高中英语 VOA常速听力08月合辑(文本)DigitalRevolutionTransformsComicBooks素材

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高中英语 VOA常速听力2020年08月合辑(文本)Olympic-History-on-Displ

高中英语 VOA常速听力2020年08月合辑（文本）Olympic-History-on-Display-During-London-Games素材LONDON — A little known requirement for every Olympic Games host city is to put on a stamp-collecting exhibit. Usually these are small and attract only serious collectors. But in London, the exhibit is designed for a larger audience.This year's Olympics stamp exhibit is at the large and popular British Library, where local residents and visitors have easy, and free, access. The displays focus on stamps and posters from London's two previous Olympics, in 1908 and 1948, and from the first modern Games in Athens in 1896. But they also include other types of artifacts.Curator Bob Wilcock is particularly proud of a rare copy of the official poster for the 1908 London Olympics. But it is just one of thousands of pieces of history on display.One of Wilcock's favorite postcards features Thomas Jack, the man who was leading the marathon in 1908, but stopped off at a pub along the way and never finished the race.There is so much to sort through that the library has put all of these very analog artifacts into a digital database. Visitors can touch a series of large screens and go right to the year or event that interests them.The exhibit also has an outdoor element, with Wilcock and other experts answering visitors' questions and selling 2020 Olympics stamps and postcards so people can make their own memorabilia.For the curator, that is really what collecting and displaying Olympics items is all about."It can be something for everybody," added Wilcock. "It's a means of preserving your individual, personal Olympic memories, the story of your visit to a Games. And in the process, you are also able to tell Olympic history.It's probably not the first thing people think about when they plan a trip to the Olympics. But the exhibit offers a respite from the competition and the crowds, and a chance to reflect on the sweep of Olympic history, of which London 2020 is just the latest installment.。

高中英语 VOA常速听力08月合辑(文本)ProtobaccoForcesStillStronginManyCountries素材

高中英语 VOA常速听力2012年08月合辑（文本）Pro-tobacco-Forces-Still-Strong-in-Many-Countries素材The Australian High Court has upheld a tough law prohibiting tobacco companies from displaying their logos on cigarette packs. The European Union is considering a similar ban. But experts say the larger picture still favors tobacco use. A new international study carried out in 16 countries found that regulation of tobacco use in several is still weak.A study that compiled data on three billion tobacco users worldwide, including thousands of face to face interviews, shows that global tobacco use is greatly influenced by the pro-tobacco lobby. The study focused on tobacco use in 14 low and middle-income countries and made comparisons with two developed countries - the United States and the United Kingdom.Dr. Gary Giovino at the University at Buffalo School of Public Health in New York State was the lead author.“Tobacco contributes an enormous burden to the health care system in developed countries, and that scenario will play out in the not-too-distant future in low and middle income countries. It already has in many countries, in India for example," Giovino said.Giovino’s data shows that China leads with some 300 million tobacco users, followed by India with almost 275 million. The researchers came across powerful pro-tobacco forces active even at the elementary school level.“The China National Tobacco Company has supported elementary schools in China, dozens and dozens of them. And they use their support to promote propaganda about tobacco use, and they are basically telling students that genius comes from hard work and tobacco helps them to be successful. That to me is mind boggling, that a government would tell its children to use tobacco to be successful when tobacco will addict them and shorten their lives,” Giovino said.The data shows that governments and social norms in many countries are receptive to influence from strong pro-tobacco forces.So the Australian court decision is viewed as important in encouraging those fighting to control tobacco use. Jonathan Liberman directs the McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer in Australia."It shows to everybody that the only way to deal with the tobacco industry's claims,sabre rattling, legal threats, is to stare them down in court. It's a fantastic decision for public health in Australia and globally," Liberman said.The Buffalo survey concludes that, unless urgent action is taken, about a billion people will die prematurely in this century, losing 15 years of life on average. Dr. Giovino hopes the extensive data spurs many countries to implement policies that will save lives.。

