酷兔英语

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美语训练班026讲

A: 又到了学美语的时间了!大家好,欢迎收听美语训练班!我是杨琳!

B: 我是CAT!杨琳,今天我们教什么呢?

A: 今天,咱们要看看被出租车司机忽悠时该怎么办, 要尝试刺激的跳台滑雪,要聊聊买车, 还要告诉大家怎么用美语说"路痴"和"新手"。

B: 新手是"newbie," 这个我们以前教过了吧?

A: 没错,今天咱们教另外一种说法。不过,节目一开始,咱们还是先来学个词儿!

Learn A Word #1355 Off the charts

今天我们要学的词是off the charts. Off is spelled o-f-f; and charts, c-h-a-r-t-s, charts; off the charts. Chart 是表格的意思,off the charts,不在表格上了,意思是超常。The band's popularity among teenagers is off the charts. 这个乐队特别受青少年欢迎。研究发现,医护人员容易患抑郁症,因为他们工作时间不规律,而且 Their stress levels can be off the charts. 他们承受的压力也过大。我们还可以把这三个词用hyphen, 连字符连接起来,作为形容词。比如:The Washington Redskins are having an off-the-charts season。美国首都华盛顿的橄榄球队红人队这个赛季表现特别好。好的,今天我们学习的词是off the charts, off the charts, off the charts.

A: 我家附近新开了一个泰国饭馆,Its food is totally off the charts! 哪天咱们一起去吃!

B:That's great! I love Thai food! As a matter of fact, I just bought some cooking books and now I'm learning to make Thai food by myself.

A: 在家钻研做泰国菜? 你太贤惠了!

B: 不是,我只是嘴馋嘛!

A: 那什么时候能尝尝你的手艺啊?

B: I'm not there yet. 我还是个新手,做得不好。

A: 诶呀,你太谦虚了。不过说到"新手",咱们来听今天的流行美语!

Popular American: shoot hoops, rookie

各位听众,现在播送《流行美语》。Larry 和李华要放三天长假,他们正在计划假期的安排。李华会学到两个常用语:shoot hoops 和 rookie.

LL: I can't believe we have a three-day weekend. I haven't had a break from school for so long.

LH: 是啊,要放假了,一定得好好玩玩。

LL: What are you planning on doing over the long summer?

LH: 不知道啊,不过,今天放学后我和 Tracy 要去吃饭,看电影,你要不要一起来?

LL: Sorry Li Hua. I have plans tonight. I'm going to shoot hoops with Jeffrey and Tom.

LH: Shoot hoops? 那是什么?

LL: Shoot hoops is a casual way of saying to play basketball.

LH: 喔~原来to shoot hoops 就是去打篮球。

LL: Yes. In basketball, the main goal is to shoot hoops. If you are only playing basketball with friends or alone, in a casual manner, you can say that you are going to shoot hoops.

LH: 我明白了,打篮球主要目的是投篮得分,所以要去打篮球时就说,I'm going to shoot hoops. 那如果我要去踢足球,可以说,I'm going to kick balls 吗?

LL: No, no, no. No one says they're going to kick balls when they're going to play soccer. This way of saying to play a sport is only used in basketball.

LH: 哦,原来只有篮球可以这样说。对了,Larry, our school is going to shoot hoops with our rival school tomorrow. We have to win! 我这样说行吗?

LL: Well, you generally don't say shoot hoops when you are talking about a basketball game or competition. Shoot hoops is only used for casual basketball playing.

LH: 好吧,不过 Larry, 认识你这么久,我好象从来没见你打过篮球,藏而不露嘛!

LL: No, I'm not that good at basketball. I'm just a rookie.

LH: Rookie? What's a rookie? 我那天有个朋友也说自己是投资的 rookie, 我当时就没搞懂他的意思。

LL: Haha. A rookie is a beginner, a person who is new to a field or profession.

LH: 哦,Rookie 是初学者的意思,你说自己篮球打得不怎么样,刚入门,而我那朋友则是在说自己刚开始做投资。

LL: That's right. A rookie can be used to describe any type of beginner. You can be a rookie doctor, a rookie English speaker, or a rookie violinist.

LH: 嗯,那我懂了。Larry is not only rookie at basketball, but is also rookie at driving. 你不光打篮球刚入门,开车也是新手。

LL: What do you mean by that? I've been driving for years!

LH: 没错,你拿到驾照虽然很久了,可你开车的技术还是跟初学者一样,每次坐你的车我都心惊胆颤的。

LL: Well...I'm just not that good at driving. But you didn't use the word rookie correctly. Rookie is a noun; it is a person who is a beginner. However, you used the word as an adjective.

