AMERICAN MOSAIC
American Mosaic
Richard Williams is a member of the last family to live at Oatlands. His family still owns property next to the home. And they are involved in planting the trees.
AMERICAN MOSAIC：The American Civil War，Who Should Memorials Honor(2013-03-08)
Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC.
I’m June Simms.
On the show today, we hear music from some of the performers at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.
Beth Erickson is with Journey through Hallowed Ground.
“As you see these trees, one after another, it will truly make an impact.”
The first trees were planted in November on the grounds of a large, old Virginia home and farm called Oatlands. An historic trust now owns the former plantation. Andrea McGimsey is the Executive Director of Oatlands. She says the former plantation was a good place to start.
American Mosaic - 'YouTube
Blanche comes to New Orleans to visit her sister. She stays with Stella and Stanley in their crowded, noisy apartment. Stanley is a violent and abusive man. He is not happy that Blanche is there. From the beginning, Blanche says things that are not true. She pretends to be a Southern lady with high morals.
(MUSIC)
YouTube at the Guggenheim
The video sharing website, YouTube, was created in two thousand five and became an overnight success. Google bought YouTube for more than one billion six hundred thousand dollars the following year. In May, YouTube announced that two billion videos were watched each day.
ቤተ መጻሕፍቲ ባይዱDOUG JOHNSON: Welcome to American Mosaic in VOA Special English.
(MUSIC)
I’m Doug Johnson.
Today, we listen to “Wake Up,” a new album from John Legend and the Roots.
美国美食的英文介绍作文
美国美食的英文介绍作文$$The Delicious World of American Cuisine$$American cuisine, a vibrant mosaic of flavors and traditions, is a testament to the country's rich cultural diversity. Spanning from the savory barbecue of the South to the fresh seafood of the coasts, and from the hearty stews of the Midwest to the innovative fusion dishes of the West Coast, American food offers a diverse and delicious array of culinary experiences.At the heart of American cuisine is its dedication to freshness and simplicity. This is evident in the popularity of dishes like burgers, made with freshly ground beef and topped with a variety of condiments and cheeses, or the classic grilled cheese sandwich, a simple yet satisfying meal. These dishes highlight the use of quality ingredients and the art of cooking them to perfection.The influence of immigrant cultures is also profoundly felt in American cuisine. From Italian pizza and pasta to Mexican tacos and burritos, and from Chinese fried rice and noodles to Greek salads and gyros, the United States hasembraced and adapted these international flavors, making them uniquely American.The Southern region of the United States is renownedfor its barbecue, a slow-cooked feast of meats that are smoked to perfection over wood fires. From Texas-style brisket to Carolina pulled pork, each state has its own signature barbecue sauce and cooking method, creating a diverse and delicious range of barbecue experiences.The coasts of America offer a bounty of seafood that is fresh, diverse, and delicious. From the lobster rolls of the Northeast to the crab cakes of the Chesapeake Bay, and from the Pacific Coast's salmon and tuna to the GulfCoast's shrimp and oysters, seafood lovers will find plenty to savor.The Midwest, known for its hearty stews and casseroles, offers dishes like chili con carne and pot roast that are both filling and flavorful. These dishes, often made with locally sourced ingredients, reflect the region's agricultural heritage and its commitment to sustainability. On the West Coast, chefs are at the forefront of culinary innovation, blending traditional American flavorswith international influences to create unique and exciting dishes. Fusion cuisine, which fuses elements of different culinary traditions, is particularly popular in this region, offering diners a taste of the world in every bite.Desserts in American cuisine are as diverse anddelicious as the main courses. From classic apple pie and chocolate cake to more modern creations like cheesecake and ice cream, American desserts are both sweet and satisfying. American cuisine is not just a collection of dishes;it's a reflection of the country's history, culture, and people. It's a celebration of diversity and a testament to the power of food to bring people together. Whether you'rea foodie exploring new flavors or a homesick traveler longing for a taste of familiarity, American cuisine has something for everyone.In conclusion, American cuisine is a vibrant anddiverse culinary landscape that offers a wide range of delicious experiences. From the savory barbecue of theSouth to the innovative fusion dishes of the West Coast, American food is a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and its dedication to quality, freshness, andsimplicity. Whether you're a food lover or a cultural explorer, a meal in America is sure to leave you satisfied and wanting more.。
用英文版
By Dana Demange2008-8-28HOST:Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.(MUSIC)I'm Doug Johnson.Today we play music from the British band Coldplay ...Answer a question about the circus ...And tell about a wet and wild public art project in New York City. (MUSIC)New York City WaterfallsHOST:Visitors to New York City this summer have the chance to see four special art installations that are making a big splash. The Public Art Fund group hiredDanish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson to create the New York City Waterfalls. Faith Lapidus has more about this interesting public art project in the East River.FAITH LAPIDUS:Olafur Eliasson's waterfall under the Brooklyn BridgeThe four New York City Waterfalls range in height from twenty-seven to thirty-six meters tall. They are made from common industrial materials like scaffolding, pumps and piping. One waterfall is under the Brooklyn Bridge, while another flows between Piers Four and Five in Brooklyn. There is one on Pier Thirty-five in Manhattan, and another on the north side of Governors Island. Together, these waterfalls move one hundred thirty-two thousand liters of water a minute.The public art project cost more than fifteen million dollars and took two years to plan.There are several ways to get a good look at the waterfalls. The New York City Department of Transportation organized a bicycle route that suggests riding across the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. Or you can sit and enjoy looking at them from several parks. You can even see some of them while riding some public transportation trains between Manhattan and Brooklyn. We decided to take a Circle Line boat tour to fully experience the view from the water.(SOUND)TOUR GUIDE: "Now, here we go into the East River, looking for waterfalls. They are the work of the artist forty-one-year-old Olafur Eliasson, born in Denmark, grew up in Iceland and now works in his studio in Berlin. He heads up a team of thirty.Not just artists but mechanics, architects and even plumbers."Olafur Eliasson chose the form of the waterfall because he says it is easily recognizable. He wanted people to think of the water of the East River as more than just a simple surface surrounded by buildings. He wanted people to have anature-based experience within a city environment. He said by lifting the water up into falls, he called attention to the physical presence of the water. He wanted people to see the natural forces of gravity, wind and daylight changing the water.At the opening ceremony in June, Eliasson said the waterfalls are about public space and belong to the people of New York City. The falls were carefully built so that they do not harm organisms living in the river. The materials used to make the falls will be reused. And the waterfalls are temporary. Visitors have until October thirteenth to enjoy this unusual public art project.(MUSIC)History of the CircusHOST:Our listener question this week comes from Ukraine. Olga wants to know more about the history of the circus.During the civilization of ancient Rome, the circus was a building for large events. These included horse racing, athletic competitions and wild animal hunts.The eighteenth century British horse expert Philip Astley is often called thecreator of the modern circus. He opened a riding school in London where he also performed dangerous tricks for the public. His shows grew to include performances by acrobats, jugglers, clowns and strong men.Circuses are usually performed in a circular area called a ring. In fact, the word "circus" comes from the Latin word for "circle." Circuses became very popular in Europe during the nineteenth century. Some European cities still have circus buildings which date from this period. These include Paris, France; Stockholm, Sweden, and Blackpool, England.In the United States, P.T. Barnum developed a circus show that included animals performing tricks and people with unusual skills. P.T. Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus began in eighteen seventy. At the time, it was the largest circus in American history. Two years later Barnum was calling his circus "The Greatest Show on Earth."The two most famous American circuses were Barnum and Bailey and the Ringling Brothers. By nineteen hundred seven, the two companies merged into one. But they performed separately for twelve years.A circus performance with Gunther Gebel-WilliamsIt was a major event when a circus such as Ringling Brothers came to perform in a city or town. During the early twentieth century, this circus required about one hundred railroad cars to carry equipment, one thousand workers and hundreds of animals.Some of Ringling's most famous circus performers included the acrobat Lillian Leitzel, the clown Lou Jacobs and the animal trainer Gunther Gebel-Williams.Today, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus has two separate shows which travel across the United States by train. Another smaller show travels by truck.Several other groups have reinvented the circus with artistic performances that do not include animals. These include the Cirque du Soleil from Canada, Circus Baobab from Guinea and the Pickle Circus in San Francisco, California.Coldplay(MUSIC)ColdplayHOST:The British rock band Coldplay is making history with its fourth album, "Viva la Vida." The album sold more than seven hundred thousand copies in the United States during the first week it was released in June. It also became the most paid-for downloaded album in history. Barbara Klein plays three songs from this popular record.(MUSIC)BARBARA KLEIN:That was the song "Lost." It is a good example of Coldplay's skill in creating dramatic rock melodies that are hard to forget. The lead singer, Chris Martin, often sings in a warm and recognizable high, falsetto voice. The title "Viva la Vida" or "long live life" comes from a painting by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Chris Martin says he has great respect for the boldness of her work.Coldplay said it wanted to try something different with "Viva la Vida." The album includes heavier drum sounds and more serious songs. The band hired the famous record producer Brian Eno to help them with the album. Eno is best known for working with the Irish rock group U2. Here is the song "Strawberry Swing."(MUSIC)Coldplay has used creative methods to advertise the album. For one week, they released the song "Violet Hill" free of charge on the Internet. They also gave free performances in New York City, Barcelona, Spain, and London, England. Coldplay even appeared in an advertisement for the iTunes online music store. We leave you with "Viva la Vida," the title song of Coldplay's best-selling album.(MUSIC)HOST:I'm Doug Johnson. I hope you enjoyed our program today.It was written and produced by Dana Demange. To read the text of this program and download audio, go to our Web site, .Join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC, VOA's radio magazine in Special English.。
