39 美国音乐爱好者投票选出20世纪最佳歌曲
DATE=5/21/01
TITLE=THIS IS AMERICA #1065 - Songs of the Century
BYLINE=Jerilyn Watson
VOICE ONE:
Music lovers in the United States recently voted for the best songs of the Twentieth （1）Century. The （2）competition was designed to help school children learn about music. I'm Shirley Griffith.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Sarah Long. We play some of the "Songs of the Century" on the VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.
((THEME))
VOICE ONE:
Two （3）organizations have （4）launched a program to improve music education in schools. The Recording Industry Association of America and the National （5）Endowment for the Arts began the project with a competition called "Songs of the Century." Hundreds of music lovers across the country voted for songs they liked best from the past 100 years.
Voters included elected officials, people in the music industry, teachers, students and members of the media. They chose from a list of more than 100 recordings of historical importance. The voters chose 365 songs as "Songs of the Century." Children in 10,000schools will hear the songs on school computers later this year. They will also learn how music is written, （6）performed and produced.
VOICE TWO:
The "Songs of the Century" competition was divided into nine periods. The first period was from Eighteen-Ninety to Nineteen-Twenty. During these years many people came from other countries to live in the United States. Some of the music of this time showed their love for their new country.
For example, voters chose a recording of "America the Beautiful" sung by Louise Homer. They also liked the happy musical beat of a piano piece written and played by Scott Joplin called "The （7）Entertainer."
Voters chose "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" sung by Billy Murray as the top song of this time. It honors baseball, America's national sport.
VOICE ONE:
The Nineteen-Twenties were often called "The （8）Jazz Age." African American artists wrote and performed a number of songs chosen among the best of this time. Louis Armstrong performs "When the Saints Go Marching In." It won the top number of votes for Jazz Age songs.
((TAPE CUT ONE: "WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN"))
VOICE TWO:
The Nineteen-Thirties were years of deep economic （9）depression. Many Americans had no jobs, no money and very little hope. The top song of this period was also chosen best song of the century. It is "Over the Rainbow" by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Judy Garland first sang the song in the movie "The Wizard of Oz" in Nineteen-Thirty-Nine.
((TAPE CUT TWO: "OVER THE RAINBOW"))
VOICE ONE:
Music historians call the years from Nineteen-Forty to Nineteen-Fifty "The Swing Era." People loved to dance to swing music. Voters chose music from World War Two on their list of best songs. They chose the Andrews Sisters singing "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy." They also voted for "This Land Is Your Land." Folksinger and songwriter Woody Guthrie recorded this song in Nineteen-Forty-Seven.
A song by Irving Berlin was chosen as the top song of this period. Here is Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas."
((TAPE CUT THREE: "WHITE CHRISTMAS"))
VOICE TWO:
Americans liked （10）romantic love songs during the Nineteen-Fifties. They also liked rock and roll music. This new music was becoming popular all over the world. Bill Haley and His Comets perform the top choice of voters from this period. The song is called "Rock Around the Clock."
(TAPE CUT FOUR: "ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK"))
VOICE ONE:
Some of the most popular songs of the Nineteen-Sixties were about social protest in the United States. For example, Joan Baez recorded "We Shall Overcome." （11）Demonstrators for civil rights for African Americans often sang this song. Voters chose several recordings by the Beatles among the top songs of the Nineteen-Sixties. Otis Redding wrote the winning song from the Nineteen-Sixties. Here is Aretha Franklin singing "Respect."
((TAPE CUT FIVE: "RESPECT"))
VOICE TWO:
The Nineteen-Seventies were best known for rock music. Voters also liked a song sung by Barbra Streisand called "The Way We Were." And they liked Loretta Lynn singing "Coal Miner's Daughter."
Don McLean wrote and sang the top song of the Nineteen-Seventies, "American （12）Pie."
