VOA慢速英语2020 各国餐厅"出奇招"保持社交距离

Operators¹ of one of the country's most famous restaurants say mannequins can add some fun and help with social distancing in public places. The Inn² at Little Washington has placed several throughout its eating area, or dining room. The restaurant in Virginia plans to reopen its dining room May 29, as the state is expected to ease³ restrictions⁴ on gatherings⁵ inside restaurants.

作为美国最著名的餐馆之一，“小华盛顿餐厅”的经营者表示，人体模型可以增加一些乐趣，而且有助于在公共场所保持社交距离。“小华盛顿餐厅”在整个餐厅都安置了几个假人模型。这家位于弗吉尼亚州的餐厅计划于5月29日重新营业，因为该州预计将放松对餐厅内聚会的限制。

The mannequins wear 1940s-style clothing and sit at several tables. The Inn is in the low hills of the Blue Ridge⁶ Mountains about 90 minutes by car from Washington, D.C.

假人模特身穿40年代风格的服装，坐在几张桌子前。这家餐厅位于蓝岭山脉的低山丘上，距华盛顿特区大约90分钟的车程。

"When we needed to solve the problem of social distancing and reducing our restaurant's occupancy by half, the solution seemed obvious," Patrick O'Connell said in a statement. He is chef and owner of the restaurant. He said the mannequins create the required space between guests. But, he said they also bring smiles to faces and might be used to make some fun photos.

帕特里克·奥康奈尔（Patrick O'Connell）在一份声明中说：“为了解决保持社交距离的问题，并且将餐厅的上座率降低一半，解决方案似乎显而易见。”他是这家餐馆的厨师和老板。他表示，人体模型可以让顾客之间保持足够的空间。而且，他指出，人体模型也能给顾客带来乐趣，还可以拍摄一些有趣的照片。

O'Connell's restaurant is not the only one trying out unusual ideas to ease the practice of social distancing.

奥康奈尔的餐厅并不是唯一一家尝试用新奇的思路来解决社交距离的餐厅。

In Maryland, for example, a coastal⁷ restaurant is using "bumper⁹ tables" to welcome back dine-in guests. The round, one-person tables have an air-filled tube around them and wheels at the bottom. Guests can move them around and bump⁸ into other tables for fun while keeping a 2-meter distance between people.

例如，在马里兰州，一家沿海餐馆正在使用“反弹桌”来欢迎就餐的客人。圆形的单人桌周围有一根充气管，底部有轮子。客人们可以随意移动桌子，与其他桌子的客人碰撞，同时双方保持2米的社交距离。

And in Germany, a restaurant is trying to keep guests at a cafe at a safe distance by providing them hats to wear. The hats have two pool noodles attached to the top. The hats look funny but also help guests quickly realize if they get too close to others. The restaurant also has limited its dine-in service by more than 50 percent.

在德国，一家餐馆正试图通过向顾客提供帽子，来保持安全的社交距离。帽子顶部有两个游泳专用的圆形浮条。这些帽子看起来十分逗趣，而且可以帮助客人立刻意识到是否离其他人过近。这家餐厅还将店内的上座率限制在50%以上。

What funny or unusual things are restaurants or stores in your area doing to keep visitors at a safe distance? Tell us in the comments.

你所在地区的餐馆或商店有什么逗趣或反常的奇招来让顾客保持安全距离的吗？请在评论中告诉我们。

I'm Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

mannequin - n. a figure shaped like a human body that is used for making or displaying clothes

obvious - adj. easy to see or notice

chef - n. a professional cook who usually is in charge of a kitchen in a restaurant

photo - n. a picture made by a camera

pool noodle - n. a cylinder-shaped piece of foam that is used by people when swimming

1 operators   

n.（某企业的）经营者( operator的名词复数 )；（机器、设备等的）操作员；电话接线员；投机取巧者

参考例句：

• A plethora of new operators will be allowed to enter the market. 大批新的运营商将获准进入该市场。 来自辞典例句
• Green house operators have considerable opportunity for precise manipulation of nutrients. 温室管理员有很多机会来准确控制养分。 来自辞典例句

2 inn   

n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店，小饭店

参考例句：

• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。
• We stayed in a small village inn,right off the map.我们住在一家偏僻的乡村小店里。

3 ease   

n. 安乐,安逸,悠闲; v. 使...安乐,使...安心,减轻,放松

参考例句：

• His mind was at ease and he felt confident in the future. 他心情舒畅,对前途很有信心。
• You should ease up on the child and stop scolding her. 你应该对那个孩子宽松些,不要再骂她了。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

6 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

7 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

8 bump   

v.（against,into）碰，颠簸；n.碰撞，隆起物

参考例句：

• I heard a bump in the next room.我听到隔壁房间传来“砰”的一声。
• He got a bad bump on his forehead.他碰得前额隆起一个大包。

9 bumper   

n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的

参考例句：

• The painting represents the scene of a bumper harvest.这幅画描绘了丰收的景象。
• This year we have a bumper harvest in grain.今年我们谷物丰收。