L5-U1-P2 英语流利说 5-1-2 懂你英语 Level5 Unit1 Part2

1. L5-U1-P2 英语流利说 5-1-2 懂你英语 Level5 Unit1 Part2

 At Jessica’s Reunion Party 1
   Jessica's 20-year class reunion was held at a fancy hotel.
   When she arrived, she wasn't sure she was in the right place.
   At first she didn't recognize anyone.
   She felt a bit awkward and out of place.
   But it wasn't long before a strange man came up to her.
   He was already losing his hair, and he was wearing thick glasses.
   "Don't you remember me?" he asked.
     
     
   When he said who he was, she barely remembered him, especially since he had changed so much.
   Then he told her that he had always had a crush on her.
   He said she looked beautiful and he immediately took a selfie of them, with his arm tight around her waist.
   This made her feel a bit strange.
   She smiled at him and pretended to be happy to see him.
   But in fact, she wasn't sure how to react, though he seemed nice.
     
     
   She finally excused herself and went to the ladies room.
   She was beginning to regret having come to the reunion.
   She had always been shy, and she still was.
     
       
   When she returned to the party, Sharon invited her to sit at her table.
   Dinner was going to be served soon, and some of the classmates were going to give speeches.
   Sharon asked Jessica to say a few words too, because people were curious.
   This was a surprise.
   Jessica had never been very popular and she didn't think anyone had noticed her.
   She had always felt like an outsider, with only a couple of close friends.
   Still, she had been one of the best students, and people remembered her.
     
     
   At Jessica’s Reunion Party 2
   As the evening wore on, Jessica began to really enjoy herself.
   She talked with her old friends and was amazed by how some others had changed.
   For example, Tom used to be good-looking and athletic.
   He was one of the most popular students and a star basketball player.
   His one problem was math.
   He had had a hard time in math, especially in geometry.
   This was because he wasn't a logical thinker.
   Expect for basketball, he didn't want to do anything unless it was easy.
     
     
   Tom was no longer good-looking.
   His nose, which had always been large, had grown even larger.
   he had also gained a lot of weight.
   His wife had left him, so for the first time ever, he was alone.
   He looked lonely and depressed, not at all like he used to be.
     
     
   Steve was a nobody in middle school.
   People hardly noticed him.
   He was small, quiet, and a bit ugly, with crooked teeth.
   What he was good at was English.
   His English was even better than their teacher's.
   After graduating, he went to a low-ranked university and eventually   dropped out (退学)  .
     
     
   For a while he worked as a tour guide.
   Then, 10 years ago, he and some friends started a little company which is now a great success.
   In fact, he had become a rich, generous man.
   He had a nice, warm smile and his success hadn't gone to his head.
   It was a pleasure to be around him.
     
     
   Betty used to be the most beautiful girl in school.
   She wasn't very smart, but she was a great singer.
   She made a video of her singing, and it went viral.
   She became famous overnight, but it only lasted for about two years.
   After that, her fans lost interest in her.
   She tried to become an actress, but she failed.
   She had been too stiff and nervous in front of the camera.
     
     
   Betty had a nice husband who seemed to adore her.
   The one tragedy in her life happened about five years ago, when she lost her daughter to a rare form of cancer.
   Because of that, her hair had begun to turn grey.
   Jessica couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
   Betty had had such high hopes and tremendous energy as a girl, but things didn't work out.
     
     
   And then there was John.
   John used to be the school bully.
   He had been big, strong and mean.
   He hadn't been nice to anybody.
   It seemed that he was always angry and ready to hit someone.
   After graduating, he joined the army and went overseas to fight in a war.
   He saw many people die and he grew to hate fighting of any kind.
   Then one day he was nearly killed when the helicopter he was in was shot down.
   He survived the crash, but he lost a leg and was hospitalized for nearly a year.
     
     
   Now he had completely changed.
   He had gentle, kind eyes, and a beautiful smile.
   He was working for an organization that provides support for elderly people.
   From Jessica's point of view, John had turned out to be a wonderful surprise.
     
     
   In the end, Jessica was glad she went to her reunion.
   It was interesting to see how people had changed through the years.
   Still, she was happy to get home and appreciate everything that she had.
     
     
   Language of Love
     A broken heart   is what happens when a love relationship is broken off.
   Someone with a broken heart is usually depressed which means they feel awful and don't enjoy life.
     
     
     To fall in love with   someone can be a wonderful experience, with powerful emotions.
   People in love often share their deepest feelings and emotions, which is intimacy.
     
     
     To find someone attractive   usually means there is a physical desire to be with them.
   Physical attraction may sometimes lead to love, but in many cases it may only lead to a short-term sexual relationship.
     
     To flirt with someone   means to let him or her know that you want to be approached.
   Some people use their eyes or a smile to flirt . 
     
     
     Jealousy   is what often happens when two people compete for the love of the same person.
   The one who losses may be very jealous of the other and try to break things up.
     
   Reactions to News
   Some people can remain   calm   even when everyone else is confused and upset.
   When you are calm, you can think clearly and make good decisions.
     
     
   People   react to disappointing news   in different ways.
    Sometimes they get discouraged and lose their confidence.
   Sometimes they get depressed and begin to cry or even get drunk.
     
     
   People are   furious   when they are extremely angry.
   People who are furious at each other may end up fighting or trying to hurt each other.
     
     
     To be excited   is usually a good thing.
   People can become excited while watching a soccer match and seeing their team score a goal.
   The opposite of "exciting" is "dull" or "boring".
     
     
   Someone is   terrified   if they are extremely afraid and shaking with fear.
   Terrified people will often scream and run away from whatever is threatening them.
     
