英语博客：ESL Podcast 710 – Doubting One’s Language Use

　　Flora¹: Can you help me? I’m working on this email to Emil and I’m having trouble coming up with the right words in French.
Andy: My French isn’t much better than yours, but I’ll give it a shot.
Flora: Okay, read this sentence for me. What I want to know is if that is a suitable way to say that I’m sick, but that I’m not seriously ill.
Andy: Word choice can be tricky², but I think that’s the appropriate word, with the right meaning and the right connotations.
Flora: Okay, now read this sentence. It doesn’t sound right to me. Is this the right usage of the word “faire”? I really doubt it.
Andy: That’s because you’re using the wrong form of the verb, I think. Now if only I can think of the correct form. My French is really, really rusty³.
Flora: Now that you’ve pointed⁴ out the problem, I can look it up later. What about this paragraph? The last sentence sounds awkward to me.
Andy: It sounds okay to me, but then again, I’m not a native speaker.
Flora: Ugh, this is so frustrating⁵! It’s such a production every time I write him an email.
Andy: Maybe Emil will learn English and your troubles will be over.
Flora: Yes and maybe monkeys will fly out of my butt⁶!
Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 flora   

n.(某一地区的)植物群

参考例句：

• The subtropical island has a remarkably rich native flora.这个亚热带岛屿有相当丰富的乡土植物种类。
• All flora need water and light.一切草木都需要水和阳光。

2 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

3 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

4 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

5 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 butt   

n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶

参考例句：

• The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
• He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。