双语时事系列228:西班牙斗牛

2010-02-24 00:00:00来源：网络

双语时事系列224:啦啦队
双语时事系列223:工作面试
双语时事系列222:换个新活法
双语时事系列221:冰天雪地中的动物们

双语时事：经济危机中西班牙斗牛被迫节育

Spanish bullfighting audiences are shrinking as the unemployment rate grows and anti-bullfighting calls increase, according to a report Sunday by state-run Channel One television。

　　Bullfighting matches have been canceled in many cities, and fewer bulls are involved。

　　The owner of a bull farm told the station that it costs 4,000 euros to feed a bull from birth to death。

　　Taking into account the cost of breeding and training that one bull, the cost rises to 10,000 euros。

　　He has about 120 bulls on his farm。

　　That was enough to meet demand in previous years, but as orders have declined to just 30 bulls this year, the farm has become overcrowded。

　　He said 80 to 100 bulls are born annually。

　　As spring approaches, so comes mating season. To control the birthrate, breeders are pumping cows full of birth control medication。

　　That method, however, the owner said, isn't a long-term solution。

　　The end of the economic crisis, he hopes, will allow him to let his bulls and cows return to regular reproductive activities。

　　For the Chinese version, see P5 in today's Global Times Chinese edition

　　西班牙的经济危机不仅波及百姓，就连斗牛也面临考验。据西班牙国营电视一台7日报道，西班牙失业人口数字连年攀升，导致观看斗牛的观众大量流失，加之许多地区反对斗牛呼声日益高涨，观看斗牛的人数日益减少，许多城市的斗牛场次被迫取消，用于斗牛的公牛数量也迅速下降。

　　对此，该电视台采访了一个公牛饲养场业主。据该业主披露，饲养一头斗牛，从出生到战死，光在食品上就需4000欧元，再加上公牛成长期间的护理及进行野性训练的费用，最终算起来一头斗牛要花费1万欧元左右。该饲养场饲养数量约120头，往年平均出生80头到100头，供需可保持平衡。但如今需方订单骤减，今年只需要30头左右。导致出现“牛满为患”的困境。

　　眼看春季牛的发情期即将来到，而期间公牛必须交配否则会影响情绪。因此，饲养场不得不给母牛吃大剂量的避孕药以抑制生育数量。饲养场业主表示，期望危机尽快过去，让牛的繁殖数量在自然状态下进行，靠避孕药来控制生育毕竟不是长远之计。

本文选自上海新东方学校惠瑾的博客，博客链接地址：http://blog.hjenglish.com/huijin