[ti:Don't Get Caught in a 'Whirlwind'] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:07.52]Now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. [00:19.20]When we talk about weather, [00:21.24]a whirlwind is a very strong wind [00:25.00]that moves in a spinning or swirling motion. [00:30.92]Whirlwinds can cause great damage to trees, [00:34.84]buildings, and other types of property. [00:39.00]They can be violent. But they can also happen [00:43.08]in a limited area and for a limited time. [00:48.56]We can use whirlwind to describe things in our lives, too. [00:54.88]These things happen in a confused rush. [00:59.28]For example, a whirlwind day [01:02.60]is filled with back-to-back activities. [01:06.28]And all those activities happen very quickly. [01:10.48]It is a frenzy! [01:13.64]Let's say your life has suddenly become very busy. [01:17.96]You can say, "Lately, my life has been a whirlwind!" [01:24.80]This can be good or bad. [01:27.72]In life, whirlwinds involve many quickly changing events and feelings. [01:35.36]Again, it is hard to keep track of everything that is happening. [01:41.16]Sometimes we use whirlwind with other words, such as activity. [01:48.76]For example, during elections the senator's office [01:53.52]was always a "whirlwind of activity." [01:57.84]You can also make that activity specific. [02:02.28]You can say, "The office was a whirlwind of political activity." [02:09.56]Let's say you had a day filled with a whirlwind of meetings. [02:15.36]You had SO many meetings that the day is a blur. [02:20.88]All the meetings happened quickly and seemed to run together. [02:27.48]You can also use this word as an adjective. [02:31.24]It describes something that is like a whirlwind [02:35.64]especially in speed or force. [02:39.12]So, if you find success as a singer, [02:43.40]you may find yourself having a whirlwind, world-wide tour one day. [02:50.36]One day, you may also find yourself in a whirlwind romance. [02:55.52]This type of romance happens fast and is very exciting. [03:02.84]Whirlwind romances usually are good subjects in movies. [03:08.28]In real life, they may happen fast, seem crazy, [03:13.80]and then end just as fast – like a weather whirlwind. [03:20.16]That is quite a tongue twister -- weather whirlwind! [03:26.92]Here's another example. [03:29.32]I don't really like shopping – unless it's for food. [03:33.80]But once, I had to go shopping to prepare for a friend's wedding. [03:39.24]I had to buy a fancy dress, fancy shoes, [03:44.32]and other fancy things to look, you know, fancy. [03:49.80]I went to a big department store [03:52.64]and was a whirlwind of careless shopping. [03:57.08]After I left, every area was a mess! [04:02.36]A whirlwind can also describe something [04:05.28]that happens violently and causes damages. [04:10.24]Let's say I have friend who is beautiful, [04:14.16]but is also a bit of a mess. [04:17.80]Things always seem to go a little crazy with Cornelia. [04:22.88]But you can't tell men that. [04:25.64]They just don't listen. [04:27.56]So, I've stopped trying. [04:30.12]When men want to date her, [04:32.56]I've learned just to mind my own business [04:35.88]and watch the craziness happen. [04:40.28]So, a whirlwind can be both a good or bad rush of activity. [04:47.04]We here at VOA Learning English [04:49.96]are a whirlwind of English teaching programs. [04:53.52]Hopefully for you ... that's a good thing. [04:58.24]Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo! [05:01.84]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM