第35期：Cooking in the great outdoors

　　Cooking in the great outdoors(fireplace included)(下)

　　(2006-2007学年第35期)

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　　Many people have just a simple, low-cost barbecue. They 1 charcoal, either lump coal or hardwood, and wait for it to get hot. But more and more people are 2 grills that operate with gas. Some of these grills can be very costly.

　　Some people even build a complete outdoor living area around them. 3 .

　　Some outdoor living areas include kitchens, so people do not have to go inside the house for water or to keep food cold. There may be a separate outdoor sitting room with a fireplace and a room for eating.

　　4 music and video systems are also a part of some outdoor rooms.

　　5 . In both cases, backyard fountains, with their 6 sounds of water, have become more common.

　　Designers say technology has had a great effect on outdoor living spaces. 7 made with newer materials can be cleaned easily with water from a garden hose. In the past, tables and chairs made with wood, cloth or metal often required special cleaning or were easily 8 by rain and the sun.

　　Some people decorate their outdoor living areas to look as nice to them as the inside of their homes. Homeowner Brenda Despanza also lives in Bowie, Maryland. She recently had a patio built in the backyard of her home. A patio is built on a 9 , open area. Brenda Despanza’s patio is made of colorful stone. There are tables and chairs with umbrellas to block the sun on hot days.

　　Hanging lights create a pleasant nighttime setting. But Ms Despanza says she likes her flowers and plants the most.

　　BRENDA DESPANZA: “I have a lot of different flowers that I planted. So I have Juniper, Roses, Petunias and I also have Hibiscus. I work so many long hours that I want a place to come where I can relax. 10 .”

　　There are no rules for creating the right environment for an outdoor area. Brenda Despanza says all you have to do is choose the things you like — 11 , eat and have a good time.

　　BRENDA DESPANZA: “I entertain a lot more since I’ve gotten it. A lot of people enjoy the space, and so it’s kind of nice because it’s so 12 that people don’t mind when I say Hey, come on over — let’s have dinner, just sit outside around the plants.’”

　　However Americans choose to spend Labor Day and the last days of summer, music is often part of the 13 . We leave you with a song that celebrates the season. Here is “Summertime” by Will Smith.

　　(The end)

　　注：原稿节选自“美国之音”，后由“英语周报大学综合版”加工而成