     
   Office Gossip
   A: What are you so excited about?
   B: Have you heard? John and Sylvia are getting a divorce.
   A: No, I haven't, but I'm not suprised. To be honest, I've never expected their marriage to last very long. She is so aggressive and bossy.
       
     
   B: Well, I think John had an affair! He met someone on a business trip.
   A: Really? How did you find THAT out?
   B: Sherry told me a few minutes ago.
   A: Oh, Sherry. She is such a gossip. I wouldn't believe anything she says.
   B: No, really. This time I think we can trust her. I don't think she's making it up.
     
     
   A: Wow, this is news. What about their baby?
   B: I don't know. I haven't heard anything about that.
   A: Well, that's too bad. Even though I don't like either one of them, I feel sorry for them. It's so sad when this happens, especially for the child.
   B: You are right. It's easy to get caught up in all the gossip and forget to think about the serious consequences.
     
     
   A: Still, I can't say I'm surprised. Can you imagine living with someone like that?
   B: No, I can't. She is so self-centered.
   A: And what about him?
   B: I don't know him well, but he seems nice.
   A: I think so too. I'm not sure how he ever fell for her.
   B: Are you kidding? Hormones, you have to admit that she's physically attractive. He probably couldn't help himself. And now it seems he has fallen for someone else.
     
     
   A: I guess he can't control himself. I've heard he has a drinking problem, too.
   B: Oh, I wasn't aware of that. Well, what's new, right? Something's never changed.
   A: That's for sure. Hey, what about lunch?
   B: No thanks. I'd better get back to work.
     

2. L2-U2-P5 英语流利说 2-2-5 懂你英语 Level2 Unit2 Part5

 This is what Lisa did earlier today. 
   This morning she got up at 6:30.
   She got dressed between 6:30 and 6:40. 
   It took 10 minutes for her to get dressed.
     
     
   At 6:45 she ate breakfast. 
   She had juice and cereal for breakfast.
   After breakfast she brushed her teeth. 
   She left for school at 7:00.
     
     
   This morning she took the subway   to school.
   It took 45 minutes to get to school.
   She got to school at 7:45. 
   Her first class began at 8:00.
     
       
   At 12 she had lunch with her friends. 
   After lunch she had classes until 2:50.
   Before going home, she hung out with her friends. 
   They went to the mall and bought bubble tea.
     
     
   She left the mall at 3:45. 
   She got home a few minutes ago, at 4:00.
   Now it's 4:10, and she's cleaning her room. 
   She's putting away her clothes.
   She's also deciding what homework she's going to do first.
     
     
   This Sunday, Dan is going to have a party. 
   It's going to be at his house.
   The best way to go there is by subway. 
   If you go by car, there's no place to park.
     
     
   These are the directions to Dan's house.
   Take the subway to West 8th Street. 
   Go out the North exit.
   In front of the exit is a park.
   Turn right and go 2 blocks, to 3rd Avenue.
   When you get there, turn left and go about 50 meters.
   The house will be on your right.
   The address is 755 3rd Avenue.
   Sometimes there's a large dog in front of the house.
   Don't be afraid. 
   It won't bite.
     
     
   a cube: A cube is a   3 dimensional   object with equal sides.   
   a circle: A circle has a   radius   and a   diameter  .
   a sphere: A   sphere   is round and has the shape of a ball.
   perpendicular lines:   Perpendicular   lines meet at a 90-degree angle.   
   area: The   area   of a rectangle is its length times its width.
   volume: The   volume   of a cube is its length times its width times its height.   
     
     
     fingers:   We have 5 fingers on each hand. We use our fingers to hold things.
     toes:   We have 5 toes on each foot. They are at the end of each foot.
     legs:   We use our legs to walk. Our feet are at the end of each leg.
     arms:   We use our arms to carry things. Our hands are at the end of each arm.
     teeth:   Our teeth are in our mouth. We use our teeth to   chew   food.
     
     
     the Sun:   The Sun gives us energy.
     the Moon  : The light from the Moon comes from the Sun.
     Earth :  This is our planet. It goes around the Sun once a year.
     stars  : We see stars as small points of light in the night sky.
     Galaxy  : A Galaxy has billions of stars. Except for our own Galaxy, they are very far away.
     
     
   A: Good afternoon. May I help you?
   B: Yes, I'd like to look at some of your dresses. They're on sale, right?
   A: Yes, everything is on sale.
   B: Can you recommend something?
   A: Is this for business or casual?
   B: It's something for the office.
     
     
   A: Well, we have some very nice black dresses.
   B: May I see them?
   A: Sure, please come with me.
     
     
   A: Here are two very nice black dresses. One is fairly short and the other is ankle length.
   B: They both look very nice.
   A: Why don't you try them on? There's a dressing room over there.
   B: Sure, thanks.
     
     
   B: The short one is nice but a bit too sexy for the office. What do you think?
   A: It looks very nice on you. If you wear this white jacket with it, it doesn't show too much.
   B: Yes, it covers my arms, I like it. How much is it?
   A: After the discount, it's $300.
   B: 300 dollars? Does that include the white jacket?
   A: No, it doesn't. The white jacket is $150.
   B: What about the other dress? I'd like to try it on too.
     
     
   B: What do you think?
   A: I think it looks great on you. It shows your figure, but not too much.
   B: I think it’s too big in the waist.
   A: We can fix that. We can take it in a bit.
   B: What about the price?
   A: After the discount, it's $350.
     
     
   B: If I buy the white jacket too, can you give me a better price?
   A: Yes, I think I can give you another 10% discount.
   B: So that's 450 dollars for both of them, right?
   A: Yes, that's right.
     
