《走遍美国》Family Album U.S.A 第08集

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 2-1 “这世界真小。”

【故事梗概】

在Stewart一家为祖父Malcolm Stewart的到来而兴奋的同时，Malcolm正在一列由佛罗里达州开往纽约市的火车上。Malcolm坐在车厢里，一位女士Elsa坐到了他的旁边。他们攀谈了起来。原来Elsa也是来自于佛罗里达州的，并且他们的家离得不远。

Elsa: Excuse me. Is this seat taken?

Grandpa: No, it's not taken.

Elsa: Oh, thank you.

Grandpa: Oh, let me help you with this.

Elsa: Oh, thank you.

Grandpa: Do you want to sit bythe window?

Elsa: No, no, no. I likethe aisle seat better. Please, you sit by the window.

Grandpa: My name is Stewart…Malcolm Stewart. Pleased to meet you.

Elsa: I'm Elsa Tobin. How do you do?

Grandpa: Do you live in NewYork?

Elsa: No, no. I'm from Florida.

Grandpa: I am, too. But didn't you just get on?

Elsa: No, no. I just changed my seat. A man next to me was smoking, and smoke really bothers me. Where are you from in Florida?

Grandpa: Titusville. It's near Orlando.

Elsa: Small world. I'm from Titusville, too.

Grandpa: Really? What part?

Elsa: My husband and I livenear Spaceport.

Grandpa: I know that area. My house is only a few miles from Spaceport. Do you still live there?

Elsa: Oh yes, yes. My husband's there now. He couldn't take time off to come to New York with me. Do you still live there?

Grandpa: No. I sold the houseand the furniture, put a few personal things in an old trunk, and shipped it tomy children in New York. That's my destination.

【语言点精讲】

1. Excuse me. Is this seat taken?对不起，这座位有人吗？在美国，如果别人身边有空位置，应征得那人的同意方能落坐。也可这样说- "Excuse me, may I take the seat?"或"Excuse me, anyone sitting here?"

2. Oh,let me help you with this.让我来帮你吧。这是主动向别人提供帮助时的说法。本情境中，祖父Malcolm主动帮助Elsa把手提箱放到了行李架上。在美国，公共场合主动帮助女士，是男士有教养的表示。

3. I like the aisle seat better. Please, you sit by the window.我喜欢靠走道的座位。请你坐在窗边吧。the aisle seat 靠走道的位置。by在这里相当于"next to"。

4. But didn't you just get on?反问句"Didn't you...?"的意思是“难道你不是…？”，表示问者很有理由相信是这么一回事，相当于 "I think you..., am I right?"get on -上车，上。get on可用于火车、公共汽车、飞机等。

5. Small world.这世界真小。感叹语，熟人邂逅或在外乡遇见同乡人时用。也可以说"It's a small world."

6. He couldn't take time off to come to New York with me. 他脱不开身，不能和我一起上纽约来。take time off 的意思是“不上班，不去工作，抽出时间，挤出时间”。 

ACT 2-2 “说确切点，是47年。”

【故事梗概】

在火车上，祖父Malcolm与Elsa的谈话在继续。一位乘务员走过来到他们身旁，他要看看Elsa的车票。

Elsa: Are you married?

Grandpa: My wife died four years ago. She was a wonderful woman. A real friend.

Elsa: I'm sorry. Really,I'm sorry.

Grandpa: Lots of wonderful memories. We were married almost fifty years. Well, forty-seven, to be exact.

Elsa: John and I celebrateour fortieth anniversary next month.

Grandpa: Oh, congratulations! That's nice. What does John do?

Elsa: He's an aerospace engineer and works for Orlando Aircraft Corporation. He started with them almost forty years ago. What do you do?

Grandpa: I just retired. Hadmy own company. A construction company. Roads, bridges, big stuff. But I just sold it and retired.

Conductor: Excuse me, ma'am.Ticket, please.

