 2
The other six wonders of the world are gone. But we do have reports about what they
looked like.
Voice 1
One of them was also in Egypt, in the city of Alexandria. It was a large lighthouse. The
lighthouse was 110 metres tall. It had a fire at the top. The lighthouse was important
for sailing ships. The light showed sailors the place of the land. It was built more than
2000 years ago. It was made of large beautiful white stones. Experts say that an
earthquake destroyed the lighthouse nearly 700 years ago.
Voice 2
Another of the Seven Wonders of the World was on the Euphrates River. Today this
area is in Iraq. King Nebuchadnezzar the Second built a large structure. This structure
was covered with gardens full of beautiful plants, flowers and trees. It was called the
Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Experts believe that the king built the gardens for his wife.
They believe she may have desired to be back in her home in the mountains. Travellers
were always surprised by the Hanging Garden’s beauty.
Voice 1
Now we travel to the modern country of Turkey. Two of the Seven Wonders used to be
here. Both were built around 2300 years ago. The first was the large ‘Temple of Artemis’,
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in the ancient city of Ephesus. In this temple, there were great statues. The best artists
of that time made these beautiful statues. People once said that this temple was the
most beautiful structure on earth. It was made of marble - a beautiful rock for such a
building.
Voice 2
The other Wonder in Turkey was the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus - in modern Bodrum.
Like the Pyramids in Egypt, this structure was a place where a king was buried. It was
made out of alabaster - a valuable white rock. Life-size statues of animals and people
covered the outside of the building. The Mausoleum survived for about 1500 years. But
earthquakes finally destroyed it hundreds of years ago.
Voice 1
Two of the Seven Wonders stood in parts of modern day Greece. One was on an island
of Rhodes. It was a huge statue, 32 metres high. It was called “The Colossus.” It was
at the edge of the sea. Some ancient reports say that the statue’s left foot stood on one
side of the city’s port and the right foot stood on the other side. It was said that the
statue was so big, that ships could sail through its legs. But most experts today agree
that the Colossus stood only on one side of the port, not across its opening. The
Colossus only existed for 56 years. It fell down in an earthquake. But during the time
that it was standing, it was one of the most amazing structures in the world. The ancient
Greeks loved the statue so much, that they left its broken pieces lying on the ground
for 900 years.
Voice 2
The last of the Seven Wonders of the World was at Olympia on mainland Greece. It was
also a beautiful statue. The statue was of the Greek god Zeus. This statue sat in a large
temple. Its head almost touched the top of the temple! It was covered with gold and it
was 13 metres tall. Beautiful stones and rare wood decorated the statue. Kings from
many countries came to visit the statue and place beautiful objects on and around it.
Voice 1
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World were beautiful places in the ancient Greek
empire. They were wonderful to people of the ancient world because of their beauty or
size. Today, people continue to make lists of “wonders” in the world - wonderful places,
both ancient and modern, natural and man-made. What places would you add to the
list? What are the wonders of your country?
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Voice 2
Several years ago, an international project attempted to make a new list of Seven
Wonders. Listen for another program about that project. And share your ideas on the
Spotlight website.
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Joshua Leo. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices
you heard were from the United States. You can listen to this program again, and read
it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Seven Wonders of
the World’.
Voice 2
spotlightradio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye
review!)
Question:
What is the most amazing thing you have ever seen in nature? What is the most amazing
thing you have seen that is built by people?
Bamboo: Crop of the Future

Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
A group of six buildings stands in two lines. It is the village of Noh Bo in Thailand. The
buildings are made of a light brown wood. There are swings attached with ropes to the
front of the houses. Children move back and forth on the swings. At night, the children
climb up into the wooden house. They sleep on an upper floor that is cool and dry.
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Voice 2
The local people say that the houses look like houses for butterflies. But they are houses
for children! The children are orphans. They do not have parents to care for them. So
they live together in an orphanage. And now they have good houses to live in.
Voice 1
The houses the children stay in are strong. They keep out water and heat. And they are
built with local materials. The main building material is a plant - light brown bamboo.
Voice 2
Bamboo is a common woody plant. It grows tall and thin. It looks almost like a tree! It
grows about 25 metres tall. It is about 15 centimetres wide. Bamboo looks like it is
made of many small pieces. Thick lines divide it into small segments. And the inside of
bamboo is empty. But it is hard and very strong. Today’s Spotlight is on how and why
people use bamboo. Is it the crop of the future?
Voice 1
Many people think bamboo is a tree. But it is not - it is a kind of grass. It grows mainly
in East and South East Asia. It also grows in Latin America, India and parts of Africa
and Australia. Bamboo grows extremely fast and spreads very quickly. There are 1500
different kinds of bamboo. People all over the world use it. And people are planting
more of it. Some people call bamboo ‘the crop of the future.’ They have many good
reasons to plant bamboo.
Voice 2
There are over 1,000 uses for bamboo! Here are just a few:
Voice 1
People in the past used bamboo for many things. They made musical instruments and
weapons with bamboo. Artists used it for paintbrushes and paper. Fishermen used it to
make equipment for catching fish. Some people even made boats from bamboo!
Voice 2
In China and India, doctors use bamboo in traditional medicine. Bamboo is also very
useful for cooking. People put food inside the empty bamboo plant. This is a good
container for cooking soup, rice or tea. But people also eat bamboo as a healthy food.
People eat the soft part, or shoot, of the bamboo in many ways. Most Asian countries
have special foods made from bamboo shoots.
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Voice 1
Bamboo has been used in traditional buildings. But builders also use it today! The village
of Noh Bo is just one example.
Voice 2
There are many modern uses for bamboo. In 1879 Thomas Edison created the first light
bulb. He made it with treated bamboo!
Voice 1
People also use bamboo to make cloth. Beauty products sometimes contain bamboo. It
is even in some water filters, to clean water! People have even designed vehicles and
airplanes out of bamboo. In Ghana, people even make two-wheeled bicycles from
bamboo. In the Philippines, people make electricity from bamboo! Buildings, bicycles,
light bulbs and even electricity: bamboo is an amazing plant.
Voice 2
These are just a few of the many ways people use bamboo. But bamboo is useful for a
much more important reason. It is useful while it grows! Growing bamboo helps the
environment in many ways. Bamboo provides oxygen, which improves air quality. It
also reduces harmful carbon dioxide in the air. It does this more quickly than trees.
Bamboo also provides shade and shelter from the sun.
Voice 1
In many places, hardwood trees are cut down for fuel or for building. This causes
problems for the earth, animals, plants and air. To keep a good environment, people
must replace the trees. But it takes a very long time for most trees to reach their full
size. Many hardwood trees take 50 years to grow!
Voice 2
Bamboo is ready to use in only three years. Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant
in the world. It can grow about 60 centimeters in only one day. The bamboo plant grows
to its full size in just three or four months. Some kinds of bamboo then become dry and
hard. In three years, it is strong enough to harvest and use. And bamboo grows again
when it is cut down. People can harvest it year after year.
Voice 1
Some people are sure that bamboo is ‘the crop of the future’. For example, Nicaragua
has many hardwood forests. But people are cutting down three percent of the forests
every year. One organization, Eco-planet Bamboo, is trying to replace these trees with
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bamboo. Troy Wiseman is a businessman with Eco-planet Bamboo. He explains their
goals:
Voice 3
“My hope is that bamboo will replace hardwood timber. That way people can stop
cutting down the forest. Bamboo is a resource that keeps growing. You can plant it on
land that you cannot grow crops on. Bamboo is, in my opinion, the best replacement
for hardwood.”
Voice 2
Eco-Planet Bamboo planted a large bamboo farm. Through this farm, Eco-Planet
Bamboo hopes to improve the environment. They also hope to improve life for local
people. Maribelle Urbina works on the bamboo farm. She told the BBC:
Voice 4
“I am very thankful that now I have a job. I am a single mother. I have five children.
Before, I used to have very serious problems. Now I have enough money to care for
my children.”
Voice 1
Bamboo is helping to reduce poverty in Nicaragua. John Vogel is the manager of the
bamboo farm. He showed the BBC the town near the bamboo farm. Vogel explains:
Voice 5
“You can see more stores, more business, more activity. And the people are buying
better houses. They are wearing better clothes. We are helping them also with health
programs. You can see building activities. People are painting the houses.”
Voice 2
In Nicaragua, bamboo is providing jobs. Around the world, it is improving the
environment and the economy. It is easy to see why people call bamboo the ‘crop of
the future.’
Voice 1
from the United States. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by
Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet
at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Bamboo: Crop of the Future’.
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Voice 2
You can also leave your comments on our website. Or you can email us at radio at
radioenglish dot net. You can also find us on Facebook - just search for spotlightradio.
(Download our app for Android or Apple.)
Question:
Do you use bamboo in your daily life? If yes, what do you use it for?
The Iditarod: The Last Great Race

Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
Some people say it is “the last great race”. It takes up to two weeks to finish it. It is a
test of human and animal. It is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Today’s Spotlight is on
this race. This is the story of how it began.
Voice 2
It was January, 1925. There was a problem in the city of Nome, Alaska, in the United
Sates. Children there were sick. They had diphtheria. This disease is often deadly. And
it is very easy to get. Doctor Curtis Welch was the only doctor in this area. He knew he
needed medicine very quickly. There were about 10,000 people in the area. Without the
medicine, it was very likely that most children and adults in the community would die.
Voice 1
Temperatures in Alaska can be as low as 51 degrees below zero. Travel can be
extremely difficult in this weather. In 1925, no car or truck could drive over the snowy
land. And the main sea port to Nome was closed for the season. Doctor Welch sent an
emergency message to cities around the state of Alaska. He asked for the medicine he
needed. The city of Anchorage had the medicine. But it was over 1000 kilometers away.
The medicine could travel part of the way by train. But what about the rest of the way?
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Officials decided to send the medicine to Nome by dog sled. These teams of dogs could
pull loads over places where trucks and cars could not go.
Voice 2
A group of dogs pulled the medicine on a sled. A driver, or musher, guided them. They
followed an old Alaskan path through the state. At the next town, this dog sled team
passed the medicine to another team. Over 20 teams took part. The weather was
terrible. It was snowing so hard the men could not see in front of them. And
temperatures were below negative 31 degrees Celsius.
Voice 1
Five and a half days later, the medicine reached the city of Nome. The mushers and
their dog teams were heroes. The city of Nome was saved. Newspapers around the
country told this story. The President of the United States wrote letters to thank the
men and dogs who took part in the delivery.
Voice 2
Almost 50 years later, this story inspired a sled dog race. In March of 1973, three men
organized the first modern Iditarod race. Mushers and their dog teams began in the city
of Anchorage. The end of the race was in Nome. It took 20 days for the winner to mush
from Anchorage to Nome. The race honoured the mushers and dogs who worked
together to bring the medicine to the children of Nome. Since then, the Iditarod race
happens every year. It is the longest dog sled race in the world.
Voice 1
Every Iditarod race follows the same path across Alaska - the old Iditarod Trail. The trail
is a series of very old paths. Experts believe that ancient native people used these paths
for hunting. Today, the trail is recognized as an important part of history.
Voice 2
The Iditarod trail is not an easy path to travel. There are mountains, valleys, and lots
of snow and ice. The trail splits in the middle to go around a group of mountains. In
some years the Iditarod race begins in the city of Seward and follows the south trail
around the mountains. And other years the race begins in Anchorage and follows the
north trail. But the race always ends in Nome. The race is about 1800 kilometres long.
It takes between eight and 20 days to complete.
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Voice 1
Men and women who enter the Iditarod are called mushers. They travel on a sled over
the snow. Dogs pull the sled. Mushers come from all over the world. Some come from
as far away as Germany, Italy, Norway and Switzerland. And some come from other
parts of the United States.
Voice 2
Mushers must be well-prepared for any condition. There are 26 or 27 cities along the
Iditarod trail where mushers must stop. These are called checkpoints. Before the
musher even starts the race he must send supplies and food for the dogs to each
checkpoint. Mushers are also required to stop travelling three times during the race.
This gives the tired dogs time to rest and become warm.
Voice 1
Dogs are an important part of the Iditarod. The most common kind of dog used in sled
racing is the Siberian Husky. This dog is fast, friendly, and has strong feet. Sled dogs
have great pulling power. A racing dog can easily pull something that weighs three times
more than it does! And these dogs can live in very cold temperatures. Mushers take
very good care of their dogs.
Voice 2
At each checkpoint an animal doctor looks at every dog to make sure it is healthy. The
rules of the Iditarod are very clear. No dog should be harmed during the race. If a dog
is sick or tired, it can stay at the checkpoint and rest. This is called “dropping a
dog.” After the race the musher will take the dog back home. Each musher can start
the race with 12 to 16 dogs. He or she must finish the race with at least six dogs.
Voice 1
Every year, about 50 mushers and dog teams begin the Iditarod race. But not all of
them finish it. The race is extremely difficult. But, for many mushers, finishing the race
is worth all the difficult work! Winning mushers do win money. But many do not run the
race to win the money - they do it for other reasons. Don Bowers raced in the Iditarod.
People often asked him if he had fun running the race. This is what he wrote to them
on the Iditarod website.
Voice 3
“Sometimes during a race I wonder if I am having fun. But after it is over there is no
question. It was fun and more than worth all the work. Actually, there is plenty of time
to enjoy everything out on the trail. Most mushers race mainly because they enjoy being
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out with their dogs. Travelling by dog sled is a very special way to travel. That is because
the dogs are actually your best friends.”
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Liz Waid. The producer was Mark Drenth. The voices
you heard were from the United States. All quotes were adapted and voiced by Spotlight.
You can find our programs on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is
called ‘The Iditarod: The Last Great Race’.
Voice 1
Question:
Would you want to race through snow?
Mapping the World

Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
For today’s Spotlight program you may want to be looking at a map of the world!
Voice 3
“We were covered in dust. We were nearly breathless from the smell of gas. But finally
I arrived in Xintang. I was three kilometres east of the confluence. As I was paying the
driver, we started talking. When he learned of my goal, he offered to take me as far as
he could to the confluence. It was just 400 metres away.”
Voice 2
This quote comes from Targ Parsons. He shared this story on the website for the Degree
Confluence Project. He is one person who is helping to make a special picture of the
world. They are trying to take pictures of special points where the lines of longitude and
latitude meet. These points are called degree confluence points. Today’s Spotlight is on
the Degree Confluence Project.
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Voice 1
When you look at a map of the world, you may see many lines on it. These lines are
imaginary; they do not physically exist off of the map. The map shows that the lines
circle the whole earth. The lines go up and down from the North Pole to the South Pole.
They also go from East to West across the map. These lines intersect, or cross each
other, many times. On the map, it looks like many different squares.
Voice 2
These lines serve a very important purpose. They are used to show exact positions on
the map. People can use these lines to know exactly where they are on the earth. This
is especially important in places without landmarks - like in a boat on the ocean, or in
the middle of a desert.
Voice 1
There are two main lines on the map. They are the prime meridian and the equator.
The prime meridian separates the eastern and western hemispheres of the earth. It
divides the east from the west. The equator separates the northern and southern
hemispheres of the earth. It divides the north from the south.
Voice 2
And all of the other lines on a map follow either the prime meridian or the equator. The
prime meridian and all the lines going north and south are called the lines of longitude.
The equator and all the lines that go east and west are called the lines of latitude. The
lines of longitude and latitude intersect or cross.
Voice 1
The point at which a line of longitude crosses a line of latitude is called a degree
confluence point. Confluence means "a meeting place." Alex Jarrett has a special
interest in degree confluence points. There are 64,442 of these points on the earth.
Voice 2
When Alex was a young man he visited his first degree confluence point. He took a
picture of it. He shared it on the internet. Then, other people began to share their
pictures of degree confluence points. And, that is how Alex came up with his idea. Alex
started the "Degree Confluence Project."
Voice 1
The goal of the project is to visit each of these special degree confluence points on land
- and take a picture of it! It shows small pieces of what the whole world looks like. There
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are 16,146 points on land. The degree confluence points in the ocean are too hard to
get to, so the project does not include those.
Voice 2
No matter where you live there is a degree confluence point within 78 kilometres of
you! Maybe you could help Alex to complete his project! Maybe you could take a picture
of a point near you.
Voice 1
The Degree Confluence website shows all the pictures people have taken. People from
all over the world have sent Alex pictures. So far there have been over 11,000 successful
visits to confluence points. And, people from 184 countries have been involved.
Voice 2
Confluence points are sometimes found in strange places. For example, one person
found a point near a nuclear power plant. Other points are in large fields. Some are in
deserts of sand. Some are in thick forests. Some of the pictures are very special and
interesting. Others may not really look like anything at all! But Alex believes that when
all the pictures are put together that we will see a very interesting look at the world.
Voice 1
To be a part of the project you need a few things. You need a little time, a camera, a
sense of adventure, and a special measuring tool called a global positioning system, or
a GPS.
Voice 2
A GPS measures a person’s exact position on earth. It uses satellites in the sky. The
satellites send a signal to the GPS. The GPS then measures the signal in degrees. The
latitude line gives the degree north or south of the equator. And the longitude line gives
the degree to the east or west of the prime meridian. The latitude is usually given first.
Voice 1
For example, I live in the state of Michigan in the United States. Michigan has a total of
23 degree confluence points. The nearest degree confluence point to me is at 43
degrees north, 84 degrees west.
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Voice 2
The Degree Confluence Project has some rules. They are listed on Alex’s website. Rule
number one is that you must reach within one hundred metres of the degree confluence
point. But reaching the exact point is desired. Doing this requires using a GPS tool.
Voice 1
Rule number two is that at least two pictures be taken from the point - one picture in
two different directions. But taking four pictures of the north, south, east and west is
even better.
Voice 2
Rule number three is that there needs to be a picture of the GPS. The picture should
show the exact degree position of the GPS. This proves that you have found the exact
position of the confluence point.
Voice 1
Rule number four is that you must share your story. Details about your visit to the
degree confluence point should be included with your pictures.
Voice 2
Rule number five, all the information should be given to the Degree Confluence website.
Alex wants everyone’s pictures to be together. That way he can combine all the pictures.
And this will create a very special picture of the world.
Voice 1
The Degree Confluence Project shows the variety and beauty of the earth. It also shows
that when people work together, they can create a very special picture of the world.
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Rebekah Schipper. The producer was Rena Dam. The
at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called ‘Mapping the World’.
Voice 1
Question:
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Who do you think can make a better map of the world: professionals or volunteers? Can
normal people help to make something good?
Scott of the Antarctic

