VOA英语教学：美语训练班 041

 　　A: 大家好! 欢迎来到美语训练班, 我是杨琳！

　　B：我是Kat, 杨琳，快介绍一下节目内容吧!
　　A: 好! 今天，咱们要了解一下野外滑雪都要作什么安全准备，要和朋友聊聊婚后生活，看看公司产品出现质量问题该如何应对，还要告诉大家用美语怎么说“抛媚眼”。
　　B: Sounds good! But first, let's learn a word.
　　Learn A Word comparable
　　今天我们要学的词是comparable. Comparable is spelled c-o-m-p-a-r-a-b-l-e, comparable. Comparable 意思是可比较的，相当的。2月5号是美国一年一度的超级杯橄榄球赛。球场安全负责人说: The overall Super Bowl security effort is comparable to the protection that surrounds the President of the United States. 超级杯安全保卫措施能与对美国总统的保卫工作相提并论。美国政府调查显示，The average federal worker earns 2 percent more than a private sector worker in a comparable profession. 联邦雇员与可类比的私营企业员工比，平均薪资高出2%。 好的，今天我们学习的词是comparable, comparable, comparable.
　　A: 都说“人比人，气死人”，我有个朋友特有钱，买名牌包跟买菜似的，不象我，得下半天决心，还得等减价！唉，Our spending abilities are not comparable at all!
　　B: Don't be upset. As long as you are happy with what you bought, your satisfaction is comparable to your friend's.
　　A: 也对，有钱难买我高兴！
　　B：That's the spirit!
　　A: 好了，咱们继续听节目，Words and Idioms.
　　Words and Idioms Cast in Stone
　　女：各位听众，现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 953讲。我是杨琳。
　　M：我是 Douglas Johnson.
　　女：大家都喜欢在夏天休个长假享受生活。我朋友Jenny最近就去了巴黎，完全沉醉在历史古迹，美食和精彩的夜生活之中。她可启发了我！我也开始研究自己该去哪里渡假了，可是目前我还没完全决定该去哪里。这也让我想到一个习惯用语，那就是：
　　M：Cast in Stone. Cast is spelled c-a-s-t, and stone; s-t-o-n-e. Cast in stone. Cast in stone.
　　女: Cast本身有铸造的意思，而stone则是石头。Cast in stone, 都铸造在石头里了，也就是最后决定，板上定钉的意思。虽然我在看关于去巴黎旅游的书，可是还没决定最后是不是去那里。My decision to go to Paris isn't CAST IN STONE. 下面的例子里，这位家长遇到了什么难题? 我们来听听看:
　　M: "It seems like yesterday that my daughter was in kindergarten and now she's graduating from 6th grade. Her class is having a graduation party on June 10th. While I really want to attend, I'll be on a business trip. And I understand the date of the ceremony can't be changed. It's CAST IN STONE."
　　[这段话是说：女儿上幼儿园仿佛还是昨天的事，可是现在她已经要六年级毕业了！她们班6月10号开毕业派对庆祝。虽然我很想参加，但是我那时侯正好得去出差。而且我知道，日期已经不能再改，是板上定钉的事了。]
　　女：如果家长不能出席，孩子一定会很失望！对了，你还记得上次我说我们家的路口应该安装停车路标的事吗？我本以为这已经是板上定钉的事情了，可是现在由于资金问题还得需要近一步考虑。The board needs to reconsider whether to install a stop sign or not due to budgetary concerns. So it's not CAST IN STONE yet. 出于预算考虑，小区委员会需要重新审核是否要安装一个停车的路标，这件事还没有最后决定。好，让我们再来听听刚才那段话。
　　M: "It seems like yesterday that my daughter was in kindergarten and now she's graduating from 6th grade. Her class is having a graduation party on June 10th. While I really want to attend, I'll be on a business trip. And I understand the date of the ceremony can't be changed. It's CAST IN STONE."
　　女：每次我去饭馆吃饭，对到底要点什么酒都很犹豫不决。老听别人说点酒是一门很讲究的学问，到底是不是这样呢？我们来听听看:
　　M: "There's a lot of confusion about wine. Should you only drink white wine with chicken and fish and red wine with red meat? When it comes to deciding what goes together best, experts now say that there are no rules CAST IN STONE. You should let your taste guide you; serve whatever pleases you. "
　　[这段话是说：如何点酒确实是门学问。是不是鸡肉和鱼肉只能搭配白酒，而红肉只能搭配红酒呢？专家认为，当谈到如何搭配最好的时候，并没有什么板上定钉的规则。你应该跟着你的感觉走，只要你喜欢就好。]
　　我每次去吃西餐，就经常不知道自己该点什么酒！听了这段话才知道，原来，There are no rules cast in stone on how to order wines. 点酒并没有什么固定的规则。大家注意，这里的cast也可以用其他动词代替，比如s-e-t, set；或是c-a-r-v-e-d, carved; set in stone, carved in stone, 都是同样的意思，板上定钉。好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话:
　　M: "There's a lot of confusion about wine. Should you only drink white wine with chicken and fish and red wine with red meat? When it comes to deciding what goes together best, experts now say that there are no rules CAST IN STONE. You should let your taste guide you; serve whatever pleases you. "
　　今天我们学习的习惯用语是Cast in Stone，意思是“最后的结论，板上定钉”。好的，这次[美国习惯用语]就到此结束，我是杨琳，我是 Douglas Johnson。谢谢各位的收听。
　　A: Kat, 周末来我家吃饭怎么样？
　　B：I'd love to, but I can't promise. I'm going to an outing with a bunch of friends and I don't know exactly when I'm coming back.
