VOA英语教学：美语训练班 080

 　　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，我们要聊聊怎么大力宣传，看看外国人对中国菜的印象，还要告诉你怎么说励志!
　　B: My impression of Chinese food? Let me tell you, there's only one word to summarize it: AWESOME 1!
　　A: 哈哈，那是当然! 第一，我们中国菜全世界第一好吃，第二，你是一个百年难得一见的吃货。
　　B: Hey!
　　A: 好了好了不开玩笑了! 我们言归正传，赶快来进入第一个单元，learn a word!
　　Learn A Word 1606 publicity 2
　　今天我们要学的词是 publicity. Publicity is spelled p-u-b-l-i-c-i-t-y, publicity. Publicity 有宣传的意思。The lead singers' feud 3 turned out to be just a publicity stunt 4 for the band's new album. 乐队主唱之间的矛盾，其实只是乐队为了新唱片问世，而采取的一种宣传手段。有人说，Any publicity is good publicity. 任何宣传都是好的宣传。言外之意，即使是负面宣传，也会增加产品的知名度。另外一种类似说法是，There is no such thing as bad publicity. 黑莓手机上周服务中断。The service outage created a wave of negative publicity for Blackberry. 这次服务中断事件给黑莓公司带来了一轮负面宣传。好的，今天我们学习的词是 publicity, publicity, publicity....
　　A: 说起 publicity,  我第一个想到的就是刚刚过去的总统大选! 听说这次是美国有史以来竞选花费最高的一次，the two candidates spent nearly 2 billion dollars on publicity!
　　B: Yeah, presidential elections are not only policy wars , They're money wars as well. You need to be rich enough, or have enough endorsements 5, before you can step into politics.
　　A: Well, I guess it's better to spend all the money on election rather than a real war. 而且我听奥巴马连任后的演讲，好励志呀! I feel that the American people are all once again united in order to move forward.
　　B: Yep, and President Obama does have the charisma 6 and aura to convey his message to the public.
　　A: 没错! 不过听众朋友们，我们刚刚说到的这个励志用美语该怎么表达呢? 来听听今天的美语怎么说你就明白啦!
　　How to say it in American English
　　Jessica在北京学汉语，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是Lulu要问的：励志。
　　LU: Jessica. I-Want-You!!!
　　Jessica: 哈哈! You watched that show, didn't you, Lulu?!
　　LU: 没错!在你的推荐下，我也看了这个选秀节目! 太感人了! 你看那些选手，都是平凡人，可是唱得多棒啊!看他们被评委选中，太励志了! Jessica, 你教教我，“励志节目”在美语里怎么说？
　　Jessica: You can say the show is inspirational. Inspirational is spelled i-n-s-p-i-r-a-t-i-o-n-a-l. This talent show is definitely inspirational as all the contestants 7 have incredible life stories and their performances rock!
　　LU: Exactly! 那我要是说励志电影，是不是inspirational movies?
　　Jessica: 没错! But Lulu, I was really disappointed that the young woman from Chengdu didn't make it to the next around.
　　LU: 我也特喜欢那个成都女生。Did you see how sad she was when the judges all turned her down?
　　Jessica: Yeah. She was crushed! For a moment I thought she was gonna faint!
　　LU: Crushed? 就是“深受打击”的意思，对么？
　　Jessica: 对。For example, after learning his girlfriend had dumped him for a wealthier guy, he was crushed.
　　LU: 唉，看着那女孩儿伤心的样子，真可怜。I don't know what those judges were thinking! That girl should have been selected! 唉，真是有眼无珠。
　　Jessica: I agree! Well, it's their loss!
　　LU: Their loss? The judges' loss? 我明白了，这就是说他们不选这个选手，是他们自己的损失!
　　Jessica: 没错! 好啦 Lulu, another episode of the show is starting in 5 minutes. Let's go watch!
　　LU: 今天我们学了，励志节目是 inspirational show, 深受打击是 crushed, 形容有人选择错误，有眼无珠，可以说 It's their loss!
　　A: Speaking of this, although Mitt 8 Romney lost the election, he didn't seem so crushed. 而且他还挺大方地祝贺奥巴马连任呢!
　　B: Yeah, I mean, in terms of popular votes, President Obama did win with only a narrow margin 9 of victory. He got 50% of the popular votes, while Romney got 49%. The two candidates were definitely neck and neck.
