VOA标准英语2011--Americans Prepare to Celebrate Valentine’

February 14 is Valentine's Day in the United States, a special time set aside for lovers and spouses¹ to say, "I love you," often with flowers, chocolates and a romantic meal. And while love is universal, just what makes any one of us of feel cherished can be highly personal.
Even in the icy depths of a New York winter, love continues to burn hot and glow deep for China and Freddy, who are at the Marriage Bureau waiting to get the license² to say, "I do."
"He makes me feel like a princess all the time," says China with a grin. "He is the boy of my dreams."
Freddy looks into China's eyes. "She is my best friend, my psychiatrist³ and my lover, all in one. I can talk to her about anything."
A young man named Leon says he feels loved when he and his wife can remain respectful even when they disagree. "She won't leave during an argument, or on bad terms. We always work it out. She sticks with me through thick and thin."
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Aarwin and Geneva feel they complement⁴ each other.
Geneva is attracted by her fiancé's character. "He's just very patient with me, and that's what I'm really grateful for. I can be really ‘Type A' [driven] personality. I think I picked the right person to marry."
For his part, Aarwin appreciates Geneva's acts of kindness. "It kind of makes me a little more caring, making me more thoughtful about people."?
Aarwin adds that the little things also make a big difference. "I don't know how to iron that well and so every morning, even though she could be late for work, she takes her time and irons the shirts for me." Aarwin gets special pleasure from the fact that the shirt is still warm when he puts it on.
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Hasson and Nicole show off their wedding rings.
For Hasson and Nicole, it's also everyday kindness that makes them feel warmest. "She cooks for me, she feeds my dogs when I'm not there, and she knows how to pick my clothes better than I do." He laces his hand in hers. "It's an assortment⁵ of things."
It is the train ride into the city today that is uppermost in Nicole's mind. "I was tired and I was laying my head on his shoulder, and all of a sudden he just came over kissed me on my lips. That was sweet. He's always caring. He's there for the kids. He makes me feel appreciated. He always tells me, ‘Thank you, baby.'"
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Tyrene's fiancé, Calien (left), does special things that can make any day feel like Valentine's Day.
Tyrene's fiancé, Calien, does things that can make any day feel like Valentine's Day. "He buys me flowers randomly⁶ and he gives me foot massages⁷."
Calien says she often returns the gesture, giving him neck rubs, along with a nice warm dinner when he comes home tired.?
A combination of nurturing⁸ and good-natured teasing keeps Ty and Elena in the love game.
"He brings me coffee in the morning to my bed," Elena says. "I wake up with his kisses and the coffee." She also likes to imitate him when he's impatient.
"She does a fantastic job," admits Ty with a laugh, adding with a happy shrug⁹, "She makes me feel young at heart, and I'm just in love with her."
Just married! Ty and Elena kiss minutes after saying their vows¹⁰. He is holding their wedding license.
For Magnus and Monica, who are visiting New York from Denmark, love shines bright when the heart feels heavy. "Sometimes if I feel a bit sad, Magnus will come into the room and put on a special song and does a little dance and a little mime¹¹. That really makes me happy always""
Magnus says that Monica also cheers him with little dances, but she also employs other powerfully effective - if less athletic¹² – methods. "Every time she just looks at me with her big beautiful eyes and I am just like in heaven."
Heartfelt kisses ensue.

1 spouses   

n.配偶，夫或妻( spouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Jobs are available for spouses on campus and in the community. 校园里和社区里有配偶可做的工作。 来自辞典例句
• An astonishing number of spouses-most particularly in the upper-income brackets-have no close notion of their husbands'paychecks. 相当大一部分妇女——特别在高收入阶层——并不很了解他们丈夫的薪金。 来自辞典例句

2 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

3 psychiatrist   

n.精神病专家；精神病医师

参考例句：

• He went to a psychiatrist about his compulsive gambling.他去看精神科医生治疗不能自拔的赌瘾。
• The psychiatrist corrected him gently.精神病医师彬彬有礼地纠正他。

4 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

5 assortment   

n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集

参考例句：

• This shop has a good assortment of goods to choose from.该店各色货物俱全，任君选择。
• She was wearing an odd assortment of clothes.她穿着奇装异服。

6 randomly   

adv.随便地，未加计划地

参考例句：

• Within the hot gas chamber, molecules are moving randomly in all directions. 在灼热的气体燃烧室内，分子在各个方向上作无规运动。 来自辞典例句
• Transformed cells are loosely attached, rounded and randomly oriented. 转化细胞则不大贴壁、圆缩并呈杂乱分布。 来自辞典例句

7 massages   

按摩，推拿( massage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At present the doctor is giving him daily massages to help restore the function of his limbs. 目前医生每天在给他按摩，帮助他恢复腿臂的功能。
• His father massages his nose and chin. 他爸爸揉了揉鼻子和下巴。

8 nurturing   

养育( nurture的现在分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长

参考例句：

• These delicate plants need careful nurturing. 这些幼嫩的植物需要精心培育。
• The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants. 这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。

9 shrug   

v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等)

参考例句：

• With a shrug,he went out of the room.他耸一下肩，走出了房间。
• I admire the way she is able to shrug off unfair criticism.我很佩服她能对错误的批评意见不予理会。

10 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。

11 mime   

n.指手画脚，做手势，哑剧演员，哑剧；vi./vt.指手画脚的表演，用哑剧的形式表演

参考例句：

• Several French mime artists will give some lectures this afternoon.几位法国哑剧表演艺术家将在今天下午做几场讲座。
• I couldn't speak Chinese,but I showed in mime that I wanted a drink.我不会讲汉语，但我作摹拟动作表示要一杯饮料。

12 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。