英语 英语 日语 日语 韩语 韩语 法语 法语 德语 德语 西班牙语 西班牙语 意大利语 意大利语 阿拉伯语 阿拉伯语 葡萄牙语 葡萄牙语 越南语 越南语 俄语 俄语 芬兰语 芬兰语 泰语 泰语 泰语 丹麦语 泰语 对外汉语

2010年ESL之餐饮娱乐 07 Praising a Performance

时间:2014-05-27 06:57来源:互联网 提供网友:nan   字体: [ ]
特别声明:本栏目内容均从网络收集或者网友提供,供仅参考试用,我们无法保证内容完整和正确。如果资料损害了您的权益,请与站长联系,我们将及时删除并致以歉意。
    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

 

07 Praising a Performance

GLOSSARY1

bravo – a word shouted by audience members to congratulate performers for avery good performance immediately after they have finished; a word used toshow one’s approval of what another person has done.

* Wow, you got 100% on the test! Bravo!

standing2 ovation3 – when members of an audience stand up and clap and/orshout loudly to show their approval and appreciation4 for a performance or speech

* The best part about being an actor is receiving a standing ovation at the end ofa show.

to gush5 – to be excessive in expressing one’s praise, appreciation, orenjoyment; to talk too much about how much one likes something

* I know you like the car, but try to not to gush about it in front of the salesperson,or we won’t be able to negotiate a good price.

passable – acceptable; meeting the minimum standards or requirements

* All these applicants7 have passable qualifications, but we haven’t yet foundanyone who seems like a perfect fit for the job.

nothing to write home about – not special; not good enough to spend muchtime thinking or talking about it; not very interesting or unusual

* The meal was okay, but it was nothing to write home about.

jaded8 – bored and uninterested because one has experienced too much ofsomething to be excited about it anymore

* Marleah used to love traveling internationally, but now that she has been doingit in her job for a few years, she has become jaded and would rather just stay athome.

genius – very intelligent, clever, and talented; very good; exceptional

* The suggestion you made at today’s meeting was pure genius! How did youcome up with such a great idea?

to take (one’s) breath away – to be very beautiful, wonderful, exciting, andsurprising

* The view from the top of the mountain is so beautiful, it will take your breathaway.

number – one part of a longer performance, such as one song, one dance, orone act

* For her first number, Tracy is going to sing an aria10 from La Boheme.

to embarrass (oneself) – to make a fool of oneself; to do something that one isashamed of later; to do something that one would rather not have other peoplesee one do

* Be careful when you post private information and photographs online. Youdon’t want to embarrass yourself.

faint – slight; not very strong

* My grandmother’s house always has the faint scent11 of homemade chocolatechip cookies.

praise – words that express one’s appreciation or enjoyment6 of something

* Do you think it’s possible for parents to give too much praise to their children?

over the top – excessive; too much of something

* I can understand teenagers who want to wear unusual clothes and hairs tyles tobe different, but Kimberly goes over the top, wanting to wear a bathrobe,slippers, and bright purple hair to school!

effusive12 – expressing one’s emotions or thoughts with a lot of excitement andenthusiasm

* Lynn is often effusive, spending several minutes thanking people for even themost ordinary things.

lead – the main role in a show or performance, usually given to the best artist ormusician

* Ariana auditioned13 for the lead role of Guinevere in the musical Camelot, but shedidn’t get it.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. What does Claudia mean when she says that the performance “took herbreath away”?

a) It was too fast and difficult to understand.

b) It was very exciting and suspenseful14.

c) It was wonderful and beautiful.

2. What was their granddaughter’s role in the school play?

a) She was the most important tomato on stage.

b) She was the tomato that danced in front of everyone else.

c) She was the tomato that pulled the other tomatoes along.

