2010-09 VOA Special English (Bilingual)往月多次五星级评价
2010-09 美国之音慢速新闻(双语)
CONTENTS
D01 Coming to Terms With Academic Titles at US Colleges
D02 A Quick Lesson in Ways Businesses Are Organized
D03 United States Fighting Operations in Iraq Officially End
D04 Apple Pie Order
D05 Do-It-Yourself: How to Dry or Smoke Fish, Part 2
D06 Want Sweaters That Feel Like Home? Try Raising Your Own Goats
D07 Bringing Attention to Differences in Suicide Around the World
D08 How Failure Can Lead to Long-Lasting Knowledge
D09 Obama Urges Steps to Strengthen Economy
D10 A Sad Day, at an Uneasy Time, as US Marks 9-11 Attacks
D11 Number One
D12 Getting NGOs to Celebrate Failure, So They Can Learn From Others' Mistakes D13 Pretty Flowers Lead Two Scientists to a Discovery
D14 Groups Seek 4 Billion for Child Vaccines
D15 Women Edge Past Men in Doctorates in US
D16 Basel Plan Aims to Force Banks to Increase Capital
D17 More Wins for Tea Party Activists, but Will They Win in November?
D18 Numbers Part Two
D19 Why Development Projects Fail: One Size Does Not Fit All
D20 World Leaders Urged to Meet Development Goals by 2015
D21 New Findings on Surgery for Women With Genes Linked to Cancer
D22 Peace Corps Volunteers Find a Wired World
D23 15 Months Out of Recession, but Not Feeling Like It
D24 Troubled US-Iran Relations Pre-Date 1979 Revolution
D25 Baloney
D26 Project Seeks to Cut Deaths, Build Market for Clean Cookstoves
D27 Many Farmers and Gardeners Turn Away From Tilling
D28 Hand Washing Is Up in Public Restrooms in US
D29 For Some, Free Citizenship Classes; For Others, a Dream Delayed Again
D30 With Bedbugs, Some People See Pests, Others See Profits
Coming to Terms With Academic Titles at US Colleges
美国大学学术头衔术语
By Nancy Steinbach 2010-9-1
This is the VOA Special English Education Report.
这里是美国之音特别英语教育报道。
Not everyone who teaches in a college or university is a professor. Many are instructors or lecturers. In fact, not even all professors are full professors. Many of them are assistant or associate professors or adjunct professors.
不是所有在学院或大学教书的人都是教授,很多只是讲师。事实上,也并非所有教授都是正教授,很多只是助理教授、副教授,或者兼职教授。
So what do all of these different academic titles mean at American colleges and universities? Get ready for a short lecture, especially if you are thinking of a career in higher education.
那么,在美国的学院或大学中,这些不同的学术头衔代表什么意思呢?我们将就此做个小讲座,(请注意收听,)尤其是如果你正考虑从事高等教育行业。
Professors usually need a doctoral degree. But sometimes a school will offer positions to people who have not yet received their doctorate.
教授通常都需要有博士学位,但是有时学校也会给那些尚未获得博士学位的人提供职位。
This person would be called an instructor until the degree has been completed. After that, the instructor could become an assistant professor. Assistant professors do not have tenure.
在他完成博士学位前都将被称作讲师,完成学位之后就升为助理教授,助理教授并没有终生任期。
Tenure means a permanent appointment. This goal of greater job security is harder to reach these days. Fewer teaching positions offer the chance for tenure.
终生任期意味着永久性任命,如今这种工作保障性更高的目标很难达到,越来越少的教学岗位会提供终生任期的机会。Teachers and researchers who are hired into positions that do offer it are said to be "on the tenure track." Assistant professor is the first job on this path.
被提供终身任期的职位聘用的教师和科研人员被称作是―走在终生任期的路上‖。助理教授是这条道路上的第一份工作。Assistant professors generally have five to seven years to gain tenure. During this time, other faculty members study the person's work. If tenure is denied, then the assistant professor usually has a year to find another job.
助理教授通常有5到7年的时间去拿终身任期,在此期间,其他系内成员会考核他的工作。如果没有拿到终生任期,这位助理教授一般有1年时间来找其他工作。
Candidates for tenure may feel great pressure to get research published. "Publish or perish" is the traditional saying.
终身任期职位候选人在发表研究(论文)上可能会感觉到很大的压力。也就是人们常说的―发表或是出局‖。
An assistant professor who receives tenure becomes an associate professor. An associate professor may later be appointed a full professor.
获得终身任期的助理教授就会升为副教授,副教授可能随后被任命为正教授。
Assistant, associate and full professors perform many duties. They teach classes. They advise students. And they carry out research. They also serve on committees and take part in other activities.
助理教授、副教授和正教授需要履行众多职责,他们需要授课、指导学生,还要进行(学术)研究。同时还要出任(学术)委员会(委员),参加其他各类活动。
Other faculty members are not expected to do all these jobs. They are not on a tenure track. Instead, they might be in adjunct or visiting positions.
另外一些教员不需要做这些全部的工作。他们没有终身任期的机会。相反他们可能只有兼职或客座职位。
A visiting professor has a job at one school but works at another for a period of time. An adjunct professor is also a limited or part-time position, to do research or teach classes. Adjunct professors have a doctorate.
客座教授就职于某校,但有一段时间为另一个学校工作。兼职教授也是一种限制性或兼职的岗位,他们做研究或者授课。兼职教授有博士学位。
Another position is that of lecturer. Lecturers teach classes, but they may or may not have a doctorate.
另外一个职位是讲师,讲师从事授课工作,他们可能有博士学位也可能没有。
And that's the VOA Special English Education Report. I'm Barbara Klein.
A Quick Lesson in Ways Businesses Are Organized
企业组成形式入门
By Mario Ritter 2010-9-2
This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。
Businesses are structured in different ways to meet different needs.
企业存在不同的构成形式以满足不同需求。
The simplest form of business is called an individual or sole proprietorship. The proprietor owns all of the property of the business and is responsible for everything.
最简单的一种企业构成形式就是个体或独资企业,企业主拥有企业所有资产,也承担一切责任。
For legal purposes, with this kind of business, the owner and the company are the same. This means the proprietor gets to keep all of the profits of the business, but must also pay any debts.
从法律角度来讲,独资企业主等同于企业,这意味着企业主获取企业所有收益,也承担所有债务。
Another kind of business is the partnership. Two or more people go into business together. An agreement is usually needed to decide how much of the partnership each person controls.
另外一种是合伙企业,由两个或两个以上的人合伙经营。合伙人之间通常必须拟定协议,以规定各自所控制的企业份额。One kind of partnership is called a limited liability partnership. These have full partners and limited partners. Limited partners may not share as much in the profits, but they also have less responsibility for the business.
其中一种合伙企业成为有限责任合伙企业。合伙人分为普通合伙人和有限责任合伙人。有限责任合伙人可能享受的收益不高,但他们相应承担的责任也少。
Doctors, lawyers and accountants often form partnerships to share their risks and profits. A husband and wife can form a business partnership together.
医生、律师和会计们经常组建合伙企业,共同分担风险和收益。夫妻也可以共同组建合伙企业。
Partnerships exist only for as long as the owners remain alive. The same is true of individual proprietorships.
合伙企业仅在企业主在世的情况下存在,独营企业也是如此。
But corporations are designed to have an unlimited lifetime. A corporation is the most complex kind of business organization.
但公司没有生存时间限制,这是最复杂的一种企业形式。
Corporations can sell stock as a way to raise money. Stock represents shares of ownership in a company. Investors who buy stock can trade their shares or keep them as long as the company is in business.
公司可以通过出售股票的形式筹集资金。股票代表公司所有权,股票投资人可以进行股票交易,也可以长期持有,只要公司
仍在运营。
A company might use some of its earnings to pay dividends as a reward to shareholders. Or the company might reinvest the money back into the business.
