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2009年ESL之旅行交通购物 15 Describing Speed and Pace

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15 Describing Speed and Pace

GLOSSARY1

slowpoke – a person who is very slow; a person who does not move quickly

* Stop being such a slowpoke! The sooner you finish cleaning your room, thesooner we can go do something fun.

to hurry up – to do something more quickly; to rush; to increase one’s speed

* If the taxi driver doesn’t hurry up, we’re going to arrive at the airport too late tocatch our flight.

to get a move on – to hurry; to begin moving more quickly

* We have a lot of work to do today, so let’s get a move on!

breakneck – very quick; a speed so fast that it’s dangerous

* The car came around the corner at breakneck speed and almost hit an old ladywho was crossing the street.

to trudge2 – to walk very slowly while dragging one’s feet; to walk slowly becauseit is very difficult or because one does not really want to go somewhere

* The kids sadly trudge to school every morning, but happily run home everyafternoon.

ruins – what is left of an old building or group of buildings with a lot of historicalinterest

* Have you ever visited the Mayan ruins in Mexico?

worth (one’s) while – worth the effort; justifying4 the work that was needed to getor do something that is very nice or pleasant

* You might not enjoy studying much now, but it will all be worth your while whenyou get a good job in a few years.

to pick up the pace – to increase one’s speed; to move more quickly; to hurry

* I can’t believe it took you five minutes to cut one carrot! Pick up the pace, or wewon’t be able to eat until midnight!

to dawdle5 – to move very slowly; to take a long time to go somewhere or to dosomething

* Little kids often dawdle while getting ready for bed, brushing their teeth asslowly as possible so that they can stay awake a little bit longer.

at a snail’s pace – very slowly

* Kumi reads books at a snail’s pace, usually reading just one page each day.

to keel over – to fall over or fall down, possibly losing consciousness, usuallybecause one is very tired or ill

* If we keep running like this, I’m going to keel over and die of a heart attack.

to sprint6 – to run very quickly over a short distance

* Fritz isn’t a very good long-distance runner, but he is very good at sprinting7.

blinding – very impressive; making one feel awed8 or amazed

* Jean-Philippe’s teacher says that he has blinding musical talent.

to feel sorry for (someone) – to have sympathy or empathy for someone; tofeel bad because someone else is having a difficult or painful experience

* Did you hear that Kazu lost her job? I feel so sorry for her.

physically9 challenged – with a physical disability; with a body that does notwork normally because there is some injury or a genetic10 problem

* Norma Jean lost her arm in a car accident as a child, but even though she’sphysically challenged, she has learned how to do almost everything other peoplecan do.

mentally challenged – with a mental problem or a mental illness; with a medicalcondition that affects how one thinks, making it more difficult for a person to learnand/or communicate

* Why did you do such a stupid thing? Are you mentally challenged?

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. What would you expect a slowpoke to do?

a) Dawdle.

b) Keel over.

c) Sprint.

2. Why is Sarah moving so slowly?

a) Because she wants to annoy Chiu.

b) Because her body is very tired.

c) Because she has already seen the ruins.

______________

WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

ruin

The word “ruins,” in this podcast, means what is left of an old building or group ofbuildings with a lot of historical interest: “The archeologists were thrilled todiscover ancient ruins in the desert.” The word “ruin” also describes a situationwhere one has lost all one’s money and/or relationships: “His ex-wife left him inruins after their divorce, when she got almost all the money.” Or, “The years oflying and cheating left their relationship in ruins.” The phrase “to go to ruin”

means for something to fall apart or be destroyed: “The house went to ruin whenno one lived in it for a few years.”

blinding

In this podcast, the word “blinding” means very impressive, or making one feelawed or amazed: “The actress gave a blinding performance in that movie.”

Something that is “blinding” can also have a light that is so bright it hurts peopleto look at it: “That sunlight is blinding, even when I’m wearing my sunglasses.” Ifone looks at something that is “blinding,” one may be unable to see for a shortperiod of time as a result: “They had to stop the car, because the blinding snowmade it impossible to see the road.” Finally, a “blinding headache” is a very badheadache that causes a lot of pain: “Eberhard had a blinding headache that wasso bad he finally decided11 to go to the hospital.”

CULTURE NOTE

“Track and field events” are many different athletic12 activities that “involve”

(include; are based on) running, jumping, and throwing. Track and field athletestry to “break records” (beat the best performance ever) in different “events”

(competitions for a specific track and field activity).