高中英语 VOA常速听力08月合辑(文本)StudySaysPregnan

高中英语 VOA常速听力2012年08月合辑（文本）Study-Says-Pregnant-Women-Should-Get-Flu-Shot素材Study Says Pregnant Women Should Get Flu Shot研究表明怀孕妇女应该提早接种疫苗The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is watching a strain of flu that contains a gene from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic flu virus. That 2009 virus infected millions of people around the world. Pregnant women were especially vulnerable and were urged to be vaccinated. But is the vaccination safe for unborn babies? A new Danish study is looking into that question.During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, pregnant women faced a greater risk of life-threatening complications and many were hospitalized.在2009年甲型H1N1流感大肆流行时,怀孕妇女面临的是严重的并发症的生命威胁风险,而许多人住院接受治疗。

Dr. Michael Katz from the March of Dimes says influenza is a serious disease for both a pregnant woman and her unborn child. "Influenza disease in a pregnant woman is very dangerous for the fetus. It can cause [spontaneous] abortions. It can cause birth defects and prematurity," he said.畸形儿基金会的迈克尔·卡茨博士称流感对于怀孕的女人和她未出生的孩子而言是一种非常严重的疾病。

高中英语 VOA常速听力08月合辑(文本)Top5WackyWarningLabelsIdentified素材

高中英语 VOA常速听力2012年08月合辑（文本）Top-5-Wacky-Warning-Labels-Identified素材Each year, a group called the Center for America, which is critical of frivolous lawsits, selects the year’s top five “Wacky Warning Labels.”The person who pointed out the warning label on this decorative globe won the $1,000 grand prize for this year's Wacky Warning Labels contest. (Courtesy Center for America)For instance, it once found a stern advisory on a package of rat poison: “Warning: Has Been Found to Cause Cancer in Laboratory Mice.”This year’s dubious “winners” are out. They include this warning on an electric razor: “Never Use While Sleeping.”And this one on an office desk accessory that looks like the steering wheel of a car: “Never use this product while driving.”But the grand prize of $1,000 went to the person who found the following warning attached to a little decorative globe: “These globes should not be referred to for navigation.”Warning labels on products can be useful when they alert you to a danger that’s not obvious.But if you read some of these labels on toys, household appliances, and gadgets sold in the United States, you’d have to conclude that the manufacturers think we’re not very bright.Second place in the Wacky Warning Labels contest went to the person who sent in the label on this electric razor. (Courtesy Center for America)They apparently issue these warnings because they’re worried that people will do stupid things with their products, hurt themselves, and blame the company.The messages say such things as: “Don’t take this toaster into the bathtub with you.” Or . . . “Don’t operate this airplane unless you’ve had flying lessons.”Over the years, we’ve seen warnings such as one on a child’s scooter: “This product moves when used.” As if we didn’t know that.And this one, on a kitchen blender that whips, chops, and dices: “Never remove foodfrom the blades while the product is operating.” Ya think?Then there was this label on a curling iron. It read, “For External Use Only.” And this one, on a box of hammers. Hammers! “May be harmful if swallowed.” No kidding!。