公司可能会拿出一部分收益作为股息奖励给股东,也可能把钱再次投入公司运营。
If shares lose value, investors can lose all of the money they paid for their stock. But shareholders are not responsible for the debts of the corporation.
如果股份丧失价值,投资者就会损失掉所有投到股票里的钱。但是股东不用对公司的债务承担责任。
A corporation is recognized as an entity -- its own legal being, separate from its owners.
公司被认为是一个合法存在的实体(即独立法人),与股东是分离的。
A board of directors controls corporate policies. The directors appoint top company officers. The directors might or might not hold shares in the corporation.
董事会控制公司决策。董事任命公司的上层员工,但董事不一定就是该公司股东。
Corporations can have a few major shareholders. Or ownership can be spread among the general public.
公司可能只有几个主要的股东,也可能所有权为公众广泛持有。
But not all corporations are traditional businesses that sell stock. Some nonprofit groups are also organized as corporations.
但不是所有公司都是出售股票这种传统商业模式。一些非营利性组织也以公司形式存在。
And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report. I'm Barbara Klein.
United States Fighting Operations in Iraq Officially End
美国结束伊拉克作战行动
By Jerilyn Watson 2010-9-3
This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
这里是美国之音特别英语新闻报道。
American Defense Secretary Robert Gates says history will judge whether the war in Iraq was justified. He spoke during a visit to a military base in western Iraq. Secretary Gates visited the base after President Obama officially declared an end to American combat operations in Iraq. The president made the announcement at the White House earlier this week.
美国国防部长罗伯特〃盖茨在视察位于伊拉克西部的一处军事基地时表示,历史会给伊拉克战争一个公正的评价。本周早些时候,奥巴马在白宫正式宣布结束美军在伊拉克的作战行动,随后盖茨视察了该基地。
America's involvement in the armed conflict lasted more than seven years. During the most intense fighting, about 165,000 American soldiers served in Iraq. About 4,400 of the soldiers died in the war. An estimated 100,000 Iraqis were killed. The effort has cost billions of dollars.
美国卷入了这场长达七年多的战争。在战情最紧张时,有大约16.5万美军在伊拉克服役。这次战争造成大约有4400名士兵丧生,同时预计造成10万伊拉克人死亡,取得的(战争)成果耗费了数十亿美元。
The war began in March of 2003. The United States led an international coalition against the government of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. At the time, the American president was George W. Bush. His administration received reports that seemed to show that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Later, the information proved mistaken. No such weapons were found.
这次战争爆发于2003年3月,战争双方分别以美国为首的国际联军,和萨达姆〃侯赛因领导下的伊拉克政府。当时美国总统是小布什,布什政府情报显示伊拉克拥有大规模杀伤性武器,最终该消息被证实有误,在伊拉克并未找到这类武器。
At first, the American-led forces were successful. By May of 2003, President Bush declared that major fighting operations had ended. Coalition troops had occupied Baghdad, and Saddam
Hussein had fled.
起初,美国领导的军队取得了成功,2003年5月,布什宣布主要作战行动结束,联军占领了巴格达,萨达姆潜逃。
But as time passed, resistance forces grew stronger. Violence spread among Iraq's many Shi'ite and Sunni groups. And, supporters of al-Qaida joined the fighting. Coalition forces often became the targets of bombs and missiles.
但随着时间的推移,抵抗力量逐渐壮大。暴力活动在伊拉克各类什叶派和逊尼派组织中蔓延,基地组织的支持者也加入到斗争中,联军经常成为炸弹和导弹的袭击目标。
In 2007, President Bush ordered a surge in America's troop strength in Iraq. Thousands of additional troops were deployed around Baghdad and the western province of al-Anbar. They changed the balance of the war. Coalition troops defeated many resistance fighters and militants.
2007年,布什下令增强驻伊美军实力,数千名增援士兵部署在巴格达和安尔巴省西部周围,他们改变了战争局势,联军多次击败抵抗力量和激进分子。
Over the past few months, many American troops have left Iraq.
在过去的几个月里,多数美国士兵已经撤离伊拉克。
This week, the American military campaign in Iraq changed names – and goals. The campaign had been called Operation Iraqi Freedom. Now, it is known as Operation New Dawn.
本周,美国改变了在伊拉克军事行动代号和行动目的。此前该行动被命名为伊拉克自由行动,现改名为新曙光行动。The United States now has fewer than 50,000 soldiers left in Iraq. Their job is to assist and advise Iraqis. However, some soldiers will continue to help Iraqi forces search for resistance fighters.
目前仅有不到5万美军留守伊拉克,他们的任务是协助伊拉克人并提供建议。但是,部分士兵仍将继续帮助伊拉克军队搜寻抵抗力量。
For example, members of an American special operations group went with Iraqi forces Wednesday to the village of Hawija. One thousand Iraqi soldiers were to arrest suspected terrorists. The Americans raided houses and seized many suspects.
例如,一支美国特种作战部队周三与伊拉克军队前往哈维贾。1000名伊拉克士兵准备去逮捕恐怖嫌疑人。美国士兵攻入屋内
抓获多名嫌疑人。
Some Iraqi military officers have expressed worry that the United States is ending battle operations too soon. Politically, Iraq still faces problems. Elections held six months ago failed to produce a clear winner. For this reason, the country has yet to form a new government.
部分伊拉克军方人士对美国过早结束作战行动表达了担忧。在政治上,伊拉克仍面临许多问题。6个月前举行的选举未能产
生明确的赢家。由于这个原因,伊拉克尚未组建一个新政府。
And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.
Apple Pie Order
与苹果相关的短语
By VOA 2010-9-4
Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.
这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇掌故节目。
Today we tell about the expression, "apple pie order." It means in perfect order, very well organized.
今天我们讲短语apple pie order,意思是井然有序,组织合理。
Nobody is sure where and when the expression apple pie order began. Some say that Scottish
and English writers used the expression a long time ago. Others say it first was used in the northeastern American states known as New England.
没有人确切知道―apple pie order‖这个短语起源于何时何地。有人说苏格兰和英格兰的作家很久以前就使用这个短语了。还有人说,美国东北部的新英格兰州最早开始使用这个短语。
The housewives of New England cut their apples in even slices. Then they filled pie pans with them in an organized way, row upon row. As one writer said, the women of New England loved to have everything in its place. This perhaps explains why it generally is believed that the expression apple-pie order began in New England.
新英格兰的家庭主妇把苹果切成均匀的片,然后整齐的,一层一层的摆满平底锅。正如一位作家所说,新英格兰的妇女喜欢将一切事情弄得井然有序。可能这就是人们认为apple pie order这个短语起源于新英格兰的原因。
Another old expression describes the opposite condition – wild disorder. That expression is apple of discord. It comes from ancient mythology.
另一个短语描述了一种极端混乱的状况。这个短语就是祸源(祸根),起源于远古神话。
The myth says that all the gods and goddesses were sitting around the table to celebrate the marriage of Thetis and Peleus. One of the goddesses, Discord, was a troublemaker. She threw a golden apple on the table to be given as a prize to the most beautiful goddess.
神话中讲到男女众神围坐在桌旁庆贺忒提斯(海洋女神)和珀琉斯(特洛伊战争中希腊联军主将阿喀琉斯之父)的婚礼,其中一个女神——争吵女神,是个爱惹麻烦的人。她将一个金苹果扔到桌子上,作为对最美女神的奖励。
It was not an easy decision to make. How could they choose among Juno, Minerva and Venus. Paris was given the task of deciding. He decided to give the golden apple to Venus. Juno and Minerva were very angry and threatened him. This, the myth says, began the long Trojan war.
