VOA慢速英语2014 艺术家为无家可归的流浪者打造小房子

 

Artist Creates Homes for the Homeless 艺术家为无家可归的流浪者打造小房子

Welcome to American Mosaic¹ from VOA Learning² English. I’m Caty Weaver³.

An artist in Oakland, California is using his skills to help the homeless. Greg Kloehn builds very small shelters that make life on the streets a little more comfortable. The structures offer the homeless some safety and protection from bad weather. Each little house also has wheels on the bottom so it can go wherever its owner goes.

Greg Kloehn has given away at least 20 tiny houses. Several are on the roadside near an active railroad⁴. On a recent day, Mr. Kloehn stops at one to visit Oscar Young. The two men hug.

“I like to help them. Sure. I mean it's fun for me. I like to make things, and do something that makes a big impact⁵ on someone’s life is good.”

Inside his little shelter Mr. Young gets relief from cold nights on the streets.

“Well, it is better than living on the ground, to tell you the truth, because if it was not for Greg, I would be still on the ground.”

Mr. Kloehn also visits Sweet-Pea, another friend who also lives in one of the little homes the artist built. She says it keeps her safe and protects her belongings⁶.

“I love my house.”

In the mornings, Mr. Kloehn searches the streets for building materials. He gathers what he can and takes it to his studio. There, he puts the houses together.

“I mean, I've been in the middle of the building process, run out of materials, gotten in my truck, drove around to look for something. That’s my shopping.”

A cabinet⁷ door becomes a window cover. Pallets, flat wooden structures used in transport and storage, become walls.

“Here’s a pallet. The top is a door.”

The artist also attaches a small electrical device⁸ to the house.  The device is powered by the sun.

“I put it on a light, you know, an old lamp, so you could move it around.  You can keep it optimum⁹ just to the sun.”

Empty coffee bags become roof material. A washing machine door and refrigerator part become windows. Nails, screws¹⁰ and the sticky¹¹ substance glue hold all the pieces together.

“I kind of call them the fruits of the urban jungle.  Here's what's dropping. Here's these natural resources that we can use.”

Some of the people living on the streets once had normal houses of their own. But Sheila Williams says she has learned¹² to live with less.

“I had it all just like you people do out there. But now look at me now. I'm  living in one of Greg’s houses, and I am thankful to that man.”

The Kloehn home owners have collected wood and other found materials for future building efforts. Sheila Williams gives the artist a picture of flowers that looks almost new.

Words in this Story

skills – n. abilities gained from training or experience

protection – n. something that keeps a person or thing from being harmed, lost, etc.: something that protects someone or something

belongings – n. the things that belong to a person: possessions

shelter – n. a structure that gives protection; a place of safety

roof – n. the cover or top of a building, vehicle, etc.

“When I finish the homes off, they sometimes come with art work, everything installed¹³.

Mr. Kloehn says his work is not a social project. He says he is just someone using his skills to help his homeless neighbors.

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 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

3 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。

4 railroad   

n.铁路；vi.由铁路运输

参考例句：

• The railroad connects two cities,namely,New York and Chicago.这条铁路连接两个城市，即纽约与芝加哥。
• My brother is working on the railroad.我兄弟在铁路系统工作。

5 impact   

n.冲击，碰撞；影响；vt.装紧，压紧

参考例句：

• The computer had made a great impact on modern life.计算机对现代生活产生了巨大的影响.
• How will the war impact on such a poet?战争对这样一个诗人会产生什么影响？

6 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

7 cabinet   

n.内阁，内阁会议；(带玻璃门存物品的)橱柜

参考例句：

• I keep my collection of old china in the cabinet.我把古瓷器收藏品存放在橱子里。
• He had held many important offices in the French cabinet.他在法国内阁中任过许多重要职务。

8 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

9 optimum   

adj.最合适的，最优的，最佳的

参考例句：

• Do you know the optimum temperature for the growth of plants?你知道庄稼生长的最佳温度吗？
• Now your advice is very optimum.现在你的建议是很适宜的。

10 screws   

n.螺丝钉( screw的名词复数 )；螺旋桨；监狱看守；性交对象v.用螺丝拧紧( screw的第三人称单数 )；拧上去；（和某人）性交；诈骗（钱财等）

参考例句：

• One of the screws is loose. 有一颗螺丝松了。
• The handle of this door is kept by two screws. 这扇门的把手用两枚螺丝钉固定。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 sticky   

adj.粘的，闷热的，困难的，令人不满意的

参考例句：

• This paste is not sticky enough.这糨糊不黏。
• Here is a sticky business!这事真难办！

12 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

13 installed   

安装( install的过去式和过去分词 )； 安顿； 安置； 使…正式就职

参考例句：

• He's getting a phone installed tomorrow. 他明天要装电话。
• A professionally installed alarm will cost from about ￡500. 请专业人员安装的警报器要花费至少500 英镑。