     
   B: OK. Could you hold them for a couple of hours? I want my husband to see them. He can help me decide.
   A: OK. I'll hold them for you until 4:00.
   B: Thanks. I'll be back in around an hour.
     

3. L5-U2-P2 英语流利说 5-2-2 懂你英语 Level5 Unit2 Part2

 People have wondered about the nature of light and color since ancient times.
   Some people thought that light came from the eye rather than coming into the eye.
   To see, light was projected from our eyes to illuminate things as we look at them.
   Now we know that what we see is mostly reflected light, like the light from the moon which is reflected sunlight.
   Light comes from a light source, such as the Sun, and either enters our eyes directly or after it has reflected off something.
     
       
   In 1666, Sir Isaac Newton showed that when light passes through a prism, it separates into all the other colors.
   This clearly demonstrated that light is composed of many different colors.
   The difference between colors is due to their wavelength.
   A prism separates light into different colors because each color has a different wavelength.
   The angle at which a color bends in a prism depends on its wavelength.
     
     
   Colors with shorter wavelengths bend more than colors with longer wavelengths.
   This explains why red light bends less than yellow light.
   The reason is because its wavelength is longer.
   Of the visible colors, violet light has the shortest wavelength, so it bends the most.
     
     
   If you have ever painted, you know that different colors can be combined to create new colors.
   For example, if you add white to a color, you lighten it.
   However, the three primary colors, red, blue and yellow cannot be made by mixing other colors.
   It isn't possible to mix any combination of colors to create red, blue or yellow.
   Mixing two primary colors creates a secondary color such as purple, which is made by mixing blue and red.
   Mixing three primary colors creates a tertiary color such as brown or gray.
     
     
   Color’s Effect
   Color are wonderful to look at, but they also affect people in ways besides sight.
   They have a powerful effect on how people feel and behave.
   Artists know this and so do business people who want to influence how people feel about their products and advertisements.
   For example, research has shown that people can be more productive if they are working in a blue room.
   The color purple is often linked to wealth and royalty and is seen as a mysterious, spiritual color.
   Some colors have even been associated with changes in blood pressure.
   Though color can influence how we feel and act, these effects may depend on personal and cultural factors.
   Therefore, it's important not to believe everything you hear about the effects of color.
     
     
   Though there are differences between cultures, there is a general agreement about some colors.
   The color red, for example, is a warm color, associated with energy and excitement in many cultures.
   In China, red is associated with fire, energy and good fortune.
   On the other hand, one experiment showed that exposing students to red before taking a test can have a negative effect.
   In fact, of all the colors, research shows that red has the most powerful effect on human behavior.
     
     
   Certainly, it's interesting and important to better understand the psychological effects of light and color.
   To gain a better understanding of these effects, more research is needed.
     
     
   Verbs for Business 1
   To   promote  : to move someone up in an organization, usually because she has done a good job.
   We're going to promote her to manager.
   If we don't promote him, he'll probably be upset.
   The opposite of promote is   demote  .
     
     
   To   transfer  : to move someone or something from one place to another.
   The company is going to transfer him to Shanghai next month.
   She doesn't want to be transferred because her husband is against moving to another city.
     
     
   To   motivate  : to get someone interested and excited about doing something.
   She's really good at motivating her employees.
   One way to motivate someone is to encourage them by giving constructive feedback.
     
     
   To   postpone :  to delay or put off something until a later date.
   We had to postpone the presentation, because she wasn't ready to give it.
   We can't continue to postpone the meeting or they will cancel it completely.
     
     
   To   evade  : to escape or avoid something.
   They are trying to evade taking responsibility for their failure.
   He was arrested for tax evasion.
     
     
     
   Verbs for Business 2
   To   assign  : to give someone a task to do.
   His boss assigned him to increase sales by fifty percent (50%).
   Her company assigned her to find out more about the competition.
     
     
   To   penalize :  to fine or punish someone for doing something wrong.
   They were penalized for breaking the rules.
   You will be penalized if you are late.
     
     
   To   lay off  : to fire or sack a worker because business is bad.
   The company was failing, so he was laid off.
   Our company had to lay off 50% of our employees.
   A company may have to lay off workers when business is bad.
     
     
   To   recruit:   to look for new employees to hire.
   They are expanding their business and recruiting new employees.
   She joined the company after she was recruited at a job fair.
     
     
   To   resign  : to voluntarily quit one's job.
   His boss didn't like him, so he was asked to resign.
   She resigned from her job because of health reasons.
     
     
     
   Thoughts in Love
   M: WOW, you look different today.
   W: You mean more beautiful?
   M: What's with all the makeup?
   W: I felt like dressing up today. Don't you like it?
   M: Do you want me to be honest?
   W: Of course, but I know you. You are so old fashioned.
   M: I just think you don't need so much makeup to look beautiful. That lipstick is like a fire engine.
   W: Well, not everyone agrees with you. And I like looking different once in a while.
       
     
   M: I'm glad I'm not a woman. There are too many things to deal with.
   W: Yes, you wouldn't be good at it. You always wear the same old clothes, it's boring.
   M: Maybe it's boring, but it's comfortable.
   W: You're never going to find a new girlfriend if you don't change.
   M: I'm not interested in women anymore, you know that, there is nothing but trouble.
       
     
   W: Am I trouble?
   M: You and I are just opposites. You are always doing something new, and I would rather just relax.
   W: You sound like an old man. You need to act younger. You need to be more exciting.
   M: And then what? Find my soulmate?
   W: Really, you sound so cynical. Don't you believe in love?
   M: Sure, in the movies maybe.
     
