CNN互動英語學習報 - 十二月二十五日

	推薦給您的朋友
	線上大賣場

　2002年12月25日 Wednesday (No.089)

www.LiveABC.com

戰爭罪受審前波士尼亞領袖請求從輕量刑（ 2002/12/16 ）
Former Bosnian leader seeks leniency in war crime trial

珍妮佛．洛培茲《女傭變鳳凰》票房表現出色（ 2002/12/16 ）
Jennifer Lopez's "Maid in Manhattan" cleans up at box office

男星唐．強森拍賣古董車（ 2002/12/13 ）
Actor Don Johnson auctions off vintage cars

雅虎廣告銷售逆勢上揚（ 2002/12/13 ）
Yahoo on track for industry-defying ad sales growth

歹徒設立 eBay 假網站偷取信用卡資料（ 2002/12/12 ）
Criminals set up fake eBay site to steal credit card info

北韓飛彈艦艇前進葉門（ 2002/12/12 ）
North Korean missile shipment proceeds to Yemen

leniency 寬大；仁慈

leniency 是「寬大；仁慈」的意思，形容詞為 lenient ，同義詞有 mercy。seek leniency 或 seek mercy 都是表示「請求從輕量刑」的意思。

The lawyer asked the judge for leniency in the shoplifting trial because the accused woman had three young children.
律師要求法官對這件商店行竊案從輕量刑，因為被告女性有三名幼子。

clean up 表現出色；獲得鉅利

clean up 在這裡的用法是「表現出色；成績斐然」的意思，另外，它也有「賺得許多錢；獲得巨大利益」的意思。

The pop singer cleaned up at the recent Billboard Music Awards. She won eight awards.
那位流行歌手在最近的告示牌音樂獎中成績斐然；贏得了八個獎項。

auction off 拍賣掉

auction 可做名詞，也可做動詞用，表「拍賣」的意思，可與介系詞 off 合用，表「拍賣掉」。

The famous singer's clothing and instruments were auctioned off for millions of dollars.
該知名歌手的衣服和樂器以數百萬美元拍賣出去。

on track 在軌道上

track 是「軌道；軌跡」的意思，on track 是指依循某個「軌道；軌跡」的意思，且通常指可以邁向成功的「軌跡」；另外，頭條中的 industry-defying 中的 defy 是指「挑戰；對抗」的意思，industry-defying 就是指「和某項產業走向相反」之意。

The CEO announced that the company was on track for a record year of sales growth.
執行長宣佈，公司的年度業績破紀錄地穩定成長。

set up 架設；設立

英文表「架設」網站的動詞，可用 set up 。另外，set up 也有「設立；創立」某機構或規範的意思。

The company recently set up a sales office in Germany.
該公司最近在德國設立了營業部門。

proceed 繼續前進

proceed 有「繼續進行；繼續做；著手；出發」的意思，常與介系詞 to 合用。

The security guard searched through our bags before we were allowed to proceed to our flight.
在我們獲准登機前，安全警衛徹底搜查了我們的行李。

	About Schmidt 心的方向
	Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) is an insurance clerk nearing retirement, a pension, and a life on the road in his mobile home.
	When his wife, Helen, (June Squibb) passes away not long after his retirement celebrations, Schmidt's plans are put on hold.
	For the first time, he realizes how void of purpose his life has been.
	華倫．舒密特（傑克．尼克森飾）是一名將屆退休、準備領退休金的保險人員，住在移動式的車屋裡四處奔走。他的妻子海倫（瓊．施桂寶飾）在他的退休慶祝會之後不久即去世，舒密特所有的計畫都停擺了。這是舒密特生平第一次感到自己的人生多麼沒有目標。

