第28期：Statue of Liberty

　　(2006-2007学年第28期)

　　Statue of Liberty

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　　The Statue of Liberty represents a woman holding a torch of fire. It stands on an island at the entrance to the New York City 1 . It is almost 2 meters tall, one of the tallest statues ever built. Its complete name is “Liberty Enlightening the World.”

　　The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the people of the United States from the people of France. 3

　　The idea for the statue came from a 4 history expert in 1865. Six years later, artist Frederic Bartholdi traveled to the United States to 5 support for building the statue. He decided it should stand on an island in New York harbor.

　　Bartholdi began designing the statue when he returned to France. He designed the statue’s face to look like his mother’s. French officials organized a group to raise money and 6 the project. The French people gave four hundred thousand dollars to build the statue. In 7 , the Americans established a similar committee to raise money needed to build the statue’s base.

　　The statue was built in France. Bartholdi had hoped it would be ready on the one hundredth 8 of the American Declaration of Independence in 1876. But it was not. France officially presented the statue to the United States minister to France in Paris on July fourth, 1884.

　　The statue was then taken apart and sent to the United States. “Liberty Enlightening the World” was completed in the United States in 1886. New York City celebrated with a huge 9 . President Grover Cleveland and other American and French officials 10 the ceremonies.

　　11 . Its meaning is expressed in the famous poem by Emma Lazarus that is written on the statue’s base. Here is part of that poem.

　　“Give me your tired, your poor,

　　Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

　　The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

　　Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

　　I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

　　Bob Dylan’s “Modern Times

　　Bob Dylan’s new album, “Modern Times,” was released at the end of last month. Critics loved the collection of songs. 12 .

　　This is Dylan’s first Number One album in thirty years. Mario Ritter has more.

　　MARIO RITTER:

　　Bob Dylan is one of the world’s most 13 songwriters. Over the past forty years, Dylan has sold almost one hundred 14 records. He has performed in thousands of shows around the world.

　　His new album, “Modern Times,” shows that Dylan, now 65 years old, still has a lot to say. “Modern Times” starts off with this song, called “Thunder on the Mountain.” Some of the words are about singer Alicia Keys.

　　Bob Dylan started as a folk singer in the 1960’s. He wrote several famous 15 songs about very serious issues. The songs in “Modern Times” are not as serious. There is a feeling of playfulness in the words of the songs. Dylan sings about the economy, relationships, 16 and regret. Here is an example: “Workingman’s Blues Number Two.”

　　Bob Dylan’s record company says “Modern Times” is the last in a series of three albums. The first was “Time Out of Mind” in 1997. “Love and Theft” followed in 17 .

　　At an age when other people are retiring, Bob Dylan is still very active. He performs more than one hundred times a year in what he calls his “never-ending tour.” He worked with film director Martin Scorsese on a movie about his life. He has a 18 program on American satellite radio. He is writing the second part of his book of memories. And in a few months, his music will be presented in a dance show on Broadway in New York City.

　　We leave you now with this love song, “Spirit on the Water,” from Bob Dylan’s new album, “Modern Times.”

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