______________

WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

numberThe word “number,” in this podcast, means one part of a longer performance,such as one song, one dance, or one act: “Should we start the performance withour best number, or save it for the end?” A “number cruncher” is an accountantor someone else who works with numbers and makes many calculations: “If youdon’t like math, why did you decide to become a number cruncher?” The phrase“to be good (bad) with numbers” means to (not) understand math and (not) beable to make calculations: “He’s bad with numbers, so he prefers to study historyand literature.” As an adjective, “numb9” means without feeling: “The dentist gaveher a shot that made the right side of her mouth numb so she wouldn’t feelanything as he worked on her teeth.”

leadIn this podcast, the word “lead” means the main role in a show or performance,usually given to the best artist or musician: “Marcello is a very talented actor whoalways gets the lead roles in school plays.” The “lead musician” is the main ormost important musician in a group: “Who is the lead guitar player for LedZepplin?” The phrase “to be in the lead” means to be winning in a race orcompetition: “Which horse is in the lead right now?” Finally, the phrase “to takethe lead” means to become very active and involved in a project or activity,showing or telling other people what to do: “When Mathieu took the lead andmade the project a success, he earned a promotion15 at work.”

CULTURE NOTE

When an audience enjoys a performance, it has many ways to “express” (show)its appreciation. Depending on the type of performance, it can be “rude” (notpolite) or inappropriate to show appreciation during the performance, but it isusually “acceptable” (okay; allowed) to express appreciation between songs or“acts” (parts of a play) and it is always acceptable at the end of a performance.

When a show or performance is over, the audience “applauds” (claps; hits handstogether rhythmically16 to make a noise). The performers, especially actors, comeup for a “curtain call,” when they all stand on the stage in front of the audience. Ifit is an informal performance, audience members may shout “woo-hoo” or similarnoises to “indicate” (show) that they liked what they have seen or heard. At moreformal performances, audience members are more likely to shout “bravo.”

If audiences really like a musical performance, they might shout “encore,”

meaning that they would like to hear more. Most bands or orchestras have anextra song or two that they have prepared for this purpose, so if the “conductor”

(the person who leads an orchestra) hears enough audience members shouting“encore,” he or she will have the orchestra play another song or two.

Often people will bring flowers for a “soloist17” (a person who performs alone for aperiod of time as part of a larger show or performance). The flowers are oftenbrought to the soloist by the “director” or “producer” (the people who create theshow).

Family members and close friends sometimes “go backstage” (go behind thestage, where performers change clothes) after a performance to “congratulate”

(tell someone that he or she has done well) the performers, and these peopleoften bring flowers, too.

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – a

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT18

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 603: Praising aPerformance.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 603. I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

Support this podcast, help keep the audio files free for everyone by becoming amember of ESL Podcast. You can get more information on our website.

This episode is called “Praising a Performance.” It’s a dialogue between Claudiaand Javier. They’ll be talking about a performance, I believe it’s like a play in atheater, and using vocabulary that you would use to describe performances suchas plays or movies. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Claudia: Oh, that was so good. I’ve never seen anything better. Bravo! Bravo!

Javier: There’s no need for a standing ovation and stop gushing19. Theperformers did a passable job. It was nothing to write home about.

Claudia: You are so jaded. That performance was genius. It took my breathaway.

Javier: I thought the first number was okay, and none of the dancersembarrassed themselves, but that’s all I can say about it.

Claudia: I’m sure they’d thank you for that faint praise. Me? I’ve never seenanything better.

Javier: Now how can you say that? That’s just over the top.

Claudia: If I can’t be effusive, who can? How many times will we see ourgranddaughter in a school play?

Javier: She’s seven years old and she played a tomato!

Claudia: Yes, but don’t forget: she played the lead tomato!

[end of dialogue]

Claudia begins by saying, “Oh, that was so good. I’ve never seen anything better(anything better than that). Bravo!”, she says, “Bravo!” “Bravo” is a word that isshouted by audience members to congratulate a performer for doing a very goodjob right after they finish. So someone may sing a song particularly well, andeveryone at the end stands up and “claps” their hands, put their hands togetherand says, “Bravo!” especially if it is, for example, a opera or classical musicconcert or a play. It’s less common, for example, at a rock concert. In fact, Idon’t think anyone says “bravo” at a rock concert; it’s much too formal of a word.