Voice 1
Voice 2
And I’m Marina Santee. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is
Voice 3
“Since the 21st of March the strong wind has continued to blow. On the 20th we had
enough fuel to make two drinks of tea. We only enough food for two days. Every day
we have been ready to go to the big food camp only 18 kilometres away. But outside
the door of the tent the snow storm continues. I do not think we can hope for any better
things now. We will fight on to the end, but we are getting weaker and the end cannot
be far.
It seems sad, but I do not think I can write more.
I pray to God that you will look after our people.”
Voice 1
These words were found in a little book. It was next to the body of the man who wrote
them, Captain Robert Falcon Scott. He and his two friends had died eight months before,
in March 1912. The book told an amazing story of courage. It is the story of how five
brave men walked to the South Pole. However, when they arrived, they found that
another man had reached there first.
Voice 2
Today’s Spotlight is on Robert Scott and his team. More than one hundred years after
they died, people still remember their adventure.
Voice 1
At the beginning of the 20th century, Antarctica was the one continent which no one
had explored. Robert Falcon Scott was an officer in the British Navy. He travelled close
to Antarctica as a young man. He decided then that he wanted to explore it. He wanted
to become the first man to reach the South Pole.
131
Voice 2
Scott travelled around the United Kingdom giving talks about Antarctica. Reaching the
South Pole was not the only thing Scott wanted to do. He wanted to find out as much
as he could about Antarctica. He chose a team of scientists Many people agreed to
support him, including the British government.
Voice 1
The team sailed to Antarctica in a ship called the Terra Nova. They stopped several
times for supplies, in South Africa, in Australia, and finally New Zealand. In every place,
the scientists collected examples of plants and animals. They also collected more money
to pay for the trip.
Voice 2
Scott hoped to be the first to reach the South Pole. However, he learned that he would
not be the only person trying to reach it. The Norwegian explorer Raold Amundsen was
also travelling to the South Pole.
Voice 1
When they arrived, Scott and his men set up a base camp. They built a large wood
building. This was where they lived and worked. They began their scientific work
immediately. One man, Herbert Ponting, was taking pictures of everything he saw.
Other team members made careful records of the weather. These records are still
helping scientists today as they research climate change.
Voice 2
During the winter, the conditions in Antarctica are terrible. It is extremely cold - so cold
that it is almost impossible to survive. It is also almost always dark. However this is the
time when Emperor penguin birds lay their eggs. One goal of the expedition was to
collect one of these eggs. Scientists wanted to examine the developing babies inside
the eggs. This way they could discover how the birds grew. Three men made the trip.
They travelled for five terrible months. They almost died from the cold. But they were
successful in finding eggs.
Voice 1
The whole team worked hard preparing for their main goal - the trip to the South Pole.
They took large amounts of food and dropped them at different places, so it could be
used later. They used machines, horses, and dogs. But the machines did not work well
in the cold temperature. The horses also had problems. They became sick. Only the
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dogs were easy to use. The animals also had one other advantage. In extreme
situations, they could be killed and used as food.
Voice 2
Finally Scott chose four men to go with him to the Pole. Dr Edward Wilson, the scientist,
was one. Henry Bowers, Edgar Evans and Lawrence Oates were the others. They had
no dogs with them. Instead, they pulled their things across the snow on heavy sledges.
It was hard work. In January 1912 they reached the South Pole. A black flag and a note
told them that Amundsen had reached the South Pole a month earlier. The men felt sad
as they turned back.
Voice 1
But the scientific work continued. They collected many fossils. These rocks showed the
remains of ancient plants. These plants normally grow in warm places. One fossil even
showed a large, extinct plant. This plant is not alive now anywhere in the world. These
fossils showed something interesting. Because of them, scientists think that Antarctica
must have once been in a warmer part of the world. This supports the idea that
continents do not stay in one place. Instead they move around in the oceans, very
slowly.
Voice 2
Things did not go well for Scott and his men after they reached the South* Pole. They
had to hurry to reach the base camp before the weather became very bad. They had
expected to meet their dogs along the way. But the dogs never came. Evans died after
a fall. The extreme cold damaged Oates’s leg. So he did a very brave thing. He knew
that he was delaying the others. So one night he walked out of the tent into a snow
storm. He was never seen again.
Voice 1
Scott, Wilson and Bowers struggled on. Then they were trapped in their tent by a storm.
And that is where they died. Their bodies remain in Antarctica, where they were found.
But when people heard about them, they called Scott and his friends heroes. And Scott’s
final prayer was answered. In England, supporters collected money to help the families
of the dead men. Supporters also organized a permanent research station in England.
It is called the Scott Polar Research Institute. The building where Scott and his men
lived is also kept as a memorial to them.
Voice 2
Scott and his group did not achieve their main goal. Amundsen beat them to the South
Pole. Scott wrote:
133
Voice 3
“If we had lived, I would have a story to tell. It would show the courage of my friends.
They would have been an example to everyone.”
Voice 2
But in this way, Scott was wrong. They died, but people still remember them as heroes.
Voice 1
The writer of this programme was Shelagh Godwin. The producer was Luke Haley. The
adapted and voiced by Spotlight. You can find our programmes on the internet
at www.radioenglish.net. This programme is called “Scott of the Antarctic”.
Voice 2
*An earlier version of this script said "North Pole", but this was incorrect; the audio still
says "North Pole".
Question:
Have you ever wanted to visit the South Pole? What do you know about this place?
Northern Lights
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
Picture a dark black sky. Suddenly, a large line of light appears. It looks like someone
cut through the sky with a knife. The light shines through the opening.
Voice 2
Now, the light begins to move. It gets softer. It starts to look green in colour. The lines
of light move around the sky. They look like they may touch the ground very far away.
134
Voice 1
Then, a burst of light appears! There are more colours now. They look like rays of
sunshine all over the sky. The lights are changing very fast. They form a large curtain.
The curtain moves. It looks like it is dancing. The lights dance away back into the dark
black sky.
Voice 2
These lights in the sky are called the Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights. Today’s
Spotlight is on these Northern Lights.
Voice 1
Pierre Gassendi was a famous scientist and philosopher in the early 1600s. He was the
one who named the Aurora Borealis. This name comes from Ancient Roman stories.
Aurora was the name that Romans gave to the goddess of the dawn - the rising of the
sun. The second half, Borealis, is named after the north wind. So in English Aurora
Borealis means “the dawn of the north.”
Voice 2
If you live in the Northern part of the world you may have seen the northern lights
before. They also appear in the far south. There they are called the Aurora australis.
The Northern Lights appear in many colors. People most often see green or red. The
colour is different depending on how far north or south you are. The Northern Lights
also look different at different altitudes - they look different high up in the mountains
than at sea level.
Voice 1
But what are the Northern lights? What causes them? People have been wondering
about this for years. The Northern lights are a part of folk culture in many countries.
People around the world have traditional stories that explain the Northern lights. Here
are a few of them:
Voice 2
During the Viking period, people thought that the Northern Lights were images of young
women who were dead. Other people believed that the northern lights were signs of
huge fires in the north. And other people thought that it was God lighting up the cold,
dark parts of the world.
135
Voice 1
Inuit people believe that the lights are the land of the dead. They believe that dead
friends in this land try to connect with living people. They think that this is what is
happening when the lights change very fast.
Voice 2
The lights often change shape and colour. The Scots call them "merry dancers" because
of this movement. Some Native Americans believe that they can connect with spirits of
the dead by whistling at the lights.
Voice 1
Danish people have a traditional story about the Northern Lights. They say that a group
of large white birds called swans once flew too far north. The swans got caught in the
ice. They moved their wings up and down, flapping to get free. Every time they flapped
their wings, they made images in the sky. These images became the northern lights.
Voice 2
But not every country had a nice story about the Northern Lights like the Danish. Some
cultures believed that the Northern Lights represented evil. They were afraid of the
lights. They thought the lights were a terrible force. And many people believed that the
Northern Lights caused natural disasters, like earthquakes or floods.
Voice 1
These traditional stories are very interesting. But there is a scientific cause of the
northern lights - the Sun!
Voice 2
Sometimes there are storms on the sun. These storms release a cloud of solar particles
into space. The solar particles are made up of atoms that have a magnetic charge. They
are full of electric forces.
Voice 1
Some of these magnetic solar particles come near to the earth. When they do, they are
pulled in by the earth’s magnetic field. The magnetic field pulls the particles to the two
magnetic poles on the earth: the North Pole and the South Pole.
136
Voice 2
The Northern Lights appear when the solar particles crash into the gas of the earth’s
atmosphere. More solar particles make the lights bigger and brighter. In certain years,
the sun has more storms. During these times, the northern lights can be seen from
farther away. They may also be larger than usual. Rachel VanderVeen lives in Northern
Canada. She says that the year 2012 had many solar storms. She tells Spotlight what
happened:
Voice 3
“My husband does not often run. But one day he was walking home from school when
the northern lights began. They moved across the dark sky in many colours. Even with
the light from the town, they were amazing. Usually, we see the Northern Lights in
bright green. But that day the colours made my husband run to find me. The lights were
pink, purple and orange. We have lived in the north for many years now. That was the
first time we have seen so many bright colours.”
Voice 1
You can see why so many people believe that the Northern Lights are special. People
travel from all over the world just to see the Northern Lights. But it is difficult to capture
such an amazing sight. Some people spend days taking pictures of the lights. Other
people try to describe the northern lights in words. Today’s program ends with a part
of a poem about the Northern Lights. It is called ‘The Aurora Borealis’ by S. Moore:
Voice 4
“The Aurora Borealis or northern light
With its movements so strangely bright,
Moving and dancing along the sky -
A picture of beauty to please the eye.
How sweetly the shining particles fly!

How quickly the flashes of light in the sky!
You would think the young angels had gathered in crowds
To play hide-and-seek through the golden clouds,
Let wise philosophers search out the cause,

And tell me the Science of Nature's laws;
And how these magnetic rays of light
Enrich the north of a frosty night.
So let the stories be what they may,

137
I love to look on the bright display
Of the ever moving, changing hues,
Seen in these grand but short lived views.”
Voice 2
The writers of this program were Sara DeKoster and Rena Dam. The producer was Rena
Dam. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All
quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this
program again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is
called, ‘Northern Lights’.
Voice 1
spotlightradio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye
Question:
Have you ever seen the Northern Lights?
Oil Making a Difference

Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Liz Waid
Voice 2
And I'm Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
for people to understand no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
A woman walks through a small store in Paris, France. She chooses a small container.
The writing on the container says that it will make skin feel and look younger. At another
store in Chicago, United States, a cook pours special oil on a salad for dinner. The people
waiting to eat are excited to eat this food. And in Essaouira, Morocco, a group of women
sit together. They are crushing seeds between two large stones. What do all these
people have in common? Argan Oil, one of the most rare oils in the world. Today's
Spotlight is on this special oil and the women who make it.
138
Voice 2
For hundreds of years, women in Morocco have made oil from the seeds of the argan
tree. Morocco is a country in Northwest Africa. Some areas of Morocco are very dry. In
these dry conditions, most plants do not grow well. But this is the perfect environment
for the argan tree. Southwestern Morocco is the only place in the world where these
trees grow.
Voice 1
The argan forest in Morocco is a very special place. The trees help to stop the spread
of the desert. In dry areas, strong winds can blow away soil. But the strong roots of the
argan tree hold soil together. The argan forests stop the soil from blowing away.
Voice 2
The argan tree can live for a very long time. It takes between 40 to 60 years for a tree
to become an adult. And scientists say that the tree may live for 200 years to 400 years.
But this long growing time can be a problem. When someone cuts down an argan tree,
it takes a very long time for another one to grow and replace it.
Voice 1
In recent years, the argan forests have become smaller. Today, more than 1/3 of the
forest is gone. Too many people are cutting down the trees for firewood. Also, people
are using too many argan seeds. They are not planting enough of the seeds to grow
more trees.
Voice 2
But the Berber people depend on the argan tree. The women in these areas of Morocco
make a special product from the trees: argan oil. They have been making this oil in the
same way for many years. Berber women pass down the method from generation to
generation. The women take the fruit from the argan tree or gather them from the
ground. Then, they take the seeds out of the fruit. When these seeds dry, the women
pound them between two stones. The seeds become a thick paste. The women press
the paste to remove the oil.
Voice 1
In the past, the women produced argan oil to use in their own homes. They used the
oil in cooking, on their skin, and to treat sicknesses. Some of the oil was traded in
Morocco - but it was not used anywhere else.
139
Voice 2
In the 1990s people in Europe began to hear about argan oil. They learned about the
special qualities of the oil - that it was good for eating, and for skin treatments. Cooks
wanted to use it in foods in their restaurants. Beauty companies wanted to put the oil
in their products.
Voice 1
So the production of argan oil started to change. More companies in the West wanted
the oil so they created new ways to produce the oil. They used machines to gather the
argan fruit. They used chemicals to get the oil out of the seeds. Many companies started
producing argan oil for people in the West.
Voice 2
But when all these Western companies moved to Morocco, the native Berber people
were pushed out. They lost control of the argan oil business. The business was
succeeding, but the local people were not receiving that money. The argan forest was
also suffering.
Voice 1
So a group from Germany worked with the Moroccan government to help fix this
problem. First, they talked to UNESCO. In 1998, UNESCO recognized the argan forest
as a special place. They declared it to be a biosphere reserve. This is an environmental
area that the world will protect.
Voice 2
The second step was to work with the Berber women. Moroccan authorities encouraged
the Berber women to form cooperatives. A cooperative is a business that is owned
equally by the group of people who work there. The women did form cooperatives. But
they did not want to produce the argan oil with the new methods, using machines. They
wanted to keep the tradition of making argan oil by hand. This was the way their
ancestors made the oil. These traditional methods made better quality argan oil, but
they took more time and work. As a result, it was still difficult for the cooperatives to
compete against the big businesses.
Voice 1
So the Moroccan government did something to help these local argan oil producers.
They applied with the European Union for argan oil, itself, to be protected. In 2009, the
application was approved. The European Union declared argan oil to be a Protected
140
Geographical Indication agricultural product or PGI. This means that argan oil is a
special product to this area. In fact, it was the first PGI in the continent of Africa.
Voice 2
Being a PGI means that all argan oil in the world must be produced in a particular way.
The argan oil must be produced by Berber cooperatives. It must be produced in the
traditional way. This makes sure that the Berber women get a fair price for the oil they
produce. It also means that when anyone buys argan oil, they know they are getting
the best quality product.
Voice 1
Because of this, the Berber women's cooperatives can now continue to support
themselves. Today there are over 50 argan oil cooperatives run by women in
Southwestern Morocco. These cooperatives give women a way to help support their
families. They can pay for food and education for their family. They no longer depend
only on the work of men.
Voice 2
But the cooperatives also care for the existing forest, and plant more argan trees. They
make sure that the argan forest will exist for many more generations. The cooperatives
also create education programs for the women and members of the community. Argan
oil is more than just something to eat or rub on your skin. It is a product that helps an
entire community. It is oil making a difference.
Voice 1
The writer and producer of this program was Joshua Leo. The voices you heard were
from the United States. Computer users can hear our programs, read our scripts, and
see our word list on our website at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called "Oil
Making a Difference".
Voice 2
If you have a comment or question about this program, you can e-mail us. Our e-mail
address is radio@radioenglish.net. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight
program. Goodbye!
Question:
Do you ever use argan oil for anything?
141
Going to the Forest
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I'm Adam Navis. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
Voice 3
"Keep close to Nature's heart... break away from your life and climb a mountain or
spend a week in the forest. Wash your spirit clean."
Voice 1
These are the words of John Muir. John Muir was an American writer and naturalist -
he was particularly interested in learning about natural places. Through his writing, he
shared his love of wild places. But his most important work was in protecting those
places for all people. Today's Spotlight is on John Muir.
Voice 2
Muir lived in the late 1800s. At this time there were also many writers who believed that
wild natural places were necessary. They believed that people needed to experience
nature. And they were studying the importance of natural environments.
Voice 1
But Muir wrote in a different way. He compared the forests to beautiful Christian
churches. He wrote about the mountains as divine - like God. He spoke about the glory
of natural light. This spiritual side of his writing appealed to many readers. He was able
to describe the beauty of wild places in fresh ways. His writing has inspired many
generations of people to fall in love with nature.
Voice 2
Muir was born in 1838. Muir's father was the leader of a Christian church. His father
would require long hours of studying the Bible. But unlike his father, Muir looked to the
natural world to understand God. Muir did not like to sit still. He wanted time outside,
instead of studying in his house.
142
Voice 1
As a young man, Muir invented many things - including a device to push him out of bed
in the morning. He showed these devices at a state event. Because of this, he met a
woman who would influence him later in life. Her name was Jeanne Carr. Mrs. Carr
encouraged Muir to go to college. There, he studied biology and geology - the world of
plants and of rocks. He left school before finishing a degree. But he would continue this
study for the rest of his life. And he continued to share his ideas and observations with
Mrs. Carr in letters. She was an important encouragement to this work.
Voice 2
After college, Muir used his skill with inventing in several factories. He was successful
and popular in this work. But then, in 1867, he had a terrible accident. He was using a
tool and it moved suddenly out of his hand. He hurt his eye very badly. He had to live
in a dark room for six weeks to heal. And he worried that he would become completely
blind. This experience forced him to think about the direction of his life. He decided to
follow his dreams and study nature. He wrote,
Voice 3
"This terrible time has driven me to the sweet fields. God has to nearly kill us sometimes,
to teach us."
Voice 1
So, in September of 1867, Muir began walking. He would walk 1,000 miles - nearly 1600
kilometres. He started in the state of Indiana and walked south, all the way to Florida.
He later wrote a book about it called "A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf." He avoided
cities and roads. Instead, he walked the most wild paths possible.
Voice 2
His plan was to take a boat from Florida to South America and continue walking.
However, he became sick with malaria in Florida. Instead, he travelled across the
country to California.
Voice 1
He arrived in California in March of 1868. He spent a week in Yosemite Valley. This is
one of the most beautiful places in the United States. It has high, snow covered
mountains. And it has deep green valleys and forests. At that time, very few people had
seen this place. During this week, Muir fell in love with this beautiful place. He wrote,
143
Voice 3
"No temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite... The best of all special
temples of Nature."
Voice 1
Muir lived in the valley for several years. He had small jobs, including caring for sheep,
and cutting trees. He also built a small house to live in. He built it close to a very small
river. This way, he could always hear the sound of water. He also wrote about the
Yosemite Valley. He described the beauty of the area. He made scientific observations
of the plants and mountains. And he also began to write about the need to protect the
valley.
Voice 2
In 1903 Muir was visited by President Theodore Roosevelt. They walked together and
discussed the value of this natural environment. Muir talked to Roosevelt about
protecting the area, as a wild place. Roosevelt then asked Muir to show him the wild
parts of Yosemite. The two men stayed out in the wild for the night. In the morning,
new snow covered them.
Voice 1
This trip with the president was very important. Roosevelt knew that this beautiful place
needed to be protected. The experience led to the development of the National Parks
system in the United States. These natural places are protected for people to use and
enjoy - the goal that Muir shared with Roosevelt. Muir is often known as the Father of
the National Parks. He wrote,
Voice 3
"God has cared for these trees, saved them from times without rain, disease, heavy
snow, and a thousand storms and floods. But he cannot save them from fools."
Voice 2
Muir also started the Sierra Club. This organization continues to be an important
conservation organization in the United States. They work with government, and other
organizations to protect natural spaces. They also work to improve the environment by
fighting pollution.
Voice 1
Later in life, Muir married and had children. He worked on his father-in-law's farm. But
he could not stay in his house for too long. His wife would send him back to the forests.
144
He had a warm, safe place to live, but he said that the wilderness was his real "home."
He wrote,
Voice 3
"The mountains are calling and I must go."
Voice 2
Muir continued his work in protecting natural places for the rest of his life. And he
continued to write. He wrote 12 books, and more than 300 shorter stories. This work
continues to encourage people to continue his work today.
Voice 3
"Every person needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature
may heal and give strength to body and spirit."
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Johanna Poole. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The
voices you heard were from the United States. All quotes were adapted and voiced by
Spotlight. You can find our programs on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This
program is called 'Going to the Forest'.
Voice 2
Question:
What do you do to renew your energy and spirit? Walk in the woods? Listen to music?
Disappearing Dolphins: Can Tourists Help?

