听播客学英语 191 Work out

 　　Today’s podcast is about working out. There is a grammar and vocabulary note which explains that the expression “to work out” has two different meanings. If you are listening on iTunes or an iPod, you will need to go to the podcast website to read the note.

　　In the last podcast, Kevin made a New Year resolution to give up smoking. What about Joanne? Well, her resolution is to get fit. She has read in an article in a newspaper that, if you work out in a gym for an hour every day, you can get super-fit in only ten weeks. So she has joined a gym. Lots of other people have had the same idea and have joined the gym as well. Sometimes the gym is crowded, and Joanne has to wait for her turn on the exercise machines. She says to herself that some of the other people are probably weak-willed. They are not determined¹ like she is, and will probably give up after about two weeks. But she will carry on and become super-fit!

　　She tries to persuade Kevin to join the gym as well. But Kevin says:

　　his New Year resolution is to give up smoking

　　he does not want to be super-fit, and he does not think you can get super-fit in only ten weeks

　　gyms are places of torture² like the Tower of London and Guantanamo Bay

　　it is stupid to use an exercise bike at a gym. Why not get a real bike and go real places on it?

　　Joanne tells Kevin that he is a couch³ potato. She goes to the gym and works⁴ out by herself. Will she get super-fit in 10 weeks? Or will she get bored and return to eating chocolates in front of the television? We shall see!

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 torture   

n.折磨；v.折磨，使痛苦；使苦恼，使为难

参考例句：

• No torture would make him speak.任何严刑拷打都不能使他开口。
• Through those long years of imprisonment and torture,he remained faithful and unyielding.在那些遭受囚禁和酷刑的漫长岁月里，他始终坚贞不屈。

3 couch   

n.睡椅，长沙发椅；vt.表达，隐含

参考例句：

• Lie down on the couch if you're feeling ill.如果你感觉不舒服就躺到沙发上去。
• The rabbIt'sprang from its grassy couch.兔子从草丛中跳出。

4 works   

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。