美国国家公共电台 NPR Mis-Direction

 

OPHIRA EISENBERG, HOST: 

Next, our contestants² will have to deal with the world's worst GPS, but first let's check in with them. Kirsten Lenthe, you are trying to visit all 50 states. So where in the process are you?

KIRSTEN LENTHE: I believe, at last count, 34.

EISENBERG: Thirty-four? OK. Do you have an order in mind?

LENTHE: Well, I'm going to Hawaii for Thanksgiving, so that's going to be my next one.

EISENBERG: Oh, nice.

LENTHE: I'm planning on - I mean, I'd like to end with Alaska, but I think there are going to be a couple of states that are kind of hard to squeeze in there in the mean time.

EISENBERG: Now, are you going to Hawaii for Thanksgiving just because that is something you would do, or, you know, when you're planning - I don't know - a trip, are you specifically looking at getting in a new state based on your goal?

LENTHE: So Hawaii will be my mom's last state, so we're going for her to celebrate being done 50 states for her. And she's bringing the whole family along.

EISENBERG: No way. That's so - all right, so it's genetic³?

LENTHE: Yeah.

EISENBERG: Interesting. Very good. Now, Owen Moorhead, as a park ranger⁴, have you ever saved an animal?

OWEN MOORHEAD: Yeah, yeah. I've actually saved a few animals. That's probably the most rewarding part of my job...

EISENBERG: Yeah.

MOORHEAD: ...Because I prefer animals to people.

EISENBERG: Yeah, OK.

(LAUGHTER)

EISENBERG: Do you have a - is there a memorable⁵ animal-saving moment in your life that you can share with us?

MOORHEAD: You know, they're all memorable in their own way. The most satisfying was when I rescued a baby possum that had fallen off of a cliff. Its left eye was, like, hanging out of its head, and it was just curled up on the ground. I was so worried. I was bawling⁶ all the way to the wildlife rescue place, but they got it, and they took care of it. I think they still have the shirt that I used to wrap it in, actually.

JONATHAN COULTON: That is a very memorable story.

EISENBERG: Kirsten and Owen, we've got a trivia game for you called Mis-Direction. Here, we are going to imagine what would happen if a computer virus attacked your GPS and made it even dumber. All you have to do is figure out what national landmark⁷ the GPS is trying to help you get to. Owen, you won the last game, so win this and you're going right to the final round. Kirsten, you need to win this or you'll be forced to find your way through the world with nothing but a diving rod. Here we go. Walk away from the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs-Elysees. Enter the glass pyramid. You have arrived at your destination.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

EISENBERG: Kirsten.

LENTHE: The Louvre?

EISENBERG: Yes, indeed, the Louvre. Have you been?

LENTHE: Never been to France.

EISENBERG: Never been to France? You've been all over the States. The next thing you have to do is go to all the countries, right? Is that your plan?

LENTHE: Easy task.

EISENBERG: No problem. All right, here's your next clue. Walk along the River Thames times until you see the clock from "National Lampoon's European Vacation." Your destination is the church from "The Da Vinci Code."

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

EISENBERG: Owen.

MOORHEAD: Westminster Abbey.

EISENBERG: Yes, indeed. I like the pop culture GPS.

COULTON: Yeah, this GPS has a lot of attitude, and it's got its own idea about things. I like it.

EISENBERG: It's watched "National Lampoon's European Vacation." Not every GPS can say that. Here's your next clue. Drive south over the Harbour Bridge. Your destination is on the left. It's the building that looks like a bunch of white sails. It's the only Australian building you recognise.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

EISENBERG: Owen.

MOORHEAD: Sydney Opera House.

EISENBERG: Yes, that is correct. Proceed up the Acropolis past the Greek ruins. Stop at the rectangular temple with dozens of columns.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

EISENBERG: Kirsten.

LENTHE: The partheon (ph)?

EISENBERG: Oh, yeah. We'll give it to. It's Parthenon. This is your last clue. From the legislative⁸ building in Queen's Park, proceed south toward Lake Ontario. Turn right next to Blue Jay stadium. Your destination is a tall, thin spire⁹ with a bulge¹⁰ on it.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

EISENBERG: Owen.

MOORHEAD: Is it the CN Tower?

EISENBERG: That is the CN Tower. Have you been there?

MOORHEAD: No, I actually have never been anywhere in Canada.

EISENBERG: Canada has a lot of parks, Owen.

MOORHEAD: I've heard. I've heard. They look really cool.

EISENBERG: (Laughter).

COULTON: Wait, I have a - I have a question for the Canadian.

EISENBERG: Yeah?

COULTON: What does CN stand for?

EISENBERG: Canadian National - based on the railroad. Puzzle guru Art Chung, how did our contestants do?

ART CHUNG: They both did great in this game. Congratulations to Owen. You've won both games, and you're moving on to the final round.

EISENBERG: It's settled. Our finalists are Mary and Owen, and they're going to face off in the final round at the end of the show. And if your TPS - that's trivia positioning system - always directs you to the right answers, let it steer¹¹ you over to amatickets.org to become a contestant¹. Coming up, the Force is with us in the form of Pablo Hidalgo, Lucasfilm's keeper of all "Star Wars" knowledge. Do stick around, or do not. There is no try. I'm Ophira Eisenberg, and you're listening to ASK ME ANOTHER from NPR.

1 contestant   

n.竞争者，参加竞赛者

参考例句：

• The company will furnish each contestant with a free ticket.公司将为每个参赛者免费提供一张票。
• The personal appearance and interview of the contestant is another count.参加比赛者的个人仪表和谈话也是一项。

2 contestants   

n.竞争者，参赛者( contestant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The competition attracted over 500 contestants representing 8 different countries. 这次比赛吸引了代表8个不同国家的500多名参赛者。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency. 两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

4 ranger   

n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员

参考例句：

• He was the head ranger of the national park.他曾是国家公园的首席看守员。
• He loved working as a ranger.他喜欢做护林人。

5 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

6 bawling   

v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物）

参考例句：

• We heard the dulcet tones of the sergeant, bawling at us to get on parade. 我们听到中士用“悦耳”的声音向我们大喊，让我们跟上队伍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• "Why are you bawling at me? “你向我们吼啥子？ 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

7 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

8 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

9 spire   

n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点

参考例句：

• The church spire was struck by lightning.教堂的尖顶遭到了雷击。
• They could just make out the spire of the church in the distance.他们只能辨认出远处教堂的尖塔。

10 bulge   

n.突出，膨胀，激增；vt.突出，膨胀

参考例句：

• The apple made a bulge in his pocket.苹果把他口袋塞得鼓了起来。
• What's that awkward bulge in your pocket?你口袋里那块鼓鼓囊囊的东西是什么？

11 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。