(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, the VOA Special English program Words and Their Stories.
Throughout history, gold has been a sign of purity, beauty and power. Calling something "golden" means it has great quality and value.
For example, the "golden rule" is possibly the world's most widespread moral rule. It says people should treat others the way they themselves would like to be treated. Every major religion has its own version of this idea.
The "golden ratio" is found in art, architecture and nature. It describes a rectangle with a length about one and one-half times its width. Objects using this ratio in their design seem to please the eye more than others.
Philosophers have their own golden idea. The "golden mean" says moderation in all things is the best way to live one's life. It is an idea linked to the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Similar thoughts exist in Buddhism and Confucianism.
Ancient Greek myths told of a time long ago when people lived in peace and happiness. Poets called it "The Golden Age." A golden age now describes a historical period of great artistic, scientific or economic progress. It can even recall a time of success and popularity for an industry. For example, the 1930s and 40s were called "The Golden Age of Radio."
You may have heard the proverb "silence is golden." This means silence is of great value -- it is sometimes better to say nothing than to speak.
You might say your child was "good as gold" when he behaved well at school. British writer Charles Dickens used this expression in 1843. He was describing the child Tiny Tim in the book "A Christmas Carol."
In 1937, American playwright Clifford Odets wrote a play called "The Golden Boy." This expression describes a young man who has many good qualities and a bright future.
You might tell someone "you are golden" when that person does something very well.
"Gold-digger" is another description. But this does not say something nice about a person. A "gold-digger" is someone who seeks to marry a rich person because he or she is only interested in that person's money.
Maybe you like old songs from the 1950s or 60s that are still well known and popular today. These are called "golden oldies."
In the 1980s and 90s, an American television comedy series told about four older women living in Miami, Florida. "The Golden Girls" often dealt with social issues in a funny way.
Today, most older people look forward to reaching their "golden years." This is when hard-working people can retire to a life of ease and fulfillment.
This program was written by Mario Ritter.
文本来自51voa，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.ratio n.比率, 比例
The ratios of 1 to 5 and 20 to 100 are the same.
1与5之比和20与100之比相同。
2.rectangle n.长方形, 矩形
Create a rounded rectangle using rounded rectangle shape tool.
使用圆角矩形工具创建一个圆角矩形。
3.playwright n.剧作家
The playwright Oscar Wilde was noted for his epigrams.
剧作家奥斯卡王尔德以他的诙谐短诗著称。
内容解析
1.Today, most older people look forward to reaching their "golden years."
look forward to 盼望，期待
He was looking forward to working with the new manager.
他很期待和新经理一起工作。
He now says that he's looking forward to increased trade after the war.
他现在说他正期盼着战后的贸易增长。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语“成语典故”。
纵观历史，黄金一直被视为纯洁、美丽和权力的象征。称某物像黄金是说它具有很高的质量和价值。
比如，golden rule（金科玉律）可能是全世界最普遍的道德准则。
有条金科玉律说，人应该以自己希望接受的待遇来对待别人，各大宗教都有这一观点的不同版本。
Golden ratio（黄金比例）涉及艺术、建筑和自然。指的是长宽比例大约是1:1.5的长方形，设计具有这样比例的物体看来似乎比别的比例更加美观。
哲学家都有自己的金点子（golden idea），中庸之道（ golden mean）称，在所有事物中，中庸是生活的最好方法。
这个思想涉及古希腊哲学家亚里士多德，佛教和儒教也有类似的思想。
古代希腊神话讲述很久以前，人们和平美满地生活。诗人们称之为黄金时代（Golden Age）。现在，黄金时代是指历史上艺术、科学或经济取得重大发展的历史时期，甚至指一个行业成功和流行的时期。比如，20世纪三四十年代被称为广播行业的黄金时代。
你或许还听过“沉默是金”（silence is golden）。意思是沉默具有很大的价值，有时候不说比说要好。
如果你的孩子在学校表现好，你会说他很乖（good as gold）。英国作家狄更斯1843年用了这个成语，他在《圣诞颂歌》一书中这么描述一个名为蒂尼·齐姆的孩子。
1937年，美国剧作家克利福德·奥德茨创作戏剧《金童》（"The Golden Boy"），Golden Boy是指具有很多美好品质和光明前景的年轻人。
如果一个人做某事很出色，你就可以说他很棒（you are golden）。
还有另一个表达 —拜金族（Gold digger），不过这可不是说某人好。拜金族是那些一心想嫁给富人的人，因为他或她只对那人的钱感兴趣。
或许你会喜欢五六十年代的老歌，这些歌至今仍很知名并流行，它们就是怀旧金曲（golden oldies）。
20世纪八九十年代，一部美国电视喜剧讲述了四名生活在佛罗里达迈阿密的老年妇女的故事，这些黄金女郎（Golden Girls）处理社会问题的方式通常都有喜感。
如今，大多数老人都希望安度晚年（eaching their golden years），这是指辛勤工作的人们退休后过着安逸满足的生活。
本期节目作者马里奥·利特。