要做出这个决定可不容易,他们将在朱诺(主神朱庇特的妻子,万神之母,希腊神话中称为赫拉,朱诺是罗马神话中对应的名字,以下同), 米诺瓦(智慧女神,希腊神话中称为雅典娜)和维纳斯(爱神,希腊神话中称为阿芙罗狄忒)中做出怎样的选择呢。这个任务交给了帕里斯(特洛伊王子),他决定将金苹果授予维纳斯,朱诺和米诺瓦都很生气,并威胁他。此事,引发了漫长的特洛伊之战。
At one time, the tomato was called a love apple. That was a mistake. This is how the mistake happened.
西红柿曾经被称作爱情苹果,那是个美丽的误会,事情是这样的。
In the sixteenth century, Spain imported the tomato from South America after Spanish explorers had landed there. Spain then exported the tomato to Morocco. Italian traders carried it on to Italy. The Italian name for the tomato was pomo di Moro – apple of the Moors.
16世纪,西班牙探险家到达南美后,从那引进了西红柿,然后将其出口到摩洛哥。意大利商人把它运到意大利。西红柿的意大利名是pomo di Moro——摩尔人的苹果。
When French growers imported it from Italy, they thought di Moro meant d'amour, the French word for love. And so pomo di Moro became the apple of love.
法国种植者从意大利引进西红柿时,他们认为意大利语中的di Moro就是法语中的爱情(d'amour)一词,因此pomo di Moro 就成了爱情苹果。
People believe many things about the apple. One belief is that it has great powers of keeping people healthy. A very common expression is "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
人们认同很多关于苹果的事情,有一个信条就是苹果拥有保持身体健康的巨大能量。一个常用短语:一日一苹果,医生远离我。
Another belief is based on fact. The expression is "One rotten apple spoils the barrel." When an apple begins to go bad, it ruins all the other apples around it in the container. The expression has come to mean that one bad person in a group can cause everyone to act bad.
另外一个信条则是基于事实基础。“一个烂苹果,烂一筐苹果”,当一个苹果开始腐烂,它也会毁掉同一容器中周围的其它苹果。这个短语的引申表达意思是团队里一个差劲的人会使每个人的表现都很差。
You have been listening to the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. I'm Warren Scheer.
Do-It-Yourself: How to Dry or Smoke Fish, Part 2
制作干鱼或熏鱼二
By VOA 2010-9-5
This is the VOA Special English Development Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语发展报道。
Today we have the second of two reports explaining how to prepare fish by drying or smoking them.
今天我们讲述怎样制作干鱼或熏鱼的第二部分。
We talked last week about the first steps of cleaning and salting freshly caught fish. The directions can be found on our website, https://www.doczj.com/doc/e59619232.html,.
上周我们讲到了清洗和腌制刚捕获的鱼的首个步骤,你可以登录我们的网站https://www.doczj.com/doc/e59619232.html,查看相关说明。
To dry fish, you will need either a drying table or a place to hang them. If a table is used, it should have a top made of wire screen or thin pieces of wood with space between each piece.
为了把鱼晾干,你需要一个干燥台或悬挂点。如果使用干燥台,应该在干燥台上铺上金属网或具有间隙的木格栅。
Lay the cleaned and salted fish, still wet, on the table. Do not let them touch each other. Be sure that air can flow around the fish from all sides, including the top and bottom.
将仍然潮湿,经过清洗、腌制的鱼摊放到干燥台上面,鱼和鱼之间不要接触到。确保鱼四周的空气流通,包括鱼上方和下方。Build a small smoky fire under the drying table for the first day to keep the flies away. After that, you can keep the flies away by covering the fish with a thin cloth. Do not let the cloth touch the fish.
第一天,在干燥台下方点一小堆熏烟赶走苍蝇。之后,你可以在鱼上方覆盖一层薄布来防止苍蝇,注意布不要接触到鱼。Fish taste better if they are out of bright sunlight while they are being dried. For best results, put the drying table under a tree. Turn the fish over every other day. Small fish will dry in about three days if the air is dry. Large fish will take a week or ten days to dry.
在干燥的过程中避免阳光直射会使鱼的味道更好,为此我们可以将干燥台臵于树下。隔天将鱼翻转一次。如果空气干燥,小鱼大约3天就能晾干,大鱼将需要7到10天。
After the fish have dried, place them in a basket. Cover them with clean paper or large leaves. Then put the basket in a cool, dry place off the ground.
鱼晾干后,将他们放到篮子里,并用干净纸张或大树叶盖好。然后将篮子放臵在远离地面的阴凉干燥处。
Make sure as much of the saltwater as possible is removed before you smoke the fish.
在熏鱼前必须尽可能的将鱼中的盐水排出。
The smoking can be done in a large, round metal container. Remove the top of the drum and cut a small opening on one side at the bottom.
熏制需要使用一个大的、圆形的金属容器。可以把鼓状大圆桶顶部去掉,并在桶底部的边上开个孔(制成熏制容器)。Cover the top with a strong wire screen. This is where you put the fish. Build a small fire in the drum by reaching in through the opening at the bottom.
圆桶顶部盖上铁丝网,这就是放鱼的地方。通过底部边上开的孔在圆桶中烧堆小火。
Wood from fruit trees makes good fuel for your fire. The wood will give the smoked fish good color and taste. Hardwoods such as hickory, oak and ash also burn well.
果树木材是熏鱼的最佳燃料。这种木材可以使熏鱼色味俱全。山核桃、橡树、梣木等硬木木材也可以。
It is important to keep the fire small, so it does not burn the fish. You want a lot of smoke but
very little flame. One way to get a lot of smoke is to use green wood, not dried wood.
最重要的是保持小火,这样才不会把鱼烧焦。熏鱼需要浓烟小火焰。一种产生浓烟的办法是使用湿木材,而不是干木材。You should smoke the fish for five days or longer if you plan to store them for a long time. After you finish smoking the fish, remove them and let them cool. Then wrap them in clean paper.
将鱼用烟熏制5天,如果你计划保存很长时间就多熏几天。鱼熏好后,将鱼从熏制容器上取下来并冷却,然后用干净的纸包起来。
Put the fish in baskets and keep them in a cool, dry place off the ground. Dried fish must be kept completely dry until they are eaten.
将鱼放在篮子并放臵在远离地面的阴凉干燥处,干鱼在食用前务必要保持完全干燥。
And that’s the VOA Spec ial English Development Report. I’m Barbara Klein.
Want Sweaters That Feel Like Home? Try Raising Your Own Goats
养羊以产羊毛
By Jerilyn Watson 2010-9-6
This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语农业报道。
Goats are valuable not just for their milk and meat, or for their ability to control weeds and help renew grasslands, or even for their ability to be gentle around children.
山羊的价值不仅体现在它能产奶和肉、帮助修复草原控制杂草,或者温和对待儿童。
Goats can also be valuable for their hair.
山羊毛也是很有价值的。
Cashmere goats produce cashmere and Angora goats produce -- did you think we were going to say angora? No, angora fiber comes from rabbits. Angora goats produce mohair.
喀什米尔山羊产开司米羊绒,安哥拉山羊产的是——你觉得我们将说的是安哥拉吗?不是的,安哥拉纤维实际是来自兔子。安哥拉山羊产的是马海毛。注:马海毛,指安哥拉山羊身上的被毛,又称安哥拉山羊毛。得名于土耳其语,意为―最好的毛‖。
Mohair is used in sweaters, scarves, coats and other products including floor covering and doll hair.
马海毛经常用于毛衣,围巾,外套,以及包括地毯和洋娃娃头发等其他产品。
The United States is a leading producer of mohair, along with South Africa and Turkey. America's top producing state is Texas.
