王强口语 第一册 Short conversation 024

　　Lesson Twenty-four
Short Conversations
Read aloud the concersation two times, and then listen to the tape without looking at the text.
A Change in Christmas Plans
Whittaker: All the customers have gone, so if you'll turn off  the lights up here, we can...
Eugene: Oh, why don't you go ahead ? If you don't mind, I'd like to stay here and enjoy the solitude¹ for a while. I'll lock up after myself.
Whittaker: Oh. Well, I suppose you could do that. Eugene?
Eugene: Uh, yes sir?
Whittaker: I didn't think to ask... I just assumed...do you have anywhere to go for Christmas?
Eugene: Oh, yes.
Whittaker: Oh! Well, good.
Eugene: I thought I'd go back to my dorm room.
Whittaker: Dorm room? Well, don't you have a family?
Eugene: Alas²! I am the last of the unique breed of Meltzners.
Whittaker: Friends?
Eugene: Well, frankly³, Mr. Whittaker, my best friends have been my computers.
Whittaker: Well, why didn't you say something? You can't spend Christmas with a bunch of computers in your dorm room.
Eugene: I have Bing Crosby records, too.
Whittaker: Now, listen to me, Eugene. I want you to go back to your dorm, get some clothes and a toothbrush and meet me at my house.
Eugene: Why?
Whittaker: Because that's where you're spending Christmas.

1 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

2 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

3 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。