B: 王老师好!

A: 哈哈，Donny你好！我们美语训练班又上课啦！

B: 对，每节课25分钟。So what are we gonna learn today?

A: 今天我们要去参加一个选秀比赛, 去网球场大展身手, 接着上次继续找房子, 还要告诉大家怎么用英文表示“挨宰”的意思。

B: Interesting! But we're going to open up with something short and simple, right?

A: 没错! 咱们先花一分钟，学一个词!

Learn A Word: trait

今天我们要学的词是trait. Trait特征。A new study in South Korea shows that 1 in 38 children have traits of autism. 韩国一项最新研究显示，每38个孩子里就有一个孩子带有自闭症的特征。Two-thirds of the children with autism traits hadn't been diagnosed before. 其中三分之二带有自闭症特征的孩子以前都没有被确诊过。The researchers estimated that about 2.6 percent of the population has some autism traits, much higher than the U.S. estimate of 1 percent. 研究人员因此估计，百分之2.6的人口都带有某种自闭症特征，远远高出美国原先估计的百分之一的水平。好的，今天我们学习的词是trait.

A: 好! 这个我记住了，Trait, "特征"的意思。对了Donny, 万圣节的时候小孩子们都喊“trick or treat", 那个treat和我们刚学的这个是一个词儿么？

B: No. In "trick or treat", treat is spelt t-r-e-a-t, it means款待，请客。This one is trait, t-r-a-i-t, 特征。

A: 哦，是这样! 那我要是说Dinner is my treat. 就是晚餐我请客喽!

B: 没错，怡茹，你要请我吃饭嘛？不必客气。

A：你想得美啊! 还想宰我。不过Donny, 说到这个“宰人”，咱们赶快来听听下面这集“流行美语”。

Popular American: Take someone under your wing; take someone for a ride

Larry在咖啡馆里碰见了李华，他们会用到两个常用语：Take someone under your wing 和 take someone for a ride.

Larry: Hey, there you are, Lihua.

LH: Oh, hi Larry.

Larry: I haven't seen you since last weekend. What have you been up to? Don't tell me you're having midterms already.

LH: 我连看书的时间都没有! 尽忙着照顾我表妹了。

Larry: Oh?

LH: 她从中国来美国上高中，初来乍到，什么都不会，所以我这两天一直在帮她安顿。

Larry: I'm sure it's a very tough transition for both of you. But, it's so nice of you to take her under your wing.

LH: "Take her under my wing"? 这是什么意思？

Larry: To take someone under your wing means to give them a great deal of personal guidance and protection while they are learning something of which you have experience.

LH: 我明白了， To take someone under your wing就是指导、保护和照料某人。我现在就是这样像母鸡带小鸡一样照顾着我表妹呢!

Larry: It takes time to learn how to cope with living in a totally new environment─it's only natural to need a little bit of help at first. As a matter of fact, I can remember a time not so long ago when I took a certain confused girl from China under my own wing...

LH: 你说你也曾这样帮助过一个女孩？ 你不是在说我吧？Larry, 虽然你给了我很多帮助，但这和我给我表妹的帮助是不同的。我要是不在她身边，她连出门买吃的都不敢!

Larry: But Lihua, you couldn't buy groceries on your own either when you first moved here. One time at the grocery store, your bill came to $7.50 and you pulled out a dollar bill, asking me if it was enough!

LH: Haha, 这个我记得。刚到美国时，每次需要跟美国人打交道我都会非常紧张，就算不说英语，还是觉得很恐怖。

Larry: Luckily, I was there to take you under my wing while you got used to living in the United States─just like how you're taking your cousin under your wing now!

LH: 哈，看来我们都是好心人! 最近我在帮我表妹找房子，她以前的房东欺负她是新来的，把房租提高了两倍！我表妹已经傻呼呼地交了一个月的钱!

Larry: Yeah, you have to be really careful. It sounds like that landlord was taking your cousin for a ride.

LH: Taking her for a ride? 开车带她出去？那个房东可没这么好心!

Larry: Um, I mean “taking her for a ride" as in, taking advantage of her situation─playing a trick on her for his own benefit.

LH: 哦! 原来 To take someone for a ride 还有欺负人，宰人的意思!

Larry: Yea, that's right. For example, when I went to New York City, my cab driver noticed that I had never been to New York before, and so he took a longer route to my hotel in order to run up my bill. This is a classic case of "taking someone for a ride."

