美語(yǔ)訓(xùn)練班 030

Business Etiquette: Attending a black-tie event I

Jim在走廊上碰見(jiàn)同事Gary。

Jim: Gary, did you hear about my upcoming trip to New York?

Gary: I think I did hear something about it. You and Henry are attending some kind of function, right?

J: Yeah. It's an anniversary celebration for one of the companies we do a lot of work with, you know, Walcon Electronics.

G: Right! Walcon is one of our biggest clients.

J: It's Walcon's 120th anniversary and they're throwing a big party.

Jim馬上要出差，到紐約去。Gary說(shuō)，他聽(tīng)說(shuō)了Jim的 upcoming trip. upcoming is spelled u-p-c-o-m-i-n-g, upcoming, upcoming是即將發(fā)生的意思，Gary還知道，他們這次是要去參加什么活動(dòng)，function 在這里指正式的社交活動(dòng)。公司最大的客戶(hù)之一 Walcon Electronics 慶祝成立120周年，they're throwing a big party. 他們要辦個(gè)大派對(duì)。英語(yǔ)里說(shuō)辦派對(duì)，經(jīng)常會(huì)用動(dòng)詞 throw, t-h-r-o-w, throw.

G: Walcon Electronics is 120 years old?

J: Yep. They started out as a shoe manufacturer and then branched off into electronics in the late 1960s.

G: That's a big change, moving from shoes to electronics. But you have to give the company's founder credit for thinking ahead.

J: Absolutely. Today they're one of the world's top home electronics brands.

G: Well, you'll have fun. New York is always a great place to visit.

J: Yeah, but I'm a bit worried. I've never attended a function like this before. Look, here's the invitation.

Walcon電器公司最開(kāi)始是生產(chǎn)鞋的，60年代才改行生產(chǎn)電器。這里用到的兩個(gè)動(dòng)詞詞組，一個(gè)是 start out 意思是起步，另外一個(gè)是 branch off 意思是改變前進(jìn)的方向。Gary 說(shuō)，You have to give the company's founder credit for thinking ahead. 咱們不得不佩服這個(gè)公司創(chuàng)始人有遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)，to give someone credit for something 意思是肯定某人的做法。紐約是個(gè)好玩的地方，可Jim卻很擔(dān)心，他拿請(qǐng)柬給Gary看。

G: Oh my! It's a black-tie event. That means you have to wear a tuxedo.

J: A tuxedo? I don't own a tux!

G: Not very many people do....you can rent one, though.

J: Oh wow. That means it's going to be a very formal event, huh?

G: A black-tie event is about as formal as it gets. Men wear tuxedos and ladies wear evening gowns.

J: What else should I expect?

G: There will probably be a band playing soft music. Waiters will walk around serving drinks. Most of the guests will mainly stand around socializing with each other.

原來(lái)，這次活動(dòng)是 a black-tie event 參加者要穿禮服、打黑領(lǐng)結(jié)的正式活動(dòng)，男賓要穿燕尾服，tuxedo, tuxedo is spelled t-u-x-e-d-o, tuxedo, 女賓要穿 evening gown 晚禮服。Gary說(shuō)，A black-tie event is about as formal as it gets. 這基本上要算是最正規(guī)的活動(dòng)了。as....as it gets 是指最徹底的表現(xiàn)，兩個(gè)as之間加形容詞。Jim會(huì)喜歡這種活動(dòng)嗎？我們下次繼續(xù)聽(tīng)。

: 哦, Black-tie event 就是非常正式的場(chǎng)合。我朋友要是嫁給了什么歐洲王子，那我穿這個(gè)華麗的夜禮服去參加她的王室婚禮，就很合適了，對(duì)不對(duì)？

B: That's right. So save it till one of your friends marries a prince.

A：??？這得等到什么時(shí)候??！ 其實(shí)女孩子只要找對(duì)了人，都可以像公主一樣幸福。

B: Yes. Every girl can have her own prince charming.

