美语训练班 第001-010课
美语训练班 第001课
A: 美语训练班开班授课啦!
这是我们美音节目改版后的第一期美语教学节目! 我是王怡茹!
B: And I’m Donny.Starting today，我们把美音的精品教学节目集中起来播出，成立一个美语训练班，每堂课25分钟，25 minutes! 让你一次学个够!
A: 哎？Donny, 你怎么能让大家一次就学够了呢？咱们节目这么精彩，人家肯定是听不够才对啊!
B: 哈哈，对。看来我的中文还不够好。
A: 你谦虚了。Your Chinese is better than my English!
B: 怡茹, 言归正传，我们今天教什么？
A: 那可多啦! 我们会带大家去租房子(act)，射箭(act)，识别投资诈骗(act) , 还要告诉您怎么用英文称赞别人“真牛”。
B: Sounds like a lot! 大家能记得住么？
A: 呃…That’s a good question. 这样吧，咱们先学个简单的，就花一分钟，学一个词!
Learn A Word: age limit
今天我们要学的词是age limit, age is spelled a-g-e; limit is spelled l-i-m-i-t; age limit. Age limit 年龄限制。社交网站脸书网并不是任何人都能注册帐户的。Facebook enforces an age limit of 13 years or older to register an account. 脸书网规定，只有满13岁的人才能注册帐户。Despite the efforts to enforce the age limit policy, many younger children still join the site by lying about their age. 尽管脸书网努力执行年限规定，但很多不满13岁的孩子还是谎报年龄，蒙混过关。Facebook removes about 20,000 users daily who are below the age limit. 脸书网每天取消大约两万个年龄低于最低年限的帐户。好的，今天我们学习的词是 age limit, age limit, age limit.
B: So怡茹, do you remember the word from 学个词儿？
A: 那当然了!刚听完嘛! age limit年龄限制.
B: That’s right! Next, we’re going to learn an expression that describes a situation everyone could face, regardless of age.
A: 哦？你是说我们下面要学的这个词可以形容任何年纪的人都会遇到的一种情况？I’m getting curious.
B: 让我们收听“美国习惯用语”
现在播送美国习惯用语第 932讲。我是晓北。
我是 Douglas Johnson.
我的小表妹大学毕业，正在实习。她是学会计的，本以为学校里学到的东西足以能让自己胜任实习的工作。没想到，第一天下来就累得直哭! 还说第二天要去辞职。当然，她最终还是坚持下来，圆满完成了两个月的实习。她的这个经历，让我想到一个习惯用语:
Baptism by fire. Baptism is spelled b-a-p-t-i-s-m, fire; f-i-r-e. Baptism by fire.
baptism是受洗仪式，fire则是火，所以，baptism by fire就是火的洗礼，一般指刚做某事时受到的严峻考验。我表妹本来没觉得实习的工作会有多难，谁知，It proved to be much more demanding than she anticipated. That was her baptism by fire. 工作比她想像的难得多，她一上来就受到了严峻的考验。
我表妹只是在会计师行当个小实习生，已经有点吃不消。其实和下面这段话中的见习医生相比，她的工作已经轻松许多了，我们来听一听:
“After I graduated medical school, I worked as an intern in an emergency room. Nothing I’d learned in school prepared me. Every day I confronted a constant series of challenges that tested everything I’d ever studied. The little sleep I had to function on also contributed to this being the greatest test of my life. What a BAPTISM BY FIRE!”
这段话是说: 从医学院毕业后，我在急诊室做见习医生。在学校所学的一切都无法让我轻松胜任这个工作。每天我都会遇到一个接一个的挑战，检验我在学校所学的全部知识。而且我每天只能睡一小会儿觉。这一切使实习医生的岁月成为我人生中最严峻的考验。真是火的洗礼啊!
我的一个朋友，在父亲过世后被迫接下了家里开的买卖。她完全没有经验，公司的雇员也不熟悉她的做事风格，It was a baptism by fire not only for her, but also the employees. 结果双方都经历了痛苦的磨合，最终，我的朋友还是缺乏领导能力，公司解散了。 好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话:
“After I graduated medical school, I worked as an intern in an emergency room. Nothing I’d learned in school prepared me. Every day I confronted a constant series of challenges that tested everything I’d ever studied. The little sleep I had to function on also contributed to this being the greatest test of my life. What a BAPTISM BY FIRE!”
刚才说到我朋友接过家族生意后，领导不来，最终生意失败。经营一个企业尚且这么难，那如果是管理一个国家呢？咱们来听一听下面这段话:
“One of the most respected U.S. presidents was Franklin D. Roosevelt. When he died abruptly, Vice-President Harry Truman had to assume responsibility for ending World War II. That meant making one of the hardest decisions in U.S. history – to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. It was a BAPTISM BY FIRE.”
这段话意思是: 美国最受人爱戴的总统之一是福兰克林.罗斯福。罗斯福突然去世后，当时的副总统杜鲁门临危受命，他必须做完罗斯福未竟的工作，那就是结束第二次世界大战。这意味着他要作出美国历史上最艰难的决定 – 向日本投下原子弹。这真是个万般艰巨的考验。
在1963年，另外一位副总统也面临了baptism by fire, 他就是约翰逊总统。在肯尼迪总统遇刺身亡后，约翰逊要让美国走出悲痛，要指挥在越南的战争，还要实现一系列社会改革目标。这对他来讲，可以说是极大的考验。好，我们再来听听刚才那段话:
“One of the most respected U.S. presidents was Franklin D. Roosevelt. When he died abruptly, Vice-President Harry Truman had to assume responsibility for ending World War II. That meant making one of the hardest decisions in U.S. history – to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. It was a BAPTISM BY FIRE.”
今天我们学习的习惯用语是baptism by fire，意思是“痛苦的磨合，初期的严峻考验”。好的，这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束，我是晓北，我是 Douglas Johnson。
This has been Words and Idioms.
A: Baptism by fire， 火的洗礼，严峻考验。
B: So,怡茹, have you had any experiences that can be described as baptism by fire?
A: 当然了! 唉，回想我坎坷的人生啊，拍成电视剧都不过份…
B: 你吹牛呢吧？
A: 哈哈，你中文不错啊，还会说”吹牛”呢! 那我考考你，把“吹”字去掉，就说“牛”，美语怎么说？
B: 牛？不就是…
A: 别跟我说是cow啊!还是听听下面的“美语怎么说”吧!
How to say it: awesome
Donny 在北京学汉语，他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教他。今天是方方要问的: 牛。
Donny: FF, I heard you went to a ballroom dance competition yesterday. How did it go?
FF: 我进决赛啦! 怎么样，牛吧？
Donny: 牛？ a cow?
FF: 不是，“牛”就是特别厉害，very good!
Donny: I got it. In English, we use the word “awesome”, a-w-e-s-o-m-e, awesome.
FF: 哦，awesome就是说特牛。
Donny: You can also use the word “ballin”. b-a-l-l-i-n, ballin. It also means “cool or very good”.
FF: 哦，Ballin 也是“很牛”的意思。Donny, 那天的跳舞比赛上还真有不少高手。在这种情况下，我可以跟他们说，You’re awesome! 或者 You’re ballin! 对么？
Donny: That’s right. You can also say “you rule” or “you rock!”
FF: rule, r-u-l-e, rule; rock, r-o-c-k, rock, 这两个词也可以形容某人或某事很牛，不过它们都是动词，对不对？
Donny: Exactly! For example, 如果你看了一场特别牛的演唱会，you can say “it rocks!” or “it rules!”
FF: 明白了。不过那天也有一些人在比赛前一副不可一世的样子，可真跳起来，也不怎么样，真不知道他们有什么好牛的！对了，形容这些人，也用 awesome 或是 ballin 么？
Donny: No! You can use “cocky” c-o-c-k-y, cocky， to describe these kind of people.
FF: 哦，说一个人牛气哄哄的，就是cocky.
Donny: Now, FF, If you can tell me what you’ve learned today, I’d say your English 很牛!
FF: 好！第一，说人或事很牛，用形容词 awesome 或 ballin；
第二，说人或事很牛，还可以用动词 rule 或者 rock；
第三，形容某人傲慢，牛气哄哄，可以用 cocky!
这次的美语怎么说 就到这里。
A: Yeah! Awesome! You rock!
B: 你也很牛…!对了，你开始时不是说带大家去租房子嘛？
A: 马上就去啊!
Renting: Beginner
大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“找房”单元的初级课程。
Professor: Jeff is at an apartment building. He’s meeting the landlord to ask about renting an apartment.
Professor Bowman, landlord 这个词由是 land – 土地，和 lord – 主人组成的，应该就是房主的意思吧？
Professor: That’s right, Winnie. Now listen for the word “vacancy,” which means “open” or “available.”
Jeff: Hello, do you have any vacancies?
Landlord: Yes, something just opened up.
Jeff: What kind of apartment is it?
Landlord: It’s a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment.
我知道，”vacancy, v-a-c-a-n-c-y, vacancy”就是指等待出租的空房。Professor: Exactly. “Vacant” means “empty.”
哦，vacant是vacancy的形容词，意思是“空的”。现在Jeff 就是要找a vacant apartment. 房主说有一个一室一卫的公寓，听起来不错，可是不知道租金贵不贵。
Professor: Let’s listen and find out.
Jeff: How much is the rent?
Landlord: The rent is $1500 per month.
Jeff: And how much is the deposit?
Landlord: The deposit is $500.
一个一居室的公寓每月要 1500 美元？够贵的！而且，为什么Jeff 还要交一笔deposit“押金”呢？
Professor: Well, if Jeff breaks something in the apartment, the landlord uses the deposit money to fix it. In addition, he may have to pay utilities too. Let’s listen.
Jeff: Are utilities included in the rent?
Landlord: Gas and water are included.
Jeff: Do I have to pay for electricity myself?
Landlord: Yes, electricity is not included in the rent.
哦，看来Jeff 要自己负担一部分utilities, u-t-i-l-i-t-i-e-s, – “水电杂费”，因为房主说，房租里包括煤气费和水费，但是电费要单付。
Professor: Winnie, if the landlord says “all utilities are included,” then the cost of gas, water and electricity will all be included in the rent. Remember, you don’t have to say “gas utility” or “water utility.” You can just say “gas” or “water.”
Jeff: Hmmm … This apartment seems a little expensive. Do you have any cheap studios?
Landlord: Actually, the one-bedroom is the only vacant apartment right now.
Jeff: Do you think any studios will open up soon?
Landlord: No, not for a few months.
A “studio”? 我知道 Jeff 想找个便宜点的地方，可租这种卧室、起居室合二为一的单间小公寓，把女孩子带回家多没面子！
Professor: I don’t know. You wouldn’t date a guy living in a studio?
找个租studio的男朋友？那也没什么不行，但他起码得有辆特别 cool 的车！我们还是言归正传，看看Jeff 租没租那间公寓吧。
Jeff: When can I see the one-bedroom apartment?
Landlord: There’s an open house this weekend.
Jeff: What time does the open house start?
Landlord: It starts at 11AM in the morning.
Professor Bowman, 什么叫open house?
Professor: Winnie, an “open house” is when the landlord opens the apartment and anybody can just walk in and take a look.
Open house这段时间里什么人都可以随便来看。那要不是open house，就得和房主约时间喽？这个房主也真懒，让人家看一眼不就得了。
Professor: I agree. Maybe Jeff should rent a different apartment because this landlord is not very good. Now Jeff is going to ask how long the lease is.
Jeff: What kind of lease is it?
Landlord: It’s a one-year lease.
Jeff: Can I have a month-to-month lease? I only want to rent the apartment for five months.
Landlord: No, all the leases are for one year. We don’t have month-to-month leases.
Jeff: Well then I don’t think this would be a good apartment for me. Thank you anyway.
Landlord: You’re welcome.
唉，看来是不行了。Jeff只想租5个月，可房主非要签一年的租约。这可怎么办？
Professor: Well, I guess Jeff’s friend Sarah will have to help him look for another apartment. Tune in next time to see what happens!
A: 怎么样，我们这个美语三级跳节目非常实用吧？我学了Vacancy, utilities, open house还有好多有用的词!
B: 没错! Now let’s move from an apartment building to an office.
A:对，Office, 上班和同事们交流时用的英语，这也非常实用!咱们来收听礼节美语。
礼节美语 – PONZI SCHEME I
Ken早上在饮水器旁见到同事 Dan 和 April.
K: Good morning, Dan. Good morning, April.
D&A: Hi, Ken. Good morning.
K: So…have you heard the big news?
A: No! Tell us!
K: Well, you know Jason Smith?
D: You mean our company’s Chief Financial Officer?
That Jason Smith?
K: Yep…that’s the one. He got arrested yesterday.
A: No way! What for?
Ken问同事 Dan和April，Have you heard the big news? 你们听没听说公司里的大新闻。原来是公司财务总裁 Jason Smith 被抓起来了。April 觉得难以置信，说 No way! 不可能！what for? 因为什么？
K: Seems our Mr. Smith was running a Ponzi scheme.
D: Sorry…I’m not familiar with that term. What’s a Ponzi scheme?
A: Basically…it’s fraud.
K: But a very special kind of fraud.
A: See, what they do is offer investors a very high rate of return on their money. Then the schemer takes some of the money and pays some of the original investors a large dividend.
原来，Jason Smith 是因为涉嫌参与庞式骗局才被抓起来的。庞式骗局是 Ponzi Scheme. Dan 不知道什么是庞式骗局。Ken 和 April 解释说，Ponzi scheme 是一种特殊形式的诈骗，fraud，用高回报率 a high rate of return 来吸引投资者，把从他们那里骗来的一部分钱做为红利 dividend，分给最开始的那些投资者。
K: So of course the original investors think they’ve struck gold and they tell their friends about this great opportunity.
A: The friends pile their money in too and a few of them see big returns as well. Pretty soon, loads of people are “investing” their money with the bad guy and when he has enough…poof…he disappears.
这样一来，最早的一批投资者会觉得自己找到了金矿，they’ve struck gold, 马上介绍自己的亲戚朋友也来加入。这样越滚越大，等骗到了足够的钱以后，庞式骗局的谋划者就带着钱不知去向了。
A: The name comes from an Italian immigrant to America called Charles Ponzi. He was one of the biggest frauds in American history and ended up swindling thousands of people out of millions of dollars.
D: So Jason Smith was running a scheme like that?
K: Pretty much. He cooked his books so he wouldn’t get noticed, but these kinds of frauds almost always end up getting exposed because when no new money comes in…the pyramid collapses.
庞式骗局是以一个意大利移民 Charles Ponzi 的名字命名的。他是美国历史上最大的骗子之一。Swindle 是欺骗的意思。公司财务主管Jason Smith造了假账 cook the books，但最后还是被抓住了。Closing
A: 天啊，Ponzi scheme， 庞式诈骗，真可恨!
B: So what would you do if your money got swindled through a Ponzi scheme?
A: 敢诈骗我的钱？我拿箭射他!
B: 你以为你是射雕英雄传嘛？!
A: 哼，我现在就去学射箭!
American Sports English: Archery
Y: Hi, this is Yang Chen.
P: And I’m Patrick.
(Sound of arrow flying through the air and “plunking” into target)
Y: 今天我要学射箭archery。
P: Archery is the practice of using a bow to shoot arrows. It’s also an Olympic sport. Say, Yang Chen, do you have your bow and arrows ready?
Y: Yes, I do, Patrick. Here is my bow，我的弓； And here are my arrows，我的箭。Patrick，你看我这样拿着弓箭，象不象Robin Hood侠盗罗宾汉!
P: Wow, you look exactly like Robin Hood! Are you ready to take aim and shoot, Miss Robin?
Y: I sure am. 可是那个target目标好像太远了，能不能让我靠近点儿, Patrick.
P: The target in Olympic archery is 30 to 90 meters away. You are trying to shoot the arrow as close to the center of the target as possible.You can shoot three arrows.
Y: 我可以射三支箭。
P: And you have 40 seconds to shoot each arrow.
Y: 射一支箭的时间是40秒。Okay, here is my first shot! (Sound of pulling back bow, shooting arrow)
P: Hmm, Uh, well, It was a good try, Yang Chen.
Try again, Yang Chen. Maybe this time you can hit the bull’s eye.
Y: The “bull’s eye”不是牛眼睛，是靶心的意思。 I’ll try again, Patrick. Maybe I’ll get lucky. 这次一定射中 bull’s eye。
P: Okay, Yang Chen, you can do it! (Shooting sound again)
Y: Yea! I did it! I did it! I hit the Bull’s eye! 正中靶心！
P: No, Yang Chen….you didn’t even hit the target. You’re way off
Y: Oh, no! Let me try again.
P: Oh, Yang Chen, I think you killed a bird.
B: Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost been 25 minutes!
We’re getting to the end of the show!
A: 是啊，希望大家这节课有所收获。
B: So 怡茹, what’s the word for 年龄限制again?
A: 哈哈哈，啊，age limit!
B: Bingo!
A: 好了，今天的节目就到这里。节目的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见喽!
B: Bye!
美语训练班 第002课
B: 王老师好!
A: 哈哈，Donny你好！我们美语训练班又上课啦！
B: 对，每节课25分钟。So what are we gonna learn today?
A: 今天我们要去参加一个选秀比赛, 去网球场大展身手, 接着上次继续找房子, 还要告诉大家怎么用英文表示“挨宰”的意思。
B: Interesting! But we’re going to open up with something short and simple, right?
A: 没错! 咱们先花一分钟，学一个词!
Learn A Word: trait
今天我们要学的词是trait. Trait特征。A new study in South Korea shows that 1 in 38 children have traits of autism. 韩国一项最新研究显示，每38个孩子里就有一个孩子带有自闭症的特征。Two-thirds of the children with autism traits hadn’t been diagnosed before. 其中三分之二带有自闭症特征的孩子以前都没有被确诊过。The researchers estimated that about 2.6 percent of the population has some autism traits, much higher than the U.S. estimate of 1 percent. 研究人员因此估计，百分之2.6的人口都带有某种自闭症特征，远远高出美国原先估计的百分之一的水平。好的，今天我们学习的词是trait.
A: 好! 这个我记住了，Trait, “特征”的意思。对了Donny, 万圣节的时候小孩子们都喊“trick or treat”, 那个treat和我们刚学的这个是一个词儿么？
B: No. In “trick or treat”, treat is spelt t-r-e-a-t, it means款待，请客。This one is trait, t-r-a-i-t, 特征。
A: 哦，是这样! 那我要是说Dinner is my treat. 就是晚餐我请客喽!
B: 没错，怡茹，你要请我吃饭嘛？不必客气。
A：你想得美啊! 还想宰我。不过Donny, 说到这个“宰人”，咱们赶快来听听下面这集“流行美语”。
Popular American: Take someone under your wing; take someone for a ride
Larry在咖啡馆里碰见了李华，他们会用到两个常用语：Take someone under your wing 和 take someone for a ride.
Larry: Hey, there you are, Lihua.
LH: Oh, hi Larry.
Larry: I haven’t seen you since last weekend. What have you been up to? Don’t tell me you’re having midterms already.
LH: 我连看书的时间都没有! 尽忙着照顾我表妹了。
Larry: Oh?
LH: 她从中国来美国上高中，初来乍到，什么都不会，所以我这两天一直在帮她安顿。
Larry: I’m sure it’s a very tough transition for both of you. But, it’s so nice of you to take her under your wing.
LH: “Take her under my wing”? 这是什么意思？
Larry: To take someone under your wing means to give them a great deal of personal guidance and protection while they are learning something of which you have experience.
LH: 我明白了， To take someone under your wing就是指导、保护和照料某人。我现在就是这样像母鸡带小鸡一样照顾着我表妹呢!
Larry: It takes time to learn how to cope with living in a totally new environment─it’s only natural to need a little bit of help at first. As a matter of fact, I can remember a time not so long ago when I took a certain confused girl from China under my own wing…
LH: 你说你也曾这样帮助过一个女孩？ 你不是在说我吧？Larry, 虽然你给了我很多帮助，但这和我给我表妹的帮助是不同的。我要是不在她身边，她连出门买吃的都不敢!
Larry: But Lihua, you couldn’t buy groceries on your own either when you first moved here. One time at the grocery store, your bill came to $7.50 and you pulled out a dollar bill, asking me if it was enough!
LH: Haha, 这个我记得。刚到美国时，每次需要跟美国人打交道我都会非常紧张，就算不说英语，还是觉得很恐怖。
Larry: Luckily, I was there to take you under my wing while you got used to living in the United States─just like how you’re taking your cousin under your wing now!
LH: 哈，看来我们都是好心人! 最近我在帮我表妹找房子，她以前的房东欺负她是新来的，把房租提高了两倍！我表妹已经傻呼呼地交了一个月的钱!
Larry: Yeah, you have to be really careful. It sounds like that landlord was taking your cousin for a ride.
LH: Taking her for a ride? 开车带她出去？那个房东可没这么好心!
Larry: Um, I mean “taking her for a ride” as in, taking advantage of her situation─playing a trick on her for his own benefit.
LH: 哦! 原来 To take someone for a ride 还有欺负人，宰人的意思!
Larry: Yea, that’s right. For example, when I went to New York City, my cab driver noticed that I had never been to New York before, and so he took a longer route to my hotel in order to run up my bill. This is a classic case of “taking someone for a ride.”
LH: 啊？司机看你是第一次来纽约，就带着你绕远路，多收你的车费。这可真差劲，欺负人!
Larry: Unfortunately, some people will take advantage of other people like that.
LH: 哎？Larry, 咱们是愿意 take others under our wings, 不遗余力地帮助别人，可这个房东和那个出租司机却会 take people for a ride，占别人便宜。所以这两个说法的意思正好相反嘛！
Larry: Yea, you could think of it like that. So, it’s a great thing that you are taking your cousin under your wing! Otherwise, it would be easy for people to take her for a ride.
LH: 好吧，为了防止她受欺负，我就继续努力吧。
Larry: I’m sure your cousin is a smart girl. Before you know it, she’ll be just as capable to live on her own in the United States as you are─and you won’t have to worry about people trying to take her for a ride.
LH: 不过，在她完全自立前，我可有的忙了，估计不能常和你见面了!
Larry: That’s OK. Taking someone under your wing is a quite a full-time job!
今天李华学了两个常用语，一个是 to take someone under your wing，意思是“照顾和帮助某人”；另一个是 to take someone for a ride，意思是“占人便宜，欺负人”。好的，这次《流行美语》播送完了。
A: 不错! 我又学会了一个说法，Take someone under your wing 就是“罩着别人”。Donny, 我就是这种大姐姐型的人，特会关心人。
B: Er….Really? You sure look like a nice person…
A: 嘿! 你还不信啊？我给你讲个我帮助别人的事情吧，想当年…
B: 怡茹! 怡茹! Didn’t you say at the beginning of the show that we were going to some talent show?
