2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Lights National Christmas Tree

By Scott Stearns
Washington
07 December 2006

U.S. President George Bush has kicked-off the official start of the holiday season in the nation's capital by lighting¹ America's national Christmas tree. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

The US National Christmas Tree with the White House on the left

The U.S. Army band entertained hundreds of people who turned out for the tree-lighting ceremony, bundled-up against a chill wind.

The larger national Christmas tree is ringed by smaller trees representing each of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia and U.S. territories abroad as part of what is called a Pageant² of Peace.

President Bush says Christmas is a season of glad tidings to spend with friends and family giving thanks for the bonds of love and affection and the hope for peace around the world.

"At this time of year, we give thanks for the brave men and women in uniform who are serving our nation. Many of those who have answered the call of duty will spend this Christmas season far from home and separated from family. We honor their sacrifice. We are proud of their service and that of their families. We will keep them close to our hearts and in our prayers. And now as an expression of our own hope for peace in this Christmas season, we will light the national tree," he said.

The 83rd annual lighting is the traditional start of the holiday season in Washington.

The president and Mrs. Bush host dozens of White House receptions each year. This season's theme is Deck the Halls and Welcome to All.

White House guests pass giant nutcrackers more than three meters tall as they enter along the East Colonnade³. Upstairs, the White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room stands more than six meters and is decorated with crystals and ornaments⁴ of iridescent⁵ glass.

Music is always a big part of White House festivities with performers representing the spectrum⁶ of American musical traditions from country and western to jazz and bluegrass.

1 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

2 pageant   

n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧

参考例句：

• Our pageant represented scenes from history.我们的露天历史剧上演一幕幕的历史事件。
• The inauguration ceremony of the new President was a splendid pageant.新主席的就职典礼的开始是极其壮观的。

3 colonnade   

n.柱廊

参考例句：

• This colonnade will take you out of the palace and the game.这条柱廊将带你离开宫殿和游戏。
• The terrace was embraced by the two arms of the colonnade.平台由两排柱廊环抱。

4 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 iridescent   

adj.彩虹色的，闪色的

参考例句：

• The iridescent bubbles were beautiful.这些闪着彩虹般颜色的大气泡很美。
• Male peacocks display their iridescent feathers for prospective female mates.雄性孔雀为了吸引雌性伴侣而展现了他们彩虹色的羽毛。

6 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。