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!