美国和南非,土耳其都是马海毛主要生产国,德克萨斯州是美国马海毛产量最高的州。
An adult Angora can produce as much as seven kilograms of hair each year. As the goats grow older, however, their hair becomes thicker and less valuable. Hair from white or solid-colored goats is the most popular, but the appeal of mixed-color mohair has grown.
一只成年安哥拉山羊每年能产7千克羊毛,随着山羊长大,他们的毛就会变更粗,价值也越来越低。白色和纯色的山羊毛是最受欢迎的,但是杂色马海毛的受欢迎度也在增加。
Angora goats are also used as show animals. They require little special care. The animals need milk from their mothers for three or four months. They reach full maturity when they are a little more than two years old. But even then they are smaller than most sheep and milk goats.
安哥拉山羊也作为观赏性动物,它们不需要特殊照料。羊羔需要母乳喂养三到四个月,两岁多一点的时候就已经完全成熟了。即使即使完全成熟,安哥拉山羊还是比大多数的绵羊和奶山羊小。
Cashmere goats are generally larger than Angoras. They can grow big enough to be kept with sheep and cattle.
喀什米尔山羊通常都比安哥拉山羊大,他们可以长到绵羊和牛那样大。
The outer hair of the animal is called guard hair. Behind it is the valuable material on a cashmere goat. Cashmere is valued for its softness and warmth without much weight.
喀什米尔山羊的表层毛叫做针毛,针毛下面才是有价值的开司米羊绒。开司米羊绒因为质地轻柔保暖而价值非凡。Some farmers comb their cashmere goats to remove the hair. But if the animals do get a haircut, it often takes place at the time when they naturally lose their winter coat -- between December and March.
牧民用梳子梳下喀什米尔山羊的羊毛,但是如果要给他们剪毛,通常在自然褪毛的时候——12月到3月之间。Angora goats generally get their hair cut two times a year, in the spring and fall. The job can be done with simple cutting tools or by hiring a professional shearer. Angoras may need special protection from the cold for about a month after shearing.
安哥拉山羊通常一年剪两次毛,分别在春天和秋天。可以用简单的修剪工具,也可以租用专业的剪羊毛机。安哥拉山羊在剪毛之后需要一个月的特殊护理来抵御严寒。
The value of an animal's coat depends on the age, size and condition. But whatever kind of goat you choose, be sure you have a good fence. Goats love to explore.
动物的皮毛价值取决于年龄,体格大小和生长环境。无论你选择哪种山羊,都要确保有牢固的栅栏,因为山羊非常喜欢探险。And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. I'm Steve Ember.
Bringing Attention to Differences in Suicide Around the World
关注全球自杀者差异
By Caty Weaver 2010-9-7
This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语健康报道。
This Friday is World Suicide Prevention Day. This year's observance is meant to bring attention to the differences among suicidal individuals and their situations around the world.
本周五是世界预防自杀日,今年的主题是关注全球自杀人群的个体差异和他们所处环境差异。
But the organizers also say that all over the world, people have something in common. They need to feel connected to others for good mental health.
但是组织者也表示,世界各地的人们存在一些共同之处,为了心理健康,他们需要感受到与他人的联系。
The organizers include the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization.
组织者成员包括国际预防自杀协会组织和世界卫生组织。
The World Health Organization says that every year about one million people kill themselves. It says suicide is one of the top three causes of death among people between the ages of fifteen and forty-four.
世界卫生组织称每年有大约1百万人自杀身亡,自杀是15到44岁年龄段人群三大主要死因之一。
Among people age ten to twenty-four, suicide is the second leading cause of death, after road accidents.
而10到24岁年龄段人群中,自杀是仅次于交通事故的第二大死因。
Lanny Berman is president of the International Association for Suicide Prevention. He points out that suicide rates differ from country to country, as do common ways that people kill themselves. As a result, he says, prevention efforts must fit with local needs.
兰尼〃伯曼是国际预防自杀协会组织主席,他指出,各国的自杀率不同,自杀方式也各不相同。因此他建议,预防自杀措施要适合各国国情。
LANNY BERMAN: "The focus is on the primary methods of suicide in developing countries which have been pesticides, pesticide poisoning and overdose. And there have been some significant efforts to develop prevention programs to reduce the use of pesticides, the availability and accessibility of pesticide."
伯曼:―在发展中国家具首位的自杀方法是服农药,(农药中毒和过量使用)。所以这些地方采取了减少农药使用、供应和接触等有效预防措施。‖
Mr. Berman says findings from agricultural areas of Sri Lanka, India and China show promise. They show that programs are helping to limit access to these poisons.
伯曼称,来自斯里兰卡、印度和中国农业区的研究结果显示出良好的前景,研究结果显示,这些措施限制了农药接触。LANNY BERMAN: "In China women, particularly rural or farm women die by suicide by overdose of pesticide. And by creating lock boxes and making it more difficult to have easy accessibility to pesticides, we've been able to show that we can reduce the use of pesticides and thereby the rate of suicide."
伯曼:―在中国,特别是农村地区妇女都是服农药自杀。通过使用带锁的箱子,使其更难接触到农药,我们就能降低服用农药,
从而降低自杀率。‖
There are often clear warning signs before a suicide attempt. Lanny Berman says individuals usually talk about the idea before they try it.
在企图自杀之前都会有明确迹象,伯曼称,在试图自杀前,自杀者通常会表露出这种想法。
LANNY BERMAN: "When somebody communicates that they are thinking about suicide, threatening suicide, writing about it, in some way communicating that they have suicide on their brain, that indication should be taken seriously."
伯曼:―当有人表示他想到自杀,威胁要自杀,写下自杀相关的文字,或以其他方式表明自杀的想法时,对这些迹象要认真对
待。‖
Another warning sign, he says, is a sudden increase in the use of drugs or alcohol. Warning signs also include expressions of hopelessness or a sense of feeling trapped.
他称另一种迹象是突然大量饮酒和服用药物,类似迹象还包括表示出绝望或陷入困境。
Mr. Berman says the risk of suicide can be more difficult to identify in children. They generally communicate more with other children than with adults. But the other children often do not understand the messages.
伯曼称儿童的自杀风险很难界定,通常他们更多的和其他孩子沟通不是和成人,但其他孩子常常不理解这些信息。
As a result, he says, when children speak of suicide, other children rarely report it.
因此,当孩子提及自杀的时候,其他孩子很少(向大人)报告。
And that's the VOA Special English Health Report. I'm Steve Ember.
How Failure Can Lead to Long-Lasting Knowledge
为什么从失败中学到的经验更长久?
By Avi Arditti 2010-9-8
This is the VOA Special English Education Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语教育报道。
No one likes to make mistakes. But a new study says organizations learn more from their failures than their successes, and keep that knowledge longer.
任何人都不愿意犯错,但是一项新研究表明,组织机构从失败中学到的经验比从成功中学到的更多,而且保持时间更为长久。One of the researchers was Vinit Desai, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Denver Business School. He worked with Peter Madsen from the Marriott School of Management
at Brigham Young University in Utah.
科罗拉多大学丹佛商学院的助理教授维尼特〃德赛是研究者之一,与他合作研究的是来自犹他州杨百翰大学麦里特商学院的彼得〃马德森。
They did not find much long-term "organizational learning" from success. It is possible, they say. But Professor Desai says they found that knowledge gained from failure lasts for years.
他们没有发现太多从成功中学到的长期―系统经验‖。他们称这是有可能的,但是德赛教授称他们发现从失败获取的经验能持续多年。
He says organizations should treat failures as a learning opportunity and not try to ignore them.
他称组织机构应该把失败视作一次学习机会而不是试图忽略它。
The study looked at companies and organizations that launch satellites and other space vehicles. Professor Desai compared two shuttle flights.
该研究把目标放在了发射卫星和其他航天器的公司和机构上,德赛教授比较了两次航天飞机发射。
In two thousand two, a piece of insulating material broke off during launch and damaged a rocket on the Atlantis. Still, the flight was considered a success.
