(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories.
On this program we explain how to use common words and expressions in American English. Today, we are going to celebrate the coming of winter with expressions related to cold and ice. And we will do that with a story ... a mystery story.
This is part one of a three-part series.
Our story begins on a distant mountain-top. It is the dead of winter. Outside the wind is howling.
Snow mixed with freezing rain has made the roads unsafe for travel. Even walking outside is dangerous. So, the four characters of our story are stuck indoors at The Ice Castle Inn. Like the name suggests, the inn is an old castle that is now a vacation spot for bird-watchers.
These four people are strangers. The only thing they have in common is a shared interest in snow birds. But for now, they all have put their bird watching plans on ice. That is to say, they must postpone their plans until the winter storm passes.
What they don't know is the violent storm outside is just the tip of the iceberg. In other words, more danger exists, but they cannot see it.
Let's meet the characters
But now, let's get in out of the cold. As we enter the Ice Castle Inn we meet our group of travelers. They are all having a hot drink as they gather by the fireplace.
The Teacher
First there is the teacher, Madeline. She is in her late 20s and teaches skiing and cold weather survival skills at a private school for girls.
Her neat, dark hair frames her round, healthy face. Her appearance is plain but she is in great physical shape. She is a quiet woman. When she speaks, her voice is low and uncertain.
You may think she is shy. But think again.
Underneath her shy exterior, she is calm, cool and collected. If she stares at you with her clear green eyes, you can sense her powerful, extreme calm. Her ability to control her reactions makes people feel afraid: it sends shivers down their spines.
The Athlete
Then there is the athlete, Vincent. He is in his early 30s. Handsome and active, he talks to anyone and everyone. He has an easy manner and people like him instantly. He's the type of man who could sell ice to an Eskimo, meaning he could talk you into anything.
At first, he seems to be a very cool, easy-going sportsman. But talk to him more and you realize that something is missing: namely, feelings. Those who know him best say he has ice water running through his veins. Nothing seems to upset or emotionally move him.
The Actress
Next is the actress, Sylvia. She is in her mid-40s and is extremely attractive. With her ice-blue eyes, pale white skin and fine clothing, she doesn't seem like the outdoorsy, bird-watching type.
Her personality runs hot and cold -- friendly one minute, unfriendly the next. You never know what to expect. The one thing that is constant about her is the gold locket she wears around her long, thin neck. She never takes it off and often holds it tightly to her chest.
The Major
Finally, there is Major Jack, an ex-military man. His age is hard to guess -- perhaps 50-something? He has a strong jaw and thick black hair. The lines on his face make him look older but even more handsome.
Some men are just lucky that way. He seems like most military men; strong and silent. William Shakespeare might even call him a cold fish -- unfeeling and unfriendly. But at the same time every day, as the sun goes down, he stares out the window into the storm with great sadness in his eyes. It is at these times, he seems like a man left out in the cold, ignored and alone.
That is our small group of traveling bird-watchers. As the days pass, the snow only falls harder on The Ice Castle Inn. The land line phones no longer work. Neither do cell phones. No rescue vehicles have come to clear the roads.
They are truly snowed in.
With each passing day, they each become more and more suspicious of each other. They all wonder the same thing – why are the others really here?
Answers will have to wait.
I'm Anna Matteo.
Join us next week for part 2 of The Mystery at The Ice Castle Inn.
重点解析
1.snowed in 被大雪困住的
We may all be snowed in here together for days.
我们可能要一起被大雪困在这里好几天。
2.cold fish 态度冷冰冰的人;不热情的人
He never help the others, he is a cold fish.
