(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
I'm Faith Lapidus. And I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program PEOPLE IN AMERICA. Today we tell about a man known as Johnny Appleseed. Many people considered him a hero. Johnny Appleseed was the name given to John Chapman. He planted large numbers of apple trees in what was the American wilderness two hundred years ago. Chapman grew trees and supplied apple seeds to settlers in the middle western Great Lakes area. Two centuries later, some of those trees still produce fruit. As a result of stories and poems about Chapman's actions, Johnny Appleseed became an American hero. However, some of the stories told about Johnny Appleseed over the years may not have been really true.
John Chapman was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, in seventeen seventy-four. His father, Nathaniel Chapman, served in America's war for independence. He fought British troops in the battle of Concord in seventeen seventy-five. John was the second of three children. Little is known about his childhood. His mother Elizabeth became sick with tuberculosis and died a short time after the birth of her third child. In seventeen eighty, Nathaniel Chapman married Lucy Cooley of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. John and his older sister moved to Longmeadow with their father and his new wife. This new marriage produced ten more children. When John Chapman was old enough to leave home, he asked his half-brother, Nathaniel, to come with him. They slowly traveled south and west from Massachusetts to the state of Pennsylvania. At that time, much of western Pennsylvania was undeveloped.
Government records show that John lived in the Allegheny Mountains in seventeen ninety-seven. He is said to have cleared land and planted apple seeds near a waterway. In a short time, the seeds grew to become trees that produced fruit. Pennsylvania was the first stop in what would become a life-long effort to plant apple trees. The reason for John Chapman's life's work is unknown. Some people said he loved to watch the flowers on apple trees grow and change into tasty fruit. Apples were an important food for the early settlers of North America. Apples offered something different in daily meals. They were easy to grow and store for use throughout the year. They could be eaten raw, cooked or dried for eating during the winter. And they could be made into other products, like apple butter and apple juice.
After a few years, Chapman left the hills of western Pennsylvania and traveled west into the Ohio Valley. He transported sixteen bushels of apple seeds down the Ohio River in eighteen-oh-one. He planted apple seeds in several areas near a place called Licking Creek. Some of the seeds were planted on land owned by a farmer named Isaac Stedden. Chapman was careful about where he planted apple seeds. He did not leave them just anywhere. First, he would find rich, fertile land in an open area. Then, he cleared the land, carefully removing unwanted plants. Then, he planted his seeds in a straight line and built a fence around them. The fence helped to keep the young trees safe from animals. As the trees grew, he returned to repair the fence and care for the land.
Chapman planted with thoughts about future markets for his crops. His trees often grew in land near settlements. He often sold his apple seeds to settlers. Sometimes, he gave away trees to needy settlers. When low on seeds, he returned east to Pennsylvania to get more. He got the seeds from apple presses -- machines used to make apples into a drink called apple cider. Before long, Chapman's trees were growing in fields across Ohio. People began calling him Johnny Appleseed.
Johnny Appleseed was a small man with lots of energy. He had long dark hair. His eyes were black and bright. He never married. He lived very simply. For years, he traveled alone in the wilderness, without a gun or knife. He slept in the open air and did not wear shoes on his feet.
Some people gave him clothing as payment for his apple trees. But sometimes he wore a large cloth bag or sack as clothing. The sack had holes for his head and arms. On his head, he wore a metal container for a hat. He also used this pot for cooking his food. People said he lived this way because he wanted to. He had enough money for shelter and clothes if he had wanted to buy these things. Johnny Appleseed looked like someone who was poor and had no home. Yet he was a successful businessman. He used his money to improve his apple business and help other people. He was famous for his gentleness and bravery. Both settlers and native Americans liked him. Everywhere he traveled, he was welcomed. Reports from that period suggest that some native Americans believed he was "touched by God." Others called him a great medicine man.
During his travels, some families asked Johnny to join them for a meal. He would never sit down until he was sure that their children had enough to eat. His diet was as simple as his clothing. He believed that it was wrong to kill and eat any creature for food. He believed that the soil produced everything necessary for humans. He also criticized people who wasted food. There are a number of other stories about Johnny Appleseed. Once a rattlesnake attempted to bite him while he slept. Johnny struck the creature, killing it. This was an action he said he always regretted.
Another time, he was trapped in the wilderness during a severe snowstorm. He found shelter in an old tree that had fallen to the ground. In the tree, he discovered a mother bear and her cubs. He did not interfere with the animals, and left before they knew he was there. As the years passed, Johnny Appleseed decided to leave Ohio. He moved west into wilderness areas in what is now the state of Indiana. The woods were filled with bears, wolves and other wild animals. Yet he never hurt these creatures.
