(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.
On this program we talk about common expressions in American English.
And on today's show we will talk about a very common household object.
People used it thousands of years ago and most likely you used it today.
I am talking about soap.
History experts say instructions for making soap were reportedly found on a clay Babylonian tablet.
Ancient Egyptian, Chinese and Roman cultures also used some kind of soap.
Today there are many different types of soap – from bars to liquid, from scented to plain.
There are soaps to clean our bodies, our pets, our cars and our homes.
Advertising for these products is big business.
In fact, it is this connection to advertising that has given us the name of a very popular form of entertainment – soap operas.
Just as many cultures have their own kinds of soaps, they also have their kinds of soap operas – complicated stories about human relationships.
Many years ago (in the U.S.), they were the first programs to be paid for by soap-making companies.
Companies that made soaps, detergents and other cleaning products originally broadcast their commercials during these shows.
And who was mainly watching these daytime shows?
Housewives.
So, these commercials were aimed at women who may have been cleaning their homes while watching the television program.
So, that is where the "soap" part of the name "soap opera" comes from.
But what about "opera"? Why not call them "soap shows"?
Well, in soap operas, the human stories that play out are extreme.
The characters and situations of the shows are over-the-top!
They probably would not happen in real life.
In fact, that is why many people criticize or make fun of soaps.
They are too unrealistic.
But who cares?! Not the people who love soap operas, that's for sure.
People do not watch soap operas to see real life or to learn valuable lessons.
Soap operas are escapist entertainment.
You get to escape your own life and live dangerously in someone else's ... for about an hour at a time.
As you may have noticed during this program, we often call soap operas just "soaps,"
as in, "Don't bother Felicia right now. She is catching up on all her soaps."
Now, some people may not want to admit that they enjoy watching such a show.
For this reason, some people call soap operas their "guilty pleasure."
Guilty pleasures appeal to our secret desires, the ones we do not like to publicly share.
You watch something, enjoy it ... and then feel a little guilty afterward.
People who watch soap operas – either daytime or nighttime soaps – are usually very loyal followers.
In fact, it is this audience loyalty that appealed to advertisers in the first place.
Soaps can be very addictive.
Their stories are open-ended.
Each episode leads to the next, to the next, to the next.
And they usually end on some sort of cliffhanger, or an especially exciting ending.
You really want to know what will happen next.
"Tune in next week!"
And you do tune in next week.
You can't wait to find out what happens!
That is how a soap opera gets you hooked.
But that's not all! I have so much more to tell you ...
... next week on Words and Their Stories. I'm Anna Matteo.
重点解析
1.soap opera 肥皂剧
The story has all the elements of a soap opera.
这个故事是非常典型的肥皂剧题材。
2.commercial 商业广告
The film was aired without commercial breaks.
该电影是无广告插播连续播出的。
3.over the top 言过其实的，夸大其词的
The special effects are a bit over the top but I enjoyed it.
特技效果有点夸张，不过我很欣赏。
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参考译文
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》节目。
在本节目中，我们将讨论美式英语中的常用表达。
在今天的节目中，我们将讨论一种非常常见的家居用品。
几千年前人们就在使用它，很可能今天你还在使用它。
我要说的就是“肥皂”。
历史专家说，据说在一块巴比伦黏土碑上发现了肥皂的制作说明。
古埃及、古中国和古罗马文化也使用某种肥皂。
今天有很多不同类型的肥皂——有条状的、有液体的、有香的、有无味的。
肥皂可以用来清洁身体、宠物、汽车和我们的家。
为这些产品做广告是一笔大生意。
事实上，正是这种和广告之间的联系给我们带来了一种非常流行的娱乐方式——肥皂剧。
正如许多文化都有自己的肥皂剧一样，它们也有自己的肥皂剧——关于人际关系的复杂故事。
许多年前(在美国)，肥皂剧是第一个由肥皂制造公司资助的项目。
最初，生产肥皂、洗涤剂和其他清洁产品的公司会在这些节目中插播广告。
但观看日间节目的主力军是谁呢？
家庭主妇
所以，这些广告针对的是那些一边看电视一边打扫房间的女性。
所以，这就是“肥皂剧”这个名字的“肥皂”部分的来源。
但是“剧”呢？为什么不叫它们“肥皂节目”呢？
在肥皂剧里，人类的故事都很极端。
剧中的人物和场景都非常夸张！
在现实生活中可能不会发生。
事实上，这就是很多人批评或取笑肥皂剧的原因。
因为剧情太假了。
但是谁在乎呢？！肯定不是那些喜欢肥皂剧的人。
人们看肥皂剧不是为了看到真实的生活或学习有价值的教训。
肥皂剧是逃避现实的娱乐节目。
你可以逃离自己的生活，危险地生活在别人的生活里…… 每次大约一个小时。
正如本期节目中所讲的，我们经常把“soap operas(肥皂剧)”简称为“soaps”，
比如：“现在别打扰费莉西亚，她正忙着补所有落下的肥皂剧。”
现在，有些人可能不想承认他们喜欢看这样的节目。
由于这个原因，有些人把肥皂剧称为他们的“罪恶的快乐”。
罪恶的快乐迎合了我们隐秘的欲望，我们不愿意公开分享这些欲望。
看一些东西，享受它…… 之后会觉得有点内疚。
看肥皂剧的人——无论是白天还是晚上的肥皂剧——通常都是非常忠实的追随者。
事实上，正是这种观众忠诚度吸引了广告商。
肥皂剧很容易让人上瘾。
它们的故事是开放式的。
每一集都会引出下一集，下一集，再下一集。
每一集通常都会以某种扣人心弦的情节结束，或者是特别激动人心的结局。
你很想知道接下来会发生什么。
“下周请继续收看。！”
然后下周你就会继续收看。
你迫不及待地想知道接下来会发生什么！
这就是肥皂剧会让你上瘾的原因。
但这还不是全部！未完待续……
下周继续观看词汇掌故节目，我是安娜·马特奥。
