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A: 欢迎大家来到这期的美语训练班! 我是杨琳!

B: 我是Mike! 杨琳，来告诉大家今天都要学什么?

A: 没问题! 今天，我们要聊聊随大流，看看美国办公室的着装标准，还要告诉你怎么说能说会道!

B: Oh you mean good at negotiating? Dear audience, you don't have to look anywhere else...

A: 哈哈，就你? 你不是才问我怎么跟领导谈涨工资吗?

B: Hey! Don't give out my secret!

A: 好了好了不开玩笑了! 我们言归正传，赶快来进入第一个单元，learn a word!

Learn A Word 1599 donor

今天我们要学的词是 donor. Donor is spelled d-o-n-o-r, donor. Donor 是捐赠者的意思。Mitt Romney's campaign offered some supporters the opportunity to fly with the candidate on his charter plane as a donor prize. 罗姆尼竞选团队说，某些支持者可以乘坐罗姆尼的专机，做为对竞选捐赠者的奖励。在美国，More than 100 million Americans are registered organ donors, but it's not enough to keep up with the demand. 注册登记的器官捐赠者有一亿多人，但还是供不应求。Sixteen states offer tax incentives to organ donors, but a recent study found that these sweeteners aren't working. 美国有16个州对器官捐赠者提供税收方面的优惠，但是最近有研究发现，这些鼓励机制没有作用。好的，今天我们学习的词是 donor, donor, donor....

A: 哇! 美国总统候选人为了竞选，真是不惜血本呀! I would totally want to ride in Romney's charter plane!

B: That's for sure! But you've got to be a major donor for that to happen!

A: Yeah...I will leave that task for rich folks. 不过话说回来，你的涨工资任务进行的怎么样了?

B: Oh that...I mean, I think I should ask, but I don't think I'm the most persuasive guy here....I always hesitate before I go into Sasha's office...

A: 哈哈，我就知道! 今天我特地挑了一集美语怎么说来教教你怎么变得能说会道! 赶快来听吧!

How to say it in American English

Jessica在北京学汉语，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是琼燕要问的：能说会道。

Jessica: Hi, Qiong Yan! I heard there was a riot in your office...

QY: Riot? 哈哈，没那么严重，其实就是我们这些小白领一块儿找经理谈判，要求涨工资!

Jessica: And did you get the raise?

QY: Yes! I didn't expect management to give in,不过我们的谈判代表是一个特别能说会道的人，我估计，经理是被他侃晕啦! 哈哈! 对了，在美语中要怎么形容一个人能说会道呢？

Jessica: You can say someone has a silver tongue, or someone is silver-tongued. It means a person can clearly and effectively express himself and convince other people.

QY: I see. So, thanks to my silver-tongued co-worker, we got the raise!

Jessica: Congratulations!

QY: 其实，仔细想想，这次也不全是因为这个同事能说会道。经理以前老说大家工作努力，应该涨工资，可都是光说不练! 所以他这次也自觉理亏!

Jessica: So he'd been paying lip service to you!

QY: Pay lip service? Lip 不是嘴唇么？我知道了，pay lip service 就是用空话安抚别人，对么？

Jessica: That's right. Managers at your company must have said how much they appreciated all your hard work, but if they're really impressed by what you've done, they should have given you a raise already! Their insincere appreciation is lip service.

QY: 没错! 以前经理还老说公司财政紧张，所以大家都应该支持公司，暂时不要涨工资，可我听说，他自己的工资涨得可带劲了!

Jessica: Ah! This is a textbook example of "talk the talk, but not walk the walk." 说一套，做一套。

QY: 真气人，If they talk the talk, they should walk the walk! 怎么能搞双重标准呢？

Jessica: Well, I'm just happy you guys got what you wanted. You should be proud of yourselves!

QY: 今天我们学了，形容一个人能说会道，用silver tongue; 说空话是pay lip service; 说一套，做一套是talk the talk, but not walk the walk.

B: Yeah. I have this friend back home who works in the banking industry. One time he got a speeding ticket from the policeman, but ended up selling the policeman a saving account at his bank! Now THAT is a silver-tongued dude.

A: 阿，真是! 我觉得那些在银行里工作的人都是这样! 个个能把死的说成活的! Isn't this how the financial crisis started?

