VOA慢速英语20060421c

AMERICAN MOSAIC¹ - Is It Reggae? Is It Hip-Hop? Reggaeton From Puerto Rico Is BothBy Brianna Blake, Jerilyn Watson and Anne Pessala

Broadcast: Friday, April 21, 2006

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HOST: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC, in VOA Special English.

I'm Doug Johnson. On our show this week 鈥?e play some examples of a kind of music called reggaeton 鈥?


Tai Shan

Answer a question about the pandas at the National Zoo 鈥?nd report about community service organizations.

Fraternal Orders

The United States has many community social groups that work for important causes and also have fun. Pat² Bodnar tells us more about fraternal orders, and how they are not just for grandparents anymore.

PAT BODNAR: Fraternal orders, also called fraternal organizations, are social and service groups. Until recently, they were most popular among older people. But lately, these groups are experiencing an increase in younger new members.

Many fraternal orders were started more than one hundred years ago. They were often organized to serve a special purpose. For example, the Patrons³ of Husbandry, or the Grange, was started to help support farmers. Other groups aimed to offer members financial help in times of sickness or death.

One well known fraternal order is called the Benevolent⁴ and Protective⁵ Order of Elks⁶, or the Elks. Others are the Kiwanis and the Lions Clubs International.

Some fraternal orders are national and others have members all over the world. They are usually divided into smaller, local groups in different towns and cities. They often have their own meeting place where members gather to socialize. Many fraternal orders also organize events to raise money to help people in the community. For example, they may raise money to provide scholarships for students to pay for their college education.

Many Americans joined fraternal orders after World War Two. But during the past twenty years, fraternal orders in the United States have struggled with decreasing membership⁷ as people have left the organizations or died.

However, a recent interest in these groups among younger people is now helping⁸ them to survive. In American cities like Detroit, Michigan; Hoboken, New Jersey⁹, and Austin, Texas young professionals are joining fraternal orders. Younger new members say they like the groups because they are involved in helping their communities. They also enjoy having a place to go and meet with friends. Fraternal order gatherings¹⁰ are less crowded than many of the popular eating and drinking places in large cities.

Many fraternal orders have special swearing-in ceremonies for their new members. Some of the groups have secret traditions. Many fraternal orders have historically been limited to only men. But some now permit women to join.

Giant Pandas

HOST: Our listener question today comes from China. Miss He wants to know about the giant pandas at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. She also wants to know if they have had a baby.

Tian Tian [tee-YEN tee-YEN], the male panda, and his mate¹¹, Mei Xiang [may SHONG] are doing well in Washington. They became parents nine months ago.

On July ninth, Mei Xiang gave birth to a male cub¹², Tai Shan [tie SHAHN]. The baby weighed only one hundred grams at birth. But he has grown a lot. He now weighs about eighteen kilograms.

The panda cub is very popular. In December, zoo officials began to let the public see him. Almost four hundred thousand people have visited the zoo to see him. Millions of other people have watched his activities on the National Zoo's Internet Web site.

Tai Shan is fun to watch. He likes to roll around, climb trees and hang upside down. He drinks milk from his mother. He plays with her. His father, however, stays in a separate area. Male pandas do not take much interest in their young.

The pandas' areas at the zoo were designed especially for them. Their two outdoor areas have grass and huge rock caves. The cave structures are cooled to protect the pandas from the heat in the summer. An expanded Giant Panda Habitat with more activities will open this autumn.

Tai Shan's parents came to the United States in two thousand. China lent them to the United States for ten years in exchange for ten million dollars. The money helps support programs in China to save giant pandas in the wild.

The birth of Tai Shan resulted from artificial¹³ insemination. Reproductive material from Tian Tian was placed in Mei Xiang's body in March of last year. It took place during the two or three days each year that a female¹⁴ panda can become pregnant¹⁵. This short fertile¹⁶ period is one of the reasons why giant pandas are in danger of disappearing from Earth.

Tai Shan will be sent to live in China when he is two years old. When that time comes, many Americans will be very sad.

Reggaeton

Reggaeton is a kind of music that is becoming very popular with young Americans. It is a combination¹⁷ of Caribbean reggae and Spanish hip-hop that started in Puerto Rico. Steve Ember tell us more.

STEVE EMBER: Listeners say reggaeton is a musical blend¹⁸ that is different from their parents' traditional music and American hip-hop. Most reggaeton stars are Puerto Rican. But reggaeton is popular with many young Americans, even though some do not understand the Spanish words. Daddy Yankee was one of the first artists to become popular with non-Spanish-speaking listeners. Here is one of his most popular songs, Gasolina.

