2014年ESL之就医和人际交往 17 Being a Bachelor

Being a Bachelor 

Iris¹: I’m thinking of inviting² Simone and Jerry over for dinner. 

Alex: This isn’t another attempt at matchmaking, is it? Jerry is a confirmed bachelor and he’s not looking to marry or become involved in a relationship. 

Iris: He’s not a confirmed bachelor. In this neighborhood with so many single women, he’s an eligible³ bachelor. 

Alex: You mean in this neighborhood full of old spinsters! Stop trying to set him up with one of them. 

Iris: How do you know he doesn’t want a relationship? Maybe he’s just shy and needs a little prodding⁴. Maybe he has a fear of commitment and we can all help him overcome it. 

Alex: Maybe he just wants to be left alone by meddling⁵ neighbors and ladies on the prowl. There are many benefits to remaining a bachelor. 

Iris: You mean living a celibate⁶ and empty life? 

Alex: You’re making too many assumptions. You don’t know the first thing about his life and whether he’s happy or not. In many ways, a bachelor’s life is idyllic⁷. 

Iris: How can you say that? 

Alex: Would any bachelor have to have this conversation with anyone, ever? 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 iris   

n.虹膜，彩虹

参考例句：

• The opening of the iris is called the pupil.虹膜的开口处叫做瞳孔。
• This incredible human eye,complete with retina and iris,can be found in the Maldives.又是在马尔代夫，有这样一只难以置信的眼睛，连视网膜和虹膜都刻画齐全了。

2 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

3 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

4 prodding   

v.刺，戳( prod的现在分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳

参考例句：

• He needed no prodding. 他不用督促。
• The boy is prodding the animal with a needle. 那男孩正用一根针刺那动物。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

6 celibate   

adj.独身的，独身主义的；n.独身者

参考例句：

• He had defended the institution of a celibate priesthood.他捍卫了独身牧师制度。
• The instinct of the celibate warned him to hold back.单身汉的本能告诫他回头是岸。

7 idyllic   

adj.质朴宜人的，田园风光的

参考例句：

• These scenes had an idyllic air.这种情景多少有点田园气氛。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。