VOA英语教学：美语训练班 042

 　　A: 大家好! 欢迎来到美语训练班, 我是杨琳！

　　B：我是Kat, 杨琳，今天咱们学什么呀？

　　A: 今天，咱们要去快餐店大吃一顿，要谈谈危机公关，还要告诉大家用美语怎么说“异地恋”和“左右为难”。

　　B: Sounds good! But first, let's learn a word.

　　Learn A Word innovation

　　今天我们要学的词是 innovation. Innovation is spelled i-n-n-o-v-a-t-i-o-n, innovation. Innovation 意思是创新，改革。由于其主要顾客群在亚洲，诺基亚公司将把生产线完全转移到亚洲。诺基亚市场部主管说，"By working more closely with our suppliers, we believe that we will be able to introduce innovations into the market more quickly and ultimately be more competitive. " 我们认为，与供货商更密切的合作能使我们更快地将创新理念带入市场，并最终更具竞争力。美国总统奥巴马强调，It's very important to bring the spirit of innovation back to the United States. 将创新精神重新带回美国是十分重要的。好的，今天我们学习的词是innovation, innovation, innovation.

　　A: Kat, 我问你个问题，现在热卖的苹果电子产品，iPhone, iPad, iMac，这些名字的前面都有一个字母i，它代表什么呢？

　　B: Hmm, that's a good question. I guess it means Internet? Or... "intelligent"?

　　A: Internet--网络，Intelligent--智能，听着都有可能。我想，是不是还可能是 individua--个人，或者是我们刚学的这个Innovatio--创新呢？

　　B：Quite possible! These are all good words. They give the products a cool, hip image.

　　A: 没错，干脆咱们这个节目名字也改改吧，前面加个字母i, 变成，i美语训练班，多时髦！

　　B: 照搬别人的做法？Nay, that's not original at all!

　　A: 也对，咱不能盲目跟风。哎，我有一个好主意，咱们不用i, I不是“我”的意思么，咱们用U，U就是“你”，这下可不是跟风了吧？

　　B: 啊？Then our show's name will be u美语训练班？

　　A:你得这么念──呦！美语训练班！哈哈哈！好了，咱们还是继续听节目吧。

　　B: Let's listen to Words and Idioms.

　　Words and Idioms Caught in the middle

　　现在播送<美国习惯用语>第 954讲。我是杨琳。

　　M：我是 Douglas Johnson.

　　女：人们常常抱怨不想去上班，可对于我的一个朋友来说，她现在是更愿意去工作。她女儿最近整天都吵着要买一部智能手机做生日礼物，但是她丈夫坚决不同意。她丈夫觉得女儿还太小，很多事情还负不起责任。我朋友同意我丈夫的观点，可是也知道她女儿的很多朋友都用起了智能手机，所以不想让女儿觉得自己被落下了。她这被夹在中间的状态，让我想到一句习惯用语，那就是：

　　M：Caught in the middle. Caught is spelled c-a-u-g-h-t, and middle; m-i-d-d-l-e. Caught-in-the-middle. Caught in the middle.

　　女: Caught是catch的被动式，被抓住的意思；而middle, 中间。Caught in the middle, 被夹在中间，就是左右为难的意思。我朋友现在就处于左右为难的境地，She is caught in the middle regarding whether to buy her daughter a smartphone. 对于要不要给她女儿买智能手机这个问题，我朋友左右为难。不过她的处境跟下面的例子里的人比起来不足一提？他有什么困扰呢？ 我们来听听看:

　　M: "Ever since my mother came to live with us, life has been difficult. She and my wife don't get along. If one wants one thing, the other is complaining about it. It's a constant battle. And I don't like being CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. They should settle their differences without expecting me to get involved."

