英语听力精选进阶版 19611（在线收听）

Downsize 很多情境下我们都需要缩减规模

Would you be ready to downsize?

Neil: Hello. Neil here with you. And this is Feifei.

Feifei: Hello!

Neil: The word we are going to focus on today is the verb ‘to downsize’. That’s the word companies use to describe cutting a number of jobs and making employees redundant. ‘Downsizing’ is the noun.

Feifei: Yes. When they make workers redundant the companies become smaller in size. They downsize. 如果一个公司企业决定裁员从而缩小其规模，这个行为就可以用动词 downsize 来形容。Downsizing 是其名词形式。

Neil: You might have heard or read this verb during the economic downturn of the last few years. As most people were short of cash, they decided to save the money they did have and it had an impact on businesses all over the world.

Feifei: And some people have started applying the term to their own situations. If you've had to sell your house and move to a smaller flat, for example, you might say you were ‘downsizing’. 这个词也适用于个人生活里的一些改变。比如，因为需要，你卖了大房子，然后般进小房子去住，这你就可以说“你在 downsizing”。

Neil: ‘To downsize’ is today's expression in Authentic Real English. Let's hear some examples of how it's used.

Examples

The growth of online sales in the UK has forced many retail businesses to downsize. Some of them have reduced their number of outlets in the high street.

Now that I am going to university, my parents have decided to downsize. They are selling the house, moving to a flat and using some of the money to travel the world.

Feifei: 诶，Neil, 你要不介意我说啊你就应该缩小缩小规模。I think you would benefit from downsizing.

Neil: What do you mean? I don’t own a company and I’m not selling my house.

Feifei: No but I've noticed you've… well, you know, you really enjoy your food, 你挺爱吃的，不是吗？

Neil: Are you calling me fat!?

Feifei: Oh no, no, no… well, yes. A little.

Neil: How dare you! And anyway, we don't use 'downsize' for bodies, so you're confusing our audience!

Feifei: Sorry, Neil.

Neil: I am a bit fat, actually…

Feifei: Well, maybe if the company downsizes, you won't be able to afford all those meat pies.

Neil: That’s what I like about you, Feifei. You always look on the bright side.