LH: 这么说,rookie 是名词,不能做形容词用,我刚刚的用法不对呀。

LL: It's okay. Try again. Give me another example.

LH: Even though he's a rookie in BASKETBALL, he practices very hard and has become really good at the sport.

LL: That's good. You can also say he's a rookie BASKETBALL player.Or, more simply, he is a BASKETBALL rookie.

LH: 是吗? 可以直接说一个人是 rookie BASKETBALL player 或者 BASKETBALL rookie. 那我懂了。

LL: That's good. Can you give me an example of shoot hoops?

LH: Mmm...有了!The basketball rookie is going to shoot hoops.

LL: Yes, that's right! Hey, you're learning fast.

LH: 那当然,我学习能力很强的,But I think I'm still a rookie English speaker.

LL: Well, it takes time to become good at a language. You're doing really well already.

LH: 是吗? 谢谢啦!

今天李华从Larry那儿学到两个常用语,一个是 shoot hoops, "打篮球"的意思;另一个是 rookie, 是指"初学者"。这次《流行美语》播送完了,谢谢收听,下次节目再见。

B: I'm a rookie at making Thai food.

A: I'm a seasoned Thai food eater!

B:So am I!

A: 不要紧,知道什么好吃是成为大厨的第一步!

B: I hope so!

A: 我期待去你家尝你手艺的那一天!不过,你们家实在太不好找了,我前几次去每次都迷路。

B: No!我家才不难找,是你方向感太差。

A: 呵呵,我承认自己的是个路痴。

B: 那赶紧听听"美语怎么说"吧,We'll teach how to say "路痴"in American English!

How to say it in American English: no sense of direction

Donny 在北京学汉语,他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词,就会来请教他。今天是琼燕要问的:路痴。

Donny: Hey 琼燕! You went hiking over the weekend, right? How was it?

QY: The view was breathtaking! 我跟朋友去了一个国家公园,可气的是,我们都是路痴,走错了好几回,1个小时的路足足走了3个小时!I'm such a road idiot...

Donny: Road idiot? That's not how we say it! You can say, I have no sense of direction.

QY: 哦,direction 是方向,所以No sense of direction 就是没有方向感--路痴啦!

Donny: Right! People with no sense of direction can easily get lost. 路痴经常迷路。

QY: 这说的不就是我么?下礼拜我们要开车去南京,一定又会迷路....哎,Donny, 你原来是不是在南京住过?

Donny: Yep! I lived in Nanjing for 3 years. I know that city like the back of my hand.

QY: Like the back of your hand? 了如指掌?

Donny: Exactly! It basically means that I know Nanjing really well. You can also say: I know every nook and cranny of Nanjing.

QY: Wait! Every nook and cranny? nook 一定是 n-o-o-k, 那 cranny 要怎么拼呢?

Donny: Cranny is spelled c-r-a-n-n-y. When people say "every nook and cranny," they're talking about every tiny corner and out-of-the-way place.

QY: 我明白了, every nook and cranny 就是所有边边角角,犄角旮旯。对了,既然你对南京这么熟,你一定要跟我们去!这样我们就不会走丢了。

Donny: Sure! I'd love to go back! Now let's see what you've learned today!

QY: 第一:形容路痴可以说:somebody has no sense of direction;

第二,对一个地方了如直掌,是 know somewhere like the back of one's hand; 也可以说 know every nook and cranny of a place.

A: I have absolutely no sense of direction, but you know what, getting lost isn't always a terrible thing!

B: Why?

A: 有时候,迷路了,反而会去一些你平常不会去的地方,有意想不到的收获。

B: You're right. Sometimes getting lost can lead to unexpected adventures.

A:不过如果是上班,最好别迷路,否则迟到就惨了。

B: If you're afraid of getting lost on your way to work, you can always take a taxi.

A: 那可不一定,有时候出租车也不靠谱!不信咱们就来听听今天的美语三级跳!

GoEnglish: Commute to work-beginner

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

MC: Craig 被纽约一家大公司录用,今天第一天上班。他刚搬来纽约不久,对公司周围的路不太熟,为了保险起见,他决定打车去公司--take a taxi。

Professor: Yes, Winnie. But if there is lots of traffic, taking a taxi might be slower than the subway.

MC: 的确,如果路上有lots of traffic--很多车的话,那么,坐subway--地铁,的确比打车更快。让我们一起听 Craig 打车是否顺利。

Driver: Good morning. Where are you headed?

Craig: I'm going to number 250, East 97th Street.

Driver: Which way do you want to go?

Craig: I'm not from New York, so I don't know the way. You decide.

MC: Professor Bowman, 司机问 Craig "where he is headed", 这是什么意思?