A：哦，对，选秀! 那咱们听听“美语怎么说”吧! 我的故事待会儿再告诉你。
How to Say it in American English: Open Audition
Jessica在北京学汉语，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是杨琳要问的：海选，甄选。
YL: Jessica! 送你一张我的签名照！快拿着！
Jessica: Your autograph? why do I want that?
YL: 告诉你，我快成明星啦!
Jessica: Really? You will be a super star? 你被张艺谋看中了？
YL: 不是。我参加“阳光女生”的海选，击败了众多对手……对了，海选你明白么？Sea selection! 谁都能参加! 也有人管它叫甄选。
Jessica: Sea selection? 哦，(chuckle) I see. In English, it’s called “an open audition”. Everyone can walk in the door, perform and compete, like American Idol.
YL: 没错，就是那种！原来这叫 “open audition,” open开放的，audition, a-u-d-i-t-i-o-n, audition试演选拔，连在一起，open audition就是“海选”或是“甄选”。这么说，I am the winner of the open audition!
Jessica: Well, I don’t think you can call yourself a “winner,” because more than one person get selected in an open audition to advance to the next round.
YL: 也是，这次一共一百人过关，进入下一轮比赛。但不管怎样，I was selected!
Jessica: Yeah, congratulations! You can also say you made the cut.
YL: 哦，make the cut, 就是被选中，过关了。哎，那要是被刷下来，该怎么说呢？
Jessica: Then you could say you got eliminated. e-l-i-m-i-n-a-t-e-d, eliminated.
YL: 明白了，eliminate是淘汰，被淘汰就是get eliminated.
Jessica: That’s right. I sure hope you can make it to the final round and not get eliminated! But first, tell me what you’ve learned today!
YL: 第一“甄选，海选”在美语里叫 “open audition”；
第二，过关，被选上了，是 make the cut；
第三，被刷下去了，就是 get eliminated.
这次的美语怎么说就到这里。如果你也有不会说的词，请写信给 Jessica, 电邮请寄meiyu@voanews.com
A：原来，入选就是make the cut.
B：对，怡茹, Last time we went apartment hunting with Jeff and Sarah. I wonder if they’ve found the perfect place yet.
A: 嗯，我也不知道他们有没有找到合适的房子。听听看吧!
Renting: Intermediate
大家好！今天播出“美语三级跳”节目“找房”单元的中级课程。
Winnie: Jeff想租间公寓，请朋友Sarah帮忙一块儿看广告。
Professor: In this first part, listen for the word “listings,” which is a list of available apartments that you can find in a newspaper or online.
Winnie: 哦，listing在这里就是房屋招租广告。
Jeff: Hey Sarah, I’m having some trouble finding an apartment. Can you help me look at some listings online?
Sarah: Sure. What kind of apartment are you looking for?
Jeff: Well, it has to be cheap. I don’t want a really expensive apartment.
Sarah: OK. Would you like to live in a studio?
Jeff: Sure, a studio would be fine.
Professor: So Winnie, what is the most important thing for Jeff when looking for an apartment?
Winnie: 价钱！ 他呀，老想找个便宜的studio, 真没劲！
Professor: Well, I guess Jeff is a bit more practical than you. In this next section listen for the word “cozy,” which means small and comfortable.
Sarah: Jeff, look at this listing! It says there is a cozy studio apartment for rent, and it’s only $700 per month. What do you think?
Jeff: Well I think I can afford that apartment. But are pets allowed?
Sarah: Hmm … let me look. Yes, it says it’s a pet-friendly building.
Jeff: That’s great. That means I can bring my cat, Mr. Twinkles. Where is the apartment located?
Sarah: It says it’s located in the suburbs.
Winnie: Professor Bowman, 什么是pet-friendly building？
Professor: It means that pets are welcome in that building.
Winnie: A pet-friendly building是可以养宠物的公寓。
Professor: Exactly. In the next section, listen for the term “a steal.” What do you think that means?
Winnie: Hmm … steal在这里一定不是偷东西，而是指a very good deal， 就是说特别划算！
Professor: You got it!
Jeff: It’s located in the suburbs? Well even though that sounds like a steal, I really want something downtown.
Sarah: OK. Well the problem is that the apartments in the heart of the city are usually more expensive.
Jeff: I know, that’s my problem. What do you think I should do?
Sarah: Well, maybe you could get a two-bedroom apartment downtown and share the rent with a roommate.
Jeff: Oh, great idea!
Professor: So Winnie, can you tell me what the opposite of “the suburbs” is?
Winnie: The suburbs指郊区，相反的肯定是downtown，也就是市区！ 不过，他们说“in the heart of something”是什么意思？
Professor: Being in the heart of something is the same as being in the very middle of it.
Winnie: 我明白了，in the heart of something就是指中心位置。
Professor: Good. Let’s see what happens next.
Sarah: Well what about this two-bedroom apartment? The listing says it’s right in the heart of the city, just steps from the metro.
Jeff: Wow, that would be very convenient. How much is the rent?
Sarah: It says it’s $1600. But if you share it with another person, that’s only $800 per month.
Jeff: That definitely sounds like a steal. I think that is a very trendy neighborhood as well.
Sarah: That’s true. I know that there are lots of popular restaurants and coffee shops around there.
Winnie: Jeff真是好运气! 找到个两居室，月租只要1600美元，和室友分一下，一人八百块。It’s a steal!
Professor: And the location of that apartment is also very good. It is only “steps from the metro,” meaning you only need to walk a short distance to the subway station.
Winnie: 对啊，走几步就能到地铁站，太方便了！他们还说公寓所在的地方很trendy，就是很受欢迎的新潮区。那Jeff可要当机立断！
Jeff: Well, this apartment is really a must-see. Will you come with me to look at it this weekend?
Sarah: Sure. And if you rent it, maybe I can help you find a roommate too.
Jeff: Great! Do you know someone else who is also looking for an apartment?
Sarah: Yes, my friend Steve. I’ll introduce you.
Winnie: Sarah真是太够意思了，连找室友都包了！ Professor Bowman, 您说Jeff和Sarah推荐的室友Steve能合得来么？
Professor: Well, we’ll have to listen next time and find out!
A: 看样子，Jeff的房子找得蛮顺利啊。位置在a trendy neighborhood, 时尚社区，而且pet-friendly, 可以养宠物，两个人分担房租又不会太贵，It is a steal! 真划算!
B: Actually, 怡茹, I can think of a place to live for free! You don’t need to pay for utilities, transportation or even your meals!
A: 啊？白吃白住的地方？哪有这种好事，Tell me! Tell me!
B: I’m talking about “jail”! Hahahaha!
A: 监狱啊？!
B: 对啊! 咱们来听听“礼节美语”，了解一下The jails for white collar criminals.
礼节美语: PONZI SCHEME II
Ken早上在饮水器旁见到同事Dan和April，谈起公司首席财务官Jason Smith参与庞式骗局被抓起来的事情。Dan问罪名严不严重。
D: So how serious are these charges?
A: He could end up serving a very long prison term. These days judges are pretty tough on white collar crimes.
D: I actually met Jason at a cocktail party about a year ago. He seemed very charming and bright. I remember we had an interesting conversation and he was quite knowledgeable about Asian affairs.
A: Yeah, that sounds about right. Most of these kinds of tricksters are very charming…otherwise, how would they be able to convince so many people to part with their money?
April说，搞不好，Jason会坐很长时间的牢，因为现在法官对白领犯罪下手很重，白领犯罪在英文里叫white collar crime. Dan在一次cocktail party鸡尾酒会上见过Jason，对他印象不错，April觉得这很正常，因为这些人要是没有两下子，怎么能说服别人把自己的钱拿出来呢? to part with one’s money 是把钱交出来的意思。
K: If someone told me I could get a 200% return on my investments, I’d smell a rat. I bet some of these people had a pretty good idea they were dealing with a Ponzi scheme.
A: Good point, but it’s going to be hard to find evidence they knew about it beforehand.
D: So what happens to white collar criminals in America? Is there a special jail for them?
K: In the past many of them got sent to low or medium security prisons. People used to joke about how easy it was for them.
Ken怀疑参与庞式骗局的一些投资者其实是知情的，因为如果告诉他说有投资机会，百分之二百的回报，I’d smell a rat. 我一定会觉得可疑。Ken说，白领罪犯以前都是被送到low or medium security prisons安全级别中低水平的监狱，所以日子比较好过。
A: But more recently, the government has decided to make an example and has been getting much tougher.
K: If he is convicted, Jason will probably end up in a federal prison with hardcore offenders. He could be there for well over 10 years.
D: Wow…that’s harsh.
K: Jason Smith says he is innocent, so we’ll have to wait and see what the final verdict is. I’m just glad I didn’t invest any of my money with him.
D: Me too!
A: Me three!
April 解释说，但是近来，政府决定对白领犯罪加强处罚， to make an example of someone有杀一儆百的意思。Ken说，如果法庭判处Jason有罪的话，Jason就可能会坐十年以上的大牢，而且是跟hardcore offenders恶性犯罪分子关在一起。三个人都表示，幸好没有把自己的钱拿出来让Jason去投资。
A: 哦，所以说，white collar criminals就是白领罪犯，比如诈骗犯。
B: That’s right. Okay, 怡茹, enough with all the schemes and criminals. Let’s have some fun!
A: 好! 咱们去打网球!
American Sports English: Tennis Scoring
Y: Hi, this is Yang Chen.
P: And I’m Patrick. And today we are playing a game of tennis.
Y: (calling out) Okay, Patrick It’s your serve!
P: To serve S-E-R-V-E is to put the tennis ball in play by throwing it up into the air and hitting it with a racquet.
Y: Oh, come on, Patrick. Would you quit talking and serve the ball?
P: OK. Here I go! (thwok, thwok) Good return, Yang Chen!
Y: Hey, Patrick, that ball was over the line. The ball was out, 你出界了。我应该得一分。So it is my point.
P: That means the score is “Love Fifteen”. Love for me and fifteen for you.
Y: Love? L-O-V-E? 爱？这和爱有什么关系？What’s love got to do with it, Patrick?
P: Love in tennis scoring means “Zero.”And right now I have zero points.
Y: You have love─不是你有爱情，而是说你是零分， zero points, 可是我怎么会有15分呢？
P: Tennis scoring is very complicated, isn’t it? To win a game a player must win four points and two more points than his opponent. The first point is called “fifteen.”
Y: 那么 the second point is called “thirty?”
P: That’s right. The second point is called “thirty,” and the third point is called….
Y: Forty-five?
P: No, it is called “forty.”
Y: Why not forty-five?
P: 传统上是这样。 It’s just the tradition now, Yang Chen, the French started it.
Y: 那他们的数学一定不好。Okay, serve again, Patrick!
P: Oh no, I missed the ball!
Y: I guess that makes the score “love thirty”! But you have love!!!
A: 原来love在网球里就是0分的意思!
B: Isn’t that cool? Love is nothing!
A: 胡说，Love多重要啊。比如我就特有爱心，老帮助别人。对了，我那个故事还没讲呢……
B：啊……怡茹, it’s almost time. Let’s save your story for next time!
A: 这样啊？！ 太遗憾了。好吧，那今天的节目就到这里。节目的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!
B：Bye!
美语训练班 第003课
A: 美语训练班开始上课啦! 我是王怡茹。
B: And I’m Donny. 怡茹, 介绍一下今天学什么吧!
A: Sure! 今天这节课，我们要谈谈潜规则, 练练划艇, 看能不能找到一个靠谱的室友，还要告诉大家怎么用英文表示“掏心掏肺”。
B: Yiru, I know what you’re gonna say next–咱们先花一分钟，学一个词!
Learn A Word: courageous
今天我们要学的词是 courageous. Courageous有勇气的。The candidate made a courageous stand on the sensitive issue. 这位候选人在这个敏感问题上勇敢地表明了立场。He demonstrated traits of a courageous leader. 他表现出了勇敢的领导人所带有的特征。美国国防部长盖茨说，President Obama’s decision to give the go-ahead on a raid against Osama Bin Laden was one of the most courageous calls he has ever seen a President make. 盖茨说，美国总统奥巴马下令突袭本拉登是他所见过的总统做出的最果敢的决策之一。好的，今天我们学习的词是 courageous.
A: 又学了一个词! Courageous –勇敢的。对了Donny, 刚才有句话说，总统决定 give the go-ahead 什么什么，你给讲讲这个 go-ahead.
B: go-ahead就是把 go 和 ahead 放在一起变成一个词，It means a signal to proceed.
A: 哦，go-ahead，名词，是“批准，开绿灯”的意思。 比如，我可以说，My boss gave me the go-ahead to start the project. 老板批准我开始操作这个项目。
B: That’s right. 怡茹, Now I give you the go-ahead to move on to the next program.
A：啊？你批准我进入下一个节目？我才不需要你批准呢! 言归正传，咱们来听一集“美国习惯用语”。
Words and Idioms: Bare one’s soul
现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 933讲。我是晓北。
我是 Douglas Johnson.
前几天我参加大学同学的聚会。大家多喝了几杯之后，一个同学开始拉着我的手诉说她这些年来感情上的不如意。其实我和她在大学时并不怎么熟，现在她对着我，眼泪汪汪地讲述自己几次失恋的故事，让我颇为同情，同时也让我想到一个习惯用语：
Bare one’s soul. Bare is spelled b-a-r-e, and soul; s-o-u-l. Bare one’s soul.
Bare one’s soul 的意思是向别人掏心掏肺，展露自己的内心世界。我的这位大学同学， She bared her soul to me. 对我敞开了心扉，告诉我藏在她内心深处的事情。作为老同学，我衷心祝福她的情路能出现转机。不过，看她一杯接一杯喝酒，我倒有点担心她酗酒成瘾，如果真是那样，她就需要到下面这段话所提到的戒酒会寻求帮助了，我们一起来看看：
“The men and women at Alcoholics Anonymous have one goal in common: to stop drinking. When we meet, some of us talk about how our drinking has damaged our personal and professional lives. At first, it was hard for me to BARE MY SOUL. But, by sharing my pain as well as my strength and hope with others, I was able to stay sober and help others to recover.”
这段话是说：在戒酒互助组织“戒酒无名会”里，人们有共同的目标，那就是停止喝酒。在我们大家开会的时候，一些人会谈到酗酒怎样毁了自己的生活和事业。开始时，我很难向别人敞开心扉。可后来，通过向别人讲述我的痛苦、力量和希望，我做到了滴酒不沾，还能帮助其他人戒酒。
戒酒无名会的缩写是AA，这是一个匿名制的，是酗酒者帮助酗酒者的互戒会。在全世界近140个国家设有分部。AA的成功也受到模仿，人们成立类似的组织，通过互助的方式减肥、戒烟、抗癌等等。
我们一般都会对熟人敞开心灵，而对陌生人，您会愿意讲述自己的人生故事和最深层的感情么？咱们来看看下面这段话：
” ‘Taxicab Confessions’ is a popular late night TV show. It features taxi drivers secretly recording interviews with passengers who are being driven around New York City and Las Vegas. Some of these people don’t mind BARING THEIR SOULS. They like talking about their extreme tragedies and triumphs.”
这段话意思是：“的哥表白”是一档受欢迎的深夜电视节目。在节目中，纽约和拉斯维加斯的出租车司机们和车上的乘客聊天，并偷偷地录下谈话内容。有些乘客一点不在意对陌生人掏心掏肺，特别愿意告诉别人自己生活里的大悲大喜之事。
其实，这个节目并不是完全走偷拍路线，在乘客下车前，司机会告诉他们他们说的话已经被录像，乘客可以自己决定是否允许电视台播放。看来，有很多人并不在乎和全国电视观众掏心窝子!
今天我们学习的习惯用语是bare one’s soul，意思是“向别人敞开心扉，掏心掏肺”。这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束，我是晓北，我是 Douglas Johnson。
A: To bare one’s soul，掏心掏肺，敞开心扉。
B: 怡茹, When was the last time you bared your soul to someone?
A: 我最后一次向别人敞开心灵之窗…应该是…两个小时前吧! 我给我妹打电话，聊心事。Donny，你要是愿意我也下班后和你好好聊聊!
B: Ah?! I really appreciate it. 但还是不用了吧。不说我了。怡茹, I remember last time we listened to a girl’s story about competing in a talent show. Any updates on the result?
A: 哦，你说的是阳光女生的海选吧。 赶快来听“美语怎么说”就知道比赛进展喽!
Jessica在北京学汉语，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是杨林要问的：潜规则。
YL: Jessica! 上次我给你的签名照呢？快还给我!
Jessica: Why? 你不是参加“阳光女生”的比赛，要当super star了么？
YL: 别提了! I got eliminated!
Jessica: 被刷下来了？!
YL: 是啊。虽然过了第一轮海选，可第二轮一上来就被刷了! 哼! 这里面肯定有潜规则! 对了，潜规则美语怎么说啊？
Jessica: Well, if you suspect the competition has some secret, back-door deals, you can say there are some “unspoken rules”.
YL: 哦，unspoken, u-n-s-p-o-k-e-n, unspoken就是“没有明说的”，rules规则；unspoken rules就是“潜规则”喽!
Jessica: That’s right! So, you think you were cut because the selection process wasn’t fair and open, like the competition is following some unspoken rules. Right?
YL: 没错! 我看，获胜者可能是内定的！
Jessica: If that’s true, then the whole competition is rigged!
YL: rigged?
Jessica: Yes! r-i-g-g-e-d, rigged 就是内定. It means the outcome has been predetermined by the producers.
YL: 哦，比赛结果被“内定”就是 rigged! 那还比个什么劲儿啊!
Jessica: I agree. Rigged competitions aren’t worth attending, because someone is pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
YL: 等会儿，你说 someone is pulling the strings from behind the scenes，“从后面拉线”，就是有人幕后操纵的意思，对不对？
Jessica: Exactly! So tell me what you’ve learned today!
YL: 第一“潜规则”在美语里叫 “unspoken rules”;
第二，说比赛结果内定，可以说 rigged；
第三，幕后操纵，叫 pull the strings from behind the scenes.
这次的美语怎么说就到这里。如果你也有不会说的词，请写信给 Jessica, 电邮请寄meiyu@voanews.com
A：惨啊惨啊，遭遇潜规则，被刷下去了。
B：这种选秀竞争太激烈，要出名哪有那么容易!
A: 更糟糕的是，The competition was rigged. 比赛被内定了! 真气人!
B：Calm down, 怡茹. Let’s listen to the next program–GoEnglish，美语三级跳。
Winnie: 大家好！今天为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“找房”单元的高级课程。
Professor: Jeff just rented an apartment, and today he is meeting Steve to see if they would get along as roommates.
Winnie: 找个合得来的室友太重要了。
Professor: In this section, listen for the word “compatible,” meaning “similar” or “suitable.”
Jeff: Hi Steve, it’s nice to meet you. I hear that you’re looking for an apartment, and I just rented a two-bedroom downtown. I’m looking for a compatible roommate.
Steve: Great, I’m looking for a place right in that area. Your apartment sounds ideal.
Jeff: Alright. So tell me, how would you describe yourself?
Steve: I’m pretty social and outgoing, and I like making new friends. But I’m not a party animal, and I like to keep the apartment clean.
Jeff: I’m like that too. I like to invite friends over sometimes, but I don’t want to have lots of crazy parties at the apartment.
Winnie: 他们俩人听起来挺投机。不过，Professor Bowman, Steve说自己不是”party animal”是什么意思？
Professor: A “party animal” is someone who loves to go out to crazy parties all the time.
Winnie: 哦，party animal 就是一天到晚参加疯狂派对的人。Steve 说自己outgoing“外向”，social“爱交朋友”，但没到每天开派对的地步。
Professor:Winnie, in the next section, listen for the word “laid-back.”
Jeff: You know, I’m a pretty laid-back person. I don’t like to have lots of arguments or worry about lots of things. For example, I like to keep the apartment clean too, but if it gets a little dirty once in a while, that’s not a big deal.
Steve: I totally agree. I really like my lifestyle to be drama-free, and I don’t want to argue about cleaning the apartment. My last roommate was a drama queen. Every time I forgot to take my shoes off, she got really mad and made a big deal out of it.
Jeff: Yeah, I really don’t want a lot of drama in the apartment. It’s important that we don’t get on each other’s nerves.
Steve: That’s right. We should try to be laid back and not do lots of things to bother one another.
Winnie: Professor, Jeff 说自己 laid-back，就是性格随和吧?
Professor: That’s right!
Winnie: 那Steve和Jeff说了好多什么drama、“drama queen”的，这都是什么意思啊？
Professor: “Drama” is a short form of the word “dramatic.” If someone is always taking small problems and acting as if they are a really big deal, you can say he “creates a lot of drama.”
Winnie: 噢，drama是“是非”的意思，爱没事找事的家伙就是”drama queen.”
Professor: Exactly. If you lived with a drama queen, he or she would probably “get on your nerves,” meaning “bother you a lot.” Well, Winnie, in this next section, listen for the word “pet peeve,” meaning “a small problem that really bothers you.”
Jeff: Well I’m glad you’re laid back like me. But tell me, do you have any pet-peeves?
Steve: Actually, yes. I really hate living with mooches. They always eat all of your food and ask you to pay for everything.
Jeff: I know! Mooches really get on my nerves. My last roommate was a big mooch. Every time we went out to a restaurant, when the bill came he would always say he didn’t have any money and ask me to lend him some. And he never paid me back!
Steve: I really think it’s important for each roommate to pull his weight around the house. It’s really unfair if only one of the roommates is doing all the work.
Jeff: Exactly. We each need to pull our weight by cleaning the dishes, taking out the garbage and paying the bills. I think we would be good roommates. Do you want to move in?
Steve: Sounds great!
Winnie: 哈，pet peeve就是最让受不了的事。我也受不了mooches, 这些小气鬼！对了，他们还说有些室友don’t pull their weight，这是什么意思？
Professor: People who don’t pull their weight are those who don’t do their share in a common task. If you had a roommate who doesn’t pull his weight around the house, you would have to do all the housework.
Winnie: Steve和Jeff性格简直就是一个模子里刻出来的，一定能成为好室友。
A: Donny, 我怎么觉得，找个室友也跟选秀比赛似的，还得去面谈!
B: That’s true, but at least this selecting process is not rigged.