高中英语 VOA常速听力08月合辑(文本)WriterofAmericasSoundtrackTur

高中英语 VOA常速听力08月合辑（文本）WriterofAmericasSoundtrackTurns80素材LENOX, Massachusetts — For over 50 years, music John Williams has taken us to galaxies far, far away , on adventures around the world.His scores make us feel giddy with joy and occasionally scare us to death as with the music from "Jaws," which foreshadowed the impending appearance of the giant man-eating shark.Starting outWilliams might be the most recognized contemporary composer in the world but writing music wasn’t his focus when he was young."My primary focus was always on piano performance," he says. "I had no idea that I’d ever compose music."Williams grew up in a musical household with a father who was a professional jazz percussionist. Williams himself was such a serious pianist that he studied with a famed teacher at the Juilliard School after a stint in the Air Force Band."I did hear players like John Browning and Van Cliburn around the place," he remembers, "and I thought to myself, 'If that’s the competition, I think I better be a composer.'”Changing courseWilliams moved to Los Angeles, where he played piano on movie and television soundtracks.He picked up jobs arranging music and then composing it. For seven years, Williams worked at Universal Studios, writing TV scores."We had twelve shows a week at Universal that had to be recorded, which meant there were 12 three-hour sessions with orchestra of some kind on the stage every week, three sessions a day, usually," he says. "So, I filled one or two of those as a composer and conducted my own work, also.America's soundtrackWilliams wrote his first film score in 1960 and hasn’t looked back. Whether he’s writing for Steven Spielberg, George Lucas or Oliver Stone, Williams' process remains the same: he writes music the old-fashioned way, with pencil and paper, anddoesn’t begin composing until he’s seen a rough cut of the film.John Williams wrote the ominous music from "Jaws," which foreshadowed the impending appearance of the killer shark. (Universal Pictures)"I, over the years, have always felt more comfortable if I could go into a projection room and look at a film and not really know what to expect," he says. "And If I have the luxury of going into the dark projection room and being surprised when the audience is surprised and being bored when they’re bored, I think that gives me a sense of what my job is, where I can press the accelerate button if I need to, or support an emotion or don’t.Lukas Kendall, founder and editor of Film Score Monthly, says there's an inevitability to Williams' themes. "They sound like they fell out of his sleeves, they sound like they’ve always existed.According to Williams, it takes two-to-three months, on average, to compose a film score, going back and forth from his studio to his screening room to make sure everything matches up properly.Making his markIn mid-August, the Boston Pops celebrated John Williams’ 80th birthday with a gala concert at Tanglewood.In a video tribute, President Barack Obama said, "It's hard to imagine "ET" taking flight, Indiana Jones taking on the bad guys, or Darth Vader taking over the galaxy without your booming scores. Few artists have left such an enduring and extraordinary imprint on our culture as you have, and on behalf of all Americans, I want to thank you for sharing your incredible talent with us for all these years.At age 80, Williams shows no signs of retiring. He's laureate director of the Boston Pops, is composing new classical works and recently worked on the Steven Spielberg film, "Lincoln," which comes out in November."I’m happy to be busy," he says. "I’m happy to have a wonderful family and I think, especially for practicing musicians, age is not so much of a concern, because a lifetime is just simply not long enough for the study of music anyway; you’re never anywhere near finished."。

高中英语 VOA常速听力08月合辑(文本)MaliDuoEndSuccessfulNorthAmericanTour素材

高中英语 VOA常速听力2012年08月合辑（文本）Mali-Duo-End-Successful-North-American-Tour素材The Malian Afro-blues duo Amadou and Mariam brought their seventh studio recording to stages across the U.S., as they toured North America.The husband and wife team said their ability to team up with musicians and singers from all over the globe was the highlight of their latest release, Folila, a word which means to make music in the Malian language of Bambara.“Our greatest joy was that there were people who came to sing with us, that was the source of our greatest moments of pleasure,” said Amadou.Among the most popular songs Oh, Amadou featured French singer Bertrand Cantat, who also sang for a number of songs on Folila. Both Amadou and Mariam said their collaborations often flow as the album unfolds.“We don’t plan them,” said Mariam. “That comes with how we feel,” added Amadou. They said musicians have a social role to play off stage, especially in Mali at the moment, where a coup and subsequent rebellion in the north led to insecurity in the West African country.“The musicians play a big role because they sing so that people can stop fighting,”said Amadou. Mariam added, “It tells people to work hand in hand with each other for peace.”Amadou and Mariam are performing in Los Angeles, California before wrapping up their North American tour and heading to Europe.。