　　A: 对啊! 大家都说这是美国历史上最刺激的一次大选，因为双方咬得太紧，之前没人知道选举结果到底会是怎么样!
　　B: Yep, and in today's words and idioms, we will tell you how to express an inevitable 10 outcome! Let's go and check it out!
　　Words and Idioms 991
　　美国习惯用语第 991讲。我是晓北。
　　M：我是Dan
　　昨天我去看了我好朋友的篮球比赛。虽然我很希望他赢，不过我也知道，他所在的球队处于弱势，如果没有奇迹出现的话，他们输定了。果不其然，他们以大比分败北。这也让我想到一个习惯用语，那就是:
　　M: Foregone conclusion. Foregone is spelled f-o-r-e-g-o-n-e, and conclusion; c-o-n-c-l-u-s-i-o-n. Foregone-conclusion.
　　Foregone的意思是先前的、预知的，而conclusion，结果。Foregone conclusion， 意思就是"注定的结果， 不可避免的结果"。上面的例子就是这样。It's obvious that my friend's team was the underdog. It was a FOREGONE CONCLUSION that they'd lose the game. 我朋友的球队显然不是对手，在比赛中失利是不可避免的。在下面的例子里，我们要去看看一个公司里的员工如何讨论谁会升职。
　　M: "Susana had worked as the assistant manager in the store for three years. When the boss decided 11 to take a job with another company, most of us assumed Susana would be getting a promotion 12. It seemed a FOREGONE CONCLUSION. But our predictions were wrong. A new manager with more experience was hired instead."
　　[这段话是说: 苏珊娜当了三年副经理。老板接受另一份工作决定辞职后，我们很多人都认为苏珊娜一定会得到晋升。这看起来是注定的结果了。不过我们都猜错了。公司雇了一名更有经验的经理人。]
　　是啊，这世界上的事情谁能百分之百打保票呢？就拿我经常去光顾的一家餐厅来说，那里的服务员几个月前告诉我，餐厅可能要关门了，因为老板得了重病。They were sure the restaurant had to close down. It seems like a foregone conclusion. 可是前两天我去订pizza的时候，他们告诉我，老板手术成功，迅速康复，餐厅会继续开下去？这真是个好消息！ 好的，我们再来听听刚才那段话:
　　M: "Susana had worked as the assistant manager in the store for three years. When the boss decided to take a job with another company, most of us assumed Susana would be getting a promotion. It seemed a FOREGONE CONCLUSION. But our predictions were wrong. A new manager with more experience was hired instead."
　　美国历史上的南北战争人尽皆知。这次战争以北方取胜告终，结束了奴隶制，是美国历史的里程碑之一。有些历史学家认为北方显然会获胜，可是有些历史学家则认为双方势均力敌。我们一起去听听他们不同的见解。
　　M: "Some historians believe that the American Civil War was far from a FOREGONE CONCLUSION. In their view, it wasn't clear at all that the North was going to beat the South. It's true that the North had a larger population and greater resources. But, they argue, the South had the advantage of fighting on their own soil. And they had the most experienced generals. "
　　[这段话是说：一些历史学家认为当时美国内战的结果并不是板上定钉的。在他们看来，北方并不一定能打败南方。的确，北方拥有更多的人力和资源。但是他们认为，南方拥有主场优势。而且他们有经验更加丰富的将军。]
　　历史是个值得讨论的话题。每个人看相同的问题都会得出不同的结论。各种战争，选举，都可能出现出人意料的结果。就比如今年的总统大选，鹿死谁手，还很难讲。Who will win the presidential election this year is far from a foregone conclusion.好，我们再来听听刚才那段话:
　　M: "Some historians believe that the American Civil War was far from a FOREGONE CONCLUSION. In their view, it wasn't clear at all that the North was going to beat the South. It's true that the North had a larger population and greater resources. But, they argue, the South had the advantage of fighting on their own soil. And they had the most experienced generals. "
　　今天我们学习的习惯用语是FOREGONE CONCLUSION, 意思是注定的结果，不可避免的结果。好的，这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束，我是小北，我是Dan。谢谢各位的收听。
　　A: 说起这个，我也来造个句。 It's a foregone conclusion that xiaobei is going to get a promotion soon! 我觉得她得请咱们撮一顿，对吧?
　　B: That's definitely true! Especially with her superb ability to cook Chinese food, unlike somebody here....