　　A: That's okay. 你回来给我打个电话，我家的party也许要开到很晚呢，the time isn't cast in stone。
　　B：That's great.
　　A：说到party，咱们赶紧来听今天的美语怎么说，看看在Lulu的party上发生了什么！
　　How to say it in American English:
　　Make eyes at somebody
　　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：抛媚眼。
　　JESSICA: Lulu，What's up?
　　LL: 我要去赴约，有人请我吃饭!
　　JESSICA: 这么好？
　　LL: 那当然! 请客的是一对情侣，俩人是在我家的Party上认识的，所以我算他们的媒人，他们当然要请客啦! 当时，那女生一眼就看上那男生了，马上向他狂抛眉眼! 就是......呃......threw pretty looks at him...
　　JESSICA: Haha! 我明白了，She made eyes at him. To make eyes at someone means to flirt with someone。
　　LL: 哦， to make eyes at someone就是向某人抛媚眼。 你知道么，有些人喜欢乱放电。比如我认识一男生，He makes eyes at every young woman he knows! 他对认识的女生都乱抛媚眼!
　　JESSICA: Oh yeah? I bet he also uses lame pickup lines to those women.
　　LL: Pickup line我听说过，就是跟女孩儿搭讪时说的话，对不对？
　　JESSICA: Exactly! For example, the typical pickup line at the bar is "can I buy you a drink?"
　　LL: 还有那句老掉牙的：小姐，我们在哪儿见过吧？
　　JESSICA: Haha! Seems like you've been asked this question many times!
　　LL: 呵呵。别说我了，还是说我那俩个朋友吧，真是有缘人，在我家见了一次面，就好上了!
　　JESSICA: They really hit it off!
　　LL: Hit if off? 打什么了？
　　Jessica: No. To hit it off means to like each other very quickly.
　　LL: 哦! Hit it off 就是一见如故，才聊两句就觉得特对路! 我这两个朋友--They hit if off instantly! I won't be surprised if the girl shows off her engagement ring to me tonight!
　　Jessica: Wow, good for her! Now tell me what you've learned today!
　　LL: 第一：To make eyes at someone 是冲某人抛媚眼；.
　　第二：pickup line 是和女孩儿搭讪时所说的话；
　　第三：to hit it off是一见如故。
　　A: 哈哈，眉来眼去，暗送秋波只是恋爱的第一步，接下来还有 a long way to go!
　　B: Yeah! A lot of relationships start off nicely, but never make to the "I do" moment.
　　A: 就算结了婚，也不是万事大吉，后面漫长的婚姻路，才是考验人呢。
　　B: This reminds me of the GoEnglish program we had last time. John and Carmen are newlyweds. I wonder how they're adapting to married life.
　　A：听听就知道啦！
　　GoEnglish: Wedding (advanced)
　　大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“婚礼”单元的高级课程。
　　Professor: John got married to his wife Carmen a few months ago, and today he is meeting up with his friend Chuck to talk about his new married life.
　　John一定还沉浸在新婚的甜蜜中，肯定要向Chuck炫耀有老婆的幸福! 对吧，professor Bowman?
　　Professor: Uh ..... well, we will have to listen and find out.
　　Chuck: Man, John, I haven't seen you in forever! I can't even remember the last time we were able to get together.
　　John: Well, Chuck, you know I'm a married man now. Once you tie the knot, your weekends are spent doing housework and shopping for new kitchen appliances.
　　Chuck: That's why you've been too busy to hang out? Wow. Well you need to find some time, because the football playoffs are coming up and I want to watch it on your big TV!
　　John: (Sigh) Sunday is the day I have to go over to Carmen's parents' house to have dinner, so I don't think that's going to fly.
　　听起来，John并没有那么高兴。他说，自从结婚之后，他的周末生活就只剩下做家务和买东西，都没时间和朋友一起玩儿了。
　　Professor: That's right. I can tell you that once you tie the knot, your life is never the same.
