VOA慢速英语2014 Vermont: Small in Size, Big in Beauty 小小的佛蒙特,风景多多(在线收听) |
Vermont: Small in Size, Big in Beauty 小小的佛蒙特,风景多多 From VOA Learning English, welcome to This is America! I'm Steve Ember. 这里是美国之音英语学习,欢迎来到美国,我是斯蒂芬·爱明伯。 Today on our program, we take you on a trip through the northeastern state of Vermont, part of the area known as New England. Each fall, people travel to Vermont to see the colorful autumn leaves. In winter, people come to ski and snowboard in the mountains. In the warmer months, they go on river-rafting trips and camp and enjoy camping and other outdoor activities. 今天的节目中,我们将带您游览在佛蒙特的东北部,该地区以新英格兰而著称。每到秋季,人们游至佛蒙特欣赏多彩的秋叶。在冬日,人们到此在山上滑雪。在暖和的几个月里,人们聚众一起划船、露营以及参加其它户外活动。 Come along with us, as we visit the “Green Mountain State.” 和我们一起来吧,我们正在游览“绿色山脉之州” Only about 600,000 people live in Vermont. That makes it the second least-populated state in the country after Wyoming. And the state is small not just in population. Vermont is 45th out of the 50 states in territory. It has just 24,000 square kilometers of land. In addition, it has almost 950 square kilometers covered by water. 佛蒙特只有60万居民,是继怀俄明州之后的全国倒数第二的居民州,而这座城市不仅仅是人口较少,其地域面积也是位居全国50个州的第45位。佛蒙特大约只有24000平方公里的区域,而其中950平方公里的被水覆盖。 What Vermont lacks in size, it makes up for in beauty. It is known as the Green Mountain State. The name comes from the Green Mountains, which divide the state up and down the center. In fact, the name Vermont comes from the French "verd mont," meaning green mountain. 尽管佛蒙特地域较小,但它有风景为补偿。它以“绿色山脉之州”而著称。这项名誉来源于其绿色的山脉,山脉将此州沿着中心一分为上下两部分。事实上,“佛蒙特”这个名字就来自与法语“verd mont”,意为绿色山脉。 Along the northern border of Vermont is the Canadian province of Quebec. Vermont is bordered by Massachusetts on the south, New Hampshire on the east and New York on the west. 佛蒙特北部边界处是加拿大魁北克省,佛蒙特南部濒临马萨诸塞州,东临新罕布什尔,西接纽约城。 A century ago, forests covered less than one-third of Vermont. Trees were being cut down for farmland and forest products faster than they could be replaced. That has changed. Today forests cover more than three-fourths of the state. 一个世纪以前,森林覆盖佛蒙特的面积不到1/3。树木被砍伐改成农场或制造林业产品,而植树造林速度远不及此。而现在都改变了,今天的佛蒙特,森林覆盖面积大约为区域的3/4。 But Vermont is known not just for its natural resources. It is also known for a strong sense of independence. 但佛蒙特的著称不仅仅因为其自然资源,而是因为高度自治。 During colonial times, Vermonters fought off territorial claims by bordering colonies. Ethan Allen led most of the fighting with help from his brother Ira and an armed group known as the Green Mountain Boys. 在殖民地时期,佛蒙特人民带领殖民地区战胜了殖民宣告,伊森·艾伦在他兄弟艾拉的帮助下,领导了大部分的战争,组织了名为绿色山脉兄弟的武装团体。 Ethan Allen became a hero of the American Revolution. But Vermont was not among the 13 colonies that declared their independence from England in 1776. 伊森·艾伦成了美国解放战争中的英雄,但佛蒙特并不列于1776年宣告独立的13个殖民地之中。 Vermont did become the 14th state, however, when it joined the Union in 1791. And it became the first state to declare slavery illegal. 