地道美语听力播客(1206-0104)

1 作    者：sunny 更新时间：2010-12-6 10:36:54" \t "_blank" Lost and Found失物认领   Airport employee: Hello, Portland Airport, Lost and Found. Lucas: Hello. I was a passenger on a SunCal Airlines flight yesterday and I think I left my keys on the plane. Airport employee: I see. To claim the item, you have to fill out a claim form. What did you lose again? Some luggage? You’ll need your claim receipt to get your luggage. Lucas: No, I lost some keys on the airplane. Keys. I think I left them on my seat. Is it possible to find out if anyone has turned them in to your office? Airport employee: I don’t know. Can you describe them? Lucas: Well, they’re on a key chain and there are eight keys on it, including a car key. Airport employee: Was there anything distinctive about the key chain? You’ll need to prove ownership if you want to claim them. Lucas: No, it’s a plain key ring. Maybe I should come down to the office to see if I can identify them. What happens to property that’s unclaimed? Airport employee: We keep it for 30 days and then we dispose of it. Don’t worry. We don’t have a policy of finders, keepers. If you lost some luggage, it’ll turn up. Lucas: No, I lost some keys! Keys! Never mind. I’m coming down right now. Airport employee: That’s a good idea. It’s easier to pick up your lost luggage than for us to send it. Lucas: Uh! 2 Getting a Driver's License Jane: Hey, Henry. You look busy. What's that you're reading? Henry: Oh, hi, Jane. I'm studying the driver's manual so I can finally get my driver's license. I just hope I can remember all these traffic laws. Jane: I’m sure you’ll pass the tests with flying colors, especially since you can miss a few and still pass. Just don't forget to bring your glasses with you so you don’t fail the vision test. Henry: Yeah, I know. I think the written test will be okay, but I’m really worried about the road test. I never took driver’s ed and I’m nervous behind the wheel. My brother failed his test the first time because he forgot to signal a left turn, and then he didn't yield to a pedestrian. He also screwed up on the parallel parking. Jane: It sounds like he just got nervous. A busy intersection is always tricky. So when's your appointment at the DMV? Henry: Next Tuesday. But I might just go in earlier and take the test as a walk-in. Jane: Can't wait, huh? Well, I'll let you get back to studying. Good luck! Henry: Thanks. See you around. 3 Giving Compliments赞美他人 A friend from work, Nia, asked a few of us over to her apartment to watch the game this Sunday and I was really nervous. I’ve always liked Nia and I was hoping we could be more than friends. My brother, Charlie, said that if I really liked her, I should be sure to give her plenty of compliments when I saw her. I arrived on Sunday and knocked on her door. Nia: Hi, I’m glad you could make it. You’re the first one here. Make yourself comfortable. Sebastian: Thanks and you look great. Red looks great on you. Nia: Oh, thanks. It’s nice to be out of work clothes. Can I get you something to drink? Sebastian: Sure. What are you having? Nia: I’m just having a beer. Want one? Sebastian: Sure. What a cool place! This is a really nice apartment Nia: Here you go. Actually, I just moved in last month and I’m still decorating. But, that’s nice of you to say. Sebastian: Wow, nice picture. Did you paint this? Nia: No, I didn’t. Someone named Picasso did. It’s just a copy. You know, I really appreciate the compliments, but what’s up? Sebastian: Up? Nothing. I’m just glad to be here. Nia: Well, I’m glad you’re here, too. Now, drink up. The others should be here any minute. Sebastian: Sure. Cheers! 4 Giving Opinions in a Meeting I was in a department meeting and our manager was asking for our feedback on improving our product. I had a few ideas and I wanted to get them across, but one of my colleagues was giving me a hard time. Marcelo: In my opinion, I think that we need to look at the question more from the customer’s perspective. I really feel we need to do more market research. Ellen: I tend to think that we have enough information already and it’s time to make some decisions. Marcelo: Well, the way I see it, we’ve only scratched the surface in getting to know our customers. We need to get inside their heads if we want to offer what they want and aren’t getting right now. Ellen: You may be right, but if you ask me, I just don’t think it’s worth it to sink more time and money into the type of market research you’re proposing. It’s far more than what other companies are doing. Marcelo: That’s precisely my point. I’m sure that if we can get information that other companies don’t have, we’ll be one step ahead. That’s when the manager stepped in and offered her opinion. And, I’m happy to say, she sided with me. 5 Long Distance Relationships I met Diana last year when we were both working in New York City for the summer. I’m finishing college