　　是啊，一旦tie the knot--结了婚， 人生就进入新阶段了嘛。对了，professor, Chuck想星期天去John家看橄榄球比赛，可John说，this isn't going to fly，这是什么意思呢？
　　Professor: If you say something isn't going to fly, that means it isn't going to work or be successful. For example, I was really hoping to travel to Europe this summer. But I don't have the money, so that plan isn't going to fly.
　　哦，就是行不通的意思。
　　Chuck: Well what else has been going on with you? Have you been following any of the same-sex marriage debate? I'm a big supporter.
　　John: Of course, I am too. I think every person should have the right to get married to whoever he loves, and then get nagged to death by that person for the rest of his life.
　　Chuck: Oh come on, John. It's a beautiful thing when two people love each other, and want to enjoy the rights of marriage together. All people should be equal, regardless of their sexual orientation.
　　John: I couldn't agree more! Gay men should have to endure married life just like the rest of us heterosexual men. It's unfair that they don't have to!
　　Chuck和John谈到same-sex marriage--同性婚姻，他们俩都支持同性恋有权结婚，可是，John的理由怎么听着这么别扭!
　　Professor: Yes, I find it very interesting! Why do Chuck and John support gay marriage?
　　Chuck认为人人平等，所以都应该享有结婚的权利，不论他们的sexual orientation--性取向，是什么。
　　Professor: Exactly. But why does John support it?
　　John也说到了人人平等，可他的意思是， heterosexual men--也就是像他这样的异性恋男人，要忍受婚姻生活的无奈，天天被老婆烦，所以，同性恋的人也该受同样的罪!
　　Professor: Right. What do you think about that, Winnie?
　　哎呀，不是所有男人都这么看待婚姻吧？
　　Professor: Of course not all men, Winnie. Just the married ones.
　　Chuck: Come on, John. I'm sure there are lots of great things about being married.
　　John: You're right, I'm exaggerating. Marriage is a very special bond, and it's really wonderful to have someone who I can always trust and rely on.
　　Chuck: Yeah, I guess you're right. Now if I can only find a woman who likes to watch football on Sundays, I think my life would be complete.
　　John: I'll ask Carmen if she has any friends who are cheerleaders.
　　你瞧，professor，男人并不是只会抱怨婚姻! John最后还是承认，结了婚，他就有了一个可以永远信赖和依靠的伴侣。
　　Professor: That's exactly right. And what is Chuck's view of the perfect woman?
　　Chuck说，如果他能找到一个和自己一样爱看橄榄球比赛的老婆，他的人生就美满啦! Professor, 你说一个beautiful cheerleader--啦啦队美少女，能看上Chuck么？
　　Professor: Well, love works in mysterious ways!
　　A: 看来John被老婆管得够呛，有点儿怀念单身的自由呢！
　　B: That's right. But he also admitted the good side of getting married─that you'll always have someone to trust and rely on.
　　A: 对！有个人可以让你全心地信赖和依靠，这感觉多好啊！尤其是在很多事儿都不靠谱儿的今天！
　　B: haha! Speaking of which, do you think consumers can always trust manufacturers?
　　A: 消费者能不能永远信赖生产商？我看不一定，不是经常有不合格的产品，伤害消费者利益么。
　　B: What if they recall the problematic products?
　　A：recall就是产品召回的意思。 公司把产品出问题的消息告诉大家，并且把这些商品下架，这也算是弥补得不错了。今天的Business Etiquette就讲这个问题，咱们来听一听!
　　礼节美语 A Product Recall I
　　公司主管开会，执行总裁Rick说：
　　Rick: The Board of Directors has come to a decision. Our company will take an image hit, and it's going to be very expensive, but it seems we have no other choice but to start a recall. Samantha, would you care to explain a bit more.
　　Samantha: A year ago we began receiving reports that several of the air conditioner models we manufacture can sometimes overheat. In very rare circumstances this overheating might lead to electrical fires. So far there have been three fires that may be connected to our air conditioning units.
　　R: Unfortunately, one person was seriously injured. Therefore, even though there is no definitive proof linking our ACs to these fires, we decided to take action immediately.
　　Samantha 介绍说，公司生产的几款空调发生过overheat--机身温度过热的现象，可能起火，到目前为止，至少有三起火灾怀疑跟他们公司生产的空调有关，还有一人受重伤。执行总裁Rick说，虽然没有definitive proof，确凿证据， 但公司董事会还是决定立即采取行动，start a recall. 召回相关型号的空调。recall is spelled r-e-c-a-l-l, recall 是召回有问题产品的意思。这样做不仅会有不小的经济损失，而且还要 take an image hit. 公司形象也会受到打击。Hank 问：
　　Hank: How many units are we talking about here? And what is this going to cost us?
　　R: We will be recalling over 15,000 air-conditioners. The company will refit them with new thermal sensors and stronger wiring.
