美語訓練班第111課:開車用手機的安全隱患

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B: Welcome to American English Mosaic, I'm Mike Bond!

A: And I'm Lin Yang.

B: Today we are going to take a look at the business world. What do you need to enter the global market? A competitive product, great service, and a little thing called international certification!

A: 我們還要來看看開車用手機帶來的安全隱患!

B: And in words and idioms, we will learn what "put in mothballs" and "quit while one's ahead" means!

A: All coming up on American English Mosaic!

B: Now let's go into our first segment, Learn a word!

Learn A Word 1802 distracting

今天我們要學的詞是distracting. Distracting is spelled d-i-s-t-r-a-c-t-i-n-g, distracting. Distracting 形容詞，意思是分散注意力的。A new study shows that hands free cell phones are two times more distracting for motorists than those not using a cell phone behind the wheel. 一項最新研究顯示，跟開車時完全不用手機的人相比，使用免提手機的司機注意力分散程度要高出一倍。澳大利亞的另外一項關於駕車安全的研究說，Children riding in the car are 12 times more distracting to drivers than cell phones. 孩子讓開車人分散注意力的危險程度是手機的12倍。這一點估計做父母的都深有體會。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 distracting, distracting, distracting...

A: Yeah, nothing is more dangerous than being distracted while you are driving. People with smart-phone addiction should pay special attention to this, ahem ahem...

B: Ok Ok, I have to admit I've been guilty of that. I agree with you though, texting while driving is extremely dangerous. Nothing is more precious than your life, nothing is so important that it can't wait till you park your car.

A: I know! But today we are just too attached to our smart phones; Now we're habitually checking them without even knowing we are doing it!

B: first thing I do in the morning is check my phone for emails and Facebook updates....

A: We are definitely checking our emails and social media more than necessary these , I was about to buy a smart phone for my niece for her birthday. Now I'm thinking that plan should be put in mothballs...

B: certainly need to make it clear to her when she's allowed to use it! Well, to continue our class, you just mentioned a interesting idiom，put in mothballs.

A: Let's check it out!

Words and Idioms 857 PUT IN MOTHBALLS

美國習慣用語第 857 講

我最近建議製作一個新節目，以美國語言和文化爲主題，舉行相關的知識競賽，大家都說是個好主意，讓我立即開始做。誰知我的一個同事突然請長假，她的工作全都推給了我，結果我的新節目還沒開始，就被無限期擱置了。這在英語裏叫：

M: Put in mothballs. Mothballs is spelled m-o-t-h-b-a-l-l-s. Put-in-mothballs.

mothball 在中文裏是衛生球，樟腦丸。put in mothballs 就是束之高閣，無限期擱置的意思。My show idea has been put in mothballs. 我新節目的提案就這樣被無限期地擱置起來了，不知道什麼時候纔有時間去做。

很多人喜歡收藏舊東西，不捨得扔，其實，這些看似沒用的東西有時也能派上用場。讓我們聽聽下面例子裏這個父親是怎麼說的。

M: "My son loves the ice skates his grandmother gave him. I don't think he realizes they had been mine when I was his age. Mom had PUT them IN MOTHBALLS, not sure if anyone would ever get any use from them. I'm sure glad she'd decided not to throw them out."

這個人說：我兒子特別喜歡奶奶送他的冰鞋。其實他可能不知道，這雙冰鞋是我小時候穿過的，後來被媽媽收了起來，並不知道以後會不會有人能穿。她沒把這雙冰鞋丟掉，讓我太高興了。

我祖母也是一樣，什麼東西都不捨得扔。She puts everything in mothballs. 家裏跟個二手店似的。英語裏有個詞專門形容這種人，叫 packrat, p-a-c-k-r-a-t, packrat。好的，讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。

剛纔說到，我祖母什麼都不捨得扔，經常拿個舊打字機什麼的老古董問我要不要。你別說，有時候還真有點兒值錢的東西。我覺得，她可以把所有東西都捐給下面這個例子里正在籌備中的歷史博物館。讓我們一起聽。

M: "Our town clearly supports building a history museum. But the mayor came out to say that he's PUTTING the proposal IN MOTHBALLS for now. Apparently there isn't enough funding available. Still, no one's giving up hope that it can be reconsidered in the not-to-distant future."

