51
0Episode: Working Through the Storm: A Typhoon Sunday
Duration: approximately 8 minutes
Level: B1 (Intermediate)
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[Mike]: Hey everyone! Welcome back to "Learn English with Podcasts." I'm Mike.
[Sarah]: And I'm Sarah. Mike, you look tired today. What happened?
[Mike]: Sarah, don't even ask. Last night was terrible. There was a huge typhoon, and it lasted the entire night.
[Narrator]: lasted the entire night 意思是"持续了一整夜"。last 做动词表示"持续"，the entire night 是"整个晚上"。
[Sarah]: A typhoon? That sounds scary. Were you okay?
[Mike]: I was safe at home, but I couldn't sleep at all. The wind was so loud, and the rain kept hitting the windows. I just lay there listening to the storm.
[Narrator]: lay there 意思是"躺在那里"。lie 的过去式是 lay，表示"躺"的状态。listening to the storm 是现在分词做伴随状语。
[Sarah]: So when did the typhoon finally stop?
[Mike]: It calmed down around sunrise this morning. I looked outside and thought, "Great, the storm is over." But then I checked my phone.
[Narrator]: calmed down 意思是"平静下来"。calm down 是固定短语，表示从激烈状态恢复平静。
[Sarah]: Let me guess — your boss sent you a message?
[Mike]: Exactly. The group chat said: "Typhoon has passed. Normal work schedule today. See you at the office."
[Sarah]: That's so harsh. It was still dangerous outside, wasn't it?
[Mike]: The streets were full of water. Trees had fallen everywhere. But the clock-in time wouldn't wait for anyone.
[Narrator]: clock-in time 指的是"上班打卡时间"，是上班族必须准时到达的时间。wouldn't wait 表示"不会等你"。
[Sarah]: So you had to go to work on a Sunday, right after a typhoon?
[Mike]: That's right. Sunday is supposed to be a rest day. But no — up at 7 AM, put on my raincoat, and off I went.
[Narrator]: be supposed to 意思是"应该"，表示按计划或期望应该发生的事。off I went 是倒装句，表示"我就出发了"。
[Sarah]: What was the commute like?
[Mike]: Terrible. The buses were late, the subway stations were flooded in some areas, and the roads had deep puddles. I saw people wading through water just to get to work.
[Narrator]: wading through water 意思是"涉水而行"。wade 指在水中艰难行走，通常水到脚踝或小腿。
[Sarah]: That's awful. Did you make it on time?
[Mike]: Barely. I arrived at — three minutes before clock-in. My shoes were completely soaked.
[Narrator]: barely 意思是"勉强"，表示刚好达到某个标准。completely soaked 是"完全湿透"。
[Sarah]: And I bet the office wasn't much better. Was there air conditioning? Heating?
[Mike]: The power went out for two hours in the morning. No AC, no internet, no printers. We just sat there in the dark, checking our phones.
[Narrator]: the power went out 意思是"停电了"。go out 在这里表示电力中断，是常见口语表达。
[Sarah]: That's ridiculous. Why couldn't they just let people work from home?
[Mike]: Great question. Some companies did allow remote work. But many didn't. There's a popular saying: the typhoon can stop, but work never does.
[Narrator]: the typhoon can stop, but work never does — 这是中文"台风可以停，但班不能停"的英文翻译，表达了打工人的无奈。
[Sarah]: That's both funny and sad. It really shows how much pressure workers face.
[Mike]: It does. And it's not just office workers. Think about delivery drivers, bus drivers, and shop owners. They all had to go out in that storm.
[Narrator]: think about 在这里是祈使句，用来引导听众思考。delivery drivers 是"外卖骑手或快递员"。
[Sarah]: You're right. The delivery workers are especially brave. They ride their scooters through floods just to bring people their food.
[Mike]: I saw one guy on my way to work. His scooter broke down in the water. He just stood there, holding his delivery bags, looking lost.
[Narrator]: broke down 意思是"坏了、抛锚了"，常用于描述车辆故障。looking lost 表示"看起来不知所措"。
[Sarah]: That's heartbreaking. These workers don't get paid extra for working in dangerous conditions, do they?
[Mike]: Usually not. They get the same daily rate whether it's sunny or stormy. Some might even lose money if they can't complete their deliveries on time.
[Sarah]: So what can ordinary people do during a typhoon? What are the safety rules?
[Mike]: First, stay indoors. Don't go outside unless you absolutely have to. Second, stay away from windows — the wind can break glass easily.
[Narrator]: unless you absolutely have to 意思是"除非你绝对必须"。absolutely 加强语气，表示没有其他选择。
[Sarah]: Third, prepare emergency supplies — water, food, a flashlight, and a fully charged phone. And fourth, if you live near the coast, follow evacuation orders immediately.
[Mike]: Good advice. But here's the problem — when your boss says "come to work," most people feel they have no choice.
[Sarah]: That's the real issue, isn't it? Safety laws say workers shouldn't be forced to go out during extreme weather. But in practice, many people are afraid to say no.
[Narrator]: in practice 意思是"在实际操作中"，与 in theory（在理论上）形成对比。be afraid to say no 是"不敢说不"。
[Mike]: I think things are slowly changing though. After the typhoon, many people on social media shared their stories and demanded better treatment.
[Sarah]: That's good. When workers speak up, companies listen. It's important to know your rights.
[Narrator]: speak up 意思是"大胆说出来、公开发声"。know your rights 是"了解自己的权利"。
[Mike]: So Sarah, what's the lesson from today's episode?
[Sarah]: I think there are two. First, natural disasters are dangerous — always prioritize safety over work. Second, workers deserve respect and protection, even on stormy Sundays.
[Mike]: Well said. Before we go, let's review today's vocabulary!
[Narrator]: 词汇复习时间！今天学了 7 个重点词，跟着读一遍。
[Mike]: Number one — commute. C-O-M-M-U-T-E. The journey from home to work.
[Sarah]: Number two — wade. W-A-D-E. To walk through water that is not too deep.
[Mike]: Number three — soaked. S-O-A-K-E-D. Completely wet.
[Sarah]: Number four — evacuation. E-V-A-C-U-A-T-I-O-N. Leaving a dangerous place to go somewhere safe.
[Mike]: Number five — remote work. R-E-M-O-T-E W-O-R-K. Working from home instead of the office.
[Sarah]: Number six — prioritize. P-R-I-O-R-I-T-I-Z-E. To treat something as more important than other things.
[Mike]: Number seven — speak up. S-P-E-A-K U-P. To say what you think openly and bravely.
[Sarah]: Great job today! Stay safe during stormy weather, and don't forget to rest on Sundays.
[Mike]: See you next time on "Learn English with Podcasts." Bye everyone!
[Sarah]: Goodbye!