B: Exactly! Plus, since the banking industry is very profitable, a lot of people were trying to follow suit and get rich.

A: 哈哈，也没那么夸张吧! 不过呢，你刚才提到了一个很好的词儿，follow suit! 咱们来听听今天的words and idioms, 学学这个习惯用语怎么用!

Words and Idioms 989

美国习惯用语第 989讲。我是杨琳。

M：我是Steve Baragona.

今天中午我忽然想吃麦当劳，由于很久没去，我看到他们的菜单时有些吃惊。我印象里的麦当劳都是些不健康的快餐，汉堡，薯条什么的，但是现在，菜单里多了全麦麦片，水果片，沙拉等等选择。这种改变可以用一个习惯用语来形容，那就是:

M: Follow suit. Follow is spelled f-o-l-l-o-w, and suit; s-u-i-t, suit. Follow suit.

大家都知道，follow是跟随的意思，而suit，可以指扑克牌四种花色里的任意一种，两个词连起来 follow suit，跟着出同样的花色，引伸为“效仿，跟着做”。就像上面的例子里，随着人们健康意识的提高，越来越多的餐厅纷纷推出健康的低卡路里菜单，连麦当劳都没落下。All the restaurants started to offer healthy food items. McDonald felt they needed to FOLLOW SUIT. 在下面例子里，我们要讲讲casual Friday的来历，让我们一起来听一听:

M: "Who wants to have to wear formal business clothes every day? For many employees, Friday is when you can dress casually. You might even be allowed to wear jeans. It seems the trend began in California in the late 1990s. Before long, workplaces throughout the U.S. copied the practice. Other countries have been FOLLOWING SUIT ever since. "

[这段话是说: 谁想每天都穿正装上班呢? 对很多人来说，星期五就是能穿便装的日子，或许你还能穿牛仔裤呢！这个潮流似乎是90年代末从加利福尼亚州兴起的。不久，美国各地的公司都开始实行这种做法，其他国家也纷纷效仿。]

这个Casual Friday就是星期五便装日! 谁都不希望每天西服革履的。由于燃油价格上涨，美国的西南航空公司最近宣布，往返机票价格上涨4到10美元。业内观察人士说，其他航空公司很可能会follow suit 跟着涨价。好的，我们再来听听刚才那段话:

M: "Who wants to have to wear formal business clothes every day? For many employees, Friday is when you can dress casually. You might even be allowed to wear jeans. It seems the trend began in California in the late 1990s. Before long, workplaces throughout the U.S. copied the practice. Other countries have been FOLLOWING SUIT ever since. "

人身攻击在美国社会是一件绝对不被接受的事情。在下面的例子里，咱们要去看看一个广播主持人中伤别人之后，给他自己带来了什么样的后果:

M: "The radio entertainer made a habit of making rude comments. Perhaps that's why his talk show was so popular. But when he insulted a woman repeatedly on the air, people from across the country complained loudly. Before long, one of his advertisers withdrew its support. Then another FOLLOWED SUIT. Soon the majority had done the same, leaving the show with few sponsors. "

[这段话是说：这名广播节目主持人一贯以言辞犀利著称，也许这就是为什么他的谈话节目那么受欢迎。不过当他多次在节目中对一名女士出口不逊后，很多地方的听众都表示不满。没过多久，他的一个广告商就不再支持他了，随后，另一个也撤走了对节目的赞助。很快，大多数广告商都选择退出，整个节目没剩几个赞助人了。]

不久前，美国著名体育频道ESPN就解雇了一名员工，原因就是他使用了侮辱性的语言来形容冉冉升起的亚裔篮球明星林书豪。这确实说明，言论自由是要在有框架内的自由，并不是毫无限制的随便乱说。好的，让我们再来听听刚才那段话:

M: "The radio entertainer made a habit of making rude comments. Perhaps that's why his talk show was so popular. But when he insulted a woman repeatedly on the air, people from across the country complained loudly. Before long, one of his advertisers withdrew its support. Then another FOLLOWED SUIT. Soon the majority had done the same, leaving the show with few sponsors. "

今天我们学习的习惯用语是follow suit, 意思是效仿，照做。

A: 原来，casual Friday是在加州兴起的! 加州人民的风格确实很随性! 我原来就在加州上学，记得毕业的时候，校长穿着 flip flop，人字拖就来给我们颁学位了! 这也许就是加州风吧!

