20070926听力原文

 下面就是 20070926的听力原文：

（听力文件在：http://you.video.sina.com.cn/b/7025111-1403022983.html）

Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.

Baseball is America's national sport. So it is not unusual that many popular expressions come from baseball. But first, let me explain a little about the game.

Each baseball team has nine players. The pitcher of one team throws the ball to a batter from the other team. The batter attempts to hit the ball. If he misses, it is called a strike. If a batter gets three strikes, he loses his turn at bat and is called out. The batter also is out if he hits the ball in the air and an opposing player catches it. But if the batter hits the ball and it is not caught, the batter tries to run to one or more of the four bases on the field. The batter can run to all four bases if he hits the ball over the fence or out of the ballpark. Such a hit is called a homerun.

Now, here are some common expressions from baseball. Someone who is " on the ball"( 内行,在行) is intelligent and able to do a good job. But a person who " threw a curve ball"( 另人费解和意料之外的行动) did something unexpected. Someone who " steps up to the plate"( 开始行动) is ready to do his or her job. A " pinch hitter"( 代替者) takes the place of someone else at a job or activity.

A person who " strikes out"( 一件事做了几次也不成功) or " goes down swinging" attempted something but failed. We also might tell the person that " three strikes and you are out( 三振出局)." But someone who " hit a homerun"( 比喻非常成功) or "hit it out of the park" did something extremely well.

Sometimes I have to give information quickly, without time to think it over. Then I would say something " right off the bat( 立刻, 立即)." If someone is doing an extremely good job and is very successful, you might say he or she is " batting one thousand( 工作做得非常好,非常成功)."

If I say I want to " touch base( 有关人员进行联系)" with you, I will talk to you from time to time about something we plan to do. I might say I " touched all the bases( 和所有与业务有关的关键人物进行联系和沟通)" if I did what is necessary to complete a job or activity. And if I " covered my bases( 准备好了)" I was well prepared. However, someone who is " way off base( 与事实不符合)" did something wrong or maybe even dishonest or immoral. A person with strange ideas might be described as " out in left field( 疯了)."

Let us say I want to sell my car but I do not know exactly how much it is worth. If someone asks me the price, I might give " a ballpark figure( 大约的数目)" or "a ballpark estimate."

If someone offers me an amount that is close to my selling price, I might say the amount is " in the ballpark( 在某一范围或者限度之内)." However, if I say "we are not in the same ballpark," I mean we cannot agree because my ideas are too different from yours.

Finally, when a situation changes completely, we say "that is a whole new ballgame."

This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, was written by Shelley Gollust. I'm Faith Lapidus.