VOA慢速英语 2008 1201b

VOICE ONE:

Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. I’m Shirley Griffith.

VOICE TWO:

And I’m Steve Ember. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., is a major cultural center in America. For the past thirty years, the center has presented awards to honor artists for their lifetime of work.

On Sunday, December seventh, it will honor six outstanding performers.

(MUSIC: "Don’t Rain On My Parade")

VOICE ONE:
　

Barbra Streisand, shown with Dustin Hoffman in the 2004 movie ''Meet the Fockers''

That voice is one of the most recognizable in the world. It belongs to Barbra Streisand. At the age of nineteen, Barbra Streisand won her first part in a Broadway musical. The year was nineteen sixty-two and the character was Miss Marmelstein in the play, “I Can Get It for You Wholesale¹.” The part was small but Streisand earned a Tony nomination² and lots of attention.

Her first recording³, “The Barbra Streisand Album," came out in nineteen sixty-three. It won two Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.It made her a star.

Many albums followed. Fifty went “gold,” selling at least a half-million copies. Barbra Streisand also has thirteen “platinum” albums, those that sold at least one million copies.

VOICE TWO:

In nineteen sixty-eight Barbra Streisand made her first movie. It was the film version of the Broadway musical, “Funny Girl.” The movie was a huge hit. Barbara Streisand won an Academy Award for Best Actress.

(MUSIC: "People Who Need People")

VOICE ONE:

The singer/actress continued to make albums and movies. She also began to produce and direct movies.In nineteen eighty-three, Barbra Streisand became the first woman to write, direct, produce and star in a major film. The movie, “Yentl,” won great critical praise. Barbra Streisand has won many awards in her long career.

(SOUND: “March of The Penguins”)

VOICE TWO:
　

Morgan Freeman

The next Kennedy Center honoree also has an unmistakable voice. The deep, warm sound of seventy-one year old actor Morgan Freeman has been heard in more than fifty movies and documentaries. But, you might not know this serious dramatic actor spent many years in children's television.Freeman was a performer on the show “The Electric Company” for much of the nineteen seventies.

VOICE ONE:

In nineteen eighty-nine, two movies changed Morgan Freeman’s career forever. In “Glory,” he starred as an officer in the first all-black volunteer group of federal troops in the American Civil War. In “Driving Miss Daisy,” he became friends with his employer, an old, independent, difficult woman.

Morgan Freeman got his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for that movie. But he did not win one until two thousand four. That was for his performance as a former professional fighter in the Clint Eastwood movie, “Million Dollar Baby.”

(SOUND: “Million Dollar Baby”)

Morgan Freeman recently returned to live theater in a Broadway production of the Clifford Odets play, “The Country Girl.”

(MUSIC: "Why Baby Why")

VOICE TWO:
　

George Jones

George Jones first sang that unforgettable song in nineteen fifty-five. The following year Billboard⁴ magazine named him the most promising⁵ country music singer. It was right. He has had one of the most hit-filled careers in country music.

The seventy-seven year old singer was born in Texas. He began singing on the streets of Beaumont as a child. He was a teenager when he left home to seek musical fame and riches. But first he served in the Marine⁶ Corps⁷ during the Korean War.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

That song, “White Lightning,” was Jones’ first to hit number one on Billboard’s country music charts. The year was nineteen fifty-nine and he was twenty-eight.

The Kennedy Center notes that while Jones is often called cool, his style of singing is extremely personal. It says George Jones always means every note and word he sings. His feelings are real and the music is true.

VOICE TWO:

George Jones married country singer Tammy Wynette in nineteen sixty-nine. She was his third wife. They made some of the greatest country duets ever. Here is one, “We’re Gonna’ Hold On.”

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

The “Silver-Haired Possum,” as he is called, has held on through a lot of hard times. His father was dependent on alcohol. George Jones also developed the disease and was dependent on the drug cocaine⁸. He suffered financially and professionally as a result. He became known as “no-show Jones” for missing performances. He has since recovered.

George Jones was admitted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in nineteen ninety-two. President Bush presented him with a National Medal of Arts ten years later.

(MUSIC: “Movin’ Out”)

VOICE TWO:
　

Twyla Tharp

American dancer and choreographer⁹ Twyla Tharp was born in Indiana and raised there and in California.Her mother, a piano teacher, realized that Twyla had a musical gift when she was still a baby. Twyla started dancing lessons when she was just four. She says dancing is how she most enjoyed spending time as a child. And she says it was the way she always identified herself.