　　A:  I'm sorry, who are you talking about here? (threatening)
　　B: Woo....well, ok, I'm wrong!! You are so good at cooking Chinese food...
　　A: 不止是中国菜，中西合璧，哪样我都行! 哈哈! 在今天的business etiquette 13里， 我们就要来讨论东方和西方菜式的不同，赶快一起来听听看!
　　礼节美语Food Part I
　　美国驻中国员工Tiffany 跟中国同事Kelly聊天儿。
　　Kelly Yan: So Tiffany, you've been working with us here in China for a few months now. Are you still feeling culture shock?
　　Tiffany Scolini: Yes, a bit. But it's much better than the first few weeks. Back then I was really a fish out of water.
　　K: Remember the first time I took you to eat real Chinese food? You barely touched anything!
　　T: I know! I was scared! A lot of the food here is very different from back home. And the Chinese restaurants I've been to in America are very different from here.
　　Tiffany 来中国几个月，文化上还是有些不习惯，I am still feeling culture shock a little bit. 不过，跟刚开始比已经强多了。刚来那会儿，I was really a fish out of water. 就象离了水的鱼，意思是跟环境格格不入，特别不自在。Kelly 第一次带Tiffany 去中国餐馆吃饭，Tiffany 几乎没动筷子，因为这儿的中尴5c馆跟美国的中餐馆差别太大了。
　　K:  Yeah. We Chinese like to joke about American Chinese food. It's really not very authentic 14.
　　T: Yes, that's true. But I think it's true all around the world. You really have to be in the food's original country to truly experience it.  My family is Italian and in Italy they think American-Italian food is awful!
　　K: Oh, but I love pizza!
　　T: Me, too! But the pizza in Italy isn't anything like American pizza. In the U.S. we like to borrow the general idea of a food, and then we give it an American twist.
　　吃中国饭去中国，吃意大利菜去意大利，这样才能吃到最正宗的，authentic, a-u-t-h-e-n-t-i-c, authentic. 在美国，虽然什么都能吃得到，但是美国人喜欢把别人的菜拿来，give it an American twist. 加入美国自己的特色。
　　K: I remember when I was in the States I ordered fish one time. When the dish arrived I was surprised to see just a little chunk 15 of meat. I thought "Where is the head and tail?"
　　T: (laughs) Oh...yes. In the States we almost never leave the head and tail on a fish! Americans are kind of squeamish when it comes to dead animals. We would never ━ not in a million years --- leave the head on a chicken!
　　K: Yeah, that's right! I never saw a chicken head when I was there.
　　Kelly回忆说，她在美国点鱼，结果上来的只是一盘鱼肉。原来，美国人不吃鱼头和鱼尾。Tiffany解释说，Americans are kind of squeamish when it comes to dead animals. 美国人对杀生非常敏感。squeamish意思是容易受惊的，神经质的。Americans would never--not in a million years---leave the head on a chicken. 美国人绝不会把鸡头留在盘子里。这里说的 not in a million years, 一百万年都不会，是强调的意思。Tiffany对中国菜还有哪些印象呢？我们下次继续听。
　　A: 原来，Tiffiny才到中国两个月，看到了很多 authentic Chinese food, 地道中国菜，可是她吃不习惯，像 a fish out of water, 特别不自在。Kelly说，她刚到美国的时候也很不适应，因为美国人引进各种食物，可是都 give it an American twist, 加入美国特色，食物都进行了改良。So Mike, what's your impression of Chinese food ?
　　B: Haha, I LOVE Chinese food! I think Chinese food is a lot more delicate and interesting compared to western cuisine 16. I love trying out all the local food, Ganbian sijidou, Shandong Geli (Qingdao ren jiao Gala), shao long bao, huo guo, and my favorite is definitely 串儿! Gosh how do I miss Beijing!
　　A: 没错! 哎呀，被你这么一说，我又想起了鱼香肉丝那可人疼的样子!
　　B: Well...stop dreaming, you are drooling all over the place! (A: Hey!) haha kidding kidding. Let's keep listening and see what Tiffany has to say about Chinese food!
　　礼节美语Food Part II
　　美国驻中国员工Tiffany 跟中国同事Kelly聊天儿，说起中西餐的差别，比如，美国人饭桌上永远看不到鱼头或是鸡头。Tiffany 大发感慨道，
　　T: In some ways, perhaps the Chinese approach to meat-eating is more honest. If you're eating a chicken, well, that's what a chicken looks like!
