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ESL之人际交往 18 A Mid-Life Crisis

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18 A Mid-Life Crisis1

GLOSSARY2

mid-life crisis – a period in a man’s life when he becomes unhappy that he is growing older and does strange things to try to feel younger* When Brett went through his mid-life crisis, he bought a red Ferrari and tried todate women who were half his age.

to trade in – to exchange one thing (especially a car) for another thing* Mindy traded in her old car for a $3,500 credit against the more expensive onethat she wanted to buy.

sports car – a small car with a powerful engine that moves very quickly* We went to the car show last weekend and saw some new sports cars to bereleased next year.

gym equipment – machines that one can use for exercise, either foraerobic/cardiovascular activities or for lifting weights* Jake’s favorite piece of gym equipment is the treadmill3 because it lets him seehow quickly he is running.

sign – something that shows what may happen in the future; an indication; asignal* There was a big storm during the wedding, and some of the people saw it as asign that the marriage will have bad luck in the future.

to trigger4 – to start something; to make something happen; to instigatesomething* Many wars are triggered5 by small misunderstandings.

to be passed over for (something) – to not receive something (especially apromotion) that one expected, because it was given to someone who is less deserving* Walter became very angry when he was passed over for the president’s position and it was given to someone who had worked at the company for only six months.

altogether – entirely7; completely* Thalia became so worried about the bad news on TV everyday that shedecided to stop watching the news altogether.

to reflect on (something) – to think about something in a lot of detail; to think about something very carefully* Gregory spends a lot of time reflecting on the meaning of his life.

to regret – to feel sad that one did or didn’t do something in the past; to feel sadabout something that one did or didn’t do earlier in one’s life* I regret that I didn’t tell my grandfather I loved him more often before he died.

washed up – used; no longer useful or strong; no longer successful; withoutpotential for future success* Many professional models feel that they are washed up by the time they’re 30years old, and they have to start another career.

fed up – tired, frustrated9, unhappy, and bored with a situation* Vance is fed up with everyone asking him when he’s going to finish writing his book.

to beat around the bush – to be indirect; to delay or hesitate; to not say something directly* Zoila felt uncomfortable asking Ulysses to pay back the money, so she startedbeating around the bush by first asking him about his family and his health.

if you must know – if you insist; a phrase used to show that one does not really want to say something, but will do so because the other person really wants tohear it* I don’t normally talk about this, but if you must know, Theo and I are havingproblems in our marriage.

divorce – the legal end of a marriage* Do you know what percentage of U.S. marriages end in divorce?

you never know – a phrase used to mean that anything is possible, or anythingcan happen* Jessie always buys a lottery10 ticket because even though it’s unlikely that he’llwin, you never know.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1.  Which of these is not part of Bella’s husband’s mid-life crisis?

a)  He bought a new car.

b)  He wants to quit his job.

c)  He’s starting a rock band.

2.  What does it mean for Russell’s brother to feel washed up and fed up?

a)  He was bathing and eating too much.

b)  He was tired and frustrated with his life.

c)  He was ready to get a divorce.

______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

to be passed overThe phrase “to be passed over,” in this podcast, means to not receive something(especially a promotion6) that one expected, because it is given to someone whois less deserving: “Randy decided8 to quit his job after he was passed over for theSales Manager position.”  The phrase “to pass away” is a polite way of saying “todie”: “His grandma passed away in 1994.”  The phrase “to pass (something)down” means to give something to one’s children, grandchildren, or other youngpeople so that they will continue to know or do something after one has died:

“Gilda passed down her secret family recipes to her grandchildren.”  Finally, thephrase “to pass (something) out” means to distribute something, or to have many things and to give one to each person: “The teacher asked the children to closetheir books, and then he passed out the tests.”

reflectIn this podcast, the verb “to reflect on (something)” means to think aboutsomething very carefully: “Beti took away her son’s toys and told him to reflect onwhat he had done and why it was bad.”  The verb “to reflect” also means for asurface to show the image of something that is placed in front of it: “The mirrorreflects light from the window and makes the room seem bigger.”  Or, “Themountains are reflected in the water in the lake.”  The verb “to reflect” can alsomean for a surface to send back light, heat, or noise: “When the girls laughedloudly in the canyon11, their voices were reflected back from the rock walls.” Finally, the verb “to reflect” can mean to show one’s opinion or thoughts: “Lesliedidn’t like the movie, and her displeasure was reflected in the expression on herface.”