2002年,―亚特兰蒂斯‖号航天飞机在发射过程中一片绝缘材料脱落,火箭助推器受损,但仍然被视为发射成功。Then, in early two thousand three, a piece of insulation struck the Columbia during launch. This time, the shuttle broke apart on re-entry and the seven crew members died. NASA officials suspended all flights and an investigation led to suggested changes.
随后,2003年初―哥伦比亚‖号航天飞机在发射过程中一片绝缘材料击中了飞机,这一次,航天飞机在重返大气层时解体,造成7名宇航员遇难。美国国家宇航局(NASA)官员暂停了所有航天飞机发射,随后展开调查并做出整改。
Professor Desai says the search for solutions after a failure can make leaders more open-minded. He points to airlines as an example of an industry that has learned from failures in the past.
德赛教授称在失败后寻求解决方法会使领导者思维更开阔,他指出航空业就是一个从过去的失败中吸取经验教训的例子。He advises organizations to look for useful information in small failures and failures they avoided. He also urges leaders to encourage the open sharing of information. The study appeared in the Academy of Management Journal.
他建议组织机构从小的失败,以及他们避免了的失败中寻找有用信息,同时主张领导者应该鼓励信息共享。该研究论文发表在《管理学学术》期刊上。
The mistakes we learn from do not have to be our own. We recently asked people on our Facebook page to tell us a time they had done something really silly.
我们也可以从别人的失误中吸取经验教训。最近我们在Facebook上发动网友讲述他们做过的愚蠢的事情。
Fabricio Cimino wrote: Not long ago I wanted to watch TV, but it wouldn't turn on, so I did everything I could to start it. Thirty minutes later my mum shows up and, passing by, says to me "Did you try plugging it in?" I was like "I'm just dusting, Mum!" so she wouldn't notice how dumb I am sometimes!
Fabricio Cimino写道:不久前我想看电视,但我用尽一切办法也无法打开它。30分钟后我妈妈出现了,她经过我身边时对我说―你插插座了吗?‖我对她说―我只是在打扫灰尘‖。这样他就不会意识到我有时候多傻。
Bruno Kanieski da Silva told about a time he looked everywhere for his key. It was in his pocket. He wrote: I always promise I will never do it again, but after a few weeks ... where is my wallet? For sure it will be in a very logical place.
Bruno Kanieski da Silva讲的是有一次他翻遍了所有地方找钥匙,结果钥匙就在他的兜里。他写道:我常常发誓说再也不犯这种错误了,但是几周后……我的钱包哪去了?当然它在它该在的(符合逻辑的)地方。
And that's the VOA Special English Education Report. I'm Steve Ember.
Obama Urges Steps to Strengthen Economy
奥巴马推出(新的)经济刺激措施
By Mario Ritter 2010-9-9
This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。
This week, President Obama proposed new measures to lift the economy. The central bank in its latest report said there was continued growth in the past several weeks, but with "widespread signs" of slowing.
本周,奥巴马推出经济刺激新措施。美国央行在最近的报告中称,过去几周里美国经济继续增长,但是存在普遍放缓的迹象。Congressional elections are November second. One new survey showed that forty-nine percent of likely voters think Republicans should control Congress. Other polls find that about sixty percent of Americans think the country is going in the wrong direction.
11月2日将举行美国国会中期选举。一项新的调查表明,49%的潜在选民认为共和党应该控制国会,其他民意调查发现,大约60%的美国公民认为美国正朝着错误的方向前进。
President Obama gave a speech Wednesday near Cleveland, Ohio. He proposed a tax plan for businesses that make capital improvements, like buying new equipment.
本周三,奥巴马在俄亥俄州克利夫兰市发表了讲话,他提出一项企业税收计划以帮助企业改善资本状况,例如购臵新设备。BARACK OBAMA: "And I'm proposing that all American businesses should be allowed to write off all the investment they do in 2011. And this will help small businesses upgrade their plants and equipment, and will encourage large corporations to get off the sidelines and start putting their profits to work in places like Cleveland and Toledo and Dayton."
奥巴马:―我提议,允许所有美国企业在2011年底前冲销投资成本(注:企业利润中被投资冲销的部分就不用缴税,从而达到鼓励投资的目的。),这样就能帮助小企业更新厂房和设备,鼓励大企业停止观望,开始将收益投入到像克利夫兰,托莱多和代顿这样的地方。‖Mr. Obama also proposed to permanently extend a tax credit for research and development.
奥巴马同时还提出永久性延长企业研发费用的税收抵免政策。
And on Monday he offered a plan for "rebuilding and modernizing" America's roads, rails and runways. He said it would create jobs and improve transportation. The plan would cost fifty billion dollars, but he promised it would not add to the budget deficit over time.
同时,奥巴马本周一宣布一项重建美国公路,铁路和(机场)跑道的计划,他称这将创造就业机会,同时改善交通状况。该计划将耗资500亿美元,但奥巴马承诺该计划不会增加预算赤字。
The president spoke in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Both speeches were in the Midwest, an area hit hard by the recession.
奥巴马在威斯康星州密尔沃基市发表了这项(关于基建的)讲话。上文提到的这2次讲话都发表于美国中西部地区,这是美国受经济衰退影响最严重的地区。
He said almost every Republican in Congress is saying no to his ideas. But retiring Senator George Voinovich of Ohio tells the Washington Post that he plans to help push a bill through the Senate next week. That bill, supported by the president, contains measures to help small businesses.
他称,几乎所有国会共和党人都反对他的计划。但是即将离休的俄亥俄州共和党参议员乔治〃沃伊诺维奇对华盛顿邮报表示,他计划下周在参议院帮助推动一项法案,该法案包含扶持小企业的措施,得到了奥巴马的支持。
Still, there is disagreement over the future of the tax cuts approved under President George W. Bush. These are set to end this December. President Obama wants to extend the tax cuts for families that earn less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars a year.
然而,针对前总统布什批准的减税政策的未来仍存在争议,该项政策将于今年12月到期。奥巴马希望延长针对年收入低于
25万美元家庭的减税政策。
But John Boehner of Ohio, the Republican minority leader in the House of Representatives, told ABC News:
但是众议院少数(党)领袖,俄亥俄州共和党议员约翰〃博纳对ABC新闻表示:
JOHN BOEHNER: "You can't have a strong economy if you're raising taxes on the very people you expect to invest in our economy to begin hiring people again."
博纳:―如果你期望一些人再次雇用员工,投资于我们的经济,却又提高针对这些人的税收,我们的经济不可能变得更加强劲。‖Republicans oppose ending the tax cuts for higher earners. They say it would hurt small businesses. Democrats argue that few small businesses earn enough for their taxes to go up.
共和党反对终止针对较高收入者的减税政策,他们称这将会对小企业造成伤害,民主党辩称很少有小企业的盈利能达到提高税收的标准。
Congress passed a big stimulus bill shortly after the president took office last year. But there is little that his newest proposals could do to help the economy before November.
国会在去年奥巴马执政后通过了大规模经济刺激法案。但是,他提出的最新提案在11月之前可能对提升经济起不到什么效果。And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report. I'm Steve Ember.
A Sad Day, at an Uneasy Time, as US Marks 9-11 Attacks
美国纪念9.11恐怖袭击
By VOA 2010-9-10
This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道。
These days, Americans worry most about an economic recovery that President Obama calls "painfully slow." But on Saturday millions will remember the day al-Qaida terrorists flew airplanes into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington.
近几天,美国民众最担心的是奥巴马所谓―痛苦而缓慢‖的经济复苏。但是本周六数百万人都将记起这一天,基地恐怖分子劫持客机撞击纽约世贸中心和华盛顿五角大楼。
Another hijacked plane crashed in a field in Pennsylvania when passengers rebelled. Close to three thousand people died that day.