     
   M: Love is an illusion. It never lasts, and once it starts just difficult to break off.
   W: Your problem is that you expect too much from love. You are too romantic. You need to be more practical.
   M: I thought you were the romantic one.
   W: I have a romantic side, yes, but I'm practical. My man has got to be good looking, well-dressed and hopefully rich.
   M: Ah ha, then that lets me out.
   W: Yes, you've got a lot to learn.
     
     
   W: Now, where are we going for dinner? Somewhere expensive?
   M: OK, you've convinced me that your makeup isn't so bad. But I think it's your turn to pay.
   W: That's what you think.
     

4. L5-U2-P4 英语流利说 5-2-4 懂你英语 Level5 Unit2 Part4

 World's Oldest Murder 1
   When the body of the Iceman was discovered, nobody realized that he had been murdered.
   It was first believed that he got lost in a storm and had died in the cold weather.
   However, when the discovery of an arrowhead in his body, it was clear that the Iceman was murdered.
   Analysis showed that the arrow had entered his body and cut through an artery in his chest.
   This would have caused severe bleeding and weakened him.
   With the loss of blood, he couldn't have survived for very long after being shot.
     
     
   Further examinations revealed something more about how he may have died.
   Using a CT scan, scientists found blood in his brain.
   This indicated that he was struck on the head before he died.
   Either he was hit on the head or he fell and struck his head on a rock.
   This probably happened when he was in a weakened condition after being shot by the arrow.
     
     
   Additional evidence showed that the arrow itself had been pulled out of the body.
   It had been pulled out with force, leaving just the arrowhead inside.
   Even more interesting was what was left behind, the copper ax.
   The technology needed to make such a weapon was new at the time.
   As a result, scientists believe it was a sign of great wealth and position.
   This suggests that the Iceman may have been an important leader.
   It also raises the question of why the killer didn't take it with him.
     
   World's Oldest Murder 2
   If the Iceman was important, he may have been the leader of his community.
   One leading theory about his death is that he was assassinated.
   In ancient times, to take power, you often had to kill the leader.
   Perhaps the Iceman was the target of an assassination.
   The murderer may have followed the Iceman and killed him from behind.
   Then, to protect his identity, he pulled out the arrow and covered the body.
   He left the copper ax behind so that he couldn't be identified.
   According to this theory, the Iceman was killed by a member of his own community.
   Therefore, the murderer was probably someone he knew.
     
     
   Another theory is that the Iceman was killed after a battle with outsiders.
   Since his community was located along an important trade route, it may have been attacked.
   The Iceman may have been a military leader fighting to defend his village.
   Perhaps he was in a battle with the attackers on the day that he died.
   According to this theory, he was fleeing from the battle and was caught from behind in an isolated area.
     
     
   However, from an analysis of his stomach, it is unlikely that he was running from anyone.
   There was a half-pound of food in his stomach when he died.
   Since food only remains in the stomach for about an hour, he must have eaten a large meal shortly before his death.
   Someone who is in a hurry would never take the time to stop and eat such a large meal.
   And if he was killed by outsiders, why didn't they take the copper ax?
   So the question remains about what happened on that final day of his life.
   The truth is that nobody will ever know what really happened.
   The Iceman's murder will remain a mystery forever.
     
     
   To   interfere  , to slow something down or make it worse by getting in the way.
   Having too many meetings is interfering with our work.
   I told her to leave us alone and not to interfere in our problems.
     
     
   To   reflect  , to think about or consider something, or to throw back image as from a mirror.
   Before I make a decision, I'd like some time to reflect.
   When you look into a mirror, your image is reflected back to you.
     
     
   To   influence  , to have an effect on something.
   I think she can help us influence the others.
   I don't think we can influence the final result.
   They don't care what we think, so it will be difficult to influence their decision.
     
       
   To   focus  , to bring attention to something and make it clear.
   If we don't focus on something, we won't get anything done.
   We aren't sure what to focus on, so everyone is confused.
       
       
   To   exaggerate  , to describe something is larger or more important than it really is.
   It's difficult to believe what he says because he always exaggerates.
   She said she could sell anything, but of course that was an exaggeration.
     
     
       
     Features of Information 
   To be   persuasive  , able to cause people to do something by asking or giving reasons.
   She is good at selling things, because she is very persuasive.
   You can be more persuasive if you have facts to support you.
     
       
   To be   convincing  , to provide powerful support for a believe and to overcome doubts.
   The evidence that he was murdered was convincing.
   I couldn't convince them that I was telling the truth, so they arrested me.
     
       
   To be   misleading  , to lead away from the truth, to give a false idea.
   Their advertisements are misleading, so be careful not to be fooled.
   He tried to mislead me into buying it by exaggerating the benefits.
     
     
   To be   unique  , to be highly unusual or different from others.
   I like that design, because it's unique and attractive.
   She has a unique personality that some people don't like.
     
       
   To be   ordinary  , to be just like others, not different from any other.
   Their products are ordinary with nothing except a low price to recommend them.
   The food at that restaurant was expensive, but the taste was ordinary.
     
     
     
   Improving Personal Image
   M: Did you see the beautiful sunset tonight? It was gorgeous.
   W: No I didn't, but I'm surprised you even noticed such things.
   M: Really? Why are you surprised?
   W: You're so focused on your work. I didn't imagine you had room in your mind for nature.
   M: Really? Well, I just don't show it. I make a point of it to notice such things as often as I can.
     
         
   W: You know, I think you should try to show that side of yourself more often. It will improve your image.
   M: So you think my image needs improving?
   W: Well, it wouldn't hurt to be a little less formal and to smile once in a while. You might also improve the way you dress, maybe with a few more warm colors?
     
