Doug: Don't worry Robert! Even though we can't eat the steak, we've got lots of other good stuff to eat. Come and sit down at the table.



Robert: Great! I'm starving. What are we having?



Liz: I really hope you like it! I've prepared a three-course meal for you. For our appetizer we're having carrots, for the entree we're having chicken, and for the desert we're having chocolate cake.



Robert: Well that sounds great .... but did you say we're having chicken for the main course? I thought you didn't eat meat!



Liz: Oh don't be ridiculous! It's not real chicken. It's fake chicken, made from tofu.



Robert: Doug, did she say we're having fake chicken made from tofu?



Doug: That's right. Trust me, it sounds pretty weird, but I'm sure you're going to love it.



Professor Bowman, 什么叫 three-course meal?



Professor: When you go to dinner in America, each dish is served one after another. Each dish is called a "course," so if there is a three-course meal, that means three dishes are being served and they are "appetizer", "entree", and "desert".



哦，原来这就是由"头台""主菜"和"甜点"这三道菜组成的大餐。对了， Liz还说，主菜是豆腐做的素鸡，这个菜可不好做!



Professor: Well now they have finished eating, so let's see what Robert thought.



Liz: So Robert, how did you enjoy your meal? It looks like you barely touched any of your chicken.



Robert: It was ... umm .... interesting. It's just that I'm not feeling so well. I think tofu chicken might be an acquired taste.



Doug: Believe me buddy, that's what I said when I first had it. But I'm telling you, once you get used to it you'll never go back to eating real chicken.



Liz: You know Doug, if tofu chicken really is an acquired taste, we should just put the leftovers in a doggie bag to give to



Robert to take home. Then he can keep eating it all week!



Professor, 什么叫acquired taste?



Prof: It means a preference that is only acquired after considerable experience.



我明白了，acquired taste 就是慢慢培养出来的爱好。



哈，Robert 客气地说，吃素鸡是 acquired taste，其实就是表示自己不爱吃这道菜。



Prof: That's right! But Liz offers to let him take the leftovers home so he would fall in love with it someday!



A: 其实说到吃，my dream is to open a bakery one day! I LOVE baking cakes just as much as I love eating them! 我就不爱老坐在办公室前面对着电脑，特别无聊!



B: I'm the same! Luckily, I'm horrible with interviews, I always panic- so no office jobs for me. Instead, I'll have a fulfilling career as your professional cupcake taster! eh? eh?



A: 我看可以! 不过面试呀，接受采访呀，都是挺让人紧张的事。这不，在下面的business etiquette里，这个公司主管就特地为接受媒体采访搞培训呢!



B: 咱们赶快来听听吧!



礼节美语 Preparing for a Media Interview II



公司主管 Lenny 要接受媒体采访，请媒体咨询公司的Carl帮他准备。Carl告诉Lenny, 记者一上来会问几个简单问题，但不能因此而放松警惕。Carl说：



C: Remember to keep your game face on. It's really important not to seem surprised when they ask the first difficult question. You don't want to have a moment where it seems you're on the defensive.



L: All right...I'll be expecting tough questions. What kind of controversial topics do you think they might cover?



C: I'd be ready to answer questions about anything. Your company's stock price has recently taken a dip, your CFO left your company and joined a rival firm, there was a product recall last year and sales for your latest gadget have been disappointing.



L: Wow...I see what you mean. So overall, what do you think my responsestrategy should be?



Carl告诉Lenny要 keep your game face on. 保持战斗姿态。game face 原指球员场上比赛时的面容表情，引伸为志在必得的样子。 这样做是因为，软问题过后，记者出其不意，提出第一个刁难性问题时，you don't want to seem on the defensive. 你不想让人看出你处于被动防守的状态。记者什么样的问题都可能问，比如：公司股票最近下跌，take a dip; 公司首席财务长官跳槽到对手的公司；跳槽在英语里可以用 jump ship. 如，Your CFO jumped ship to join a rival firm. 另外，公司最近有产品因为质量问题被召回，而且最新推出的产品销量也不尽人意。遇到这样的问题，Lenny该怎样回答呢？



C: The main thing is to focus on the positive. Yes, our stock price has been a little volatile... but we are on course for a third quarter rebound. Yes, it was unfortunate that our CFO chose to join our rivals, but the opening has given us a chance to hire fresh blood and incorporate new ideas.



