voa标准英语2008年-Americans Find More Reasons to Celebrate Cranbe

There are only three fruits which are completely native to North America: blueberries, Concord¹ grapes and cranberries². Cranberries, which are harvested in the fall, have a special place in American tradition as a celebration food of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Erika Celeste reports from Wareham, Massachusetts, site of the largest cranberry³ farm in the world.
　

A grower wearing waders sloshes through a flooded cranberry bog4

While the tradition of American Thanksgiving dates back more than 380 years, there is a new Thanksgiving tradition in Massachusetts. It's celebrating the cranberry harvest.

For the past five years, people from all over the United States and around the world have been coming to the nation's largest and oldest cranberry farm, A.D. Makepeace, to watch the harvest.

"People love to come out and see the crystal-blue water and crimson-red fruit floating on top of it," says Jeff LaFleur, executive director of the Cranberry Growers Association. "I think it is one of the most picturesque⁵ harvests in all of American agriculture."

Fall harvest draws crowds to cranberry farms
　

Water reels churn up the water and knock the berries off the vines

The cranberry vines, twisting together in specially⁶ constructed lowlands, have disappeared under knee-deep water. On a sunny day, with blue skies overhead, the flooded field looks like a new box of crayons. Bright green and yellow harvesters glide⁷ through the bog, and millions of tiny red berries pop to the surface, creating a kaleidoscope of rich colors.

Mike Hogan, executive director of A.D. Makepeace, says the harvest is his favorite time of year.

"We flood the bogs⁸ that they grow on, and then we use specialized⁹ equipment to beat the fruit off the vines," he explains. "They have little seeds inside and air pockets. Those air pockets allow them to float when we pick them on the water. And that makes it easier for us to harvest them."
　

During the Cranberry Festival, visitors can walk to the edge of the soft, marshy10 bog to see the floating berries up close

He says there is a lot of hard work to do the rest of the year to manage pests and help strengthen root systems.

During the A.D. Makepeace harvest celebration, visitors enjoy food, games and entertainment near the farmhouse-like offices, then take a bus ride out to the cranberry bogs. Once there, they can walk down to the water's edge to see the berries up close, climb a platform for a higher perspective, or even take a helicopter ride for a true overview¹¹ of the harvest.

A tangy addition to the diet
　

The cranberry got its English name for the blossom's resemblance to a crane's head and beak12, but the Native Americans named it for its taste, calling the fruit 'ibimi,' or bitter berry

Cranberries were introduced to the European pilgrims by Native Americans. LaFleur explains that because the colonists¹³ had never seen anything like them, they relied on what they knew to name them.

"They thought the flower blossoms of the cranberry resembled the head of the crane, so they began calling them 'craneberry.' Eventually, it lost its 'e' and became cranberry," LaFleur says.

However you spell it, Hogan says there's just nothing like a good cranberry.

"They are tart¹⁴ and tangy, especially when they are ripe," he says. "Very few people will eat them without some additional seasoning¹⁵ or sugar."

The majority of A.D. Makepeace's cranberries are used for Craisins, a sweetened, dried snack similar to raisins¹⁶, as well as sauce and juice.
　

The Ocean Spray cooperative of 600 growers was started more than 75 years ago by three farmers from Massachusetts and New Jersey17

The company is one of 600 cranberry growers across Canada and the United States that are part of the Ocean Spray cooperative, the largest distributor of cranberry products in the world. The growers are all in the northern part of North America.

"There must be a certain number of degree days that are warm enough to support the plant and the berry, but cool enough nights," Hogan says. "The cool nights are what give the berries their red color as well as some of the sugar content and the crisp taste."

There are many varieties and sizes of cranberries these days, from the old-fashioned, pea-sized fruit, all the way up to new hybrids¹⁸ the size of seedless grapes. The century-old vines in the Makepeace bogs produce the traditional small berries with which Americans are most familiar.

Nutritional¹⁹ benefits add to cranberry's appeal

For years, when Americans thought of cranberries, they associated the fruit with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. And they still do. In fact, the average American family buys one bag of cranberries for each holiday meal. That is about 35 million bags or 15,000 tractor-trailers full. In addition to spicing up the meal, the berries also add a festive²¹ touch to traditional holiday garlands to drape around the Christmas tree.
　

Antioxidants in cranberries may help prevent heart disease and certain cancers

But today, cranberries are a year-round fruit. Over the past decade, researchers have discovered that they are high in antioxidants, which may play a role in helping²² to prevent heart disease and certain cancers. The finding is definitely playing a role in helping the cranberry industry

"There's a whole rapidly growing business in what's called nutraceuticals, using oils and powders and resins²³ from cranberries because of the health benefits for things like cosmetics²⁴, sports drinks, sports energy bars, and in parts of Asia, it's also used as a nutrition supplement," Hogan says.

The little red berries have been shown to have many other benefits for the body. LaFleur points to their anti-adhesion properties.
　

The Cranberry Institute is conducting research on the fruit's anti-aging properties

"Cranberries have been so beneficial for urinary tract²⁰ infection prevention because, frankly²⁵, it just prevents bad bugs²⁶ from sticking, if you will," he says. "Its anti-adhesion properties really give it some powerful anti-cancer properties, periodontal benefits, so it's got a lot of different benefits that are just starting to be promoted throughout the industry."

