VOA慢速英語聽力訓練素材：詞匯故事fence

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VOA慢速英語，作為國際英語學習者的重要資源，通過清晰緩慢的發(fā)音與簡潔的詞匯，為初學者及中等水平學習者搭建了通往流利英語的橋梁。它不僅幫助提升聽力理解能力，還豐富了詞匯量，增強了語感，是學習地道英語表達不可或缺的工具，對全球英語學習者的語言提升至關重要。讓我們一起進入今天的VOA慢速英語聽力訓練：詞匯故事fence。

英文原文

Today we look at the word "fence". One definition of fence is an outdoor structure that encloses an area. Fences mark property; they are barriers. A fence is different from a wall because it does not have a solid foundation along its whole length. Fences are used to keep things in, like animals, or keep things out, like criminals. Speaking of criminals, when they deal in stolen goods, they are "fencing" and could be called "offence" (but note that "offence" usually refers to a violation or wrongdoing, so this is a playful use of language). And if the criminals are fencing stolen goods while having a sword fight, you could say they are "fencing fences" (again, this is a humorous or imaginative use of the word).

今天我們來看看“fence”（柵欄）這個詞。fence的一種定義是圍起一個區(qū)域的戶外結構。柵欄標記財產(chǎn)；它們是屏障。柵欄與墻不同，因為柵欄的整個長度沒有堅實的地基。柵欄被用來把動物等東西圈在里面，或者把罪犯等東西擋在外面。說到罪犯，當他們進行贓物交易時，他們就是在“fence”（此處為俚語，意為銷贓），也可以戲稱為“offence”（但請注意，“offence”通常指冒犯或違法行為，所以這里是對語言的戲謔使用）。如果罪犯在持劍打斗的同時銷贓，你可以說他們是在“fence fences”（同樣，這是對詞語的幽默或想象性使用）。

But let's get back to "fence" meaning an outdoor structure. As we said, fences mark a property line; they give you privacy. People can't see onto your property and vice versa. To many people, this is a good way to keep peace in a neighborhood; everybody just minds their own business. Sometimes if a neighbor knows too much of your business, it could lead to problems. That is where this proverb comes from: "Fences make good neighbors." This proverb appears several times in Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall," published in 1914.

讓我們回到“fence”作為戶外結構的含義。正如我們所說，柵欄標記財產(chǎn)線；它們給你提供隱私。人們無法看到你的財產(chǎn)，反之亦然。對許多人來說，這是保持鄰里和平的好方法；每個人都只管自己的事。有時，如果鄰居對你的事情了解得太多，可能會引發(fā)問題。這就是諺語“籬笆筑成好鄰居”的由來。這句諺語在羅伯特·弗羅斯特1914年出版的詩《修墻》中出現(xiàn)了幾次。

Our next expression is "to be on the fence". If you are sitting on the fence about something, you are undecided. Fence divides property into sides, so if you are on the fence about something, you have not taken sides. 

我們的下一個表達是“to be on the fence”（猶豫不決）。如果你對某事持觀望態(tài)度，那就意味著你還沒有做出決定。柵欄將財產(chǎn)分隔成兩邊，所以如果你對某事持觀望態(tài)度，那就意味著你還沒有表態(tài)。

For example, let's say your child's school just raised $20,000. School officials want to spend that money on either new science equipment or a new outdoor play area. They ask the parents to give their opinion, but you don't know which is more important for the students. So you sit on the fence for a while; you don't feel strongly about either choice. If you did, you would certainly pick a side and not stay on the fence. 

例如，假設你孩子的學校剛剛籌集了2萬美元。學校官員想用這筆錢購買新的科學設備或新建一個戶外游樂區(qū)。他們要求家長們給出意見，但你不知道哪個對學生更重要。所以你暫時持觀望態(tài)度。你對兩個選擇都沒有強烈的偏好。如果你有的話，你肯定會選擇一邊，而不會持觀望態(tài)度。

Sometimes we turn this saying into a noun: a "fence sitter" is someone who always stays neutral. They never take sides in an argument; they do not seem to have an opinion of their own, and they never take a stance for anything. This could show a lack of courage, so calling someone a fence sitter is usually an insult. Now, that is not the case if you are simply undecided about an issue, or if you need more time to make a decision, or if you just don't care. For example, let's say there is an election coming and I have not decided who I am voting for. I can say, "I don't know, I'm on the fence between two candidates." This doesn't mean I'm unwilling or unable to pick a candidate; I just haven't yet. However, let's say I never vote because I can't make a decision, and I have a long history of being indecisive. Someone could rightfully call me a fence sitter, and that would rightfully be an insult.

有時我們把這個說法變成名詞：“fence sitter”（墻頭草）是指那些總是保持中立的人。他們在爭論中從不表態(tài)。他們似乎沒有自己的意見，也從不為任何事情表明立場。這可能表明缺乏勇氣。所以稱某人為“fence sitter”通常是一種侮辱。不過，如果你只是對一個問題拿不定主意，或者你需要更多時間來做出決定，或者你只是不在乎，那就另當別論了。例如，假設即將舉行選舉，我還沒有決定要投誰的票。我可以說：“我不知道，我在兩個候選人之間猶豫不決?！边@并不意味著我不愿意或不能選擇候選人；我只是還沒有決定。然而，假設我因為無法做出決定而從不投票，而且我一直都有猶豫不決的歷史。那么別人就有理由稱我為“fence sitter”，而這確實是一種侮辱。

以上便是VOA慢速英語聽力訓練：詞匯故事fence相關內容，希望能幫助你提升聽力！