(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.
I'm Rich Kleinfeldt.
Today we tell about the word fireworks.
The expression "fireworks" gets its meaning from the fireworks that people shoot into the sky when they are celebrating a great event. Rockets explode to fill the dark, night sky with bright reds and blues, with yellows and greens and whites.
The expression also means a great show of noisy anger, or something exciting. For example, a defense lawyer in a court trial may become very emotional in arguing with the government lawyer about evidence affecting the accused. The judge finally stops the loud argument and calls the two lawyers forward. He tells them, "I want no more of these fireworks in my courtroom."
Another kind of fireworks can be any event or activity that is especially exciting. One such event is falling in love. If anything can produce fireworks, it is a sweetheart's kiss or the touch of a lover's hand. Often movie or television cartoons show fireworks to represent the excitement of a kiss.
People use the expression fireworks throughout the year. But if you live in the United States and want to see real fireworks, the best time of the year is about now. The Fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States. Americans traditionally celebrate their nation's freedom with giant public parties and fireworks at night.
In Washington, for example, large crowds gather near the Washington Monument to listen to music and watch a huge fireworks show. In other cities and smaller towns, local people listen to band concerts and watch fireworks explode in a dark sky.
Many other countries around the world also enjoy the tradition of exploding fireworks on special days. In Australia, the city of Sydney begins each new year with a fireworks show at midnight. China is the birthplace of fireworks. Large fireworks shows were held often during earlier times in China. Now, people use small fireworks to help celebrate weddings and birthdays.
France also has a great fireworks tradition. A large fireworks show always takes place on Bastille day which celebrates the beginning of the French Revolution. The French city of Cannes holds an international fireworks competition each year in July and August.
In India, people have been using fireworks for more than five hundred years. A great Indian fireworks show takes place during the religious celebration of Diwali, every autumn.
Fireworks shows are popular around the world. But if I do not end this program right now, there will be fireworks from my producer.
This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by David Jarmul. I'm Rich Kleinfeldt.
文本为51VOA听写整理
译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载
词汇解释
1.explode vi. 爆炸，爆发；激增
The boiler from excessive pressure of steam exploded.
蒸气压力过高的锅炉突然破裂了。
2.sweetheart n. 爱人；心上人
It is reported that the prince ran away to France with his sweetheart.
据传说王子携情人已逃奔法国。
3.firework n. 烟火；激烈情绪
The firework went off in a cascade of colour.
烟火散开像一片五彩缤纷的瀑布。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇典故。
我是丽诗·克莱因菲尔德。
今天我们来谈论fireworks这个词。
“Fireworks”这个词来自人们在庆祝节事时向空中燃放的烟火。火箭烟火在黑暗的夜空中爆炸，使天空充满红色、蓝色、黄色、绿色和白色的光彩。
这个词还可表示愤怒或激动的迸发，比如，辩护律师可能在法庭上与政府律师就影响被告的证据进行激烈辩论，就情绪激动起来。法官最后阻止了他们大声的争论，让两位律师走上前来，告诉他们，“我不想在我的法庭上听到争吵。”
另一种烟火表示让人特别激动的事件或行动，比如坠入爱河，如果说什么东西能产生火花，那就是恋人之间的亲吻或拉手。通常电影或电视动画片都会用烟火代表亲吻时的激情。
人们整个一年都会用到烟火这个词，如果你住在美国，要想看真正的烟火，最好的时间就是现在。7月4日是美国的独立日，按照传统，美国人会举行大型公共聚会和燃放烟火来庆祝国家独立。
比如在华盛顿，大群人聚集在华盛顿纪念碑附近，听音乐，观看大型烟火。在其他城市或小城镇，当地人会去听乐队演唱会，或在黑夜里观看烟火。
世界上其他许多国家也都在特殊的日子遵守放烟火这个传统，在澳大利亚，悉尼市每年都会在新年午夜燃放烟火。中国是烟火的诞生地，中国很早以前就经常举行大型烟火展。如今，人们燃放小型烟火来庆祝婚礼或生日。
法国也有燃放烟火的传统，在庆祝法国革命的巴士底日，总会燃放大型烟火。法国戛纳每年7月和8月会举行国际烟火竞赛。
在印度，人们使用烟火已有500多年的历史。每年印度宗教节日排灯日期间会举行大型焰火晚会。
烟火盛会在全世界都受欢迎，但如果我不马上结束这期节目的话，我的制作人就要发火了。
这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇典故，作者David Jarmul，我是Rich Kleinfeldt。
