VOA慢速英语2019--What Is the Best Beach in America?

 

In Kailua, the sand is soft and white. The water is clear and calm.

Those are among the reasons that Kailua Beach Park appears at the top of a new list of best beaches in the United States. The park is on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Stephen Leatherman has been making a yearly¹ list of the best beaches under the name “Dr. Beach” since 1991.

Leatherman is a coastal² scientist and professor at Florida International University in Miami. He uses 50 criteria³ to rate beaches, with the most important issues being water cleanliness, safety and management of the beach environment and services for visitors.

Leatherman often rates Hawaiian beaches high on the list.

“I love Waikiki Beach. No question about that – a world famous beach – but Kailua is a lot smaller and quieter,” he told the Associated Press. “It’s so much more peaceful… you don’t have big high-rises and all that. Kailua is on the other side of the mountains. It’s like a different world.”

Vari Singh and her family, from California, spent a day at Kailua Beach.

“The color of the sea is something like we’ve never seen before. The sand is super soft and fun to play with, it makes good sand castles,” she said.

Braden Marquez grew up in Kailua. The 18-year-old said he is worried about overcrowding, but also hopeful about the future of his hometown.

Other beaches on the new list are Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, followed by Grayton Beach State Park in Florida. They were second and third on the list, respectively⁴.

Leatherman says his goal in making the list each year is to recognize high-quality, safe beaches that balance nature with ease⁵ of access and amenities⁶. He hopes beaches that have yet to appear on the list will make changes for a better experience and a healthier coastal ecosystem⁷.

I'm John Russell.

Words in This Story

beach – n. a sandy area, often by an ocean

criteria – n. a man who owns or sails a yacht⁸

management – n. the act of operating a company or organization; the process of controlling things or people

high-rise – n. a building that has many floors or stories

sand castle – n. a small model of a castle or other building that is made with wet sand on a beach

respectively – adj. separately; individually

access – n. a way of entering a place; the right to use something

amenity⁹ – n. something that makes life easier or more pleasant

1 yearly   

adj.每年的，一年一度的；adv.一年一次地

参考例句：

• The flower show is a yearly event in our town.我们镇上的花展一年举行一次。
• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。

2 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

3 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

4 respectively   

adv.各自地，独自地，个别地，分别地

参考例句：

• They finished first and second respectively.他们分获一二名。
• In this machine which items make up the software and the hardware respectively?在机器中，哪几项分别构成软件和硬件？

5 ease   

n. 安乐,安逸,悠闲; v. 使...安乐,使...安心,减轻,放松

参考例句：

• His mind was at ease and he felt confident in the future. 他心情舒畅,对前途很有信心。
• You should ease up on the child and stop scolding her. 你应该对那个孩子宽松些,不要再骂她了。

6 amenities   

n.令人愉快的事物；礼仪；礼节；便利设施；礼仪( amenity的名词复数 )；便利设施；（环境等的）舒适；（性情等的）愉快

参考例句：

• The campsite is close to all local amenities. 营地紧靠当地所有的便利设施。
• Parks and a theatre are just some of the town's local amenities. 公园和戏院只是市镇娱乐设施的一部分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

8 yacht   

n.游艇，快艇

参考例句：

• He was responsible for the location of the missing yacht.他负责查明失踪游艇的下落。
• He planned to cross the Pacific by yacht.他曾打算乘快艇横渡太平洋。

9 amenity   

n.pl.生活福利设施，文娱康乐场所；（不可数）愉快，适意

参考例句：

• The amenity of his manners won him many friends.他和悦的态度替他赢得很多朋友。
• Teachers' good amenity and culture have important educational value.教师良好的礼仪修养具有重要的教育价值。