另一架被劫持客机在乘客反抗时坠毁在宾夕法尼亚州,近3000人在当天遇难。
Next year will be a big anniversary, ten years since the day Americans call 9-11.
明年将是911事件十周年纪念。
But this September eleventh comes at an uneasy time. A large number of Americans say they oppose plans to build an Islamic center near the World Trade Center site in New York.
但是今年的9月11日也正值艰难之际。大批美国民众表示反对在世贸中心遗址附近兴建伊斯兰中心计划。
This week attention centered on a Christian minister with a small following in the state of Florida.
本周,焦点集中在佛罗里达州一个有着少数追随者的基督教牧师身上。
Reverend Terry Jones said he would mark the 9-11 anniversary by burning copies of the Quran. He said he wanted to send a message to Islamic extremists.
牧师特里〃琼斯称他要以焚烧古兰经来纪念911事件,他表示将以此向伊斯兰教极端分子传递一个信息。
TERRY JONES: "We are not hateful toward Muslims. We are not aiming this at Muslims, we are aiming this at Sharia law."
琼斯:―我们不憎恨穆斯林。我们不是针对穆斯林,而是针对伊斯兰教义。‖
His church in Gainesville has maybe fifty members. On Thursday, Mr. Jones met with a local
Islamic leader in Florida and agreed to cancel the burning. He said the decision was part of an agreement to move the proposed mosque in New York.
他在盖恩斯维尔市的教堂有大约50名教众。本周四,琼斯会见了佛罗里达当地一名伊斯兰领袖后同意取消焚烧计划,他称这个决定是改址兴建纽约清真寺协议的一部分。
But the imam leading that project denied any such agreement. In reaction, Mr. Jones said he was not canceling the burning, but was suspending it.
但是,负责该项目的阿訇否认任何此类协议。作为回应,琼斯则称没有取消焚烧计划,只是暂时中止。
Political and religious leaders around the world had condemned him. The plan even led the State Department to warn American travelers to avoid places where protests might take place.
世界各国政治和宗教领袖对琼斯齐声谴责。该计划甚至导致美国国务院警告美国游客避免去可能发生反美示威活动的地方旅行。
President Obama said burning Qurans could endanger American troops and invite more extremism. Defense Secretary Robert Gates called Mr. Jones on Thursday to urge him to reconsider.
奥巴马称焚烧古兰经会危及美国军队,并招致更多极端主义活动。国防部长罗伯特〃盖茨本周四给琼斯打电话,敦促他重新考虑该计划。
Administration officials called the idea of burning Qurans "un-American." But they also agreed that it would be within constitutional rights, like protesters who burn American flags. The Constitution guarantees free speech and bars the government from restricting the practice of religion.
政府官员称焚烧古兰经的做法―不是美国人的做派‖,但是他们也同意这种做法符合宪法,就像示威者焚烧美国国旗一样。宪法保障言论自由,并禁止政府限制宗教活动。
President Obama has worked to improve relations with the Islamic world. On Thursday he extended greetings to the world's Muslims for Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
奥巴马一直致力于改善与伊斯兰教国家的关系,本周四他在庆祝神圣的斋月结束的开斋节向穆斯林表示祝贺。
But many Muslim groups in the United States are limiting celebrations on Saturday because of the timing of Eid and 9-11 this year. A Muslim student leader at George Washington University, for example, called on Muslim students to take part in a day of community service.
由于临近911这个(敏感的)时机,今年美国很多穆斯林团体限制了周六的庆祝活动。例如,一位乔治华盛顿大学的穆斯林学生领袖呼吁穆斯林学生参加一天的社区服务。
On Friday, a new study said national security agencies have not changed enough to deal with new terrorist threats against the United States.
本周五,一项新的报告称,美国国家安全机构并没有就应对新一轮恐怖威胁做出足够的改变。
Experts warned of a growing threat from Americans going to other countries to train and work with terrorists. At least forty-three American citizens or residents linked to militant groups were charged with or convicted of terrorism crimes last year. These cases were in the United States and other countries, and were the most since 9-11.
专家警告称,美国公民前往其他国家接受恐怖主义训练,并和恐怖分子协作的威胁日益增长。去年,至少43名与军事武装有联系的美国公民或居民被指控或者被定罪为恐怖犯罪。这些案件在美国和其他国家都有发生,是911事件之后发生此类案件最多
的一年。
The two former chairmen of the 9-11 Commission that investigated the attacks led the study.
负责调查911恐怖袭击的9-11委员会的2位前任主席领导了该项研究。
And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.
Number One
与数字一相关的词汇
By Jill Moss 2010-9-11
Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. (MUSIC)
这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇掌故节目。
Today I will tell about expressions using numbers. Let us start with the number one. Numbers can be tricky. On the one hand, they are simply numbers. On the other hand, they have meanings. I for one use these expressions a lot.
今天我们来讲述一下包含数字的表达方式。我们从数字―1‖开始。数字是非常巧妙的。一方面,它们仅仅是数字。另一方面,他们也有本身的意义。我就是其中一个(举一个例子),经常使用这样的短语。
Many people consider themselves number one, the most important person. They are always looking out for number one and taking care of number one. It is as if they are the one and only person on Earth. Some people however, are not so self-centered. My brother is such a person. It is true – no joke. I am not trying to pull a fast one on you.
许多人认为他们自己是最好的,最重要的人物。他们经常谋求自身的利益,为自己的利益打算。似乎他们是地球上唯一的人。然而,有些人就不是这么自我中心。我的弟弟就是这样的人。这是真的——不是开玩笑。我不会试图欺骗你。
First, you have to understand that my brother is one in a million. He is such a nice person. All his friends like him. They consider him one of the boys. Recently, my brother had a bad day at the office. It was just one of those days. Nothing went right. So he stopped at a local bar – a drinking place – after leaving work. My brother planned to have a glass of beer with his friends –a quick one – before he went home. But a quick one turned into one or two, and soon those became one too many.
首先,你必须明白,我的弟弟是万里挑一的人。他是非常好的人。他所有的朋友都喜欢他。他们认为他是真正的玩友。最近,我弟弟在工作上不是很愉快,那是一段倒霉的日子,事事不顺。所以下班之后就在一个当地酒吧——喝酒的地方逗留。我弟弟打算跟朋友喝完一杯啤酒就走——就干一杯。但是干一杯变成了一两杯,一会儿就喝多了。
As my brother was leaving, he ordered a last drink – one for the road. His friends became concerned. One by one, they asked him if he was able to drive home safely.
当我弟弟准备离开的时候,他要了最后一杯。他的朋友有些担心了,一个个都问他能否安全开车回家。
Now my brother is a wise and calm person. He is at one with himself. He recognizes when he has had too much alcohol to drink. So he accepted an offer for a ride home from a female friend.
这时我弟弟是个非常聪明冷静的人,他头脑冷静下来,意识到自己喝了太多酒,因此他就接受了一个女性朋友的帮助,让她载他回家。
At one time in the past, my brother had been in love with this woman. She is a great person –kind, thoughtful and intelligent – all good qualities rolled up into one. But sadly their relationship did not work. He always used to say "One of these days, I am going to marry this girl." But that never happened.
过去,我弟弟曾经爱上这个女人。她很优秀——善良、体贴和聪明——集所有的好品质于一身。但是他们的关系没有发展。他过去一直说―将来总有一天,我会娶这个女孩为妻‖。但是一直没有实现。
For one thing, she did not love him as much as he loved her. It was just one of those things. The situation was regrettable and my brother had to accept it. But even now, he considers her the one that got away.
