美式英语正音训练第44期:Exercise 1-58&59 Exercise

 　　Exercise 1-58: Creating Word Groups

　　Break the paragraph into natural word groups.

　　Mark every place where you think a pause is needed with a slash¹.

　　Pause the CD to do your marking.

　　Exercise 1-59: Practicing Word Groups

　　When I read the paragraph this time, I will exaggerate² the pauses.

　　Although we're working on word groups here, remember, I don't want you to lose your intonation³.

　　Repeat each sentence group after me.

　　Hello, my name is ''__.

　　I'm taking American Accent Training.

　　There's a lot to learn,

　　but I hope to make it

　　as enjoyable as possible.

　　I should pick up on

　　the American intonation pattern

　　pretty easily, although

　　the only way to get it is

　　to practice all of the time.

　　I use the up and down,

　　or peaks and valleys intonation

　　more than I used to.

　　I've been paying attention to pitch,

　　too.

　　It's like walking down a staircase⁴.

　　I've been talking

　　to a lot of Americans

　　lately,

　　and they tell me

　　that I'm easier to understand.

　　Anyway, I could go on and on,

　　but the important thing is to listen well

　　and sound good. Well,

　　what do you think?

　　Do I?

　　Next, back up the CD and practice the word groups three times using strong intonation.

　　Then, pause the CD and practice three more times on your own.

　　When reading, your pauses should be neither long nor dramatic⁵ — just enough to give your listener time to digest what you're saying.

1 slash   

vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩

参考例句：

• The shop plans to slash fur prices after Spring Festival.该店计划在春节之后把皮货降价。
• Don't slash your horse in that cruel way.不要那样残忍地鞭打你的马。

2 exaggerate   

v.夸大，夸张

参考例句：

• If you exaggerate,people will no longer believe you.如果你说话虚夸，人们便不会相信你了。
• Don't exaggerate the difficulties of your work.别夸大你的工作困难。

3 intonation   

n.语调，声调；发声

参考例句：

• The teacher checks for pronunciation and intonation.老师在检查发音和语调。
• Questions are spoken with a rising intonation.疑问句是以升调说出来的。

4 staircase   

n.楼梯，楼梯间

参考例句：

• Footsteps on the staircase interrupted his train of thought.楼梯上传来脚步声，打断了他的思路。
• I crossed the staircase landing,and entered the room she indicated.我经过一个楼梯平台，走进她说的那个房间。

5 dramatic   

adj.引人注目的；戏剧的；演戏的

参考例句：

• She plays a very dramatic woman with flashing eyes.她饰演一位双眼闪光的引人注目的妇人。
• His speech was dramatic.他的演说激动人心。