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ESL之餐饮娱乐 12 Buying a Digital Audio (MP3) Player

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    (单词翻译:双击或拖选)

 

12 Buying a Digital Audio1 (MP3) Player

GLOSSARY2

MP3 player – a device3 that plays digital music in MP3 files* This is a very popular MP3 player, but there are many other players that areless expensive.

selection4 – the variety of things to choose from at a store; the different types ofsomething that is being sold* This bookstore has a great selection of books in foreign languages.

portable5 – small, not heavy, and easy to carry wherever one goes* This notebook computer is very portable because it is small and weighs only two pounds.

to rip6 – to copy music from a CD to one’s computer or another device* Thanks for lending me these CDs.  I’ll return them to you as soon as I rip themonto my computer.

to download – to copy music or other files from the Internet to one’s computer oranother device* Please download the form from our website and complete it before you come tothe office for your appointment.

to watch out for – to be careful about something; to be aware of something thatmight be a problem* Watch out for their dog.  It’s not very friendly and sometimes bites people.

proprietary7 – belonging to a specific person or company; made, owned, andsold by a person or company* This file is proprietary and can only be opened in a program made by the samecompany.

file format8 – the way that information is stored electronically; a type of electronic file, such as .doc, .xls, .txt, .mp3, .jpg* I wasn’t able to open the file format that you sent me.  Can you please resend itas a different file?

compatible9 – able to be used with something else; with the same technology;able to be used together* Is Microsoft Office compatible with Apple computers?

open-source – free for anyone to use; software that is available for anyone touse or change* Many software engineers like to work together to make open-source softwarebetter.

FM tuner – the part of a radio or other device that allows one to choose a radiostation to listen to* The FM tuner on my car radio is broken, so I can only listen to CDs.

built-in battery charger – the part of a device that allows one to put electricity into an empty battery without using another piece of equipment* I wish my cell phone had a built-in battery charger because I don’t like travelingwith the separate charger.

headphones – a device worn over the head or around the neck with two smallpieces to put in one’s ears, so that one can listen to music or the radio withoutletting other people hear it* I saw a news story that said listening to loud music through headphones may be bad for your ears.

storage capacity10 – the amount of space that a device has to save or store files;the number and size of files that a device can hold* My email account has a large storage capacity of almost 3,000 megabytes.

charge time – the amount of time needed to put electricity into an empty batteryso that it is full again* Their new camera has a charge time of about two hours.

playback – the act of playing something that has been recorded before; the actof listening to music, a phone message, or anything else that has been recordedpreviously* Carlie spent all afternoon listening to playbacks of her professor’s lectures tostudy for the test.

backlit – with light from behind; a screen that is illuminated11 from behind, so thatit can be seen in the dark without turning on another light* This watch is backlit so you can see what time it is in the dark by pushing this button.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS1.  What does Sandy want to be able to do with her new MP3 player?

a)  She wants to be able to listen to music wherever she goes.

b)  She wants to be able to listen to music at home.

c)  She wants to be able to listen to music on the Internet.

2.  Which of these statements is not true about the MP3 player?

a)  It has a four-hour charge time.

b)  It can be used to listen to the radio.

c)  It can play music only from proprietary sites.

______________WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

to ripThe verb “to rip,” in this podcast, means to copy music from a CD to one’s computer or another device: “Ripping friends’ music is illegal, but many peopledo it anyway.”  The verb “to rip” also means to tear, or to be torn into two or morepieces: “After paying the bill, Shelly ripped12 it into small pieces.”  Or, “The flag was ripped by the strong winds.”  The phrase “to rip (something) off” means toremove a piece of clothing very quickly: “Yasmin came home, ripped off his suit,and quickly changed into shorts for the soccer game.”  The phrase “to rip(someone) off” means to cheat someone, or to make someone pay too muchmoney for something: “The tourist was ripped off at the market, paying $20 for apainting that normally13 costs $5.” chargeIn this podcast, the phrase “charge time” means the amount of time needed toput electricity into an empty battery so that it is full again: “The charge time forour portable DVD player is six hours.”  As a verb, “to charge” means to fill anempty battery with electricity: “Don’t forget to charge the camera before your trip!” The verb “to charge” also means to ask for a certain amount of money whenselling something: “How much are you charging for these cakes?”  Or, “Thelawyer charges more than $200 per hour.”  Finally, the verb “to charge” canmean to move forward very quickly to attack someone: “The army charged up thehill.”  Or, “Every year, large bulls14 charge through the streets of Pamplona, Spain.”

