VOA慢速英语：Seeing an Eclipse Is Good! Being Eclipsed Is Not

Posted 2021-05-01 练英语听力

Seeing an Eclipse Is Good 来自练英语听力 00:00 07:23

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VOA慢速英语简介：

VOA慢速英语是美国之音专为非英语国家的学习者量身定制的学习栏目！它是由美国人最常用的1500个基本单词为主体构成，以每分钟90个单词的速度（即2/3的Standard English标准英语）速度进行广播，基本上达到了既能为英语学习者提供信息，又不损害英语本身风格的目的，使之成为VOA独具特色、拥有大量听众的节目。

建议学习方法：

第1步：同学们先不要看下面提供的参考听力原文，先多听几遍音频，一边听一边写，试试看能不能全部听写出来；基础差一点的同学，可以先尝试反复只听前面2到3句话，找到感觉了，再慢慢增加；

第2步：和下面的参考原文对比一下，找出自己的错误，重点听一下听写错误的句子；

第3步：对照原文再听一遍。

PS：

1.为了方便大家对照，听力原文参考全部标注了具体的时间；

2.同学们在练习的时候，基础差一点的话，可以买一本牛津英汉词典，基础好一点的话，还是建议大家买一本牛津英英词典，不懂的单词，可以随时查；

3.学习英语非一日之功，希望大家学完以后给我们留言签到，大家一起培养每天学习的好习惯，加油！

4.大家有什么好的建议也可以给我们留言呦！

↓↓↓ 滑动下方文字查看听力原文参考 ↓↓↓

[00:00.00]2017年8月26日VOA慢速英语

[00:06.88]Hello and welcome to Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.

[00:12.48]On this program we explore the origin

[00:15.64]and usage of common expressions in American English.

[00:20.64]We always give examples or dialogues using the expressions.

[00:26.56]Sometimes we even use the words in a short story.

[00:31.12]All of these can, hopefully, teach you how to best use the expressions.

[00:37.36]For today's word we turn our eyes toward the sky!

[00:42.80]There is one natural event that many people want to experience

[00:47.32]during their lifetime -- an eclipse!

[00:51.64]Whether solar or lunar, partial or total, these astronomical events

[00:58.20]bring the movement of our solar system a little more to life.

[01:03.64]Solar, as we know, means "relating to the sun."

[01:08.12]So a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth.

[01:14.44]A dark circle either completely or partly covers the sun as a result.

[01:21.40]Lunar means "related to the moon."

[01:24.72]So, a lunar eclipse is when the moon looks as if it is completely

[01:30.12]or partially covered with a dark circle.

[01:34.44]Some ancient cultures considered an eclipse a sign that the world was ending.

[01:40.92]Other cultures viewed it as a battle between different animals in the sky

[01:46.24]as they try to eat up the moon or sun.

[01:50.08]Another cultural belief was that an eclipse

[01:53.40]was a time for deep thought and thinking about the past.

[01:58.28]The word eclipse comes from a Greek word meaning "to leave," "to abandon,"

[02:04.72]"to forsake a usual place" or fail to appear."

[02:10.48]Ancient Greeks thought of an eclipse as a time when the sun abandoned the earth.

[02:17.40]In simple terms, an eclipse happens when a planet or satellite

[02:23.00]blocks the light of the sun.

[02:26.16]So, it is not surprising that we also use "eclipse" in the same way

[02:31.74]when talking about other things besides the sun, the moon and the earth.

[02:37.80]In conversation, when one thing eclipses another

[02:41.72]it makes it less important or popular.

[02:45.60]For example, television eclipsed radio in the 1950s

[02:50.18]as the most popular form of home entertainment.

[02:54.64]When one person eclipses another, they do something better.

[02:59.68]For example, a younger child might hate it when her older sister's school

[03:05.64]and sports success eclipses her own.

[03:10.00]The older sister outshines the younger one.

[03:14.92]This usage of eclipse is not only used when talking about people.

