Sally: Why are wasting your time on your day off watching these daytime talk shows?
Jerry: I think they’re entertaining.
Sally: You’ve got to be kidding. The only people who are booked as guests on those shows are losers or exhibitionists who want attention.
Jerry: No, they’re not. These shows are all about human drama and tragedy, something we can all relate to.
Sally: Give me a break! The people who appear on these shows want fame at any cost and the producers of the shows exploit them for ratings. They’re full of salacious details that nobody should talk about in public, and that I certainly don’t want to hear.
Jerry: I completely disagree. If you get off your high horse for a minute, you may learn something.
Sally: Like what?
Jerry: Like how to get rid of an annoying wife and get away with it!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
========================================================
day off 休假日；休息日
daytime 白天；白晝；日間
You’ve got to be kidding 你一定是在開玩笑
exhibitionist 出風頭
tragedy 悲慘的事；不幸；災難；慘案
relate to 能夠理解並同情；瞭解；體恤
fame 名聲；聲譽；名氣
at any cost 不惜任何代價
exploit 利用（…為自己謀利）
rating 收視率；收聽率
salacious 好色的; 猥褻的
get off（尤用於告訴別人）別碰，走遠點
high horse 傲慢的態度
get away with it 擺脫它
2010年10月3日 星期日
2010年10月2日 星期六
ESL Podcast 614 – Experiencing an Earthquake
Jamal: Did you feel that?
Keisha: Was that an earthquake?
Jamal: Yes, I think so. Turn on the news.
Newscaster: “Reports are coming in about an earthquake that occurred at 4:35 p.m. in the downtown area. We spoke with a seismologist at the Earthquake Center and learned that the earthquake had a magnitude of 3.2 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was near downtown, along one of the major faults, and the seismologist warns that there will be some aftershocks.”
Keisha: Phew! I’m glad the earthquake wasn’t a high-intensity one. I wish they could predict more accurately when those earthquakes are going to happen.
Jamal: Yeah, me, too. I’ve looked around the house and don’t see any damage, though. I guess our house won’t be declared a disaster area.
Keisha: Don’t be too sure. Considering the mess you’ve made in kitchen, it could easily be called a disaster area.
Jamal: In that case, will you be sending aid? I think I’m too tired to do the dishes.
Keisha: You won’t be getting any aid from me. If you’re hoping for a relief effort, you’d better ask the UN.
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
==============================================================
seismologist [saɪzˈmɑlədʒɪst] 地震學家
magnitude 震級 ; 巨大；重大；重要性
epicenter 【地】震中,中心;集中點
fault 【地】斷層
aftershock 餘震
declared 公開宣佈（或聲明、表態）的
aid 幫助；援助
relief effort 救援工作
relief（給災區或交戰地區人民提供的）救濟，救援物品 ; （不快過後的）寬慰，輕鬆；解脫
Keisha: Was that an earthquake?
Jamal: Yes, I think so. Turn on the news.
Newscaster: “Reports are coming in about an earthquake that occurred at 4:35 p.m. in the downtown area. We spoke with a seismologist at the Earthquake Center and learned that the earthquake had a magnitude of 3.2 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was near downtown, along one of the major faults, and the seismologist warns that there will be some aftershocks.”
Keisha: Phew! I’m glad the earthquake wasn’t a high-intensity one. I wish they could predict more accurately when those earthquakes are going to happen.
Jamal: Yeah, me, too. I’ve looked around the house and don’t see any damage, though. I guess our house won’t be declared a disaster area.
Keisha: Don’t be too sure. Considering the mess you’ve made in kitchen, it could easily be called a disaster area.
Jamal: In that case, will you be sending aid? I think I’m too tired to do the dishes.
Keisha: You won’t be getting any aid from me. If you’re hoping for a relief effort, you’d better ask the UN.
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
==============================================================
seismologist [saɪzˈmɑlədʒɪst] 地震學家
magnitude 震級 ; 巨大；重大；重要性
epicenter 【地】震中,中心;集中點
fault 【地】斷層
aftershock 餘震
declared 公開宣佈（或聲明、表態）的
aid 幫助；援助
relief effort 救援工作
relief（給災區或交戰地區人民提供的）救濟，救援物品 ; （不快過後的）寬慰，輕鬆；解脫
2010年9月30日 星期四
ESL Podcast 613 – Being a First-Time Parent
Zuly: Hello.
Ricardo: Hi, Zuly. How are you?
Zuly: Oh, Ricardo, it’s you. I’m doing okay. How are you?
Ricardo: I wanted to call and congratulate you on the birth of your new baby.
Zuly: Thanks a lot. Carla was born three weeks ago, and she was 8 pounds, 3 ounces.
Ricardo: That’s great! How does it feel to be a first-time parent?