AMERICAN MOSAIC
AMERICAN MOSAIC - November 23, 2001HOST:Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC — VOA’s radio magazine in Special English. This isDoug Johnson. On our program today:We play some award-winning country music ...answer a question about Muslims in the United States ...Lee Ann Womackand report about a historic museum in the southeastern state of North Carolina.Wright Brothers MuseumHOST:Americans Orville and Wilbur Wright will always be remembered in history as the inventors of modern flight. They made the world’s first flight in a machine that was heavier than air and powered by an engine. Shep O’Neal tells us more about the brothers and a memorial that honors their success.ANNCR:The Wright brothers did most of their research and test flights on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It was a place with strong winds, hills from which to launch their flying machines and a soft place to land.Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first controlled powered flight in history on December Seventeenth, Nineteen-Oh-Three. They carried out four tests in their first airplane they called the Wright Flyer. The first flight traveled thirty-seven meters and lasted twelve seconds. The longest and most historic test flight flew two-hundred-sixty meters and lasted fifty-nine seconds.Visitors to the Outer Banks in North Carolina can see a memorial to the Wright brothers. It is built on the same fields where they did their research. An eighteen-meter high rock memorial was completed in Nineteen-Thirty-Two. It sits on top of Kill Devil Hill. The brothers used this sand hill for more than one-thousand test flights.Two other buildings near Kill Devil Hill show how the Wright brothers lived while doing their research. One building shows where they ate, slept, and built test equipment. The other is similar to the place where they kept their flying machines.A large rock near the memorial marks where the Wright Flyer first left the ground. Numbered signs show the landing points for the first four historic test flights. Following those tests, the Wright Flyer was damaged by the wind. It never flew again. However, a model of the plane is in the visitors center at Kill Devil Hill. Today, the real Nineteen-Oh-Three Wright Flyer belongs to the Smithsonian Institution. It is hanging in the Air and Space Museum in Washington, D-C.Islam in the United StatesHOST:Our VOA listener question this week comes from Indonesia. Suherman Rosyidi asks about Islam and Muslims in the United States.There are more than one-thousand-million people around the world who are Muslims. They practice the religion Islam. About six-million Muslims live in the United States. Only about one in five Muslims in the world are Arabs.Yet some people from the Middle East are having a difficult time in the United States since the terrorist attacks September eleventh. The men responsible for the attacks were Arab. They were part of the Muslim al-Qaeda group led by Osama bin Laden. He is Muslim and has declared a holy war against the United States and the West.Some Americans believed that all Muslims agreed with what the terrorists did. Because of this, many Muslims and other people from the Middle East have said they are being treated unfairly in the United States. For example, the newspaper USA Today reported that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received about seventy charges by Muslim workers. The commission says forty of those charges involve workers saying they were wrongly dismissed from their jobs. Some workers say the reason they are being treated this way is because of their religion or nationality.After the terrorist attacks, President Bush told Americans not to blame all Muslim people for the acts of a few. He said the United States-led war in Afghanistan is against terrorism, not Islam. However, the United States government has begun to use unusual measures to find and stop future terrorists.Last week, the State Department said it will carry out increased investigations of Arab and Muslim men seeking permission to come to the United States. The Justice Department said it will question more than five-thousand young men. The young men are in the United States as visitors from countries where terrorist groups are active.Civil rights groups and groups representing Arab-Americans have expressed concern about this. They want to make sure that people are not treated differently because of their religion or nationality.However, not all Muslims in America have reported unfair treatment since the September attacks. Some say the tragedy has given them a chance to educate other Americans about their religion. And they are able to show that Islam does not agree with what the terrorists did.Country Music Association AwardsHOST:The Country Music Association held its yearly awards ceremony earlier this month at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. Shirley Griffith plays music by some of the award winners.ANNCR:The Country Music Association honored Lee Ann Womack with her first Female Singer of the Year Award. Mizz Womack was emotional as she thanked the crowd at the Grand Ole Opry. She told them she thought her chance for the award had passed. Here is Lee Ann Womack singing “Thinkin’ With My Heart Again.”((CUT ONE: "THINKIN' WITH MY HEART AGAIN"))The Country Music Association presented songwriters Larry Cordle and Larry Shell with the award for Song of the Year. Their winning song criticizes the music industry. It says producers are destroying the traditions of country music. Larry Cordle and his band Lonesome Standard Time perform “Murder on Music Row.”(CUT TWO: "MURDER ON MUSIC ROW"))A collection of music from the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” won Album of the Year. The movie takes place in the United States during the Nineteen-Thirties. It includes traditional country songs by several performers. The awards also honored The Soggy Bottom Boys, a group of musicians in the movie. We leave you now with their performance of the song that was named Single of the Year, “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow”. ((CUT THREE: "I AM A MAN OF CONSTANT SORROW"))HOST:This is Doug Johnson. I hope you enjoyed our program today. And I hope you will join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC —VOA’s radio magazine in Special English.This AMERICAN MOSAIC program was written by Jill Moss, Nancy Steinbach and Caty Weaver. Our studio engineer was Tom Verba. And our producer was Paul Thompson.Email this article to a friendPrinter Friendly Version。
少儿英语口语：头胎生的孩子比弟弟妹妹有出息
少儿英语口语：头胎生的孩子比弟弟妹妹有出息B： Welcome to American English Mosaic, I'm Mike Bond!A： And I'm 蔚然。
杨琳休假，我带班。
B： Losing a job is a horrible experience. So, how do you make the most out of it?A：头胎生的孩子比弟弟妹妹有出息？你同意这种结论吗？B： And in words and idioms, we will learn what "to death" and "to no avail" mean!A： All coming up on this edition of American English Mosaic!B： Now let's go into our first segment, Learn-a-word!Learn A Word 1898 giveaway今天我们要学的词是 giveaway. Giveaway is spelled g-i-v-e-a-w-a-y, giveaway. Giveaway 是名词，意思是免费赠品。
Fast food chains always use cheap toys and giveaways to draw in kids.快餐连锁店往往依靠廉价玩具和免费赠品吸引孩子们前来消费。
In order to lure students into coming to its women's basketball season opener, Kansas State University is offering a giveaway that they cannot refuse--free bacon. 为了吸引学生前来观看女子篮球校队的赛季首场比赛，堪萨斯州立大学让看比赛的学生免费享用培根，使他们无法拒绝诱惑。
AMERICANMOSAIC-M...
AMERICAN MOSAIC - Making Art Out of Common Materials: The Boxes ofJoseph CornellBy Melissa Etheridge / Broadcast date: Friday, February 23, 2007HOST:Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC, in VOA Special English.(MUSIC)I'm Doug Johnson. On our show this week:We answer a question about the Everglades ...Play some music nominated for an Academy Award ...And report about an artist who builds boxes.Joseph CornellHave you ever heard of art in a box? Joseph Cornell was an important artist bestknown for his beautifully constructed boxes. A large collection of his interesting artwork was shown recently at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. Faith Lapidus tells us more.FAITH LAPIDUS:You could say that Joseph Cornell became an artist because ofhis love of collecting. Cornell used to spend his free timeexploring the street life of New York City in the nineteentwenties. He soon started collecting old books, prints, postcardsand even three-dimensional objects that he found in stores thatsold used books.Cornell also attended many museum shows, gallery openingsand dance performances. He was influenced by a group ofartists called the Surrealists who combined images in unusualand often strange ways. An unnamed work by Joseph CornellJoseph Cornell started making his own works by cutting out different pictures and putting them together in creative and magical combinations. Soon, he started making boxes inside of which were carefully arranged pictures and objects. He worked on his art at night after finishing his day job. Later, when his boxes and images started selling and receiving public recognition, he worked on his art full time.Joseph Cornell died in nineteen seventy-two.The Smithsonian exhibit showed almost two hundred works made during his forty-year career. One work is called "Soap Bubble Set." A box with a glass window shows a map of the moon, several pictures of sea creatures, two glass cups and two white pipes for smoking. In another box, Cornell combines an image of a cockatoo bird with a music box and watch faces.Joseph Cornell once said his art was based on everyday experiences. He said thatwith his art he showed "the beauty of the commonplace." Visitors who came to this special exhibit found magic in regular objects - and even saw beauty in a box.The EvergladesHOST:Our listener question this week comes from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Nguyen Thanh Duc wants to know about the Everglades National Park in the southern state of Florida.in the mainland United States. President Harry S. Trumanofficially established the national park in nineteen forty-seven.He placed almost two hundred thousand hectares of land in thearea under federal control.The parkland has since been expanded several times. ThePart of the EvergladesUnited States now protects more than six hundred thousandhectares of the Everglades. This is only about twenty percent of the Everglades ecosystem.The Everglades was the first national park established to protect only biological resources. The wetlands are famous around the world for their diversity of wildlife. The United Nations has called the area "a world biological treasure."The Everglades is really a slow-moving, extremely shallow river that flows south to the ocean. It is filled with sharp, thin sawgrass. This is why the Everglades is sometimes called the River of Grass. The area was also once called the "liquid heart" of Florida. Forests of palm, cypress, mangrove and pine are also a part of the Everglades. It ishome to beautiful plants and sweet-smelling flowers. These include several kinds ofthe highly prized and rare flower, the orchid.Many kinds of animals live in the Everglades. Many colorful birds and butterflies livethere. So do snakes, frogs, foxes and even big cats, called Florida panthers. But the alligators and crocodiles are probably the animals most identified with the Everglades. No other place in the world is home to both.However, the Everglades is one of the most endangered national parks in the United States. Human activities and development around the edges of the park threaten the area's health and future. Many of the animals are in danger of disappearing.More than one million people visit the Everglades National Park each year. The park will celebrate its sixtieth anniversary next December.Oscar Nominated SongsThe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present its seventy-ninth yearly Academy Awards on Sunday. These awards are known as the Oscars. They honor writers, directors, actors and others who helped create the best motion pictures last year. They also honor songs written for those movies. Barbara Klein has more.BARBARA KLEIN:One of the five nominated songs was written by Randy Newman for the animated movie "Cars." It is called "Our Town," and is performed by James Taylor.