【英语时差8,16】麦克和亚曼达正在聊暑假计画

Amanda: Summer vacation is just around the corner, so what are your plans for this year? Mike: I am going to work at the gift shop at the natural history museum, so I can save up for an electric guitar. Amanda: Really! I didn't know you had any musical aspirations². Mike: Oh, I don't even know how to play yet, but I am going to learn. Amanda: How much does this job pay? Are you going to be working your tail off? Electronic guitars don't come cheap. Mike: It only pays minimum wage, but it has set hours and it is indoors, so I can stay out of the heat. How about you, what are you going to do this summer? Amanda: I am going to a thespian³ camp for three weeks. Then, I will work on a novel that I am writing for a contest. Mike: A novel? What kind of story is it? Amanda: It is about the rite⁴ of passage into adulthood⁵ for six teenage friends with very different personalities⁶. I actually started it a while back, but this contest is just the kick in the pants I need to finish it. Mike: It sounds interesting. Let me have a peek⁷ at it when you are done. aspiration¹ (n.) 抱負；志向 Amanda has aspirations to become an award-winning director. minimum (adj.) 最少的；最低的 This cafe requires that we spend a minimum of NT$100 per person. thespian (adj.) 戲劇的 The little village has a very strong thespian culture, hosting drama festivals every year. adulthood (n.) 成年 In Japan, a girl's 20th birthday marks the beginning of her adulthood. peek (n.) 偷看；一瞥 The mother took a peek at her sleeping baby before she went to work.just around the corner 即將來臨；就在附近 A: My birthday is just around the corner. B: How would you like to celebrate it? to save up 存錢 A: How long did it take you to save up for your new car? B: I limited my spending for a year. to work (one's) tail off 不停地辛苦工作 A: I have stayed late at the office everyday this week. B: Your new boss certainly is working your tail off.

1 aspiration   

n.志向，志趣抱负；渴望；(语)送气音；吸出

参考例句：

• Man's aspiration should be as lofty as the stars.人的志气应当象天上的星星那么高。
• Young Addison had a strong aspiration to be an inventor.年幼的爱迪生渴望成为一名发明家。

2 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

3 thespian   

adj.戏曲的；n.演员；悲剧演员

参考例句：

• If you enjoy acting in plays,join your school's thespian club.如果你喜欢戏剧表演，就加入你学校的戏剧社团。
• The actress demonstrated thespian talents at her first audition.这位女演员第一次试镜就展现出戏剧天分。

4 rite   

n.典礼，惯例，习俗

参考例句：

• This festival descends from a religious rite.这个节日起源于宗教仪式。
• Most traditional societies have transition rites at puberty.大多数传统社会都为青春期的孩子举行成人礼。

5 adulthood   

n.成年，成人期

参考例句：

• Some infantile actions survive into adulthood.某些婴儿期的行为一直保持到成年期。
• Few people nowadays are able to maintain friendships into adulthood.如今很少有人能将友谊维持到成年。

6 personalities   

n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There seemed to be a degree of personalities in her remarks.她话里有些人身攻击的成分。
• Personalities are not in good taste in general conversation.在一般的谈话中诽谤他人是不高尚的。

7 peek   

vi.偷看，窥视；n.偷偷的一看，一瞥

参考例句：

• Larry takes a peek out of the window.赖瑞往窗外偷看了一下。
• Cover your eyes and don't peek.捂上眼睛，别偷看。