英语听力文摘 English Digest 117、辛普森家庭登上美国邮票

　　America's most famous dysfunctional cartoon family — The Simpsons — were unveiled as the latest faces on a set of commemorative stamps released by the U.S. Postal¹ Service. A total of one billion "The Simpsons" stamps will be issued across the United States to mark the 20th season of the long-running comedy that follows the fortunes of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. U.S. Postal Service official David Failor said at a ceremony in Los Angeles that the issue marked the first time a television series has been the sole subject of a stamp set in the United States. Matt Groening, the creator of the hit animated² series, designed the stamps. "This is the biggest and the most adhesive³ honor 'The Simpsons' has ever received," Groening said. The U.S. Postal Service receives about 50,000 suggestions for special stamp sets each year, but only about 20 are selected, Failor said. "We are emotionally moved by the Postal Service selecting us rather than making the lazy choice of someone who has benefited society," the show's executive producer James L. Brooks⁴ said. "It's only supposed to be dead people on stamps. Somehow we were able to overcome that."
dysfunctional:不正常的，不和谐的
commemorative：紀念的
long-running：上映很久的
hit：大受欢迎，畅销的事务
adhesive：黏的；有黏性的
executive producer：执行制作人
to overcome：克服，战胜

1 postal   

adj.邮政的，邮局的

参考例句：

• A postal network now covers the whole country.邮路遍及全国。
• Remember to use postal code.勿忘使用邮政编码。

2 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

3 adhesive   

n.粘合剂；adj.可粘着的，粘性的

参考例句：

• You'll need a strong adhesive to mend that chair. 你需要一种粘性很强的东西来修理那把椅子。
• Would you give me an adhesive stamp?请给我一枚带胶邮票好吗？

4 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》