《走遍美国》Family Album U.S.A 第21集

Love English 2 2023-03-01

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走遍美国是我认为最优秀的口语教材之一，由美国新闻总署赞助，美国麦克米伦公司制作。在数十位英语专家和作者通力合作之下，费了8年（1983-1991）的时间，才制作完成这部划时代的巨作。虽然教材有点久远，但是对于练习口语还是非常的有帮助，大家可以通过以下步骤进行学习。

1. 先看视频，了解大致情节。

2. 再听音频，盲听音频3-5遍，大致听懂。

3. 通过文本，学通全部内容。

4. 再听音频，模仿跟读练习语音和口语。

5. 盲听音频，最后盲听音频尽可能多遍，听出画面感。

ACT 3-1 “人类最好的朋友就是他的狗。”

【故事梗概】

动物收容所的Linda在为Robbie和Alexandra进一步解释领养一只狗所必需的各种条件，那是相当的繁琐啊~~

Linda: OK. If you want to adopt an animal, first we need to know some references.

Robbie: References? People we know?

Linda: Friends, teachers...We need to talk to some people about you. We want to be sure that you're responsible and that you can take good care of an animal. Then you have to fill out this form about your family background.

Robbie: Is that it?

Linda: No, there's more. We need to know about your history with animals. Have you ever owned an animal?

Robbie: Yes. We had a cat when I was eight years old. I love cats.

Linda: Do you have any animals now?

Robbie:Unfortunately, no.

Alexandra: Anything else?

Linda: We also like to know your reasons for wanting an animal.

Alexandra: Just to hold it and cuddle with it. Just to have as a pet. I love animals.

Robbie: To have a friend - a pal. You know, man's best friend is his dog.

Linda: And one thing more. If you're under twenty-one years of age…

Robbie: That's me.

Linda: Then an adult must sign for you.

Alexandra: Uh-oh.

Robbie: No problem. My parents will think it's a good idea. I'll be back with them.

Alexandra: If the real owners don't come to claim Gemma

Linda: After forty-eight hours. But please call first.

Robbie: Thanks for your information and for being so helpful.

Linda: It's my pleasure. Nice talking to both of you.

【语言点精讲】

1. If you want to adopt an animal, first we need to know some references.如果你想领养一个动物，我们首先需要知道一些旁证材料。reference: 证明人；证明人所提供的资料（有关某人人品、能力等情况）。

2. Then you have to fill out this form about your family background.然后你得填写这张有关你家庭背景的表格。fill out : 等同于fill in，填表。family background: 家庭背景情况。

3. Is that it?就这些吗？就这些手续啦？完了吗？it 在这里表示“一切必要的手续”。

4. Have you ever owned an animal?你曾经养过动物没有？Have you ever done...? 可以用来询问对方是否有过做某事某种经验。ever: 曾经。

5. Unfortunately, no.很遗憾，没有。unfortunately: 很不幸，很遗憾。在表达遗憾的心情时的常用语。

6. To have a friend - a pal. You know, man's best friend is his dog.我想要有个朋友，—个伙伴。你知道，人的最好的朋友就是他的狗。pal: 好友，伙伴。man's best friend: 人类最好的朋友。这一句是指狗可以成为一个人最亲密的伙伴。

7. And one thing more.还有一件事。这句话可以用来补充前面说过的话，追加信息。

8. I'll be back with them.我会和他们一起来。be back: 回来，再过来。

ACT 3-2 “二位，可以点菜了吗？”

【故事梗概】

Robbie和Alexandra告别了Linda。离开动物收容所之后，他们去了一家饭馆吃东西。Alexandra还在担心着小狗Gemma。

Robbie: Thanks again. Bye.

Robbie: Maybe the real owners will come to claim her.

Robbie:Her eyes look so sad. She must really miss them.

Linda: I see you're both animal lovers.

Robbie: We are.

Robbie: Good-bye, Miss Aborn. We'll call in a couple of days.

Linda: Good-bye, and thanks for bringing Gemma in.

Robbie: Bye.

Alexandra: I keep thinking about the dog - about Gemma, alone in the animal shelter.

Robbie: I know. But I promise you, Alexandra, the dog is just fine. They're very kind to the animals.

Alexandra: I know they are. I mean about her being alone. Even if they are kind to Gemma, she's still alone, without her family.

Waiter: Ready, folks?

Robbie: Are you ready, Alexandra?

Alexandra: Yes, I'm ready. I'll have the chef's salad, please.

Robbie: I will have a cheeseburger, medium rare, with raw onion, and French fries, please.