A: 哈哈，那倒是。看来，Jeff 找到了一个和自己compatible，谈得来的室友，他这个人 outgoing 性格外向，laid-back 为人随和，既不是drama queen 没事找事的人，也不是mooch 贪便宜的小气鬼。
B: Actually, I don’t blame Jeff for being a little picky when it comes to finding the perfect roommate. A terrible roommate, just like a terrible co-worker, can make your life miserable.
A: 说得对! 糟糕的室友就像讨厌的同事，会让你烦恼不已。说到同事之间的相处，咱们来听听“礼节美语”，了解一下 office power struggles, 办公室里的权力斗争。
礼节美语–Power Struggles 第一部分
David在走廊上遇到同事Sandra，Sandra看上去很生气。
David: Hey Sandra, what’s wrong? You look furious!
Sandra: I’ve had it with Tim! I think I’m going to quit!
D: But Sandra…you love your job! You spent months trying to get this position. It’s perfect for you!
S: Yeah…I know. But I’m sick and tired of all the office power struggles!
D: What kind of power struggles are you talking about?
David看见同事 Sandra怒气冲冲的– you look furious, 问她出了什么事。Sandra 说受够了 Tim，I’ve had it with Tim. 表达受够了某人某事可以说 have had it with someone or something. 比如 I’ve had it with Jackie. She won’t stop complaining. 意思是我真受不了Jackie，她老是抱怨个没完没了。Sandra说，I’m sick and tired of all the office power struggles. to be sick and tired of something是受够了的另外一种表达方式。原来，Sandra是对办公室的争权夺利感到厌倦。她说的 Tim 是个什么样的人呢？
S: Basically, I think Tim is threatened by me. I’m doing a better job than he is so he’s trying to sabotage my career!
D: So he talks about you behind your back?
S: Yes. He’s all nice and friendly to my face. But the second I turn around he stabs me in the back!
D: You know I had a worker like that once. She was always taking credit for my ideas.
Sandra觉得，自己比Tim能力强，对Tim构成威胁，所以他才会故意给自己找麻烦，sabotage is spelled s-a-b-o-t-a-g-e, sabotage, sabotage是故意破坏的意思。David问，so he talks about you behind your back? to talk about someone behind someone’s back背后说某人坏话。Sandra说，他当着我的面很友善，我一转身离开，他就背后捅我一刀，He stabs me in the back. David颇有同感，说自己也遇到过这种人，以前就有个女同事总把David想出的好主意说成是自己的，She was always taking credit for my ideas. to take credit for something 意思是把某种成绩归功于自己。
D: After a while I learned to document my work very clearly so the boss knew 100% that this was my work.
S: That’s a good idea. I should keep a better record of my correspondence with the clients so if necessary I can prove it was my effort.
D: My co-worker had a whole bunch of bad office habits. She liked to name-drop…we would be in a meeting and she would say, “yesterday I was chatting with Tom.” She meant Tom Solomon…our CEO.
David 又说，自己那个讨厌的同事有很多坏毛病，其中之一就是 name-drop, name-drop意思是提起名人，以便提高自己的身价，喜欢这样做的人就是 name-dropper.
A: 好家伙! 又是sabotage–搞破坏，又是stab me in the back–背后下黑手， 还要take credit for other people’s work冒领别人的功劳! 这办公室里真是险恶啊!
B: 要不怎么说，有人的地方就有江湖。
A: Okay, Donny, you’re getting philosophical. 咱们还是轻松一下，去划个船，散散心吧!
American Sports English: Crew
Y: Hi, this is Yang Chen.
P: And I’m Patrick. So, today Yang Chen we are going to be introducing everyone to the sport called crew. C-R-E-W.
Y: That’s right. Crew也叫 rowing，就是划艇运动。
P: Crew or rowing is a sport with an ancient history, but the first races took place in England.
Y: 最早的Crew比赛始于英国，在牛津这些英国大学非常流行。不过划艇运动也是美国大学校园历史最悠久的一项体育活动。
P: Crew involves teams of 2, 4 or 8 rowers in a row boat called a shell.
Y: 划艇用的船叫做shell。这是一项集体运动，有两人，也有四人或八人一组的。
P: A shell can be very long. A shell for a team of eight rowers is about 60 feet long!
Y: Whoa, 60 feet，那就等于是18米多！
P: To row a boat that long requires a lot of upper body strength and endurance.
Y: Upper body strength 上半身要有力气，尤其是臂力。Look at my muscles, Patrick.
P: Very impressive. I think you should take up the sport of crew or rowing and maybe someday you can participate in the Olympic games.
Y: Nah. 我虽然有 Upper body strength，但是endurance耐力不够。Hmm，I could use some exercise.
P: What do you say we head to the gym and do some serious rowing?
Y: Let’s go!
A: Donny, 咱们下班后可以一起去gym, 练划艇! 加强Upper body strength!
B: Sounds like a plan! I’m in!
A: 太好了! 好，今天的节目就到这里。节目的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!
B: Bye!
美语训练班 第004课
A: 同学们，打起精神！咱们来学美语！
B: 对！欢迎来到美语训练班！I’m Donny.
A: 我是王怡茹。今天这节课，我们要去田径场赛跑，和多年不见的老友不期而遇，计划一次出国旅行，还要告诉大家怎么用美语表达“扫兴”。
B: Sounds like we’ve got some really interesting things to show today!
A: Of course! 不过按照老传统，咱们先教个简单的, 花一分钟，学一个词!
Learn A Word: upcoming
今天我们要学的词是 upcoming. Upcoming 意思是即将到来的，比如：The upcoming match 就是指即将举行的比赛。The pop singer has started promoting his upcoming album. 这名流行乐歌手开始为自己即将发行的新唱片做宣传。All candidates are gearing up for the upcoming election. 所有候选人都在为即将举行的选举积极做准备。这个周末是美国阵亡将士纪念日的长周末。The upcoming Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial kickoff of summer. 即将到来的阵亡将士纪念日长周末标志着约定俗成的夏季的开始。好的，今天我们学习的词是 upcoming.
A: 哦！Donny, 那你下星期去纽约做节目，也可以用 upcoming 喽？
B: That’s right. We’re going to produce a travel show during my upcoming trip to New York.
A: Sounds like fun. Can I go with you?
B: Sure. I need someone to carry my bags for me. You’re welcome to join us!
A: 给你提包啊？No way. 还是让我们一起看看李华和 Larry 准备去哪里玩吧。
Popular American: make up your mind // live within your means
现在播送「流行美语」。Larry在和李华商量去什么地方渡假，他们会用到两个常用语：make up your mind和live within your means.
Larry: Lihua, do you want to go to Toronto? I did a little research and found some really cool tours and…..
LH: Larry, 我不是很想去多伦多，我想去个有热带风情的地方。
Larry: Tropical?
LH: 没错!你说加勒比海怎么样？
Larry: The Caribbean? Wow, that is very tropical… actually, I know someone who went there last summer, let me give him a call─
LH: 不过! 我又非常想去泰国，那里的水果和美食太诱人了!
Larry: What?? Thailand? Make up your mind, Lihua!
LH: Make up? 化妆？你在说什么啊？
Larry: No, not the make-up you put on your face. To “make up your mind” means to make a choice and stick to it.
LH: 哦，to make up your mind就是拿定主意。
Larry: Yea. For example, it often takes you a long time to make up your mind when it comes to what to wear when we go out.
LH: 呵呵，这倒是。出门前我总是不能决定穿哪身衣服。
Larry: And what about your friend at school that couldn’t decide which class she wanted to take?
LH: 没错。那个同学特别爱学习，什么课都想选，可是一学期的时间只有那么多，选修课的数量是有限的。 I wish she would make up her mind!我希望她能快点作出决定。
Larry: Yea, exactly. Indecisive people can sure be annoying sometimes, especially when they cause others to waste time…
LH: 哈! Larry，你说的indecisive people–犹豫不决的人，是在说我吧？我也很想定下旅行的目的地，可是，真的是有太多好玩的地方，我实在拿不定主意！
Larry: What about money? We can drive to Toronto. Thailand would be extremely expensive. Airfare alone would cost us a couple thousand dollars. We do have to live within our means, after all.
LH: 你说的 live within our means，是什么意思？
Larry: The phrase “living within your means” means to live within the limits of your financial situation. Or, in other words, not spending more money than you can afford to spend.
LH: 哦，to live within your means就是量入为出，不过度消费。
Larry: That’s right. And if we are to live within our means, we certainly cannot afford a vacation in Thailand!
LH: 你是说，从我们的经济情况考虑，去泰国花销太高，我们承受不了？可是你工作这么久，不是已经攒了些钱了么？
Larry: Not that much money! I’m just an entry-level worker. It will take some years of saving up money before I can afford things like tropical vacations.
LH: 啊？还得再攒好几年才能来个热带风情之旅？唉，Larry, 这只能怪你平时不知节省。你看，你老去外面饭馆吃饭，比在家里吃贵多了!
Larry: So… if I were living within my means, we’d have enough money for a nice vacation?
LH: 对啊!如果你平时消费节制，我们现在就能去泰国了!
Larry: But, Lihua, I just don’t have time to cook. And plus, I’m not that good at it! And there are things about your spending habits that could change, too─like cutting out some of your shopping. That would definitely help you live within your means.
LH: 啊？你让我也减少支出，少买东西多存钱？这个嘛…
Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua. Do you want to save money or not?
LH: 那好吧，我下决心存钱。
Larry: Don’t sound so depressed, Lihua. We can still go on vacation this year and still be living within our means. We just need to find a place closer to home. But first, let’s make up our mind on where we want to go.
LH: 好吧! 希望我们真能做到既能愉快旅行又不让荷包大出血! 不过，我不想去多伦多，我想去海边!
Larry: How about South Carolina? It will take awhile to get there, but we could drive.
LH: 南卡罗莱纳？有美丽的沙滩么？
Larry: Absolutely.
LH: 那….贵么？
Larry: We would still be living within our means if we go there. What do you think?
LH: 是吗？我们能承受得起旅行的花费？让我想想，让我想想….对了! Larry, 我忽然想到，如果我们去海边，我肯定要花很多钱买漂亮的游泳衣、太阳镜、裙子什么的。算了，要不还是去多伦多吧!
Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua!
今天李华学了两个常用语，一个是to make up one’s mind，意思是“拿定主意”；另一个是to live within one’s means，意思是“量入为出，不过度消费”。
A: 这个李华，真是一会儿一个主意！要我说，只要能出去旅游，去哪儿都行！make up her mind 有那么困难嘛？
B: 怡茹, I have to disagree. If I were to spend time and money on a vacation, I would carefully do my research before rushing to any decisions.
A: 看来你也是个 indecisive person 犹豫不决的人！我问你，去夏威夷，度假天堂，这你总不用犹豫了吧？
B: 夏威夷？太贵！
A: 那…加勒比海？
B: 太热！
A: 北京？
B: 人太多！
A: 欧洲？
B: 去过了！
A: 你，你，你，你还真是难伺候！我以后绝对不请你一起去旅游，这么多意见，太扫兴了！
B: 哪有啊！If you pay for my air ticket and hotel, I’ll go anywhere with you! 不过，刚才你说到“扫兴”，正好，咱们来听听“美语怎么说”，教的就是这个词！
How to say it: party pooper
Donny在北京学汉语，他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教他。今天是Jimmy要问的：扫兴。
Donny: Jimmy, sorry I can’t make it to your birthday party this weekend. 我明天要去香港。
Jimmy: That’s okay, Donny. 说实话，我自己对这个生日派对也没什么兴趣。
Donny: Why? Last time we talked about it, you were really excited.
Jimmy: 还不是因为我女朋友老打击我! 她说，过生日意味着我又老了一岁，还说，我开party大吃大喝会变得更胖。唉，真扫兴!
Donny: Oh, no! Your girlfriend is such a wet blanket! All the bad things she said made you NOT look forward to the party.
Jimmy: wet blanket? wet是“潮湿”的意思，blanket是“毯子”。你说我女朋友是个湿糊糊的毯子？
Donny: Actually, a wet blanket就是让别人扫兴的人或事。
Jimmy: 哦! a wet blanket说话讨厌，专给别人的好心情泼冷水!
Donny: That’s right. There is a similar phrase—party pooper. A party pooper is a person who refuses to go along with everyone else and join the fun.
Jimmy: 哦! Party pooper是在派对上扫大家兴的人! Donny, 要是我去一个party, 结果大家玩儿的游戏我都不参加，还老嚷着要回家，then I’m a party pooper，对不对？
Donny: 标准的 party pooper! But Jimmy, in real life, you are by no means a party pooper, on the contrary, you’re the life of the party!
Jimmy: The life of the party? 我是派对的生命？
Donny: 差不多! The life of the party is the most fun and exciting person at a party, you know, the person who makes the party fun for everyone else.
Jimmy: 哦，the life of the party 就是派对上的开心果! 有这种人在，气氛一定很high! 你别说，我还真是the life of the party! 哈哈!
Donny: Of course you are! So don’t let your girlfriend ruin your spirits. Now, let’s see what you’ve learned today!
Jimmy: 第一，让人扫兴的人或事是a wet blanket, 或者a party pooper；
第二，派对的灵魂人物，开心果, 是 the life of the party.
这次的美语怎么说 就到这里。如果你也有不会说的词，请写信给 Donny, 电邮请寄meiyu@voanews.com
A：I’m not a party pooper. I’m the life of the party!
B：谁证明啊？
A: 我朋友都这么说啊！尤其是我原来上大学的时候，简直是派对女王啊！多popular啊！可惜老同学们都没在美国，Sometimes I feel so lonely.
B：Cheer up, 怡茹. Let’s listen to the next program–GoEnglish，美语三级跳。讲的就是老朋友见面！
Greeting Friends: Beginner
大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“问候朋友”单元的初级课程。
Winnie: Jen 和 Lawrence 是老朋友，很久没见面了。真巧，俩人傍晚时分在路上不期而遇。
Professor: But, Winnie, today is a special day: It’s Christmas Eve! Shouldn’t they be at home celebrating with their families? What are they doing walking around on the street on Christmas Eve?
Winnie: 对啊，我差点忘了，今天是圣诞节前夜! 那他们两个怎么会在大街上闲逛呢？ 我们来听听看吧!
Jen: Lawrence, is that you? !
Lawrence: Hey Jen! How are you doing?! I don’t think I’ve seen you in over a year!
Jen: I know! It’s been a long time. It’s funny to run into you on Christmas Eve!
Lawrence: Yeah, isn’t that funny. Why aren’t you at home with your family?
Professor: So Winnie, how long has it been since Lawrence and Jen last met?
Winnie: Lawrence说，他都一年多没见过Jen了。不过， professor Bowman, Jen说，她 “ran into Lawrence”，这难道是说他们在街上“撞车”了吗？
Professor: No,Winnie! When you say you “run into” something, it means you meet it unexpectedly. For example, I was doing very well on the test, but I ran into trouble when I got to the math part.
Winnie: 哦，所以run into就是“不期而遇”。
Jen: My family doesn’t live here. They live in Texas.
Lawrence: I see. Well why didn’t you fly home to Texas for the holidays?
Jen: I have to work tomorrow, so I didn’t have time to fly to Texas. Why didn’t you go home?
Lawrence: I wanted to, but I didn’t have enough money to buy a plane ticket.
Professor: So Winnie, why didn’t Jen go home for Christmas?
Winnie: 她家在德州，可是她要上班，没时间回去过圣诞。
Professor: Exactly. And why didn’t Lawrence go home for Christmas?
Winnie: Lawrence更惨，说自己买不起机票。对了，Professor Bowman, Lawrence说的“the holidays”是指圣诞节么？
Professor: Not really. “The holidays” means all the religious holidays that happen in December. If a person doesn’t celebrate Christmas, you can wish him or her “Happy holidays.”
Winnie: 原来如此，圣诞节是基督教的宗教节日，对那些不信基督教，不过圣诞节的人，你就可以说 happy holidays.
Jen: I’m sorry you couldn’t go home. How is everything else going?
Lawrence: I’m OK, but I’m having trouble finding a job. What’s up with you?
Jen: I can’t complain. My job is going well and I have a nice apartment.
Lawrence: That’s great. I’m happy everything is working out for you.
Winnie: 怪不得Lawrence买不起机票，原来他没有找到工作。过圣诞节独自一人，又没有工作，真可怜。不过，Lawrence问 Jen “what’s up,” 这是在问什么呢?
Professor: Asking “what’s up” is like asking how someone is doing, but “what’s up” is a very informal expression.
Winnie: 我明白了， “What’s up”和 “how are you doing”都是问候别人，就是“你怎么样？”的意思，不过what’s up更轻松随意一些。
Professor: That’s exactly right. But Winnie, did you hear Lawrence say he is happy everything is working out for Jen? What do you think “working out” means?
Winnie: 嗯, work out 是锻炼身体的意思， 不过在这里，应该是“有好的结果”，“情况不错”的意思吧。
Professor: That’s right. For example, “John asked Emily to go on a date with him 10 times, but it never worked out.”
Winnie: 啊？请人家约会十次被拒绝？真是百折不挠!
Jen: You know, since we’re both alone, we should have dinner together.
Lawrence: Sounds great! But can we go someplace that isn’t too expensive?
Jen: Don’t worry, Lawrence, tonight I’ll treat you. That will be my Christmas present to you.
Lawrence: Thanks! But next time, I promise I’m buying.
Winnie: Professor, “I’m buying” 和“I’ll treat you” 都是“我请客”的意思吧？
Professor: Correct. You could also say “It’s on me.”
Winnie: 哎，学这么多“请客”的说法，要抢着付钱么？我还是想学学怎么蹭饭呢!
Professor: That’s easy. Just say, “I forgot my wallet.”
Winnie: 那好，Professor Bowman, 咱们去吃圣诞大餐吧! 不过，我要先告诉你，”I forgot my wallet!”
A: 老朋友run into each other, 不期而遇，真是不错！
B：That’s true, but apparently Jen lives a better life than Lawrence does.
A: Jen的生活的确比Lawrence好，Her job is going well, 工作顺心，She has a nice apartment. 住的地方也舒服，所以她说，I can’t complain. 我没什么好抱怨的。
B: Don’t you think Lawrence would be a bit upset by that, like getting a little jealous?
A: 你说Lawrence会忌妒Jen比自己混的好？不至于吧，毕竟是老朋友，关系可比同事单纯得多！
B: 说得对! In the office, some people don’t really want to see others excel in their work.
A: 没错，在办公室里，有人就是看不得别人比自己强！咱们来听听下面的“礼节美语”。
礼节美语: Power Struggles II
David 跟 Sandra 聊天，说起自己以前有个同事，特别喜欢 name-drop. David说，
D: We would be in a meeting and she would say. “Yesterday I was chatting with Tom.” She meant Tom Solomon…our CEO.
S: Basically she was trying to impress people by using the CEO’s name…but who knows if she really talked to him?
D: You don’t know…and name-dropping is a really bad habit. It gives everyone else negative feelings about you. If you have a good idea, just speak up. You don’t need to use someone else as a cover.
David 举例说，他们开着开着会，那个同事就会突然说，我昨天跟 Tom 聊天，大家都知道，Tom 是公司首席执行官CEO。David说这样做其实是个坏习惯，会让别人对你有负面看法。如果你有什么好主意，just speak up. 直截了当说出来就好了，you don’t need to use someone else as a cover. 不用打着别人的旗号。
S: Yeah… Tim does that too sometimes. But the worst thing he does is try to push me to the sidelines.
D: What do you mean?
S: When we have meetings sometimes people bring up my accomplishments and Tim always has to jump in and say something like, “Yes, but that was last year. We need fresh thinking this year.” Why can’t he just be nice?
Sandra 说，她对Tim最反感的地方是，he tried to push me to the sidelines. sidelines 边线，to push someone to the sidelines 就是排挤某人的意思。另外一种说法是 stay on the sidelines 站在边线上，意思是不积极参与。Sandra 举例说，比如开会时，只要一有人提到 Sandra 以前的工作成绩，Tim 就会马上说，那都是去年的事了，我们需要新思维 fresh thinking. 以此削弱 Sandra 的影响和份量。
D: Well like you said earlier, he might feel threatened by you. He sees you as a rising star and he’s afraid you’ll shine brighter than he’ll. Some people don’t know how to react in situations like that.
S: I don’t hate Tim. He’not totally bad; in fact he’s pretty clever sometimes. I just hate all the office power struggles!
D: Unfortunately every workplace has its wars for power. That’s how the game is played.
David觉得，Tim可能真是觉得Sandra对自己构成威胁。他怕你会 shine brighter than he’ll 比他更耀眼，这里也可以用 outshine, He’s afraid you’ll outshine him. Sandra说，其实她不恨Tim, 她是不喜欢办公室里的权力之争，all the office power struggles. 然而，所有工作场所都难免有这种争权夺利，勾心斗角，按照David的话说，That’s how the game is played.
A: 看吧，因为别人工作出色，就 feel threatened,觉得自己受到了威胁！还有那些 name droppers, 就爱吹嘘自己和名人、上司一起怎样怎样，让人讨厌啊！
B: Not to mention people pushing you to the sidelines,使劲排挤你。Workplace power struggle is just horrible!
A: 是啊，干得比别人好反而遭到忌妒和排挤！这样吧，咱们走出office, 去一个简简单单决胜负的地方！
B: Where is that?
A: Track field! 田径场！咱们来赛跑！
American sports English: On your mark
Y: 大家好，我是杨晨。
P: 我是Patrick.
Y & P: 今天我们……
Y: Patrick，你不要跟我抢着说话，这是犯规。要是赛跑你这就是抢跑，false start!
P: I apologize. In track and field, if an athlete committed two false starts, he or she will be disqualified.
Y: 两次 false starts，就要被罚下场。
P: 刚才你也是false start, 为什么只有我道歉？
Y: er….Well, let’s move one, shall we?
P: Ok, anyway, today we’re going to talk about sprinting events.
Y: Sprinting events 是田径比赛中的短跑项目，我们先来讲起跑。在起跑线，我们会听到发令员喊:“各就位”
P: On your marks，
Y: 预备
P: get set,
Y: 没有发令枪发令员就喊“跑”。
P: go!
Y: 正式比赛当然都用发令枪了。
P: A starting gun is used in official track meets.
Y: 起跑对短跑运动员很重要。
P：A runner’s start is crucial, especially for sprinting events like the 100-meter-dash. You need to react to the gun fast, but not too fast, otherwise you will commit a false start.
Y: 枪响了要迅速冲出去，但起跑太快，据说快于0.1秒就是抢跑了。你看，我懂得很多吧。信不信我跑得比你快。
P: 不相信。
Y: 那我们出去比一比！Lets race.
P: OK. Lets race and see what happens.