(MUSIC)A second nominated song was written by Melissa Etheridge. It is called "I Need To Wake Up." It is from the documentary about global warming called "An Inconvenient Truth."The final three nominated songs all were written by Henry Krieger for the musical movie "Dreamgirls." The movie is about a group of female singers who become famous during the nineteen sixties. One of the songs is called "Listen." Beyonce sings it in "Dreamgirls." This song is called "Patience." Eddie Murphy sings it in the movie. (MUSIC)We leave you now with the third song nominated from the movie "Dreamgirls." Jennifer Hudson sings "Love You I Do."(MUSIC)HOST:I'm Doug Johnson. I hope you enjoyed our program today. It was written by Dana Demange, Nancy Steinbach and Caty Weaver, who was also our producer. To read the text of this program and download audio, go to our Web site, .。
世界化肥化工企业
就在这个以带领服装潮流见称的中国城市里，巴斯夫染料成为了畅销产品。由那时候开始，巴斯夫正式踏足中国市场。
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巴斯夫是一间大型国际化工公司，在39个国家中生产各种产品，并与170多个国家的客户商务往来。巴斯夫集团于1997年
底综合销售额高达558亿马克。1997年底，巴斯夫的员工人数超过100，000名。
材料科技
拜瑞妥、多吉美、拜新同等畅销产品 除草剂产品、防稻瘟病产品、真菌病原体导致的作物疾病产品 聚碳酸酯、聚氨酯、涂料粘合剂及特殊化学品。
陶氏化学发展历史
陶氏化学
陶氏化学业务架构图 陶氏化学产品架构图
功能产品 基础材料 功能材料 健康与农业科技 化工产品 农化产品 塑料产品
包括食品、运输、保健和医药、 个人及家居护理、建造与工程等。
因为巴斯夫所制造的消费品并不多，但在物料供应方面可说是包罗万象。这些物料被用作制成各式各样使生活更美好的产品，
例如蓝色牛仔裤所用的靛蓝染料和汽车所有的涂料等。尽心尽力为我们的生产带来优质产品，是构成巴斯夫成功的部份元素。
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听取客户意见，为客户提供服务以及满足他们的需求，是巴斯夫的宗旨，为贯彻这宗旨，公司将继续开发新产品和增强巴
世界化工企业
化工企业在中国
企业名称 巴斯夫 拜耳
在中国
1885年，中国已成为巴斯夫品红在德国以外最重要的市场。 目前，巴斯夫中国区拥有23个全资子公司和10个合资公司，分 别位于香港、北京、上海、南京、广州、吉林、沈阳和新竹。2007年，巴斯夫在大中华区的销售额约为44亿欧元。巴斯夫 在大中华区的主要业务范围包括石化产品、聚合物分散体、聚苯乙烯、聚氨酯、工程塑料、涂料、纺织和皮革业特性产品、 中间体、催化剂和化学建材等。
• 早于公元前2600年，中国已出现了有关使用染料之文字记载。另一方面，德国人亦一向是开发染料的先驱者。1834年，德国一 名化学家发现，若在提炼煤油时加上漂白剂，苯胺会放出鲜蓝色彩，这奠定了日后发展苯胺染料的基础。
有关美国人的英语作文
When it comes to writing an essay about Americans, its important to consider the diverse aspects of American culture, history, and society. Heres a sample essay that touches on these themes:The American Mosaic: A Nation of DiversityAmerica, often referred to as the melting pot of the world, is a nation built on the principles of freedom, democracy, and the pursuit of happiness. The United States is a vast tapestry woven from the threads of various cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds, creating a unique and vibrant society.Historical Roots of DiversityThe story of America begins with the indigenous peoples who inhabited the land for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. The Native American tribes, with their rich traditions and deep connection to the land, laid the first cultural layer of what would become the United States. With the influx of settlers, particularly from Europe, the American landscape began to change. Each wave of immigration brought new languages, religions, and customs, enriching the cultural fabric of the nation.The American DreamOne of the most enduring aspects of American culture is the concept of the American Dream. This idea, that anyone can achieve success through hard work and determination, has attracted people from all over the world. The stories of immigrants who arrived with little more than hope in their hearts and built successful lives for themselves and their families are the backbone of the American narrative.Cultural ContributionsThe cultural contributions of Americans are vast and varied. From the arts to science, from sports to technology, Americans have made significant impacts on the world stage. The music of jazz and blues, born from the African American experience, has influenced music globally. The innovation in technology, with Silicon Valley at the forefront, has revolutionized communication and information sharing.Challenges and OpportunitiesDespite the many successes, the United States also faces challenges related to its diversity. Issues of racial and social inequality, immigration debates, and cultural misunderstandings are part of the ongoing dialogue in American society. However, these challenges also present opportunities for growth and unity. The nations ability to embrace its diversity and work towards a more inclusive society is a testament to its resilience and adaptability.ConclusionIn conclusion, the United States is a nation of immigrants, a place where the old and the new coexist, and where the past and the future are constantly being shaped. The English language, as the common thread that binds Americans together, is itself a reflection of this diversity, with its incorporation of words and phrases from many different languages. The story of America is the story of its people, a story that continues to evolve and enrich the world.This essay provides a broad overview of American culture and society, highlighting the importance of diversity and the American Dream. It also acknowledges the challenges faced by the nation while emphasizing the opportunities for growth and unity.。
美国节日英语作文
美国节日英语作文Title: Celebrating American Holidays: A Cultural Mosaic。
In the heartland of America, celebrations echo through the year, weaving a tapestry of culture and tradition that reflects the diverse mosaic of its people. From coast to coast, each holiday holds a unique significance, embodying the values and beliefs cherished by generations. In this essay, we will explore some quintessential Americanholidays and delve into their cultural importance.To commence our journey through the American holiday calendar, let us first turn our attention to the iconic Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day. This day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, marking the birth of the United States of America. Across the nation, communities come together to celebrate with grand fireworks displays, lively parades, and spirited gatherings. It is a time for patriotic fervor, as citizens reflect on the principles of freedom and democracy uponwhich the nation was founded.Moving forward, Thanksgiving stands as a cornerstone of American tradition, steeped in history and gratitude. Originating from the harvest festivals of early settlers and Native American communities, Thanksgiving is a time for families to gather, feast, and express gratitude for the bounties of the past year. The centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal is the roasted turkey, accompanied by an array of side dishes like mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Beyond the culinary delights, Thanksgiving serves as a reminder to pause and appreciate the blessings of life.As the winter chill sets in, the holiday season ushers in a sense of warmth and joy with Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Christmas, observed on December 25th, is celebrated by Christians across the country, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. Families decorate their homes with twinkling lights, festive ornaments, and evergreen trees, exchanging gifts and spreading cheer. Meanwhile, Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is observedby the Jewish community, symbolizing the miracle of the oil lamp in the ancient Temple. During the eight nights of Hanukkah, families light the menorah, sing songs, and enjoy traditional foods like latkes and sufganiyot. Similarly, Kwanzaa, which runs from December 26th to January 1st, honors African heritage and culture. Each day of Kwanzaa is marked by lighting a candle on the Kinara, representing principles such as unity, self-determination, and creativity.As the New Year dawns, Americans usher in fresh beginnings with the vibrant festivities of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. On the eve of December 31st, cities across the nation come alive with glittering fireworks displays, lively parties, and the iconic countdown to midnight. It is a time of reflection on the past year's achievements and anticipation for the possibilities of the year ahead. On New Year's Day, many Americans partake in the tradition of making resolutions, setting goals for personal growth and improvement in the coming months.Beyond these hallmark holidays, the American calendaris adorned with a myriad of cultural celebrations, from the solemn observance of Memorial Day and Veterans Day to the exuberant revelry of Mardi Gras and Halloween. Each holiday carries its own significance, reflecting the rich tapestry of American culture and history.In conclusion, American holidays serve as a testament to the nation's diversity, unity, and resilience. From the patriotic fervor of Independence Day to the warmth of Thanksgiving and the joy of Christmas, these celebrations bind communities together and reaffirm the values that define the American spirit. As we continue to honor these traditions and forge new ones, let us embrace the richness of our cultural heritage and celebrate the mosaic of identities that make America truly great.。
VOA MOSAIC-AMERICAN MOSAIC
ANNCR:
The Science Talent Search is the oldest such program for high school students in the United States. An organization called Science Service created the competition in nineteen forty-two. The aim was to increase the number of young Americans choosing to work in science.
Hurricanes are ocean storms that strike mainly in the Southeast. The hurricane season is, officially, June through November. Tornadoes are a risk across the country. These are locally severe windstorms. They generally happen in the spring and summer.
The oceans affect weather along the coasts. The Pacific coast has smaller temperature changes, and calmer conditions, than along the Atlantic.
Alaska and Hawaii are the only states not connected to the forty-eight mainland states. Alaska is in the Arctic area, so it gets very cold. Hawaii, out in the Pacific, is warm all year long.