Voice 1
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
145
Voice 1
A small group of people float down the Mekong River in Cambodia in a long boat. The
wind blows across the brown water. A few metres away, two greyish blue bodies that
look like large fish slide through the water. Their triangle-shaped fins stick up like sails.
They shine in the hot sun. Then they disappear into the water again. This fish-like animal
is an Irrawaddy dolphin.
Voice 2
This dolphin is an important part of life in parts of South East Asia. But the number of
dolphins is getting smaller. And people are worried that there may soon be none left.
Why is this dolphin so important? And how can people help it to survive? Today’s
spotlight is on the Irrawaddy dolphin.
Voice 1
The Irrawaddy dolphin lives in fresh water - usually in rivers. It can grow up to two and
a half metres long. And it can weigh as much as 150 kilograms. But the Irawaddy dolphin
is different than other dolphins because it has a very round head. It is also the only
dolphin that shoots water from its mouth. This is one way Irrawaddy dolphins
communicate with each other. They also use many noises to talk to one another.
Voice 2
Irrawaddy dolphins are very social. They usually live together in groups of up to ten.
They live in the waters of South East Asia. Groups of Irrawaddy dolphins live over a
wide area. They swim to Australia in the south and as far West as India.
Voice 1
Some of these dolphins live in the Mekong River in Cambodia. The dolphin is an
important part of life in the Mekong River. Many Cambodians feel that there is something
special and spiritual about the dolphin. There is a special relationship between the
dolphin and people.
Voice 2
Dolphins are also important for the people who catch fish for a living - fishermen. The
Irrawaddy dolphin can help people catch fish. Some dolphins swim around the fish.
They push the fish into the fishing nets. Fishermen then pull up the nets full of fish. The
fishermen eat the fish and sell them. The dolphins then get their payment: They eat the
fish that are left in the river.
146
Voice 1
But there are fewer Irrawaddy dolphins every year. The Wildlife Conservation Society
says that they are endangered. This organization works to protect animals. Brian Smith
is their expert in river animals. He says that he is afraid that soon there will be no
Irrawaddy dolphins left. He tells National Geographic Magazine:
Voice 3
“Irrawaddy river dolphins are among the river animals at greatest risk of disappearing.
The area where they swim has decreased. Their numbers are low. We observe this and
see that this population is seriously threatened."
Voice 2
Right now there are less than 100 dolphins in the Mekong River in Cambodia. Why is
the number of Irrawaddy dolphins getting smaller? Dolphins often get caught in fishing
nets. The dolphins cannot escape from the nets and they die. The other reason dolphins
are disappearing is that people and animals must share the river. At times, hungry
people remove too many fish from the river. They do not leave enough fish for the
dolphins to eat.
Voice 1
But there may be a solution to this problem that will help everyone. Many people travel
from other cities and countries to see the Irrawaddy dolphin. These tourists are usually
good for local business. They bring in money and create jobs for local people. Ly Pha
Laut is a fisherman on the Mekong. He noticed all the tourists - people who visit the
Mekong River looking for fun. He decided to become a boat guide. Tourists pay people
with boats to take them to see the dolphins. Ly Pha Laut tells the development
organization SNV:
Voice 4
“As a fisherman I did not earn much. But here by the boats, I saw that there were many
tourists. I knew I would be able to earn money this way. So I asked if I could work here.
The money earned from fishing is not regular. I did not earn the same amount of money
every day. As a boat guide I can earn about five dollars a day.”
Voice 2
SNV has started a new tourism project. It is called the ‘Mekong Development Trail’.
Tourists can travel in the natural and less-busy parts of Cambodia. They can learn about
the environment and the people who live there. SNV and the government of Cambodia
147
hope that this will help the dolphins. They also hope it will help decrease poverty in the
area.
Voice 1
But there are some concerns authorities must keep in mind when encouraging tourism.
Tourists can create more waste. They ride in cars and boats which can pollute the air
and water. This pollution is very bad for the health of the local people and the Irrawaddy
dolphins.
Voice 2
Sharee Bauld is the business development advisor for the Mekong Development Trail.
She wants tourists to use bicycles and walk on foot. She encourages tourists to respect
the river and keep it clean. She also encourages tourists to learn about local culture.
Sharee says:
Voice 5
“The kind of tourists that we want to bring here are those who want to experience these
kinds of things. So we want them to learn more about the communities and learn more
about the issues.”
Voice 1
No one knows the future of the Irrawaddy dolphin in the Mekong River. Hopefully, their
numbers will grow. But there is something that tourists everywhere should remember.
There is a saying in English about travel. It says: ”Take only pictures, leave only your
footprints”.
Voice 2
This saying explains that it is good to enjoy the beauty around you when you travel.
Take photographs but do not remove anything. When you leave a place of nature it
should look as beautiful as when you arrived. Hopefully, the tourists to the Mekong
River and Irrawaddy dolphins will remember this.
Voice 1
Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet
at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Disappearing Dolphins: Can Tourists
Help?’.
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Voice 2
You can also leave your comments on our website. Or you can email us at
radio@radioenglish . net. You can also find us on Facebook - just search for Spotlight
Radio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
Question:
What are the most important rules for being a visitor or tourist?
Koalas in Danger
Voice 1
Voice 2
And I’m Mike Procter. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is
Voice 3
“Ruby still sleeps in the basket. She sleeps with her soft play thing. She likes to have
both hands and feet holding something when she is lifted. Do you want to hold her?”
Voice 1
Diedre de Villiers is talking about a baby. But Ruby is not a human baby. She is a small
furry animal - a koala. De Villiers is a koala researcher. She is caring for Ruby. De Villiers
rescued Ruby from the mouth of a dog. And Ruby is sick. De Villiers will care for her
until she is healthy. Then Ruby will be able to live in the trees with other wild koalas.
Today’s Spotlight is on these koalas.
Voice 2
People often call koalas “koala bears.” A koala does look like a small size bear. Like a
bear, it is covered with grey hair or fur. It has large ears, wide eyes and a long black
nose. A koala has a round furry body like a bear. But a koala is not a bear - it is a
marsupial.
Voice 1
Marsupials are animals that have a special way to carry their new born babies. They
have a pouch. The fur on their stomach can open to hold something - a bit like a bag.
The koala mother carries her new baby in this pouch. This makes it easier for her to
149
climb trees. Koalas spend most of their lives up in a tree. They eat tree leaves. Koalas
particularly like the shiny, dark leaves of the eucalyptus tree.
Voice 2
Eucalyptus trees grow in Eastern Australia. This is the home of the koalas too. Around
the year 1800, Europeans settled in Australia. At this time, there were probably millions
of koalas in Eastern Australia. The number is much smaller now. The Australian Koala
Foundation says there are only about 40 to eighty 80 thousand koalas left. This sounds
like a big number. However, koalas are in serious danger.
Voice 1
The human population of Australia is growing. As people build more roads and houses,
they cut down eucalyptus trees. But the koalas need these trees to survive. Trees
provide shelter, food and safety for the koalas. Humans also build fences, drive vehicles
and own dogs. These things can all be dangerous to a koala. Diedre de Villiers tells
National Geographic:
Voice 3
“Koalas are getting caught in fences and dying. They are killed by dogs and hit by
vehicles. They are even dying from simple things - like a person who cuts down several
eucalyptus trees around his house.”
Voice 1
People also bring something else that harms koalas - disease. Koalas can die from
human disease. It causes another problem too. Disease can change their behaviour. It
can make koalas fight each other. Diseases can also make koalas unable to produce
babies. This is a big problem because the number of koalas is shrinking. Many people
are worried that soon there may be no koalas at all.
Voice 2
Joel Sartore is a photographer for National Geographic Magazine. He is very famous for
his pictures of rare or endangered animals. He visited Eastern Australia to take pictures
of koalas. Sartore took one particularly difficult picture. It was a picture of all the koalas
that had died in one area during one week. The picture shows the bodies of 13 koalas.
Sartore tells National Geographic about it:
Voice 4
“I knew I had to get a picture of dead koalas for this story. But I kept having trouble.
People at the animal clinic I was working with said it would look bad. The Australian
150
government does not even like to say that these koalas are endangered. But the workers
at one place I visited thought this was an important picture to make. They told me that
in this area these animals will be completely gone in three to five years. They want the
world to know that.”
Voice 1
The koala has many enemies such as disease, dogs and people cutting down trees. But
koalas have many friends too. Many people are working to protect the koalas from
danger. People like Deidre de Villiers take care of hurt koalas. Some people even work
with koalas in their own houses.
Voice 2
Samantha Longman is one of these people. She takes care of koala babies. She is like
their mother! The baby koalas climb on her. They depend on her. She tells National
Geographic about this work:
Voice 5
“It does not leave me much time for anything else! But the little creatures are part of
our family. What we are doing is important."
Voice 1
Some people work with the government to protect land and trees. The Australian Koala
Foundation, or AKF, is asking the government to use more land as natural park areas.
These parks would be a good place for koalas to live. The AKF would also like the
government to create laws to protect koalas. They want to stop people from cutting
down eucalyptus trees. Without eucalyptus trees, the koalas can not survive. The AKF
website explains:
Voice 6
“Eighty percent of the land that koalas live on is on privately owned. It is often farmland
- not in national parks. This is why the AKF wants a law that will prevent people from
cutting down trees on their land. We want a law to encourage people to protect and
manage the land where koalas live.”
Voice 2
There is another way de Villiers works to protect koalas. She watches wild koalas. This
way she can learn how the koalas are doing. She studies their health. And she studies
the population growth of koalas in the area.
151
Voice 1
Humans have caused many problems for koalas in Australia. But de Villiers says that
people and koalas can live together. People can make some changes that would help
the koalas. They can drive more slowly. They can make sure that there are enough
eucalyptus trees for the koalas to live in and eat.
Voice 2
On one trip de Villiers studied Tee Vee - a koala she had watched for over a year. To
her surprise, de Villiers discovered Tee Vee had a young baby in her pouch. De
Villiers shared her excited reaction with National Geographic:
Voice 3
“While there are still healthy babies, there is still hope.”
Voice 1
from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted for this
the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Koalas in Danger’.
Voice 2
Question:
Are there animals in your area that are in danger? What do you do to help protect them?
Patrick Moore, Astronomer

Voice 1
Voice 2
And I’m Katy Blake. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
152
Voice 1
Everyone has looked up into the sky at night. Everyone has seen stars in the night sky.
But have you looked up and observed the mountains on the moon? Have you seen every
planet that orbits the sun? Today’s Spotlight is on a man who did this. He spent his
whole life looking at the sky at night. He loved astronomy. He loved studying the moon,
planets and stars. And he helped millions of other people enjoy it too. His name was
Patrick Moore.
Voice 2
Moore was born in 1923 in England. As a small boy he had a weak heart. He did not go
to school. Instead, he learned at home. When he was six or seven years old his mother
gave him a book. The book was about the planets. He read it from cover to cover. And
he wanted to know more. He started to study the moon, planets and stars. He was
excited by everything he learned. When he was only 11 years old, he even became a
member of the British Astronomical Association.
Voice 1
He was particularly interested in the moon. He used a telescope to study its surface.
The telescope made everything look bigger and closer. He could see the detail of the
surface of the moon clearly. He saw mountains. He also saw circle shaped craters.
Objects hitting the moon make these craters. In this way he taught himself about the
moon. He discovered many new things about it. When he was 13, he published a report
about his discoveries.
Voice 2
As Moore grew older he continued to learn more. He continued to study the moon and
its mountains and craters. And he made special maps of what he saw on the moon. He
did not do this as a job. He did it because he enjoyed doing it. He was an amateur. But
many important people respected his research and his lunar maps.
Voice 1
At this time no-one had travelled into space. But both the Soviet Union and the United
States had space programmes. The people in these space programmes knew about
Moore and his research. And both space programmes used his detailed lunar maps.
Voice 2
In 1959 the Soviets launched the space rocket Lunik 3. It took the first pictures of the
far side of the moon. The Soviets used Moore’s lunar maps to connect their pictures
with images of the near side of the moon. Later the United States space programme
153
NASA also used his detailed maps of the moon. The maps helped NASA scientists to
plan their moon landings.
Voice 1
So Moore played an important part in the early exploration of space. He also wanted to
spread interest in astronomy. He wrote many popular books on the subject. But it was
through television that he reached millions of people. He gave them an interest in
astronomy.
Voice 2
In 1957 the Soviets sent the first satellite, Sputnik I, into space. And in that same year
Moore became the presenter of a BBC television programme. It was called ‘The Sky at
Night’. Moore presented this television programme about space and astronomy for 55
years. This was until his death in 2012.
Voice 1
Moore loved to communicate his subject. He was so excited about it that he would speak
very fast and very loud. He was very tall and very large. He talked with knowledge and
excitement about the moon and planets such as Mars, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter. He
told people about comets, black holes, eclipses, meteors and far off stars and
constellations. He made difficult things easy to understand.
Voice 2
Moore was also interested in people. He talked to many scientists. He also met many
astronauts who had gone into space. And some of them even appeared on ‘The Sky at
Night.’ He met the first man in space, the Russian Yuri Gagarin. He also met the first
woman in space, the Russian Valentina Tereshkova. He also knew many of the American
Apollo astronauts, including Neil Armstrong. Armstrong was the first man who walked
on the moon. He appeared on ‘The Sky and Night’ programme and talked about the
moon with Moore. Buzz Aldrin was the second man on the moon. He said that Moore
helped people to understand the greatness of the Universe.
Voice 1
Many people became excited about astronomy through Moore and ‘The Sky at Night’
programme. Dr. Marek Kakula is the current Public Astronomer at the Royal Observatory
in Greenwich in the United Kingdom. Kakula told the BBC that Moore had a big effect
on the world of professional astronomy. He said:
154
Voice 3
‘There are many trained astronomers like me who can date their interest in astronomy
to watching Patrick on television.’
Voice 2
Moore did not just interest people in astronomy through his books and on television. He
helped them develop their interest directly. He wrote letters of encouragement and
support. He met people at events. And he even invited them to his home. There he
shared his telescopes, his knowledge, and his food and drink. Brian May was one such
person. May is part of the popular music group Queen. But he is also a scientist. He is
an astrophysicist who studies the physics of the universe. May told the BBC:
Voice 4
‘We all learned astronomy from Patrick Moore. We learned that kind of hunger and joy
for knowledge that he had and shared with everybody. He lived and breathed his
subject. And he shared it with everybody. He only lived to share his knowledge, his
wealth and his time.’
Voice 1
Moore received many awards for his work during his life. He even received a knighthood
from the Queen. So he became Sir Patrick Moore. But Moore always said that he was
nothing more than an amateur. He was not a trained astronomer. He was somebody
who did his work because he loved doing it.
Voice 2
Do you enjoy doing something as an amateur? Do you tell other people about your
interest? Share your experiences on our website www.radioenglish.net.
Voice 1
The writer of this programme was Shelagh Godwin. The producer was Nick Mangeolles.
The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted for this
programme and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this programme again, and read
it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This programme is called, ‘Patrick Moore,
Astronomer’.
Voice 2
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spotlightradio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight programme.
Goodbye.
Question:
Do you like to look at the stars? What do you want to learn about space?
Global Seed Vault

Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Robin Basselin.
Voice 2
Voice 1
Far north in the Arctic Ocean, there is a group of islands called Svalbard. Here, it is cold
and windy. And everything in this place is white and frozen. There are no trees or plants.
And there are very few animals. But, on the side of one snowy mountain, there is a
large building. This building holds the largest collection of seeds on the planet. It is the
Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Although this vault is in Norway, it is for the whole world.
Today's Spotlight is on the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and how it is protecting the
world’s crops.
Voice 2
People who grow crops know that seeds are important. For thousands of years, farmers
have used their knowledge to build many different kinds, or varieties, of crop seeds.
Each variety grows a little differently. Some varieties grow better in the cold. Others are
stronger against disease. By combining different seeds, farmers can produce crops with
new features. This helps farmers react to changes in climate, soil and crop diseases.
Voice 1
This process has produced a rich diversity of many different kinds of crops. But this
diversity is at risk. Over the past 100 years, many crops have become extinct. Farmers
have stopped growing them and they no longer exist. The magazine National
Geographic wrote a story on the importance of seed diversity and the future of food.
They reported:
156
Voice 3
“The extinction of different food varieties is happening all over the world - and it is
happening fast. In the United States an estimated 90% of our historic fruits and
vegetable varieties no longer exist... In the Philippines, thousands of varieties of rice
once grew well; now farmers grow only about a hundred there. In China 90% of the
wheat varieties grown just a century ago have disappeared. Experts estimate that we
have lost more than half of the world's food varieties over the past century."
Voice 2
This rate of crop extinction is a serious problem. Without crop diversity farmers cannot
react to major changes in the environment. A good example of this is the Irish potato
famine of 1845. The potato is a root vegetable that grows under the ground. Potatoes
are a common food around the world. But they first appeared in South America, in the
country of Peru. For thousands of years, farmers in this country have grown potatoes.
And they have developed hundreds of different varieties.
Voice 1
In the 16th century, people brought the potato from South America to the country of
Ireland. By the 19th early century, the potato became Ireland’s main crop. The problem
was that the farmers of Ireland grew only one main kind of potato. And this caused a
terrible crisis. In 1845, a disease spread among the potato crops in Ireland. Almost all
of the crops died. People did not have potatoes to eat. One million people died from a
lack of food. Another million people had to leave Ireland to survive. This was a terrible
tragedy. But it did not have to happen. If farmers had grown many different varieties
of potatoes in Ireland, some of the potato crops would have resisted the disease. And
this diversity of crops would have saved many lives.
Voice 2
Today, the world’s diversity of food crops is quickly shrinking. But scientists around the
world are taking action. They are establishing seed banks. At seed banks, scientists
store the seeds of many different crop varieties. Usually, seed banks store the best
seeds from the local area. If stored well, people can use the seeds to grow particular
crops again later.
Voice 1
There are now 1400 seed banks around the world. But sometimes seed banks are unable
to provide a safe environment for the seeds. Some banks are in warm countries. If the
electricity fails, the seeds will get too hot and die. Other seed banks are in countries
troubled by war or violence. Sometimes people damage the seed banks and even steal
seeds. If this happens, valuable seeds can be lost forever!
157
Voice 2
The organization Global Crop Diversity Trust decided they wanted to solve this problem.
So, they decided to build a global seed bank. This seed bank would contain a back-up,
or extra copy, of ALL the world's seeds. Smaller seed banks would still collect and keep
local seeds. But they would also send copies of their seeds to the global bank.
Voice 1
Scientists from the Global Crop Diversity Trust travelled all over the world to find a good
place to build the global seed vault. Finally, they chose the cold, snowy mountains of
Svalbard, Norway. Svalbard is the perfect place to keep important seeds. It is far away
from any earthquake areas. And, because it is high in a mountain, there is no danger
of rising sea levels or flooding. Svalbard’s frozen temperatures are also good for
protecting the seeds from possible power failures. The government of Norway already
had a seed bank in Svalbard. So they already had systems and experience storing seeds.
Norway is also a very peaceful country. Any military action in Svalbard is against the
law. For these reasons, the Global Crop Diversity Trust chose Svalbard for the Global
Seed Bank. And in 2008, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened.
Voice 2
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault works like a bank. Organizations, farmers, or local seed
banks store their extra seeds there. And the people who place their seeds in the vault
are the only people who can take them out. They pay to ship their seeds to Norway,
but it does not cost them any money to store their seeds. The Global Crop Diversity
trust pays for this. The trust also sometimes pays for poor farmers or countries to send
their seeds to Svalbard. In these ways, the Global Crop Diversity Trust is protecting crop
diversity around the world.
Voice 1
Cary Fowler is a scientist who heads the Global Crop Diversity Trust. Fowler believes
that the Svalbard Seed Vault provides an important service. In a paper about the seed
vault, he wrote,
Voice 4
"In the case of a large global crisis, the Seed Vault would prove completely necessary
to humanity. Still, we do not need to experience a global crisis in order for the Seed
Vault to be useful... If the Seed Vault simply supplies seed banks with copies of seeds
that those banks lost by accident, the Seed Vault will be worth way more than it cost."
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Voice 2
The writer of this program was Jen Hawkins. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices
the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, “Global Seed Vault."
Voice 1
We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!
Question:
What seed would you want to save so that it does not disappear?
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Robin Basselin.
Voice 2
Voice 1
Far north in the Arctic Ocean, there is a group of islands called Svalbard. Here, it is cold
and windy. And everything in this place is white and frozen. There are no trees or plants.
And there are very few animals. But, on the side of one snowy mountain, there is a
large building. This building holds the largest collection of seeds on the planet. It is the
Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Although this vault is in Norway, it is for the whole world.
Today's Spotlight is on the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and how it is protecting the
world’s crops.
Voice 2
People who grow crops know that seeds are important. For thousands of years, farmers
have used their knowledge to build many different kinds, or varieties, of crop seeds.
Each variety grows a little differently. Some varieties grow better in the cold. Others are
stronger against disease. By combining different seeds, farmers can produce crops with
new features. This helps farmers react to changes in climate, soil and crop diseases.
Voice 1
This process has produced a rich diversity of many different kinds of crops. But this
diversity is at risk. Over the past 100 years, many crops have become extinct. Farmers
have stopped growing them and they no longer exist. The magazine National
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Geographic wrote a story on the importance of seed diversity and the future of food.
They reported:
Voice 3
“The extinction of different food varieties is happening all over the world - and it is
happening fast. In the United States an estimated 90% of our historic fruits and
vegetable varieties no longer exist... In the Philippines, thousands of varieties of rice
once grew well; now farmers grow only about a hundred there. In China 90% of the
wheat varieties grown just a century ago have disappeared. Experts estimate that we
have lost more than half of the world's food varieties over the past century."
Voice 2
This rate of crop extinction is a serious problem. Without crop diversity farmers cannot
react to major changes in the environment. A good example of this is the Irish potato
famine of 1845. The potato is a root vegetable that grows under the ground. Potatoes
are a common food around the world. But they first appeared in South America, in the
country of Peru. For thousands of years, farmers in this country have grown potatoes.
And they have developed hundreds of different varieties.
Voice 1
In the 16th century, people brought the potato from South America to the country of
Ireland. By the 19th early century, the potato became Ireland’s main crop. The problem
was that the farmers of Ireland grew only one main kind of potato. And this caused a
terrible crisis. In 1845, a disease spread among the potato crops in Ireland. Almost all
of the crops died. People did not have potatoes to eat. One million people died from a
lack of food. Another million people had to leave Ireland to survive. This was a terrible
tragedy. But it did not have to happen. If farmers had grown many different varieties
of potatoes in Ireland, some of the potato crops would have resisted the disease. And
this diversity of crops would have saved many lives.
Voice 2
Today, the world’s diversity of food crops is quickly shrinking. But scientists around the
world are taking action. They are establishing seed banks. At seed banks, scientists
store the seeds of many different crop varieties. Usually, seed banks store the best
seeds from the local area. If stored well, people can use the seeds to grow particular
crops again later.
Voice 1
There are now 1400 seed banks around the world. But sometimes seed banks are unable
to provide a safe environment for the seeds. Some banks are in warm countries. If the
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electricity fails, the seeds will get too hot and die. Other seed banks are in countries
troubled by war or violence. Sometimes people damage the seed banks and even steal
seeds. If this happens, valuable seeds can be lost forever!
Voice 2
The organization Global Crop Diversity Trust decided they wanted to solve this problem.
So, they decided to build a global seed bank. This seed bank would contain a back-up,
or extra copy, of ALL the world's seeds. Smaller seed banks would still collect and keep
local seeds. But they would also send copies of their seeds to the global bank.
Voice 1
Scientists from the Global Crop Diversity Trust travelled all over the world to find a good
place to build the global seed vault. Finally, they chose the cold, snowy mountains of
Svalbard, Norway. Svalbard is the perfect place to keep important seeds. It is far away
from any earthquake areas. And, because it is high in a mountain, there is no danger
of rising sea levels or flooding. Svalbard’s frozen temperatures are also good for
protecting the seeds from possible power failures. The government of Norway already
had a seed bank in Svalbard. So they already had systems and experience storing seeds.
Norway is also a very peaceful country. Any military action in Svalbard is against the
law. For these reasons, the Global Crop Diversity Trust chose Svalbard for the Global
Seed Bank. And in 2008, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened.
Voice 2
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault works like a bank. Organizations, farmers, or local seed
banks store their extra seeds there. And the people who place their seeds in the vault
are the only people who can take them out. They pay to ship their seeds to Norway,
but it does not cost them any money to store their seeds. The Global Crop Diversity
trust pays for this. The trust also sometimes pays for poor farmers or countries to send
their seeds to Svalbard. In these ways, the Global Crop Diversity Trust is protecting crop
diversity around the world.
Voice 1
Cary Fowler is a scientist who heads the Global Crop Diversity Trust. Fowler believes
that the Svalbard Seed Vault provides an important service. In a paper about the seed
vault, he wrote,
Voice 4
"In the case of a large global crisis, the Seed Vault would prove completely necessary
to humanity. Still, we do not need to experience a global crisis in order for the Seed
161
Vault to be useful... If the Seed Vault simply supplies seed banks with copies of seeds
that those banks lost by accident, the Seed Vault will be worth way more than it cost."
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Jen Hawkins. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The voices
the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, “Global Seed Vault."
Voice 1
Question:
What seed would you want to save so that it does not disappear?
A Lion Called Christian

Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Luke Haley.
Voice 2
And I’m Robin Basselin. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is
Voice 1
There are many sounds that you can hear in London, England. You can hear birds. You
can hear cars. You can hear people talking. You can even hear Big Ben, the large famous
bell. These are sounds people expect to hear in London. However, they do not expect
to hear the sound of a lion. This large wild cat is native to countries in Africa. It lives in
grasslands - large open areas.
Voice 2
Lions do not live in cities. They do not come from Europe. But in 1969, two men met a
lion in London. Today’s Spotlight is on a lion called Christian.
Voice 1
Harrod’s is a famous department store in London. It sells many things, including clothes,
food, and furniture. It is a very busy place. This is where the two men found the
lion. Harrod’s was selling it.
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Voice 2
Anthony “Ace” Bourke and John Rendall are from Australia. They had just moved to
England. When they saw the lion at Harrod’s, they loved him right away. They sat by
him for hours. They wanted this lion. They decided to buy him and name him Christian.
Voice 1
Years later, Rendall wrote about it in the Daily Mail newspaper.
Voice 3
“We had the crazy idea that if we bought him, we could offer him a better life. It would
be better than his life at a department store. Even if it were only for a few months.”
Voice 1
They thought they could help the lion. They did not know that the lion would
make their lives better!
Voice 2
On December 15th 1969, Bourke and Rendall drove Christian home. Christian sat in the
back of their car, like a person! They were very excited. But they were also worried.
They did not know if they could take care of a lion.
Voice 1
Christian liked his home, and he loved Bourke and Rendall. When he was four months
old, he loved being carried and held. He would reach his front paws around Bourke and
Rendall to hug them. He would kiss their faces with his big tongue.
Voice 2
Christian loved to play. And he loved to run. He would chase Bourke and Rendall and
jump on them. Then Bourke and Rendall would kick a ball for Christian. He would run
after it, jump on it, and then roll over it.
Voice 1
By April 1970, Christian was eight months old. He was getting too big for London. Bourke
and Rendall were also getting worried that he would become violent. Lions
are wild animals! So Bourke and Rendall started looking for a new home for Christian.
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Voice 2
They found it in Kenya. Some friends connected them to George Adamson. He was a
conservationist - he worked to protect wild animals and natural places. These friends
offered to pay for Christian to travel to Kenya. Adamson was willing to help Christian
return to the wild. Bourke and Rendall thought this was the perfect solution. In their
book A Lion Called Christian, they wrote:
Voice 4
“That night, Christian made his first attempt at a roar. It was early, but we could tell it
was a roar. And we were very proud.”
Voice 1
Adamson found a natural area where he could work with Christian. He brought other
lions to help train Christian. It was large enough that Christian could also learn to hunt.
In their book, Bourke and Rendall wrote:
Voice 3
“When the area was completed, Christian left London forever. Many of his friends came
to see him one last time. We were thankful to leave with only happy memories. But we
were also sad. Our five happy and special months with Christian in London were over.”
Voice 2
Starting a new life in Kenya was hard. Christian was not used to the hotter temperatures,
and the hard ground. He had never lived with other lions. He did not know how to find
food. Christian had many things to learn. But he learned quickly. The first time he saw
an animal, he followed it perfectly. He hunted it, like any wild lion.
Voice 1
It was soon time for Bourke and Rendall to fly home to England. They were sad to leave.
They both cried. They knew this was the best home for him. But they wondered if they
would ever see Christian again.
Voice 2
Over the next year, Adamson continued to send reports to Bourke and Rendall. They
hoped to see Christian one more time. So in 1971, they flew back to Kenya to see him.
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Voice 1
Bourke and Rendall did not know what to expect when they saw Christian. Would he
remember them? Would he try to hurt them? They did not know. But they hoped that
he had not forgotten them. Bourke wrote about the meeting in a letter to his parents:
Voice 4
“Christian looked at us for a few seconds. He then slowly moved closer to us. He looked
at us again. We could not wait any longer. We called his name. He immediately started
to run towards us. He was very excited. Then this huge lion jumped all over us. But he
was very gentle.”
Voice 2
Christian remembered them. He hugged them, just like he had done when he was
young. He even brought his family group to meet them. A film maker named Simon
Travers recorded this emotional meeting. Forty years later, someone put this video on
YouTube. Hundreds of people have now seen the video of Christian running to Bourke
and Rendall. People love it. It has been seen more than 100 million times. The video
has made the story famous.
In the Daily Mail newspaper, Rendell wrote:
Voice 3
“Adults seem to find it very difficult to watch without crying. It brings up all the pain of
separation and loss. It also brings the joy of being reunited.”
Voice 1
In 1973, Christian disappeared. He left the protected area. Adamson believed Christian
hoped to create his own family group. Sometimes they would still hear him roar. But
they did not see him again.
Voice 2
Christian changed Bourke and Rendell’s lives. Today, Bourke and Rendall work to protect
other wild animals, and wild places. They talk about the importance of conservation
around the world. And they encourage all people to work to protect nature.
Voice 1
Over 40 years later, Bourke and Rendall still love Christian as a part of their family. On
his website, Bourke recently wrote,
165
Voice 4
“Christian is an experience that will always be a part of my life. It is a story about human
and animal friendships.”
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Lauren Anders. The producer was Luke Haley. The voices
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘A Lion
Called Christian’.
Voice 1
Question:
Would you want to own a lion as a pet?
Spider Silk
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Christy VanArragon.
Voice 2
And I’m Mike Procter. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting.
It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
It is stronger than steel. It is more difficult to break than rubber. It is one of the
strongest natural substances on earth. Yet it comes from a very small creature.
Today’s Spotlight is on spider silk.
Voice 2
The spider is not the world’s most popular creature. In fact, it is probably one of
the most disliked creatures. Many people are even afraid of spiders! But why is
it that people do not like spiders? Most house spiders are not even very big.
Very few spiders ever grow bigger than the size of an adult’s hand.
166
Voice 1
Maybe it is their eight long hairy legs. Maybe it is the way they move quickly
across the floor. Maybe it is their dark colours and small shiny eyes. Of course
some spiders are poisonous. It makes sense to be careful around those spiders.
And this may make some people afraid of all spiders.
Voice 2
No matter how you feel about spiders, they are still amazing creatures. One of
the most amazing things about spiders is what they produce – soft, strong silk!
Voice 1
When you think of silk you probably imagine beautiful silk clothes. This soft, fine
material is very popular. In the past only royal people wore silk. And silk still
costs a lot of money today. However this kind of silk does not come from
spiders. Some of it is man-made. And some of it comes from silkworms. These
small insects are easy to farm. So companies can make large amounts of silk.
Voice 2
But it is not so easy with spiders. They do not make silk the way silkworms do.
Silkworms produce just one kind of silk. But spiders can produce more than
seven kinds!
Voice 1
To make silk, spiders produce substances called ‘proteins’. Spiders ‘weave’ or
‘spin’ these silk proteins to make their webs. They turn the protein into long thin
pieces of silk. Spiders create different kinds of silk for different parts of their
webs. For example, they use sticky silk to weave the top part of their web. This
is the part that helps them catch insects for food. Spiders make the main
structure of the web from dragline silk. Dragline silk is one of the strongest
natural substances on the earth!
Voice 2
This sounds a little strange at first. How could a spider’s silk be so strong?
Imagine a spider’s web. Sometimes they are so fine that we do not even see
them. The web is so thin it moves around in the wind. Spider’s silk is one-tenth
the thickness of a human hair. Who would have known it could be so strong?
167
Voice 1
People discovered the strength of spider silk many years ago. The tribal people
in the South Pacific used spiders’ webs as tools. They used webs to make
fishing lines and nets to catch fish. In the past, people have also used spider
webs to make clothes. These clothes protected them from the rain. They have
even used webs as bandages to cover wounds!
Voice 2
Over the past 200 years, scientists have studied spider silk. They have tried to
find ways to make large amounts of silk. But so far they have not succeeded.
Scientists have had more success in copying spider silk using other materials. It
has influenced materials for use in medicine, cloth, electronics, and other
industries. They have had success by following the nature of the spider.
Voice 1
A spider’s nature is just like their silk - strong! In fact, some old writings say
that the spider’s nature has encouraged great kings! One of these kings was
Robert the Bruce. In the early 14th Century the Scottish army fought with
England for control of Scotland. King Edward the first of England led a strong
army. They defeated Bruce and his army in battle.
Voice 2
The story of Bruce and the spider is famous in England and Scotland. But no
one knows if it is true or not. The story says that after the Scottish defeat,
Bruce escaped. He ran and hid in an opening in the hills. Bruce was very
troubled in his mind and spirit. The English army had defeated the Scots in
battle. And Bruce felt defeated in his mind too. It was the lowest point of his
life. He considered leaving the country - and not returning. He lay on the
ground. And he looked up. He saw a spider among the rocks. It was weaving its
web. The spider had almost finished. It just needed to hang the last silk piece.
Bruce watched the spider try. The long silk piece kept falling. The spider made
six failed attempts. On the seventh, it succeeded. The web hung, complete.
Bruce said,
Voice 3
‘Now shall this spider teach me what I am to do, for I also have failed six times.’
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Voice 2
Bruce stood up. He returned to his army. He gathered together some more
followers. He told his men, ‘If at first you do not succeed, try try again.’ Bruce
and his army won their next battle.
Voice 1
A spider’s web is much stronger than it looks. And a spider’s nature is to never
stop trying. Who would have thought that a king could learn so much from a
spider? Nature is full of surprises like this.
Voice 2
The business of life often does not give much time to look around us. But the
world of nature is producing some wonderful things, often right in front of us!
The spider is only one example. Great teachers throughout history have pointed
their students to nature to learn about life. Jesus taught his followers using the
birds as an example. The Christian Bible records his words:
Voice 4
‘Look at the birds of the air. They do not plant or gather crops. They do not
keep crops in storerooms. But God in heaven feeds them. Are you not worth
more than they are? Can you add even one hour to your life by worrying?’
Voice 1
Nature is full of messages like this - and surprises like the spider. It can teach
us many things, if we are willing to learn.
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Marina Santee. The producer was Michio Ozaki.
The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All
quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to
this program again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This
program is called, ‘Spider Silk’.
Voice 1
You can also leave your comments on our website. Or you can email us at radio
at radioenglish dot net. You can also find us on Facebook - just search for
169
spotlightradio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program.
Goodbye.
Question:
Do you agree with the saying, ‘If at first you do not succeed, try try again?'
Communicating with Whales

Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight program. I’m Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I’m Nick Page. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
Voice 1
Today’s Spotlight is on talking to . . . animals!
Some people may think this is a strange idea. Speaking to animals almost seems a little
silly or foolish. And it does not seem possible! But if you think talking to animals is
interesting, you should meet a man from the United States named Gary Buttery.
Voice 2
Buttery is a teacher and musical performer. He plays the tuba. This large instrument
plays very low notes. Buttery has played the tuba for many years. He has performed all
over the world from Italy to Canada to Russia. He has even performed for several
Presidents of the United States.
Voice 1
Buttery enjoys making beautiful music with his tuba. He is an expert in playing, writing,
and teaching music, and directing music groups. But he also enjoys listening to beautiful
music. This is what interested Buttery in humpback whales. When Buttery was a young
man he heard about Humpback whales. They sing beautiful songs under the water.
Voice 2
Humpback whales live deep under the ocean water in all parts of the world. These black,
grey, and blue animals can weigh more than 36,000 kilograms. And humpback whales
can be 12 to 16 meters long.
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Voice 1
But humpback whales are the most famous for their singing. Male humpback whales
can sing long and complex songs. These songs can even last from ten to 20 minutes.
Many people consider the songs of the humpback whale to be some of the most
beautiful in the world. Humpback whale songs change from year to year. And they also
change from place to place. Whales living in a group often sing the same song. Here is
the song of one humpback whale.
Voice 2
No one knows exactly why humpback whales sing. Some experts believe whales sing to
find a mate. Or, a singing whale may just be trying to find another whale. Experts
continue to study humpback whale songs. They hope that studying these songs can
help people understand how whales communicate.
Voice 1
Gary Buttery heard about the experts who study these humpback whale songs. And he
listened to some of the whale songs they had recorded. The songs were extremely
interesting to him. He decided that he wanted to do something very unusual - he wanted
to write music with these whales. How did Buttery write music for a whale? With his
tuba!
Voice 2
Buttery wrote this piece of music called “Conversations with Grace.” He used a
recording of a humpback whale named Grace. He listened to Grace singing a song. Then
he wrote music for his tuba to go with the song. When he played the tuba part, it
sounded like he was talking to Grace. Here is a part of that piece of music.
Voice 1
This is more than just a piece of music. It is like a man and an animal are talking. It is
a special effort to create something beautiful. Gary and Grace cannot understand each
other. But this effort of communication is beautiful to many people.
Voice 2
Buttery performed this song for many people all across the United States. A newspaper
even wrote a story about it. Doctor Peter Beamish saw this newspaper story. Doctor
Beamish worked with whales in Newfoundland in Canada. He wanted to know how real
whales would react to Buttery’s tuba playing. Would Buttery be able to communicate
with them? Would the whales become angry or calm? Would the whales listen to
him? Or would they swim away?
171
Voice 1
Doctor Beamish invited Buttery to Trinity Bay in Newfoundland. This was a place where
whales could come to get food. There, Buttery played his tuba for the whales as he
floated on the ocean on a small flat boat. As Buttery played his tuba, Doctor Beamish
watched the whales. He wanted to see if their behaviour changed. He wanted to see
if they showed anger or aggression or if they were interested in Buttery’s music. He
watched to see if the whales did anything unusual.
Voice 2
The experience of playing for the whales was very special for Buttery. He described the
experience to the online magazine Tubanews.com:
Voice 3
“A few times, single humpback whales would swim with me only a few feet from my
boat - for over an hour. Being in the company of such a large creature was exciting.
The experience made me want to play more creative songs on my tuba - even ones I
just made up. It made me want to do my own whale sounds using my tuba. That last
idea did not prove to be a good idea with one whale. It left. As it was leaving it hit the
water very hard with its tail. It seemed insulted. But he did return again, when I began
playing another song.”
Voice 1
Buttery was also able to play music for whales to help them. Whales can get caught in
underwater nets, or traps. A few times, Doctor Beamish asked Buttery to play his tuba
for these caught whales. The whales were very frightened. This made it difficult for
Doctor Beamish to cut the nets away from them. But when Buttery played his tuba, the
whales became calmer. Then the scientists could cut the nets away from the whales
more easily.
Voice 2
The experience was good for both Buttery, and the whales. Buttery enjoyed being near
the whales. And it helped him to experiment with his tuba playing. The whales also
seemed to enjoy Buttery’s music. They swam next to him. And his music made them
calmer.
Voice 1
It is also a special experience when people see Buttery playing his tuba for
whales. Music like the piece “Conversations with Grace” is beautiful. People all over
the world can enjoy it.
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Voice 2
Today, Buttery still plays his tuba in concerts around the world. And experts are still
trying to discover the secrets of humpback whalesong. Will they ever know why these
whales sing these beautiful songs?
Voice 1
the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted and voiced by
Spotlight. You can find our programs on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This
program is called ‘Communicating with Whales’.
at radio@radioenglish.net. You can also find us on Facebook. Just search for Spotlight
Radio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
Question:
Have you ever wanted to talk to an animal?
Fish in Danger
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Christy VanArragon.
Voice 2
And I’m Joshua Leo. Spotlight uses a special method of broadcasting. It is easier for
people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
A beautiful orange and white clownfish swims through warm ocean water. Plants and
colourful fish of all sizes fill the area. The water moves slowly, and causes the plants to
slowly move with it.
Suddenly, the clownfish swims away. He hides in a safe place. No one can see him. All
the other fish disappear too. The area looks empty. A predator is coming. This large fish
is looking for smaller fish to eat. The small fish know this. They hide to protect
themselves.
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Voice 2
In another area, a different clownfish is swimming through a different area. He swims
between the plants. Suddenly, all the other fish quickly swim away. The small fish hide
behind rocks and in dark places. A predator is coming here too. But this clownfish does
not hide. He keeps swimming around the reef. He does not know that the predator is
there.
Voice 1
What is the difference between these two clownfish? Why did one clownfish swim to
safety? Why did the other fish not protect itself?
Voice 2
Today’s Spotlight is on clownfish. Ocean waters are changing all around the world.
These changes are causing problems for clownfish. Today we will discuss those changes
and how they affect these beautiful fish.
Voice 1
Clownfish live in warm ocean water. They live in reefs. Reefs look like hard, thin rocks.
But they are actually made by small animals called coral. Reefs are full of animals and
fish. Clownfish live with anemones in these reefs. Anemones are unusual animals. They
look like plants. And they are usually very dangerous to other fish. They sting and kill
small fish for food.
Voice 2
However, clownfish have a relationship with anemones. Anemones need clownfish to
clean them. Clownfish eat small insects that live on anemones. And the clownfish need
the anemone for protection. A clownfish can hide inside the anemone if a predator is
coming.
Voice 1
However, recently scientists have noticed something strange. Some clownfish are not
hiding from predators in the anemones. Instead, like the clownfish we described above,
these clownfish do not seem to notice the predators. Scientists who study clownfish do
not understand this new behaviour. But they believe the problem may be the rising
levels of carbon dioxide in the oceans.
Voice 2
The climate on the earth is changing. One big change is more carbon dioxide gas in the
air. This carbon dioxide comes from many things. Factories, cars, farms, and fires pollute
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the air with carbon dioxide. There are some ways that people are working to solve this
problem. But even with this work, carbon dioxide levels continue to rise.
Voice 1
Most importantly, the world’s climate is getting warmer. This causes more extreme
weather around the world. But it also affects the world’s oceans. It makes the water
warmer, but it also makes the water more acid. This change has terrible effects on the
animals and plants. It kills the small coral animals that build the reef. And it causes
behaviour changes in many animals. For clownfish it may mean a more dangerous life.
Voice 2
Dr. Steve Simpson is a scientist at Bristol University. He was worried about these
clownfish. So he did an experiment to study clownfish. He and other scientists set up
different tanks of water. There was only one difference between the tanks. Each tank
had a different level of carbon dioxide. One tank had normal water from the ocean. The
other tanks had water with higher levels of carbon dioxide.
Voice 1
The scientists put clownfish in the different tanks. Then they played the sounds of
predators. Most of the clownfish in the tank with normal water swam into hiding. Only
a small number did not swim away from the predators.
Voice 2
But most of the clownfish in the tanks with high carbon dioxide did not hide. These
carbon dioxide levels are the levels that scientists expect in the world’s oceans in the
future. Scientists believe that these clownfish cannot sense predators. They believe
these clownfish are not able to hear or smell a predator coming. The clownfish are losing
their senses. Dr Simpson described the possible effects of this loss with the BBC. He
said,
Voice 3
“Sounds are also important for finding a mate, hunting in groups and finding food. So
if any of those abilities are gone, it would be a very lost fish.”
Voice 2
He added that it would almost make things easier for predators,
Voice 3
“The reef can like a ‘wall of mouths’ waiting to receive the clownfish.”
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Voice 1
Clownfish are already experiencing the effects of carbon dioxide in the ocean. At this
time, only some clownfish show signs of the problem. But in the future, carbon dioxide
levels may rise more. And this could affect many more clownfish.
Scientists do not know exactly how the carbon dioxide is affecting the fish. Scientists
could find no physical damage to the fishes’ ears. They believe the gas could be affecting
the fishes’ nerves or stress levels instead. They will perform more experiments in the
future to answer these questions.
Voice 2
However, scientists think the carbon dioxide causes a neurological change in the fish.
This change to the brain could completely destroy the clownfish. But some scientists
still believe that clownfish will change to accept the new environment. This can only
happen if the change to the ocean water is very slow - over many decades. The
clownfish may learn new ways to notice predators. Or, their senses may not be as
greatly affected.
Voice 1
It is clear that unless carbon dioxide levels around the world drop, many changes will
happen to the ocean. The change to the clownfish is just one small sign of larger
changes to the ocean environment. The clownfish live in beautiful coral reefs. But
growing ocean acidity is killing the small coral animals. Without coral, the reefs begin
to break. Already, reefs in many places are dead - no animals or plants live in them.
Voice 2
It may still be possible to protect clownfish, and the coral reefs. However, it is necessary
for governments, industry and individual people to make changes. Unless we control
the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, the problems in the oceans will increase. Our
actions can change the life of even a small clownfish in the ocean. For more information
about this problem, and to share your ideas, please visit the script page for this program
on our website: www.radioenglish.net.
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Johanna Poole. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The
and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Fish in
Danger’.
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Voice 2
Question:
How can people influence the amount of carbon dioxide in our air and oceans?
The Sun
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Adam Navis.
Voice 2
Voice 1
Imagine a world where the sun never sets. Children can laugh and play in the streets
all through the night. Fishermen enjoy 24 hours of daylight on the open sea. To get any
sleep, people must block all the light from their windows.
Voice 2
Now imagine a world with only darkness. Even in the middle of the day, the sun does
not shine. The only light comes from the moon and the stars in the black sky. Cars must
drive with their lights on all the time. When people awake in the morning, it looks like
the middle of the night.
Voice 1
This is the situation for people who live above the Arctic Circle. The sun clearly influences
their lives. This includes people in northern Russia, Canada, Alaska and Greenland. For
part of the year they cannot see the sun. And part of the year the sun never disappears.
Voice 2
But do you ever think about the sun? All life depends on the power of the sun. Year
after year, the sun warms the earth, gives us light, builds life on our planet, and even
keeps us healthy. Today's Spotlight is on the sun and its place in our lives.
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Voice 1
Ancient cultures knew that the sun was important. Many cultures worshipped the sun
as a god. Here is a part from an ancient Egyptian song to the sun
Voice 3
"You are beautiful, in the sky, Oh living Sun, beginning of life. When you rise in the
east, you fill every land, with your beauty. Bright is the earth when you rise in the east.
When you shine by day, you drive away the darkness. You feed every plant. When you
rise, they live. They grow because of you. You make the seasons, in order to create all
your work. Winter to bring them cold. Summer brings heat, that they may feel you."
Voice 2
Other cultures also knew that they depended on the sun for their food to grow. But they
did not think the sun was a God. Early Christians believed that the sun gave glory to
God. Here is a part of the Bible.
Voice 3
"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise
him all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all
you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!"
Voice 1
Whatever early people thought about the sun, they did not know much about it. But as
people began to use science they learned more about the sun. In 1543, Nicholas
Copernicus demonstrated that the earth travels around the sun. One hundred years
later, scientists estimated the distance to the sun. And as recently as 1904, a man
named Ernest Rutherford showed how the sun produced such large amounts of heat.
These people discovered that the sun is a star like all the other stars in the sky. However,
for our planet, it is a very special star.
Voice 2
The earth is 150 million kilometers from the sun. Here is one way to imagine this great
distance. Imagine that you are standing on the sun. Your friends are on the earth. If
they turned on a light, it would take eight minutes for you to see it! But this is the
perfect distance for the earth to use the sun's heat.
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Voice 1
The temperature of the sun is around 6,000 degrees Celsius at its surface, and 15 million
degrees at its centre! If the earth were any closer, we would burn. But if the earth were
any further away, we would freeze. And yet, the sun is more than a big heater.
Voice 2
The sun also helps provide us with fresh air. The sun heats the oceans. Then the water
heats the air. The changing air temperatures create most of the world's wind. Wind
moves air to different places so plants can remove carbon dioxide from the air and
create oxygen.
Voice 1
But the sun also affects plants directly. The sun makes plants grow through the process
of photosynthesis. Plants can change light from the sun into energy. They use the
energy to grow bigger and stronger. All life on earth depends on plants. Without the
sun, we could not grow food for ourselves or for our animals.
Voice 2
Plants are not the only things who capture the power of the sun. Human can turn
sunlight into electricity with solar cells. A solar cell collects the power of the sun and
stores it. Then, this power can be used to run anything that uses electricity: cars,
computers, or homes.
Voice 1
Besides all these amazing things, the sun also helps us to do something very simple,
but needed. Without the sun, we would not be able to see anything!
Voice 2
The sun also helps people to be healthy and strong. It acts as a natural cleaner for our
skin. The sun can help kill harmful bacteria that live on our skin. And the sun helps our
bodies produce vitamin D. People need vitamin D to have strong bones.
Voice 1
The sun can also improve our mental health. In places where the sun does not shine,
people can suffer from seasonal affective disorder. This is a kind of depression. People
with season affective disorder do not have energy and feel sad. They are treated by
sitting near a special light. But nothing is as good as being in real sunlight. Sunlight can
help prevent depression and keep people happy. When the sun is shining, people have
more hope about the future.
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Voice 2
The sun does many other things as well. It helps us tell time. It controls the where and
when animals travel. The sun's gravity keeps the planet in orbit. It even lets us see at
night. This is because the sun shines on the moon and the moon sends the light down
to the earth. The sun makes the colors of a rainbow after it rains. And it paints the sky
during a sunset.
Voice 1
There are many things we still do not know about the sun. But the more we learn about
the sun, the more we can thank God for giving us this wonderful gift.
Voice 2
This program was written by Sara DeKoster and Adam Navis. The voices you heard were
Spotlight. Computer users can hear our programs, read our scripts, and see our word
list on our website at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called "The Sun."
Voice 1
If you have a comment or question for Spotlight you can email us. Our email address
is radio@english.net. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program.
Thank you for listening. Goodbye!
Question:
What do you like to do in the sun?
Planting Ancient Trees

