流利美国口语9.3

M: Does that ring a bell?

W: This is totally over my head. Will you explain again Mr. Brown?

M: The point is you should first remember the formula.

W: Algebra¹ is so difficult. I just don’t get it.

Dialogue 2.

W: How can I be through with such a whole bunch of books in 10 days?

M: You have to burn the mid-night oil I am afraid.

W: I have already pulled an allnighter for 5 days.

M: You are working too hard. You should have started earlier.

W: Yes, I know now, but it’s too late.

M: Well, it’s a good lesson.

Dialogue 3.

W: Oh, I made it. It’s A. How about you?

M: I bombed the test. How did you make it?

W: It’s a no brainer.

M: But it is driving me bananas. It’s unfair. I have finished all the assignments and the research paper for the final.

W: Don’t you know professor Keller is a killer²? He made several students flunk³ every term.

M: Anyhow, I don’t want to study any more. I just want some easy grades.

W: Don’t lose heart. You are so intelligent. You can still nail it in other tests next time.

M: Thank you. I wish I would.

Exercise.

1. I came to New York in 1990 to study at New York University.

2. I majored in software design.

3. I had a minor⁴ in applied⁵ mathematics.

4. Just after my graduation in 1994 I published a paper based on my final year research project that helped me get a job at GE in Beijing where I still work.

5. During my stay at New York University what struck me most was the teaching mode there, especially the seminars chaired by the professor who actually functioned as a model rater and resource person posing⁶ questions, making suggestions, and designing projects or stating specific cases that demanding solution.

6. At seminars each of us students was freer to go into deep discussions about the aspects of the seminar topic that particularly interested us.

7. Seminars required lengthy⁷ oral and reports on independent research. But this sometimes beat me.

8. Once I flunk the final of one of my required courses which has featured by seminars I took the course twice without success before I wanted to give up. However I passed for the third time. The overcoming of this burial gave me great courage in confidence to continue my future research.

1 algebra   

n.代数学

参考例句：

• He was not good at algebra in middle school.他中学时不擅长代数。
• The boy can't figure out the algebra problems.这个男孩做不出这道代数题。

2 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

3 flunk   

v.(考试)不及格(=fail)

参考例句：

• I will flunk him if my student doesn't learn the material in the course.如果我的学生没有掌握课程的内容，我就会让他不及格。
• If you flunk finals,you don't get the chance to do them again.如果你没通过期末考试，就没有机会再考一次了。

4 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

5 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

6 posing   

n. 摆架式 名词pose的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The model was posing carefully. 这位模特儿在认真地摆着姿势。
• She is always posing. 她总是装腔作势。

7 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。