　　[这段话是说：自从我妈妈开始来跟我们一起住之后，日子就不好过了。她跟我妻子真是合不来。其中一个人想要点什么，另一个人就会开始抱怨。这是个持续战。我真是左右为难。他们应该自己解决他们之间的问题。]

　　女： 这可真够为难的。婆媳关系一般都很难处理，而丈夫夹在中间，向着哪边都不好。The husband gets caught in the middle whenever there's a conflict between his mom and his wife. 一旦他的妈妈和妻子起了冲突，作为丈夫他真是左右为难。好了，为难归为难，让我们再来听听刚才那段话吧！

　　M: "Ever since my mother came to live with us, life has been difficult. She and my wife don't get along. If one wants one thing, the other is complaining about it. It's a constant battle. And I don't like being CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. They should settle their differences without expecting me to get involved."

　　女：工作中有个好老板是福气。如果你的老板待人和气而又鼓励创新 ，你工作起来一定会干劲十足。可是下面这个例子里的人就不那么幸运了，他碰到了什么样的问题呢？我们来听听看:

　　M: "My boss isn't making my job very easy. He assumes that I'll always be supportive of his decisions. The problem is that I think some of his ideas aren't good for the company. As a result, I find myself torn between wanting to be loyal and wanting to be honest. How can I overcome feeling CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE? "

　　[这段话是说：由于我的老板，我的工作并不十分愉快。他认为我会支持赞成他所有的决定。问题是我认为他的有些想法对公司并不好。所有，我经常在忠诚和诚实之间左右为难。我怎么处理这种夹在中间的局面呢？]

　　女: 我也有过类似的经历！原来大学的时候我曾经去做过家教，可是那个家里的爸爸说一套，而妈妈又有另一套，弄的我不知道怎么办才好。The parents of the kid I'm tutoring have opposite views of what I should teach. I'm totally caught in the middle. 好了，我们再来听听刚才那段话:

　　M: "My boss isn't making my job very easy. He assumes that I'll always be supportive of his decisions. The problem is that I think some of his ideas aren't good for the company. As a result, I find myself torn between wanting to be loyal and wanting to be honest. How can I overcome feeling CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE? "

　　女：各位听众，今天我们学习的习惯用语是Caught in the Middle，意思是“夹在中间，左右为难”。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: 最近我就碰上了件左右为难的事儿，我认识一对情侣，俩人都是我的好朋友，But their relationship hit a rough patch, and they both complain to me about the other person. I'm caught in the middle and don't know what to do!

　　B：You don't have to do anything! Just be a good listener to both of them and let they sort out their own problems.

　　A: 我也这么想，这情侣之间的事儿，外人还是少给意见的好！

　　B：Speaking of relationships, 咱们今天不是要教“异地恋”么？

　　A：没错。Let's listen!

　　How to say it in American English: long-distance relationship

　　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。今天是吴琼要问的：异地恋。

　　JESSICA: 吴琼，what's your plan for the weekend?

　　WQ: I'll be out of town! 我得坐4个小时飞机去看我男朋友!

　　JESSICA: Boy! That's a long flight! 你真是个好女朋友。

　　WQ: 没办法啦。异地恋就是这么辛苦。Jessica, 异地恋用美语要怎么说呢？

　　JESSICA: That's long-distance relationship. So, how long have you guys been long-distance?

　　WQ: We've been dating for a couple of years now. 不过，他最近因为工作被调去外地两年，我们刚刚开始异地恋。I miss him so much, and I don't know if we can survive the long-distance!

　　JESSICA: Don't be sad, 吴琼! I know dating over long-distance can be hard, but you got to have faith in the relationship! Hmm, tell me, what do you like about your boyfriend？

　　WQ: 他啊，最大的优点就是真诚，不做作。

　　JESSICA: So he's a blue-collar kind of guy!

　　WQ: blue collar? 那不是蓝领工人么？

　　JESSICA: Yes. But if you say a man is a "blue collar kind of guy", it doesn't necessarily refer to his job. Rather, it's about his down-to-earth, unpretending character.

　　WQ: I see. My boyfriend is a blue-collar kind of guy. 我就喜欢他这纯朴劲儿。

　　JESSICA: So what does he like about you?