Professor: Asking someone where he is headed is a common and casual way to ask him where he is going.

MC: 我明白了,那么Craig在回答的时候,也可以说I'm headed to East 97th Street.

Professor: That's correct.

MC: 不过,我还真有点儿替Craig担心。他居然老实地告诉出租车司机,说自己新来乍道,不认识路。这种乘客很可能被司机 rip off,宰上一刀!

Professor: Well, let's see if your worries are necessary.

Driver: Oh, you don't know where you're going? Well, I know a special shortcut to that address.

Craig: I'm not sure we need a special shortcut. The address isn't very far away.

Driver: Well, it's rush hour right now. If we don't take my shortcut you might be late.

Craig: Hmm.... alright. I guess you know where to go.

Professor:Winnie. Why did the taxi driver say he needs to take the shortcut?

MC: 他说,现在是rush hour--上下班的高峰时段,如果不 take the shortcut--超近道,Craig 就可能会迟到。

Professor: That's right, Winnie. If traffic is really bad, you can say there is a "traffic jam."

But I think the driver sounds quite sketchy.

MC: 没错!我倒要看看这条shortcut能不能省时间!

Craig: Are we there yet? We've been driving for 30 minutes, and it feels like we've been going in circles.

Driver: Don't worry, we'll be there soon.

Craig: But the meter says the fare is already $25 dollars! I'm only going a few blocks. It shouldn't cost so much money.

Driver: Hey, you have to trust me. I'm a professional driver, remember?

MC: Craig 虽然不熟悉纽约,但也知道公司其实并不远。可是,出租车司机开了半个小时还在绕圈子,而且,the meter--计价器,显示,the fare--车钱,已经25块了!

Professor: That's right, Winnie. And remember, in this case the word "fare" is spelled F-A-R-E, not F-A-I-R.

MC: 我记住了。Professor Bowman, 看来我们猜对了,司机是想黑 Craig 的钱。

Craig: Alright, just pull over here and I'll get out. This is the last time I hail a cab.

Driver: What? Why? We're almost there.

Craig: You've been saying that for the past 30 minutes. I'm going to walk.

Driver: Well, at least you got to see a lot of the city. Will you give me a good tip for that?

Craig: A tip? I'm not even paying the fare!

MC: 好样的,Craig! 他明智地让司机停车,决定自己走到公司去。对了,Professor,什么叫hail a cab?

Professor: "Hail a cab" is when you stand on the side of the road and raise your hand to tell the taxis to stop and pick you up.

MC: 哦,就是站在路旁招手叫出租车。Craig说,他以后再也不打车了!对了,Professor,是不是在美国打车时都得给司机 a tip--小费呢?

Professor: Usually you give a tip, but not if he cheats you.

MC: 难怪Craig说,别说小费,他连车钱都不想付! 唉,希望他能顺利地走到公司!

Professor: Listen next time to find out!

B: Poor Craig! He was taken for a ride.

A: Yeah, but he got out of the taxi before the cabbie can take more advantage of him. 如果换成我,可能就不好意思,只能认倒霉挨宰了。

B: 我也是。

A: 所以还是自己开车好! 对了,CAT, you don't drive, do you?

B: No I don't. I live in the city and it's very convenient─everything is within walking distance. So I don't need a car.

A: But there must be some places outside the city where you want to go, right?

B: That's right. In that case, I'll have to ask other people for a ride or get a taxi.

A: 那不是要张嘴求人?要不就是要花很多钱。

B: 对啊。

A: 不如买车吧!来听听今天的"礼节美语",讲的就是买车的事儿。

Business Etiquette: buying a car I

Chris告诉同事Jason, 准备买辆新车。

Jason: Hey there Chris, what are you up to?

Chris: I'm just poring over some brochures about various car models.

J: Oh, so you're thinking about buying a new car?

C: Yeah, it looks that way. My wife has been bugging me about it. I thought we could probably survive without one, but with a baby on the way, maybe it is time to get a car.

J: So this would be your first automobile?

C: That's right. For quite a few years, I rode a bicycle to work. Then I got a motorbike.

Chris太太怀孕,所以不得不考虑买车。Chris说,my wife has been bugging me about it. 意思是我太太一直在软磨硬泡要说服我,to bug someone是没完没了烦某人的意思,比如说,Stop bugging me. 意思就是别烦我了。这是Chris的第一辆车,他以前都是骑自行车或是骑摩托车上班,但现在 with a baby on the way 眼看就要有孩子了,所以只好考虑买车。Jason表示理解。

J: Yeah, I think I can understand your wife's position. Asking her to ride on a motorcycle when she's pregnant is a tall order.

