ESL Podcast 855 – Learning Fire Safety

 　　The apartment manager asked all of the tenants¹ to come to a short meeting to learn about fire safety. I didn’t want to go, but the manager said that there would be free food, and who am I to turn down free pizza?

 

　　...

 

　　Apartment manager: Thank you all for coming to this meeting about fire safety. With the rash of fires in this neighborhood recently, it seemed like a good idea to talk about fire safety with all of you.

 

　　I want to make sure we comply with the fire code, so I’ve installed new smoke alarms or replaced the batteries in the older ones in each apartment and in the hallways. The fire escapes are in good condition and there are fire extinguishers in each hallway.

 

　　Your job is to keep the inside of your apartments safe. Keep flammable items away from the fireplace and don’t overload² your electrical outlets³. Any questions? If not, we’re ready for a fire drill.

 

　　...

 

　　Nobody told me there would be fire drill. I’m guess I’m ready to stop, drop, and roll – as long as I can take the pizza with me.

 

　　Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 tenants   

n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者

参考例句：

• A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。
• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。

2 overload   

vt.使超载；n.超载

参考例句：

• Don't overload the boat or it will sink.别超载，否则船会沉。
• Large meals overload the digestive system.吃得太饱会加重消化系统的负担。

3 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》