Johnny Appleseed has sometimes been called the American Saint Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis established a Roman Catholic group that cares for the poor and the sick. Saint Francis also is remembered for his love of animals and for honoring nature. John Chapman was a very religious man. He liked to read from the Christian holy book, the Bible. He was strongly influenced by the Swedish scientist and Christian thinker, Emanuel Swedenborg. Chapman belonged to the Church of New Jerusalem, a religious group based on Swedenborg's teachings.
In about eighteen thirty, John Chapman got some land in Fort Wayne, Indiana. There, he planted apple seedlings that grew and produced crops. He sold, traded and planted in other areas. Some reports said he also traveled to the nearby states of Kentucky and Illinois. His travels lasted more than forty years. It is estimated that, during his lifetime, he planted enough trees to cover an area of about two hundred sixty thousand square kilometers. Over time, some adults said they remembered receiving presents from Johnny Appleseed when they were children. In eighteen forty-five, John Chapman became sick and developed pneumonia during a visit to Fort Wayne. He died in the home of a friend, William Worth. Chapman was seventy years old. He was buried near Fort Wayne. The marker over his burial place reads, "He lived for others."
When word of Chapman's death reached Washington, DC, Senator Sam Houston of Texas made a speech honoring him. Houston praised Chapman's work as a labor of love. He said people in the future would remember his life and work. Strangely, stories about Johnny Appleseed continued to spread to other areas, long after John Chapman died. Some people claimed they had seen Johnny Appleseed as far south as Texas. Others were sure that he planted trees as far west as California. Even today, some people still claim they are Johnny Appleseed.
重点解析
1.consider 认为
I had always considered myself a strong, competent woman.
我曾一直以为自己是个坚强能干的女人。
2.independence (国家的) 独立
In 1816, Argentina declared its independence from Spain.
1816年，阿根廷宣布脱离西班牙而独立。
3.life-long 终生的
A slight error in thought may constitute a life-long regret.
一念之差终身之悔。
4.professional 专业的；职业的
His professional career started at Colgate University.
他的职业生涯始于科尔盖特大学。
5.tasty 美味的
Try this tasty dish for supper with a crispy salad.