	To feel better, Schmidt decides to sponsor a 6-year-old orphan in Tanzania.
	Through his letters to the boy, we learn about Schmidt's innermost fears and frustrations as he sets off on a road trip with his estranged daughter, Jeanie (Hope Davis).
	為改善這種情況，舒密特決定要資助一名六歲的坦尚尼亞孤兒。透過他寫給小男孩的信，我們可以看到舒密特和疏遠的女兒基妮（賀比．戴維斯飾）一起出發旅行時，他內心最深層的恐懼和挫折感。

a life on the road 常常旅行的生活

on the road 是「在旅途中；到處奔走」的意思，a life on the road 就是指「居無定所，常常旅行到處奔走」的意思。

The salesman decided to quit his job because he grew tired of life on the road.
那位推銷員決定辭去他的工作，因為他逐漸厭倦到處奔走的生活。

pass away 過世

pass away 是「過世；去世」的意思，表示「死亡」的較委婉的說法。

After many years of illness, the man passed away in his sleep.
多年疾病纏身後，那名男子在睡夢中去世。

put on hold 暫時不做……

on hold 有「擱置」的意思，put on hold 則是指「暫時不做某事」的意思。

Construction of the new bridge was put on hold after engineers found cracks in the concrete columns.
工程師們發現水泥柱有裂縫後，暫停了新橋樑的施工。

set off 出發；動身

set off 有「出發；動身」的意思，後面常接 trip 或 journey 當受詞。

If we want to avoid rush-hour traffic, we should set off early.
如果我們要避開交通的尖峰時段，我們應該要早點出發。

kill for something 很想要某事物

kill for something 是「非常想要某事物」的意思，視所接的受詞不同，譯文也不盡相同。

I've been trying to sleep on this plane for nine hours. I'd kill for my own bed.
我在飛機上的九個小時都一直嘗試入睡。我好希望能睡在自己的床上。

Mary and David are driving around town. They are looking for a place to eat.
瑪莉和大衛開著車在市區裡繞來繞去，他們要找個地方吃飯。

Mary:	Hey David! Check out that Greek restaurant over there!	瑪莉：	嘿，大衛！你看那邊有家希臘餐廳！
David:	It looks pretty good. Shall we give it a try?	大衛：	看起來很不錯。我們要不要試試看？
Mary:	Why not? I'd kill for a Greek salad.	瑪莉：	有何不可呢？我好想吃希臘沙拉。
David:	OK. All we have to do now is find a parking space.	大衛：	好，現在我們只要找到停車位就可以了。
Mary:	Easier said than done, David. Parking in this town is a nightmare.	瑪莉：	說來容易做來難啊，大衛。要在市區裡停車簡直就是場惡夢。
David:	It's our lucky day. There's a guy pulling out over there!	大衛：	我們今天真走運。那裡有個人正要把車開走！
Mary:	Wow! That was lucky!	瑪莉：	哇！運氣真好！

easier said than done 說比做容易

easier said than done 相當於中文的「說來容易做來難」，指實際去從事某件事，比嘴巴上說說要困難得多。

Transforming a business to an e-business is easier said than done.
要將生意轉型為電子商業，是說來容易做來難。

pull out (of a parking space) 將車子駛離（停車位等）

pull out 有許多意思，在這裡是用來指車子「駛離停車位」的意思。

We should just wait here a while to see if anybody pulls out.
我們應該在這裡等著，看有沒有人會把車開走。

that was lucky/it's our lucky day 真幸運；我們今天真走運

當我們要表示「運氣真好」或「今天真幸運」時，就可用這樣的句子來表示。

That was lucky! We didn't have to wait too long for a bus.
運氣真好！我們沒有多久就等到公車了。

Tip:
The articles (a,an,and the) are problematic for learners of English because they are seldom noticed in reading or listening. Nevertheless, articles are essential to accurate speaking and writing. Spend some time reviewing articles on a regular basis with a good English grammar book or an experienced teacher.
學習祕訣：
對學習英文的人來說，冠詞 (a,an,and the) 是學習的障礙之一，因為它們在讀或聽的時候很少被注意到。儘管如此，冠詞對於正確的說與寫，卻是不可或缺的。建議大家，可以花一些時間配合英文文法書，或請教有經驗的老師，複習一下一般程度文章裡的冠詞。

True or False

1.	A swimmer who "cleans up" at competition loses many races.
2.	If a man could "kill for" a burger, he feels full.
3.	A project that has been "put on hold," has been delayed.
4.	If something is "easier said than done," it is easy.
5.	"Pass away" is another word for die.

Fill in the Blanks
a. auctioned off 　 b. It's our lucky day　c. set up　d. pulling out　e. set off

6.	Free movie tickets! __________ .
7.	Look! There's a car __________ over there.
8.	The company __________ all its office furniture.
9.	We are going to __________ tomorrow at seven o'clock.
10.	Many companies have to __________ sales offices in foreign countries.