((TAPE CUT SIX: "AMERICAN PIE"))
VOICE ONE:
Rock, country music and love songs all appeared on the list of best songs of the Nineteen-Eighties. For example, Joan Jett recorded "I Love Rock 'n' Roll." Country singer Willie Nelson performed "On the Road Again."
Tina Turner recorded the top song for the Nineteen-Eighties called "What's Love Got To Do with it?"
((TAPE CUT SEVEN: "WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?"))
VOICE TWO:
People also chose several kinds of music for the Nineteen-Nineties. They voted for a sad song by Elton John that honored movie star Marilyn Monroe called "Candle in the Wind." They also liked the happy sound of "Livin' La Vida Loca" sung by Ricky Martin. The group (13) Nirvana performs the song voters liked best from the last ten years of the century. It is called "Smells like Teen （14）Spirit."
((TAPE CUT EIGHT: "SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT "))
VOICE ONE:
Early in the last century, people operated record players by turning a handle. Now we listen to C-Ds or play music on computers. As time passes, the children of today may hear music in new and different ways. And some day, their children may choose the top songs of the Twenty-First Century.
((THEME))
VOICE TWO:
This program was written by Jerilyn Watson. It was produced by Cynthia Kirk. Our studio engineer was Keith Holmes. I'm Sarah Long.
VOICE ONE:
And I'm Shirley Griffith. Join us again next week for another report about life in the United States on the VOA Special English program, THIS IS AMERICA.
注释：
（1） century[ ????????????????? ]n.世纪, 百年
（2） competition[???????????? ]n.竞争, 竞赛
（3） organization[ ??????????????? ]n.组织, 机构
（4） launch[??????????????? ]n.下水, 汽艇v. 开办, 发动
（5） endowment[????????????]n.捐赠, 捐赠的基金(或财产)
（6） perform[?????????]v.履行, 执行v.完成任务
（7） entertainer[?????????????]n.款待者, 表演娱乐节目的人
（8） Jazz [???? ] n.(20世纪产生于美国的一种舞曲性音乐)爵士乐, 喧闹
（9） depression[ ????????? ]n.沮丧, 消沉
（10） romantic[ ??????????] adj.传奇式的, 浪漫的
（11） demonstrator[ ????????????? ]n.论证者, 示威者adj.传奇式的, 浪漫的
（12） pie[ ??? ]n.馅饼
（13） nirvana[ ????????????????? ]n.涅盘, 天堂
40 一项关于世界妇女状况的最新调查
DATE=5-21-01
TITLE=DEVELOPMENT REPORT - World Mothers Study
BYLINE=Jill Moss
(Start at 1'01")This is Bill White with the VOA Special English Development Report.
The international support group, Save the Children, has issued a new study on the condition of mothers around the world. The report rates ninety-four countries on issues important to mothers. They include health care and family planning services, the health of their children, education and (1) political involvement.
(2) Sweden, (3) Norway and (4) Denmark were rated the highest, followed by other industrial countries. The United States was rated eleventh. This is just one place ahead of (5) Cuba, which was the highest rated developing country. （6）Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Guinea Bissau were at the bottom of the list.
Beryl Levinger was the leading researcher for the report. Mizz Levinger says the report confirms what Save the Children has been saying for more than seventy years. The lives of children around the world will not improve unless the lives of their mothers improve.
Mizz Levinger says there is a direct link between the health of children and the quality of health care, family planning services and education offered to mothers.
The ten countries rated worst in the study have problems with childbirth. Less than one-third of the births in those countries are attended by trained health care (7) professionals. Also, only three percent of the women use a system to prevent (8) pregnancies. In these countries, one in twelve women die during childbirth. In the top ten countries on the list, the death rate for women during childbirth is only one in 6,000.
Save the Children says more educational programs for mothers and girls will improve the ability of women to raise healthy babies. The group says millions of lives could be saved if more money was invested in training programs. Mizz Levinger says family planning alone could prevent one-fourth of all deaths among new- born babies and their mothers. It would teach women to wait two or more years between births. In (9) addition, Mizz Levinger says education about the disease AIDS and violence at home are also needed.
