(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Don't Get Caught in a 'Whirlwind'
Now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.
When we talk about weather, a whirlwind is a very strong wind that moves in a spinning or swirling motion. Whirlwinds can cause great damage to trees, buildings, and other types of property. They can be violent. But they can also happen in a limited area and for a limited time.
We can use whirlwind to describe things in our lives, too. These things happen in a confused rush. For example, a whirlwind day is filled with back-to-back activities. And all those activities happen very quickly. It is a frenzy! Let's say your life has suddenly become very busy. You can say, "Lately, my life has been a whirlwind!"
This can be good or bad.
In life, whirlwinds involve many quickly changing events and feelings. Again, it is hard to keep track of everything that is happening.
Sometimes we use whirlwind with other words, such as activity. For example, during elections the senator's office was always a "whirlwind of activity." You can also make that activity specific. You can say, "The office was a whirlwind of political activity."
Let's say you had a day filled with a whirlwind of meetings. You had SO many meetings that the day is a blur. All the meetings happened quickly and seemed to run together.
You can also use this word as an adjective. It describes something that is like a whirlwind especially in speed or force. So, if you find success as a singer, you may find yourself having a whirlwind, world-wide tour one day.
One day, you may also find yourself in a whirlwind romance. This type of romance happens fast and is very exciting. Whirlwind romances usually are good subjects in movies. In real life, they may happen fast, seem crazy, and then end just as fast – like a weather whirlwind. (That is quite a tongue twister -- weather whirlwind!)
Here's another example. I don't really like shopping – unless it's for food. But once, I had to go shopping to prepare for a friend's wedding. I had to buy a fancy dress, fancy shoes, and other fancy things to look, you know, fancy. I went to a big department store and was a whirlwind of careless shopping. After I left, every area was a mess!
A whirlwind can also describe something that happens violently and causes damages. Let's say I have friend who is beautiful, but is also a bit of a mess. Things always seem to go a little crazy with Cornelia. But you can't tell men that. They just don't listen. So, I've stopped trying. When men want to date her, I've learned just to mind my own business and watch the craziness happen.
So, a whirlwind can be both a good or bad rush of activity. We here at VOA Learning English are a whirlwind of English teaching programs. Hopefully for you ... that's a good thing.
Until next time ...
I'm Anna Matteo!
重点解析
1.keep track of 记录；与...保持联络
It was a very effective way for them to keep track of their spending.
对他们来说，这是一种非常有效的记录支出的方法。
2.mind one's own business 别多管闲事
It will be just as well for you to mind your own business.
你还是别管闲事的好。
3.cause damage to 对...造成损害
Tree roots can cause damage to buildings.
树根会给大楼造成损害。
参考译文
不要陷入“旋风”里
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》。
当谈论起天气时，我们知道旋风是一种非常强劲的风，以旋转或回旋的方式转动。旋风会对树木、建筑物和其他种类的财产造成巨大的损害。旋风通常是激烈，凶猛的。不过它们可能在有限的区域和时间内发生。
我们也可以用旋风（whirlwind）来描述日常生活中的事情。通常这类事情在混乱的情况下匆忙发生。例如，“旋风般的一天”充满了接二连三的安排。所有这些安排都急匆匆地发生。像疯了一般！假设你的生活突然变得非常忙碌。你可以说，“最近，我的生活好像经历了一场旋风！”
可以指代好事，也可指代坏事。
在生活中，“旋风”涉及到许多快速变化的事件和情感。同样，要想了解正在发生的所有事情是很困难的。
有时我们会把“whirlwind”和其他词连用，比如“activity”。例如，在选举期间，参议员办公室的事务“总是应接不暇”。还可以把该活动具体化。你可以说，“办公室的政治活动连轴转。”
例如，这一天各种会议开个没完。开了那么多场会议，这一天忙得晕头转向。所有的会议都进行得很快，而且似乎是一起进行的。
你也可以把这个词当做形容词。形容词指的是“像旋风一样的”，尤其指代速度或力量方面。所以，如果你成为一名成功的歌手，你可能会发现自己某天会举办一场旋风般的全球巡演。
有一天，你可能还会发现自己陷入一段“旋风式的”恋情中。这种恋情发生的猝不及防，而且令人兴奋。“旋风式爱情”通常是电影中的最佳题材。而在现实生活中，这种看似疯狂的感情来去如风——就像气象旋风一样。（念起来挺拗口——气象旋风!）
再举一个例子。我不太喜欢购物——不过买吃的例外。但有一次，我不得不出门购物，为一个朋友的婚礼做准备。我得买漂亮的裙子，精致的鞋子，还有其他好看的装饰，你知道的，就是各种好看的商品。我去了一家大型百货商店，漫不经心地扫荡了一番。我离开后，每个商店都变成了一团糟！
“旋风”也可以指代发生剧烈并造成损害的事情。假设我有一个朋友，她很漂亮，但也私生活也有点乱。科妮莉亚的行为总是有点疯狂。但你不能告诉男人们。他们也不会听。所以，我就不再劝说了。当男人们想和她约会时，我就不再多管闲事，学会了袖手旁观。
所以，“旋风”可以指代好事也可以指代坏事。而我们的VOA慢速英语是英语教学栏目的一股“旋风”。希望对你们而言……是一件好事。
下期节目见！
安娜·马特奥为您播报。