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Many reggaeton artists sing about their difficult experiences being poor. Some people say the words of some of the songs are too violent and dishonor women. One artist is trying to change that. Ivy¹⁹ Queen sings about the problems that women face. Another artist originally performed this song, Si Una Vez. Here is Ivy Queen's reggaeton version²⁰.

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Reggaeton can be heard on radios and in nightclubs across America. It was made for dancing, so we will leave you with a song whose title means just that. Here is Bailando by Yaga and Mackie.

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HOST: I'm Doug Johnson. I hope you enjoyed our program today.

Our show was written by Brianna Blake, Jeri Watson and Anne Pessala. Caty Weaver²¹ was our producer.

Send your questions about American life to [email protected]. Please include your full name and mailing address. Or write to American Mosaic, VOA Special English, Washington, D.C., two-zero-two-three-seven, U.S.A.

Join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC, VOA's radio magazine in Special English.

1 mosaic   

n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的

参考例句：

• The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。
• The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

2 pat   

n.轻拍，拍打声；vt.轻拍，拍打；vi.轻跑，轻击；adv.适时，彻底；adj.油腔滑调的，恰好的，合适的

参考例句：

• Could you hear the pat?你能听到轻轻的拍击声吗？
• He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。

3 patrons   

赞助人( patron的名词复数 )； 资助人； 老主顾； 名义赞助人（支持慈善组织等的名人，名字常用于有关的广告宣传中）

参考例句：

• "Of course. Every hotel depends upon the repute of its patrons. “当然啦，每家旅馆都要依靠其主顾的名声。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Patrons are requested to leave their bags in the cloakroom. 顾客请将手提包留在衣帽间。

4 benevolent   

adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的

参考例句：

• His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him.他乐善好施的本性使他不会拒绝走上前向他行乞的任何一个乞丐。
• He was a benevolent old man and he wouldn't hurt a fly.他是一个仁慈的老人，连只苍蝇都不愿伤害。

5 protective   

adj.防护的，保护的

参考例句：

• A mother naturally feels protective towards her children.做母亲的天生要保护自己的孩子。
• We feel safe with a protective device in the house.我们因为家里有了防护装置而感到安全。

6 elks   

n.麋鹿( elk的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• So I arranged for a gathering at the local Elks Club on January 25. 1月25日我安排在当地慈善互助会见面。 来自互联网

7 membership   

n.成员资格，会员全体，从属关系

参考例句：

• I must renew my membership of the sailing club.我必须延续我的航海俱乐部会员的资格。
• He made up his mind to apply for membership in the Party.他决心申请入党。

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

10 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

11 mate   

n.伙伴，同事；配偶；大副；v.(使)交配

参考例句：

• Where is the mate to this glove?这副手套的另一只在哪儿？
• She has been a faithful mate to him.她一直是他忠实的配偶。

12 cub   

n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人

参考例句：

• The lion cub's mother was hunting for what she needs. 这只幼师的母亲正在捕猎。
• The cub licked the milk from its mother's breast. 这头幼兽吸吮着它妈妈的奶水。

13 artificial   

adj.人工的，人造的，人为的；做作的，假装的

参考例句：

• The new dam will form a large artificial lake behind it.新筑的水坝将会在后面形成一个人工湖。
• We don't use any artificial flavourings in our products.我们的产品不使用任何人工调味剂。

14 female   

adj.雌的，女(性)的；n.雌性的动物，女子

参考例句：

• We only employ female workers.我们只雇用女工。
• The animal in the picture was a female elephant.照片上的动物是头母象。

15 pregnant   

adj.怀孕的，怀胎的

参考例句：

• She is a pregnant woman.她是一名孕妇。
• She is pregnant with her first child.她怀了第一胎。

16 fertile   

adj.肥沃的，富饶的；多产的，丰产的

参考例句：

• The district is fertile of wheat.该地区盛产小麦。
• Plants grow well in fertile soil.植物在肥沃的土壤里长势良好。

17 combination   

n.组合，合并，联合；

参考例句：

• He carried on the business in combination with his friends.他与朋友们合伙做生意。
• The materials can be used singly or in combination.这些材料可以单独使用也可以混合用。

18 blend   

v.(使)混和，(使)混杂；n.混合物；混和

参考例句：

• Do you think these two colours will blend together?你认为这两种颜色和谐吗？
• These houses seem to blend into the surrounding scenery.这些房屋似乎与周围的景色融为一体了。

19 ivy   

n.常青藤，常春藤

参考例句：

• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
• The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。

20 version   

n.版本；型号；叙述，说法

参考例句：

• His version of the events is pure supposition.他对这件事的说法纯属猜测。
• What is your version of this matter?你对这件事情的看法 怎么样？

21 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。