Voice 1
Hello and welcome to Spotlight. I'm Joshua Leo.
Voice 2
for people to understand no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Imagine a tree. Now, make it taller. And taller. Imagine that this tree is more than 73
meters tall - as tall as a building with 24 levels!
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Voice 2
Now imagine that this tree is not just tall. It is also wide - more than four meters wide.
Can you imagine a tree this large? It is large enough to drive a car through. It is large
enough to build a house in. And trees like this do not just exist in your imagination. This
is the Sequoia tree. And Sequoia trees are found in northern California, in the United
States.
Voice 1
Northern California has some of the oldest and largest trees in the world – including the
Sequoia trees. These trees can live to be more than 2,000 years old. And like many
other large and ancient trees, these trees are at risk. They are at risk of dying out
completely and becoming extinct.
Voice 2
Many groups around the world are working to save ancient trees like the Sequoias.
Today's Spotlight is on one of these groups: the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive. This
organization wants to reproduce these ancient trees. They believe these trees can help
save the environment.
Voice 1
Many things threaten ancient trees. In many places, people want to cut down ancient
trees. Some people want to use the land for other things - like expanding cities, or
farms. Other people want to use the wood for building or burning. Changes to the
environment also threaten ancient trees. Like all trees, disease, pollution, and changes
in the weather can weaken or kill the trees.
Voice 2
David Milarch is one of the creators of the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive. He talked to
the Associated Press about the world's old growth forests. These forests contain the
world's oldest trees. Milarch said,
Voice 3
"We have destroyed 98% of the old growth forests. These forests have kept nature in
balance for thousands of years."
Voice 1
The Archangel Ancient Tree Archive has a goal. They want to re-produce and re-plant
thousands of the largest, oldest and most environmentally helpful ancient trees. The
scientists at the Archive start this process by collecting small pieces of ancient living
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trees. They use these tree pieces to collect and record the trees' genetic information.
They also plant these very small pieces of ancient tree in a liquid mixture. The mixture
contains vitamins, minerals and other chemicals needed for the tree pieces to grow.
Soon, these pieces of ancient tree will grow new roots - they will become very small
trees. This process of re-producing trees is called cloning. Genetically, these new trees
are exactly the same as the original, ancient tree.
Voice 2
The Archive has completed this process with 60 different kinds of trees. For all these
trees, they have collected genetic information and created new clones. Their results are
a living collection or library of ancient tree information. Their goal is to collect genetic
information and make clones of 200 different kinds of ancient trees. The scientists hope
that this collection will be useful for study now and in the future.
Voice 1
But this is only the first part of the Archive's work! When the very small trees grow large
enough, the scientist move them to new containers. These containers are filled with
dirt. In the dirt, the very small clones will grow into larger young trees. Soon, they will
be ready to plant in the ground. Then, the Archive will encourage people to buy and
plant the trees. They hope that colleges, businesses and cities will buy the young trees
and plant them in their areas.
Voice 2
The Archangel Ancient Tree Archive believes that planting these new trees can help to
heal the environment. This is because they choose trees that are especially helpful to
the environment. Some of the trees they clone capture toxins, or bad substances, from
the soil. They can make polluted soil healthy again. The trees are big and strong enough
to hold the toxins from the environment.
Voice 1
Other trees, like the Sequoias and Giant Redwoods from California, are able to store
large amounts of carbon. Carbon dioxide is a gas that is a major cause of climate
change. These trees are able to capture large amounts of carbon from the air. They
also give off great amounts of oxygen - a gas necessary for all life on earth. Dr. William
Libby is a scientist who advises the Archive. He also talked to the Associated Press about
this work. He explains,
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Voice 4
"California's redwoods and sequoias are the world's largest trees. They are the best for
holding carbon because of their size, quick growth and strength. The longer a tree lives,
the longer it can keep carbon from entering the atmosphere."
Voice 2
However, there are some concerns about the Archive's work. Some people wonder if it
will really save ancient forests. The Archive hopes to plant individual trees. But these
trees will not likely be in large groups - like forests. Instead, they will be planted
separately. Although this does create new individual trees, it does not re-produce the
important forest environment. Also, some people may not plant the trees in their native
areas. Scientists worry that these trees will not survive or be as helpful in other places.
Voice 1
One final concern is about the way the Archive is growing the trees. Cloning trees is not
a new process. However, cloning ancient tree is. This is because cloning young trees is
much easier. Ancient trees are difficult to re-produce. The Archive's new method of
cloning ancient trees is amazing. But like all cloned trees, the new, young trees are
genetically identical to the parent trees. They are exactly the same in every way. This
means that if a new disease is able to attack and kill an ancient tree, it will be able to
attack all its clones. When trees naturally re-produce, each new tree is a little different.
And this can protect new generations of trees from disease.
Voice 2
These concerns are important. But William Libby argues that the Archive is doing
important work too. They are collecting and saving the genetic information of these
ancient and useful trees - information necessary for future research. They are also
encouraging people to plant trees and care for ancient forests now - acts that can fight
climate change before it is too late!
Voice 1
To learn more about the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, visit our website
at http://www.radioenglish.net. There, you can also share your opinion about the
Archive. Is it helping to save ancient forests?
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Erin Layman. The producer was Joshua Leo. The voices
were from the United States. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by
Spotlight. This program is called "Planting Ancient Trees." You can hear this program
183
again and read it on the Internet at http://www.radioenglish.net. This program is called
"Planting Ancient Trees."
Voice 1
Question:
Have you ever seen a Sequoia tree? Are there ancient trees where you live?
Growing Fruit in the Desert

Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
In the last 15 years, farmers in Israel were experiencing a serious problem. They were
finding it more and more difficult to grow their fruit crops. The earth was just too dry
for their fruit trees. And it was difficult for them to find extra supplies of water. Yosef
Mizrahi is a farming expert. He told the BBC,
Voice 3
“Farmers in the desert had lost all of their money. They were removing their fruit trees.
What we did in the past is not working any more. We had an insane idea: why not take
desert plants, and make them into crops?”
Voice 2
The farmers needed to find a new way to grow crops in dry areas. So they turned to a
desert plant, the cactus, for help. Cacti need far less water than most normal plants.
They have physical and structural qualities that set them apart from all other plants.
Voice 1
The farmers began using a special cactus that can produce fruit. It is called the nopal.
It is also called the prickly pear. They added special fertilizers, or plant growth
chemicals, to the nopal. The nopal began producing fruit for 11 months out of the year.
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Voice 2
So how are cactus plants able to grow so well in dry areas? How do they stay alive
without a dependable water supply? Today’s Spotlight is on the cactus.
Voice 1
Most people recognize the cactus plant by its sharp spines, or points. But there are other
things that make the cactus plant different than other plants.
Voice 2
Scientists think that long ago the cactus looked much like any other plant. It had a stem
which grew out of the ground. On the stem there were leaves. And, sometimes there
were even flowers. But, over the years the seeds of cactus plants started to spread.
They moved into more difficult places, including hot, dry deserts.
Voice 1
When cacti started to grow in dry areas they slowly began to change. Like all desert
plants, cacti had to survive for long periods of time without water. Soon, the cacti’s
stems started to grow thicker. The thick stem could store water.
Voice 2
The stem of a cactus is made up of many special cells. These cells store the water. The
walls around each cell are very thin. So, the walls can stretch. When it rains these cells
fill up with water. They stretch wide to make sure they are completely full. After a good
rain, cacti are made of ninety percent water!
Voice 1
Over time there were other changes to the cactus plant. These changes helped the plant
to survive even better in dry places. The stems became thicker and thicker. Soon, the
chemical chlorophyll appeared in the stem.
Voice 2
Chlorophyll is very important to both plants and trees. People can usually find chlorophyll
in a plant’s leaves. Chlorophyll gives leaves their green colour. But chlorophyll has
another important purpose. It creates the plant’s food. The plant’s energy to stay alive
comes from chlorophyll.
185
Voice 1
Once the chlorophyll moved to the cactus stem, the cactus no longer needed leaves.
The leaves were actually a problem! The leaves were a barrier to the sun’s light. The
chlorophyll in the stem could not receive enough sunlight through the leaves. Soon,
cactus leaves became smaller and smaller. And today, there are usually no leaves
growing from the cactus stem. The stem now produces food.
Voice 2
The leaves may have disappeared for another reason too. All plants lose water. Water
evaporates into the air from every part of a plant’s surface. So, a good way for a plant
to survive in dry areas is to shrink its surface area. Then it loses less water. The cactus
has a much better chance of surviving without the surface area of leaves.
Voice 1
For these reasons, the cactus plant also makes food in a different way than all other
plants. Most plants use energy from the sun, carbon dioxide from the air, and water
from the earth. Special holes, called pores, cover the plant. During the day, the plant
opens these pores to let in the sun and carbon dioxide. Immediately, the chlorophyll
uses the sun’s energy and the carbon dioxide to make food. But the heat of the desert
sun presents danger to the cactus plant. The heat could easily evaporate the plant’s
water.
Voice 2
So, the cactus performs a special trick. It does not open its pores during the day.
Instead, the cactus opens up its pores at night. The temperature is cooler at night. So,
the cactus loses less water. And, instead of using the carbon dioxide immediately, the
cactus changes this gas into a liquid acid chemical. It stores the acid until morning.
When the sun begins to rise, the cactus closes its pores again.
Voice 1
The next day the cactus uses the acid to create food. The chlorophyll gains energy from
the sun through closed pores. This energy helps the chlorophyll use the acid to create
food. As the day goes on, the cactus uses all of its stored acid. By the end of the day
the cactus has lost most of its stored acid. So, it must repeat this process every night.
Voice 2
There are some animals that feed on desert cacti. But if an animal eats a cactus in the
early morning, it will get a pain in its stomach! That is because they are eating the
cactus when it is filled with acid!
186
Voice 1
Some desert plants send down long roots to get water from deep inside the ground.
But cacti have a different root system. Their roots do not go deep down into the ground.
Instead, cacti roots spread in all directions. The roots gather water from a very large
area. Even a small cactus plant may send its roots a distance of nine to twelve metres
from the area where it grows. There are scientists who study the roots of the desert
cacti. They say something surprising. If we looked at the ground underneath a desert,
it would look like a thick forest of roots!
Voice 2
Cacti are native to the Americas. Europeans first saw cactus plants when they discovered
the New World. These travellers brought cacti home to Europe with them. Since then,
people have planted cacti in many parts of the world. Now, you can find cacti growing
in dry areas almost everywhere. They are a supply of food, water and beauty in many
places.
Voice 1
Do cacti grow where you live? Do you eat any foods from cacti? Visit our website
at www.radioenglish.net to tell us about your experiences.
Voice 2
The writer of this program was Rebekah Schipper. The producer was Michio Ozaki. The
voices you heard were from the United States. All quotes were adapted for this program
and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet
at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Growing Fruit in the Desert’.
Voice 1
Question:
Do you live near cacti plants? Do you eat any food from these plants?
187
Friend or Enemy?
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Adam Navis.
Voice 2
Voice 1
Human life is full of friends and enemies. And in a strange way, this is also true in all of
nature! Big and small creatures learn their friends very quickly. In nature, this is called
a symbiotic relationship. In these relationships, both creatures help each other. Today’s
Spotlight is on some of these symbiotic relationships.
Voice 2
A beautiful winged insect moves through the air. It stops on the leaves of a nearby tree.
If you look closely, you can see its wings open and close. This permits you to see the
beautiful fine details, and bright fire colours. It is the monarch butterfly. It is so small
and light! So how does such a creature defend itself? It does not seem to have any
defences - no poisonous bite, or a painful sting. So what does it do?
Voice 1
Well, nature usually provides some kind of weapon. And, naturally, this is also true for
the monarch butterfly. But the monarch’s secret weapon lies in its body. And it begins
right at the start of the monarch’s life - as an egg. Adult monarchs stick their eggs under
leaves. The leaves are always those of the milkweed plant. This plant is central to the
monarch’s defence system.
Voice 2
Like all butterflies, monarchs begin life as caterpillars. The long, soft caterpillar breaks
out of the egg. It does not yet have wings. Immediately, it finds food. It eats the
milkweed leaves. The caterpillar fills itself with the milky substance contained in the
leaves. And it grows very quickly. When it is about five centimetres long, it stops eating.
A kind of shell develops around the caterpillar - a chrysalis. The caterpillar develops
inside the green and gold chrysalis. In about two weeks, it changes into a beautiful
monarch butterfly.
188
Voice 1
The butterfly is still full of the milky substance from the milkweed leaves. And this
substance contains a poison. It does not harm the butterfly. But it does make it taste
bad to birds and animals. Creatures that eat this butterfly become sick. They do not die.
But they do remember that this brightly-coloured insect made them sick. They soon
learn to avoid all monarch butterflies. The milkweed plant helps this butterfly to defend
itself from harm. The plant is a true friend to the butterfly!
Voice 2
This is how nature works. It is like having friends and enemies. And each creature and
plant knows which is which! All caterpillars have many enemies. They are small, soft
creatures. And they are easy to attack. Birds and other animals like to eat caterpillars.
And flying insects like wasps like to lay their eggs on caterpillars! But just like the
monarch caterpillars have milkweed plants, other kinds of caterpillars have other
friends. For the lycaenid caterpillar, this is another insect, the ant. The ant can guard
the caterpillar. The ant releases a particular liquid. This liquid smells bad to attackers -
so they stay away. In return for this service, the caterpillar produces a sweet liquid for
the ant to feed on. What are friends for?
Voice 1
Under the water, the sea slug uses a similar defence to the monarch. Like the caterpillar,
the sea slug has a soft body. And, it also gains its defence weapon from food! Some
sea slugs eat sea creatures called hydroids. Hydroids look like plants. And they have
special cells that hurt most things that touch them. But these cells do not harm the sea
slug. They help it! When the sea slug eats the hydroids it stores the cells. It can then
use the cells to protect itself. Some slugs can even shoot out the pain-giving cells at
attackers!
Voice 2
And this is not the sea slug’s only defence! The other is its colour! Many people consider
sea slugs beautiful creatures. They have so many different colours! The sea slug takes
the colour from the food it eats. So, if the slug eats something red, it turns red. If it
eats something brown, it turns brown. The perfect way to hide from enemies! The sea
slug’s food is its greatest friend!
Voice 1
The hermit crab carries its ‘friends’ on its shell! Living under the sea can be dangerous.
So the small hermit crab needs more than its protective shell. It needs a way to fight!
Sea anemones provide this. Sea anemones look like beautiful plants. But they are really
a kind of animal. These small creatures contain powerful cells that hurt if touched. The
189
hermit crab covers itself with sea anemones for extra protection. Its enemies know how
painful sea anemones can be.
Voice 2
In the world of sea creatures, who would befriend the keyhole limpet? You cannot even
see the small creature under its huge flat shell! The limpet is safely hidden, and so is
any creature that hides with it! This is what the sea worm does. It lives in the ‘keyhole’
on the top of the limpet’s shell. This provides a safe home for the sea worm. And in
return, the sea worm defends the limpet from enemies like starfish. If a starfish attacks,
the sea worm bites its feet!
Voice 1
The keyhole limpet and the sea worm. The hermit crab and anemones. The sea slug
and its food. The caterpillar and the ant. The monarch butterfly and the milkweed plant.
These seem like unusual combinations. But, their successful symbiotic relationships help
them survive a dangerous world!
Voice 2
In the world of nature, a creature defends the life of its ‘friend.’ It does so naturally,
without question. It is following the laws of nature. The Bible says this is how God made
them to be. But it says that God gave humans freedom to choose. And then he asked
them to choose to love each other. This is not always easy. But just like in nature,
choosing to care for other people brings many important good things.
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Marina Santee. The producer was Luke Haley. You can
listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This
program is called, ‘Friend or Enemy?’.
Voice 2
Question:
How do you depend on your friends to help you? Has a friend ever helped you in a
difficult time?
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War Pigeons
Transcript
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Mike Procter.
Voice 2
And I'm Anne Muir. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
Voice 1
It was October of 1943, four years into World War Two. A messenger named GI Joe
was carrying an important message to army leaders. GI Joe had to deliver the message
– it was urgent. The lives of over one hundred men depended on it. The men were a
group of British army soldiers. Their fighting had gone well for them that day. And they
had arrived early in this particular town in Italy.
Voice 2
But then, they remembered something! Being early could be deadly. American airplanes
were coming to bomb the town. The air strike had been ordered while the town was
still controlled by the enemy. The airmen did not know the British soldiers were now
there. And during the fighting the British had lost their radio communication. GI Joe had
to reach the army leaders quickly to stop the air raid.
Voice 1
GI Joe delivered the message only just before the airplanes arrived. The airplanes
turned back and the soldiers were saved. GI Joe was a hero. Three years later, he
received an award for this act. The Lord Mayor of London gave GI Joe a war medal.
Was GI Joe proud of this award? No-one really knows. You see, GI Joe was a bird! He
was a pigeon.
Today's Spotlight tells the amazing story of carrier pigeons during World War Two.
Voice 2
Many birds are able to find their way across huge distances, but pigeons offer a striking
example. A pigeon is very good at finding its way back home after being released in a
strange place – even a place several hundred kilometres away. No one fully understands
how pigeons do this. However, experts believe that pigeons use the sun as a guide.
They also believe that pigeons use the earth's magnetic field to establish direction –
191
much like a sailor's compass. When pigeons get nearer to home they use their eyes to
identify where they are going. Some experts believe pigeons also use their sense of
smell.
Voice 1
Many people are amazed by pigeons' natural skill for finding their way home. Because
of this, people in many parts of the world raise and race pigeons for sport. Pigeon
owners keep their pigeons in small buildings called 'lofts'. The owners organise races
and release their pigeons hundreds of kilometres away from home. The pigeon that
returns to its loft at the highest speed wins the race.
Voice 2
At the beginning of World War Two, seven thousand of Britain's pigeon owners gave
their pigeons to help in the war effort. The pigeons were message carriers. During World
War Two, British forces used nearly a quarter of a million [250,000] birds in this way.
British airplanes flying over enemy territory would carry pigeons with them. If the
airplane was shot down, the crew would release the pigeon with a message to let the
British air force know what had happened.
Voice 1
In February 1942, a British war plane was on its way home from Europe. It had been
badly damaged by enemy gun fire over Norway. Finally it crashed into the cold winter
sea. It was about two hundred kilometres from home. The crew struggled in the freezing
water. They did not know exactly where they were, but they had a pigeon with them.
When they released the bird, it was covered in sea-water, and oil from the damaged
airplane. However, it still managed to fly away. The British air force searched for the
missing crew that day. But, they could find nothing in the cold, dark sea.
The following morning, the pigeon arrived at its owner's home in Scotland. It was very,
very tired and dirty. The bird was safe at home, but where was the crew? A pigeon
expert examined the bird carefully. He knew the time the airplane had crashed, and the
time the bird had arrived. He used information about the wind and weather to estimate
how far the bird could have flown. The air force used this information to establish where
to launch a new search. This time, they found the crew in just fifteen minutes! The bird
had saved the lives of four men. The men later honoured the pigeon at a dinner party.
And they named the pigeon 'Winkie'.
Voice 2
Winkie was the first of 32 pigeons from World War Two to earn an award called the
Dickin Medal. The medal is for animals that have served humans in a special way during
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times of need or conflict. The Dickin Medal is named after Maria Dickin. Almost one
hundred years ago, Maria started an organisation called the PDSA. This organization
provides health care for sick animals belonging to needy people. In 1943, Maria
established the Dickin Medal.
Voice 1
Altogether, PDSA has awarded 63 Dickin Medals to animals for their brave service during
war. Winkie the pigeon was the first - and GI Joe's award was also a Dickin Medal. In
recent years, most medals have been awarded to dogs. The latest animal to receive it
was a dog called Treo - for finding hidden bombs in Afghanistan.
Voice 2
It is hard to imagine that any animal could understand the idea of a medal. Can a pigeon
know that it is receiving an award for 'being brave'? A pigeon flies home because that
is what pigeons do. In this way, it may seem strange to give an award to a pigeon. But
the Dickin Medal serves an important purpose. It helps humans to remember that they
depend on many other animals for life. Humans may be the planet's most complex,
powerful and spiritual animal, but that makes us especially responsible to care for and
respect other animals. Thanking animals for helping humans may not be as strange as
it seems!
Voice 1
The writer of today's programme was Mike Procter. The producer was Nick Mangeolles.
The voices you heard were from the United Kingdom. Computer users can read our
scripts, hear our programs and see our word list on our
website: http://www.radio.english.net. This programme is called "War Pigeons".
Voice 2
You are welcome to write to us with questions and comments about Spotlight. Our email
address is radio@english.net, or you can leave comments on our website. You can also
find us on Facebook - just look for Spotlight Radio.
Would you like to receive new Spotlight programmes free every week? You could get
the Spotlight Podcast. Look for the details on our website - radio.english.net. We hope
you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!
Question:
Are there any animals who help people in your country?
193
Predicting Disease by Watching the Weather
Transcript
Voice 1
Thank you for joining us for today’s Spotlight program. I’m Rachel Hobson.
Voice 2
Voice 1
Today’s Spotlight is on avoiding diseases by watching the weather.
Voice 2
In Africa, a valley stretches north to south for thousands of kilometres. It runs from
northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in eastern Africa. In some
places it is 160 kilometers wide. In some places it is a few thousand meters deep. It
helps to form some of the world’s highest mountains and deepest lakes. Some of the
world’s most powerful volcanoes are there. And experts have found many examples of
ancient life near it. It is the Great Rift Valley. The Great Rift Valley is a place of great
beauty.
Voice 1
But the Great Rift Valley can also be a place of great tragedy and sadness. It was here
in 1930 that scientists investigated an unknown disease. The disease was affecting
sheep near the Great Rift Valley, in the country of Kenya. Doctors identified the disease
as Rift Valley Fever, or, RVF.
Voice 2
RVF is not permanently active. Instead, it appears about every five years in an outbreak.
RVF affects animals very severely. For example, in a normal outbreak of the disease,
about 10% of adult sheep die. And about 90% of young sheep die. RVF also causes
pregnant animals to immediately lose their unborn babies. The disease spreads quickly.
Voice 1
RVF mostly affects animals. But, it can also affect people. Small flying insects,
mosquitoes, usually carry and spread the virus. People can get the virus from the bite
of an infected mosquito. Or, they can get the virus by touching the blood or bodily fluids
194
of an infected animal. In rare cases, people can become infected by breathing in the
virus.
Voice 2
People suffering from RVF usually experience physical problems similar to influenza -
like fever, weakness, and back pain. They may lose body weight. People usually recover
after a few days or a week. But the infection can be severe. RVF can cause severe
bleeding, pressure on the brain, and very bad eye problems. These problems can be
painful and permanent. About 1% of RVF infected people die.
Voice 1
There are some ways to prevent and control Rift Valley Fever. Doctors can sometimes
treat it with drugs. Injected drug vaccinations can protect animals from the disease.
People can also spread chemicals around the area to kill insects. RVF outbreaks usually
only happen about once every five years. But the effects are always tragic. RVF is
especially dangerous because it is difficult to predict. People usually do not know when
the disease will attack. So, it is hard to use these prevention methods well.
Voice 2
For example, in 1997 Kenya experienced a severe RVF outbreak. International aid
experts and health workers tried to react to the crisis. But they were too slow. By the
time aid workers arrived, the crisis was already over. The RVF outbreak had killed about
400 people.
Voice 1
But scientists believe that they may have found a way to help people prepare for
outbreaks of diseases like RVF. Assaf Anyamba is a climate expert at NASA, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, in the United States. He studies weather
movement and repeating weather patterns. Assaf says that studying weather patterns
and climate changes can help to predict, or expect, an outbreak of disease.
Voice 2
For example, the temperature of the sea influences the temperature of the air above it.
When water temperature changes, it makes the air move, influencing the wind. These
changes in wind movement influence weather and rainfall in many places - even far
away!
195
Voice 1
Assaf and his team observe weather all around the world. They collect many different
kinds of information. For example, they study cloud movement and how much rain an
area receives. They study how much water is in the air. And they look at the plants in
a particular area.
Voice 2
Assaf sends the weather information he gathers to different organizations - like the
World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization. These groups
send the information to the affected countries. Then health workers can be prepared
for the outbreak. They can bring enough medicine to affected areas. And they can react
to a disease crisis sooner.
Voice 1
Recently, Assaf showed the world that predicting the weather could save lives. It could
avoid suffering like that in Kenya, in 1997. In September 2006, Assaf noticed changes
in the weather in Kenya. The sea was especially warm. And rainfall began to increase.
Soon, flooding began. Disease carriers like mosquitoes mate and reproduce best in
warm, wet weather like this. Assaf says that all these conditions were right for a possible
disease outbreak.
Voice 2
Assaf and his team warned the Kenyan government. And the Kenyan government
reacted quickly. They knew that people could get RVF by touching infected animals. So,
they banned animal sacrifice of cows, camels, goats, and sheep during a particular
yearly celebration. Experts believe that this act reduced the risk of spreading the disease
there.
Voice 1
The first case of the RVF outbreak appeared in Kenya in December 2006. But this time
health experts were prepared. And they reacted immediately. This time, there were
fewer deaths from RVF than in 199. In that year, 400 people died. But in 2006, only
104 people died.
Voice 2
Predicting disease outbreak by following weather is a good method. But there are some
limits to how helpful this method can be. Aid workers already have a lot of work to do
in developing countries. Experts say that it may be difficult for them to follow the
weather too. And even with a warning, aid workers may not be able to react quickly
196
enough. They may still have limited resources. Just knowing when a disease outbreak
may begin is not enough. Dr. Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum is a climate change expert
with the WHO. He agrees.
Voice 3
“We run the risk of just coming up with a very exact warning system without having
any ability to react. For example, you cannot solve malaria problems in Africa just by
providing better risk information.”
Voice 1
Assaf believes that although the method is not perfect, it can be a great help to global
public health.
Voice 4
“This is the most important part of 10 years of hard, devoted work. It is a great pleasure
to have the chance to translate scientific research and analysis results into products that
help global public health.”
Voice 2
So, when the weather changes, Assaf and his team will be watching - and hopefully,
saving lives.
Voice 1
Liz Waid wrote and produced this program. Computer users can hear more Spotlight
programs on our web site at http://www.radio.english.net. The name of this program
is “Predicting Disease by Watching the Weather.”
Voice 2
If you have a comment or question, e-mail us at radio @ english . net. We hope you
can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye!
Question:
Do you think it is important to have systems in place to predict disease outbreak?
197
Japan in Recovery
Transcript
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
In March of 2011, there was a major earthquake. The ocean floor near Japan shook.
On land, buildings fell and people ran to safety. The earthquake also created a wave. It
started far away in the ocean. But it moved quickly toward Japan. As it moved, it became
larger and larger. It was a tsunami. Finally, the huge wave crashed onto the coast. It
destroyed many buildings. In fact, it caused more damage than the earthquake. The
tsunami and earthquake killed 10,000 people. And it destroyed thousands of homes.
Voice 2
After the tsunami, people from around the world sent money and supplies to help the
Japanese people. Organizations set up temporary shelters for victims to live in. And
immediately, Japan began the difficult process of rebuilding its nation. Now it has been
over one year since the tsunami. Japan has made a lot of progress. But it is still
recovering. Today’s Spotlight is on Japan’s recovery from the 2011 tsunami.
Voice 1
The tsunami flooded much of Japan’s north east coast. It caused great damage to many
buildings. One of the damaged buildings was the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power
plant. This power plant experienced a partial meltdown. The power plant became too
hot. The containers around the nuclear fuel broke. And this break released radioactive
material into the environment. This situation was very serious.
Voice 2
Many people were worried about the damage to the nuclear power plant. Nuclear power
can be very dangerous if it is not contained. It can cause radiation sickness – which is
very painful. Contact with radiation can also cause cancer.
198
Voice 1
The radiation leak had major effects on Japan. Now, no one can live near the plant.
Many families have had to move away from their homes. Yutaka Yoshioka lived in the
area near the Fukushima-Daiichi power plant. He had to leave his home and his
business. Six months after the tsunami, he still lived in a shelter near Tokyo. He lived
there with many other victims of the tsunami. Yoshioka spoke with NPR about his life in
the temporary shelter.
Voice 3
“In the morning, I have a meal from a box. Then, I have a boxed meal for lunch, and
another for dinner. Since I have no job, I am just being lazy. I lay around and watch
television. I am so old. It is impossible to change my life to live like this.”
Voice 2
Since this time, Japan has provided temporary or even permanent homes for many of
the tsunami victims. The living situations for most victims are improving. However, the
work is not yet done.
Voice 1
Moving people away from the nuclear power plant has been a major process. However,
there are still many more difficult issues for Japan to fix. Jacopo Buongiorno is an expert
on nuclear energy. He teaches nuclear science and engineering at Massachusetts
Institute of Technology. He told the NPR news organization:
Voice 4
“The most difficult problem for Japan is decontamination. They must clean the radiation
out of the area where people used to live. They need to do this so that people can go
back to their homes.”
Voice 2
Many experts say it will take years to clean up the area. However, workers cannot wait
years to fix the power plant. Every day people must work to clean and repair the power
plant.
Voice 1
There can be risks when working around radiation. So, to protect the workers, there
are rules. For example, workers can only work for short periods of time. This protects
their physical health. However, there is another risk - a mental risk. Most of the people
working to repair the power plant are not nuclear workers. So they do not know the
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risks of working around radiation. This causes many of them to worry. Evelyn Bromet is