Announcer: On your mark, get set, go……
Y: I win, I win!!!
P: No, you didn’t, you cheated! False start.
A: 怎么样？Donny, 下班后田径场等我，咱们比比100米短跑谁厉害！？
B: No problem! I’m a serious runner. Don’t go easy on me!
A: I won’t! 好，今天的节目就到这里。节目的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!
B: Bye!
美语训练班 第005课
A: 美语训练班，内容丰富，大家都喜欢！
B: 学习美语并不难，关键三个字：不偷懒。
A: 哈哈，Donny, 你也会说顺口溜啊！
B: 一般一般, 全国第三！怡茹，Let’s give our audience a preview of today’s show, shall we?
A: 好！今天这节课，我们要去一个生日派对上蹭饭, 要和老朋友聊聊自己的社交生活，要看扑克牌大赛, 还要告诉大家用美语怎么说“顶尖的，最好的”。
B: That sounds good, but I also want to listen to the program about office politics. Is that in the program today?
A: 哦！你说讲办公室权利斗争的“礼节美语”？别着急，这个我们也会教！
B: Fantastic!
A: 不过, 咱们还是先来个简单的 – 花一分钟，学一个词!
Learn A Word: outdoor
今天我们要学的词是outdoor. Outdoor户外的。Outdoor activities室外活动。New York City’s ban on outdoor smoking, including parks and beaches, went into effect last Monday. 纽约市有关户外吸烟的禁令上星期一开始生效，禁烟场所包括公园和海滩在内。Most outdoor swimming pools in our area opened for business this past weekend. 我们所在地区的大多数室外游泳池都从上周末开始营业。With summer approaching, outdoor cookouts will soon be in full swing. 随着夏天的来临，室外烧烤马上就会进入高潮。好的，今天我们学习的词是 outdoor….
A: 说到这个outdoor barbeque 户外烧烤，那可是one of my favorite summer activities–我最爱的夏日活动之一！
B: I love it too! And I’m really good at it! You should try my BBQ chicken wings. They’re the best!
A: 这么说你是个烤鸡翅专家喽？
B: 那当然，I’m the be all and end all BBQ expert!
A: Be all and end all? 这不是我们今天要教的词吗？
B: 没错，我们来收听“美国习惯用语”。
Words and Idioms: Be all and end all
各位听众，现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 934讲。我是杨琳。
我是 Douglas Johnson.
我一个朋友找了份新工作。公司的条件可好了，薪水高，待遇好，办公楼里就有专为雇员准备的医院、健身房和幼儿园。说心里话，我真有些嫉妒这个朋友! 不过，我也想到了一个习惯用语，那就是：
Be all and end all. Be is spelled b-e, all is spelled a-l-l, and end; e-n-d. Be-all-and-end-all.
be all and end all 意思是“顶尖的，最好的”。Where my friend is going to be working strikes me as being the BE ALL AND END ALL. 我觉得，我朋友的工作待遇简直是好得不能再好了。不过，我朋友自己很谦虚，并没有把自己的好工作逢人就讲。而下面这段话中的这位妈妈就不一样了，我们来听一听：
“My sister-in-law is constantly boasting. She doesn’t know anyone who has better parenting skills. Supposedly, she’s exceptionally devoted and nurturing. If you ask me, she’s not the BE ALL AND END ALL. Many moms care just as much about their children. They’re also much more humble about themselves.”
这段话是说：[我嫂子总是吹牛。她觉得自己教育孩子的水平世界第一，理所当然，她自己也就成了特别有献身精神，特别能付出的妈妈。可如果你问我，我觉得她并不是个完美的母亲。很多妈妈疼爱孩子的程度都不亚于她，而且人家还比她谦虚很多呢。]
要我看，带孩子就要有耐心，有爱心，尊重孩子，虽然IT IS NOT THE BE ALL AND END ALL CHECKLIST FOR GOOD PARENTING, 这不是教育孩子的“必杀技”，但总算也是个大原则吧。好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话：
“My sister-in-law is constantly boasting. She doesn’t know anyone who has better parenting skills. Supposedly, she’s exceptionally devoted and nurturing. If you ask me, she’s not the BE ALL AND END ALL. Many moms care just as much about their children. They’re also much more humble about themselves.”
前几天我在电视上看马拉松比赛，真的很佩服那些运动员的毅力和体能。别人跟我说，有一项比赛比马拉松更考验人的意志力，那就是铁人三项赛。咱们来听听下面这段话：
“The Ironman Triathlon consists of nearly 4 kilometers of swimming, 180 kilometers of biking and 42 kilometers of running. And it must be raced in that order without a break within 17 hours. Most athletes consider it the BE ALL AND END ALL of sports competitions. They don’t know of any event that’s tougher.”
这段话是说：[铁人三项赛的内容包括4公里游泳、180公里骑自行车和42公里长跑。选手们必须在17个小时候之内按照这个顺序完成比赛，不能休息。很多运动员把铁人三项看成所有体育比赛的极限。没什么比铁人三项更具挑战性了。]
如果您有兴趣，铁人三项赛每年都在美国的夏威夷举行，您可以去参加，挑战自己的体能极限。我就算了，去夏威夷悠闲地度假才对。那里有自然美景、温暖气候和超级海滩，难怪 Hawaii is the be all and end all for many tourists，夏威夷是很多游客最爱的去处。 好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话：
“The Ironman Triathlon consists of nearly 4 kilometers of swimming, 180 kilometers of biking and 42 kilometers of swimming. And it must be raced in that order without a break within 17 hours. Most athletes consider it the BE ALL AND END ALL of sports competitions. They don’t know of any event that’s tougher.”
各位听众，今天我们学习的习惯用语是be all and end all，意思是“顶尖的，最好的”。好的，这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束，我是杨琳，我是 Douglas Johnson。谢谢各位的收听。
A: be all and end all，顶尖的，极限的。Donny, 如果你真是个 be all and end all BBQ expert—顶级烧烤王，那我可少不了要去品尝你的手艺哦！
B: 没问题！Actually I just hosted a BBQ party last weekend. I invited about 10 guests, but somehow more than 20 people showed up!
A: 啊？你请了10个客人来烧烤派对，结果来了20多人？
B: 是啊。Some of them were complete strangers.
A: 压根就不认识？一定是闻着你那顶级烧烤的味道，流着口水过来蹭饭的吧！
B: Of course！正好，咱们来听下面这个节目，看看“白吃白喝”用“美语怎么说”。
How to say it in American English: Free Loader
Donny在北京学汉语，他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教他。今天是Jimmy要问的：不速之客。
Donny: Jimmy! How did your birthday party go last weekend?
Jimmy: 不错! 大家玩儿得很高兴! 可是，有些客人我根本不认识。这些不速之客，用美语怎么说？
Donny: Ah-ha! These guests are called party crashers! Crasher is spelled c-r-a-s-h-e-r.
Jimmy: 哦，聚会上的不速之客是party crasher. 现在想想，I got at least three party crashers. 客人太多，没注意，就让他们混进来了。
Donny: 没错! Party crashers usually target big parties. They blend into the party so they don’t get kicked out.
Jimmy: 可不，他们混进来之后就猛吃猛喝，不太说话。
Donny: 其实，Having a couple of freeloaders in your party was not that terrible.
Jimmy: freeloader?
Donny: Yes. f-r-e-e-l-o-a-d-e-r, freeloader 白吃白喝的人。
Jimmy: freeloader就是蹭吃蹭喝的人。我生日party上那几个party crashers明显是冲着吃喝来的，他们就是典型的freeloaders!
Donny: 没错，Some party crashers come for the food and drinks, while others just want to meet new people.
Jimmy: 还好我那天准备的酒足够多，虽然有些不速之客，大家还是能尽兴! Party结束后，几个朋友喝多了，还在我家睡了一晚上呢!
Donny: Jimmy, it’s nice of you to let them crash for the night at your place. You’re such a good host.
Jimmy: 怎么又是 crash?
Donny: Here, the word “crash” means to temporarily stay or sleep at a place. For example, a friend might ask you: “Can I crash on your sofa for the night?”
Jimmy: 哦，crash 就是暂住，那你说的”Can I crash for the night on your sofa?” 也就是“我能不能在你家沙发上凑合一晚上”。
Donny: That’s right! Now let’s see what you’ve learned today!
Jimmy: 第一，派对上的不速之客是party crasher
第二，白吃白喝的人是freeloader
第三，凑和睡一晚，可以说 crash here for the night.
A：Donny, your BBQ party was crashed.
B：That’s true, but I don’t blame the free loaders for coming. My chicken wings are irresistible after all!
A: 也不一定是因为你烤的鸡翅太香，或许是因为派对上有几个美女，才把这些人吸引过来了呢！
B: That’s equally true. All the best-looking ladies come to my parties.
A: Really? So, your must be enjoying your social life!
B: So far so good. 怡茹, Let’s listen to the next program–GoEnglish，美语三级跳。讲的就是social life！
GoEnglish :Greeting friends–Intermediate
各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“问候朋友”单元的中级课程。
Winnie: Jen 和 Lawrence 是很久没见的老朋友，俩人圣诞前夜在街上偶遇，一块儿吃饭，聊天叙旧。
Professor: Winnie, in this first part listen for the phrase “to catch up,” which means “to talk with someone about what you have been doing.”
Lawrence: Wow Jen, it’s so cool that we ran into each other on the street. I’m really interested to hear how you’ve been for the past year.
Jen: I know! It’s really great that we have a chance to catch up. How have you been?
Lawrence: I’ve been well. I’m having trouble finding a job, but at least my social life is pretty good.
Jen: See, I’m the opposite. I have a great job and a nice apartment, but my social life is terrible.
Professor: So Winnie, who has a better social life, Lawrence or Jen?
Winnie: 要说“SOCIAL LIFE”， 社交生活，那Lawrence就比Jen强多了。Lawrence说，他虽然找不到工作，但是 has a great social life. Jen则正相反，她有好工作，公寓很称心，可是她的社交生活 terrible–糟透了!
Professor: That’s right. If, like Jen, you never have a chance to go out to parties and have fun, you can also say, “I have no life.” For example, “During exams I have no life because I have to study all day.”
Winnie: 哦，“I have no life”， 就是说没机会去参加派对、不能出去玩儿。Jen 的生活怎么会这么没意思呢？
Lawrence: Why is your social life so terrible? I remember that you used to go out and have fun all the time.
Jen: I know! But now I’m in medical school so I have to study all the time. My love life is a disaster too.
Lawrence: You know, I have a friend who you might like. I think you two would make a really great couple.
Jen: Hmm….. come on Lawrence, what’s wrong with him? If he was such a catch, he wouldn’t be single.
Winnie: 哇，Jen一边上班一边还在念医学院! 难怪她没时间去认识男孩子，感情生活一片空白。
Professor: Exactly. But what does Lawrence offer to do?
Winnie: Lawrence说要给她做媒! 不过 Professor, Jen好像不太愿意，她刚才说的 “catch”，是什么意思？
Professor: A catch is a really great boyfriend or girlfriend. For example, “Joseph’s girlfriend is beautiful, rich and really funny. Where did he ever find a great catch like that?”
Winnie: 哦，原来catch 就是完美的情人! Jen觉得，如果Lawrence的朋友真像他说得那么好，还不早就被别的女孩儿抢走了!
Lawrence: No, he’s a really great guy, and he’s just your type. Trust me.
Jen: Well, what does he look like? Describe him.
Lawrence: He’s pretty tall and has brown hair. Some people say he looks like Brad Pitt.
Jen: Uh …. Brad Pitt is almost 50, and I don’t have a thing for old guys.
Lawrence: Oh come on, stop being so superficial. You’ll love his personality. He’s really smart and has a great sense of humor.
Jen: Well alright, I’ll give him a chance.
Winnie: Professor Bowman, Jen 说”I don’t have a thing for old guys”，这是什么意思？
Professor: If you “have a thing” for something, it means you really like it. Jen says she doesn’t have a thing for older guys, like Brad Pitt, meaning she doesn’t want an older guy to be her boyfriend.
Winnie: 啊？Jen也太挑剔了! Lawrence说自己的朋友长得像布拉德·皮特，她居然嫌皮特老!说自己不要老男人! 难怪 Lawrence说 Jen is being superficial! 就是肤浅，只看外表。 不过，注重外表也没有错，男人不是也希望找漂亮的女朋友嘛!
Lawrence: Great! I’ll call him and tell him. But first I need to take a picture of you.
Jen: What? Why do you need to take a picture of me?
Lawrence: Well of course I need to show my friend your picture to convince him to go on a date with you.
Jen: Oh come on! Why is this guy so superficial?
Lawrence: See, I knew that you two would have something in common!
Winnie: 哈! Lawrence说，自己的朋友和 Jen“have something in common”—有共同之处，那就是俩人都superficial! 呃……在这个基础上能产生爱情么？
Professor: Well, listen next time to find out!
A: 看来，人生总是有得有失。Jen事业学业都蒸蒸日上，But her social life is terrible, 社交生活糟透了， her love life is a disaster too, 爱情方面也一无所获。
B: That may soon come to an end! Lawrence is willing to hook her up with a great guy.
A: 没错！Lawrence 说，这个人is really smart and has a great sense of humor，又聪明又幽默，He is just Jen’s type, 就是Jen喜欢的那种人，They would make a really great couple. 俩人在一起肯定特合适。
B: Lawrence is a great friend. I only wish I had a friend like him to help me out.
A: 哎？Donny, 你不是说你的社交生活特棒吗? 干嘛还需要朋友帮忙啊？
B: Er….I meant my…er….life in the office could use some help.
A: 哦，那倒是，如果在办公室里遇到不顺心的事，也能有一个像Lawrence这样的人帮你排解烦恼，那就好了！
B: 那也不是不可能！咱们来听听下面的“礼节美语”。
Business Etiquette:Power Struggles III
David跟Sandra 聊天，谈到办公室里的勾心斗角是难以避免的，所以只能想办法面对。Sandra 说，
S: Maybe I need to toughen up. You know that old saying: If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
D: Maybe…but have you tried talking to Tim about this?
S: No…I’m not really a confrontational person.
D: Well, who don’t you give it a shot. Use unemotional language and just be very clear and firm about how you feel. Tell him about the things you like about his work ethic and then tell him the areas you don’t like.
老话说，If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. 意思是如果承受不了压力，就索性不要干。David 问 Sandra 有没有试着找 Tim 谈谈。Sandra 说自己不喜欢跟别人对抗。confrontation is spelled c-o-n-f-r-o-n-t-a-t-i-o-n, confrontation 是对抗的意思，变成形容词就是 confrontational. David 建议 Sandra 不妨找 Tim 谈一下试试看，give it a shot. 告诉 Tim 自己很赞赏他的 work ethic 工作态度，但是同时也把对他不满的地方告诉他。
S: That’s a pretty good idea.
D: And remember…it takes two to tango. You can’t have a power struggle without two people, at least two people. You can choose to participate or not.
S: You make some good points.
D: The next time Tim cuts you down in a meeting, don’t react. Just let his comments hang there and people will see how petty he’s being.
David 补充说，it takes two to tango. tango is spelled t-a-n-g-o, tango. It takes two to tango 就是中文里说的一个巴掌拍不响，还有另外一种说法是 it takes two to make a quarrel. 也是这个意思。David 建议，下次 Tim 再故意贬低 Sandra, 最好不去理他。这里说的 cut someone down 有贬低某人的意思，后面还可以加 to size, to cut someone down to size. David 说，just let his comments hang there 意思是不要去接他的话碴儿，这样别人就会看出他是多么的狭隘，小心眼。
S: I guess I have to remember that all of us are human and humans have egos and will lash out when threatened.
D: That’s right! Sometimes I think our office is pretty much like the zoo. We’re just office apes!
S: That’s a funny thought! Thanks for your advice, David. I feel better already.
D: You’re very welcome! See you tomorrow!
Sandra 也说，人都有 ego, ego是自我，自大的意思，在感到自身受到威胁的情况下，就会 lash out, lash out 意思是求助于口头或是肢体上的攻击。Sandra最后对David表示感谢，说自己跟David谈了这么一会儿，I feel better already. 我已经感觉好多了。
A: David真是个好人，在他的开解下，Sandra感觉好多了！ David说，It takes two to tango, 一个巴掌拍不响，这很有道理！
B: Yes. He also said if someone tries to embarrass you in a meeting, the best thing to do would be to not react at all. You should just let his comments hang there.
A: 这个办法好，不理他！好啦，办公室政治就说到这里，下面咱们轻松一下，看看别人玩扑克！
American Sports English: Poker
Y: Patrick, I’m bored.
P: I have an idea. Let’s watch the poker tournament on TV!
Y: Poker tournament?
P: Yeah, poker tournament.
Y: I know poker, 扑克牌。 可是我只听说过poker face, 没听过还有poker tournament扑克牌比赛。
P: Oh Let me tell you, it’s really exciting.
See, that guy was just dealt a really good hand.
Y: A good hand? 一只好手? Let me see your hands, which one is the good hand?
M: No, your hand is the set of card that you are given. If you have good cards you have a good hand, and bad cards are a bad hand.
Y: 有一手好牌就是 have a good hand。
P: Yes, and in fact you can use that expression in other situations. You can say you were dealt D-E-A-L-T, a good hand when you are put in a good situation, and a bad hand for a bad situation.
Y: 那我可以说今天 I was dealt a very bad hand.
P: Why?
Y: Because I have to watch poker on TV with you.
P: In that case you were dealt a fantastic hand!
Also, when a player has a hand that puts them at a big advantage, you can say that they are holding all the cards.
Y: I see. 因为是在你的公寓，所以你觉得 you are holding all the cards，看什么节目就要听你的。
M: See, you’re catching on! You are learning all the useful poker terms! Isn’t poker fun?
Y: Fun 你个头! If you don’t change the channel, I’m going home.
M: No way, you’re bluffing. Bluffing is when you pretend that you have a good hand, even though you don’t. In everyday use, bluffing is pretending you will do something that you won’t.
Y: You think I’m bluffing? 只是在吓唬你? I’m leaving, see you tomorrow!
M: Wait, you’re really leaving? No, stop! I’ll change the channel! OK, you are holding all the cards! You can do whatever you want! Please stay.
A: 啊呀，看得我手痒痒。Donny, 我有个主意，这个周末，咱们去你家烧烤，尝尝你的be all and end all chicken wings，然后再来个 poker tournament, 扑克牌大赛，怎么样？
B: Good idea! Let’s party!
A: 好，今天的节目就到这里。节目的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!
B：Bye!
美语训练班 第006课
A: 美语训练班上课啦！我是王怡茹。
B: And I’m Donny. 怡茹, can I give the show preview today?
A: 你想来介绍节目内容啊？没问题! Go ahead!
B: 好！今天这节课，我们要聊聊八卦, 和朋友介绍的人约会，欣赏花样游泳, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“完蛋了”。
A: 说得不错嘛! 按照老规矩，咱们还是先来个简单的–花一分钟，学一个词!
Learn A Word #1262 unnerve
今天我们要学的词是 unnerve, unnerve is spelled u-n-n-e-r-v-e, unnerve. Unnerve 是动词，意思是令人感到焦虑烦恼。Location-tracking by smart-phones have unnerved many people concerned about privacy. 智能手机的定位功能让注重隐私权的人感到不安。Rising gasoline prices have unnerved consumers. 油价上扬给消费者带来了烦恼。The latest U.S. jobs data unnerved investors. 美国最新就业数据让投资者感到不安。德国不久前出现大肠杆菌疫情。The deadly E.Coli outbreak unnerved the entire European market. 这次爆发的致命的大肠杆菌疫情给整个欧洲市场带来了不安。好的，今天我们学习的词是 unnerve, unnerve, unnerve.
B: The E.Coli outbreak is indeed unnerving news! I had planned a trip to Germany, but now, I have to reschedule everything just to be on the safe side.
A: 哦，你本来要去埃希大肠杆菌的爆发地–德国旅行，现在吓得不敢去了！
B: 对啊!
A: 那你说的 unnerving 就是 unnerve 的形容词形式，意思就是“让人担心害怕的”，对不对？
B: That’s right.
A: Donny，我觉得你取消旅行是对的。要是去了德国，万一感染了病菌，还孤身一人在异国他乡，你可就完蛋了!
B: 可不，I will be toast.
A: Toast? 你要变成吐丝面包？
B: 不是！来听这集 “Popular American,” 你就明白啦!
Popular Americana:You’re toast// The tables have turned
各位听众，现在播送流行美语。李华要参加课堂辩论，很紧张， 找Larry出主意。他们会用到两个常用语：you’re toast 和the tables have turned.
LH: Larry，我可怎么办？这次辩论的成绩占期末成绩的一半呢!
Larry: OK, OK. Calm down for a minute. What’s the topic of the debate?
LH: 辩论的题目是国会最近通过的医疗改革法案!我当时没注意这个新闻，现在什么都不知道啊!
Larry: Oh, my. That is certainly a complicated topic, even for an American. Are you arguing for or against it?
LH: 我是辩论的正方还是反方？哦…我忘了。
Larry: You don’t even know what side of the argument you’re on? Well. Looks like you’re toast.
LH: I’m toast? 你在说什么啊？
Larry: It means you have no chance; you’re done for; you’re finished. I don’t see how you could possibly be prepared for this debate.
LH: “I’m toast” 就是 I’m finished? 我完了？没戏了？哎呀，这门课可是必修课，我必须要通过呀! Larry, you have to help me!
Larry: I don’t think I can, Lihua…Although I know I’m going to be toast if I just sit there and be negative. Haha…
LH: 没错，要是你只顾坐在那里看我出糗，你就死定了!哼!
Larry: Well, I can tell you about the health care bill, but if you don’t know what side you are on for the debate, I don’t think that will help you.
LH: 虽然我忘了自己在哪一方，可我的老对头 Susie 是我的对手，我们不在一队，而且她特别能辩论。 I really AM toast, Larry.
Larry: Unfortunately, I would have to agree with you. You don’t have any friends in that class? Give one a call and see if they remember which team you are on.
LH: 对! 我给Jennifer打个电话，看她知不知道我是哪一方的。
李华给Jennifer打电话之后，得到了一些好消息。
LH: Larry, 好消息！Susie 生病了!
Larry: Huh?
LH: Jennifer说，Susie重感冒，嗓子出不了声，更别提辩论了! I’m not toast anymore! 我有救啦!
Larry: Oh, I see. What about your team? Do you know what side you need to prepare to argue for?
LH: Jennifer说，我和她都是正方的，支持这个法案。她还让我不必担心，说我们这方有几个很牛的人! 这真太棒了!
Larry: That is good news. Looks like the tables have turned in your favor.
