节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-12-20
难易度:High
关键字:contemplate, beckon, go under, premature, condo
In today's lesson called Planning for the Future, Ben and his Uncle Bob are
talking about some plans that Uncle Bob and Aunt June have.
They plan to move to Hawaii, or at least to spend a lot of time each year in
Hawaii.
They bought a condo in Hawaii.
But of course they will be seeing some of Ben later.
And of course we have more to learn in the next part of our lesson today, so
let's continue with their conversation.
(Music).
Planning for the Future.
That's great, Uncle Bob.
I can see Hawaii is beckoning, but I don't know what I'll do if you aren't
around.
Thanks, Ben, but I doubt you'll need me that badly.
Seriously, Uncle Bob, I'm pretty sure my business will go under without your
advice.
That's a bit premature.
You've built that business with a lot of time and hard work.
I have put a lot of work into it, but there are still so many things I'm unsure
of.
Like what?
Well, I still have lots of questions, and I'm really not sure which direction
the company is headed.
Well, Ben always does have more questions for Uncle Bob, who always gives him
great advice.
Now Uncle Bob just said that yes, they would be keeping their place here and
also living in Hawaii during the winter.
Now Ben, you have the next line.
Well, yeah, actually Ben's a little relieved here.
He's happy.
That's great, Uncle Bob.
I can see Hawaii is beckoning, but I don't know what I'll do if you aren't
around.
All right. So he's happy for Uncle Bob, but he's not sure what he's going to do
if Uncle Bob is not there to give good advice.
Yes. I can see just how reliant Ben has become on his uncle's advice.
But we see a great word there in your line, Ben: beckoning.
If something beckons to you, then it calls to you.
It's very attractive, and you want to get it.
OK, so what else can beckon to you?
Maybe an opportunity is beckoning you.
That means it seems really attractive to you.
It's something that you really want to do in life.
Well, here's a funny way to use this word.
The light beckoned the mosquito.
So the mosquito flew towards the light.
Ah. And then the mosquito was in trouble because lights are very hot.
But another way you might hear this phrase used fairly commonly:
If someone is very tired, and you ask them to join you for an activity, they
might say: Thanks, but I can hear my pillow beckoning.
Nice.
My pillow is calling out to me; I need to sleep.
OK. So you can use this word in kind of fun ways as well.
All right. So of course Hawaii is beckoning; it's really attractive to Uncle Bob
and Aunt June.
They really want to go.
OK. Well, Uncle Bob, what do you say next?
Ah, yes.
Thanks, Ben, but I doubt you'll need me that badly.
Hmm... I don't know about that.
If you need something badly, that means you really, really need it.
OK. Well, Ben says:
Seriously, Uncle Bob, I'm pretty sure my business will go under without your
advice.
Why does he say "seriously" there?
Well, he wants to emphasize that he is not joking, that he thinks it's really a
shame that his Uncle Bob will not be there anymore and he's very worried.
OK, so he is a little worried.
This is serious for him.
He's afraid his company might go under.
I'm not really worried about that, Ben.
I think you'll be fine.
But we do need to take a look at these words from our Word Bank: to go under.
What does that mean?
Well, it means to go financially bankrupt.
It means that the business has failed.
And it's not a very good thing if Ben is concerned that Uncle Bob moving to
Hawaii will result in his business failing.
Exactly.
Now this phrase can be remembered like this:
You can think of a ship that is on the surface of the water but it sinks, it
goes under.
It fails. You can't use that ship anymore. OK.
So sometimes companies go under.
Like this, this is what Ben is worried about.
But what does Uncle Bob say?
Well, Uncle Bob is telling him not to worry.
He says: That's a bit premature.
And that is a word from our Word Bank: premature.
It means it's too early to really be thinking about it or coming to that sort of
conclusion.
OK. So what else could be premature?
Sometimes... actually, often I think of babies who are born early.
Those are premature babies.
And of course you can use this in other ways.
Maybe your company makes an announcement.
But they made the announcement a bit too early.
It was a premature announcement.
That's right.
So be careful about when you announce things.
Make sure it is not premature but fully mature.
That's right.
It is ready.
Now uh, let's see, I'll continue the line.
You've built that business with a lot of time and hard work.
I have put a lot of work into it, but there are still so many things I'm unsure
of.
He's unsure of some things.
But I'm sure we can talk about this sentence: to put a lot of work into
something.
To put a lot of something into something else.
Maybe you need to put a lot of energy into your project.
Or you need to put a lot of time into your work.
You can use this phrase in many different ways.
You can put a lot of time, a lot of energy or a lot of effort into something.
That's right.
Well, Uncle Bob's question here is really fast.
Like what?
Well, Ben says:
Well, I still have lots of questions, and I'm really not sure which direction
the company is headed.
All right. Well, I know which direction we're headed.
Do you know where we're headed, Carolyn?
We are headed to see a review skit, and then we'll join Michelle in the Language
Lab.
Hey, Uncle Bob.
How are you?
Aloha!
Aloha?
What do you mean?
Aloha is Hawaiian.
It means hello. It also means goodbye.
I know that.
Then why did you ask?
But why did you say "Aloha"?
And why are you wearing a Hawaiian shirt?
Because... surprise!
I'm going to Hawaii.
On a cruise?
No! Your Aunt June and I are moving there.
You are? Why?
Well, why not?
We love Hawaii, and we're retired.
There's nothing to stop us.
But it's... it's so sudden.
Not really. We've been contemplating a change of scenery for some time now.
Wow. That's big news.
Will you keep your house?
Yes. And we purchased a condo in Hawaii, too.
We'll live there in the winter.
So Hawaii is beckoning.
But what will I do without you?
Oh, you'll be fine, Ben.
My business will go under without your advice.
That kind of thinking is premature.
There are so many things I'm unsure of.
Like what?
I still have lots of questions.
I'm not sure which direction the company is headed.
Well, I know which direction I'm heading - aloha!
Aloha.
(Music).
(Chinese).
OK, get ready to learn more from our teachers.
Uncle Bob is heading for a change in scenery.
Now Gabe, where would you go for a change in scenery?
South America.
I've never been there before.
I love that kind of a change in scenery.
What about you?
Well, I've already experienced a change in scenery by coming to Taiwan.
It's very different and wonderful.
Well, we have a lot more to learn tomorrow from the rest of our lesson right
here on Studio Classroom.
We'll see you then.
(Music).