ESL Podcast 542 – Renting a Movie

Brenda: I have to return these movies in the drop box today or I’ll have late fees. Can I get you anything while I’m out?

Jang: Are you still renting movies from the video store? I use a service that delivers the movies to my mailbox. There are never any late fees.

Brenda: I’ve thought about subscribing¹ to one of those services, but I think I would really miss browsing² at the video store. I like checking out the new releases and staff picks, and you never know what you’ll find to buy in the bargain bins³.

Jang: Renting movies online is so much quicker and easier. I can browse⁴ the titles quickly, read the descriptions, read reviews, and sometimes even watch a trailer. Then, all I need to do is put the movie in my queue, and as soon as I mail one movie back, they send me another one. It’s that simple.

Brenda: It does sound easy, but not everything that’s easy is better. Some of us like to take our time to make our selections.

Jang: Whatever. If you want to spend your time looking for movies rather than watching them, that’s your prerogative⁵.

Brenda: Are you really going to let me off so easily? I thought I was in for another one of your lectures.

Jang: You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 subscribing   

v.捐助( subscribe的现在分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意

参考例句：

• I am subscribing for some of the books of a book club. 我预订了几本这家书刊俱乐部出版的书。 来自辞典例句
• I am glad to have such a pleasant opportunity of subscribing myself. 今后益望努力前途，为国效力。 来自互联网

2 browsing   

v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息

参考例句：

• He sits browsing over[through] a book. 他坐着翻阅书籍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Cattle is browsing in the field. 牛正在田里吃草。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 bins   

n.大储藏箱( bin的名词复数 )；宽口箱（如面包箱，垃圾箱等）v.扔掉，丢弃( bin的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Garbage from all sources was deposited in bins on trolleys. 来自各方的垃圾是装在手推车上的垃圾箱里的。 来自辞典例句
• Would you be pleased at the prospect of its being on sale in dump bins? 对于它将被陈列在倾销箱中抛售这件事，你能欣然接受吗？ 来自辞典例句

4 browse   

vi.随意翻阅，浏览；(牛、羊等)吃草

参考例句：

• I had a browse through the books on her shelf.我浏览了一下她书架上的书。
• It is a good idea to browse through it first.最好先通篇浏览一遍。

5 prerogative   

n.特权

参考例句：

• It is within his prerogative to do so.他是有权这样做的。
• Making such decisions is not the sole prerogative of managers.作这类决定并不是管理者的专有特权。