LH: 啊？司机看你是第一次来纽约，就带着你绕远路，多收你的车费。这可真差劲，欺负人!

Larry: Unfortunately, some people will take advantage of other people like that.

LH: 哎？Larry, 咱们是愿意 take others under our wings, 不遗余力地帮助别人，可这个房东和那个出租司机却会 take people for a ride，占别人便宜。所以这两个说法的意思正好相反嘛！

Larry: Yea, you could think of it like that. So, it's a great thing that you are taking your cousin under your wing! Otherwise, it would be easy for people to take her for a ride.

LH: 好吧，为了防止她受欺负，我就继续努力吧。

Larry: I'm sure your cousin is a smart girl. Before you know it, she'll be just as capable to live on her own in the United States as you are─and you won't have to worry about people trying to take her for a ride.

LH: 不过，在她完全自立前，我可有的忙了，估计不能常和你见面了!

Larry: That's OK. Taking someone under your wing is a quite a full-time job!

今天李华学了两个常用语，一个是 to take someone under your wing，意思是“照顾和帮助某人”；另一个是 to take someone for a ride，意思是“占人便宜，欺负人”。好的，这次《流行美语》播送完了。

A: 不错! 我又学会了一个说法，Take someone under your wing 就是“罩着别人”。Donny, 我就是这种大姐姐型的人，特会关心人。

B: Er....Really? You sure look like a nice person...

A: 嘿! 你还不信啊？我给你讲个我帮助别人的事情吧，想当年...

B: 怡茹! 怡茹! Didn't you say at the beginning of the show that we were going to some talent show?

A：哦，对，选秀! 那咱们听听“美语怎么说”吧! 我的故事待会儿再告诉你。

How to Say it in American English: Open Audition

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。今天是杨琳要问的：海选，甄选。

YL: Jessica! 送你一张我的签名照！快拿着！

Jessica: Your autograph? why do I want that?

YL: 告诉你，我快成明星啦!

Jessica: Really? You will be a super star? 你被张艺谋看中了？

YL: 不是。我参加“阳光女生”的海选，击败了众多对手......对了，海选你明白么？Sea selection! 谁都能参加! 也有人管它叫甄选。

Jessica: Sea selection? 哦，(chuckle) I see. In English, it's called "an open audition". Everyone can walk in the door, perform and compete, like American Idol.

YL: 没错，就是那种！原来这叫 "open audition," open开放的，audition, a-u-d-i-t-i-o-n, audition试演选拔，连在一起，open audition就是“海选”或是“甄选”。这么说，I am the winner of the open audition!

Jessica: Well, I don't think you can call yourself a "winner," because more than one person get selected in an open audition to advance to the next round.

YL: 也是，这次一共一百人过关，进入下一轮比赛。但不管怎样，I was selected!

Jessica: Yeah, congratulations! You can also say you made the cut.

YL: 哦，make the cut, 就是被选中，过关了。哎，那要是被刷下来，该怎么说呢？

Jessica: Then you could say you got eliminated. e-l-i-m-i-n-a-t-e-d, eliminated.

YL: 明白了，eliminate是淘汰，被淘汰就是get eliminated.

Jessica: That's right. I sure hope you can make it to the final round and not get eliminated! But first, tell me what you've learned today!

YL: 第一“甄选，海选”在美语里叫 "open audition"；

第二，过关，被选上了，是 make the cut；

第三，被刷下去了，就是 get eliminated.

这次的美语怎么说就到这里。如果你也有不会说的词，请写信给 Jessica, 电邮请寄meiyu@voanews.com

A：原来，入选就是make the cut.

B：对，怡茹, Last time we went apartment hunting with Jeff and Sarah. I wonder if they've found the perfect place yet.

A: 嗯，我也不知道他们有没有找到合适的房子。听听看吧!

Renting: Intermediate

大家好！今天播出“美语三级跳”节目“找房”单元的中级课程。

Winnie: Jeff想租间公寓，请朋友Sarah帮忙一块儿看广告。

Professor: In this first part, listen for the word "listings," which is a list of available apartments that you can find in a newspaper or online.

Winnie: 哦，listing在这里就是房屋招租广告。

Jeff: Hey Sarah, I'm having some trouble finding an apartment. Can you help me look at some listings online?

Sarah: Sure. What kind of apartment are you looking for?