　　WQ: 哈哈，他也喜欢我清纯，亲切，不做作。那我就是blue-collar kind of girl了？怎么听着这么别扭。

　　Jessica: Hmm, you can use the phrase "the girl next door".

　　WQ: The girl next door？ 哦，就是邻家女孩! 没错，My boyfriend says I'm nice and attractive, just like a girl next door! 不过，这次去找他，I don't want to be the girl next door anymore! 我要打扮得艳丽一些，给他个惊喜!

　　Jessica: I hope he likes it! Now tell me what you've learned today!

　　WQ: 第一：异地恋是long-distance relationship；.

　　第二：形容男人质朴老实，可以用blue-collar kind of guy；

　　第三：亲切可爱的邻家女孩是the girl next door.

　　B: Keeping up a long-distance relationship is hard!

　　A: 可不是么，异地恋成功率可不高！除非俩人真的特合适。

　　B: Yeah, and also, the couple needs to have an agreed-upon goal or a reason for having a long-distance relationship. They should know that they're not going to stay like that forever. For example, the goal could be career advancement or a better life in the long run.

　　A: Yeah! They need to have something to look forward to! 而且俩人目标得一致，不是有句话么，Love is not just about looking at each other; it's looking in the same direction.

　　B: 说得好！ Now let's switch gears and talk about food.

　　A：没错，咱们去吃点快餐！

　　GoEnglish Food: Beginner

　　各位听众，大家好！今天我们为您播出“美语三级跳”节目“食物”单元的初级课程。

　　MC: Doug and Liz 正开车去超市买菜，可Doug忽然觉得饿了，想顺道先去快餐店买个汉堡吃。

　　Professor: Winnie, do you ever get hungry when you go shopping?

　　当然有啊，所以每次去超市前，我都先要吃得饱饱的，要不然，到了超市里，我就会看见什么买什么!

　　Doug: Hey Liz, I'm really hungry. Let's stop and eat something.

　　Liz: Alright, where do you want to eat?

　　Doug: There is a McDonalds nearby.

　　Liz: Fast food is so unhealthy. But if you are really hungry, we can go through the drive-through.

　　Doug: No, let's go inside. I don't want to spill my drink in the car.

　　Professor: So Winnie, did you hear where Doug wants to eat?

　　他想去McDonalds，就是麦当劳。不过，他说drive-through，就是中文里说的ǒ得来速ō，也就是不用下车的点餐服务窗口吧？

　　Professor: Exactly! Why doesn't Doug want to use the drive-through?

　　因为他不想在车上吃东西，怕饮料会洒在车上。我也觉得，边吃东西边开车是很危险的。

　　Professor: That's true. I guess there are two ways eating fast food can kill you.

　　MC: 说得对! 吃太多快餐垃圾食品会把身体搞垮，如果边开车边吃还可能让你出车祸!

　　Cashier: Welcome to McDonalds! May I take your order?

　　Doug: Yes, I'd like two hamburgers, a large Coke and a large fries.

　　Cashier: Do you want anything, mam?

　　Liz: No thanks, I'm on a diet.

　　Cashier: For here or to go?

　　Doug: For here.

　　Cashier: Alright, that will be 11 dollars and 50 cents.

　　Liz 说，she is on a diet, 正在节食，所以不吃这些高热量的快餐。Doug 真应该向 Liz 学学。

　　Professor: Yes, fast food has a lot of fat in it. But Winnie, does Doug want the food "for here" or "to go"?

　　Doug 说for here, 也就是在餐厅里吃。如果说 "to go"，就是打包带走的意思。

　　Professor: Yes. When you take food home from a restaurant, you can also say the food is for "take out." Now Doug and Liz are eating their food. Let's listen.

　　Doug: Do you want to eat my tomato? I don't like them. The only topping I like is ketchup.

　　Liz: Sure, I love tomatoes. They're a healthy food.

　　Doug: That's true. Are you sure you don't want anything?