A: 不過(guò)，你還記得“美語(yǔ)三級(jí)跳”節(jié)目里那個(gè)男朋友么？

B: How can I forget him? He's such a lousy boyfriend!

A: 是啊，他還有更過(guò)分的呢，聽(tīng)聽(tīng)吧。

GoEnglish: Shopping (Intermediate)

各位聽(tīng)眾，大家好！今天我們?yōu)槟コ?ldquo;美語(yǔ)三級(jí)跳”節(jié)目“購(gòu)物”單元的中級(jí)課程。

Professor: Today Kevin is going shopping at a clothing store to buy his girlfriend a present for her birthday. What do you think he's going to get her, Winnie?

MC: 他花了1000塊錢(qián)給自己買(mǎi)了套時(shí)髦西裝，我估計(jì)，他現(xiàn)在肯定沒(méi)錢(qián)了，給女朋友買(mǎi)的八成兒是便宜貨！ 不信一起聽(tīng)。

Salesperson: Good afternoon sir! Can I help you find something?

Kevin: Sure, I'm looking for something special for my girlfriend. Could you help me find something she'll like?

Salesperson: Sure, do you know what size she is?

Kevin: Uh ... I'm not really sure. She's about your size, maybe a little more petite. I haven't really noticed.

Salesperson: You don't know your girlfriend's size? Uh ... OK.

MC: Kevin這家伙！給女友買(mǎi)衣服，連人家穿多大尺寸都不知道！這種男友，再帥我也不要。

Professor: Really??? I hope you're kidding. Do you know what the word "petite" means?

MC: "Petite"就是指女性身材嬌小。服裝店的店員問(wèn)Kevin女友的身材，Kevin說(shuō)，可能比這位店員的身材更嬌小一些。

Professor: Exactly. In this next section listen for the word "trendy," which means really cool and popular.

Salesperson: Alright ... well what does your girlfriend normally wear? What is her style like?

Kevin: Well she works in an office so she always dresses really professionally. But for her birthday I want to get her something really fun and trendy.

Salesperson: Well let's see ... we have some really nice skirts I can show you. What colors do you like on her.

Kevin: Hmm ... You know, I've never really noticed. But I know that I look fantastic in blue, so let's get her something blue!

Professor: So Winnie, what kind of outfit does Kevin want to buy for his girlfriend?

MC: 他說(shuō)，女友平時(shí)在辦公室都穿職業(yè)裝，所以想給她換個(gè)風(fēng)格，來(lái)件活潑、時(shí)髦的衣服。

Professor: Right. And what colors does Kevin think his girlfriend looks good in?

MC: 說(shuō)起來(lái)真是讓人來(lái)氣！ 他從來(lái)就沒(méi)注意過(guò)女友適合穿什么顏色的衣服，就因?yàn)樽约捍┧{(lán)色好看，就要給女友也買(mǎi)藍(lán)色的衣服。我看Kevin愛(ài)自己勝過(guò)愛(ài)女朋友！

Salesperson: Well do you want something inexpensive, or is money no object?

Kevin: I want to get her something reasonably priced, but nice.

Salesperson: Hmm ... so how about $100 dollars? Maybe $200?

Kevin: $200? Come on, it's not like we're married.

Salesperson: Is $100 out of your price range?

Kevin: I don't want to go overboard. I think my budget is closer to $20.

MC: ??？ 他的“budget”--預(yù)算，只有20塊！我看這些錢(qián)只夠給人買(mǎi)雙襪子的！ Kevin真是“浪漫”得讓人想揍他一頓！

Professor: Why, Winnie? Women don't think socks are a romantic present? Hmm ... So, that's why my wife was so mad at her birthday last year! But Winnie, can you guess what "money is no object" means?

MC: 我想，"money is no object"就是說(shuō) “錢(qián)不是問(wèn)題，多少錢(qián)都無(wú)所謂”的意思。

Professor: That's right. For example, I usually only buy cheap things. But when I look for something important like a good doctor, money is no object.

