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Brown’s Best of Asia: Samantha Brown’s Asia 《珊曼莎畅游亚洲》

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

If there’s anyone on the planet who knows travel, it’s Samantha Brown. For the past decade, she’s spent an average of 230 days per year on the road as a travel show host. She’s offered lots of insight into what people should see and do when visiting North America, Europe, and Latin America. And now, on Samantha Brown’s Asia, she’s offering plenty of helpful hints to anyone planning to visit the Orient.

如果说地球上有人懂旅游的话，那肯定是珊曼莎．布朗。在过去的十年间，身为旅游电视节目主持人的她，每年平均有230天都在旅行。她提供了丰富的见解给前往北美、欧洲与拉丁美洲游览的人们，告诉他们该欣赏什么与该玩些什么。而现在透过《珊曼莎畅游亚洲》，她提供许多有益的建议给任何计划游览东方的人。

Her first stop is Vietnam. Like many Americans, Brown had a lot of preconceptions about the country, as she grew up in the shadows of the Vietnam War. In search of a unique experience, she decided to live with a tribal family in rural Vietnam. From the get-go, Sam learns that their customs are much different from Western ones. For instance, her guide explains that kissing is taboo in this culture – even between husbands and wives.

珊曼莎的首站是越南。由于珊曼莎是在越战的阴影下长大，所以她和很多美国人一样，对越南有很大的成见。为寻求独特的体验，她决定在越南乡下与一个部族家庭共同生活。从刚开始，珊曼莎就认知到越南的风俗跟西方的习俗大大地不同。例如，她的导游解说，接吻在越南的文化中是一项禁忌，即便夫妇之间也是如此。

After settling in, Brown makes herself useful by helping in the rice paddies. She has a lot of trouble getting the water buffalo to plow, and she even loses a boot in the thick mud. But her difficulties are all forgotten at dinner time, when Brown, wearing traditional attire, joins the family for a feast. It begins with a celebratory rice wine the locals call ‘happy juice.’ Next, everyone enjoys a meal featuring spring rolls, pork, vegetables and sticky rice pancakes. While eating dinner with the family, Brown is grateful to see a side of Vietnam that few outsiders ever experience.

珊曼莎在当地安顿下来后，为了让自己派上用场便下田帮忙。她在让水牛犁田时遇到很大的困难，甚至在黏稠的烂泥中遗失了一只靴子。但当布朗穿着传统服饰参与这个家庭的盛宴晚餐时，她把那些狼狈的经历都抛诸脑后。这场盛宴以当地人称”happy juice”的庆祝用米酒展开序幕。接着，每个人都享用了春卷、猪肉、蔬菜和糯米煎饼。在与该家庭享用晚餐时，对于能够有机会体验到只有极少数外来者能够经历的越南文化，珊曼莎心中充满感激。

Vocabulary

单词发音

hint [hɪnt] n. 建议，指点 a suggestion or implication given in an indirect or subtle manner

preconception [͵prikənˋsɛpʃən] n. 成见 an opinion or conception formed in advance of adequate knowledge or experience, especially a prejudice or bias

rural [ˋrʊrəl] adj. 农村的

get-go [ˋgɛtgo] n.【美】【口】开端，开始

taboo [təˋbu] n. 禁忌

rice paddy 稻田

paddy [ˋpædɪ] n. 稻田

plow [plaʊ] v. 犁，耕

attire [əˋtaɪr] n. 服装

celebratory [ˋsɛləbre͵torɪ] adj. 为了庆祝的

sticky rice pancake 糯米饼

pancake [ˋpæn͵kek] n. 松饼，薄煎饼，薄烤饼

grateful [ˋgretfəl] adj. 感激的

outsider [ˋaʊtˋsaɪdɚ] n. 门外汉

Idiom

片语发音

insight into something 对...深入的了解; 洞察力

in the shadow of 在.....的阴影下  influenced by something bad that has happened or could happen

from the get-go 一开始的时候 from the beginning

settle in 安顿下来  to become accustomed to one's new surroundings; to get used to living in a place or a new dwelling

课文朗读

课文讲解

On her next journey, Samantha heads to Hong Kong, one of the most dynamic cities in the world. Although 95% of the population is Chinese, English is the official language, a reminder that the city was once a British colony. With such a multicultural background, Hong Kong has often been called the city where East meets West.

