Short Conversations （短對話）
Read aloud the conversation two times, and then listen to the tape without looking at the text.
Peace on False Pretences
Whittaker: The problem might be that you tried to make peace1 on false pretences2.
Connie: False what?
Whittaker: Pretences. It's uh, well…well, let me put it another way3. You tried to make peace by ignoring4 the source of the conflict5 rather than6 resolving7 it.
Connie: What does that mean?
Whittaker: You expected Donna and Jessie to apologize for8 saying things that may well9 be true. Donna might be a take-charge10 kind of person, so Jessie isn't actually wrong when she says so. And maybe Jessie really isn't very organized, so…
Connie: Donna isn't wrong for saying so, either. Yeah, I get it.
Whittaker: Well, there's no place for11 name-calling12. But there's also no point13 in making them apologize for being right about each other. Even if they did apologize, it wouldn't bring lasting14 peace. Sooner or later15, it would all come up16 again.
Connie: Well, then what are you saying I should do?
Whittaker: Well, I suppose before you try to get them to make up with each other, you need to make your own peace with them.
注釋：
1.make peace:講和
用法：She needs your help. It's a good opportunity to make peace with her.
她需要你的幫助。這是與她講和的好機(jī)會。
2.pretence:借口，假裝
3.put it another way:換種說法來說
4.ignore:忽視，置之不理
用法：I taught her to ignore insulting remarks.
我讓她別把那些悔辱性的話當(dāng)一回事。
5.conflict:矛盾、沖突
6.rather than:而不是
用法： I think I'd rather stay home this evening than go out.
今晚我想呆在家里而不愿意出去。
7.resolve:解決
用法：These issues will have to be left to fate and chance to resolve.
這些問題的解決只好聽天由命了。
8.apologize for:為…道歉
用法：I endeavored to apologize for the accident, but it was evident that these books which I had so unfortunately maltreated were very precious objects in the eyes of their owner.
我努力為這次意外事件道歉，顯然這些被不幸損壞了的書對主人來說極為珍貴。
9.may well:（有充分的理由）（完全）可能
用法：His opinions are candid that may well have been a little irritating.
他的意見很坦誠，極有可能令人不快。
10.take-charge:負(fù)責(zé) （源于take charge (of) 短語）
用法：She is the youngest manager who takes charge of the overseas business in the company.
她是這個公司里負(fù)責(zé)海外業(yè)務(wù)最年輕的經(jīng)理。
11.be no place for …:沒有…的余地，決不可以…
用法：There was no place for doubt.
那無可置疑。.
12.name-calling:罵人 （源于call sb. Names）
用法：He started to call me names when I showed disagreement to his idea.
當(dāng)我對他的觀點表示不同意時，他竟開始罵起我來了。
13.no point:沒有意義，沒有必要
用法：There's no point arguing with your boss -- just do as you're told.
跟你老板板爭論一點用都沒有---就按照他跟你講的去做就是了。
14.lasting: 永久的，持久的
用法：Love and war is the lasting topic of film.
愛情和戰(zhàn)爭是電影歷久不衰的題材。
15.sooner or later:遲早
用法：Sooner or later your mother will find the secret that you cheat on the exam.
遲早你媽媽都會發(fā)現(xiàn)你在考試?yán)镒鞅走@個秘密的。
16.come up:發(fā)生
用法：I presume it is not this old tragedy that has come up again?
我想不會是這種歷史悲劇又發(fā)生了吧？
Long Conversations （長對話）
1.Conversations: (Find a partner and practice these dialogues.)
A:
Carl:(Seeing Victor passing by angrily) Victor's still burning about that wallpaper bit, Bobbie!
Bobbie:Well, we got him out…and I did apologize!
Carl:Yeah, but you know Victor…He likes to get even.
Victor:(Shouting at Bobbie) How about playing me, Bobbie! Or are you chicken?
Bobbie:Of course not!
Carl:He's a good player! Maybe you should think twice about this! And if you do play, remember, it's no big deal if he beats you. Matter of fact, when he serves up that killer swing, get out of the way.
Bobbie:What sort of nutty1 pep2 talk is this? I'm going out there and I plan to win! I know he's good, but I'll play to his weakness!
Carl:Then, good luck!
B:(They start playing. Victor serves first.)
Bobbie:Wow! Nice serve, Victor!
Victor: The idea is to hit it back3, Bobbie!
Bobbie:Fantastic job, Victor!
(Victor serves again.)
Bobbie:Wow! Beautiful backhand4! Amazing power!
Victor:Ready to quit?
Bobbie: Oh no! I'm enjoying this. (Saying to herself) This game isn't won with hands or feet. It's won with the head!
C:(Bobbie starts to make a fool of Victor by jumping around and shouting.)
Bobbie: Man! Nice going, Victor! You're sensational5! Oh! Nice shot!
Victor:She's driving me crazy! I've got all the points, but that jerk6'sshavingsall the fun!
(Shouting at Bobbie) I've thrown my best shots at you and you're still smiling! I can't take it anymore! I quit! (Victor left.)
Carl:Victor forfeited, Bobbie! You win, Bobbie!
Bobbie: (Smiles) Life's a lot like Tennis…It's the comeback7 that counts!
注解
1． Nutty: frantic and fervent or enthusiastic about something狂熱的、瘋狂的、愚蠢的
用法：The football fans were a//group//of nutty guys.
橄欖球球迷們是一群狂熱的家伙。
2． Pep: vigor 活力, 精力，勁頭
用法：I'm always full of pep at night.
我總是夜里來神兒。
3． Hit…back: fight back and resist severely反擊
用法：The Belgium team hit the American team back in the second part of the football match and as a result tied with the American team.
比利時球隊在下辦場橄欖球比賽時反擊美國隊最終同美國隊打成平手。
4． Backhand: 反手擊球 (forehand 正手擊球)
5． Sensational: outstanding and fantastic非常好的
用法：The football game is sensational.
這場橄欖球比賽太棒了。
6． Jerk: （罵人的話）a foolish, stupid person 混蛋，蠢貨（相當(dāng)于說：an idiot; a dope）
7． Comeback: recovery 恢復(fù), 復(fù)原
用法：The city made a splendid comeback.
這個城市恢復(fù)了舊時的風(fēng)采。