VOA标准英语2010年-As the Sign Says: 'Keep Yelling, Kids,

After the billboard¹ build-up, what choice do parents have?

Ted² Landphair | Washington, DC 02 August 2010

Fireworks, purchased at Fort Pedro, are a big seller.

If you say south of the border to an older American, he or she is likely to break into song: South of the border, down Mexico way, from a tune³ that cowboy singer Gene⁴ Autry made famous.

But these days, more people would recognize, South of the Border, down South Carolina way.

Beginning in far-off Virginia to the north, and Florida to the south, one sees gaudy⁵, but clever, billboards⁶ along the highway.

Carol M. Highsmith
You see lots of Pedros inside the shopping complex, including this fellow, who looks like he has some Irish as well as Mexican heritage.

On them, a Mexican-looking character named Pedro piques⁷ your interest with messages such as, WHEN YOU'RE HOT, YOU'RE HOT!  SOUTH OF THE BORDER. 

As you approach the tiny town of Dillon in South Carolina, the yellow and red billboards come fast and furious.  So many that you just about HAVE to stop and see what the fuss is about. 

Turns out, South of the Border is a giant . . . not theme park, though there are a few rides like the Sombrero . . . but a gigantic, Mexican-theme shopping complex without a lot of Mexican music or Mexican merchandise. 

Carol M. Highsmith
More than 60 years ago, this kitschy shopping oasis⁸ called, South of the Border, opened in South Carolina.

There's a restaurant, a 24-hour pharmacy⁹ called El Drug Store, a fireworks stand, and a miniature golf course called Golf of Mexico.

More than 60 years ago, an enterprising fellow named Alan Schafer went to Mexico, bought a lot of cheap merchandise, brought it home and set up sales stands at his motel and drive-in restaurant. He named this kitschy shopping oasis South of the Border.

There today, visitors load up on food and drink, trinkets like a seashell turtle wearing a sombrero, T-shirts and other souvenirs, and maybe a plastic flamingo¹⁰ lawn ornament¹¹. 

And no matter the weather, they get the same forecast from Pedro: CHILI¹² TODAY.  HOT TAMALE.
 

1 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

2 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

3 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

4 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

5 gaudy   

adj.华而不实的；俗丽的

参考例句：

• She was tricked out in gaudy dress.她穿得华丽而俗气。
• The gaudy butterfly is sure that the flowers owe thanks to him.浮华的蝴蝶却相信花是应该向它道谢的。

6 billboards   

n.广告牌( billboard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Large billboards have disfigured the scenery. 大型告示板已破坏了景色。 来自辞典例句
• Then, put the logo in magazines and on billboards without telling anyone what it means. 接着我们把这个商标刊在杂志和广告看板上，却不跟任何人透漏它的涵意。 来自常春藤生活英语杂志-2006年4月号

7 piques   

v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的第三人称单数 )；激起（好奇心）

参考例句：

• I understand practically everything, except one thing that piques my curiosity. 实际上，我什么都了解，只有一点除外，而且引起了我的好奇心。 来自飘（部分）
• He piques himself on having a good memory. 他常夸耀自己记性好。 来自辞典例句

8 oasis   

n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方

参考例句：

• They stopped for the night at an oasis.他们在沙漠中的绿洲停下来过夜。
• The town was an oasis of prosperity in a desert of poverty.该镇是贫穷荒漠中的一块繁荣的“绿洲”。

9 pharmacy   

n.药房，药剂学，制药业，配药业，一批备用药品

参考例句：

• She works at the pharmacy.她在药房工作。
• Modern pharmacy has solved the problem of sleeplessness.现代制药学已经解决了失眠问题。

10 flamingo   

n.红鹳，火烈鸟

参考例句：

• This is the only species of flamingo in the region,easily recognized by its pink plumage.这是那个地区唯一一种火烈鸟，很容易凭粉红色的羽毛辨认出来。
• In my family,I am flamingo in the flock of pigeons.在家里，我就像一只被困在鸽笼里的火烈鸟。

11 ornament   

v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物

参考例句：

• The flowers were put on the table for ornament.花放在桌子上做装饰用。
• She wears a crystal ornament on her chest.她的前胸戴了一个水晶饰品。

12 chili   

n.辣椒

参考例句：

• He helped himself to another two small spoonfuls of chili oil.他自己下手又加了两小勺辣椒油。
• It has chocolate,chili,and other spices.有巧克力粉，辣椒，和其他的调味品。