【英语趣味课堂】邻近地区-The Neighborhood

Todd: OK, Keith, we're back here in the city. I'm going to ask you some questions about where you live. First, is there a libray by your house?

 

Keith: No, no libraries near me.

 

Todd: No, that's too bad. Do you like to read?

 

Keith: Sure, I love to read.

 

Todd: OK. Where do you get you books?

 

Keith: Well, I usually buy them at Tower Records or I order them through Amazon.com

 

Todd: OK. Note: this is not an advertisement. OK. Next one, is there a park by your house.

 

Keith: Park, yeah, there's actually two small ones.

 

Todd: Do you go there very often?

 

Keith: No, not to often, because usually I don't get home from work until pretty late. Not a lot of part-time in my schedule.

 

Todd: OK. So hang on. We've got to let the car go by here. Actually, lots of cars here. Lots of traffic. Is there lot of traffic where you live?

 

Keith: Oh, yeah, in the day time cause there's a lot of shops around my apartment, or near my apartment. But at night time it's pretty quiet.

 

Todd: OK. Great. Thanks Keith.

 

Keith: You're welcome.

 

学习内容：

 

too bad

 

No, that's too bad. Do you like to read?

 

'Too bad' means¹ that something is a pity or a shame. 

 

Notice the following:

 

It is too bad that you can't come to the party. 

If you can't get enough money together then it is just too bad, you won't be able to come. 

park

 

Is there a park by your house.

 

A 'park' is a piece of land that the local government has made into a recreational space. There are parks with play areas for children or parks that are just natural  land.

 

Notice the following:

 

I like to take the children to the park on a Sunday morning. 

We have a special part of the park that has been set aside just for dogs. 

schedule

 

Not a lot of part-time in my schedule.

 

A 'schedule' is a list of events and actions that you need to complete in a certain period of time, like a timetable.

 

Notice the following:

 

I will need to check my schedule before I can commit² to the meeting. 

She has a very busy schedule. 

hang on

 

OK. So hang on. We've got to let the car go by here.

 

'Hang on' means to wait for a short period of time. This is an informal³ phrase⁴.

 

Notice the following:

 

Hang on, I think I have the ticket here. 

She is going to hang on and wait for you. 

traffic

 

Actually, lots of cars here. Lots of traffic. Is there lot of traffic where you live?

 

'Traffic' is the movement of people or vehicles⁵ in a particular area. When traffic is a problem it means that there are many cars on the road and you can't drive quickly. 

 

Notice the following:

 

There is so much traffic today. 

Every morning I have to fight my way through the morning traffic in order to get to work. 

 

1 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

2 commit   

vt.把…交托给，提交；犯，干；使承担义务，使作出保证

参考例句：

• He couldn't commit himself on any issue.他不愿在任何问题上表态。
• A thinking person must commit himself to working for peace.一个有头脑的人必须致力于为和平而工作。

3 informal   

adj.非正式的，不拘礼的，通俗的

参考例句：

• I got an informal reception.我受到了非正式接待。
• The leaders met over informal lunches.领袖们在非正式午餐时进行会晤。

4 phrase   

n.短语，词组；成语，习语

参考例句：

• The phrase was caught on and immediately became popular.这个短语被采用后很快就流行了。
• That's exactly the phrase I was looking for.这就是我一直找的那个短语。

5 vehicles   

n.运载工具；传播媒介；（为展露演员才华而）特意编写的一出戏（或电影等）；[画]展色剂；交通工具( vehicle的名词复数 )；车辆；传播媒介；手段

参考例句：

• There is not much clearance for vehicles passing under this bridge. 车辆在这座桥下通过时没有多少余隙。
• to carry out random spot checks on vehicles 对车辆进行抽检