美语训练班第011-020课

美语训练班第011课

B: 欢迎大家来到美语训练班！I’m Donny.

A: 大家好！我是杨琳! Donny, 有听众问咱们这个“美语训练班”节目的英文名是什么，人家都猜是English training class.

B: 其实我们的英文名是American English Mosaic. M-o-s-a-i-c, mosaic, 就是”马赛克”。

A: 没错! 美语训练班把美国之音的美语教学节目汇集到一起，就跟马赛克一样，拼贴杂烩，内容丰富。

B: Exactly! So what are we going to teach today?

A：今天，我们要去看棒球比赛, 和朋友聊聊大学里的社团生活和打工经历，出点份子钱，帮同事过生日, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“拗口”和“不择手段”。

B: But first, let’s just take a small piece from the whole mosaic.

A: 对，咱们先花一分钟，学一个词！

Learn A Word : obesity

今天我们要学的词是obesity, obesity is spelled o-b-e-s-i-t-y, obesity. Obesity肥胖症。A new study finds that comparing to the reduction of food intake, food choices are more important in tackling obesity. 一项新的研究显示，与减少食物摄入量相比，食物的选择在改变肥胖症情况上更为重要。Not getting adequate amounts of sleep is a significant risk factor for obesity. 睡眠不足是导致肥胖症的危险因素之一。First Lady Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity campaign aims at making children exercise more and eat better. 美国第一夫人米歇尔.奥巴马的反肥胖症运动鼓励孩子们增加运动，改善饮食。好的，今天我们学习的词是obesity, obesity, obesity.

A: Obesity，肥胖症. But how fat is too fat? 要到多胖才算是肥胖症呢？

B: One way to determine if you’re obese is to have a doctor measure your BMI, or body mass index.

A: 计算身体质量指数？可是我觉得这个指数定得太宽松了! 就拿我来说吧，我BMI在正常范围，可我觉得自己特胖，一点都不苗条!

B: 啊？You don’t look fat at all!

A: 是嘛？我可没信心。

B: Some women just feel like they can never be thin enough.

A: Seriously! I’d do anything to lose 10 pounds!

B: Anything? 那好吧，来听下面的words and idioms，看看怎么形容你这种心态。

Words and Idioms: beg borrow or steal

各位听众，现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 937讲。我是杨琳。

我是 Douglas Johnson.

我女儿最近迷上了一个摇滚乐队。下个月，这个乐队要来我们这里演出，我女儿可兴奋了，说什么都要去。可是，这个乐队人气太高，演唱会票非常抢手，很难买到。不过我女儿铁了心要去，说什么也要弄到一张票。她这种追星的热情，让我想到了一个习惯用语，那就是：

M: Beg, borrow, or steal. Beg is spelled b-e-g, borrow; b-o-r-r-o-w, and steal; s-t-e-a-l. Beg,-borrow,-or-steal.

beg是“求”，borrow是“借”，steal则是“偷”，beg, borrow or steal字面的意思是“祈求，借用或者偷”，其实就是指“不择手段，用一切方法”。我女儿非要去看演唱会，She’d beg, borrow or steal to get a ticket. 不论用什么方法，她非得搞到一张票不可。

很多人都有失眠或睡不好觉的问题，在下面这段话中，我们来听一听，有什么办法可以改善睡眠质量：

“Many people would do anything for a good night’s sleep. But they don’t have to BEG, BORROW, OR STEAL to get it. They need to keep a regular sleeping schedule, make sure the bedroom is dark, quiet and cool, and avoid alcohol and caffeine at night. That’s how they’ll be able to wake up in the morning feeling refreshed.”

这段话是说：[很多人为了能睡上一夜好觉愿意做任何事。其实，他们不这么大费周章也能睡好觉。只要保持固定的睡眠时间，保证卧室里黑暗、安静、凉爽，并且晚上不喝含酒精和咖啡因的东西，就行了。这样做，第二天醒来时就能神清气爽。]

我还听说，电脑、电视和手机也会造成人们失眠，因为它们发射的信号会干扰大脑产生的睡眠荷尔蒙。所以，在快睡觉的时候，最好远离这些东西。好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话：

Beg, borrow or steal这个习惯用语也可以说成 beg, borrow and steal, 意思是一样的。在节目开始时，我谈到女儿迷恋摇滚乐队，不过，同下面这段话中提到的乐队相比，我女儿的偶像只能是后生晚辈了。我们来听一听：

I can’t believe the Rolling Stones concert is already sold out. All I want is two tickets. I don’t care where the seats are. And I’m willing to travel wherever I have to. This may be their last tour ever. That’s why I’m prepared to BEG, BORROW, OR STEAL to see them perform.”

这段话是说：[我简直不能相信滚石乐队演唱会的票已经卖光了。我只要两张票，不在乎座位，也不在乎演唱会在什么地方开，反正我一定要跑去看，这也许是他们最后一次开演唱会了。这就是为什么我无论如何，用一切办法都要去看不可。]

看来歌迷的心情都是一样的! 不过，Rolling Stones 滚石乐队的告别演唱会的确是意义非凡。这个摇滚乐团60年代出道，叱诧数十年屹立不倒，已经是重量级的流行文化符号了! 好，我们再来听听刚才那段话：

“I can’t believe the Rolling Stones concert is already sold out. All I want is two tickets. I don’t care where the seats are. And I’m willing to travel wherever I have to. This may be their last tour ever. That’s why I’m prepared to BEG, BORROW, OR STEAL to see them perform.”

各位听众，今天我们学习的习惯用语是beg borrow or steal，意思是“不择手段，用尽各种办法”。

A: Beg, borrow or steal! 真是说出了我减肥的心声! I would beg, borrow or steal to fit in my bikinis! 不管怎样我都要减肥成功，好去穿比基尼! 我要做骨感美女!

B: 好了! 这是美语训练班，不是美女训练班。

A: 哈哈，Donny, 美语和美女你说起来不拗口嘛？

B: Of course not, I’m a trained professional.

A: 你还真不谦虚! 不过，既然说到“拗口”，咱们就来听听这个词用美语怎么说。

How to say it: tongue twister

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。今天是吴琼要问的：拗口。

DONNY: 吴琼，What’s up?

WQ: 我表姐要生宝宝了，发动全家给孩子起名儿呢，这不，我翻翻字典，找点灵感。

DONNY: Interesting! 我也来出主意!

WQ: 孩子姓唐，你说叫什么好？

DONNY: 唐？嗯….唐–老–鸭。

WQ: 啊？!

DONNY: Haha! I’m sorry, Wu Qiong. I know this is a terrible name, but when you mentioned the word “唐”， the name rolled right off my tongue.

WQ: Rolled right off your tongue? 从舌头上滚下来？我明白了，就是顺口，脱口而出。你一听到“唐”字，顺口就说出了唐老鸭。那…如果不顺口，也就是拗口，该怎么说呢？

DONNY: You can say it’s a tongue twister. Tongue is spelled t-o-n-g-u-e, and twister, t-w-i-s-t-e-r.

WQ: 哦，tongue twister，就是说起来拗口的东西! This name is a tongue twister 这个名字真难念。

DONNY: 没错! Wu Qiong, you know the luxury car brand “Mercedes-Benz”, do you?

WQ: Mercedes-Benz? 就是奔驰嘛!

DONNY: Right. The Chinese translation 奔驰 rolls right off the tongue. However, if we call the brand 梅赛德斯·本兹， to me , that’s a tongue twister! It’s like I’m tripping over my own tongue when I try to say it.

WQ: Trip over your own tongue? 我知道 t-r-i-p, trip 是摔倒的意思，所以 trip over one’s own tongue 就是打磕巴，吃螺丝吧？

DONNY: Absolutely!

WQ: DONNY, We need to find a good name for this baby. We don’t want people to trip over their own tongues when they say the baby’s name!

DONNY: Of course, but first let’s see what you’ve learned today!

WQ: 第一，顺口叫 to roll right off the tongue

第二，拗口的东西则是 a tongue twister

第三，打磕巴，吃螺丝，叫 to trip over one’s own tongue

A: Donny, 快展示一下你的中文水平，给大家来段儿tongue twister, 绕口令!

B: 四是四，十是十，四十是四十，十四是十四，别把十四当四十，也别把四十当十四，谁能说一说，请来试一试。

A: 够溜的!

B: 你也来一个？A tongue twister in English!

A: 这有何难？你听好了！How many cans can a canner can if a canner can can cans? And how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?

B: Awesome!

A: 还可以吧! 大学时口语课上学的。

B: I bet you were a good student back in college.

A: 那当然。我是拿全额奖学金的! 我可是大学里的风云人物。

B: 那咱们就听听大学生活吧，Let’s listen to“美语三级跳”。

GoEnglish: College─Intermediate

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”单元的中级课程。

Winnie: Eric 和 Patty 是大学同学，俩人正在聊校园生活。

Professor: Eric wants to find out what clubs Patty is in. In this section, listen for the word “a cappella,” which means singing without any instruments.

Eric: So Patty, tell me about what kind of clubs you like to do.

Patty: Well, I’ve always loved singing, but it’s pretty hard to get into the singing clubs.

Eric: I know, they can be pretty competitive. But if they don’t accept you, you should start an a cappella group! I’m sure lots of people would want to join.

Patty: Do you think it’s hard to start a club?

Eric: I don’t think it’s very hard. You should talk to the student life officials. I think you just have to find a professor to sponsor you.

Patty: That’s all? That’s really easy. I think I’ll do that.

Winnie: Patty 喜欢唱歌，但是要进学校合唱团很难。

Professor: That’s right, Winnie. So what does Eric suggest that she do?

Winnie: Eric 建议她自己组织一个”A-cappella” club，也就是不用乐器伴奏，全靠清唱的阿卡贝拉合唱团。Professor Bowman，阿卡贝拉合唱团在美国大学里受欢迎么？

Professor: Yes, they’re very popular. Now we’re going to learn about what Eric does in his free time. Listen for the word “cramming,” which means to study really hard.

Patty: What about you, Eric? What kind of clubs and activities do you do outside of class?

Eric: Personally, I don’t have time for clubs.

Patty: Why not? Do you have to do a lot of cramming for the three English classes you take?

Eric: Actually, I’m not busy because I have to spend lots of time cramming. I’m busy because I have a part-time job.

Winnie: 啊？我原来还觉得，Eric只选三门英文课是因为他偷懒呢，原来他是因为要兼职打工才没这么多时间的。

Professor: In America, lots of students have part-time jobs to help pay for college.

Winnie: 学生打工都干些什么呢？

Professor: Some students work on campus in places like the library. Others work off campus as waiters at restaurants.

Winnie: 不知道Eric打的是什么工？

Patty: What do you do for your part-time job?

Eric: I work at a restaurant bartending and serving food.

Patty: Oh cool! How do you like it?

Eric: I love it because all my hours are at night, so I can save my days for class and studying.

Patty: That’s very convenient. Do you make a lot of money?

Eric: Yeah, the tips are great and I meet a lot of fun people.

Winnie: Eric晚上在酒吧调酒？哇，太酷了~~

Professor: Yes, but he must be very tired going to school all day and working all night. Did you hear how Eric is paid at the restaurant?

Winnie: 他说，他在酒吧挣很多tips–小费。

Professor: Exactly. Now let’s find out if Patty has a job.

Eric: What about you? Do you have a part-time job?

Patty: No, I got a scholarship, so I don’t have to worry about working.

Eric: That’s great. Does your scholarship pay for everything, including classes, housing and food?

Patty: That’s right, thanks to my good grades in high school I got a full ride.

Winnie: Patty真厉害，有scholarship奖学金，所以不用打工赚学费。Professor Bowman, 什么叫”full ride”呢？

Professor: Some scholarships only pay for part of college. But if your scholarship pays for everything, you can say it’s a “full ride” scholarship.

Winnie: 哦，full ride就是全额奖学金，学杂费和生活费全包！Patty一定特别优秀。

Professor: Yes, she said she got good grades in high school.

Eric: Wow, I wish I had studied harder in high school so that I got a scholarship.

Patty: Well, there is one big problem. Since the scholarship pays for my meals, I have to eat the food in the dorms.

Eric: Oh right! The cafeteria food is terrible. But whenever you want a good meal, come to the restaurant I work at and you can eat for free.

Patty: Believe me, that is an offer that I will not refuse.

Winnie: Patty和Eric都觉得学校食堂cafeteria的饭菜不好吃。 Professor Bowman, 在美国大学住学生宿舍好不好玩？

Professor: Let’s tune in next time to find out.

A: 原来Patty和我一样，She got a full ride, 拿到了全额奖学金。

B: Well, I’m more like Eric. I had some part-time jobs in college, including bartending.

A: 你大学时也在酒吧打过工？That sounds so cool!

B: I also started my own club!

A: 你自己成立了社团？是什么？

B: 就是练习中文，说绕口令的社团啊。

A: 啊？听起来好像相声社，真有意思！好啦，大学生活聊起来就没完了，咱们还是进入下一个单元–“礼节美语”吧，今天讲的是：凑份子。

Business Etiquette: Birthday Bucks I

Sarah 转到新部门工作不久，在去吃午饭的路上遇到原来的同事 Amanda.

S: Hi Amanda, how are you? I’ve missed working with you and the whole gang since my transfer last week.

A: We’ve missed you too. The office just isn’t the same without you. How is your new job?

S: It’s great. I really get to focus on what I like to do and everyone has been very nice and welcoming. However, I’m having a small problem with my new colleagues.

A: What happened?

MC: Sarah告诉Amanda她很想念原来的同事，I missed working with you and the gang. 大家都知道，Gang 有团伙的意思，在这里指常聚在一起的一群人。 Amanda 也说，The office just isn’t the same without you. Sarah走了，办公室好像就不一样了。虽然Sarah很喜欢她新的工作，但是在跟新同事相处时却遇到了一些小麻烦，我们继续听。

S: Well, three people are celebrating their birthdays this month and the policy here is for everyone to contribute ten dollars to a card and cake for each person.

A: Wow, so you’ll be out thirty dollars on your first week at work!

S: I know. It is a lot of money and I haven’t gotten to know any of the people celebrating their birthdays well enough yet. At our old department, it was only three dollars for each birthday and there were only ten of us.

MC: 原来，这个月有三个新同事过生日，Sarah 不得不跟着一起凑份子，买卡片和蛋糕为同事庆祝。They want her to contribute to the card and cake. Contribute is spelled c-o-n-t-r-i-b-u-t-e, contribute 是贡献的意思。这样一来，She will be out thirty dollars. 一下要出三十块。Sarah 跟这些同事还不熟，所以觉得有点亏。Amanda 安慰她说，

A: Well, every department is different. You wouldn’t want your new co-workers to think you’re a Grinch, right?

S: What is that? It doesn’t sound like a good thing to be.

A: A Grinch is a person who spoils the mood at a happy occasion by being selfish or unenthusiastic. You know — a party pooper.

S: I definitely don’t want to be that! But, I still think it’s unreasonable for them to ask me for such a big sum of money when we don’t know each other very well. What should I do?

MC: Amanda 警告Sarah，如果她不出份子钱的话，同事会认为她是 Grinch, Grinch is spelled g-r-i-n-c-h, grinch 专门用来形容自私，而且没有情趣的人。Sarah当然不想让新同事觉得她是个败兴的人，a party pooper，可她还是很不甘心，觉得新同事的要求不合理 unreasonable. reasonable 是有道理的，前面加上 un, unreasonable 就变成了没有道理的。这笔份子钱，Sarah最后会出吗？我们下次继续听。

A: 唉! 凑份子的事真的很难掌握。出钱吧，有点舍不得，不出吧，You don’t want people to think you’re a Grinch. 又不想让别人觉得自己小气，不合群。

B: Yeah. I know what you mean! When I was in China, I got invited to several weddings. I always had a until I learned that all the guests had to contribute a 红包 to the new couple.

A: 是啊! 结婚凑份子可比办公室帮人过生日的钱多多了!

B: Okay, let’s stop complaining and listen to something fun and relaxed.

A: 那就是“体育美语”喽!

American sports English: Seventh inning stretch

YC: Gosh, Patrick, this baseball game is taking forever.

PW: Well, Yang Chen, a baseball game is nine innings long.

YC: 一场棒球赛有9个 innings 9局。

PW: Oh–It’s the seventh inning already? All right! You get to experience the famous “seventh inning stretch,” Yang Chen.

YC: Yayyyyyy. Patrick, What exactly is the “seventh inning stretch”?

PW: It is a baseball tradition! Because baseball is such a long game, during the seventh inning everyone stands up and stretches their legs and sings a song.

YC: 如果碰上两个烂队，到第7局大概观众都要睡着了。所以要来个”seventh inning stretch”，舒展一下身体，活动活动筋骨。Let’s stretch our legs,

Music

YC: Oh, I’ve heard the song before─带我去看棒球赛！

PW: That’s right─Take me out to the Ball Game. Stand up and sing it with me, Yang Chen!

YC/PW: Take me out to the Ball Game, Take me out to the Crowd; Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don’t care if I never get back! Let’s root, root, root for the home team, if they don’t win it’s a shame, for its one, two, three strikes you’re out at the old ball game!

PW: There! Don’t you feel better now, after the seventh inning stretch? I’m going to the snack bar. So would you like peanuts? Cracker Jacks?

Y: No. Just get me a beer.

B: Take me out to the Ball Game, Take me out to the Crowd; Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack, I don’t care if I never get back!

A: 唱得不错啊 Donny! 不过看棒球这么放松的事，还需要休息啊？那我们主持节目这么辛苦，更应该take a stretch!

B: Yeah! Let’s do it!

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!

B：Bye!

美语训练班第012/013课

A: 欢迎大家来到美语训练班！我是杨琳!

B: And I’m Donny. 杨琳，今天咱们学什么？

A：今天，我们要去学击剑; don’t be a wimp! 要和朋友聊聊大学住宿和party，琢磨一下去哪里踏春, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“质量差”和“守财奴”。

B: 守财奴？我就想当守财奴!

A: 啊？为什么啊？

B: 杨琳，you know, the economy is bad now, and a lot of people have gone bankrupt and lost all of their savings. 所以，能有财守是很让人羡慕的!

A: 情况也没那么糟吧! 不信咱们来听下面的Learn a Word, 看看大学生的就业状况。

Learn A Word starting salary

今天我们要学的词是 starting salary, starting is spelled s-t-a-r-t-i-n-g, salary is spelled s-a-l-a-r-y; starting salary. Starting salary 起薪。今年美国大学毕业生的就业市场将比去年好转，化学工程专业学生薪水最高。The average starting salary for chemistry engineering graduates is $66,886. 化学工然b专业的毕业生平均起薪6万6千886美元。就业专家建议，College graduates should focus on finding a job where they can grow and shouldn’t be overly concerned about their starting salary. 大学毕业生应该更努力找一份有发展空间的工作，而不要过份在意起薪的多少。好的，今天我们学习的词是 starting salary, starting salary, starting salary.

A: 什么？化学专业的starting salary最高？嘿! 早知道我考大学的时候就报化学专业了!

B: Why didn’t you?

A: 我那时候是文艺少女啊，就希望能找一个让我成天读诗看小说的专业，什么物理化学，太枯燥了。

B: So you majored in what really interests you. What’s wrong with that?

A: 毕业的时候就明白了! 人家理工科的学生找工作容易，待遇好啊! 唉! 我当时真该听我爸妈的建议去学医，不应该那么固执，一根筋。

B: Yes, being open-minded and listening to others will surely do you good.

A: Open-minded? 这不是我们今天的流行美语里要教的词么？

B: 没错，一起听吧!

