VOA慢速英语2019--华盛顿樱花盛开

DC’s Cherry Blossoms² in Full Bloom

Washington, D.C.’s, cherry blossom¹ trees are in full bloom.

The United States National Park Service declared that the blossoms reached peak bloom on Monday. That means 70 percent of the Yoshino Cherry trees around the city’s Tidal Basin are flowering. Depending on weather conditions, peak bloom can last between just a few days or seven to 10 days.

After what seemed like a long winter, mild weather returned to the DC area last weekend. On Saturday, the official daytime temperature reached 79 degrees Fahrenheit³ or 26 degrees Celsius⁴. Many Washingtonians spent the day outdoors. They and thousands of out-of-town visitors walked among the cherry trees.

For a time, Washington did not feel like a busy capital city. The famous lack of political harmony was nowhere to be found. People smiled, laughed and pointed⁵ up at the tiny blossoms. Many lifted cell phones high in the air and took pictures. Families spread blankets on the grass and enjoyed picnics. Under a sunny sky, boaters drifted along the Potomac River. One could hear people speaking in different languages, including Japanese, Chinese, German and Spanish.

Sitting near the water, Leanna Gonzalez of Washington wore a dazzling⁶ cherry blossom colored gown. Her mother, Maria, paid a photographer to take pictures of the 15-year-old to mark her quincea?era, a coming of age ceremony for Hispanic girls.

“She looks like a princess,” her mother said, smiling.

Jack⁷ Elmira and his twin 10-year-old sons, Toby and Joe, walked among the trees, looking up into the blossoms. They had planned to visit Washington for more than a year and were pleased that they had timed their trip correctly.

“I was here once before,” Jack Elmira said, “but the trees still had frost on them. That was years ago. I’m just happy my sons get to see them at their best.”

DC’s first cherry trees were a gift from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki back in 1912. Today, the cherry blossom festival takes place every year. It celebrates the close cultural ties between the United States and Japan. The Park Service said it expects more than 1.5 million people to walk among the more than 3,000 white and pink trees over the next few days.

Some people also walked across the National Mall to the World War II Memorial. It was built in 2004 to honor the 16 million Americans who fought in the war. Its fountains throw off cool drops of water with the Washington Monument in the background.

Visitors can place their feet in the water or take pictures at its edge. Lucy Manor⁸ of Arlington, Virginia, carefully walked along the edge.

“These are the days when Washington feels like a dream city,” she said.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival continues until Saturday, April 13, and ends with the festival’s parade. The parade march stretches along Constitution Avenue and is open to the public.

I’m Susan Shand.

Words in this Story

bloom – v. to change, grow, or develop fully⁹

harmony – n. to get along peacefully

blanket – n. a covering made of cloth that is used especially on a bed to keep you warm

picnic – n. a meal that is eaten outdoors especially during a trip away from home

drift – v. to move slowly on water

dazzling – adj. to greatly impress or surprise (someone) by being very attractive or exciting

princess – n. the daughter of a king or queen

twin – n. one of two children produced in the same pregnancy¹⁰

frost – n. a thin layer of ice caused by cold weather

1 blossom   

n.花，开花；vi.开花，发展

参考例句：

• The blossom on the trees looks lovely in springtime.春天树上的花很漂亮。
• Let a hundred flowers blossom,let a hundred schools of thought contend.百花齐放，百家争鸣。

2 blossoms   

n.（尤指果树的）花( blossom的名词复数 )；花丛，花簇v.（植物）开花( blossom的第三人称单数 )；发展；长成；变得更加健康（或自信、成功）

参考例句：

• It was springtime and the slopes were ablaze with almond blossoms. 时当春季，怒放的扁桃花使那片山坡鲜红似火。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The spring comes and peach blossoms [flowers] are all open. 春天了，桃花都开了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 Fahrenheit   

n./adj.华氏温度；华氏温度计(的)

参考例句：

• He was asked for the boiling point of water in Fahrenheit.他被问到水的沸点是华氏多少度。
• The thermometer reads 80 degrees Fahrenheit.寒暑表指出华氏80度。

4 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

5 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

6 dazzling   

adj.眼花缭乱的；耀眼的

参考例句：

• The sky is clear and blue, the sunlight dazzling. 蔚蓝天空，阳光灿烂。
• The light reflecting off the snow was dazzling. 雪的反光很刺眼。

7 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

8 manor   

n.庄园，领地

参考例句：

• The builder of the manor house is a direct ancestor of the present owner.建造这幢庄园的人就是它现在主人的一个直系祖先。
• I am not lord of the manor,but its lady.我并非此地的领主，而是这儿的女主人。

9 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

10 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。