他說：我們鎮裏的人顯然都很贊成建一個歷史博物館，但是鎮長卻說，他要暫時把這項提案擱置起來，因爲沒有足夠的資金。不過，大家都不肯放棄，希望不久的將來這項提案會重新被考慮。

很多項目不能上馬，問題都出來資金上。我的一個朋友在美國航空航天局工作，他開發的很多項目都是因爲缺少聯邦撥款而處於停頓狀態。好的，我們再來聽一下上面那個例句。

Put in mothballs 最早是二十世紀四十年代出現的，如果更簡單一點的話，可以直接把 mothball 做爲動詞來用，比如我可以說，My show idea has been mothballed. 或者說 The mayor is mothballing the proposal for a new museum.

好的，這次美國習慣用語就到此結束了。我是楊晨，我是 Douglas Johnson。這次節目的製作人是胡小玲。謝謝各位的收聽。

M: Until next time.

下次節目再見。

M: This has been Words and Idioms.

A: Because of sequestration, a lot of government projects are being put in mothballs.

B: Yeah, the budget situation is not pretty right now. But I think the whole economic picture is on the right track. Actually, because of the expansion in international market, hiring in the private sector is on the rise again in our area.

A: 對啊! 現在所有公司都要攻佔國際市場，全球化嘛!

B: And that will lead to an important procedure called international certification.

A:國際認證! 大家都聽過這個詞兒，到底這都需要哪些程序呢?

B: Let's find it out in today's Business Etiquette!

禮節美語International Certification I

一家香港公司的老闆 Hank 帶 Chris 去見部門主管 Rebecca。

Hank: Rebecca, I'd like you to meet Chris Lee.

Rebecca: How do you do, Mr. Lee?

Chris: Very well, thank you. And call me Chris.

H: Chris is here to walk us through the certification process.

R: Why are we getting certified?

老闆 Hank 爲部門主管 Rebecca 引見 Chris。Chris is here to walk us through the certification process. 原來，Chris 是要幫他們公司完成國際認證程序。to walk someone through something 意思是帶某人按部就班完成某一程序。這裏用的名詞 certification is spelled c-e-r-t-i-f-i-c-a-t-i-o-n, 意思是認證，動詞則是 certify, c-e-r-t-i-f-y, certify. 這家公司爲什麼要申請國際認證呢？

C: You're required to get certified by an independent auditor before beginning business with certain American companies.

H: And as we just landed that new account in California, we have to get the ball rolling on this ASAP.

R: Ok, what is required?

C: To be honest, it's quite a lengthy list of things. Let's start with safety issues.

原來，要跟特定美國公司做生意，就必須通過 independent auditor 獨立審計師，完成國際認證。公司在加州剛找到一個新客戶，just landed a new account. 這裏的 account 不是帳戶，而是指正式商業夥伴和客戶。所以，we have to get the ball rolling on this ASAP. 所以要立刻開始申請國際認證。to get the ball rolling, 意思是着手做某件事。ASAP 是 as soon as possible 意思是立即動手。Chris 說，申請國際認證非常繁瑣，首先是安全方面的要求。

C: We need to make sure there are fire extinguishers on every floor and there should be proper ventilation.

H: I think we are already compliant in these areas.

C: Workers need to wear protective gear if they're near dangerous chemicals or machines.

R: Yes, we already require that.

C: Also, we need to make sure your factory is safe from the threat of terrorism.