Many track and field events are “races” (competitions to see who can dosomething most quickly). “Sprints” (very fast runs over short distances) rangefrom 50 meters to 400 meters. Middle-distance events range from 600 meters to3,000 meters, and long-distance events include the 5,000 and 10,000 meterraces. “Road races” cover longer distances, up to and including the “marathon”

(a 42-kilometer race).

There are also “hurdle events” where runners have to jump over “hurdles”

(barriers in the path of a runner). In “relay events,” runners work together as ateam, running part of the race and then “passing” (giving with one’s hand) ametal “baton” (stick) to the next runner.

The field events are divided into throwing and jumping events. There are fourtypes of throwing events. Athletes can throw a “discus” (a heavy, round, flatobject, a “hammer” (a heavy metal bar attached to a wire and a handle), a“javelin” (a very long “spear” (pointed stick)), or a “shot put” (a heavy metal ball).

There are also four jumping events. Athletes can compete in the “high jump”

(jumping over a horizontal bar), the “pole vault” (using a long stick to help oneselfjump over a horizontal bar), the “long jump” (running and then jumping as far pasta line as one can), and the “triple jump” (running and then doing one hop13, onestep, and one jump to go as far past a line as one can).

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – b

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT14

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 535: DescribingSpeed and Pace.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 535. I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

You can support this podcast by going to our website and either becoming anESL Podcast member or making a small donation. These audio podcasts arefree, but they are supported by your memberships. If you become a member,you can receive our Learning Guides, which are 8- to 10-page written guides forevery current episode of ESL Podcast that will help you improve your Englisheven faster. Take a look at our website under the Learning Guide section forsome more information.

This episode is called “Describing Speed and Pace.” It’s a dialogue betweenChiu and Sarah that uses a lot of vocabulary we use to describe how fast or howslow things go. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Chiu: Come on, slowpoke, hurry up! We’ll never get to the top of the hill if youdon’t get a move on.

Sarah: There’s no way you’re going to get me to move at breakneck speed. I’vegone up at least 500 steps already, and my legs are about to fall off. Tell meagain why we’re trudging15 up this hill?

Chiu: It’s the only way to the ruins and the view from there will really be worthyour while. Trust me. Pick up the pace or we won’t get there before sunset!

Sarah: It’s not like I’m dawdling16 here. I may be moving at a snail’s pace, but thisis as fast as I can manage without keeling over. If you’re in such a hurry, youcan sprint up there by yourself. Go ahead. Impress me with your blinding speed.

Chiu: I’m not about to leave you here all by yourself.

Sarah: Why? Do you feel sorry for me?

Chiu: Yes, I always feel sorry for the physically challenged.

Sarah: Oh, yeah? Better physically challenged than mentally challenged!

[end of dialogue]

Our dialogue begins with Chiu saying to Sarah, “Come on, slowpoke, hurry up!”

A “slowpoke” (slowpoke – one word) is an informal, somewhat insulting term todescribe someone who moves very slowly, who doesn’t move very quickly. It’s asort of thing that you might hear children say to each other: “You’re such aslowpoke! Why can’t you run faster?” Oh, wait a minute; that’s what they usedto say to me! Anyway, “slowpoke” is someone who moves very slowly. So, Chiuis telling her to “hurry up,” to go faster, to increase your speed. He says, “We’llnever get to the top of the hill if you don’t get a move on.” “To get a move on” isanother informal expression meaning to hurry, to begin moving more quickly. It’ssomething a parent might say to their child: “Hey! Let’s get a move on, we haveto leave here by eight o’clock.”

Sarah says, “There’s no way you’re going to get me to move at breakneckspeed.” Something that is “breakneck” (breakneck – one word) is something thatis very quick, something that is so quick – so fast that it’s dangerous. It’s sodangerous you could, if you fell, break your neck; I think that’s the general idea.

Sarah says, “I’ve gone up at least 500 steps already, and my legs are about tofall off.” The expression “my legs are about to fall off” means she’s very, verytired. She says, “Tell me again why we’re trudging up this hill?” “To trudge”

(trudge) means to walk very slowly because, perhaps, it’s very difficult to walk up,or because you really don’t want to be doing what you’re doing, walking in thedirection you’re walking.

Chiu says, “It’s the only way to the ruins and the view from there will really beworth your while.” So, Sarah and Chiu are obviously visiting some tourist area,and they’re going up to see some ruins. “Ruins,” as a plural17 noun (and it isalways used, in this sense, as a plural noun), is what is left of an old building orgroup of buildings, usually something that is very old, something that is ofhistorical interest. So when you go to Rome, in Italy, you can see the ruins of theForum, a famous area in the center part of Rome. You can see what remains18 ofthe old buildings from the ancient Romans of 2,000 years ago. “Ruin,” however,has a couple of different meanings in English, both as a verb and a noun. Take alook at our Learning Guide for some additional explanations.

