THIS IS AMERICA - Yard Sales and Flea Markets

THIS IS AMERICA - Yard Sales and Flea¹ Markets
By Jerilyn Watson

Broadcast: Monday, August 23, 2004

(THEME)

VOICE ONE:

Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA, in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Faith Lapidus. This week, come along as we look at yard sales and flea markets in the United States.

(THEME)

VOICE ONE:

An event called the World's Longest Yard Sale took place this month in the southeastern part of the country. The yearly² sale extends³ for a distance of seven hundred twenty kilometers. It goes from Gadsden, Alabama, to Covington, Kentucky.

Thousands of sellers⁵ are stationed along the side of the road. They sell almost anything imaginable. Some collectors drive the full length in search of things to buy.

The World's Longest Yard Sale began eighteen years ago. Last year organizers extended⁶ it from four days to nine days. The Kentucky Post says one village in Covington thought nine days was too long and withdrew⁷ this year. But the sale is popular; the governor⁸ of Alabama named it one of the top ten events in the state.

VOICE TWO:

Yard sales do not have to be huge. One family, or even one person, can hold a yard sale. People simply collect some things they no longer want and put them in the yard outside their home. They might also place handmade signs on nearby streets to direct people to the sale. And, as simple as that, they have a yard sale -- or a garage sale or a moving sale.

Whatever people call it, the activity is the same. Such sales are based on the idea that an object that is useless, broken or ugly to one person can be a bargain to another.

Over the years, homes can fill up with objects: Books no one wants anymore. Baby clothes for the child who is now a university student.

These objects are no longer useful to their owner. Yet it seems wasteful⁹ to throw them away. Often, people must make a decision about things when they move to a different house. "Let's have a yard sale," they say. That way, they do not have to move the things they do not use anymore. And at the same time they make a little money.

VOICE ONE:

They might pay for an announcement in a local newspaper to tell when and where the yard sale will take place. They might list some of the things to be sold. Around Washington, D.C., for example, almost two hundred yard sales are listed on some weekends. The warmer months like now are the most popular times.

Early in the morning, all the things to be sold are carried out of the house. Then they sit for hours in the sunlight -- like tired guests at a party -- waiting for someone to take them home.

((MUSIC BRIDGE))

VOICE TWO:

Just about anything can be sold at a yard sale. Sometimes, there are more clothes than anything else. Cooking equipment is also popular. So are old toys, tools, books, tables and chairs. Then there are objects known as "white elephants." These are things that, for whatever reason, no one really wants, least of all the present owners.

It may be an electric light shaped like a fish. Perhaps you received it for a wedding gift. But you feel a sharp pain whenever you look at it. To someone else, however, it might be a thing of beauty and joy.

Usually, the seller⁴ puts a price on each object at a yard sale. Usually, that price can be negotiated¹⁰. A table, for example, might be marked twenty dollars. But the seller will probably accept a little less. By the end of the day, if the table has not been sold, the seller will probably accept a lot less. Sometimes, the seller might just say "take it!" There is no better price than that.

VOICE ONE:

Just like sellers, serious buyers also spend time getting ready for yard sales. They look through newspapers and mark the sales they want to visit. Some use maps to plan their trip. They want to get to as many sales as possible. Some people go sailing on water; others go "yard sailing."

Yard sales are a good way for people without much money to find things for their family. But even people with a lot of money like to look around. Why pay one hundred dollars for something in a store when you might find it for twenty at a yard sale? That is, if you can find it.

Professional dealers¹¹ might also go to yard sales. If they find something valuable at a low price, they can re-sell it for more.

VOICE TWO:

Still other people go to yard sales because they enjoy the hunt. They like to find beautiful or unusual things that are being sold for less than the value. For example, they may find a piece of old furniture that is worth a lot of money after it is repaired.

Sometimes people find an unexpected¹² treasure at a yard sale. Or at least they hope so. They need the opinion of an expert. There is a popular television program called "Antiques¹³ Roadshow." People go on the show with an object for experts to examine.

Sometimes the experts say the object is worth a lot of money. When that happens, the owner may shout "wow!" But sometimes the experts say the object is worthless¹⁴. Then the owner may feel like shouting something else.

VOICE ONE:

Some people go to yard sales to find a special thing that they collect. They might look for things like stamps, dolls, old money, bottles, baseball cards, toys or advertising¹⁵ signs. Yard sales can also provide people with a new computer or sound system ... new to them, at least.

Or there might be some exercise equipment that looks new because no one ever really used it. People never know what they might find. They might even find a snake skin -- the perfect gift for a science teacher.

People who go to yard sales often are not looking for anything special. They are simply looking for something that appeals to them. Or they might enjoy negotiating¹⁶ over prices. Later, if necessary, they can hold their own yard sale to sell all the things they have bought.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

There is an organized event similar to a yard sale, only bigger. The French name is "market with fleas¹⁷"; Americans call it a flea market. Fleas are small, wingless insects that jump onto animals and people. Fleas bite. Some people might worry about fleas at a such a market. But mostly they worry that they will not find anything good to buy.

 
Graphic¹⁸ Image
Some flea markets are community events. Many families bring things to sell. The event may be held at a school or in a park. Most flea markets take place in the open air on weekends during the spring, summer and fall. Some organizations hold a flea market once a year to earn money for special projects.

VOICE ONE:

Professional dealers also hold flea markets. Sellers usually must have a business permit from the local government. And they usually must collect sales tax on everything they sell.

Some people earn all their money by selling goods at flea markets. Others have jobs and earn extra money this way.

Some dealers at a flea market sell lots of different things. Others sell just one kind of thing -- glass objects, for example. Still others might only sell things that are at least one hundred years old.