　　S: As far as costs go, we estimate the company will lose well over $6 million dollars.
　　H: Six million??! But we're not even sure we're responsible. Is a recall really the best way to go?
　　R: I believe that from both a business perspective and a moral perspective, a recall is necessary.
　　S: I think Rick is right. If there's even a chance that our products could cause injuries we have a responsibility to step in.
　　公司估计要召回一万五千台空调，召回的产品改用更耐热的电线，还要安装 thermal sensors 热感应器，经济损失将超过六百万美元。公司执行总裁Rick和主管Samantha都觉得，不论是从商业角度还是从道义角度出发，只要公司产品可能跟火灾的发生有一点关联，他们也有义务step in--站出来。
　　R: Even if we look at it purely from a financial standpoint, six million dollars spent fixing any possible errors is definitely cheaper that being defendants in a lawsuit where somebody was seriously injured or killed.
　　H: So what's the procedure?
　　S: Next Monday we will issue a press release explaining that---even though there are no definitive links between our products and fires--we want to be good corporate citizens and have therefore decided to err on the side of caution.
　　Rick 补充说，即使单纯从经济角度出发，花六百万美元修补产品的缺陷也比被人告上法庭的花销小。产品召回的第一步是，下星期一公司先发一份news release新闻简报，说明公司立场，虽然没有确凿证据证明火灾和公司产品有关，但公司还是决定召回产品，to err on the side of caution，是“慎重起见，保险起见”的意思。新闻简报以后还有哪些措施呢？我们下次继续谈。
　　B: This company is really taking consumers' interests seriously. I wonder how many companies like this one are out there.
　　A: 可不是么。在确定自己产品有问题之前就召回商品，这的确是负责的态度，这么大的经济损失，真是没几家公司愿意承受。
　　B: Anyways, this company has to deal with a crisis, and it takes good public relation skills to weather the storm.
　　A:在公司面临困难时，需要杰出的公关团队来化解危机。不过，要是咱们在野外遇到真正的storm, 恐怕只能自救了。
　　B: There are still some safety precautions you can take to deal with emergencies or accidents in the wilds. Let's listen to American Sports English and find out.
　　Sports English Cross Country Skiing
　　P: Here we are out in the great Alaskan wilds, ready to go cross-country skiing!
　　Y: This is so great, Patrick! 阿拉斯加的风景好美，最适合练习越野滑雪! I'm really glad you could join us, too, Lara .
　　L: Thanks for asking me to come along, Patrick and Yang Chen. Going cross country skiing in Alaska is really an amazing opportunity.
　　P: Well, 我们今天一天都在野外滑雪， we should really go over our safety precautions。
　　Y: That's right, 要做好安全措施
　　P: It is really important to be safe when you are planning to ski in the wilderness for several hours. First, did you guys let someone know that you were going skiing and where you would be?
　　Y Yep, sure did. I told my mom.
　　L: Uh-huh. I told my all my friends.
　　P: Okay, good. That is important in case we get lost. Did you also check your equipment to make sure it was in good shape and working properly?
　　Y Get lost? 我们会迷路? 那会不会碰上野兽啊?
　　P: Don't worry. Yang Chen. Bye the way, did you check your poles and skis .
　　Y: Yes I did. 我的滑雪杖和滑雪板. They are in good shape.
　　L: And I checked my boots and bindings, too.
　　P: Great work, team! Does someone in the group have a map?
　　Y: Oh, that's me. I have the map!
　　P: Maybe I should hold on to the map while we're skiing, Yang Chen.
　　Y:Patrick! 为什么我不能拿地图?You don't trust me?
　　P: Well, I do. 但是你经常丢东西，忘了你上次我们看棒球你没有带门票。We should also all have the following in our backpacks: Extra food and drink.
　　Y/L: Check!.
　　Y: Extra clothing in case we get wet.
　　P/L: Check!
　　Y: A first aid kit.
　　P/L: Check!
　　P: And we should be skating in a group of at least three people. That way if one of us gets hurt, one person can stay with the injured person and the other can go get help.
　　Y: That's why we invited Lara.
　　L: Gee thanks, guys.
　　P: Well, I guess we are ready to go then! Let's go cross country skiing.
　　A: 去野外滑雪还要先通知亲朋好友，以防自己遇难别人都找不到你！这让我想起一部电影，讲的是一个人去大峡谷探险，谁都没告诉，结果胳膊被卡在峭壁之间，最后只能生把自己的手切下来逃生。
　　B: Yeah! I remember that movie! It was a bit hard to watch, I don't do well when I see blood.
　　A: 我也是！所以说啊，独行侠不是那么好当的。最好还是能结伴出去，好有个照应。好了, 这次节目时间到了。这次的撰稿人是小北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次再见！
　　B：See you !