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And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
您现在收听的是VOA慢速英语词汇掌故节目。
Today we talk about an important time in a movement or experience. It is the moment when something cannot be stopped.
今天我们来谈论一个运动或经历中的重要时刻。它是指某事无法被阻止的那一刻。
There is a momentum or force pushing something forward or making it more known or popular.
有一种动力或力量推动某物向前发展，或使其更知名或更受欢迎。
One term for that kind of moment is tipping point.
这种时刻的一个术语是临界点。
The online dictionary Merriam-Webster defines tipping point as “the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place.”
在线词典韦伯字典将“tipping point”定义为“在某种情况、过程或系统中的关键点，超过这个点就会发生重大且通常不可阻挡的影响或变化。”
The tipping point can also be the time at which a change or an effect cannot be stopped.
临界点也可以是无法阻止变化或影响的时间。
For example, some scientists believe Earth may have passed the tipping point in global warming.
例如，一些科学家认为地球可能已经越过了全球变暖的临界点。
Efforts taken now will not prevent environmental disaster. It is too late to stop the damage. In other words, that ship has sailed.
现在所做的努力无法阻止环境灾难。阻止破坏已经太晚了。换句话说，事已至此。
When something reaches a tipping point it is too late to turn back. It is a point of no return.
当某事达到一个临界点时，就为时已晚，无法回头。这是一条不归路。
Here is another definition.The online Cambridge Dictionary defines the tipping point as “a time during an activity or process when an important decision has to be made or when a situation changes completely.”
这里还有另一个定义。在线剑桥词典将“the tipping point”定义为“在一项活动或过程中，必须做出重要决定或情况完全改变的时刻”。
Used this way, we often say we reach, approach, or near a tipping point.
以这种方式使用时，我们经常说我们达到、接近或接近一个临界点。
Here are some examples: In class, the students’ anger toward their teacher reached a tipping point.
这里有一些例子：在课堂上，学生们对他们的老师的愤怒达到了一个临界点。
She had again given them a test on a subject she hadn’t taught.
她又给他们进行了一次她没有教过的科目的测试。
Prices at the food store are nearing a tipping point.
食品店的价格已经要接受不了了。
If they go much higher, people will just shop elsewhere.
如果价格再涨的话，人们就会去别的地方购物了。
Malcolm Gladwell wrote about the subject in his book Tipping Point published in 2002.
马尔科姆·格拉德威尔在他2002年出版的《临界点》（TippingPoint）一书中写到了这个主题。
He describes tipping point this way: “The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.”
他这样描述临界点：“临界点是一个神奇的时刻，当一个想法、趋势或社会行为跨越一个阈值，就会像野火一样蔓延开来。”
For example, you could say, “The writer’s best-selling second book was the tipping point in her career. Now, everything she publishes is popular!”
例如，你可以说，“这位作家的第二本畅销书是她职业生涯的转折点。现在，她出版的所有东西都很受欢迎！”
And that’s the end of this Words and Their Stories. Until next time, I’m Anna Matteo.
以上就是本期《词汇掌故》的全部内容。下次见，我是安娜·马特奥。
