安: 您能帮我称一下这封信吗?
职员: 嗯,有点超重了。你必须额外付费。
安: 要多少?
职员: 这封信我们要收80美分的超重费。
注释
“Would you please…?”用于提出请求,语气比较委婉。例如:Would you please turn down the music? 你能把音乐声调小点吗?
单词特搜
1. overweight [ˈəuvəweit] a. 超重的
2. surcharge [sə:ˈtʃa:dʒ] n. 追加罚款
英语通:新闻
eBay 网买下查尔斯情书 eBay Gets Charles’ Letters
6 love letters written by Prince Charles to a woman 3 decades ago have been put up for sale on eBay for $30,000. Charles wrote the letters between 1976 and 1980 to Janet Jenkins who worked in Canada. One of the letters was written 8 months before he announced his engagement to the future Princess Diana — at the time he wrote of the pressures of having to find a bride.
英国王储查尔斯30多年前写的6封情书,以3万美元在eBay网站上拍卖。查尔斯于1976至1980年间写的这些信,收信人是当时在加拿大工作的珍妮特·詹金斯。其中1封写于查尔斯与戴安娜王妃宣布订婚前8个月,查尔斯在这封信中称自己承受着必须找个新娘的压力。
2.寄印刷品Send Presswork
Tom:Excuse me.
Clerk:May I help you?
Tom: Yes. I’d like to send this book to France 1.
Clerk: Let me weigh it first. That’ll be fourteen dollars.
Tom:Can it go in an envelope 2?
Clerk: Of course. It’s four dollars now.
Tom:Do I need stamps 3?
Clerk: No, you don’t. We use computers now.
Tom:When will it arrive?
Clerk:In a month.
汤姆: 你好。
营业员: 有什么可以效劳的吗?
汤姆: 是的。我想把这本书寄到法国。
营业员: 我先称一下。14美元。
汤姆: 可以装在信封里寄吗?
营业员: 可以。现在付4美元就可以了。
汤姆: 我要贴邮票吗?
营业员: 不,不用了。我们现在用电脑。
汤姆: 什么时候可以到啊?
营业员: 一个月后吧。
注释
“would like to do sth.”意为“意欲/想要做某事”,例如:I’d like to see that film. 我想要看那部电影。
单词特搜
1. France [fra:ns] n. 法国
2. envelope [ˈenviləup] n. 信封
3. stamp [stæmp] n. 邮票
英语通:音标
一句话学会音标 [ ə: ]
发此音时,口形自然张开。在美式英语中,此音后面经常会加[ r ] 音,类似汉字“儿”的音,因此听起来非常像北京方言中的儿化音,需要有个卷舌的动作。这个音类似汉语拼音“e”或汉字“饿”。
摘自《9小时快学国际音标》
3.取包裹Get the Parcel
Ann: Excuse me, I got a parcel arrival notice yesterday.
Clerk: Would you show me your notice?
Ann: Here you are.
Clerk: Please endorse 1 it first. Do you have identification 2?
Ann: Yes. Here’s my ID card.
安: 劳驾,昨天我收到了一张包裹通知单。
职员: 能给我看一下吗?
安: 给您。
职员: 请您先在上面签一下名。您带证件了吗?
安: 带了。这是我的身份证。
注释
“excuse me”意为“劳驾”、“打扰”,是提醒对方注意或打断对方谈话时用的礼貌用语,引出说话人想要说的话。
单词特搜
1. endorse [inˈdɔ:s] v. 签注,签署
2. identification [aiˌdentifiˈkeiʃən] n. 身份证明
英语通:笑话
一样的服务 The Same Service
A man who had been married for ten years was consulting a marriage counselor.
“When I was first married, I was very happy. I’d come home from a hard day down at the shop, and my little dog would race around me barking, and my wife would bring me my slippers. Now everything’s changed. When I come home, my dog brings me my slippers, and my wife barks at me.”
“I don’t know what you’re complaining about,” said the counselor. “You’re still getting the same service.”
一个结婚十年的男人正在请教一位婚姻顾问。
“刚结婚那会儿,我非常幸福。我在店里劳累一天回到家,我的小狗会绕着我跑,汪汪叫,而我的妻子会给我拿拖鞋。现在一切都变了。我回到家里,我的狗给我拿来拖鞋,我的妻子对着我叫。”
“我不知道你在抱怨什么,”婚姻顾问说,“你得到的服务还是一样的呀。”
4.查询汇款Inquire about the Remittance
Clerk: Good morning, Madam. Can I help you?
