ESL Podcast 577 – Magic and Illusions

Patricia: This is the best magic show I’ve ever seen. Have you ever seen so many amazing magic tricks in your life? They’re blowing my mind!

Sergio: They’re all just illusions. It’s nothing but smoke and mirrors.

Patricia: I don’t know how you can say that. We’ve seen some really impressive sleight¹ of hand tricks and that escape artist seemed to do the impossible.

Sergio: Couldn’t you see that it was just misdirection? While you weren’t looking, the magician left through the trap door.

Patricia: Maybe that’s how that trick was done, but how do you explain the mind reader? How did he know what I was thinking if he couldn’t really read my mind?

Sergio: I’m sure any supernatural powers these magicians and entertainers claim to have have been debunked² by somebody. Maybe he used the power of suggestion. Who knows?

Patricia: And maybe you’re just jaded³.

Sergio: And maybe you’re the most gullible⁴ person who ever lived!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 sleight   

n.技巧，花招

参考例句：

• With a little statistical sleight of hand they could make things look all right.只要在统计上耍些小小的花招，他们就能瞒天过海。
• In the theater of the media there is an economic sleight of hand.传播媒介在经济上耍了一个大花招。

2 debunked   

v.揭穿真相，暴露( debunk的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His theories have been debunked by recent research. 最近的研究揭穿了他的理论的真相。
• Some advertising slogans should be debunked. 某些夸大的广告用语应予揭露。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 jaded   

adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的

参考例句：

• I felt terribly jaded after working all weekend. 整个周末工作之后我感到疲惫不堪。
• Here is a dish that will revive jaded palates. 这道菜简直可以恢复迟钝的味觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 gullible   

adj.易受骗的；轻信的

参考例句：

• The swindlers had roped into a number of gullible persons.骗子们已使一些轻信的人上了当。
• The advertisement is aimed at gullible young women worried about their weight.这则广告专门针对担心自己肥胖而易受骗的年轻女士。