西部落：选美比赛中出丑

South Carolina on Today show

Miss Teen USA 2007 Caitlin Upton from South Carolina visits Today show to answer the map question right

Thanks. Now there a video clip¹ has become a talk of the Intrenet is taken from Friday's Miss Teen USA Pageants³ and shows a very nervors Miss South Carolina having a very tough time when in the question&answer part of the program . Take a look.

Recent polls⁴ have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the US on a world map. Why do you think this is ?

I personally believe that US Americans are unable to do so because some people out there are in our nation don't have maps . And I believe that our education like such as in South Africa and the Iraq, everywhere like such as. And I believe that they should, our education over here in the US shoud help the US should help South Africa , and should help the Iraq and Asian courtries. So we will be able to build up our future.

Miss South Carolina, Caitlin Upton, good morning.

Good morning.

you are getting so nervous about this. But let me tell you something. You have no idea what this man says on a regular basis on this live program. That's nothing.

Can we also... That's the first time you have seen that, isn't it ?

Yes, actually that is the first time I have seen that. And I'm nervous just sitting here right now, live, national television again. And

I know and it was the first time actually you had been on national television (Yes, that's the first time.) where you were competing. And it was, it was just one of those moments when you were asked these questions. I am sure everything came at you at once.

Yes, everything did came at me at once. And I was overwhelmed⁵, and I made a mistake, everybody makes mistake. I'm human.

At what point, Caitlin, during the answer did you start to think to yourself: Is this making any sense?

Um , right when the question was asked to me, I was in completely shock and I was just overwhelmed that I seriously think I only heard about one or two words of the actual question itself. And I misunderstood....

You just kind of drew a blank?

Yes , I drew a blank, I misunderstood, I made a mistake.

You know, as we have said, you know, we do live television everyday. Caitlin, if I can't even count the number of times I've said things, and then we've all gone the commercial break, and we look at each other, like: “What you just say?" I mean, so , please you know, don't don't let it get you down. I mean, and I know the fact that it's on Youtube and a lot of people are watching it right now . Probably has to be a double-edged sword, on the one hand you think it's kind of funny , on the other hand it's not all that funny to you, is it?

No, but then again, looking back on it, I’m sitting here laughing at myself because I feel like it's that really me? standing⁶ up there answering that question, (It's not the body. You've scared us~) yeah! It's like I am not in my actual body.

I give you a lot of credit for being here. You know, you could just go under the covers , but here you are ,sitting here , laugh at yourself. You know what I say, good girl. Good girl, you!

Yes, definitely.

You still finish what, in the top four?

Yes, I actually placed the third round up .

And , so and have you allowed youreslf to go back and think you what if I have done a little better on that question, how the outcome⁷ might have been different?

For example, do you want to redo on that question?

Of course . I would love to reanswer that question.

Ok. Let me ask you that question again, the question is recent polls have shown that a fifth of Americans can't locate the US on the world map. Why do you think this is ? Caitlin?

Well, personally , my friends and I we know exactly where the United States is on our map. I don't know anyone else who dosen't. And if the statistics⁸ are correct, I believe that there should be more emphasis on geography in our educaion so people would learn how to read maps better.

Yeah, I gotta tell you . That was a perfect answer.

Very good, Caitlin.

You know, I think they should just do the thing over on Fri. And come on, let's go back to Friday night. Let's go for another Saturday.

Yeah, let's just go back in time and redo everything..

Pretty girl , you are just 18 years old.

Yes, I am 18. And I believe that I'm a very strong person. I have a very strong character and my parents raise me very well.

What are your plans? What do you want to do? I mean, you know, in terms of after that Pageants. What are your goals?

Well, my goal is to attend Appalachian State University, major in graphic⁹ design. Once grduated from there, go to L.A. and go into the

International Academy of Design&Technology ,major in special effects, learning to design special effects for movies and television.

Good for you , well , you got a lot of grade .

Thank you.

Cailin, good luck to you on everything!

Thank you so much!

And thank you for having been big enough to laugh at yourself this morning. It's hard. (Thank you!) I know. Believe me.

Pageant²: Normally, a pageant is a colourful public procession, show, or ceremony. Pageants are usually held out of doors and often celebrate events or people from history. But here, a pageant or a beauty pageant is a competition in which young women are judged to decide which one is the most beautiful.

draw a blank: to fail to find or remember something.

1 clip   

n.夹子，别针，弹夹，片断；vt.夹住，修剪

参考例句：

• May I clip out the report on my performance?我能把报道我的文章剪下来吗？
• She fastened the papers together with a paper clip.她用曲别针把文件别在一起。

2 pageant   

n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧

参考例句：

• Our pageant represented scenes from history.我们的露天历史剧上演一幕幕的历史事件。
• The inauguration ceremony of the new President was a splendid pageant.新主席的就职典礼的开始是极其壮观的。

3 pageants   

n.盛装的游行( pageant的名词复数 )；穿古代服装的游行；再现历史场景的娱乐活动；盛会

参考例句：

• It is young people who favor holding Beauty pageants. 赞成举办选美的是年轻人。 来自互联网
• Others say that there's a fine line between the pageants and sexual exploitation. 其他人说，选美和性剥削之间只有非常细微的界线。 来自互联网

4 polls   

民意调查( poll的名词复数 )； 民意调查的结果； 投票选举； 投票数

参考例句：

• The two candidates are in a dead heat in the polls. 两名候选人在民意测验中势均力敌。
• Opinion polls indicated a two-thirds majority in favour of ratification of the treaty. 民意调查表明2/3 的多数票赞成批准这个条约。

5 overwhelmed   

[ overwhelm ]的过去式

参考例句：

• She was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt. 她感到愧疚难当。
• If (one was) overwhelmed by passion, it could lead to serious blunders. 当感情完全淹没理智时，就可能铸成大错。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 outcome   

n.结果，出口，演变

参考例句：

• The outcome of the experiment is in the lap of the gods.实验结果尚难预料。
• The outcome of the war is hard to foretell.战争胜负难以预卜。

8 statistics   

n.统计，统计数字，统计学

参考例句：

• We have statistics for the last year.我们有去年的统计资料。
• Statistics is taught in many colleges.许多大学都教授统计学。

9 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。