　　Liz: Well I know the French fries are very unhealthy, but they look so good.

　　Doug: Come on Liz, try one. It won't kill you.

　　Liz: Well alright, I'll have just one.

　　Doug: Great! I'm going to get a refill of soda.

　　看来， Liz 的决心动摇了。虽然她一直在说快餐多没营养，可是一看到Doug的薯条，也忍不住要吃上一根。

　　Professor: That's right. And did you hear what topping Doug likes, and which one he doesn't like?

　　Doug 说, 在汉堡的所有佐料中，他只喜欢ketchup--番茄酱, 还说他不爱吃番茄。真奇怪，番茄酱不就是番茄做的嘛？

　　Professor: That's right. What does Doug say he is going to do at the end?

　　他说他要去refill他的饮料. Professor, refill, r-e-f-i-l-l, refill 就是续杯的意思吧？

　　Professor: Correct. When you go to a restaurant, you can ask the waiter, "Do you have free refills?"

　　嗯à这些碳酸饮料中的热量已经很高了，还要续杯？我看还是算了吧!

　　Professor: Now let's see what Doug says when he returns to the table.

　　Doug: Liz, where are all my fries? Did you eat them all?

　　Liz: I'm sorry, Doug. They were just so good! Once I started eating them, I couldn't stop.

　　Doug: Don't worry Liz. If I'm going to get really fat, you should get really fat too! We will look really cute together.

　　Liz: Wow, that is a really scary thought. I need to exercise right now!

　　啊？ Liz 趁Doug不在，居然把他的薯条都吃了！不过，她显然不想和Doug一起变成胖子，所以说要马上去健身。不过首先，希望他们在超市能买些健康食品!

　　Professor: Well listen next time to find out!

　　A: 看看！Liz 没坚持住！炸薯条这东西，吃一根就很难停下来的。

　　B: The craving for fast food is your worst enemy if you're on a diet. Your friends should be supportive, instead of waving a bag of fries in front of your face!

　　A: 没错，减肥需要周围人的支持，可不能老拿炸薯条来考验咱们的意志力！好了，咱们继续听节目吧。在今天的礼节美语中，We'll continue to talk about product recall.

　　礼节美语 A Product Recall II

　　公司主管开会，执行总裁Rick宣布，公司要召回一批质量有问题的空调，召回行动的第一步是发表新闻简报，Rick告诉公司另外两位高管Samantha和Hank说：

　　R: We will then specify the year and model of the ACs included in the recall and set up a web site for our vendors and customers.

　　H: We should probably set up a toll-free line as well.

　　R: Yes, that's a good idea, Hank.

　　S: The company will have to pay for advertisements in major newspapers that explain the recall.

　　H: Maybe I can speak to some of the members of the press I know and see if they're interested in doing a news story on this. I'm hoping to spin it in our favor by highlighting the fact that this is a precautionary measure.

　　新闻简报里要说明召回产品的出厂年份和型号，还要专门开设一个网站，方便销售商家和顾客咨询联系。Hank建议再开通一条 toll-free line 免费拨打的电话，他还主动提出，联系一些跟自己关系比较好的媒体，看看有没有人愿意发一篇报道，强调公司这次的产品召回是 a precautionary measure 预防性措施，从而 spin it in our favor. 让这件事朝对我们有利的方向发展。

　　S: You know, a lot of big companies have been forced to recall products, and as long as they are honest about what happened and proactive in trying to make it better, most people are pretty forgiving of mistakes.

　　R: Yes. I think people understand that no company is perfect. The main thing we have to avoid is giving the impression of any kind of cover-up.

　　H: That's right. If people believe we are being completely truthful we should be able to weather this storm.

　　很多大公司都曾遇到过被迫召回产品的事，只要公司对公众诚恳，并尽可能提前采取措施解决问题，一般都会得到公众的理解和原谅。Rick说，关键是不能让人觉得公司是在cover-up，掩盖些什么。Hank表示认同，只要公众觉得公司说的都是实话，we should be able to weather this storm. 我们就应该能渡过这次难关。to weather the storm 是渡过难关的意思。

　　R: I'm also going to order an inquiry into whether any safety measures were not heeded, or if anybody at our factory was trying to cut corners.

