[by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]¸ü¶àÌýÁ¦Çë·ÃÎÊ51VOA.COM [00:05.51]Hello and welcome to Words and Their Stories [00:08.60]-- a weekly program from VOA Learning English. [00:12.64]It can be said that the United States is a driving culture. [00:17.40]The U.S., after all, is a big country [00:20.72]and many Americans love cars. [00:24.56]So, it is no surprise that many Americans English expressions [00:29.60]come from the world of driving. [00:32.68]One exciting example is "life in the fast lane." [00:38.12]This expression comes from the country's large system of highways. [00:43.92]The roads are marked with painted lines to keep vehicles safely apart. [00:50.96]These lines divide each road into separate lanes. [00:55.92]Most highways in the U.S. are wide enough [00:59.00]for three or four cars to travel side-by-side. [01:04.08]Many areas require that slow drivers drive in the far-right lane. [01:10.88]Faster moving traffic operates in the middle lanes. [01:15.96]The fastest cars drive on the far-left side -- also called the fast lane. [01:23.24]Someone living in the fast lane is like a fast-moving car. [01:29.36]They live dangerously, at breakneck speed. [01:34.04]It is a way of life marked by a fast pace [01:38.92]and usually the chase of immediate satisfaction. [01:43.12]A person who lives in the fast lane [01:46.60]is not happy to just live life quietly like other people. [01:51.64]No. For someone living in the fast lane [01:55.60]life is one exciting experience after another. [02:00.60]Every night is a party! [02:04.20]Living life in the fast lane can be a selfish way to live. [02:09.56]Sometimes these people only care about finding their next big thrill. [02:14.76]Such people might drink a lot of alcohol or use other drugs. [02:21.04]They do not think twice about how their lifestyle [02:25.08]may affect them down the road or how it may affect others. [02:31.44]So, who lives in the fast lane? [02:34.88]Living in the fast lane has a high price tag. [02:38.84]You need lots of money for this kind of life. [02:43.20]Some Hollywood movie actors are famous for their rich, fast-paced lives. [02:50.20]Sports stars can have days filled with events, parties and groupies [02:56.40]¨C people who like famous people and follow them. [03:00.48]But you do not have to be famous to live in the fast lane. [03:04.96]Many politicians, lawyers and business tycoons live in the fast lane. [03:12.32]For them, life is full of movement, excitement and action! [03:18.00]However, most people -- even actors and sports stars [03:23.20]-- need to be well-rested to perform well. [03:26.72]If not, they could burn out quickly. [03:30.68]But getting a full 8 hours is usually not part of life in the fast lane. [03:37.80]Many people who live in the fast lane are young. [03:41.76]Sometimes, the fast lane leads them down a rocky road, [03:45.92]or a very difficult phase. [03:49.28]Others may hit a fork in the road. [03:52.52]They must decide to stay in the fast lane [03:56.48]or slow down to possibly have a longer and more meaningful life. [04:02.28]And some never learn. [04:05.20]Their life in the fast lane leads them to the end of the road ¨C meaning they die. [04:12.40]Rock musicians are known for living in the fast lane. [04:18.08]We do not have time to name all of the performers [04:21.80]who died young from their fast ways. [04:25.76]Members of the rock band the Eagles lived in the fast lane. [04:30.56]In fact, the group's founders, Glenn Frey [04:34.12]and Don Henley, co-wrote a song about it. [04:38.04]"Life in the Fast Lane" is one of their biggest hits. [04:43.20]The two men were honest about this way of life, [04:46.48]singing it will "surely make you lose your mind." [04:50.68]You are listening: Life in the Fast Lane [04:56.36]Glenn Frey died on January 18, 2016. [05:00.92]As he aged, Frey did slow down. [05:04.60]He became interested in health and physical fitness. [05:09.04]But he died at the relatively young age of 67. [05:13.92]I'm Anna Matteo. [05:15.68]You are listening: Life in the Fast Lane