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VOA慢速英语2021--Popular Seasonal Train Shows

时间:2021-11-30 02:24:12

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(单词翻译)

In the United States, small train displays are one of the most popular attractions during the holiday season.

They used to be common in toy store windows. Now they are seen in many public places, such as at plant shows, exhibits and museums.

One kind of display, however, is special. In these displays, the model structures are made from leaves, sticks and other dried plant materials. This creates a different kind of magic and whimsy1.

"It's magical because people love to picture themselves in these small landscapes," Karen Daubmann told the Associated Press. She oversees2 exhibitions and public events at the New York Botanical Garden in New York City.

Daubmann added that the "displays of greenery hide whimsical elements surrounding the models of trains" and decorated structures.

New York Botanical Garden first used this kind of train display back in 1992. But this unique style did not begin in New York City. It began in the Midwestern state of Ohio.

Almost 40 years ago, Ohio landscape architect Paul Busse found a way to share his love of trains, architecture and gardens with the public. He set up a garden railway exhibit at the 1982 Ohio State Fair. He decorated the buildings with dried plant material. He called it his "botanical architecture."

Throughout the 1980s, Busse developed his whimsical structures. In 1991, he launched his own company. He ran Applied3 Imagination out of his basement in Cincinnati, Ohio. His botanical architecture train displays appeared at garden shows, mainly in the Midwest.

Then in 1992, the New York Botanical Garden invited Busse and his team to create a "Holiday Train Show." The organization wanted winter visitors to enjoy what was already popular in many Midwestern towns and cities.

"That first year it only featured a couple train tracks and a handful of models of New York landmarks4," said Daubmann. But she said it was such a success that it became a yearly tradition. Each year they would add new landmarks, such as a famous building or place in New York City.

The idea soon spread. And more places wanted to copy their landmarks in botanical architecture.

Busse soon ran out of space in his basement. He moved his company to Alexandria, Kentucky, where it is now based. The company has about 12 full-time5 employees. Busse's daughter, Laura Busse Dolan, now runs the business.

What natural materials they use

Dolan described the materials her group uses to the Associated Press.

She said they use different kinds of sticks, pinecones and other plant pieces. Over the years, the company has learned not to use some kinds of fruits and nuts.

"We now avoid using dried berries or acorns6 in our structures because they are far too edible," Dolan said. They had a problem with little creatures eating the structures while they were stored. "One year, the squirrels ate one of our lampposts."

The shows are now a tradition in many U.S. cities. They show a combination of model trains and detailed7 models of famous buildings and landmarks.

Last year, many holiday-season train shows were canceled or limited to fewer visitors because of the coronavirus pandemic. But this year the popular offerings are back at gardens and other places around the country.

Dolan's teams are putting together nine holiday shows this year.

To create all the shows, Dolan said the teams at Applied Imagination leave home in October and travel until Thanksgiving.

It takes every individual in the company to finish the displays. Dolan said that every year the company creates about 50 structures for different places. She estimates the company has made between 2,000 to 3,000 total structures since it started. "The smaller ones take around 250 hours," she said.

However, one of their largest is a copy of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, more than three meters in size. That structure took nearly 3,000 hours to complete. "It is on display at the Biltmore Estate through the holidays this year," Dolan said.

On the website for Applied Imagination, Paul Busse credits his mother for his work. Jane Busse, the website says, "was a gifted artist." Her work has been celebrated8 at The Smithsonian and The Cincinnati Art Museum.

The website goes on to explain that Jane liked a famous, costly9 home in the area called Carson Mansion10. She liked it so much that the year her son Paul was born, 1949, she made a small version using very strong paper and matchsticks.

To honor his mother, Paul made his own version of the Carson Mansion using his own botanical architectural design.

Words in This Story

display –n. an arrangement of objects intended to decorate, advertise or inform people about something : v.

exhibit –n. an object or a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space for people to look at; something shown in an exhibition : v.

whimsy –n. a playful, humorous or funny quality

landscape –n. an area of land that has a certain quality or appearance that is sometimes designed by people

decorated –adj. an added design or object meant to make something else look more pleasing or interesting

unique –adj. unlike anything else

architect –n. a person who designs buildings

featured –adj. having or including something as an important part

couple –n. two or a few examples of something

matchstick –n. a slender piece especially of wood from which a match is made


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 whimsy TIlyx     
n.古怪,异想天开
参考例句:
  • They are like oracular messages,but witty-jaunty at times-and sometimes trembling on the edge of whimsy.它们都像神谕,但很机智,有时极其轻快,有时又濒于怪诞。
  • He had a whimsy about flying to the moon.他有个想飞上月球的怪念头。
2 oversees 4607550c43b2b83434e5e72ac137def4     
v.监督,监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网
3 applied Tz2zXA     
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用
参考例句:
  • She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
  • This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。
4 landmarks 746a744ae0fc201cc2f97ab777d21b8c     
n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 );目标;(标志重要阶段的)里程碑 ~ (in sth);有历史意义的建筑物(或遗址)
参考例句:
  • The book stands out as one of the notable landmarks in the progress of modern science. 这部著作是现代科学发展史上著名的里程碑之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The baby was one of the big landmarks in our relationship. 孩子的出世是我们俩关系中的一个重要转折点。 来自辞典例句
5 full-time SsBz42     
adj.满工作日的或工作周的,全时间的
参考例句:
  • A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
  • I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作,我不知道她是如何对付的。
6 acorns acorns     
n.橡子,栎实( acorn的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Great oaks from little acorns grow. 万丈高楼平地起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Welcome to my new website!It may not look much at the moment, but great oaks from little acorns grow! 欢迎来到我的新网站。它现在可能微不足道,不过万丈高楼平地起嘛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 detailed xuNzms     
adj.详细的,详尽的,极注意细节的,完全的
参考例句:
  • He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
  • A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。
8 celebrated iwLzpz     
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的
参考例句:
  • He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
  • The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
9 costly 7zXxh     
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的
参考例句:
  • It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
  • This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用,左不过贵了些。
10 mansion 8BYxn     
n.大厦,大楼;宅第
参考例句:
  • The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
  • The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

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