in California and Diana started her first job in Florida. Talk about a bicoastal relationship! We spent three great months together and we’ve been trying to maintain a long distance relationship ever since. It’s been really hard and I had a talk about it with my friend, Emily, who just got out of a relationship like this. Enrique: I’m always worried that for her, it’s out of sight, out of mind. Emily: I know what you mean, but is it that way with you? Enrique: No, not at all. I think about her all the time. It’s not that there aren’t temptations, but I’m committed to Diana. Emily: Don’t you get the same vibe from her? Enrique: Sometimes I do, but a lot of times I don’t. It’s so easy to get into a fight on the phone. We have misunderstandings all the time or I hurt her feelings without realizing it. And plus, I’m still in school and she’s already out working, and it seems like we’re growing apart. Emily: That’s what happened with Theo and me. We grew apart and we had less and less in common. After a year, we called it quits. Enrique: I hope that’s not what Diana wants. I’ve got to have it out with her. If she wants to end this, then I’ll just have to deal with it. Emily: It’s always better to know where you stand. Let me know how it goes. Enrique: Sure. See you later. 6 Alternative Medicine I have been suffering from back pain for years. I’ve tried several treatments prescribed by my doctor, but nothing has had a lasting effect. I finally decided to try alternative medicine. My friend, Amelia, swore by acupuncture. She said that her knee pain went away after only a few weeks of therapy. She was skeptical when she first started, but she knew after only a few sessions that it was working for her and that this was no New Age nonsense. She thought it might work for me, too. My co-worker, Ray, suggested that I try some homeopathic treatments. He said that taking herbal supplements that are all natural has helped him recover after getting injured on the job a couple of months ago. He took these as complementary to the traditional medication his doctor gave him. He said that even though the herbs he takes haven’t undergone clinical trials, his own experience told him that they work. I’m a little nervous about trying these unorthodox treatments, but after hearing about Amelia’s and Ray’s experiences, I’m willing to give them a try. Nothing has worked so far, so what do I have to lose? 7 A Mistake in the Hotel Bill Hotel clerk: Here’s the bill for your four- night stay. Would you like the incidentals charged to your credit card? May: Incidentals? I think there’s some mistake. I didn’t order any pay-per-view movies and I never ordered room service. And, I didn’t have any spa services, either. Hotel clerk: Are you sure? We show three movies and two room service orders. May: I’m positive. Could I speak to a supervisor, please? Hotel clerk: He’s not on duty right now, but let me see if I can resolve this for you. How many of these charges were made in error? May: All of the them. Is it possible that my bill was switched with another room’s? As I said, I didn’t order any movies, I haven’t had any room service, and I haven’t visited the spa since I checked in to the hotel. Hotel clerk: I see. I’ll need to check with each of those departments to determine whether a mistake has been made. May: How long will this take? Hotel clerk: Not long, I’m sure. If you could take a seat in the lobby... May: I have a plane to catch and I don’t have a lot of time. Is there a general manager I can speak to? Hotel clerk: I’m not sure. If you’ll have a seat, I’ll see if I can get Ms. Cardenes for you. May: Thank you. I’d appreciate it. 8 Holiday Promotions My boss asked me to come up with some holiday promotion ideas so that we can make inroads into the gift-buying market. For us to stay competitive, our company has to increase retail sales for this important sales cycle. My boss is expecting some innovative ideas from me. Since we’re an online business and not a brick- and-mortar store, we can’t just put signs in the window or do other types of traditional advertising. Lucky for us, though, consumers are increasingly computer savvy and are more likely than ever to buy online. That’s something we want to capitalize on. Like other companies, we’re willing to slash prices to attract holiday shoppers. We have a large inventory and we don’t have to worry about running out of stock. The trick is, how do we increase sales without resorting to gimmicks? Dressing up salespeople to look like Santa Claus may work for some businesses but not ours. I’m just hoping that I can come up with some fresh ideas to jump-start this sales season. I know that my boss is counting on me 9 feeling homesick Annie: Why the long face? Luis: I don’t know. I guess I’m feeling a little homesick. Annie: I thought you got over that. I know the adjustment was hard when you first got here, but I