Popular American: To catch a show; open-minded

各位听众，现在播送「流行美语」。春天来了，Larry 和李华计划到外面转转，享受春天的美景。他们会用到两个常用语：to catch something 和open minded。

Larry: What wonderful spring weather! We should get out and enjoy it, Lihua.

LH: 没错，咱们踏春去!

Larry: There are a lot of music festivals around town these days. Would you be interested in catching an outdoor show somewhere?

LH: Catch a show? “Catch” 不是捕捉的意思吗? 怎么可能捕捉一个show呢?

Larry: Not that kind of catch, Lihua. Here, the word “catch” means to go to attend something, like a show.

LH: 哦，catch在这里不是“捕捉”，而是“参加某项活动”的意思。 to catch a show就是去看一场表演。

Larry: That’s right! We could catch a rock concert.

LH: 啊？摇滚演唱会？太吵了! Let’s catch a classical music performance instead. 我们去欣赏一场古典音乐。

Larry: Classical music? With music that boring and weather this nice, I’d surely fall asleep!

LH: 听古典乐你会睡觉？真是没有艺术细胞! 好了，你还有什么主意？

Larry: Well, we could always go catch a movie. There’s a new action film that just came out.

LH: Catch a movie? 看电影？可那是在室内啊，可惜了这么好的天气!

Larry: That’s OK. We can just enjoy the lovely weather– as we walk to the movie theater.

LH: 可我不是很想看电影….Wait! I know! 我们去运动运动吧，I feel like catching a game of tennis. 去打网球吧!

Larry: Well, you can’t “catch” a game of tennis if you are playing it. If you are watching other people play, however, then you can say you are “catching” the game.

LH: 哦，to catch something 是强调被动地，不需要费力就可以享受的那种参与。如果自己挥汗如雨地去打网球，就不能用catch, 可如果自己不用动，轻松地坐在一边看网球赛，就可以说catch a game of tennis 了! 这样吧 Larry, 咱们去博物馆看艺术展，怎么样？

Larry: Ah, I guess we could go to the museum…

LH: 你好像不太情愿啊!

Larry: Well, it’s just that I had my mind set on going to that rock concert for awhile now.

LH: 真不明白，那么吵闹的摇滚乐，有什么好听的。

Larry: Come on, Lihua. I think you should be more open-minded when it comes to music.

LH: open-minded? 什么意思？

Larry: To be open-minded means to be open to new ideas or experiences.

LH: I get it. To be open minded 就是宽容，思想开放的意思。这么说起来，Larry, 你就不是个 open-minded，思想开放，勇于尝试的人。

Larry: No way! I am very open-minded, Lihua. I’ve done all sorts of crazy things with you that I wouldn’t normally do.

LH：比如呢？

Larry: Well, like playing Mahjong with your friends. Even though I had to learn from scratch, I still kept an open mind and tried to have fun.

LH: 哈哈，你打麻将那次还真是出糗呢!

Larry: And I went camping last year with your friends. And even though it was cold and raining the entire time, I was open-minded and tried to enjoy myself.

LH: 好啦，我承认你是个优秀的男朋友!

Larry: Of course I am! And I’m not close-minded.

LH: Close-minded？我知道了，一定是open-minded的反义词，就是思想保守的。对不对？

Larry: That’s right. You shouldn’t be so close-minded to this rock concert thing.

LH: 那好，我们来个妥协。咱们先去看博物馆看艺术展，然后再去听摇滚乐，怎么样？我够open-minded了吧？

Larry: Great! Let’s go!

各位听众，今天李华学了两个常用语，一个是to catch something，意思是“观看观赏”；另一个是open-minded，意思是“思想开放的，肯接受新鲜事物的”。

A: Hmm, I’ve always wanted to catch a Broadway show. I heard they’re fantastic.

B: Go ahead! What’s stopping you?

A: 票价啊! 百老汇歌舞剧的票太贵了，动不动上百美元，我觉得有点宰人。

B: I don’t know. I saw “Phantom of the Opera” once, and I really liked it. I think it’s worth the money. 物有所值。

A: It better be! 花那么多钱，当然不想看不入流的表演。

B: 说到不入流，质量差，咱们正好听一下”How to say it in American English”, 教的就是这个词。

How to say it: rip off

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。今天是方方要问的：宰人。

JESSICA: 方方，Your new cell phone is so cool!

FF: 那是，这可是最新型的智能手机!

JESSICA: 这手机很贵吧？

FF: 商店里卖5000块呢!

JESSICA:啊？ That price gives me sticker shock.

FF: sticker shock? sticker, s-t-i-c-k-e-r, sticker, 是商品的价签，shock表示吃惊，sticker shock就是说看到价签上的价格，被吓到了，对不对？

JESSICA: That’s correct.

FF: 说起来，那天我去商场里买手机，When I saw the price, I got major sticker shock. 那价格让我大跌眼睛。这么贵，纯属宰人! 对了，“宰人”在美语里怎么说呢？

JESSICA: We use the word “rip-off”. r-i-p-o-f-f. If something gives you sticker shock, you can say “This is a rip-off”.

FF: This is a rip-off, 这是宰人价!

JESSICA: You can also say rip someone off.

FF: Rip someone off？我明白，就是“冲某人要高价，宰人一刀”。那我要是说“我被人宰了”，就是 I was ripped off，对不对？

JESSICA: Exactly! Fangfang, Don’t you think you were kinda ripped off ? This phone is really pricey!

FF: There’s no way I got ripped off! 这手机是网上买的，才1000块!

Jessica: Wow! That’s a really good deal!

FF: 那是! 哎？怎么回事？手机怎么不动了？Jessica 你看看，what’s wrong with my phone?

Jessica: Let me see ….The phone is dead. It’s broken.

FF: 啊？坏了？我，我昨天才买的!

Jessica: It seems like you bought a shoddy phone. Shoddy is spelled s-h-o-d-d-y. If something is of poor quality, you say it’s shoddy.

FF: Shoddy 就是形容质量低劣。嘿! 气死我了! 买了个劣质品。

Jessica: You know what they say, Fang Fang, you got what you paid for.

FF: You got what you paid for? 便宜没好货! Jessica, 你损我是吧？

Jessica: 哈哈，别生气了。Let’s see what you’ve learned today!

FF: 第一，宰人是rip-off, 当动词是rip someone off;

第二，形容价格高可以说 something gives me sticker shock；

第三，形容质量低劣可以用shoddy.

A：Donny, 除了rip someone off，我们以前好像还教过一个说法，也是宰人的意思，对不对？

B: Yes! 我们教过的那个是 to take someone for a ride.

A: 对! 我记得好像是在讲，找房子的时候，房东欺负租客刚来美国，不懂行情，所以把价格开得高高的，He took her for a ride. 对不对？

B: Wow, Yanglin, I’m impressed.

A: Thanks! 不过说到找房子，咱们就来听听今天的GoEnglish, 看看美国大学生怎么解决住宿问题，室友们又会怎么相处。

B: Let’s listen!

GoEnglish: College─Advanced

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”单元的高级课程。

Winnie: Eric 和 Patty 是大学同学，俩人聊起了住宿情况。

Professor: Listen for the word “lousy,” which means “bad.”

Eric: So Patty, are you planning on living on campus this year, or are you going to go for an apartment?

Patty: Well, housing is included in my scholarship, so I have to live on campus. The food is lousy, but there are other things I like about it.

Eric: What are the good things about living in a college dorm?

Patty: There are lots of advantages to living in the dorms. For example, I like studying and hanging out with my floormates. We all go out to parties together.

Eric: Wow, it sounds like the people in your dorm are pretty close.

Patty: Yeah, we really are. I love the dorms because you make friends that last all through college.

Winnie: 看来，虽然食堂饭不好吃，但 Patty 还是挺喜欢住校的，跟宿舍楼里的人很合得来。对了，Professor Bowman, roommate是室友，那么Patty说的floormate是住在同一层的人么？

Professor: That’s right, Winnie! A floormate is someone who lives on the same floor.

Winnie: 也就是“层友”！我们来听听Eric住在哪里吧。

Patty: How about you, Eric? Are you living on campus?

Eric: Right now I live in an apartment off campus. I didn’t like living on campus because the people in my dorm always had their doors closed and were studying. It wasn’t much fun.

Patty: That’s too bad. It sounds like the people in your dorm weren’t as close as the people in my dorm.

Eric: No, you’re right. Living off campus is OK, but I feel like I miss out on all of the fun stuff that happens on campus.

Patty: Have you ever thought of joining a fraternity? I hear that all the brothers in the frat houses are really close.

Eric: Yeah, I’ve thought about joining a frat. But the frat houses are just so dirty! I’m not sure I could take it.

Winnie: Professor Bowman, “fraternity”是兄弟会吗？

Prof: Exactly. And the “frat house” is the house that the people in the fraternity live in. Sometimes fraternities are called the “Greek system.” If you join a fraternity, you can say that you “go Greek.”

Winnie: 加入兄弟会可以说“Go Greek”，真有意思！那我猜，既然有兄弟会，一定也有“姐妹会”吧？

Professor: Yes! In the next section, listen for the word “sorority,” which is a fraternity for women.

Eric: What about you? Have you ever thought about joining a sorority?

Patty: No way. I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about Greek life. Plus, I’m not a big drinker and I decided it’s better to keep a clear head and focus on my studies.

Eric: You’re totally right. I like to go to parties, but I don’t want to wake up in the morning surrounded by empty beer bottles!

Patty: Yeah, partying in the place you live is a bad idea. Plus, all the hazing seems really stupid.

Eric: Yeah, some of my friends joined fraternities and they said the hazing was really bad.

Winnie: 看来，Patty对姐妹会不感兴趣。可她说的”hazing”是什么意思啊？

Professor: Sometimes when you want to join a club, the people in the club will make you do lots of crazy things to prove you really want to join. For example, a fraternity might haze one of the men trying to join it by making him wear a dress out in public.

Winnie: 啊？原来”hazing”就是整人啊！为了考验想加入兄弟会的男生，可能会让他穿着裙子到大马路上走一圈儿! 难怪Eric和Patty都讨厌这些hazing的把戏!

Eric: You know, my friend is having a party this Saturday night at his apartment. Do you want to come?

Patty: Sure! That sounds like lots of fun!

Eric: Great. Bring all of your girlfriends!

Patty: Wait a minute. Are you inviting me just so that I will bring lots of other girls to the party?

Eric: What? Of course not! I’m inviting you because I need a designated driver!

Winnie: Eric请Patty去参加派对，但却是为了让Patty在派对结束后当他的专用司机–“designated driver,” 这是什么朋友啊！

Professor: Well, if Patty is a true friend she will want to make sure Eric gets home safely, right?

Winnie: 那倒也是。我看Patty也是个讲义气的朋友呢!

B: I have first-hand experience of being hazed in college. It still gives me nightmares from time to time.

A: 你上大学时也为加入兄弟会而被整过？快讲讲!

B: Er…往事不堪回首啊。But living in the frat house gave me the chance to attend some of the best parties of my life, and I was really close with my roommates.

A: 对啊，丰富的社交生活，室友间密切友好的关系，这就是加入兄弟会的好处。我们中国的大学没有fraternity 或者 sorority, 男生也不能进女生宿舍…….

B: So where do you guys have parties?

A: 去饭馆儿啊，KTV啊! 那时候大家都是穷学生，一起凑钱出去玩儿，可高兴了! 不过，也有些人喜欢蹭饭，到交钱的时候就假装上厕所什么的。

B: 那不就是我们节目开始时说的“守财奴”？

A: 对啊! 我觉得钱是不能乱花，但也不能太抠门，要不然，不论在学校还是在公司，都会惹人讨厌。

B: That’s right. Let’s listen to Business Etiquette, 看看怎么才能既省钱又不被人讨厌。

Business Etiquette: Birthday Bucks II

Sarah 向原来的同事 Amanda 诉苦，说刚换了新工作，就赶上三个人过生日，都要凑份子，感觉心理很不平衡。Amanda 劝她说，

A: If I were you, I would just bite the bullet and hand over the money. First impressions are important and it’s not worth getting a reputation for being a Scrooge. Think about it this way: when your birthday comes around, you’ll have at least one card and cake to look forward to.

S: A Scrooge is someone who is stingy with his money even though he has plenty, right? I wouldn’t want my colleagues to think I am refusing to contribute to the pool even though I can, but this would put me way over my weekly budget.

Amanda 建议Sarah硬着头皮凑份子， Bite the bullet 意思是硬着头皮接受自己不愿意做的事情。她说，first impressions are important, 第一印象很重要，不能为了这点钱给别人留下“守财奴”的印象。 It’s not worth getting a reputation for being a Scrooge. Scrooge is spelled s-c-r-o-o-g-e, scrooge 意思是讨厌的守财奴。Sarah 说自己不是不肯出钱，contribute to the pool, 这里的pool, p-o-o-l, pool 指的是大家凑的钱，可如果出钱，一星期的预算就会超出很多。

A: What about a compromise? Maybe you could sit down privately with the person in charge of collecting the money and explain that coming from a smaller department you’ve never had to deal with so many birthdays at once. Offer to give her

five dollars for each birthday instead, and promise that you will make your famous brownies for the celebration.

S: That sounds like a good plan. I hope they understand where I’m coming from and don’t hold it against me.

Amanda 建议Sarah去找负责收钱的同事商量，try to make a compromise. 看能不能找到一个居中的妥协方案，把份子钱从十块减少到五块，但同时保证烤自己拿手的蛋糕，来庆祝同事的生日。Sarah觉得这个办法不错，希望同事能 understand where I’m coming from. 意思是能明白和理解我的本意，don’t hold it against me 不要记恨我。

A: I’m sure they will understand. Lots of people have been in the same position before. And, maybe once you get to know them better, ten dollars won’t seem like

such a big deal anymore.

S: Thanks so much for your advice, I feel a lot better about the situation.

A: You’re welcome. Let’s make sure we keep in touch, Sarah!

S: Sure, I’ll talk to you again soon and let you know how it goes. Enjoy your lunch!

Amanda 叫Sarah放心，一定有很多人遇到过这种情形，lots of people have been in the same position before. 她还说，等Sarah和同事们熟了以后，凑十块钱的份子钱可能也就没什么大不了的了。

A: Amanda给Sarah出主意，让她既不用bite the bullet, 硬着头皮去凑份子，也不会被同事看成是Scrooge, 守财奴。她建议Sarah提出折中方案，make a compromise，让Sarah少出点钱，做个蛋糕带去。

B: That’s right. Hopefully Sarah can leave a good first impression on her colleagues.

A: 不过Donny, 说到这个Scrooge，他是不是狄更斯小说“Christmas Carol”–“圣诞颂歌”里的那个小气自私的老头子？

B: 没错! 杨琳，看来你对外国文学很了解啊!

A: 承蒙夸奖! 除了文学，我还喜欢外国电影。我小时候特崇拜侠盗“佐罗”!

B: 你喜欢Zorro? 那你一定喜欢下面这个运动？

A: 骑马？

B: No! 是Fencing–击剑! 让我们来听“体育美语”。

American sports English: Fencing

P: This music reminds me of pirate movies like ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’ Why are you listening to that?

Y: Because I like sword fighting. Do you like it?

P: It’s hard to say, Yang Chen. I guess I don’t have anything against swords, but it seems a bit strange. Why do you ask?

Y: Because I want to try fencing! 击剑！

P: Fencing F-E-N-C-I-N-G. Fencing is the official name for competitive and Olympic sword fighting.

But isn’t fencing kind of dangerous, Yang Chen? And what ever happened to being a professional weightlifter?

Y: 我什么时候说过我要练举重吗？

P: Just a few days ago.

Y: I don’t remember it. But anyway. Fencing can be dangerous, but we are going to be very careful and wear protective gear ，防护服，从头到脚都要包起来。

P: Okay, I feel a little better knowing we are wearing masks, gloves and other protective gear that covers us from head to toe.

Y:这是你的剑， Patrick.

P: Cool! This is the foil F-O-I-L.

This foil looks like a real sword, but it doesn’t have a sharp end.

Y: That’s right. Foil 叫做钝头剑, 是用来练习的。

如果我击中你，你不会受伤！

P: Ouch!

Y: Oh, don’t be a wimp, Patrick.

P: It didn’t hurt. It just surprised me, that’s all.

Y: All right. Now that we have our protective gear on and our foils, let’s start fencing. Ready? Avant garde!

P: Whoa, whoa, whoa.Yang Chen, I’m not ready. I don’t even know how to fence!

Y: I don’t either.

P: Then why are we here?

Y: Because I think fencing is cool. 你不觉得击剑很帅吗？

P: Yang Chen, that ‘s not a good reason to go into fencing .

Y: It’s not?

But I want to do it, 我要学会击剑，和坏人斗争，我要拯救世界！

P: OK. Before you can save the world, let’s go online to check the local gyms and find you a good coach.

Y: Great idea.

P: Ouch! Stick to weightlifting and Michael Phelps for now.

A: Yes! Fencing is so cool! 感觉好像是非常有风度的跳舞!

B: But still, it’s dangerous. You shouldn’t play with a sword unless you’ve had adequate training.

A: Donny, 我本来还想和你笔划两招呢! 我当佐罗，你呢，这么胆小，只能当佐罗最亲密的战友了!

B: 那也不错啊! 他的战友是……？

A: 就是那匹大黑马呀!

B: What?!

A: 哈哈! 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!

B: Bye!

美语训练班第013课

美语训练班第014课

B: 欢迎大家来到美语训练班! I’m Jessica, 我来给Donny代班!

A: 大家好！我是杨琳！Jessica, 你刚从中国回来，怎么样，这次玩儿的不错吧？

B: The trip was terrific! 有意思的事情可多了，我待会儿慢慢给你讲。

A: 好！那咱们先来说说今天节目要教的内容吧。

B: Sure! 今天，我们要聊聊好朋友一起组乐队的事儿, 要告诉大家在公司会议上如何才能有效地表达自己的意见，要看看骑自行车有什么讲究, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“幕后”和“放我一马”。

A: 不过在讲这些之前，咱们还是先花一分钟，学一个词！

Learn A Word cope with

今天我们要学的词是cope with. Cope is spelled c-o-p-e, cope; and with, w-i-t-h, with; cope with. To cope with处理，对付。挪威7月22日发生致命袭击事件后，The country is struggling to cope with the tragedy. 整个国家努力应对这场悲剧。金融危机期间，A lot of companies are trying to cut positions to cope with losses from slow sales. 很多公司通过裁员来应付销售疲软。美国官员最近说，Washington is confident that Iraqi forces can cope with the challenges their country is facing after U.S. forces withdraw. 美国撤军后，伊拉克部队能应付伊拉克面对的挑战，美国政府对此有信心。好的，今天我们学习的词是cope with, cope with, cope with.

A: Jessica，你这次去了中国好几个城市，肯定没少坐飞机。我听说现在飞机晚点挺严重的，So how did you cope with flight delays and cancellations?

B: Well. I just try to be patient and understanding.

A: 啊？合着你就是逆来顺受啊！

B: What else can I do? 我又不能自己开飞机！

A: 这倒也是，而且航空公司改变飞机行程的原因很多，比如天气，空中管制，机械故障什么的。有时候就连它们自己也控制不了飞机起飞的时间。

B: That’s right. So I’d rather lay back and not ask what’s going on behind the scenes.

A: 既然你说到”behind the scenes,” 那我们下面就来讲讲这个短语的意思。

B: 请听 words and idioms.

Words and Idioms: Behind the scenes

各位听众，现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 938讲。我是杨琳。

我是 Douglas Johnson.

