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VOA慢速英语2013 Discover America with American Mosaic!(2)

时间:2013-05-30 08:42来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
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Discover America with American Mosaic1!(2)

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.

I’m June Simms.

On our show this week, we tell about rapper A$AP Rocky, and hear parts of his new album…

We also look at how the art of origami might be useful in the mental health field.

But first we report about the plans for inaugurating America’s 44th President to a second term.

On Sunday, Barack Obama will be officially sworn-in for a second term as president. Federal law requires that each president-elect be sworn in on January 20th. However, the ceremony will be repeated for the public on Monday, January 21st.

Faith Lapidus tells us about some of the inaugural2 events planned to start the second term of the 44th President of the United States.

Presidential Inauguration3

At twelve noon on January 20th, in the year following a presidential election, the president begins a four-year term. Inauguration Day represents an unbroken line that stretches back to 1789. That is when General George Washington was sworn-in as the first president.

The swearing-in ceremony communicates the strength and permanence of the presidency5. It is also a powerful symbolic6 moment for Americans, says Georgetown University government professor Mark Rom.

“Because it is the time when one democratically elected president leaves office and another democratically elected president takes over office. And the transition is peaceful and ceremonial.”

A president-elect traditionally meets with the current president at the White House on the morning of the inauguration. They go together to the swearing-in. But, of course, Barack Obama is already in office.

On Monday morning, Mr. Obama and his family will attend a religious service at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington. The church says this will be the 11th time it has held such a service before a president’s inauguration.

After the event, Mister Obama and his family travel to the Capitol building for the swearing-in ceremony. Members of Congress and the Supreme7 Court gather there as well. So do administration officials of the former and future administration.

The swearing-in ceremony takes place on the steps of the Capitol. The Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, John Roberts, will administer the swearing-in as he did for Mr. Obama’s first term. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather on the grounds and nearby for the event.

Ben Ginsburg is a professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He says the Chief Justice also supplies important symbolism to the event.

“This new individual is exercising power is consistent with the Constitution of the United States, the laws of the United States, the wisdom and hopes of the framers of our Constitution.”

The president takes the oath of office with his hand on a Bible. This year Mister Obama will use books once owned by two of his heroes, President Abraham Lincoln and former civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

The president will speak to the American people after the swearing-in. Then there is a major parade, of which the president and family are a part, from the Capitol to the White House. The military services, school children, bands from around the country and all kinds of other groups are involved.

Later, many inaugural balls will be held to celebrate the new president. Two of the parties this year are official government events. But, many other large balls will take place Monday night. And many Americans will hold parties at their own homes, as well.

For more about the presidential inauguration listen Monday to the Special English program THIS IS AMERICA.

Origami Therapy

Origami is the Japanese art of folding a piece of paper. The folded paper can be made to look like anything -- a bird or a boat, a box, a flower or even a face. Some people do origami as a way to ease the day’s tensions. Others are serious artists. But Ken4 Fowler of Colorado used origami to help himself recover from a mental illness and launch a new career.

Several years ago, Ken Fowler suffered from extreme depression. Anti-depressant drugs were ineffective. The Colorado man felt so sad and unbalanced that he entered a mental hospital.

“I was in a really super-depressed state and it got to the point where I had two doctors recommending electro-convulsive therapy.”

While Ken Fowler was considering that treatment, an art therapist at the hospital suggested he experiment with origami.

“My hands were shaking so much I couldn’t get it. But I just kept persisting and it gave me something to focus on, other than TV. It helped me steady my hands.”

Mr. Fowler decided8 against having electroshock treatment. His mental condition began to improve and, in time, he was well enough to leave the hospital. He still takes anti-depressants. But he is sure that origami helped him recover.

“You can really relax with it. There’s no hurry. It’s not competitive. And it’s a little [raise to] self-esteem.”

After Ken Fowler left the hospital, he continued working with origami. He joined a group of origami lovers in the city of Boulder9. They call themselves “The Boulder Folders10.” Barbara Gardner leads the group.

The Boulder Folders includes children as young as six to retirees in their seventies. Barbara Gardner says Ken Fowler is a valued member.

“Ken is motivated. He is a good learner. He’s done a lot of things to figure out how to fold things. He’s become a wonderful teacher.”

