The Cherry Blossom Festival Returns to America's Capital

2022-03-20

00:00 / 00:00
复读宝 RABC v8.0beta 复读机按钮使用说明
播放/暂停
停止
播放时:倒退3秒/复读时:回退AB段
播放时:快进3秒/复读时:前进AB段
拖动:改变速度/点击:恢复正常速度1.0
拖动改变复读暂停时间
点击:复读最近5秒/拖动:改变复读次数
设置A点
设置B点
取消复读并清除AB点
播放一行
停止播放
后退一行
前进一行
复读一行
复读多行
变速复读一行
变速复读多行
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1
  • The National Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrating its 110th anniversary.
  • 2
  • The popular event celebrating U.S.-Japanese ties, is once again being held in person.
  • 3
  • The most flowers are expected between March 22 and March 25.
  • 4
  • The National Cherry Blossom Festival is being held Washington, D.C. after two years of restrictions because of COVID-19.
  • 5
  • "This year, more than ever, you really understand why the festival is so important," said Diana Mayhew.
  • 6
  • She is the president of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., the non-profit group that helps organize the events.
  • 7
  • "We recognize that it's more than just a festival. It's about spring and renewal and a sense of new beginnings."
  • 8
  • The National Park Service helps oversee the festival.
  • 9
  • The service estimates the cherry trees will have the most flowers, a time called peak bloom, between March 22 and 25.
  • 10
  • The special events start with the opening ceremony on March 20.
  • 11
  • They continue through April 17, with musical shows and other events like a parade on Saturday April 9.
  • 12
  • Mike Litterst is a spokesman for the Park Service.
  • 13
  • He said although there was cold weather and snow recently it would not hurt the cherry blossoms.
  • 14
  • Temperatures below freezing can damage the blooms.
  • 15
  • In 2017 a late frost destroyed almost 50 percent of the flowers.
  • 16
  • Trees in some areas of Washington have already started to blossom.
  • 17
  • However, the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin near the center of the city have not begun to flower.
  • 18
  • The area is a favorite place for tourist and photographers.
  • 19
  • Litterst said the blossoms are still firmly inside of their buds.
  • 20
  • He said the buds act like an armor, giving the blossoms protection.
  • 21
  • If temperatures are lower next week, there might be some problems he said, adding, "I think we'll be OK this time."
  • 22
  • For the past two years, large gatherings and crowds have been restricted because of the COVID-19 health emergency.
  • 23
  • City officials closed streets and public transportation around the Tidal Basin to block people from observing the pink-colored blossoms.
  • 24
  • The festival organizers worked hard to create safe ways for people to enjoy the yearly celebration of spring, including live videos and internet presentations.
  • 25
  • This year, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared, "We want D.C. to be the face of spring for the nation."
  • 26
  • This year also marks the 110th anniversary of the gift of 3,000 Japanese cherry trees presented in 1912 by the mayor of Tokyo to the nation's capital.
  • 27
  • Japan's government remains deeply involved in the festival and often exchanges about 90 old trees for new ones every year.
  • 28
  • Ryo Kuroishi of the Japanese Embassy, joked at this year's festival announcement that, "It feels a little strange to have all these people right in front of me instead of little Zoom squares."
  • 29
  • Mayhew, the festival's president, said this year will include a joint event with usual and video experiences for those who are still not sure about attending public gatherings or traveling to the event.
  • 30
  • Mayhew said, "We're spreading it out and being as cautious and as health conscious as possible.
  • 31
  • There's so many people who want to connect, even if they can't make it."
  • 32
  • Popular activities will return this year.
  • 33
  • They include Bloom Cam, live video of the cherry blossoms.
  • 34
  • Petal Porches is an activity where people living in the city decorate the front of their homes with pictures and objects that look like cherry blossoms.
  • 35
  • The results are shown on the internet.
  • 36
  • The popular March 26 kite flying festival will take place as it has in the past in the area surrounding the Washington Monument.
  • 37
  • But locals can hold their own kite flying events in areas where it is permitted.
