人們說，“這失聲失得也太不是時候了！” 就在媒體準備對杰西卡·辛普森的新專輯《公共事件》進行大肆宣傳的時候，這位超人氣青春偶像的聲帶卻出現了問題，幾乎失聲，醫生讓她暫時不要唱歌。辛普森的發言人羅伯·沙特說，辛普森有望周五前能夠康復，因為根據計劃，她要參加NBC廣播電視網的“今天”節目。“她正在努力，每個人都滿懷希望，在心里為她祈禱。”

Jessica Simpson poses for photographers at a party for her new album in New York, August 29, 2006. REUTERS/Chip East (UNITED STATES Talk about bad timing. At the start of a media blitz to support her new album, "A Public Affair," Jessica Simpson is on vocal rest.  "It is true that she has indeed lost her voice," Simpson's publicist, Rob Shuter, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "She's been ordered to rest. ... She can talk, she can croak out a few sentences. She sounds a little off, but, you know, she can't sing." Simpson, 26, fell ill Friday and has "a strain, a bruise on her vocal cord," Shuter told the AP. The singer canceled an appearance on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" this week but dropped by MTV's "Total Request Live" on Tuesday to promote the album. Simpson, speaking in a hoarse voice, introduced music videos. She also signed CDs for fans. Simpson hopes her condition improves by Friday, when she is scheduled to perform on NBC's "Today" show, Shuter said. "She's trying," he said. "Everybody is hoping and keeping their fingers crossed." (Agencies)

Vocabulary:

timing: 時機 media blitz: 大肆媒體宣傳期間 croak out: 發出低而嘶啞的聲音 sounds off: 失聲 a strain, a bruise on her vocal cord: 聲帶因過度疲勞被拉傷了 hoarse voice: 沙啞的嗓音 cross：十字架，此處引申為“祈禱” （英語點津陳蓓編輯）