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选秀节目成就了一批明星，给了怀有梦想的人们一个展现自我的舞台，同时，也让一些演艺公司有机会挖掘到优秀的艺人，从而达到一个“双赢”的局面。可是，在这样一个竞争激烈的比赛中，如何才能够脱颖而出吸引评委及观众的眼球呢？
Cara: And we’re back.
Dennis: So let’s pick up where we left off: ①what does it take to be the nail that sticks out in a competition where everyone is 1)vying to be 2)numero uno.
Cara: ②Well, first and foremost we need to remember that most of these aren’t beauty contests—Susan Boyle is proof of that.
Dennis: True. That’s definitely a positive side of these talent competitions: they’re driving people to be beautiful on more than just the outside.
Cara: ③Couldn’t have put it better myself. You know, I believe that these talent shows can have a lot of positive effects.
Dennis: For example?
Cara: Well, just look at all the amazing discoveries that get made. I mean, seriously, do you think some of those people would have had a hope in hell of being discovered if it weren’t for these shows?
Dennis: Probably not. But do you think it’s really necessary? I mean, there’s already a lot of great stuff out there. Do we really need more?
Cara: It’s not about us though, is it? It’s about giving an opportunity to those willing to take it.
Dennis: Can’t argue with that. And I guess you could say that it’s more than just the winner who succeeds.
Cara: Absolutely. Take American Idol—the amount of exposure given to the 3)contestants is huge. Even if they don’t win, there’s a good chance they could get a recording contract. It’s 4)win-win.
Dennis: Very true. ④In fact, I can back that up: wasn’t it Canadian Idol that had a contestant who was basically using the show to promote his band?
Cara: Wow, you’re right, that had completely slipped my mind! Hedley was the band, right?
Dennis: That’s the one. And speaking of bands, we can also look at this on a more local level. You’ve heard of Battle of the Bands?
Cara: Well, we do happen to 5)sponsor it every year Mr. Sanders, so, yes, I believe I’ve heard of it.
Dennis: Haha, alright, alright. I just didn’t want to assume. Anyway, that competition is great for communities.
Cara: Yeah, it gives people a chance to hear some fresh material while giving that fresh material a chance to reach a larger audience.
Dennis: Like you said—win-win.
Cara: Well, almost. This takes us back to our original question: how can you come out on top in these competitions?
Dennis: ⑤I think you hit the nail on the head with that word there—original. The judges don’t want to see the 6)same-old-same-old that they’ve always seen. They want something fresh, something interesting.
Cara: Nothing 7)flashy, just something 8)classy.
Dennis: Well, a little flash here and there probably won’t hurt you.
Cara: I guess that’s one of the 9)downsides, isn’t it? Other than “talent”—which is pretty broad—you never really know what the judges are looking for.
Dennis: And more on that when we come back.
Smart Sentences
① What does it take to be the nail that sticks out in a competition where everyone is vying to be numero uno. 在人人都争当第一的比赛中如何脱颖而出。
stick out: sth. is very noticeable（非常突出）。例如：
What did Carl do to make him stick out in the race?
在比赛中，卡尔究竟做了什么会显得如此突出？
② Well, first and foremost we need to remember that most of these aren’t beauty contests. 首先我们要记住，这些选秀大多数不是选美比赛。
first and foremost: used to emphasize the most important quality of sth.（最重要的，首先）。例如：
He sees himself, first and foremost, as a teacher.
他认为，他首先是一名教师。
③ Couldn’t have put it better myself. 你说得太对了。
Couldn’t have put it better myself: used to show support or agreement for what sb. has just said（对他人刚刚说的话表示支持）。例如：
—I think cell phones are just pushing people further apart, not closer together.
我认为手机让人们更加疏远，而不是拉近距离。
—Couldn’t have put it better myself.
你说得太对了。
④ In fact, I can back that up… 事实上，我想再补充说明一下……
back sth. up: support sth. by evidence or confirmation （以证据支持某事）。例如：
You can back the conclusion up by showing the figures you have.
你可以用你手上的数据证明这个结论。
⑤ I think you hit the nail on the head with that word there. 我想你用的这个词恰到好处。
hit the nail on the head: be exactly right about sth. （在某件事情上完全正确。）例如：
—I believe the digitalized world is eating up our next generation.