B: Haha, that definitely sounds like it! I guess in public schools there's usually no strict dress code. But things change when you come into the workplace!

A: Exactly! 特别是DC! 一上地铁一片黑蓝灰! 每个人都穿西装!

B: Yeah, we are lucky that we don't have to wear business formal in our office! In today's business etiquette, the management team is talking about proper dress code in the company, let's go and take a look!

礼节美语Dress Code I

公司高层开会，老板 Frank 建议，规定着装标准，不能太随便。

Frank: Good morning everyone. Thanks for being on time.

Gary & Penny: Good morning, Frank.

F: We've got a whole bunch of topics to go over today, but let's start with a simple one: our company's dress code.

G: We have a dress code?

F: Well...if we didn't have one before, I'm instituting one, starting now.

P: What exactly does this mean?

公司老板 Frank 说，首先讨论着装要求，dress code。Gary 觉得奇怪，不知道公司什么时候有了 dress code. Frank表示，以前没有没关系，I'm instituting one starting now. 就从现在开始定。

F: I've become concerned that we are getting a bit too casual. I was walking through the office the other day and some people were wearing shorts and T-shirts! I don't think that is appropriate office wear.

P: It's true. Our standards have been going down. It used to be that we wore casual clothes only on Fridays, but these days it seems we do it almost everyday.

Frank 原来是看到员工穿得太随便，a bit too casual. T恤衫，短裤，什么都有，不合适上班穿。Penny 承认，着装标准是有些下降，原来只有星期五不用穿得太正式，也就是常说的 Casual Friday, 可如今大家每天都穿得很随便。

G: But Frank, don't you think maybe this isn't such a big issue? I mean, why does it matter what we are wearing? I think productivity is more important!

F: Actually, I agree with you, Gary. Productivity is the most important thing. But I think what we wear is linked to productivity.

P: In what way are they linked?

F: Police officers wear uniforms, right? It's a symbol to both them and the public that they are serious about what they do.

Gary觉得，穿着并不重要，重要的是工作效率，productivity. Frank 却认为，穿着跟效率之间也有密切联系。比如警察穿制服，就是一个象征，a symbol, 告诉自己，也告诉大众，他们觉得自己的工作很重要。

G: You're the boss, Frank, so of course it's your call...but I have to say, I'm not so keen on this idea. I think neckties cut off blood circulation. I'm much more in favor of a relaxed workplace environment.

F: And for some companies a relaxed atmosphere might work. At Google they let you bring your dog to work! But we are a serious financial company with an image to uphold.

Frank 的工作态度论并没有说服Gray. 他说，you're the boss. It's your call. 你是老板，你说了算，但我还是主张有一个轻松的工作环境 I'm in favor of a relaxed workplace environment. Frank 看来已经拿定主意，说轻松的工作环境适合某些公司，但他们是一家严谨的金融公司，with an image to uphold. 要保持公司形象。新的 dress code 是什么呢？我们下次继续听。

A: 原来，公司经理Frank觉得公司的dress code 着装标准太过随意，a bit too casual. 作为一家严谨的金融公司，they have an image to uphold,要保持公司形象，而且他认为 what we wear is linked to productivity, 穿着与效率有密切关系。What do you think, Mike?

B: I definitely agree with this manager, that's why I dress up for work everyday. I feel like when you are in business casual, you feel more like you are working. While in a T-shirt, you just feel you are chilling.

A: Yeah, I guess what you wear IS linked to productivity for certain people. 像我这种自制力这么强的人，穿什么都效率高嘛!

B: Riiiighhttttt. But seriously, almost everyone judges by what they see on the outside.

A: Yep, beauty is skin deep, but first impressions do make a difference. 我们接着来听听老板Frank能不能说服大家吧!

礼节美语Dress Code II

公司高层开会，老板 Frank建议，严格员工的着装标准，穿得不能太随便。公司主管 Penny 说，

P: I'm inclined to agree with Frank. You know that old saying: "Don't judge a book by its cover?" Well, almost everyone DOES judge by what they see on the outside. I think we do need to present a more professional image.