我们社区委员会上周末举行选举，结果，一个默默无闻的人当上了委员会主席。后来我听说，这个人在选举前一直在家里办宴会，把好多委员请去吃饭，拉关系，拉选票。这让我想到了一个习惯用语，那就是：

Behind the scenes. Behind is spelled b-e-h-i-n-d, and scenes; s-c-e-n-e-s. Behind the scenes.

Behind the scenes 是“幕后”的意思。我们社区委员会的选举就是这样，候选人请委员会成员吃饭，说服他们把票投给自己，可我们这些普通居民根本不知道这些事情。It was done behind the scenes. 这事是瞒着大家，暗中进行的。

在下面这段话中我们要谈到一个叫Wikileaks的组织，中文叫维基泄密。它到底泄露了那些秘密呢？我们来听一听：

M: “WikiLeaks is an international organization that publishes secret information from a variety of unnamed sources. Its release of several pages of sensitive e-mails from U.S. diplomats caused a lot of concern. Many in the government claim that such communications should remain private. They warn that it could harm national security and international relations to let the public learn what goes on BEHIND THE SCENES. ”

这段话是说：[维基泄密是一个国际组织，专门公开来自各种匿名渠道的秘密信息。这个组织向公众泄露了长达数页的美国外交官收发的电子邮件的内容，这些敏感的信息引发了很多人的关注。许多政府人士说，这些邮件的内容不应该曝光。他们警告说，让公众了解到政府私下里进行的活动会给国家安全和国际关系带来伤害。]

不过从另外一方面说，公众是有知情权的。我们不是用“无事不可对人言”来形容行为磊落，心胸坦荡的人么？好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话：

我们常说“没有不透风的墙”。如果不想让别人知道你的秘密，唯一的办法就是不要把这个秘密告诉别人，不管是写信、电子邮件还是打电话、聊天。下面这个例句就证明了这一点，我们来听一听：

M: “Whenever players on the team were interviewed, they expressed their admiration and support for Coach Green. BEHIND THE SCENES, however, they complained bitterly about his lack of experience. Soon enough, their dislike of him became well-known. That’s when fans called for the Coach to resign.”

这段话是说：[队员们在接受采访时，总是表达他们对格林教练的敬仰和支持。可是，在背后，他们总是非常不满地抱怨这位教练缺乏经验。很快，队员们对教练的反感就变得尽人皆知了。于是，球迷们要求教练下课。]

behind the scenes 还可以放在一起当形容词用，表示幕后的，后台的。比如 A behind the scenes look at a fashion show, 时装秀的后台情况，a behind the scenes video of how a car is manufactured 揭密汽车制造过程的录像。好，我们再来听听刚才那段话：

M: “Whenever players on the team were interviewed, they expressed their admiration and support for Coach Green. BEHIND THE SCENES, however, they complained bitterly about his lack of experience. Soon enough, their dislike of him became well-known.. That’s when fans called for the Coach to resign.”

各位听众，今天我们学习的习惯用语是behind the scenes，意思是“不公开的，幕后的”。好的，这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束，

B: 杨琳，这次我去中国，通过朋友介绍，去参观了茅台酒公司！I got to see some really interesting behind-the-scenes work at the company’s brewery.

A: 啊？你看到了茅台酒不为人知的酿造过程？怎么样？学会了没有？能在你们家做出点儿茅台么？

B: 别闹了，我哪有这本事！不过话说回来，去茅台酒厂参观后，My friend treated me to a nice dinner!

A: 那肯定少不了请你喝茅台喽！

B: 没错！I love 茅台，but it’s too strong for me! 我可不想喝醉！

A: 哈哈！那你只能求大家，在酒桌上放你一马啦！

B: 对！咱们继续听节目，看看“放你一马”用美语怎么说！

How to say it: let someone off the hook

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。今天是吴琼要问的是：放我一马。

Jessica: 吴琼, let’s hit the gym tonight!

WQ: 哎哟，我上次做瑜珈的时候差点把脖子拉伤！你就放我一马吧！对了，这在美语里该怎么说呢？

Jessica: You want me to let you off the hook again? Uh-uh, 我每次叫你，你都推三挡四的，这次绝对不行！

WQ: 哦，放我一马就是 let me off the hook. Jessica, could you please let me off the hook? just this once? I’m begging you!

Jessica: That’s really cute, but NO, you HAVE to come with me. You’re not getting off the hook this time.

WQ: 瑜珈真不是我强项，要不，咱们还是去打网球吧？上次打网球，我轻而易举就打败你了！I beat you……

Jessica: Yeah, you beat me hands down! I do recall!

WQ: 刚想问你轻而易举怎么说，原来是 hands down! Yes, I beat you hands down last time! 我把你打败，让你输得五体投地！

Jessica: Fine, we’ll find a sport that we both like.

WQ: 好啊，快走吧，再不走数学课就要迟到了！

Jessica: 数学课啊。。。All of a sudden I’m not feeling well.

WQ: 啊? 怎么突然不舒服? 你是不是又想翘课 escape….escape….

Jessica: Wuqiong, 翘课英语是 play hooky，H-O-O-K-Y, hooky, play hooky, 翘课！

WQ: Well, you shouldn’t play hooky! Let’s go.

Jessica: Do I really have to go? It’s so boring…..

WQ: Yes, you do, and I am not letting you off the hook!

Jessica: Okay, let’s see what you’ve learned today.

第一，放我一马是let someone off the hook；

第二，形容轻而易举是 hands down；

第三，翘课是play hooky！

B: Unfortunately my host in China refused to let me off the hook.

A: Did you get wasted? 你是不是喝多了？

B: 可不，没两杯我就趴下了。That was hands down one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.

A: 喝趴下不丢人！我以前逃学被老师抓到，那才丢人呢！

B: I can’t believe you played hooky! 你不是好学生吗？

A: 就那么一次！我最好的朋友自己组了个乐队在酒吧表演，我去捧场，只好逃了一次课，谁知……

B: 你也够讲义气的！好了，咱们来听听下面的这个“美语三级跳”吧，讲的就是组乐队！

GoEnglish: Music─beginner

各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“音乐”单元的初级课程。

Winnie: Ernie和Beth是大学同学，俩人想组个乐队。不过，他们要先了解一下彼此的音乐口味是否相同。

Professor: So, let’s find out what kind of music they like.

Ernie: So Beth, what kind of music do you listen to?

Beth: I listen to a lot of hip hop. What about you?

Ernie: I mostly listen to pop music, but I like a lot of different stuff.

Beth: Yes, me too. I mostly listen to hip hop, but there are many genres of music I like.

Professor: So Winnie, did you hear the music genres each of them likes?

Winnie: Professor Bowman, 我正想问您，”genre”是什么意思啊？

Professor: It means “style” or “kind.” For example, you can say a “music genre” or a “movie genre.”

Winnie: 噢，原来 “genre” g-e-n-r-e就是类型，流派的意思。这么说，Beth 常听的是”hip hop”，也就是嘻哈音乐。而Ernie常听 “pop,” 流行乐。Hmm … 我觉得他们的口味差得挺远的。

Professor: But are those the only kinds of music they listen to?

Winnie: 那倒不是。他们俩人都喜欢很多其它类型的音乐，也许还是能找到共同之处的。

Professor: Well, let’s see. In the next section listen for the phrase “to get into something,” which means to start to like something.

Ernie: How did you get into hip hop?

Beth: Well, all my friends listen to it, so I became a big fan too.

Ernie: Who is your favorite hip hop artist?

Beth: I’m a big fan of Snoop Dogg.

Professor: Winnie, why does Beth like hip hop?

Winnie: 她说，她喜欢上嘻哈乐是因为她的朋友都爱听这种音乐。而且，她还是 Snoop Dogg “史努比狗狗”的粉丝。我可不喜欢 Snoop Dogg，我觉得他早就过时了。

Professor: Well, even though you don’t like him, Snoop Dogg is still popular. Now let’s find out why Ernie likes pop music.

Beth: What about you, Ernie? How did you get into pop music?

Ernie: Well I always hear it on the radio, so I started to get into it.

Beth: Yeah, if something is on the radio it must be really good.

Ernie: I totally agree!

Professor: So did you hear how Ernie got into pop music, Winnie?

Winnie: 他呀，是因为老听广播里播的流行歌曲，所以就喜欢上了。要让我说啊，他跟Beth都没有什么音乐鉴赏能力，只会跟着别人走，人云亦云。

Professor: So if they started a band, you wouldn’t go to see them?

Winnie: 肯定不会！不过，我们还是先来听听他们喜欢什么乐队吧！

Beth: What are the pop groups that you like?

Ernie: Oh, there are so many good ones! I loved the Spice Girls. They were so cool!

Beth: I agree! I cried for a week when they broke up.

Ernie: I was really sad too, but at least I can still listen to their CDs.

Winnie: 什么什么？ Ernie 最喜欢的乐队居然是辣妹组合！他们俩的音乐品味还真是有问题。不过，Professor Bowman, 一个乐队难道也能像情侣那样 “break up”, 分手么？

Professor: Yes. When a band decides not to play together anymore, you can say it “broke up.”

Winnie: 我明白了，break up 在这里是 “解散”的意思。难道Ernie 就没想到，辣妹组合解散是因为她们太烂吗？

Professor: I don’t know … some of their songs were good.

Winnie: Wait, professor Bowman, 难道你也是她们的粉丝？

Professor: Of course not! I was … uh … just listening to some of their songs to prepare for this class.

Winnie: Sure …

Beth: You know Ernie, it seems we both like the same artists.

Ernie: Yes, we do. I think we have the same musical tastes.

Beth: But if we’re going to start a band, we have to be able to sing and dance. Can you do that?

Ernie: I’m not a very good singer, but I’m a really great dancer! I love hip hop dancing.

Beth: Great! I’ll sing, and you can dance in our band.

Professor: Winnie, is Ernie a better singer or dancer?

Winnie: 他说自己歌唱得一般，可舞跳得特别棒。不过，我看Beth和Ernie的音乐品味都不怎么样，肯定没人去看。

Professor: Well, we’ll have to listen next time to find out!

A: 看来，Ernie and Beth have the same music tastes. 喜欢相同的音乐，这就是他们组乐队的理由。

B: Although their tastes are questionable….

A：是，他们喜欢的东西太大众化了，没新意。对了，JESSICA, what genre of music do you like?

B: 当然是摇滚──rock and roll了！在北京那会儿， I got to see a Chinese rock band’s performance. Those guys were so talented!

A: 没看出来啊，在你斯文的外表下隐藏着一颗rocker的心….

B: 嗯？你是在夸我还是在损我？

A: 这个你自己慢慢体会吧。下面咱们来听听“礼节美语”，看如何在公司会议上有效地发表意见。

Business Etiquette: Get your point across

Amanda在走廊遇到Sarah，Sarah显得很沮丧。

A: Hey Sarah, are you all right? You look upset.

S: As a matter of fact, I am a bit upset. I just came out of a meeting and it didn’t go very well.

A: What happened?

S: No one would listen to any of my suggestions. Instead, they just kept arguing with each other.

A: Who was chairing the meeting?

S: Bob.

A: Well, I can tell you from experience that Bob might come off a little strong sometimes.

S: That’s exactly what happened! He kept interrupting everyone with his own suggestions and did not want to hear what others had to say. Then he expected everyone to agree with him.

原来，Sarah不高兴是因为刚才开会时，没人愿意听她的建议。Amanda说，根据她的经验，主持会议的 Bob有时会显得过于强硬，come off a little too strong。come off 是表现出，显得的意思。Sarah 说没错，开会时Bob不停地打岔，kept interrupting everyone. Interrupt is spelled i-n-t-e-r-r-u-p-t, interrupt, interrupt指打断别人的谈话。Amanda说，

A: What was the meeting about?

S: We were trying to come up with ideas to streamline the office’s workflow to make it more efficient.

A: It’s ironic that the meeting was anything but efficient.

S: Exactly. I had tons of ideas that I wanted to share, but they just wouldn’t let me finish. What should I have done to get my point across?

这次开会目的是讨论如何简化工作流程，streamline the office’s workflow. streamline意思是精简，目的是提高效率，make it more efficient. workflow是工作流程。Sarah问Amanda, What should I have done to get my point across? 我该怎么做才能把我的想法传递给别人呢？to get something across在这里意思是把自己的想法告诉给别人。Amanda有什么好建议吗？

A: You have to keep things short and sweet. When you get a chance to speak, try not to get into too many unnecessary details.

S: Short and sweet? But what if I have to explain something complicated?

A: You can always bring up the main points during the meeting and speak to those who are directly involved after the meeting. Not everyone needs to know all that information.

S: That’s a good idea, I think I will try that at the next meeting.

Amanda告诉Sarah, 话要说得 short and sweet。Short and sweet 是个习惯用语，意思是简单明了。Amanda建议，开会的时候，应该拣主要的说， bring up the main points, 不用加太多不必要的细节，unnecessary details. 这样别人才会比较容易了解并接受她的意见。

A: 很多人可能都有跟Sarah类似经历，明明有一肚子好建议，but nobody would listen to you, 但没人听你说， It’s hard to get your point across. 很难让别人把你的想法听进去。

B: Amanda suggested Sarah keep her words short and sweet to make the best use of her chance to speak in a meeting.

A: 对，在会上有机会发言，就必须把话说得简单明了，这样别人才会有兴趣，听得进去。

B: 好了！下面咱们轻松一下，聊聊骑车。Let’s listen to American Sports English.

American sports English: Cycling

Y：Wow Patrick, look at you.

P: Why are you looking at me like that? Is there anything wrong with my outfit?

Y: It’s too tight. 在办公室穿这么紧的衣服。Aiyaya.

P: Yang Chen. For your information I’m training for cycling race. These clothes make me more visible and cut on wind resistance. You know, 减少阻力。

Y: Ah cycling，你在训练骑自行车。

P: I’m training to get faster. Do you ride a bike?

Y: Yes I do. 谁不会骑自行车?

P: So you ride a bike. Are you any good?

Y: I’m OK. 不过我骑车是为了get around ，当交通工具， not for a race，不是为了参加比赛。Unless I’m going to get lunch, then I’m unbeatable.

P: I wouldn’t want to get in your way then.

Y: 哎，你训练要用什么样的自行车啊?

P: I ride a 10-speed road-bike. That means it has two gears on the front and five on the back to make it easier to pedal.

Y: 前面两个档，后面五个。我的自行车只有三个档，only three gears.

P: For going slow, slower and slowest?

Y: Oh, very funny. Who asked for a comedian?

Anyway, 你今天训练得怎么样?

P: It was pretty good, but I dropped my chain.

Y: Dropped your chin? 下巴掉下来了?

P:No, not my chin, C-H-I-N, I dropped my chain, C-H-A-I-N, the chain on the bicycles’ gears came off of its track, which meant I had to stop and get it back on.

Y: 你的自行车链子掉下来了。

所以你修自行车修得浑身是油。

P: Yes, the bike chain is pretty greasy.

Y: And dirty. When is your race?

P: Next week, you should come watch.

Y:我会去的。不过，Don’t drop your chin, I mean, chain.

B: 杨琳，中国以前不是被称为“自行车王国”嘛？不过这次我发现，大城市里骑车的人比以前少多了。

A: 是啊，现在汽车多，公交地铁发达，骑自行车的人越来越少了。也许有一天，在北京骑车也要像美国似的，穿上紧身衣，戴上头盔，还来个10-speed road bike. 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!

美语训练班第015课

A: 学美语，超简单，快来美语训练班! 大家好! 我是杨琳！

B: And I’m Donny. 杨琳, Your birthday is coming up, isn’t it? How are you going to celebrate it?

A: 今年我打算一切从简，低调，干脆不过生日了!

B: 为什么啊？

A: 没钱啊!过生日要请朋友们吃喝玩乐，我这个月预算紧张，还是算了吧! 你忘啦，上次我还问你月光族怎么说呢!

B: Yeah, I remember that, and today we’re actually going to teach everyone how to say that in English!

A: 没错。除了教您怎么用美语说“月光族”之外，我们还要继续聊好朋友组乐队的事儿, 看看辞掉工作回学校念书值不值得，另外还要带大家去打高尔夫!

B: 不过现在，咱们还是先花一分钟，学一个词！

Learn A Word ： On the job

今天我们要学的词是 on the job, on is spelled o-n; the is spelled t-h-e; job is spelled j-o-b; on the job. On the job 意思是上班的时候。The new mayor hit the ground running his first day on the job. 新市长走马上任第一天就投入了紧张的工作。美国最近连续发生了好几起航空管制员上班睡着的事情。为此，美国政府颁布了新的规章制度，The new rules regulate how much time air traffic controllers must have between shifts in order to make sure they stay awake on the job. 新规则要求航空管制员在两个班点之间一定要有特别的时间休息，以确保他们上班时保持清醒。好的，今天我们学习的词是 on the job, on the job, on the job.

A: 哇，真不错! 我也希望领导能让我中午睡上一觉，so that I can stay awake on the job!

B: I don’t think that’s going to happen. 你还是多喝点咖啡提神吧。

A: 也只能这样了。哎，Donny, 你说在我生日那天，能不能请领导批准我中午在会议室里睡个……寿星午觉? 就当是……make my birthday wish come true!

B: 啊？你过生日就这么点愿望啊？!

A: 这个最实际啊! 我当然还有更宏大的愿望啦! 比如中彩票，去环游世界，当超级名模，还有……

B: Wait a second! I’m asking about your birthday wish, not your bucket list!

A: bucket list是什么？

B: 听听下面的流行美语你就知道啦!

Popular American: Bucket list; Dough

各位听众，现在播送《流行美语》。Larry 和李华刚看完电影2012，在门口聊起来。李华会学到两个常用语：bucket list 和dough。

LH: Larry，你觉得2012年真的会是世界末日吗?

LL: I don’t know. But the movie does remind me that I have yet to finish my bucket list.

LH: Your bucket list? 世界末日前你唯一想做的事情就是买一堆桶子？

LL：No, no. A bucket list is not a list of buckets that I want to buy. It is a list of things I want to do before I die.

LH: Oh… 所以bucket list 是指死以前要完成的事情的清单喽？

LL：Exactly. In ancient British language, people used “kick the bucket” to refer to death. Therefore “a bucket list” means a list of things you want to do before you die.

LH: 原来如此。那它跟Wish List很像啊。

LL：Mmm. You can say a bucket list is very similar to a wish list. However, a bucket list is mostly filled with things you want to do before you die, whereas a wish list can be anything you want to do or any object you want to buy for any occasion. But recently, a bucket list has been used for more general wishes as well.

LH: 那你的 bucket list 里都有哪些东西呢?

LL：I want to swim across the Atlantic Ocean, I also want to go skydiving, and…

LH: 哇……你想完成的事情也太难了吧。 Bucket list 上一定要是这些高难度的东西吗？不能简单点，比如说，结婚？生子？

LL: What you put on your bucket list is totally up to you. However, a bucket list is usually a list of things that are unordinary, things that you would not normally do unless you only had a few days left on Earth.

LH: 是这样啊。那我懂了。所以我也可以说，visiting the seven wonders of the world is on my bucket list?

LL: Yes, that works. An example of something more simple that could make everyone’s bucket list is to make a lot of dough. Although that is more generic…

LH: 等等，等等。怎么会有人死前的愿望是做很多面团呢？这也太奇怪了吧。

LL: Haha…dough here is not the dough you use to make cookies. Here it means money.

LH: Dough 是金钱的意思？

LL: Yup. Dough is derived from bread, a commonly used commodity for trade in ancient times. Therefore dough is the same thing as money.