In an effort to identify even more health benefits, the Cranberry Institute is conducting research on the fruit's anti-aging properties, which may help protect the brain from neurological damage and subsequent loss of cognitive²⁷ and motor skills.

So while the cranberry is a big part of the American Thanksgiving, it may very well give people around the world a reason to give thanks as well - for their health.

1 concord   

n.和谐；协调

参考例句：

• These states had lived in concord for centuries.这些国家几个世纪以来一直和睦相处。
• His speech did nothing for racial concord.他的讲话对种族和谐没有作用。

2 cranberries   

n.越橘( cranberry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The tart flavour of the cranberries adds piquancy. 越橘的酸味很可口。
• Look at the fresh cranberries. 你看这些新鲜的蔓越橘。 来自无师自通 校园英语会话

3 cranberry   

n.梅果

参考例句：

• Turkey reminds me of cranberry sauce.火鸡让我想起梅果酱。
• Actually I prefer canned cranberry sauce.事实上我更喜欢罐装的梅果酱。

4 bog   

n.沼泽；室...陷入泥淖

参考例句：

• We were able to pass him a rope before the bog sucked him under.我们终于得以在沼泽把他吞没前把绳子扔给他。
• The path goes across an area of bog.这条小路穿过一片沼泽。

5 picturesque   

adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的

参考例句：

• You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
• That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。

6 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

7 glide   

n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝

参考例句：

• We stood in silence watching the snake glide effortlessly.我们噤若寒蝉地站着，眼看那条蛇逍遥自在地游来游去。
• So graceful was the ballerina that she just seemed to glide.那芭蕾舞女演员翩跹起舞，宛如滑翔。

8 bogs   

n.沼泽，泥塘( bog的名词复数 )；厕所v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的第三人称单数 )；妨碍，阻碍

参考例句：

• Whenever It'shows its true nature, real life bogs to a standstill. 无论何时，只要它显示出它的本来面目，真正的生活就陷入停滞。 来自名作英译部分
• At Jitra we went wading through bogs. 在日得拉我们步行着从泥水塘里穿过去。 来自辞典例句

9 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

10 marshy   

adj.沼泽的

参考例句：

• In August 1935,we began our march across the marshy grassland. 1935年8月，我们开始过草地。
• The surrounding land is low and marshy. 周围的地低洼而多沼泽。

11 overview   

n.概观，概述

参考例句：

• The opening chapter gives a brief historical overview of transport.第一章是运输史的简要回顾。
• The seminar aims to provide an overview on new media publishing.研讨会旨在综览新兴的媒体出版。

12 beak   

n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻

参考例句：

• The bird had a worm in its beak.鸟儿嘴里叼着一条虫。
• This bird employs its beak as a weapon.这种鸟用嘴作武器。

13 colonists   

n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Colonists from Europe populated many parts of the Americas. 欧洲的殖民者移居到了美洲的许多地方。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Some of the early colonists were cruel to the native population. 有些早期移居殖民地的人对当地居民很残忍。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 tart   

adj.酸的；尖酸的，刻薄的；n.果馅饼；淫妇

参考例句：

• She was learning how to make a fruit tart in class.她正在课上学习如何制作水果馅饼。
• She replied in her usual tart and offhand way.她开口回答了，用她平常那种尖酸刻薄的声调随口说道。

15 seasoning   

n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物

参考例句：

• Salt is the most common seasoning.盐是最常用的调味品。
• This sauce uses mushroom as its seasoning.这酱油用蘑菇作调料。

16 raisins   

n.葡萄干( raisin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These raisins come from Xinjiang,they taste delicious. 这些葡萄干产自新疆，味道很甜。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mother put some raisins in the cake. 母亲在糕饼中放了一些葡萄干。 来自辞典例句

17 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。

18 hybrids   

n.杂交生成的生物体( hybrid的名词复数 )；杂交植物（或动物）；杂种；（不同事物的）混合物

参考例句：

• All these brightly coloured hybrids are so lovely in the garden. 花园里所有这些色彩鲜艳的杂交花真美丽。 来自辞典例句
• The notion that interspecific hybrids are rare is ill-founded. 有一种看法认为种间杂种是罕见的，这种看法是无根据的。 来自辞典例句

19 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

20 tract   

n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林)

参考例句：

• He owns a large tract of forest.他拥有一大片森林。
• He wrote a tract on this subject.他曾对此写了一篇短文。

21 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

22 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

23 resins   

n.树脂，松香( resin的名词复数 )；合成树脂v.树脂，松香( resin的第三人称单数 )；合成树脂

参考例句：

• The resins were used to turn out millions of helmet liners. 用这类树脂生产了成百万只钢盔内衬。 来自辞典例句
• Cheapness is one of the main attractions of polyester resins. 廉价是聚酯树脂受到欢迎的主要原因之一。 来自辞典例句

24 cosmetics   

n.化妆品

参考例句：

• We sell a wide range of cosmetics at a very reasonable price. 我们以公道的价格出售各种化妆品。
• Cosmetics do not always cover up the deficiencies of nature. 化妆品未能掩饰天生的缺陷。

25 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

26 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。