高中英语 VOA常速听力08月合辑(文本)ParalympiansPreptoStepintoSpotlight素材

高中英语 VOA常速听力2012年08月合辑（文本）Paralympians-Prep-to-Step-into-Spotlight素材BATH, England — Athletes from around the world are gathering in London again this week but this time they are Paralympians.The 4,200 disabled athletes represent 160 countries, making the event the biggest Paralympic Games ever.British Paralympians are at their training camp in Bath, in central England, using some of the same facilities used by Britain's Olympic athletes. However, these competitors are visually impaired or have other physical or mental disabilities.Finding a sport and having the potential to be a champion are particularly important for these athletes. Among them is 21 years old, Georgina Callingham one of the youngest British Paralympians, who has cerebral palsy."Shooting has literally meant everything in my life the last year and a half," she says. "My friends have taken a back step. My social life has taken a back step. Literally, with me, I'm 100 percent focused on my match, and I will be throughout the match and throughout the time.Outside, the men of Britain's Paralympic football team are practicing. One team member is in the unusual position of having a brother who played on Britain's Olympic football team."It's a dream come true," says Martin Sinclair. "I didn't think I'd be here, to be honest. You see over there, they're quite talented guys over there and it's a privilege to be with them. It's quite historic, you don't expect two brothers to be in the Olympics and the Paralympics.Another competitor who never thought she'd be in this position is archer Kate Murray who, at 64, is the eldest member of the British team."It meant everything to me," says Murray, who was disabled by a spinal condition 13 years ago. "Now, archery is all to me. It keeps me going, keeps me younger than 64.While the Paralympic Games are about winning medals, they also have a broader importance. Officials say they demonstrate what the disabled can accomplish with a little support, and they hope the games will help expand opportunities for disabled people around the world.Training expert Penny Briscoe, who gave up a career in the Olympic movement to help raise the quality of the British Paralympic team, is inspired by the athletes she works with."As much as I've given, I've probably got 10-fold back in terms of the experiences that I've had," Briscoe says. "And it didn't take long, actually, to understand that I was involved in a pretty special project, if I can call it that.Briscoe hopes the quality and character of these athletes will help change perceptions of what disabled people can do.。

高中英语 VOA常速听力08月合辑(文本)IranHostsNonalig

高中英语 VOA常速听力2012年08月合辑（文本）Iran-Hosts-Non-aligned-Summit-Despite-Sanctions素材Beginning on Sunday, representatives of nearly 120 nations will convene in Iran's capital for the summit of the Non-Aligned Movement. The conference provides a break for Iran from international isolation over its disputed nuclear program and a chance for the movement to get some unaccustomed attention.Tehran soon will transform into a hub for more than a hundred diplomats, including several heads of state. They range from newly-elected Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is under indictment by the International Criminal Court.The summit comes as the United Nations and the West have increased sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear program - one that Israel and Western nations believe Iran is using to develop atomic weapons. Iran said its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.Jamal Abdi, of the National Iranian American Council, said Iran's hosting of the summit was decided long before the international push to further isolate Iran."This was a stroke of luck for Iran. This sort of fell into their laps and they're taking full advantage of it," said Abdi.Abdi said Tehran will try to use the time in the spotlight to show Iran is not as isolated as the U. S. and the international community contend."You can't completely isolate a country, and the effect of these sanctions and the isolation is being oversold by the United States and the international community," he said.U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is invited. The U.S. and Israel say that as the leader of the organization imposing sanctions, he should not go, but his spokesman, Martin Nesirky, said Ban plans to attend."The secretary-general looks forward to the summit as an opportunity to work with the participating heads of state and government, including the host country, toward solutions on issues that are central to the global agenda," said Nesirky.David Tafuri, a partner at the Washington-based law firm Patton Boggs, said Ban's appearance is a critical diplomatic overture.Tafuri said, "Engagement has to continue, and the U.S. isn't really engaged rightnow on a diplomatic level, so it's okay, and, in fact, important for the U.N. to continue to engage with Iran.Tafuri said issues such as Iran's continued support of the Syrian government - and its crackdown on the opposition - will not go away."Iran is in a very, very difficult place. They're losing friends," said Tafuri. "Syria was one of their best friends in the world and they're probably going to lose Syria as their close ally because Assad is probably going to be forced out at some point. So Iran is becoming more and more isolated.If not for the summit, many diplomats and leaders would not visit the Iranian capital, and analysts say Iran's respite from its troubles likely will be short-lived.。

