(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories.
Today, we finish telling about the interesting nicknames that have been given to the fifty American states.
The state of Ohio is in the midwest. It is named the "Buckeye State" after a tree that produces nuts similar to chestnuts.
The Great Plains state of Oklahoma is called the "Sooner State." That is because of a sale of land in 1889. Some people arrived in the territory to claim their land earlier than they were supposed to. They cheated and got there "sooner."
Pennsylvania's nickname is the "Keystone State." Just as a keystone holds together a stone arch, Pennsylvania was seen as holding together the young American republic.
Pennsylvania is also sometimes called the "Quaker State." Its founder -- William Penn, and most of his followers -- were members of the Protestant Quaker religion.
Rhode Island's nickname is "Little Rhody" because of its size. The state is smaller than the area around Los Angeles, California.
Vermont, the Green Mountain State
Tennessee got its nickname -- the "Volunteer State" -- because of the bravery of its citizens. They volunteered to join Tennessean Andrew Jackson to defend the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, against the British army in the War of 1812.
Texas is called the "Lone Star State." It gets its nickname from the single star on its flag. This represents the short time Texas was an independent nation battling Mexico for self-rule.
The "Beehive State" of Utah has no more beehives than any other state. The nickname is from the Mormon Church's symbol for hard work.
The eastern state of Vermont is proud of its beautiful Green Mountains so it calls itself the "Green Mountain State." The southern state of Virginia is called the "Old Dominion." Long ago, King Charles II of England added the colony's coat of arms to his shield. It joined his other dominions of England, Ireland, and Scotland.
West Virginia broke away from Virginia in the 1860s. It is called simply the "Mountain State" for the ancient Appalachian mountains.
And we have saved perhaps the most American nickname for last. The western state of Wyoming was once an area where cattle were transported east. And where there are cattle, there are men -- and now women -- to move them. So Wyoming is the "Cowboy State."
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词汇解释
1.arch n. 弓形，拱形；拱门
When she passed under the arch leading out of the park, Mira whooped with delight.
从通向公园外的拱门下走过时，米拉高兴地喊叫起来。
2.coat of arms n. 盾徽；盾形纹章
The knight's shield was emblazoned with his coat of arms.
骑士的盾牌上刻有盾徽。
3.shield n. 盾；防护物；保护者
He clanged his sword three times on his shield.
他用他的剑当当当地敲了3下盾。
内容解析
1.West Virginia broke away from Virginia in the 1860s. It is called simply the "Mountain State" for the ancient Appalachian mountains.
break away from 放弃；脱离……
I broke away from him and rushed out into the hall.
我挣脱了他，冲进了大厅。
The group broke away from the Labour Party in 1932.
这个团体在1932年脱离工党。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇典故。
今天我们将讲完美国全部50个州的有趣别名。
俄亥俄州位于中西部，其别名为“七叶树州”，取自结出类似板栗坚果的一种树。
大平原俄克拉荷马州的别名是“捷足州”，这是因为1889年出售的一块土地，当时有的人声称比实际更早来到这块土地。他们欺骗人们并“捷足先登”。
宾夕法尼亚州的别名是“基石州”，正如垒成牌坊的基石，宾夕法尼亚被视为将年轻的共和国维系在一起的州。
宾夕法尼亚有时也被称为“贵格州”，其成立者威廉·佩恩及其追随者曾是基督新教贵格成员。
罗德岛州因规模小被成为“小罗德”，这个州比加州的洛杉矶还要小。
田纳西州因市民的英勇被称为“志愿者之州”，在1812年反对英军的战斗中，市民们志愿加入田纳西人安德鲁·杰克逊的武装来捍卫新奥尔良。
德克萨斯州被成为“孤星州”，因为其旗帜上只有一颗星，这象征着德克萨斯州作为独立国家从墨西哥争取自治的短暂历史。
“蜂巢州”的犹他州并没有比其他州更多的蜂巢，其别名来自摩门教辛勤工作的象征。
东部的佛蒙特州因拥有美丽的青山而自豪，自称为“青山州”。南部的维吉尼亚州被成为“老自治州”。很久以前，英格兰国王查理二世将该殖民地的盾形纹章加到他的盾牌，该州加入到英格兰、爱尔兰和苏格兰等领土中。
西维吉尼亚于19世纪60年代从维吉尼亚州独立出来，因古老的阿帕拉齐山脉被成为“山脉之州”。
美国可能保留了最美国的别名，西部的怀俄明州曾经是往东部运输牛的地区，有牛的地方就有男人来运输牛，现在也有妇女做这个，因此怀俄明州被称为“牛仔州”。
