英语悠选脱口秀 第112期:长在树上的意大利面

 讲解

Today's key word is Spaghetti

Spaghetti 意大利面

大家应该都吃过或者听过意大利面。But do you know how to make spaghetti? Obviously, British people in 1957 didn't know!怎么回事呢？

In April 1st 1957,就是愚人节April Fool's Day的时候，the BBC decided¹ to do a prank（恶作剧） on its audiences. 当时，有一档时事类节目叫做-Panorama.It did a show on the so-called annual "spaghetti harvest" in southern Switzerland. 这个长约2分30秒的所谓瑞士“年度意大利面收获季”还请了著名记者配音。

It featured the voice of respected TV and radio journalist Richard Dimbleby saying the beauty of "real, home-grown spaghetti" plucked from ancient orchards（传统古老的果园） in Switzerland.一起来感受下60年前，来自英国的声音：“Spaghetti cultivation² here in Switzerland is not of course carried out on anything like the tremendous Italian industry. Many of you I am sure would have seen pictures of the vast spaghetti plantations³ in the Valley.

"For the Swiss, however, it tends to be more of a family affair. Another reason why this maybe a bumper⁴ year lies in the virtue⁵ disappearance⁶ of the spaghetti widdle, the tiny creature cause much concerns in the past. After picking, this spaghetti is laid out to dry in the warm sun. Many people are often puzzled by the fact that the spaghetti is produced by such a unique length. But this is the result of many years patient by plant raisers who succeeded in producing the perfect spaghetti. (演员演技好真 有没有)

This short video was so convincing that many people believed that spaghetti actually grew in a tree. BBC本来就是想开个玩笑，可这个玩笑开的太认真，严谨的腐国人民get不到笑点，竟然信以为真。Hundreds of people called BBC after the broadcast asking where they could get hold of a spaghetti bush灌木丛 so they could grow their own crop.

英国人民一想，哎呦我去，原来每天吃的意大利面是一种植物啊，那我自己种岂不是既省钱有安心。估计当时BBC的人得笑死。还回复打电话咨询的人说：“You could cultivate spaghetti at home by planting strands⁷ (一小股意大利面) in a can of tomato sauce.”Hahaha在番茄酱里插上意大利面，慢慢就能长成意大利面tree！！！！！！！腐国人民的情操和认真程度真的是...（小王子代表我的心）

后来，虽然很多人表示被耍了很不开森！But the broadcast, which showed a Swiss family harvesting spaghetti from trees, has gone down as one of the best April Fools of all time. 严谨的英国人民开起玩笑来也是好玩的名垂青史啊，哎呀，说的我都想吃意大利面了，我吃面去了。

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 cultivation   

n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成

参考例句：

• The cultivation in good taste is our main objective.培养高雅情趣是我们的主要目标。
• The land is not fertile enough to repay cultivation.这块土地不够肥沃，不值得耕种。

3 plantations   

n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Soon great plantations, supported by slave labor, made some families very wealthy. 不久之后出现了依靠奴隶劳动的大庄园，使一些家庭成了富豪。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Winterborne's contract was completed, and the plantations were deserted. 维恩特波恩的合同完成后，那片林地变得荒废了。 来自辞典例句

4 bumper   

n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的

参考例句：

• The painting represents the scene of a bumper harvest.这幅画描绘了丰收的景象。
• This year we have a bumper harvest in grain.今年我们谷物丰收。

5 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

6 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

7 strands   

n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Twist a length of rope from strands of hemp. 用几股麻搓成了一段绳子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She laced strands into a braid. 她把几股线编织成一根穗带。 来自《简明英汉词典》