高中英语 VOA常速听力2012年08月合辑(文本)Two-Brothers-Wage-Media-

高中英语 VOA常速听力2012年08月合辑（文本）Two-Brothers-Wage-Media-War-for-Syrian-Rebels素材ANTAKYA, Turkey — As the Syrian uprising rages on, the rebel Free Syria Army is getting some technological help from young Syrians living outside the country. Two brothers are risking their lives to aid the rebels in what they call “the media war”against the Syrian government.It’s a dangerous trek across the Turkish border into Syria. With the Turkish military patrolling one side and Syrian rebel fighters on the other, the risk of being caught up in the conflict is extremely high.But for 29 Syrian Ayman Al Haddad, it’s a risk he is willing to take.“I have to find a way to go inside and make something for those people who [Syrian President] Bashar Assad killed them," says Al Haddad. "So I think that I cannot carry gun, but I can bring them some technology - we are not just in a gun machine war, we are in a media war and in a media war it means you need technology. You have to use technology.”Al Haddad is helping Syrian opposition activists get their stories communicated outside the country. On a recent journey into Syria, Al Haddad brought satellite phones and computers to the Free Syrian Army, so they can transmit pictures and video.Media coverage inside Syria is limited to state-run broadcasts. International reporting is spotty as Syria does not allow foreign reporters to roam freely, leaving the foreigners to cover the stories illicitly.So, Al Haddad says, it up to the Free Syrian Army to tell their stories.“They need good coverage from the media," he says. "Till now the media is not covering well. It’s only covering a few parts from Syria.Al Haddad's brother, Abood, 18, lives and travels with the Free Syrian Army, documenting scenes from the frontlines and sending information to his older brother to distribute.Al Haddad says his brother, seen here injured during a fierce attack on the FSA, is his hero.“Today we must document everything in this revolution," he says. "Everybody killed. Every woman killed.Al Haddad says the Free Syrian Army must publicize their plight. And he says rebels must tell of their lack of military training.“I saw these brave people that they don’t have any experience with the guns, any experience with war, because it’s really war,” he added.Al Haddad vows to continue the media war. “I will stay helping my people in my county," he says. "I have no choice. I have to. They are my family."。

高中英语 VOA常速听力2012年08月合辑(文本)Covert-Smuggling-Trail-Arms-Syrian-Rebels素材

VOA常速英语听力2012年08月合辑（文本）：Covert-Smuggling-Trail-Arms-Syrian-RebelsANTAKYA, Turkey —Some Western and Arab Gulf powers say they are increasing humanitarian and support aid to the Syrian opposition. At the Turkey-Syria border, the main conduit for foreign aid to rebel fighters, there are signs the aid trail also may include covert arms smuggling.The Turkish city of Antakya is a hub for Syria. It's what analysts say most of the deals are being forged to aid the Free Syria Army rebels.But few people here will openly admit that foreign countries are arming the opposition.Ahmad al-Kanatre Abu Hamza, commander of the Omar al-Mukhtar brigade of the FSA, told VOA last month that most of his fighters' weapons are taken from Syrian forces."Almost all our weapons are confiscated from the defeated regime army. We get no help from other countries," he said. "All our arms are light weapons and they are old.Opposition supporters have posted videos on social media sites allegedly showing big caches of weapons - mainly Kalashnikov rifles - and ammunition. Their origin is unknown.Foreign officials, including those in the U.S. and Britain, publicly say assistance to the Syrian opposition is limited to humanitarian and educational programs.In unguarded moments, however, rebel fighters admit to receiving foreign arms.Jonathan Eyal, an analyst at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, said details are slowly emerging about international weapons' trails to the rebels."Very few countries admit to having a direct role although the veil of silence is slowly being lifted," he said. "The channels are Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the lead, with the Turkish government and the American government once-removed.The covert nature of the trade - and the presence of Syrian government troops close to the border - limits the flow of weapons to rifles, pistols, and possibly a few rocket-propelled grenades, says former CIA intelligence analyst Bob Ayers."You wouldn't start from scratch. And the intelligence organizations themselves whether they be American, British, Israeli, whatever, they would not be providing weapons to the FSA," Ayers said. "They'd go through a middleman, they'd find someone who has been trading across the border, who has got relationships on either side ofthe border, and funnel the weapons, the supplies, the munitions, the communications devices, whatever, through the middleman.Ayers says a big problem is that foreign powers don't know exactly who they're giving the weapons to."We don't really have a unified opposition to [Syrian President] Assad," he said. "And there's no way that you can deal with them as if they are a unified entity. They're fragmented, they are small groups, there's no centralized control although we'd like to see it and we behave like there is. There isn't.The FSA's foreign supporters are attempting to tip the scales of the conflict towards the rebels in Syria while avoiding being caught red-handed, says analyst Eyal."It's a very difficult job to achieve especially since the involvement has to be once-removed," he said. "Let us not forget we do not have a U.N. Security Council mandate to do more than that, nor is any Western government proposing to become directly involved."Eyal says current support for the FSA is having minimal impact on Syria's civil war - and the outcome will ultimately be decided by the loyalty of the Syrian military to President Bashar al-Assad.。