英语听力精选进阶版 19613

To be on the ball 机灵高效的

Keep your eye on the ball when you play table tennis

Rob: Hello and welcome to Authentic¹ Real English. I'm Rob and joining me today is Liz.

Li: Hi… everyone – err², Rob, my name is Li, not Liz.

Rob: Oh, I'm so sorry Li, I'm not really on the ball this morning.

Li: Nice phrase though. Why don't you go for a coffee and then you will be on the ball for today's Authentic Real English?

Rob: OK.

(A little later)

Rob: Right, oh, lovely. That's better. I've had a nice cup of coffee and I'm ready to explain the meaning of today's Authentic Real English. Here you go. When you are on the ball it means you're alert³ and quick to react to things.

Li: 是的。To be on the ball 意思是机警，机灵，往往形容一个人对事物反应迅速。Ball 的单独意思是球。这个短语是不是从体育运动而来？It comes from sports, doesn't it?

Rob: Yes it does. And there is another phrase: 'to keep your eye on the ball' which has a very similar meaning.

Li: I guess we can use it for any situation which is changing quickly so that you need to be focused and sharp. 我们可以用这个短语来表示各种迅速变化的情况，看看你是否精神集中和思维敏捷。

Rob: Indeed. Let's hear some examples:

Examples

The interviewer raised tough questions but Ma Yun was on the ball.

Financial management is not a job that everyone can do. You have to keep your eye on the ball at all times.

Li: And if you want to learn English well you can stay on the ball with bbcukchina.com.

大家要想学好英语(课程)，不掉队，请跟踪我们每天都更新的教学网。

Rob: Also www.bbcukchina.com/learningenglish! Best of luck!

Li: Bye bye.

1 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

2 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
• The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。

3 alert   

adj.机警的，活泼的，机灵的；vt.使...警觉

参考例句：

• Drivers must be on the alert for traffic signals.驾驶员必须密切注意交通信号。
• The rabbIt'seems to be very alert all its life.兔子似乎一生都小心翼翼，十分警觉。