F: Some of the ladies may also have to tone down their attire as well. Clothes that are too revealing are not appropriate either.

G: What exactly is acceptable and what is not?

俗话说，Don't judge a book by its cover. 人不可貌相，可实际上，Penny 表示，几乎所有人都难免以貌取人 judge by what they see on the outside, 因此公司需要树立专业形象。Frank又说，女员工穿着也要 tone down 收敛，不能过于暴露，revealing, r-e-v-e-a-l-i-n-g, revealing 是暴露的意思。 那到底什么样儿才符合要求呢？

F: Well, for the men it's pretty simple. They should wear a button-down shirt with a collar and preferably a tie as well. Jeans are not acceptable.

P: For the women I'd say professional looking skirts or dresses that go down to at least the knee are acceptable. And blouses or shirts should not show too much skin.

F: And of course, no sandals or flip-flops. Shorts are NEVER acceptable.

P: Do you think members of the board should try to dress especially well?

F: Yes I do. We are representatives of the company and we need to be a good example. I'd say the men should try to wear a full business suit when possible.

男人简单，无非是衬衫领带，不穿牛仔。女人则要穿职业女装，裙子过膝，上衣不能太露，一个字，professional looking 看上去要职业化。此外，凉鞋、拖鞋和短裤是万万不能穿的。Frank 还说，理事会成员代表公司，要以身作则，穿得更正式。

G: Can we still have "Casual Fridays?"

F: (Chuckle) Sure, Gary...let's keep that tradition. But "casual" can't be too casual. I'd say jeans are OK on Fridays, but no T-shirts. Polo shirts or short-sleeved sports shirts are OK.

G: So I guess we are going to need to send out a memo with these new guidelines. Some people aren't going to be very happy about this.

F: Well, we in management can lead by example.

P: Actually, I kind of enjoy getting dressed up! It's fun!

G: And I guess I'll get used to the new rules. I do look pretty good in a suit.

F& P: (chuckle)

Frank 同意保留星期五随意着装的传统，但不能太过份，牛仔裤可以穿，带领子的马球衫 Polo shirts 和短袖衬衣可以穿，但是没领子的T恤衫还是不行。Gary 最后无可奈何地说，I guess I'll get used to the new rules. 我想我会慢慢习惯新规矩的。

A: 老板Frank说，男士应当穿 a button-down shirt with a collar and preferably a tie，衬衫领带，女士应当穿dresses that go down to at least the knee，及膝裙，总之一个字, professional looking, 看起来要职业化。

B: See, Yanglin, you should be taking some notes from the episode and start to dress up for work!

A: I repeat: for really smart people, it doesn't matter what they wear, it's all about the brain. Thank you.

B: I think someone may be getting a little too self confident!

A: 哈哈，开玩笑开玩笑! 节目最后，我们再来学个词，一起来听吧!

Learn A Word 1601 undocumented

今天我们要学的词是 undocumented. Undocumented is spelled u-n-d-o-c-u-m-e-n-t-e-d, undocumented. Undocumented 形容词，没有合法证件的。Mitt Romney riled Latino voters early this year when he said "self-deportation" is the best way to deal with the millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. 罗姆尼今天年初时说，自我驱逐时解决美国数以百万计非法移民的最好办法，这种说法激怒了拉美裔选民。与此同时，奥巴马六月宣布新政策。Under President Obama's new policy, undocumented students can avoid deportation if they meet certain requirements. 根据奥巴马的新政策，没有合法身份的在校学生只要符合特定条件，就可以避免被驱逐出境的命运。好的，今天我们学习的词是 undocumented, undocumented, undocumented....

B: Woops...Yanglin, you are not undocumented immigrant, are you?

A: Yes, I am. Woops, now you know my deepest secret, which means I can't let you live...

B: Woops....

