VOA英语教学：美语训练班 086

 　　A: 欢迎大家来到这期的美语训练班! 我是杨琳!

　　B: 我是Mike! 杨琳，来告诉大家今天都要学什么?
　　A: 没问题! 今天我们要领略一下大城市的生活方式，看看怎么表达动用关系，还要告诉你怎么说吊胃口!
　　B: I used to think I was from the "Big city" growing up. Then I went to Beijing and realized how small my hometown really is!
　　A: I would say Columbus is a medium sized city. I love growing up in Beijing, there’re always so many things going on; you could never ever get bored in Beijing!
　　B: Yeah, Columbus may not be as big and exciting as Beijing, but there're still tons to do!
　　A: For example?
　　B: Well, I mean…you know, there’s…there’s…Oh we had three horses growing up!
　　A: 哈哈，actually there are advantages to growing up in small towns as well. 但是这个咱们等会再聊，现在，我们先赶快先来进入第一个单元，Learn a word!
　　Learn A Word1646 questionable
　　今天我们要学的词是 questionable, questionable is spelled q-u-e-s-t-i-o-n-a-b-l-e, questionable. Questionable 意思是有问题的，尚未确定的。The quarterback hurt his knee in the first quarter. His return to the game is questionable. 美式足球四分位比赛第一节膝盖受伤，能不能继续比赛，现在还不能确定。
　　Jill Kelley, the woman who sparked former CIA director Petraeus' scandal, founded a questionable cancer charity with her doctor husband. 美国前中央情报局局长彼得雷乌斯丑闻事件的导火索，一个叫吉尔.凯利的女人，跟自己做医生的丈夫一起开办了一个很有问题的癌症慈善机构。好的，今天我们学习的词是 questionable, questionable, questionable....
　　A: I find something very questionable these days.
　　B: What's that?
　　A: So, all the cookies in my second drawer will mysteriously disappear! Especially after you’ve been sitting here helping me write a script…
　　B: Well…hahaha….I mean…Anyways, are we still going salsa dancing this Friday? I should warn you, I have been practicing!
　　A: 你又撇开话题！ 去salsa也行，不过最近要写的稿子实在太多了，如果就光我自己写的话，我可能写不完耶….
　　B: Maybe I can help you out a bit, and then you should be able to go, right?
　　A: EXACTLY. Don’t worry, there’s not a lot to do. Just finish these three scripts and reply to all the fan emails. Oh, also, my yoga ball seems flat; could you inflate it for me as well? Oh, and then could you……..
　　B: (Cutting in) Yanglin…I’m not stupid! You are totally stringing me along!
　　A: Woops! 被你发现了！开个玩笑嘛！不过呢你刚才提到了一个很好的词儿，string someone along, 咱们来听听今天的words and idioms, 看看这个习惯用语怎么用！
　　Words and Idioms 800 String Someone Along
　　现在播送美国习惯用语第八百讲。我是杨晨。我是 Douglas Johnson。
　　我朋友 Jenny 的老板实在很糟糕。两个月来，他一直让Jenny觉得自己有机会被提升为部门主管，所以就没完没了地加班，自我表现。其实我觉得，她老板根本就是在欺骗她，牵着她的鼻子走。在英语里，有一个习惯用语，专门形容这种情况，叫 String someone along.
　　M: To string someone along. String is spelled s-t-r-i-n-g. String. Along is spelled a-l-o-n-g. Along. To string someone along.
　　String 是绳子的意思。To string someone along 是指为了让别人替自己做事，而愚弄、蒙蔽他，或是吊他的胃口。刚才我们说到的Jenny 的老板，就是用提升作为诱饵，让Jenny加班加点地替他工作。
　　在生活中，我们经常能遇到这种情况。在下面这个例子里，一名男子对他女友的真实想法摸不着头脑。让我们听听他是怎么说的。
　　M: "It seems like she's happy, but whenever I bring up our future she always changes the subject. I just bought her this diamond necklace and she told me she loved me, but then she said she's busy this weekend. Do you think she's just "STRINGING ME ALONG?"