一方面是因为她没有他爱她爱的深。这是命中注定的事。这样非常遗憾,我弟弟必须接受(命运)。但是即使是现在,他还认为(她是那个适合自己的女人,但是)她离开他了。
However, they are still friends. And because my brother had been kind to her, she felt that one good turn deserves another. He was good to her and she wanted to help him in return. So she drove him home.
然而,他们还是朋友。而且因为我的弟弟对她很好,她觉得应该以德报德。他对她很好,她想帮助他作为报答,所以就开车送他回家了。
If my brother had driven home from the bar that night, his number would have been up. Something bad would have happened. Thankfully he made it home safely. And, he and the woman are back to square one. They are back to where they started – being friends. (MUSIC) 如果我弟弟那晚从酒吧开车回家,那他就要完蛋了,可能会发生不好的事情。幸运的是他安全到家。而且他和那个女人回到原点,他们回到了最初的起点——成为朋友。
This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by Jill Moss. I'm Faith Lapidus.
Getting NGOs to Celebrate Failure, So They Can Learn From Others' Mistakes
非营利性组织成员从失败中互相学习
By June Simms 2010-9-12
This is the VOA Special English Development Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语发展报道。
Week after week, we bring you stories about projects to improve lives in the developing world. Projects like banking by mobile phone or low-cost lighting systems or even a toilet bag that recycles itself into fertilizer.
每周,我们都为你带来关于改善发展中国家生活的项目的故事,这些项目类似于手机银行,低能耗照明系统,甚至包括自降解洗漱包。
But for every success story, there are countless other projects that fail. These are the stories that people talk about at an event called FAILFaire.
但每个成功的故事背后都有着其他的数不清的失败了的项目,以下就是人们在一个叫做FAILFaire活动中讨论的(失败)故事。The creators of the event recently held their second FAILFaire. Members of the nonprofit community came together in Washington to talk about their projects, and why they failed.
这个活动发起者最近举办了他们第二届FAILFaire,各非营利性组织成员聚集到华盛顿,讨论他们失败的项目,以及项目失败的原因。
FAILFaire is sort of like a celebration of failure. A prize is even given to the "best" worst story. But why celebrate?
FAILFaire甚至有点像一种对失败的庆祝,甚至给―最好的‖糟糕经历以奖励。但为什么要庆祝呢?
Katrin Verclas is with a nonprofit group in New York called MobileActive. She was the one with the idea for FAILFaire. She says the event provides an opportunity for people to learn from the mistakes of others.
凯特琳〃韦克莱斯在纽约一个名为MobileActive的非盈利组织工作,她是FAILFaire的发起者之一。她称这个活动给人们提供了一次从别人的失误中学习的机会。
Katrin Verclas: "Development is a field with finite resources, and so the less money we waste, the better. And part of tha t is learning from the things that didn’t work, so that we don’t endlessly repeat them."
韦克莱斯:―发展是个资源有限的领域,所以我们浪费的钱越少越好。而该活动的一部分就是从那些运作失败的项目中学习,以免我们不断地重蹈覆辙。‖
MobileActive held its first FAILFaire in New York earlier this year. More than seventy people attended the event.
MobileActive组织今年早些时候在纽约举行了第一次FAILFaire活动,超过70人出席了这次活动。
One of them, for example, was there to talk about his failed nonprofit organization
https://www.doczj.com/doc/e59619232.html,. Bradford Frost had hoped to recycle used cell phones and provide them to people in Africa.
例如,布拉德福德〃弗罗斯特在活动上谈到了他失败的非盈利组织https://www.doczj.com/doc/e59619232.html,。他曾经希望回收二手移动电话然后提供给非洲的人们。
Katrin Verclas explained some of the problems with this project, and others like it.
韦克莱斯解释了这个项目的一些问题,以及其他项目的类似问题。
Katrin Verclas: "It didn’t work at all, given the prevalence o f cheap, very inexpensive handsets in the countries. We often refer to that as SWEDOW -- Stuff We Don’t Want. You know, the old stuff that we have that we think we can hand down to developing countries, and that’s not a very sustainable or in many ways smart approach."
韦克莱斯:―在这些国家提供廉价手提电话根本行不通。我们经常提到的SWEDOW——我们不想要的东西。你知道,我们认为能把我们拥有的这些旧东西传到发展中国家,但那不是一个长久且明智的做法。‖
FAILFaire takes place in a lighthearted social setting, over food and drinks.
FAILFaire在轻松愉快的交际气氛中,一边吃喝一边进行。
Ms. Verclas says the creator of a project is the one responsible for declaring it a failure. She says profit-making businesses talk more about failure than nonprofit organizations do.
韦克莱斯称一个项目的创建者就是负责披露失败的那个人。她称,盈利企业比非盈利组织在失败上讨论的更多。
Katrin Verclas: "We have to report to donors and donors do not like to look bad, and so we don’t like to look bad as nonprofits. And so we have a tendency to highlight our successes and never talk about our failures."
韦克莱斯:―我们必须向捐助者汇报,捐助者不愿意看到不好的结果,而作为非盈利组织,我们也不愿意。所以我们就有一种强调成功,却从不谈及失败的倾向。‖
Katrin Verclas says she hopes FAILFaire will change this problem over time. She says members of the nonprofit community have been surprisingly open to her idea.
韦克莱斯称她希望随着时间的推移,FAILFaire会改变这个现状,她称非盈利组织成员对她的意见极度坦诚。
Join us again next week for more about FAILFaire and who won the award for best worst story.
下周我们将继续讨论FAILFaire,看谁将获得了―最佳‖糟糕经历奖。
And that’s the VOA Special English Development Report. I’m Steve Ember.
Pretty Flowers Lead Two Scientists to a Discovery
科学家发现野生基因变异油菜品种
By Jerilyn Watson 2010-9-13
This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语农业报道。
Not all research begins with a plan. Some studies begin by accident. Meredith Schafer says that is what happened with her and Cynthia Sagers.
并非所有的研究都是有计划的开始的,一些研究的开始纯属偶然。梅勒迪〃斯谢弗说,她和辛西娅〃萨格斯的研究就是如此。Cynthia Sagers is a biology professor at the University of Arkansas. Meredith Schafer is a graduate student.
萨格斯是阿肯色大学的一名生物学教授。斯谢弗是一名研究生。
They were traveling in the state of North Dakota on a project. They noticed pretty yellow flowers.
她们在北达科他州进行一个项目时注意到一些非常漂亮的黄色花朵。
They recognized them as canola. Farmers grow canola for seeds to make cooking oil. Canola is
also used for animal feed and biofuel.
她们认为这是卡诺拉。农民们种植卡诺拉,用其菜籽炼制食用油。卡诺拉还能用于动物饲料和生物燃料。
注:Canola,卡诺拉,加拿大双低油菜。Canola是"Can(Canadian,加拿大)o(oil,油), l(low,低)a(acid,酸)"的缩写。
But the canola plants they saw were not growing in farm fields. They were growing along the road.
但是他们看到的卡诺拉植株并非长在农田里,而是长在路边。
The researchers decided to test the plants. They had brought along special testing papers for the project they were working on. They crushed some of the leaves in water and added the test strips.
研究人员决定对这种植株做个测试。他们随身携带了一种用于她们正在进行的项目的特殊试纸。她们将一些叶子碾碎后与水混合,然后将试纸(条)放入。
The results showed that the weedy canola plants contained genetic changes. If a plant is genetically modified, that means its genes have been changed to produce desired qualities.
结果显示,这种杂草般的卡诺拉植株存在基因变异。如果一种植物是转基因植物,则意味着它的基因被改造以获得更好的品质。
This summer, the researchers from Arkansas went back to North Dakota. This time they went on a road trip to find canola. They traveled more than five thousand kilometers.