[03:21.44]Things can also eclipse other things, as in this sentence:

[03:26.16]The popularity of the company's new product

[03:28.96]quickly eclipsed all its earlier products.

[03:33.44]Many synonyms of eclipse deal with light and casting shadows,

[03:38.64]like in the example of the older sister outshining the younger.

[03:43.80]If a person or a thing outshines another,

[03:47.24]the light they give off is so bright that no one notices anything else.

[03:53.36]You could also say the older daughter cast a shadow on her younger sister.

[04:00.28]Or you could say the younger sister

[04:02.99]was living in the shadow of her older sister.

[04:07.48]Now, let's hear how we use eclipse this way in everyday conversation.

[04:14.04]Let's listen as two people talk as they wait in line to audition for a Broadway musical.

[04:22.04]Are you ready for your singing audition today?

[04:24.88]As ready as I'll ever be.

[04:27.04]The song I'm singing is my favorite and I know it really well.

[04:31.32]I'm sure you'll do great. By the way, I'm Corrine. Corrine Mayfield.

[04:37.56]I'm Steve Stravinski.

[04:39.88]Stravinski? Wait. Are you any relation to Doug Stravinski?!

[04:46.36]Yeah. He's my older brother.

[04:49.56]Get out! His performance in Les Miserables was so beautiful.

[04:55.12]Critics are still talking about it!

[04:57.84]Wow! Doug Stravinski. What is he working on these days?

[05:03.96]An album. His fourth album.

[05:07.88]That is just awesome!

[05:10.44]It will probably be another number one seller!

[05:13.92]So, what's it like being his brother?

[05:17.88]Great. Just great.

[05:21.00]It must be tough living in the shadow of Doug Stravinski!

[05:26.32]I don't think about it ... you know, until someone brings it up.

[05:31.80]Oh, I'm so sorry. But it's just that ...

[05:35.08]well, he's so amazing and famous.

[05:38.28]He casts a really big shadow!

[05:41.68]Yes. Look, do you mind if we don't talk?

[05:45.56]I really need to prepare for my audition.

[05:48.96]Of course. Of course. It's so typical, isn't it

[05:53.96]-- an older brother or sister eclipsing a younger one.

[05:58.24]They do everything first, do it longer. And, they're usually better

[06:03.24]-- usually the shining star in the family!

[06:06.68]Hm-hmm.

[06:07.80]Listen to me! I'm doing it again, aren't I?

[06:11.48]I am sure at this audition you are going to outshine

[06:15.98]everything your brother Doug has done on stage.

[06:19.72]Yep. Thanks.

[06:21.72]Next person!

[06:23.28]Hello I'm next.

[06:24.76]Name? Steve Stravinski.

[06:27.48]Stravinski? Wait, are you related to Doug Stravinski?!

[06:31.32]THE Doug Stravinski?! Oh man, he's amazing! I saw him in this show ...

[06:38.32]And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories!

[06:41.96]Do you use the word "eclipse" like this in your language?

[06:46.04]Let us know in the Comments Section.

________________________

Words in This Story

astronomical – adj. of or relating to astronomy

shadow – n. a dark shape that appears on a surface when someone or something moves between the surface and a source of light

abandon – v. to leave and never return to (something)

forsake – v. to give up or leave (someone or something) entirely

conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people : the act of talking in an informal way

entertainment – n. amusement or pleasure that comes from watching a performer, playing a game, etc.

synonym – n. a word that has the same meaning as another word in the same language

casting – v. to send (something) out or forward : The fire casts [=gives off] a warm glow. The tree cast a long shadow on the lawn.

audition – n. a short performance to show the talents of someone (such as an actor or a musician) who is being considered for a role in a play, a position in an orchestra, etc. — often + for

get out - informal exclamation : used to express disbelief.

tough – adj. difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with

typical – adj. normal for a person, thing, or group : average or usual

shining star – n. the best