LH: The tables have turned? 什么桌子？
Larry: I’m not talking about an actual table. The tables have turned means that the person that used to be ahead is now behind, and the person who used to be at a disadvantage now has an advantage.
LH: 我明白了，the tables have turned 就是指形势发生了一百八十度大转弯! 我之前处于弱势，可现在忽然处于优势了!
Larry: Exactly. You can say the tables have turned in your favor. It doesn’t look like your grade for this class is toast anymore.
LH: The tables have turned in my favor.风水转到我这边来了! 一切都对我有利了! 哈哈，我本来以为I was toast, 但是现在，对手病了，队友强大，The tables have turned! 我真是幸运!
Larry: It looks like your classmate Susie is the one who is toast now. And since you don’t have to prepare for that debate anymore, I was wondering if you could help me out a little…
LH: 怎么了Larry?
Larry: Well, I need to submit a report on the Chinese market to my boss, and I’ve been putting it off. It’s due tomorrow and I could use someone to help me do some research on Chinese web sites…
LH: 你明天要交一分关于中国的市场分析报告，现在还没怎么写？你想让我帮忙在网上查资料？哼! 我才不管呢!
Larry: Oh! Lihua, Please! If I don’t finish this report in time, well, I’d be –
LH: You’d be toast! 你就完蛋啦! Larry, 几分钟前你还不肯帮我准备辩论呢，现在轮到你求我，我不帮忙了。 哈哈! It seems the tables have turned!
Larry: That situation was a little bit different…I didn’t really have any way to help you.
LH: 这倒也是。可是，我也真的帮不了你啊，我又不会写市场调查报告。
Larry: You’re not going to help me? But I’ll be toast without your help!
LH: Sorry, Larry! 可我真的没法帮你，我要和我们辩论队的人在图书馆开会，对了，你能开车送我去图书馆么？
Larry: Ha, it looks like the tables have turned again…
各位听众，今天李华学了两个常用语，一个是you’re toast，意思是“你完蛋了”；另一个是the tables have turned，意思是“局势发生逆转”。好的，这次《流行美语》播送完了，谢谢各位收听，下次节目再见。
A: 原来，You’re toast就是说“你完蛋了”，“你有大麻烦了”!
B: 对！By the way, Yiru, have you heard about that Hollywood couple who got divorced? Apparently, the wife is back with her ex-boyfriend and the husband has a mistress too….
A: 对对对，娱乐新闻头条这两天都是他们要离婚的事儿！Their marriage is toast. 他们的婚姻算是走到头啦！
B: Yiru, 看来咱俩都够八卦的！
A: 哈哈，这有什么，现在就是全民八卦的时代！正好，咱们来听下面这个节目，看看“八卦”用“美语怎么说”。
How to say it: Gossip
Jessica 在北京学汉语，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是杨林要问的：八卦。
JESSICA: 杨林，What are you planning on doing Friday night?
YL: 星期五晚上我要和几个特别好的朋友聚会，都是女孩儿!
JESSICA: Wow….A girls’ night out! That’s awesome!
YL: Girls’ night out? 没错! 就是只有女孩参加的姐妹淘聚会! 我们打算在朋友家里吃饭、看片、唱歌，当然，最重要的就是–八卦! 对了，八卦怎么说？
JESSICA: 八卦就是 gossip. It means a trivial chat among friends.
YL: 哦，聚会时的闲聊八卦就是 gossip. I enjoy gossiping with my friends. 我喜欢和朋友们瞎聊。 But, Jessica, 八卦这个词也有不好的意思，就是传流言蜚语，gossip 也有这种意思么？
JESSICA: Yes! Gossip can also mean spreading rumors.
YL: 哎! 这倒让我想到另外一个和八卦有关的词—八卦杂志，小报儿，怎么说？
JESSICA: Those are called tabloids. tabloid is spelled t-a-b-l-o-i-d, tabloid. In America, tabloids usually refer to media that follow celebrity scandals.
YL: 哦，tabloid 就是专门报道名人丑闻的八卦媒体。所以我可以说 tabloid magazines, 八卦杂志，也可以说 tabloid web site，八卦网站。
Jessica: 对。
YL: I see. So, what about the reporters who gather information for the tabloids—狗仔队! 怎么说？doggies?
Jessica: No! 狗仔队是paparazzi, p-a-p-a-r-a-z-z-i, paparazzi. It’s in plural form.
YL: 那我可以说. The local paparazzi are following this movie star everywhere.当地的狗仔队四处跟踪这个电影明星。对么？
Jessica: 没错! Now let’s see what you’ve learned today!
YL: 第一，闲聊八卦，或者传流言蜚语，都可以用gossip;
第二，八卦媒体是tabloid;
第三，狗仔队，是复数名词 paparazzi!
这次的美语怎么说 就到这里。如果你也有不会说的词，请写信给 JESSICA, 电邮请寄meiyu@voanews.com
A：要说当明星谈恋爱也真不容易，The paparazzi are everywhere! 狗仔队跟得可紧呢！
B：Well, dating and handling relationships aren’t easy after all, no matter if you’re a celebrity or an average Joe.
A: 也是，普通人谈恋爱也不容易，总是让我欢喜让我忧啊！
B: Tell me about it!
A: 怎么了Donny? 你有什么感情生活的烦恼，可以告诉我啊！
B: 好啦！你就不要八卦了！Let’s listen to the next program–GoEnglish，美语三级跳。讲的就是约会谈恋爱！
GoEnglish: Greeting friends–Advanced
各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“问候朋友”单元的高级课程。
Winnie： Lawrence 给Jen做媒，让她和自己的另一位朋友William 约会。
Professor: Today Lawrence and Jen have met for coffee to talk about how Jen’s date with William went.
Lawrence: So Jen, what did you think of William? Did you guys have a nice time on your first date?
Jen: Oh yeah, it was great! He took me to an Italian restaurant and we had an amazing conversation. I told him about how many kids I want, and how my parents will be so excited to meet him.
Lawrence: You said all that on the first date? Alright …. Well are you two going out again?
Jen: Yeah! I called him after I got home to arrange our next date, but unfortunately his grandma is sick so he has been busy every night visiting her in the hospital.
Winnie: Professor Bowman，看来这个William还真是a catch! Jen好象对他很满意，甚至提到去见父母和生孩子的事呢！不过，第一次约会就说这么严肃的事儿，会把男生吓跑的。
Professor: Judging from my personal experience, that’s very possible! Did you hear that William’s grandmother got sick right after his date with Jen? That’s a little odd.
Winnie: 就是啊! Jen一约William，William就说自己奶奶病重，哪有这么巧的事？! 八成是他不想再见面，所以找的借口!
Lawrence: William told you that his grandmother is sick, huh? What exactly did he say?
Jen: He said his grandmother got cancer and has only a few weeks to live. It’s really so sad! But when I talked to him on the phone, it sounded like he was holding up really well.
Lawrence: It didn’t sound like he was too upset, huh? What did you tell him?
Jen: I asked if there was anything I could do to help his family, and I told him that I could be a shoulder for him to cry on.
Lawrence: Well I hate to tell you this Jen, but both of William’s grandmothers passed away more than five years ago.
Winnie: Professor Bowman, Lawrence说 William 的祖母五年前就“passed away”了， “pass away”不是去世的意思么？
Professor: Exactly. Sometimes people say that someone “passed away” because it sounds nicer than saying “died”.
Winnie: 怪不得William在电话里 holding up so well—没有悲恸欲绝，原来奶奶生病真是他编出来的借口!
Jen: What do you mean his grandmothers are already dead? Wait a minute, you don’t think he’s avoiding me, do you?
Lawrence: Well you know, claiming that your grandmother is sick is the classic excuse used to get out of doing something.
Jen: Oh man, I hate rejection. It really makes you feel terrible, especially when you really liked the person.
Lawrence: Is there anything I can do to help? Just remember that I’m there for you if you want to talk about it.
Winnie: Professor, 我常听美国人说“being there for somebody”，这到底是什么意思呢？
Professor: “Being there for someone” is staying close to him and giving him support when he is going through a difficult period.
Winnie: Oh, being there for someone就是某人遇到困难时在他身边支持他，鼓励他。
Jen: Thanks. Sometimes talking with a friend is a great way to get over something. Do you mind if I vent a little bit?
Lawrence: Of course not. If you’re feeling bad and want to let your emotions out, you can just say whatever you want to me.
Jen: Great, because I am really mad at William. I mean, what kind of an idiot wouldn’t be able to appreciate a smart, beautiful woman like me? Anybody who would be friends with that guy has to be really dumb.
Lawrence: Uh, Jen …. you know I’m friends with William.
Jen: Oh right …. present company excluded, of course!
Winnie: 嗯，遇到挫折时，能有个朋友听你 vent 倾诉真是一件幸运的事。 不过，professor, Jen 说的 present company excluded 是什么意思？
Professor: When you criticize a group of people that the person you are talking to belongs to, you can say “present company excluded,” which means the person you are talking to is excepted from that criticism.
Winnie: 哦， 就是“在场者除外”。如果你批评一群人，而听你说话的人也是其中一员的话，你就可以说“你不算，你跟他们不一样”。唉，Professor Bowman，学了今天这一课，我再次领悟到，天下乌鸦一般黑，男人全都靠不住!
Professor: Ahem??
Winnie: Oh! 当然啦， present company excluded!
A: 这个约会算是彻底失败！William 才见了Jen一次，就编了个糟糕的借口再也不见她了！难怪Jen got really mad at him!
B: The good thing is Lawrence is there for her.
A: 没错！Lawrence 说，如果Jen wants to let her emotions out，发泄感情，他会认真倾听。依我看，Lawrence could be a shoulder for Jen to cry on, 在Jen难过的时候，倒是可以借Lawrence的肩膀靠一靠呢！
B: Yeah! Actually they should just date each other! They would make a great couple!
A: 对呀！Jen应该赶紧转换情感对象！
B: That’s easier said than done.
A: 不管难不难，看见这个人不合适，就得另找出路！哎，就算在公司里也是一样啊，如果有人不能胜任工作，最明智的做法就是让别人来替换他！Send him packing!
B: 怡茹，你的英语真是越来越地道了，send him packing 让他打铺盖走人！好吧，咱们来听听下面的“礼节美语”，说的就是这个。
Business Etiquette: Vote of No Confidence I
公司董事会成员 David 找 Ken 谈话，显得很神秘。
David: Hey, Ken…I need to talk to you.
K: Sure…what’s up?
D: Can we step into the conference room? This is a more private conversation.
K: Sure…
D: Ok…I’m just going to lay it all out on the table: What do you think of Vincent’s management style?
K: Well, Vincent has only been CEO for a couple of years and … well…um…
D: I don’t want to put you on the spot. Here’s what I’m getting at: I don’t think Vincent is the man for the job.
原来，David 找 Ken 谈话，是因为觉得公司首席执行官 Vincent is not the man for the job. 不称职。David 说，I don’t want to put you on the spot. 意思是我不是故意为难你。to put someone on the spot 意思是让某人回答很难回答的问题。David 在上面那段话里还说 I’m just going to lay it all out on the table. 我就直截了当说吧。to lay something out 是讲清楚；on the table 意思是放在桌面上讨论。Ken 问 David 为什么觉得 Vincent 不称职。
K: Really? And what led you to this conclusion?
D: As I see it, he lacks the proper vision. His style is more about survival, and he’s not taking the company anywhere. He’s treading water instead of swimming.
K: Well, I confess I’ve had my doubts about his abilities before. It seems he mainly got the job because his famous aunt pulled some strings.
David 觉得 Vincent 缺乏远见，lacks the proper vision. 只能维持现状，不能推动发展，就好像在水里，He’s treading water instead of swimming. 光是原地踩水，不向前游。Ken说，Vincent 担任CEO, 靠的是自己姑姑的关系，His aunt pulled some strings. to pull some strings 意思是动用关系。
D: I’ve been with this firm for 26 years and I’d hate to see it go down the drain due to poor leadership skills.
K: Me too. But what can we do? This isn’t a reality TV show…we can’t just vote him out.
D: Yes and no…We can’t ask for a show of hands on who thinks he should be fired, but we can introduce a vote of no confidence at the next board meeting.
K: Interesting idea. You might be on to something.
David 说，自己在公司已经26年了，不想看着公司go down the drain就这么垮掉。to go down the drain 是失败，白费的意思。David 觉得，虽然这不是电视真人秀 reality TV show，不能让大家表决把他赶下台，a show of hands 是举手表决的意思，但是可以在下个董事会上提出一份 a vote of no confidence 不信任提案。
A: 哇，看来这个公司要小小的政变一下啦！
B: Right. The management is likely to have a shakeup after the vote of no confidence.
A: 那个靠着亲戚 pull some strings 动用关系当上总裁的Vincent，很可能下台。大家觉得他不能给公司带来发展，He’s treading water instead of swimming. 他只会在水里原地踏步，不往前游。
B: You know what, Yiru? All these moves in the water are make me think of a certain sport.
A: 我知道，你是说花样游泳对不对？咱们马上来听“体育美语”！
American sports English: Synchronized swimming
Y: Hi, this is Yang Chen.
P: And I’m Patrick.
P: Yang Chen, do you know why we are at the swimming pool?
Y: We are going to talk about swimming.
P: But we aren’t just talking about swimming. We are going to be talking about the Olympic sport of synchronized swimming.
Y: Synchronized swimming? 花样游泳!!!Do we have to talk about it. Patrick?
P: Yes, we do. Synchronized S-Y-N-C-H-R-O-N-I-Z-E-D swimming, Yang Chen. You know, the sport that combines swimming, gymnastics and dance. Why do you ask?
Y: 我告诉你一个秘密，你可保证不能告诉别人。我特别不喜欢Synchronized swimming。What a dumb sport!
P: How can you say that, Yang Chen? Those swimmers work really hard to get their routines in perfect unison. It is a very demanding sport, requiring strength and artistry.
Y: Strength力量，artistry 艺术，少拿这些大词儿吓唬我。 It’s a dumb sport. It’s dumb. I just don’t get it.
P: Oh, come on, Yang Chen. It is like ballet in the water. In fact, the sport is sometimes called “water ballet”.
Y: “Water ballet” 水上芭蕾？噢，这下我明白我为什么不喜欢Synchronized swimming了，因为我不喜欢芭蕾！
P: Well, then I guess I am just going to have to show you how demanding a sport synchronized swimming is. Let’s try to synchronize some of our moves.
Y: Do we have to, Patrick?
P: Yes, Yang Chen. We have to. Okay– Raise your right hand in the air, then reach down and touch your left foot like I am doing, while lifting your right foot.
Y: So, I raise my right hand,抬起右手 touch my left foot, 摸左脚，then lift my right foot. 抬起右脚. 喂，喂Patrick, 你开什么玩笑，这太难了！I am losing my balance! Ooooh, noooo! Help!
A: Synchronized swimming, 又称Water ballet, 水上芭蕾！我特别爱看！
B: So do I! Just think about the slender girls in their fancy outfits!
A: 啊？Donny，原来你是喜欢看美女啊？好啦，今天的节目时间差不多了。这次的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!
B:Bye!
美语训练班 第007课
A: 欢迎大家来到美语训练班！我是王怡茹。
B: And I’m Donny. 怡茹，今天我们都教些什么啊？
A: 今天这节课，我们要去公司里，把一个不称职的高管赶下台，还要和朋友聚聚，聊聊自己的感情生活，要告诉大家用美语怎么说女孩子的“真命天子”， 还要去看棒球比赛，教大家怎么……
B: 加油？
A: 不对，是起哄!
A: 哈哈，听着不错吧？ 好，下面咱们还是按照老规矩，先花一分钟，学一个词!
Learn A Word: on the fence
今天我们要学的词是 on the fence, fence is spelled f-e-n-c-e, on the fence. On the fence 犹豫不决的。Many potential home buyers are still on the fence, waiting for the housing market to reach rock bottom. 很多想买房的人还在犹豫不决，等待房地产市场触底。Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin is still on the fence about whether or not she wants to run for President. 阿拉斯加州前州长佩林在是否要参加总统大选的问题上依然犹豫不决。Meanwhile, many Republican voters are still on the fence in terms of which candidate to support. 与此同时，很多共和党选民在支持哪位候选人的问题上还是拿不到主意。好的，今天我们学习的词是 on the fence, on the fence, on the fence.
A: Donny, 刚才咱们听的这个on the fence 是犹豫不决的意思。可是，”fence”不是粉丝嘛？就是追星族？
B: No, Yiru, that’s another word. “On the fence”里面的fence，是f-e-n-c-e, 意思是围墙，栅栏。
A: 难怪on the fence 表示骑墙，犹豫不决。
B: 没错。你说的歌迷影迷在英文里是fan, f-a-n, fan. 复数加s，变成fans. 也就是中国人常说的“粉丝”。
A: 这下我明白了!
B: 明白就好! Now let’s move on to our next program–words and idioms.
Word and Idioms: Bear the brunt
各位听众，现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 935讲。我是杨琳。
我是 Douglas Johnson.
昨天，我和一个朋友聊天。她向我诉苦说，三年前，她父亲去世了，而几个哥哥都不想照顾年迈体弱的母亲，所以她这个家里最小的女儿这三年就一直担负着照料母亲的责任，感觉压力很大，特别累。我觉得她那几个哥哥实在很不应该，很自私。同时，我也想到了一个习惯用语，那就是：
Bear the brunt. Bear is spelled b-e-a-r, and brunt; b-r-u-n-t. Bear the brunt.
Brunt 的意思是“冲击力，压力”，bear the brunt 就是指承受最大的压力，应对最糟糕的局面。我朋友就是这样，哥哥们不愿意让体弱的妈妈搬来同住，She has little choice but to bear the brunt. 她别无选择，只得硬着头皮接过这个责任。
在下面这段话中，邮递员们要承担很大压力，我们来听一听是怎么回事：
“The postal workers were fed up with low wages and increased hours. That’s what led to the strike. Their protest didn’t get much sympathy from citizens. Every day that they chose not to deliver the mail, they heard more and louder complaints. They had to BEAR THE BRUNT of the public’s anger.”
这段话是说：邮局职工受够了低工资和长工时，于是他们决定罢工。可是他们的抗议行为并没有得到公众的同情。邮局一天不送信，公众对它的抱怨就更强烈。邮递员们不得不承受公众愤怒所带来的压力。
我倒觉得，公众压力可能对邮局有利。邮政瘫痪，时间一长，真正要bear the brunt–承受压力的人就不是邮局，而是政府了。政府顶不住压力就可能妥协，邮局工作人员的要求也就能达成啦! 好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话：
“The postal workers were fed up with low wages and increased hours. That’s what led to the strike. Their protest didn’t get much sympathy from citizens. Every day that they chose not to deliver the mail, they heard more and louder complaints. They had to BEAR THE BRUNT of the public’s anger.”
在下面这段话中，整个城市，不，差不多半个国家都处在压力之下，咱们来听听是怎么回事：
“The winter of 2010 will be remembered for terrible weather. A February blizzard buried several states in the mid-Atlantic region under 2-3 feet of snow. Three days later, a second massive snowstorm dumped another 1-2 feet. Washington, D.C. was among the cities that BORE THE BRUNT. It was paralyzed, suffering the snowiest winter in its history.”
这段话是说：2010年冬天最大的特点就是天气特别糟糕。二月份一场大风暴把美国东部的几个州埋在了两三英尺厚的大雪下。就在三天后，第二场大雪又带来了一到两英尺的降雪。首都华盛顿就是受大雪影响最严重的城市之一。整个城市瘫痪，在其历史上降雪量最大的寒冬中瑟瑟发抖。
这个大雪不断的冬天我是亲身经历了。交通不便，水电被中断，还有人员死亡和财产损失。恐怕除了不用上学，可以痛快玩雪的孩子，没人欣赏这个白茫茫的冬天。好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话：
“The winter of 2010 will be remembered for terrible weather. A February blizzard buried several states in the mid-Atlantic region under 2-3 feet of snow. Three days later, a second massive snowstorm dumped another 1-2 feet. Washington, D.C. was among the cities that BORE THE BRUNT. It was paralyzed, suffering the snowiest winter in its history.”
各位听众，今天我们学习的习惯用语是bear the brunt，意思是“应对最糟糕的局面，顶住最大的压力”。好的，这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束，我是晓北，我是 Douglas Johnson。
A: Bear the brunt，承受最大的压力。说起这个，当年我刚来美国留学的时候，一个人孤孤单单，举目无亲，精神压力特大。
B: I feel you, Yiru. When I was studying Chinese in Beijing, the first several months were very stressful.
A: 咱们真是同病相怜! 好在我后来遇到了我老公，他对我特别好，给我家的温暖，He changed my life!
B: Hmm, that’s a story of meeting the right person at the right time.
A: 是哦! 我在恰当的时候遇到了合适的人。
B: 正好，咱们今天的“美语怎么说”就要教大家说这个“合适的人”。
How to say it in American English: Mr. Right
Jessica 在北京学汉语，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是杨林要问的：真命天子
YL: Jessica! 跟你说件事儿。
Jessica: Go ahead.
YL: 我不久前碰到高中时同桌的男生，和他聊得特投机! 我们一起看电影，吃饭，跳舞……太开心了! 我好象喜欢上他了!
Jessica: You mean you “developed a crush on him?” Crush is spelled c-r-u-s-h, crush. It means a temporary love.
YL: 哦，crush 就是一时迷恋，动心。Jessica, I think I developed a major crush on him.
Jessica: 杨林，你不是有男朋友么？
YL: 呃……我也为这事儿发愁呢，不知道谁是我的真命天子。
Jessica: 真命天子？那不是皇帝么？
YL: 哈哈，是皇帝没错。可一个女生的真命天子就是她真正的伴侣。这用英文怎么说呢？
Jessica: Oh, you’re talking about “Mr. Right”! Mr. Right refers to the perfect man for you.
YL: Mr. Right? right是“对，正确”，所以 Mr. Right 就是各方面都跟我特别合适的男人， 我的真命天子!
Jessica: Exactly! So who looks like your Mr. Right, your boyfriend or this high school classmate?
YL: 我也不知道! 你说我该选择哪个呢？
Jessica: Well, I think you should choose the one who is your soul mate.
YL: soul mate? s-o-u-l, soul是灵魂的意思，mate 是伴侣，所以soul mate 就是灵魂伴侣喽？
Jessica: 没错! Your soul mate is the person with whom you have deep and natural love. It’s very spiritual.
YL: 和那人心有灵犀一点通，这感觉太美好了!
Jessica: 好了，Let’s see what you’ve learned today!