thought you were coping pretty well. Luis: I was. It’s just that the holidays are coming up and I won’t be able to go home because I can’t afford the airfare. I’m just longing for some of the comforts of home, like my mom’s cooking and being around my family. Annie: Yeah, it can get pretty lonely over the holidays. When I first got here, I’d get depressed and nostalgic for anything that reminded me of home. But, you know, I think I was just seeing things through rose-colored glasses. Luis: What do you mean? Annie: Well, things back home weren’t really that idyllic, but from this distance, all I could think of was the good stuff and none of the bad. Luis: I see what you mean, but I’m still bummed out. Annie: I have an idea. Why don’t we put on our own little holiday celebration? We can have it at my place and we can invite all of our friends who are on their own this time of year. We’ll each do something that’ll remind us of home. What do you say? Misery loves company, as they say. Luis: You know, I could really go for that. You don’t mind all of the trouble? Annie: What trouble? As long as I don’t have to cook, I’m up for it. Luis: Cool. I’ll ask around to see who else wants to come. Annie: Okay. I’ll do the same. Luis: Thanks. I’m feeling better already. 10 holiday decorating Now that the holidays are here, it’s time to decorate the house. Every year, we always go all out. We buy a Christmas tree and the kids decorate it with ornaments that we’ve bought and made over the years, and with silver and gold tinsel. We also hang a wreath on our front door and I make sure that there’s mistletoe above every door. Around the chimney, we hang our stockings, and when we get holiday cards from our friends and neighbors, we put them all around the room. Outside of the house, we have lawn ornaments that we put in the front yard. People who visit our house will see snowmen (and snowwomen), reindeer, and of course, Santa Claus. The best part is the outdoor lights. I string them across the front of the house, around our trees, and in our fence. When I turn them all on, you can probably see our house from miles away. It’s no wonder that people come from all over town just to see our house at night. I have to say that I enjoy the holiday season as much as the kids...and maybe just a little more! 11 This year, our family decided that the more the merrier and invited Adriano and his family to have Christmas dinner with us. We were thrilled when they accepted our invitation. Lucy: I’m so glad you guys could all make it. Adriano: We wouldn’t have missed it for anything. We brought a fruitcake. Lucy: Oh, thanks. Make yourselves comfortable. We’re just about to sit down to dinner. Adriano: Wow, it looks like you’ve prepared a feast. Lucy: Yeah, we did go a little overboard this year. We’ve got a turkey, a roast and a ham, and all the trimmings: stuffing, yams, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Help yourself to some eggnog. Adriano: Thanks. Did you do all of the cooking yourself? Lucy: I had some help and everybody brought different desserts. Save room for the pumpkin pie, the gingerbread house, and the Christmas cookies. Okay everybody, dinner’s ready. Adriano, would you carve the bird? Adriano: I’d be happy to do the honors. 12 Since our office reorganization, I’ve been sharing an office with Isabel. We’ve been getting on each other’s nerves. Pete: Hey, Isabel, can you cut that out? Isabel: Cut what out? I’m not doing anything. Pete: You’re tapping your pencil on your desk. It’s driving me crazy. Isabel: Okay, I will if you’ll stop slurping your coffee. Pete: I don’t slurp my coffee. And plus, how can you hear it when you’re shouting into your phone all the time? Isabel: You’ve got to be kidding me! You’re complaining about me talking on the phone when your friend Deepak stops by ten times a day to shoot the breeze? I can’t stand that guy. Pete: It’s no skin off my nose if you don’t like Deepak. Look, we have a lot of pent-up anger from working in these close quarters, and it’s probably okay to let off steam once in a while. But, it’s probably not a good idea to keep it up. I’m willing to forgive and forget if you are. Isabel: Fine. Let’s call a truce. I’ll try to be more considerate and to keep the noise down. Pete: Yeah, I’ll try to do the same 13 My friends and I decided to do something a little different this year. Instead of going to a crowded club or throwing a party on New Year’s Eve, we decided to take a harbor cruise instead. The cruise would be four hours long, and it included dinner, music, dancing, and a great view of the fireworks. On that day, we drove to the marina and we were among the first to board the ship. This was no little boat. It was a large ship with an upper and a lower deck. The crew helped us get on board and showed us where the life jackets were in case of an emergency. Even the captain came out to welcome the passengers. We had a great time. I didn’t get seasick as I’d feared, and we didn’t have to call out the Coast Guard, either. We had so much fun, we didn’t want to go back on shore. Finally, the captain joked that if we didn’t leave, he’d make us walk the plank! 