L: I see your point: don't evade the question, but try to twist it towards the positive.



C: Exactly! And you need to appear confident and strong.



L: What kind of tone would you recommend I take with the interviewer? Friendly? A little distant?



Carl说，被问到这种难堪问题时，关键是要 focus on the positive. 强调积极的一面。比如，公司股票价格最近是有些波动，但是 we are on course for a third quarter rebound. 第三季度预计会出现反弹；虽然高管跳槽，但这样我们才有机会 hire fresh blood 雇佣新人。归根结底一句话，不能回避问题，但要从积极的一面来回答问题。接受采访时采取什么样的态度最合适呢？Carl回答说：



C: Stay friendly but remember: they're not on your side.



L: I guess that's the same as when I'm at any business negotiation.



C: Yes. Use the interviewer's first name...especially at the beginning of the interview. But don't overdo it, because that sounds insincere.



L: These are all really good points, Carl. Maybe we could meet again next week. I think I need a little bit more practice.



C: Sure. I'll have your secretary set up the appointment. See you next week, Mr. Lee.



L: Goodbye, Carl.



Carl说，态度必须友好，但是要记住，they're not on your side. 采访你的人不是站在你这边的。Carl还建议Lenny从采访一开始就用记者的first name名字称呼对方，这样显得亲切，但 don't overdo it. 也不要显得过份热络。Lenny跟Carl约定，下星期再演练一次。



A: 你看看你看看，接受个采访，还得准备这准备那的，真麻烦! 要是以后我真有一个蛋糕店，就能天天吃自己烤的蛋糕，多棒呀!



B: I'd give up boys for cupcakes in a heartbeat! and I'm not afraid to admit it!



A: That's why we are BFFs!



B: Hahaha, exactly. Alrighty guys, let's learn how American youth use this term: BFF!



How to say it in American English



Jessica 在北京学中文，她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词，就会来请教她。今天是于苗要问的：闺蜜。



Jessica: Wow, 于苗! What are you doing all dolled up!



YM: 我今天要去见我最最好的朋友! 她是我大学同学，我们都两年没见了!



Jessica: Oh wow, sounds like you guys go way back!



YM: 可不! 她可是我的标准闺蜜! My best friend!



Jessica: Actually in English, you can call her your BFF. BFF stands for Best Friend Forever. People use this term to refer to their best friends.



YM: 原来BFF就是永远的好朋友! Yes, she's definitely my BFF! We were college classmates and lived in the same dorm for four years. 我们特别铁，无话不谈。咦，这个"铁"用英文要怎么说呢?



Jessica: You can say: we are tight! Tight是关系紧密的意思，也就是说你们特别铁!



YM: 可不! 话说来跟我们一块吃饭的还有另外一个人! 我们吧，也挺好的, 不过吧， She's super competitive. She always wants what I have! 你说这种人该怎么说? Partial BFF? Partial tight?



Jessica: 哈哈.... that sounds like a frenemy of yours. Frenemy consists of friend and enemy, it is basically half friend and half enemy!



YM: 原来如此! This girl is a frenemy. 我们俩表面不错，但是暗地里好象老是在明争暗斗的。



Jessica: Sounds like a love-hate relationship to me!



YM: That's so true, 我对她绝对是又爱又恨，你看，今天我跟我闺蜜见面，她又跟来了! 哎。。。



Jessica: 哈哈，开心点！Before you go, tell me what you've learned today!



YM: 今天我们学到的内容包括:



第一，闺蜜是best friend forever, 也就是BFF,



第二，关系很铁可以用 tight;



第三，亦敌亦友，叫做frenemy;



第四，爱恨交加是 a love-hate relationship!



这次的"美语怎么说"就到这里了。如果你也有不会说的词，请写信给Jessica, 电邮请寄meiyu@voanews.com



B: A love-hate relationship? I think that describes my relationship with that three layer chocolate cake I ate last night....



A:哈哈我也一样! 不过说归说，吃还是要吃的嘛! Alright! 同学们，



这次节目时间就到这里。 如果你对我们的节目有什么建议，或者想提什么问题，请发电子邮件到meiyu@voanews.com.



