VOA慢速英语 2008 1024b

HOST:

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC¹ in VOA Special English.

(MUSIC)

I'm Doug Johnson. This week:

We listen to music from Katy Perry …

Answer a listener question about how parents teach their children about money …

But first, we look at the television family "The Simpsons," still funny after a historic² number of seasons on air.

(MUSIC)

The Simpsons

HOST:

A popular American animated³ television show began its twentieth season last month. "The Simpsons" now ties the old show "Gunsmoke" in number of seasons broadcast. "Gunsmoke" was a Western dramatic⁴ show. It was on television from nineteen fifty-five until nineteen seventy-five. "The Simpsons" was first broadcast in nineteen eighty-nine. It is the longest running situation comedy series on television. Faith Lapidus tells about the show and how it stays current.

FAITH LAPIDUS:

"The Simpsons" is about a white, working class family in an average American town called Springfield. The mother is the intelligent and responsible blue-haired Marge. The father, Homer, works⁵ at the nuclear power center. Homer is lazy, fat, stupid and selfish but still lovable.

The Simpson children are Bart, Lisa and baby Maggie. Bart gets into a lot of trouble and does poorly in school. Lisa is an excellent student and deep thinker, as well as a great saxophone player. Maggie does not talk, but expresses herself with the baby pacifier that never leaves her mouth.

Cartoonist Matt Groening created "The Simpsons." He has said that Bart is partly based on himself. Groening named some of the Simpson characters after his own family members.

The cartoonist has said no one expected "The Simpsons" to become such a huge success. One reason for its popularity⁶ is the large number of funny characters in Springfield. They provide a good, if sometimes extreme, representation⁷ of America. Another reason is because the show explores current issues in American life. They include freedom of speech, election⁸ corruption⁹, rights for homosexuals, environmental destruction¹⁰ and common family problems. The show makes fun of many social, religious, political and cultural issues.

Because it is a cartoon show, the Simpsons can go anywhere and do anything, so the writers never run out of ideas. Critics say the show is still interesting, intelligent and funny after almost twenty years. "The Simpsons" has won more than twenty Emmy awards. Critics have called it one of the best American television shows in history. Listen now to a little from "The Simpsons."

BART SIMPSON: "Yo. Who's this?"

DENNIS LEARY: "Dennis Leary, you little puke. I'm gonna rip¹¹ out your heart with two fingers. They taught me how to do it for my show."

BART: "Which show? The one that got canceled or the one that's gonna get canceled?"

DENNIS: "You are so dead."

(Bart and friend Milhouse laugh)

MARGE SIMPSON: "That laughter sounds like the result of misbehavior. Bart! How did you get a cell phone?"

BART: "Same way you got me … by accident, on a golf course."

MARGE: "Mmmph … whose phone is this?"

BART: "You'll never get it out of me."

MARGE: "O.K. Milhouse?"

MILHOUSE: "It's Dennis Leary's! I'm sorry, Bart. I'm desperate for any signs of adult approval¹²."

FAITH LAPIDUS:

Because of its popularity, hundreds of famous people have been heard on "The Simpsons," playing themselves or other characters. They include actors, athletes, journalists, musicians and even astronauts.

Teaching¹³ Children About Money

HOST:

Our listener question this week comes from Chirawan Chidchob who wants to know how American parents teach their children about money.

To answer this question, we talked to several parents and a teacher. Many parents said they give their children small amounts of money each week called allowances¹⁴. Some parents ask their children to do work around the house to earn the money. Having this small income helps children learn about the cost of goods and the value of money. It also helps them learn what it is like to have a job and earn money for doing it well. Many parents give their smaller children "piggy banks." Children collect their coins in these containers and learn about saving¹⁵ money.

Suze Orman is a well-known American financial expert. She gives advice about money on television and in her articles and books. She suggests that parents set clear limits with their children when shopping. And she says parents should explain where their money comes from to show children the value of working and earning money. Miz Orman also says it is important for parents to show their children how they pay for living expenses such as energy, telephone and water each month. This will help the child understand what it costs to live. And, she suggests teaching young adults about credit¹⁶ cards and the dangers of owing¹⁷ too much money.

Christy Levings has taught elementary school children in the state of Kansas for over thirty years. Her money lessons include teaching students about financial centers like the Federal¹⁸ Reserve Bank in Kansas City. She also helps her students create imaginary¹⁹ businesses. She gives the children an amount of money for wages. She helps them imagine what it would be like to run a business and plan a budget. She also advises her students to have good habits like counting their change when make a purchase.

Christy Levings says many students have asked their teachers questions about the current financial crisis²⁰. She says children hear their parents talk about the failing economy. She says the role of teachers is to be calm and supportive. Miz Levings says teachers are telling students that Americans must make careful choices and help each other during this difficult economic period.