Jenny: Yes, I’ve come to inquire 1 about a six-thousand-dollar remittance 2 from California. Has it arrived?
Clerk:May I have your name, please?
Jenny: My name is Jenny Clinton.
Clerk: I see. Wait for a moment, please. I’m sorry, Mrs. Clinton, but the remittance does not appear 3 to have arrived yet.
Jenny: Really? It should have arrived. It was sent a week ago.
Clerk: If the money was sent by cable 4, it would take about one or two days. But if it was sent by airmail, it would take at least one week.
Jenny: Well, then I’ll come again the day after tomorrow.
Clerk: Or would you like us to phone you when the money arrives?
Jenny: That would be very kind of you.
Clerk: Could you please tell me your phone number so we’ll give you a ring as soon as the remittance has arrived?
Jenny: The phone number is 328-6765, extension 105.
Clerk: Thank you. We will inform 5 you in time. Good-bye.
Jenny: Good-bye.
营业员: 早上好,女士,我能为您服务吗?
珍妮: 是的,我来问一下一笔从加利福尼亚寄来的6000美元的汇款到了吗?
营业员: 请问您的姓名?
珍妮: 我叫珍妮·克林顿。
营业员: 知道了。请稍等。很抱歉,克林顿夫人,这笔汇款还没到。
珍妮: 真的吗? 它应该到了。这笔款是一个星期前寄出的。
营业员: 如果您用的是电汇,一两天就够了。但如果是航空邮件汇款,那至少需要一个星期。
珍妮: 好吧,那我后天再来。
营业员: 或者钱到了我们给您电话可以吗?
珍妮: 那真是太好了。
营业员: 您能告诉我您的电话号码吗?
以便于款一到我们就给您电话。
珍妮: 电话号码是328-6765,分机号105。
营业员: 谢谢。我们会及时通知您的。再见。
珍妮: 再见。
注释
在“It should have arrived.”一句中“should + have + 过去分词”表示“本应该……(而没有发生)”。
单词特搜
1. inquire [inˈkwaiə] v. 询问
2. remittance [riˈmitəns] n. 汇款,汇款额
3. appear [Eˈpiə] v. 看来,看似,出现
4. cable [ˈkeibl] n. 电缆,电报
5. inform [inˈfɔ:m] v. 通知
英语通:新闻
百万英国女性为减肥买小号衣服
Millions of Women “Buy Dresses Too Small To Lose Weight”
Millions of Britain’s women buy under-size clothes as an incentive to help them lose weight, a survey has found.
More than a third of women deliberately buy clothes which are too small for them because they are determined to slim down enough to fit into them one day, it found. On average these women confessed to buying three under-size items of clothing each. This means about 24 million dresses, skirts, blouses and trousers hanging idly in the country’s wardrobes— as their owners battle to fit into them.
一项调查发现,数百万英国女性购买尺寸过小的衣服,以此作为减肥的动力。
调查发现,超过三分之一的女性故意购买穿不下的瘦小衣服,因为她们下定决心减肥到能穿下去为止。这些女性平均每人承认购买过三套尺寸过小的衣服。这意味着在英国,有2400万件套装、裙子、上衣和裤子闲置在衣橱里,而此时它们的主人正在开展减肥大战,以便有一天可以将它们穿上。
不再胡说英语 SPEAK WRONG NO MORE
正确英语修习之 令人误解的句子
我不懂你的意思。
(×)What do you mean?
“你这话什么意思?” 这句话其实是对方说了冒昧不得体的话,惹得自己生气的时候的反应,有“你这话什么意思?”或“你在说些什么啊?”的意思在里面。比方说,你的朋友刚在聚会中出现,就马上说I have to go now.(我得走了。)这个时候你就可以对他说What do you mean? You just got here.(你在说什么啊?你才刚到。)
(√)I don’t get what you mean.
这句话的意思才是“我不懂你的意思。”
(√)I’m not sure what you mean.
I’m not clear about that.
用这两句来表达也可以,都含有“我不太了解你的意思”之意。前者为“我不确定你的意思。”,后者为“关于那个,我不清楚。”
(√)Could you explain that again for me?
这句话的意思是“您可以再为我解释一遍吗?”语气比较委婉,不会让对方误以为你有挑衅之嫌。
轻松说电影FILM TALKING
《音乐之声》The Sound of Music影视片花
Mother: Considering this is Maria, I suggest you look in some place unusual.