　　他说，[看上去她跟我在一起还是挺高兴的。但是每次我一提到我们今后的打算，她就会转移话题。我刚卖了一条钻石项链送给她，她说她爱我，但又说这个周末没时间。你觉得她是在吊我的胃口吗？]
　　依我看，这个女孩不是真心的。我就听说过好几个这样的女孩，完全是看上了男朋友的钱。有些甚至在取消婚约后，也不把订婚戒指还给男方。好的，让我们再来听听上面那段话。
　　M: "It seems like she's happy, but whenever I bring up our future she always changes the subject. I just bought her this diamond necklace and she told me she loved me, but then she said she's busy this weekend. Do you think she's just "STRINGING ME ALONG?"
　　女：这种男人就象是被拴在线上的木偶一样，任人摆布。其实啊，To string someone along 这个习惯用语的就是由此而来的，其历史可以追溯到二十世纪早期。
　　我觉得干推销员的，都是很厉害的人物，不知道你有没有同感。他们凭着三寸不烂之舌，总能把商品推销出去。不过，下面这个例子里的推销员却是被客户牵着鼻子走。让我们听听看。
　　M: "I love getting all these free lunches and baseball tickets from this salesman. He really thinks I'm going to buy his computer system. I think I might STRING HIM ALONG just a little longer, so I can get tickets to the playoffs─then I'll say we've changed our mind."
　　客户说，[我从这个推销员那里得到了很多免费的午餐，还有棒球比赛的球票，真是太棒了。他还以为我肯定会买他的电脑系统呢！我得再哄他一段时间，等拿到免费的棒球季后赛球票后再告诉他，我们改变主意了。]
　　女：这人可真够损的。吃了免费的午餐，看了免费的球赛，最后才告诉别人，你的东西我不买了。好，让我们再听一下上面的例句。
　　M: "I love getting all these free lunches and baseball tickets from this salesman. He really thinks I'm going to buy his computer system. I think I might STRING HIM ALONG just a little longer, so I can get tickets to the playoffs─then I'll say we've changed our mind."
　　美国人气颇旺的真人秀《幸存者》，要求参赛者不仅要有一个好身体，还要有过人的情商和为人处世的技能，要会拉帮结派，挑拨离间，努力坚持到最后，不被别人挤出去。当然了，他们的策略之一就是要 string other people along, 牵着别人的鼻子走。不过，参赛者蒙蔽对手的手段一定要高超，否则一不小心，也许自己就成了别人蒙蔽的对象。
　　这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束。我是杨晨，我是 Douglas Johnson。这次节目的制作人是胡小玲。谢谢各位的收听。
　　M: Until next time.
　　下次节目再见。
　　M: This has been Words and Idioms.
　　A: Mike, 我问你一个问题，你要老实回答。
　　B: I always tell the truth!
　　A: Have you ever strung a girl along? I bet you have!
　　B:  Me? Of course not! A girl actually strung me along when I was in high school, I thought she really liked me but in fact she just wanted me to do her homework for her!
　　A:  That's awful!  可怜的mike，肯定又心灵受伤了…
　　B:  The result is now I am very careful not to string anybody along. You could probably say its part of my identity.
　　A:  Hmm, I don't know about that, but I think eating non-stop is definitely part of your identity. (B: Hey!) 开玩笑开玩笑，不过既然说到了identity，我们就来学学这个词儿的用法！
　　Learn A Word1647 identity
　　今天我们要学的词是 identity, identity is spelled i-d-e-n-t-i-t-y, identity. Identity 有个性，个体，个人身份的意思。identity theft 身份盗用。有统计数字显示，As many as 9 million Americans have their identity stolen each year. 美国每年有多达900万人身份被盗。There are about 10,000 identity theft rings in the United States. 美国从事盗取身份的团伙就有大约一万个。为了保证自己的经济安全，Roughly 40 million Americans purchased some sort of identity theft protection service in 2011. 2011年美国大约有四千万人购买了某种形式的防范身份被盗的服务。好的，今天我们学习的词是 identity, identity, identity....
