2014年ESL之日常生活 12 Meeting a New Neighbor

 

Meeting a New Neighbor

Nancy: Hello there! Hello! 

Eric: Hello. 

Nancy: I’m Nancy, your neighbor across the street. You’re new to the neighborhood. 

Eric: Yes, I just moved in last weekend. 

Nancy: That’s nice. How are you settling in? 

Eric: Fine, thanks. 

Nancy: Would you like to come over and have a cup of coffee? I can give you the scoop¹ on the neighborhood and give you some tips on places to go and things to do in this area. 

Eric: Thanks, but I’m kind of busy right now. I’ll take a rain check. 

Nancy: No problem. Stop by anytime. We have quite a few social events in the area that you might be interested in. 

Eric: I’m not much of a joiner. I tend to keep to myself. 

Nancy: Oh, but we couldn’t let you do that. I’m appointing myself your new social secretary. As a new resident in a small town, you should know that everyone will want to meet you. You’ll be inundated² with invitations. I can help you sort them out. 

Eric: I appreciate your offer, but if I have to fend³ off neighbors, I’ll do it myself. 

Nancy: Well, suit yourself. I don’t recommend turning down too many invitations or you’ll get a reputation for being a recluse⁴. 

Eric: That’s okay with me. I’d rather not be the subject of talk among the busybodies. 

Nancy: Busybodies! Well, some people! 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 scoop   

n.铲子，舀取，独家新闻；v.汲取，舀取，抢先登出

参考例句：

• In the morning he must get his boy to scoop it out.早上一定得叫佣人把它剜出来。
• Uh,one scoop of coffee and one scoop of chocolate for me.我要一勺咖啡的和一勺巧克力的。

2 inundated   

v.淹没( inundate的过去式和过去分词 )；（洪水般地）涌来；充满；给予或交予（太多事物）使难以应付

参考例句：

• We have been inundated with offers of help. 主动援助多得使我们应接不暇。
• We have been inundated with every bit of information imaginable. 凡是想得到的各种各样的信息潮水般地向我们涌来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

4 recluse   

n.隐居者

参考例句：

• The old recluse secluded himself from the outside world.这位老隐士与外面的世界隔绝了。
• His widow became a virtual recluse for the remainder of her life.他的寡妻孤寂地度过了余生。