CULTURE NOTEAny radio station that gets most or all of its “funding” (money) from the public is known as “public radio.”  Public radio funding can come from the government,individual listeners, universities, or private companies.  Usually public radio does not have “commercials” (paid advertisements) like private radio stations do. Many Americans “get their news” (listen to the news) from public radio.  Twopopular public radio stations in the United States are NPR and PRI.

“National Public Radio” (NPR) is a national “network” (group of relatedorganizations) for public radio that has many regular programs that are“broadcast” (shared with the public through radio or TV) by radio stations aroundthe country.  Its most popular news programs, Morning Edition and All Things Considered, are among the most popular radio programs in the country.  “Public Radio International” (PRI) is another American-based public radio organizationthat has programs that are similar to those of NPR.

NPR and PRI receive only a small percentage of their funding from the U.S.

government, so they have to “raise funds” (ask for money) from their listeners. Many companies choose to make a “donation” (give money to an organization)and, in return, they get to “underwrite” (sponsor) a public radio program, meaningthat the company’s name is said several times during the program.  This is a typeof advertising15 for the company, but it isn’t as strong as a regular commercial onnon-public radio.

Several times a year, NPR and PRI have “fundraising drives” where they “interrupt” (temporarily stop) their regular radio programs to ask the listeners tomake donations16 to the public radio organization.  Many “foundations” (large, richorganizations that give money to other organizations) also give money to public radio.

______________Comprehension Questions Correct Answers:  1 – a; 2 – c

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTWelcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 314: Buying aDigital Audio (MP3) Player.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode18 314.  I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

Visit our website at eslpod.com; there you can download a Learning19 Guide forthis episode that will help you improve your English even faster.  You can alsotake a look at our ESL Podcast Store, which has some additional20 daily Englishand business courses you may be interested in.

This episode is called “Buying a Digital Audio (MP3) Player.”  It’s a conversationbetween a man who works21 at a store and a woman who’s looking to buy (who’s interested in buying) an MP3 player.  Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Clerk:  Can I help you?

Sandy:  I’m looking for an MP3 player, but I don’t know a lot about them.

Clerk:  We have a large selection, as you can see.

Sandy:  Wow, I really don’t know where to begin. Clerk:  What do you want to be able to do?

Sandy:  I just want something small and portable that I can use to listen to music that I rip from CDs.  I also want to be able to download songs off the Internet. Clerk:  Most of the players you see here can do that.  One thing you have towatch out for is that some music websites are proprietary.  That means that youcan only listen using certain types of players. Sandy:  That’s what I’m worried about. Clerk:  Well, this one plays music in a lot of different file formats22 and is compatible with most of the major music download sites, both proprietary and open-source.  It comes with an FM tuner, a built-in battery charger, and goodquality headphones. Sandy:  What about it’s storage capacity and charge time?

Clerk:  It has 30 gigabytes of memory and can hold about 7,500 songs.  You getabout 15 hours of music playback on one charge and it charges up in about fourhours.  It has a nice screen, too, that’s backlit. Sandy:  It looks like what I’ve been looking for.  I’ll take it.

[end of dialogue]

Our dialogue begins with the clerk (the employee at the store) saying, “Can I helpyou?”  Sandy responds, “I’m looking for an MP3 player, but I don’t know a lotabout them.”  An “MP3 player” would be something you can use to listen to MP3audio files.  The audio files on this podcast (and most podcasts, for example) areMP3 files.  There are many different kinds of MP3 players: the iPod is an MP3player, Microsoft’s Zune is an MP3 player; there are many others as well.