　　A: 我记得我刚到美国的时候，就好像有些 identity crisis，身份危机。特别想跟美国朋友混在一起赶快融入美国社会，可是有时候又觉得自己中国生中国长大，怎么可能融入美国社会嘛！
　　B：Aww, but now you have a lot of friends from both sides, and you are working to introduce American culture to our Chinese audience. It’s a great use of your language and cultural skills!
　　A: Thank you Mike! You are never this sweet to me, 我都不知道说什么了….I’m totally going to pull some strings and help you find a girlfriend!
　　B: Haha, I mean, who wouldn’t love this handsome face? (A: ugh…) Ok ok, you just mentioned a good phrase, “pull strings”! Let’s listen to another words and idioms
　　Words and Idioms #801 Pull Strings
　　现在播送美国习惯用语第八百零一讲。我是杨晨。我是 Douglas Johnson。
　　我的邻居 Johnson 特别有女人缘，三天两头换女朋友。他不仅财大气粗，而且手眼通天，只要他愿意，随时都可以请人到城里最好的餐馆去吃饭。即使是星期六晚上，而且是在没有提前订座的情况下，只要他的一个电话，就能把一切搞定。在英语里，我们说：
　　M: To pull strings. Pull is spelled p-u-l-l. Pull. To pull strings.
　　Pull 是拉的意思。String 是绳子的意思。To pull strings 连在一起，就是通过重要人物，在幕后操纵，在幕后牵线的意思。在下面这个例子里，一个学生私下里告诉自己的朋友，说他的一个同学可能是走后门才被学校录取的。让我们听听他是怎么说的。
　　M: "I think Will' father PULLED A FEW STRINGS to get him in here. Do you know his father' an old friend of the college President? It' so unfair. I mean Will' a nice guy, but he should have to work to get in like everybody else."
　　他说，[我觉得，威尔的爸爸肯定是走后门才让他被录取的。你知道吗，他爸爸是学校校长的老朋友。这太不公平了。威尔其实挺好的，但是他应该跟我们大家一样，通过努力被录取进来。]
　　走后门上大学确实不公平。不过，世界上很多事情就是这样。在英语里，有一种说法叫 "It's not what you know, but who you know." 意思是说“重要的不是你知道多少，而是你认识什么人”。
　　你能猜到 to pull the strings 这个习惯用语的来源吗？没错，是从木偶来的。To pull the strings 这个习惯用语出现于十九世纪下半叶，最初是指操纵木偶，因为操纵木偶的人可以让木偶按照他的意志行事。好的，让我们再来听听上面那段话。
　　M: "I think Will' father PULLED A FEW STRINGS to get him in here. Do you know his father' an old friend of the college President? It' so unfair. I mean Will' a nice guy, but he should have to work to get in like everybody else."
　　我侄女不久前申请一家大公司的工作，因为申请资料寄丢了，所以没有赶上申请的最后期限。我的一个朋友正好在那家公司工作。He pulled a few strings. 最后让我侄女有了一次面试的机会。
　　大家肯定还记得，去年美国的豪门千金帕丽斯?希尔顿因为酒后驾车、无照驾驶，发生车祸等罪名被判入狱的事情。不过，下面例子中这个著名的演员，却设法摆脱了牢狱之苦。让我们听听看。
　　M: It doesn't surprise me at all. I'm sure he knows more than a few politicians. All he had to do was PULL SOME STRINGS and he got special treatment. That's the way it works.
　　这个人说，[他能躲过牢狱之苦并不让我吃惊。我敢肯定，他一定认识不少政界人物。只要他打通一下关节，就等得到特殊的对待。不就是这么回事嘛！]
　　真希望哪天我遇到难事，也能有人 pull some strings for me.
　　大家要注意，使用这个习惯用语的时候，通常都是说 pull some strings, 或者是 pull a few strings。好，让我们再听一下上面的例句。
　　M: It doesn't surprise me at all. I'm sure he knows more than a few politicians. All he had to do was PULL SOME STRINGS and he got special treatment. That's the way it works.
