中国人发明“步行椅”
Chinese Invents “Walking Chair"
Ling-yi Hsieh, David Lee
【新闻关键字】
1. retiree: n. 退休者
2. hectic: adj. 忙碌的
3. buzz: n. 嗡嗡声
4. debut: n.首演
5. disabled people: n. 残障人士
6. staircases: n. 楼梯
Like many people, 65-year-old Beijing resident Li Rongbiao was looking forward to peace and quiet after he retired from his job a few years ago. But after an accident in his family, this retiree now finds his life more hectic than ever.
住在北京现年65岁的李荣标（音译）和多数人一样，自前几年退休后便开始追寻平和宁静的生活。但自从家中遭逢变故，他的退休生活面临前所末有的繁忙
Li is the inventor of what he calls “the walking chair," which has created a buzz after making its debut at China ‘s largest expo for disabled people two months ago.
李荣标是他称之为“步行椅”的发明者，两个月前这项发明在中国最大的身障者博览会亮相时造成不小骚动。
[Li Rongbiao, Walking Chair Inventor]:
“One time, my wife and I were taking a walk. But she fell and broke her leg. It was so difficult for me to get her upstairs. That’s why I decided I should invent a ‘transportation tool’ for staircases."
李荣标说：“有次我太太和我在散步时，她跌倒摔断了腿。从此我要把她扶上楼是很困难的，所以我决定发明一个上下楼的‘交通工具’。”
【新闻关键字】
7. crumbling: adj. 破烂的
8. spare: n. 零件
9. wheelchair: n. 轮椅
10. appeal: n. 吸引力
11. innovation: n. 创新
12. pension: n. 养老金
Orders are now flying in and Li’s crumbling workshop in the suburbs of Beijing receives more visitors from across the country.
除了订单涌入，李荣标在北京郊区残破的工作室，现在得接待更多自来全国各地的访客。
The “walking chair" is an electric chair made out of over 1,000 spares. It can take people up and down stairs and also works as a wheelchair on flat ground.
“步行椅”是由一千多个零件组成的电动椅，不只可以带人上下楼，在平地也可做一般轮椅使用。
Li says part of the appeal of his chair is that it costs much less than similar products in Germany or Japan . It sells for about $1,500.
李荣标说“步行椅”的吸引力之一，是价格远比同类的德、日产品便宜，约美金一千五百元。
To fund the research and the various drafts of his chair, Li sold his house in Beijing and took out his life’s savings and pension. He then spent two years perfecting his innovation inside a simple workshop some 28 kilometers outside the city.
为了筹措“步行椅”各种不同形式的研究基金，李荣标卖了北京的房子，还领出毕生积蓄及养老金。他接着花了两年时间，在城外28公里的简陋工作室内，将他这项创新修饰的更加完美。
Li always kept the door of his workshop closed so he could work in peaceÉ just a little to peaceful for authorities who thought he could be making explosives.
为求宁静，李荣标的工作室总是大门深锁，为此当局还怀疑他可能在制造炸弹。
After reassuring police that his inventions were to help, Li was able to hire seven workers from the area.
李荣标向警察解释他的发明对社会有益后，总算能在当地雇用七名员工。
It takes the workers two and a half days to finish one chair because they are all made by hand.
因为是全手工制作，工人要花两天半的时间才能完成一辆“步行椅”。
So far, Li has sold 30 chairs, but has orders for over 300 waiting to be filled.
到目前为止，李荣标卖了三十辆“步行椅”，然而还有三百多张订单在等着他。
本则影音新闻出处：新唐人电视台英语新闻
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_life/2009-04-02/288463386813.html
【每日一句】
Don’t cross the line.
不要太过分了
【今日谚语】
Seek the truth from facts.
实事求是
