(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Welcome to Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
On this program we explore common expressions in American English.
Like all languages, our expressions come from everywhere. They come from nature, sports, and food. They come from money, culture, music, history! If you name the area, we can find a special word or expression that comes from it.
The word we will talk about today comes from technology: bandwidth.
The first definition of "bandwidth" is the range of frequencies within a given band, especially when used for sending an electronic signal.
In computing, it means the largest amount of data that can be passed along a specific path. For example, if you are making a video on your computer, it will use more bandwidth than if you were simply creating a document.
When we talk about ourselves (and not our computers), bandwidth has a similar meaning.
Human "bandwidth" refers to the total number of issues or amount information a person can deal with at any given moment. It is the emotional or mental space you need to do something or think about something.
When you have lots of bandwidth, you can deal with anything life throws at you. But, when you are really busy or seriously worried, you might not have the bandwidth to deal with any additional issues. You simply do not have the time or mental space.
We have other expressions that mean almost the same thing as being out of bandwidth. I can say I've hit my limit. I'm up to my neck, up to my eyes or up to my ears (you can use any of those body parts) with work, responsibility or fill in the blank. I am swamped!
"Bandwidth" can also simply mean your attention span.
For example, let's say you are sitting at your dinner table thinking about an all-consuming problem. In this state, you are not able to focus on anything else. So, if someone tries to ask you a question, you can tell them, "Sorry. I do not have the bandwidth to talk to you right now. Come back in about an hour!"
Now, sometimes we use the word "bandwidth" when we talk about our brains as computers. An article in Scientific American gives us a good example of this usage.
Writer R. Douglas Fields discusses the development of an electronic device worn on the arm that permits the wearer to mentally interact with a computer. He writes, "This achievement opens and expands the bandwidth of the brain's output."
Sometimes people use "bandwidth" to simply mean mental ability. I might say: "Oh, do not to try to explain the issue to Alex. He doesn't have the bandwidth for something so difficult." Used this way, it means "Alex" is not intelligent enough to understand. It is a clear insult. So, be careful using it that way.
Now, let's hear "bandwidth" used in this short conversation between two friends.
Okay, let's go over the shopping list. We don't want to forget anything.
Do we have to do that right now?
No. But the party is next month. So, time is running out.
There's plenty of time. And right now ... I have a lot on my mind.
Come on. You can't be that busy.
Oh really? Well, today at work, I lost all my documents when my computer crashed.
Well, you have back-ups of all your documents, don't you?
No. I had just finished writing three long stories. I'll have to work overtime the rest of the week or I'll miss my deadline!
Maybe we should change the subject.
Sure. This morning my sister called to tell me that my great aunt died.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
That's okay. I only met her once when I was 10. But my mom can't take care of the funeral plans. So, now I have to.
Oh. That's going to take a lot of time.
Yes, it is. But that's not all. Last night, my apartment flooded from a leak in the pipe! So, I have to fix it by tomorrow because my boss is coming over for an important dinner meeting!!
Wow. You are swamped! Really up to your neck.
Tell me about it! So, please understand if I don't have the bandwidth right now to plan for a party that is a month away!!
Well. Sounds like someone is out of patience as well as bandwidth.
And that's Words and Their Stories for this week.
Has there been a time when you ran out of bandwidth? Let us know in the Comments Section!
I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.fill in the blanks 填空;填空题;用所给单词的适当形式填空
Fill in the blanks with the words and phrases you have learnt in this unit.
根据本单元学的单词和短语填空。
2.mental ability 心理能力； 智力能力；智商
Intelligence tests are as much a measure of motivation as they are of mental ability, says research from the US.
来自美国的研究发现智力测试不仅与人的智力有关，还能衡量人的积极性。
3.go over 仔细检查;认真讨论;用心思考
He would go over his work again and again until he felt he had it right.
他会反复检查自己的工作直到他认为正确为止。
4.time is running out 没时间了；没有时间了；时间不多了
We'd better hurry. Time is running out.
