A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
7:24
巴西女孩的危险经历：爱泼斯坦与模特经纪人的陷阱
Brazilian Women Tell BBC How Epstein and Brunel's Modelling Trap Worked
HSK 3 Chinese listening practice. Brazilian women tell the BBC how Epstein and modelling agent Brunel used fake visas and jobs to recruit young girls.
This is an HSK 3-4 Chinese listening episode that runs about 7 minutes. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 16 key vocabulary words such as 调查、危险、经历 and walks through 5 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.
Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
Recently, there is a very important piece of international news.
It is about the investigation into the wealthy American, Epstein.
This news has attracted a lot of attention.
Epstein was a very rich American.
He knew many famous people in the world.
But he did many very bad things.
He especially liked to look for young girls.
Then he did bad things to these girls.
Although he has already died in prison, the investigation is still continuing.
Recently, the BBC discovered new information.
This information has a lot to do with Brazil in South America.
Many young Brazilian women were interviewed.
They spoke about the terrible experiences that happened back then.
How did Epstein find the Brazilian girls?
The investigation found that he used a model agent.
This French agent's name was Brunel.
A model agent's job is to help girls find opportunities.
If a girl wants to be a model, she needs an agent.
But Brunel did not do his job properly.
He turned scouting for models into a dangerous trap.
He specifically went looking for young and beautiful girls.
And he especially liked to look in the rural areas of Brazil.
Because being a model in a big city earns more money than in the countryside.
The girls' family conditions were probably not very good either.
So they longed for the opportunity to work in a big city.
Brunel took advantage of this psychology of the girls.
A girl named Glaucia told her story.
In 2004, she was only sixteen years old.
She lived in a small city in Brazil.
At that time, she had just started learning to be a model.
Brunel personally went to her home.
He wanted Glaucia to participate in a modeling competition.
This competition was held in another country.
At first, Glaucia's mother felt very happy.
But the mother quickly realized something was wrong with the situation.
Because Brunel always liked to be with young girls.
His behavior made people feel very uncomfortable.
Later, Brunel wanted to take her to New York, USA.
He said they wouldn't have to pay for any of the expenses themselves.
But Glaucia's mother immediately refused.
The mother felt that these people were actually looking for underage children.
So the mother firmly disagreed with her daughter going to the US.
If the mother had agreed at that time, the result would definitely have been terrible.
Glaucia is now very grateful to her mother.
It was her mother's decision that protected her safety.
But not all girls were so lucky.
Another girl named Anna did not escape the danger.
Anna was also a Brazilian girl who wanted to be a model.
Someone told her that there were many good opportunities in the big city.
So she left home and went to Sao Paulo.
But after arriving there, the situation completely changed.
The person who took her there took her passport away.
And also said that Anna owed them a lot of money.
Anna realized there was no modeling job at all.
Not long after, she was taken to a high-end hotel.
There, she met Epstein for the first time.
At that time, there were several girls standing together.
Epstein chose Anna from among these girls.
Anna felt very scared, but she had no way to escape.
Because she was in an unfamiliar place and had no money.
So how were these girls taken to the United States?
This requires talking about the role of the model agent.
Going to the US requires applying for a visa.
It is actually very troublesome for ordinary people to get a US visa.
But Brunel had his own modeling company.
He used this company to get visas for the girls.
The visa stated that the girls were going to the US to be models.
But in reality, this was a complete lie.
Anna said she had never worked as a model in the US.
She went to the US for only one purpose, and that was to accompany Epstein.
This shows that the modeling company was just a facade.
They turned a legal company into a tool for doing bad things.
This practice is not only illegal but also very cunning.
Because with a work visa, customs would not be suspicious.
That way, Epstein could keep the girls by his side.
Epstein's control over these girls was very complex.
He not only controlled their bodies but also controlled their minds.
For example, he would give Anna a lot of money and let her go shopping without needing change.
He even intentionally left money in Anna's room.
If Anna returned the money to him, he would praise her.
He used this method to test whether the girls were obedient.
Moreover, he was sometimes very gentle to the girls.
