课堂详解

各位亲爱的朋友们，欢迎再次乘坐话说地道美语的航班，我是此航班乘务长Juliet。在本次航程中，我们的话聊室将聊一聊美国青少年初涉人生的事情，从而掌握三个地道美语的说法。美国家长对美国青少年在物质上的需求是如何对待的呢？先听我唠叨几句：

In general, American teenagers are big spenders. They want to buy things the other kids have: CDs of the latest songs, CD players, videos. video games, electronic gadgets, fashionable clothes, and even cars. A few parents agree to foot the bill, but others don't. Instead, they put their foot down and insist that the kids get a job. After all, that is the best way for them to learn how to stand on their own feet and learn the value of money.

总体来说，美国十几岁的青少年花钱大手大脚。他们想买其他孩子都拥有的东西：最新的歌曲CD、CD机、电影碟片、电子游戏、电子产品、时装、甚至是汽车。少数父母同意付账，而另一些则拒绝买单，相反他们还果断决定坚持要孩子找份工作。这毕竟是他们学会自立和认识金钱价值的最好方法。

美国家长对自己孩子在物质上的需求是如何对待的呢？我们先来学三个含有foot这个词的习语。

1. foot the bill

望文生义，它的意思是脚踩在账单上，但是美国人在生活中说这个短语的意思是 "to pay for all expences". 中文意思是付账，买单，承担费用。我们通过下面的例句来熟悉它的意思和用法：

Eg . When we went to the restaurant last night, my fatherfooted the bill as usual. 昨晚我们去餐馆吃饭,像往常一样,由我父亲付帐。（注解：go to the restaurant 去餐馆吃饭；上馆子 as usual 照例，像平常一样）

Eg. I am in a jam because I do not have enough money to foot the bill. 我带的钱不够付账，处境很狼狈。（注解：in a jam 处于困境）

Eg. Who's going to foot the bill for all the repairs? 谁来付所有的修理费?（注解：foot the bill for... 为.......付账）

Eg. I wonder who's going to foot the bill for all the celebration costs. 我正在想谁来付这次庆祝会所花的所有费用了。

2. put one's foot down

望文生义，它的意思是把脚往下放。但是在美国的大街小巷的老百姓们说这句话是make a firm decision and insist that someone obey的意思。中文意思果断行事，坚持立场。我们通过下面的例句来熟悉这个短语的意思和运用。

Eg. Our mother let us go to the party, but when it came to staying overnight, she put her foot down to say no. 母亲允许我们去参加晚会, 但要说到过夜, 她可决不答应。（注解：come to sth 指说到某话题 overnight adv. 过夜 stay overnight 在外过夜 say no 不同意）

Eg. She put her foot down and left home with the baby. 她固执己见,带着孩子便离家了。

3. stand on one's own feet

望文生义，它 的意思是站在自己的脚上，但是美国人用说这个短语的意思是to depend on oneself, not to ask for help or money。中文意思是自力更生，独立自主，不依靠他人的帮助或资助。我们通过下面的例句来熟悉这个短语的意思和运用。

Eg. I don't want allowances made for me. I want to stand on my own feet for what I'm worth. 我不需要谁来原谅我，我应该凭本事自力更生。（注解：该句话来源于Gone with the Wind allowance 考虑 make allowance for sb考虑到，顾及，体谅，原谅）

Eg. Now that you' re growing up you must learn to stand on your own two feet. 你既然已经长大成人, 就得学会独立生活。（注解：now that 既然，由于 引导条件状语从句）

Foot the bill是买单的意思。Put down one's foot是果断行事坚持立场的意思。Stand on one's feet是自立更生独立自主的意思。

课后习题

Reading Comprehension: Please judge the following statements wether it is true or false.
1. The American teenagers don't like to spend a lot of money.

2. A few parents are firm and ask their kids to get a job and pay for their own bills.

3. The best way for teenagers to learn the value of money is to earn it themselves.

Speaking Practice: Please answer the following questions.

1. Why do American teenagers want their parents to foot the bill?

2. When some parents put their foot down , what do they insist their children to do?

3. How does getting a job help kids to learn how to stand own their own feet?

Translation exercise:

记者：你还是个孩子，尚未高中毕业，为什么就决定去工作呢？

少年：我想要很多东西：音乐CD，电子游戏，手机，时尚衣服和属于自己的车。我需要钱，因为父母拒绝支付我的账单，以往我过生日和过圣诞节时，他们都会给我买好东西，但是我需要更多的东西。所以他们最后决定，要我自立。他们说我应该学会独立生活，自己挣钱买想要的东西。

课后习题参考答案

1. Reading Comprehension:

The American teenagers don't like to spend a lot of money. (false)

A few parents are firm and ask their kids to get a job and pay for their own bills. (false)

The best way for teenagers to learn the value of money is to earn it themselves. (true)

2. Speaking Practice:

(1) Why do American teenagers want their parents to foot the bill?

Because they don't have enough money to pay for all the things that they want to buy.

(2) When some parents put their foot down , what do they insist their children to do?

They insist that their children to get a job to pay for all the things that they want to buy.

(3) How does getting a job help kids to learn how to stand own their own feet?

They can learn the value of money. It is not easy to earn all the money that they need to buy the things they want.

3. Translation exercise:

Reporter: You are still just a kid and haven't graduated from high school yet. Why did you decide to get a job.

Teenager: I want to get lots of things: music CDs, electronic games, a cellular phone, cool clothes, and my own car. I need money because my parents refuse to foot the bill. They used to get me good stuff for my birthday and Christmas, but I wanted more. So my parents finally put their foot down and told me to stand on my own feet. They said that I should learn to be independent, earn my own money and buy what I want.