Like to Katherine, an eighth grade student.

“Right now I’m making a bunch of paper cranes, a whole bunch of really small ones.”

Katherine says she likes how origami exercises her knowledge of mathematics and art skills.

Ken Fowler tells his students that if they do not like how one of their creations is shaped, they should unfold it, study the folds and change them or start anew. He says the same is true in mental health.

“So, if you can’t figure out where you’re at, and you’re wondering where you’re at in your life, just unfold it.”

After folding and unfolding, everyone ends up with a paper rose. And then they sing a poem Ken Fowler wrote about origami.

These days, Mr. Fowler has been asked to teach origami classes in public schools. He hopes to someday do the same for patients in psychiatric hospitals.

A$AP Rocky “Long.Live.A$AP”

This week, rapper A$AP Rocky released his first studio album, called “Long.Live.A$AP.” His 2011 mixtape of the “Live.Love.A$AP” received praise from critics and was popular on the Internet. As a result, A$AP Rocky’s name became well known, at least among hip-hop lovers. Mario Ritter has more on the rapper and his new record.     

A$AP Rocky’s real name is Rakim Mayers. His mother named him after famed rapper Rakim, who got his start in the 1980s. So maybe A$AP Rocky was born to rap.

The 24 year old was born in New York City and raised mostly in the Harlem neighborhood. His childhood was not easy. His father was jailed when Rakim was 12. When he was 13, his brother was shot and killed. And his mother struggled financially. She, Rakim and his sister moved in and out of homeless shelters.

Rocky does not generally rap about the bad times in his life. For example, the first real single from “Long.Live.A$AP” is about his interest in sex. The name of the single is probably too dirty to say on our show, but here is a little sound.

A$AP Rocky has found the support he may have lacked as a boy. He is part of a group called the A$AP Mob. It includes producers, directors, designers, managers and other rappers. One of the founders11, A$AP Bari, says the group is like a real family. In his words, “we look out for each other.” He says A$AP Mob has no room for selfishness.

When A$AP Rocky signed a record deal with SONY in 2011, it included support for the rest A$AP Mob.

A$AP Rocky is known for his love of stylish12 clothes. He raps about it in “Fashion Killa.”

A$AP Rocky performs with other artists on the album “Long.Live.A$AP.”  They include Skrillex, Kendrick Lamar and Santigold.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 mosaic CEExS     
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 inaugural 7cRzQ     
adj.就职的;n.就职典礼
参考例句:
  • We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
  • Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。
3 inauguration 3cQzR     
n.开幕、就职典礼
参考例句:
  • The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
  • Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。
4 ken k3WxV     
n.视野,知识领域
参考例句:
  • Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
  • Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.
5 presidency J1HzD     
n.总统(校长,总经理)的职位(任期)
参考例句:
  • Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
  • Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。
6 symbolic ErgwS     
adj.象征性的,符号的,象征主义的
参考例句:
  • It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
  • The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。
7 supreme PHqzc     
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的
参考例句:
  • It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
  • He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
8 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
9 boulder BNbzS     
n.巨砾;卵石,圆石
参考例句:
  • We all heaved together and removed the boulder.大家一齐用劲,把大石头搬开了。
  • He stepped clear of the boulder.他从大石头后面走了出来。
10 folders 7cb31435da1bef1e450754ff725b0fdd     
n.文件夹( folder的名词复数 );纸夹;(某些计算机系统中的)文件夹;页面叠
参考例句:
  • Encrypt and compress individual files and folders. The program is compact, efficient and user friendly. 加密和压缩的个人档案和folders.the计划是紧凑,高效和用户友好。 来自互联网
  • By insertion of photocopies,all folders can be maintained complete with little extra effort. 插入它的复制本,不费多大力量就能使所有文件夹保持完整。 来自辞典例句
11 founders 863257b2606659efe292a0bf3114782c     
n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
  • The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句
12 stylish 7tNwG     
adj.流行的,时髦的;漂亮的,气派的
参考例句:
  • He's a stylish dresser.他是个穿着很有格调的人。
  • What stylish women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world.巴黎女性时装往往会引导世界时装潮流。
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TAG标签:   VOA慢速英语  Discover  America
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