2012年ESL之日常生活 16 Essential and Optional Things

 

Essential and Optional¹ Things 

Ella: It’s so exciting that you’ll be spending a month studying in McQuillanland this summer. When do you start packing? 

Marty: I’ve already started. The organizers of the program gave me a list of things I need to bring. 

Ella: That’s really helpful. 

Marty: Yeah. They say that it’s essential that I bring both warm- weather and cold-weather clothes. The weather in McQuillanland is really unpredictable. 

Ella: Oh, I didn’t know that. 

Marty: Yeah, and they say that it’s advisable² that I bring medications for every malady³ I can think of because there are a lot of health dangers. 

Ella: Wow, I never knew that about McQuillanland. 

Marty: Me, neither. And while it’s optional, it’s also suggested that I leave all of my valuables at home. McQuillanland has a very high crime rate and visitors are often targeted. 

Ella: Geez, that’s a lot to take in. 

Marty: You’re telling me. And the list says that it is absolutely required that I take a self-defense course before going. You never know what to expect in McQuillanland. 

Ella: You’re not having second thoughts about going, are you? 

Marty: No, why? 

 

Script⁴ by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 optional   

adj.可任意选择的，非强制的，随意的

参考例句：

• The goods are optional, but only one.这些物品是可以任选的，但只能选一个。
• It is optional with you.那是你的自由。

2 advisable   

adj.可取的，适当的，明智的

参考例句：

• It was advisable for you not to mention that.你不提及那件事是明智的。
• I do not think it advisable to park our car here.我认为将我们的小汽车停放在此处是不妥当的。

3 malady   

n.病，疾病(通常做比喻)

参考例句：

• There is no specific remedy for the malady.没有医治这种病的特效药。
• They are managing to control the malady into a small range.他们设法将疾病控制在小范围之内。

4 script   

n.剧本，广播稿；文字体系；笔迹，手迹

参考例句：

• It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
• The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。