2007年VOA标准英语-Iowa State Fair Mixes Pleasure, Competition

By Jeffrey Young
Des Moines, Iowa
17 August 2007
 

Every August, the Midwestern U.S. state of Iowa holds a 10-day-long fair that celebrates agriculture and everything else Iowa has to offer.  VOA's Jeffrey Young takes you to the Iowa State Fair.

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Carnival rides are one of the many enjoyable parts of the annual Iowa State Fair

Pulsing neon.  Live entertainment.  The aroma² of foods.  And the centerpiece is fierce competition among championship livestock³.

"It's the Iowa State Fair!" declares a group of happy fair-goers.

Every August, more than a million people come to the fair from all over the Midwest. For many of them, it is their annual holiday. And everyone is having fun together.

"We have people from all walks of life,” says John Thompson of Webster City, Iowa. “There are people that can hardly pay their rent, and they're walking beside people that are worth millions of dollars. And you can't tell the difference, for everyone has got [is wearing] blue jeans."

About a million people attend the fair over a 10-day period each summer

The Iowa State Fair began in 1854, when Iowa had only been a state for six years. The fairgrounds are huge -- nearly 65 hectares. There is something going on in every square meter.  And best of all, there is the camaraderie⁴ of friends from all over.

"Lots of times, you see people you only see once a year here. So you hang out [enjoy their company] with them. You just catch up on old news. It's a good time," says a repeat visitor.

Agriculture is the centerpiece. People bring their cattle, sheep and other farm animals to show them off and hopefully come home with a prize proving theirs are the best in Iowa.

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Jordanne Blair is participating in equestrian events this year

"This is a show horse, so I compete on him,” says Jordanne Blair from Lake City, Iowa. “I ride in a ring with numerous⁶ other riders. It's a thrill. It's just so much fun. You're on this thousand pound animal controlling him in front of a judge."

And on the entertainment stage, the acts range all the way to the wild and silly. But it's all great fun! And you can take some of it home to remember your fling⁷ at the fair.

And it keeps going until midnight: the rides whizzing about, the midway attractions and food stands pulling in the crowds.  And there's always something fun for people to watch and do at the Iowa State Fair.

1 carnival   

n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演

参考例句：

• I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
• Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

2 aroma   

n.香气，芬芳，芳香

参考例句：

• The whole house was filled with the aroma of coffee.满屋子都是咖啡的香味。
• The air was heavy with the aroma of the paddy fields.稻花飘香。

3 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

4 camaraderie   

n.同志之爱，友情

参考例句：

• The camaraderie among fellow employees made the tedious work just bearable.同事之间的情谊使枯燥乏味的工作变得还能忍受。
• Some bosses are formal and have occasional interactions,while others prefer continual camaraderie.有些老板很刻板，偶尔才和下属互动一下；有些则喜欢和下属打成一片。

5 equestrian   

adj.骑马的；n.马术

参考例句：

• They all showed extraordinary equestrian skills.他们的骑术都很高超。
• I want to book two equestrian tickets.我想订两张马术比赛的票。

6 numerous   

adj.为数众多的；极多的

参考例句：

• There have been numerous exchanges of views between the two governments.两国政府间曾多次交换意见。
• There are numerous people in the square. 有许多人在广场上。

7 fling   

vt.用力扔，使投身；n.尽情欢乐的一阵

参考例句：

• I really must fling out all these old newspapers.我真的该把这些旧报纸扔掉了。
• It's good to fling off heavy clothing now that spring is here.春天到了，脱去笨重的冬装真让人高兴。