CULTURE NOTEA “camp” is an experience where one stays in another place for a period of time,often outdoors.  Many people participate in “summer camps” when they arechildren.  Today, however, there are many types of “fantasy camps” that are“aimed at” (created for) adults.  A “fantasy camp” is an opportunity to pretend thatone is something one is not for a short period of time.

Many popular fantasy camps are related to sports.  For example, at a basketballfantasy camp, people can play basketball with famous “NBA” (NationalBasketball Association) players and learn how to play better.

Music-related fantasy camps are also very popular.  Many people regret that they didn’t “pursue” (try to get) a career in music.  When they are older, sometimes they go to a “rock ‘n roll fantasy camp,” where they can play rock ‘n roll music with famous rock ‘n roll musicians.  The camps usually “culminate” (end in animportant way) with a rock ‘n roll concert for the campers’ families and friends. There are “jazz fantasy camps” and “country music fantasy camps,” too.

Some people want to participate in more active fantasy camps.  They can go to afantasy camp to learn to ride a “bull” (a large, male cow), fly an airplane, or be a“bodyguard” (a person who protects the president or other rich and importantpeople).  There are even “poker fantasy camps” where people can learn to play “poker” (a card game where players bet money on winning) from professionals and try to improve their skills.

The idea behind all of these fantasy camps is that campers can pretend to besomeone else for a short period of time before returning to their regular lives.

______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers:  1 – c; 2 – b

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 311: A Mid-lifeCrisis.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode12 311.  I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

Visit our website at eslpod.com and take a look at our ESL Podcast Store thathas some exciting new business and personal English courses for you.  You canalso download a Learning Guide for this episode to help you learn English evenfaster.

This episode is called “A Mid-life Crisis.”  It’s a dialogue between a wife and afriend talking about the woman’s husband and how he is going throughsomething we call a “mid-life crisis.”  Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Bella:  I think my husband is going through a mid-life crisis. Russell:  What makes you think that?

Bella:  He just traded in his car for a very expensive sports car, and he’s fillingthe house with gym equipment.

Russell:  Uh oh, that’s a bad sign.  Do you know what may have triggered this?

Bella:  I’m not sure, but he was passed over for a promotion at work a couple ofmonths ago, and his new boss is 15 years younger than he is. Russell:  That would do it. Bella:  What really worries me is that he’s been talking about quitting his jobaltogether and becoming a full-time13 writer.  He always wanted to become asuccessful writer.

Russell:  That’s sounds familiar.  When my brother went through a mid-life crisis,he spent a lot of time reflecting on his life and regretting giving up music to get afull-time job.  He saw himself as being washed up and he was fed up witheverything.   

Bella:  What did he do?

Russell:  Well, he’s probably not a good example of what your husband woulddo.

Bella:  Don’t beat around the bush.  Just tell me.

Russell:  Well, if you must know, he got a divorce, married a woman half his age,and tried to start a rock band.

Bella:  Oh, no!  That’s just what I was afraid of. Russell:  I’m sure that won’t happen with your husband.  You two have a greatmarriage.

Bella:  I thought so, too, but you never know. [end of dialogue]

This episode is called “A Mid-life Crisis.”  “Mid-life” is the middle of your life; “mid”

is short for “middle” here, so “mid-life” would be between perhaps 40 and 50,maybe 60 years old.  A “crisis” is an emergency situation.  So, a “mid-life crisis” is some sort of change – some emergency situation that takes place in your mid-lifeperiod.  However, the term is usually referring to a period in a man’s life when hebecomes unhappy because he’s getting older and he realizes he’s getting older. So, he sometimes does strange things to try to feel younger, like buy a new car. Or, start a podcast!

In the dialogue, Bella says to Russell, “I think my husband is going through amid-life crisis.”  Russell says, “What makes you think that?” – why do you think that?  Bella said, “He just traded in his car for a very expensive sports car.”  To“trade in” means to exchange one thing for another thing.  This is especially common in the U.S. with your car.  You have a car that’s maybe 5-10 years oldand you want to buy a new one.  You bring it to the people who sell cars – wewould call them a “dealership” – and you give them your old car and they giveyou a certain amount of money for the old car as a discount off of your new car.