     
   M: I'm afraid I don't know much about fashion design and warm colors.
   W: Do you really think the way we dress influences people?
   W: You must be kidding. The first impression you give is based on your appearance and clothes. Don't you ever notice the kind of shoes someone is wearing?
   M: No, I hardly notice.
     
     
   W: Well then, that explains why your shoes are always the same. How old the shoes you are wearing now?
   M: These? I don't know, probably a year or so.
   W: And I bet you've been wearing them almost everyday. They look like it.
   M: That's right. These shoes are comfortable and they weren't expensive. I'll bet yours were expensive.
   W: Well, they weren't cheap. I think it's important to dress right, to dress for the occasion and make a good impression.
     
         
   M: OK, why don't we go shopping together this weekend? You can be my fashion adviser.
   W: What's it for me?
   M: If I like your advice, I'll buy you another pair of shoes. How's that?
   W: OK, but they won't be cheap. You understand that, right?
   M: Of course, but it'll be worth it if you think my new look will improve my image.
   W: I guarantee it. With me as an adviser, you can't go wrong.
     

5. L6-U1-P2 英语流利说 6-1-2 懂你英语 Level6 Unit1 Part2

  Talking about Verbs 
   Now that you're studying English at a higher level, you need to be able to talk about the language itself.
   One of the  biggest  areas of  confusion  for students is the  difference  between the past  tense  and the present perfect.
   The past tense is indicated by use of the past tense marker, represented here by V(d).        (sub)
   Here are some examples of regular verbs and their past tense forms.
    V                                   V  （  d  ） 
    walk                            walked 
    wait                             waited 
    arrive                          arrived 
    open                            opened 
    close                            closed 
   So, as you can see, for regular verbs the past tense forms is indicated by the addition of an -ed at the end of the verb.
   However, some of the most common verbs in English are irregular, so it is important to learn them.
   Here are some examples.
      V                                       V  （  d  ） 
    eat                                         ate 
    drink                                    drank 
    get                                         got 
    take                                       took 
    come                                    came 
    be                                 was/were 
   Altogether there are over 200 irregular verbs in normal use.
     
     
   Many people think that the past tense  form  only  indicates  past time.
   However, that is  only  one of the  possible  meanings.
   The past tense form is also used to  express  something that is unlikely or  imaginary, from the speaker's point of  view. 
   Here is an example:  "He wishes he  had  a car." 
   The fact is that he doesn't have a car, so the use of "had" indicates that it isn't  real : it's imaginary.
     “If he had a car, he could drive us to school.”  
   Again, " he doesn't have a car, so he can't drive us to school. "
   This condition expresses something that isn't a fact.
   It's a counter-factual condition, which means it goes against what we know or believe.
     
     
   Look at these two  sentences .
    If  she  waits  another week, she can save money… 
    If  she  waited  another week, she could save money because there’s  going to be a  sale.  
   Both sentences are  correct,  but there is a difference in  meaning. 
   In the top sentence, the condition that she waits is more likely from the speaker's point of view.
   In the bottom sentence, the speaker thinks it's less likely that she's going to wait.
     
     
     
   When we talk about experience or results, we use the present perfect form.
   This form uses "have" followed by the participle.
   For regular verbs, this participle is identical to the past tense form.
    V                         V  （  d  ）                    V(n) 
    walk                   walked                  walked 
    wait                    waited                   waited 
    arrive                 arrived                  arrived 
    open                  opened                 opened 
    close                 closed                   closed 
    For irregular verbs, this participle is often different. 
    V                        V（d）               V(n) 
    eat                              ate                         eaten 
    drink                         drank                      drunk 
    get                              got                           got 
    take                           took                         taken 
    come                        came                        come 
    be                            was/were                   been 
   When we use the  perfect  form, the  primary  focus is on the  subject  of the sentences, not the  verb. 
   It emphasizes condition, experience or results rather than actions or events.
   In these two examples, we see the contrast.
   She has already left the hotel.
   She left the hotel a few minutes ago.
   The top sentence gives the condition or state of the subject and the bottom sentence expresses an event.
   The top sentence describes the condition of the subject of the sentence, she, rather than an event.
   The fact that she has left the hotel is now a part of her experience, or state of being.
   The bottom sentence expresses the action, or event: "she left," which is something she did.
   In general, the past tense form expresses of events or acts, and the perfect form expresses the experience or conditions.
   When we use the perfect form of the verb we focus on the state of the subject and not an action or event.
     
     
     
   Note that the past form expresses events at specific points or periods of time, such as last year or the past five years.
    He worked at several companies(in the past) 
    He finished the project last week.(in the past, last week) 
   These events are distanced   from the speaker's point of view.
   The perfect form expresses the state of something from the speaker's point of view, not distanced in time.
     He has worked at several companies.(his experience now)  
     He has finished the project.(his experience now)  
   These two sentences are incorrect in confusing, because they give two different points of view.
     He has worked at that company until last week.(incorrect)  
     He has finished the project last week.(incorrect and confusing)  
     
   Here are some sentences that use the perfect form.
     He has finished practicing.  
     He has been practicing.  
     She may have eaten.  
     Her computer may have been stolen.  
   Some are simple, such as the first one, and some are complex, like the last one.
   The last one is complex because it combines many verb forms,including the passive.
     
     
     
    Changes in Life 
    What are you thinking about? 
   You look so pensive.
   I was  just  thinking  about  how much things  have  changed  since  I  was  a child.
    Oh, sometimes I think about that too. 
   What were your thoughts?
   Nostalgic for sure.
   Generally I remember the best times, and then I get a bit depressed when I think about how things have changed.
     
