VOA标准英语2011--A Dinner Where Turkeys Are Guests, Not Entrees

A Dinner Where Turkeys Are Guests, Not Entrees¹

 

Thanksgiving in the United States is a holiday that emphasizes roast turkey as the traditional meal. The National Turkey Federation² reports that more than 45 million of the birds meet their doom³ in November. But at one farm, the turkeys are not the main course - instead, they're the guests of honor.

It’s morning at the Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary⁴, and everyone is just waking up. Volunteers gather around the table and prepare a traditional, Thanksgiving feast⁵.

But… with a twist.

"So many millions of turkeys are killed at Thanksgiving for normal celebrations that people do. The turkeys here are all rescued, and we wanted them to be the guests of honor," said Terry Cummings.

Americans typically serve turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner… but today, the turkeys get a seat at the table… instead of on it.

For the past 14 years, Cummings and her husband have hosted "Thanksgiving with the Turkeys."

"We want to promote compassion⁶ for all animals... and we want to try to show people that there's another way that they can celebrate Thanksgiving without killing⁷ animals.

They got full tables with all different foods that they like. Most of the birds - chickens and turkeys - like fruit of almost any kind. And tofu… that was kind of accidental," she said.

After the birds get their feast… the humans get one, too. They call it the world’s largest, vegan potluck, and more than 800 people turned out this year to share and sample food prepared by other guests.

People were pretty excited about it, because it's an interesting event; it’s not a traditional thing. It feels really good to be a part of something like this and to see so many people being so supportive of the animals and caring about the animals and wanting to teach their children to be compassionate⁸ towards animals. I was a meat eater for 30 years. I didn’t think about the animals. Even though I loved the animals, I didn’t make the connection between the animals that were on my plate and the animals that I supposedly loved," Cummings said.

Cummings says the goal is to show turkeys in a positive light… and to get people to think more about what’s on their tables… and on their plates.

1 entrees   

n.入场权( entree的名词复数 )；主菜

参考例句：

• Can I also take you order for your entrees now? 现在要不要也点主菜？ 来自互联网
• Before the entrees are served, the waiter first serves four cold dishes. 在正菜上桌之前，服务员先上了四个凉碟。 来自互联网

2 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

3 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

4 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

5 feast   

n.盛宴，筵席，节日

参考例句：

• After the feast she spent a week dieting to salve her conscience.大吃了一顿之后，她花了一周时间节食以安慰自己。
• You shouldn't have troubled yourself to prepare such a feast!你不该准备这样丰盛的饭菜，这样太麻烦你了！

6 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。