Chris 說，每層樓都要有滅火器，fire extinguisher, 要有通風設施，ventilation, 靠近化學物品和危險儀器的員工要穿戴保護性工作服 wear protective gear。這些都沒問題。We are already compliant in these areas. 這些措施公司已經在做了。compliant is spelled c-o-m-p-l-i-a-n-t, compliant 意思是遵守的，服從的。可是，生產家用產品的公司爲什麼要防範恐怖襲擊呢？我們下次繼續聽。

A: 老闆Hank說，公司just land a new account, 剛剛在加州爭取到一個新客戶進行國際業務，所以要get international certification, 國際認證。Chris來這裏walk them through the process, 來幫助他們按步就班完成這個程序。與美國公司合作，程序很多，他們需要get the ball rolling ASAP，立即開始這項程序。

B: International certification is a very complicated process and involves a lot of change and compromise. But once you get certified, you can open a lot of new doors.

A: Yep, in today's economy, you can't just stay in the domestic market. You need to improve yourself so you can fit into the global village economic model!

B: True! Let's keep listening to Chris and see what else the company needs to do!

禮節美語International Certification II

Chris 向一家香港公司的老闆 Hank 和部門主管 Rebecca 介紹申請國際認證的程序。首先是安全，其中還有防範恐怖襲擊的要求。老闆 Hank 表示不解。

C: Well, after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, all the rules and regulations have become much stricter. If you ship a container to the United States, it could possibly be used by bad guys to send dangerous materials.

R: So what kind of precautions do we need to take?

C: You need to have a 24-hour surveillance and alarm system set up, and the doors and gates should be monitored by guards to make sure only those who should be in the factory are in the factory.

H: That's pretty reasonable and I think we can handle that.

Chris 解釋說，九一一恐怖襲擊事件發生後，保安方面的要求嚴格了很多。要得到國際認證，需要安裝全天候的監視和警報系統，24-hour surveillance and alarm system; 門口需要警衛站崗。老闆 Hank 覺得，這些要求很合理，pretty reasonable, 公司完全可以做到。We can handle that. Chris 繼續說，

C: Ok, let's move on to the next point: treatment of workers.

H: You know, I don't mean to be rude, but why do U.S. companies need to know how we treat our workers? That's an internal affair, isn't it?

C: I can understand your frustration, but nowadays it's a big issue. A few years ago, many activist groups began targeting the big American retailers. They demanded that the big sellers prove that the cheap items they are selling weren't made by child laborers or through other unethical practices.

除去安全保障措施外，還有工人待遇的問題。Hank 不明白，自己公司的事情，internal affair, 美國公司爲什麼要插手。Chris 解釋說，這是因爲幾年前，一些人權活動團體開始針對美國一些主要零售商家，要求他們證明，自己出售的廉價商品，沒有使用童工 child laborers, 也沒有其它unethical practices不正當的做法。

R: So now any company that sells to the big retailers has to prove they are above board?

C: Yep. And it's not just America. When you sell to Europe you have to do the same thing in fact, the European laws are even stricter!

H: Well, I guess I can understand their position, but it is quite a hassle.

R: Yeah, but it's worth it. As soon as we're certified we can sell our goods all across Europe and the U.S.

因此，現在凡是這些美國零售商的供貨商家，都必須證明，They are above board. 他們的經營方式是光明正大的。雖然申請國際認證很麻煩，it is quite a hassle. 可是 Rebecca 覺得值，it's worth it. 因爲有了國際認證，跟美國和歐洲公司做生意就可以暢通無阻了。

A: 原來，國際認證中還有一大部分涉及到如何對待員工。比如，不使用童工, child labor, 沒有不正當的做法, no unethical practices。老闆覺得，it's quite a hassle, 很麻煩，但是Rebecca 認爲，一旦完成，公司就能自由與美國和歐洲國家做生意了。

B: I agree international certification is a hassle, but it's worth it. The employees get fair treatment, and the companies can expand their business into the global market. It's a win-win situation.

A: 沒錯! 好啦，國際認證就先到這裏，我們下面換個話題，來聽今天的learn a word!

Learn A Word 1803 sibling

今天我們要學的詞是sibling. Sibling is spelled s-i-b-l-i-n-g, sibling. Sibling 是兄弟姐妹的意思。Sibling rivalry is a normal part of growing up. 兄弟姐妹間的競爭是成長中很正常的一部分。Normal rivalries with siblings can foster healthy competition. 正常的你爭我鬥可以促進孩子間的健康競爭。然而，有時候，這種爭鬥也會對孩子的心理造成嚴重傷害。一項最新研究就發現，Bullying by a sibling can be as damaging as bullying by a classmate, neighbor, or other peers. 被自己的兄弟姐妹欺負，跟被同學，鄰居或是其他同齡人欺負，會對孩子造成同等的傷害。好的，今天我們學習的詞是 sibling, sibling, sibling...

