VOA慢速英语-AMERICAN MOSAIC - Young Keyshia Cole Turns the Pain

Also: A question from Mexico about Oprah Winfrey. And exploring the art wonders of ancient Afghanistan. Transcript¹ of radio broadcast:
10 July 2008

HOST:

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC² in VOA Special English.

(MUSIC)

I'm Doug Johnson.

Today, we listen to music from singer/songwriter Keyshia Cole …

Answer a question about actress, producer, businesswoman and television host Oprah Winfrey …

And visit a museum where ancient treasures from Afghanistan are on display.

(MUSIC)

Hidden Treasures of Afghanistan

HOST:

Visitors in Washington, D.C., this summer can see an exhibit of treasures that tells a story of ancient civilizations, invasions, and cross-cultural influences. "Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul" is currently on view at the National Gallery of Art. Shirley Griffith has more about this important exhibit.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH:
　

Ancient Afghan jewelry3

The works in this exhibit come from four archeological areas within current day Afghanistan. One site, called A? Khanum, was in an area called Bactria. The Greek military commander Alexander the Great invaded this area over two thousand three hundred years ago. A? Khanum became a cultural center where Greek artistic⁴ traditions combined with local Bactrian traditions.

Starting about two thousand three hundred years ago, the collection of land and sea routes known as the Silk Road became important for trade. It stretched from the eastern Mediterranean⁵ Sea to the Chinese border. Afghanistan was at the center of the major routes. For centuries, traders traveled along the Silk Road with their finest goods.

Archeologists found many treasures collected by Kushan rulers at the ancient city of Begram. In the exhibit, you can see a finely made small bronze statue. It combines the qualities of a Greco-Roman god and an Egyptian god into one figure. There are also several finely cut ivory statues of an Indian goddess. The objects from Begram show the many cultural exchanges that took place along the Silk Road.
　

A folding gold crown

Archeologists at the site of Tillya Tepe discovered the burial place of nomads⁶, traveling people who took over the area over two thousand years ago. A chief and five women were buried in costly⁷ clothing covered with jewels and gold. Their extraordinarily⁸ detailed⁹ jewelry combines the artistic styles of China, India, Persia and Siberia. A highlight of the exhibit is the strikingly detailed gold crown, which folds into pieces so that it could be moved easily.

These treasures from the National Museum in Kabul were long thought to have been destroyed during the years of war in Afghanistan. Luckily, several wise museum officials hid these objects in the presidential home, starting in nineteen seventy-nine. In two thousand four, officials announced that these treasures had been found and were safe. You can find these words at the National Museum of Afghanistan: "A Nation Stays Alive When Its Culture Stays Alive."

Oprah

HOST:

Our listener question this week comes from Mexico. Wilfrido Medina Navarro wants to know more about television personality and producer Oprah Winfrey.
　

Oprah Winfrey

Several publications have named Oprah Winfrey one of the most influential¹⁰ people in the world. Oprah is best known by her first name. She is famous for having her own television show and production company and for helping¹¹ people. Oprah is said to be worth more than two-and-one-half billion dollars. She gives money to women, children and families in need.

Last year, she opened a school for hundreds of girls in South Africa. In nineteen ninety-eight, she created Oprah's Angel Network, which helps people in need around the world.

Oprah is especially interested in protecting children from sexual abuse. She was responsible for gaining support for the National Child Protection Act of nineteen ninety-three, known as the "Oprah Law." It created a national public list of people found guilty of abusing children. In two thousand five, she created Oprah's Child Predator¹² Watch List. This list helps identify people who are suspected of abusing children.

Oprah was not always so successful, however. She was born into poverty in a small town in Mississippi in nineteen fifty-four. Her mother was young and unmarried. Oprah was sent to live with her grandmother, who taught her about the importance of education.

Starting when she was nine years old, Oprah was sexually abused by members of her family as well as a family friend. She was later sent to live with her father in Tennessee.

She was named Miss Black Tennesee when she was eighteen. She became a radio and television reporter in Nashville. In nineteen eighty-four she took over a local television talk show in Chicago, Illinois. It was later renamed "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Soon the show was broadcast across the country. Today it is the most popular talk show in television history. It is broadcast to more than one hundred countries.

Oprah started her own production company that produces movies and television programs. She started two popular magazines, a Web site, book club and satellite radio channel. Oprah Winfrey has received many awards for her television show and for her public service.

Keyshia Cole

(MUSIC)

HOST:
　

Keyshia Cole

Singer and songwriter Keyshia Cole has quickly become a favorite among listeners of hip-hop and rhythm and blues¹³ music. It is more than her soulful voice that makes her songs so popular. She sings about something most people can understand — the painful side of love. Mario Ritter has more.

MARIO RITTER:

When it comes to love and sadness Keyshia Cole has a lot to sing about. The twenty-six-year-old singer has dealt with many difficult love experiences. She says one of the worst was when she ended a relationship with the man she had planned to marry because he was involved with another woman.

Yet, Cole did not let emotionally painful experiences interfere¹⁴ with her dream of becoming a professional singer. Instead, she began writing songs about them. Her first album, "The Way It Is," was released in two thousand five. The song "Love" became a hit.

(MUSIC)

Music critics say Keyshia Cole has an honest way of singing that makes you feel the pain and sadness she sings about. Her latest album is called "Just Like You." Here she sings "I Remember."

(MUSIC)

Keyshia Cole says she wants to be an example to people to always believe in themselves. We leave you with another hit song by Keyshia Cole from her album "Just Like You." This is "Let It Go."

(MUSIC)

HOST:

I'm Doug Johnson. I hope you enjoyed our program today.

It was written by Lawan Davis, Dana Demange, and Elizabeth Stern. Caty Weaver¹⁵ was the producer. To read the text of this program and download audio, go to our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com.

Join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC, VOA's radio magazine in Special English.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 mosaic   

n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的

参考例句：

• The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。
• The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

3 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

4 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

5 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

6 nomads   

n.游牧部落的一员( nomad的名词复数 )；流浪者；游牧生活；流浪生活

参考例句：

• For ten years she dwelled among the nomads of North America. 她在北美游牧民中生活了十年。
• Nomads have inhabited this region for thousands of years. 游牧民族在这地区居住已有数千年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 costly   

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。

8 extraordinarily   

adv.格外地；极端地

参考例句：

• She is an extraordinarily beautiful girl.她是个美丽非凡的姑娘。
• The sea was extraordinarily calm that morning.那天清晨，大海出奇地宁静。

9 detailed   

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。

10 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

11 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

12 predator   

n.捕食其它动物的动物；捕食者

参考例句：

• The final part of this chapter was devoted to a brief summary of predator species.本章最后部分简要总结了食肉动物。
• Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard and a fearsome predator.科摩多龙是目前存在的最大蜥蜴，它是一种令人恐惧的捕食性动物。

13 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

14 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

15 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。