　　S: We will make the results of the inquiry public as well. We want to be as transparent and open as possible.

　　R: I want you to talk to all of your department heads and managers and explain our policy. If they know of any other mistakes or safety issues I want to hear about them. Heads will roll if I discover that anyone isn't following our strict quality standards.

　　H&S: Yes, sir.

　　Rick 还说，他准备就安全措施的执行情况展开调查，还要看工厂里有没有人偷工减料，to cut corners. Samantha补充道，调查结果最后也要对外公布，尽可能让整个程序做到公开透明。Rick 最后要Samantha和Hank回去把公司的决定传达给手下的部门主管和经理，发现问题要即时汇报，如果有人不严格执行公司的质量标准，heads will roll 意思是这样的人一定会受到严厉的处罚。

　　A: Wow, heads will roll, 这个说法真是霸气外露啊！这就是“掉脑袋”，吃不了兜着走！

　　B: Yeah. It means someone will be in big trouble.

　　A：好了，咱们不说head了，改说Heel, 脚腕子。

　　B：Why heel?

　　A：听听下面的体育美语你就知道了！

　　American Sports English Achilles Heel/Tendon

　　Y: Hey, Patrick，what's wrong? 你怎么一瘸一拐的？

　　P: Why am I limping? I'm limping because my Achilles tendon is killing me! OW!

　　Y: Ohhhh

　　P: Uh, Yang Chen, do you know what an Achilles tendon is?

　　Y: Well, not really, Patrick.

　　P: Achilles A-C-H-I-L-L-E-S, tendon T-E-N-D-O-N It is a tendon (腱) in the lower back part of your leg.

　　Y: Oh, 原来你和刘翔一样，得了腱炎？

　　P: Yeah, that's right. Just like Liu Xiang. He had a problem with his Achilles tendon, too.

　　Y: Poor Patrick, 那你就得退出今天的比赛了。

　　P: Yeah. I'll have to withdraw from the competition.

　　Y: 那你是怎么弄伤了你的Achilles tendon？

　　P: Well, I pulled it running in a marathon.

　　Y: Aw, that's too bad.

　　P: Thanks for the sympathy, Yang Chen.

　　Y: Hey, I have another question for you, Patrick. 跟腱为什么叫 "Achilles tendon" 呢?

　　P: Boy, you have a lot of questions today. Achilles was an ancient Greek hero

　　Y: Oh, 我知道了， Achilles 阿基里斯是希腊神话里的勇士。

　　P: Yeah, He was dunked in a sacred river by his mother, who held him by his ankle. And he became invulnerable everywhere the water touched him, except his heel.

　　Y: Oh, 因为他妈妈抓着他的脚后跟，没沾到神水，就成了他的致命弱点。

　　P: 对。So when someone has a fatal flaw it is referred to as their "Achilles heel". Because Achilles was killed when an arrow struck him in his heel-his only vulnerable spot.

　　Y: So what's your "Achilles heel," Patrick?

　　P: Oh, I may have a problem with my Achilles tendon, but I don't have an Achilles heel. I'm perfect!

　　Y: Hmmm, I think a lack of modesty might just be your Achilles heel, Patrick.

　　P: Whatever!

　　A: Achilles' heel，致命弱点，这个我们在以前的节目中好像教过了，不过大家不要把 Achilles' heel 和 Achilles tendon 混了，Achilles tendon 指的是跟腱，也就是脚后跟与小腿之间的肌腱。

　　B: Yeha. If you say "being too nice is my Achilles tendon, people will not understand what you're talking about.

　　A: 哈哈！没错，在刚才那句话中，应该用 Achilles' heel, 意思就是，为人过于善良是我的致命弱点。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 !