A: I so wish I had a brother or a sister...

B: Haha, be careful what you wish I was growing up, my sister and I fought all the time.

A: But you also learn how to share and compromise during those fights!

B: Well, we used to fight a lot when we were little kids. But then I grew up and got bigger than my older sister, and she decided to quit while she's still ahead!

A: 哈哈，she's the clever one! 哎，你剛提到了一個俗語:quit while one's ahead, let's check it out!

Words and Idioms 858 QUIT WHILE ONE'S AHEAD

美國習慣用語第 858 講這麼多年來我最喜歡的一家冰激凌店居然要關門了。我問經理是怎麼回事，經理說本來公司經營得很好，結果拓展業務，增加商品，反倒失去了很多老顧客。這讓我想起了今天要學的習慣用語，叫：

M: Quit while one's ahead. Quit is spelled q-u-i-t, and ahead; a-h-e-a-d. Quit-while-one's-ahead.

Quit 在中文裏是停止、放棄的意思。ahead 意思是在前面。Quit while one's ahead 就是中文裏所說的見好就收。就說我喜歡的那家冰激凌店吧，本來賣冰激凌挺賺錢的，可偏偏要增加產品種類，結果反而造成了服務和產品質量的下降。They should have QUIT WHILE THEY WERE AHEAD。他們本該見好就收纔對。下面例句裏玩撲克牌的人就明白這一點。我們一起聽。

M: "I'm not the greatest poker player. But so far tonight, I've managed to win about $500. If I stay in the game, I stand to make even more. But I also risk losing it. I think I'll QUIT WHILE I'M AHEAD. That way, I'm sure to walk out with a nice pot of money I hadn't expected."

這個人說：我打牌不是最厲害的，但是今天晚上已經贏了五百美元。如果繼續打下去，我可能會贏更多，但也有輸錢的風險。我覺得最好是見好就收，這樣一來，我就能帶着一筆不小的外財離開這裏。

我老爸告訴過我，他年輕時有一次剛領了工資就被朋友拉着去賭場，一上來贏了不少，可是 He didn't QUIT WHILE HE WAS AHEAD. 最後輸了個精光，整整吃了一個月的方便麪。好的，讓我們再來聽聽上面那段話。

我喜歡看電影，特別是老片子。上星期，我又把七十年代的幾部經典影片拿出來看。大家一定看過 GODFATHER“教父”，如果沒有的話，請聽下面這段介紹。

M: "Have you watched "The Godfather", a thriller about the lives of a fictional Italian-American crime family? It's ranked as the second greatest film in our country's cinematic history. After it won several Academy Awards, a sequel was planned. Although producers considered QUITTING WHILE THEY WERE AHEAD, they soon went on to make "The Godfather, Part II". It also received Oscars, including one for Best Picture."

這個人說：你看過“教父”嗎？教父是一部關於意大利裔美國人犯罪家庭的驚險片，是美國電影史上第二大經典影片，拿了很多項奧斯卡獎，後來有人計劃排續集。雖然製片人也考慮見好就收，但最後還是選擇拍了教父第二部，又贏得了包括最佳影片在內的多項奧斯卡獎。

你也許會問，那排名第一的電影是哪部？排名第一的電影就是"CITIZEN KANE"公民凱恩。好的，我們再來聽一下上面那個例句。

好的，這次美國習慣用語就到此結束了。

M: Until next time.

下次節目再見。

M: This has been Words and Idioms.

A: Mike, it looks like you have put on 15 pounds while I was gone, I think it's time for you to quit while you're ahead!

B: Well I .... darn I can't argue with you when you're right.........

A: 好了同學們，這次節目時間就到這裏了。

B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!

A: See you next time!