One of the largest flea markets in the world takes place on the second Sunday of every month. It happens rain or shine at the Rose Bowl, the big sports center in Pasadena, California. More than two thousand sellers gather for the Rose Bowl Flea Market. Only a few kinds of items are restricted¹⁹. These include food, animals and guns.

VOICE TWO:

To some people, flea markets and yard sales are a sign that Americans think too much about material possessions. But to other people, yard sales are simply a way to have fun. In some communities, ten or twenty families may have a yard sale on the same weekend. These are important social gatherings²⁰. Still other people say yard sales help the environment. Old things find new homes, so they are not thrown away. At least not yet.

(THEME)

VOICE ONE:

Our program was written by Shelley Gollust and Jerilyn Watson. I'm Faith Lapidus.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Steve Ember. We close with a note about our program two weeks ago on baseball in American culture. We told you about the old Mills²¹ Commission²² report that declared Abner Doubleday the inventor of baseball. We should have made clear that the Mills report was disputed²³. As we said, no one knows for sure who invented the modern game.

VOICE TWO:

Who knows, maybe the answer lies hidden somewhere in a yard sale. Join us again next week for THIS IS AMERICA, in VOA Special English.

1 flea   

n.跳蚤

参考例句：

• I'll put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more.如果他再来打扰的话，我就要对他不客气了。
• Hunter has an interest in prowling around a flea market.亨特对逛跳蚤市场很感兴趣。

2 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。

3 extends   

v.（空间、时间等）延伸，延续( extend的第三人称单数 )；伸展；给予；延长

参考例句：

• This country extends its power and influence into neighbouring countries. 这个国家将其势力与影响扩大至邻国。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His domain extends for 20 miles in every direction. 方圆20英里之内都是他的地产。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 seller   

n.售货者，畅销品

参考例句：

• I hope for this book to become a best seller.我希望这本书会成为一本畅销书。
• She drove a hard bargain with the seller.她狠杀卖主的价。

5 sellers   

n.卖者( seller的名词复数 )；卖方；销售者；销售商

参考例句：

• buyers and sellers transacting business 进行交易的买方和卖方
• All manner of hawkers and street sellers were plying their trade. 形形色色的沿街小贩都在做着自己的买卖。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 extended   

adj.延伸的；伸展的；延长的；扩大的v.延伸(extend的过去式和过去分词)；伸展；延长

参考例句：

• an extended lunch hour 延长了的午餐时间
• France has greatly extended its influence in world affairs. 在世界事务中，法国的影响已大大地扩大了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 withdrew   

v.取[收]回( withdraw的过去式 )；（使）撤退[出]；提；收回

参考例句：

• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She quickly withdrew her hand from the hot iron. 她很快地将手从火烫的熨斗上缩了回来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 governor   

n.统治者，地方长官(如省长，州长，总督等)

参考例句：

• The governor was an expert at fencing with reporters.这位州长是搪塞新闻记者的能手。
• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。

9 wasteful   

adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的

参考例句：

• It is a shame to be so wasteful.这样浪费太可惜了。
• Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work.为避免重复劳动浪费资源，任务已经重新分派。

10 negotiated   

谈判，协商，议定( negotiate的过去式和过去分词 )； 兑现（支票等）； 通过，越过（险要路段）

参考例句：

• The government negotiated with the opposition party over the new law. 政府就新法与反对党进行了协商。
• By careful strategy she negotiated a substantial pay rise. 她精心策划后，谈妥了大幅增加工资的事。

11 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

12 unexpected   

adj.想不到的，意外的

参考例句：

• I always keep some good wine in for unexpected guests.我总保存些好酒，用来招待不速之客。
• His promotion was unexpected.他的升迁出人意料。

13 antiques   

n.古玩，古董，古物( antique的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The room was furnished with antiques. 房间里摆放了古董。
• a priceless collection of antiques 价值连城的古文物收藏

14 worthless   

adj.无价值的，无用的，可鄙的

参考例句：

• Don't read worthless books.不要读没有用的书。
• He was worthless as a painter.他作为画家一事无成。

15 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

16 negotiating   

n. 谈判 动词negotiate的现在分词

参考例句：

• They were coerced into negotiating a settlement. 他们被迫通过谈判解决。
• We want to get all the parties back to the negotiating table. 我们想把有关各方拉回到谈判桌上来。

17 fleas   

n.跳蚤( flea的名词复数 )；爱财如命；没好气地（拒绝某人的要求）

参考例句：

• The dog has fleas. 这条狗有跳蚤。
• Nothing must be done hastily but killing of fleas. 除非要捉跳蚤，做事不可匆忙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

19 restricted   

adj.有限的；受约束的

参考例句：

• Speed is restricted to 30 mph in towns. 在城里车速不得超过每小时30英里。
• a restricted range of foods 有限的食物种类

20 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

21 mills   

n.磨坊( mill的名词复数 )；磨粉机；作坊；工厂

参考例句：

• He was tall, dark and handsome, like a Mills and Boon hero. 他个头高大、皮肤黝黑、相貌堂堂，像通俗爱情小说的男主角。
• The captain wants to play Mills as defence in our next game. 队长想让密尔斯在下次比赛中打后卫。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 commission   

n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状

参考例句：

• The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
• The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。

23 disputed   

v.辩论，争论( dispute的过去式和过去分词 )；争夺；阻止；就…进行辩论adj.有争议的

参考例句：

• They disputed over how to get the best results. 他们争论着如何能得到最好的结果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldiers disputed every inch of ground when the enemy attacked. 敌人进犯，战士们寸土必争。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》