VOA常速英语2008年-Gun Ownership Has Long History in America

By George Dwyer
Washington, DC
07 February 2008
 

Forty kilometers west of Washington - in the southeastern U.S. state of Virginia - sits the headquarters of the National Rifle Association, or NRA. It is a non-profit research and advocacy group dedicated¹ to promoting the interests of America's gun owners. Collecting and preserving firearms - and keeping track of significant events in the history of their development - are considered essential components² of the NRA's mission. So the organization has established the National Firearms Museum. As VOA's George Dwyer reports, the objects on display there tell the story of America from a powerful and distinctive³ perspective. Jim Bertel narrates⁴.

The National Firearms Museum was established to collect, preserve and display guns, rifles, and other artifacts from the 800-year long history of firearms.

"What we do in the National Firearms Museum is basically to tell the story of Americans and their guns," says Doug Wicklund, who is Senior Curator at the museum, and an expert on the design technology, industrial production, and cultural history of guns.

"You could say that the museum is in some ways a library [and] the guns are [like] books," Wicklund said. "We are basically showing what the American firearm represents in our society. We are showing how they are used in hunting and competitive shooting; for folks that do a little bit of collecting, we are showing antique pieces that date back centuries as well as modern guns that that can be used in the national matches or in the Olympics."

Included among the more than 2,000 firearms on display here are many notable for their intricate engineering and masterful ornamentation - products of the craft still known as gunsmithing.

"When you look at a firearm you are seeing an artifact that is very, very well designed," Wicklund said.

The gunsmith's art once included the production of miniaturized guns, some mere⁵ centimeters in length.

"The miniatures that we have today are truly marvels⁶ of craftsmanship⁷ and they are also historical reminders⁸ of that past time when, in order to become a gunsmith you had to make a miniature," he added.

Mounted in their glass display cases, these weapons do not threaten - in fact they can even inspire.

1 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

2 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

3 distinctive   

adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。
• This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

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 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。

6 marvels   

n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春，病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句
• Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句

7 craftsmanship   

n.手艺

参考例句：

• The whole house is a monument to her craftsmanship. 那整座房子是她技艺的一座丰碑。
• We admired the superb craftsmanship of the furniture. 我们很欣赏这个家具的一流工艺。

8 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。