Chiu says that it will be worth your while. The expression “to be worth yourwhile” means that it is worth the effort; if you do it, it will have something verypleasant or nice at the end that will justify3 what you are doing – that will be a good reason for doing what you’re doing. Chiu says, “Trust me (have trust inme). Pick up the pace or we won’t get there before sunset!” “To pick up thepace” (pace) means to increase your speed, to move more quickly, to hurry up.

It’s similar to “get a move on,” although “get a move on” is usually a command.

Here, he’s also using the expression as a command, “pick up your pace,” but itcould be use otherwise. For example: “The cyclist picked up per pace in trying towin the race.” She decided to go faster.

Sarah says, “It’s not like I’m dawdling here.” “It’s not like” means I am not – I amnot dawdling. “To dawdle” (dawdle) means to move very slowly, to take a longtime to do something or to go somewhere. It’s a criticism to say someone isdawdling; they’re wasting time, they’re not moving as fast as they could becausethey’re lazy or for whatever reason. Sarah says, “I may be moving at a snail’space, but this is as fast as I can manage without keeling over.” A “snail’s pace”

means very, very slowly. A “snail” is a small animal that has the reputation formoving very slowly. So, “to move at a snail’s pace” means to move very slowly.

She says, “this is as fast as I can manage (as fast as I can walk) without keelingover.” “To keel (keel) over” is a two-word phrasal verb meaning to fall over or falldown because you are very tired, or perhaps because you are very sick – very ill.

Somebody once said to me, “Hey, Jeff. You should run a marathon,” the 26-plusmiles that people race sometimes, and I say, “If I ran a marathon, I wouldprobably keel over after the first two miles,” meaning I would be so tired that Iwouldn’t survive – which is probably true!

Sarah says, “If you’re in such a hurry, you can sprint up there by yourself.” “Tosprint” means to run very quickly over a short distance. In the Olympics, theyhave a competition for the runner who can run the fastest 100 meters. We callthese runners “sprinters,” they run very fast, but for short distances. Theopposite would be a “long distance runner,” someone who can run for miles andmiles. Sarah tells Chiu he can sprint up there by himself. She says, “Go ahead.

Impress me with your blinding speed.” “Blinding,” here, means very fast, veryimpressive, making you amazed at how fast or how well someone doessomething. “Blind” has a couple of different meanings in English; take a look atthe Learning Guide for some additional explanations. Here, it means veryimpressive.

Chiu says, “I’m not about to leave you here all by yourself.” I’m not going to letyou be by yourself, I’m going to stay with you. Sarah says, “Why? Do you feelsorry for me?” Do you have sympathy for me? Do you feel badly because I amexperiencing something difficult or painful? Chiu says, “Yes, I always feel sorryfor the physically challenged.” This is a joke. “To be physically challenged”

means that your body is not able to do what other bodies can do because of some injury or perhaps you were born with a certain disease or illness.

“Physically challenged” is a term that is fairly new; you will also hear people talkabout “physical disabilities,” that means something similar. The older term forthat would be “handicapped,” which is still used. People talk about thehandicapped parking spaces; these are special spaces that are supposed to beused only for people who have some physical disability – who are physicallychallenged in some way.

Sarah says, “Oh, yeah? Better physically challenged than mentally challenged!”

She says, “Oh, yeah?” meaning “you think so?” Usually we use that expressionwhen you’re angry with someone or you’re about to reply to someone’s insult.

She replies to Chiu’s insult – Chiu’s joke by saying, “Better physically challengedthan mentally challenged,” meaning it is better to be physically challenged – tohave a physical disability than to be mentally challenged. “Mentally challenged”

is someone who has some sort of mental illness, someone who has a medicalcondition that prevents them from being able to think properly. Once again, thisis a more modern, more recent term. It’s probably used more now as a joke thanas an actual description. Somebody says, “Why did you do such a stupid thing,are you mentally challenged?” meaning do you have some sort of intellectualproblem. It can be use, basically, to say that someone is dumb, but the moretechnical meaning is someone who would have a mental illness or somethingthat makes them unable to be able to reason and think as a normal human beingwould be able to do.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Chiu: Come on, slowpoke, hurry up! We’ll never get to the top of the hill if youdon’t get a move on.

Sarah: There’s no way you’re going to get me to move at breakneck speed. I’vegone up at least 500 steps already, and my legs are about to fall off. Tell meagain why we’re trudging up this hill?

Chiu: It’s the only way to the ruins and the view from there will really be worthyour while. Trust me. Pick up the pace or we won’t get there before sunset!