The study by Save the Children is part of a new campaign aimed at improving the health and education of mothers around the world. The group hopes to pressure lawmakers to increase international aid for women's programs.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss.
注释：
(1) political[ ?????????? ]adj.政治的, 行政上的
(2) Sweden[ ??????? ]n.瑞典
(3) Norway[ ????????]n.挪威(北欧国家)
(4) Denmark[ ?????????]n.丹麦(北欧国家,首都哥本哈根)
(5) Cuba[ ??????? ]n.古巴(由古巴岛及其临近诸小岛组成的国家,首都为哈瓦那)
(6) Ethiopia[ ??????????? ]n.埃塞俄比亚(非洲东部国家)
(7) professional[ ?????????? ]n.自由职业者, 专业人员
(8) pregnancy[ ?????????? ]n.怀孕
(9) addition[???????? ]n.加, 加起来
41 马里兰的绵羊及毛线节
DATE=5-25-01
TITLE=AMERICAN MOSAIC #819 - Sheep and Wool Festival
BYLINE=Shelley Gollust
HOST:
(Start at 1'01")About fifty- thousand people enjoyed the Maryland Sheep and Wool （1）Festival earlier this month. Shep O'Neal tells us about what they saw.
ANNCR:
The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival are held every year at the Howard County (2) Fairgrounds, north of Washington, D-C. The two-day festival supports sheep and products made of （3）wool. This is the twenty-eighth year it has been held. The festival provides information for people who raise sheep. And it has many activities for the public. It is the largest event of its kind in the country.
People who raise sheep can enter several （4）competitions at the festival. There are competitions for the best sheep and the best wool. Another competition includes teams that try to cut the （5）fleece off a sheep, spin the wool into (6) yarn, and weave a piece of clothing all in one day.
Visitors to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival can see about 1,000 sheep of many different kinds. They can watch people make clothing of wool. They can buy many kinds of yarns, knitted clothing and other hand-made objects. Visitors also can hear traditional musical performances and watch colorful ethnic dancers. They can learn how to cook (7) lamb. And they can taste many good foods.
The Maryland Sheep and Wood Festival has demonstrations to help people who raise sheep. For example, experts tell how to provide the best diet for female sheep. They also show how to test animal wastes for harmful organisms.
One of the most popular events at the festival is the working sheepdog demonstration. Sheepdogs are dogs that are specially trained to work with sheep. Visitors can watch the dogs as they compete to move a group of sheep. The (8) sheepdogs are skilled at getting the sheep to move in the right direction to a desired place.
The Maryland Sheep Breeders Association organizes the festival. The group provides education and marketing support for the sheep industry in the state.
This year the group wanted to recognize the European farmers who have lost their animals because of foot-and-mouth disease. So many visitors to the festival signed their names in a special "get well" book for farmers in Europe.
纪念战争中逝去的英雄
DATE=5-25-2001
TITLE=AMERICAN MOSAIC #819 - Memorial Day
BYLINE=Nancy Steinbach
HOST:
(Start at 4'26")Our VOA listener question this week comes in E-mail from (1) Iran. Nima Foroud asks about the American holiday, Memorial Day.
Americans will celebrate Memorial Day on Monday, May twenty-eighth. The holiday honors the men and women who died fighting in wars for the United States.
The idea of （2）celebrating such a day began after the American Civil War in the Eighteen-Sixties. It was the idea of a daughter of a Union officer who had been killed in battle. She wrote a letter to an organization of soldiers who served in the Union Army that had won the Civil War. She described a German （3）tradition of placing flowers on soldiers' burial places each spring. She said Americans should do the same.
The commander of the soldiers' organization agreed. He ordered that May thirtieth, Eighteen-Sixty-Eight, be named "Decoration Day" to honor （4）soldiers who had died in the Civil War.
