2007年VOA标准英语-Searching for Ghosts a Popular Pastime

By Shilpi Jha / Niharika Acharya
Washington, D.C.
03 January 2007
 
watch Ghost Tours

Whether ghosts are fact or fiction hasn't stopped some entrepreneurs from cashing in on the public's fascination¹ with these otherworldly apparitions³. All across the U.S. ghost tourism is a growing business. VOA accompanied a group of brave ghost seekers to the old historic town of Leesburg, Virginia outside of Washington, DC. Jim Bertel narrates⁴ the story.

 
Some say that a ghost of a soldier has been seen near this tree in Leesburg, Viginia
It is well past midnight in old town Leesburg, Virginia. And the only ones brave enough to stir in the dark are a group of tourists eager to catch a glimpse of beings many of us would prefer never to encounter -- ghosts. Near a tree outside Leesburg's old courthouse, the ghost of a soldier has reportedly been seen several times. With luck, these tourists might just get to encounter the soldier's specter. But ghost tour guides say this phantom⁵ is known to be moody⁶ and very few have experienced the cold clammy feeling of being near his ghost.

Ghost tourist Ann Clark says, "You know nothing scares me about all this, so I just find it very interesting."

In the United States, like in many countries around the world, ghosts stories may be regarded as mere⁷ superstition⁸, but for some people the thrill of seeking out the supernatural makes the adventure worthwhile! Ghost tours also serve as an opportunity for those who want to share their own ghostly experiences or, like Beth Pierre, hear the stories of others.

 
Tour participants attempt to feel the cold, clammy presence of an apparition²
“It's just one of the things that I have always found interesting,” she says. “Too many things I have heard about and people telling me things that they have seen or experienced and I know that these people aren't crazy.

In America, ghost tourism is a growing industry. Not only are thousands of ghost tours operated every year, there are also Internet competitions to select the scariest ghost tour of the year.

Unfortunately, on this night, the Leesburg ghost tour could not persuade the local spirits to come out. But with their ‘never say die’ attitude, you can be sure these ghost tourists will be back again.

1 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

2 apparition   

n.幽灵，神奇的现象

参考例句：

• He saw the apparition of his dead wife.他看见了他亡妻的幽灵。
• But the terror of this new apparition brought me to a stand.这新出现的幽灵吓得我站在那里一动也不敢动。

3 apparitions   

n.特异景象( apparition的名词复数 )；幽灵；鬼；（特异景象等的）出现

参考例句：

• And this year occurs the 90th anniversary of these apparitions. 今年是她显现的九十周年纪念。 来自互联网
• True love is like ghostly apparitions: everybody talks about them but few have ever seen one. 真爱就如同幽灵显现：所有人都谈论它们，但很少有人见到过一个。 来自互联网

4 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

5 phantom   

n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的

参考例句：

• I found myself staring at her as if she were a phantom.我发现自己瞪大眼睛看着她，好像她是一个幽灵。
• He is only a phantom of a king.他只是有名无实的国王。

6 moody   

adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的

参考例句：

• He relapsed into a moody silence.他又重新陷于忧郁的沉默中。
• I'd never marry that girl.She's so moody.我决不会和那女孩结婚的。她太易怒了。

7 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

8 superstition   

n.迷信，迷信行为

参考例句：

• It's a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.认为黑猫不吉祥是一种很普遍的迷信。
• Superstition results from ignorance.迷信产生于无知。