Zuly: It’s really overwhelming taking care of a newborn. I’m learning everything from scratch, everything from how to breastfeed and bottle-feed, to burping her, to putting her to bed, to using a car seat and a stroller.
Ricardo: You sound overwhelmed. I remember when Adam, our first child, was born. There were the feedings in the middle of the night, and all of those diapers!
Zuly: Exactly. I’m exhausted all the time. In fact, I find myself dozing off at all hours of the day.
Ricardo: I really sympathize with you, but these days will pass quickly, and then you’ll have such great memories. Have you had much sleep?
Zuly: Zzzzzzzz!
Ricardo: Zuly? Zuly?
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
==============================================================
overwhelm 使受不了;使不知所措
from scratch 從頭開始；從零開始
burp 使（嬰兒）打嗝（尤指通過撫摩或輕拍背部）
stroller 嬰兒車；童車
exhausted 筋疲力盡的；疲憊不堪的
doze off（尤指在日間）打瞌睡，打盹兒
sympathize with 同情...;與...產生共鳴
Ricardo: Hi, Zuly. How are you?
Zuly: Oh, Ricardo, it’s you. I’m doing okay. How are you?
Ricardo: I wanted to call and congratulate you on the birth of your new baby.
Zuly: Thanks a lot. Carla was born three weeks ago, and she was 8 pounds, 3 ounces.
Ricardo: That’s great! How does it feel to be a first-time parent?
Zuly: It’s really overwhelming taking care of a newborn. I’m learning everything from scratch, everything from how to breastfeed and bottle-feed, to burping her, to putting her to bed, to using a car seat and a stroller.
Ricardo: You sound overwhelmed. I remember when Adam, our first child, was born. There were the feedings in the middle of the night, and all of those diapers!
Zuly: Exactly. I’m exhausted all the time. In fact, I find myself dozing off at all hours of the day.
Ricardo: I really sympathize with you, but these days will pass quickly, and then you’ll have such great memories. Have you had much sleep?
Zuly: Zzzzzzzz!
Ricardo: Zuly? Zuly?
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
==============================================================
overwhelm 使受不了;使不知所措
from scratch 從頭開始；從零開始
burp 使（嬰兒）打嗝（尤指通過撫摩或輕拍背部）
stroller 嬰兒車；童車
exhausted 筋疲力盡的；疲憊不堪的
doze off（尤指在日間）打瞌睡，打盹兒
sympathize with 同情...;與...產生共鳴
2010年9月29日 星期三
ESL Podcast 612 – Introducing a Speaker
Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?
It is my great honor to introduce our guest speaker today. Our speaker is actually a person who needs no introduction, since she is well known in our field as one of its great innovators. Edwina Litton has been called a revolutionary thinker by those in our field. That’s because she has strived to bring attention to those issues that we believe are so important.
Dr. Litton holds four advanced degrees and has an honorary doctorate from Harward University. In her much-anticipated speech today, she will address what she sees as the future of our field.
Without further ado, please join me in welcoming Dr. Edwina Litton.
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
==============================================================
innovator 革新者
revolutionary 革命的
thinker 思想家
strive 努力；奮鬥；力爭；力求
honorary 榮譽的
doctorate 博士學位
anticipate 預期,期望;預料
much-anticipated 備受期待
ado 毫不遲延；乾脆；立即
Without further ado 不再囉嗦地
join me in welcoming 和我一起歡迎
It is my great honor to introduce our guest speaker today. Our speaker is actually a person who needs no introduction, since she is well known in our field as one of its great innovators. Edwina Litton has been called a revolutionary thinker by those in our field. That’s because she has strived to bring attention to those issues that we believe are so important.
Dr. Litton holds four advanced degrees and has an honorary doctorate from Harward University. In her much-anticipated speech today, she will address what she sees as the future of our field.
Without further ado, please join me in welcoming Dr. Edwina Litton.
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
==============================================================
innovator 革新者
revolutionary 革命的
thinker 思想家
strive 努力；奮鬥；力爭；力求
honorary 榮譽的
doctorate 博士學位
anticipate 預期,期望;預料
much-anticipated 備受期待
ado 毫不遲延；乾脆；立即
Without further ado 不再囉嗦地
join me in welcoming 和我一起歡迎
2010年9月27日 星期一
ESL Podcast 611 – Having an Overbearing Father
Dad: Where are you going?
Eva: Out.
Dad: Out where?
Eva: Dad, I’m nearly a grown woman. You don’t need be so overbearing. You give me the third degree every time I leave the house.
Dad: As long as you live under my roof, you’ll live by my rules. Now, where are you going?
Eva: I’m going over to Damien’s house to hang out. I’ll be home before curfew.
