英语听力精选进阶版 20143

Test the water 试探，摸底

内容简介

Neil 特别兴奋地告诉Li 他的网页greatmindsshakehands.com 即将完成设计，推出前需要“test the water”。怎么Neil的网页还需要水呢？原来这个短语另有说道！

文字稿

（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）

Li：大家好。欢迎收听BBC英语(精品课)教学节目《地道英语》。今天我的搭档是Neil.

Neil：Hello everyone.

Li：Neil, you're looking very happy today, what are you up to?

Neil：I'm quite excited about my website: greatmindsshakehands.com. I've been designing it for months and it's nearly completed.

Li：真的？我不知道你还会设计网页呢。Wow, I like the sound of it. I didn't know you could design websites, Neil.

Neil：Well, it's for fun really. My website will be a public site where people can share ideas, you know like-minded people. I want to launch¹ it next week but first I must test the water.

Li：Test the water？ 你要测试水？难道你的网页还需要水吗？ Does your website depend on water? I'm very confused!

Neil：No Li, to test the water means to test the idea, try it out and see if it works².

Li：Oh I see. 'Test the water' 就是探测，摸底，看看别人有什么反应。

Neil：That's right. 'Test the water' is the phrase for Authentic³ Real English today. Let's hear some examples of how people use it.

Examples

Woman A: Have you started on your new book?

Woman B: Yes, I've written three chapters and I've sent it to the publishers to test the water.

Woman A: Oh, what perfume⁴ are you wearing? It's lovely.

Woman B: Oh thanks. It's just a sample a company sent me.They're testing the water to see if people like it.

Woman A: How is your Shakespeare project going?

Woman B: It's early days; we're still testing the water.

Woman A: Well, good luck with it.

Woman B: Thanks.

Li：So Neil, how much testing have you done, have you got good feedback⁵? 摸底的结果如何？

Neil：Well, my wife loves it, but most other people say they don't understand how to use it.

Li：It sounds like it's not user-friendly.

Neil：You're right. I think, I need to make a few changes and then I'll test the water again.

Li：如果需要我也可以充当你的摸底对象哦。I'm happy to be your guinea pig when you're ready.

Neil：A 'guinea pig', I think that's an expression for another programme. For now, it's goodbye from both of us.

Li：Goodbye.

Neil：Goodbye.

1 launch   

vt.发动，推出；发射；n.发射，下水，投产

参考例句：

• The makers are about to launch out a new product.制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。
• Would it be wise to launch into this rough sea?在这样汹涌的大海中游泳明智吗？

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 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。

4 perfume   

n.香水(料，气)；vt.使充满芳香；洒香水

参考例句：

• The air was heavy with the perfume of the flower.空气中充满了花香。
• Those roses perfume the whole garden.那些玫瑰花使满园飘香。

5 feedback   

n.回授，反馈，反应

参考例句：

• I was getting great feedback from my boss.老板对我的评价很高。
• You need feedback to monitor progress.你需要利用反馈信息来监控进展。