我觉得数码世界正在蚕食我们的下一代。
—I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.
我想你完全正确。
Cara: And we’re back.
Dennis: So let’s pick up where we left off: ①what does it take to be the nail that sticks out in a competition where everyone is 1)vying to be 2)numero uno.
Cara: ②Well, first and foremost we need to remember that most of these aren’t beauty contests—Susan Boyle is proof of that.
Dennis: True. That’s definitely a positive side of these talent competitions: they’re driving people to be beautiful on more than just the outside.
Cara: ③Couldn’t have put it better myself. You know, I believe that these talent shows can have a lot of positive effects.
Dennis: For example?
Cara: Well, just look at all the amazing discoveries that get made. I mean, seriously, do you think some of those people would have had a hope in hell of being discovered if it weren’t for these shows?
Dennis: Probably not. But do you think it’s really necessary? I mean, there’s already a lot of great stuff out there. Do we really need more?
Cara: It’s not about us though, is it? It’s about giving an opportunity to those willing to take it.
Dennis: Can’t argue with that. And I guess you could say that it’s more than just the winner who succeeds.
Cara: Absolutely. Take American Idol—the amount of exposure given to the 3)contestants is huge. Even if they don’t win, there’s a good chance they could get a recording contract. It’s 4)win-win.
Dennis: Very true. ④In fact, I can back that up: wasn’t it Canadian Idol that had a contestant who was basically using the show to promote his band?
Cara: Wow, you’re right, that had completely slipped my mind! Hedley was the band, right?
Dennis: That’s the one. And speaking of bands, we can also look at this on a more local level. You’ve heard of Battle of the Bands?
Cara: Well, we do happen to 5)sponsor it every year Mr. Sanders, so, yes, I believe I’ve heard of it.
Dennis: Haha, alright, alright. I just didn’t want to assume. Anyway, that competition is great for communities.
Cara: Yeah, it gives people a chance to hear some fresh material while giving that fresh material a chance to reach a larger audience.
Dennis: Like you said—win-win.
Cara: Well, almost. This takes us back to our original question: how can you come out on top in these competitions?
Dennis: ⑤I think you hit the nail on the head with that word there—original. The judges don’t want to see the 6)same-old-same-old that they’ve always seen. They want something fresh, something interesting.
Cara: Nothing 7)flashy, just something 8)classy.
Dennis: Well, a little flash here and there probably won’t hurt you.
Cara: I guess that’s one of the 9)downsides, isn’t it? Other than “talent”—which is pretty broad—you never really know what the judges are looking for.
Dennis: And more on that when we come back.
Smart Sentences
① What does it take to be the nail that sticks out in a competition where everyone is vying to be numero uno. 在人人都争当第一的比赛中如何脱颖而出。
stick out: sth. is very noticeable（非常突出）。例如：
What did Carl do to make him stick out in the race?
在比赛中，卡尔究竟做了什么会显得如此突出？
② Well, first and foremost we need to remember that most of these aren’t beauty contests. 首先我们要记住，这些选秀大多数不是选美比赛。
first and foremost: used to emphasize the most important quality of sth.（最重要的，首先）。例如：
He sees himself, first and foremost, as a teacher.
他认为，他首先是一名教师。
③ Couldn’t have put it better myself. 你说得太对了。
Couldn’t have put it better myself: used to show support or agreement for what sb. has just said（对他人刚刚说的话表示支持）。例如：
—I think cell phones are just pushing people further apart, not closer together.
我认为手机让人们更加疏远，而不是拉近距离。
—Couldn’t have put it better myself.
你说得太对了。
④ In fact, I can back that up… 事实上，我想再补充说明一下……
back sth. up: support sth. by evidence or confirmation （以证据支持某事）。例如：
You can back the conclusion up by showing the figures you have.
你可以用你手上的数据证明这个结论。
⑤ I think you hit the nail on the head with that word there. 我想你用的这个词恰到好处。
hit the nail on the head: be exactly right about sth. （在某件事情上完全正确。）例如：
—I believe the digitalized world is eating up our next generation.
我觉得数码世界正在蚕食我们的下一代。
—I think you’ve hit the nail on the head.
我想你完全正确。