但它确实是第14个独立州,但它是在1791年加入的联盟。并且成为宣布奴隶制非法的第一州。 By 1777, Vermonters had written their own constitution declaring themselves free and independent. Their constitution also made slavery illegal in Vermont. 在1777年,佛蒙特人民自治了宪法以宣布他们的自由和独立,这部宪法同样确立了在佛蒙特奴隶制的非法性。 The capital of Vermont is Montpelier, in the center of the state. But the largest city is Burlington, on the shores of Lake Champlain. Lake Champlain and the fertile Champlain Valley are in the northwestern part of Vermont. They are named for Samuel de Champlain. The French explorer arrived at the lake in 1609. 佛蒙特的首府为蒙彼利埃,位于该州的中心。但是最大的城市是柏林顿,位于尚普兰湖岸。尚普兰湖和富饶的尚普兰山谷位于佛蒙特西北部地区。它们命名是为了纪念萨缪尔·德·尚普兰,1609年到达此湖的法国探险家。
Vermont’s Educational Heritage 佛蒙特的教育遗产 Burlington is busy and fast-growing. It is also home to one of the state’s oldest and largest schools: the University of Vermont. The university was established with a financial gift from Ira Allen in 1791. 柏林顿是忙碌而快速发展的城市,同样也是佛蒙特州最古老最宏大学校的发源地:佛蒙特大学。这所大学是由1791年艾伦·埃伦资助建立的。 Vermont has strong roots in education. Emma Willard was teaching in Vermont when she became an activist for women’s rights in education. Martin Henry Freeman, the first black college president in the United States, was born in Rutland, Vermont. 佛蒙特植根于教育行业,艾玛·威廉德曾在佛蒙特大学任教,直到他成为了教育行业为了女性权利而斗争的活动家。马丁·海伦·菲力蒙是美国第一位黑人大学校长,便诞生于佛蒙特的拉特兰郡。 And the philosopher John Dewey was from Burlington and attended the University of Vermont. Dewey is considered the father of modern progressive education in the United States. 哲学家约翰·迪威尔来着柏林顿,入读的佛蒙特大学,迪威尔被认为是美国现代进步教育之父。 Dairy farming is the main agricultural industry in Vermont. But the travel industry and manufacturing are also major employers. 牛奶厂是佛蒙特主要的农业行当。但是旅游业和手工制造业同样提供很多就业职位。 General Electric manufactures airplane engine parts in Rutland and North Clarendon, Vermont. IBM makes computer equipment at a factory in Essex Junction. And the computer software developer IDX Systems is based in Burlington. 通用电气公司飞机引擎部件位于佛蒙特拉特兰郡和北克拉伦登。IBM的电脑组构工厂在与埃塞克斯的接壤处。电脑软件开发IDX系统总部在柏林顿。 Food producers also help drive the Vermont economy. Local companies include Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. The Cold Hollow Cider Mill is the largest producer of fresh apple cider in the northeastern United States. More than 300,000 people visit the mill each year to see how fresh apples get crushed into cider. 食品制作同样推动了佛蒙特的经济发展。当地公司包括绿色山脉咖啡烧烤,空心冷轧机是美国东北部苹果榨汁机最大的生产商。每年有30万余人次观看如何将新鲜苹果一瞬间变成果汁。 Please Pass the Maple Syrup… 请把枫糖浆递给我…… Vermont is the leading producer in the United States of another liquid that many people enjoy: maple syrup. The sweet, golden syrup is made from the sap harvested in spring from Vermont's sugar maple trees. The four grades of Community support for local farming is strong in Vermont. Burlington and its surrounding communities, for example, hold local farmers markets several times a week. 佛蒙特同样也是另一种受美国很多人喜爱的液体生产的领头羊,即枫糖浆。甜蜜的金黄的枫糖浆是在春季,从佛蒙特糖浆树上收获的树液。