YL: 第一：对某人产生好感，to develop a crush on someone；
第二：女孩子的真命天子， Mr. Right;
第三：灵魂伴侣，soul mate
A: soul mate, 灵魂伴侣，My husband and I are soul mates.
B:Yeah yeah yeah, he’s totally your Mr. right.
A: Donny, 你不要嫉妒我们这种爱情甜蜜的人嘛! Have you found your soul mate yet?
B: Ar…I’m still looking.
A: 我看，你是选择太多，所以，You’re on the fence, aren’t you?
B: Thanks for your understanding, Yiru. Sometimes I wish I weren’t this popular.
A: 嘿!说你胖你就喘! 好了，我们还是来听听下面的美语三级跳吧，看看怎么向朋友介绍你的感情生活！
GoEnglish: Relationship — Beginner
各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“恋爱”单元的初级课程。
Professor: Kevin and Emily are friends. They have come home from college for the holiday, and are talking about their relationships at school.
Winnie: 两个好朋友放假时聚在一起，当然得聊聊各自的感情生活了，快听听吧!
Emily: Hi Kevin, how was your year at college?
Kevin: It was great! How was your year?
Emily: It was good. Do you have a girlfriend at school?
Kevin: Yes, I’m dating someone. Her name is Amanda.
Winnie: 怪不得Kevin在大学里过得这么高兴，原来是交了女朋友!
Professor: That’s right, Winnie. If you have a boyfriend or a girlfriend, you can say that you’re dating someone.
Winnie: 哦， 如果我有男朋友，就可以说 “I have a boyfriend”或者说”I’m dating someone”。那我现在没有男朋友，该怎么说呢？
Professor: Then you can say that “I’m single.”
Winnie: 哦，”I’m single”就是说我没恋爱，还是只身一人。
Professor: That’s right, Winnie. Now let’s hear how Kevin met his girlfriend.
Emily: How did you meet your girlfriend?
Kevin: I met Amanda through a friend.
Emily: That’s great. Did you start dating right after you met, or did you become friends first?
Kevin: We started dating right away.
Professor: Winnie, did you hear where Kevin met his girlfriend?
Winnie: 他们是通过朋友介绍认识的，而且立刻开始约会! 不知道他们交往多久了。
Professor: Well, let’s listen and find out!
Emily: When did you and Amanda meet each other?
Kevin: I met her about one year ago.
Emily: So you met her right after you got to school?
Kevin: That’s right. We’ve been dating since last September.
Winnie: 他们俩人从去年九月开始约会，这么说他们在一起一年了! 看起来他们对这份感情还挺认真的。
Professor: That’s right, Winnie. They sound like a serious couple.
Winnie: 像Kevin这样专一的男生现在可不多了，不知道怎样才能找到这么好的男生。
Emily: So you said you and Amanda met through a mutual friend. How did it happen?
Kevin: Well, my roommate was friends with Amanda, so he introduced us.
Emily: Did he tell you what she was like first?
Kevin: Yes, he described her to me, and she sounded like my type.
Winnie: Professor Bowman, Kevin说 Amanda 听起来是他的”type,” 这是什么意思?
Professor: Your “type” is the kind of person that you like to date.
Winnie: 哦，原来 your type 就是你喜欢的那种人。Kevin 的室友一跟Kevin描述Amanda, Kevin就觉得，这个女孩正是他心目中的理想女友!
Emily: So Kevin, what is your type?
Kevin: I like girls who like to have fun, and aren’t too serious.
Emily: I agree. I like guys that can make me laugh.
Kevin: That’s true. Having a very serious boyfriend or girlfriend can be boring.
Winnie: 其实Kevin和Emily听上去倒是挺班配的。
Professor: Yes, they both like people who like to have fun and make them laugh.
Winnie: Kevin跟Amanda交往那么久，两人一定很合得来，就是不知道是不是一见钟情。
Professor: Let’s listen and find out.
Emily: How did you first meet?
Kevin: My roommate invited both of us to dinner.
Emily: Was it love at first sight? Did you fall in love with her the first time you met her?
Kevin: Yes! The first time I saw her I knew we would fall in love.
Winnie: 果然是一见钟情! 好浪漫哦! 不过，还多亏了Kevin室友这个月下佬帮忙!
Professor: That’s true, Winnie! Match people are important! Do you know computers now can work as match makers?
Winnie: 哦， 您说的是专门替人找对象的网站吧! 的确，很多人现在用这种online dating来寻找伴侣，只要在电脑上输入your “type”, 电脑就会帮你找到你的另一半。不过真交往起来并不一定合适。
Professor: That’s true. Winnie, we’ve heard a lot about Kevin’s relationship. Now let’s find out about Emily.
Kevin: What about you, Emily? Have you dated anyone recently?
Emily: I started to date someone recently, but it didn’t work out.
Kevin: That’s too bad. What happened?
Emily: Well … that’s a long story.
Winnie: 唉， 可怜的Emily，最近交了个男朋友，可后来却分手了。怎么会这样呢？
Professor: Let’s listen next time and find out!
A: 啊! 甜蜜的校园恋情。Kevin和Amanda是love at first sight–一见钟情。俩人都爱说爱笑，They’re made for each other.– 他们简直就是天造地设的一对。
B: But Emily isn’t so lucky. Her relationship didn’t work out.
A: 她还说，That’s a long story–说来话长。
B: Yes. Sometimes you really can’t pinpoint what went wrong in a relationship. You just know the person isn’t right for you.
A: 可不是么! 谈恋爱要靠感觉，是很玄妙的。不过要是换到别的人际关系上，可就不能光凭感觉办事儿了。
B: That’s true. For example, if your boss wants to fire you, he can’t say “oh, it’s not your fault. I just don’t like you.”
A: 对，公司里的人事变化是要有事实做理由的，否则就没有规矩了。下面咱们来听听“礼节美语”，说的就是这个。
Business Etiquette: Vote of No Confidence II
公司董事 David 和 Ken谈话，觉得公司CEO Vincent 不称职。David说，
David: One of Vincent’s biggest problems is his tendency to micro-manage everything. He sticks his nose into everything instead of leaving the day-to-day decisions to the guys who know what they’re doing.
K: That’s true. He also seems rather uncertain and indecisive about many things.
D: Yeah…we need a leader who can inspire us. The CEO needs to be a coach, not a referee. You know…not everyone is cut out to be a leader.
K: I think one of the primary skills a leader needs is the ability to listen.
David 觉得, Vincent 最大的问题之一是喜欢 micro-manage 管得太细。He sticks his nose into everything. 不论什么事他都要插手，to stick one’s nose into something 意思是插手某事。Ken 也说，Vincent 在很多问题上优柔寡断，而且不会听取意见。David 还说，not everyone is cut out to be a leader. 不是人人都能当领导的。to be cut out for something 意思是适合做某事。
D: Vincent is terrible at that. He frequently seems to completely misunderstand what we’re trying to get across. Just between you and me, I’ve spoken to a few other board members and they say if there is a vote of no confidence, they’ll vote “no.”
K: But will Vincent be forced to resign if there is such a vote?
D: No…but it will do one of two things: one, it will serve as a wake-up call and he might change his style —or two: he might step down if he realizes he’s lost the support of the board.
David 已经跟其他一些董事会成员打过招呼，他们都表示，如果有不信任案，他们会投不信任票。这样可能会有两种结果，it will either serve as a wake-up call. 要么会给Vincent 敲响警钟，让他自觉改变管理风格，要么会让 Vincent 意识到，自己已经失去董事会的支持，自觉下台。
K: Shouldn’t we try to find a way to give him a chance to avoid embarrassment?
D: Yes we should. I’ll be writing him a private letter next week and expressing our thoughts on the matter. I’d appreciate it if you would sign the letter as well.
K: Humm…well, I guess that’s the best way. We’ll give him a chance to either improve or resign.
D: And if he rejects those options, we’ll try a vote of no confidence.
K: Ok, David….I’m on board. Let’s give it a shot.
Ken 建议 give him a chance to avoid embarrassment 设法避免让 Vincent 难堪，David 表示赞同，决定先给 Vincent 写封私人信件，阐述他们的意见，希望 Ken 能在上面联署。Ken 承认，这可能是最好的方式，说，I’m on board. 算我一个，Let’s give it a shot. 咱们试试看。
A: 我也觉得Vincent不是当CEO的料。他喜欢stick his nose into everything–什么都插手，同时呢，He’s uncertain and indecisive–他又忧柔寡断，什么事都拿不定主意。
B: Right. He’s not cut out to be a leader.
A: 所以公司董事会要给他一个wake-up call, 敲警钟。
B: But David will write to him first to let him know what other people are really thinking about his performance as CEO.
A: 是，这公司的人还是挺客气的，给Vincent留着面子。在我们下面的“体育美语”节目中，观众席里的人可就没有这么好的风度了。
B: Yeah. Let’s listen.
American sports English: Heckling
Y: Patrick. 谢谢你带我来看棒球比赛。
P: Hey, be quiet! Batta, batta, batta. Swing, batta!
Y: You be quiet! What are you doing, Patrick?
P: I’m heckling the players. Heckling H-E-C-K-L-I-N-G is when you yell at a player of the team you are not rooting for.
Y: 你这样起哄会影响运动员发挥的。I think it’s very distracting.
P: It is distracting and it really is not good to yell at athletes you aren’t rooting for- but in baseball, Yang Chen, it is a tradition.
Y: A tradition? 这还是个传统啊？I don’t believe you.
P: Well, you should. It’s a common tradition and an easy one. All you say is: Batta, batta, batta. Swing, batta! I’m hoping that the batter, B-A-T-T-E-R, will miss the ball and get a strike, S-T-R-I-K-E.
Y: Oh, 你是在冲着那个batter 击球手，给他起哄。
P: Right. And if the batter swings three times and misses, it is three strikes. Three strikes and you are OUT!
Y: 三振出局。
P: Now this is what we want, Yang Chen. After three strikes, our team gets a chance to score.
Y: Hey, can you yell anything you want?
P: haha, good question but…. not really. You can’t yell anything really mean or obscene.
Y: 我知道了，不可以骂人，不可以喊脏话，那这样行吗？─Hey, 大笨瓜，you are out!
P: Uh, no. or as they say in the movie, just a bit outside.
Y: Hey look! 你看那大笨瓜 struck out! 被三振出局了！This is fun!
A: 学了半天起哄，那叫好加油怎么说啊？
B: 加油可以用”cheer”. For example, we all cheer for the home team.我们都为主场队伍加油。
A: I see. 对了Donny, 你周末不是常和朋友们打棒球嘛？这个周末打不打？
B: 打啊。Are you coming to cheer for me?
A:我只是想去练习一下今天学的heckling.
B: 啊？!
A: I’m kidding! 好，今天的节目时间差不多了。这次的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!
B：Bye!
美语训练班 第008课
A: 欢迎大家来到美语训练班!我是王怡茹。
B: Hi, everyone! I’m Donny.
A: 今天这节课，我们要讨论公司上市的问题, 听听朋友为什么会和男友分手，装扮成棒球队的吉祥物, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“来电”和“没戏”。
B: …..Hmm? You’ve finished the preview, 怡茹？
A: Donny, pay attention! 我们可是在录节目呢！你怎么老低头摆弄手机？！
B: Sorry sorry! 老有人在facebook和微博上加我为好友，I have to deal with these requests all day long! I’m turning off my phone RIGHT NOW!
A: 这才对嘛！总不能加好友加到节目上来呀！不过，说起这个在社交网络上加好友，咱们正好有个词要教给大家！
B: Let’s listen!
Learn A Word befriend
今天我们要学的词是befriend, befriend is spelled b-e-f-r-i-e-n-d, befriend. Befriend是如今社交网络用语，意思是“加为好友”。Former Congressman Anthony Weiner resigned after he was caught sending lewd photos of himself to women he befriended on Twitter. 前联邦众议员安东尼.维纳因为向在推特上加为好友的女性发裸照被发现而宣布辞职。警方不久前破获了一起强奸案。嫌疑人的做法是，The suspect would befriend high school girls on Facebook and then ask them to baby-sit his daughter. 嫌疑人在脸谱网上将高中女孩加为好友，然后请她们照看自己的女儿。因此，为安全起见，Don’t befriend anyone you don’t personally know on Facebook. 不要在脸谱网上将不认识的人加为好友。好的，今天我们学习的词是 befriend, befriend, befriend.
A: Donny, 听见没有，不能乱加不认识的人。
B: Of course. I never befriend complete strangers on Facebook or Weibo.
A: 那你每天收到的好友请求还多到处理不过来？
B: 对啊！You know, I’m a very social person, and ever since I started hosting this show, my fan base has been expanding rapidly. 我的粉丝都要 befriend me, I don’t have the heart to turn them down.
A: 好啦好啦！Mr. Popular
B: I’m telling the truth, Yiru. I have five thousand friends on facebook alone!
A: 5000个好友？不可能！ No way! 没戏！
B: 信不信由你！对了，你刚才说“没戏”，那咱们就来学学怎么用美语说“没戏”，一起听”Popular American.”
Popular American Take one for the team/fat chance
现在播送「流行美语」。李华在春假开始前考完了期中考，Larry 去学校接她。他们会用到两个常用语：take one for the team 和 fat chance.
Larry: Lihua, how did your tests go?
LH: 考得不错!现在我已经等不及开始春假啦!
Larry: Well, that’s great to hear, because I have some awesome plans for us this week!
LH: 太好了! 你有什么好主意？
Larry: We’re going camping with my high school buddies!
LH: 啊？和你的高中同学出去露营？
Larry: That’s right!
LH: 我可不想去。
Larry: What?? Why not?
LH: 你们那些男生在一起就会喝啤酒聊棒球，我也插不上嘴，没意思。
Larry: What’s so wrong with that? Besides, Mike and Jason are both bringing their girlfriends─I can’t go without you. Can’t you just take one for the team?
LH: The team? 什么团队？你在说什么？
Larry: To take one for the team means to make a sacrifice for the good of your group or team.
LH: 哦，to take one for the team 就是为了团队的利益牺牲自己的利益。你的高中同学都带女朋友去，如果我能跟你去露营，虽然自己可能觉得没趣儿，但是你会高兴，对不对？
Larry: Yes. Here’s another example. If you’re working on a group project with your classmates, and you agree to do a really tedious part of the project that no one else wants to do, you’d be taking one for the team.
LH: 哦，在团队作业中，如果我自愿完成最无聊的、别人都不愿意做的那个部分，我就是take one for the team—为了整个团队能完成作业，自己吃亏喽!
Larry: That’s right! So are you going to take one for the team by going on the camping trip with me?
LH: 可是Larry, 我不懂棒球，也不喝酒，去了我会闷死的。。。
Larry: Come on, Lihua…Can’t you just take one for the team this once? I’m sure you will have a good time talking to my friends’ girlfriends.
LH: Larry, 我还是不去了。
Larry: Fine, Lihua. You’re a horrible teammate.
LH: Larry, 你别生气。其实春假我已经有安排了，我要为中国学生会的端午节龙舟赛作准备工作啊。
Larry: The Dragonboat Festival? Isn’t that months away?
LH: 没错，是还有好几个月呢，但是我现在就得开始找场地了啊! 对了，我想起来了，你春假也不能闲着，得开车带我四处去联络比赛场地!
Larry: Pfff! Fat Chance!
LH: Fat? Chance?? 你是什么意思？
Larry: No! Fat chance means no chance. Why should I help you out when you won’t go camping with me?
LH: 啊？Fat Chance就是没可能？你不帮忙啊! 真差劲!
Larry: Hmm. It seems we both need each other to do something for the other. Are you sure you won’t take one for the team and come camping with me and my friends?
LH: Fat Chance! 我坚决不去跟你露营! Larry, 你不是已经答应中国学生会的同学，说好要帮忙的么？怎么能不算话？
Larry: Well, I─
LH: Why don’t you take one for the team? 你怎么不牺牲一下？
Larry: Oh, alright. I guess I should stay and help since I already promised. But, will you at least come camping with us sometime this summer?
LH: Fat chance!
Larry: What about next year?
LH: Fat chance!
Larry:…Will you ever stop saying “fat chance”?
LH: Fat chance!
Larry: ─OK, Lihua. I get the idea! Man, I should have never taught you this phrase.
LH: 哈哈哈! Larry, 你气得胡子都翘起来了! 我跟你开玩笑的! 一直以来，你总是耐心地教我英文，我很感激呢! Thanks for taking one for the team and being patient with me!
Larry: Yea yea, whatever. Just remember─you owe me one. There’s going to come a day when I will need you to do something you might not want to do to help me out, and I’ll expect you to take one for the team, OK?
LH: Fat chance!
各位听众，今天李华学了两个常用语，一个是take one for the team，意思是“为了别人牺牲自己的利益”；另一个是fat chance，意思是“不可能”。好的，这次《流行美语》播送完了，谢谢各位收听，下次节目再见。
B: So, Yiru, do you think you can take one for the team?
A: 啊？什么事啊？
B: Remember? The program director said one of us needed to attend a meeting in Paris this summer. You know, the meeting about producing the best language teaching show?
A: 你是说那个在巴黎召开的节目研讨会？你是不是特别不想去，所以想拜托我亲自跑这一趟？No problem! I can take one for the team for sure!
B: Fat chance! 你想得美！What I meant to ask you is, when I am away for the meeting, can you take care of my cat?
A: 啊？你去巴黎，让我帮你看猫？Fat chance, Donny!
B: 真不够意思。
A: 好啦，咱们还是继续听节目吧。 今天我们要看看“来电”用“美语怎么说”。
How to say it: Sparks
Jessica在北京学汉语，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是Lulu要问的：来电。
JESSICA: Lulu, I heard you went on a couple blind dates. How did they go?
Lulu: 没错! 我是去见了几个。给你看照片，在我手机里呢。
JESSICA: Wow, 这个真帅! 长得像王立宏! Did you guys hit it off? 你们谈得来么？
Lulu: 这个长得是不错，可是，我跟他就是不来电! We don’t have electricity!
JESSICA: Haha, Lulu，You should use the word “chemistry”. There’s no chemistry between you two.
Lulu: Chemistry? 化学？ 也对，不都说爱情是一种化学反应嘛! 说俩人“没感觉，不来电”，就是There’s no chemistry!
JESSICA: That’s right. Now let’s look at the next guy. Hmm, this one… How old is he? I bet he’s over 40!
Lulu: 哈哈，这个是挺老的，可是我觉得我们俩挺来电的。We have chemistry!
JESSICA: Really? You saw sparks flying around?
Lulu: Spark? 我知道，s-p-a-r-k, spark，是火花，你说 “sparks flying around”，就是“火花乱飞，瞬间来电”，是不是？
JESSICA: Yes. For example, the first time my boyfriend and I kissed, I saw sparks!
Lulu: 这么说，There are definitely sparks between us!
JESSICA: That’s great! So you are seeing this, er, mature guy, aren’t you?
Lulu: Am I seeing him? 我看他？
JESSICA: Actually, to see someone means to date someone.
Lulu: 哦, to see someone就是和某人交往。我正在和他交往，就是I’m seeing him.
JESSICA: Correct. 不过，I think this guy is a bit too old for you.
Lulu: 我就喜欢成熟的! 年龄不是问题!
JESSICA: Well, if you say so. Now I see why people say “love is blind.”
Lulu: Love is blind? 爱情是盲目的？
JESSICA: 对啊! Anyway, I wish you good luck! Let’s see what you’ve learned today!
Lulu: 第一，来电可以用chemistry 或者sparks
第二，和某人交往是to see someone
第三, 爱情是盲目的，说Love is blind.
A：chemistry，来电，这个词真生动。人家说爱情就是化学反应，时间一长，反应结束，就没感觉了。
B: That’s why someone who seems so lovable at the beginning of a relationship can become so annoying later on.
A: 是啊，要是你不喜欢这个人了，看见他之后可就不是sparks flying around, 火花乱飞，瞬间来电了，我估计，The only thing you can see will be stars! 你一看见这人就烦得头晕，眼冒金星。
B: Then you have to break up with the person.
A: 是，就剩分手了。
B: Let’s listen to the next program–GoEnglish，美语三级跳。讲的就是分手！
GoEnglish: Relationship─Intermediate
各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“恋爱”单元的中级课程。
Winnie: Emily 告诉好朋友 Kevin，自己交了个男朋友，可最终却分手了。Professor Bowman, 怎么会这样呢？
Professor: Let’s listen and find out what went wrong.
Kevin: So Emily, what happened with the guy you started dating recently?
Emily: Well, a guy from one of my classes asked me out on a date. At first I had a crush on him, but after a couple of dates, I knew he wasn’t my type.
Kevin: Well, don’t worry, there are lots of other guys out there. Why wasn’t he your type?
Emily: Well, I like guys that like to have a good time and make me laugh, but this guy just wanted to stay home and play video games all the time.
Winnie: 哦，原来 Emily 的前男友一天到晚窝在家里打电子游戏，难怪 Emily 受不了。Professor Bowman, Emily 说她一开始的时候对那个男生有 crush，这是什么意思？
Professor: A crush is a temporary love for someone. A lot of people say that they have a crush on someone, which means that they like that person.
Winnie: 哦， crush 就是说对某个人有好感。 那如果两个人开始约会了，还能说自己对这个人有crush么？
Professor: Good question, Winnie. The answer is no. A crush can only be a person who you like, but who you aren’t dating yet.
Kevin: Well, I think it’s good that you don’t go for guys who play video games all the time. But why did you have a crush on him at first?
Emily: Well, our first date started well because we talked about how much each of us likes movies. But it turned out we don’t like the same kinds of movies.
Kevin: That’s too bad. I remember a few years ago I was seeing a girl who only wanted to watch movies that I hated. Every weekend we argued about what movie to watch.
Emily: That’s too bad. I hope your current girlfriend likes the same kinds of movies as you.
Winnie: 原来，Emily和前男友是因为两人都喜欢看电影才开始交往的。Emily后来发现，这个男生不是她”go for”, 喜欢的类型，所以决定分手。对了，没准 Kevin 有什么朋友，可以介绍给 Emily 呢。
Professor: You guessed it. In the next section, listen for the phrase “set up,” which means to introduce two people.
Kevin: Actually, I have a friend who you might like. Do you want me to set you up?
Emily: Well, I usually don’t like to be set up because I really don’t like blind dates.
Kevin: I understand. But this time you should let me set you up because I think my friend is really your type.
Emily: Well … OK. If you think he is my type, then I will let you set us up.
Winnie: 太好了，Kevin 要把自己的朋友介绍给 Emily!
Professor: That’s right. But why doesn’t Emily usually like to be set up?
