1、Words and Their Stories: All About EyesBy Jill Moss22 September, 2012Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES.Todays program is all about eyes. When it comes to relationships, peoples eyes can be a window into their hearts. This means that their eyes can tell a lot about how they
2、 feel. We will tell a story about a man and woman who are teachers at the same school. The woman is interested in the man. She uses many methods to catch his eye, or get him to notice her. Once he sets eyes on her, or sees her, she might try to get him interested in her by acting playful. In other w
3、ords, she might try to make eyes at him or give him the eye.Let us suppose that this man gets hit between the eyes. In other words, the woman has a strong affect on him. He wants to spend time with her to get to know her better. He asks her out on a date.She is so happy that she may walk around for
4、days with stars in her eyes. She is extremely happy because this man is the apple of her eye, a very special person. She might tell him that he is the only person she wants, or “I only have eyes for you.“On their date, the couple might eat a meal together at a restaurant. If the man is really hungry
5、, his eyes might be bigger than his stomach. He might order more food than he can eat. When his food arrives at the table, his eyes might pop out. He might be very surprised by the amount of food provided. He might not even believe his own eyes. If fact, all eyes would be watching him if he ate all
6、the food. This might even cause raised eyebrows. People might look at the man with disapproval.The beautiful Hope Diamond really “caught my eye“During their dinner, the couple might discuss many things. They might discover that they see eye to eye, or agree on many issues. They share the same belief
7、s and opinions. For example, they might agree that every crime or injury should be punished. That is, they firmly believe in the idea of an eye for an eye. They might also agree that it is wrong to pull the wool over a persons eyes. This means to try to trick a person by making him believe something
8、 that is false. But the man and woman do not believe in the evil eye, that a person can harm you by looking at you.The next day, at their school, the woman asks the man to keep an eye on, or watch the young students in her class while she is out of the classroom. This might be hard to do when the te
9、acher is writing on a board at the front of the classroom. To do so, a teacher would need to have eyes in the back of his head. In other words, he would know what the children are doing even when he is not watching them.Video Shows Romney Dismissing Obama SupportersBy VOA21 September, 2012This is IN
10、 THE NEWS in VOA Special English.Surveys of likely American voters show President Obama with a small lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. The president also has pulled in front of the Republican Party candidate in political campaign donations. Mr. Obama now has almost eighty nine mil
11、lion dollars, compared with the fifty million dollars for his opponent. Less than fifty days remain until the November sixth elections.This week, Mr. Romneys campaign received widespread criticism when comments he made last May were made public. In a secretly recorded video, he dismissed supporters
12、of Mr. Obama as Americans who depend on the government, and see themselves as “victims.“The video appeared on the website of “Mother Jones“ magazine. It shows Mr. Romney speaking to possible campaign donors at a private gathering in Florida.Mitt Romney responds to secret videoMITT ROMNEY:“There are
13、forty seven percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims.“The Republican candidate said these Americans believe the government has a responsibility to care
14、for them. He said they think they have a right to health care, food and housing. Mr. Romney said he will never get such people to vote for him.After the video was released on Monday, Mr. Romney defended his comments. He said he was attempting to show the differences between himself and Mr. Obama.MIT
15、T ROMNEY: “This is really a discussion about the political process of winning the election and, of course, I want to help all Americans. All Americans have a bright and prosperous future, and Im convinced that the presidents approach has not does that and will not do that.“The president reacted to t
16、he comments on a television talk show. He noted that in two thousand eight, forty seven percent of voters did not choose him. But in Mr. Obamas words, “One of the things Ive learned as president is you represent the entire country.“After the videos release, budget experts hurried to identify the for
17、ty seven percent of Americans who depend on government support. The Tax Policy Center, an independent group, said just a little more than forty six percent pay no federal individual income taxes.But twenty eight percent of those not paying federal income taxes make payroll tax payments. This money i
18、s taken from a workers wages. Payroll taxes provide for Medicare, the health plan for the aged, and Social Security, the government assistance program for retired workers.About seventeen percent of homes or families pay no income or payroll taxes. Almost all of those households are identified either
19、 as older adults or very needy people.Almost no one in the United States pays no taxes at all. There are taxes on companies, on imports and on inheritance, money or other property passed down by people who have died. There are also state and local taxes, and taxes on property, sales and gifts.The cr
20、iticism of Mr. Romney left him at first defending his position, then taking to the offense. For example, he criticized comments that President Obama made on Thursday. Mr. Obama stated that, you cannot change Washington from the inside, and can only change it from the outside.The former governor said
21、 he can and will change Washington and will get the job done from the inside. In his words, “Republicans and Democrats will come together.“And thats IN THE NEWS. Im Steve Ember.Vietnam Opens its Securities Companies to Foreign InvestorsBy VOA20 September, 2012This is the VOA Special English Economic
22、s Report.Vietnam is planning to open its markets to more foreign-owned securities companies. The plan is part of a larger effort to reduce government control of businesses and increase foreign investment. But a number of corruption cases are a concern for many Vietnamese. And rising prices could be
23、a threat to economic growth.The Vietnamese economy has slowed after about ten years of fast growth. And debt is a problem for the countrys banks. Small businesses are struggling to get loans, and some people have lost jobs.Vietnams economy has slowed in recent months.In July, the government announce