Sarah: It’s not like I’m dawdling here. I may be moving at a snail’s pace, but thisis as fast as I can manage without keeling over. If you’re in such a hurry, youcan sprint up there by yourself. Go ahead. Impress me with your blinding speed.

Chiu: I’m not about to leave you here all by yourself.

Sarah: Why? Do you feel sorry for me?

Chiu: Yes, I always feel sorry for the physically challenged.

Sarah: Oh, yeah? Better physically challenged than mentally challenged!

[end of dialogue]

We hope listening to this episode was worth your while. The script was writtenby someone who never needs to be told to get a move on, Dr. Lucy Tse.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Comeback and listen to us next time on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2009 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 glossary of7xy     
n.注释词表;术语汇编
参考例句:
  • The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
  • For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便,我们在附录中也提供了术语表。
2 trudge uK2zq     
v.步履艰难地走;n.跋涉,费力艰难的步行
参考例句:
  • It was a hard trudge up the hill.这趟上山是一次艰难的跋涉。
  • The trudge through the forest will be tiresome.长途跋涉穿越森林会令人疲惫不堪。
3 justify j3DxR     
vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护
参考例句:
  • He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
  • Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗?
4 justifying 5347bd663b20240e91345e662973de7a     
证明…有理( justify的现在分词 ); 为…辩护; 对…作出解释; 为…辩解(或辩护)
参考例句:
  • He admitted it without justifying it. 他不加辩解地承认这个想法。
  • The fellow-travellers'service usually consisted of justifying all the tergiversations of Soviet intenal and foreign policy. 同路人的服务通常包括对苏联国内外政策中一切互相矛盾之处进行辩护。
5 dawdle untzG     
vi.浪费时间;闲荡
参考例句:
  • Don't dawdle over your clothing.You're so beautiful already.不要再在衣着上花费时间了,你已经够漂亮的了。
  • The teacher told the students not to dawdle away their time.老师告诉学生们别混日子。
6 sprint QvWwR     
n.短距离赛跑;vi. 奋力而跑,冲刺;vt.全速跑过
参考例句:
  • He put on a sprint to catch the bus.他全速奔跑以赶上公共汽车。
  • The runner seemed to be rallied for a final sprint.这名赛跑者似乎在振作精神作最后的冲刺。
7 sprinting 092e50364cf04239a3e5e17f4ae23116     
v.短距离疾跑( sprint的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Stride length and frequency are the most important elements of sprinting. 步长和步频是短跑最重要的因素。 来自互联网
  • Xiaoming won the gold medal for sprinting in the school sports meeting. 小明在学校运动会上夺得了短跑金牌。 来自互联网
8 awed a0ab9008d911a954b6ce264ddc63f5c8     
adj.充满敬畏的,表示敬畏的v.使敬畏,使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The audience was awed into silence by her stunning performance. 观众席上鸦雀无声,人们对他出色的表演感到惊叹。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I was awed by the huge gorilla. 那只大猩猩使我惊惧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 physically iNix5     
adj.物质上,体格上,身体上,按自然规律
参考例句:
  • He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服,心绪也很乱。
  • Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。
10 genetic PgIxp     
adj.遗传的,遗传学的
参考例句:
  • It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
  • Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。
11 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
12 athletic sOPy8     
adj.擅长运动的,强健的;活跃的,体格健壮的
参考例句:
  • This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
  • He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。
13 hop vdJzL     
n.单脚跳,跳跃;vi.单脚跳,跳跃;着手做某事;vt.跳跃,跃过
参考例句:
  • The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛,看谁单足跳跃最快。
  • How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远?
14 transcript JgpzUp     
n.抄本,誊本,副本,肄业证书
参考例句:
  • A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
  • They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。
15 trudging f66543befe0044651f745d00cf696010     
vt.& vi.跋涉,吃力地走(trudge的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • There was a stream of refugees trudging up the valley towards the border. 一队难民步履艰难地爬上山谷向着边境走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Two mules well laden with packs were trudging along. 两头骡子驮着沉重的背包,吃力地往前走。 来自辞典例句
16 dawdling 9685b05ad25caee5c16a092f6e575992     
adj.闲逛的,懒散的v.混(时间)( dawdle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Stop dawdling! We're going to be late! 别磨蹭了,咱们快迟到了!
  • It was all because of your dawdling that we were late. 都是你老磨蹭,害得我们迟到了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
17 plural c2WzP     
n.复数;复数形式;adj.复数的
参考例句:
  • Most plural nouns in English end in's '.英语的复数名词多以s结尾。
  • Here you should use plural pronoun.这里你应该用复数代词。
18 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
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