Winnie: 她不喜欢别人给自己介绍男朋友是因为她不爱去盲约，blind dates, 也就是由别人安排的约会。这点她跟我倒很像!
Professor: But, Winnie, sometimes you have to trust your friends. I think Emily trusts Kevin to introduce her to someone nice. In this section, listen for the word “jock,” meaning “someone who only likes to do sports.”
Emily: But Kevin, you have to promise me your friend isn’t a jock. I really don’t like jocks.
Kevin: No, he’s not a jock at all. In fact, he’s the opposite of a jock. He’s a nerd.
Emily: A nerd? I don’t really go for nerds either.
Kevin: Well, you just have to trust me. I won’t set you up with someone you won’t like.
Emily: Alright. But Kevin, if your friend is a big weirdo, you’re going to be in big trouble!
Kevin: Don’t worry, I promise he’s not a weirdo.
Winnie: Emily 还挺挑剔的，既不要“jock”, 运动狂，也不要”nerd,” 书呆子。更不要 “weirdo,” 古里古怪的人。
Professor: Well Emily does sound picky. But as long as Kevin’s friend isn’t a weirdo, I think they’ll have a good time.
Winnie: 如果Kevin介绍个怪人给她，她绝对饶不了Kevin! 我倒真想看看Kevin给她介绍个什么人!
Professor: Well, listen next time and find out!
A: 原来Emily因为和男朋友电影口味不同就分手啦？这是不是小题大做了？
B: I don’t think so. Trivial things can kill a relationship. However, I don’t understand why girls hate guys who enjoy playing video games at home.
A: 哈！我知道你喜欢在家打游戏！不过你老打游戏就没时间哄女朋友啦。我们女生多不容易啊，男生们不是jock─运动狂，就是nerd─书呆子，要不就是weirdo－－怪里怪气的人。想找个好男人，难！
B: 好女生也很难找啊！
A: So it’s perfectly okay to be a bit picky! 交朋友谈恋爱不能一时冲动，光凭感觉，多挑挑，没坏处。在公司里，如果要做出什么决定，也得考虑周全。
B: 对！咱们来听听下面的“礼节美语”，The company has a big decision to make.
Business Etiquette: IPO (I)
公司老板召集手下 Lisa 和 Ken 开会，商量公司上市的问题。Jerry 说，
Jerry: Well, I’ve called you here today because we have to make a very important decision, one that affects the future of our company. As you know…we have been a privately held, family owned company for over 120 years, but it has come to my attention that it may be time to consider some major changes.
Lisa: You mean… like becoming a publicly traded company?
J: That’s right. It’s something we should give serious consideration to.
这家公司120多年来，一直是 privately held, family owned 私人持有、家族经营的公司。Jerry 说，it has come to my attention 意思是我注意到，如今应该考虑采取重大改革了。Lisa 问 Jerry 是不是想成为 a publicly traded company. 上市公司。 Ken 说，
Ken: Wow Jerry! That is a revolutionary idea. Can you tell us why you think this makes good business sense to you?
J: We’ve been doing quite well on our own and we could probably survive like this for quite a few more years to come, but if we really want to take it to the next level, we are going to have to consider finding more investors. We simply don’t have the funds to make any serious investments towards obtaining a bigger market share. We need funds to grow.
上市从商业角度看，有没有道理呢？换句话说，does it make good business sense? Jerry 解释说，公司保持现状再维持几年肯定没有问题，但如果想 take it to the next level 更上一层楼的话， 就要找到更多的投资人。公司要争取 a bigger market share 更大的市场份额，需要资金，有了资金，才能成长。
K: So our goal in making an initial public offering is to solicit investors? But then we’ll have to accept a Board of Directors chosen by our stockholders. Wouldn’t that limit us in many ways?
J: There will certainly be some limitations. But if you consider the massive capital investment that we’ll receive, you’ll understand that this could take our company from being a medium tier firm to one of the big players.
L: What are the risks of making the decision to become a publicly traded company?
首次公开募股 initial public offering 也就是公司上市，简称 IPO。上市公司由股东 stockholders 推选董事会 Board of Directors，当然会给公司决策带来一些限制，但是Jerry说，与此同时，上市能筹集到大笔资金，让他们的公司从一个中等层次的公司，变成 one of the big players 举足轻重的大公司之一。从家族企业变成上市公司可能会有哪些风险呢？我们下次继续听。
A: 要把一个family-owned company家族企业，变成publicly-traded company 上市公司，这个主意很好啊！这样公司才能做大，take it to the next level─生意更上层楼嘛！
B: The idea seems right, but you have to consider the downside too. For example, all major decisions have to run by the Board of Directors.
A: 也是，上面多了个董事会，很多事情就自己不能做主了。
B: 好了，等咱们成了上市公司的老板，再去烦这些事情吧！
A: 不过，我倒觉得下面这个“体育美语”中讲到的工作更适合我。
B: What is it?
A: 听听就知道啦！
American sports English: Mascots
YC: Umm, 今天我们这里怎么来了一只chicken？
PW: I’m not a chicken, Yang Chen. I’m a rooster.
YC: Okay, so you are a rooster. 那你今天为什么装扮成一只公鸡呢？
PW: I’ve been asked to be the mascot at my friend’s baseball game. His team is called the “Roosters.”
YC: 这个棒球队也是，什么名字不好起，偏偏叫”Roosters.” 要是叫”Pandas”，你不就可以扮成可爱的熊猫了吗？
P It’s OK, A mascot can be any animal, person or even a clown.
YC: 小丑也可以作吉祥物。
P A Mascot M-A-S-C-O-T represents a team, brings the team luck and sometimes acts as a cheerleader for the team. So, since my friend’s team is called the “Roosters”─the mascot is a big, colorful Rooster. That’s me.
YC: 看来Mascot 还真是重要，既能代表这个球队，给球队加油， 还能给球队带来好运。可我还是想作一个可爱的 mascot， not a rooster.
PW: But I really want to see you in the rooster costume, do you want to try it on?
Y: No way, not in a million years.
Patrick，请问你今天作为”Roosters”棒球队的吉祥物Rooster先生，你今天晚上都要作什么？
PW: Well, I’ll be wearing this rooster costume the whole time.
Y: The whole time? 你一直都要穿着这身衣服？
P: Yeah, and I’ll mostly run around the field doing crazy stunts. Stunts, s-T-U-N-T-S. Audiences really like it when the mascot acts totally crazy.
Y: Crazy stunts，那你都有什么疯狂的举动呢？
P: Like dancing and jumping.
Y: Patrick, You look pretty funny。我今天得去看你朋友的棒球队比赛。I can’t wait to see you running around, doing crazy stunts in your rooster costume.
PW: Well, that’s the point, Yang Chen. The point of being a mascot is to make the audience laugh and have fun and feel good about the team they are rooting for.
YC: 没错，mascot要是能逗观众乐，那就更愿意为这个球队加油打气了。
不过这身衣服一定很热吧？
PW: You bet, Yang Chen. Especially under all of those stadium lights.
YC: 没错球场了灯光一照，那就更热了。Well, Patrick, 你要听我的话─ drink lots of water.
PW: Thanks, Mom. I will.
B: 怡茹，原来你想当mascot， 吉祥物？I can’t believe you would want to get into a silly costume and do crazy stunts!
A: 嘿！美女也疯狂啊！ 我平时老是斯斯文文的，现在外面套个大卡通装扮，尽情地出洋相，逗大家开心，也不错啊！
B: So what cartoon character do you want to dress like?
A: Snow white, 白雪公主！
B: Oh please. Not that girly! How about King Kong?
A: 大猩猩金刚？I’ll really be taking one for the team if I dress like King Kong! 好啦，今天的节目时间差不多了。这次的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!
B：Bye!
美语训练班 第009课
B: 欢迎大家来到美语训练班！I’m Donny.
A: 大家好！我不是王怡茹！
B: 那您是….?
A: 我是杨琳！怡茹请假，我来代班。Donny, 请多多关照哈！
B: No problem, 杨琳. I’m sure you’ll do just fine!
A: 希望如此。咱们要先介绍这节课学什么，对不对？
B: Yes! 今天，我们要讨论公司上市有哪些风险, 听朋友讲一次糟糕的约会，聊聊锻炼身体时要注意些什么, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“小气鬼”和“白费力”。
A: But we always learn a new word before anything else, right?
B: 没错，咱们先花一分钟，学一个词！
Learn A Word: wind down
今天我们要学的词是 wind down, wind is spelled w-i-n-d, down is spelled d-o-w-n, wind down. Wind down 是逐渐结束的意思。美国总统奥巴马宣布，今年七月开始从阿富汗撤军，他对全国人民说: “It was the beginning, but not the end, of our effort to wind down this war.” 这是我们逐渐结束这场战争的开始，而不是结束。The federal stimulus program is starting to wind down in the state of Wyoming. 怀俄明州的联邦经济刺激项目渐渐落下帷幕。The party is winding down after four hours of craziness. 经过四个小时的狂欢后，派对渐渐进入尾声。好的，今天我们学习的词是wind down, wind down, wind down.
B: Hmm, why would people ever want to let the party wind down if everyone’s having fun? At my parties, the good times never end.
A: Donny，你可真是个party animal! 我就不行，我习惯早睡早起。上个周末，我邻居家开party, and it showed no sign of winding down even at 3 o’clock in the morning! 音乐声，说话声，吵得我没法睡觉！
B: That’s no good. Did you tell them to keep it down?
A: I did! Three times! 我去邻居家讲了三次，先是客气地说，后来板着脸说，最后几乎要报警了！可等我一走，他们就该干嘛干嘛，一切照旧！
B: Sounds like you’ve been beating your head against the wall.
A: 用头撞墙？我看差不多了！大夜里没法睡觉真能把人逼疯。
B: Actually, to beat one’s head against the wall has another meaning. Let’s listen and find out.
Words and Idioms: Beat one’s head against the wall
各位听众，现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 936讲。我是杨琳
我是 Douglas Johnson.
我想去买辆新车，为了获得最好的价格，我带了一个朋友陪我同去。这位朋友很懂车，同时又很会砍价。结果，在我挑好车后，这位朋友上阵杀价了。她把自己肚子里和汽车有关的知识都用上了，可是，卖车的这位销售员也相当厉害，愣是不松口。我朋友说得嘴都干了，也没把价砍下来。这让我想到了一个习惯用语，那就是：
Beat one’s head against the wall. Beat is spelled b-e-a-t, head; h-e-a-d, and wall; w-a-l-l.
Beat-one’s-head-against-the-wall.
To beat one’s head against the wall 意思是白费力气，徒劳无功。因为汽车销售员不愿意降价，我这个朋友花了好长时间讲价，可是，All she managed to do was to beat her head against the wall. 她完全是白费唇舌。
在下面这段话中，一个遇到感情问题的女孩很希望挽回男友的心，但她这么做是不是有用呢？我们来听一听：
“My sister hasn’t had much luck with relationships lately. She dated a guy for a couple of months, but he broke up with her and got back together with his old girlfriend. My sister couldn’t get over it. She spent weeks thinking about what she could have done differently. Why bother? I hated seeing her BEAT HER HEAD AGAINST THE WALL.”
这段话是说：[我妹妹最近感情生活颇为不顺。她和一个男人交往了几个月，但是这个人却提出分手，和他的前女友复合了。我妹妹怎么也放不下，几个星期以来，她总是在想自己当初是否做错了什么，导致男友离开她。其实何必这样呢？她完全是在浪费感情，我不想看到她这个样子。]
在感情问题上，最忌讳拖泥带水，苦苦不放手。男友的心不能挽回，就当是俩人有缘无份吧! 继续浪费时间，只可能错过真正适合自己的人。好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话：
“My sister hasn’t had much luck with relationships lately. She dated a guy for a couple of months, but he broke up with her and got back together with his old girlfriend. My sister couldn’t get over it. She spent weeks thinking about what she could have done differently. Why bother? I hated seeing her BEAT HER HEAD AGAINST THE WALL.”
小时候，家长老师常常教育我们说，要不怕失败，百折不挠，还总用科学家的事例来鼓励我们。虽然最后我们很多人都无法成为科学家，但是相信大家在追求自己梦想的过程中都会有一些意外的收获，就好像下面这个人：
“History is filled with examples of inventors who were BEATING THEIR HEADS AGAINST THE WALL. Like the pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia who was frustrated when he couldn’t find a cure for a headache. Then he created something accidentally that made him world-famous: Coca-Cola.”
这段话是说：[历史上有很多在开始时白费力气，走进死胡同的发明家。比如美国乔治亚州亚特兰大的一个药剂师，他一心想发明一种专治头痛的药，可是怎么也不能成功，就在他为此感到沮丧的时候，却意外地发明了一种饮料，并为此变得世界闻名，这个饮料就是可口可乐。]
不光是可口可乐，橡胶、青霉素、不沾锅等都是人们在无意中发现或者创造出来的。所以，有时候当你一再失败的时候，you’re not necessarily beating your heads against the wall. 你并不一定是在做无用功。好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话：
“History is filled with examples of inventors who were BEATING THEIR HEADS AGAINST THE WALL. Like the pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia who was frustrated when he couldn’t find a cure for a headache. Then he created something accidentally that made him world-famous: Coca-Cola.”
各位听众，今天我们学习的习惯用语是beat one’s head against the wall，意思是“白费精力，徒劳无功”。
A: 中国人说“不撞南墙不回头”，所以这个to beat one’s head against the wall 就是“撞了南墙也不回头”喽！
B: Correct，所以说是白费力气。However, sometimes when other people think you’re headed toward a dead end, they might be wrong.
A: 有道理！ 就拿我来说吧，上大学时，我施展个人魅力，坚决要让系里最帅、最聪明、最受欢迎的男生做我男朋友….
B: And people thought you were beating your head against the wall?
A: 没错！ But I proved them all wrong! 后来， 我发奋读书，坚决要考到全额奖学金来美国牛校读书….
B: And people thought you were, once again, beating your head against the wall. Right?
A: 没错！ But I proved them all wrong – again! 后来，我跟大家说，两年内挣到人生第一个100万….
B: And you proved you were NOT beating your head against the wall? 杨琳，你真牛，你….
A: 呵呵，这个……不好意思，这次失败了。
B: 咳！ 没关系，我看好你！
A: 行了，咱们继续听节目吧，下一单元：“美语怎么说”。
How to say it in American English: cheapskate
Donny 在北京学汉语，他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教他。今天是Jimmy要问的：抠门。
Donny: Nice suit, Jimmy! You clean up nicely.
Jimmy: 怎么样？我收拾收拾也挺帅吧!
Donny: You’re going to a business dinner?
JIMMY: 对，我和一个朋友想作生意，要和投资人谈谈。可我那朋友特抠门，上次见投资人时去的麦当劳，还AA制! 对了，抠门怎么说？He’s cheap?
Donny: Yes, you could say that. You could also say he’s a cheapskate. c-h-e-a-p-s-k-a-t-e, cheapskate.
JIMMY: Cheapskate，抠门的人。My friend was such a cheapskate!
Donny:Yeah! I can’t believe that investor’s still interested in working with you after your partner was being so tightfisted!
JIMMY: 哎？ 你说 tightfisted? tight是“紧”的意思，fist是拳头，所以tightfisted就是手紧，舍不得花钱喽？
Donny: Correct.
JIMMY: 还好，My tightfisted partner changed his mind. 我那吝啬的朋友想通了，今天，我们要请投资人吃顿大餐!
Donny: That’s nice. But don’t act like spendthrifts. Spendthrift is spelled s-p-e-n-d-t-h-r-i-f-t. It refers to people who spend money like crazy.
JIMMY: 哦! spendthrift 指花钱无度，大手大脚的人。我原来有个室友，He was totally a spendthrift! 他女朋友多得数不过来，每个都向他要特贵的礼物。
Donny: That’s a textbook case of a spendthrift attracting gold diggers!
JIMMY: Gold digger?
Donny: Yes. It refers to a woman whose primary interest in a relationship is material benefits.
JIMMY: 哦，那就是拜金女呗!
Donny: That’s right! Let’s see what you’ve learned today!
JIMMY: 第一，抠门可以说 tightfisted, 小气鬼则是 cheapskate
第二，大手大脚花钱的人是 spendthrift
第三，拜金女是 gold digger.
A：Donny, 你说要是我勒紧裤腰带，做cheapskate, 不大手大脚地花钱，不当spendthrift, 我那个100万的目标是不是能快点实现？
B: I guess so, but you’re a woman, and women love shopping, so….
A: 也对，节衣缩食，什么都不买，太难受了。要不我当个gold digger? 找个有钱人当我的提款机？
B: 也不能不讲感情啊！
A: 这倒也是。再说，无数的电影小说都在教育我们：男人靠不住啊！
B: 呃…..也不全是吧。
A: 怎么不是？你听听下面的这个“美语三级跳”吧，又是一个不靠谱的男生！
GoEnglish: Relationship – Advanced
Relationship: Advanced
(取材于 goenglish.me)
各位听众，大家好！今天为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“恋爱”单元的高级课程。
Professor: Kevin set up his friend Emily on a date with another one of his friends. Today Kevin and Emily are meeting to talk about how the date went last night.
Kevin: So how did your date with my friend Paul go last night? Don’t you think he’s a really great guy?
Emily: Unfortunately, Kevin, I can’t tell you anything about Paul.
Kevin: Why not? You didn’t like him? I was sure you guys would be a good match.
Emily: Actually, Paul stood me up!
Kevin: Paul stood you up? You mean he never came to the date?
Emily: Nope. I waited for a full hour and he never came.
Winnie: 啊？！ “Stand someone up”不是指放别人鸽子么？这么说，Kevin的朋友Paul让Emily白等了一个小时，太过份了！
Professor: No doubt about it, Winnie. It would be bad enough if Emily and Paul didn’t get along, but it’s much worse that Paul didn’t even show up for the date!
Winnie: 是啊！不知道Kevin要怎么解释。
Professor: In the next section, listen for the phrase “go out for drinks,” which means to go to a bar and drink alcohol.
Kevin: Really? Are you sure you were at the right place? Maybe you were confused about where to meet.
Emily: No. He suggested we go out for drinks at a bar downtown, and he gave me the address. I wrote it down on my calendar, so there’s no way I was at the wrong place.
Kevin: Well, I guess Paul can be a flake sometimes. He says he’s going to be somewhere, and then he either forgets about that appointment, or decides to do something else instead at the last minute.
Emily: I can’t stand flaky people, so it probably wouldn’t have worked out anyway.
Winnie: Professor Bowman, Kevin说，Paul有时是个 flake, 是什么意思？
Professor: Winnie, flake is a slang word to describe a person who is not reliable. Also, you can say someone is “flaky.”
Winnie: 哦，flake就是那些靠不住，说话不算数的人。这种人怎么能作男朋友呢？
Professor: Yes, flaky people can be really annoying. In the next section, listen for the phrase “pick-up line” which is a set-phrase men use to introduce themselves to women they don’t know.
Kevin: So what happened? You just sat at the bar by yourself?
Emily: Oh, it was terrible. I pretended I was writing text messages on my phone to look busy, but all these guys kept coming over and giving me these lame pick-up lines.
Kevin: Oh no, what kind of pick-up lines?
Emily: Oh you know, they would pretend that we had met before as an excuse to introduce themselves.
Winnie: Emily真够倒霉的！很多男人过来跟她搭讪，而且他们的 pick-up line 搭讪的话，都很老套，比如假装以前在哪里见过。 现在谁还会相信这种话啊！
Professor: Winnie, In the next section, listen for the phrase “to blow someone off,” which means to show that you are not interested in talking so that the person goes away.
Winnie: 噢，to blow someone off 就是表现出没兴趣，好让别人走开。
Kevin: Wow, that sounds really awkward. What did you do?
Emily: Well, I kept trying to blow them off, but it didn’t work. They just kept trying to talk to me and ask me out on dates.
Kevin: I guess men don’t have that problem when they go to bars alone. Usually women don’t try to hit on them like that.
Emily: Exactly. Sometimes I wish I were a guy so I could go to a bar and just enjoy my drink and not have anyone bother me.
Winnie: 哎呀，这些男人真烦，Emily不理他们，他们还没完没了的搭讪。
Professor: Well, Winnie, you know, a lot of people would like to have Emily’s problem.
Kevin: Well I’m sorry your blind date was such a disaster. How can I make it up to you?
Emily: Hmm … I know! I’m going to find the weirdest girl in the world and make you go on a date with her!
Winnie: Oh no. 为了惩罚 Kevin, Emily 要找个世界上最奇怪的女孩，让 Kevin 跟她去约会。
Professor: So Winnie, the lesson of the story is …
Winnie: 别随便给好朋友撮合，否则后果自负。
A: 看吧！ Paul stood Emily up, 放了Emily的鸽子。害得Emily只能坐在那里假装发短信。The date was a total disaster.
B: Well, I have to admit, standing people up is not cool.
A: 对啊，太不靠谱了！
B: But the date wasn’t a total disaster because a lot of guys tried to chat Emily up! That means she’s very attractive!
A: 你说得好像也有道理。看来，很多事都是有好的一面，也有不好的一面。说到全面看问题，咱们来听听下面的“礼节美语”，看看公司上市的利与弊。
Business Etiquette: IPO II
公司老板召集手下 Lisa 和 Ken 开会，商量公司上市的问题。上市有哪些风险呢？Ken 说，
K: Well, the day we offer stock for sale is the day we will see how much faith there is in our company. If people don’t think we’re very valuable they won’t buy our stock. And if no one buys our stock we’ll lose a lot of prestige.
L: I think I see the wisdom in Jerry’s logic. I see our company as entering a transitory period. We’ve done very well so far but if we want to see serious growth it might be time to ditch our old business model and go public.
Ken 说，公司上市能看出公众对他们公司是不是有信心。Lisa 觉得，Jerry 主张公司上市融资增加公司规模的逻辑有道理，I see the wisdom in Jerry’s logic. 她觉得，公司是应该进入一个转型期，a transitory period, 放弃原来的商业模式，改为上市。Lisa 用的 ditch is spelled d-i-t-c-h, ditch 是放弃，抛弃的意思。
K: Yeah…maybe. But I have my doubts. Remember all those companies back during the dot-com bust? They made their IPOs and a short time later, they were history.
J: That’s true. But don’t forget, some of those companies made a killing.
K: Okay, let’s say we make a decision to go public; what kind of price are we thinking about charging for our stock?
