VOA慢速英语--白宫的圣诞节引起人们对爱国主义的关注

Christmas at the White House Draws Attention to Patriotism¹

The First Lady of the United States Melania Trump² is celebrating American patriotism at the White House this Christmas. She has also honored American design, inventions and buildings.

The traditional gingerbread White House sits beside the Statue of Liberty and Golden Gate Bridge.

"It is with great joy that our family welcomes you to the White House this holiday season as we celebrate the Spirit of America," President Donald Trump and his family say in a signed book that visitors will receive: "We hope you enjoy our tribute to the traditions, customs and history that make our nation great."

White House officials showed the decorations to reporters on Monday before the president and the first lady traveled to London. Reporters also were permitted into the Naval⁴ Observatory⁵: the official home of the U.S. Vice⁶ President in Northwest Washington D.C.

Part of the White House is lined with glass panels etched with more than 60 examples of American design, innovation and architecture. They include structures like the Woolworth Building in New York City and the Space Needle in Seattle.

A Christmas tree honors Gold Star families that lost a relative during military service. It stands at the beginning of the hallway while a second tree is decorated with the Trump family ornament⁷: an American flag.

East Room decorations are inspired by the U.S. flag and have red and blue ribbons and golden eagles on top of the Christmas trees. In the State Dining Room, American design is highlighted.

The gingerbread White House, covered with 11 kilograms of icing and 16 kilograms of chocolate, reproduces the South Portico⁸, including a staircase made using spaghetti.

The Blue Room holds a tree five meters tall brought from a farm in the state of Pennsylvania. It is decorated with flowers representing every state and U.S. territory.

Mrs. Trump continues her tradition of hanging wreaths on all 106 windows at the White House.

Late Sunday, she showed Twitter followers⁹ a short video of some of the decorations as she walked through the State Floor of the White House.

More than 225 volunteers came from around the country to help decorate the White House during Thanksgiving weekend. Decorations in the public areas include 58 Christmas trees and more than 2,500 groups of light.

The Naval Observatory is home to Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen. More than 40 volunteers decorated the Pence's residence using 640 meters of white lights, and seven trees from a farm in Belvidere, New Jersey¹⁰.

Mrs. Pence said the decorations show "...the rich history of the residence and highlights the beauty of the special (house) that we are blessed to call home."

Words in This Story

innovation – n. the act or process of introducing new ideas, devices, or methods

gingerbread – n. a cake or cookie made with molasses and ginger³

tribute – n. honor or respect

etch – v. to produce a pattern, design, etc., by using a powerful liquid (called an acid) to cut the surface of metal or glass

ornament – n. a pretty ball hung on a Christmas tree

wreath – n. an arrangement of leaves or flowers in the shape of a circle

1 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

2 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

3 ginger   

n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气

参考例句：

• There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
• Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。

4 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

5 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

7 ornament   

v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物

参考例句：

• The flowers were put on the table for ornament.花放在桌子上做装饰用。
• She wears a crystal ornament on her chest.她的前胸戴了一个水晶饰品。

8 portico   

n.柱廊，门廊

参考例句：

• A large portico provides a suitably impressive entrance to the chapel.小教堂入口处宽敞的柱廊相当壮观。
• The gateway and its portico had openings all around.门洞两旁与廊子的周围都有窗棂。

9 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

10 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。