       
       
   What kinds of changes depress you?
   Well, one thing is the pace of life.
   Everything is so fast paced now, so there isn't enough time to think.
    That's because you've grown up. 
    You're not a child anymore, so you have responsibilities. 
       
       
     
   It's more than just having responsibilities.
    My parents had to work, but they also had time for other things. 
   My dad  used to  go fishing  on  the weekends, and my mom used to work  in  her garden.
   She  loved  to grow flowers and vegetables.
   Yeah, that does sound nice.
    Living in the city makes things like that really difficult. 
       
     
   Yes, living in the city is certainly part of the problem, right?
   Well, that depends on you.
   You make things sound as  if  you have no choices in life.
   It's the choices you've made that put you where you are   now.
    Sure, that's certainly part of the problem. 
    I guess I've changed. 
     
     
       
    You want a lifestyle that you can't have in the city. 
    If you really wanted those things, you could move back to the countryside. 
   No that's not an option.
    If I did that my wife would divorce me. 
    Have you ever talked about it with her? 
   No, I haven't.
   We don't talk about things like that.
   We are both too busy.
   I think she's even busier than I am.
    Well, maybe she would surprise you. 
    Maybe she'd like a change too. 
   You should talk to her.
   Emm, I don't know.
     
       
       
   What about you?
   I'm okay.
   My wife and I expect things as they are.
   We try to think positively, and we support each other.
   It sounds like you have a good   marriage . 
   Yes, we do.
   And one reason for that is that we share our thoughts with each other.
   We don't want to grow apart like so many couples.
     
     
   Maybe I'll surprise my wife, and start sharing my thoughts with her.
    Well if you don't do it now, nothing is going to change. 
   Yes, you probably right.
   I'll think about it.
     
     
     
    Winter in Antarctica : Staying sane at the Bottom of World 
   On Antarctica, the world's coldest continent, the average high temperature is -49 degrees Celsius.  In the summer, the sun never sets, and in the winter, it never rises.  Keeping sane there is its own special challenge.   The McMurdo Station is a research base perched on the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf, the world's largest body of floating ice.   The station is  administered   by the United States and is the largest community in Antarctic.
   Capable of  supporting  more than 1200 residents, the population  of the station drops  to 150 brave (perhaps  foolish ) people when winter begins in March. Their task is to  maintain  the station during the months of  total  night . The biologists, astronomers, geologists, and  climate  scientists who  were  there before,  have  gone,  as  any research is impossible in the brutal  winter.
   Every day the  remaining  staff of maintenance personnel  perform  their  routine tasks  and make  repairs  when needed.   Sometimes they peer through the darkness toward their friends from New Zealand, at Scott Base, about two miles away.    Though most of the time they're just voices on the radio, it's nice to have neighbors not too far away. Together, they share a power grid and one coast of a dark forbidding continent. 
   Though the days are  dark  and  freezing  cold in the  depths  of winter, the moon will  rest  above the  horizon  for weeks  at  a time, Its pale light  illuminates  the cold, craggy  landscape  as if  acknowledging  a companion and reaffirming the  bonds  of life,  So even for those who live in the  darkest  part of the Earth, there's light. 
       
     
       
       
    Chernobyl : Lessons from Nature 
   On April 26, 1986, Unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in northern Ukraine, then a part of the Soviet Union, was shut down for an unauthorized safety test.  When the nuclear fuel rods hit the cooling water, the fission reaction  accelerated  out of control due to a  sudden  power surge . This caused the reactor to overheat  and build up pressure  until  its structure failed and it blew up,  releasing  large amounts of radiation. It took officials a whole day to  comprehend  the scale of the  disaster  and to order an  evacuation  of the surrounding area. Some 50,000 people had to leave, not knowing that they would never return.
   In the  following  months, massive  efforts  were made to  decontaminate  the area  while increased  radiation  levels  were  detected  across much of Europe. Fallout from the disaster continues to this day, decades later, and long-term  effects  such as cancers are still being  investigated . Estimates of the number of deaths that will  eventually  result from the accident vary  enormously. 
    The forest area near the reactor site is one of the most radioactive places on Earth. Named the Red Forest because its trees turned a reddish-brown color  as  they died, the forest is trying to make a recovery. Animals such as elk and eagles  have  been  seen  in the area. And birch trees grow where the radioactive trees of the forest were bulldozed and buried by the Soviet government.
    Some people have returned as well, mostly former  residents  who returned illegally after the evacuation. The old company town of Pripyat, once  home to 50,000 plant workers is still  deserted , but is slowly being  reclaimed  by the forest.  It  seems  that nature can  recover  and even thrive  where  humans cannot.  Let's hope that humans can learn from this experience . Chernobyl, and more  recently , Fukushima in Japan, have lessons to teach us.
     
     

6. L5-U2-P1 英语流利说 5-2-1 懂你英语 Level5 Unit2 Part1

 Psychology of Love 1
   One of the most important human emotions is love.
   However, there are many different kinds of love.
   Romantic love is certainly one of the most interesting kinds of love.
   It can be beautiful, wonderful, and heartbreaking, sometimes all at the same time.
   Romantic love can make our lives full and meaningful, but it can also be an escape from loneliness and suffering.
     
         
   If romantic love has a purpose, neither psychology nor biology has discovered it.
   However, throughout history, philosophers have offered opinions about it.
   The Greek philosopher, Plato, said love makes us complete.
   He relates a comic story in which humans originally had 4 arms, 4 legs and 2 faces.
   Then, when they angered the Gods, they were cut in half.
   Since then every person has been searching for their soulmate, the other half of his or her self.
     
