VOA标准英语2012--In America, Even States Get Nicknames

In America, Even States Get Nicknames

 

Every U.S. state has a nickname - sometimes more than one. Many are logical. They just sort of evolved.

Of course, Arizona is “The Grand Canyon¹ State,” and Kentucky, home to the lush “horse country” where magnificent thoroughbreds are raised and raced, is “The Bluegrass State.”

Other nicknames came straight from promotional campaigns. New Mexico’s “Land of Enchantment,” for instance, touts² that southwestern state’s spectacular sunsets and other natural attractions.

But others are downright curious, even to many Americans.

Why, for instance, is Utah “the Beehive State?” Are there more buzzing insects than usual in that dry western state?

No, but there are more people of the Mormon faith there than elsewhere else in America, and the beehive is the Mormon Church's symbol for industriousness³.

One sees it above store entrances and on the Utah state seal.

Here’s an interesting one: Connecticut is called “The Nutmeg State,” but not necessarily because of the nutmeg spice - a precious cargo⁴ the state’s sailors used to bring home from trade journeys to Asia. Connecticut Yankees, as people in this northeastern state are called, have a reputation for being shrewd in business. So shrewd that it was said they could sell phony wooden nutmegs to strangers. 

The midwestern state of Indiana is called the “Hoosier State,” but nobody is quite sure why. One story is that pioneer settlers on the prairie were a little nervous opening their doors. “Who's zher?” they would say. No wonder the state legislature instead prefers to call Indiana the “Crossroads of America.”

A couple more, quickly: The northern plains state of North Dakota is called “The Flickertail State.” You’d probably guess that a flickertail is some pretty prairie bird. Nope. It’s a feisty little ground squirrel. 

And early residents of the midwestern state of Missouri were said to be so stubborn, so skeptical⁵, that Missouri became, and is still called, “The Show-Me State.”

No time to explain some other curious nicknames, such as “The Buckeye State” (Ohio), “The Sooner State” (Oklahoma), “The Keystone State” (Pennsylvania) and “The Blue Hen State” (Delaware)

Trust us: no public-relations person came up with that “Blue Hen” one.

1 canyon   

n.峡谷，溪谷

参考例句：

• The Grand Canyon in the USA is 1900 metres deep.美国的大峡谷1900米深。
• The canyon is famous for producing echoes.这个峡谷以回声而闻名。

2 touts   

n.招徕( tout的名词复数 )；（音乐会、体育比赛等的）卖高价票的人；侦查者；探听赛马的情报v.兜售( tout的第三人称单数 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报

参考例句：

• Many vouchers are returned for cash, allowing touts and middle men to make a healthy margin. 许多月饼券都被兑换成现金，这让券贩子和中间商赚取了不蜚的利润。 来自互联网
• Spotting prey, the customary crowd of hustlers and touts swarmed around, jostling for my business. 照例有大群的拉客黄牛在寻觅猎物，他们争相过来抢我的生意。 来自互联网

3 industriousness   

n.勤奋

参考例句：

• Aunt Harriet could not find words to praise Bessie's industriousness and efficiency. 哈丽特不知该用什么言辞来赞扬贝西的勤奋与高效。 来自新概念英语第三册
• They have brought to our country an industriousness that boosts our economy. 他们带来的勤奋精神促进了我们经济的发展。

4 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

5 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。