四年级学生的早餐即烤薄饼和鸡蛋。佛蒙特社区支持当地农业的发展,柏林顿和其周边社区,比如每周都会举办好几次农产品集市。 Many people who sell goods at these markets are members of a cooperative farming program supported by the Intervale Center. This is a nonprofit group that helps develop land and farm-based businesses in and around the city of Burlington. 在这些市场销售的很多人是农业合作项目的成员,该项目是由低地中心所赞助的。该机构是非营利组织,帮助发展柏林顿及其周边的土地和农产业经济。 One of its most successful operations is the farm incubator program. Through the program the Intervale Center provides low-cost land to new and established farmers. In addition, members share equipment, business services and technical assistance. Each incubator farm is required to use organic growing methods. 其中最成功的经营是农场的孵化项目。通过这个项目,低地中心提供给农民们的低价土地。此外,成员们同享设备,贸易服务,和技术指导。每一个孵化农村都需要利用有机种植方式。 Intervale does not support dairy framing, but Shelburne Farms near Burlington does. The nonprofit working farm is one of the biggest and oldest cheese producers in Vermont. Its award-winning cheddar is made from the milk of Brown Swiss cows. 低地中心并不支持牛奶及乳制品产业,但是临近柏林顿的谢尔本农村支持。这项非营利运营农场是佛蒙特最大最老的奶酪生产基地。曾荣获讲章的切达干酪便是由布朗·斯维斯的牛奶加工制造。 Shelburne Farms also supports community education programs. Each year more than 100,000 people visit the farm which overlooks Lake Champlain. 谢尔本农场同样支持社区教育项目,每一年超过10万人次参观农场,这甚至超过了参观尚普兰湖的人数。 Lila Vanderbilt Webb founded Shelburne Farms in 1886. The Vanderbilts are an important family in American history. She was the granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. 莱拉·范德比尔特·韦伯于1886年成立的谢尔本农场,范德比尔特家在美国历史上是重要的家族。她是康内留斯·范德比尔特的孙女,康内留斯·范德比尔特通过经营船舶和铁路行业,积累了他的财富。 Would you like sprinkles on your Chunky Monkey? One of the best-known companies in Vermont is Ben and Jerry's. It sells ice cream around the country with names like Cherry Garcia and Chunky Monkey. The British-and-Dutch company Unilever bought Ben and Jerry's in 2000. 你喜欢胖猴子奶昔上的星星点点吗? 佛蒙特最著名的公司之一便是班杰利公司。该公司的冰激凌全国畅销,如樱桃加西亚、胖猴子奶昔。2000年British-and-Dutch联合利华公司收购了班杰利公司。 Ben and Jerry's even has a small graveyard with markers for flavors that have been retired. The graveyard is behind its factory in the small town of Waterbury. 班杰利公司甚至在它被收购后,拥有了一个小小的标志调料的墓地。这个目的在沃特伯里的一个小镇一所工厂的后面。 Hold me, squeeze me, I’m guaranteed for life! 拥抱我,关心我,我为生活保驾护航 Also in Waterbury is a store operated by the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. Toy bears sold in the United States are commonly made in China. But the company says it hand-produces the only bear made in America and guaranteed for life. And it ships its products around the world. The bears can come specially dressed -- for example, for events like weddings, birthdays or holidays. 沃特伯里一个商店由佛蒙特泰迪熊工厂。美国销售的玩具熊一般都是中国制造。但是该商店称其销售的小熊只是美国制造,确保了生活的质量。并将其产品船载世界。这些熊都是穿着特别的服装——甚至有的是婚礼服,生日或者假日服装。 