VOA慢速英語聽力訓(xùn)練素材：詞匯故事loose cannons

所屬教程:VOA慢速英語聽力

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2024年10月30日

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VOA慢速英語，作為國際英語學(xué)習(xí)者的重要資源，通過清晰緩慢的發(fā)音與簡潔的詞匯，為初學(xué)者及中等水平學(xué)習(xí)者搭建了通往流利英語的橋梁。它不僅幫助提升聽力理解能力，還豐富了詞匯量，增強(qiáng)了語感，是學(xué)習(xí)地道英語表達(dá)不可或缺的工具，對(duì)全球英語學(xué)習(xí)者的語言提升至關(guān)重要。讓我們一起進(jìn)入今天的VOA慢速英語聽力訓(xùn)練：詞匯故事loose cannons。

英文原文

Today we talk about behavior and self-control. There are ways of behaving that almost everyone considers normal or comes to expect.

今天，我們要討論的是行為舉止（behavior）以及自制力（self-control）。有一些行為方式，幾乎每個(gè)人都認(rèn)為是正常的或是意料之中的。

Children learn very early that some behaviors are more accepted than others. They learn how to control themselves and how to behave in certain situations. This learning continues into adulthood. Well, for most people it does. Not everyone behaves how they are expected to. So today we talk about loose cannons.

孩子們?cè)诤茉绲臅r(shí)候就知道了一些行為會(huì)比其他行為更容易讓人接受。他們懂得如何自我克制以及在某些情境下要如何表現(xiàn)。這種學(xué)習(xí)一直持續(xù)到成人階段。好吧，對(duì)于大多數(shù)人來說是這樣。并不是每個(gè)人都表現(xiàn)出他們應(yīng)有的行為。所以今天我們要談?wù)摰氖恰發(fā)oose cannons（難以控制的人）”！

A good word to describe a loose canon is unpredictable. You never know how an unpredictable person will act in any given situation. But not all unpredictable people are loose cannons.

形容“l(fā)oose cannons”的一個(gè)很恰當(dāng)?shù)脑~就是“不可預(yù)知（unpredictable）”。你永遠(yuǎn)無法知道一個(gè)不可預(yù)知的人在特定情境下會(huì)如何反應(yīng)。但不是所有不可預(yù)知的人都是難以控制的人。

Some people often change their minds about things, or they surprise you by doing something they do not usually do, or that is out of character. We could describe such people as changeable, uncertain, or—here's a good one—fickle.

其中一些人經(jīng)常會(huì)改變他們對(duì)事物的想法?；蛘撸麄儠?huì)做反常的事情，或者會(huì)做一些與他們性格不相符（out of character）的事情來讓你感覺出乎意料，我們可以形容這些人易變（changeable）、多變（uncertain），這里有一個(gè)很適合的詞，反復(fù)無常（fickle）。

But I would not describe a loose cannon as fickle. Fickle people can be annoying, but they are not usually dangerous. Loose cannons, on the other hand, are often unpredictable in violent ways, so they can be very dangerous. A good word to describe a loose cannon is volatile or likely to explode.

但是我不會(huì)形容難以控制的人反復(fù)無常。反復(fù)無常的人可能會(huì)讓人討厭，但是他們通常沒有危險(xiǎn)性。然而，難以控制的人在暴力方面往往令人無法預(yù)料。因此，他們很危險(xiǎn)！形容“難以控制的人”的一個(gè)適合的詞是“volatile（易變的），或者可能會(huì)突然爆發(fā)！”

You are not sure how loose cannons will react to something. They could get angry, losing their temper at the smallest thing.

你無法確定一個(gè)難以控制的人會(huì)如何應(yīng)對(duì)某事。他們可能會(huì)因?yàn)闃O小的事情而生氣、發(fā)脾氣。

Now let's hear how these words and expressions can be used.

現(xiàn)在，讓我們來聽聽這些單詞和表達(dá)是如何運(yùn)用的。

Okay, so local officials are meeting tomorrow night to decide whether or not our neighborhood gets a new school. We need to bring some people who can speak about this issue. Let's ask DJ from across the street. He works at a school.

好的。那么，地方官員明晚會(huì)開會(huì)決定是否在我們的社區(qū)建立一所新學(xué)校。我們需要帶一些能就此事發(fā)表看法的人去參加會(huì)議。讓我們問問對(duì)街的音響師。他在學(xué)校工作。

No way, he's a loose cannon. One minute he seems fine, but the next he is shouting and hitting the table.

不行！他是一個(gè)難以控制的人！前一分鐘他還好好的，下一分鐘他就在大喊大叫，砸桌子了。

Hmm, what about Helen? Helen, she is more unpredictable and volatile than DJ. One wrong word and she could explode. They are both loose cannons.

嗯。那海倫怎么樣？海倫！她比音響師更令人無法捉摸、更善變。說錯(cuò)一個(gè)詞，她都能炸了。他們都是難以控制的人。

Well, can you think of any other people? How about Matthew?

好吧，那你能想到別的人嗎？馬修怎么樣？

No, the city council banned him from attending any meetings for 1 year.

不行。市議會(huì)禁止他一年內(nèi)出席任何會(huì)議。

Are you serious?

你是說真的嗎？

Yes, at the last meeting, he completely lost his temper and actually hit someone.