2007年VOA标准英语-US Lighthouses Seek Brighter Future

By Ernesto Bailey
Washington, DC
01 February 2007
 
watch Lighthouse Preservation¹

 
Lighthouses are remnants from the past that ships and sailors once sought in order to navigate² treacherous³, U.S. coastal⁴ waters. But today, those that still remain have fallen mostly into disuse, except as tourist attractions and quaint⁵ reminders⁶ of a romantic era. VOA's Robert Raffaele narrates⁷.

If you were a sailor before the invention of modern navigational equipment, lighthouses were treasured beacons⁸ for wandering seafarers. They once dotted U.S. coastlines. But with advances in navigation equipment, lighthouses have become obsolete⁹ and many are no longer used for navigational purposes by major shipping¹⁰ traffic. Many lighthouses are threatened by changes in geography due to erosion, natural disasters, vandalized, or are in desperate need of repair.

The U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Lighthouse Society say there are about 600 lighthouses remaining in the U.S., and some of those are at risk. Pounded by both the elements and years of neglect, many of the remaining lighthouses are long past their prime. 

 
Dave Eshbaugh
Dave Eshbaugh, of the Oregon State Parks Trust, believes in preserving them. "They are worth saving.  I think it would be disrespectful to our history and people who put their lives on the line to let them fall down and go away or be forgotten."

Preservation societies in several states are attempting to keep lighthouses from disappearing altogether.  And the U.S. Congress is trying to help.  In 2000, lawmakers passed the Lighthouse Preservation Act that lets the Coast Guard transfer ownership of lighthouses, at no cost, to public and private organizations. Local, state and federal agencies also can benefit from the act.

Some private citizens also are helping¹¹ to restore abandoned lighthouses. Steve and Michelle Bursey in Heceta Oregon own the Heceta Head Lighthouse. It is not just their home, but also their livelihood¹².

Not far from the lighthouse is the lighthouse keeper's house. The Burseys have converted it into a bed and breakfast inn.  They say the income from their business pays for the necessary repairs that keep the lighthouse in working condition.  Michelle Bursey says it is a labor¹³ of love. "We have to constantly put hours and hours of time and labor into making it shine."

 
Aside from making Heceta Head their home and business, the Burseys have a great appreciation¹⁴ for the history and the importance associated with their lighthouse. 

"It's important to keep them up,” says Steve. “Once they're gone, you can never bring them back."

They are vivid reminders of a bygone era and a way of life that people like Steve and Michelle Bursey think are worth preserving. They are part of America's history, its legend, and its seafaring past.

1 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

2 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

3 treacherous   

adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的

参考例句：

• The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
• The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。

4 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

5 quaint   

adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的

参考例句：

• There were many small lanes in the quaint village.在这古香古色的村庄里，有很多小巷。
• They still keep some quaint old customs.他们仍然保留着一些稀奇古怪的旧风俗。

6 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。

7 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

8 beacons   

灯塔( beacon的名词复数 )； 烽火； 指路明灯； 无线电台或发射台

参考例句：

• A chain of beacons was lit across the region. 整个地区点起了一系列灯塔。
• Lighthouse and beacons flash at night. 晚上灯塔与信号台闪着光。

9 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。

10 shipping   

n.船运（发货，运输，乘船）

参考例句：

• We struck a bargain with an American shipping firm.我们和一家美国船运公司谈成了一笔生意。
• There's a shipping charge of ￡5 added to the price.价格之外另加五英镑运输费。

11 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

12 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

13 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

14 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。