【英语趣味课堂】电视-TV

 Todd: Marika lets talk about television.

Marika: OK.

 

Todd:Do you like to watch a lot of TV?

 

Marika: Yeah, I watch a lot of TV.

 

Todd:Now you've been in Japan for awhile. Do yo watch TV in English or in Japanese?

 

Marika: I watch TV in Japanese, but if it's on in English I will watch it in English. Yeah, I'm the same way. Um, how good is your comprehension¹? How much can you understand? If it's a drama² I can understand most of what's happening, and definitely³ the story, but if a talk show and there's young people on and there're speaking fast, with a lot of slang⁴, I don't really understand a lot of what they're saying, although I might know what topic they're discussing, I won't know what exactly their stand is.

 

Todd:Do you think that TV is bad for people?

 

Marika: Yeah, I think that TV is bad for people. It's really bad.

 

Todd:Why?

 

Marika: Because instead of reading a book or doing something outside, or doing something productive⁵ you just sit in front of a TV and absorb bad information or things that don't really help, help you learn anything probably, although Japanese television I think does have a lot of good documentaries⁶ and a lot of informative⁷ television programs.

 

学习内容：

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

watch (a lot of) TV

 

Do you watch a lot of TV?

 

When you 'watch TV' you are in front of the television to see what is happening on the program.  You are paying attention to what is happening in the program.  Notice the following:

 

I don't spend a lot of time watching TV now.

She usually watches TV when she cooks.

same way

 

I'm the same way.

 

If you are the 'same way' as somebody else you have similar actions or feelings about something.  We may say this to agree with what someone has said.  Notice the following:

 

I am the same way about television shows.

Not many people think the same way as you.

slang

 

If people speak fast and with a lot of slang, I don't really understand.

 

'Slang' is informal⁸ speech that is common in a certain area of the world.  It is usually modern speech that may not be understood by people who are not from that area or generation.  Notice the following:

 

He uses a lot of local slang so it's hard to understand him.

When you move to a new place you have to learn the slang there.

productive

 

People should go outside or do something productive instead of watch TV.

 

If you do something 'productive' you perform an action that helps you reach a certain goal, something that would not be considered to be a waste of time.  It could mean cleaning, washing clothes, organizing bills, studying, and so on.  Notice the following:

 

You will feel better if you go do something productive.

I feel like I've done nothing productive all day.

absorb (information)

 

Sitting in front of a TV and absorbing bad information is not helpful.

 

When we 'absorb information' we hear it or read it, understand it and then remember it.  We 'absorb' information when we learn new things.  With 'absorb', we have the mental image of a sponge⁹ soaking¹⁰ up and retaining¹¹ water.  Notice the following:

 

She loves to read the newspaper and books and just absorb new information.

I have read this article five times now and I just can't absorb the information.

 

 

1 comprehension   

n.理解，理解力；领悟

参考例句：

• The teacher set the class a comprehension test.老师对全班同学进行了一次理解力测验。
• The problem is above my comprehension.这个问题超出我的理解力。

2 drama   

n.戏剧；戏剧艺术

参考例句：

• He acted his part very well in the French drama.他在这出法国戏剧中演得很成功。
• The college published a drama review.学院出版了一份戏剧评论刊物。

3 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

4 slang   

n.俚语，行话；vt.使用俚语，辱骂；vi.辱骂

参考例句：

• The phrase is labelled as slang in the dictionary.这个短语在这本字典里被注为俚语。
• Slang often goes in and out of fashion quickly.俚语往往很快风行起来又很快不再风行了。

5 productive   

adj.能生产的，有生产价值的，多产的

参考例句：

• We had a productive meeting that solved some problems.我们开了一个富有成效的会议，解决了一些问题。
• Science and technology are part of the productive forces.科学技术是生产力。

6 documentaries   

n.纪录片( documentary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• As for 'documentaries', these too are not altogether new. 至于“资料性文学”那也并不完全是新鲜事。 来自辞典例句
• These are not just animations live-action films, comedies, dramas and documentaries. 这些不仅仅是动画片，还包括表演摄制影片，喜剧，戏剧以及纪录片。 来自互联网

7 informative   

adj.提供资料的，增进知识的

参考例句：

• The adverts are not very informative.这些广告并没有包含太多有用信息。
• This intriguing book is both thoughtful and informative.这本引人入胜的书既有思想性又富知识性。

8 informal   

adj.非正式的，不拘礼的，通俗的

参考例句：

• I got an informal reception.我受到了非正式接待。
• The leaders met over informal lunches.领袖们在非正式午餐时进行会晤。

9 sponge   

n.海绵，海绵状的东西；v.用海绵擦拭，吸收掉， 抹掉

参考例句：

• The child is screwing water out of a sponge.小孩正把海绵中的水挤出来。
• You should try to sponge out the memory of the accident.你该努力抹除那次事故的记忆。

10 soaking   

v.浸，浸湿(soak的现在分词)；吸收，吸入adj.湿透的；浸透的n.浸湿，浸透adv.湿透地

参考例句：

• That coat is soaking—take it off. 上衣湿透了—脱下来吧。
• I tried to squeeze the water out of my soaking skirt. 我用力拧掉我那件湿透了的裙子上的水。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 retaining   

n.保留，保持，维持防护v.保持( retain的现在分词 )；拦住；保存；止住

参考例句：

• Until recently Sammy has seemed to be retaining his hard sanity. 不久之前，山米看来还是能够保持清醒的头脑。 来自辞典例句
• It's only a retaining fee, you see. 这只是一笔预约费啊，知道吗。 来自辞典例句