　　K: Huh...that's interesting. So you think Western people are trying to forget that the chicken was a living animal?
　　T: Maybe. I think many American kids don't really understand that chicken nuggets are made out of real chickens.
　　Tiffany 觉得中国人的吃法更真实，而西方人则不希望把盘子里的肉跟活生生的动物联系在一起。结果是，Many American kids don't really understand that chicken nuggets are made out of real chickens. 很多美国孩子并不知道炸鸡块其实是用活生生的鸡做的；
　　K: But if you don't use all of the animal...isn't that wasteful 17?
　　T: Oh, it's very wasteful. America has a big problem with being wasteful. We really need to learn to use things more efficiently 18.
　　K: Maybe Americans should try being more adventurous 19 with food. When I was there it seems everybody ate pretty much the same things every day!
　　T: Yeah, that's another good thing about Chinese food; there are a million different dishes with a million different flavors. You can try something new everyday!
　　Kelly觉得，美国人在饮食方面应该大胆些。More adventurous with food. adventurous is spelled a-d-v-e-n-t-u-r-o-u-s, 意思是具有探险精神。Tiffany表示，美国人吃的东西千篇一律，而中国菜却是 there are a million different dishes with a million different flavors. 变幻无穷。
　　K: But I do think Chinese food can sometimes be too greasy 20!
　　T: Yeah, but American food is greasy too. I think overall, Chinese people must be eating a pretty healthy diet because there are so few people here with weight problems. Back home it's a really big problem!
　　K: Well, I've gained a few too many kilos myself recently. I need to cut down on the meat and eat more fruit and vegetables. Hey! That reminds me! There's a new vegetarian 21 restaurant downtown...want to come try it with me?
　　T: Sure! Lets have another adventure!
　　Kelly说，有些中国菜太油腻，too greasy, greasy is spelled g-r-e-a-s-y. Tiffany 却觉得，中国人饮食相对健康 a pretty healthy diet，因为中国体重超标的人并不多。Back home it's a really big problem. 这在美国可是大问题。这也提醒了Kelly,她说自己最近长了好几斤，需要 cut down on the meat and eat more fruit and vegetables. 少吃肉，多吃蔬菜水果。她立即拉Tiffany去城里新开的一家vegetarian restaurant素菜馆去尝尝鲜。
　　A: Kelly觉得美国人吃饭有些千篇一律，觉得他们应该be more adventurous with food, 更大胆些。Tiffany 觉得中国菜相对健康 a pretty healthy diet, 因为中国人相对来说体重都比较正常。两人决定今晚健康饮食，去vegetarian restaurant 素菜馆尝尝鲜。
　　B: I definitely agree with Tiffany. Chinese food itself was a great diet for me. I lost 35 pounds just by eating Chinese food and walk around in China, I guess it's because there's more fresh meats and vegetables in Chinese cuisine.
　　A: 没错! 而且中国菜还能变很多花样，把素菜做成荤的，荤菜就更不用说了! 你想，鱼香肉丝，红烧狮子头，火爆腰花，酱肘子，糖醋鱼! 哎呀，好了好了不说了，咱们还是回到现实中来，节目最后，我们再来学个词儿!
　　Learn A Word 1607 parental 22 consent
　　今天我们要学的词是 parental consent. Parental is spelled p-a-r-e-n-t-a-l, consent is spelled c-o-n-s-e-n-t, parental consent. Parental consent 家长同意。美国联邦贸易委员会FTC建议修改有关规定，加强对网上儿童隐私的保护。Under the FTC proposals, some current online practices, like getting children under the age of 13 to submit their photos, would require parental consent. 根据联邦贸易委员会的提案，互联网上让13岁以下的孩子提交照片等现行做法，都要得到家长的同意。Parents have voiced concerns when morning-after pills were distributed to NYC's high school girls without parental consent. 纽约市高中在未经家长同意的情况下向女生发放紧急避孕药，引起家长的不满。好的，今天我们学习的词是 parental consent, parental consent, parental consent....
　　A: 哎，是呀, 这年头互联网诱惑太多，孩子真是不好管呀...
　　B: Yeah, now you understand how hard it is for me to always have to direct and supervise you to do your work....
　　A: I think it's time that I bring you back to heal.....哈哈， 好了同学们，这次节目时间就到这里了。