　　我同事的小女儿过生日，临时找不到举办生日聚会的场地。最后还是她妈妈公司的老板 pulled a few strings, 不仅找到了合适的场地，而且还邀请到了最热门的少年演唱组合来表演。
　　能有别人 pull a few strings for you 固然好，不过我倒是觉得，在大多数情况下，凭借自己的努力得到的东西，才更货真价实，也更值得珍惜。况且，很多时候，别人 pull a few strings for you 都是指望有回报的。英文里说，no free lunches. 天下没有免费的午餐。这种说法肯定有它的道理。好的，这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束。我是杨晨，我是 Douglas Johnson。这次节目的制作人是胡小玲。谢谢各位的收听。
　　M: Until next time.
　　下次节目再见。
　　M: This has been Words and Idioms.
　　B: Well, I don't see what the big deal here is. I pulled some stings to find this job and look how well it has worked out! You got a great co-worker and I get to live in the big city!
　　A: (sarcastically) Great co-worker huh? Yeah 80% of the time I’m really glad you are my co-worker, the other 20%... (both laugh) 言归正传， So what’s your favorite part of living in the city?
　　B: (thinking while answering) the museums, the cultural events, and…oh oh, all the ethnic food! It's like being able to go on an around-the-world vacation without the expensive plane ticket!
　　A: 哈哈，就知道你要说吃的！在今天的Business Etiquette里， Jack和Pete就在讨论大城市生活的利与弊，我们赶快来听听吧！
　　礼节美语-- Big City Comparison I
　　MC: 美国总公司代表Pete来北京视察，由中国雇员Jack接待。
　　Jack: Good evening, Pete. I trust you had a nice siesta.
　　Pete: Yes. It was just what the doctor ordered.
　　J: I'd like you to meet Henry Johnson. Mr. Johnson has been working at our Beijing office for over a year now. I think you two are from the same city.
　　P: Hey there, Henry. Call me Pete. A New Yorker, eh?
　　Henry: Born and raised in Brooklyn. Good to meet you, Pete.
　　Jack 问 Pete 休息得怎么样，siesta is spelled s-i-e-s-t-a, siesta 指午饭后的短暂休息。Pete 的回答，it was just what the doctor ordered. 说一件事情 is just what the doctor ordered 意思是这正是最需要的。Jack 给 Pete 引见 Henry, Henry 在北京办事处工作。Pete和Henry都是纽约人，New Yorker. Henry 说自己是 born and raised in Brooklyn 土生土长的纽约布鲁克林区的人。
　　P: Brooklyn...that's a great neighborhood. I'm originally from Queens but moved down to Manhattan a while back. So...you're an expat in China...how's life over here working out for you?
　　H: You know---I really love it. There are frustrations of course, such as traffic, pollution and the language barrier, but all in all, I give China a big thumbs up.
　　J: Before you two get carried away in conversation let's finalize our plans for the evening. I was thinking of dining at a well-known dumpling restaurant and then hitting a Karaoke bar for some fun!
　　Henry说，在中国生活，all in all, 总的说来非常棒，I give China a big thumbs up. give something a thumbs up 意思是高度评价。Jack 建议晚上先吃饺子，然后去K歌。
　　P: Everything sounded good until I heard the word "Karaoke." If there's one thing you don't want to hear, it's me singing.
　　H: (Chuckle) I sound like a frog that's suffering from a bad cold! But Karaoke is so popular in Asia that I've been dragged to at least two dozen of them so far. I've even learned a Chinese song or two.
　　Pete 和 Henry 都不是K歌高手，不过，Henry 入乡随俗，已经被拽着去唱过很多次歌了，甚至学会了几首中文歌曲。
　　J: Hey...no Karaoke...no problem! We're here to have fun and if singing isn't fun...then forget it! I assume you like beer.
　　P: Beer is quite possibly my very favorite liquid.
　　H: Chinese beer is actually pretty good. I've sampled all of them so I should know!
　　J: Great! So we'll have dinner and then we'll go down to the bar district. In Beijing there are literally thousands of bars.
　　P: Sounds like a plan.