You could also use it in other circumstances. Someone performs well on a test,for example, you might say, “Bravo! Good job!”

Javier says, “There’s no need for a standing ovation and stop gushing.” A“standing ovation” (ovation) is when the people watching the performance orlistening to it, the audience members, all stand up and they clap and shout loudlyto show how much they liked the performance. So, it’s when everyone standsand claps. That’s a standing ovation. Sometimes informally it’s called a“standing ‘O’,” “o” for “ovation.” He says to Claudia, “stop gushing.” “To gush”

(gush) is to express your praise or appreciation or enjoyment of something, buttoo much, to talk about something that you like too much. “She was gushingover her new boyfriend, and I couldn’t stand listening to her anymore. So I wentoutside and put my head under water so I could not hear her anymore.” Truestory!

Javier says, “The performers did a passable job.” To say something is“passable” means it was okay, it met the minimum requirements; it wasacceptable, but it wasn’t great. He says, “It was nothing to write home about.”

This is a popular expression. When someone says, “it is nothing to write homeabout” they mean it wasn’t very good. You shouldn’t spend time thinking about it;it wasn’t very interesting, it wasn’t very special or unusual. “How was therestaurant?” “Well, it was nothing to write home about.” It wasn’t very good; itwas okay.

Claudia says to Javier, “You’re so jaded (jaded).” “Jaded” is someone who isbored or perhaps uninterested in something because they have had too muchexperience to become excited by it. They’ve seen, perhaps, too manyperformances like that. Someone who is jaded is someone who, perhaps, hasbeen doing something for a long time and no longer can react appropriately, nolonger can become excited or sad even about something. Claudia says, “That performance was genius.” “Genius” usually means very intelligent. Dr. Lucy Tseis a genius. But here, it means it was excellent, it was very good. If it’s used todescribe a performance, that’s it’s meaning. Claudia says, “It took my breathaway.” To take (one’s) breath away” is an expression that means that you sawsomething or heard something very beautiful, very wonderful, something thatsurprised you because it was so good. It is as though you had stopped breathingbecause you were so interested in the performance. There was also a song –written, I don’t know when. Back in the 80s? [Jeff sings] Take my breath away.

Doo doo doo, doo doo doo, doo doo doo. Remember that? I think it was in amovie. Maybe a Tom Cruise movie, Top Gun perhaps? But anyway, that movie,uh, did not take my breath away!

Javier says, “I thought the first number was okay.” In a performance, a “number”

is one part of a larger program – a larger performance, such as one song or onedance. “Number” tends to be associated with song and dance mostly. Javiersays, “none of the dancers embarrassed themselves, but that’s all I can sayabout it.” “To embarrass yourself” means to do something that you are not happywith later on, to make a fool of yourself, to do something that you would prefer noone else saw because it wasn’t very good. Javier says the dancers did notembarrass themselves, but he can’t say they did a good job either.

Claudia says, “I’m sure they’d thank you for that faint praise.” “Faint” (faint)means not very strong. “Praise” is when you tell someone how much you likesomething or enjoy something. “Faint praise” is when you compliment someone,you say something nice to them, but really it’s sort of a criticism. For example,you say to your son or daughter who got a B-plus on their test (the highest scorewould be an A), you say, “Oh, that B-plus, that’s almost as good as an A.

Congratulations.” You see you’re complimenting them, you’re praising them, butreally you’re criticizing them. That’s what faint praise is, and that is what Javier isdoing in describing the dancers.