  • 38
  • I'm Faith Pirlo
  • 1
  • The National Cherry Blossom Festival is celebrating its 110th anniversary. The popular event celebrating U.S.-Japanese ties, is once again being held in person. The most flowers are expected between March 22 and March 25.
  • 2
  • The National Cherry Blossom Festival is being held Washington, D.C. after two years of restrictions because of COVID-19.
  • 3
  • "This year, more than ever, you really understand why the festival is so important," said Diana Mayhew. She is the president of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Inc., the non-profit group that helps organize the events. "We recognize that it's more than just a festival. It's about spring and renewal and a sense of new beginnings."
  • 4
  • Weather changes and peak bloom
  • 5
  • The National Park Service helps oversee the festival. The service estimates the cherry trees will have the most flowers, a time called peak bloom, between March 22 and 25. The special events start with the opening ceremony on March 20. They continue through April 17, with musical shows and other events like a parade on Saturday April 9.
  • 6
  • Mike Litterst is a spokesman for the Park Service. He said although there was cold weather and snow recently it would not hurt the cherry blossoms. Temperatures below freezing can damage the blooms. In 2017 a late frost destroyed almost 50 percent of the flowers.
  • 7
  • Trees in some areas of Washington have already started to blossom. However, the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin near the center of the city have not begun to flower. The area is a favorite place for tourist and photographers.
  • 8
  • Litterst said the blossoms are still firmly inside of their buds. He said the buds act like an armor, giving the blossoms protection. If temperatures are lower next week, there might be some problems he said, adding, "I think we'll be OK this time."
  • 9
  • Combining festival activities
  • 10
  • For the past two years, large gatherings and crowds have been restricted because of the COVID-19 health emergency. City officials closed streets and public transportation around the Tidal Basin to block people from observing the pink-colored blossoms. The festival organizers worked hard to create safe ways for people to enjoy the yearly celebration of spring, including live videos and internet presentations.
  • 11
  • This year, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser declared, "We want D.C. to be the face of spring for the nation."
  • 12
  • This year also marks the 110th anniversary of the gift of 3,000 Japanese cherry trees presented in 1912 by the mayor of Tokyo to the nation's capital. Japan's government remains deeply involved in the festival and often exchanges about 90 old trees for new ones every year.
  • 13
  • Ryo Kuroishi of the Japanese Embassy, joked at this year's festival announcement that, "It feels a little strange to have all these people right in front of me instead of little Zoom squares."
  • 14
  • Mayhew, the festival's president, said this year will include a joint event with usual and video experiences for those who are still not sure about attending public gatherings or traveling to the event.
  • 15
  • Mayhew said, "We're spreading it out and being as cautious and as health conscious as possible. There's so many people who want to connect, even if they can't make it."
  • 16
  • Popular activities will return this year. They include Bloom Cam, live video of the cherry blossoms. Petal Porches is an activity where people living in the city decorate the front of their homes with pictures and objects that look like cherry blossoms. The results are shown on the internet.
  • 17
  • The popular March 26 kite flying festival will take place as it has in the past in the area surrounding the Washington Monument. But locals can hold their own kite flying events in areas where it is permitted.
  • 18
  • I'm Faith Pirlo
  • 19
  • Ashraf Khalil reported this story for the Associated Press. Faith Pirlo adapted it for VOA Learning English.
  • 20
  • __________________________________________________________________
  • 21
  • Words in This Story
  • 22
  • renewal - n. the state of being made new, fresh, or strong again; the condition of being renewed
  • 23
  • peak bloom - n. a time when the U.S. National Park Service says that 70 percent of the cherry blossoms are in full bloom
  • 24
  • frost - n. when freezing temperatures cause ice to form on the ground
  • 25
  • tourist -n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure
  • 26
  • buds - n. a growth on the end of a tree or plant that turns into a flower or leaf
  • 27
  • armor - n. a protective covering
  • 28
  • conscious -adj. knowing about or thinking about something
  • 29
  • decorate - v. to make something nice-looking by adding things to it
  • 30
  • porches - n. an area outside a building or home that has a covering over it
  • 31
  • kite - n. an object that has a light frame and cloth that can be used for flying in the air with the wind
  • 32
  • What do you think of this year's cherry blossom events? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.