　　Jack说，不去K歌没关系，可以去酒吧。Henry则说，中国啤酒味道不错，因为 I've sampled all of them. 他尝过所有牌子的。最后大家一致决定，晚上去酒吧喝酒。
　　A: Henry已经是个中国通，an expat in China。他向Pete介绍说，I give China a big thumbs up, 中国生活非常棒。Pete特别提出他不喜欢karaoke，卡拉ok，Henry提议去酒吧，he’s sampled all of them, 尝过所有牌子的，知道哪个好，哪个不好。Seems like Henry really likes Beijing!
　　B: I mean, who’s not going to like Beijing? Great history, great people, great food! I enjoyed the entire time I stayed there.
　　A: 那当然了！其实我觉得华盛顿跟北京的感觉很像，都是首都，都有很多文化，都有好多小偷！
　　B: Right...the crime rate in big cities is usually a lot higher. Which just so happens to be what Pete and Henry are talking about, let’s see what they have to say!
　　礼节美语 Big City Comparison II
　　美国总公司代表Pete来北京视察，Jack和Henry陪他出去吃饭。Jack 说，
　　J: You two gentlemen wait here for a second and I'll go make reservations and pick up the car.
　　H: Alright. So Pete...first time in China?
　　P: Second. The first time we spent the whole visit at the factory in Guangzhou. Beijing is good...I like it.
　　H: Yeah, I'm not so fond of Guangzhou. Too crowded and hot. Beijing is more like New York, I guess.
　　P: Except New York has a population of eight million while Beijing has like 20 million.
　　Jack 去订位拿车的功夫，Henry 跟 Pete 开始闲聊。两个人都不太喜欢广州，觉得北京跟自己的家乡纽约很象，除了北京人口要远远多出纽约以外。
　　H: Yeah...but you know...for having that many people, the city seems to flow quite well.
　　P: How bad is the crime rate?
　　H: It's reasonably low. Beijing has crime, of course, but compared to most other places...it's very safe. You could take a stroll at two o'clock in the morning without worrying.
　　P: Really! That's pretty amazing. You think it's safer here than back home?
　　Henry 说，考虑到北京的人口，整个城市管理得还是不错的。Crime rate is reasonably low. 犯罪率相对低，夜里两点在大街上逛都不用担心。Pete 觉得不可思议，问北京是不是比 back home 美国还安全。
　　H: Actually, yes. Last time I was in Baltimore...I saw a mugging happen less than 10 feet away from me. One night I could hear gunshots from my hotel room!
　　P: New York has gotten a lot better over the last 10 years or so. These days I feel pretty safe if I know the neighborhood. But you're right---many places in the States are crazy.
　　Henry 说，他觉得北京确实比美国安全，上次回美国在巴尔的摩他亲眼目睹拦路抢劫，mugging is spelled m-u-g-g-i-n-g, mugging 是拦路抢劫的意思，晚上在旅馆还听到过枪声。
　　P: But overall, the cities are safe for tourists and business people?
　　H: Right. Only once in a blue moon do we hear stories of foreigners becoming victims of crime. It's likely the worst thing that could happen to you is you lose your wallet to a pickpocket. Oh, Jack is back, Hungry?
　　P: Starving! Let's go eat!
　　总体上看，外国游客和商人在中国大城市里的安全还是有保障的。Henry 说，只有在很偶尔的情况下，才会听说外国人成为犯罪的受害者。他这里说的，once in a blue moon 是一种习惯用法，意思是很少见的。Henry 还说，做为外国人，你遇到的最倒霉的事，可能就是钱包给小偷偷走。小偷扒手英语是 pickpocket. p-i-c-k pick 后面加上 pocket, pickpocket 是小偷的意思。正说着， Jack 回来了，三个人一起去吃饭。
　　B: Chinese cities seemed pretty safe when I was there last. Though part of that may have just been because I was a foreigner, so people just left me alone.
　　A: Either that or they took one look at the way you dressed and realized that you’re not worth mugging. (B: Ouch! A: Laughing) 好了同学们，这次节目时间就到这里了。