Waiter: Anything to drink?

Alexandra: A diet cola, please.

Robbie:Ginger ale with lots of ice for me, thank you.

Waiter: I've got it. Thanks.

Robbie: Aren't you surprised that the animal shelter is so careful about finding homes for the animals?

Alexandra: No, I'm not.

【语言点精讲】

1. Even if they are kind to Gemma, she's still alone, without her family.即使他们对Gemma很好，她还是孤零零的，没有亲人。even if: 即使；虽然。be kind to sb.: 对某人很好，很友善。

2. Ready, folks?二位，可以点菜了吗？folks: 伙伴，朋友，诸位。这是在非正式场合，表示友好的称呼，很口语化。在本语境中，因为侍者与Robbie和Alexandra是同龄人，都是年轻人，这样称呼显得亲切，要是随便称有身份的人或年长者为folks，就不礼貌了。

3. I'll have the chef's salad, please.chef's salad: 主厨色拉，配料常包含莴苣、西红柿、火鸡、火腿和奶酪。

4. I will have a cheeseburger, medium rare, with raw onion, and french fries, please.我要一个干酪汉堡包，偏嫩一些的，加上生葱头和炸土豆条。I will have…: 我要…。这是点菜的常用说法。medium rare: 偏嫩一些，五分熟的。raw: 生的，未煮的。其他的表示食物烹调熟度的表达方式还有：well done（很熟的），medium well（偏老，偏烂一些），medium（适中），rare（颇生的）。

5. A diet cola, please.diet cola: 不含糖的可乐饮料

6. I've got it. Thanks.明白了，谢谢。I've got it.: 我明白了，我懂了。

ACT 3-3 “有个好消息，同时还有个坏消息。”

【故事梗概】

在饭馆里，服务员端来了Robbie和Alexandra点的东西。他们边吃东西边聊天。当天晚上稍后的时候，在Stewart家，Robbie和Alexandra正在跳舞时，Robbie接到了来自Linda的电话。他被告知迷路的小狗Gemma已经被主人认领回去了。

Waiter: And a cheeseburger, medium rare, with onion and French fries. And a ginger ale with lots of ice. Salad dressing?

Robbie: Hey, I wanted you to hear my new sound system when the dog scratched on the front door. Let's finish eating, and then we'll go back to my house. I want you to hear my new tapes. I've got some great new dance music.

Robbie: Hello. Stewart residence.

Linda: Hello. Is Robbie Stewart there?

Robbie: This is he. Who's this?

Linda: This is Linda Aborn from the animal shelter.

Robbie: It's Linda from the animal shelter. Yes, Linda. Hi.

Linda: We have good news and bad news, Robbie.

Robbie: Oh?

Linda: The good news is that the Levinsons have come by to pick up the dog. The bad news is, you won't be able to adopt the dog.

Robbie: That's OK.

Linda: Come by one day and look at some of the other dogs. I'm sure there's one for you. Thanks, Robbie. And the Levinsons thank you for bringing their dog to us.

Robbie: Thanks, Linda. Bye.

Alexandra: The owners claimed Gemma?

Robbie: That's right.

Alexandra: I'm glad for the dog.

Robbie: I guess I am, too. She said if I come by, she'll help me find another dog.

Alexandra: Come on. Let's dance.

【语言点精讲】

1. Hello. Stewart residence. 你好。这里是Stewart家。Stewart residence: Stewart公馆，Stewart 宅邸。这是打电话时的正式用语。

2. This is he. 我就是。当电话里要找的人就是接电话者时，常用"This is he."或"This is she."来回答，另一种说法是"Speaking"。此处请注意中英文表达上的差异。中文说: 我就是Stewart，英文不能说"I am Stewart."，而说"This is he." 因为双方只能听见彼此的声音，看不见对方，故不用"I"。

3. Who's this? 您是哪位？在打电话的时候，用于询问对方的身份。此时不说 "Who are you? "

4. This is Linda from the animal shelter.我是动物收容所的Linda。打电话的时候常用"This is + 自己的名字"来做介绍自己的身份。

5. It's Linda from the animal shelter.是动物收容所的Linda打来的电话。Robbie在告诉Alexandra电话是谁打来的。此处用it，而不是she做主语。1—5均为打电话用语，相对来说，这些说法以及使用场合都比较固定。

6. We have good news and bad news, Robbie.Robbie，我们有个好消息，同时还有个坏消息。good news and bad news: （有）好消息和坏消息。美国人喜欢这样说。并常说 First, the good news… Now, the bad news…

来源：Family Album U.S.A

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