He would also spend money for Anna to learn English.
This kind of behavior made the young girls feel very confused.
They even thought they were Epstein's girlfriends.
Until Anna found Epstein in bed with other girls.
Only then did she finally realize she was just a toy.
That model agent also constantly stared at them.
Anna said the way he looked at them was like a wolf looking at sheep.
This made the girls live in fear every day.
Now the Brazilian government has finally started investigating this matter.
Because this is no longer an ordinary crime.
This is actually a serious form of human trafficking.
They sent the girls back and forth like commodities.
Although both Epstein and the agent are already dead.
But the people who helped in Brazil back then are still around.
The Brazilian police hope to find these people who helped.
If evidence can be found, these people will be arrested.
Investigating this matter has very important significance.
First of all, this can give the victimized girls an explanation.
Secondly, this also lets everyone see the dangers of the modeling industry.
Many young girls have a beautiful dream.
They want to stand on stage and become famous people.
But some bad people simply took advantage of the girls' dreams.
We must learn a lesson from this matter.
Especially those parents who have daughters at home.
If someone suddenly offers a very good opportunity.
And says you don't need to spend a single penny.
You must check it very carefully.
Because there is no free bread in the world.
Opportunities that are too good to be true often hide the greatest dangers.
Just like Glaucia's mother.
You must bravely say no at critical moments.
In addition, society also needs to better protect young people.
The government should strengthen the management of modeling companies.
Bad people cannot be allowed to casually take girls to other countries.
If a company is found to be doing deceptive things.
They must immediately be punished using the law.
Young people should not only pursue their ideals but also learn to protect their own safety.
Only in a safe environment can dreams have value.
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
Used as both a noun and a verb. Commonly used in news or formal contexts to refer to looking into a matter.
Can be used as an adjective (dangerous) or a noun (danger). Often paired with 遇到 (to encounter) or 逃脱 (to escape).
Refers to personal experiences or things one has gone through. Often used as a noun in narratives.
A formal way to say 'no' to an offer, request, or suggestion.
A travel document. The verb commonly paired with it is 办 (to apply for/process).
Used when someone thinks something might be wrong or untrue.
Describes situations, methods, or emotions that are not simple.
Used to emphasize an extreme case or to take a statement a step further.
Means to keep safe from harm. Can be used as a verb or a noun.
A loanword from the English word 'model', referring to fashion or runway models.
Refers to a professional who represents someone, such as an actor, model, or athlete.
Can be a literal physical trap or a figurative trap designed to deceive someone.
Expresses a very strong desire or wish for something, often an opportunity or a better life.
Used to describe someone who is tricky and deceitful.
Literally 'not yet adult'. Used as an adjective to describe children or adolescents under the legal age.
A compound term combining 'population/people' (人口) and 'buying and selling' (买卖).
* beyond level超纲词
不但... 而且/还... (búdàn... érqiě/hái...)
A conjunction pattern meaning 'not only... but also...'. It is used to connect two clauses and show a progression or addition in meaning.
这种做法不但违法而且非常狡猾。
他不但控制她们的身体，还控制她们的心理。
把字句 (bǎ zì jù)
The '把' construction is used to emphasize how an object is handled, disposed of, or changed by an action. The structure is: Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result/Direction.
他把找模特变成了一个危险的陷阱。
那个带她去的人把她的护照收走了。
是...的 (shì... de)
This structure is used to emphasize the time, place, manner, or purpose of an action that has already happened in the past.
爱泼斯坦是怎么找到巴西女孩的呢？
是妈妈的决定保护了她的安全。
如果... 就... (rúguǒ... jiù...)
A conditional pattern meaning 'If... then...'. '如果' introduces the condition, and '就' introduces the result.
如果一个女孩想当模特，她就需要经纪人。
如果能找到证据，这些人就会被抓起来。
只有... 才... (zhǐyǒu... cái...)
Expresses a necessary condition, meaning 'Only if... then...'. It indicates that the result can only be achieved under the specified condition.
只有在一个安全的环境里，梦想才有价值。
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