     
   Another philosopher believed that love is an illusion.
   In his view, people fall in love because they believe the other person can make them happy.
   But in fact, this is just an illusion designed to make us have children.
   Once we have children, we are right back to where we were, still searching for happiness.
   For nature this is a success, because we have children to maintain our species.
   But it leaves us still searching for something more.
     
     
   In Buddhism, romantic love is seen as an attempt to satisfy our desires.
   These desires are a defect, something we need to overcome.
   The way to free ourselves from suffering is to remove desires.
   Once free of desires we can reach a state of peace and wisdom.
   This state of being is called nirvana.
     
     
     
   Psychology of Love 2
   In one of China's greatest classical novels, Dream of the Red Chamber, love is presented as a state of foolishness.
   A young man falls in love with a beautiful woman who tricks and makes a fool of him.
   This results in conflicting emotions of love and hate which tear him apart.
   To cure him, a priest gives him a magic mirror.
   The priest tells him to look into the reverse side of the mirror, but never to look in the front side.
     
       
   When the young man looks into the mirror, he doesn't like what he sees, so he looks into the forbidden side, the front side.
   There he sees the lovely image of his love, who invites him into the mirror to be with her.
   He does this several times until he is finally dragged away in chains.
   He dies while looking into the mirror.
   Perhaps the point of the story is that all such attachments should be avoided.
     
     
   A famous French writer, Simone de Beauvoir has another point of view.
   For her, love is the desire to integrate with another, like in a great friendship.
   However, it is important that lovers not become too dependent on the other person.
   Becoming dependent on another person can lead to boredom or power games.
   Lovers should support each other in discovering themselves and developing their potentials.
   In this way, romantic love can enrich the world.
     
     
   Falling in love can be exciting and frightening.
   Maybe we lose ourselves and maybe we find ourselves.
   Will you dare to find out?
     
     
   Describing Situations
     Forbidden   or   prohibited  : to be against the rules or not allowed.
   Smoking is prohibited on many airplanes.
   Athletes are forbidden from taking certain kinds of drugs.
   If something is allowed, it isn't forbidden or prohibited.
     
     
     Risky  : to be a bit dangerous or unsafe.
   A risky investment maybe not be a good idea for people who worry too much.
   If you make a risky investment, you may lose a lot of money.
   What level of risk are you willing to take?
     
     
     Ridiculous  : to be foolish or not make any sense.
   Their proposal is ridiculous because it requires too much time and money.
   Without enough quality practice, it's ridiculous to expect much progress.
     
     
     Innovative  : to come up with a new idea or way of doing things.
   Innovative people are usually clever and creative.
   To innovate means to come up with a new way of doing something.
   Innovative thinking can lead to the development of new products and services.
     
     
     Conservative  :to be conservative is to avoid taking risks.
   Conservative investors try to make safe investments.
   A conservative investor wants to minimize risks.
   A conservative approach to management may discourage innovation.
     
     
     
   Interacting with Others
     To disguise  : to change something's appearance so that it can't be recognized.
   He wasn't good at disguising himself so weknew who he was right away.
   She wore a disguise so I wasn't sure who she was.
     
     
     To clarify  : to explain or make something clear.
   We weren't sure what he meant until he clarified his ideas.
   Everyone was confused until she clarified what she meant.
     
     
     To confuse:   to make things difficult to understand; the opposite of to clarify.
   Everyone was confused because her presentation was so disorganized.
   He confuses people because he keeps changing his ideas.
   The instructions were confusing, so nobody knew what to do.
     
     
     To ignore  : to try not to notice or deal with something; to act as if something isn't there.
   We tried to ignore her, but she finally stood up and told everyone to shut up.
   People don't respect or like her, so they ignore her in the office.
     
     
     To confirm  : to indicate that something is correct or completed as expected.
   We weren't sure if he was going to accept our offer until he called and confirmed it.
   We can't start the project without a written confirmation that we agree on the details.
     
     
       
   The Teenage Years
   A: What's so funny? What are you writing about?
   B: I'm writing about something I saw earlier this morning.
   A: Really? Do you keep a journal?
   B: Yes, I do. Every weekend I write about things that happened during the week.
     
       
   A: How long you've been doing it?
   B: I've been doing it fairly regularly since high school.
   A: Are you going to turn it into a book?
   B: I don't know. Maybe I will someday, but for now it's just for me.
     
     
   A: So what was so interesting about what you saw this morning?
   B: I was in the same coffee shop I usually go to and a group of teenagers came in. I couldn't help watching them and trying to hear some of their conversation.
   A: That must have been interesting.
   B: Yes, it was. The more I watched them, the more I realized how glad I am that I don't have to go through that stage of life again.
     
     
   A: So it brought back some memorizes?
   B: Yes, it did. It was so clear how uncomfortable some of them were, yet they were pretending to have a good time. At least, that's how it seemed to me.
   A: Why do you think they were pretending?
   B: It was just the way they smiled and laughed. It seemed unnatural and overdone, as if they were bad actors.
       
     
   B: A couple of the boys were really awkward around the girls, and two of the girls were wearing too much makeup. I had to stop myself laughing.
   A: Yes, I can imagine it. I can remember wanting to be popular when I was in high school. Now that you mention it, it wasn't a great time, though I had some fun too.
   B: I guess it wasn't so bad at the time, except when I was preparing for my university entrance examinations.
   A: Yes, that was awful. My parents put tons of pressure on me, so I thought I was going to go crazy.
     
