2007年VOA标准英语-Smithsonian Folklife Festival Opens in US Capit

By Barry Unger
Washington, D.C.
28 June 2007
 

The 41st Smithsonian Folklife Festival is now underway in Washington, D.C. The annual event brings together cultures from around the world to both educate and entertain visitors. VOA's Barry Unger visited the festival on opening day. Robert Raffaele narrates¹ the story.

A music and dance exhibit

There is singing and dancing, arts and crafts, exhibits and demonstrations², and lots of food. All of this can be found at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.  The annual event brings together cultures from around the world to Washington, D.C.

This year's festival has three separate themes -- Mekong River: Connecting Cultures, Roots of Virginia Culture, and Northern Ireland at the Smithsonian.

Visitors can interact with people from the different regions and learn about their history and culture.

Dee Dee Darden runs a store selling country hams in Virginia. "This is kind of exciting for us because we have not been involved in anything like this before,” says Darden. “Yes, it was pretty exciting to get a call from the Smithsonian."

The Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.

Collin Felton traveled from Kent, England to attend the festival. He grew up working as a hop³ picker.

"Five pence we used to get paid,” says Felton. “That was the best we got paid."

He now works at a large hop farm and his exhibit was part of the Roots of Virginia theme.

Eamon Maguire also traveled a long distance. The native of Belfast, Northern Ireland came to showcase his work as a bog-oak carver and drum maker⁴.

But in keeping with the spirit of the festival, he was most interested in seeing the other exhibits. "I am interested in other cultures and I really want to see Washington,” says Maguire. “But I am mostly interested in seeing things from Mekong Delta⁵."

The annual festival runs through July 8th.

1 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

2 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

3 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？

4 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

5 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。