VOA标准英语2012--Lawrence's Star Rises in 'The Hunger Games'

Lawrence's Star Rises in 'The Hunger Games'

In a distant future, to commemorate¹ an uprising quelled² by the government, children from the rebellious³ districts are chosen as "tributes" who battle to the death in a broadcast for the entertainment of the wealthy elite⁴. When her younger sister is selected, Katniss, a teenager, steps forward to take her place.

Lawrence, who stars as Katniss, enters The Hunger Games as a reluctant warrior⁵ but grows into a symbol of bravery and hope.

"She is this incredible character in this incredible story for our generation," explains Lawrence. 

The actress, 21, admits to some misgivings⁶ when she won the role of an icon⁷.

"Personally I was nervous obviously because I knew that everything would change," she says. "I didn't know what would change and if I would like it or dislike it. But I knew it would never go back to normal. Then as an actress it's always scary because you're afraid you're going to be too well-known for one thing and then whatever you do after that it's just going to be 'oh look, Katniss is doing a period drama.' You know, that's just not good."

Born and raised in Kentucky, Lawrence was 14 when she convinced her parents to let her try acting⁸. She never took lessons, but her natural talent quickly won her roles in TV shows and then films. Her breakout performance was as a teenager searching for her missing father in the 2010 drama Winter's Bone.

It earned Lawrence a best actress Oscar nomination⁹. At the time, she tried to take it in stride.

“My life was a little bit more boring. I slept in more. I think I'm just busier and [getting] less sleep, but happy. All is good," she said about life after the nomination. 

A year later, with her face on billboards¹⁰ around the world for The Hunger Games, Lawrence knows life is going to change. But she doesn't consider herself an overnight success.

"It is always weird¹¹ for an actor to be blown away by fame. 'Why is everybody taking my picture? Why do people want my autograph?' In a lot of ways it feels fast," notes Lawrence, "and in a lot of ways I remember being 14 or 15 and auditioning¹² and that feels like it was so long ago. I was so much younger. So in a lot of ways, I've been doing this for a while."

Jennifer Lawrence expects to play Katniss again in film versions of the second and third Hunger Games books: Catching¹³ Fire and Mocking Jay.

1 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

2 quelled   

v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Thanks to Kao Sung-nien's skill, the turmoil had been quelled. 亏高松年有本领，弹压下去。 来自汉英文学 - 围城
• Mr. Atkinson was duly quelled. 阿特金森先生被及时地将了一军。 来自辞典例句

3 rebellious   

adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的

参考例句：

• They will be in danger if they are rebellious.如果他们造反，他们就要发生危险。
• Her reply was mild enough,but her thoughts were rebellious.她的回答虽然很温和，但她的心里十分反感。

4 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

5 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

6 misgivings   

n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧

参考例句：

• I had grave misgivings about making the trip. 对于这次旅行我有过极大的顾虑。
• Don't be overtaken by misgivings and fear. Just go full stream ahead! 不要瞻前顾后， 畏首畏尾。甩开膀子干吧！ 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

8 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

9 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

10 billboards   

n.广告牌( billboard的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Large billboards have disfigured the scenery. 大型告示板已破坏了景色。 来自辞典例句
• Then, put the logo in magazines and on billboards without telling anyone what it means. 接着我们把这个商标刊在杂志和广告看板上，却不跟任何人透漏它的涵意。 来自常春藤生活英语杂志-2006年4月号

11 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

12 auditioning   

vi.试听（audition的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• She was auditioning for the role of Lady Macbeth. 她试演了麦克佩斯夫人的角色。
• Which part are you auditioning for? 你试音什么角色？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。