AMERICAN MOSAIC - Summer Camps for Adults / Leonard Bernstei

AMERICAN MOSAIC¹ - Summer Camps for Adults / Leonard Bernstein / Fast Food Film
By

Broadcast: Friday, June 11, 2004

HOST:

Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC, in VOA Special English.

(THEME)

This is Doug Johnson.

On our show this week: Summer camps for adults, and a question about the musical life of Leonard Bernstein. But first, we have the story of a man who went on a diet no one should copy.

Super Size Me

(MUSIC)

HOST:

 
Graphic² Image
What would it be like to eat fast food for every meal? A young filmmaker decided³ to find out. His new movie is called "Super Size Me." Shep O'Neal tells us about it.

ANNCR:

Health experts are concerned that two out of three American adults are overweight. There has been an increase in diseases⁴ linked to obesity⁵. Many Americans eat foods that have too much fat and sugar. And they do not exercise enough. Reports say that at least twenty-five percent of American adults eat fast food every day. And McDonald's is the largest fast food company in the world.

So filmmaker Morgan Spurlock wanted to find out the effects of eating nothing but fast food at McDonald's three times a day for a month. He followed three rules. He could only eat what was sold at McDonald's. He had to eat every food at least once. And he would order the largest size French fries and soft drink only if the server offered.

McDonald's called these foods "supersize." That is why Mister⁶ Spurlock named the movie "Super Size Me."

Three doctors and a nutrition expert examined Mister Spurlock before, during and after his eating experiment. They did many tests of his blood and the workings of his major organs. At the beginning, he was in excellent physical condition. He traveled to several American cities and many McDonald's restaurants. He ate Egg McMuffins, Big Mac hamburger sandwiches, Chicken McNuggets, French fries, soft drinks and other foods every day. And he did not exercise.

The doctors became very concerned about Mister Spurlock's health. At the end of the month, he had gained more than eleven kilograms. His blood pressure increased. The cholesterol⁷ in his blood was too high. And his liver⁸ was damaged from eating too many fatty foods.

Mister Spurlock's film also appears to have had an effect on McDonald's. The movie won an award for directing at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

Less than two months later, McDonald's said it would stop selling supersize meals. Recently, it started selling special Happy Meals for adults. These include a salad, bottled water and a pedometer for measuring how far a person walks.

McDonald's also issued a statement about "Super Size Me." It said the movie is about one person's decision to act irresponsibly by eating too many calories a day and limiting physical activity. It said McDonald's offers many kinds of high-quality food choices. It also said McDonald's is working with experts on nutrition and fitness⁹.

Summer Camps

HOST:

The summer camp season opens in the middle of June for most of the United States. Many children will spend the coming weeks at traditional camps by lakes in the mountains. But there are camps for all interests: horseback riding, rock climbing, art, and science, to name a few. There are even camps to learn how to be a clown. But why should kids have all the fun? Faith Lapidus reports.

ANNCR:

Many Americans have happy memories of going away to camp as kids. Singing by the campfire, swimming by moonlight. Well, grown-ups can relive those times.

 
How professionals snowboard.
In Oregon, for example, adults can spend a week at a snowboarding camp at the base of Mount¹⁰ Hood¹¹. The mountain has snow all year. Snowboarding is a mix between skiing and skateboarding.

At the High Cascades¹² Snowboarding Camp, the campers spend most of the day on the mountain with coaches to teach them. In the afternoon, they return to camp for other activities. Some ride bicycles, others swim or play volleyball. The adults share cabins¹³ and meals just like kids at camp do.

Environmental organizations also have summer camps for grown-ups. The Audubon Society, for example, operates ecology camps in several states. In Hog¹⁴ Island, Maine, adults can learn all about birds during five days along the coast.

But, for some adults, the best camps are the ones where they can be with their kids. For instance¹⁵, there are Parent/Child Space Camp programs in Alabama, California and Florida. These weekend programs are for children ages seven to eleven. Parents and kids learn about the history of space flight. They build small rockets together.

And they use equipment that makes them feel like astronauts in space. This includes a gravity trainer, to learn what it feels like to walk on the moon.

Leonard Bernstein

(MUSIC)

HOST:

 
Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic in 1945.
This is called "Mass: A Theater Piece for Singers, Players and Dancers." It was written by one of America's greatest musicians. Leonard Bernstein died in nineteen-ninety in New York. One of our listeners in South Korea, Lim Chae Hun, would like to know more about him.

