英语听力—环球英语 1173 Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

 　　Voice 1

 

　　Welcome to Spotlight¹. I’m Liz Waid.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　And I’m Ryan Geertsma. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.

 

　　“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor, would you be mine, could you be mine? It’s a neighborly day in this beauty-wood, a neighborly day for a beauty, would you be mine . . .”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　This is a voice that many people from the United² States, of all ages, will recognize. It is a voice that adults will remember from when they were children. This voice belongs to a man named Fred McFeely Rogers. But many people will know him instead as Mister³ Rogers. Mister Rogers was a popular person in the United States. Many people there felt like they were friends with Mister Rogers even if they had never met him. People will remember him from a special television show they watched as children. But what made this man so special? Mister Rogers was a friend to children. Today’s Spotlight is on Mister Rogers.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Fred Rogers was born in 1928. As a child he had a great interest in stories. He often played with puppets⁴. These are cloth toys that look like people. He used the puppets to act out imaginative⁵ stories.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Fred also loved music very much. He learned⁶ to play the piano when he was very young. He said that he used this instrument to show his emotions. He said he could “laugh, cry, or even be angry through the ends of his fingers.”  In college he learned how to write music. He planned on becoming a pastor⁷, or leader of a church, after he finished college. But his plans changed.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　After he finished college, he visited his parents. There, Fred saw something he had never seen before – television. He did not like the images he saw on the television. But, he immediately understood that television was a powerful⁸ tool. He understood that television could be used for good or bad purposes. He immediately decided⁹ to become involved in making good television.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　In 1951, Fred got his first job in television at a television studio¹⁰ in New York. He learned many parts of the business of making television. He learned how to produce television programs. Even when he changed jobs, he continued working on different children’s television programs. And he was even able to use some of his own puppets on the programs.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　But in 1968, Fred began his most famous show, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”. Public television stations broadcast his show all over the United States. Five days of every week, children could see Fred in “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” People all across the United States now knew him as “Mister Rogers.” Mister Rogers began his program in the same way every day. He opened the door of his house. He started singing this song.

 

　　“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor, would you be mine, could you be mine? It’s a neighborly day in this beauty-wood, a neighborly day for a beauty would you be mine, could you be mine? I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you ...”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The words of this song were special for children. The song invited every child to be Mister Rogers’ neighbor, or friend. Mister Rogers wanted to be a good neighbor to everyone.

 

　　“Would you be mine, could you be mine, won’t you be my neighbor? Won’t you please, won’t you please, please won’t you be my neighbor?”

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Every day there was a new theme, or idea, on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Children learned about many things. For example, they might learn about self-control, playing nicely with friends, or how different instruments sound.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　Mister Rogers often also had special visitors on his show. These people talked to the children about something interesting. One day children saw how people in factories make shoes. On another day, Mister Rogers visited the hospital to get an immunization injection¹¹. Children could see that doctors and immunizations are not frightening.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　After this part of the program, Mister Rogers took the children to the ‘Land of Make-Believe.’ It was a place where he used puppets to act out stories for children. Children watched the puppets talk about the theme for the day.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　But Mister Rogers also dealt with many complex¹² issues¹³. He knew that many times children did not understand what was happening around them. Children may not understand why their parents get a divorce¹⁴. They may not understand when a person dies. And children become angry and afraid just like adults. But often children do not know how to deal with these emotions. Mister Rogers helped children deal with things like war, death, divorce, and being poor. And he was always honest when talking about these difficult issues - even if they were frightening or sad. The world is not always a kind and gentle place. But Mister Rogers showed children that they can still be good in a world that is not always gentle.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Mister Rogers used television to improve the lives of children. He gave them a calm and gentle place to learn about wonderful and frightening things in the world. In Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood every child was special and important.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　There are many children’s television programs. Some are even very exciting. They may have fast action. Or they may have a lot of fighting. But “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” was nothing like that. Mister Rogers won many awards for his television program. In 1999 he received a great television honor¹⁵. During his speech at the event he described how television was a powerful tool. He challenged¹⁶ performers¹⁷ working in television. He said they could use the tool of television to make life mean less, or to make life better.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　Even though he worked in television, Mister Rogers tried to encourage children to turn off their television sets. He wanted them to use their imaginations. He wanted them to create their own stories.