Ken 表示，自己还是持怀疑态度。I have my doubts. Ken 提到的 dot-com bust 是指1995年到2000年间的网络泡沫，结果大批上市公司都成了 history. 形容某人或某事是 history，成为历史，意思是过气了，再也不重要了。但是 Jerry 也说，Don’t forget, some of those companies made a killing. 别忘了，其中很多公司都足足捞了一大笔。make a killing 意思是取得了巨大成功，尤其是指赚了很多钱。如果真要上市，每股定价多少呢？
J: I don’t think there’s a lot of appetite for adventure in the market right now. People are looking for either a good deal or something safe. I think we should offer a good deal and not make our initial price too expensive.
L: That’s probably wise. But Jerry, have you really thought this through? You would essentially be giving up the company that your great-grandfather built.
Jerry 觉得，现在市场上大家都在找上算的或是安全稳妥的股票，there isn’t a lot of appetite for adventure. 没有多少人愿意冒险，所以Jerry建议股票定价不要过高。Lisa同意Jerry的看法，又问Jerry是不是考虑清楚了，think something through 是仔细考虑的意思。Jerry 会不会动摇呢？我们下次继续听。
A: 看来，公司上市虽然可能使企业发展得更大，但弊端是，如果股票没人买，公司会lose a lot of prestige 颜面大跌，甚至可能become history关门大吉，另外，从个人角度看， Jerry will have to give up the company his great-grandfather built，失去对家族企业的控制权。
B: 风险和机遇总是并存的嘛。That’s why people spend time weighing the pros and cons before they make big decisions. Preparation is key.
A: 对，准备工作要做足。不要说公司上市这么大的事儿，就说咱们下面要听的“体育美语”里讲的这个跑步，也需要恰当的准备工作。
B: Let’s listen.
American sports English: Getting in Shape
Y: I can’t run anymore.
P: Yang Chen, we’ve only run a half mile. We have four and a half miles to go before we finish!
Y:还有4个半英里?我要累死了。
P: I wonder why are you so tired. What did you do last night. Shopping again?
Y: But I have to. Macy’s had a great sale.又大降价，50%Off! .
P: But that still doesn’t explain it. Yang Chen, let me ask you some questions. Did you stretch before the race?
Y: No.
P: Did you have a meal with plenty of carbohydrates S?
Y: 我不但没有吃碳水化合物，I didn’t eat anything。
P: Why not?
Y That way, I’m lighter and faster!
P: Wow. Did you have any water or sports drinks before the race?
Y: No, but I had some coffee!
P: Ok. I’ll be honest. You did everything wrong. Everything. Your body needs carbohydrates (carbs) for the energy that you will use to run.
Y: Ok, 我记住了，下次跑步之前先补充carbs，碳水化合物。
P: Also, you drank the WRONG liquid, Yang Chen.
Y Coffee is the wrong liquid?喝啤酒行吗?
P No. That’s even worse. Coffee is a diuretic. Your body needs to be hydrated H-Y-D-R-A-T-E-D – meaning having enough water – because you will sweat a lot from running. Coffee, as a diuretic D-I-U-R-E-T-I-C, actually makes you Dehydrated – meaning not having enough water in your body. The caffeine in coffee also makes your heart beat too fast, and you will crash!
Y: Well, I’m not going to quit today, Patrick. Let’s move forward. 前进!
P: Let’s stop today. It’s really hot outside, and I don’t want you to get sick. Look how red your face is! You are totally dehydrated! How many cups of coffee did you have?
Y: I had three – one for each mile!
P: Ok, well now you know what NOT to do. Here comes the bus. We can take the bus home, and you can recover. Otherwise, you will be sent to the hospital again.
A: 原来，运动前要stretch伸展筋骨，要补充carbs，碳水化合物，还要keep your body hydrated让身体里有足够的水分。这么麻烦，我还是当 couch potato 沙发土豆吧！
B: 可是，做沙发土豆会变胖，身体素质下降，那还怎么挣100万啊？
A: 有道理。我得想想….
B：你慢慢想吧。今天的节目时间差不多了。这次的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!
A：Bye!
美语训练班 第010课
A: 美语训练班，无须报名，不收学费，全年无休, 保证提高……
B: 行啦杨琳, 广告作起来没完啦？
A: Donny, 你别小看广告的作用哦。前几天我在微薄上给咱们节目发了一个小广告，结果节目网页的点击量就呼呼地涨上去了!
B: That’s fantastic! 对了，你刚才说“呼呼地涨上去”，待会儿我们要教一个词，就是这个意思。
A: 太好了!
B: 不过，let’s first have a preview of today’s show, shall we?
A：好! 今天，我们要去赌马场试试手气, 和朋友聊聊大学生活，讨论公司上市的时机, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“躲过一劫”和“火爆脾气”。Donny, 现在咱们是不是要学你刚说的那个词啦？
B: 没错。Let’s listen to “learn a word”.
Learn A Word Soaring
今天我们要学的词是soaring, soaring is spelled s-o-a-r-i-n-g, soaring. Soaring 意思是剧增的，飞速上涨的。The austerity measure is designed to reduce the soaring Greek deficit in the next few years. 希腊实行银根紧缩措施，目的是在未来几年里削减飞涨的政府赤字。Many American families are facing the challenge of soaring college tuition fees. 飙涨的大学学费给很多美国家庭带来了挑战。The expanding of Asia-Pacific markets contributed to Apple’s soaring profits in the past five years. 过去五年亚太地区的市场开发使苹果公司利润猛增。好的，今天我们学习的词是soaring, soaring, soaring.
A: 这么说，由于我的广告攻势，咱们节目人气暴增，也可以用soaring 喽？
B:Yes. You could say “this show enjoys soaring popularity” or “this show’s popularity is soaring”.
A: 明白了。对了，和soaring 相对的应该是declining 吧？ 以前我曾在一个电视台的栏目里实习，but the show’s popularity had been declining, 看节目的人越来越少， 我实习结束后不久节目就停啦!
B:So… was the show terminated because of your bad performance as an intern?
A: 因为我差劲搞到人家节目停播？! 才不是呢! 不过，我觉得自己挺幸运的，如果实习还没结束节目就停了，我还得另找地方实习，说不定就会耽误毕业。
B: Sounds like you dodged a bullet.
A: 什么？bullet? 子弹？
B: 对。听下面的节目你就明白了! Let’s listen to Popular American.
Popular American: dodge a bullet; cheapskate
各位听众，现在播送「流行美语」。Larry和李华开车去多伦多渡假，结果在路上遇到了一些问题。他们会用到两个常用语：Dodge a bullet 和 cheapskate。
LH: Larry, 还要开多长时间才到多伦多啊?
Larry: If we don’t make any more stops, we should get there by nightfall.
LH: 啊，天黑的时候才能到？可我已经快饿死了! 咱们停下来找点东西吃吧？
Larry: Actually, we have a free dinner waiting for us at the hotel in Toronto.
LH: 我知道酒店有免费晚餐，可是还要几个小时才能吃到，我坚持不住啦!
Larry: You know me, Lihua, I’m a cheapskate. Sorry.
LH: Cheesecake? 你带了芝士蛋糕? 快给我吃！
Larry: No, not cheesecake… cheapskate. A cheapskate is someone who is very cheap, or doesn’t like to spend money.
LH: cheapskate 就是小气鬼。没错，你就是个cheapskate! 要不是你舍不得花钱，我们才不会选多伦多渡假呢，早买张飞机票飞去泰国了!
Larry: Thailand? Don’t be ridiculous! Even if I wasn’t a cheapskate, you know we can’t afford to go that far away for vacation!
LH: 那，就算去不起泰国，咱们停下车吃顿饭总可以吧？
Larry: If we stop for food, we’ll waste time, gas, and money. I think we should just wait until we get to Toronto.
LH: Why are you being such a cheapskate?? 咱们刚开始约会的时候，你可是特别喜欢给我买吃的呢!
Larry: Oh, yeah, I remember that… Actually, now that I think about it, I think I might have some of that candy you like in my backpack…something like a white rabbit, right?
LH: 大白兔奶糖？哪里？！还真有诶! 可这包已经过期了。不过我太饿，将就吃了!
Larry: Phew! Looks like I dodged a bullet there.
LH: Dodge a bullet? 躲避子弹？你又在说什么我听不懂的话了？
Larry: To dodge a bullet means to narrowly escape a very bad situation. For example, a second ago you were about to get really angry because I wouldn’t stop for food, but luckily, I had that bag of Chinese candy to keep you happy!
LH: 哦, to dodge a bullet 意思就是 “逃过一劫”，躲过了非常糟糕的事情。你说，要不是因为你包里正好有糖，我肯定会因为饿肚子而大发脾气，所以你算是躲过了我的一顿数落。
Larry: That’s right.
LH: 可是吃糖吃不饱啊!
Larry: We have a perfectly wonderful─and free─ dinner waiting for us in Toronto. Sorry, Lihua, we’re not stopping.
Larry: Uh-oh.
LH: Larry， 什么声音？是不是没油啦？你看看!几个小时前我不是让你把油箱加满么!
Larry: I heard the gas is a lot cheaper in Toronto, so I didn’t want to buy more gas than I needed to… I thought this would be enough for us to reach Toronto!
LH: 啊？你因为觉得加拿大的汽油便宜，就不舍得在美国加油，打算坚持到多伦多再说？你怎么这么小气! Cheapskate!
Larry: I hope we can find a gas station in time… I haven’t seen any signs for a gas station for awhile…
LH: 我的老天! 附近没有加油站？那我们岂不是要身陷荒野!
Larry: Don’t worry, we always have my cell phone if we need to call for help.
LH: 打电话求救？呃，我刚才一直拿你的手机玩游戏，已经没电了。
Larry: Oh good grief. Luckily, I think I have an extra battery in my backpack. Check the outside pocket.
LH: 啊! 真的，这里有块备用电池! We dodged a bullet! 我们逃过了一劫!
Larry: Speaking of dodging a bullet, it looks like there’s a gas station a few miles ahead. We should be able to get there without a problem.
LH: 太好了! 前面有加油站，咱们快去把油箱加满!
Larry: OK, I won’t be such a cheapskate this time.
LH: 对!这次别再小气了! 还有，在加油站给我买点吃的来!
Larry: OK, fine. You got it.
各位听众，今天李华学了两个常用语，一个是dodge a bullet，意思是“逃过一劫”；另一个是cheapskate，意思是“小气鬼”。好的，这次《流行美语》播送完了，谢谢各位收听，下次节目再见。
B: Speaking of dodging a bullet, I used to work at a small company where the boss had a terrible temper and yelled at people all day long. 所有人都小心翼翼，生怕挨骂. It felt like I was dodging bullets everyday!
A: 理解理解! 给坏脾气的老板干活随时要作好挨骂的准备，他们就像地雷，一碰就炸!
B: No kidding! 好了，Let’s move on to our next program: 美语怎么说，讲的就是这个“火爆脾气”。
How to say it in American English: short fuse
Donny 在北京学汉语，他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教他。今天是Jimmy要问的：火爆脾气。
Donny: Jimmy, 瞧瞧你的熊猫眼!
JIMMY: 哼!这都要怪对门宿舍的一个疯子。夜里不睡觉，在楼道里唱歌! 害得我一宿没法睡!
Donny: Dude, that sucks!
Jimmy: Donny, 你今天可别惹我，我这一肚子火恐怕得点火就着! I’m easy to burn!
Donny: Easy to burn? Jimmy, I have to say, you’ve got a talent for making up English phrases.
JIMMY: 好，那你说，“火爆脾气”在美语里怎么说？
Donny: You say I have a short fuse. fuse is spelled f-u-s-e. To say someone has a short fuse is to say he or she has a bad temper.
JIMMY: fuse是导火线的意思，a short fuse，很短的导火线，那还真是“一点就着”， 所以have a short fuse就是形容脾气差。
Donny: That’s correct. If I were you, I’d go give that guy who sings in the middle of the night a piece of my mind!
JIMMY: give him a piece of your mind?
Donny: Yes! You can also tell him off, 都是“骂他一顿”的意思。
JIMMY: Actually, I was about to rush out of the door and tell him off, but my dorm mates stopped me.
Donny: Why?
JIMMY: 我室友们说，这人平时挺好的，最近失恋了，要靠夜里唱歌来疗伤，让我别往心里去。
Donny: Your dorm mates are so nice not to take it personally.
JIMMY: take it personally? 就是往心里去，计较，对么？
Donny: Exactly. For example, your boss has a short fuse and often yells at people when they make minor mistakes……
JIMMY: 哎，我来猜猜! 你说，老板脾气火爆，人家犯个小错他就大嚷大叫。那…If he gives me a piece of his mind for something minor, 同事们就会说”don’t take it personally. ” 对不对？
Donny: Bingo! Let’s see what you’ve learned today!
JIMMY: 第一，火爆脾气是have a short fuse;
第二，口头教训别人是 give someone a piece of my mind, 或者tell someone off
第三，别往心里去是Don’t take it personally.
A：Donny, 我刚才就想跟你说，碰上不讲理的上司，你挨骂就挨骂，不用往心里去，Don’t take it personally!
B: You’re right. 就让他去骂，就让子弹飞吧。
A: 不过说起刚才教的那个short fuse, 火爆脾气，我十分不争气地想到了另外一个东西……
B: 什么？
A: 呵呵，你恐怕要笑话我。从火爆脾气，我想到了……火爆腰花!
B: 啊？
A: 我大学时最爱和同学们一起去校门口的小饭馆吃火爆腰花了! Oh, those were the days!
B: 我看你是饿了吧？ Anyway, let’s listen to“美语三级跳”，让你再回忆回忆大学生活！
GoEnglish: College─Beginner
各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“大学生活”单元的初级课程。
Winnie: Eric 和 Patty 是好朋友，也是大学同学。他们中午一起吃饭，聊起了校园生活。
Professor: In this first part, we will learn how to ask what classes someone is taking.
Patty: Hi Eric! Are you having fun at college?
Eric: Yes, it’s great. How many classes are you taking?
Patty: I’m taking four classes. Are you taking a lot of classes?
Eric: I’m taking three classes.
Winnie: Professor Bowman, Eric怎么只选三门课？美国大学生的日子也太轻松了吧！
Professor: Well Winnie, maybe they are taking hard classes and have to study a lot.
Winnie: 这么说也有道理。可能正是因为课程难度大，所以他们才只选几门课。
Professor: Let’s listen and find out what their classes are.
Patty: What classes are you taking?
Eric: Well, I’m taking English classes.
Patty: I see. Well I’m taking a lot of science classes, like chemistry.
Eric: Chemistry? Wow, that sounds hard. You must have a lot of work.
Winnie: Patty选修化学课，这门课可不好学。可是 Professor Bowman，Eric为什么要选英文课呢？英语不是他的母语么？这算不算投机取巧？
Professor: Well Winnie, some English classes are hard, even for Americans. Students have to read very hard books.
Winnie: 原来如此。那么，在美国大学里，学生们是不是每天都要上课呢？
Professor: Well, let’s listen to Eric and Patty talking about when they have classes.
Patty: What’s your schedule like?
Eric: It’s great! I only have classes from Monday to Thursday!
Patty: You don’t have any classes on Friday?
Eric: No, so I can have fun with my friends on Thursday night.
Winnie: Eric 不光选修英文课，而且一个礼拜只上四天课，这怎么可能？
Professor: Yes, some students have easy schedules. Now let’s listen to them talking about their professors.
Eric: Who is your chemistry professor?
Patty: I got Professor Franklin for chemistry. He’s really great!
Eric: Who did you get for math?
Patty: I got Professor Martinez for math. He’s good, but the TA is so boring.
Winnie: TA? TA是什么？
Professor: A TA is a “teaching assistant.” They are older students who help professors teach the younger students.
Winnie: 哦，TA就是Teaching Assistant的缩写，也就是助教的意思。Patty说她很喜欢自己的数学教授，不过教授的那位助教却非常沉闷无聊。
Professor: Right. You know, if my students don’t study hard enough, sometimes I’ll get a mean TA to help me teach.
Winnie: 我们不认真，你就要找个厉害的 TA， 那我们如果特别认真，你就会找个特别帅的 TA 喽？
Professor: No. If I get a cute TA, everyone will have a crush on him and study less. Now Eric and Patty are going to talk about what clubs they are in.
Eric: What do you do outside of class?
Patty: I’m in some fun clubs.
Eric: What kind of clubs are you in?
Patty: I do all kinds of things. I do some academic clubs, but other clubs are just for fun.
Winnie: 哇, Patty 可真行，加入了这么多课外社团。
Professor, 美国大学中都有那些社团呢？
Professor: Some clubs are academic. Students study together for tests or discuss current events. Some clubs are just for fun. They do things like yoga and hip hop dancing.
Winnie: 瑜珈社和街舞社，听起来真不错! 不知道Eric加入了什么社团没有！
Eric: I’m only in a hip hop dancing club. It’s really fun.
Patty: A dancing club? I love hip hop music, and I love dancing.
Eric: You should join. It’s not full, and there are plenty of spaces left.
Patty: I think I will. It would be fun to do a club together.
Winnie: Eric只参加了街舞社？他这个人，课只选了三门，每周只上四天课，连跟学习有关的课外社团也不参加。唉，他过得也太轻松了吧!
Professor: Well, Eric may be busy for other reasons. Tune in next time and we’ll learn more about student life.
A: 美国的大一新生真幸福! They have easy schedules, 他们功课轻松，They can join some fun clubs, 还能加入一些有趣的社团。真让人羡慕!
B: Didn’t you enjoy your freshman year?
A: 别提了，我们英语系的学生从一进校门就是一大堆基础课，哪有时间去参加课外活动!
B: Well, I’m sure not all of your classmates spent their time studying as hard as you did, right? For some people, college is a place for learning; for others, college is just a big party.
A: 也对，有些同学根本不在乎成绩，打球、跳舞、组乐队，每天过得可高兴了!
B: You can play your way through college, or work your way through it. But after four years, everyone is pushed into the real world, and the party is over. 人总要长大嘛。
A: Donny, 你说得真让人伤感! 好啦，大学生活结束，咱们进入社会，来听“礼节美语”!
Business Etiquette: IPO III
公司老板Jerry召集手下 Lisa 和 Ken 开会，商量公司上市的问题。Lisa问Jerry，是不是真的下定决心了。
L: But Jerry, have you really thought this through? You would essentially be giving up the company that your great-grandfather built.
J: I intend to keep key family members on the Board of Directors and I intend to remain as CEO. This company is important to me. But if we really want to become the largest frozen food company in the country, it’s time to move beyond mom-and-pop operations and play hardball.
针对Lisa提出的疑问，Jerry回答说，他并没打算将祖辈开办并经营至今的家族企业就这么拱手送给别人，他打算让重要家庭成员进董事会，然后亲自担任 CEO, Chief Executive officer, 首席执行官。Jerry 说，公司对他十分重要，但要想扩大规模，成为全国最大的冷冻食品公司，就要 move beyond mom-and-pop operations and play hardball. 这里所说的 mom-and-pop operations 是指家庭规模的小买卖，play hardball 意思是采取果断大胆的行动。
L: Well, it’s an exciting idea…and also a bit terrifying. But….you know that old saying: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
K: At least the markets have been getting better recently; the Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 10,000 points the other day. This could be the beginning of an economic recovery.
Lisa 说，公司上市的想法既令人兴奋，又让人害怕。但是英语里老话说，nothing ventured, nothing gained. 意思是不承担风险，就不会取得成就。Ken 说，好在现在市场正在走高，道琼斯工业指数前几天突破了万点大关，topped 10,000 points. 这可能意味着经济复苏的开始，the beginning of an economic recovery. Lisa 接着说，
L: I think the smart thing is to use this down time to retool and reconfigure our operations. That way, if things do turn upwards we’ll be in a stronger place than our competitors.
J: Exactly! So, I want you all to consider this idea… do the research and figure out if this is truly in our best interests. Let’s meet again on Thursday to make a final decision.
Lisa 说，她认为明智之举是用现在市场不是特别活跃的时期调整公司的经营运作。这样的话，一旦市场开始上扬，We’ll be in a stronger place than our competitors. 跟竞争对手相比，我们就会居于更加有利的地位。Jerry 表示赞成，让大家回去都好好想想，星期四再开会最后决定。
A: 大家认为，现在可能是the beginning of an economic recovery, 整体经济开始复苏的时候， 公司应该利用这个时机，Play hardball, 大胆采取行动，毕竟，nothing ventured, nothing gained, 不担风险，就不会有收获。
B: Exactly. All decisions come with risks. I can hardly think of a real “safe bet” in life.
A: 可不，人生哪儿有能百分之百打保票的事儿呢？ That’s way they say life is an adventure! 我就有冒险精神，在人生的赌桌上，我不会轻易被吓倒!
B: 杨琳, I didn’t know you had a gambler’s appetite. 我想下面这个节目你准喜欢，讲的是赌马!
A: 太好了! 赶快来听“体育美语”!
American sports English: Betting on horse racing
P: Hey, Yang Chen, Can I borrow a few bucks?
Y: Borrow money? 当然没问题。But why?
P: I put all my money down on the horse race, but the horse I bet on didn’t win.
Y: Betting on horse racing, 赌马? Hey, young man, you really shouldn’t gamble.
P: You sound like my mother. Well, I usually don’t bet on horse racing; but this time I figured if I made a bet on this horse, I’d have a very good shot at making some money, Yang Chen.
Y: 你为什么觉得自己have a very good shot赢钱的机率很大？
P: The horse I bet on has won two races, so I thought it would be a safe bet. I don’t want to lose my money.
Y: A safe bet，保险的赌注？ Haha, 真好笑。If you gamble, you have to take chances. 敢于冒险。
P: I guess so.
Y: 你看我, I placed my money on the dark horse. 那匹本来不被人看好的黑马，结果我赢了一大笔。
P: Oh – wait a minute, you bet on horse racing too? I thought you were against any form of betting or gambling.
Y: 小声点。小心别人听见。
P: OK. I will tell people you didn’t bet on horse racing.
And may I ask how much did you win?
Y: Two thousand dollars.
P: That’s exactly how much I lost.
Y: 真的？看来得分给你一半儿才公平。Here is half.
P: That’s very kind of you. Are you sure you want to share the money with me?
Y: You bet.
P: Don’t even mention the word “bet”. I’m done with betting!!!
I’m going to the library now to study for my exam…..
Y: Hey, Patrick, 下星期还有赛马。 Let’s bet on it.
P: You scare me, Yang Chen, I think you are turning into a gambler.
B: 看吧，赌马有风险，掏钱需谨慎!
A: 没错! Actually, I don’t like gambling, 我并不喜欢赌博，But I’m willing to take chances in life! 我作人是敢于冒险的!
B: Good luck, 冒险家!
A: Thanks! 好了，今天的节目时间差不多了。这次的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!
B: Bye!
返回《美语训练班》页。