Craig被纽约一家大公司录用，今天第一天上班。他刚搬来纽约不久，对公司周围的路不太熟，为了保险起见，他决定打车去公司--take a taxi。

Professor: Yes, Winnie. But if there is lots of traffic, taking a taxi might be slower than the subway.

的确，如果路上有lots of traffic - 很多车的话，那么，坐subway - 地铁，的确比打车更快。让我们一起听Craig打车是否顺利。

Driver: Good morning. Where are you headed?

Craig: I'm going to number 250, East 97th Street.

Driver: Which way do you want to go?

Craig: I'm not from New York, so I don't know the way. You decide.

Professor Bowman, 司机问Craig "where he is headed", 这是什么意思？

Professor: Asking someone where he is headed is a common and casual way to ask him where he is going.

我明白了，那么Craig在回答的时候，也可以说I'm headed to East 97th Street.

Professor: That's correct.

不过，我还真有点儿替Craig担心。他居然老实地告诉出租车司机，说自己新来乍道，不认识路。这种乘客很可能被司机rip off，宰上一刀！

Professor: Well, let's see if your worries are necessary.

Driver: Oh, you don't know where you're going? Well, I know a special shortcut to that address.

Craig: I'm not sure we need a special shortcut. The address isn't very far away.

Driver: Well, it's rush hour right now. If we don't take my shortcut you might be late.

Craig: Hmm.... alright. I guess you know where to go.

Professor:Winnie. Why did the taxi driver say he needs to take the shortcut?

他说，现在是rush hour - 上下班的高峰时段，如果不take the shortcut - 超近道，Craig就可能会迟到。

Professor: That's right, Winnie. If traffic is really bad, you can say there is a "traffic jam."

But I think the driver sounds quite sketchy.

没错！我倒要看看这条shortcut能不能省时间！

Craig: Are we there yet? We've been driving for 30 minutes, and it feels like we've been going in circles.

Driver: Don't worry, we'll be there soon.

Craig: But the meter says the fare is already $25 dollars! I'm only going a few blocks. It shouldn't cost so much money.

Driver: Hey, you have to trust me. I'm a professional driver, remember?

Craig虽然不熟悉纽约，但也知道公司其实并不远。可是，出租车司机开了半个小时还在绕圈子，而且，the meter - 计价器，显示，the fare - 车钱，已经25块了!

Professor: That's right, Winnie. And remember, in this case the word "fare" is spelled F-A-R-E, not F-A-I-R.

我记住了。Professor Bowman, 看来我们猜对了，司机是想黑Craig的钱。

Craig: Alright, just pull over here and I'll get out. This is the last time I hail a cab.

Driver: What? Why? We're almost there.

Craig: You've been saying that for the past 30 minutes. I'm going to walk.

Driver: Well, at least you got to see a lot of the city. Will you give me a good tip for that?

Craig: A tip? I'm not even paying the fare!

好样的，Craig! 他明智地让司机停车，决定自己走到公司去。对了，Professor，什么叫hail a cab？

Professor: "Hail a cab" is when you stand on the side of the road and raise your hand to tell the taxis to stop and pick you up.

哦，就是站在路旁招手叫出租车。Craig说，他以后再也不打车了！对了，Professor，是不是在美国打车时都得给司机 a tip--小费呢？

Professor: Usually you give a tip, but not if he cheats you.

难怪Craig说，别说小费，他连车钱都不想付! 唉，希望他能顺利地走到公司！

Professor: Listen next time to find out!

这次的美语三级跳就播送到这里。美语三级跳节目取材于美国之音最新推出的美语教学强档网站 goenglish.me 网址是：www.goenglish.me

• traffic [´træfik]   n.交通，运输   (初中英语单词)
• professional [prə´feʃənəl]   a.职业的 n.自由职业   (初中英语单词)
• casual [´kæʒuəl]   a.偶然的；临时的   (高中英语单词)
• saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ]   n.言语；言论；格言   (高中英语单词)
• taking [´teikiŋ]   a.迷人的 n.捕获物   (英语六级单词)
• bowman [´bəumən]   n.(弓箭)射手   (英语六级单词)