Jeff: Well, it has to be cheap. I don't want a really expensive apartment.

Sarah: OK. Would you like to live in a studio?

Jeff: Sure, a studio would be fine.

Professor: So Winnie, what is the most important thing for Jeff when looking for an apartment?

Winnie: 价钱！ 他呀，老想找个便宜的studio, 真没劲！

Professor: Well, I guess Jeff is a bit more practical than you. In this next section listen for the word "cozy," which means small and comfortable.

Sarah: Jeff, look at this listing! It says there is a cozy studio apartment for rent, and it's only $700 per month. What do you think?

Jeff: Well I think I can afford that apartment. But are pets allowed?

Sarah: Hmm ... let me look. Yes, it says it's a pet-friendly building.

Jeff: That's great. That means I can bring my cat, Mr. Twinkles. Where is the apartment located?

Sarah: It says it's located in the suburbs.

Winnie: Professor Bowman, 什么是pet-friendly building？

Professor: It means that pets are welcome in that building.

Winnie: A pet-friendly building是可以养宠物的公寓。

Professor: Exactly. In the next section, listen for the term "a steal." What do you think that means?

Winnie: Hmm ... steal在这里一定不是偷东西，而是指a very good deal， 就是说特别划算！

Professor: You got it!

Jeff: It's located in the suburbs? Well even though that sounds like a steal, I really want something downtown.

Sarah: OK. Well the problem is that the apartments in the heart of the city are usually more expensive.

Jeff: I know, that's my problem. What do you think I should do?

Sarah: Well, maybe you could get a two-bedroom apartment downtown and share the rent with a roommate.

Jeff: Oh, great idea!

Professor: So Winnie, can you tell me what the opposite of "the suburbs" is?

Winnie: The suburbs指郊区，相反的肯定是downtown，也就是市区！ 不过，他们说“in the heart of something”是什么意思？

Professor: Being in the heart of something is the same as being in the very middle of it.

Winnie: 我明白了，in the heart of something就是指中心位置。

Professor: Good. Let's see what happens next.

Sarah: Well what about this two-bedroom apartment? The listing says it's right in the heart of the city, just steps from the metro.

Jeff: Wow, that would be very convenient. How much is the rent?

Sarah: It says it's $1600. But if you share it with another person, that's only $800 per month.

Jeff: That definitely sounds like a steal. I think that is a very trendy neighborhood as well.

Sarah: That's true. I know that there are lots of popular restaurants and coffee shops around there.

Winnie: Jeff真是好运气! 找到个两居室，月租只要1600美元，和室友分一下，一人八百块。It's a steal!

Professor: And the location of that apartment is also very good. It is only "steps from the metro," meaning you only need to walk a short distance to the subway station.

Winnie: 对啊，走几步就能到地铁站，太方便了！他们还说公寓所在的地方很trendy，就是很受欢迎的新潮区。那Jeff可要当机立断！

Jeff: Well, this apartment is really a must-see. Will you come with me to look at it this weekend?

Sarah: Sure. And if you rent it, maybe I can help you find a roommate too.

Jeff: Great! Do you know someone else who is also looking for an apartment?

Sarah: Yes, my friend Steve. I'll introduce you.

Winnie: Sarah真是太够意思了，连找室友都包了！ Professor Bowman, 您说Jeff和Sarah推荐的室友Steve能合得来么？

Professor: Well, we'll have to listen next time and find out!

A: 看样子，Jeff的房子找得蛮顺利啊。位置在a trendy neighborhood, 时尚社区，而且pet-friendly, 可以养宠物，两个人分担房租又不会太贵，It is a steal! 真划算!

B: Actually, 怡茹, I can think of a place to live for free! You don't need to pay for utilities, transportation or even your meals!

A: 啊？白吃白住的地方？哪有这种好事，Tell me! Tell me!

B: I'm talking about "jail"! Hahahaha!

A: 监狱啊？!

B: 对啊! 咱们来听听“礼节美语”，了解一下The jails for white collar criminals.

礼节美语: PONZI SCHEME II

Ken早上在饮水器旁见到同事Dan和April，谈起公司首席财务官Jason Smith参与庞式骗局被抓起来的事情。Dan问罪名严不严重。

D: So how serious are these charges?

A: He could end up serving a very long prison term. These days judges are pretty tough on white collar crimes.

