《英语流行话题阅读:语境识词3500》Unit 25 聚光灯下的生活

　　Unit 25
Michael Jackson: A Life in the Spotlight¹
On the Motown Records' 25th anniversary special -- a May 1983 TV extravaganza -- it was Michael Jackson who stopped the show.
At the time Jackson was the most popular musician in American, riding high with his No. 1 album "Thriller²". But something about his exciting performance of "Billie Jean", complete with the patented backward dance moves, raised his stardom to a new level.
Michael Jackson became ubiquitous.
People copied his Jheri-curled hair and single-gloved, zippered-jacket look. He posed for photos with Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the White House. He became a Pepsi spokesman, and when his hair caught fire while making a commercial, it was worldwide news.
It all happened very fast -- within a couple of years of the Motown special. He hadn't even turned 25 yet, but he'd been a star for more than half his life.
Michael Jackson was born August 29, 1958, to Joe Jackson, a steelworker, and his wife, Katherine. By the time he was 6 he had joined his brothers in a musical group organized by his father, and by the time he was 10, the group -- the Jackson 5 -- had been signed to Motown.
Jackson, a natural performer, soon became the group's front man. The group's popularity waned³ in the 1970s, and Michael eventually went solo, releasing the album "Off the Michael eventually became the best-selling album in history.
But, as the showbiz saying has it, when you're on top of the world there's nowhere to go but down. The pop music landscape was changing, opening up for rap and hip-hop. Jackson was seen as out of step.
His 1991's release, "Dangerous", only produced one top-ranking single -- "Black or White" -- and that song earned criticism for its violent ending, in which Jackson was seen smashing car windows and clutching his crotch. And then "Dangerous" was knocked out of its No.1 spot on the album charts by Nirvana's "Nevermind." A 2001 album, "Invincible," did even worse.
More attention has been paid to Jackson's private life than his music career, which has faltered⁴. People started focusing on his eccentricities⁵. He was rumored⁶ to sleep in a hyperbaric chamber⁷ and to have bought the bones of John Merrick, the "Elephant Man". (Neither was true) He did have a pet chimpanzee; underwent many plastic surgeries; established an estate filled with zoo animals and amusement park rides. Meanwhile, Jackson has found himself popular for his short-lived marriages, the first to Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie. Today the 46-year-old singing icon⁸ heads to trial on child-molestation charges.

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 thriller   

n.惊险片，恐怖片

参考例句：

• He began by writing a thriller.That book sold a million copies.他是写惊险小说起家的。那本书卖了一百万册。
• I always take a thriller to read on the train.我乘火车时，总带一本惊险小说看。

3 waned   

v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• However,my enthusiasm waned.The time I spent at exercises gradually diminished. 然而，我的热情减退了。我在做操上花的时间逐渐减少了。 来自《用法词典》
• The bicycle craze has waned. 自行车热已冷下去了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 faltered   

（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃

参考例句：

• He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
• "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”

5 eccentricities   

n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖

参考例句：

• My wife has many eccentricities. 我妻子有很多怪癖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His eccentricities had earned for him the nickname"The Madman". 他的怪癖已使他得到'疯子'的绰号。 来自辞典例句

6 rumored   

adj.传说的，谣传的v.传闻( rumor的过去式和过去分词 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• It is rumored that he cheats on his wife. 据传他对他老婆不忠。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It was rumored that the white officer had been a Swede. 传说那个白人军官是个瑞典人。 来自辞典例句

7 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

8 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。