The clerk says, “We have a large selection (of these players), as you can see.”  A“selection” of something is a variety of things to choose from, usually at a store. You may say, “They have a good selection of televisions.”  (They have many different kinds of televisions.)Sandy says, “Wow, I really don’t know where to begin.”  (I’m confused; I’m lost; Idon’t know how to start the process of selecting just one of them.)  The clerk says, “What do you want to be able to do?”  (What are you going to use yourMP3 player for?)Sandy says, “I just want something small and portable.”  “Portable” means small,not heavy, and easy to carry with you.  A laptop computer is portable; it’s easy foryou to pick up and carry with you somewhere.  Sandy wants an MP3 player that’s portable that she “can use to listen to music that I rip from CDs.”  The verb “to rip”

(rip) in this context23 means to copy music from your CD onto your computer orsome other device; that’s to “rip a CD.”  The verb “to rip” has a couple of differentmeanings; take a look at our Learning Guide for some additional explanations.

Sandy goes on to say, “I also want to be able to download songs” from theInternet.  To “download” means to take certain files and put them on yourcomputer, taking them from the Internet.  You download this podcast, forexample, onto your computer.

The clerk says, “Most of the players you see here can do that.  One thing youhave to watch out for (one thing you have to be careful about) is that some music websites are proprietary.”  (The files they have are proprietary.)  The word“proprietary” means it belongs to a specific company or a specific person; it is made or owned by a particular person or company.  For MP3 files, or Internetfiles in general, when they are proprietary that usually means you can only usethem on the machines that are approved by that company.  Podcasts are mostly MP3 files, they are not proprietary, but if you download music from, for example,the iTunes Music Store, those files are proprietary; you can only play them on aniPod or a computer that has iTunes software.  Of course, you can put them on aCD, but that’s the general idea about proprietary formats.

The clerk explains that proprietary means “you can only listen (to those files)using certain types of players.”  Sandy says, “That’s what I’m worried about.” (That is what I’m concerned about.)  The clerk says, “Well, this one plays music in a lot of different file formats.”  The “file format” is the way information is storedand transmitted24 electronically.  For example, audio files can be MP3, a picturecan be a JPG (.jpg), a Microsoft Word document would be .doc; that’s the fileformat.

The clerk says that one of the players plays “a lot of different file formats and is compatible with most of the major music download sites.”  To be “compatible”

means you can use it with something else with the same technology.  To be ableto use two things together means that they are compatible.  The iPod is compatible with iTunes; you can use them together.

The clerk says that the players he is showing Sandy can use both proprietary files and open-source files.  “Open-source files” are ones that are free for anyoneto use; it can also be software that is available for anyone to use or to change,you don’t have to pay for it.

The clerk says that the MP3 player “comes with an FM tuner, a built-in battery charger, and good quality headphones.”  An “FM tuner” would be something thatallows you to listen to radio stations on the MP3 player.  A “built-in battery charger” is a part of the device (the machine) that allows you to recharge (or putelectricity back into) a battery that is used for the equipment.  So, you usually take it and plug it into a charger so that the battery can be recharged (haveenough electricity to use to power the device – the machine).  “Headphones” arethe things you put over your head or around your neck, and you put them to yourears so you can hear the music or the sound coming out of something.

Sandy says, “What about (the player’s) storage capacity and charge time?” “Storage capacity” is the expression we use to describe the amount of space thatthe device has to save or store files.  Your hard drive on your computer couldhave a storage capacity of 100 gigabytes; that’s storage capacity.  “Charge time”

is the amount of time it takes to recharge the battery so that the battery is, wewould say, full again – at full charge.  The word “charge” has a number ofdifferent meanings in English; again, take a look at the Learning Guide for someadditional explanations.