Leonard Bernstein composed many classical pieces, like the one you just heard. But he also wrote popular music for the theater. In fact, one of his shows is on Broadway again right now.

Here is a song from the current production of "Wonderful Town." Donna Murphy and Jennifer Westfeldt sing "Ohio."

(MUSIC)

Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in nineteen-eighteen. He began playing piano as a boy. His talent was clear from the start. Yet, he became so famous as an orchestra¹⁶ leader, it is easy to forget what a great pianist he was.

Here is Leonard Bernstein with Mozart's Piano Quartet in G minor¹⁷.

(MUSIC)

In nineteen-forty-three, Leonard Bernstein began to conduct the New York Philharmonic. In nineteen-fifty-eight, he became the first American to serve as its musical director.

Leonard Bernstein was known for his hard work. He taught other musicians in summer programs at the Tanglewood music center in Massachusetts. But he also learned¹⁸ from others. These included his friend, the composer Aaron Copland.

We leave you with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic performing Copland's "Fanfare¹⁹ for the Common Man."

(MUSIC)

HOST:

This is Doug Johnson.

I hope you enjoyed AMERICAN MOSAIC. Join us again next week for VOA's radio magazine in Special English.

This program was written by Shelley Gollust and Caty Weaver²⁰. Paul Thompson was the producer. And our engineer was Tom Verba.

1 mosaic   

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 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

3 decided   

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。

4 diseases   

n.疾病( disease的名词复数 )；弊端；恶疾；痼疾

参考例句：

• Smoking is a causative factor in several major diseases. 抽烟是引起几种严重疾病的病因。
• The illness frequently coexists with other chronic diseases. 这种病往往与其他慢性病同时存在。

5 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

6 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

7 cholesterol   

n.（U）胆固醇

参考例句：

• There is cholesterol in the cell of body.人体细胞里有胆固醇。
• They are determining the serum-protein and cholesterol levels.他们正在测定血清蛋白和胆固醇的浓度。

8 liver   

n.肝；肝脏

参考例句：

• He has a weak liver.他的肝脏不好。
• The largest organ in the body is the liver.人体最大的器官是肝脏。

9 fitness   

n.适合，适当，健康，健身

参考例句：

• They're doing exercises to improve their fitness.他们为增强体质而做体操。
• No one questions her fitness for the job.没人怀疑她能胜任这项工作。

10 mount   

n.山峰，乘用马，框，衬纸；vi.增长，骑上（马）；vt.提升，爬上，装备

参考例句：

• Their debts continued to mount up.他们的债务不断增加。
• She is the first woman who steps on the top of Mount Jolmo Lungma.她是第一个登上珠穆朗玛峰的女人。

11 hood   

n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖

参考例句：

• She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。
• The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。

12 cascades   

倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西

参考例句：

• The river fell in a series of cascades down towards the lake. 河形成阶梯状瀑布泻入湖中。
• Turning into the sun, he began the long, winding drive through the Cascades. 现在他朝着太阳驶去，开始了穿越喀斯喀特山脉的漫长而曲折的路程。 来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦

13 cabins   

n.小木屋( cabin的名词复数 )；（飞机上的）驾驶舱；客舱；（轮船上工作或生活的）隔间

参考例句：

• The cabins are in the bowels of the ship. 舱房设在船腹内。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Hsin-mei and Hung-chien formally thanked Ku and Li for the cabins. 辛楣和鸿渐为舱位的事，向郑重道谢。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

14 hog   

n.猪；馋嘴贪吃的人；vt.把…占为己有，独占

参考例句：

• He is greedy like a hog.他像猪一样贪婪。
• Drivers who hog the road leave no room for other cars.那些占着路面的驾驶员一点余地都不留给其他车辆。

15 instance   

n.例，例证，实例

参考例句：

• Can you quote me a recent instance?你能给我举一个最近的例子吗？
• He's a greedy boy,yesterday,for instance,he ate all our biscuits!他是个贪吃的孩子――比如，他昨天把我们的饼干都吃了！

16 orchestra   

n.管弦乐队；vt.命令，定购

参考例句：

• He plays the violin in an orchestra.他在管弦乐队中演奏小提琴。
• I was tempted to stay and hear this superb orchestra rehearse.我真想留下来听这支高超的管弦乐队排练。

17 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

18 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

19 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

20 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。