【英语时差8,16】麦克和亚曼达正在聊家人

Mike: Hi Amanda, what have you been doing lately? Amanda: As you can see, I'm still wearing a cast¹, so I have been helping² out my mom by watching my little sister on the weekends. She has been able to run a lot of errands³ she never had time to do before. Mike: Wow, that is really nice of you. What do you do with her? Amanda: Last week I taught her how to fly a kite in the park. I couldn't move that fast so I held the string while she ran and launched⁴ the kite. Mike: That sounds fun, but I thought you two normally⁵ fight like cats and dogs. Amanda: Well, she used to be a real pain in the neck. She was always borrowing things from me without asking, or going in my room, but after having to spend the last few weeks together, we have started to get along with each other pretty well. Mike: So you two are best friends now? Amanda: Things are not perfect between us, but at least we are not at each other's throats. Mike: That's better than the alternative⁶. I am sure your parents appreciate the peace between the two of you.

1 cast   

vt./vi.(cast,cast)投掷；投射；抛

参考例句：

• You can cast your vote at the local polling station.你可以在当地的投票站投票。
• He cast off fear and decided to make a try.他去掉害怕心理，决定试一试。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 errands   

n.errand的复数；差使( errand的名词复数 )；差事

参考例句：

• He often runs errands for his grandmother. 他经常给他的祖母跑腿儿。
• I have a few errands to do in the town. 我在城里有些差事要办。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

5 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。

6 alternative   

n.两者挑一的，可供选择的；adj.选择性的，二中择一的

参考例句：

• There was no alternative for them to vote in favor.他们别无选择，只有投票赞成。
• She had no alternative but to ask for a few days'leave.实在不得已，她只好请几天假。