"（5）Decoration Day" became popular. It was also called "Memorial Day." A (6) confederate Memorial Day was observed in some southern states.
New York declared Memorial Day a legal state holiday in Eighteen-Seventy-Three. It was the first state to make it a holiday. Congress made it a national holiday in Eighteen-Eighty-Eight. After World War One, Memorial Day became a day to remember those who died in all the nation's wars.
Today, Americans celebrate the Memorial Day holiday in different ways. Towns and cities hold （7）parades over Memorial Day weekend. Many people attend special ceremonies to hear speeches and band music. People enjoy the warm weather with their families. They may cook dinner outdoors, go swimming or have a party.
Some people travel to Washington, D-C to attend national Memorial Day (8) ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery near the city. The ceremonies are held at the burial place of the nation's unknown soldiers.
You can hear more about Memorial Day and the four major war memorials in Washington. Listen to the Special English program "This Is America" on Monday.
美国歌手帕瑞·科牧
DATE=5-25-2001
TITLE=AMERICAN MOSAIC #819 - Perry Como
BYLINE=Nancy Steinbach
HOST:
(Start at 7'46")American singer Perry Como died recently. He was eighty-eight years old. Sarah Long tells us about him.
ANNCR:
Pierino (PYEHR-EE-NO) Como was born in Nineteen-Twelve in a small town near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was one of thirteen children. His parents had come to the United States from Italy. Perry Como started working at the age of ten in a （1）barbershop. He learned to cut hair. By the time he was fourteen, he had his own barbershop. He also liked to sing. After high school, he got a job with a band and （2）performed around the country.
Perry Como began recording alone in Nineteen-Forty-Three. His first hit record was "Till The End of Time," recorded in Nineteen-Forty-Five.
((CUT 1: TILL THE END OF TIME))
Perry Como began appearing on television in Nineteen-Forty-Eight. He had his own weekly program from Nineteen-Fifty-Five until Nineteen-Sixty-Three. He won two （3）Emmy awards for his show. He also won a （4）Grammy award from the recording industry in Nineteen-Fifty-Eight for this song, "Catch A Falling Star."
((CUT 2: CATCH A FALLING STAR))
Perry Como always said he was just a simple man who did not ask too much of life. Yet he sold more than one- hundred- million records and won many show business （5）honors. We leave you now with another hit song by Perry Como, "It's （6）Impossible."
注释：
（1） festival[ ????????? ]n.节日, 喜庆日
（2） fairground[??????????]n.举行赛会的场所, 露天市场
（3） wool[ ??? ]n.羊毛, 毛织品
（4） competition[?????????????]n.竞争, 竞赛
（5） fleece[ ????? ]n.羊毛, 羊毛状之物v.剪下羊毛, 诈取
（6） yarn[ ?????]n.纱, 纱线, 故事
（7） lamb[ ??? ]n.小羊, 羔羊v.生小羊
（8） sheepdog[????????]n.牧羊犬
注释：
（1） Iran[??????? ]n.伊朗
（2） celebrate[ ???????????]v.庆祝, 祝贺
（3） tradition[ ????????? ]n.传统, 惯例
（4） soldier[ ???????? ]n.士兵, 军人
（5） decoration[ ???????????? ]n.装饰, 装饰品
（6） confederate[ ??????????? ]n.同盟者, 同盟国adj.同盟的, 联合的v.(使
（7） parade[ ??????? ]n.游行, 炫耀v.游行, 炫耀
（8） ceremony[?????????? ]n.典礼, 仪式
注释：
（1） barbershop[?????????]n.理发店
（2） perform[ ??????? ]v.履行, 执行, 表演, 演出
（3） Emmy[ ???? ]n.艾美奖
（4） Grammy[??????]n.格莱美奖
（5） honor[????? ]n.尊敬, 敬意v.尊敬, 给以荣誉
（6） impossible[ ????????? ]adj.不可能的, 不会发生的