24、d plans to restructure some of the biggest state-owned groups. They include the countrys biggest oil producer, PetroVietnam.But the recent arrest of banker Nguyen Duc Kien for financial crimes shocked investors. Stock prices dropped sharply immediately after his arrest.In September, officials announ
25、ced a change in rules for foreign ownership of Vietnamese securities companies. Under the new rules, foreign banks, investment and insurance companies can buy up to one hundred percent of the shares in an existing securities company. Economists say the move provides support for privatization.Vuong Q
26、uan Hoang is an economist with the University of Brussels. He says the move is an important step for Vietnam.VUONG QUAN HOANG: “For foreign securities companies, I think this is going to be a good thing.“But Vuong Quan Hoang says the changes will likely not be felt for another twelve months, when th
27、e economy is stronger. He says there is a lot of work to be done now. And, he adds, there could be trouble in the Vietnamese real estate market.VUONG QUAN HOANG: “Right now there are issues with the real estate market, which is something big, and the interconnection between the real estate market, t
28、he securities market and the banking system.“There are already growing signs of public dissatisfaction with the economy. Recently, a group of students protested near the offices of PetroVietnam and the gas company Petrolimex. One student says rising fuel prices hit poor people hardest.And there is g
29、rowing anger over corruption.(SOUND)This student says people are expected to pay bribes, providing money or gifts to officials to get the most basic services, like hospital care. Observers have welcomed the actions Vietnam has taken. But politics and the economy are linked in the country. And how we
30、ll reforms will work remains unclear.And thats the VOA Special English Economics Report. Im Barbara Klein._Adapted from a report by Marianne BrownAfter Long Fight, DC Wins Right to a Statue in the Capitol Building20 September, 2012JUNE SIMMS: Welcome to AMERICAN MOSAIC in VOA Special English.(MUSIC)
31、Im June Simms.On our show this week, we play some songs from a new album by Dwight Yoakam.Statue of Frederick Douglass by sculptor Steven Weitzman And, we tell about a small but meaningful victory for the people of Washington D.C. who seek more representation in the United States Capitol building.(M
32、USIC)Frederick Douglass Statue for the Capitol BuildingJUNE SIMMS: The people of Washington DC won a long fought battle earlier this month. No, not statehood or a vote in the United States Congress. But, a little more representation than before.Lawmakers approved a measure permitting a statue of a f
33、ormer Washingtonian to be placed in the Capitol building. The statue of writer, scholar and anti-slavery leader Frederick Douglass will be set up near or in Statuary Hall.Each state is permitted two statues in the Capitol. Each statue represents someone from that state. For example, Virginia provide
34、d statues of President George Washington and General Robert E. Lee. Hawaii chose native chief Kamehameha the First as one of its statues. Alabama has a statue of Helen Keller. And so on.But for years the District of Columbia was denied a statue because it is not a state. And that has angered DCs con
35、gressional representative, Eleanor Holmes Norton. She serves on House of Representatives committees, but her powers are limited. For example, she is not permitted to vote on legislation.But Ms. Norton attempts to have her say on all issues that affect the citizens of Washington, including statuary r
36、epresentation in the Capitol building. She has been working to pass a measure in Congress for years.Ms. Norton expressed great pleasure about the final passage by both houses last week. “D.C. residents pay more than their share of federal taxes, and are entitled to have two statues in the Capitol, l
37、ike every state,“ she said.Frederick Douglass was not a native son of Washington, D.C. But he was born in the neighboring state of Maryland sometime around eighteen eighteen.Douglass was born a slave. But he escaped to freedom as a teenager. Douglass had learned to read and write as a boy. He contin
38、ued to educate himself his whole life.As a leader of the movement to end slavery, Douglass spoke to crowds in many American cities. He is still considered one of the most powerful speakers in American history. He also was a writer and served as an advisor to President Abraham Lincoln.The District of
39、 Columbia asked artist Steven Weitzman to create the bronze statue of Frederick Douglass. It was completed in two thousand seven. The statue shows Douglass standing at a lectern, giving a speech. He is holding a pen and paper to represent his work as a writer.Mr. Weitzman has also spent years pushin
40、g for the statues move to the Capitol. Now, he has to wait only a little longer for President Obama to sign the measure into law.But Delegate Nortons battle will continue. She says she will keep fighting to get a second statue representing D.C. in the Capitol.(MUSIC)Dwight Yoakam “3 Pears“JUNE SIMMS
41、: Country music lovers have been waiting five years for Dwight Yoakam to make a new album. That wait ended this week when Warner Brothers Records released “3 Pears.“ The singer and songwriter told a reporter the album is, in his words, “a return to the seventeen year old version of me.“ Christopher
42、Cruise has more.CHRISTOPHER CRUISE: Dwight Yoakam covers a lot of musical territory. He had always honored country music traditions, but added the sharper edge of rock and roll. The songs he writes explore the human condition more deeply than most country pop. His audience is large and mixed as a re
43、sult. He can count punk, country, pop and blues music lovers among his fans.“3 Pears“ is a perfect example of Dwight Yoakams inclusive style. He co-wrote one song with rapper Kid Rock. “Take Hold of My Hand“ is about learning to trust love.Dwight Yoakam performing at a music awards ceremony in June?
44、Yoakam spoke about that idea with a reporter from the Chicago Tribune. He said he believes in “that universal sense that somewhere in existence is the agape version of love. We share something in common with the fabric of the whole universe that connects us,“ he said.In “Take Hold of My Hand,“ Yoaka
45、m sings: Take hold of my hand / And Ill do what I can / To make everything right / At least for tonight.(MUSIC)Dwight Yoakam also shares production credits on “3 Pears“ with indie musician Beck. Yoakam told Billboard magazine that the two of them had crossed paths several times over the years. Yoakam decided to ask Beck to come listen to a few songs. Dwight Yoakam says
