【英语趣味课堂】人们害怕的事物-Things People Fear

Todd: Ruth, what is something you are afraid of? Like snakes, spiders, rats?

 

Ruth: Probably sharks.

 

Todd: Sharks.

 

Ruth: I know that sounds quite irrational¹, especially when I don't live near the sea but just the thought of being eaten by a shark. It's horrific. I really, really, I'm frightened of sharks.

 

Todd: Have you ever seen a shark?

 

Ruth: No.

 

Todd: No.

 

Ruth: Thankfully.

 

Todd: Yeah.

 

Ruth: I think I'd run a mile.

 

Todd: I don't know really what I'm afraid of, I guess,I don't like heights too much. Yeah, so. I have to admit that when I'm on a plane I get kind of freaked out, when I fly, yeah. You think, "How is this thing staying in the air?". You know?

 

Ruth: You're always happy to land.

 

Todd: Yeah, yeah. Always, always, very happy to land, and often when I go home I have to fly across the Pacific and there's no land so you look out your window and you think, "Ah, if something goes wrong with the plane we can't land anymore, but that's very irrational because most accidents I think happen over mountains, so. I think so.

 

Ruth: Although if you landed in the sea, then there might be sharks.

 

Todd: That's true. How do you feel when you fly?

 

Ruth: I quite like flying actually. I quite like it. I mean I'm quite used to flying. I've flown to a lot of places. If it's a long haul² flight, i guess it's a bit boring, but I like the handheld computer you get to play with.

 

Todd: Yeah, those are nice.

 

Ruth: They're good.

 

Todd: Now, you're a vegetarian³ so what's the food like?

 

Ruth: Oh, well the last time I flew I didn't get any vegetarian food. I think I forgot to tell them, so I had to eat the chicken, whatever.

 

Todd: Really, you actually ate the chicken?

 

Ruth: No, I didn't eat it. I didn't eat it. I just had it in front of me.

 

Todd: Yeah, I heard that the vegetarian meal are actually better than the chicken or beef meal.

 

Ruth: Really, they're quite good, I mean when I've had then in the past they've been quite good.

 

Todd: Well, here's to not seeing any sharks in the future.

 

Ruth: Absolutely.

 

学习内容：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

irrational

 

I know that sounds irrational, especially when I don't live near the sea. 

 

Something that is 'irrational' is not practical⁴ or does not make complete sense. Notice the following:

 

He can be quite irrational when he's angry.

She's not usually an irrational person, but she's not making much sense right now.

horrific

 

Just the thought of being eaten by a shark is really horrific. 

 

If something is 'horrific,' it causes you to feel horror⁵ or shock.  Notice the following:

 

I just saw the most horrific car accident. 

There are some scenes in that movie that are really horrific.

heights

 

I don't know really what I'm afraid of, but I guess I don't like heights too much. 

 

If you are afraid of 'heights,' you are afraid of high places. Notice the following:

 

Climbing up the mountain was hard for me, because I'm afraid of heights.

He fixes roofs on houses, so he's used to working at high heights.

freaked out

 

I have to admit that when I'm on a plane, I get kind of freaked out. 

 

'Freak out' can mean a lot of different things.  Here it means⁶ to get nervous about something.  It can also mean a sudden⁷ burst⁸ of excitement or anger. Notice the following:

 

You must be in a really bad mood today.  I've never seen you freak out like that before.

She really freaked out when she came home and discovered the doors were unlocked⁹.

long-haul flight

 

If it's a long-haul flight, it's a bit boring.

 

A 'long-haul' flight is one that lasts many hours.  Notice the following:

 

It's definitely¹⁰ a long-haul flight from the U.S. to China.

Do you have everything you need?  This is a long-haul drive.

 

1 irrational   

adj.无理性的，失去理性的

参考例句：

• After taking the drug she became completely irrational.她在吸毒后变得完全失去了理性。
• There are also signs of irrational exuberance among some investors.在某些投资者中是存在非理性繁荣的征象的。

2 haul   

vt./n.（用力）拖，拉，（用车等）拖运，运送

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• The rope stood up under the strain of the haul.这绳子经受不住紧拉。

3 vegetarian   

n.素食者；adj.素食的

参考例句：

• She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
• I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。

4 practical   

adj.实际的，实践的；实用的，应用的；有实际经验的

参考例句：

• He is a practical person.他是位很讲实际的人。
• Your invention is clever,but not practical.你的发明很巧，但不实用。

5 horror   

n.惊骇，恐怖，惨事，极端厌恶

参考例句：

• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation.公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。
• The thought of working nights fills me with abject horror.一想到要夜间工作我就觉得惨兮兮的。

6 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

7 sudden   

n.突然，忽然；adj.突然的，意外的，快速的

参考例句：

• All of a sudden he turned about and saw me.他突然转过身来看见了我。
• The horse was badly frightened by the sudden noise.那匹马被突然而来的嘈杂声吓坏了。

8 burst   

vi.（burst，burst）爆炸；爆破；爆裂；爆发；vt.使…破裂；使…炸破；n.突然破裂；爆发

参考例句：

• We all held our breath till the bomb burst.我们屏住呼吸直到炸弹爆炸。
• She suddenly burst into song.她突然唱起歌来。

9 unlocked   

v.开锁( unlock的过去式和过去分词 )；开启；揭开；开着，解开

参考例句：

• Don't leave your desk unlocked. 请不要忘记锁好办公桌。
• On no account should you leave the door unlocked. 你无论如何也不应该不锁门。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。