Sister Bertha: Well , Reverend1 Mother, I hope this new infraction2 ends whatever doubts3 you may still have about Maria’s future here.
Mother: I always try to keep faith in my doubts, Sister Bertha.
S. Margaretta: After all, the wool of black sheep is just as warm.
S. Bertha: We are not talking about sheep, black or white. Of all the candidates4 for the novitiate, I would say Maria is the least likely.
修道院院长: 考虑到人是玛丽亚,我建议你到不寻常的地方找找。
修女伯莎: 那么,尊敬的院长,我希望,玛丽亚的这次违规会结束你对她在这里的将来所抱有的任何猜想和疑虑。
修道院院长: 伯莎修女,我一直在努力地对自己的疑虑保持信心。
修女玛格丽特: 毕竟,黑羊(此处指玛丽亚)亦非一无是处。
修女伯莎: 我们现在不是在谈论羊,无论黑羊还是白羊。在所有想成为见习修女的人中,我想说,玛丽亚是最不可能的一个。
单词特搜
1.reverend [ˈrevərənd] a. 可尊敬的,对牧师或神父的尊称 n. 牧师
2.infraction [inˈfrækʃən] n. 违法
3.doubt [daut] n. & v. 疑惑,疑问,不相信
4.candidate [ˈkændidit] n. 候选人
精彩点拨
◆ considering… 表示“考虑到/鉴于……,就……而言”。
◆ keep faith in sth. 的意思是“对某事持有信念”。
◆ after all 一般用于表示尽管前面所说的或者所期待的是怎样一种情况,但有一点事实却是必须承认或者注意的;也可用来表示解释或者说明理由。通常可翻译为“毕竟”,例如,So you made it after all.(你毕竟成功了。)
◆ just as 在这里表示“同样”,The wool of black sheep is just as warm.“黑羊的毛也同样温暖”一句中 black sheep 是一种双关用法,它在这里的表面意思为“黑羊”,实际指代玛丽亚。
◆ of all (the…) 多用于口语中,表示“在所有(……)中”,如,Of all the children here, he is the cleverest. 在这里所有的孩子之中,他是最聪明的。
俚语详说
black sheep 害群之马,败类
解词释义
该短语的字面意思是“黑色的绵羊”,含贬义,用来比喻一个人不同于家族或群体中的其他成员,而且品性恶劣,有辱门风。可译为“害群之马,败类”。
寻根究底
黑色长毛羊在绵羊中非常稀少,且黑羊毛少,不足以投放市场,同时黑羊混杂在白羊中,容易使白羊感到害怕。所以在旧时,牧羊人迷信地认为黑羊是魔鬼的象征,若羊群中有黑羊,牧羊人就会觉得自己倒霉。black sheet 即引申为“害群之马,有辱门楣之人”。
《音乐之声》The Sound of Music额外赠送
Business before pleasure.“先苦后甜”或“做完该做的事情之后再享乐”,也可用:
Business comes before pleasure.
■摘自《英美人天天在说的4000句》
话题词汇CLASSIFIED WORDS
post office 邮局
mailbox [ˈmeilbɔks] n. 邮筒
mailman [ˈmeilmæn] n. 邮递员
mail [meil] n. 邮件 v. 邮寄
letter [ˈletə] n. 信函
envelope [ˈenviləup] n. 信封
stamp [stæmp] n. 邮票
parcel [ˈpa:sl] n. 包裹
parcel arrival notice 包裹通知单
overweight [ˈəuvəweit] a. 超重的
insure [inˈʃuə] v. 保价
postage [ˈpəustidʒ] n. 邮资
addresser [əˈdresə] n. 发信人
addressee [ˌædreˈsi:] n. 收件人
recipient [riˈsipiənt] n. 收件人
return address 回邮地址
registered mail 挂号信
express mail 特快专递
airmail [ˈɛəmeil] n. 航空邮件
postal order 汇款单
remittance [riˈmitəns] n. 汇款
telegram [ˈteligræm] n. 电报
Chapter 8房屋住宅
1.租房 Rent an Apartment
2.水龙头漏水 Dripping Faucet
3.给物业打电话 Call the Apartment Management
4.下水道阻塞 Clogged Drain
5.空调问题 Air Conditioner Problem
6.搬家 Move
8 房屋住宅
大部分西方人喜欢谈论他们的住宅。他们会花很多钱对住宅做一些装饰和美化,以改善自己的居家生活环境。另外,在城市里,出租的住宅种类也很多。一般情况下,房客需要预付3个月租金。其中一个月是押金,两个月是租金。押金作为抵押,是为了防止住房被损坏。
基本句式BASIC SENTENCES
租房子
现在能看看房子吗?
