人们说，“这失声失得也太不是时候了！” 就在媒体准备对杰西卡·辛普森的新专辑《公共事件》进行大肆宣传的时候，这位超人气青春偶像的声带却出现了问题，几乎失声，医生让她暂时不要唱歌。辛普森的发言人罗伯·沙特说，辛普森有望周五前能够康复，因为根据计划，她要参加NBC广播电视网的“今天”节目。“她正在努力，每个人都满怀希望，在心里为她祈祷。”

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: 时机 media blitz: 大肆媒体宣传期间 croak out: 发出低而嘶哑的声音 sounds off: 失声 a strain, a bruise on her vocal cord: 声带因过度疲劳被拉伤了 hoarse voice: 沙哑的嗓音 cross：十字架，此处引申为“祈祷” （英语点津陈蓓编辑）