VOA流行美语第八十八课 这太“小菜一碟”了实用英语考试

文章作者 100test 发表时间 2009:04:09 23:53:38
来源 100Test.Com百考试题网

　　今天Larry和Li Hua一起打保龄球，Li Hua会学到两个常用语：snap和spaced out.　　
　　(SFX of bowling alley)
　　Larry: Hey, Li Hua, you look nervous. Have you ever bowled before?
　　Li Hua: No, 我从来没打过保龄球，所以当然紧张啦！
　　Larry: Dont worry, Li Hua, bowling is a snap. Youll figure it out in no time.
　　Li Hua: 你说bowling是什么 - a snap? To snap不是对别人嚷嚷、说话态度很凶的意思吗？
　　Larry: Thats right. "To snap at someone" is to speak rudely, but snap can also be used as a noun. If we say something is a "snap" that means its very easy and can be learned quickly.
　　Li Hua: 噢，我懂了，snap用作动词的时候，意思就是对人很凶，不过你刚才说的snap是用做名词，要是我们说something is a snap, 意思就是很容易就能学会的事，哎，那不就是我们中文里所说的“小菜一碟”吗？
　　Larry: Yes. So, now youll understand what I meant by saying "bowling is a snap!"
　　Li Hua: 你说“保龄球容易学”？可是，我怎么觉得挺难的呢？
　　Larry: Well, if you think bowling is hard, then what do you think is a snap?
　　Li Hua: 让我想想——骑自行车挺容易的。我一个下午就学会了。
　　Larry: So you think riding a bike is a snap -- I agree, once you learn how to ride a bike, its a snap. Hey, Li Hua, you know what else is a snap?
　　Li Hua: No, what else?
　　Larry: Beating you at bowling is a snap. Look, Im 50 points ahead of you.
　　Li Hua: 这太不公平了！我以前从来就没有打过保龄球，你可能已经打过几百次了！我能打到那么多的points就算不错了。
　　Larry: Youre right, Li Hua. Its not fair. Here, Ill teach you. Then youll see what a snap it is.
　　(Sound of ball being thrown)
　　Larry: Li Hua, did you enjoy bowling?我要收藏
　　Li Hua: Yes, 保龄球挺好玩的，可是也挺累人的。
　　Larry: Yeah, I agree. I feel kind of spaced out.
　　Li Hua: 你说你觉得怎么样了 - spaced out? Larry, 你是身体不舒服吗？
　　Larry: No, no. Feeling spaced out means feeling kind of detached and unfocused. I sometimes feel spaced out when Im tired.
　　Li Hua: 噢，我懂了，feeling spaced out意思就是“觉得昏昏沉沉的，注意力难以集中”。就是啊，一个人太累的时候是会感到昏昏沉沉，周围发生什么事都不知道。
　　Larry: Yeah, but sometimes it might be for no reason. For instance, I might feel spaced out at class - I would be thinking about baseball, instead of listening to the teacher.
　　Li Hua: 你上课的时候还会想起棒球赛呀！哎呀，那你走神儿也走得太厉害了吧！
　　Larry: All right, Li Hua. Now dont tell me youve never felt spaced out yourself.
　　Li Hua: 我当然也有迷糊的时候啦，比如上星期，我心不在焉地去上课，结果走错了教室。
　　Larry: Last week, I was really stressed over the exams. I was so spaced out that I forgot my fathers birthday. I felt terrible.
　　Li Hua: 什么，因为要考试，你紧张得连你爸爸的生日也忘记啦？那你爸爸肯定很生气罗？
　　Larry: No, he knows me very well - bowling is a snap for me. but exams always make me very nervous.
　　今天李华从Larry那儿学到两个常用语。snap用作名词，意思是“轻而易举的事”。Spaced out就是“昏昏沉沉、注意力不集中”。
　　Larry: Alright. Now that youve finished cleaning, why dont we go to a movie.
　　Li Hua: Sure, lets go!
　　Larry: That movie was so long. Its almost midnight! Im so tired that I think Im going to go home and crash.
　　Li Hua: 什么？你是说你太累了，如果开车回家会出交通事故啊？
　　Larry: No, I dont mean crash as in "car-crash". I mean crash as in "go to sleep".
　　Li Hua: 我还是不懂。你是说crash，这个词，除了可以用作car-crash, 表示“撞车”，还可以用来表示“睡觉”啊？
　　Larry: Yes, "I really want to go home and crash" means that I really want to go home and sleep.
　　Li Hua: 噢，我懂了。想想看，crash这个词用在这里还挺形象的，因为你太累了，所以一回家就“瘫”在床上“睡着”了。So, Larry, can I say I was so tired that I crashed on the couch -- 我实在太累了，所以倒在沙发上就睡着了?
　　Larry: Yes, you can say that. Another example is: I crashed at Jims house the other night because it was too late to go home.
　　Li Hua: 这个我懂，你是说，你那天晚上在Jim家玩得太晚了，所以干脆不回家，就在他家里过了一夜。 那要是我家里在粉刷墙壁，没法住，我可不可以说，Id like to crash at my friends house?
　　Larry: Of course you can, but right now Li Hua, what I really want is to crash in my own bed. I cant wait to get home.
　　Li Hua: 有那么着急吗？ 刚才看电影的时候我看你眼睛还张的大大的呢。不过，我也挺累的了。我想我一到家也会倒头就睡着的——I will also crash when I get home.
　　Larry: Lets go!
　　今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是neat freak, 表示“特别爱干净、有条理的人”。另一个是crash, 在口语里可以表示“睡觉”。