Salesperson: Umm ... I don't think we have any outfits for 20 dollars here. This is a nice clothing store.

Kevin: Oh ... well, can you recommend a store near here where I could find some really good bargains?

Salesperson: There is a store down the street called Bargain Basement. You could probably find some really cheap clothes there.

Kevin: Wow, that sounds perfect for my budget. I'll go try to find her a present there. Thanks!

MC: Professor Bowman，"go overboard" 意思是“過(guò)份”么?

Professor: Exactly.

MC: 這么說(shuō)，Kevin連100塊都不舍得花？要我說(shuō)，等他女友把他甩掉時(shí)，他可別怪人家 go overboard!

Professor: I agree. Tune in next time to see what happens!

A: 有句話叫禮輕情意重，可見(jiàn)花多少錢(qián)并不代表禮物好不好，不過(guò)，這個(gè)Kevin 給自己花1000塊買(mǎi)衣服，給女朋友就用20塊打發(fā)，這也太敷衍了。

B: Exactly. And he doesn't know what color his girlfriend likes. I don't see this relationship going anywhere.

A：是啊，不知道她女朋友收到這個(gè)禮物會(huì)怎么想。

B：咱們就等著下級(jí)看好戲吧！

A：好，接下來(lái)聽(tīng)“體育美語(yǔ)”，大家滑雪去！

American sports English: Skii

P: Thanks for going skiing with me today, Yang Chen. The Winter Olympics have really made me want to get out in the snow.

Y: Of course, Patrick! 我也喜歡滑雪。而且啊，seeing you crash and burn sounds like a lot of fun.

P: Thanks. But before we go, I should tell you some safety rules. Skiing can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.

Y: 我知道，要注意安全。Safety first.

P: Right. For example, an avalanche could kill you.

Y: An avalanche? 你是說(shuō)雪崩?

P: Exactly. Actually, you can use the word "avalanche" any time there is a lot of something. For example, the politician received an avalanche of criticism when it was revealed he had taken bribes.

Y: Oh, an avalanche of criticism, 就是說(shuō)批評(píng)的聲浪很高?？墒?Patrick, 這里只是一個(gè)小山坡，a bunny slope. 不可能發(fā)生雪崩。 而且We are twice as old as all the kids here.

P: Alright, maybe not. But you can fall and get hurt too if you don't know what you're doing. Whoa! Did you see that little kid crash? That was a total yard sale!

Y: Patrick! That's so mean.

P: But you said its funny to watch people crash.

Y: Not everyone. Just you! 不過(guò)你剛才為什么說(shuō) it was a total yard sale?

P: A yard sale is when you put stuff you don't want in the yard in front of your house, and people who walk by can stop and buy it from you.

Y: Oh, like a 自家門(mén)口的 舊貨攤兒。這和滑雪有什么關(guān)系啊!

P: Well if you have a bad crash, and all your equipment gets spread out in the snow, it looks like you're having a yard sale.

Y: Aha, I get it. 因?yàn)樗さ煤軕K， 滑雪的家伙攤了一地，好像賣(mài)舊貨一樣。Very funny.

P: As funny as watching me crash, Yang Chen?

Y: Mmm, I don't know. But there's only one way to find out. Let's go!

A: I remember the first time I went skiing. I crashed so hard and had a big yard sale!

B: Been there, done that!

A:是嘛？看來(lái)這是初學(xué)者的必經(jīng)之路。不丟人！

B：But it surely hurt physically!

A：是啊，后來(lái)我就改在家里的游戲機(jī)上滑雪了，又暖和又安全。

B: But you'll miss the thrill of the real thing!

A：這倒也是，看來(lái)偶爾還是得去滑一次真的！好了，節(jié)目時(shí)間又到了，這次的撰稿人是曉北，編輯是蔚然。同學(xué)們，我們下次的美語(yǔ)訓(xùn)練班再見(jiàn)!

B: Bye!