VOA慢速英语2020--美国各地夜间燃放烟花引起公众关注

Most Americans welcome a fireworks show on July 4th, the nation's Independence Day. Many also enjoy them on New Year's Day and in private celebrations.

As a nightly event, however, the explosions are not so well received.

But that is exactly what Americans in many cities across the country have reported experiencing over the last several weeks. Some people are angry about the fireworks and want them to stop. Some want to know who is responsible and want them to stop. Some people are afraid of what the nightly explosions might mean and want them to stop.

Julie Heckman is wondering, herself. She leads the American Pyrotechnics Association, a fireworks industry trade group.

Her industry had high hopes for 2020. Then came the Covid-19 crisis with its closures and cancellations. That had people who sell fireworks worried that sales would be low.

Those fears, however, have gone up in smoke.

"Sales are off the hook right now," Heckman said. She added that the industry is concerned about reports of fireworks use in cities where it violates local laws.

New York City is an example. And the city's mayor Bill de Blasio has set up a task force to deal with the illegal activity.

New Yorkers were among the first in the country to report the late night noise. Many are losing sleep. One child was reported injured by an explosion this week.

"This is a real problem. It is not just a quality-of-life problem and a noise problem," de Blasio said.

The task force will carry out operations to try to stop the sales of the explosives. The group is made up of police, firefighters and the Sheriff's Bureau of Criminal Investigation¹.

Other officials express similar concern.

New Jersey² Governor Phil Murphy said there are too many reports of fireworks being set off across the state.

"This is no way to blow off steam," he told reporters recently in Trenton, the capital.

Officials in Oakland, California, said they have received more complaints of illegal fireworks and reports of celebratory gunfire than usual this year. At least five fires have been linked to fireworks since late May, officials said.

And in Denver, Colorado, police seized 1,360 kilograms of illegal fireworks during a traffic stop.

There are many different opinions about why fireworks have gotten so popular.

Some social media users are posting messages that blame the government. Some of them suggest the police are setting off fireworks to intimidate³ people protesting police violence around the country.

"My neighbors and I believe that this is part of a coordinated⁴ attack on Black and Brown communities by government forces," said writer Robert Jones Jr. in a Twitter post. His recent posts on fireworks have been retweeted thousands of times.

A video captured in New York appears to show fire department workers setting off the explosives outside their station.

Pyrotechnics expert and company owner Mike Tockstein has a different explanation.

"Fireworks are used across the entire country for a full month leading up to the Fourth of July," he said. "There is a slight uptick, but I don't think it's anything more than people are stuck at home and hey, look, fireworks are available."

No matter who is responsible, the noisy light shows could last for some time. Many seasonal⁵ stores only opened this week. Tockstein predicts people will continue to buy fireworks in the days leading up to July 4th.

I'm Caty Weaver⁶.

Words in This Story

gone up in smoke –idiom to be destroyed by, or as if by, burning

off the hook –idiom without restraint or reserve

blow off steam –idiom to calm down and get rid of energy or anger by doing something active

complaint –n. an official report of someone has done something wrong

intimidate –v. to make (someone) afraid

coordinated –adj. organized well by a group

1 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

2 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。

3 intimidate   

vt.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• You think you can intimidate people into doing what you want?你以为你可以威胁别人做任何事？
• The first strike capacity is intended mainly to intimidate adversary.第一次攻击的武力主要是用来吓阻敌方的。

4 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

5 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

6 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。