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　In February 2003, Mister Rogers died of stomach cancer. Many people mourned¹⁸ his loss¹⁹. Mister Rogers set an example for children to follow. He treated other people with respect.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　In all, there are over 900 episodes²¹ of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. The last episode²⁰ was made in 2001. However, some public television stations in the United States continue to broadcast “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood.” It is not broadcast in other countries. But the message Mister Rogers shares is important for everyone to hear. That message is that every child is special. Each day Mister Rogers would close his television program with these important words:

 

　　“You help to make each day a special day by just your being yourself. There’s nobody else in the whole world who’s exactly like you! And people can like you exactly as you are! You are special!”

 

　　Voice 1

 

　　The writer and producer of this program was Liz Waid. The voices you heard were from the United States. Some of the music in this program came from the television program “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called, “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”.

 

　　Voice 2

 

　　You can also leave your comments on our website. Or you can email us at [email protected]. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

3 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

4 puppets   

n.木偶( puppet的名词复数 )；玩偶；受他人操纵的人或集团；傀儡

参考例句：

• They were mere puppets manipulated by other men. 他们只不过是受人操纵的傀儡而已。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The children I was looking after were interested in puppets. 我那时照看的孩子们对木偶感兴趣。 来自辞典例句

5 imaginative   

adj.富有想象力的，爱想象的

参考例句：

• The imaginative child made up fairy stories.这个想像力丰富的孩子自己编神话故事。
• Scott was an imaginative writer.司格特是位富于想象力的作家。

6 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

7 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

8 powerful   

adj.有力的，有权力的，强大的

参考例句：

• The UN began to get more and more powerful.联合国开始变得越来越强大了。
• Such are the most powerful voices of our times!这些就是我们时代的最有力的声音！

9 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

10 studio   

n.摄影棚（场）；演播室；画室；工作室

参考例句：

• They are building a modern studio.他们正在修建一座现代化的摄影室。
• He had to spend long hours in the recording studio.他不得不花很长的时间在录音室里。

11 injection   

n.注射，注入；注射液

参考例句：

• Those drugs are given by injection as well as through the mouth.那些药品可以注射，也可以口服。
• She pressed the patient a bit too hard when she gave him an injection.她打针时手重了些。

12 complex   

adj.复杂的，合成的，综合的；n.联合体

参考例句：

• What he said was too complex for me to understand.他说的太复杂了，我无法了解。
• Justice is part of the complex machinery of the law.正义是复杂的法律机器的一部分。

13 issues   

（水等的）流出( issue的名词复数 )； 出口； 放出； （特别重要或大众关注的）问题

参考例句：

• Let's start with the more easily addressable issues. 我们先从较容易处理的问题着手。
• Employment and taxation are the bread-and-butter issues of politics. 就业和征税是很重要的政治问题。

14 divorce   

n.离婚；分离；vi.离婚；vt.离婚；脱离

参考例句：

• Did he divorce his wife or did she divorce him?是他要和妻子离婚，还是妻子要和他离婚？
• None of us like the divorce of word and deed.我们都不喜欢言行不一。

15 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

16 challenged   

adj.残疾的，有伤的；有缺陷的或缺少的；受到挑战的v.“challenge”的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• a competition for physically challenged athletes 残疾运动员的比赛
• His claim to that piece of property is being challenged. 有人就他对那份财产的声明提出异议。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 performers   

n.演出者( performer的名词复数 )；演奏者；表演者；履行者

参考例句：

• The boss kissed the other performers off as mere amateurs. 老板认为其他的演员只有业余水平而把他们打发掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They manage to sign up all the best performers. 他们设法跟所有最佳演员签订合同。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 mourned   

v.哀悼( mourn的过去式和过去分词 )；为…哀痛，向…志哀

参考例句：

• The whole nation mourned the death of a much-loved leader. 举国上下哀悼敬爱的领导人。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She mourned the loss of her brother. 她因为失去了哥哥而悲痛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 loss   

n.损失，遗失，失败，输，浪费，错过，[军]伤亡，降低

参考例句：

• His death was a great loss to the country.他的逝世对这个国家是一大损失。
• Because of the continued loss,the factory closed down.由于连续亏损，工厂关闭了。

20 episode   

n.（作品的一段）情节，插曲，系列事件中之一

参考例句：

• The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
• This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。

21 episodes   

插曲，片断( episode的名词复数 )； 一集

参考例句：

• The novel deals with the romantic episodes of her early life. 小说叙述了她早期生活的浪漫插曲。
• Three episodes have been telescoped into a single programme. 把叁集的内容压缩成了一个节目。