Tharp moved to New York City and studied art history at Barnard College. She also studied dance under famous teachers like Martha Graham and Paul Taylor.

VOICE ONE:

Twyla Tharp graduated from Barnard in nineteen sixty-three. Two years later, Twyla Tharp Dance opened. From the start her work was different. For example, she used a lot of jazz music.Sometimes she mixed it with classical pieces.

She also used completely new dance movements. There might be a sudden, playful lift and drop of the shoulders, or the dancers might hop¹⁰ around. Tharp often combined ballet with common movements like walking, running or sliding. Her dances were often playful, edgy¹¹, humorous and always daring.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Twyla Tharp started to work with major ballet companies. The Joffrey Ballet first performed her work, “Deuce Coupe,” set to the music of the Beach Boys.

Twyla Tharp also choreographed¹² for films, starting with Milos Forman’s movie version of the Broadway musical, “Hair.” She also wrote two books, produced dance specials for television and developed and directed several Broadway dance musicals. She won a Tony Award for “Movin’ Out,” which was set to the music of pop rocker Billy Joel.

At sixty-seven, Tharp has won many awards. They include the National Medal of Arts and a MacArthur Fellowship.

(MUSIC: "Who Are You?")

VOICE ONE:
　

Roger Daltrey, left, and Pete Townshend

They are Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, that’s who. They are the driving force of the British rock band The Who. Both men were born in London. Daltry is sixty-three. Townshend is sixty-four. But they were still teenagers in separate bands when they met. Pete Townshend played rhythm guitar and Roger Daltry sang. Joined by Pete Entwhistle on bass¹³ and Keith Moon on drums, The Who formed in nineteen sixty-four.

Pete Townshend became the main songwriter for the band early on. He gained fame for his extremely energetic performances, which sometimes ended with Townshend destroying his guitar on stage.

(MUSIC: “My Generation”)

VOICE TWO:

Their first album, “My Generation,” was released in nineteen sixty-five after their first hit single, “I Can’t Explain.” Hit after hit followed throughout the nineteen sixties.

The Who experimented. In nineteen sixty-seven they put out an album that played like radio programming. It contained commercials and station identifications and talk. A short time later came the rock opera “Tommy.”

VOICE ONE:

Roger Daltry became “Tommy” in the extraordinary concert performances that followed its creation. Later, he earned critical praise for his work in the movie, “Tommy.” Daltry apparently¹⁴ liked acting¹⁵. He has continued to do so, on stage and television.

The Who is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has received many other music awards and honors.

(MUSIC: "I Can See For Miles")

VOICE TWO:

This program was written and produced by Caty Weaver¹⁶. I’m Steve Ember.

VOICE ONE:

And I’m Shirley Griffith. Join us again next week for THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.

1 wholesale   

n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售

参考例句：

• The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。
• Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。

2 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

3 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

4 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。

5 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

6 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

7 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

8 cocaine   

n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂）

参考例句：

• That young man is a cocaine addict.那个年轻人吸食可卡因成瘾。
• Don't have cocaine abusively.不可滥服古柯碱。

9 choreographer   

n.编舞者

参考例句：

• She is a leading professional belly dancer, choreographer, and teacher. 她既是杰出的专业肚皮舞演员，也是舞蹈设计者和老师。 来自辞典例句
• It'stands aside, my choreographer of grace, and blesses each finger and toe. 它站在一旁，我优雅的舞蹈指导，并祝福每个指尖与脚尖。 来自互联网

10 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？

11 edgy   

adj.不安的；易怒的

参考例句：

• She's been a bit edgy lately,waiting for the exam results.她正在等待考试结果，所以最近有些焦躁不安。
• He was nervous and edgy, still chain-smoking.他紧张不安，还在一根接一根地抽着烟。

12 choreographed   

v.设计舞蹈动作( choreograph的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• There was some carefully choreographed flag-waving as the President drove by. 总统的车经过时，人们按精心编排的动作挥舞着旗帜。
• Achim had choreographed the dance in Act II himself. 阿希姆自己设计了第2幕的舞蹈动作。 来自辞典例句

13 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。

14 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

15 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

16 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。