Dad: I don’t like that guy, Damien. He’s not good enough for you. He’s a troublemaker. Mark my words: That kid is going nowhere fast. Is this a date?
Eva: No, Dad, we’re just going to watch a movie.
Dad: Alone? With no supervision? What is this world coming to?
Eva: Dad, we’re not kids anymore. We’re both 17.
Dad: That’s exactly the right age to get into the most trouble.
Eva: What are you doing?
Dad: I’m putting on my coat.
Eva: Why?
Dad: You and Damien need a chaperon.
Eva: No way, Dad! I’m not going over to Damien’s with you tagging along as our chaperon. That would be humiliating.
Dad: Good, then you’ll stay home. So, what movie should we watch tonight?
Eva: Huh!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
=============================================================
overbear 壓倒;克服;鎮壓
overbearing 專橫的；飛揚跋扈的
give somebody the third degree 對某人逼供（或疲勞詢問、刑訊）
hang out 常去某處；泡在某處
curfew 宵禁令；宵禁時間
Mark my words 聽我說；記住我的話
going nowhere fast 很努力做一件事，卻毫無進展
supervision 管理;監督
What is this(the) world coming to 這世道是怎麼了；太不像話
put on 穿上,戴上
coat 外套；外衣；大衣
chaperon (青年社交聚會時在場的)監護人
tag along 跟隨;緊跟
humiliate 羞辱；使喪失尊嚴
humiliating 丟臉的
Eva: Out.
Dad: Out where?
Eva: Dad, I’m nearly a grown woman. You don’t need be so overbearing. You give me the third degree every time I leave the house.
Dad: As long as you live under my roof, you’ll live by my rules. Now, where are you going?
Eva: I’m going over to Damien’s house to hang out. I’ll be home before curfew.
Dad: I don’t like that guy, Damien. He’s not good enough for you. He’s a troublemaker. Mark my words: That kid is going nowhere fast. Is this a date?
Eva: No, Dad, we’re just going to watch a movie.
Dad: Alone? With no supervision? What is this world coming to?
Eva: Dad, we’re not kids anymore. We’re both 17.
Dad: That’s exactly the right age to get into the most trouble.
Eva: What are you doing?
Dad: I’m putting on my coat.
Eva: Why?
Dad: You and Damien need a chaperon.
Eva: No way, Dad! I’m not going over to Damien’s with you tagging along as our chaperon. That would be humiliating.
Dad: Good, then you’ll stay home. So, what movie should we watch tonight?
Eva: Huh!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
=============================================================
overbear 壓倒;克服;鎮壓
overbearing 專橫的；飛揚跋扈的
give somebody the third degree 對某人逼供（或疲勞詢問、刑訊）
hang out 常去某處；泡在某處
curfew 宵禁令；宵禁時間
Mark my words 聽我說；記住我的話
going nowhere fast 很努力做一件事，卻毫無進展
supervision 管理;監督
What is this(the) world coming to 這世道是怎麼了；太不像話
put on 穿上,戴上
coat 外套；外衣；大衣
chaperon (青年社交聚會時在場的)監護人
tag along 跟隨;緊跟
humiliate 羞辱；使喪失尊嚴
humiliating 丟臉的
2010年9月26日 星期日
ESL Podcast 610 – Preparing to Travel
Shannon: It looks like you’re ready for your trip. You must be psyched.
Ignacio: Yeah, I am. I’m almost ready. I’ve gone to the post office and filled out a form so they’ll hold my mail while I’m gone.
Shannon: I could pick up your mail for you.
Ignacio: Thanks, but it’ll just be easier this way. I’ve also called the newspaper office to have my newspaper delivery suspended. Tomorrow I’ll arrange for my bank to automatically pay my bills so I won’t have my utilities cut off or accrue any late fees.
Shannon: I could pay your bills for you. I don’t mind.
Ignacio: It’s nice of you to offer, but I’ve got it covered. This morning, I took my plants over to my neighbor’s house. He agreed to water them for me while I’m gone.
Shannon: I could have come over and watered your plants. That wouldn’t have been a problem at all.
Ignacio: Thanks for being willing to do that. As always, you’re so helpful.
Shannon: Oh, I try my best...
Ignacio: I was wondering if I could ask just one favor from you.
Shannon: Of course you can. Just name it!
Ignacio: You know my dog, Rex...
Shannon: Oh, no...
Ignacio: I could board him at a kennel, but he’s had bad luck at kennels. Could you look after him while I’m gone?
Shannon: No way!
Ignacio: Why?
