VOA标准英语2014--Large Chinese Lanterns Make California Appearance

 

Large Chinese Lanterns Make California Appearance

POMONA, CALIFORNIA—

Chinese lanterns with a long history are lighting¹ up in new styles at the Los Angeles County Fair in southern California. 

When the sun sets, and visitors step through the red gates lit with light, they enter a world of illumination, satin and steel. 

The lantern exhibit at the county fair is called Luminasia.  Many visitors who expected to see traditional lanterns were caught off guard by creations of fish, frogs and even the Statue of Liberty. 

Event Associate Producer Ge Liang is impressed with these works of art.

“When I first saw the pictures I thought to myself, 'wow how can this be made?'  It is very very fascinating to me," said Liang.

These lanterns are a specialty² from the city of Zigong in China’s Sichuan province.  Known for their expertise³, artisans from Zigong flew to Los Angeles and built each creation from scratch.

“They are trained at a very young age on how to make them," said Liang.

From welders⁴ to electricians to fabric⁵ experts who stretch satin over the steel frames lit with lights, the 49 artisans spent a month creating lanterns that are whimsical, mythical⁶ and lifelike. 

"I see the the results of my efforts becoming a reality," said Song Hui, one of the metal workers. "Everywhere that we finish a job, we feel a sense of achievement.  It reflects their value whether it is in China or in other countries."

Song says while these types of creations have been featured in China, not many people in the United States have seen this kind of lantern art.

"It helps promote Chinese culture around the world and helps other people understand the Chinese culture," he said.

President and Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles County Fair Association Jim Henwood says the display is also a way local residents of different cultures can better understand the large Chinese population that lives in Southern California.

“How do we bridge the ethnic⁷ diversity in a cultural environment that is important and significant here in Southern California?" asked Henwood.

One answer is Luminasia.  Visitors can stroll through the outdoor exhibit and view illuminated⁸ creations from Chinese myths and legends, such as a dragon, phoenix⁹ and the animals of the Chinese zodiac.  But visitors will also find some of the wonders of the world such as the Egyptian Sphinx and the Easter Island statues.  There are also lit displays iconic to Los Angeles, such as the giant Hollywood sign.  

Everyone, including Marvin and Mayra Fuentes and their young son seems to have a favorite.

“The big dragon, I think, for myself," said Marvin.

“I kind of like the Dodgers¹⁰ [Los Angeles baseball team] stuff - that was kind of cool.  Cause it's so big and completely L.A,, which one did you like? [asking a child] He like the frogs, the moving frogs," said Mayra.

Whether for the young or the young at heart, there seems to be something here that captures the imagination in this wonderland of lights.   

1 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

2 specialty   

n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长

参考例句：

• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
• His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。

3 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

4 welders   

n.焊接工( welder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Fifty welders were declared redundant. 已公布削减五十名焊工。 来自辞典例句
• Arcs more readily than AC welders, with longer arcing. 起弧比交流电容易，电弧加长一倍。 来自互联网

5 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

6 mythical   

adj.神话的；虚构的；想像的

参考例句：

• Undeniably,he is a man of mythical status.不可否认，他是一个神话般的人物。
• Their wealth is merely mythical.他们的财富完全是虚构的。

7 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

8 illuminated   

adj.被照明的；受启迪的

参考例句：

• Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
• the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市

9 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

10 dodgers   

n.躲闪者，欺瞒者( dodger的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a crackdown on fare dodgers on trains 对火车逃票者的严厉打击
• But Twain, Howells, and James were jeeringly described by Mencken as "draft-dodgers". 不过吐温、豪威尔斯和詹姆斯都是被门肯讥诮地叫做“逃避兵役的人。” 来自辞典例句