A: 哈哈， 好了同学们，这次节目时间就到这里了。

　　我细心的观察了我女儿的学习记录，经过15天的数据记录，我女儿累计学习时间8个小时，学习新单词581个，复习过的单词656个。也就是说经过8小时的学习，高中2386个单词中，女儿已经掌握了1237个单词！ 如果不是亲历女儿学习过程，我是绝对不会相信这样一个结果的。想想看，我们这一代背英语单词从初中一年级开始，一直到大学毕业，背得天昏地暗、口干舌燥，浪费了多少白花花的时间啊！而如今又能记住多少？“奇迹英语背单词”就是这样神奇！

这决非一个蓄谋已久、精心策划的商业推广

我是一个当事人，或亲历者。
我对所写的每一个文字都可以负完全责任……

我知道奇迹英语背单词比较早，准确地说，应该是2003年10月。那时奇迹英语背单词正试用中。
对奇迹英语背单词比较准确、客观的一种描述应该是：

奇迹英语背单词是一个用来带动学习过程的专家系统，它确保所学的内容不会遗忘从而达到大脑自身无法达到的记忆集累速度。记忆系统包含一个记忆模拟子系统，能模拟人脑吸收知识的动态过程。奇迹英语背单词还包含一个记忆过程优化器来优化学习记忆的顺序,达到最佳学习效果。奇迹英语背单词持续监测每一学习者大脑的记忆状态，使电脑与人脑之间的信息交流形成谐振态，从而达到人脑自身工作无法达到的境界。

第一次看到这些文字，的确有一种云里雾里的感觉。它到底是一种软件，还是一种方法？抑或是一种基于互联网的知识仓库？似乎都是，似乎都不是。那到底是什么？它就是奇迹英语背单词，我想。

48个小时掌握2880个单词！真是太神奇了。
作为第一位该系统的试用者，坦言奇迹英语背单词系统的好处：

1、省时间。从前我按照专家提示的记忆曲线法去记忆，效果确实也不错，但是速度慢如蜗牛爬行一般。显然，人工操作是无法实现最佳记忆曲线的。因为一个人不可能边记单词，边记录时间，看看隔了几分钟时该复习哪一个单词。也不可能专门请一个心理学家陪伴在身边帮助记录和换算个人最佳的记忆曲线。因此浪费的时间是惊人的，导致学习的速度大大放慢。奇迹英语背单词系统很好地解决了这个问题。每当你快要忘记时，该单词便适时地跳出来提醒你。使用者中48个小时掌握2880个单词的速度就是这样产生的。

2、趣味性。奇迹英语背单词系统的界面提供了记忆表情，并实时显示你目前的学习效果，掌握单词等。使人的惰性得到很大的释放，极具成就感，又不影响学习活动。对于一个真心想学好外语的人来说，这种方法可以使你减轻疲倦，加快速度。

真的是这样吗？

那时我的女儿正好上初三，家里未装宽带。下载奇迹英语背单词系统学习了两天，就没有兴趣了。我也不强求。我知道强扭的瓜不甜。关于奇迹英语背单词系统也就成了一个美好的记忆。

此后我也向她推荐过一些记单词的光盘软件、学习机什么的，她都嗤之以鼻。我徒唤奈何地对她说，再也不管你了。

2004年8月1日，女儿进了高中。我发现女儿对上网的兴趣一下子就像今年的股票一样看涨。9月份最后一天晚上，我和女儿一起浏览奇迹英语背单词系统网站，偶然又点开“奇迹英语背单词”频道。我随意对女儿说，试一下？女儿一试，感觉不错！

事不宜迟，第二天，我通过银行支付获得了奇迹英语背单词系统正版注册码，高中，2346个英语大纲单词。当天晚上女儿上完晚自习回家已是晚上10点多钟了，放下书包，便开始了奇迹英语背单词系统的学习。
10月1日，学习30分钟，感觉很好，75个/小时。
10月2日，学习30分钟，感觉不错，70个/小时。
10月3日，学习30分钟，感觉不错，67个/小时。
……

10月10日，学校放了假，女儿在家做了一天的作业，晚上放松放松，看看电视。电视剧《蜕变》很吸引人，一家人看到11点多才结束。女儿11点40以后才开始奇迹英语背单词的学习。直到第二天凌晨才结束，学习30分钟，感觉不错，64个/小时。

我正准备睡觉，忽然一个闪念：女儿学习已有十天了，学习总体效果如何？为什么不检查以下学习状况？我和女儿一起回到奇迹英语背单词学习页面，屏幕显示，2346个英语大纲单词，通过10天（累计5小时）的学习，已经知道的单词556个，新学会的单词532个，合计1088个。一个了不起的成绩啊！