Would it be OK to look at the house now?
A: Would it be OK to look at the house now? 现在能看看房子吗?
B: Would you come here in 20 minutes? We’re right in the middle of dinner.
你20分钟后过来好吗?我们正在吃饭呢。
我什么时候可以搬进来?
When can I move in?
A: When can I move in? 我什么时候可以搬进来?
B: Next Wednesday, if you like. 如果你愿意,下周三就可以。
房租多少钱?
How much is the rent?
☺rent [rent] n. 租金 v. 租,出租
A: This apartment is better. I like it. How much is the rent?
这个公寓更好。我喜欢。房租多少钱?
B: 2500 yuan a month.
一个月2500元。
装修装饰
你想如何装修你的房间? H ow do you want to decorate your room?
A: How do you want to decorate your room? 你想如何装修你的房间?
B: I want to make it more colorful and attractive. 我想让它变得更富有色彩,更加迷人。
我们想为新房添些家具。 We’d like to buy some furniture for our new house.
A: We’d like to buy some furniture for our new house. 我们想为新房添些家具。
B: Here are several sets of furniture, including sofa, dressing table, wardrobe, and sideboard.
这里有几套,包括沙发、梳妆台、大衣柜和餐具柜等。
我打算自己把我们的房子重新漆一遍。
I plan to repaint our house by myself.
☺repaint [ri:ˈpeint] v. 重漆,重画
A: I plan to repaint our house by myself. 我打算自己把我们的房子重新漆一遍。
B: Change for another color. 换个颜色吧。
室内问题
下水道又堵了。 The drain is blocked again.
A: The drain is blocked again.下水道又堵了。
B:I’ll ask someone to fix it. 我去找个人来修一下。
热水器又坏了。你修一修好吗?
The water heater doesn’t work again. Can you fix it?
☺fix [fiks] v. 修理,使固定
A: The water heater doesn’t work again. Can you fix it? 热水器又坏了。你修一修好吗?
B: We’d better buy a new one. 最好还是买台新的。
精选话题WELL-CHOSEN DIALOGUES
1.租房Rent an Apartment
Blanca: Hello. I’m calling about the apartment you advertised 1.
Agent: Yes. What kind of apartment are you interested in?
Blanca: I’m interested in a onebedroom. Do you have any available 2?
Agent: Yes. I have one. When do you need it?
Blanca: Sometime around next week. What can you tell me about this apartment?
Agent: Well, it’s a one-bedroom apartment. The monthly 3 rent is $650, with a $300 security 4 deposit 5. You pay electricity 6 only. Gas and water is included. Both the heat and stove are gas. Let me see... What else... Oh. You’ll be assigned 7 a sheltered parking space at no extra charge. And... that’s probably it.
Blanca: Sounds good. May I come over tomorrow to take a look?
Agent: Sure. What time would you like to come?
Blanca:How about 10 am?
Agent: Good. May I have your name, please?
Blanca:My name is Blanca.
Agent: Thanks for calling, Blanca. I’ll see you tomorrow.
布朗卡: 你好。我打电话是想问问你广告里说的公寓。
经纪人:好的。你对哪种公寓感兴趣?
布朗卡: 我想找一居室的。你有可以出租的吗?
经纪人: 是的。我有一套。你什么时候租?
布朗卡: 下周吧。你能和我说说这间公寓是什么样的吗?
经纪人: 好的,它是一居室。月租金650美元,300美元押金。你只需要支付电费。煤气费和水费都已经包括在房租里了。取暖和做饭都是煤气。让我看看……还有什么……哦。还有免费分配的封闭式停车位。嗯……大概就是这个样子。
布朗卡: 听起来还不错。我明天可以去看一下吗?
经纪人:可以。你想几点来呢?
布朗卡:上午10点怎么样?
经纪人: 好的。请问,能知道你的名字吗?
