(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories.
Today we explain more proverbs. A proverb is a short, well-known saying that expresses a common truth or belief. Proverbs are popular around the world. Many proverbs give advice about how to live. Some proverbs are hundreds of years old, but they are still used today.
For example, my son is just like his father in many ways. We often say the two of them prove the proverb that the apple does not fall far from the tree.
My daughter is very short. She would like to be taller. But I tell her that good things come in small packages. The size of something is not always important. Some valuable things are very small, like diamonds and other jewels.
But I also tell my children that all that glitters is not gold. Do not be fooled by appearances. Something may look valuable, but may not really be valuable. Also, I tell them do not judge a book by its cover. You should not judge something only by its appearance.
Another proverb is do not bite off more than you can chew. This means do not try to do more than you are able to do.
Some times I tell my children to cooperate to solve a problem. After all, two heads are better than one. Two people working together can get better results. But another proverb says too many cooks spoil the broth. If too many people try to do something, then the job will not be done well.
I also tell my children that two wrongs do not make a right.You should not do something bad just because someone did the same to you.
Some people are pessimists: they always think about how bad things are or will be. Other people are optimists: they always look on the bright side. They think things will be all right.
Optimists might say that every cloud has a silver lining. They can find something good even in a bad situation. Other people are both pessimists and optimists. They hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Some people often worry about what they will do in a situation that might happen in the future. We could tell them do not cross that bridge until you come to it.
It is usually much better to prevent a problem from happening than it is to find ways to solve it. So we say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Finally, I always liked this proverb: You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Honey is sweet while vinegar is not. In other words, you can win people to your side more easily with gentle persuasion than by hostile actions.
This VOA Special English program was written by Shelley Gollust. I'm Barbara Klein. You can find more WORDS AND THEIR STORIES at our Web site, 51voa.com.
文本为51VOA听写整理
译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载
词汇解释
1.glitter vi. 闪光；闪烁
Beside him sat a rich lady glittering with jewels.
他身旁坐着一位珠光宝气的富家小姐。
2.chew v. 嚼碎，咀嚼
You must chew your food well before you swallow it.
你必须先把食物嚼碎再咽下去。
3.silver lining（不幸或失望中的）一线希望；乌云周围的白光
Every cloud has a silver lining.
天无绝人之路，黑暗中常有一线曙光。
4.vinegar n. 醋
Vinegar is used in preserving food.
醋可用来保存食物。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇典故。
今天我们来讲解谚语，谚语是一种短小、广为人知的说法，能表达一个常见的真理或信条。谚语在全世界都受欢迎，许多谚语给出生活建议，有的谚语有几百年的历史，但仍沿用至今。
比如，我儿子和他父亲很多方面很相像，我们经常会说，这两个人证明了这么一句谚语：有其父必有其子。
我女儿很矮，她希望长高点儿。但我告诉她，浓缩的都是精华。东西的型号并不很重要，有些贵重的东西很小，比如钻石等珠宝。
但我告诉孩子们，发光的不一定是金子，不要被外表迷惑。有的东西看起来贵重，但其实没有什么价值。我还告诉他们不要以貌取人，不应该从外表来判断人。
另一句谚语是，贪多嚼不烂，意思是不要做超出能力的事。
有时我告诉孩子合作解决问题，毕竟，人多智广，两人一起做事结果更好。但另一句谚语说，人多事乱。如果太多的人都想做事，结果工作不会做得很好。
我还告诉孩子，别人错了，不等于你做对了。不应该别人做了对你坏事就同样对待别人。
有的人很悲观，他们通常会考虑事情很糟或变糟。有的人很乐观，总能看到好的一面，认为事情总会好的。
乐观主义者说，黑暗中总有一丝光明，他们甚至能在糟糕的时候看到好的一面。也有人既乐观也悲观，期待最好的，但做最坏的准备。
也有人经常为未来发生的事担心，我们会告诉他们，船到桥头自然直。
预防问题通常比时候弥补更好，所以我们会说，一分预防相当于十分治疗。
最后，我很喜欢这句谚语：甜言蜜语比辛辣言词更容易奏效。蜂蜜是甜的，但醋不甜。也就是说，与敌对的行为相比，甜言蜜语更容易赢得别人。
这里是美国之音慢速英语节目，作者谢莉·高卢斯，我是Barbara Klein。
