VOA中级美国英语

一.本课要点及示例

在这一课里, 我们学习一些以 i-v-e 结尾的形容词, 比方active, impressive 跟一
些以 i-t-y 结尾的名词, 比方 possibility, popularity 等等. 另外, 我们也要学习一
些跟新闻传播有关系的词汇.
现在我们先来听今天这一课的对话,内容是说亨利跟女儿琳达谈到了看电视新
闻的事情. 请你注意听两位英文老师的发音和语调.
F: Dad, what are you watching on television?
M: I'm watching the news, Linda. Why don't you join me and watch it too?
F: The news is boring. It's always the same thing.
M: You should know what's going on in the world. There's always the possibility that things
could affect you.
F: I like things that are more active, more creative and more entertaining.
M: If you watched the news regularly, you would find it very informative.
F: Well, if you want me to watch the news with you, can we change to Channel 7?
M: Why?
F: Because the anchor-man on Channel 7 has a personality.
现在英文老师再把整段对话念一遍, 请你注意听.
F: Dad, what are you watching on television?
M: I'm watching the news, Linda. Why don't you join me and watch it too?
F: The news is boring. It's always the same thing.
M: You should know what's going on in the world. There's always the possibility that things
could affect you.
F: I like things that are more active, more creative and more entertaining.
M: If you watched the news regularly, you would find it very informative.
F: Well, if you want me to watch the news with you, can we change to Channel 7?
M: Why?
F: Because the anchor-man on Channel 7 has a personality.
下面我们来听老师把对话里包含了我们今天要学的一些词汇的句子再念一遍.
M: There's always the possibility that things could affect you.
F: I like things that are more active, more creative and more entertaining.
M: If you watched the news regularly, you would find it very informative.
F: Because the anchor-man on Channel 7 has a personality.

二.以-TIVE 和 -SIVE 结尾的形容词

首先我们练习一些以 t-i-v-e 结尾的形容词. 这些形容词都是从动词演变来的.
练习的作法是由男老师念动词, 然后女老师把这个动词演变成的形容词念出
来, 接着男老师用那个形容词作句子, 女老师就照样重复一遍. 下面就是一个
例子.
M: act
F: active
M: Reporters are active in gathering news.
F: Reporters are active in gathering news.
这组练习里的句子都是说到电视记者的工作, 比方新闻界竞争激烈, 记者们忙
着跑新闻, 尽量把消息告诉观众, 希望作到消息又新又快; 他们必须要文笔好
又得知道观众的喜好,因为他们知道观众可以自由选择节目, 不受欢迎的节目
就会被淘汰等等. 现在请你注意听, 并且跟女老师一起把句子重复一遍.
M: act
F: active
M: Reporters are active in gathering news.
F: Reporters are active in gathering news.
M: inform
F: informative
M: They want to be as informative as possible.
F: They want to be as informative as possible.
M: select
F: selective
M: They know the viewers are selective.
F: They know the viewers are selective.
M: sense
F: sensitive
M: They are sensitive to viewers' tastes.
F: They are sensitive to viewers' tastes.
M: create
F: creative
M: They do creative writing on news items.
F: They do creative writing on news items.
M: compete
F: competitive
M: They have to be competitive to do a good job.
F: They have to be competitive to do a good job.
M: repeat
F: repetitive
M: They try not to be repetitive.
F: They try not to be repetitive.
下面我们再作一组练习, 复习我们刚才教的词汇. 练习的内容还是谈到电视记
者的工作. 练习的作法是老师提出一个问题. 比方 "记者们设法塑造一个好形
象吗? " Do reporters try to create a good image? 请你作肯定的答覆: Yes, they
try to create a good image. 在你回答之后, 老师会把正确答案念一遍给你听.
M: Do reporters act fast when something happens?
F: Yes, they act fast when something happens.
M: Are they active in gathering news?
F: Yes, they are active in gathering news.
M: Is their job to inform people?
F: Yes, their job is to inform people.
M: Are their reports generally informative?
F: Yes, their reports are generally informative.
M: Are viewers free to select good programs?
F: Yes, they are free to select good programs.
M: Are viewers selective?
F: Yes, they are selective.
M: Do reporters sense what viewers like to watch?
F: Yes, they sense what viewers like to watch.
M: Are they sensitive to viewers' tastes?
F: Yes, they are sensitive to viewers' tastes.
M: Do they try to create a good image?
F: Yes, they try to create a good image.
M: Do they do creative writing on news items?
F: Yes, they do creative writing on news items.
M: Do they compete with other reporters?
F: Yes, they compete with other reporters.
M: Are the news media competitive?
F: Yes, the news media are competitive.
M: Do reporters sometimes repeat what was reported?
F: Yes, they sometimes repeat what was reported.
M: Do they try not to be repetitive?
F: Yes, they try not to be repetitive.
下面我们学习几个以s-i-v-e 结尾的形容词.这些形容词也是由动词演变而来的,
比方 "延伸" extend 变成 "广泛的" extensive, "说服" persuade 变成 "有说服力
的" persuasive, "渗透" pervade 变成 "深远的" pervasive, "触怒" offend 变成
"冒犯人的" offensive 等等. 现在我请男老师念动词, 请女老师念形容词, 然后
男老师用形容词作一个句子,请你跟女老师一起把句子重复一遍. 现在开始.
M: extend
F: extensive
M: American newspapers give extensive reports on the presidential election.
F: American newspapers give extensive reports on the presidential election.
M: impress
F: impressive
M: The election coverage is impressive.
F: The election coverage is impressive.
M: offend
F: offensive
M: They avoid making offensive reports.
F: They avoid making offensive reports.
M: persuade
F: persuasive
M: Their analyses and comments are quite persuasive.
F: Their analyses and comments are quite persuasive.
M: pervade
F: pervasive
M: They have pervasive influence on the public opinions.
F: They have pervasive influence on the public opinions.
下面我们再以问答方式把刚才教的形容词复习一遍.首先请你注意听男老师问
问题, 然后请你一一的作肯定的答覆. 每作完一句老师就会把正确答案念给你
听. 现在开始.
M: Do American newspapers give extensive reports on the presidential election?
F: Yes, American newspapers give extensive reports on the presidential election.
M: Is the election coverage impressive?
F: Yes, the election coverage is impressive.
M: Do they avoid making offensive reports?
F: Yes, they avoid making offensive reports.
M: Are their analyses and comments persuasive?
F: Yes, their analyses and comments are persuasive.
M: Do they have pervasive influence on the general public?
F: Yes, they have pervasive influence on the general public.