Katy Perry

HOST:

Twenty-three year old singer Katy Perry sings playful and energetic songs about the ups and downs of love. Her album "One of the Boys" has become a hit around the world. This singer from southern California says that all of her songs have a sense of humor²¹ whether they are happy or sad. Barbara Klein has more.

(MUSIC)

BARBARA KLEIN:

That was the hit song "I Kissed a Girl." It is a good example of Katy Perry's smart, funny and often surprising songs. She started her singing career with a much less wild kind of music. The daughter of two religious workers, Katy grew up listening to and singing gospel songs. Her parents did not permit non-religious music.

When Katy Perry was staying at a friend's house, she discovered the music of the English rock group Queen. She says she was greatly influenced by their colorful style and musicality. As a teenager, she began writing her own songs with experts in the music industry. At the age of sixteen she even produced an album of Christian²² music.

Here is her new album's title song, "One of the Boys."

(MUSIC)

Katy Perry is known for her fun clothes. Her clothing is influenced by the styles of the nineteen forties and the bright colors of the nineteen eighties. Many clothing designers have praised her special sense of style. We leave you with the energetic song "Hot N Cold."

(MUSIC)

HOST:

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

It was written by Dana Demange and Caty Weaver²³, who was also the producer. 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 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

3 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

4 dramatic   

adj.引人注目的；戏剧的；演戏的

参考例句：

• She plays a very dramatic woman with flashing eyes.她饰演一位双眼闪光的引人注目的妇人。
• His speech was dramatic.他的演说激动人心。

5 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

6 popularity   

n.普及，流行，名望，受欢迎

参考例句：

• The story had an extensive popularity among American readers.这本小说在美国读者中赢得广泛的声望。
• Our product enjoys popularity throughout the world.我们的产品饮誉全球。

7 representation   

n.表现某人（或某事物）的东西，图画，雕塑

参考例句：

• The painting is a representation of a storm at sea.这幅画描绘的是海上的暴风雨。
• All parties won representation in the national assembly.所有政党在国民大会中都赢得了代表资格。

8 election   

n.选举，选择权；当选

参考例句：

• There is no doubt but that he will win the election.毫无疑问，他将在竞选中获胜。
• The government will probably fall at the coming election.在即将到来的大选中，该政府很可能要垮台。

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 destruction   

n.破坏，毁灭，消灭

参考例句：

• The enemy bombs caused widespread destruction.敌人的炸弹造成大面积的破坏。
• Overconfidence was his destruction.自负是他垮台的原因。

11 rip   

n.拉裂，破绽，激流，浪荡子；vt.撕裂，激昂地说，贬损；vi.裂开，仓促地冲过...

参考例句：

• He had seen the rip in the book.他看到了书里的裂缝。
• I tried not to rip the paper as I unwrapped it.我把纸打开的时候，尽量不把它撕破。

12 approval   

n.赞成，同意；批准，认可

参考例句：

• The audience has expressed its approval.观众已经认可。
• The teacher signed his approval.老师做了手势表示同意。

13 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

14 allowances   

津贴( allowance的名词复数 )； 补助； 1 限额； 定量 2 免税额

参考例句：

• Government officials who travel on business are given traveling allowances. 因公出差的政府官员享有出差补贴。
• The court was asked to make allowances for his age. 人们要求法庭考虑他的年龄。

15 saving   

n.节省，节约；[pl.]储蓄金，存款

参考例句：

• Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
• Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。

16 credit   

n.信用，荣誉，贷款，学分；v.归功于，赞颂，信任

参考例句：

• I credit him with a certain amount of sense.我认为他有一定的见识。
• He got the credit,and we did the dirty work.他得荣誉，我们做不讨好的工作。

17 owing   

adj.应付的，未付的

参考例句：

• He paid what was owing.他付清了所有应付的钱。
• We have several hundred pounds owing on our car.我们的车还欠几百英镑未付清。

18 federal   

adj.联盟的；联邦的；(美国)联邦政府的

参考例句：

• Switzerland is a federal republic.瑞士是一个联邦共和国。
• The schools are screaming for federal aid.那些学校强烈要求联邦政府的援助。

19 imaginary   

adj.想象中的，假想的，虚构的，幻想的；虚数的

参考例句：

• All the characters in this book are imaginary.此书中的所有人物都是虚构的。
• The boy's fears were only imaginary.这小孩的恐惧只是一种想象。

20 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

21 humor   

n.(humour)幽默，诙谐

参考例句：

• He is distinguished for his sense of humor.他以其幽默感著称。
• American humor is founded largely on hyperbole.美式幽默主要以夸张为基础。

22 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

23 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。