Claudia says, “Me? I’ve never seen anything better.” Javier says, “how can yousay that? That’s just over the top.” Something that is “over the top” is somethingthat is excessive, when you have too much of something. Let’s say, for example,your girlfriend does something wrong and she wants to apologize for it. It wasn’tanything serious, but she wants to say that she’s sorry. That will neverhappened, usually! But let’s say that it does, and she comes in and she startscrying, and she falls down on the floor acting20 as though her life was basicallyover. That would be over the top, that would be doing too much to say you’resorry.

Claudia says that if I can’t be effusive, who can? “Effusive” (effusive) means toexpress your feelings, your thoughts, your emotions with a lot of excitement, a lotof enthusiasm. Claudia says, “How many times will we see our granddaughter ina school play?” Now we know what is going on here. Claudia and Javier have agranddaughter – their son or daughter has a child – and they are watching thechild perform at a play at the child’s school. Many American schools often put onplays once or twice a year, performances or plays for the parents andgrandparents.

Javier says, “She’s seven years old and she played a tomato!” We use the verb“played” in a play at the theater to describe the character that the person wassupposed to be. For example, Tobey Maguire the actor played Spiderman in themovie Spiderman. Or, I played Chewbacca in the movie Star Wars – true story!

Javier says that their granddaughter played a tomato. Sometimes, you know,with children’s plays, they’re often a little silly and the children dress up likevegetables, apparently21. I don’t know! Claudia then says, “Yes, but don’t forget:

she played the lead tomato!” When you say someone in a play or movie “playedthe lead” you mean that was the main role in the show or performance. Usuallyit’s the best actor or the best artist that plays the lead in a performance. So,Claudia and Javier’s granddaughter played the lead tomato, the most importantone. Of course, that’s a little silly – a little crazy. “Lead” has several othermeanings in English, as does the word “number” that we mentioned earlier.

Those can be found in the Learning Guide, of course.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Claudia: Oh, that was so good. I’ve never seen anything better. Bravo! Bravo!

Javier: There’s no need for a standing ovation and stop gushing. Theperformers did a passable job. It was nothing to write home about.

Claudia: You are so jaded. That performance was genius. It took my breathaway.

Javier: I thought the first number was okay, and none of the dancersembarrassed themselves, but that’s all I can say about it.

Claudia: I’m sure they’d thank you for that faint praise. Me? I’ve never seenanything better.

Javier: Now how can you say that? That’s just over the top.

Claudia: If I can’t be effusive, who can? How many times will we see ourgranddaughter in a school play?

Javier: She’s seven years old and she played a tomato!

Claudia: Yes, but don’t forget: she played the lead tomato!

[end of dialogue]

I think it’s time that we gave our scriptwriter, Dr. Lucy Tse, a standing ovation.

So everyone now please stand up, clap your hands. Thanks, Lucy!