LH: Wow. I didn’t know that. 原来古时候人们把面包当钱用，所以 dough 又有钱的意思。那我明白了。

LL: Terrific. Now, can you give me a sentence using the word dough?

LH: 我可以说， Recently I spent all my doughs on movies.

LL: That’s good. But dough is a plural noun, so you do not need to add a “s” at the end. You can simply say, recently I spent all my dough on movies.

LH: 喔~ 原来是这样说的，dough 已经是复数形式，所以不用加 S。

LL: Now, how about you, Lihua? What’s on your bucket list?

LH: 这个嘛……我最大的愿望是英文说得能跟你一样好。

LL: Really? But I don’t think you can ever beat me in English…

LH: 所以这个愿望是在我的 bucket list 上啊。我有一生的时间可以完成！铁定可以超过你。

LL: I’m glad you have the confidence. What else is on your bucket list?

LH: 在死以前我还要 donate all my dough to charity.

LL: You want to donate all your dough? And I want to make lots of it…why don’t you just donate to me?

LH: 这怎么可以。我捐钱出去是为了帮助有需要的人。况且那是你bucket list上的内容，还是自己完成吧。

LL: Good. I think you know what a bucket list is now. The movie has sure got us thinking about our big wishes.

各位听众，今天李华学到了两个常用语，一个是 bucket list, 表示死前想要完成的事的清单；另一个是 dough, 金钱的替代说法。这次《流行美语》播送完了，谢谢收听，下次节目再见。

A: 原来，bucket list就是有生之年说什么都要去尝试一下的不同寻常的事。那我的bucket list肯定包括making lots of dough–like a billion dollars! How about you, Donny? What’s on your bucket list?

B: I want to make someone else spend tons of dough on me, like a billion dollars!

A: 啊？我想挣一亿，你想让别人在你身上花一亿。我怎么感觉你是打我的钱的主意呢!

B: 问题是你哪有钱啊？

A: 哈哈！也是，我整个一个月光族……

B: 好了，Now let’s teach everyone how to say“月光族”in American English!

How to say it: Live from paycheck to paycheck

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Yanglin要问的：月光族。

Donny: Hey 杨琳! 我们晚上要去吃饭，do you want to come along?

Yanglin: 哎，我想去！可就是…没钱!

Donny: Hmm? Didn’t you just got a new job?

Yanglin: 别提了，我是典型的月光族。每次一发工资，缴缴房租，再跟朋友吃吃饭，再到商场买买东西…钱就不知不觉用完啦! 话说，这月光族用英语怎么说?

Donny: hmm, 月光族可以说 live from paycheck to paycheck。

Yanglin: live from paycheck to paycheck?

Donny: 对，paycheck is spelled p-a-y-c-h-e-c-k。支票。在美国，很多工资是由支票的形式发给你的。所以 live from paycheck to paycheck, 就是形容盼着下一张工资单过日子。

Yanglin: 这么说来，我可真是 live from paycheck to paycheck! 典型的月光族! 不过这个月，我去夏威夷花了好大一笔钱，所以就更没闲钱了。这种开销特别大的旅行啊什么的，用英语怎么说呢?

Donny: You can say: My vacation in Hawaii broke the bank.

YL: 我懂了，Break the bank 就是形容某件东西特别贵。比如上星期，我想买LV的包，男朋友就跟我说，We can’t afford this purse, it will break the bank. 我们买不起这个包，实在太贵了。

Donny: 对! 你还可以说，this purse will max out my credit card. 也是特别贵的意思。

YL: 这个说法形象! Max out somebody’s credit card, 刷爆信用卡！Did you ever max out your credit card?

Donny: Me? I would never do that! Now let’s see what you’ve learned today!

Yanglin: 第一：月光族的生活方式叫 live from paycheck to paycheck; 第二，非常昂贵可以说 break the bank；第三，刷爆信用卡，叫 max out somebody’s credit card.

B: You know, 杨琳，I can think of a way to host a great birthday party without breaking the bank.

A: 又能办party又能省钱？快说来听听！

B: I have a friend who’s in a band. They play for small parties and don’t really charge that much at all.

A: 你是说请个专门在小派对上演出的小乐队？这个听着挺热闹，不过便宜没好货，他们收钱少，是不是这个水平也……?

B: Well, I can’t guarantee their quality. You might have to take a chance hiring them.

A: 那还是算了! 有的乐队根本不靠谱! 比如咱们下面要听的这个“美语三级跳”里Beth和Ernie要组的乐队，我看谁要是请他们去助兴演出，准会非常失望!

GoEnglish: Music─intermediate

Winnie : 各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“音乐”单元的中级课程。

Winnie: 喜欢流行乐的Ernie和酷爱嘻哈乐的Beth打算组个乐队。

Professor: Today they’re discussing what kind of music their band should play.

Beth: Ernie, I’m really excited about starting this band together. We’re going to be the two coolest students on campus.

Ernie: I know! It’s gonna be great. But what kind of music do you think we should play?

Beth: That’s a good question. You know I love hip hop, so maybe we can play some Vanilla Ice songs.

Ernie: Hmm … Vanilla Ice? I know his most famous song, “Ice Ice Baby,” but I don’t know his other songs.

Beth: That’s OK. You can buy his songs on iTunes and listen to them.

Professor: Winnie, what does Beth think will happen if she and Ernie start a band?

Winnie: 她说，组了乐队，他们就变成学校最酷的两个人！不过，说实话，我可不这么觉得。他们要唱”Vanilla Ice”的歌，他的歌早就过时了！

Professor: Well, Vanilla Ice was a popular rapper in the 1990s. I’m sure he still has fans today, like Beth.

E: Well, I’ve never downloaded music before. How does it work?

B: You haven’t? If you’ve never tried it I can show you how.

E: Alright. But why is downloading music better than buying CDs at the store?

B: Downloading music is really fast and convenient, and you can preview all the songs before you buy them.

Professor: So Winnie, why does Beth like downloading music?

Winnie: 她说从网上下载歌曲又快又方便，还可以在购买前”preview,”“试听”一下。不过，Ernie居然说他从来没下载过音乐。天啊，难道他一直住在火星上么？

Professor: Yeah, even old people know how to download music these days. Let’s see if Ernie can catch up.

E: That sounds pretty good. But isn’t downloading music illegal?

B: Not if you pay for it. For example, if you download from iTunes and pay with your credit card, it’s legal.

E: OK, I’m going to get iTunes and download some Vanilla Ice songs.

B: Awesome. You’ll see that they are really catchy.

Winnie: Professor, 他们说这些歌很catchy, 这是什么意思呢？

Professor: You can say a song is “catchy” if it’s fun and easy to listen to, and you want to hear it all the time.

Winnie: 哦，就是“好听，上口”的意思。

Professor: Exactly. Sometimes a “catchy” song can get “stuck in your head.”

Winnie: 不过，我觉得Vanilla Ice 的歌可没有这种魔力。

B: Now that we know what kind of music we will play, we have to decide what each of us will do.

E: Well, I love hip hop dancing, so I should probably dance. Do you know how to rap?

B: Oh yeah! I’m a great rapper. And I know all the Vanilla Ice lyrics by heart.

E: Excellent. I’ll start practicing my dance moves.

Winnie: 俩人一唱一跳，跟真的似的! 可我对他们实在没信心。

Professor: Well, you never know, maybe they will be really good and surprise you. But Winnie, do you know what song lyrics are?

Winnie: 当然知道， lyrics就是歌词。不过， to “know the lyrics by heart”是什么意思呢？

Professor: That means you have memorized them.

Winnie: Oh, 原来to know something by heart就是“记住”、“熟练于心”的意思。

B: But Ernie, we’re still missing something. We need someone to play the music!

E: Oh right … you know, my friend Eric is a DJ. Maybe he would like to play with us.

B: Hmm … does he have a good ear for hip hop music?

E: Well, I don’t know, but we can find out. We can talk to him and ask if he wants to join our group.

Professor: Well Winnie, can you guess what it means to “have an ear” for a kind of music?

Winnie: Sure，这就是说对某种音乐有天生的感觉和才华。唉，真希望Eric能让这两个人清醒点，帮他们选几首好歌。

Professor: Let’s hope so. Tune in next time to find out!

A: Ernie和Beth虽然水平不高，但也算是勇气可嘉吧!

B: That’s right. I don’t think they really care what other people would think of their music. They’re just enjoying themselves.

A: 这股子劲头也挺可爱的。有时候想得太多反而什么也办不成。

B: That’s true, but still, important decisions shouldn’t be taken lightly.

A: 是。你看，我一直想学时装设计，可是我要不要辞职，彻底回学校从头学起呢？

B: Wow, I didn’t know you wanted to go back to school! 也许下面的礼节美语能给你一些启发。

Business Etiquette: US Education I

Lisa请Shirley吃饭，有事征求Shirley的意见。

Lisa: Hey, Shirley! Want to join me for lunch…my treat!

Shirley: Wow! Sure!

Lisa: I must confess I have an ulterior motive for asking you to lunch.

S: Oh….that’s OK….as long as you’re buying!

L: I really want to pick your brain about something I’ve been thinking a lot about.

S: I’d love to help if I can.

请别人吃饭，可以说 my treat, 也可以说 it’s on me. 原来，Lisa请Shirley吃饭别有用心，She has an ulterior motive. motive是动机，ulterior is spelled u-l-t-e-r-i-o-r, ulterior意思是暗藏的，别有用心的。Lisa告诉Shirley, I really want to pick your brain about something. to pick someone’s brain意思是跟某人交谈，获取信息，征求意见。

L: Well, as you know, I have a Bachelor’s degree in English literature and that’s served me well so far, but I’ve always wanted to do some post-graduate work…maybe even get a Doctorate!

S: Wow! Just the idea of going back to school fills my head with pain.

L: But you have a Master’s degree…hasn’t that helped your career?

S: Yeah, I’d have to say it has. But I’m still paying for it, you know.

L: I know education is expensive, but it’s been my lifelong dream. Call me crazy, but I’ve always wanted to have that PhD at the end of my name.

原来，Lisa是考虑要回去上学。她已经有了a Bachelor’s Degree学士学位，想再拿个Master’s Degree硕士学位，甚至是a Doctorate博士学位，这是她的lifetime dream这辈子梦寐以求的。Shirley承认，硕士学位确实对自己的事业有帮助，但是在美国接受高等教育很贵，I’m still paying for it.我上学的钱到现在还没有还清。Shirley还说，

S: Well, getting a Doctorate degree would mean close to a decade of school. Can you afford that? Can you survive that?

L: I certainly can’t afford it, but I’m sure I could find some good student loans.

S: I think you need to separate the dream of having a PhD from the reality of years of more schooling. It’s not as romantic as you might think.

L: Yeah….I keep thinking about what I’ll do with a Master’s or Doctorate. I love language but I don’t think there are a lot of well-paying jobs out there for experts on Shakespeare.

S: Uh huh, that’s for sure. You might find that your only career choice is teaching other graduate students.

Shirley劝Lisa不要把回去读书想得太好，要看自己经济上能否承担得起，Can you afford that? 还要看自己能不能坚持下来，Can you survive that?Lisa会不顾一切却追求梦想吗？我们下次继续听。

A: Call me crazy, but I’ve always wanted to go to Paris and learn fashion design!

B: 这当然算不上crazy，不过就像Shirley说的，It’s not as romantic as you might think. Do you think you could afford design school in France?

A: 得!又说回来了，没钱，上不起! 看来，我还是得努力工作几年，至于这个fashion designer的梦……I’ll put it on my bucket list.

B: Good idea. Now let’s talk about something that’s more realistic, like playing golf! 一起听“体育美语”。

American sports English: Putt putt golf

Y: 今天我和Patrick打高尔夫球。

P: I’m teaching Yang Chen how to play golf.

Y:Patrick, are you sure this is a golf course?

P: Don’t tell me you’re disappointed! This place is great! What were you expecting?

Y: Well, I was hoping to meet Tiger Woods.

P: Or Michael Phelps.

Y: 这里都是小孩儿，简直就是个游乐场啊。

P: It’s sort of like an amusement park. This is putt putt golf.

Y:Putt putt golf?

P: Putt putt golf means miniature golf.

Y: 噢，迷你高尔夫球。So it’s not a real golf course.

P: If we went to a real golf course we would be the worst players on the course. But here we play with little kids so we can kick their butts!

Y: Oh god, 欺负小孩子. Shame on you.

P: Stop complaining and grab a club. Let’s tee off.

Y: Tea? 喝茶?

M: No, you spell this tee T-E-E, it’s a small peg that holds the golf ball.

Tee off means to start a round of golf. You can also use it in everyday life when you start something.

Y: T-e-e, 就是高尔夫球的球座。 Tee off就是开始。我们的老板昨天 teed off the staff meeting with a great speech.

P: You don’t have to 拍他的马屁. He can’t hear you. Let’s just play putt putt golf.

Y:OK. Let’s tee off.

A: Putt putt 也就是mini golf, 迷你高尔夫! Sounds like something I should try on my birthday!

B: Oh, I have a coupon for a group of five to play putt putt. It’ll only cost you 30 bucks!

A: Really? 太好了，把这个团购券给我用吧! I’ll tee off my birthday with some fun on the golf course!

B: 没问题! 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!

A：Bye!

美语训练班第016课

A: 又到了“美语训练班”的时间了! 我是杨琳.

B: 我是Donny！杨琳, 给大家介绍一下今天要学什么吧。

A: 没问题! 今天，我们要聊聊一边工作一边上学是不是可行, 要看看被朋友硬拉进一个不靠谱的乐队会有多惨，要去打真正的高尔夫球, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“纠结”和“宁当鸡头，不当凤尾”。

B: 啊？什么鸡头和凤爪？好吃么？

A: 什么啊，不是吃的！待会儿你一听节目就明白了。

B: 好吧！不过现在，咱们还是先花一分钟，学一个词！

Learn A Word Severe

今天我们要学的词是severe. Severe is spelled s-e-v-e-r-e, severe. Severe 严重的，严峻的。最近美国大部分地区陷入酷暑之中。The elderly and the young are the most vulnerable to severe heat and humidity. 老年人和小孩子是最难以承受高温和湿热天气的人群。It’s estimated that nearly four million people in Somalia are in danger of severe malnutrition. 据估计，索马里有将近400万人面临严重的营养不良。The weather service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for our area. 气象预报发出警告，说我们这个地区会有暴风雨。好的，今天我们学习的词是severe, severe, severe.

A: Severe, 严重，严峻。Donny，要是我说，现在就业市场竞争激烈，是不是可以用severe competition?

B: That’s right. You can say “recent graduates have a hard time landing a high-paying job because of the severe competition in the job market.”

A: 这句话的意思就是，由于就业市场竞争激烈，新毕业的学生很难抢到高薪工作。对么？

B: 对。其实，就业市场也有竞争不那么激烈的，比如去中小城市。

A: 可是大家都愿意往大城市去，一来那里工作机会多，二来，在大城市开阔眼界，打拼，也比较有成就感吧！

B: It depends. In some cases, being the big fish in a small pond can result in an equally successful career.

A: 你说的big fish in a small pond，小池塘里的大鱼？有些听众可能不明白了，咱们赶紧在下面的Words and Idioms中给大家解释一下！

Words and Idioms: Big fish in a small pond

各位听众，现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 939讲。我是晓北。

我是 Douglas Johnson.

记得大学毕业时，我们班同学纷纷找机会留在大城市或者出国，可是有个男生却毅然决然回到自己的家乡就业。我们问他为什么，他说自己的学历和能力回家乡肯定能受到重用，可是留在大城市里就显不出来了，因为这里人才扎堆，竞争太激烈。他的这种心态，让我想到一个习惯用语：

Big fish in a small pond. Pond is spelled p-o-n-d. Big fish in a small pond.

Big fish是大鱼， small pond 则是小池塘。Big fish in a small pond 小池塘里的大鱼，其实就是形容小地方的大人物，小圈子里的杰出者。我同学就是这样，He has no interest in living in large, competitive cities. He’d rather be a big fish in a small pond. 他不愿意住在竞争激烈的大城市，他宁当鸡头，不作凤尾。

我尊重这位同学的选择，我想，他选择去小地方发展应该就是不想经历下面这段话所描述的情景。我们来听一听：

Of the 60 students in her graduating class, Tania ranked number one. She received many honors, including a scholarship to one of the top universities in the country. Once there, Tania found it difficult adjusting to classmates who were all as talented as she was. That’s because she had been used to being a BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND.

这段话是说：[在毕业班的六十名学生里，塔尼亚的成绩是全班第一。她得到了很多荣誉，包括一所全国顶尖大学的奖学金。可是到了那所大学后，塔尼亚发现，其他同学都和她一样出色，她觉得自己很难适应这样的情况，因为她已经习惯在小圈子里当佼佼者。]

人到了新的圈子里难免要渡过一段不太舒服的适应期，尤其是对当惯了尖子的人。有人觉得宁当鸡头不当凤尾，但也有人到哪里都要力争出类拔萃，全看个人心态。好，我们再来听听刚才那段话：

要提醒大家，Fish这个词的复数形式还是fish，所以我们形容一个人是小地方的大人物，说 He’s a fish in a small pond。那要是几个人呢？就是They are fish in a small pond。下面这个例句就讲到这样的两个人，我们来听一听：

Everyone at our real estate office knows the Kims. They’ve been successful sellers at the firm for several years. They could easily join a much larger staff at a more prestigious office. But then they’d no longer be BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND. And that wouldn’t interest them.

这段话是说：[我们房地产办公室的人都知道金姆夫妻俩，多年来，他们一直是公司里相当成功的房地产销售员。他们如果想跳槽到更有名气的公司，加入更大的销售团队，绝对不是问题。不过那样一来，他们就没法再像现在一样当办公室里的风云人物了。所以他们对跳槽没兴趣。]

big fish in a small pond 里的 fish 也可以用 frog–青蛙–这个词来代替。所以，我同学去家乡发展，愿意当 a big frog in a small pond，小地方的杰出人才，金姆夫妇愿意留在现在的地产公司，当 big frogs in a small pond, 小公司里的红人。好，我们再来听听刚才那段话：

各位听众，今天我们学习的习惯用语是big fish in a small pond，意思是“小地方的大人物，小圈子里的杰出者”。好的，这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束，我是晓北，我是 Douglas Johnson。谢谢各位的收听。

A: Donny, 这些宁愿在小地方当大人物的人，就是我在节目开头时提到的那种心态──宁当鸡头，不当凤尾。

B: 哦，这下我明白了。不过我看，最好是当凤凰的头，当big fish in a big pond!

A: 哪那么容易啊。不过，If you’re not in a big pond in the first place, you will never know whether you can survive in one，let alone become a big fish. 如果连试都不试，那就肯定没机会了！所以说，到底应该在什么环境里发展，真是让人纠结！

B: 说到“纠结”，咱们来听听 How to say it in American English, 今天就教这个词！

How to say it: on the fence

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。今天是吴琼要问的：纠结。

Donny: Hey 吴琼, congratulations! I heard you got a job offer.

吴琼: 没错，我昨天刚接到的通知！这可是我梦寐以求的工作。

Donny: That’s great! You must be very excited.

吴琼: 不过啊，我还真有点犹豫。公司要我去美国待两年，我舍不得离开这的朋友，可又不愿意放弃这个难得的机会，实在很纠结。Donny, 纠结英文怎么说?

Donny: 你可以说，I am torn, t-o-r-n, torn.

吴琼: Torn? 那不是被撕裂的意思?

