VOA常速英语2008年-Potential End to Writers' Strike Buoys Hopes fo

By Mike O'Sullivan
Los Angeles
11 February 2008

Striking Hollywood writers could return to work this week to end a three-month strike that has crippled film and television production. The news raises hopes that the Academy Awards, or Oscars, may go ahead as planned February 24. Mike O'Sullivan reports, the first Oscars of the season have already been awarded for scientific and technical achievements.

The threat of picket¹ lines reduced the Golden Globe awards January 13 to a short news conference. But the Oscars are the highlight of the year in Hollywood, and the motion picture academy, which presents the honors, had dual² plans this year -- one for a full-fledged gala and the other for a show with few of the winners attending.

At the academy's so-called Sci-Tech Awards Saturday, actress Jessica Alba congratulated engineers and scientists, and academy president Sid Ganis was smiling.

"I'm smiling not because I'm absolutely positive that the show that we wish to put on is going to happen, but I think we're getting really close now," said Ganis.

He had more reason to smile Sunday when the East and West Coast boards of the Writers Guild³ of America approved a tentative contract, and authorized⁴ a vote by members on the proposed agreement and a separate 48-hour vote on whether to end the strike. If the writers choose to end it, they could be back at work on Wednesday.

The dispute centered on fees for work that is streamed on the Internet.

At the Sci-Tech presentation, the motion picture academy presented the first two Oscars of the season. The Eastman Kodak Company received one for developing technologies for a widely used film stock. David Grafton earned an Oscar for creating lenses used to shoot classic scenes for Star Wars and other films.

Certificates and plaques⁵ were given out for computer programs that simulate water flow, tiny devices that spew fog, and transfers used by makeup⁶ artists to simulate tattoos⁷, bruises⁸ and wounds on the skin of actors. Sid Ganis said the presentation is an important part of the Hollywood calendar.

"We're the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and this is the night for the science guys, the men and women who are -- it's not an overstated word when I say geniuses in our business, who create the technology that allows the movie industry to be what it is," said Ganis.

Ganis says with luck, writers and other creative people in Hollywood will be on hand for the second installment⁹ of the Oscars.

1 picket   

n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫

参考例句：

• They marched to the factory and formed a picket.他们向工厂前进,并组成了纠察队。
• Some of the union members did not want to picket.工会的一些会员不想担任罢工纠察员。

2 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

3 guild   

n.行会，同业公会，协会

参考例句：

• He used to be a member of the Writers' Guild of America.他曾是美国作家协会的一员。
• You had better incorporate the firm into your guild.你最好把这个公司并入你的行业协会。

4 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

5 plaques   

（纪念性的）匾牌( plaque的名词复数 )； 纪念匾； 牙斑； 空斑

参考例句：

• Primary plaques were detectable in 16 to 20 hours. 在16到20小时内可查出原发溶斑。
• The gondoliers wore green and white livery and silver plaques on their chests. 船夫们穿着白绿两色的制服，胸前别着银质徽章。

6 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

7 tattoos   

n.文身( tattoo的名词复数 )；归营鼓；军队夜间表演操；连续有节奏的敲击声v.刺青，文身( tattoo的第三人称单数 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击

参考例句：

• His arms were covered in tattoos. 他的胳膊上刺满了花纹。
• His arms were covered in tattoos. 他的双臂刺满了纹身。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 bruises   

n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was covered with bruises after falling off his bicycle. 他从自行车上摔了下来，摔得浑身伤痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pear had bruises of dark spots. 这个梨子有碰伤的黑斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 installment   

n.(instalment)分期付款；(连载的)一期

参考例句：

• I shall soon pay the last installment of my debt.不久我将偿付我的最后一期债款。
• He likes to buy things on the installment plan.他喜欢用分期付款法购买货物。