VOA常速英语2007-Volunteers Band Together to Help Keep America Be

By Carol Pearson
Washington
11 October 2007
 

One third of the land in the United States belongs to the public.  And once a year Americans get a chance to help make these public lands beautiful and healthy for generations to come. VOA's June Soh visited public gardens in Washington, D.C. on National Public Lands Day in late September. Carol Pearson narrates¹ the story.

In this smelly pond, Karenna Armington cleans up lotus for hours.  It is one of 46 ponds in Kenilworth Aquatic² Gardens along the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. "My husband and I were out here a few weeks ago just to enjoy the day and park. Clearly the place was gorgeous, as it always has [been], but it needed help. I was wondering how they keep all these 40 something ponds from filling up."

Armington participated in National Public Lands Day, the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands that Americans enjoy.

Robb Hampton, the program director, says, "This year we are anticipating over 110,000 volunteers participating at over 1,300 different work sites in all 50 states across the country."

In this 14th annual event, volunteers of all ages and groups got together in parks, forests, rivers and cultural and historic sites to pick up trash, shape and prune³ trees, build trails and much more. 

Michael Clark of Washington, D.C. came out with his wife. "I think as an individual probably [I can make] a little change but with all the people we have here, it seems over 100 people, I think we can make a big difference, make this park grow out more beautiful."

This year the theme for National Public Lands Day was removing invasive plants and species. The U.S. Agriculture Department says the government spends $120 billion a year to control the impact that invasive species have on native lands and wildlife.

Kathleen Bucco is a park ranger⁴ at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. She says volunteers help lower the cost tremendously. "First of all, there is moral support just knowing that the public cares about the parks.  That really matters to us.  And there is also physical support that we are getting things done that might not happen otherwise."

Dan Markley of suburban⁵ Arlington, Virginia says the benefits for participating in the event go beyond making an improvement in the public lands. "The best part about today is seeing diversity come together.  And people from all over -- they have their own stories -- just like I am part of YGL [Young Government Leaders].  These groups are working together, talking together and coming out as a whole." 

After hours of hard work, the volunteers are ready to relax.   They say they will have sore muscles, but there is not a better way to spend a Saturday.  And when they see the beautiful gardens again next spring, it will be great to know that they put something into them

1 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

2 aquatic   

adj.水生的，水栖的

参考例句：

• Aquatic sports include swimming and rowing.水上运动包括游泳和划船。
• We visited an aquatic city in Italy.我们在意大利访问过一个水上城市。

3 prune   

n.酶干；vt.修剪，砍掉，削减；vi.删除

参考例句：

• Will you prune away the unnecessary adjectives in the passage?把这段文字中不必要的形容词删去好吗？
• It is our job to prune the side branches of these trees.我们的工作就是修剪这些树的侧枝。

4 ranger   

n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员

参考例句：

• He was the head ranger of the national park.他曾是国家公园的首席看守员。
• He loved working as a ranger.他喜欢做护林人。

5 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。