VOA慢速英语 2009 012b

HOST:

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC¹ in VOA Special English.

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I'm Doug Johnson. This week…

We listen to music from young singer Jazmine Sullivan…

Answer a listener question about the word 'mosaic'…

And, head to Miami, Florida for a visit to an unusual museum…

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The Wolfsonian Museum

HOST:

The Wolfsonian Museum in Miami Beach, Florida is filled with modern design objects that tell a story about political, social and technological² change. It was formed in nineteen eighty-six to house the decorative³ and propaganda⁴ collection of Mitchell Wolfson. Now the museum is part of Florida International University. The museum's exhibits provide a lesson in modern European and American history. Faith Lapidus has more.

FAITH LAPIDUS:
　

Part of an oil painting by Leo A. Raiken from the New Deal period

Visitors to the Wolfsonian Museum last month received a bold red printed brochure filled with propaganda. The brochure called itself a form of propaganda designed to persuade, teach and influence visitors to the museum. It says visitors should think about the objects around them and ask how they were made and for what social and political reasons.

These ideas are repeated in the museum's current exhibitions. One exhibit is about American President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal" plan. His plan included programs to help the country recover from the failing economy of the nineteen thirties. One federal program employed artists to capture images of American life.

In this exhibit, you can see examples of this public art effort. There are striking⁵ images of poor farmers by photographers including Dorothea Lange. Some artists were hired to create large paintings for the inside of government buildings. These paintings show Americans hard at work in different industries.
　

An example of a fan with streamlined design

Other artists made posters to advertise government programs. The images on these posters are meant to express the strength of the government. The objects in the exhibit tell a story about government expansion during a difficult period in American history.

Another exhibit is about American "streamlined" design. Streamlining developed from scientific studies aimed to reduce the wind and water resistance of ships, trains and cars. In the nineteen thirties, industrial designers began to make cars and other objects with smooth, curving lines. Streamlining soon extended to furniture and other objects for the house and office. The look became a sign of scientific progress and modernity.

The museum's permanent collection contains propaganda posters from the United States and Europe. The bold images were made to capture the hearts and minds of citizens. They tell stories of war, peace, industry, and politics.

About American Mosaic

HOST:

Our listener question this week comes from China. Shen wants to know the meaning of "American Mosaic," the name of this program.

We will begin with a little history.

The Special English staff decided⁶ to broadcast a new radio magazine program in nineteen eighty-five. We wanted a special show for young people. We wanted to report on American culture, answer questions from listeners and play popular music. But we could not agree about what to call the program. It was first broadcast under a very simple and uninteresting name, "The Friday Program."

So, we turned to our listeners for help. We announced a contest for listeners to send in suggestions for better names.

Two people won the contest. Listeners from China and Egypt both suggested the same name: "American Mosaic." Mosaic is spelled m-o-s-a-i-c. The dictionary says that the word "mosaic" means a picture or design that is made by placing small colored pieces together. You can see colorful mosaics⁷ in art and in designs on buildings.

We chose the name "American Mosaic" because the purpose of the show is to create a picture of life in the United States through many small stories. Each story is different, like the different pieces of a mosaic. But together, they form a complete picture. We hope American Mosaic provides a complete and interesting picture of life in the United States.

If you have questions about life in America, we might be able to answer them on this program. Send your questions to [email protected]. Or go to our Web site, voaspecialenglish.com and click on Contact Us on the left side. Or write to American Mosaic, VOA Special English, Washington, D.C., two-zero-two-three-seven, U.S.A. Whichever way you contact us, please include your full name and where you live.

Jazmine Sullivan

HOST:

Singer and songwriter Jazmine Sullivan has a voice unlike most popular young singers today. Her voice is strong, edgy⁸ and emotional. Her first album, "Fearless," was released recently. It has won her five Grammy nominations⁹ including best new artist and best rhythm and blues¹⁰ album. Katherine Cole has more.

KATHERINE COLE:
　

Jazmine Sullivan

Jazmine Sullivan uses imagination and storytelling to write songs. She wrote all the songs on her album "Fearless." The songs describe many deeply emotional situations. In the song "Bust¹¹ Your Windows" she sings about a lover who has treated her badly. Her hurt and anger results in property damage.

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Jazmine Sullivan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The twenty-one year old singer began performing at a very young age. She went on to perform at the city's popular Black Lily event. Black Lily is an organization that supports women artists, especially musicians and filmmakers.

Sullivan says when she was writing and recording¹² songs for her album she knew she had to develop her own style. She says she did not know reggae music well, but was not afraid to try new musical styles. Her efforts made "Need U Bad" a hit song.

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We leave you with another song from Jazmine Sullivan's album "Fearless." Here she sings "Lions, Tigers and Bears."

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HOST:

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

It was written by Dana Demange, Lawan Davis and Caty Weaver¹³, 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 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

3 decorative   

adj.装饰的，可作装饰的

参考例句：

• This ware is suitable for decorative purpose but unsuitable for utility.这种器皿中看不中用。
• The style is ornate and highly decorative.这种风格很华丽，而且装饰效果很好。

4 propaganda   

n.宣传，宣传机构

参考例句：

• A lot of propaganda has painted him as bad.大量宣传把他说得很坏。
• Art may be used as a vehicle for propaganda.艺术可以用作为宣传的媒介。

5 striking   

adj.显著的，惹人注目的，容貌出众的

参考例句：

• There is a striking difference between Jane and Mary.简和玛丽之间有显著的差异。
• What is immediately striking is how resourceful the children are.最令人注目的是孩子们的机智聪明。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 mosaics   

n.马赛克( mosaic的名词复数 )；镶嵌；镶嵌工艺；镶嵌图案

参考例句：

• The panel shows marked similarities with mosaics found elsewhere. 这块嵌板和在其他地方找到的镶嵌图案有明显的相似之处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The unsullied and shining floor was paved with white mosaics. 干净明亮的地上镶嵌着白色图案。 来自辞典例句

8 edgy   

adj.不安的；易怒的

参考例句：

• She's been a bit edgy lately,waiting for the exam results.她正在等待考试结果，所以最近有些焦躁不安。
• He was nervous and edgy, still chain-smoking.他紧张不安，还在一根接一根地抽着烟。

9 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

10 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

11 bust   

vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部

参考例句：

• I dropped my camera on the pavement and bust it. 我把照相机掉在人行道上摔坏了。
• She has worked up a lump of clay into a bust.她把一块黏土精心制作成一个半身像。

12 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。

13 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。