VOA慢速英语2010年-AMERICAN MOSAIC - So This Lakers Fan W

DOUG JOHNSON: I’m Doug Johnson.

Today we listen to music from the soundtrack of “Eclipse,” the latest film in the “Twilight” series.

We also answer a question about a famous former soccer player.

But first we go to a sports bar in Washington for the final game of this year’s National Basketball Association¹ championship.

(MUSIC)

DOUG JOHNSON: Tens of thousands of basketball fans lined the streets of Los Angeles on Monday to watch a victory parade. They were celebrating the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association championship game. Shirley Griffith has more.

SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: The Celtics led the series three games to two. They needed just one more victory to win the best-of-seven games series and the NBA title. But the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant scored twenty-six points in game six to force a game seven in Los Angeles last Thursday.

The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate their 16th NBA championship -- which puts them one short of tying the record held by the Boston Celtics

Our summer intern², Mike DeFabo, visited a sports bar in Washington for the game. He talked with some fans watching the game on television.

RYAN: “Well, it’s getting toward³ the end of the week. So I just called some friends. It’s game seven so we figured it would be a pretty good game, pretty close. Why not, come celebrate the end of the week with a beer and a good basketball game. Being here definitely⁴ helps me get more into the game. I mean the crowd seems to be into it. Even just people at the bar are cheering for big shots.”

ZACK: “I respect Kobe [Bryant]. I respect his game. I think he’s one of the top five players probably of all time. I wouldn’t want to be his teammate. I think if I was a Lakers fan or Kobe was on my team that would be something I’d really look forward to as a sports fan. But he’s also kind of that great sport enemy that we can all sort of love to hate.”

GINA: “I’m a Lakers fan. I always have been since Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and back in the good old days. I didn’t realize this is a Red Sox bar which would kind of mean that it’s a Celtics bar, too. But it feels kind of good watching the Celtics fans walk away sad.”

The Lakers played from behind for most of the game. They were losing by as many as thirteen points in the second half. That was until Ron Artest tied the game with a little more than seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Sasha Vujacic closed the game out for the Lakers. He hit two free throws in the final seconds to give Los Angeles an eighty-three to seventy-nine victory.

Kobe Bryant was named most valuable player in the finals for the second straight year. He averaged almost thirty points per game. This was his fifth NBA championship. Bryant said this championship is sweeter than the rest because it came against the Celtics.

The two teams have met twelve times in the championship series. They last played against each other in the finals in two thousand eight. The Celtics won that series in six games.

This was the Lakers sixteenth championship in team history. They moved one championship closer to the NBA record. The record is held by none other than the Boston Celtics, who have won seventeen titles.

(SOUND)

DOUG JOHNSON: This week’s listener question comes from Jorge Shinozaki in Japan. While the World Cup is being played in South Africa, our listener wants to know more about the famous American soccer player Cobi Jones.

Cobi Jones was one of the most successful soccer players in America. He won championships at the college and professional level. And he was named United States Soccer Player of the Year. But he was not always a star.

Cobi Jones was born in nineteen seventy. When he was seven years old his coach told him he was not a good player. He thought the boy should give up the sport. Instead, Cobi tried even harder.

In nineteen eighty-eight Cobi Jones went to the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. At first, he was not seen as a great soccer player. But he became a star. He helped his team win the nineteen ninety college championship. The following year, Jones set a school record with eighteen assists⁵. He was named an All-American. The governing body for college sports gives All-American honors⁶ to the best players in every sport.

After college, Cobi Jones played professionally in England and Brazil. Then in nineteen ninety-six, he came back to America to play for the newly⁷ formed Major League Soccer. It did not take long for Jones to make his mark on his new team, the Los Angeles Galaxy⁸.

Jones spent eleven years with the team. Nineteen ninety-eight was his best year in the MLS. He scored nineteen goals and assisted⁹ in thirteen more. He was named United States Soccer Athlete of the Year. He led the Galaxy to the MLS Cup Championships in two thousand two and two thousand five.

At the same time, Jones also played for the United States national team. He played on three World Cup teams, including the two thousand two team that reached the quarterfinals. In total, Jones played in one hundred sixty-four international games. That is the most of any American player.

Cobi Jones played his final game with the national team in two thousand four. He retired¹⁰ from Major League Soccer in two thousand seven. The Los Angeles Galaxy honored¹¹ him by retiring his number. He is now an assistant coach with the Galaxy.

(MUSIC)

DOUG JOHNSON: Next week, vampire¹² fans across the United States will be racing¹³ to theaters to see the movie “Eclipse.” This is the third movie based on the “Twilight Saga” series of books written by Stephenie Meyer. Songs from the movie were recently released¹⁴ on a new album. It expresses the movie’s difficult love story between a young woman and a vampire and the battle they must prepare to fight. Faith Lapidus tells us more.