The clerk says that this MP3 player “has 30 gigabytes of memory and can holdabout 7,500 songs.”  (7,500 songs)  He says, “You get about 15 hours of music playback on one charge.”  “Playback” is when you are listening to something –you are listening to the audio file – so, 15 hours of listening time on one charge ofthe battery.  The battery “charges up,” he says, “in about four hours.”  So, it willbe at full capacity in four hours after you start to charge it.  The MP3 player “has a nice screen,” also, “that’s backlit.”  “Backlit” (one word – backlit) is when thelight comes from behind something; the screen is, we would say, illuminated frombehind so that you can see it in the dark without having to turn on another light.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Clerk:  Can I help you?

Sandy:  I’m looking for an MP3 player, but I don’t know a lot about them.

Clerk:  We have a large selection, as you can see.

Sandy:  Wow, I really don’t know where to begin. Clerk:  What do you want to be able to do?

Sandy:  I just want something small and portable that I can use to listen to music that I rip from CDs.  I also want to be able to download songs off the Internet. Clerk:  Most of the players you see here can do that.  One thing you have towatch out for is that some music websites are proprietary.  That means that youcan only listen using certain types of players. Sandy:  That’s what I’m worried about.  

Clerk:  Well, this one plays music in a lot of different file formats and is compatible with most of the major music download sites, both proprietary andopen-source.  It comes with an FM tuner, a built-in battery charger, and goodquality headphones. Sandy:  What about it’s storage capacity and charge time?

Clerk:  It has 30 gigabytes of memory and can hold about 7,500 songs.  You getabout 15 hours of music playback on one charge and it charges up in about fourhours.  It has a nice screen, too, that’s backlit. Sandy:  It looks like what I’ve been looking for.  I’ll take it.

[end of dialogue]

The script17 for this episode was written by Dr. Lucy Tse. From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan.  Thanks for listening.  We’ll seeyou next time on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast is written and produced by Dr. Lucy Tse,hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan.  This podcast is copyright 2007


