地道英语在线听-Upgrade 升级

John: Hello, this is Real English from BBC Learning¹ English, I’m John.

Jean: Hi. 大家好，我是董征。欢迎收听Real English《地道英语》节目！

John: In Real English, we look at words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary.

Jean: 和汉语一样，英语里也是有着非常多的成语和俗话的，所以要想能听得懂英国人日常的说话聊天，就一定要来学学这些他们常用的通俗词语。 那么请问John 我们今天要学的新词是什么呢？

John: Today’s new word is ‘upgrade²’ – U.P.G.R.A.D.E. – upgrade.

Jean: Upgrade. 能给我们解释一下它的意思吗？

John: Well, the main meaning of upgrade means to make a machine, or a computer for example, more powerful and efficient.

Jean: Upgrade 就是为了让电脑增强性能和速度的措施：升级。那能给我们举个例子讲讲吗，John？

John: No problem. If your computer was old and slow, you could buy a new one or get an upgrade.

Jean: I see.

John: Then you could say, ‘My computer has been upgraded³’.

Jean: 我知道了，Upgrade“升级”本身是个动词，而且它在被动式的语态的时候就是表示已经被升级的意思。那John你能给我们说说，upgrade这个词还有什么其他的用法吗？

John: Well, it can also mean to give you a better seat on a plane, to a better room in a hotel. You might, for example,-and if you are very lucky, get upgraded from economy class on a plane to business or first class.

Jean: 原来upgrade用到坐飞机的时候就是“升舱”，如果是住酒店就是换到更高级的房间，总之都是调换到更高一级的意思。

John: That’s right.

Insert

A: How was your flight?

B: Great! We got upgraded to first class and spent the whole way back drinking free Champagne⁴.

A: My computer’s really slow. I think I’ll buy a new one.

B: That’ll be expensive. Why don’t you get it upgraded? That’ll be much cheaper.

Jean: So are you happy with your computer, John?

John: No – I need to get it upgraded.

Jean: Is it expensive to get it upgraded?

John: No. Getting it upgraded will be cheaper than buying a new one.

Jean: I see.

John: And then hopefully the next time I fly I will be upgraded too!

Jean: That would be nice.

John: Yes, It would. I would like to fly first class.

好了，让我们再来回顾一下， – upgrade – 就是电脑升级的意思。用到其它地方还有坐飞机升舱，住酒店升级房间的意思。

 

Jean: Well, it looks like we are running out of time.

John: Yes, we have to go. You’ve been listening to Real English from BBC Learning English. Join us again soon for more up-to-the-minute Real English. Bye.

Jean: See you next time.

1 learning   

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。

2 upgrade   

vt.提高，加强，改善；n.提高，改善

参考例句：

• We need to upgrade the status of teachers.我们需要提升老师的地位。
• To upgrade a clerk to manager.将办事员提升为经理。

3 upgraded   

升级的，提升的

参考例句：

• They upgraded the land by improving it with new buildings. 他们建造新楼房来提高土地的等级。
• Our legation was upgraded to an embassy. 我们的公使馆升级为大使馆。

4 champagne   

n.香槟酒；微黄色

参考例句：

• There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
• They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。