【英语时差8,16】演唱会出现讨厌鬼

Dear Annie:

Last week, my husband and I went to a wonderful concert. But I knew I was not going to enjoy it to the fullest when the woman beside me started to hum. We had great seats that were costly¹. I wanted to ask this woman to keep quiet, but decided² against it. I thought of having an usher³ speak to her, but I didn't want to stand up and interrupt other people's enjoyment⁴ of the concert.

This is not the first time something like this has happened. Once, during "The Nutcracker," a mother sitting behind us explained the whole play to her daughter, yakking⁵ throughout the entire performance. What is the best way to deal with annoying people at a public performance? － Hummed Out in Prospect⁶, Conn.

Dear Prospect:

We're going to give a semi-pass to the woman who explained "The Nutcracker" to her daughter because that performance is intended for children and it helps if they understand what is going on. However, she should have done it more quietly. As for the Hummer, it is OK to say politely, "I'm sure you don't realize your humming is audible. I'd be grateful if you'd tone it down." If she won't stop, it's worth finding an usher. Some people arrogantly⁷ believe the price of a ticket entitles them to disturb everyone else. It does not.

1 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

4 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

5 yakking   

没完没了地谈些无关要紧的事，喋喋不休，唠叨( yak的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She just kept yakking on. 她只是一个劲地东拉西扯。
• She spent all that time yakking on the phone. 她把时间都花在电话闲谈上。

6 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

7 arrogantly   

adv.傲慢地

参考例句：

• The consular porter strode arrogantly ahead with his light swinging. 领事馆的门房提着摇来晃去的灯，在前面大摇大摆地走着。
• It made his great nose protrude more arrogantly. 这就使得他的大鼻子更加傲慢地翘起来。