Elsa: Would you kindly hold these keys, please? I have a ticket, I know, I was in the smoking section.

Conductor: It's OK, lady.Takeyour time.

Grandpa: I'm sure it's in your purse, Mrs. Tobin.

Elsa: Oh, here it is.

Grandpa: And here are your keys.

Elsa: Thank you.

【语言点精讲】

1. Are you married?你结婚了吗？ 动词的过去分词形态常用作形容词，放在be动词后面，作表语来修饰主词。如本句中的married

2. I'm sorry. Really, I'm sorry.在谈话的过程中，我们可能会谈到一些不愉快的话题，这种情况下，我们应该表示遗憾或者惋惜。如本情景中，祖父Malcolm谈到自己的妻子4年前去世了，Elsa女士对此的回应是- "I'm sorry. Really, I'm sorry."（我听了很难过，真的很难过。）

3. We were married almost fifty years. Well, forty-seven, to be exact.我们结婚有差不多50了，呃，说确切点，是47年。to be exact 确切点说，用于对刚说的话进行解释或修正。美国人比较重视结婚纪念日，在祖父和Elsa的话中都谈到了自己结婚的时间。

4. Congratulations!太好了，恭喜你，祝贺你。当别人告诉你他的喜讯时，就可以向他表示祝贺，对他说"Congratulations!"

5. Would you kindly hold these keys, please? 请你代我拿着这些钥匙，可以吗？"Would you kindly…?"的意思是“能麻烦您...吗？请您…好吗？”用于正式的、客气的请求别人做某事。

6. Take your time.慢慢来，别着急。 

ACT 2-3 “我迫不及待想见到他们。”

【故事梗概】

在火车上，祖父Malcolm同Elsa女士谈到了各自去纽约市的原因。Elsa是要去拜访朋友，而Malcolm则要是搬去和自己的儿孙同住。Malcolm还没有决定是不是要永久住下来，他既不喜欢独自一人生活，又不想失去独立性。

Grandpa: Do you have family in New York?

Elsa: No, no. But I do havevery close friends in New York City. We like to go to the theater together. You said you have family in New York.

Grandpa: Yes, indeed. A son and his wife and their three children - my grandchildren.

Elsa: You must be excited.

Grandpa: I can't wait to seethem!

Elsa: Are you going to live with them?

Grandpa: Yes.

Elsa: Permanently?

Grandpa: Well…they want me to,but it's too early to know for sure. I'm pretty independent. I tried to teach my kids the importance of independence, but I'm not sure I want to be alone. Some people don't mind being alone. I do.

Elsa: I understand. But tell me. Why did you stop working?

Grandpa: I retired because …I wanted to be with my family. I didn't want to be alone anymore!

【语言点精讲】

1. But I do have very close friends in New York City. 可我确实有很亲密的朋友在纽约市。句中的 do表示强调，说话时要重读。

2. Yes,indeed.对，没错。indeed用来强调肯定的语气。

3. You must be excited.你现在一定很激动。这里情态动词 must加上be，用来表示一种比较肯定的推测，“想必，一定”，而不作“必须”讲。

4. I can't wait to see them!我迫不及待想见到他们。"can't wait to do sth." 表示“急于做某事，迫不及待要做某事”，也可以说"can hardly wait to do sth."

5. Well…they want me to, but it's too early to know for sure.嗯…他们要我这样，但是现在还太早，难以肯定知道。"too...to..."的意思是“太...以至于不能...”

6. Some people don't mind being alone. I do.有些人不在乎一个人过。我不行。这里的"mind" 表示“介意，不喜欢，讨厌，反对”等意思，后面如接动词，要用动名词形式。这里的"I do"是"I do mind being alone"的缩略，表示“我介意，我讨厌（一个人生活）”

7. Why did you stop working? 你为什么停止工作了？"stop doing" 表示停止做某事，即不再做下去。

来源：Family Album U.S.A

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