英语听力精选进阶版 6803

Rob: What's happened Helen? You don't look very happy.

Helen: Of course I'm not happy. 我刚刚看到你的电子邮件说如果我不赶快来录音室你就不等我自己主持了...

Rob: That's right.

Helen: And then 你写的是: "有我这动听的声音，谁还会想到你呢." That's a horrible thing to say, Rob! 你太过分了!

Rob: Well, it would be horrible if it was a serious message. But haven't you noticed my emoticon at the end of the message?

Helen: Emoticon? I have the message printed out here... 对了我看到了，这不一个冒号，一个破折号，最后是一个后括号，看上去吗是个笑脸儿 a smiley face... Yes没错，是个笑脸。It's an emoticon 原来你是在开玩笑！:-)

Rob: Yes. Emoticons were created precisely² for this purpose, to avoid misunderstandings like the one we've just had. I wrote my message as a joke and you took it seriously...

Helen: That's right. 最近有篇报道说 emoticons 表情符号是30年前由美国匹兹堡卡内基梅隆大学的一位教授首创的. Emoticon 这个英语单词是 emotional³ 情绪和 icon¹ 符号合并组成，也就是表情符号。

Rob: It also indicates if a message is serious or a joke. When you speak, you can express if you are serious about what you are saying but sometimes it is difficult to achieve this on paper. Listen to some verbal⁴ examples.

(angry) "I don't like to go to the cinema with you. You always fall asleep and end up snoring loudly."

(jokingly) "I don't like to go to the cinema with you. You always fall asleep and end up snoring loudly!"

Helen: That's right, Rob. 在你讲话的时候你可以通过语调来表达你的意思，但是在书写时就很难以同样的方式来表达。

Rob: But it's good to point out that emoticons are still an informal sort of message. It might not look good if you use them in a message to your boss or include them in your CV.

Helen: 说的好。这点一定要记住，表情符 emoticons 是很随便的一种表达，不能用在正式场合，比如给老板的邮件或个人履历表。We should be careful when using emoticons.

Rob: Emoticons have become so popular that there are over a hundred of them. Some with a proper round yellow face.

Helen: 既然我们消除了误会 misunderstanding, 我们是不是应该出去庆祝一下表情符 emoticon 发明30周年呢，至少应该喝杯咖啡，吃块蛋糕吧。

Rob: And let's celebrate our friendship too. A friendship saved by an emoticon and a smiley face. Bye.

Helen: Bye.

Rob: Now, Helen, your voice is really beautiful, actually.

Helen: And so is yours, Rob. 你应该去当一位歌唱家呐。

Rob: And so should you. Your voice is so melodic⁵...

Helen/Rob: (sing together)

Rob: Beautiful!

1 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

2 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

3 emotional   

adj.令人动情的；易动感情的；感情(上)的

参考例句：

• Emotional people don't stop to calculate.感情容易冲动的人做事往往不加考虑。
• This is an emotional scene in the play.这是剧中动人的一幕。

4 verbal   

adj.口头的，用言辞的，用文字的，动词的

参考例句：

• Verbal statements are no guarantee.口说无凭。
• I delivered a verbal protest against their brutal acts.我对他们的暴行提出口头抗议。

5 melodic   

adj.有旋律的，调子美妙的

参考例句：

• His voice had a rich melodic quality.他的音色浑厚而优美。
• He spoke with a soft husky voice in a melodic accent.他微微沙哑的声音带着一种悠扬的口音。