Donny: Well, 一边是熟悉的生活，另一边是难得的机会，两个你都不想放弃，it’s like your heart is being torn in two different directions, right? 你也可以说 I’m on the fence.

吴琼: Fence? 篱笆?

Donny: 对，中文里说举棋不定，英语里说 on the fence 就好像骑在一堵围墙上，不知道该向哪边倒。

吴琼: 我明白了。那你觉得我该怎么做呢?

Donny: Maybe you should ask yourself which is the lesser of two evils. Is it worse to give up your dream job or be away from your family and friends?

吴琼: The lesser of two evils? 两害相权取其轻?

Donny: That’s right. Maybe when you think about it that way the answer will dawn on you.

吴琼: Dawn on me? D-a-w-n，不是“黎明”的意思么？

Donny: dawn on me 好象黎明驱走黑夜，让你把问题看清楚。

吴琼: 啊，所以我可以说 it suddenly dawned on me. 恍然大悟。

Donny: Bingo. Now let’s see what you’ve learned today.

吴琼: 第一：纠结，拿不定主意可以说 I’m torn. 或是 I’m on the fence;

第二，两害相权取其轻是 the lesser of two evils.

第三：恍然大悟是 It suddenly dawned on me.

B: 杨琳，Do you have any experience choosing the lesser of two evils?

A: 我想想啊….啊，对了！我过生日的时候，有个朋友送了我一大盒巧克力，还有个朋友送了我一个大芝士蛋糕，两个都会让我发胖，于是我只能先吃了热量比较小的那个…..

B: Er….I’m not sure if that’s choosing the lesser of two evils. I think it’s more like you doubled your fun.

A: 这个嘛…..不说我了，咱们还是来听“美语三级跳”，这集里的Eric才是真的要choose the lesser of two evils!

GoEnglish: Music─advanced

各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“音乐”单元的高级课程。

P: Ernie and Beth are two students at college and they are starting a musical group together. Today Beth and Ernie are talking to Eric, who is a DJ, to ask him if he wants to join their group.

Winnie: 如果我是 Eric，一定拒绝。Beth 跟 Ernie的音乐品味可不怎么样。

P: Let’s see what Eric says about this.

Eric: Hey guys, thanks for inviting me to join your group. I’m pretty interested, but first I just want to know a little bit more about what you’re going to play.

Beth: Eric, it’s going to be really great! We want to be a Vanilla Ice cover band!

Eric: Umm … did you say you want to start a Vanilla Ice cover band? You’re kidding, right?

Ernie: What? Of course not! And we want you to be our DJ.

Winnie: Professor Bowman, 什么叫cover band?

P: Winnie, a cover band is a musical group that only plays the songs from one really famous band.

Winnie: 噢，cover band 专门翻唱某个著名乐队的歌。所以Beth和Ernie的Vanilla Ice cover band就只唱Vanilla Ice的歌喽！这多没创意啊。看来Eric对这个想法也不是很感兴趣。

Eric: Umm … you know guys, Vanilla Ice hasn’t been popular since the early 1990s. And even then he was pretty terrible. What about playing something more up-to-date?

Beth: You know, I like to think of him as classic. His music never really goes out of style.

Eric: Right … well what are you going to name the group?

Ernie: We’re going to call it Chocolate Ice. Get the joke? Chocolate Ice instead of Vanilla Ice?

Eric: Don’t worry, I get the joke. And if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that everyone will be laughing at you.

Winnie: 哎呀，Beth还说Vanilla Ice的歌从不过时– “never goes out of style”! 我觉得，他的歌就从来没有时髦过，he was never “in style” to begin with!

P: Very funny, Winnie. So, what does Eric think of the cover band’s name–Chocolate Ice?

Winnie: 他觉得这个名字太俗了，肯定会被人笑话。

Eric: You know guys, I’m not sure I can play in your group. The problem is that … rap music is violent and demeaning to women. I wouldn’t feel comfortable playing it.

Beth: That’s not true! Some rappers talk about violence, but a lot of them just talk about money.

Eric: I know… and that’s bad too! Who wants to listen to someone rap about how much money he has?

Beth: Well, if it were about nothing but guns and money, why does it appeal to so many young people?

Ernie: I agree with Beth. Besides, hip hop goes way beyond music. It’s a whole culture.

Winnie: Eric说他不喜欢嘻哈音乐，因为这种歌的内容充满暴力，而且侮辱女性。Professor Bowman, Eric不是DJ么？他怎么会不喜欢时下流行的嘻哈音乐呢？

P: Well, it sounds like he may be pretending not to like hip hop music so he doesn’t have to be in the group.

Beth: Well you know Eric, our group isn’t just going to be about music. Ernie is an amazing hip hop dancer. Ernie, show him your dance moves!

Ernie: Sure!

[Music]

Eric: Wow Ernie, your dance moves are so … um … unique. I’ve definitely never seen dancing like that before.

Ernie: Thanks. Want me to teach you how to dance like me?

Eric: Uh, maybe another time. Ok guys, I’ll join your group on one condition.

Beth: Great, what’s that?

Eric: Can I play at gigs with a bag over my head?

Winnie: 看来，Eric对Ernie的热舞不敢恭维。不过Eric说他可以加入乐队，不过有个条件，他说的gig是什么意思啊？

P: A gig is a performance, usually a small and informal one. You can also call any small or informal job a gig. Eric wants to wear a bag over his head when he plays gigs because he is embarrassed to be seen with this band.

Winnie: 哈，原来如此。我明白了，gig在这里就是演出。Eric说演出时要把头遮住，以免丢人，我现在倒真想看看他们的表演呢！

A: 哈哈！我明白你的意思了，Eric如果拒绝加入这个傻乎乎的Vanilla Ice cover band，就会得罪朋友，可如果加入的话，everyone will be laughing at him, 大家肯定都会笑他！所以他是怎么着，都不划算！

B: So he decided to join the band—but he’s not willing to show his face at the gigs!

A：对！我想，Ernie and Beth听他这么一说，可能也就明白了──他根本不喜欢他们的乐队。这么说来，Eric还是选择了得罪朋友。

B: I guess so. Every now and then, you have to make some hard decisions that will make some people unhappy.

A: 可不是，这世上没有十全十美的事儿。比如在下面的“礼节美语”中，Lisa 又想上班，有收入，又想上学，实现自己的梦想。能有这么两全其美么？

B: 听听就知道了！

Business Etiquette: Continuing education II

Lisa请Shirley吃饭，说自己想回学校去读个硕士或是博士学位，征求Shirley的意见。Shirley说，

Shirley: I got my Master’s in Business Management. It’s helped my career, but it took several years of hard studying. If I didn’t have a supportive family and a husband with a good job, I don’t think I could have done it.

L: So you’re counseling me against this idea?

S: Not necessarily, but I do recommend taking a slow approach. Can you take some night classes or find some way to keep working while you go back to school?

L: Might be difficult.

Shirley念的商业管理硕士学位，她觉得，自己之所以能读下来，靠的是家人的支持，和老公的高收入。Lisa问Shirley是不是劝她放弃这种想法，so you’re counseling me against it? to counsel someone against something意思是劝说某人不要做某事。Shirley说，not necessarily那也不一定。她建议Lisa慢慢来，take a slow approach, 看能不能边工作边选课。Lisa觉得不太实际。

S: Maybe you could get an MBA or something more marketable.

L: That’s worth considering.

S: I got my BA from Brown University. My major was Environmental Studies but that hasn’t been as useful as the business courses I took.

L: Or maybe I should just take some courses that I’m interested in, but skip the Master’s.

S: That’s another idea, but if you really have a dream, don’t let anything stop you from going for it! Going back to school is hard, but it’s not impossible.

Shirley劝Lisa考虑其他更容易找高薪工作的专业。不过，她同时也鼓励Lisa说，if you really have a dream, don’t let anything stop you from going for it! 如果这真是你的梦想的话，那就不要让任何事情阻挡你。

L: You’re right! I need to decide if this is truly what I want.

S: And take your time. You’re still young. Maybe there’s even a correspondence course you can take during your free time.

L: Yeah! Then I could slowly build up credits and maybe later transfer into a university program.

S: There you go! That’s some clear thinking.

L: I guess I just love learning! I remember the day my SAT test scores came back….I was so excited!

S: I don’t remember loving school quite so much….most of the time I was either bored or totally stressed out. But like I said earlier, if you have a dream, don’t let anything hold you back!

Shirley说，Lisa甚至可以抽空先选几门correspondence course函授课程，这样可以慢慢积攒一些学分credits, 以后如果真想读学位，也可以用得上。她再次强调说，If you have a dream, don’t let anything hold you back. 意思是有梦想，就不要让任何事情拉你的后腿。

A: Shirley的建议不错，工作为主，同时take a slow approach, 慢慢积攒学分，等条件成熟了，再考虑全职读书。

B: I’m always amazed by people like Lisa who truly enjoy learning!

A：哈哈，我看你和Shirley差不多，提起上学就头疼，不是觉得没劲，就是觉得太累！

B：I’d rather spend more time relaxing and having fun. 比如，打高尔夫球！

A: 上次咱们不是去打了么，play putt putt!

B: 那是mini golf, Today, let’s play some real golf.

American sports English: golf

Y: 大家好。我是杨晨。

M: 我是Mark.

Y: Mark是个真正的高尔夫球好手。不像Partrick, 只会带我去打put-put golf，迷你高尔夫。Mark,

I’m really excited to play regular golf today.

M: I enjoy play regular golf too. Any sport that let’s you drive around in little cars and smoke cigars while you’re playing has got to be awesome.

Y: I know! No physical exercise required at all! 可是还要smoke cigars抽雪茄?

M: You don’t have to if you don’t smoke. Are you ready to tee-off (T-E-E O-F-F)?

Y: Let’s tee-off..

M: You could say that your boss teed-off a meeting by making an opening speech.

Y:能不能不提我的老板。It’s the weekend and I want to forget about work.

M: OK your’re right, let’s just play. This course is a par 72.

Y: A what 72?

M: A par 72. The par P-A-R of a golf course is the number of strokes it should take to complete it.

Y: Par72就是高尔夫球术语里的标准72杆。

M: Right. If you are 5 under par, that means you used five shots less than the average to finish the course.

Y: 那 under par 在高尔夫球里是好事，对不对?

M: Exactly! But in everyday usage, being under par is not a good thing. If something is not as good as it should be, you can say that it is sub-par (S-U-B P-A-R). For example, my Chinese skills are sub par.我的中文说得不好。

Y: Don’t be so hard on yourself. 大多数老美还不会说中文呢。

M: That’s true. Actually, you could say that in America, not speaking Chinese is par for the course. When something is par for the course, that means that it is normal, or average.

Y: I see. “Par for the course” 就是正常的，理所当然的。我可不可以说 being lazy is par for the course for Patrick.

M: Ha, well I guess you’re right. But we shouldn’t talk behind his back.

A: 看来，从体育中起源的日常用语还真不少，今天又学了两个，一个是 sub-par 差劲，另一个是 par for the course 常有的，普遍的。

B: Let me teach you another one. On a par with 相同的，不相上下的。

A: 那我要说，我和Donny高尔夫打得都很臭，糟糕程度不相上下，是不是可以说 I’m on a par with Donny in my lack of golfing skills?

B: 句子对，可不符合事实！

A：对！事实是你比我更差！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!

美语训练班第017课

A: “美语训练班”上课啦! 我是杨琳。

B: 我是Donny！杨琳, 今天咱们学什么？

A: 今天咱们要去看哈利波特首映, 要去认识大学新室友，要聊聊工作中的压力, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“小三儿”和“白日做梦”。

B: Oh, I’m not a Harry Potter fan, and I don’t see why anyone should become one.

A: 不是吧! 哈利波特超cool的好不好!

B: 好了，咱们先别争了，先来学个词儿吧!

Learn A Word energetic

今天我们要学的词是energetic. Energetic is spelled e-n-e-r-g-e-t-i-c, energetic. Energetic, 精力充沛的，有活力的。医生常说，睡眠对人体很重要。People who sleep well feel more energetic during the day and are more productive at work. 睡眠质量越好，白天精力越充沛，工作效率也越高。有研究显示，People who participate in start-up businesses are most likely to be energetic. 参与创业的人往往精力最充沛。钢琴演奏家朗朗的演奏向来充满活力。Langlang’s piano performance is always very energetic. 好的，今天我们学习的词是energetic, energetic, energetic.

A: Donny, I didn’t sleep well last night. So I’m not very energetic today.

B: Yeah, I can tell your energy level is a bit low.

A: I need something to wake me up! 哎？下面这个节目要讲“哈利波特”电影首映？啊!一提起这个，我精神多啦!

B: 那好吧，哈迷，咱们赶紧来听今天的Popular American.

Popular American: Glam; Five o’clock shadow

各位听众，现在播送《流行美语》。今天 Larry 和李华一起去参加哈利波特的电影首映会。Li Hua 非常喜欢饰演哈利波特的丹尼尔.拉德克利夫，兴奋不已。Li Hua会学到两个常用语：Glam 和 Five o’clock shadow.

LH: 今天能见到丹尼尔拉德克利夫耶! 我的白马王子!!

LL: WOW. Lihua, you must be really excited to meet Harry Potter in person.

LH: 那当然，他简直是太帅了…

[The cast of Harry Potter walk out]

LL: Oh look, it’s the cast! They sure look glam!

LH: Glam 是什么意思啊? 听起来好像 glamorous.

LL: You’re absolutely correct! Glam means glamorous. It describes someone wearing fashionable clothing and make-up, especially when done excessively.

LH: 所以 glam 就是魅力四射的意思。那你又说尤其是用在过度打扮的人身上，这么说这个词有负面的意思喽?

LL: Not at all. Glam, like glamorous, is used to describe people who dress up in a way that they really stand out, but stand out in a good way. It is often used to describe celebrities.

LH: 原来如此。Glam 是用来形容打扮华丽的人，而不是过度打扮的人，所以形容明星最合适！那太好了，我一定要学起来，等会告诉丹尼尔。

LL: I’m sure Daniel Radcliffe will be very happy to hear it.

LH: Larry, you’re such a glam today!

LL: Uh, thank you? Why are you saying it to me? I’m only wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

LH: 我只是想练习一下！免得等会搞砸了。哎，我这么说对吗？

LL: Well, you said “you’re such a glam today”. Which means you used the word glam as a noun. However, it is an adjective, just like the original word, glamorous. So you would have to say, “you’re so glam today”.

LH: 我明白了，glam 是形容词，所以我刚应该说 “you’re so glam today”，而不是 “you’re such a glam today.”

LL: Yup, that’s right.

[The actors are slowly walking towards Larry and Li Hua’s direction]

LH: 会看，那不是哈利嘛！哈利！哈利！

LL: Hmmm…slow down Lihua. Are you sure that’s Harry? I didn’t know Harry has a five o’clock shadow.

LH: 你在说什么呀！我说演哈利的丹尼尔来了，又没问你时间…而且现在才三点，别捣乱。

LL: No, I mean he has a beard. A five o’clock shadow is facial stubble, it sometimes describes a man’s beard at the end of the day.

LH: 啊？原来 five o’clock shadow 是指胡子，就是男生一天下来，到下午五点就会长出来的一点点胡子, 所以人们就用 five o’clock shadow 来形容男生脸上的胡子茬子。

LL: Yes. That is correct. After a day’s work, many men will have a noticeable growth of facial hair. Since most people finish work around five o’clock, it’s called a five o’clock shadow.

LH: 啊，Larry, you have a five o’clock shadow too! 你今天早上没有刮胡子吧?

LL: No I don’t. Do I? (try to distract Lihua) Look! Harry’s getting closer, don’t you want to take pictures?

LH: 唉呀！差点忘了。我的照相机…在…这！

[Li Hua zooms in to take a picture of Harry]

LH: 他真有 a five o’clock shadow 耶… 不过还是好帅！

LL: Ai, Li Hua. I didn’t know you were so attracted to glam celebrities.

LH: Not all the glam celebrities. 只有哈利！

LL: But he has a five o’clock shadow. Didn’t you say that you can’t stand men who have a beard.

LH: 你是说他今天留胡子，所以我不应该喜欢吗！可是，他连留胡子都这么好看！哈利，哈利！！啊不对，丹尼尔！我都紧张得语无伦次了。

LL: Hey, practice using what you just learned! And tell him how handsome he is.

LH: Harry! You have a five o’clock shadow!!

LH: 等等, 我刚说了什么…

LL: Harry, she meant to say you are very glam!

LH: 哎, 真丢脸…

各位听众，今天李华从 Larry 那儿学到两个常用语，一个是 glam, 用来形容一个人魅力四射；另一个是, five o’clock shadow, 指男人的胡子茬子。这次《流行美语》播送完了，谢谢收听，下次节目再见。

B: So 杨琳，Why do you love Harry Potter so much?

A: 原因很多啊。不论怎样，哈利波特系列陪我走过了十年，再怎么说也有感情了啊!

B: 十年的感情也没什么大不了。A friend of mine and her husband got divorced after being married for 10 years.

A: 啊？结婚10年后离啦？是不是因为小三儿啊？

B: 好像还真是。

A: 唉，现在这种事儿可多了，怪不得电视剧里老演。说起小三儿，咱们来看看在美语里这种第三者该怎么说。

How to say it: mistress

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。今天是吴琼要问的：小三。

Jessica: 吴琼, 给我介绍一部好看的中文电视剧吧！

吴琼: 嗯。。。最近很流行小三剧，Do you like to watch “little three” shows，Jessica?

Jessica: Little three? What’s that?

吴琼: 小三啊！你不知道吗? 就是外遇、情妇、第三者的意思。小三美语怎么说？不是 little three 吗？

Jessica: Haha! 小三 is called a mistress, or “the other woman.”

吴琼: 哦，我知道了，妻子以外的那个女人， the other woman 就是小三。这些小三真可恶！人家夫妻好好的，她非要来插一脚。

Jessica: Calm down, I’m sure your boyfriend doesn’t have one.

吴琼: 那当然。但我要是有朋友当别人的小三，我一定骂她，叫她不要去破坏别人家庭！这句话美语要怎么说?

Jessica: 你可以告诉她， Don’t be a home-wrecker.

吴琼: Wreck, w-r-e-c-k, wreck 动词，有破坏的意思，所以 home-wrecker 就是破坏家庭的人。一提起小三我就。。。。

Jessica: 吴琼, you should really stop watching those TV shows, they’re not good for you!

吴琼: 可是剧情很吸引人啊！我喜欢看她们勾心斗角。怎么说？

Jessica: In English, we use the verb scheme, S-C-H-E-M-E, scheme. To scheme means to make secret and devious plots.

吴琼: 我明白了，耍心眼，勾心斗角就是 to scheme. 哎呀，不早了，我得赶快回去看电视了！

Jessica: Hold on, before you leave, tell me what you’ve learned today!

吴琼: 第一，小三叫 mistress 或者 the other woman;

第二，破坏别人家庭的人是 home wrecker;

第三，耍心计是 to scheme!

A: 刚才的“美语怎么说”提到to scheme, 勾心斗角，这让我想起了大学宿舍。

B:啊？What do you mean? Were your dorm mates scheming to bring each other down?

A: 差不多吧，反正大家勾心斗角得挺厉害的，尤其是大四找工作的时候。唉，回想大家刚进大学时，多单纯，多融洽啊!

B: I understand that. 其实何必呢，能当室友也是缘分嘛! 下面咱们来听“美语三级跳”，看看大学室友刚见面的情形。

GoEnglish: Where are you from–beginner

各位听众，大家好！今天为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“你是哪里人”单元的初级课程。

Professor: Kevin and Jose are roommates at college. Today they are moving into their room and meeting each other for the first time.