     
   A: What about girls? Did you have any girlfriends?
   B: There was one girl I had a crush on, but I thought she was interested in somebody else. I didn't find out until much later that she was interested in me too. It was a lost opportunity, one of many.
   A: Really? You should become a writer or make a movie. You have a great imagination.
   B: To be honest, it's much easier to image things than actually do things.
   A: You can say that again.
     

7. L5-U2-3-4 Business Terms 英语流利说 懂你英语

 To  merge : to combine or come together.
   Those two companies used to be competitors, but now they have merged into one company.
   When the two companies merged, many people were laid off.
   To  acquire : to buy or take possession.
   Some big companies grow by acquiring other companies.
   One way to protect your business is to acquire your competitors.
   An  agenda : a plan or list of items to be discussed at a meeting.
   The agenda for the meeting is still unclear.
   What are the main points on the agenda for the meeting?
   A  contract : a written document that defines the rules in a relationship.
   A contract isn't usually useful until things begin to go badly in a relationship.
   According to our contract, their first payment is due next week.
    Assets  and  liabilities : assets are what you own and liabilities are what you owe.
   Knowing the assets and liabilities of a company helps determine a company's value.
   The company had more liabilities than assets so we decided not to invest.

8. 英语流利说 Level5 Unit2 Part2 Verbs for Business2

To  assign , to give someone a task to do.
  
 His boss assigned him to increase sales  by  50%.
  
 Her company assigned her to find out more about the  competition .
  
 (His  department  was the one which was assigned to complete the project, so our department wasn't involved.)
  
 (Her boss assigned her to do too many things at the same time, so she's  frustrated. )
  
  assign    v.分配(某物); 分派，布置(工作、任务等); 指定; 指派; 委派; 派遣;
  
  competition   n.竞争; 角逐; 比赛; 竞赛; 竞争者; 对手;
  
  department   n.部; 司; 局; 处; 系; (医院的) 科; 部门;
  
  frustrated    adj.懊丧; 懊恼; 沮丧; 无效的; 没有得到满足的; 失意的; 不得志的;
  
 To  penalize , to  fine  or  punish  someone for doing something wrong.
  
 They were penalized for breaking the rules.
  
 You will be penalized if you are late
  
 (We knew we would be penalized, but the  penalty  was unfair, so we  dropped out of  the competition.)
  
 (They were all penalized so they had to work even harder to complete the project on time.)
  
  penalize    v.处罚; 惩罚; 处以刑罚; (体育运动中) 判罚; 置于不利地位; 不公正地对待;
  
  fine   n.罚金; 罚款;
  
  punish  v.处罚; 惩罚; 对…判罪; 判定…的处罚方式; 责怪(自己); 自责;
  
  penalty   n.惩罚; 处罚; 刑罚; 害处; 不利; (对犯规者的) 判罚;
  
  dropped out of   退出
  
 To  lay off , to  fire  or  sack  a worker because business is bad.
  
 The company was failing, so he was laid off.   前边是一种状态吧，正在倒闭？
  
 Our company had to lay off 50% of our employees.
  
 The company may have to lay off workers when business is bad.
  
 (He lost his job because his company had to lay off most of its employees.)
  
 (He was ding a good job, but the company had to  lay him off  because they were losing money.)
  
 (She was  laid off , not  fired , so it should be easier for her to find a new job.)
  
 "lay off"的原因通常在雇主一方，或者是业务缩小，调整，或者干脆关门，不需要那么多人手了，或者就是整个大环境就不好．这种情况下走人，称为＂laid off＂。还有一种情况是经济周期的缘故，雇主让员工回家呆着，等待效益好转的时候再回来上班。
  
 "fire"通常是由雇员自身的原因造成的，比如业绩不达标，工作态度不好，或者老板就是看你不顺眼，于是，你就会被“fired”。
  
  lay off    [词典]（通常指因工作岗位不足而） 辞退，解雇，使下岗;
  
  fire    v. 开除，解雇
  
  sack   v.解雇; 炒鱿鱼; (尤指旧时军队等) 破坏，劫掠; 擒杀(四分卫);
  
 To  recruit , to look for new employees to  hire .
  
 They are expanding their business and recruiting new employees.
  
 She joined the company after she was recruited at a  job fair ..
  
 (She was recruited to work for a  recruiting company , but now she's being laid off.)
  
  recruit    v.吸收(新成员); 征募(新兵); 动员…(提供帮助); (通过招募) 组成，组建;
  
  hire   v.租用; 租借; 聘用; 录用; 雇用; 临时雇用;
  
  job fair   招聘会
  
  recruiting company   招聘公司
  
 To  resign , to  voluntarily quit  one's job.
  
 His boss didn't like him so he was asked to resign.
  
 She resigns from her job because of health reasons.
  
 (He wanted to resign, but he needed to stay on for another year to complete the project.)
  
 (She has decided to resign because she wants to spend more time with her family.)
  
  resign    v.辞职; 辞去(某职务);
  
  voluntarily   adv.自愿地; 自动地; 主动地; 无偿地; 义务地;
  
  quit   v.离开(工作职位、学校等); 离任; 离校; 停止; 戒掉; 离开，迁出，搬离(住处);
  
 To give someone a task to do.
  
 To look for new employees to hire.
  
 To voluntarily quit one's job.
  
 She joined the company after she was recruited at a job fair.
  
 He didn't want to be transferred,  so he decided to resign and work for a competitor.
  
 She was penalized for not  submitting  her  application  on time, so she had to pay an extra fee.
  
  submite   v.提交，呈递(文件、建议等); 顺从; 屈服; 投降; 不得已接受; 表示; 认为; 主张; 建议;
  
  application    n.申请; 请求; 申请书; 申请表; (尤指理论、发现等的) 应用，运用; 涂抹; 敷用; 施用;