我们最好赶快。没有时间了。
参考译文
这里是VOA学英语《词汇掌故》节目。
本节目探讨美式英语里的常见表达。
和所有语言一样，我们的表达也是源于各个地方。它们源于自然、体育和食物。它们源于经济、文化、音乐、历史！如果你说出一个领域，我们可以找到一个出自这个地域的专业单词或者表达。
今天我们要谈论的表达源自科技：bandwidth（带宽）。
“bandwidth”的第一个含义是给定频带内的频率范围，尤其是用来发送电子信号的时候。
在计算中，它意味着可以沿着特定路径传递的最大数量的数据。例如，如果你正在你的电脑上制作一个视频，这将会比你单纯创建一个文档要占用更多的带宽。
当我们谈论我们自己时（而不是我们的电脑），“bandwidth”有着相似的含义。
人类的“bandwidth”指的是一个人在规定的时间内能够处理的问题的总量或者信息量。它是你做某事或者思考某事所需要的情感或者心理空间。
当你有许多的“bandwidth”，你可以应付任何生活给你带来的问题。但是，当你真得特别忙碌或者严重焦虑，你也许没有那么多的“bandwidth”来处理任何其他问题。你就是没有时间或者心理空间。
我们有其他几乎和“be out of bandwidth（到极限）”意思一样的表达。我可以说：我已经达到我的极限了。我工作、职责或者其他方面忙得不可开交、忙极了或者忙得不得了（你可以用身体的任何一个部位）。我忙翻了（I am swamped）！
“bandwidth”也可以简单地表示注意力持续时间（attention span）。
例如，假设你坐在餐桌旁思考一个需要全身心投入的（all-consuming）问题。在这种状态下，你关注不了任何其他事情。因此，如果某人试图问你一个问题，你可以告诉他们：“对不起，我现在没有心思（bandwidth）和你聊。大约一小时后再来吧！”
有时当我们谈及将我们的大脑比作电脑的时候，我们也用单词“bandwidth”。《科学美国人》上的一篇文章给了我们一个很好的此种用法的示例。
作者道格拉斯·费尔兹讨论一种戴在手臂上的电子装置的发展，这种装置允许佩戴者在精神上与计算机进行互动。他写道：“这项成就开放并扩大了大脑输出的‘带宽’。”
有时候人们使用“bandwidth”仅仅为了表示智力（mental ability）。我也许会说：“噢，不要试图向亚历克斯说明这个问题。他的智力还理解不了这么难的问题。”这种用法下的“bandwidth”，这句话的意思是“亚历克斯还没有聪明到能明白这个问题。”这显然是一种侮辱。因此，使用这个用法的时候要注意。
现在让我们来听听“bandwidth”在两个朋友间的短对话中的运用。
好的，让我们来仔细检查一遍这份购物清单。我们不想忘记任何东西。
我们必须现在检查吗？
不是。但是派对是在下个月。所以，时间不多了。
还有很多时间。而且现在……我有很多发愁的事（I have a lot on my mind）。
得了吧。你不可能那么忙。
哦，是吗？嗯，今天上班的时候，我电脑死机了，我所有的文件都没有了。
好吧，你所有的文件都有备份吧，有吗？
没有。我刚写完三个长故事。我这周剩下的时间都要加班，否则我会错过最后期限的！
也许我们应该换个话题。
好的。今天早上我姐姐打电话告诉我我的伯祖母去世了。
哦，我真得很抱歉。
没关系。我只在我十岁的时候见过她一次。但我母亲处理不了葬礼事宜。所以，现在我得处理。
哦。那将会花费很多时间。
是的，确实是。但这还不是全部事情。昨晚，我的公寓因为管子漏水被淹了！所以，我得在明天之前处理好这件事情，因为我的老板要来参加一个重要的晚宴！！
哇。你忙翻了！确实忙得不可开交。
那还用说（tell me about it）！所以，请理解我现在没有心思计划一个一个月以后的派对！！
好吧。听起来某人已经失去耐心了，也快到极限了。
这就是本周的《词汇掌故》节目。
你有没有超出精力范围的时候呢？在评论区告诉我们吧！
我是安娜·马特奥。