D: I actually met Jason at a cocktail party about a year ago. He seemed very charming and bright. I remember we had an interesting conversation and he was quite knowledgeable about Asian affairs.

A: Yeah, that sounds about right. Most of these kinds of tricksters are very charming...otherwise, how would they be able to convince so many people to part with their money?

April说，搞不好，Jason会坐很长时间的牢，因为现在法官对白领犯罪下手很重，白领犯罪在英文里叫white collar crime. Dan在一次cocktail party鸡尾酒会上见过Jason，对他印象不错，April觉得这很正常，因为这些人要是没有两下子，怎么能说服别人把自己的钱拿出来呢? to part with one's money 是把钱交出来的意思。

K: If someone told me I could get a 200% return on my investments, I'd smell a rat. I bet some of these people had a pretty good idea they were dealing with a Ponzi scheme.

A: Good point, but it's going to be hard to find evidence they knew about it beforehand.

D: So what happens to white collar criminals in America? Is there a special jail for them?

K: In the past many of them got sent to low or medium security prisons. People used to joke about how easy it was for them.

Ken怀疑参与庞式骗局的一些投资者其实是知情的，因为如果告诉他说有投资机会，百分之二百的回报，I'd smell a rat. 我一定会觉得可疑。Ken说，白领罪犯以前都是被送到low or medium security prisons安全级别中低水平的监狱，所以日子比较好过。

A: But more recently, the government has decided to make an example and has been getting much tougher.

K: If he is convicted, Jason will probably end up in a federal prison with hardcore offenders. He could be there for well over 10 years.

D: Wow...that's harsh.

K: Jason Smith says he is innocent, so we'll have to wait and see what the final verdict is. I'm just glad I didn't invest any of my money with him.

D: Me too!

A: Me three!

April 解释说，但是近来，政府决定对白领犯罪加强处罚， to make an example of someone有杀一儆百的意思。Ken说，如果法庭判处Jason有罪的话，Jason就可能会坐十年以上的大牢，而且是跟hardcore offenders恶性犯罪分子关在一起。三个人都表示，幸好没有把自己的钱拿出来让Jason去投资。

A: 哦，所以说，white collar criminals就是白领罪犯，比如诈骗犯。

B: That's right. Okay, 怡茹, enough with all the schemes and criminals. Let's have some fun!

A: 好! 咱们去打网球!

American Sports English: Tennis Scoring

Y: Hi, this is Yang Chen.

P: And I'm Patrick. And today we are playing a game of tennis.

Y: (calling out) Okay, Patrick It's your serve!

P: To serve S-E-R-V-E is to put the tennis ball in play by throwing it up into the air and hitting it with a racquet.

Y: Oh, come on, Patrick. Would you quit talking and serve the ball?

P: OK. Here I go! (thwok, thwok) Good return, Yang Chen!

Y: Hey, Patrick, that ball was over the line. The ball was out, 你出界了。我应该得一分。So it is my point.

P: That means the score is "Love Fifteen". Love for me and fifteen for you.

Y: Love? L-O-V-E? 爱？这和爱有什么关系？What's love got to do with it, Patrick?

P: Love in tennis scoring means “Zero.”And right now I have zero points.

Y: You have love─不是你有爱情，而是说你是零分， zero points, 可是我怎么会有15分呢？

P: Tennis scoring is very complicated, isn't it? To win a game a player must win four points and two more points than his opponent. The first point is called "fifteen."

Y: 那么 the second point is called "thirty?"

P: That's right. The second point is called "thirty," and the third point is called....

Y: Forty-five?

P: No, it is called "forty."

Y: Why not forty-five?

P: 传统上是这样。 It's just the tradition now, Yang Chen, the French started it.

Y: 那他们的数学一定不好。Okay, serve again, Patrick!

P: Oh no, I missed the ball!

Y: I guess that makes the score "love thirty"! But you have love!!!

A: 原来love在网球里就是0分的意思!

B: Isn't that cool? Love is nothing!

A: 胡说，Love多重要啊。比如我就特有爱心，老帮助别人。对了，我那个故事还没讲呢......

B：啊......怡茹, it's almost time. Let's save your story for next time!

A: 这样啊？！ 太遗憾了。好吧，那今天的节目就到这里。节目的撰稿人是晓北，编辑是蔚然。同学们，我们下次的美语训练班再见!

B：Bye!