C: Oh...I don't let her ride with me. It's just too dangerous. She takes the bus to work, but it is sometimes difficult to get a seat and it's crowded and hot.

J: So it's time to buy your very first car! Wow, that's exciting!

C: Yes, but it's also a pretty big financial responsibility.

J: Yeah. I still remember my first car. It was an old clunker that my dad gave me when I turned 17. I drove it around for a couple of years until I scraped together enough money to buy a better secondhand car.

Jason说,让太太挺着大肚子坐Chris的摩托车确实有点强人所难,It's a tall order. tall order 意思是很难完成的任务或要求。Christ解释说,其实太太不坐他的摩托车上班,但是挤公交车也很辛苦,所以才必须买车。Jason说,他的第一辆车是17岁过生日时老爸送的,It was an old clunker. clunker is spelled c-l-u-n-k-e-r, clunker, clunker 是老破车的意思,开了几年后,攒够了钱才自己买了辆稍微像点儿样的 secondhand car 二手车。Chris 说,

C: I'm having a hard time deciding which model is best for us.

J: Yeah, it is a tough call. Each one has its pros and cons. Are you looking for a sedan?

C: Yes, I'd like a Jeep, but my wife says we have to get a comfortable sedan for long drives home to see her relatives.

J: I'd advise you to listen to your wife. She will be sitting in the back taking care of the kids so whatever she prefers is probably the best choice.

Chris说,拿不定主意应该买什么型号的车。Jason承认,It's a tough call. tough call意思是很难做的决定。他还说,不同型号的车有各自的优缺点,pros and cons 是指一件事情的正反面,pros 是优点,正面的,cons 是缺点,负面的。Chris想买吉普车Jeep,但他太太坚持要买轿车sedan, 因为sedan开长途坐着更舒服些。买车还要考虑其他哪些因素呢?我们下次继续听。

B: See? That's exactly why I don't want to get a car─not only is it a big financial responsibility, it is also too much headache to choose the right model.

A: 咳,买车都一样。好车买不起,破车又不敢买。

B: So you don't like your car?

A:一般吧,It's not my dream car, but I can live with it just for now.

B:What's your dream car then?

A:越野吉普!开那种车驰骋在荒野里,太酷了!

B: You? driving a jeep in the wilderness? Er....I just don't see it.

A:别看我外表斯文,其实我内心是很狂野的!

B: If that's the case, you'll definitely like the sport we are doing in today's American Sports English!

American sports English: ski jump

Y: Aren't the Rocky Mountains beautiful, Patrick? 多么壮观的洛基山脉!啊!I'm so glad you agreed to go skiing with me.

P: Uhhh..Yeah, the Rocky Mountains are beautiful, Yang Chen. But I guess when you asked me to go skiing with you, I didn't realize you meant to go ski jumping. S-K-I J-U-M-P-I-N-G

Y: Of course, we are going ski jumping. 高台滑雪。多刺激啊。Say, Patrick, 你脸色发绿. Are you feeling okay?

P: Actually, Yang Chen, I look green because I'm afraid of heights. And right now I'm feeling a little sick.

Y: 你有恐高症啊!Well, think about it this way, once you slide down the take-off ramp and make your jump─you will be at the bottom.

P: I have to ski down there?

Y: Yup. There's only one way to learn, Patrick. Here let me give you a little push.

P: No, Yang Chen, wait. Don't push me.

Y: 跳啊,多么篮的天,快点儿跳。跳下去你就会融入蓝天。。。

P: I have no idea what you are talking about, it sounds like some kind of cheesy Japanese movie.

Y. All I'm saying is "Jump"!

P: .Noooooooooooooooàà.Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Y: Are you OK, Patrick?

P: Yeah, I'm okay. I'm glad I'm still alive.

Y: Good, it's my turn next. 该我跳了。You better get out of my way.

P: Okay, I'm out of the way. It's all clear. You can jump now, Yang Chen.

Y: Okay! Here I go! Yeeeeee-haaaawwwww! (Sound of sliding down a ramp, landing).

P: Wow, Yang Chen. That was a great jump! And a perfect landing, too.

Y: I love ski jumping! Do you want to go again, Patrick?

P: Uh, no thanks, Yang Chen. I'll just stay down here and watch you jump.

Y. Here I go again. Yeeeeee-haaaawwwww!

B: How about that, 杨琳? Wanna go try ski jumping some day?

A: 诶....这个,我....

B: 不用不好意思承认,我也不敢!

A: 这个太危险了,咱们有时间还是多研究研究做饭吧。

B: 这也差得太远了。

A: 哈哈! 好了,今天的节目时间差不多了。这次的撰稿人是晓北,编辑是蔚然。同学们,我们下次的美语训练班再见!

B: Bye!




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