VOA慢速英语-AMERICAN MOSAIC - What Is the Best Place to Visit in

Also: The story behind the century-old song ''Take Me Out to the Ballgame.'' And music by performers at the JVC Jazz Festival taking place in New York. Transcript¹ of radio broadcast:
26 June 2008

HOST:

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC² in VOA Special English.

(MUSIC)

I’m Doug Johnson.

Today we play music from performers at a jazz festival in New York City …

Answer a question about the best place to visit in the United States …

And celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”

(MUSIC)

''Take Me Out To The Ballgame''

HOST:

It is believed to be the third most popular song that Americans sing. It is one hundred years old. And people sing it at baseball games. Barbara Klein tells us what it is.

BARBARA KLEIN:

Experts say there are probably more than one thousand songs about baseball, America's national sport. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is the most popular. Jack³ Norworth wrote the song in nineteen-oh-eight. He was a young actor who had never been to a Major League baseball game. But one day, he saw a sign about baseball in an underground subway train in New York City. He wrote the words to the song. When he got to work, his partner, Albert Von Tilzer, put the words to music. Von Tilzer had never been to a baseball game, either. This is the first recording⁴ of that song.

(MUSIC)

Tim Wiles⁵ is head of research at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. He is one of the writers of a new book, "Baseball's Greatest Hit: The Story of Take Me Out to the Ballgame." He says Jack Norworth wrote the song about a young woman who tells her boyfriend she does not want to go see a show on Broadway. She wants him to take her to a baseball game.

"Take Me Out to the Ballgame" became very popular in nineteen-oh-eight. And it has been played at American baseball games ever since. But it was not until the mid⁶ nineteen seventies that it became a popular sing-along tradition.

Near the end of the game everyone is tired of sitting on the hard seats. So at a special time, everyone stands up and stretches their legs. This tradition is called "the seventh inning stretch." At most baseball stadiums, everyone sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

(MUSIC)

Only two other songs are reportedly sung more often in the United States than "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." They are "Happy Birthday to You" and the national anthem⁷, "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Oh, the Place You Will Go

HOST:

Our listener question this week comes from Guatemala. Julio Rolando Pineda Cordón asks where to go for the best educational and cultural experience if you could only visit one place in the United States. We talked to people from different parts of the country to get their opinions.

Jenny Franchina is a mother and homemaker in Beverly Hills, California. It is an area of Los Angeles that has big houses, costly⁸ stores and many movie stars. But it is not the place Jenny suggests for your visit.
　

New York City

She says the answer to the question is three words --- New York City. She says New York has it all, including a mix of many cultures. Huge numbers of immigrants settled and continue to settle in different areas of the city. Chinatown is one example. You can find Chinese food, movies, bookstores, as well as special Chinese medicines, art and toys. Other great ethnic⁹ neighborhoods include Little Italy and Spanish Harlem.

There is also a major Greek community in Astoria, and a large South Asian population in Jackson Heights. You can find the food, music, art and other cultural treasures from many countries.

But New York is not the place Connie and Jim Birmingham would visit. They own a farm in Marion, Iowa. Jim is a cattleman. Connie is retired¹⁰. They agree that a big city is a good choice. But, the Birminghams vote for Chicago, Illinois. Connie says it has all the culture you can find in New York. And, she thinks the building design in Chicago is even more exciting. She says Chicago’s skyline along the huge, blue Lake Michigan is one of the most beautiful sights in America.
　

Washington, D.C.

Rick Gulino lives in Wilmington, Delaware. He is a lawyer and father of two girls. He says the place to visit is Washington, D.C. He says it is especially interesting as the capital of the United States. He loves the many monuments and memorials. And he notes that the city is close to both mountains and ocean beaches. He also says he likes the people of Washington.

One note from us: The United States is not just a country of big cities. It offers great spots for nature lovers, too. There are deserts, canyons¹¹, volcanoes, rivers and swamps¹², just to list a few. Another program, perhaps?

JVC Jazz Fest

HOST:

The JVC Jazz Festival takes place in cities around the United States and Europe. The JVC electronics¹³ company has been organizing major jazz festivals since nineteen eighty-four. Faith Lapidus tells us about the one being held in New York city.

FAITH LAPIDUS:
　

Al Green

The JVC Jazz Festival New York opened June fifteenth. The shows are taking place at several theaters, clubs and music centers. This closing weekend includes a show Friday featuring Al Green and Dianne Reeves at Carnegie Hall. Here Reeves sings the title track of her latest album, “When You Know.”

(MUSIC)

Al Green will surely perform some songs from his just released album, “Lay It Down.” Here he sings “Take Your Time,” with British artist Corinne Bailey Rae.

(MUSIC)
　

Herbie Hancock

The great composer and pianist Herbie Hancock performed at Carnegie Hall last week. Here is his famous piece, “Watermelon Man.”

(MUSIC)

Some of the musicians at the JVC Jazz Festival New York are not as famous as others. For example, a three-member group called The Bad Plus has been performing for eight years. Critics say they are very popular with young jazz fans. We leave you with a song from their latest recording, “Prog.” Here is “Giant.”

(MUSIC)

HOST:

I'm Doug Johnson. I hope you enjoyed our program today.

It was written by Shelley Gollust and Caty Weaver¹⁴, who was also our producer. To read the text of this program and download audio, go to voaspecialenglish.com.

Join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC, VOA’s radio magazine in Special English.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 mosaic   

n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的

参考例句：

• The sky this morning is a mosaic of blue and white.今天早上的天空是幅蓝白相间的画面。
• The image mosaic is a troublesome work.图象镶嵌是个麻烦的工作。

3 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

4 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。

5 wiles   

n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All her wiles were to persuade them to buy the goods. 她花言巧语想打动他们买这些货物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The woman used all her wiles to tempt him into following her. 那女人用尽了自己的诱骗本领勾引着他尾随而去。 来自《用法词典》

6 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

7 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

8 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

9 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

10 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

11 canyons   

n.峡谷( canyon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This mountain range has many high peaks and deep canyons. 这条山脉有许多高峰和深谷。 来自辞典例句
• Do you use canyons or do we preserve them all? 是使用峡谷呢还是全封闭保存？ 来自互联网

12 swamps   

沼泽（地）( swamp的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• On the floor of the basins lie deserts, lakes and swamps. 这几个盆地的底部有沙漠、湖泊和沼泽。
• The lowest parts of the flood plain may form "back-swamps". 河漫滩最低的部分可以形成河漫滩沼泽。

13 electronics   

n.电子器件，电子学，电子技术

参考例句：

• About 45000 people worked in electronics in Scotland.苏格兰约有4.5万人在电子行业工作。
• He wants to brush up his knowledge of electronics.他想温习他的电子学知识。

14 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。