(MUSIC)

FAITH LAPIDUS: That was the song “Let’s Get Lost” performed by Beck and Natasha Khan, also known as Bat for Lashes¹⁵. It is one of fifteen songs on the best-selling album “Eclipse.”

The producers of the album considered hundreds of different songs. Paul Katz says they wanted to create a great musical experience for people whether or not they are fans of the “Twilight” movies. He says his team chose well known musicians as well as newly discovered bands. The music also had to express the rising tension¹⁶ in the movie as characters prepare for battle.

Here is the song “What Part of Forever” performed by Cee Lo Green.

(MUSIC)

We leave you with the song “Eclipse (All Yours)” by the Canadian band Metric¹⁷. To create this song, the band worked closely¹⁸ with Howard Shore, the music writer for the movie “Eclipse.” The song is about fearlessly loving someone no matter the cost.

(MUSIC)

DOUG JOHNSON: I'm Doug Johnson. Our program was written by Dana Demange and Michael DeFabo who was also the producer.

You can find transcripts¹⁹, MP3s and podcasts of our shows at voaspecialenglish.com. If you have a question about American life, send an e-mail to [e-mail]. We might answer in on this show. Please remember to tell us your name and where you live.

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

 

1 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

2 intern   

v.拘禁，软禁；n.实习生

参考例句：

• I worked as an intern in that firm last summer.去年夏天我在那家商行实习。
• The intern bandaged the cut as the nurse looked on.这位实习生在护士的照看下给病人包扎伤口。

3 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

4 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

5 assists   

n.协助次数v.帮助，促进( assist的第三人称单数 )；为…的助手；为…当帮手；辅助

参考例句：

• This chemical assists in construction of muscle, bone and other tissues. 这种化学物质有助于建造肌肉、骨骼和其它组织。 来自辞典例句
• The congregation assists at divine service. 会众参加圣礼。 来自辞典例句

6 honors   

n.礼仪；荣典；礼节； 大学荣誉学位；大学优等成绩；尊敬( honor的名词复数 )；敬意；荣誉；光荣

参考例句：

• He aims at honors. 他力求名誉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We did the last honors to his remains. 我们向他的遗体告别。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 newly   

adv.新近，最近；重新，再度；以新的方式

参考例句：

• Have you reviewed for this newly published novel?你给这本新出版的小说写书评了吗？
• It is a newly planted tree and it has not established yet.这是一颗新栽的树，还没有扎下根来。

8 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

9 assisted   

adj.[计]辅助的v.帮助，促进( assist的过去式和过去分词 )；为…的助手；为…当帮手；辅助

参考例句：

• We were ably assisted by a team of volunteers. 我们得到一批志愿者的大力协助。
• The nurse assisted with the preparation of the medicine. 护士帮助准备药品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 honored   

adj.光荣的：荣幸的v.尊敬，给以荣誉( honor的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I hope to be honored with further orders. 如蒙惠顾，不胜荣幸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This is a time-honored custom. 这是一个古老的习俗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 vampire   

n.吸血鬼

参考例句：

• It wasn't a wife waiting there for him but a blood sucking vampire!家里的不是个老婆，而是个吸人血的妖精！
• Children were afraid to go to sleep at night because of the many legends of vampire.由于听过许多有关吸血鬼的传说，孩子们晚上不敢去睡觉。

13 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

14 released   

v.释放( release的过去式和过去分词 )；放开；发布；发行

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• With hindsight it is easy to say they should not have released him. 事后才说他们本不应该释放他，这倒容易。

15 lashes   

n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥

参考例句：

• Mother always lashes out food for the children's party. 孩子们聚会时，母亲总是给他们许多吃的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Never walk behind a horse in case it lashes out. 绝对不要跟在马后面，以防它突然猛踢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 tension   

n.(紧张)状态；拉(绷)紧；张力，拉力

参考例句：

• I could feel the tension in the room. 我可以感觉到房间里的紧张气氛。
• Relaxaion is better than tension. 缓和比紧张好。

17 metric   

adj.公制的，米制的，十进制的；n.度量标准，公制，米制，十进制

参考例句：

• In the metric system,measurements are made in metres and liters.在公制中，用米和升作计量单位。
• The metric system is fit to all of the world. 公制适用于全世界。

18 closely   

adv.紧密地；严密地，密切地

参考例句：

• We shall follow closely the development of the situation.我们将密切注意形势的发展。
• The two companies are closely tied up with each other.这两家公司之间有密切联系。

19 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句

20 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。