B: And in your email, tell us with whom or what you have a love-hate relationship! Cupcakes? Dinosaurs? Troublesome co-hosts??



A: 您还可以关注新浪微薄@ Moo爱说英语的牛，收听更多课程!



B: And don't forget to tune in next time for American English Mosaic!



A: Bye bye!

minister [´ministə]   n.部长；大臣 v.伺候   (初中英语单词)

introduction [,intrə´dʌkʃən]   n.介绍；引言；引导   (初中英语单词)

stress [stres]   n.强调；压力 vt.强调   (初中英语单词)

finance [´fainæns]   n.财政；金融 vt.资助   (初中英语单词)

mexico [´meksikəu]   n.墨西哥   (初中英语单词)

reality [ri´æliti]   n.现实(性)；真实；逼真   (初中英语单词)

rubber [´rʌbə]   n.(摩)擦的人；橡皮   (初中英语单词)

traffic [´træfik]   n.交通，运输   (初中英语单词)

delicious [di´liʃəs]   a.美味的，可口的   (初中英语单词)

apartment [ə´pɑ:tmənt]   n.一套房间   (初中英语单词)

barely [´beəli]   ad.公开地；仅仅   (初中英语单词)

considerable [kən´sidərəbəl]   a.重要的；值得重视   (初中英语单词)

horrible [´hɔrəbəl]   a.可怕的；恐怖的   (初中英语单词)

career [kə´riə]   n.经历；生涯；职业   (初中英语单词)

professional [prə´feʃənəl]   a.职业的 n.自由职业   (初中英语单词)

interview [´intəvju:]   n.&vt.接见；会见；交谈   (初中英语单词)

unfortunate [ʌn´fɔ:tʃunit]   a.不幸的，运气差的   (初中英语单词)

opening [´əupəniŋ]   n.开放；开端 a.开始的   (初中英语单词)

recommend [,rekə´mend]   vt.推荐；使受欢迎   (初中英语单词)

beginning [bi´giniŋ]   n.开始，开端；起源   (初中英语单词)

actually [´æktʃuəli]   ad.事实上；实际上   (初中英语单词)

definitely [´definitli]   ad.明确地；绝对   (初中英语单词)

decided [di´saidid]   a.明显的；决定的   (高中英语单词)

learned [´lə:nid]   a.有学问的，博学的   (高中英语单词)

ending [´endiŋ]   n.结尾，结局   (高中英语单词)

preference [´prefərəns]   n.优先选择；偏爱(物)   (高中英语单词)

baking [´beikiŋ]   n.&a.烘烤(的)   (高中英语单词)

response [ri´spɔns]   n.回答；响应   (高中英语单词)

positive [´pɔzətiv]   a.确定的   (高中英语单词)

incorporate [in´kɔ:pəreit]   v.结合 a.合并的   (高中英语单词)

confident [´kɔnfidənt]   a.有信心的，自信的   (高中英语单词)

relationship [ri´leiʃənʃip]   n.关系；联系；亲属关系   (高中英语单词)

totally [´təutəli]   ad.统统，完全   (英语四级单词)

retirement [ri´taiəmənt]   n.退休；撤退；幽静处   (英语四级单词)

considering [kən´sidəriŋ]   prep.就…而论   (英语四级单词)

flexible [´fleksəbəl]   a.灵活的，柔韧的   (英语四级单词)

bridge [bridʒ]   n.桥(梁)；鼻梁；桥牌   (英语四级单词)

happening [´hæpəniŋ]   n.事件，偶然发生的事   (英语四级单词)

defensive [di´fensiv]   a.&n.防御(的)   (英语四级单词)

competitive [kəm´petitiv]   a.竞争的，比赛的   (英语四级单词)

partial [´pɑ:ʃəl]   a.部分的；偏袒的   (英语四级单词)

calling [´kɔ:liŋ]   n.点名；职业；欲望   (英语六级单词)

inviting [in´vaitiŋ]   a.动人的   (英语六级单词)

bowman [´bəumən]   n.(弓箭)射手   (英语六级单词)

strategy [´strætidʒi]   n.兵法；战略   (英语六级单词)