2006年VOA标准英语-Senegalese Celebrate End of Ramadan

By Jordan Davis
Dakar, Senegal
23 October 2006

Muslims around the world are celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan. In the village of Ngor, in the northern Dakar suburbs¹, the celebrations mean a new wardrobe for many.

In a small, dark wooden shack², Dibril Ndiaye feeds a ribbon of colorful fabric³ through his machine.

Ndiaye says he has been working a lot during the past month. This year the calendar has not been kind to tailors. Eid Al Fitr and beginning of the school year are two of their busiest times. Both fall within a few weeks of one another.

Ndiaye says he has barely⁴ slept since then, pointing to dark circles under his eyes.

In the shade of a cinderblock shack, a shy young man who wanted to be known simply as Mamadou, listens to music with some friends.

He says he has to buy a new clothes to wear to morning prayers. It cost him more than $40. It is a lot of money, he says, but it is worth it. He says he will enjoy wearing it when he spends all night visiting neighbors and celebrating the end of the holy month.

1 suburbs   

n.郊区，城郊( suburb的名词复数 )；四乡；隧；四郊

参考例句：

• The poor suburbs traditionally formed the bedrock of the party's support. 贫穷的郊区在传统上构成了支持该党的牢固基础。
• The new college will be located in the suburbs. 这所新建的学院将设在郊区。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 shack   

adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚

参考例句：

• He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.在走到他的茅棚以前，他不得不坐在地上歇了五次。
• The boys made a shack out of the old boards in the backyard.男孩们在后院用旧木板盖起一间小木屋。

3 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

4 barely   

adv.仅仅，几乎没有，几乎不

参考例句：

• The male bird is barely distinguishable from the female.雄鸟和雌鸟几乎无法辨别。
• He took barely enough money to keep the children in bread.他赚很少的钱仅够孩子们勉强糊口。