怎么写关于美国的作文英语
怎么写关于美国的作文英语Title: The American Mosaic: Exploring the Land of Opportunity。
America, the land of opportunity, the beacon of freedom, and the melting pot of cultures, has long captivated the imagination of people worldwide. From the skyscrapers of New York City to the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon, the United States offers a tapestry of experiences anddiversity that is both awe-inspiring and complex.One cannot truly understand America without delvinginto its rich tapestry of history, culture, and society.The roots of this great nation trace back to the indigenous peoples who inhabited the land long before the arrival of European settlers. Their diverse cultures and traditions continue to influence American society today, reminding usof the importance of honoring the land's original inhabitants.The story of America is also one of immigration, with waves of people from every corner of the globe seeking refuge, opportunity, and freedom on its shores. From the early settlers seeking religious freedom to the millions who arrived at Ellis Island in search of a better life, each immigrant group has contributed to the mosaic of American culture, bringing with them their languages, traditions, and cuisines.Central to the American identity is the belief in the "American Dream" – the idea that anyone, regardless of background or circumstances, can achieve success through hard work and determination. While the reality may not always match the ideal, the pursuit of this dream continues to drive millions of people to America's shores, seeking a better life for themselves and their families.But alongside the ideals of freedom and opportunity, America also grapples with deep-rooted social and economic challenges. Economic inequality, racial injustice, and political polarization are just some of the issues that have long divided the nation. Despite these challenges,however, America remains a beacon of hope for many, a place where individuals have the freedom to speak their minds, pursue their passions, and create their own destinies.Beyond its borders, America plays a leading role on the world stage, shaping global politics, economics, and culture. Its military might, economic influence, and soft power have made it a dominant force in international affairs. Yet, with great power comes great responsibility, and America faces scrutiny and criticism for its actions both at home and abroad.In recent years, America has faced unprecedented challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to social unrest sparked by racial injustice. These crises have laid bare the deep-seated inequalities and divisions within American society, challenging the nation to confront its past and work towards a more equitable future.Despite its flaws and shortcomings, America remains a land of boundless opportunity and endless possibility. Itis a place where individuals from all walks of life cancome together to build a better future for themselves and their communities. As we navigate the complexities of the21st century, let us remember the ideals that have long defined America – freedom, equality, and opportunity –and work towards realizing them for all who call this great nation home.In conclusion, America is a nation of contradictions –a land of opportunity and inequality, freedom and injustice, diversity and division. Yet, it is precisely these contradictions that make America so fascinating and dynamic. As we strive to understand this complex and multifaceted nation, let us embrace its diversity, celebrate its achievements, and work towards a more perfect union for generations to come.。
美国沙拉文化简介
American culture “Salad Bowl”American history began with waves of immigrants, bringing their own cultures an d traditions to a vast new country. No other place in the world has such a diverse pop ulation. It is this diversity that makes America what it is.The United States has traditionally been referred to as a “melting pot”, welcoming people from many different countries, races, and religious.“Mosaic” also means “separate culture”. If you were given one “picture” of Ameri ca, you can see one unified culture. But on close inspection, you can distinguish the v arious contributing cultures.However, compared with the two concepts of American culture, “Salad Bowl” is distinctive. Firstly, “melting Pot” focuses on blending various cultures and ethnicities. Immigrant populations within the United States are being blended together in one “Pot”. But “salad Bowl” pays more attention to the mixtures of various ingredients that keep their individual characteristics. Secondly, “Mosaic” is more familiar with “Salad Bowl”, these two cultures keep their own culture. However, the “Salad Bowl” which means the unique characteristics of each culture is still identifiable within the large American society, yet, “Mosaic” is more indistinct, and we should distinguish its unique culture through closer inspection.In the 1980s there is a popular topic: whether America is a melting pot or a salad b owl? Whether the salad would replace the pot? In such a salad bowl society, all kinds of people blend together, but on the other hand, they do not lose their own culture. No w let me give you examples:In many cities, like New Y ork, there are neighborhoods that are mostly inhabited by people from the same culture or country. Chinatown is one example. There are other neighborhoods that are mostly Russian, or Korean, or Jewish, and so on. In those neighborhoods, they communicate in their own language, keep their own culture. Another example is that in some big occasion such as Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, the Chinese who live in America would celebrate it in traditional way .They may invite their best friend or relatives to get together to enjoy a feast. It is a way they preserve their own culture.Today the trend is toward multiculturalism, not assimilation. The old "melting pot" metaphor is giving way to n ew metaphors "salad bowl”: mixtures of various ingredients that keep their individual characteristics. Immigrant populations within the United States are not being blended together in one "pot", but rather they are transforming American Society into a truly multicultural salad bowl。
美国马赛克计划一项多样性的全国性调查_数据挖掘_科研数据集
美国马赛克计划:一项多样性的全国性调查(American Mosaic Project: A National Survey on Diversity )数据摘要：The American Mosaic Project is a multiyear, multi-method study of the bases of solidarity and diversity in American life. The principal investigators of this project are Doug Hartmann, Penny Edgell and Joseph Gerteis at the University of Minnesota. The survey portion of the project consists of a random-digit-dial telephone survey (N=2,081) conducted during the summer of 2003 by the University of Wisconsin Survey Center. The survey was designed to gather data on attitudes about race, religion, politics and American identity as well as demographic information and social networks.中文关键词：美国马赛克计划,全国性调查,多样性,态度,明尼苏达大学,英文关键词：American Mosaic Project,national survey,diversity,attitude,University of Minnesota,数据格式：TEXT数据用途：The data can be used for data mining.数据详细介绍：American Mosaic Project: A National Survey on DiversityThe American Mosaic Project is a multiyear, multi-method study of the bases of solidarity and diversity in American life. The principal investigators of this project are Doug Hartmann, Penny Edgell and Joseph Gerteis at the University of Minnesota. The survey portion of the project consists of a random-digit-dial telephone survey (N=2,081) conducted during the summer of 2003 by the University of Wisconsin Survey Center. The survey was designed to gather data on attitudes about race, religion, politics and American identity as well as demographic information and social networks.Data FileCases: 2,081Variables: 210Weight Variable: DESWT, PSWT1, FINALWTData CollectionDate Collected: May 20, 2003 to August 27, 2003Funded ByEdelstein Family FoundationCollection ProceduresThe interviews were conducted by phone by University of Wisconsin Survey Center’s paid interviewing staff from its central phone bank on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. All interviews had been through UWSC’s general multisession training, had done “mock”one on one interviews and had listened to actual interviews conducted by experienced staff as well as having their own work systematically monitored. Specific training for this project included printed materials and a number of “briefing” sessions in which the project was discussed, the instrument reviewed and various project-specific factors were explained.During the field period, alongside the normal monitoring, productivity was watched and supervisors spoke to interviewers who seemed to be encountering difficulty with completing refusals. A number of special sessions (refusal avoidance seminars, in progress debriefings, and the like) including two plenary sessions with the PI’s present were held.Actual interviewing proceeded using a Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) system developed at the University of California Berkeley (CASES), which is a widely used program in academically based survey operations. Cases (phone numbers) were “delivered” to interviewers, with the computer keeping track of appointments, times the potential respondent might have asked NOT to be disturbed, and so on. Branching was handled automatically by CASES, without special intervention by interviewers as were the three split half series, to which respondents were randomly assigned. In the first stages of interviewing, no case was abandoned unless it had been finally resolved or at least fifteen separate calls had been made. This latter figure was a minimum level, and in practice many more calls were made to some hard to find numbers.Once a number was reached and determined to be a (probable) household, a randomly chosen adult was designated as the intended respondent, and no other person in the household was allowed to be substituted. If the designated respondent was not available, an appointment was sought and automatically “remembered” by the computer. If the designated respondent (or a household informant) refused to cooperate, the case went into a special refusal queue where specialists attempted to elicit cooperation. Detailed calling records made the calling history of the number available real-time and conversion proceeded where possible at a time other than when the original refusal had occurred. (Interviewers could also make comments which would be of assistance to those making later calls, which were displayed along with the case history).Sampling ProceduresThe intent of the project was not only to derive a dataset from which the characteristics of the adult U.S. non-institutionalized population could be estimated and analyzed, but to gain sufficient numbers of African-Americans and Hispanics so these two key groups could be examined. Specifically, while the original target was approximately 2000 persons for the nation as a whole, the goal was also to find approximately 400 African-Americans and 400 Hispanics. This required oversamples.The original scheme was to begin with a nationwide RDD sample but oversample areas with higher concentrations of blacks and/or Hispanics so that these targets could be met. This would actually produce three partially overlapping datasets. One would represent the country as a whole, one would represent black residents of the United States, and one would represent the Hispanic residents. The sampling scheme was operationalized by grouping telephone exchanges into five basic categories. Two