VOA慢速英语:Inside the World of Pawn Shops

短语讲解：

1. This week on our program we tell you about pawn shops in the United States.

pawn shop 当铺，典当行
例句：I redeemed my watch from the pawn shop.
我把手表从当铺里赎回来了。

2. Pawn shops may be large or small, clean or dirty, but they are all full of stories about people's lives.

be full of 充满
例句：We should be full of confidence.
我们应当充满信心。

3. The pawnbroker will sell the item if the loan is not repaid on time.

on time 按时，准时
例句：The alarm clock awoke me on time.
闹钟按时把我闹醒了。

4. Some pawn shops specialize in jewelry, but most of them accept a wide variety of items.

specialize in专门经营，专门从事，专攻
例句：The cinema specializes in Italian films.
这家电影院专门放映意大利电影。
a wide variety of 多种多样的，广泛的
例句：In recent years lasers have found a wide variety of practical applications .
在最近几年，激光已经获得广泛的实际应用。

5. It seeks to improve the image of an industry that has a long history but not a very high place in public opinion.

seek to 企图，试图
例句：States seek to become stronger through alliance .
各国试图通过结盟而变得更加强大。

6. They’re not really in any debt, because they’ve just exchanged an item that they own for cash.

in debt 欠债，负债
例句：I'm heavily in debt at the moment, but hope to be out of debt when I get paid.
我现在负债累累, 但希望拿到工资后就能把债务还清。

7. All the customer has done is, he’s taken his property and turned it into cash.”

turn into 变成，变为
例句：The old building was turned into a library.
这座旧房子被改作了图书馆。

8. They say the higher the value of the item, the more likely that the customer will pay back the loan.

pay back 偿还
例句：I am sure that he will pay back every cent he owes you.
我敢肯定他会分文不差地把欠款还给你。

9. Rules for pawn shops differ from state to state.

differ from 与…不同
例句：That building differs greatly from this one.
那幢房子跟这一幢大不相同。

10. You might think the recession was good for business at pawn shops.

be good for 对…有好处
例句：The Olympics will be good for business.
奥运会的召开对促进商业发展有好处。

11. But bills are expensive and the electricity still goes up and people don’t get raises.

go up 上涨，上升，增加
例句：The goods have gone up in price.
这些商品的价格已经上涨。