ESL Podcast 874 – Poor Road Conditions

 　　Alice: I’m really glad I let you talk me into going for a bike ride. It’s been years since I’ve been on a bicycle.

 

　　Sam: This is the only way to travel. You get to really see the scenery and enjoy the fresh air.

 

　　Alice: Hey, watch out! You almost dropped into that huge pothole¹. This asphalt is cracked and the road is all bumpy².

 

　　Sam: Thanks for the warning. Yeah, this asphalt really needs to be repaired. I’d ride on the gravel³ path instead, but it’s full of ruts. Oh, slow down! There’s a big dip ahead.

 

　　Alice: Whoa! I didn’t see that coming. I almost lost control on that slippery section of road. Sorry, I nearly swerved⁴ into you. Are you okay?

 

　　Sam: Yeah, I’m fine. When I suggested this route, I was sure it would be an easy ride since it’s paved all the way. I didn’t bargain for these lousy road conditions.

 

　　Alice: We’ll just have to keep our eyes open and be thankful for these crash helmets!

 

　　Sam: You won’t blame me if you go flying, will you?

 

　　Alice: Not if you break my fall.

 

　　Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 pothole   

n.坑，穴

参考例句：

• As the car sped over a pothole she lurched forward.车子飞驶过一个坑洼时，她身子猛地向前一倾。
• The young teacher knows every pothole in the 10-minute ride to school.这位年轻的老师熟悉这条往学校的10分钟路上的每一个坑洞。

2 bumpy   

adj.颠簸不平的，崎岖的

参考例句：

• I think we've a bumpy road ahead of us.我觉得我们将要面临一段困难时期。
• The wide paved road degenerated into a narrow bumpy track.铺好的宽阔道路渐渐变窄，成了一条崎岖不平的小径。

3 gravel   

n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石

参考例句：

• We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
• More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。

4 swerved   

v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She swerved sharply to avoid a cyclist. 她猛地急转弯，以躲开一个骑自行车的人。
• The driver has swerved on a sudden to avoid a file of geese. 为了躲避一队鹅，司机突然来个急转弯。 来自《简明英汉词典》