14 The Supermarket Checkout I went to the supermarket to do my weekly shopping. The cashiers at this market are usually pretty friendly, but this one must have been having a hard day. Cashier: Excuse me, sir, this lane is for 15 items or less. It looks like you have more than that. Yong: No, actually I have exactly 15. I have some coupons, too. Cashier: Just put those down on the belt and push the cart through, please. Yong: Okay. Can you tell me how much these potatoes are per pound? Cashier: I’ll have to do a price check. Do you have a club card? Yong: Yes, here it is. Cashier: Swipe it through the machine, sir. Your total is $47.52. Debit or credit? Yong: Debit. Could I get cash back? Cashier: [sigh] How much do you want? Yong: I’d like $40. Cashier: Paper or plastic? Yong: Paper, please. Cashier: Are these tabloids yours, too? Yong: Uh, yes, those magazines are mine. Cashier: Do you need any help out? Yong: No, I’m fine. Thanks. 15 作    者：sunny 更新时间：2010-12-27 10:43:07" \t "_blank" Business Bookkeeping   I have a day job, but I recently started a small business on the side. I didn’t know anything about accounting and my friend, Roland, said he would give me some advice. Roland: So, the reason that you need to do your bookkeeping is so you can manage your cash flow. Even if you have a lot of orders, you may still have problems paying your bills. Magdalena: I see what you mean. Is this the kind of ledger I should be keeping? Roland: Yes, definitely. You want to list your debits on this side and your credits on this side. This will help you figure out important things like your break- even point, your assets and liabilities, your administrative expenses, and whether you’re staying within your budget. Magdalena: I wish I had an accounts payable department to help me with all this. I don’t even know how to create a balance sheet. Roland: It’s not that hard if you use the right accounting program. The first thing to do is to keep track of your expenses. How do you do that now? Magdalena: Oh, I have a system. I keep all my receipts in this bag. Roland: Oh. Well, it’s good that you’re keeping your receipts but you’ll have to keep better track of them. What would you do if you were audited by the IRS? Magdalena: Don’t even mention the IRS! I’ve got enough problems without worrying about them! 16 Asking for a Date I admit it. I’m a player. I work in an office where there are a lot of attractive women. Take Debra, for example. I heard that she just broke up with her boyfriend last week so I decided to ask her out. Liam: Hi, Debra. How’s it going? Debra: Okay, I guess. How about you? Liam: I’m doing okay. You know, I’m going to an art show this Saturday. Would you like to come with me? Debra: Geez, I’m pretty busy this weekend. Liam: That’s too bad. How about going for a drink after work today? Debra: Well, I don’t know... Liam: Come on. It’ll be fun and we can try that new place down the street. Debra: I guess that’ll be okay, but just a drink, right? Liam: That’s all and I promise I won’t even try to buy you dinner. Debra: [laughs] Okay, then. I’ll see you after work. I ask women out wherever I see them, even ones I’ve never met before. At a restaurant, if I see a woman eating by herself, I usually say: “I just hate eating alone. Do you mind if I join you?” The other day, I saw a woman at the grocery store and tried my luck. Liam: Hi. Monica: Hi. Liam: I’ve just moved to this area and was wondering if you could recommend a good restaurant around here. Monica: That depends on what kind of food you like. There’s a good Italian restaurant on Elm Street, or there’s a good Thai place on Lyndon Avenue. Liam: Which one do you prefer? Monica: I like them both, but I’d probably go for the Italian place. Liam: In that case, would you like to join me for dinner sometime? Monica: I’m not sure. I don’t even know you. Liam: You’re right, but you seem really nice and I’d like to get to know you better. What do you say? Monica: Well, maybe. Here’s my number. Call me and we’ll talk about it. Liam: I’ll do that. I’m looking forward to talking with you again. It’s as easy as that. I don’t try to be a player. All it takes is a little charm and a little flattery, and the women will find you irresistible. 17 Seeing an Eye Doctor I’ve been getting a lot of headaches the past few weeks and my co-worker suggested I go see an optometrist. Dr. Olho: Okay, let’s take a look. Do you wear glasses or contacts? Virginia: I used to, but I had laser eye surgery three years ago and I don’t wear them anymore. Dr. Olho: I see. Well, let’s check your vision. It may be that even though your vision was 20/20 after the