珊曼莎的下一个旅程前往了世界上最具活力的城市之一──香港。虽然当地百分之九十五的人口是中国人，但官方语言却是英文，这提醒了人们香港曾是英国殖民地。在如此多元文化的背景下，香港被称为东方遇到西方的城市。

Brown begins her journey by crossing Victoria Harbor on the famous Star Ferry. Along the way, she takes in the towering skyscrapers and even larger mountains rising in the background. When she reaches land, Brown decides to hit the shops. From luxury brands to bargains at open markets, you can find almost anything imaginable in Hong Kong. But if you’re in the market for some new clothes, there’s no need to purchase anything off the rack, as an army of gifted tailors are available to create a custom outfit just for you. One shop called Sam’s Tailor will even have your order ready in under 24 hours.

珊曼莎以搭乘知名的天星小轮横越维多利亚海港展开旅程。她沿途欣赏港边高耸的摩天大楼以及背景中比摩天大楼更高大的群山风景。上岸后，珊曼莎决定去购物。从高档品牌到露天市场里的廉价品，在香港你几乎可以找到任何想象得到的东西。但如果你想要买些新衣服，你没有必要买成衣，因为有一群有天赋的裁缝师可特地为你制作一整套订作的服装。一间名为Sam’s Tailor的商店甚至可在24小时内完成你的订单。

Having had her fill of shopping, Brown samples a delectable dish of bamboo-pressed noodles. The cook, Mr. Lao, is one of only three people left in Hong Kong keeping this tradition alive. Then, to cap off her evening, Brown heads to the Temple Street Night Market to enjoy some Cantonese opera singing and have her fortune told. To get the latest news on Brown’s adventures, be sure to watch Samantha Brown’s Asia on Discovery.

珊曼莎在满足购物欲后，品尝了一碗美味的佳肴──竹生面。制作竹生面的刘大厨是香港还保有此项传统技艺仅存的三名厨师之一。接着，珊曼莎前往庙街夜市欣赏粤剧歌曲表演并给人算命，为晚上的活动划上句点。想知道有关珊曼莎探险的最新讯息。一定要观赏Discovery频道的《珊曼莎畅游亚洲》。

－by Jamie Blackler

Vocabulary

单词发音

dynamic [daɪˋnæmɪk] adj. 有活力的

reminder [rɪˋmaɪndɚ] n. 提醒物，令人回忆的东西

multicultural [͵mʌltɪˋkʌltʃərəl] adj. 多种文化的

skyscraper [ˋskaɪ͵skrepɚ] n. 摩天楼

hit [hɪt] v. 到达 reach a destination

luxury [ˋlʌkʃərɪ] n.奢华;  adj. 奢华的

bargain [ˋbɑrgən] n. 特价商品

outfit [ˋaʊt͵fɪt] n.（尤指在特殊场合穿的）全套服装

delectable [dɪˋlɛktəb!] adj. 好吃的

Idiom

片语发音

take in 欣赏某事  to look at thoroughly; view

off the rack [ræk]  现成的  ready-made

have had your fill of something 满足于...   if you have had your fill of something, you are satisfied with something

cap off 完成，结束 finish or complete, as with some decisive action

have one's fortune told 算命

Reading Questions

1.   According to the passage, what is the reason that Brown is a travel expert?

(A)  She has been traveling around for years.

(B)  Her family moved around a lot when she was a child.

(C)  Most of the time she is reading about life on the road.

(D)  She has been living in Asia for a number of years.

2.   Which of the following statements about Brown’s trip to Vietnam is NOT true?

(A)  Brown enjoys a variety of foods when she has dinner with her host family.

(B)  Brown is grateful that she is able to see Vietnam from a different perspective.

(C)  Brown has a tough time helping the family gather some food.

(D)  Brown finds that most of the customs there are similar to her own.

3.   According to the passage, which of the following best describes Hong Kong?

(A)  It’s a traditional city that is slow to adapt to change.

(B)  It offers the best of Chinese culture despite being a British city.

(C)  Outside of shopping, there isn’t much to experience there.

(D)  It’s a city that mixes the several different cultures together.

4.   What would be another good title for this article?

(A)  Traveling the World with Sam Brown

(B)  How to See Hong Kong on a Budget

(C)  Sam Brown’s Guide to the Orient

(D)  The Latest News from Sam Brown

Samantha Brown's Asia: Bun Cha in Vietnam

Samantha Brown Hong Kong Macau in HD 

Answer