【英语趣味课堂】赠送礼物-Giving Gifts

 Todd: So, Ruthie, what did you do today?

 

Ruth: Well, I got up quite early this morning, actually, to go shopping.

 

Todd: Oh, yeah! (Yeah) Ooh, shopping.

 

Ruth: I really like shopping.

 

Todd: That's true but you're on a budget. You're trying to save money.

 

Ruth: I know, but is was my brother's birthday. Well, it is my brother's birthday in a week so.

 

Todd: Oh, no kidding.

 

Ruth: Yeah.

 

Todd: So, what did you get your brother for his birthday?

 

Ruth: Well, it was quite difficult to find something that I thought he would like, but I got him some cakes in the end, some Japanese cakes.

 

Todd: Japanese cakes?

 

Ruth: Yeah, they're in like a special presentation box.

 

Todd: So, how are you going to get the cakes to your brother? Just through the post office?

 

Ruth: Yes, I sent them in the post this morning.

 

Todd: Oh, did you send them express or just regular mail?

 

Ruth: No, regular mail because it was cheaper.

 

Todd: But, don't you want it to hurry and get there for his birthday?

 

Ruth: I've got one week. I think it will get there in time.

 

Todd: So, what do you think you're brother will think of the cakes?

 

Ruth: I don't think he'll like them actually.

 

Todd: No?

 

Ruth: Well, he likes chocolate cake, and they look like they've got kind of chocolate inside but it's bean paste¹. I think he'll be disappointed.

 

Todd: So what did you brother get you for your last birthday?

 

Ruth: That's a good question. He always gives me money, and he often gives me chocolate as well. He's very generous.

 

Todd: Actually, I'm the same way. Guys like to give money. Money is so easy. No shopping involved.

 

Ruth: It's practical, though, it's good.

 

Todd: Now, I've been told that when you give money for a gift, it's actually very impolite.

 

Ruth: Really?

 

Todd: Is that true? Yeah!

 

Ruth: Why is that?

 

Todd: I don't know. Some people say it's just really impersonal². That you should take the time to get a gift.

 

Ruth: Really! I really think if anybody gave me money I would be so pleased. It's a good present.

 

Todd: Exactly, that's what I think. (Pause) Hey, um, actually, when are you going to see your brother next?

 

Ruth: Probably, I will see him in August of September.

 

Todd: Oh, that's quite a ways away.

 

Ruth: Yes, about four months is that.

 

Todd: So is this a younger brother or older brother?

 

Ruth: He's older. He's twenty-six.

 

Todd: Oh, he's twenty six.

 

Ruth: He's going to be twenty-six soon.

 

Todd: Ok, well, if you happen to e-mail him, tell him happy birthday.

 

Ruth: Oh, certainly will do. Thanks.

 

学习内容：

 

on a budget

 

You like shopping, that's true, but you're on a budget. 

 

You can say that you are 'shopping on a budget' when you have a limited amount of money that you can spend. Notice the following:

 

Many kids have to adjust to living on a budget when they first go away to college.

Grocery shopping on a budget is kind of stressful.

in a week or so

 

Well, it is my brother's birthday in a week or so. 

 

You can use the phrase 'in a... or so' to give an estimate³ of a time frame⁴. In this case, it could be a little more or a little less than a week. Notice the following:

 

I'll be starting my new job in a month or so.

They told me my new glasses would be ready in a week or so.

express mail/regular mail

 

Did you send the package express or just regular mail? 

 

'Regular mail' is the normal mail service that a country provides. You would use 'express mail' if you needed to send something more quickly. Notice the following:

 

When you finish the report, I need you to send it out express mail.

I sent your present through regular mail, so it will probably take a few days to get there.

bean paste

 

The cakes look like they've got kind of chocolate inside but it's bean paste. 

 

A 'bean paste' can be made by mashing⁵ up beans into a sticky⁶ substance. Notice the following:

 

These cookies are made with bean paste.

They actually put bean paste in the ice cream.

impolite or impersonal

 

Some people say that when you give money for a gift, it's actually very impolite or impersonal. 

 

Someone is 'impolite' to you if she doesn't act towards you with normal social graces⁷ or is rude. You would say that someone is 'impersonal' if she lacks human emotion or warmth in normal interaction⁸. Notice the following:

 

Waiters in this restaurant are famous for being impolite.

The world of technology has made many things very impersonal.

quite a ways away

 

August or September is quite a ways away. 

 

If something is 'quite a ways away,' it is a long distance away from a particular place. Notice the following:

 

His house is quite a ways away from here, and the weather is bad. Are you sure you want to go?

All of the supermarkets are quite a ways away from here.

1 paste   

n.糊，浆糊，铅制玻璃；vt.粘贴，覆盖，猛击

参考例句：

• Please paste these sheets of paper together.请将这几张纸粘在一起。
• Stick the paper with paste.用糨糊粘纸。

2 impersonal   

adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的

参考例句：

• Even his children found him strangely distant and impersonal.他的孩子们也认为他跟其他人很疏远，没有人情味。
• His manner seemed rather stiff and impersonal.他的态度似乎很生硬冷淡。

3 estimate   

n.估计，估量；评价，看法；vt.估计，估量

参考例句：

• We estimate the cost to be five thousand dollars.我们估计费用为5000美元。
• The lowest estimate would put the worth of the jewel at ＄200.按最低的评估这块宝石也值200美元。

4 frame   

n.框架，结构，体格；vt.构成，设计，制定，使适合，陷害； 框架，（是指在数据链路层中，将网络层数据包加上开始与结尾信息包组成一个框架）

参考例句：

• The house has a wooden frame which is faced with brick.这个房子是木质结构的砖瓦房。
• We must frame up that picture.我们必须给那幅画装上框。

5 mashing   

捣碎

参考例句：

• Long ago, they served as a useful third set of mashing molars. 许多年前，它们可是有用的第三套磨牙系统。
• During continuous mashing, filter 2 is filled when filter 1 is full. 在连续糖化过程中，当压滤机1填满后即填充压滤机2。

6 sticky   

adj.粘的，闷热的，困难的，令人不满意的

参考例句：

• This paste is not sticky enough.这糨糊不黏。
• Here is a sticky business!这事真难办！

7 graces   

n.风度，恩遇，魅力；优美( grace的名词复数 )；宽限；恩泽；风度

参考例句：

• A young man with graces appeared on the stage. 舞台上出现了一位风度翩翩的年轻人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I'm not in her good graces at the moment. 我此刻尚未讨得她的欢心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 interaction   

n.交流；相互作用，相互影响，合作

参考例句：

• The interaction of the two groups produced many good ideas.两个组的相互交流产生了许多好主意。
• Price is determined through the interaction of demand and supply.价格在供需的相互作用中形成。