Well, Bella’s husband traded in his car for an expensive sports car.  A “sports car” is usually a smaller car with a very powerful engine that moves very fast. That would be a “sports car.”  In addition, Bella says that her husband is “fillingthe house with gym equipment.”  “Gym equipment” are machines you can use forexercise such as a treadmill or weights.  Some men, when they go through their mid-life crisis, will try to become more healthy – become more fit, get a youngercar, if you will.

Russell says, “Oh, that’s a bad sign.”  A “sign” is something that indicates whatmight happen in the future; it’s a signal, an indication.  Russell says, “Do youknow what may have triggered this?”  To “trigger” (trigger) means to startsomething, to begin something, to make something happen.  It’s often a smallevent that starts a much larger sequence of events.  For example, many wars aretriggered by small misunderstandings.  Two countries may fight each other overwhat seems like a small thing; that small thing is the trigger. Russell says, “Do you know what may have triggered this?”  Bella says.  “I’m notsure, but he was passed over for a promotion at work a couple of months ago.” To be “passed over” for something means not to receive something that youexpected, especially at your work.  You expected to get a better job, what wemight call a “promotion,” and you didn’t get it; they gave it to someone else.  Inthis case, they gave it to someone who’s 15 years younger than Bella’s husband. Russell says, “That would do it,” meaning that would be sufficient – that would beenough to start this mid-life crisis.

Bella continues, “What really worries me is that he’s been talking about quittinghis job altogether (meaning completely, entirely – “altogether”) and becoming afull-time writer.  He always wanted to be a successful writer,” she says.

Russell says, “That’s sounds familiar (that’s something I am familiar with).  Whenmy brother went through a mid-life crisis, he spent a lot of time reflecting on his life.”  To “reflect on your life” is to think about – to think seriously and for a longtime about something.  To “reflect” has other meanings as well; take a look at ourLearning Guide for some additional explanations.

Russell’s brother “spent a lot of time reflecting on his life, and regretting giving upmusic to get a full-time job.”  To “regret” (regret) means to feel sad that you didn’tdo something in the past, or that you did do something: “I regret not saying ‘I’msorry’ to my friend last week,” or “I regret going to Phoenix14, Arizona in the middleof the summertime” – because it’s a 120 degrees Fahrenheit15 there!  That’s “regret.”

Russell says that his brother “saw himself (viewed himself) as being washed up,”

and that “he was fed up with everything.”  Here are a couple of two-word, orphrasal, verbs with the word “up” in them.  To be “washed up” means to be nolonger useful or no longer successful.  To be “fed up” means to be tired orfrustrated, unhappy, perhaps even bored with a situation.  If you are waiting in line for one hour in order to talk to the manager of a store, you might get “fed up,”

you might get frustrated.

Bella says, to Russell, what did your brother do in his mid-life crisis?  Russelldoes not want to tell Bella.  He says, “Well, he’s probably not a good example ofwhat your husband would do” – he did something different than what yourhusband would probably do.  Bella then uses a common idiom, “Don’t beataround the bush” (bush).  To “beat around the bush” means to be indirect, tohesitate, not to say something directly but try to, we might also say, “talk aroundit” rather than directly about it: “Don’t beat around the bush.”

Russell says, “Well, if you must know,” meaning if you insist, if you really wantme to tell you, even though you might not like it I will tell you.  Russell says his brother “got a divorce,” which is the legal of a marriage, when a man and awoman are legally no longer husband and wife.  He “married a woman half his age,” that’s something that men in their mid-life crises16 sometimes do, I hear, andhe “tried to start a rock band.”

Bella says, “Oh, no!  That’s just what I was afraid of.”  Russell says, “I’m sure thatwon’t happen with your husband,” meaning your husband will be different.  “Youtwo have a great marriage.”  Bella says, “I thought so, too, but you never know.” “You never know” is a phrase that means anything is possible, anything canhappen.  You never know, I might decide to take up football and become afootball player here in the U.S. – you never know!

