DEVELOPMENT REPORT - Public Service Web Site

DEVELOPMENT REPORT - Public Service Web Site
By Jill Moss¹

Broadcast: Monday, November 08, 2004

This is Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Development Report.

The Internet is a system of electronic computer communication. It helps people share information, communicate with family and friends, and start businesses. One popular Web site that whole communities can use is craigslist.org. It helps people find the goods or services they need. For example, if I want to sell my car, I can put a message on Craigslist. Or if I want a new job, I can search the employment² area on the Web site. People use Craigslist to start community groups or to provide services. They can find new friends or search for a place to live. There are many uses for this kind of Web site.

Craig Newmark started Craigslist in nineteen ninety-five. He had just moved to San Francisco, California. He was sending his friends information about parties and other events. He says interest in the Web site increased. Almost ten years later, Craigslist exists in forty-eight cities in the United States, and nine cities in four other countries. Putting information on the site is free. However, companies listing job openings and housing³ announcements in some cities have to pay a small cost.

Mister⁴ Newmark says it is easy to create a Craigslist for any city in the world. However, two questions must be answered first. Is an English language Web site temporarily acceptable⁵? And, does the community truly want it? Mister Newmark says people have to ask to set up a Craigslist in their community. His company keeps a record of the number of requests. If enough community interest develops, his company will create the site. In time, Mister Newmark says he hopes to offer Craigslist in many languages.

Mister Newmark describes his Web site as a public service. He says it is owned and shared by everyone. Mister Newmark says the Web site is operated on traditional American values. He believes people around the world share these same values. He says Craigslist is about trying to help other people. And, he says his company urges users⁶ to honor⁷ the shared interests of the community. It urges users to follow moral⁸ traditions, be honest, do not steal and do the right thing.

To learn more about Craigslist, visit the company Web site at www.craigslist.org. Craigslist is one word: craigslist.

This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss. This is Gwen Outen.

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 employment   

n.雇用；使用；工作，职业

参考例句：

• A large office requires the employment of many people.一个大办事处需要雇用好多人员。
• The state of employment in this city is improving.这个城市就业状况正在改善。

3 housing   

n.房屋，住宅；住房建筑；外壳，外罩

参考例句：

• Do you think our housing sales will turn around during this year?你认为今年我们的住宅销路会好转吗？
• The housing sales have been turning down since the summer.入夏以来，房屋的销售量日趋减少。

4 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

5 acceptable   

adj.可接受的，合意的，受欢迎的

参考例句：

• The terms of the contract are acceptable to us.我们认为这个合同的条件可以接受。
• Air pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable levels.这座城市的空气污染程度曾高达可接受标准的四倍。

6 users   

用户，使用者( user的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
• Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。

7 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

8 moral   

adj.道德(上)的，有道德的；n.品行，寓意，道德

参考例句：

• Moral beauty ought to be ranked above all other beauty.品德之美应列于其他美之上。
• He deceived us into believing that he could give us moral support.他骗得我们相信他能给我们道义上的支持。