听播客学英语 240 害怕

 　　You know what “afraid” means¹, don’t you? If I am afraid, I am frightened or scared. If I am very afraid, I could say that I am terrified².

　　When we want to talk about the thing that makes us afraid, we say “afraid of”. Some people are afraid of flying in aeroplanes³. Some little children are afraid of the dark. My daughter is afraid of spiders.

　　Sometimes, however, we use the word “afraid” in a different way. We use it when we have to tell someone something which is unpleasant⁴ or unwelcome or upsetting to them. If we say “I am afraid that…” it makes what we have to say a little softer and less unpleasant. Lets look at some examples.

　　Kevin comes home from work. He wants to watch the world cup football on the television. But Joanne has bad news for him. First, the television has broken; and second, her mother is coming to supper. Joanne’s mother doesn’t like football, nor does she like Kevin.

　　So Joanne says, “Kevin, I know you want to watch the football tonight. But I am afraid that the television isn’t working properly. And I am afraid my mother is coming to supper. Why don’t you go to the pub⁵ to watch the football. I will tell Mum that you are working late tonight.”

　　Kevin’s friend George often arrives late for work, and often his work is poor. His boss calls him into his office. He says, “Unless your work improves, I am afraid you will need to look for another job.”

　　Jessica and her children are planning a picnic tomorrow. But then Jessica listens to the weather forecast. She tells the children, “I am afraid its going to rain tomorrow – lets have our picnic at the weekend instead”.

　　That is all I have time for today. I am afraid that is the end of the podcast. But here is Majek Fashek, and he is Not Afraid.

1 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

2 terrified   

adj.很害怕的，极度惊慌的，吓坏了的v.使恐怖，使惊吓，恐吓( terrify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• the crying of terrified children 小孩受了惊吓的哭声
• I'm terrified of flying. 我十分害怕坐飞机。

3 aeroplanes   

n.飞机( aeroplane的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes. 大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The boy has become fascinated with making model aeroplanes. 这孩子做飞机模型都入了迷了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 unpleasant   

adj.使人不愉快的，使人厌恶的，煞风景的

参考例句：

• A very unpleasant thing has happened.一件令人很不愉快的事发生了。
• The kind advices are often unpleasant to the ear.好言常常不入耳。

5 pub   

n.[英]旅馆，小店，酒馆

参考例句：

• He is the landlord of this pub.他是这家酒店的店主。
• They saw that four large men marched into the pub.他们看到四个彪形大汉走进了酒吧。