VOA慢速英语2015 巴拉圭的孩子用废品制作乐器

AS IT IS 2015-03-28 Paraguayan Children Make Music with Trash 巴拉圭的孩子用废品制作乐器

Last week, musicians from around the world gathered in Texas for the South by Southwest film and music festival. Perhaps the most unusual performers¹ at the event were a group of teenagers from Paraguay. Their musical instruments were made of trash – objects that had been thrown away. The body of a cello², for example, is made from an old oil can. The neck of the cello is a piece of old wood. In fact, every instrument these young musicians use comes from recycled trash.

The performers come from a poor neighborhood in Cateura, Paraguay. The neighborhood is near a garbage dump³, or landfill.

Sixteen-year-old Ada Rios has been playing violin for four years.

“When I entered the music school, the instrument that I liked the most was the violin and I have never been sorry for choosing it.”

Music teacher Favio Chavez thought of the idea for the group several years ago. With help from the community and money from outsiders, he started the Recycled Instrument Orchestra⁴ of Cateura.

The orchestra plays many kinds of music. But Mr. Chavez says classical⁵ music is the most important because it requires musicians to work hard and follow rules.

“It is a value that is fundamental⁶. Without discipline⁷ it is very difficult to play classical music.”

Alejandra Amarilla is a Paraguayan who lives in the United⁸ States. She made a documentary⁹ film about the orchestra. The film, called “Landfill Harmonic,” played at the South by Southwest festival.

“Unfortunately, these children live in a community near the landfill. That is their reality. But through music they are transcending¹⁰ their own environment. They are traveling, they are getting education.”

To get the money to finish the film, producers put a short video or “teaser” of the orchestra on the Internet. The online teaser helped raise money for the film and the orchestra.

“After the teaser came out, a lot of people came through and donated¹² from all over the world…donated instruments for them. So now they do have some formal instruments, but they keep playing with the recycled instruments because it is sort of their message to the world.”

She says the film and the young musicians show the power of human determination to get past difficulties¹³.

“Out of a need, they created something beautiful.”

The “Landfill Orchestra" won an audience response award at the South by Southwest festival.

Words in the Story

landfill – n. an area where waste is buried under the ground

fundamental – n. forming or relating to the most important part of something

discipline – n. control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior

donate¹¹ – v. to give (money, food or clothes) in order to help a person or organization

determination – n. a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult

1 performers   

n.演出者( performer的名词复数 )；演奏者；表演者；履行者

参考例句：

• The boss kissed the other performers off as mere amateurs. 老板认为其他的演员只有业余水平而把他们打发掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They manage to sign up all the best performers. 他们设法跟所有最佳演员签订合同。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 cello   

n.大提琴

参考例句：

• The cello is a member of the violin family.大提琴是提琴家族的一员。
• She plays a melodious cello.她拉着一手悦耳的大提琴。

3 dump   

n.垃圾场；v.倾卸，切断电源，倾倒

参考例句：

• Where can I dump this rubbish?我将这些垃圾倒在什么地方？
• They wheeled the rubbish out to the dump.他们把垃圾用车运到垃圾场去。

4 orchestra   

n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购

参考例句：

• He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
• I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。

5 classical   

adj.古典的；古典文学的；正统派的；古典主义的

参考例句：

• This classical poem is hard to understand.这首古诗很费解。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

6 fundamental   

adj.基本的，主要的；基本原则，基本法则

参考例句：

• The fundamental way out for agriculture lies in mechanization.农业的根本出路在于机械化。
• Fresh air is fundamental to good health.新鲜空气对健康是不可缺少的。

7 discipline   

n.纪律，风纪，训练，训诫；教养，修养，学科

参考例句：

• She needs the discipline of having to write an essay every week.她需要进行每周写一篇文章的训练。
• Everyone should keep discipline and you are no exception.每个人都应该遵守纪律,你也毫无例外。

8 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

9 documentary   

adj.文献的；n.纪录片

参考例句：

• This case lacked documentary proof.本案缺少书面证据。
• I watched a documentary on the Civil War.我看了一部关于内战的纪录片。

10 transcending   

超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的现在分词 )； 优于或胜过…

参考例句：

• She felt herself transcending time and space. 她感到自己正在穿越时空。
• It'serves as a skeptical critic of the self-transcending element. 它对于超越自身因素起着一个怀疑论批评家的作用。

11 donate   

v.捐赠，赠予

参考例句：

• They used to donate to the Red Cross every year.他们每年捐钱给红十字会。
• She is willing to donate money to a worthy cause.她愿为高尚的事业捐款。

12 donated   

v.（尤指向慈善机构）捐赠( donate的过去式和过去分词 )；献（血）；捐（血）；捐献（器官）

参考例句：

• The money was donated by a local businessman who wishes to remain anonymous . 这笔款子是当地一位不愿透露姓名的企业家捐赠的。
• He donated thousands of pounds to charity. 他向慈善事业捐款数千英镑。

13 difficulties   

n.困难( difficulty的名词复数 )；难度；难事；麻烦

参考例句：

• I am acutely aware of the difficulties we face. 我十分清楚我们面临的困难。
• the difficulties of English syntax 英语句法的难点