were “high” in minority prevalence for blacks and Hispanics respectively, two were “moderate” and the fifth was neither.Consultation with UWSC’s sampli ng expert determined that this was the best way of meeting the goals expeditiously without too much wasted effort “screening out” non-Hispanics and non-African Americans and/or having to put a racial screening question to close to the front of the questionnaire with possible harmful impact on cooperation and raised salience of race as other questions were being asked.Telephone numbers were delivered to interviewers without explicitly reminding them of the existence of oversamples or whether a number fell into one of the special strata (though since this code was imbedded in the case ID, it was not entirely invisible to them). Originally the sample had been divided into 150 replicates with each stratum represented in each replicate. The sample was intended to be added whole replicate by whole replicate with the plan that if one were running too far ahead (or behind) for either desired subsample, that strategy might be modified. As it turned out, this scheme was more efficacious for blacks, while Hispanics were lagging a bit as we got into July. With consultation with our sampling expert and the PI’s, it was determined to stop putting in the two especially black strata while after replication 120, while the two Hispanic and residual stratum would be put in up to replicate 135. This wound up producing a black oversample somewhat overachieving its target (494 overall, 424 for black but not Hispanic), and a Hispanic oversample (399) that came within one case of the theoretically desired number.Principal InvestigatorsDoug Hartmann, Penny Edgell and Joseph GerteisRelated PublicationsCroll, Paul R. "Modeling Determinants of White Racial Identity: Results from a New National Survey." Social Forces, forthcoming.Edgell, Penny and Danielle Docka. 2007. "Beyond the Nuclear Family?Familism and Gender Ideology in Diverse Religious Communities."Sociological Forum 22 (1): 26-51.Edgell, Penny, Joseph Gerteis, and Douglas Hartmann. 2006. "Atheists as 'Other': Moral Boundaries and Cultural Membership in American Society." American Sociological Review 71 (2): 211-234.Edgell, Penny and Eric Tranby. 2007. "Religious Influences on Understandings of Racial Inequality in the United States." Social Problems 54 (2): 263-288.Hartmann, Douglas and Joyce Bell. "Diversity in Everyday Discourse: The Cultural Ambiguities and Consequences of 'Happy Talk.'" American Sociological Review, forthcoming.Hartmann, Douglas and Paul R. Croll. 2006. "Measuring Whiteness." in Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society, edited by Richard T.Schaefer. SAGE Publications, Inc.Hartmann, Douglas and Joseph Gerteis. 2005. "Dealing with Diversity: Mapping Multiculturalism in Sociological Terms." Sociological Theory 23(2): 218-240.Hartmann, Douglas, Xeufeng Zhang, and William Wischstadt. 2005."One (Multicultural) Nation Under God? Changing Uses and Meanings of the Term 'Judeo-Christian' in the American Media." Journal of Media and Religion 4 (4): 207-240.King, Ryan D. and Melissa Weiner. 2007. "Group Position, Collective Threat, and American Anti-Semitism." Social Problems 54 (1): 57-77.King, Ryan D. and Darren Wheelock. 2007. "Group Threat and Social Control: Race, Perceptions of Minorities and the Desire to Punish."Social Forces 85 (3):1255-1280.Weight VariablesThere are three separate variables (DESWT, PSWT1, and FINALWT) each of which is stored to eight significant digits after the decimal point.The first step reflects characteristics of the sample design which gave different cases different likelihoods of coming into the final sample. First, telephone exchanges had a different probability of being selected with those relatively high on blacks and those high on Hispanics having the highest probability, followed by those moderate on blacks or moderate on Hispanics. The final stratum was of exchanges neither especially high on blacks or Hispanics relative to the population overall. In order to locate more African-Americans and Hispanics for the oversamples, those strata were overrepresented and the weights begin for“correcting” for this and the related fact that as the study proceeded it was clear that we were “overachieving” on blacks and slightly underachieving on Hispanics, so fewer replicates from the black strata were included. The fact that strata achieved different response rates was taken into account in the next step, which also equalized the distribution of respondent selection codes across strata so that the number with RND1 of “1” (male preference) was weighted to be equal to that for RND of “0” (female preference). Taken together these led to a household design weight to correct for unequal probabilities of numbers coming into the sample. The last “design” component was household size, since if all telephone households had equal chances of being selected, and since only one respondent was taken from a given household, those in one person households had twice as great a chance of being interviewed, all else equal as those from two person households, who themselves had twice as much chance as someone from a four person household, and so on. This weight is shown as DESWT and corrects for factors stemming from sampling design and procedures. It is normed so that the total weighted “N” is the same as the unweighted number of cases (2081). A second stage of weighting involved “pos t-stratification”. Specifically this adjusted the weights from the design phase to recover the age group by gender distribution pulled from Census estimates. For completeness, this factor (which is identical for each case falling into one of the eight cells of the agegroup by gender table) is shown, but its major role was to be multiplied against the “design weight” to yield the final weight taking both design and post-stratification into account.Studies differ on what will go into any post-stratification weight. In this case, after experimentation, it was determined not explicitly to include race, since the way questions were asked – in order to identify persons thinking of themselves in a way to qualify for either the black or Hispanic samples – did not yield estimates that precisely paralleled the Census divisions (related to, among other things, at what stage if any categories were suggested, how multiple racial/ethnic classifications were handled and whether a single explicit question on the order of “do you consider yourself Hispanic” is included. As it turns out, the weighted proportion falling under Blacks and Hispanics is quite reasonable, without subjecting the sample to the vagaries of trying to match each of the cells in a multi-dimensional age by gender by racial/ethnic category. DESWT 'SAMPLING BASED WEIGHT'Weight, as described above to equalize the different probabilities of coming into the sample based on selection of exchanges, release of replicates, response rates, respondent selection procedures, andnumber of households. Normed for a mean of 1.00 and a total of 2081.0 (to match the raw “N”).PSWT1 'POST-STRATIFICATION ADJUSTMENT'Weight adjusting the age group by gender distribution from the above weighted procedure to match the corresponding distribution based on census estimates. Normed for a mean of 1.00 and a total of 2081.0 (to match the raw “N”). DESWT was multiplied by PSWT1 to get the unnormed version of FINALWT. This weight is included for completeness. If one desires to poststratify based on a combination of variables other than age group by gender, one would create a new weight in the place of PSWT1 and use that to create the new “final”weight.FINALWT 'TOTAL WEIGHT'Final weight multiplicatively “correcting” for both design and sampling related components and to recover the age by gender distribution. This is the weight which is applied by default in the SPSS system file, and should normally be used. Normed for a mean of 1.00 and a total of 2081.0 (to match the raw “N”).Constructed VariablesIn addition to the variables coming directly from answers to questions on the survey (shown in the order asked) there are several “supplemental variables” in the ASCII dataset and the SPSS system file.Notes pertaining to each are appended.LDAT 'DATE OF INTERVIEW'Mmddyyyy format, date interview completedGENDER 'RECORDED GENDER'1 'male'2 'female'SPLTHLF 'SPLIT HALF FOR STERXX, MARRXX, 151XX-152XX'This determined, except for about 100 cases at the start of interviewing, who were asked both halves, which half of the three “split-ballot” series was asked. For instance, a code of “2” meant that the case was randomly assigned to be asked the B series for the first battery, the B series for the second, but the A series for the last.0 'BOTH HALVES ASKED'1 'STERB-MARRB-RACEB'2 'STERB-MARRB-RACEA'3 'STERB-MARRA-RACEB'4 'STERB-MARRA-RACEA'5 'STERA-MARRB-RACEB'6 'STERA-MARRB-RACEA'7 'STERA-MARRA-RACEB'8 'STERA-MARRA-RACEA'GRP1 'RANDOM START POINT FOR GROUPS'Respondents were asked how much members of ten groups agreed with their general view of society (questions in the 121a-n range). The “start point” was determined randomly as was the direction in which the groups were presented. Thus, for instance, a 3 for this variable and a 1 for the next meant that the respondent was first presented with “recent immigrants” and then proceeded down the list (white Americans, Jews, Muslims, etc. to Asian Americans, who would be presented last.) A 5 and a 2 mean that Jews were mentioned first, followed by white Americans and so on in reverse order ending up with conservative Christians and Muslims.0 'AFRICAN-AMERICANS'1 'HISPANICS'2 'ASIAN AMERICANS'3 'RECENT IMMIGRANTS'4 'WHITE AMERICANS'5 'JEWS'6 'MUSLIMS'7 'CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS'8 'ATHEISTS'9 'HOMOSEXUALS'GRPDIR 'RANDOM DIRECTION FOR GROUPS'See directions for GRP1 (above)1 'DOWN (a->b=>c)'2 'UP (f->e->d)'ETHOPEN 'BLACK-HISP ANSWER TO OPENENDED RACE'Race was determined first by asking, without prompting, about a person’s backg round, and the answers were classified by interviewers into one of several precoded categories, including mixed, other, and multiple. This question was followed up by another, for those who named more than one race by a query asking for respondent’s designation of the best descriptor for them. Finally, a last question asked if there were any other special group with which respondents identified. For each of these, verbatim responses were noted for any unclear case. These were examined to determine if any answer would have classified the individual as either Black (African-American) orHispanic or both. This code allows users to determine which if any of these classifications applied.1 'BLACK-CODED ANSWER ONLY'2 'HISP-CODED ANSWER ONLY'3 'BOTH BLACK & HISPANIC ANSWERS'RND1 'RANDOM CHOICE FOR RESPONDENT'In making random selection of respondents from multiperson households, one asked either how many of the adults were men or how many were women. If both genders were represented, this variable also determined among which set a second selection would be made if there was more than one of the “preferred” gender. This variable is included for completeness and because this factor also figured into the weighting scheme, which will be noted below.0 'FEMALE PREFERENCE'1 'MALE PREFERENCE'STAT 'FIRST TWODIGIT OF FIPS CODE'CNTY 'DIGITS THREE TO FIVE OF FIPS'BLKDUM 'DUMMY FOR BLACK'Respondents may be treated as black if they gave an answer originally coded as black in the first of the race questions (128) or in the followup for best single choice (129) or gave an