华尔街高级英语Lesson 28

Apartment 226
1016 Lower¹ Mean Street
22323 Washdon

Dear Annie,
It was very nice to see you the other day, even though we hardly had a chance to talk to each other properly.
I’m very sorry to have wasted your time trying to sell you a washing machine. I should have realized that fanatical greens like to keep their clothes black (my little joke!). Of course, if you’ve changed your mind about the machine, you know where to get hold of me.
Anyway, that isn’t the reason why I’m writing. Although. If you were interested in a machine, I’d be happy to demonstrate² one to you. The reason why I’m writing is a different one.
I wanted to apologize for upsetting you by talking about my old friend and your old, or to put it another way, former father Hugo. I really shouldn’t have mentioned him after all. He was your only father, if you see what I mean.
Anyway, the reason why I’m writing to you, as well of course, as offering³ you another chance to buy a Laundroperk machine, is to tell you about a rather interesting customer I picked up at Washdo International Airport the other day. I drive a cab⁴ now, you see, which is why I collected, as I said, this person at the airport.
Well, this person I collected at the airport looked exactly like Hugo, except for the beard and mustache. He didn’t have them, that is, but Hugo did, as I’m sure you remember. I asked him if he’d ever heard of him-Hugo, I mean-I asked my passenger, that is, but he said he didn’t. In fact he seemed to be quite offended⁵, and he got out of my cab without paying! Just think, there is someone else around who looks just like your poor dead father.
The thing is, the reason why I’m writing to you is to suggest that we get together for a chat about old times your dad, maybe washing machines, and stuff⁶ like that. Perhaps we could to a club one evening.
Looking forward to hearing from you,

John Berry⁷

PS: If you don’t have any use for a washing machine, perhaps a friend of yours has.
PPS: If you don’t like clubs, what about a quiet intimate⁸ evening in my apartment?
PPPS: Sorry to go on about it, but if you are interested in the laundroperk machine, could you let me know soon, so that I can get in touch with the company that sells them?

1 lower   

adj.较低的；地位较低的，低等的；低年级的；下游的；vt.放下，降下，放低；减低

参考例句：

• Society is divided into upper,middle and lower classes.社会分为上层、中层和下层阶级。
• This price is his minimum;he refuses to lower it any further.这个价格是他开的最低价，他拒绝再作任何降价。

2 demonstrate   

vt.论证，证明；示范；显示；vi.示威游行

参考例句：

• Let me demonstrate to you how this machine works.我给你演示一下这台机器的运转情况。
• How can I demonstrate to you that my story is true?我怎样才能向你证明我的话是真实的呢？

3 offering   

n.提供，奉献物，牲礼

参考例句：

• What is your competition offering?你的竞争者提出的条件是什么？
• The police are offering a big reward for information about the robbery.警方出大笔赏金要求提供那起抢劫案的破案线索。

4 cab   

n.计程车，出租车，出租单马车；vi.乘出租马车

参考例句：

• The cab drove over his legs.马车从他腿上碾过。
• Shall we walk or take a cab?我们步行还是坐出租车？

5 offended   

v.触怒( offend的过去式和过去分词 )；得罪；冒犯；使反感令人不适

参考例句：

• They'll be offended if you don't go to their wedding. 你若不参加他们的婚礼，他们会生气的。
• She was offended by the vulgarity of their jokes. 他们那些粗俗的笑话使她大为不快。

6 stuff   

n.原料，材料，东西；vt.填满；吃饱

参考例句：

• We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
• He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。

7 berry   

n.浆果(如草莓等)

参考例句：

• This kind of jam is made of berry.这种果酱是由浆果做的。
• Every berry and cherry carried in the ferry is very merry.渡船里载运的每一颗草莓和樱桃都很快乐。

8 intimate   

adj.亲密的，密切的；个人的，私人的；v.暗示、提示、宣布、通知

参考例句：

• The two of them were as intimate as sisters.她们俩处得好像亲姐妹一样。
• I can't tell them my intimate thoughts.我不能告诉他们我内心深处的想法。