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Bella:  I think my husband is going through a mid-life crisis. Russell:  What makes you think that?

Bella:  He just traded in his car for a very expensive sports car, and he’s fillingthe house with gym equipment.

Russell:  Uh oh, that’s a bad sign.  Do you know what may have triggered this?

Bella:  I’m not sure, but he was passed over for a promotion at work a couple ofmonths ago, and his new boss is 15 years younger than he is. Russell:  That would do it.  

Bella:  What really worries me is that he’s been talking about quitting his jobaltogether and becoming a full-time writer.  He always wanted to become asuccessful writer.

Russell:  That’s sounds familiar.  When my brother went through a mid-life crisis,he spent a lot of time reflecting on his life and regretting giving up music to get afull-time job.  He saw himself as being washed up and he was fed up witheverything. Bella:  What did he do?

Russell:  Well, he’s probably not a good example of what your husband woulddo.

Bella:  Don’t beat around the bush.  Just tell me.

Russell:  Well, if you must know, he got a divorce, married a woman half his age,and tried to start a rock band.

Bella:  Oh, no!  That’s just what I was afraid of. Russell:  I’m sure that won’t happen with your husband.  You two have a greatmarriage.

Bella:  I thought so, too, but you never know. [end of dialogue]

The script for this episode was written by Dr. Lucy Tse. From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan – not going through a mid-lifecrisis!  Thanks for listening.  Come back and listen again next time on ESLPodcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan.  This podcast is copyright 2007.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 crisis pzJxT     
n.危机,危急关头,决定性时刻,关键阶段
参考例句:
  • He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明,在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
  • The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。
2 glossary of7xy     
n.注释词表;术语汇编
参考例句:
  • The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
  • For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便,我们在附录中也提供了术语表。
3 treadmill 1pOyz     
n.踏车;单调的工作
参考例句:
  • The treadmill has a heart rate monitor.跑步机上有个脉搏监视器。
  • Drugs remove man from the treadmill of routine.药物可以使人摆脱日常单调的工作带来的疲劳。
4 trigger Gpfyv     
n.触发器,板机,制滑机;v.触发(事件)
参考例句:
  • His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again.他的食指扣住扳机,然后又松开了。
  • He pulled the trigger but the gun didn't go off.他打了一枪,没有发火。
5 triggered 7c1bdcf7e82a67d7b3f778af4288bc57     
触发的
参考例句:
  • An indiscreet remark triggered off a long and costly strike. 一次轻率的讲话导致长时间、代价高昂的罢工。
  • The incident triggered an armed clash. 这起事件触发了一场武装冲突。
6 promotion eRLxn     
n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传
参考例句:
  • The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
  • The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级,加了薪。
7 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
8 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
9 frustrated ksWz5t     
adj.挫败的,失意的,泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 );挫败;使受挫折;令人沮丧
参考例句:
  • It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
  • The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 lottery 43MyV     
n.抽彩;碰运气的事,难于算计的事
参考例句:
  • He won no less than £5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
  • They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。
11 canyon 4TYya     
n.峡谷,溪谷
参考例句:
  • The Grand Canyon in the USA is 1900 metres deep.美国的大峡谷1900米深。
  • The canyon is famous for producing echoes.这个峡谷以回声而闻名。
12 episode Titzy     
n.(作品的一段)情节,插曲,系列事件中之一
参考例句:
  • The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
  • This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。
13 full-time SsBz42     
adj.满工作日的或工作周的,全时间的
参考例句:
  • A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
  • I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作,我不知道她是如何对付的。
14 phoenix 7Njxf     
n.凤凰,长生(不死)鸟;引申为重生
参考例句:
  • The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
  • The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。
15 Fahrenheit hlhx9     
n./adj.华氏温度;华氏温度计(的)
参考例句:
  • He was asked for the boiling point of water in Fahrenheit.他被问到水的沸点是华氏多少度。
  • The thermometer reads 80 degrees Fahrenheit.寒暑表指出华氏80度。
16 crises HzXxS     
n. 危机;危险期
参考例句:
  • Economic crises recur periodically. 经济危机周期性地发生。
  • Great crises often call forth gifted leaders. 危急存亡之际常能产生天才的领袖。
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