openended answer which belonged under black or African American (see ETHOPEN above). This variable appears as 1 for all cases meeting any of the criteria. The unweighted number of such cases was 494, which makes up the black subsample.0 'NOT BLACK'1 'BLACK ON 128,129 OR OPEN'HISPDUM 'DUMMY FOR HISPANIC'Respondents may be treated as Hispanic is they gave an answer in the same series falling under Spanish surnamed or Hispanic. Note that it is possible for a person to meet both criteria. The overall number of such persons (unweighted) was 399, comprising the Hispanic subsample.0 'NOT HISP'1 'HISP ON 128,129 OR OPEN'AGEGRP1 'GROUPED AGE (2003-BIRTHYR)'Respondents were asked for their year of birth, from which – treating all those born in the same calendar year the same –chronological age may be calculated and grouped as shown below. Those who did not answer the birth year question fell into one of the two special categories for “dk” and “ref”, respect ively.1 '18-29 YEARS'2 '30-44 YEARS'3 '45-54 YEARS'4 '55 OR MORE'8 'DK BIRTHYR'9 'REF BIRTHYR'AGEGRP2 'IMPUTED AGE (MISSING SET TO MEAN)'In order to calculate weights, it was necessary to assign cases missing birthyear to one or another of the agegroups. For this purpose, the 20 case for which the full information was not present were assigned the mean age of 46, placing them in category “3”.1 '18-29 YEARS'2 '30-44 YEARS'3 '45-54 YEARS'4 '55 OR MORE'HHSIZE 'HH SIZE'Number of adults from among whom respondent was chosenLANGREST 'LANGUAGE RESTRICTION'Cases where it appeared an interview would have to be done in Spanish were split off into a special “Spanish queue” for handling by multilingual interviewers. If these were later determined NOT to require Spanish, they were restored. This variable operates also as dummy for whether the interview was conducted in Spanish. Note that the latter is not a perfect indication of which language a given question was asked in, since interviewers had the ope ration of “toggling back and forth”between Spanish and English.0 'NOT RESTRICTED INTERVIEW IN ENGLISH'1 'RESTRICTED TO SPANISH INTERVIEWERS, INTERVIEW INSPANISH'数据预览：点此下载完整数据集。
英语文本
By Dana Demange, Elizabeth Stern and Caty Weaver2008-8-14HOST:Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.(MUSIC)I'm Doug Johnson.Today we report about "staycations," vacations close to home ...Answer a question about American presidents after they leave office ...And play music by Isaac Hayes, who died this week.(MUSIC)HOST:August is a popular time for Americans to go on their summer vacations. But this year many Americans are not traveling very far. Many people are deciding to take "staycations," vacations where you stay at home. Barbara Klein tells us more.StaycationsBARBARA KLEIN:More Americans are spending the vacation at home this summerThis summer, many Americans are feeling the effects of increased prices for many things, including gasoline and airline tickets. The exchange rate of the dollar has also made international travel much more costly for Americans. One smart way Americans are avoiding such high costs is by taking vacations at home instead of driving or flying to faraway places. Staycations make hotels, long drives and airline flights unnecessary. And, they provide a chance for people to enjoy activities in their hometown.Many Americans consider their time at home like a real vacation. They pay their bills and take care of housework ahead of time so they will be able to have more fun. And they use local travel guides to find good information about nearby places to visit.Several cities in the United States have launched creative marketing campaigns to get their citizens to have fun staying in town.For example, if you lived in Boston, Massachusetts, you might see three and a half meter tall red pins placed near important cultural and historical places in the city. These large structures can be found in places such as the Boston Common and the New England Aquarium. The pins show Bostonians and visitors all the interesting places to see in the city.San Diego, California, has a staycation campaign aimed at people who live within a day's drive of the city. The San Diego visitors center has a Web site that makes finding restaurants and events in the city easy. The Web site states that nothing should stand in the way of a good vacation -- not even a slow economy.New York City has a "Go Local" Web site that gives a list of free or low cost activities around the city. For example, activities last weekend included an International Yo-Yo convention and a food tour of the Harlem neighborhood.Of course, not all Americans live in big cities. Staycations also offer a chance to read, enjoy nature, go to the local swimming pool, spend time with family and just rest. And that sounds like a nice vacation to us!Former PresidentsHOST:Our listener question this week comes from Cambodia. Sophosh Warng wants to know what American presidents do when they leave office.John Quincy AdamsAfter a president serves two terms in office he or she may not run for president again. However, a former president may stay in politics as an elected member of Congress. For example, America's sixth president, John Quincy Adams, served as a member of the House of Representatives after he left office as president.The seventeenth president, Andrew Johnson, was later elected to the Senate. A president may even become a Supreme Court judge. William Howard Taft became chief justice several years after completing his term as president in nineteen thirteen.It is more common for former presidents to publish books about their experiences or speak to groups of people about many different issues.Stephen Wayne is an expert on the American presidency and the author of "The Road to the White House." He said that presidents "make money, they raise money, they write books and do other kinds of things like volunteer their time." Mister Wayne said that former presidents want to "talk about their experience and use their position to tell the next president and the government how to make it a better world."Former president Jimmy Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize for helping to solve issues related to human rights. He continues to help build homes for poor people with the organization Habitat for Humanity.Former Ppesident Bill Clinton leads a private foundation that carries out a number of projects in developing countries. These include H.I.V and AIDS treatment, poverty reduction, leadership development and working toward racial, ethnic and religious understanding.Former presidents also receive large amounts of money each year called pensions. They receive almost two hundred thousand dollars each year for the rest of their lives. They also receive money for travel, supplies for their office and to pay the people who work for them.Isaac HayesHOST:Singer, songwriter and actor Isaac Hayes died last Sunday at his home in East Memphis, Tennessee. Hayes' doctor said the sixty-five-year-old musician died of a stroke. Katherine Cole tells about Isaac Hayes and plays some of his music.(MUSIC: "Theme from Shaft")KATHERINE COLE:That music comes from the nineteen seventy-one movie "Shaft." It earned composer Isaac Hayes an Academy Award for Best Original Song. He also won two Grammy Awards for the movie's music.Isaac Hayes was born in Covington, Tennessee in nineteen forty-two. His mother died young and his father left when he was a child. Isaac's grandparents raised him. He worked in cotton fields while growing up.Isaac started singing in church when he was just five years old. He also taught himself to play piano and other instruments.Hayes started his career in the music industry in the nineteen sixties in Memphis. He wrote the songs "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Coming" which became hits for the group Sam and Dave.(MUSIC)Isaac Hayes released the album "Hot Buttered Soul" in nineteen sixty-nine. It was one of his biggest hits. He included a version of the pop song "Walk on By" on the record.(MUSIC)Isaac Hayes also loved to act. He performed in more than thirty films. His last film was "Soul Men" which is to be released in November. Hayes starred in that movie with actor and comedian Bernie Mac. Sadly and strangely, Bernie Mac died of lung sickness just the day before Isaac Hayes.Isaac Hayes was admitted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in two thousand two. We leave you with the famed soul singer performing "Never Can Say Goodbye."(MUSIC)HOST:I'm Doug Johnson. I hope you enjoyed our program today.It was written by Dana Demange, Elizabeth Stern and Caty Weaver who was also the producer. To read the text of this program and download audio, go to our Web site, .Join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC, VOA's radio magazine in Special English.。
惠特尼休斯顿 英文介绍
CHRISTOPHER CRUISE: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.(MUSIC)I'm Christopher Cruise. Today on our show we remember the life and music of singing superstar Whitney Houston...(MUSIC: "One Moment in Time")Whitney Houston RememberedCHRISTOPHER CRUISE: Saturday, hundreds of people will gather in Newark, New Jersey, for the funeral of Whitney Houston. The forty-eight year old performer died a week earlier at a hotel in California. June Simms looks back at the life of the singer, actress, and mother.(MUSIC)JUNE SIMMS: That is Whitney Houston performing the song, "I'm Every Woman." And that is what many who loved the singer say: Whitney was every woman. People in her hometown of Newark say she never forgot where she came from. Her close friend and gospel singer Marvin Winans recently said that below the surface Whitney Houston was still the same little girl from New Jersey.A childhood friend of the star, Gregory Whittle, remembers growing up with her.GREGORY WHITE: "A lot of time in the basement you could hear her singing. Singing in the back by the pool. She had a gift. It was strictly from God."Marvin Winans is to speak at the funeral. It will be held at the New Hope Baptist Church. Whitney Houston attended that church while growing up. It was also the first place she sang publicly. She was a member of the church choir.(MUSIC: "Greatest Love of All")Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born in Newark in nineteen sixty-three. Her mother Cissy Houston is a gospel singer. Her father served in the military and was in the entertainment business. Cissy Houston was not the only family musician. Singers Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick were cousins of Whitney Houston. And her godmother was Aretha Franklin. At a performance earlier this week, Aretha Franklin remembered her goddaughter with a song and praise for the music and memories.A 22 year-old Whitney Houston performing in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1986As a teenager, Whitney Houston performed as a back-up singer for Chaka Khan, Lou Rawls and other artists. But she also had a successful modeling career by the time she was twenty. Her picture appeared on the cover of Seventeen and inside magazines including Glamour and Cosmopolitan.In nineteen eighty three, Clive Davis, the head of Arista records, heard Whitney Houston singing in New York City. He offered her a recording agreement soon after. For the next two years, Whitney Houston worked on her first record album. "Whitney Houston" was released in nineteen eighty-five. Slowly but surely, it became a huge hit. It stayed in the number one position on Billboard magazine's Top Two Hundred Albums chart for fourteen weeks. The first number one single from the album was "Saving All My Love for You."