VOA常速英语2007年-Cutting Your Own Tree a Popular Christmas Tradi

By Tetiana Vorozhko
Washington, D.C.
21 December 2007
 
Christmas trees in the United States are not only a holiday tradition but big business as well. Every year Americans buy some 30 million live trees. They are grown at special farms like the 'Peper'mint Christmas Tree Farm in Virginia. VOA's Tetiana Vorozhko and Ruslan Petrychka recently went to the farm in search of the perfect tree. Jim Bertel narrates¹. 

Joann Bartlett and her husband Bill grew up in Washington, D.C.  As children both dreamed about farming. In 1972, they bought some land in Culpepper, Virginia -- just a two-hour drive from the nation's capital.  

"We thought it would be nice to plant some Christmas trees for family and friends to come and cut,” Joann tells us. “And as we planted more trees we found out that we had more trees than friends and family." 

The Bartletts, along with their three sons, opened their "choose and cut" Christmas tree business to the public in 1994. Now the 'Peper'mint farm has 6,000 pine and fir trees.

It is an average-sized tree farm compared to their competitors in the area. Joann says the competition is rather friendly, but the income is not great, especially because sales have dropped this year.  "I guess that Christmas trees are a luxury² that you can go without," she thinks

The first two weekends of December are the busiest time for selling trees.  However, clients³ are welcome anytime. One Bartlett is always by the phone. On this day, the weather is mild. The firs and pines are waiting for the first customers of the day. Joann Bartlett takes advantage of the lull⁴ to create Christmas garlands, talk on the phone, and patiently wait. Her husband Bill arrives just in time for the first buyers.

One family always buys live trees but has never cut one down before. The first step is finding⁵ the perfect tree. Cutting down the tree is not easy. So why do it? Dad says, "For the kids, so he can see it. For the smell that goes around the house. It is just a new thing to do really. An adventurous⁶ thing [to do]." 

But there is more to do than cut trees. Once the Christmas tree is safely secured⁷ on the car, the family spends time with the farm's pony⁸ and goats. There is even free candy for the children.

Bill Bartlett loves his job. "We meet so many nice people right here. We don't make any money but we make great friends. Nice little kid."

Heading for home to decorate and enjoy their tree

Caring for the farm would be impossible for the Bartlett's without the help of their family, including grandson John and his girlfriend. He says he tries to help as often as he can. "We come down like three- four times a year to help out." 

But today -- just a few days before Christmas -- they were also choosing a tree of their own.

1 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

2 luxury   

n.难得享受到的愉悦；奢侈，奢华的生活

参考例句：

• He invited me to his suite. The luxury takes your breath away.他请我到他的套房里去，那豪华的气派真会令你吃惊。
• The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods.政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。

3 clients   

n.顾客( client的名词复数 )；当事人；诉讼委托人；[计算机]客户端

参考例句：

• a lawyer with many famous clients 拥有许多著名委托人的律师
• She understood the importance of establishing a close rapport with clients. 她懂得与客户建立密切和谐的关系的重要性。

4 lull   

v.使安静，使入睡，缓和，哄骗；n.暂停，间歇

参考例句：

• The drug put Simpson in a lull for thirty minutes.药物使辛普森安静了30分钟。
• Ground fighting flared up again after a two-week lull.经过两个星期的平静之后，地面战又突然爆发了。

5 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

6 adventurous   

adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的　

参考例句：

• I was filled with envy at their adventurous lifestyle.我很羨慕他们敢于冒险的生活方式。
• He was predestined to lead an adventurous life.他注定要过冒险的生活。

7 secured   

adj. 无虑的, 安心的, 安全的 adj. 牢靠的, 稳妥的 vt. 固定, 获得, 使...安全 vi. (海上工作人员)停止工作 vi. (船)抛锚, 停泊

参考例句：

• He secured the appointment of professor of English literature in the university. 他获聘为该大学的英国文学教授。
• By strengthening the embankments they secured the village from floods. 他们加固河堤让村子免受洪水之灾。

8 pony   

adj.小型的；n.小马

参考例句：

• His father gave him a pony as a Christmas present.他父亲给了他一匹小马驹作为圣诞礼物。
• They made him pony up the money he owed.他们逼他还债。