Winnie: Professor Bowman, 这可是件大事。我的第一个大学室友睡觉鼾声如雷，还经常偷吃我的东西，希望 Kevin 和 Jose 不会这样。

Professor: I hope so too. Let’s listen.

Jose: Hello, I’m Jose. Are you Kevin, my roommate?

Kevin: Yes, I’m Kevin. It’s very nice to meet you, Jose.

Jose: Nice to meet you too. Where are you from, Kevin?

Kevin: I’m from Ohio. How about you?

Jose: I’m from Mexico.

Winnie: 我就说嘛，Jose 不像个英文名字，原来他是墨西哥人。

Professor: Yes, Jose is a common name for Latin Americans in the US too.

Winnie: Kevin 是俄亥俄来的。他们好象能从彼此那里了解到不少对方的文化呢！比如说食物，我就特别爱吃墨西哥菜。

Professor: A lot of Americans do too. Let’s listen.

Kevin: You’re from Mexico? That’s great! I studied Spanish in high school, and I love Mexican food.

Jose: Well, the Mexican food in America isn’t always like the real Mexican food in Mexico.

Kevin: That’s interesting. Where in Mexico are you from originally?

Jose: I was born in Mexico City.

Professor: So Winnie, what does Jose say about Mexican food in America?

Winnie: 他说美国的墨西哥菜不是真正的墨西哥菜。这我有同感，中国菜馆为了迎合美国人的口味，饭菜也都变了味道，怎么吃都觉得不对劲。还是让我们继续听 Kevin 跟 Jose 的对话吧。

Kevin: You were born in Mexico City? That’s one of the biggest cities in the world. What is it like?

Jose: It’s great. There are lots of people and it’s very exciting.

Kevin: Wow. I was born and raised in a small town in Ohio.

Jose: What is it like there?

Kevin: The people are very friendly, and the life there is very relaxed.

Professor: Well Winnie, where did Jose and Kevin each grow up?

Winnie: Jose 是在墨西哥城长大的，Kevin 则来自俄亥俄州的一个小镇。

Professor: Yes. Kevin said he was “born and raised” in a small town. That means he was born and grew up in the same town.

Winnie: 哦，”Born and raised” 就是土生土长的意思。

Professor: Right. You might also hear people say “born and bred.”

Kevin: How long have you been in America?

Jose: I’ve been in America for one year.

Kevin: Where have you been living?

Jose: I’ve been living with my cousin in a small town in California.

Professor: Did you hear how long Jose has been in America?

Winnie: 他来美国已经一年了。

Professor: And where has Jose been staying?

Winnie: 他一直住在加州的一个小镇里。看来，虽然 Kevin 和 Jose 来自不同国家，但还是有共同之处的，因为两人都熟悉小镇生活。

Professor: Yes they do. In this next section, listen for the word “pace,” which means “speed.”

Kevin: Did you like living in a small town in California?

Jose: I really liked it, but the pace of life is much slower than in Mexico City.

Kevin: I understand. If I went to Mexico City, I think the pace of life would be very fast for me.

Jose: Even though life in a small town is different, sometimes I like a change of pace.

Winnie: Kevin 和 Jose 都觉得，小镇里的 pace of life 生活节奏跟大城市很不一样。可是 Professor Bowman, Jose 说的 a change of “Peace” 是什么意思呢？

Professor: I think he meant to say “a change of pace.” A change of pace is something you do to change your usual habits.

Winnie: 哦，我明白了，a change of pace 就是偶尔换个花样。Kevin 和 Jose 聊得还挺投机的。Professor Bowman, 你觉得他们做室友合不合适？

Professor: We’ll have to listen next time and find out!

A: Kevin和Jose一个来自美国小镇，一个来自墨西哥的大城市，这相处起来，不知道会不会互相看不顺眼。

B: I don’t know, but they look like they’re being pretty friendly to each other right now.

A：嗯……现在想想，我大学室友们到大四找工作时关系不好，每个人都脾气很大，变得特自私，可能也是因为临毕业压力大吧，其实大家都不是坏人。

B: 对，压力会让人变得很奇怪。You aren’t yourself when you’re stressed out.

A: I wonder why that is.

B: 听听下面的Business Etiquette，也许能找到答案。

Business Etiquette: De-stressing I

Jim在走廊上遇到同事Claire，跟Claire打招呼。

Jim: Hey Claire, you’ve been really quiet these last few days. Is something wrong?

Claire: I’ve been really stressed. It’s the end of the year and I’ve got so much stuff to do! I feel like I’m drowning in work.

J: Well, stress is a real thing. It’s not an imaginary condition.

C: It’s seriously affecting my life! I can’t sleep, I don’t have much of an appetite and my husband says I’ve been kind of short tempered. Other people seem to handle stress okay…why am I so weak?

Claire最近一直不太说话，原来是因为到年底了，有做不完的事情，I’ve been really stressed. 她感觉压力特别大。Claire说，I feel like I’m drowning in work. Drown, d-r-o-w-n, drown 溺水，在这里是一种比喻的说法，drown in work 意思是自己快要被工作压垮了。Claire不仅睡眠不好，食欲差，而且还动不动就发脾气，short tempered。大家都有压力，是不是只有Claire承压能力差呢？ Jim说，

J: You’re not weak…you’re stressed out! Stress has been a part of the human condition for millions of years. Back when we still lived in the trees we had to watch out for predators…and as you might imagine, that was pretty stressful.

C: Yeah, but I don’t see any tigers or leopards roaming around our office. My stress is just about silly paperwork!

J: But you’re actually having the same reaction as our tree-dwelling ancestors! It’s called the “flight or fight” response. Each time you feel like something’s threatening you, your body decides whether to run away or fight…it causes all sorts of chemical reactions in the body.

Jim安慰Claire说，这是身体对过度压力所做出的反应，就好像原来住在树上的老祖宗，随时随地要watch out for predators警惕捕食者的来袭，虽然现代人压力的来源变了，但是Claire面对压力，身体做出的反应还是一样的，这种反应叫 flight or fight response，要在逃跑还是交战之间做出选择。Claire似懂非懂。

C: So a deadline will cause that same reaction?

J: It could. Modern humans actually have more “flight or fight” responses than our ancestors did. They just had a couple of close calls every day, but today, we have dozens or even hundreds!

C: So the life of a cave woman was less stressful than my life?

Jim说，跟生活在树上的老祖宗相比，现代人每天面对的flight or fight的情况更多。他们以前每天可能只有几次遇到危险 close calls，a close call指险些发生的厄运，比如 I was almost run over by a car. It was a close call. 我差点没被车撞到，太悬了。如果真像Jim说的，现代人比史前人类 cave man或是cave woman 面对的压力还大了？我们下次继续听。

A: Wow. 原始人也被压力折磨啊! 怪不得工作压力一大我就想回家睡觉，这就是flight or fight response, 而我本能地是想逃避。

B: If you always try to run away from your problems, you’ll never amount to anything. 要在原始社会，你八成就得被饿死。

A: 那幸好我生活在现代社会。Besides, I’m not really weak. I can put myself together when I’m stressed out!

B:其实，压力大的时候也可以看看体育比赛，放松自己。

A: 所以咱们要听体育美语!

American sports English: underdog

P: Yang Chen, lets watch the women’s final of the US Open.

Y: The US Open 美国网球公开赛，好啊。不过Patrick, 最近你怎么老是看女子网球比赛?

You like the female tennis players, right?

P: Well, I just love athletic competition. And the short skirts are a bonus.

Y: So which player are we cheering for ?

P: You can also say which player are we rooting for.

Y.对。我们要给哪一个运动员加油?

P: Well, you know me, Yang Chen. I always like to cheer for or root for the underdog.

Y: Underdog? Like a dog?

P: Actually, the underdog is the player or team who isn’t expected to win.

Y: Oh I see. The underdog 就是处于弱势，不被看好的选手。 Well, underdog 可不可以用在别的地方?

P: Sure. For example, I would love to date a famous tennis player. But with all the rich guys and movie stars chasing her, a regular guy like me would definitely be the underdog in the group.

Y: Oh come on. 你有great personality. 她一定会爱上你。

P: Gee.. thanks Yang Chen. Do you really mean it？

Y: HA! Of course not. You don’t stand a chance buddy.

P: You mean it’s a pipe dream? Wishful thinking?

Y: Yes. It is.你简直是白日做梦。

P: Would you ever miss a chance to humiliate me?

A: Donny, underdog是不被看好的一方，那被看好的一方，比赛的夺标大热门，是不是叫the favorite?

B: 没错。杨琳，Do you cheer for the underdog or the favorite?

A: 我通常是给弱队加油。我心肠软，觉得弱队可怜。

B: Well in that case, when you watch a Harry Potter movie, do you cheer for the bad guys? Remember, the all ended up defeated by Harry and his friends!

A:这个嘛……我倒没有，坏人长的不好看啊。我当然是给帅哥加油了!

B: 原来你也是“外貌协会”的。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!

A：Bye!

美语训练班第018课

B:“美语训练班”上课啦! 我是Donny。

A: 我是杨琳! Donny, 今天你来介绍咱们的节目内容吧!

B: With pleasure! 今天，咱们要去健身房锻炼, 要看看到异国他乡求学的感受，要聊聊用瑜伽减轻压力, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“拍马屁”和“黑洞”。

A: Donny, 节目介绍完了，我有件事得问问你。上次你说帮我修电脑，快一个月了，你到底修好没有啊？

B: 当然修好了! I’m just installing some cool programs to your computer. You need to trust me, 杨琳，I’m quite tech savvy.

A: 真的么？那好吧。不过你刚才提到一个说法–tech savvy, 今天的“学个词儿”就要教这个savvy.

Learn A Word Savvy

今天我们要学的词是savvy. Savvy is spelled s-a-v-v-y, savvy. Savvy 机智的，聪明的。Savvy job hunters use the social networking site LinkedIn to gain all kinds of information. 经验丰富的求职者通过职业社交网站Linkedin获取各种信息。我们可以在savvy前面加上一个特定范围，形容一个人在某一方面很在行。比如：My friend Jack is really computer savvy. 我朋友Jack对电脑特别在行。More and more companies are relying on group discount web sites to connect with tech-savvy consumers. 越来越多的公司通过团购网站，更好地为精通上网的顾客服务。好的，今天我们学习的词是savvy, savvy, savvy.

A: Donny, I want to become more computer savvy, so next time my laptop breaks down, I think I’ll try to fix it by myself.

B: You’re saying you don’t need my services anymore?

A: 呵呵，你怎么听着跟修电脑的小公司似的，生怕顾客跑了。

B: 你倒是提醒我了，I should start a computer maintenance company on the side and earn some extra money!

A: 你要真开这么个公司生意差不了! 那些大的电脑公司服务质量不行，每次遇到问题打给客服求救，总是电脑接电话，把我指使得晕头转向!

B: I know! We have a way to describe how you feel. It’s like being in a “black hole”! 咱们来听下面的“美国习惯用语”，看看这个短语怎么用。

Words and Idioms: Black Hole

各位听众，现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 940讲。我是杨琳。

我是 Douglas Johnson.

在打电话时，我们经常会遇到自动语音系统，比如打电话到银行问个问题，总会先是机器来“接待你”，让你针对自己需要的服务按某个按键，有时候你做了好多“选择题”，按了好多键，电话那头却总不是真正的客服人员在说话。作为消费者的你，这时候不免头大，这可以用一个习惯用语来形容，那就是：

A black hole. Black is spelled b-l-a-c-k, and hole; h-o-l-e. A-black-hole.

天文学上有个black hole–黑洞。任何物质都能被黑洞吸进去，哪怕是光。在习惯用语中，a black hole也指深渊，让人迷惑的空洞。在刚才这个打电话的情景中，消费者被自动电话系统指使得团团转，They feel they’re lost in a black hole. 他们会觉得莫名其妙，如坠云雾。

在下面这段话中，“黑洞”跑到家里来了，我们来听听是怎么回事：

“I don’t ever expect to get the book back that I lent to my son. He says it’s somewhere in his bedroom. That means it’s among the countless piles of stuff scattered across his desk, furniture and floor. Whatever goes in there disappears. The place is nothing but A BLACK HOLE.”

这段话是说：[在我把书借给儿子看，就不用想着还能拿回来了。他跟我说书就在他卧室里。这就意味着，我的书被埋在了他书桌、家具和地板上到处散落的一堆堆乱七八糟的东西下面。任何东西进了这个屋子都会不知去向。他的屋子简直就是个黑洞。]

这个情景我似曾相识。大学时我有个好朋友，看上去白白净净的一个女孩儿，就是不爱收拾屋子。借给她的东西她永远不还，都说找不到了。I’m afraid they all vanished in that black hole of hers. 恐怕这些东西都消失在她那如同黑洞一样的屋子里了。好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话：

刚才我们说到的例句都是因为人不爱收拾整理，导致屋子凌乱不堪，东西才容易丢。另外还有一种情况，也容易让人找不到东西，觉得晕，那就是地方太大。下面这个例句就证明了这一点，我们来听一听：

“This year’s conference took place at a brand new facility. There must have been at least 8,000 people there. That was far too big for me. I don’t like such A BLACK HOLE. You meet people that you never see again because it’s so huge. I prefer a much smaller site. There are greater chances for running into people that I recognize.”

这段话是说：[今年的会议在一个崭新的会场召开。来开会的人至少有8000个。我觉得这个会场太大了。我不喜欢这么大得让人犯晕的地方。地方这么大，人这么多，很多人你见过一次就永远不会再见了。我希望能在小一点的地方开会，那样更有可能遇见熟人。]

别说会场了，出门背个大一些的包包，东西就往往很难找到，我老公经常笑话我说，我找个钥匙也要把头伸进包里搜索一番。He said my purse was a portable black hole. 他说我的包就是个能移动的大黑洞。好，我们再来听听刚才那段话：

M: “This year’s conference took place at a brand new facility. There must have been 8,000 there. That was far too big for me. I don’t like such A BLACK HOLE. You meet people that you never see again because it’s so huge. I prefer a much smaller site. There are greater chances for running into people that I recognize.”

各位听众，今天我们学习的习惯用语是a black hole，意思是“让人犯晕的黑洞”。

A: 有时候，真感觉在社会上打拼就如同entering a black hole，周围人才济济，自己的小聪明，小本事，根本显不出来!更别说得到领导的赏识了。

B: So, you want your talent and hard work to be noticed by your supervisors, eh? You know, there’s a shortcut to do that─拍领导的马屁。

A: 啊？我还以为你有什么高招呢。

B: Trust me. It works every time.

A:听起来您是个行家啊！看来那天我问你“拍马屁”用美语怎么说，真是问对人了！

How to say it in American English: office politics

DN 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。今天是杨琳要问的：拍马屁。

DN: 杨琳, what are you reading？

YL: 我在看一本畅销小说，讲的是白领们在公司里奋斗的事儿。

DN: But you’re still a college student. Why are you interested in the life of office workers?

YL: 先学习啊! 我看了这书才知道，这小小的办公室里有那么多明争暗斗! 对了，DN, 用美语怎么形容办公室里的勾心斗角啊？

DN: You can use the term “office politics.”

YL: 哦! Office 是办公室，politics是政治，office politics，办公室政治，就是指同事之间的勾心斗角喽。

DN: Yes. office politics are very common at the workplace. Some people say the office is like a modern jungle, and only the fittest can survive.

YL: 啊？你说办公室是现代丛林，适者才能生存？可以想像……虽然我还没上过班，可即使在学校，处理同学间的关系也是门学问。

DN: For example?

YL: 比如，我们组长就特爱拍老师马屁，大家都不喜欢她。对了，这拍马屁美语怎么说？

DN: You can use the phrase “to suck up to somebody”. Suck is spelled s-u-c-k. For example, your team leader sucks up to the teachers, so other students don’t like her.

YL: 大家都说，千穿万穿，马屁不穿，一点没错。老师对我们组长可好了，偏心!

DN: Hmm, teachers are not supposed to play favorites. That’s unfair to other students.

YL: 哎？你说的play favorites就是偏心的意思嘛？

DN:That’s right.

YL: 可是，上司，家长，老师难免 play favorites, 有偏心的时候。唉! 看来哪里都有politics啊!

DN: 别感慨了。说说你今天都学了什么吧!

YL: 第一，办公室里的权力斗争是 office politics；

第二，拍某人的马屁是 suck up to someone；

第三：偏心是play favorites.

B: Teachers aren’t supposed to play favorites, but it never hurts to get on a teacher’s good side.

A: To get on the good side of someone就是赢得某人的喜爱和信任，对么？

B: 没错。

A: 当老师喜欢的学生当然好了！不过我觉得更重要的是能和室友们和睦相处。对了，上次咱们不是在“美语三级跳”里面讲了两个室友初次见面的事儿么？后来怎么样了？

B: 听听就知道了！

GoEnglish: Where are you from─intermediate

各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“你是哪里人”单元的中级课程。

Professor: Kevin and Jose are new roommates who are meeting each other for the first time. Jose is from Mexico, and is telling Kevin about his experience coming to America.

Winnie: Professor Bowman, 不知道 Jose 对美国印象如何？

Professor: Let’s listen and find out, Winnie.

In the first part, listen for the phrase “every walk of life,” meaning “from many different backgrounds.”

Kevin: So Jose, what do you think of America?

Jose: I like how friendly the people are, and I also like the fact that America is so diverse.

Kevin: That’s true, America is very diverse. You can find people here from every walk of life.

Jose: I know! For example, in Los Angeles there are lots of Latin American communities, but there is also a big Chinatown with lots of Chinese.

Kevin: Yes. You know, in the year 2000, 36 percent of the people living in Los Angeles were born overseas.

Winnie: 百分之36的人都是在外国出生的？那洛杉矶可绝对是一个国际化的大都市。

Professor: That’s right, and it’s becoming even more diverse. What else does Jose like about America?

Winnie: Jose 还觉得美国人特别友好。

Professor: Right again. Now let’s find out what Jose thought was very surprising about America.

Kevin: Did you have any culture shock? Were there things in America you thought were really strange?

Jose: Well, I couldn’t believe how big all the cars were. Why do people need such big cars?

Kevin: Hmm … maybe because they have lots of children?

Jose: Maybe some do, but I think most people just think they look cool driving a huge truck.

Professor: So Winnie, Did you hear Kevin ask Jose about culture shock? What do you think that is?

Winnie: Culture shock 就是文化冲击的意思。美国人喜欢开大车，让 Jose 觉得很奇怪。

Professor: Exactly. So Winnie, did you have any culture shock when you came to America?

Winnie: 当然有啊。美国人喜欢往地上坐。

Professor: Don’t Chinese people sit on the ground?

Winnie: 中国人不太往地上坐。还是让我们继续听 Kevin 跟 Jose 的对话吧。

Kevin: Do you ever get homesick?

Jose: I get homesick from time to time. But when I get homesick, I can send my family an email or talk to them on the phone.

Kevin: Sure, I think it’s natural to get homesick now and then. But with today’s technology, it’s easy to keep in touch.

Jose: Yes. My hometown will always have a special place in my heart.

Winnie: 可怜的 Jose，说自己会想家，homesick. 可我不太明白的是，他说 from time to time 是什么意思啊？

Professor: The phrase “from time to time” means “sometimes.” You can also say “now and then.”

Winnie: 哦，我知道了，就是有时候的意思。那 keep in touch 呢？意思是保持联系吗？

Professor: Yes. In the next section, we’ll find out what was hard for Jose when he came to America.

