VOA慢速英语-AMERICAN MOSAIC - Scientist Randy Pausch Gives His '

HOST:

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC¹ in VOA Special English.

(MUSIC)

I'm Doug Johnson.

Today, we play music by three rock groups…

Answer a question about a beloved university professor who died last month…

And report on a Hall of Fame for Americans from New Jersey².

(MUSIC)

The New Jersey Hall of Fame

HOST:

What do scientist Albert Einstein, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, actress Meryl Streep and musician Bruce Springsteen have in common? Faith Lapidus has the answer.

FAITH LAPIDUS:

They are among the fifteen people who were chosen as the first members of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. These people were either born or lived in the eastern state of New Jersey. They were recognized for their influence on the state, the nation or the world.
　

Meryl Streep

Albert Einstein is considered the most important scientist of the twentieth century because of his theories about physics and mathematics. Born in Germany, he made New Jersey his home. Buzz Aldrin was the second human to walk on the moon. Meryl Streep has received more Academy Award nominations³ than any actor.

New Jersey is one of several American states that have established a Hall of Fame to honor its citizens, both living and dead. Thomas Edison was another famous citizen of New Jersey. He invented many of the devices we use every day, including the electric light bulb. Harriet Tubman helped free many African American slaves through a system known as the Underground Railroad. She used Cape⁴ May, New Jersey as her base.

General Norman Schwarzkopf was also chosen for the state's Hall of Fame. He was one of America's top military leaders. Yogi Berra was one of the best baseball players in history. He played for the New York Yankees and still lives in New Jersey.
　

Bruce Springsteen

We do not have time to tell you about all of the New Jersey Hall of Famers. But two of America's most popular singers were from that state. Frank Sinatra became famous in the nineteen forties. He was a major influence in American popular music for many years. Bruce Springsteen is a hero to many Americans. He expresses his love for New Jersey and America in his songs. One of his most famous songs is "Born In the U.S.A."

(MUSIC)

Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture"

HOST:

Our VOA listener question this week comes from China. Alex wants to know about Randy Pausch, who died July twenty-fifth of pancreatic cancer at the age of forty-seven.
　

Randy Pausch giving his ''last lecture''

Professor Pausch became famous around the world for a talk he gave to his students at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He gave the talk last September, after doctors told him he had only a few months left to live. He called it his "last lecture."

Randy Pausch was famous in his field of computer science. He taught videogame and virtual reality technology. He had helped develop a well known educational software tool called Alice. It lets students create three-dimensional computer animations⁵.

But Randy Pausch's last lecture was not about that subject. His talk was called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." Wall Street Journal reporter Jeffrey Zaslow reported on the talk. The newspaper's Web site broadcast a video of it on the Internet. Millions of people have seen it.

Professor Pausch spoke⁶ to about four hundred students. He said you have to play the cards you are dealt in life. How you play those cards is your only choice. In other words, he could not change the deadly cancer, but only how he lived his remaining days.

For the next hour or so, Professor Pausch talked about his childhood dreams. They included experiencing zero gravity. He told how he had reached this goal as an adult.

Some of his students won a NASA competition to use the space agency's astronaut weightlessness training equipment. NASA told Mister Pausch that as a professor he could not take part. So he thought up a new plan to get around the problem. He got a press pass and experienced zero gravity as a reporter. Mister Pausch told the story to demonstrate the barriers that people may find in the way of their dreams.

Randy Pausch also told his students that helping⁷ other people fulfill⁸ their childhood dreams was even more fun than reaching his own. He called on his fellow professors and students to go on without him and do great things.

Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow wrote a book together called "The Last Lecture." It became a best seller. It has been translated into thirty languages. Mister Pausch also raised money and awareness⁹ for pancreatic cancer research.

Randy Pausch left behind a wife and three very young children. He said the last lecture was meant to be a "message in a bottle that would one day wash up on the beach for my children."

Three Popular Rock Groups

HOST:

Today we play music by three popular rock groups. Nine Inch Nails, the Foxboro Hot Tubs and Elvis Costello have recently released new albums. One album is free. Another will seem very familiar. And, the last record we play is named after the inventor of a popular kind of noodles. Barbara Klein has more.

BARBARA KLEIN:

(MUSIC: "Discipline")
　

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails

That was the song "Discipline" from Nine Inch Nails' latest album, "The Slip."

Nine Inch Nails has been making industrial rock music since the late nineteen eighties. Trent Reznor is the main force behind the band. He writes, performs and produces the band's material. He has criticized the music industry and the record company that used to represent him. Nine Inch Nails' latest album is available free of charge on the band's Web site. The Web site states that the album is a way to thank fans for their continued support. And the band hopes people will remix the songs to create new versions.

(MUSIC: "27^th Ave. Shuffle¹⁰")
　

The Foxboro Hot Tubs are Green Day

That was the song "27^th Ave. Shuffle" by the Foxboro Hot Tubs. It may remind you of music by the band Green Day. That is because this is music by Green Day. Billie Joe Armstong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool of Green Day created this band as a side project. The new band's album is called "Stop, Drop and Roll." This is not the first time the members of Green Day have taken on a new identity. In two thousand three they performed as a band called The Network.
　

Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello recently released his new album "Momofuku," recorded with his band, the Imposters. It was named in honor of Momofuku Ando. He invented the world's first pre-cooked instant noodles. Costello chose this name because he recorded the album in only one week — almost instantly. "Momofuku" was first released on a vinyl record, then later as a CD. We leave you with Elvis Costello singing "Drum & Bone."

(MUSIC)

HOST:

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

It was written by Elizabeth Stern, Caty Weaver¹¹ and Dana Demange, who was also the producer. To read the text of this program and download audio, go to our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com.

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

1 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。

2 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

3 nominations   

n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句

4 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

5 animations   

n.生气( animation的名词复数 )；兴奋；动画片；（指电影、录像、电脑游戏的）动画制作

参考例句：

• You'll see your team cheerleaders and mascot performing new animations as well. 你会看到啦啦队队长跟吉祥物也都会有全新的动作。 来自互联网
• Ability to create simple movie and animations using graphic & multimedia software. 能够用平面和多媒体软件制作简单的电影及动画。 来自互联网

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

8 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

9 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

10 shuffle   

n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走

参考例句：

• I wish you'd remember to shuffle before you deal.我希望在你发牌前记得洗牌。
• Don't shuffle your feet along.别拖着脚步走。

11 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。