他从来不帮助别人，他是一个冷酷无情的人。
3.the tip of the iceberg (事物的)端倪，表面一小部分，冰山一角
The above complaints are, I suspect, just the tip of the iceberg
我想，以上的抱怨只是冰山一角。
参考译文
现在是VOA学英语《词汇掌故》节目。
我们的节目诠释美式英语里常用单词和表达的用法。今天，我们将用和“cold（寒冷）”和“ice（冰雪）”相关的表达来庆祝冬天的到来。我们将用一个故事来实现此目的……一个神秘的故事。
这是三部曲系列之第一部分。
我们的故事开始于一个遥远的山巅。这是毫无生机的冬天。外面寒风呼啸。
雪花夹着冰冷的雨让道路行驶变得不安全。外面即使是走路也很危险。因此，我们故事的四个主人翁被困在了冰雪城堡旅店里。顾名思义，这个旅店是一座古堡，现在它是鸟类观察者的一个度假胜地。
这四个人彼此互不相识。他们之间唯一的共同点就是他们都对雪鸟感兴趣。但现在，他们都要搁置观鸟的计划（put their bird watching plans on ice）。也就是说，在暴风雪过境之前，他们必须推迟（postpone）他们的计划。
他们不知道的是这场肆虐的暴风雪只是冰山一角（the tip of the iceberg）。换句话说，存在更多的危险，但是他们没发现。
让我们来见见这些角色
但现在，让我们先不谈寒冷。当我们走进冰雪城堡的时候就能遇见我们的游客团。他们正围在壁炉旁喝着热饮。
老师
首先，有一位老师，她叫玛德琳。她快三十了。在一家私立学校教女孩们滑雪和严寒天气下的生存技能。
乌黑的秀发衬托着她圆圆的红润的脸。她外貌平平但身材很好。她话不多。话音低沉，含糊不清。
你也许认为她很腼腆。但请再仔细想想。
在她羞赧的外表下，她沉着冷静，泰然自若。如果你注视她清澈的绿眸，你能感觉到她的强大和极度的冷静。她自控的能力令人生畏：令人脊背发凉。
运动员
有一位叫文森特的运动员，三十出头。英俊开朗，活泼热情。举止随和，大家会很快喜欢上他。他是那种典型的“能卖冰块给爱斯基摩人”（can sell ice to an Eskimo ）的人，意思是他能说服人做任何事。
开始，他看起来似乎是一个很酷，很好相处的运动员。但是和他聊得多，你会感觉少了什么：也就是情感。那些了解他的人说他是个冷酷的人（ice water running through his veins 身上流着冰冷的水）。似乎没有什么能让他忧愁或者打动他。
演员
下一个是女演员西尔维娅。她40多岁而且非常迷人。她有着淡蓝色的眼睛，白皙的皮肤，穿着考究，她看起来不像那种喜欢户外观鸟的人。
她个性忽冷忽热——前一秒热情，下一秒冷漠。你永远不知道会发生什么。她身上唯一不变的是她那细长的脖子上戴的金项链。她从不摘下而且经常把它紧紧地握在胸前。
少校
最后是少校杰克，一个退伍军人。他的年纪不好猜，也许50多岁？他有着挺拔的下巴和厚厚的黑发。脸上的皱纹虽然显老但是却让他看起来更俊朗了。
有些人就是这么幸运。他看起来和多数军人一样：强壮，寡言。连威廉•莎士比亚估计都要称他为冷漠的人（a cold fish）了，冷酷无情。但是每天的同一时间，当太阳下山的时候，他盯着窗外的暴风雪，眼神哀伤。在这些时刻，他看起来像是一个被冷落、被漠视的孤独的人。
这就是我们的观鸟旅人小团。日子一天天过去，冰雪城堡旅店的雪却越来越大。地面的通讯电话接不通了。手机也打不出去。没有救援车辆过来清理道路。
他们是真被雪困住了。
随着日子流逝，他们每个人开始越来越彼此怀疑。他们都怀疑同一件事情：其他人在这里的真实目的是什么？
答案等待揭晓。
我是安娜•马特奥。
和我们一起参与下周“神秘冰雪城堡旅店”的第二部故事吧。