晚餐就着一道鲜脆色拉尝尝这道佳肴。
6.raw 生的；未加工的
These fish are often eaten raw.
这些鱼常常生吃。
参考译文
我是菲丝·拉伯蒂斯。我是史蒂夫·恩贝尔。这里是VOA慢速英语栏目《美国人物志》。今天我们将讲述强尼·阿普尔西德的故事。很多人都认为他是一位英雄。强尼·阿普尔西德原名约翰·查普曼。两百年前，他在当时的美国荒野种植了大量的苹果树。查普曼种果树并向中西部五大湖地区供应苹果种子。两百年后，其中一些树仍在结果。由于有很多关于查普曼事迹的故事和诗集，因此强尼.阿普尔西德成为了一位美国英雄。但一些关于强尼·阿普尔西德的故事是虚构的。
1774年约翰·查普曼出生于马萨诸塞州莱姆斯特。他的父亲纳撒尼尔·查普曼在美国独立战争中服役。1775年在康科德战役对抗英军。约翰是三个孩子中的老二，关于他的童年记录不多。他的母亲伊丽莎白患有肺结核，在第三个孩子出生不久后便去世了。1780年，纳撒尼尔·查普曼和马萨诸塞州朗梅多的露西·库利结婚。约翰和他的姐姐随着父亲和继母搬到了朗梅多。他们又有了10个孩子。当约翰·查普曼长大可以离家后，他要他同父异母的弟弟纳撒尼尔和他一起走。
他们离开马萨诸塞州来到宾夕法尼亚州。那时宾夕法尼亚州西部的大部分地区还未被开发。政府记录显示1997年，约翰住在阿利根尼山脉。据称他清理了这块地并在水道附近种上了苹果种子。不久，种子长成了结果的树。宾夕法尼亚是他们的第一站，而种植苹果树成为他们的终身努力。约翰·查普曼投身这份工作的原因未知。一些人称他爱看果树上花朵变为美味果实。苹果是北美早期定居者的重要食物。苹果在每日膳食中提供了一些不同。果树种植容易，全年可以储存。苹果树的果实可以生吃、烹饪或是在冬季制成果干。它们也可以制成其他产品，比如苹果果酱和苹果汁。
几年后，查普曼离开宾夕法尼亚西部高山，向西来到俄亥俄山谷。1801年，他运了约500多公升苹果种子到俄亥俄河。他在Licking Creek地区的几个地方种上了苹果种子。其中一些被种在了农民Isaac Stedden的地上。查普曼对种种子的地方非常仔细。他不是随便撒种子的。首先他会找一些露天的肥沃土地，然后他会清理土地，仔细移除不要的植物。再按直线种植种子并在周围建起围栏。围栏帮助小树苗远离那些动物。随着树的生长，他又回来修复围栏，照看土地。查普曼种树时会考虑到收成的未来市场。他的树常种在殖民地附近。他经常把种子卖给这些居民。有时，他也向需要的居民赠送种子。当种子不多时，他会回到宾夕法尼亚拿更多的种子过来。他从苹果榨汁机里获取种子—被用来制苹果酒的机器。
不久后，查普曼的果树遍布俄亥俄州。人们开始称他为强尼·阿普尔西德。强尼·阿普尔西德人小力量大。他留着长黑发，他的眼睛又黑又亮。他没有结婚，日子过的很简单。多年来，他独自一人生活在荒野中，没有枪也没有刀。他在户外睡觉，也不穿鞋子。一些人给他衣服作为种子的酬劳，但是有时他穿着一个大布袋或麻布袋。麻布袋有几个洞可以露出他的头和四肢。他的头上戴着一个金属容器，他还用这个容器做饭。人们说他过着这样的生活是因为他想这样。他有钱买得起住所和衣服，如果他想买的话。
强尼·阿普尔西德看起来像是一个人无家可归的穷人，但是他是一个成功的商人。他用他的钱改善苹果事业，也帮助其他人。他因亲切和勇敢而出名。居民和原住民都喜欢他。他所到之处，都受到大家欢迎。那个时期的报告表明一些原住民认为他‘受到了上帝的关照’。其他人称他是一名伟大的巫医。在游历期间一些家庭邀请他吃饭。他要等到他们的孩子吃饱了才会坐下来。他的饮食像他的衣服一样简单。他认为为了获取食物而杀害任何生物都是不对的。他认为土壤孕育了人类所需的一切。他还批评那些浪费食物的人。
很有多关于强尼·阿普尔西德的故事。一次睡觉时，一只响尾蛇想要咬他。强尼打死了这条蛇。他说对这一行为他很后悔。还有一次，下暴雪的时候，他被困在荒野。他在被刮倒的老树下发现了躲避的地方。在树中，他发现了一只熊妈妈和它的幼崽。他没有妨碍它们并在被发现前离开了。 时间流逝，强尼·阿普尔西德决定离开俄亥俄州。他搬到了现在的印第安纳州。森林中有很多熊、狼和其他野生动物。但他没有伤害过这些生物。
有时强尼·阿普尔西德被称为美国的圣方济各。圣方济各建立起了罗马天主教为照料穷人和病人。圣方济各也因关爱动物敬畏自然而被人铭记。约翰·查普曼是个非常虔诚的人。他喜欢读圣经。他受到了瑞典科学家、基督教思想家伊曼纽·斯韦登伯格的强烈影响。查普曼属于新耶路撤冷教会，基于斯韦登伯格教义而成立的宗教组织。在1830年左右，约翰·查普曼在印第安纳州韦恩堡获得一些土地。他在那里种植苹果籽苗。他在其他地区种植、买卖。一些报道称他还去了肯塔基州和伊利诺斯州附近。他的游历持续了40多年。据估计，在他一生中，他种植的果树足够覆盖约260,000平方公米的区域。
随时间流逝，一些成年人说他们记得小时候，收到过强尼·阿普尔西德送的礼物。1845年，在拜访韦恩堡期间，约翰·查普曼生病患上了肺炎。他在一位朋友威廉·沃思的家中去世。查普曼那时70岁，被埋葬在韦恩堡附近。埋葬地的墓碑写到，‘他为别人而活’。当查普曼去世的消息传到华盛顿时，德州参议员山姆·休斯敦做了一次演讲纪念他。休斯敦赞扬了查普曼的无私奉献。他说未来人们将铭记他的生平和事迹。奇怪的是，关于强尼·阿普尔西德的故事在查普曼去世后仍流传到了其他地区。一些人称他们在遥远的的地方见过强尼·阿普尔西德。其他人确信他的苹果种植到了远达加利福尼亚的地方。即便在今天，一些人仍声称自己就是强尼·阿普尔西德。
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