Kevin: What was the hardest part about moving?

Jose: I had a hard time getting used to my new life. I’m used to having lots of family to support me, but in America I have to do things by myself.

Kevin: Yeah, that sounds hard. What do you do to deal with the homesickness? Do you watch Spanish-language TV?

Jose: No, that just makes me more homesick. Usually I just study a lot so I don’t have time to think about it.

Kevin: Yes, sometimes hearing news about your home country makes you even more homesick.

Professor: Winnie, did you hear how Jose deals with his homesickness?

Winnie: 他说自己埋头学习，这样就没有时间想家了，否则越看西班牙语的电视节目，就会越想家。

Professor: That’s right. And what is different about life in America for Jose?

Winnie: 他在墨西哥周围有很多亲人可以帮他，但是到了美国，他就要学会独立。He has to “get used to” being on his own.

Professor: That’s right, it is often hard to get used to life in a new country. Tune in next time to learn more about moving to America.

A: Jose说的想家 – homesickness，我真是深有体会。刚来美国的时候，谁也不认识，I had to do things by myself，一切都得靠自己。It was quite a stressful process!

B: Yea, but you got used to it and adapted pretty well as far as I can tell.

A：这不是后来慢慢认识了好多朋友么。在遇到困难时，有朋友、同事帮助解决最好不过了。

B: That’s right. 在下面的“礼节美语”中，Claire needs help from her colleagues. Let’s listen!

Business Etiquette: De-stressing II

A: Tina说得对，现代人上班压力大，即使离开了办公室回到家，Our brains are still so revved up.脑子也还想着工作，轻松不下来。

B: That’s right. So you need to find a way to stop thinking about work, and give your brain a good rest.

A: 那就听音乐，看书，跳舞！

B: Or hit the gym!

A: 没错！那咱们就去健身房里锻炼一下吧！请听“体育美语”。

American sports English: pumping iron

M: 236, 237, 238 Oh hi Yang Chen, I didn’t know you were coming to the gym today.

Y: Hi, Marc/Patrick. What are you doing?

M: I’m doing push ups. P-U-S-H, U-P-S.

Y: I know you are doing Pushups 俯卧撑。可是我听到你在数238 ，你真的做了238 个俯卧撑? Are you serious?

M: Of course! What, you think I was just pretending to do all those pushups because I knew you were coming to the gym and wanted to impress you? Haha! Don’t be ridiculous!

Y: Well, If you don’t want to impress me, then who do you want to impress?

Oh, Wait. I know, 你交了新的女朋友。You want to impress her. 让她对你有好感。

M: Well, I do have a hot date next week, so I’ve been PUMPING IRON at the gym. I’m sure if I have big enough muscles my date will automatically fall in love with me.

Y: PUMPING IRON? 你缺铁吗?

M: No, pumping iron just means working out at the gym.

Y: I like it, pumping iron at the gym. 我也需要常常到健身房来 pump iron。

M: Do you want to impress somebody?

Y. No, I don’t want to impress anybody.不过……

M What do you mean 不过?

Y We women aren’t only concerned with muscles.

M: That’s true. They also really care about my great haircut, my designer cologne and my hand-made Italian shoes.

Y: Oh, Marc, I’m so impressed with your great haircut, 你的头发是在那里剪的? 还有你的designer cologne，名牌古龙水，是在Walmart 买的吗? 还有 hand-made Italian shoes. 手工做的意大利皮鞋；My goodness.

M: Stop it. Yang Chen. I know you are making fun of me. Just tell me what women are really concerned with.

Y: Of course, the inner qualities of a person. 内在美!

M: Come on, Yang Chen, 内在美? Are you kidding me?

A: 看来，去了健身房也逃不开压力，只不过，现在不是工作压力，而是外表长相，吸引异性上的压力！

B: It depends. For example, I myself don’t really go to the gym to build muscle. I work out to be healthy.

A: 是么？那找女朋友的时候，你也不注重外表？

B: 呃，相由心生。I tend to believe nice girls won’t be ugly.

A: 那祝你好运吧！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!

美语训练班第019课

A+B: “美语训练班”上课啦!

B:我是Donny。

A: 我是杨琳! Donny, 今天咱们节目的开头很有气魄哈！

B: 咱们内容也很精彩啊。你给介绍一下！

A: 好！今天咱们要去长跑，锻炼一下耐力, 看看刚来美国的人对这个国家的印象，讨论更多在生活中给自己舒压的方法, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“菜鸟”和“没辙了”。

B:当然，咱们还是先花一分钟，学一个词。

Learn A Word Fast-paced

今天我们要学的词是fast-paced. Fast-paced is spelled f-a-s-t-p-a-c-e-d, fast-paced. Fast-paced, 快节奏的。旧金山有家小店，专门将邮件转为手写的书信寄给收信者。店主说：”We move in such a fast-paced world that, sometimes, that world can feel kind of cold and impersonal.” 我们生活在一个如此快节奏的社会里，有时会让你感到冰冷和不近人情。Compared with fast-paced cities such as New York, I prefer to live in the suburbs. 与纽约这种快节奏的城市相比，我更喜欢住在郊区。In the fast-paced world of email and instant communication, the postal service has experienced drastic decline in volume in recent years. 在电子邮件和即时通讯的快节奏社会，邮政业务量近年来急剧下降。好的，今天我们学习的词是fast-paced, fast-paced, fast-paced.

A: Fast-paced, 快节奏的。那么慢节奏的就是slow-paced 喽？

B：That’s right. For example, a lot of Americans think Europeans live a slow-paced life.

A: 没错，去欧洲旅行过的好多朋友都跟我说，那里人的生活真是慢悠悠，可闲适了。

B: So do you prefer a fast-paced or slow-paced life,杨琳？

A:在工作的时候我希望节奏快，效率高，下了班我希望优哉游哉，慢慢享受人生！

B:你要求还挺高！好了，咱们继续听节目吧。

A:好，一起来听“流行美语”。

Popular American Glued to one’s seat, at the end of one’s rope

各位听众，现在播送《流行美语》。今天 Larry 和 Li Hua 一起去听讲座。上课前聊起了彼此的兴趣。 Li Hua 要学习两个常用语：Glued to one’s seat 和 At the end of one’s rope。

LH: Larry, 老师上次布置的作业你做了吗？第五题怎么写呀？

LL: Number 5…number 5…I didn’t do that one either.

LH: 第五题你也不会啊，那怎么交差啊…

LL: Hey! We can ask Amy. She probably knows how to do this problem.

LH: Amy? 可你怎么知道她肯定会做呢? 搞不好她也跟我们一样。

LL: But she’s always glued to her seat during the lectures. I’m sure she gets good grades because she pays so much attention.

LH: 你说她每次讲座都粘在椅子上？有人恶作剧吗？

LL: No, not literally glued to her seat. To be glued to one’s seat means to be so interested and involved with something that one doesn’t move at all.

LH: 哦，我明白了，你的意思是说 Amy is always glued to her seat, 她上课听得特别专心，一动不动，所以学得一定不错，那我们真地可以去问她！

LL: That’s right. That’s exactly what I was trying to say, Li Hua.

LH: 那我可不可以说，如果我看到白马王子, I will be glued to my seat 吗? 我一定会深深地被他吸引，无法动弹的…

LL: Mmm…you really dream about meeting Prince Charming all day long, don’t you? Usually, the term “to be glued to one’s seat” is only used to describe an activity. For example, you can be glued to your seat when you’re playing your favorite video game, or watching a suspenseful movie etc.

LH: 是吗..所以这句话通常是用在形容对某件事情的热情，比如说，Larry is always glued to his seat when he reads children’s books! 这样造句对吗?

LL: Yeah that’s right. Except did you really have to mention children’s books? I just like them because my mom used to read to me all the time.

LH: 哈哈，当然要提到你有多么爱读儿童故事书啊，这是我能想到的 Larry 唯一的嗜好，要不然你说说看，自己有更热爱的事情吗？

LL: Okay let me think! There’s got to be something that better represents my intellectual interests…

LH: 想不出来吧？你还是放弃吧。

LL: Fine. I guess I’m at the end of my rope.

LH: 什么？你说 “I’m at the end of my rope” 是什么意思啊怎么连绳子都跑出来了？你可别想不开啊。

LL: To be at the end of your rope means to be out of options. It means you’re stuck in a bad situation.

LH: 原来是指你无路可退的意思，你看，我比你自己还要了解你，儿童故事书是你的最爱，还是承认吧。

LL: OK, quit laughing. It’s just a little hobby of mine that I read children’s books. I doubt your interests are any better. Hmmm let me think…you like to dance, you like to go shopping, you like to…

LH: 哎，不用想了! 不管你怎么想，一定想不到一个跟读儿童故事书一样奇怪的兴趣。You’re at the end of your rope Larry!

LL: You’re right, I am at the end of my rope. But once again, reading children’s books is just a good memory I have from childhood.

LH: 奇怪, 班上好安静喔.

LL: Class already started! Hey, what about that question on the homework? We have to turn it in today!

LH: 什么？？已经开始上课了？那我们的功课怎么办呢？

LL: I guess we’re at the end of our ropes…

各位听众，今天李华从Larry那儿学到两个常用语，一个是 glued to one’s seat, 是指一个人非常专注于某件事情，集中精力，一动不动；另一个是 at the end of one’s rope 意思是走头无路，没有其它的选择

A: Donny, 上次你帮我把电脑修好，我真得谢谢你！你太牛了！我自己弄了半天都弄不好，I was totally at the end of my rope! 我真没辙了！

B: You’re welcome！I can teach you some basic computer skills if you want.

A: 真的么？太好了。我对动手啊、技术啊完全不在行，I don’t think I could learn this stuff even if I was glued to my seat studying for hours !

B：没有那么难。我以前也不懂，也是菜鸟一个啊。

A:哈哈，说到菜鸟，咱们来听听这个词用美语怎么说！

How to say it in American English: Newbie

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。今天是吴琼要问的：菜鸟。

WQ: Donny! 我买了最新的 iPhone耶！

Donny: Wow, you got the latest iPhone? How do you like it?

WQ: 很喜欢啊！就是不太会用。我还是个菜鸟。咦？菜鸟英文怎么说？

Donny: 菜鸟的英文是 newbie.

WQ: Newbie? New是新的，所以newbie就是菜鸟的意思。

Donny: That’s right. But don’t worry. Everyone has to start out as a newbie.

WQ: 我需要有个人指点我一下， give me…eh….give me….

Donny: A few pointers?

WQ: 没错，就是这个词。pointer is spelled p-o-i-n-t-e-r, pointer 是指点，建议的意思。I need someone to give me a few pointers on how to find the coolest iPhone apps. 我想知道怎么去找最酷的iPhone应用。

Donny: I have an iPhone. I can show you the ropes.

WQ: 你就有iPhone?太好了。不过，你刚刚说 You can show me the ropes. 意思是你可以教我对不对？

Donny: You guessed right! To show someone the ropes means to explain to someone how to do a job or activity.

WQ: 可是，这跟 rope 绳子又有什么关系呢？

Donny: A long time ago sailors had to learn how to control the ropes to set sail. Learning the ropes was a beginner’s lesson for sailors. So to show someone the ropes means to show someone the basics of doing something.

WQ: 我明白了，以前新水手第一个要学会的就是如何操控绳子。所以，to show someone the ropes 就是教导新手做某件事情。

Donny: Yup! OK, now let’s see what you’ve learned today.

WQ: 第一，菜鸟叫 newbie;

第二，指点某人是 to give somebody a few pointers;

第三，教初学者做某事可以说 to show someone the ropes!

B: So, 杨琳，when you first came to America, did anyone give you any pointers or show you the ropes about studying and living here?

A: 说实话，没有。我出国前就在电视和电影里看美国，到了之后才发现，真正的美国和美国人同电影里的不一样。

B: For example?

A: 在电影里，美国是个时髦的大都会，我以为大家都穿得特别fashionable, 可来到学校，发现同学们都是t-shirt加牛仔裤，非常朴实随意。

B: I’m sure there are other things that strike those who come to America for the first time.

A: 那，都是什么呢？

B: Let’s find out in today’s “Go English”.

GoEnglish: Where are you from─Advanced

各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“你是哪里人”单元的高级课程。

Professor: Kevin and Jose are new roommates who are meeting each other for the first time. Jose is from Mexico, and is telling Kevin about his experience coming to America. Winnie, in this first section, listen for the phrase “to strike someone,” which means to really catch someone’s attention.

Winnie: 哦，”to strike someone” 就是特别引起某人的注意。好，我仔细听。

Kevin: What were some of the things that really struck you when you first came to America?

Jose: Well, my first impression is that everything was really spread out.

Kevin: That’s particularly true in the American southwest. Because there is so much space, many cities like Los Angeles grow outward rather than build taller buildings, like in New York.

Jose: Yeah, I hear that’s why the traffic is so bad there.

Kevin: Yes, everything is far apart so everyone needs a car to get around, so there is lots of traffic.

Professor: Winnie, what struck Jose about America when he first arrived?

Winnie: 他的第一印象是美国所有东西都很分散，spread out.

Professor: That’s right. And how has this affected traffic conditions?

Winnie: 正是因为很多城市都铺得很开，所以人们的生活离不开汽车，造成了交通拥挤。

Professor: Exactly. In the next section, listen for the phrase “to stand out,” which means to be very obvious or noticeable.

Kevin: What about the culture? Was there anything that really stood out about Americans when you first started interacting with them?

Jose: Well, the thing that struck me was how casual Americans are. Even people who are strangers still call each other by their first names, as if they’re friends.

Kevin: Yes, Americans also tend to be very casual in business relationships. Sometimes people from other countries who are used to being more formal find this rude.

Jose: Yeah, I bet some people have a hard time getting used to that.

Professor: So Winnie, what really stood out for Jose about American culture?

Winnie: 他觉得，美国人很随便，即使是在正式场合也经常对别人直呼其名。

Professor: Right. And does this sometimes cause problems?

Winnie: 美国人可能觉得这样很亲切，可是在某些文化看来，这可能是非常不礼貌的。

Professor: Right. In the next section, listen for the phrase “to keep someone at arm’s length,” which means to maintain a distant relationship with someone.

Jose: But you know, I find it interesting that even though Americans are very casual and friendly, they also value privacy more than people in other cultures.

Kevin: You know, I think you’re right. Even though Americans are friendly to strangers, some of them also like to keep people they don’t know at arm’s length.

Jose: Yeah, they really like to have time to themselves.

Kevin: I agree. If you’re from a culture in which people are always together, Americans can seem very rude when they’re trying to be left alone.

Winnie: 一点没错。我的美国邻居每次见面都特别友好地跟我打招呼，可从来不请我去她家作客。

Professor: That’s pretty common. Americans like to be friendly in public, but they also like to have their own space.

Winnie: Hmm … 没准她家特别乱，不敢让人去？

Professor: Could be. In the next section, listen for the word “punctual,” which means “on time.”

Jose: You know, I’ve also noticed that Americans really value punctuality and like to be on time.

Kevin: That’s right. In some cultures, people aren’t so worried about being on time. They have a hard time in the United States because Americans don’t like for people to be late.

Jose: It’s true. Sometimes when Americans come to Mexico for tourism, they get really mad when the bus doesn’t leave on time. It’s strange to always be in such a hurry, even on vacation.

Kevin: You know, I think when you go to another country, you have to go with the flow.

Winnie: 美国人喜欢守时，但是 Kevin 觉得，如果他们到那些并不重视时间观念的国家去，就应该 “go with the flow” 入乡随俗。

Professor: Yes, as the English expression says, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

A: 我也有Jose这样的感觉。我的美国同学喜欢随便坐在地上，草坪上，而且大家即使对教授都是直呼名字，这对我来说可真是culture shock!

B: 我到中国也经历了culture shock啊！比如，大街上的女生手拉手走路。 I think that’s really weird.

A：这有什么？我大学时还和好朋友手拉手一起去厕所呢！

B: 所以说是Culture shock –文化冲击嘛。对你来说是习以为常的，对别的文化的人来说，就很奇怪。

A:也有道理。好了，咱们换个话题，继续说纾解生活压力的事儿，来听今天的“礼节美语”

Business Etiquette: De-stressing III

Claire最近工作上压力很大，同事Jim和Tina给她出主意，如何减压。Tina说，

T: You really have to make an effort to relax, and each person is different. My husband swears by classical music. He goes and sits in his room, turns on his stereo and listens to his favorite classical composers.

J: For me, sometimes I just need a good hard workout. I like to put on boxing gloves and hit a punching bag…makes me feel much better!

C: I’ve tried chanting and meditating a couple times, but I couldn’t stop my brain from thinking about work. I can’t seem to get in the zone.

Tina说，她老公觉得听古典音乐特别管用。He swears by classical music. swear by something 意思是坚信某事的功效，用在人身上，to swear by somebody 则是很信任某个人。Jim说，他释放压力最行之有效的办法是去健身，I just need a good hard workout. Claire说，她也试过冥想，但就是无法get in the zone进入状态。

T: I saw a news article yesterday that says chocolate helps relieve stress. Maybe you just need a chocolate bar!

C: Now there’s a therapy I can get behind!

J: I think the main thing to keep in mind here is that stress is a serious issue. You’re not weak. You’re not a loser. You just have to find what works for you. Everybody’s different. Maybe rock music is what works for you.

Tina说，头天看报纸上说，吃巧克力可以减压，Claire开玩笑说，Now there’s a therapy I can get behind. 意思是这种疗法我愿意尝试。不过言归正传，压力不是儿戏，身体对压力做出反应，并不意味着你脆弱，也不意味着你这人没用。每个人都需要找到对自己有效的减除压力的办法。

T: Speaking of rock music…there’s a great concert happening downtown tomorrow night. We could all use a break. What do you say?

C: Sound like fun. and thanks…. you guys are true friends.

J: We’re all in the same boat. Modern life is very stressful.

T: That’s why we need friends.

C: You said it. See you tomorrow night!

T: It’s a date!

Tina说，明晚有一场rock music摇滚音乐会，问Claire和Jim要不要一起去, We could all use a break. 意思是我们都需要放松一下。use在这里是享用的意思。比如 I could use a cup of coffee. 意思是我想喝杯咖啡。I could use some encouragement. 我需要点鼓励。Claire对朋友的帮助表示感谢，Jim说，We’re all in the same boat. 我们的处境都一样，大家生活都很紧张，都需要学会放松。

A: Donny, what do you do to de-stress?

B: I run. I’m a serious runner. I do it every morning.

A: 啊？这么厉害？不会只跑两分钟吧？

B: 当然不是了，我和下面这个体育美语里讲的差不多，是长跑！

American sports English: jogging

P: Hey Yang Chen, what are you doing?

Y: I’m going jogging. 我要去跑步。You should come with me.

P: Are you insinuating that I need to go for a run?

Y: Insinuating?

P: I-n-s-i-n-u-a-t-i-n-g, which means implying.

Y: 呵呵呵，我不用暗示，我是很明确地告诉你 you need to exercise more.

P: Ouch. I’ll have you know that I exercise every day.

Y: Patrick, exercising your mouth and your remote finger don’t count.

P: Hardy-har. I’ll have you know I get up each morning, put on my running shoes, and jog for over three miles.

Y: 嗯，不错。每天早上跑三英里。我猜呀，三英里正好跑到了前面的ice cream shop。

P: After I run, I make sure to eat healthy, unlike some people I’ve seen snacking in the office.

Y: Now you’re insinuating things.

P: Oh no, I’m not insinuating anything.