今年夏天,阿克色州的研究人员再次回到北达科他州。这一次,他们沿路寻找卡诺拉,行程超过5千公里。
They stopped about every eight kilometers to count plants and take samples to test in their vehicle.
他们每8公里停下来统计植株数目并采样在车上进行测试。
What they found, they say, was the first discovery in the United States of wild canola plants with modified genes.
他们称他们在美国首次发现基因变异的野生卡诺拉植物。
Meredith Schafer presented the findings at a recent meeting of the Ecological Society of America.
萨格斯在美国生态学会近期一次会议上提交了该发现。
The scientists found canola plants in almost half of the places they investigated. They tested a total of two hundred eighty-eight plants. They found that eighty percent of those plants contained genes from genetically engineered canola.
科学家们在他们调查过的近一半地区发现了卡诺拉植株。他们对其中的288株进行了测试后发现,80%的植株携带转基因卡诺拉的基因。
Some crop plants are modified to resist damage from the chemicals that farmers spray to kill weeds. There are two proteins that can give canola the ability to resist two commonly used herbicides. One protein gives resistance against glyphosate. The other protein gives resistance against glufosinate.
有些农作物被基因改造,以抵抗农民喷洒的除草剂的损害。有两种蛋白质可以使卡诺拉拥有抵抗2种常用除草剂的能力。其中一种产生草甘膦抗药性,另一种产生草胺磷抗药性。
Two of the plants growing in the wild showed resistance to both kinds of weed killers. Professor Sagers says canola varieties with these genetic qualities have not been released on the market. This suggests the result of wild populations reproducing on their own.
2株野生植株对两种除草剂都显示出抗药性。萨格斯教授称,存在这种基因性状的卡诺拉品种并未在市场上发布。这意味着,这是野生种群自我繁殖的结果。
And that's the VOA Special English Agriculture Report. I'm Mario Ritter.
Groups Seek 4 Billion for Child Vaccines
国际组织寻求40亿美元儿童疫苗资金
By VOA 2010-9-14
This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语健康报道。
Vaccines and chest compressions are both ways to save lives. Now, separate new reports say each could save more lives if they were used more.
疫苗和胸部按压是拯救生命的两种方法。目前,几份独立报告声称,如果这2种方法被更广泛应用,任何一种方法都能拯救更多生命。
One report is from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the GAVI Alliance. GAVI is the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization.
其中一份报告来自国际红十字会与红新月会联合会和GAVI联盟,GAVI是全球疫苗免疫联盟的简称。
This alliance of public and private groups finances vaccines in poor countries. Spokesman Jeffrey Rowland says GAVI has done a lot since it began ten years ago.
这个公共与私营联合组织为贫困国家疫苗提供资金。联盟发言人杰夫〃罗兰称免疫联盟从十年前成立以来已经做了很多工作。JEFFREY ROWLAND: "We have prevented 5.4 million premature deaths. That means these children will not die of these diseases, 5.4 million, and we hope to prevent 4.2 million premature deaths by keeping immunization rates high over the next five years for basic immunization and rolling out vaccines against pneumonia and rotavirus diarrhea."
罗兰:―我们已经成功预防540万名早产儿夭折,这意味着有540万的儿童不会死于这些疾病,我们希望在未来五年通过保证基础免疫的高接种率,以及推出肺炎和轮状病毒腹泻疫苗预防420万早产儿夭折。‖
GAVI says these two diseases cause more than one-third of all deaths in children under age five. It says new vaccines against the pneumococcal bacteria and rotavirus could save more than one million children each year.
免疫联盟称针对肺炎双球菌和轮状病毒的疫苗每年能够拯救100多万儿童的生命,五岁以下夭折的儿童有超过三分之一是这两种疾病造成的。
But the group warns that a shortage of four billion dollars threatens these and other immunization programs. Some of these programs have made great progress against polio and other diseases preventable by vaccines.
但是该组织警告称,这2种以及其他免疫项目面临着40亿美元资金短缺的威胁。其中一些项目在抵抗小儿麻痹症和其他可以使用疫苗免疫的疾病方面取得了重大进展。
In other health news, a new study compares ways of saving patients with cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart develops an abnormal rhythm and stops beating.
在其他卫生新闻中,一项新研究对拯救心脏骤停病人的方法做了比较。心脏骤停是指当心脏发生心律不齐时停止跳动。An analysis of four studies found no difference in short-term survival when rescuers followed current guidelines. These call for defibrillation as soon as possible. A defibrillator is the device used to shock the heart back to normal rhythm.
对四项研究进行的分析发现,当救援人员遵循现行方针在短期存活率上是没有差异。该分析结果主张尽快采用心脏除颤术,
心脏除颤器是一种使心脏恢复正常心律的装臵。
But there was a small increase in long-term survival among those who received chest compressions before defibrillation. This was true one year after cardiac arrest, and especially if there were delays in the arrival of emergency medical services.
但是,在心脏除颤之前接受胸部按压的人们在长期存活率上略有提升,心跳骤停病史超过1年更是如此,特别是在医疗急救
人员姗姗来迟的情况下。
Doctor Pascal Meier of the University of Michigan Health System led an international study of one thousand five hundred patients.
密歇根大学卫生系统的帕斯卡尔〃梅尔博士领导了一项针对1500例病人的国际研究。
PASCAL MEIER: "What we wanted to test is whether it would be better to start first with good quality chest compressions to prepare the heart for this electrical shock -- to get some blood circulation to the brain and heart before we apply the shock."
梅尔:―我们想要检测的是,如果首先进行高质量的胸部按压术,让血液循环到大脑和心脏再进行电击,效果会不会更好?‖Dr. Meier says people should start to give compressions immediately if emergency help has not arrived. He says good quality compressions are done in the middle of the chest.
梅尔称如果急救人员还没有来,人们应该立即进行胸部按压。高质量的按压应该是在胸部中间部位完成。
PASCAL MEIER: "On the breast bone, usually about two fingers above the lower end of the chest bone, you put your both hands and then you have to straighten your arms and do pretty strong compressions there."
梅尔:―(按压位臵)通常是胸骨末端以上两指,双手平放到上面,伸直胳膊做有力按压。”
A report on the findings appeared in the online journal BMC Medicine.
关于该结果的报告发表在BMC医学在线期刊上。
And that's the VOA Special English Health Report. I'm Steve Ember.
Women Edge Past Men in Doctorates in US
美国博士中女性人数略超男性
By Avi Arditti 2010-9-15
This is the VOA Special English Education Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语教育报道。
In the United States, about six out of ten students in graduate schools are women. The same is true of today's young adults who already have a degree beyond college. As a result, the Census Bureau expects that more women than men will hold professions such as doctors, lawyers and professors.
美国大约6成的研究生是女生,这个比例在当前拥有大专以上学历的年轻人中也是如此。因此,人口调查局预计在事医生、律师和教授职业的女性比例将超过男性。
Men had faster growth rates than women in going to graduate school in two thousand nine. Still, women earned sixty percent of the master's degrees. That was the level of about ninety percent of all the graduate degrees awarded.
2009年就读研究生院的男生增长速度超过女生。然而,获得研究生学位的女生占到了60%。大约90%的学生能获得硕士学位。
But a new report says the two thousand eight-two thousand nine academic year marked a change. Women also earned fifty and four-tenths percent of the doctorate degrees. The Council of Graduate Schools says this was the first year ever that women earned more doctorates than men.
但是一项新报告称,2008-2009学年的情况发生了变化,获得博士学位的女生占到了50.4%。美国研究生院委员会称,这是头年出现女博士人数超过男博士的情况。
the largest share of all doctorates that year -- Forty-two percent -- were in education, engineering, and biological and agricultural sciences. But the report says between nineteen ninety-nine and two thousand nine, graduate enrollment increased in all subjects areas. The fastest growth was in health sciences, business and engineering.