万花筒 2009-02-10&02-11 芭比娃娃五十岁啦

"Barbie dressed for swimming fun is only three dollars."

 

It's been 50 years since Barbie was first introduced to television audiences. A half century later, the iconic doll kicked off her year-long birthday celebration at the International Toy Fair in Germany, an event that even included a debut¹ of real-life Barbies.

 

"It's a global brand in 150 different countries and our sites are developed everywhere to make sure that we unite girls around the world through Barbie."

 

Barbie manufacturer Mattel says three dolls are sold every second and she's changed a lot since her debut. She's had over a hundred careers including art teacher, presidential candidate and astronaut.

 

"Wow. she is real like me!"

 

There was even 1992's Rappin' Rockin'  Barbie which came with her own boombox.

 

"Barbie's constantly changing. She changes as fashion changes in the 60s and 70s and 80s and 90s through today. Any Barbie that you look at at anytime, you can mark that moment in time with style, fashion, beauty and culture."

 

The celebration comes amid tough times of Barbie's maker². Mattel reported Wednesday that its profit fell by almost half in the fourth quarter of last year. Sales of the Barbie line dropped by more than 20% in the last three months of 2008. The company plans to raise prices and cut spending. And don't think that the Barbie line includes only dolls, there are DVDs, clothing, accessories³, cosmetics⁴ and even Barbiegirls.com.

 

While Barbie will celebrate her birthday in places like Paris, Milan and Tokyo, the true test for her enduring legacy⁵ is on the shelves of toy stores.

 

"You do loads of things with them. They're just really really fun."

 

Proving that as long as there are little girls, there will be fans of the famous doll.

 

"More gracefully⁶ and more glamorously⁷."

 

Matt Freeman, the Associated Press.

 

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

3 accessories   

n.附件；附件( accessory的名词复数 )；（衣服的）配饰；从犯；妇女饰品

参考例句：

• a range of furnishings and accessories for the home 各种各样的家居装饰物及配件
• These are indispensable accessories. 这些是不可缺少的附件。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 cosmetics   

n.化妆品

参考例句：

• We sell a wide range of cosmetics at a very reasonable price. 我们以公道的价格出售各种化妆品。
• Cosmetics do not always cover up the deficiencies of nature. 化妆品未能掩饰天生的缺陷。

5 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

6 gracefully   

ad.大大方方地；优美地

参考例句：

• She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

7 glamorously   

富有魅力的； 迷人的； 富于刺激的； 独特的

参考例句：

• The south coast is less glamorous but full of clean and attractive hotels. 南海岸魅力稍逊，但却有很多干净漂亮的宾馆。
• It was an opera, very glamorous and very sensual. 这场歌剧美轮美奂，声色俱佳，给感官以极大享受。