Shannon: Why don’t you ask the people who worked at those kennels where Rex has been? I’m willing to pitch in, but I’m no sucker!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
=============================================================
psyched 興奮；殷切期待
cut off 切斷;中斷
accrue 1.（逐漸）增長，增加 2. （使錢款、債務）積累
name it 要什麼;請講
kennel 狗窩；犬舍
to pitch in 協力,做出貢獻
sucker 容易上當受騙的人；沒有主見的人
Ignacio: Yeah, I am. I’m almost ready. I’ve gone to the post office and filled out a form so they’ll hold my mail while I’m gone.
Shannon: I could pick up your mail for you.
Ignacio: Thanks, but it’ll just be easier this way. I’ve also called the newspaper office to have my newspaper delivery suspended. Tomorrow I’ll arrange for my bank to automatically pay my bills so I won’t have my utilities cut off or accrue any late fees.
Shannon: I could pay your bills for you. I don’t mind.
Ignacio: It’s nice of you to offer, but I’ve got it covered. This morning, I took my plants over to my neighbor’s house. He agreed to water them for me while I’m gone.
Shannon: I could have come over and watered your plants. That wouldn’t have been a problem at all.
Ignacio: Thanks for being willing to do that. As always, you’re so helpful.
Shannon: Oh, I try my best...
Ignacio: I was wondering if I could ask just one favor from you.
Shannon: Of course you can. Just name it!
Ignacio: You know my dog, Rex...
Shannon: Oh, no...
Ignacio: I could board him at a kennel, but he’s had bad luck at kennels. Could you look after him while I’m gone?
Shannon: No way!
Ignacio: Why?
Shannon: Why don’t you ask the people who worked at those kennels where Rex has been? I’m willing to pitch in, but I’m no sucker!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
=============================================================
psyched 興奮；殷切期待
cut off 切斷;中斷
accrue 1.（逐漸）增長，增加 2. （使錢款、債務）積累
name it 要什麼;請講
kennel 狗窩；犬舍
to pitch in 協力,做出貢獻
sucker 容易上當受騙的人；沒有主見的人
2010年9月25日 星期六
ESL Podcast 609 – Types of Car and Vehicles
Robert: Hi, I’m Robert. What are you in the market for today?
Mary: I want to buy a new car, but I’m not sure what I want.
Robert: Well, you’ve come to the right place. We have a very large selection of cars and trucks – just about any type of vehicle you can think of. Why don’t I show you around?
Mary: Okay, that would be great.
Robert: Over here, we have some nice compacts and mid-size cars. We have 2-door or 4-door sedans, coupes, and hatchbacks. We even have this beautiful convertible sports car. What do you think?
Mary: It’s very nice, but I want something a little bigger for my family.
Robert: Okay, no sweat. Walk this way and you’ll see our station wagons, mini-vans, and SUVs. These seat anywhere from six to 10 people. We even have pickups.
Mary: I’m not sure if any of these will fit my family?
Robert: How many children do you have?
Mary: Eleven.
Robert: Eleven? In that case, you might want to buy two!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
==============================================================
in the market for 準備買
just about 幾乎；近乎；差不多
compact 小汽車
sedan [sɪˈdæn] 【美】轎車
coupe [ˈkupe] 雙門小轎車
hatchback 艙蓋式汽車
convertible 活動頂篷式汽車 ; 可改變的；可轉換的；可兌換的
no sweat （回答致謝或請求）沒什麼，小事一樁
sweat /swɛt/ 汗
wagon【美】旅行車
SUV Sport utility vehicle
pickup 輕型貨車；皮卡貨車
Mary: I want to buy a new car, but I’m not sure what I want.
Robert: Well, you’ve come to the right place. We have a very large selection of cars and trucks – just about any type of vehicle you can think of. Why don’t I show you around?
Mary: Okay, that would be great.
Robert: Over here, we have some nice compacts and mid-size cars. We have 2-door or 4-door sedans, coupes, and hatchbacks. We even have this beautiful convertible sports car. What do you think?
Mary: It’s very nice, but I want something a little bigger for my family.
Robert: Okay, no sweat. Walk this way and you’ll see our station wagons, mini-vans, and SUVs. These seat anywhere from six to 10 people. We even have pickups.
Mary: I’m not sure if any of these will fit my family?
Robert: How many children do you have?
Mary: Eleven.
Robert: Eleven? In that case, you might want to buy two!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse
==============================================================
in the market for 準備買
just about 幾乎；近乎；差不多
compact 小汽車
sedan [sɪˈdæn] 【美】轎車
coupe [ˈkupe] 雙門小轎車
hatchback 艙蓋式汽車
convertible 活動頂篷式汽車 ; 可改變的；可轉換的；可兌換的
no sweat （回答致謝或請求）沒什麼，小事一樁
sweat /swɛt/ 汗
wagon【美】旅行車
SUV Sport utility vehicle
pickup 輕型貨車；皮卡貨車
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