布朗卡:布朗卡。
经纪人: 谢谢你来电话,布朗卡。那我们明天见。
单词特搜
1. advertise [ˈædvətaiz] v. 登广告
2. available [əˈveiləbl] a. 可利用的
3. monthly [ˈmʌnθli] a. 每月的
4. security [siˈkjuəriti] n. 担保,安全
5. deposit [diˈpɔzit] n. 押金,存款
6. electricity [ilekˈtrisiti] n. 电
7. assign [əˈsain] v. 分配
英语通:趣词趣语
版权属左 Copyleft
有没有曾经在某个软件的封面上看到这么一行字:“版权没有,翻印不究。但请协助改进本作品”?这似乎跟我们一直在大力提倡的保护版权有点儿背道而驰。没错,这就是现在网络上越来越多人在热捧的“版权所无”行为。因其与 copyright“版权”的各类限制使用条例相对,所以其英文说法也是与之相对的 copyleft。
copyleft 是使一个程序成为自由软件的通用方法,同时也使得这个程序的修改和扩展版本成为自由软件。一般翻译为“反版权”、“版权属左”、“版权所无”或“版责”。
要实现某个程序“版权所无”,我们首先要拥有其版权,然后为其添加传播条款,该条款保证了任何人在不修改该传播条款的前提下使用、修改并再传播该程序编码或其子程序的合法性。
2.水龙头漏水Dripping Faucet
Helle: Gosh! The water faucet 1 is dripping badly again!
Darl: You’re going to have a huge bill!
Helle: I know. I’ve got to get it fixed as soon as possible.
Darl: Don’t you want to get it fixed now?
Helle: I wish I could, but I’ve got to go now. I have an appointment 2 in twenty minutes.
Darl: Well, if you need anything, just let me know.
Helle: Oh, by the way, could you give me a ride 3? My car is still in the garage 4.
Darl: You sure have bad luck these days.
赫勒: 糟了!水龙头又漏水了!
达尔:你要收到一张高额账单了!
赫勒: 我知道。我得尽快想办法把它修好。
达尔:你不想现在修吗?
赫勒: 我也希望现在修,可我现在得走了。20分钟后我有个约会。
达尔: 好吧,如果你有什么需要,告诉我。
赫勒: 哦,对了,你能载我一程吗?我的车还在修理厂呢。
达尔: 你最近是挺背的。
注释
在句子“I’ve got to get it fixed as soon as possible.”中有一个口语现象“have got to”,其实它的意思和“have to”一样,只是更加口语化。本句中的“as soon as possible”表示“尽快,越快越好”,有时它会被简写成“ASAP”,希望大家在学习的时候多加注意。
单词特搜
1. faucet [ˈfɔ:sit] n. 水龙头
2. appointment [əˈpɔintmənt] n. 约会
3. ride [raid] n. 搭车
4. garage [ˈgæra:ʒ] n. 修车厂
英语通:名人名言
The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved. (Hugo)
生活中最大的幸福是坚信有人爱我们。(雨果)
3.给物业打电话Call the Apartment Management
Vendy: Hello, is this the Apartment Management 1?
Mary: Yes. Can I help you?
Vendy: This is the tenant 2 of Apartment 10. I guess my kitchen sink is clogging up again, and so is the bathtub.
Mary: Alright, I’ll send someone over tomorrow.
Vendy: Um, I’d really appreciate 3 it if you send someone over to fix it today. It’s really a bother! I can’t cook, or take a shower.
Mary: Fine, I’ll be up in a few minutes.
Vendy: Thanks. I appreciate it.
文迪:喂,是物业吗?
玛丽: 是的。有什么可以为您服务的吗?
文迪: 我是10号公寓的住户。我家厨房的水槽又堵了,浴缸也是。
玛丽: 好吧,我明天派人过去看看。
文迪: 嗯,不过如果你今天就派人过来修的话我会很感激的。这真的很麻烦!我不能做饭,也不能洗澡。
玛丽:好吧,我过几分钟就上去。
文迪:谢谢。非常感谢。
注释
“sb. would appreciate it if…”可以说是固定句型了,表示“如果……某人会很感激”,如:We would appreciate it if you could consider it. 如果你能考虑到这一点,我们会很感激的。
特搜单词
1. management [ˈmænidʒmənt] n. 管理部门
2. tenant [ˈtenənt] n. 住户
3. appreciate [əˈpri:ʃieit] v. 感激
英语通:音标
一句话学会音标 [ k ]
发此音时,双唇微开,舌后部抬起,形成阻碍,然后让气流突然冲出口腔,发出爆破音,不振动声带。[ k ] 的发音类似于汉字“柯”和汉语拼音“k”,但不能振动声带。
摘自《9小时快学国际音标》
4.下水道阻塞Clogged Drain
Peter: So, what’s wrong with the drain 1?
Marie: It’s clogged 2 and the water won’t go down.
Peter: Let me take a look. You know why? It’s clogged with hair. No wonder the water won’t go down.