英文欣赏之人生感悟 （71）美国的斋月 Ramadan in America
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Ramadan in America
美国的斋月
America is a nation of 292 million people.
美国有2.92亿人口。
There are estimates that 6 million of them are Muslim.
据估计，其中有600万人是伊斯兰教徒。
The government does not ask people their religion,so it has no official numbers.
由于政府没有要求民众提供其宗教信仰的信息，所以该方面也没有官方数据。
But Islam is often described as a fast growing religion in the United States.
然而伊斯兰教常被认为是美国国内一个增长迅速的宗教。
Media around the country have stories about activities at local Islamic centers during Ramadan.
在斋月期，全国各地的媒体都对当地伊斯兰中心的活动有所报道。
In Maryland, the Al-Rahmah Mosque in the Baltimore area uses its basketball court as a dining room.
在马里兰，巴尔的摩区的仁爱清真寺把其篮球场作为餐厅。
The Baltimore Sun newspaper says 200 to 300 people gather for their evening meal.
《巴尔的摩太阳报》称有200至300人聚在一起共用晚餐。
Muslims are supposed to avoid food and drink from sunrise to sundown during Ramadan.
斋月期间，伊斯兰教徒不会在白天里饮食。
In the central United States,the director of the Islamic Center of Lawrence, Kansas,says as many as 200 people go to daily prayers during a normal month.
《劳伦斯日报》探访了位于美国中部堪萨斯州劳伦斯镇的伊斯兰中心，该中心的负责人称，平时每天都有200多人过来祷告，
But he tells the Journal-World newspaper that the number can grow to 500 during Ramadan.
但在斋月期间每天过来祷告的人数可增至500人。
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
斋月是伊斯兰教历中的第9个月。
To Muslims, it was the month in the year 610 when the Prophet Mohamed received the knowledge from God that would become the holy book, the Koran.
对于伊斯兰教徒来说，公元610年伊斯兰教历9月，先知默罕默德从上帝那里获得真知，这些知识后来就汇集成圣书《古兰经》。
Many Muslims give presents to children during Ramadan.
很多伊斯兰教徒在斋月期间会给孩子们送礼物。
This year, a company in the state of Michigan is selling a number of toys designed for Muslim children.
今年，密歇根州的一家公司专为穆斯林小孩设计了多种玩具。
One of the most popular is a doll called Razanne.
其中，名为拉赞的娃娃是最受欢迎的玩具之一。
Razanne looks different from Barbies and other dolls for girls.
拉赞娃娃看起来与芭比娃娃或其他女孩子的玩具都不同，
All seven dolls in the series wear the traditional Muslim head covering.
整个系列的7个玩偶都戴着传统的头巾，
Their arms and legs are also covered.
四肢也都包裹严实。
One is a schoolgirl. Another is a teacher.
其中一个玩偶是一位女学生，另一个是一名老师。
Ammar Saadeh established NoorArt,the company that created the Razanne doll.Mister Saadeh says the doll provides a good example for Muslim girls.
制造出拉赞玩具的是努尔工艺公司，该公司的创始人阿玛尔?萨阿德先生说，拉赞玩具给穆斯林女孩们提供了一个良好模范。
There is also a Praying Razanne.
另外还有一款作祈祷状的拉赞娃娃，
It comes with a prayer rug and what the company describes as a small Koran-like book.
此款娃娃配有一张祈祷垫和一本小书，该公司称之为《古兰经》。
1.describe as 描述为
He’s quite bright but he’s not what you should describe as intellectual.
他是十分聪明，但不是你所描述的那种高智商。
Tokyo’s chic neighbourhoods certainly look better heeled than their counterparts in taipei, which even some residents describe as outdated and quaint.
东京的时尚街区肯定会比台北的看起来更奢华，甚至有些台北市民用过时和古旧来形容他们的城市。
2.basketball court 篮球场
They passed a basketball court that had recently opened.
她们经过一个最近刚刚开放的篮球场。
Diop progressed on the basketball court and, even more important, in the classroom.
迪奥普在篮球场，更重要的是在教室获得了长足进步。
3.as many as 和…一样多；不下于
Here. Read as many as you like.
那着这些书。想看多少看多少。
Gather as many as you can.
尽你所能吧。
4.present to 向…介绍…
Today we want to make a present to steampunk lovers.
今天，我们要为蒸汽朋克爱好者们准备一份礼物。
When you read the testimony and examine the data, legalisation seems more of a present to a pimp and a trafficker than the courage and pragmatism of an enlightened society.
当你阅读证词和检视数据时，你会发现与一个开明社会的勇气和实用主义相比，卖淫合法化更像是给予皮条客和贩子的一份礼物。