(MUSIC)Another popular song from that first album was this dance number "How Will I Know."(MUSIC)The album "Whitney Houston" had seven number one hit singles. It remains thebiggest-selling first album by any artist.The singer followed that success with another. Her album "Whitney" sold twenty million copies. It also made her the first female artist to enter the Billboard Top Two Hundred at number one. Whitney Houston was clearing a path of recognition for women artists.However, her next professional move was her most important. She recorded the soundtrack for and starred in "The Bodyguard," in nineteen ninety-two.Kevin Costner played opposite White Houston in the movie. It is the story of a relationship between a pop music star and a former secret service agent who protects her. The movie was a big hit, making more than four hundred million dollars in ticket sales worldwide. But the film's popularity did not even come close to the success of the album that went with it."The Bodyguard" is the fourth highest selling album of all time. Forty-four million copies have been sold. Among the singles is "I Will Always Love You," a song written and recorded earlier by Dolly Parton. Whitney Houston's version sold many more copies.(MUSIC)In nineteen ninety-two, Whitney Houston's personal life also grew. She married singer Bobby Brown, of the band New Edition. The marriage surprised many people both in and outside the music industry. Bobby Brown was considered an industry "bad boy," while Whitney Houston had an innocence that led to her nickname the "prom queen of soul."APSinger Whitney Houston, her husband Bobby Brown, left, and Clive Davis, president and founder of Arista Records in New York City, 1998She and Bobby Brown had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, in nineteen ninety-three. In the late nineteen nineties, Whitney Houston's professional behavior began to come under question. She began to cancel shows and was late for important events. Her appearance changed; she lost weight and looked unhealthy. Her voice also was suffering. Many reports said she was abusing drugs and alcohol.(MUSIC: "I Have Nothing")Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown ended their marriage in two thousand seven. She also publicly admitted to drug abuse. But she entered a treatment program. In two thousand ten, she reported she was drug-free.But, last Saturday, the singer and actress was found dead in her hotel room in Los Angeles. Officials have not yet released a cause of death. However, news reports say Whitney Houston's family has been told the entertainer died from taking too many prescription drugs.Her seventh and final studio album, "I Look to You," was released in two thousand nine. Critics generally praised the effort. We leave you with Whitney Houston performing the Leon Russell song, "A Song for You."(MUSIC)CHRISTOPHER CRUISE: I'm Christopher Cruise. This program was written and produced by Caty Weaver.Join us again next week for music and more on AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.。
英语作文美国人
英语作文美国人In the heart of the Western hemisphere lies the United States, a nation of diverse cultures and traditions. The American way of life is a mosaic of experiences that reflect the country's rich history and its people's aspirations. From the bustling streets of New York City to the tranquil landscapes of the Midwest, the essence of America is woven into the fabric ofits communities.Family and Community:The American family unit is at the core of society. It is common to see families gathering for Sunday dinners,attending local sports events, and celebrating holidays together. The sense of community is strong, with neighbors often supporting each other in times of need, and community events such as block parties and charity fundraisers being a regular occurrence.Education:Education is highly valued in American society. The pursuitof knowledge is encouraged from a young age, with schools offering a wide range of subjects and extracurricular activities. Higher education is seen as a gateway to a better life, and many families invest heavily in their children's academic futures.Work Ethic:The American work ethic is characterized by a strong sense ofindividual responsibility and the belief in the rewards of hard work. Americans are known for their dedication to their jobs and the pursuit of professional excellence. This drive has contributed to the country's economic growth and innovation.Freedom and Individualism:The American spirit is deeply rooted in the principles of freedom and individualism. The right to express one's opinions, to pursue personal goals, and to live life on one's own terms is deeply ingrained in the American psyche. This has led to a society where creativity and entrepreneurship flourish.Entertainment and Leisure:Entertainment is a significant part of American culture. From Hollywood movies to Broadway shows, from professional sports to local music festivals, Americans enjoy a wide variety of leisure activities. The entertainment industry is a major economic driver and a source of national pride.Diversity and Inclusion:America is a melting pot of cultures, with immigrants fromall over the world bringing their traditions and customs. This diversity is celebrated through various cultural events and festivals that take place throughout the year. Efforts are made to ensure inclusion and equal opportunities for all, regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity.Environmental Consciousness:In recent years, there has been a growing awareness ofenvironmental issues. Many Americans are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint, recycle, and support sustainable practices. The government and private sector are investing in renewable energy and conservation efforts.In conclusion, the American way of life is a blend of tradition and modernity, individualism and community, hard work and leisure. It is a lifestyle that is constantly evolving, shaped by the dreams and aspirations of its people.。
VOA特别英语文化聚焦(二十)
VOA特别英语文化聚焦（二十）周一将迎来美国宪法日AMERICAN MOSAIC - September 14, 2001HOST:Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC VOA’s radio magazine in Special English.(THEME)This is Doug Johnson. On our program today:We play songs by Jessica Simpson ...answer a question about the wine-making industry ...and tell about the home of one of America’s first presidents.Rediscovering James MadisonHOST:Monday is (1)Constitution Day. It is the (2)anniversary of the day when the American Constitutional (3)Convention ended. (4)Delegates to the talks signed the proposed Constitution of the United States on September Seventeenth,Seventeen-Eighty-Seven.This year, special(5)observances in honor of Constitution Day are being held at the former home of delegate James Madison. Shep O’neal has more about the man called the Father of the Constitution.ANNCR:James Madison wrote the first planfor union of the new American nation. He also was mainly (6)responsible for the first ten (7)amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights. Later, Mister Madison was the country’s fourth President.The Madison family lived at Montpelier (mont-PEEL-yer), a huge property about one-hundred-thirty kilometers south of Washington, D-C. The (8)property extends over more than one-thousand-one-hundred hectares of land. Today, a private group operates (9)Montpelier.In recent years, crews at Montpelier have been searching for (10)evidence of past human activities. The project depends mainly on the work of (11)volunteers. Students from nearby James Madison University work at Montpelier in May and June for no pay.Matthew Reaves is directing the project. He and his (12)crew are studying objects believed to come from Mount Pleasant, the first Madison home at Montpelier. Mount Pleasant was destroyed in a fire around Seventeen-Sixty-Five. After that, the area was used as farmland.Recently, work crews at Mount Pleasant found the remains of a building. The(13)discovery is exciting because crews have been looking for the (14)remains of the main house for thepast four years.Matthew Reaves believes the project at Mount Pleasant will continue for two to three more years. After that, he wants to (15)explore some of the areas at Montpelier where slaves lived.加州西部葡萄酒工业的起源与发展HOST:(Start at 3’57”)Our VOA listener question this week comes from Brazil. Silvio Unzer asks about the history of the wine industry, especially in the western state of California.Wine is an (16)alcoholic drink made from grapes. Experts do not know when the first wine was made. They say, however, that people who lived eight-thousand years ago enjoyed drinking wine. Wine was also a popular drink among the ancient Greeks. They were the first to grow (17)grapes as a business and to sell their (18)wines to other nations.Wine was also important to the ancient Romans. Grapes were grown throughout the Roman (19)Empire. Later, the Catholic Church continued to produce wines in European countries. Experts say the wine industry appeared in almost every new country settled by Europeans.That is what happened in the American state of California. Franciscan (20)religious workers from Spain who settled the areamade wine to use in religious services. Father Junipero Serra established Mission San Diego inSeventeen-Sixty-Nine. It was the first of twenty-one such religious centers. Almost all of the (21)missions grew grapes and produced wine.The discovery of gold in California in Eighteen-Forty-Eight helped establish the wine industry. Thousands of people traveled to California in hopes of finding gold. But most did not find any. So many people decided to grow grapes instead. These included people from other countries who loved wine. They grew European grapes in California for the first time.California has a lot of sunshine all year. This helps grapes to (22)ripen anywhere in the state. Growing grapes for wine became very (23)profitable. The number of vines planted increased quickly. For example, in Eighteen-Fifty-Six, more than one-million(24)grapevines were planted in California. Two years later, there were almost four-million. ByEighteen-Fifty-Nine, California was producing almost two-million liters of wine.That same year, California lawmakers helped the wine industry (25)expand. A new law permitted grape growers to produce a crop beforehaving to pay taxes. By Eighteen-Sixty-Two, the number of grapevines in California had reachedeight-million.Today, the California Wine Institute says the United States has aboutone-thousand-six-hundred companies that make wine. More than half of these wineries are in California. The group says the state produces ninety percent of the wines made in the United States.美国流行歌星杰西卡·辛普森Jessica SimpsonHOST:(Start at 7’59”)Popular American singer Jessica Simpson had great success with her first record album in Nineteen-Ninety-Nine. Sweet Kisses sold more than two-million copies. Here is the title song:((CUT 1: SWEET KISSES))Now Jessica Simpson has a new record, Irresistible. Bob Doughty tells us abouther.ANNCR:Jessica Simpson was seventeen years old when she recorded her first album. She is twenty-one now. She says her growth shows in the new songs.Jessica Simpson says the (26)message of the songs on Irresistible is that nothing is impossible if you have an (27)inner strength. Here is the title song from her new (28)album.((CUT 2: IRRESISTIBLE))Jessica Simpsonlearned to sing in church in her hometown of Dallas, Texas. She first recorded religious songs. Critics say one song on her new album shows her true spirit. It is one she has been singing since she was a young girl in church. We leave you now with Jessica Simpson singing that song, His Eye Is On The (29)Sparrow.?