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 audio 9yOziJ     
n./adj.音频(响)(的);声音(的),听觉(的)
参考例句:
  • Often,the meeting is recorded on audio or video media for later reference.通常这种会议会以视频或者音频形式记录下来,供以后查阅。
  • You don't even have to pay for audio programs.你大可不必为自己听这些节目付费。
2 glossary of7xy     
n.注释词表;术语汇编
参考例句:
  • The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
  • For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便,我们在附录中也提供了术语表。
3 device Bv8x6     
n.器械,装置;计划,策略,诡计
参考例句:
  • The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
  • The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。
4 selection EZ3xX     
n.选择,挑选,精选品,可选择的东西
参考例句:
  • We left the selection of the team to the captain.我们把挑选队员的工作交给了队长。
  • The shop has a fine selection of cheeses.那家商店有各种精美乳酪可供选购。
5 portable GOkxY     
adj.轻便的,手提式的;n.便携的东西
参考例句:
  • I have a portable typewriter.我有一个便携式打字机。
  • There is a pretty portable pair of steps in one corner of the room.屋角放着一架小巧玲珑的折梯。
6 rip TXQxi     
n.拉裂,破绽,激流,浪荡子;vt.撕裂,激昂地说,贬损;vi.裂开,仓促地冲过...
参考例句:
  • He had seen the rip in the book.他看到了书里的裂缝。
  • I tried not to rip the paper as I unwrapped it.我把纸打开的时候,尽量不把它撕破。
7 proprietary PiZyG     
n.所有权,所有的;独占的;业主
参考例句:
  • We had to take action to protect the proprietary technology.我们必须采取措施保护专利技术。
  • Proprietary right is the foundation of jus rerem.所有权是物权法之根基。
8 format giJxb     
n.设计,版式;[计算机]格式,DOS命令:格式化(磁盘),用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据;v.使格式化,设计,安排
参考例句:
  • Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
  • The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。
9 compatible YXSyb     
adj.兼容的;能和睦相处的,合得来的
参考例句:
  • You should choose a roommate more compatible to your tastes.你应该挑个和你意气更相投的人同住一室。
  • Health and hard work are compatible.健康与努力工作是一致的。
10 capacity ITxy7     
n.能力,力量,接受力;容量,能量,容积
参考例句:
  • She is employed by the president in an advisory capacity.她被总裁聘为顾问。
  • This carriage has a seating capacity of 120 people.这节车厢定员120人。
11 illuminated 98b351e9bc282af85e83e767e5ec76b8     
adj.被照明的;受启迪的
参考例句:
  • Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
  • the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市
12 ripped ripped     
adj. <美俚>喝醉的,受毒品麻醉的 动词rip的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He had ripped up the carpet, leaving only the bare boards. 他用力扯去了地毯,只剩下裸露的地板。
  • I ripped my jeans on the fence. 我的牛仔裤在栅栏上划破了。
13 normally ln8zVb     
adv.正常地,通常地
参考例句:
  • I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
  • My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。
14 bulls 79c318bf85ee49ec7d43630eea149bfb     
n.公牛( bull的名词复数 );法令;力大如牛的人;(象、鲸等动物的)雄兽
参考例句:
  • Riding bulls is always an exciting event at a rodeo. 骑公牛总是放牧人竞技会上激动人心的表演。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Two white bulls were sacrificed and a feast was held. 献祭了两头白牛,并举行了盛宴。 来自辞典例句
15 advertising 1zjzi3     
n.广告业;广告活动 a.广告的;广告业务的
参考例句:
  • Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
  • The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。
16 donations ca1053cd23251e9a8526913327c92bdb     
n.捐赠( donation的名词复数 );赠送;捐款;捐赠物
参考例句:
  • The hospital receives a good deal of money in donations. 这家医院收到捐赠来的大笔款项。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The charity is completely reliant on public donations. 这一慈善团体完全依靠公众捐款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 script 2Z4x4     
n.剧本,广播稿;文字体系;笔迹,手迹
参考例句:
  • It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
  • The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。
18 episode Titzy     
n.(作品的一段)情节,插曲,系列事件中之一
参考例句:
  • The episode was a huge embarrassment for all concerned.这段小插曲令所有有关人员都感到非常尴尬。
  • This episode remains sharply engraved on my mind.这段经历至今仍深深地铭刻在我的心中。
19 learning wpSzFe     
n.学问,学识,学习;动词learn的现在分词
参考例句:
  • When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时,常会从车上掉下来。
  • Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。
20 additional rJTyM     
adj.添加的,额外的,另外的
参考例句:
  • It is necessary to set down these additional rules.有必要制定这些补充规则。
  • I think we can fit in an additional room.我想我们可以再加建一间房子。
21 works ieuzIh     
n.作品,著作;工厂,活动部件,机件
参考例句:
  • We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
  • The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
22 formats 57e77c4c0b351cea2abb4e8b0042b074     
n.(出版物的)版式( format的名词复数 );[电视]电视节目的总安排(或计划)
参考例句:
  • They are producing books in all kinds of different formats. 他们出版各种不同开本的书籍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • A true GUI includes standard formats for representing text and graphics. 真正的图形用户界面包括表示文字和图形的标准格式。 来自互联网
23 context DZnyc     
n.背景,环境,上下文,语境
参考例句:
  • You can always tell the meaning of a word from its context.你常可以从上下文中猜出词义来。
  • This sentence does not seem to connect with the context.这个句子似乎与上下文脱节。
24 transmitted 1d50fdac507bd6496700b783bcb6d7a8     
v.发射,播送,广播( transmit的过去式和过去分词 );传播;传导;传(热、声等)
参考例句:
  • signals transmitted from a satellite 从卫星传送来的信号
  • The power which an engine develops is transmitted to the wheels. 引擎产生的动力传递到车轮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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