a medical researcher. She says this is common after nuclear accidents. She told NPR:
Voice 5
“The central public health issue is worry - worry about personal health, concerns about
the future, and worry about the future health of children.”
Voice 2
This kind of worry is a major mental health issue for Japan. However, worry is not the
only mental health concern. Many Japanese people suffered mental trauma from the
earthquake and tsunami. They were wounded emotionally and mentally. Providing care
for victims of mental trauma remains important.
Voice 1
Often, children can suffer the most from the mental trauma. It can be difficult for small
children to express their thoughts and emotions about such major events. Ruiji Seito
and Koyuti Rowlands are both six years old. They remember the day the earthquake
happened. They told NPR:
Voice 6
“We were not sleeping. We were playing something. The earthquake just came and we
hid under the table. The food fell down from the table.”
Voice 7
“Everybody stepped on my hair because my hair was long! Somebody even stepped on
me!”
Voice 2
Akiko Kobayashi is a teacher in Japan. She says that many of her students behave
differently since the earthquake. She told NPR:
Voice 8
“They are often fighting with people. They shout with really loud voices. I think they
are worried and scared, so I feel very sad. When I think about the children and their
future, I think it affects them a lot.”
Voice 1
Kobayashi also noticed a change in her student’s art work. She told NPR:
200
Voice 8
“Suddenly, they started to color faces black, clothes black, everything black. Not all the
children, but some children. But it is getting better now.”
Voice 2
Japan is recovering from the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident of March 2011.
Students are back in school. The Japanese government has provided houses and
shelters for people who do not have them. And people are beginning to live normal lives
again. However, their work is not done.
Voice 1
The United Nations’ leader, Ban Ki-moon believes Japan has responded well to these
terrible events. One year after the earthquake and tsunami, he gave a speech. In it,
he spoke about his visit to Japan after the earthquake. His words express the spirit
behind Japan’s recovery,
Voice 9
“I will never forget the faces of the young Japanese I met. In a minute, the earthquake
destroyed their homes. Some of their friends and parents were missing – or dead. The
nuclear accident shook their sense of security. But nothing could defeat their
spirit…When I met with the people of Fukushima…I heard their simple wish for the
world: that no country or community should suffer what they had been through.”
Voice 2
The writer and producer of this program was Dianna Anderson. The voices you heard
were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted for this
the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, “Japan in
Recovery.”
Voice 1
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Naming the Bird Brain
Transcript
Voice 1
Voice 2
Voice 1
Have you heard the expression, ‘bird brain?’ It is not a nice term! People use it as an
insult. Calling someone a bird brain is like calling someone stupid. It means they have
a small brain! Of course, compared to humans, birds do have small brains. But is it also
true that birds are stupid?
Voice 2
In 1903, German scientist Ludvig Edinger drew a picture of the bird’s brain. And he
defined the different parts. He used names with Latin roots. But the Latin words made
it sound like the birds could not learn. They included words like ‘primitive’, meaning
simple or not as intelligent. The names made the birds sound stupid.
Voice 1
Nature and science books used these terms for over one hundred years. But, Erich Jarvis
has worked to change all this. He is a scientist who studies the human brain. As part of
his work, he also studies bird brains. And he has led an effort to re-write the scientific
names! Jarvis and other scientists believe that birds’ brains are far more complex than
people originally thought. And he set out to bring justice to the bird brain!
Voice 2
Here is one example of the amazing things birds can do. In 2005, scientists at Oxford
University performed a series of experiments. They were testing the brain of a black
crow. They put meat at the bottom of a thin tube. They placed a thin straight piece of
wire on the top of the tube. Would the bird use the wire to get the food? Rena Dam
describes the birds’ reaction.
202
Voice 5
The crow looks at the meat. She moves around the tube. Then, she gets the wire in her
beak, her mouth. She pushes the wire into the tube. But, the wire is straight. It cannot
reach the food. So, the crow takes the wire out of the tube. She pushes the end of the
wire against the wall. The wire bends. Then, the bird goes to the tube. She puts the
bent wire into the tube. The food attaches to the bent end of the wire. She has
succeeded! She eats her reward - the meat!
Voice 2
The scientists perform the same experiment ten times. In nine out of the ten times the
bird made an effective tool from the wire. Harvey Karten is one of the scientists who
worked with Erich Jarvis. He told the television program NOVA:
Voice 3
“We had not even considered that birds were that able!”
Voice 1
But over past years, scientists have learned that birds are far more able than they first
thought. In the past, scientists believed that birds’ brains were mostly ‘instinctual’. That
is, birds did not think before they acted. Their actions were based on their built-in,
natural urges. But now, scientists know that this is not true. Birds’ brains are much more
complicated. The cortex is the outer brain shell. It is responsible for controlling some
complex behaviour. Scientists used to think that songbirds only had a very small, thin
cortex. But now they know that the opposite is true. Some songbirds can teach and
learn thousands of different calls. This is called ‘vocal’ or ‘spoken’ learning. It is the
same communication that makes human language possible.
Voice 2
Erich Jarvis is working to understand how scientists can use discoveries into the bird’s
brain. He hopes to help understanding of human language. He hopes that his work will
lead to treatments for complex human speech problems. In an interview with the
television program NOVA, Jarvis said,
Voice 4
“We want to learn about bird brains so that we can understand how our own brains
work. This is for public health, for diseases like Alzheimers’ and Parkinsons’. This is more
than just bird stuff. It is important to get it right.”
203
Voice 1
This is why Jarvis decided to rename bird brain structures. He said that he and other
scientists were studying complex bird behaviours. But they were using words that were
not modern. The words made it seem like the birds were not intelligent. Jarvis said they
had students who did not want to study the bird brain. The terms made bird brains
sound uninteresting. The general public could not understand why the bird brain was
worth studying. So, the names were important!
Voice 2
But what is the big deal about changing a few names? How difficult can it be? Well, it
is more difficult than you may think. It is a little like trying to change all the names in a
town. And then asking the people living there to come and discuss it! But Jarvis did not
give in! He sat with the scientists as they argued and debated. Jarvis was a good leader.
He permitted everyone to have his or her say. He made sure people listened. He
listened. And, finally, a result! All the scientists agreed on the new names. Publishers
printed the new scientific papers.
Voice 1
During this time, some people criticised Jarvis for his actions. They said that he should
have been working on publishing his own papers. He should have been thinking about
his individual success. Leading an effort like this did not help his research. But Jarvis
believes that working together is often the only way forward. He explained to NOVA:
Voice 4
“It was not easy. But I felt that it was necessary. It was the right and moral thing to
do.”
Voice 2
At the end of the meeting, the group took a picture of all the scientists involved. At first,
the 28 scientists just stood together. Erich Jarvis stood in the middle. But then, he
stopped. The picture was not quite complete. He asked all the scientists to join hands!
He told NOVA,
Voice 4
“This shows the rest of the scientific community that we are united in this.”
204
Voice 1
Because of this work, Erich Jarvis was awarded the 2005 science pioneer award. The
U-S National Institutes of Health, or NIH, gives this highly respected award. The NIH
recognised that Jarvis’ work could make great changes in the areas of human health.
Voice 2
So not everyone criticised Jarvis’ effort! And he continues to study the complex workings
of the bird brain. He hopes that his work will result in a greater understanding of human
behaviour. And, science will be able to offer more help to people with learning or speech
problems. Who would have thought that a bird brain contained so many scientific
discoveries! Calling someone a bird brain may not be an insult after all!
Voice 1
The writer of this program was Marina Santee. The producer was Rena Dam. The voices
you heard were from the United States. All quotes were adapted and voiced by Spotlight.
You can find our programs on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net. This program
is called ‘Naming the Bird Brain’.
Voice 2
The Language of Volcanoes
Transcript
Voice 1
Hello. I’m Ruby Jones
Voice 2
And I’m Marina Santee. Welcome to Spotlight. 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
‘Suddenly you know that the volcano is speaking to you. And you understand the
language. This is a defining moment.’
205
Voice 2
Scientist Bernard Chouet said these words. He was talking about an important time in
his work. It was when he discovered a secret that would save thousands of lives. For
years, scientists had wanted to know how to predict the time a volcano would erupt. If
they could warn people that a volcanic mountain would soon explode, people living near
it could escape.
Voice 1
In today’s programme we look at the work of a man called Bernard Chouet - and how
he has shaped the course of volcano science.
Voice 2
A volcano is an amazing sight, but also very frightening - a huge mountain with a mouth
that blows out hot melted rock and gases. Volcanoes permit gases to escape from deep
below the earth. And they permit liquid rock, called magma, to escape. The magma
moves up and up. If the top of the volcano is closed there is nowhere for the magma
to go. The high pressure pushes against the top of the volcano. Finally, it pushes
through the top - causing the volcano to explode or erupt.
Voice 1
In the past, there has been no clear warning as to exactly when a volcano would erupt.
This has resulted in many injuries and deaths.
Voice 2
In 1985 the Nevado del Ruiz Volcano erupted. More than twenty thousand people died.
This tragic event deeply troubled scientists. How could they prevent volcanoes from
causing such great loss of life? They had to find a way to predict when a volcano would
erupt. The answer came through the work of one particular scientist - Bernard Chouet.
Voice 1
Bernard Chouet was different from other volcanologists. Yes he studied volcanoes, and
examined their behaviour. But his earlier training was in other areas of science. This
gave Chouet extra skills in understanding one of the key instruments for studying
volcanoes - seismographs. Seismographs record earthquakes that happen inside the
volcano. These records are called seismograms. The seismograms show the sounds of
the rocks breaking. There is only one thing that can break solid rock inside a volcano -
liquid rock - magma. As magma moves up the volcano, it breaks through rock. And so
seismograms show the travel path of magma. For many years, scientists studied
seismograms and eruptions of volcanoes. They looked for a link between the two.
206
However, there did not seem to be a link. Scientists could not see any repeats in the
behaviour.
Voice 2
Bernard Chouet studied the seismograms. He saw the main signal that other scientists
had studied. But he was particularly interested in a second layer of information - a
weaker signal hidden under the main signal. Scientists knew about it, but they did not
know what it meant. However, Chouet’s particular scientific skills caused him to notice
something more. He saw the shapes repeating themselves beautifully on the
seismogram!! He called these shapes ‘long period events.’
Voice 1
Chouet explained that the magma moves up the volcano, breaking rock on its way. The
hot magma blowing through the broken rock produces a signal that the seismograph
can sense. Scientists call this signal “resonance”. Resonance is the same effect that
produces sound when a person blows air into a pipe. In the seismogram, the resonance
signal shows as the series of long shapes - the ‘long period events.’ Chouet discovered
that there are more long period events when the volcano is closer to exploding. So, long
period events could show when a volcano would soon erupt.
Voice 2
However, Chouet was not the only scientist trying to understand volcanoes. Another
scientist was working on a completely different method. His name was Stanley Williams.
Williams climbed into volcanoes to learn about them! And, he believed the answer was
in measuring gases. Magma releases gases into the air above the volcano. The gases
are the force behind the eruption. The amount of gas increases as the magma rises
under the ground. Williams believed that measuring the gas would help to predict the
eruption.
Voice 1
In 1993, the two ideas came against each other. Some scientists met together at
Galeras. Galeras is a volcano in southern Colombia. They planned to go into the volcano
to study it. Williams’ gas readings showed that the volcano was safe. But Chouet’s long
period events warned that the volcano may erupt. The scientists discussed what to do.
Chouet’s methods were not well known. And, Chouet was unable to be at the meeting
- to explain more. And so the scientists decided to go ahead and trust the gas method.
They went into the volcano.
207
Voice 2
On the 14th of January, 1993 Galeras erupted. It killed six of the scientists. Stanley
Williams survived. But he suffered permanent injuries.
Voice 1
On the Galeras trip, Chouet’s methods had proved to be correct. But the cost was high.
The tragic event created respect for Chouet’s work. And people began to listen to his
theory.
Voice 2
In December 2000, Mexican scientists used Chouet’s methods. They saw the long period
events on the seismograph for the volcano Popocatepetl. The events were greatly
increasing. Bernard Chouet said,
Voice 3
‘This is like a warning song. The volcano is telling you, "OK I am under pressure here.
I am going to blow at the top."’
Voice 2
The experts in Mexico decided to trust the long period event warning. They showed that
Popocatepetl volcano would explode on the eighteenth of December. So, the authorities
gave the order. Thirty thousand people had to leave their homes - in less than twenty-
four hours. And, on the 18th of December 2000 Popocatepetl erupted. It was the largest
eruption for a thousand years. But no one was hurt.
Voice 1
Today, Bernard Chouet’s method is one of several that scientists use to try to predict
volcanic eruptions. It is still too early to say if the method will always work. But Chouet
has made great progress in understanding the science of volcanoes. He said;
Voice 3
‘Science works through a painful process of research and testing. You have to show that
process works for other volcanoes as well. Because there is so much more richness in
nature than anyone can imagine.’
208
Voice 1
Bernard Chouet’s work has proven what many scientists already knew. Humans do not
have to be powerless victims in natural tragedies. There are warnings and signs in
nature. It is just a case of understanding the language.
Voice 2
The writer and producer of today’s programme was Marina Santee. The voices you
heard were from the United Kingdom. Quotations were adapted for this programme.
You can hear the programme again on our website at http://www.radio.English.net. It
is called ‘The Language of Volcanoes.’
Living with Volcanoes
Transcript
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Liz Waid.
Voice 2
And I'm Adam Navis. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier
Voice 1
On March 20, 2010, a natural disaster began on the island of Iceland. A volcano shot
clouds of ash into the air. Smoke poured out of the volcano for three days. Then, on
March 23, the volcano exploded. The volcano shot out melted rock, called lava.
Voice 2
There was so much smoke and ash coming out of the volcano that no airplanes could
fly around Iceland. On April 14, the volcano exploded again. More ash, smoke, and lava
poured out. Wind carried the smoke toward England, France, and Spain. Soon most
airplane trips to and from Europe were cancelled. Some people had to live in airports.
And it would be almost a week before their trips would start again. This is one recent
example of the way that volcanoes have power and influence over human life.
Voice 1
Today's Spotlight is on volcanoes. Especially on why some people live so close to
volcanoes. There are volcanoes all over the world. Volcanoes can destroy homes,
209
farmland, and forests. But there are also around 360 million people who live near
volcanoes. This raises one question: Why would they do this?
Voice 2
A volcano is a hole in the earth's surface. It can explode and send ash and hot lava into
the air. The lava can burn trees, crops, houses, and people. The explosion can cause
earthquakes and landslides. Volcanoes can also release poisonous gases. Some
volcanoes are parts of islands. When these volcanoes explode they can create large
ocean waves.
Voice 1
Volcanoes can kill large numbers of people. In 1792 a Japanese volcano killed 15,000
people. In 1985, a volcano in Colombia buried a town in dirt. The government did little
to help and 23,000 people died. And in 1991, a volcano in the Philippines could have
been one of the worst events in history. But the Philippine government acted quickly.
They moved over 80,000 people away from the volcano. In the end, only 700 people
died.
Voice 2
So clearly, volcanoes are dangerous. Then why would people want to live around them?
There are several different reasons. The first is that a volcano can create very good soil.
The lava, minerals, and hot ash are good for farming. They help the soil stay wet. They
contain minerals that help plants grow. For example, the Indonesian island of Java has
three live volcanoes. This permits people to harvest several rice crops every season.
Voice 1
Another reason people live near volcanoes is geo-thermal energy. People use the heat
from the volcano to create electricity. This is very common. Over twenty countries
around the world use some geo-thermal energy. The country of Iceland gets around
seventeen percent of their electricity this way. Iceland also uses the heat from volcanoes
to warm greenhouses. These are buildings where people grow fruits, vegetables, and
flowers. People use greenhouses to grow food in cold weather.
Voice 2
Volcanoes can also be beautiful. The islands of Hawaii are a series of volcanoes. Over
seven million people visit Hawaii every year. These people spend money on hotels, boat
rides, and food. People even pay to walk and see the volcanoes. It can be exciting to
be close to something so powerful. Many people who live near volcanoes make money
from these visitors.
210
Voice 1
Another reason people live around dangerous volcanoes is because they feel safe. Most
volcanoes do not explode that often. People can live their whole life by a volcano and
never see it explode. So when scientists warn that a volcano is going to explode, they
may dismiss the warning.
Voice 2
But some people live around volcanoes because they have no other choice. They may
want to live somewhere else. But they do not have the money to move. They may not
have the education needed to get another job. Farming is their only occupation. Some
people live near a volcano because it is the only life they know.
Voice 1
Living around a volcano has risks. There are ways to reduce the risk. The first thing is
to listen to scientists. There are many new devices that can tell when a volcano will
explode. Sometimes these warnings come days before an explosion. Sometimes it is
only hours.
Voice 2
The next thing that can be done is to prepare yourself. People who live near volcanoes
need to know what to do if a warning is made. They need to know where they will go
to be safe. The American Red Cross suggests closing doors and windows. Stay inside
your house. If you are caught outside, try to stay covered. Cover your mouth and eyes.
This will protect you from falling ash. Try to reach high ground. This is the safest place
during landslides or flooding.
Voice 1
But part of this education is the job of the government. This is because in some areas,
thousands of people will need to move away from the volcano. Without a government
to help with this move, it can be very difficult to do.
Voice 2
Governments need to set up a plan of what to do once a volcano has exploded. There
need to be health workers, vehicles, and medical care ready to go. They need to have
trucks prepared to move dirt. There should be food and water stored in a safe place.
211
Voice 1
Volcanoes are very dangerous. In a single day they can kill thousands of people. They
can destroy crops. They can burn houses and cause landslides. They can release poison
gas and make people very sick.
Voice 2
But volcanoes can be helpful too. They create good soil for growing food. They can push
fresh water out of the ground. They can create electricity. And people come to see them
on holiday. And that is what makes volcanoes so amazing: that they can cause both
terrible destruction and a lot of good things at the same time.
Voice 1
The writer and producer of this program was Adam Navis. The voices you heard were
from the United States. All quotes were adapted for this program. Computer users can
hear our programs, read our scripts, and see our word list on our website
at http://www.Radio.English.net. This program is called "Living with Volcanoes."
Voice 2
If you have a comment or question for Spotlight you can email us. Our email address
is radio@English.net. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program.
Thank you for listening. Goodbye!
Our Human Journey
Transcript
Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Joshua Leo
Voice 2
Voice 1
People. Men and women, old and young. Today, humans cover almost every part of the
earth: jungles, forests, cities, and fields. But, how did we get there? Where did we come
from? And why do we look so different?
212
Voice 2
Today's Spotlight is on the Genographic Project. This project is an effort to learn more
about human history. Researchers want to understand the human journey, where we
came from and how we got to where we live today. The project hopes to map human
movement from the beginning of human history until now. To do this, researchers are
studying the DNA, or genes, of many people all over the world.
Voice 1
Have you ever wondered about your family history? Who were your first ancestors? And
where did they come from?
Voice 2
Well, facts collected by the Genographic Project seem to point to Africa! Scientists
working with the project believe that all people on earth are connected to each other.
The Genographic Project states that all of our first ancestors lived in ancient Africa. And
from there, people spread all over the earth.
Voice 1
Spencer Wells is a population geneticist. He is also the leader of the Genographic
Project. He told reporters,
Voice 3
"The greatest history book ever written is the one hiding in our DNA."
Voice 1
Wells studies the DNA of different people groups all over the world. His research shows
that people from all over the world share small parts of their DNA. He thinks that this
shared DNA connects people together.
Voice 2
So, how does the Genographic Project work? How does our DNA connect us together?
Voice 1
Well, first it is important to understand how DNA works. DNA is a complex chemical
molecule. We all have it in the cells of our body. The structure of your DNA contains a
long list of information about you. The molecule controls the way that you look. It
controls your eye, hair, and skin colour. It controls how tall you are. Some people even
213
believe that DNA affects your behaviour. And no other person can have the exact same
DNA as you.
Voice 2
But, some parts of your DNA will be the same in you and in some other people. Genes
are small parts of the DNA molecule. People receive their genes from their parents, half
from their mother and half from their father. Parents received their genes from their
parents and so on. You share genes with your ancestors who lived many, many years
ago.
Voice 1
Scientists like to study the DNA of tribal native groups best. These people usually mate
within their own ethnic group. For example, a man from the Suvadi tribe in Nigeria will
almost always have children with a woman from the same tribe. New genes from other
ethnic groups are not often brought into the tribe. The DNA within the tribe does not
experience much change. So it is easy to study the history of tribal DNA.
Voice 2
However, sometimes within a tribal group there will be a mutation, or small change in
the DNA. Many different things in nature can cause a mutation. Sunlight, pollution, and
some chemicals are a few things that can cause a mutation. Mutations happen naturally.
People cannot stop mutations.
Voice 1
Mutations show as a change in the DNA. The change will be visible in the DNA of the
person and his children, his children's children, and so on. Scientists choose some of
the mutations for careful study. Scientists call these mutations, "markers." A person
today could have many "markers" in his DNA. These markers represent his ancestors
from the past. Different populations carry their own special markers in their DNA.
Scientists can learn a person's genetic history by studying "markers."
Voice 2
For example, consider what happens if a man leaves his tribe. What happens if he mates
with someone outside of the tribe? Their DNA will mix. Their baby will share the parents'
DNA. That means the baby will also receive his parents' DNA "markers."
Voice 1
Now imagine if that child moved to another country to attend university. At university
he meets a young woman. She belongs to a different ethnic group. She even has a
214
different skin colour. The two fall in love, get married, and have a baby of their own.
The baby's DNA now has "markers" from his mother and his father. His DNA has markers
from three different ethnic groups. Scientists could study this child's DNA. They could
discover where his parents came from. They could follow the "markers" to learn about
the child's ancestors.
Voice 2
The Genographic Project is interested in "markers" for two reasons. First, "markers"
help scientists follow the human path. Imagine a person living in Ecuador. Imagine that
his DNA has three particular genetic markers. One of these markers is the same as
Native Americans living in the United States. The other marker is the same as people
living in Northern Russia. And the last marker is the same as a tribe in Africa. Scientists
try to figure out what this means.
Voice 1
The Genographic Project says that the meaning is very important. First, people with the
project believe that studying markers shows us the movement of humans. Our example
person lived in Ecuador. He had markers from North America, Central Asia, and Africa.
His ancestors may have started in Africa, then travelled through Asia, North America,
and into South America, ending in Ecuador. This movement may have taken thousands
of years.
Voice 2
Second, genetic "markers" show connections between people. Facts collected by the
Genographic Project show these connections. All the DNA that the Project has tested
shares "markers" with Africans - modern day Africans and the remains of ancient African
people. That leads researchers to believe that all people groups started in ancient Africa.
Voice 1
The sharing of genetic "markers" is an important discovery. However, there are some
concerns about the project. Native people in some countries do not want to join. They
do not trust the researchers. In the past, scientists studied native groups without
consent - the native groups did not agree to the studies. These past scientific studies
did not bring anything good to the native people. In the United States, and some other
places, native groups have argued against taking part in the Genographic Project. They
believe that the information could weaken their claims to their land.
However, the Genographic Project has worked carefully with native groups. If a group
does not want to give genetic material, researchers go to other groups. They work with
215
communities to share information, so that everyone can learn about their genetic
history. Because of this, many native groups HAVE agreed to take part.
Voice 2
People may look different. Their genes have mixed over many generations. But, even
people who look very different from one another are probably closely connected to each
other. The Genographic Project may show that we are all from the same family. How
might this information change our world?
The writer of this program was Rebekah Schipper. The producer was Joshua Leo. The
voices you heard were from the United States. All quotes were adapted and voiced by
Spotlight. You can find our programs on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net.
This program is called 'Our Human Journey'.
216

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