ESL Podcast 507 – Guarding One’s Privacy

I went to visit my old friend, Mina, whom I hadn’t seen in several years. It was one of the strangest afternoons of my life!

Dan: Hi, Mina, it’s really good to see you.

Mina: Dan, come in. Hurry!

Dan: Uh, okay. Why do you have four locks on your door, and why are all of the curtains drawn¹?

Mina: I like my privacy. And anyway, I think there’s a peeping Tom around this apartment building and I don’t want him to get a peek² into my apartment.

Dan: Oh, okay. I noticed that your name isn’t on your mailbox. I wasn’t sure I had the right apartment number.

Mina: Do you think I would voluntarily give people that information? They are constantly trying to invade my privacy. All I want is anonymity³, but I have to be on guard all of the time. These days, I only give out personal information on a need-to-know basis.

Dan: No offense⁴, but isn’t that a little paranoid? You act as though everybody is out to get you.

Mina: Aren’t they? Haven’t you noticed? We constantly have to disclose our most personal information on forms and to anyone who comes to our door. If I didn’t know you were coming today, I wouldn’t have opened my door at all.

Dan: You mean you live here in seclusion⁵, like a hermit⁶?

Mina: Of course not! I have plenty of friends. Come and meet them all.

Dan: Wow, you must have 10 birds and 20 cats!

Mina: Yes, that’s right. But, rest assured, none of them will breathe a word of what you say here today!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 peek   

vi.偷看，窥视；n.偷偷的一看，一瞥

参考例句：

• Larry takes a peek out of the window.赖瑞往窗外偷看了一下。
• Cover your eyes and don't peek.捂上眼睛，别偷看。

3 anonymity   

n.the condition of being anonymous

参考例句：

• Names of people in the book were changed to preserve anonymity. 为了姓名保密，书中的人用的都是化名。
• Our company promises to preserve the anonymity of all its clients. 我们公司承诺不公开客户的姓名。

4 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

5 seclusion   

n.隐遁，隔离

参考例句：

• She liked to sunbathe in the seclusion of her own garden.她喜欢在自己僻静的花园里晒日光浴。
• I live very much in seclusion these days.这些天我过着几乎与世隔绝的生活。

6 hermit   

n.隐士，修道者；隐居

参考例句：

• He became a hermit after he was dismissed from office.他被解职后成了隐士。
• Chinese ancient landscape poetry was in natural connections with hermit culture.中国古代山水诗与隐士文化有着天然联系。