VOA常速英语2007-Seattle Museum Highlights Popular Music, Science

By Mike O'Sullivan
Seattle
18 October 2007

A museum in Seattle highlights two distinct expressions of popular culture - pop music and science fiction. VOA's Mike O'Sullivan reports, the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum look at innovation in the arts.

The 13,000 - square meter building, designed by the architect Frank Gehry, opened in 2000 with funding from Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft.

Seattle was the home of rock musician Jimi Hendrix, and one section of the museum highlights popular music.

Curator says visitors can see and hear the story of Hendrix, the Beatles, and other music icons¹.

"What they can also do, which I think is special, is they can come and be inspired to become a musician and learn how to be a musician," said Brooks² Peck. "We have an interactive³ sound lab where people can grab an instrument, work with a computer instructor⁴ that will get them started on whatever they want to play - drums, guitar, bass⁵, just about anything."

Jazz, country, Latin music are all explored here. The museum also highlights music that originated in and around Seattle, including the original 1957 version of Louie Louie by Richard Berry.

A later recording⁶ by The Kingsmen became a major hit.

There are guitars on display, from those made in the 1770s to modern electric versions.

The museum's points to an exhibit that highlights Hip⁷ Hop⁸ music.

"It also showcases all the influence that hip hop has had in other forms of cultural expression - fashion, art, graffiti art, even product development, and the way record companies are formed and even how they disperse⁹ their music," said Martha Carey.

In another part of the ultra-modern building, the Science Fiction Museum showcases thought-provoking ideas from science fiction stories, films and television series.

There are costumes and movie props¹⁰ from Star Wars, The Terminator, Batman and many other films. The Hall of Fame honors innovators of science fiction, including Gene¹¹ Roddenberry, creator of Star Trek¹², and Ridley Scott, who directed the sci-fi films Alien and Blade Runner.

1 icons   

n.偶像( icon的名词复数 )；（计算机屏幕上表示命令、程序的）符号，图像

参考例句：

• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons. 用图标来区分重要的文本项。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Daemonic icons should only be employed persistently if they provide continuous, useful status information. 只有会连续地提供有用状态信息的情况下，后台应用程序才应该一直使用图标。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

2 brooks   

n.小溪( brook的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Brooks gave the business when Haas caught him with his watch. 哈斯抓到偷他的手表的布鲁克斯时，狠狠地揍了他一顿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ade and Brooks exchanged blows yesterday and they were severely punished today. 艾德和布鲁克斯昨天打起来了，今天他们受到严厉的惩罚。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

4 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

5 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。

6 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

7 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

8 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？

9 disperse   

vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散

参考例句：

• The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。
• The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

10 props   

小道具； 支柱( prop的名词复数 )； 支持者； 道具； （橄榄球中的）支柱前锋

参考例句：

• Rescuers used props to stop the roof of the tunnel collapsing. 救援人员用支柱防止隧道顶塌陷。
• The government props up the prices of farm products to support farmers' incomes. 政府保持农产品价格不变以保障农民们的收入。

11 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

12 trek   

vi.作长途艰辛的旅行；n.长途艰苦的旅行

参考例句：

• We often go pony-trek in the summer.夏季我们经常骑马旅行。
• It took us the whole day to trek across the rocky terrain.我们花了一整天的时间艰难地穿过那片遍布岩石的地带。