三.以-ITY结尾的名词

下面我们学习几个由形容词演变而成的名词. 这些名词都是以 i-t-y 结尾, 比方
"能力" ability,"可靠性" credibility,"活动" acitivity,"敏感度" sensitivity 等等. 现
在我请男老师念形容词, 女老师念名词, 接着男老师用形容词作个句子, 然后
女老师就改用名词说出意思相同或是相关的句子. 这些句子说到一位名字叫
瓦特, 很有名的电视记者.他的报导深入,可靠,很受欢迎等等.现在请你注意听.
M: active
F: activity
M: Walter is very active.
F: He is interested in political activities.
M: able
F: ability
M: He is able to do in-depth reports.
F: He has the ability to do in-depth reports.
M: credible
F: credibility
M: His reports are credible.
F: He has high credibility.
M: sensitive
F: sensitivity
M: He is sensitive to the interests of the public.
F: He has a sensitivity to the interests of the public.
M: popular
F: popularity
M: He is very popular with audiences.
F: He enjoys popularity with audiences.
M: possible
F: possibility
M: It is possible that some Chinese have heard of him.
F: There is a possiblity that some Chinese have heard of him.
下面我们用问答方式练习刚才教的名词. 练习的作法是由老师根据刚才念过的
句子提出问题, 请你作肯定的答覆; 在你回答之后老师会把正确答案念一遍给
你听.
M: Is Walter interested in political activities?
F: Yes, Walter is interested in political activities.
M: Does he have the ability to do in-depth reports?
F: Yes, he have the ability to do in-depth reports.
M: Does he have high credibility?
F: Yes, he have high credibility.
M: Does he have a sensitivity to the interests of the public?
F: Yes, he have a sensitivity to the interests of the public.
M: Does he enjoy popularity with audiences?
F: Yes, he enjoys popularity with audiences.
M: Is there a possibility that some Chinese have heard of him?
F: Yes, there is a possibility that some Chinese have heard of him.

四.听短文回答问题

我们今天要听的文章谈到美国的新闻媒介. 文章里除了说到一般民众依赖新闻
传播了解国际情况, 同时也描写新闻界为了迎合一般民众的口味而争先恐后抢
新闻的情景.
现在请你注意听.
The news media in the U.S. consist of radio, television and newspapers. Together they
are pervasive on the lives of many Americans and influential on their daily routines.
Many Americans begin their day reading the newspaper or watching a morning news
program on television while drinking their coffee. While driving to work, the news can be
heard on the car radio. Throughout the day the news is broadcast repeatedly on the radio
and television.
In the evening news is a prime feature on television with up to two hours of news in the
early evening and more news late at night. For those who prefer reading, the evening
newspaper offers the reader the possibility of reading the news others see and hear on
television.
The news media are free of government control. It is up to the general public to choose
what to read, watch or listen to. Therefore, the media must have a sensitivity to the
interests of the public.
News is big business. However, it is a very competitive business, as each station or each
newspaper competes for audiences and readers. Each tries to present the news
Americans want to know. When an item becomes newsworthy,such as an election or a war,
Americans will become familiar with the most minute details as the news media scramble
to be as informative as possible. But the result is that the news becomes repetitive.
As the news media report the same news items estimated to be the most interesting
and impressive, listeners, viewers or readers might find it difficult to be selective.
Nevertheless, most Americans would not criticize their news media too harshly.
The credibility of the news media is generally acknowledged and accepted by the
American public.
现在请你回答下面三个问题. 在你回答之后, 老师会念正确答案给你听.
第一个问题是:
M: How do Americans get the news?
F: They get the news through radio, television and newspapers.
第二个问题是:
M: When can Americans get the news?
F: They can get the news in the morning, throughout the day and in the evening.
第三个问题是:
M: How do the news media compete for audiences and readers?
F: They try to report what Americans want to know as fast as possible.