By the way, why the sudden interest in jogging anyways Yang Chen? Those look like some pretty new running shoes you’ve got there.

Y: Thanksgiving! 吃了好多火鸡。I need to run off my turkey weight.

P: Hmm, run off your turkey. Good idea.

Y:你不用幸灾乐祸，you need to run off your turkey too.

P:Oh, I don’t even eat turkey. So are you training for the 5k?

Y: 5k?

P: 5 Kilometer race. Lots of places have them after Thanksgiving.

Y: 5公里?

P: Why? How far have you run in the past?

Y: Well, 我一般不跑5k，我跑 5m.

P: 5m? What’s a 5m?

Y: Oh you know, 5 meters!

P: You never cease to amaze me Yang Chen.

A: Training for a 5K?练习5公里长跑？天啊，That wouldn’t reduce my stress at all! 听着就累！

B: Jogging can be very relaxing if you keep doing it everyday.

A: 啊？一天我都气喘吁吁，别说坚持了。

B: 杨琳，生命在于运动，Okay?

A: 好啦，别教育我了, Donny老师！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020课

B: 同学们，上课啦！咱们来学美语。我是Donny老师。

A: 啊？你是老师？那我就是杨琳校长了!

B: 那….校长你来介绍一下今天的节目吧。

A: 行吧！今天咱们要聊聊健康减肥, 看看怎么到旅行社订飞机票，和同事谈谈橄榄球比赛, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说“修身”和“得意忘形”。

B: 当然，咱们还是先花一分钟，学一个词。

Learn A Word tie the knot

今天我们要学的词是tie the knot. Tie is spelled t-i-e, tie; and knot, k-n-o-t, knot. Tie the knot, 结婚。A small number of college students choose to tie the knot before they graduate. 一部分大学生选择在毕业之前结婚。Gay and lesbian couples raced to tie the knot as soon as New York state approved same-sex marriage. 纽约州批准同性婚姻后，许多同性恋争先恐后去注册结婚。A lot of interracial couples wish to embrace traditions from both sides when they tie the knot. 许多来自不同种族的伴侣希望结婚时能包含双方的传统习俗。好的，今天我们学习的词是tie the knot, tie the knot, tie the knot.

A: Donny, my best friend tied the knot last month. I went to her wedding. It was so romantic! 我好羡慕她啊！

B：Romantic? Did she have a beach wedding?

A: Beach wedding? 海滩婚礼？那倒没有，就是个普通的中西结合婚礼，但我还是觉得很浪漫，很感动！

B: I see. Were there any unforgettable or funny moments during the wedding?

A: 说起这个，那要算是新郎父亲的致辞了。他居然在台上又哭又笑，说了10分钟！客人们一头雾水，不知道他到底要说什么。估计，他是太激动了。

B: I can imagine. He must have been overwhelmed with excitement. 用今天我们要教的一个短语来形容，那就是 He was beside himself!

Words and idioms Beside oneself

各位听众，现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 939讲。我是杨琳。

我是 Doug Johnson.

昨天，我在公共卫生间洗手的时候，把结婚戒指摘下来放在了洗手台上，可离开的时候忘记把戒指戴上了。等我觉得不对劲儿，想起戒指落在洗手间的时候，已经是15分钟以后了，我赶忙往洗手间狂奔，当时的心情，可以用下面这个习惯用语来形容：

Beside oneself. Beside is spelled b-e-s-i-d-e. Beside-oneself.

beside oneself 的意思是情绪失控，发狂。在我意识到自己把结婚戒指落在了公共厕所里时，I was beside myself! 我都快急疯了! 好在等我冲到卫生间时，戒指还好好地在洗手台上，幸亏那天人少!

在下面这段话中，我们要听到另外一种情绪失控，不过是很令人羡慕的情况。我们来听一听：

“Hearing that we had just won the lottery was so overwhelming. We were BESIDE OURSELVES. Just think: we’d become millionaires. Now we could pay off our mortgage and put our kids through college. And there would still be enough money left to travel around the world.”

这段话是说：[听说我们赢了彩票，这消息实在太让人吃惊了。我们简直高兴得不知道怎么办好。想想吧：我们是百万富翁了。现在我们可以还清房屋贷款，供孩子上大学，剩下的钱还足够我们周游世界。]

我要是赢了彩票，就会找个投资顾问好好帮我管理这笔钱。很多中了大彩的人因为挥霍无度而千金散尽，最后甚至破产。那时，They’re beside themselves with fear and worry. 他陷入极度的恐惧和担忧中。好，我们再来听听刚才那段话：

在刚才的例句中，中了彩票的人are beside themselves with joy, 得意忘形，乐晕了。而在下面这个例句中的人也遇到了意想不到的事儿，但心情却完全不同。我们来听一听：

“When Rosa returned to the parking lot, she discovered that her brand new car had a big dent. Someone had hit her vehicle and not left a note. Now she had to call her insurance company, and then arrange for repairs. Aaargh! The more she thought about it, the more furious she became. She was BESIDE HERSELF with anger.”

这段话是说：[罗斯回到停车场的时候发现她新买的车凹下去了一大块。有人撞了她的车，也没留张字条就溜走了。现在，罗斯不得不给自己的保险公司打电话，然后还要安排修车的事儿。啊! 她越想越气，简直是气得发狂。]

说到撞车，我的邻居曾经在一个下大雨的深夜里撞了一个人，主要是因为雨太大，她没看到那个行人。好在当时她车开得很慢，被撞的人没什么大碍，不过My neighbor was beside herself with grief for not seeing the man. 我的邻居当时只恨自己为什么没看到人。好，我们再来听听刚才那段话：

“When Rosa returned to the parking lot, she discovered that her brand new car had a big dent. Someone had hit her vehicle and not left a note. Now she had to call herinsurance company, and then arrange for repairs. Aaargh! The more she thought about it, the more furious she became. She was BESIDE HERSELF with anger.”

各位听众，今天我们学习的习惯用语是beside oneself，意思是“发狂，情绪失控”。

A: 说起来，筹备婚礼也真是个让人头大的事，我那个朋友想要婚礼尽善尽美，结果自己压力太大，变得特爱发脾气。

B: That’s typical. The stress of preparing for a wedding can turn many brides into bridezillas!

A: Bridezilla? 哈哈，我知道这个词，这是由bride, 新娘，和Godzilla, 怪兽哥斯拉，两个词结合起来的，形容那些追求完美，吹毛求疵，结果变得像哥斯拉一样凶巴巴的准新娘。

B：没错。For example, before their wedding, a lot of women become very self-conscious about their figures. They’d do anything to shed a few pounds and look good in their wedding gowns.

A: 那是绝对的！新娘子当然爱漂亮啊。其实，要在婚礼上光彩夺目不一定非得减肥，选择修身的礼服就可以了！

B: 修身？这个是品牌么？

A: 不是！你听听下面的“美语怎么说”就明白啦！

How to say it: figure flattering

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。今天是听众问的：两面派。

Jessica: 吴琼，我问你，“两面派”用美语怎么说？

吴琼: Ah? Jessica, 你从哪儿学到这个词的？

Jessica: From one of our listeners! 有个听众问的。

吴琼: That’s cool! Hmm… 我觉得两面派一定是double face，对吗？

Jessica: Close! Actually it’s two-faced.

吴琼: 哦！two-faced 两张脸，当人一面背人一面，两面派。

Jessica: That’s right. Sometimes a two-faced person will say nice things about you to your face, then tell others nasty things about you when you’re not around.

吴琼: 哼，我最讨厌这种背后捅刀子的人了。

Jessica: I know! We call these people back stabbers.

吴琼: Back stabber? S-t-a-b-b-e-r, stabber 是用刀子捅别人的人，所以back stabber 就是在背后给人下刀子的人喽！Jessica, 不是吹牛，这种人我一眼就能识破。

Jessica: Wow! You must be a really good judge of character.

吴琼: judge 是法官，character 是人品，你说我是 a good judge of character，一定是说我看人看得准，眼光犀利，对吗？

Jessica: Exactly. two-faced people can’t fool you if you’re a good judge of character.

吴琼: 不过 jessica, 我觉得，two faced people和back stabbers虽然都很讨厌，但他们也有些用处！

Jessica: Really?

吴琼: Yeah. Their existence will help you see who your real friends are! 没有他们的存在，怎么能显出哪些人才是真朋友呢！

Jessica: 有道理！Now let’s see what you’ve learned today.

吴琼: 第一：形容某人两面派是two-faced;

第二：背后害人的人是back stabber;

第三：形容看人准，可以说 someone is a good judge of character.

B: 杨琳，I forgot to ask─did your best friend have her wedding in the US or in China?

A: 在北京啊，我可是为了她专门飞回去了一趟。

B: Wow. You’re a good friend.

A: 可不是么！要飞13个小时呢！幸好我有个朋友，帮我搞到了头等舱的票。

B: Seriously? That’s nice! 以后我去中国，也让你朋友帮忙弄票吧！

A: No problem! 有熟人在航空公司上班，当然可以不费力气地拿到最好的票，不过一般来讲，还是要自己去旅行社或者网上买票。

B: 没错，今天的“美语三级跳”节目就来讲买机票。

GoEnglish: Flight─beginner

各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“坐飞机”单元的初级课程。

Winnie:Todd 在洛杉矶上学，趁着放寒假，要回阿拉斯加去和父母一块儿过圣诞节。今天，他来到一家旅行社定机票。

Professor: Do you visit your parents on the holiday, Winnie?

MC: 当然了，我可是孝顺女儿呢！

Agent: Good afternoon sir, may I help you?

Todd: Yes, I need to buy a ticket from Los Angeles to the capitol of Alaska.

Agent: Alright, when would you like to leave?

Todd: I would like to leave December 24th and return January 3rd.

Winnie: 圣诞节是12月25号，Todd要订24号飞阿拉斯加的机票，这可够赶的，万一飞机晚点，他就赶不上和家人过平安夜了。

Professor: Well if his flight is delayed, maybe he could ask Santa Claus for a ride home.

Winnie: 搭圣诞老人的车？哈哈，这可是个好主意！ Todd 还说，他要1月3号飞回洛杉矶，这样好，可以在新年夜尽情狂欢后休息一下再出发！

Agent: Do you want a direct flight?

Todd: Yes, I want to fly non-stop.

Agent: Alright, the cheapest direct flight is $500.

Todd: Are there any cheaper flights?

Agent: Yes, there is a connecting flight with one layover for $400.

Professor: Winnie, do you know what a layover is?

Winnie: 知道啊，如果你坐的不是直达航班 direct 或是 non-stop flight，而是要中途转机的话，这个转机就是layover, l-a-y-o-v-e-r, layover.

Professor: Yes. For example, you can say you had a three-hour layover in Chicago when you flew to New York.

Winnie: 嗯，旅行社告诉 Todd 说，直飞票要500块，有一个layover的便宜些，400块。不知道Todd会买哪种。

Todd: Well, I’ll take the direct flight.

Agent: Where would you like to sit?

Todd: Is there an aisle seat available?

Agent: No, there is only a window seat.

Todd: Alright, I’ll take the window seat.

Professor: Winnie, do you like sitting in the window seat or the aisle seat?

Winnie: Window seat 就是靠窗的座位，aisle seat 则是靠过道的座位。我倒是无所谓，坐哪儿都行，不过千万别有个大哭大闹的孩子坐在我旁边！

Professor: Yes, I really hate it when there is a crying baby near me on a plane. I can never fall asleep.

Agent: Would you like to fly first-class?

Todd: How much does a first-class ticket cost?

Agent: A first-class ticket is $3,000.

Todd: Umm … I think I’ll just fly in the economy class.

Winnie: 头等舱要三千块啊！比经济舱贵好几倍！Professor Bowman，你知道吗，我的梦想就是，有朝一日发了财，一定要到头等舱过把瘾！

Professor: Well, there is another way to reach your dream. You could earn frequent flyer miles.

Winnie: Frequent flyer miles? 就是常飞客积攒的里程数吧？对！这也是个好办法，可以用里程换积分，攒够了升级坐头等舱！

Professor: Yes! You know, sometimes people also call economy class “coach.”

Winnie: 哦，原来economy class 和 coach 都是经济舱的意思，不过要我说啊，叫“沙丁鱼舱”更合适！

Todd: What if I need to cancel my trip for some reason? Can I get a refund?

Agent: You can get a refund if you cancel your trip one day before you leave.

Todd: What if I need to cancel my trip at the last minute?

Agent: In that case, the tickets are non-refundable.

Winnie: Professor Bowman, 什么叫 at the last minute？

Professor: If you did something as late as possible, you can say you did it at the last minute. For example, “I wasn’t going to give any homework at the end of class, but then I changed my mind at the last minute.”

Winnie: 哦，就是到最后一分钟才临时决定做什么事。旅行社的人说，Todd 如果在出发当天才突然改变主意，就不能退票了。看来他还在犹豫到底是不是要回家，所以才会问退票的事吧？

Professor: Let’s tune in next time and find out!

A: 我要求不高，Direct flight and window seat─these are my preferences for a plane ticket.

B: As for me, first class 就可以了。If they serve 北京烤鸭 and have in-flight karaoke , I’ll be even happier.

A：你可真够贪心的！

B: Hey! I’m allowed to have dreams, right?

A: 那以后有特别便宜的red eye flight ticket─夜班飞机票，还是经济舱的，我就不通知你啦！

B: 别啊！只有常坐这种便宜飞机，才能攒够钱坐头等舱啊！

A: 你还挺会算计！好啦，不说飞机的事儿了，咱们换个话题，说说橄榄球比赛。来听“礼节美语”。

Business Etiquette: American football I

Chris早上在咖啡间跟同事Ben打招呼。

Chris: Hey, Ben…did you catch the game last night?

Ben: Uh…what game?

C: Baltimore defeated Texas by 17 points!

B: Um…and what sport are we talking about here?

C: Football of course!

B: Oh…football. Football is cool. I usually try to catch the World Cup finals.

Chris问Ben, Did you catch the game last night? 意思是昨天晚上有没有看比赛，英语里看比赛，看表演在口语里都可以用动词catch, 比如，Let’s go catch a movie. 咱们看电影去。Chris说的是美式足球比赛，football，巴尔的摩乌鸦队赢了德克萨斯人队17分。Ben说，足球好看, 每次World Cup finals世界杯决赛我都看，他显然是把soccer和美式足球football混了。Chris说，

C: No, I’m talking about American football. The World Cup is soccer.

B: Oh, I understand. I can’t say I’m a big fan. I’m from China, and football doesn’t have a really big following over there.

C: So Chinese people prefer soccer or basketball?

B: Yes, I think so. But to be perfectly honest, I’m not really a sports nut. When I was in high school I played on the school volleyball team. Are you a diehard football fan?

Ben说自己不是特别爱看美式足球，I can’t say I’m a big fan. 在中国，美式足球没有多少球迷。Football doesn’t have a really big following. Following 在这里是名词，指粉丝，追随者，仰慕者。Ben还说，To be perfectly honest 意思是老实说，I’m not a sports nut. 这里的nut, n-u-t, nut是俚语，意思是对某事非常热衷爱好的人，比如history nut, movie nut 还有Ben所说的sports nut。Ben问Chris是不是铁杆美式足球球迷，a diehard football fan. diehard is spelled d-i-e-h-a-r-d, diehard 意思是死忠。Chris回答说，

C: Oh, certainly. I wouldn’t miss a game for the world. My girlfriend says I have an addiction. And actually, if I had to choose between her and my games…I’d probably pick football.

B: It seems Americans are very passionate about sports. Is this just a part of your culture?

C: Oh, yeah! I think the love of sports starts when kids are very young. Americans come from many different backgrounds so I guess sports are something we can all enjoy together.

Chris 承认自己是铁杆球迷，I wouldn’t miss a game for the world. 不会因为任何原因错过比赛。not miss something for the world是一种很常见的说法，强调无论如何都不会错过，比如，I wouldn’t miss your concert for the world. 我绝不会错过你的音乐会。Chris说，美国人热爱体育，是从小培养的，大家来自不同背景，但是运动却能让彼此走到一起。

A: Well, to be perfectly honest, I’m not a sports nut either.

B: I am! ESPN is the only channel I watch.

A: 那你最喜欢什么体育比赛？

B: 当然是American Football! I’m a diehard fan of the Washington Redskins. Don’t you like watching the games with your friends and family, 杨琳?

A: 和家人朋友一起看比赛当然好啊，我说我不是体育迷，是说我不会特意留心体育比赛，而且我自己也不爱去参加体育活动，多累啊！

B: But still, you should hit the gym once in a while. It’s good for your health.

A: 对啊，而且谁都知道，少吃多动就能减肥！今天的“体育美语”说的就是这个。

American sports English: healthy eating

P: Yang Chen, have you lost any weight since you started your weight loss plan 2 months ago?

Y: Yeah. 2 pounds. 我已经瘦了两磅了。

P: 2 pounds in 2 months. Mmmm, let’s not celebrate yet.

Y: Why not?

P: Because …….Now tell me what you do to lose weight.

Y: 走路。

P By shopping?

Y Well, sort of.

P What else do you do?

Y 举重

P lift weights.

Y 跑步机上跑步

P: running on a treadmill。 Not bad. Well tell me about your diet.

Y: Diet? I’m not on a diet, Patrick. 我从来不节食。

P: When I say ‘diet’ D-I-E-T- I don’t mean 节食, to go on a diet, I mean what are the foods that you eat?

Y: 三顿饭，加一顿夜宵。

P 夜宵? Late night snack? Ah, I see! When it’s late at night, your metabolism M-E-T-A-B-O-L-I-S-M slows down, making it easier for your body to gain weight.

Y: 晚上新陈代谢慢。

P Exactly. So you shouldn’t eat late night snack. And when you get older, your metabolism slows down too.

Y 人年龄大了，新陈代谢也会慢下来。Why are you telling me this? Are you implying…

P Don’t be sensitive. I’m not saying you are old. I just want to tell you a key to losing weight is speeding up your metabolism by eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day.

Y: OK. Speeding up metabolism 加速新陈代谢，就要多餐少吃。。。

P: Right. Eating smaller meals more frequently.

Y: .That is such a pain!

P: Well, if you really want to reach your goal of losing weight, you will have to do this.

Y: OK. 还有什么，Patrick老师?

P: You also need to watch how many calories C-A-L-O-R-I-E-S you eat each day. Try not to exceed 2000 calories!

Y: Hey count my calories? 数卡路里, No way. Too much trouble.

P: You are full of excuses today! Actually it’s very easy to count how many calories you eat in one day! Let me tell you how.

Y: Not interested. 我记得你刚才说要多餐少吃。

P: There you go!

Y: Now Let’s go to McDonald’s!

P: No way. It’s not healthy.

Y: My treat!

P: Oh, in that case……let’s go!

A: Oh, late night snacks─my favorite meal of the day!

B: I know. 中国有很多好吃的宵夜，我在中国时也管不住自己的嘴，although I’m usually a healthy eater.

A: 那你最爱吃哪种宵夜？牛肉面？馄饨？海鲜粥？

B: 杨琳，Stop that! 我要流口水了！

A: 不如今天晚上我们去吃宵夜麻辣火锅吧！

B：好吧，No healthy eating for today!

A: Super! 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。

禅世界

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美国佛教会	寂静禅舍美国	福严佛学院台湾
慈济美国	西园戒幢律寺苏州	法鼓山美国
佛光山台湾	寂静禅林马来西亚	大宝法王台湾
静安寺上海		中台世界台湾
巴尔佛教研究中心美国	中华电子佛典协会	中国佛学院北京

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