2014年ESL之旅行交通购物 04 Dealing with a Mass Transit Strike

 

Dealing¹ with a Mass Transit² Strike 

Marge: Where have you been? You should have been home over two hours ago! 

Homer: I’ve been trying to get home. Haven’t you been watching the news? The transportation workers union has voted to strike. There was a mass walkout at 4:30 p.m. today. 

Marge: You’re kidding! I didn’t know anything about it. They walked off the job right before the afternoon commute³? 

Homer: Yeah, I think it was calculated to make the biggest impact so that the powers that be will sit up and take notice. 

Marge: You mean the walkout has halted services on all public transportation – all buses, trains, and subways? 

Homer: Yes, that’s right. Everything is at a standstill. There are a lot of disgruntled commuters out there. 

Marge: When will services be restored? 

Homer: I have no idea. I imagine things won’t get back to normal before tomorrow morning’s commute. 

Marge: So what are you going to do? 

Homer: I might have to stay home from work. I’m stranded⁴ with no mass transit services. 

Marge: Oh, that’s a shame. 

Homer: Isn’t it, though? 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

3 commute   

vi.乘车上下班；vt.减(刑)；折合；n.上下班交通

参考例句：

• I spend much less time on my commute to work now.我现在工作的往返时间要节省好多。
• Most office workers commute from the suburbs.很多公司的职员都是从郊外来上班的。

4 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。