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Comeback and listen to us next time on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan, copyright 2010 by the Center for EducationalDevelopment.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 glossary of7xy     
n.注释词表;术语汇编
参考例句:
  • The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
  • For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便,我们在附录中也提供了术语表。
2 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
3 ovation JJkxP     
n.欢呼,热烈欢迎,热烈鼓掌
参考例句:
  • The hero received a great ovation from the crowd. 那位英雄受到人群的热烈欢迎。
  • The show won a standing ovation. 这场演出赢得全场起立鼓掌。
4 appreciation Pv9zs     
n.评价;欣赏;感谢;领会,理解;价格上涨
参考例句:
  • I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
  • I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。
5 gush TeOzO     
v.喷,涌;滔滔不绝(说话);n.喷,涌流;迸发
参考例句:
  • There was a gush of blood from the wound.血从伤口流出。
  • There was a gush of blood as the arrow was pulled out from the arm.当从手臂上拔出箭来时,一股鲜血涌了出来。
6 enjoyment opaxV     
n.乐趣;享有;享用
参考例句:
  • Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同,我们这次访问更加愉快了。
  • After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话,这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。
7 applicants aaea8e805a118b90e86f7044ecfb6d59     
申请人,求职人( applicant的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
  • He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。
8 jaded fqnzXN     
adj.精疲力竭的;厌倦的;(因过饱或过多而)腻烦的;迟钝的
参考例句:
  • I felt terribly jaded after working all weekend. 整个周末工作之后我感到疲惫不堪。
  • Here is a dish that will revive jaded palates. 这道菜简直可以恢复迟钝的味觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 numb 0RIzK     
adj.麻木的,失去感觉的;v.使麻木
参考例句:
  • His fingers were numb with cold.他的手冻得发麻。
  • Numb with cold,we urged the weary horses forward.我们冻得发僵,催着疲惫的马继续往前走。
10 aria geRyB     
n.独唱曲,咏叹调
参考例句:
  • This song takes off from a famous aria.这首歌仿效一首著名的咏叹调。
  • The opera was marred by an awkward aria.整部歌剧毁在咏叹调部分的不够熟练。
11 scent WThzs     
n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉
参考例句:
  • The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
  • The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。
12 effusive 9qTxf     
adj.热情洋溢的;感情(过多)流露的
参考例句:
  • Every visitor noticed that her effusive welcome was not sincere.所有的客人都看出来她那过分热情的欢迎是不真诚的。
  • Her effusive thanks embarrassed everybody.她道谢时非常激动,弄得大家不好意思。
13 auditioned 7a3b64b138cda8b1c7e21f61395dc3b1     
vi.试听(audition的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • None of the actresses we have auditioned is suitable. 我们试听的这些女演员都不合适。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • What is that, from some script you auditioned for in the '40s? 什么玩意儿是你40年代试的那些剧本吗? 来自电影对白
14 suspenseful 0faac2538a5e9266cf020f1e73f1f3b3     
adj.悬疑的,令人紧张的
参考例句:
  • If his experiences then had been carefully recorded, it would undoubtedly have made a suspenseful and moving book. 若是把他所经历的事实记录下来,那就是一部充满着大智大勇,惊心动魄的小说。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Lily is an atmospheric and suspenseful tale of love, loss and obsession. 这是一个关于爱情、失落与迷恋的故事,充满情调与悬疑色彩。 来自互联网
15 promotion eRLxn     
n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传
参考例句:
  • The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
  • The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级,加了薪。
16 rhythmically 4f33fe14f09ad5d6e6f5caf7b15440cf     
adv.有节奏地
参考例句:
  • A pigeon strutted along the roof, cooing rhythmically. 一只鸽子沿着屋顶大摇大摆地走,有节奏地咕咕叫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Exposures of rhythmically banded protore are common in the workings. 在工作面中常见有韵律条带“原矿石”。 来自辞典例句
17 soloist EirzTE     
n.独奏者,独唱者
参考例句:
  • The soloist brought the house down with encore for his impressive voice.这位独唱家以他那感人的歌声博得全场喝彩。
  • The soloist had never performed in London before.那位独唱者过去从未在伦敦演出过。
18 transcript JgpzUp     
n.抄本,誊本,副本,肄业证书
参考例句:
  • A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
  • They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。
19 gushing 313eef130292e797ea104703d9458f2d     
adj.迸出的;涌出的;喷出的;过分热情的v.喷,涌( gush的现在分词 );滔滔不绝地说话
参考例句:
  • blood gushing from a wound 从伤口冒出的血
  • The young mother was gushing over a baby. 那位年轻的母亲正喋喋不休地和婴儿说话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
21 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
本文本内容来源于互联网抓取和网友提交,仅供参考,部分栏目没有内容,如果您有更合适的内容,欢迎点击提交分享给大家。
------分隔线----------------------------
TAG标签:   ESL英语  餐饮英语  娱乐英语
顶一下
(0)
0%
踩一下
(0)
0%
最新评论 查看所有评论
发表评论 查看所有评论
请自觉遵守互联网相关的政策法规,严禁发布色情、暴力、反动的言论。
评价:
表情:
验证码:
听力搜索
推荐频道
论坛新贴