2015年ESL之就医和人际交往 10 Problems Getting Along With Family

Problems Getting Along With Family 

Oscar: So you’re back from your mother’s birthday dinner. How was it? 

Priscilla: Same old, same old. It isn’t a family gathering¹ without a major meltdown or blowup. 

Oscar: Yikes, what happened? 

Priscilla: You know how it is. It starts out with bickering² and somebody taking offense³ at some slight or dig, or bringing up some old grievance⁴. 

Oscar: Well, that happens in most families. 

Priscilla: Yeah, but in mine, they often turn into screaming matches. We all raise our voices and somebody always storms out. 

Oscar: Even at your mother’s birthday dinner? 

Priscilla: The occasion doesn’t matter. My mother tries to be the peacemaker, but it doesn’t take much for tempers to flare⁵. 

Oscar: That never happens in my family. 

Priscilla: What?! Your family doesn’t fight when it gets together? 

Oscar: No, we try to sweep things under the rug and put on a brave face. 

Priscilla: What happens when you get mad at each other? 

Oscar: Nothing. 

Priscilla: What do you mean nothing? 

Oscar: A lot of our family meals are eaten in stony⁶ silence. 

Priscilla: Wow, I think I prefer our knock-down, drag- out fights! 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 bickering   

v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。
• The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。

4 grievance   

n.怨愤，气恼，委屈

参考例句：

• He will not easily forget his grievance.他不会轻易忘掉他的委屈。
• He had been nursing a grievance against his boss for months.几个月来他对老板一直心怀不满。

5 flare   

v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发

参考例句：

• The match gave a flare.火柴发出闪光。
• You need not flare up merely because I mentioned your work.你大可不必因为我提到你的工作就动怒。

6 stony   

adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的

参考例句：

• The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干，而且布满了石头。
• He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。