第十四期 (4/7)

Passage One

A new study shows that India's leading causes of death now also

include obesity-related diseases such as heart disease.

India's current National Family Health Survey shows that more than

twenty percent of Indians living in cities are overweight or obese.

And in the northwestern state of Punjab, that is true for almost forty percent of women.

Why does this happen in India?

First, eating is the most important thing in any Indian household and how they show their love

and gratitude for a person is through the kind of food they serve him.

And the kind of lifestyle that they lead is the main reason

why they have every day the number of obese people in India increasing.

The second reason is that genetics may play a small part.

Researchers say Indians store more body fat per kilogram than Europeans.

That means obese Indians are even more at risk for disease related to fat than other people.

Doctor says the risk of this disease is crossing social and economic lines.

Five years ago, he says, obesity and diabetes were limited to India's wealthiest people.

Now the poorest are also getting heavier.

It is hopeful that the spread of obesity can be slowed.

And the schools are giving all Indian children the same instruction on physical activity and diet.

The World Health Organization says more and more countries are also moving up in obesity rates,

which should be alarmed.

Passage Two

The expression fireworks get its meaning from the fireworks that

people shoot into the sky when they are celebrating a great event.

Rockets explode to fill the dark night sky with bright reds and blues,

with yellows and greens and whites.

People use the expression fireworks throughout the year.

But if you live in the United States and want to see real fireworks,

the best time of the year is about now.

The Fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States.

Americans traditionally celebrate their nation's freedom with giant public parties and fireworks at night.

In Washington, for example, large crowds gather near the Washington Monument

to listen to music and watch a huge fireworks show.

In other cities and smaller towns, local people listen to band concerts

and watch fireworks explode in a dark sky.

Many other countries around the world also enjoy the tradition of exploding fireworks on special days.

In Australia, the city of Sydney begins each new year with a fireworks show at midnight.

France also has a great fireworks tradition.

A large fireworks show always takes place on Bastille Day which celebrates the beginning of the French Revolution.

[03:17.17]The French city of Cannes holds an international fireworks competition each year in July and August.

In India, people have been using fireworks for more than five hundred years.

A great Indian fireworks show takes place during the religious celebration of Diwali,every autumn.

Fireworks shows are popular around the world and it is traditionally used to celebrate the great events until now.