((CUT 3: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW))HOST:This is Doug Johnson. I hope you enjoyed our program today. And I hope you will join us again next week for AMERICAN MOSAIC VOA’s radio magazine in Special English.This AMERICAN MOSAIC program was written by George Grow and Nancy Steinbach. Our studio engineer was Greg Burns. And our producer was Paul Thompson.(1) constitution[ 7kCnsti5tju:FEn ]n.宪法, 构造, 体质, 体格, 国体, 章程, 惯例(2)anniversary[ 7Ani5vE:sEri ]n.周年纪念(3)convention[ kEn5venFEn ]n.大会, 协定, 习俗, 惯例(4) delegate[ 5deli…t ]n.代表vt.委派...为代表(5) observance[ Eb5zE:vEns ]n.遵守, 惯例, 仪式, 庆祝(6) responsible[ ris5pCnsEbl ]adj.有责任的, 可靠的, 可依赖的, 负责的(7) amendment[ E5mendmEnt ]n.改善, 改正(8) property[ 5prCpEti ]n.财产, 所有物, 所有权, 性质,特性, (小)道具(9) Montpelier[mCnt`pi:ljE(r)]蒙彼利埃[美国佛蒙特州首府](10) evidence[ 5evidEns ]n.明显, 显著, 明白, 迹象, 根据, [物]证据(11)volunteer[vRlEn5tIE(r)]n.志愿者, 志愿兵adj.志愿的, 义务的, 无偿的v.自愿(12) crew[ kru: ]n.全体人员, (工作)队vbl.crow的过去式(13) discovery[ dis5kQvEri ]n.发现, 发明的东西(14) remain[ ri5mein ]vi.保持, 逗留, 剩余, 残存(15) explore[ iks5plC: ]v.探险, 探测, 探究(16) alcoholic[ 7AlkE5hClik ]adj.含酒精的n.酗酒者, 酒鬼(17) grape[ e ip ]n.葡萄, 葡萄树(18) wine[ wain ]n.葡萄酒, 酒(19) empire[ 5empaiE ]n.帝国, 帝权(20) religious[ ri5lidVEs ]adj.信奉宗教的, 虔诚的, 宗教上的, 修道的, 严谨的n.(21) mission[ 5miFEn ]n.使命, 任务, 使团, 代表团(22) ripen[ 5raipEn ]vt.使成熟vi.成熟(23) profitable [5prCfitEbl] adj.有利可图的(24) grapevine[ 5e ipvain ]n.葡萄藤, 葡萄树, (秘密情报或)谣言不胫而走(25) expand[ iks5pAnd ]vt.使膨胀, 详述, 扩张vi.张开, 发展(26) message[ 5mesidV ]n.消息, 通讯, 讯息, 音讯, 差使, 广告词, 预言, 教训vt.通知(27) inner[ 5inE ]adj.内部的, 里面的, 内心的n.内部(28) album[ 5AlbEm ]n.集邮本, 照相簿, 签名纪念册(29) sparrow[ 5spArEu ]n.[鸟]麻雀。
美国文化特色英语作文
美国文化特色英语作文Title: The Distinctive Features of American Culture。
America, often hailed as the melting pot of cultures, embodies a rich tapestry of traditions, values, and customs that collectively define its unique cultural identity. From the vast landscapes to the diverse populace, several key characteristics epitomize American culture, shaping its societal norms and global influence.First and foremost, the concept of freedom lies at the core of American culture. Freedom of speech, religion, and expression are not just constitutional rights but fundamental beliefs ingrained in the American psyche. This commitment to liberty fosters a society where individuals are encouraged to pursue their aspirations, voice their opinions, and challenge the status quo without fear of persecution.Moreover, the spirit of innovation permeates Americanculture, driving progress and advancements across various fields. From Silicon Valley's tech giants to the pioneering achievements of NASA, the United States has a longstanding tradition of pushing boundaries and embracing change. This culture of innovation not only fuels economic growth but also inspires creativity and entrepreneurship on a global scale.Another hallmark of American culture is its celebration of diversity. With a population comprising people from all corners of the globe, the United States prides itself onits multicultural heritage. This diversity is reflected in its cuisine, music, art, and literature, creating a vibrant tapestry of experiences that enrich the fabric of American society.Furthermore, the concept of the American Dream embodies the belief that anyone, regardless of background or circumstance, can achieve success through hard work and determination. This ethos has inspired generations of immigrants and fueled the country's economic engine,driving individuals to pursue their ambitions and strivefor a better life.In addition to its cultural attributes, American society places a strong emphasis on individualism. The "rugged individualism" ethos, deeply rooted in the nation's frontier past, extols self-reliance, autonomy, and personal responsibility. This focus on the individual shapes various aspects of American life, from its political discourse to its social dynamics.Despite these distinctive features, American culture is not without its complexities and contradictions. Issues of inequality, racism, and social injustice continue to challenge the nation's ideals of equality and opportunity for all. However, it is through ongoing dialogue, activism, and collective effort that America seeks to address these challenges and move closer to realizing its founding principles.In conclusion, American culture is a multifaceted mosaic characterized by freedom, innovation, diversity, and the pursuit of the American Dream. While each of thesefeatures contributes to the richness of the nation's cultural tapestry, they also reflect the ongoing evolution and dynamism of American society. As the United States continues to navigate the complexities of the modern world, its cultural identity remains a source of inspiration and introspection for people both within its borders and around the globe.。
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AMERICAN MOSAICBroadcast: August 27, 2004(MUSIC)BOB DOUGHTY: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC, in VOA Special English.This is Bob Doughty. On our show this week:Music from the group Seven Mary Three ...A question about presidential term limits ...And a report about an action sport that Olympic fans haven't seen in Athens, except maybe on the local streets. SkateboardingThe Summer Olympics end Sunday in Athens. Over the years, new sporting events havebeen added to the Games. Others have been taken away. It all depends on popularity. Butone popular activity that is not in the Olympics -- at least not yet -- is skateboarding.Phoebe Zimmermann has our story.PHOEBE ZIMMERMANN: Skateboards were developed in Southern California in theearly nineteen fifties. Children, mostly boys, built their boards themselves. They attachedfour clay or metal wheels to a long, narrow piece of wood.The earliest versions were said to have been about thirty centimeters wide and close totwo meters long. They would have looked much more like surfboards than modernskateboards. In fact, the first skateboarders were probably surfers. Back then,skateboarding was called “sidewalk surfing.”Skateboarding was popular through the early sixties. There was even some competitiveskateboarding. But the boards were relatively slow and difficult to turn, and the ride wasrough. By the end of the sixties, skateboards took a bad fall in sales. All that changed in nineteen seventy with a young man named Frank Nasworthy. He was a skater in Virginia. He discovered that wheels made of a plastic called urethane created a faster, smoother ride. Soon all skateboards had urethane wheels and the number of fans began to grow again.Today, skateboarding is popular internationally. Skaters from Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands and othercountries competed last year in the X-Games Global Championship in San Antonio, Texas. X, as in “extreme ” -- maybe too extreme for Olympic traditionalists.But skateboarding has grown up in the past thirty years. Many skaters now wear helmets and other protective equipment. Also, there are parks built especially for their sport. These parks usually include smooth concrete hills, bowl-shaped areas and jumps. In fact, a skate park is being built right now in the area where FrankNasworthy often skated. The local government in Arlington, Virginia, plans to open it in October. And as for Frank, we understand he is now an engineer … in California.Presidential Terms in OfficeBOB DOUGHTY: Our VOA listener question this week comes from two places: Mysore, India, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Mohamud Abdi and Vincent Nguyen both want to know why American presidents cannot serve more than two terms in office.This is a good time to answer that question. The Republican Party opens its presidential nominating convention It's not just for kids: An employee known as Dr. Skateboard demonstrates a ''reverse wheelie'' at Family Day 2002 at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.on Monday in New York City. Delegates will nominate President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for a second term in the elections in November.The United States Constitution never said anything about how many times a president could be re-elected. The idea of serving only two four-year terms began with the first president, George Washington. He chose not to campaign for a third term. The presidents who followed him did the same. But there was no law that would have stopped them from serving longer, had they sought more terms.Franklin Roosevelt did not follow this tradition. He served longer than any other president, from March of nineteen thirty-three until April of nineteen forty-five.Political opponents criticized his elections to a third term and a fourth. They said noone person should have so much power for so long. But others b elieved his leadershipand experience were needed during the Great Depression and World War Two.Franklin Roosevelt died during his fourth term. After his death, Congress proposed toamend the Constitution to limit the number of years a president could serve. Statesapproved the change in nineteen fifty-one.The twenty-second amendment to the Constitution says no one may be elected president more than two times. It also says no one who has served as president for more than two years of someone else ’s term may be elected more than once.All this guarantees that no American will serve as president for more than eight years, unless the Constitution is ever changed again.Seven Mary ThreeHOST:A new school year means a new chance to make friends -- and maybe even start aband. The group Seven Mary Three started that way. Gwen Outen has more.GWEN OUTEN: Three of the four current members of the band met in nineteenninety-two at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. They started with afourth member who also went there.The name of the band comes from a television show from the late nineteenseventies. It was a police show about California Highway Patrol officers onmotorcycles. The show was called "CHiPs." But one of the actors used the radio call sign "Seven Mary Three." Seven Mary Three released its first album with a record company in nineteen ninety-five. The album was called “American Standard." It included this single, “Cumbersome.”(MUSIC)In two thousand one, the band released an album called “Economy of Sound." One of the songs was used in the movie “Crazy/Beautiful.” The name of the song is “Wait.”(MUSIC)The members of Seven Mary Three live in Orlando, Florida. But they travel a lot. In fact, drummer Giti Khalsa asked his father to take care of his dog for a little while, which has stretched into ten months.Last month, Seven Mary Three appeared in a show during Major League Baseball's All Star Week in Houston, Texas. They performed two songs from “Dis/Location," their newest album. We leave you with one of those songs, “Settle Up.”(MUSIC)BOB DOUGHTY: This is Bob Doughty. Send your questions about American life to mosaic@. Or Franklin Roosevelt From left: Giti Khalsa, CaseyDaniel, Jason Ross and Thomas Juliano.write to American Mosaic, VOA Special English, Washington, D.C., two-zero-two-three-seven, USA. Please include your name and postal address. We'll send you a gift if we use your question.Our program was written by Nancy Steinbach and Caty Weaver. Paul Thompson was our producer. And our engineer was Jim Sleeman.I hope you enjoyed AMERICAN MOSAIC. Join us again next week for VOA’s radio magazine in Special English.Email this article to a friendPrinter Friendly Version。