听遍美国社会新闻--斗鸡

Cock Fighting

Saturday Night in rural(1) Oklahoma and just behind these trailers【拖车】, business is booming(2) for a secretive(3) group of men and women who have powerful friends in Washington. This is the world of cock fighting still legal in three states including Oklahoma a billion dollar a year industry.

“They’re a cross-section of America. You know, we’re a God fearing people who pay our taxes.”

But it’s been illegal in the 47 other states for years because of the cruelty(4) involved which the industry disputes(5).

“It’s brutal 【野蛮的】but it’s not cruel.”

But as we saw with our hidden cameras, roosters are forced to fight to the death.

“They’re pumped up with stimulants(6), they have knives or ice pick like gaffs fixed to their legs and they literally(7) hack each other to death. Punctured 【刺穿的】lungs, gouged【挖出眼睛的】eyes and other grievous(8) wounds are all part and parcel of Cock Fighting in America.”

One big attraction(9)-gambling【赌博】, which is, illegal in Oklahoma but was wide open on this night, with thousands of dollars changing hands over which roosters would win. The nights are advertised as family outings with admission【入场费】free for anyone under 12. In an environment that critics say breeds(10) criminality【犯罪行为】.

“Nationwide the illegal activities associated with cock fighting are crimes of violence, drug crimes, and gambling crimes.”

But to the amazement of law enforcement (11)officials around the country a federal law that would essentially (12)end the legal cock fighting industry has been blocked【阻塞】in the United States Senate. Blocked according to supporters by the one man who has the power to do so- Senate Majority leader Trent Lott.

“It sat on the senate calendar for seven months and Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi simply would not allow this legislation【立法】 to come to the floor for a vote.”

Sponsors【提案人】 of the bill say it would pass overwhelmingly(13)if put to a vote【投票】. But the cock fighting industry has spent over a 1/4 million dollars to stop it, hiring two former senators as lobbyists【游说者】, Stephen Simms of Idaho and Bennett Johnson of Louisiana who quit the account this year. Senator Lott declined to appear on camera but confirmed that he opposed the bill in the last session(14) , and may do so again.

“I applaud(15) his vision and understanding of what’s in the best interest of the people of this country.”

Many of the roosters for places like this do come from farms in Mississippi and shipping birds across state lines would be outlawed(16) under the proposed(17)legislation, disrupting【中断】what remains a huge business. But for now with Senator Lott on their side the people here have little to worry about. Brian Ross ABC news, Washington.


听音瓶颈词汇

1. rural[]a.乡下的；郊区的
2. booming []adj.兴旺的
3. secretive[]adj.秘密的
4. cruelty []n.残酷
5. dispute []v.争斗；争吵；辩论
6. stimulant []n.刺激物
7. literally []adv.实在地，不加夸张地
8. grievous []adj.悲痛的；令人忧心的
9. attraction []n.吸引；吸引人的事物
10. breed[]v.滋长；助长
11. enforcement []n.执行；授权
12. essentially []adv.实质上
13. overwhelmingly []adv.压倒性地
14. session []adv.会议
15. applaud [] v.鼓掌；支持
16. outlaw[]v.宣布为非法
17. propose []v.提议；求婚

听音高级短语

because of 因为
fight to the death 战斗至最后一刻
be pumped up with 充满了
part and parcel 处处皆是； 重要组成部分
to the amazement of 让…吃惊的是
according to 根据
sit on 列入（日程或讨论）

听音超级句型

As we saw with our hidden cameras…
从我们隐藏的摄像机拍摄到的镜头看到…

But for now with ....on their side the people here have little to worry about.
但现在有…的支持，这里的人们高枕无忧。