No matter what road you take to the Ben and Jerry's factory or the Vermont Teddy Bear store, chances are you will cross a covered bridge. Bridges protected by structures that look like barns represent historic small-town America. There are just over 100 covered bridges remaining in Vermont. Most were built in the 1800s. 不管你去班杰利工程或者佛蒙特泰迪熊商店的哪条道上,你会通过一条被保护的桥。这些桥是被象征美国古老小城镇的仓房结构保护着。在佛蒙特共有100多架这样被保护的桥,其中大多数都是在1800年代建造的。 Our trip to Vermont would not be complete without a stop at Huntington Gorge. This is a deep, narrow cut in the earth. Water from the Huntington River flows through the gorge at a high rate of speed. 我们的佛蒙特之旅不会结束,直到我们停靠在亨廷顿峡谷之站。这是地球很深、很狭的切口,亨廷顿河流的水以高速流入峡谷。 Huntington Gorge is another reminder to visitors that nature has made its mark on Vermont. It is perhaps the best example of water sculpture in Vermont. It is truly a natural work of art. A series of deep drops along the gorge end in pools of dark blue, green and clear water. 亨廷顿峡谷是另一个提旅游者大自然在佛蒙特留下浓妆一笔的地方。这里或许是佛蒙特水雕刻最好的例子。这确实是大自然的艺术品。沿着峡谷很多深滴落入深蓝色、绿色或者清澈的池中。 Smooth white rock formations force the water through the path of the gorge. Rainbows of color fill the air along with the music of bubbles and rushing water. 光滑的白色岩石结构使得水流穿过峡谷而过,美丽的彩虹在天空闪烁,伴随着汩汩而流的水流音乐。 And speaking of music, if you’ve been wondering about the song we’ve been playing from time to time, perhaps you’d like to imagine a large full moon rising over the Vermont landscape…as songs writers John Blackburn and Karl Suessdorf must have done. 说到了音乐,如果你曾经对我们一直播放一遍又一遍的音乐感兴趣,那或许你会想象一下,一轮明月从佛蒙特的地平线上冉冉升起……如同词作者约翰·布兰卡布尼和卡尔·苏斯达夫所完成的歌曲一样。 [Margaret Whiting sings “Moonlight In Vermont”] Pennies in a stream, falling leaves, a sycamore Moonlight in Vermont Icy finger waves, ski trails on a mountain side Snow-light in Vermont Telegraph cables, they sing down the highway And travel each bend in the road People who meet in this romantic setting Are so hypnotized by the lovely Evening summer breeze Warbling of a meadowlark Moonlight in Vermont You and I, and moonlight in Vermont 玛格丽特·怀德的歌曲《佛蒙特的月色》 潺潺的流水,飘落的叶子,一颗梧桐树 佛蒙特的月色 指尖擦过冰冷的高山上的滑雪道 佛蒙特缓缓的柔雪 电报电缆,在高速道路上唱歌 在弯弯曲曲的路上穿梭 在这样浪漫场景里相遇的人们 被这夏日的微微晚风所催眠 草地鹨的颤音 佛蒙特的月色 你和我,还有那佛蒙特的月色。 This song became Vermont’s unofficial state song. It’s unusual in that the lines do not rhyme. And it doesn’t seem to matter one little bit. By the way, Vermont doesn’t really have a lot of sycamore trees, or meadowlarks, for that matter. John Blackburn, who wrote the words, can be excused – He was actually from Ohio. Margaret Whiting recorded this classic version of the song the same year it was written, 1944. 这首歌成为了佛蒙特非官方的州歌。这首歌的每一行并不都押韵,这是与众不同的,但这个似乎并不太重要。佛蒙特并没有很多的梧桐树,或者草地鹨,这才是重点。约翰·布兰卡布尼写下了这些歌词,可以理解——他实质上来自俄亥俄州。1944年这首歌曲被创作,同年,玛格丽特·怀德发布了这张具备古典色彩的单曲。 Evening summer breeze Warbling of a meadowlark Moonlight in Vermont You and I, and moonlight in Vermont 被这夏日的微微晚风所催眠 草地鹨的颤音 佛蒙特的月色 你和我,还有那佛蒙特的月色。 我是斯蒂芬·艾伯格,希望你会喜欢我们这次的绿色山脉之州的旅程,甚至佛蒙特月色陪伴着我们。诚挚地邀请你下周继续加入到另一程“这里是美国”的美国之音英语学习。 |
原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/voa/2014/4/255868.html |