雪莉和玛丽亚在上夜校，玛丽亚今天上课又迟到了，原来是家务缠身。此种现象经常发生，她们是怎样处理好家庭、工作和学习的关系的呢？

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Shirley: You are late again, Maria. The teacher is about to come.

Maria: I know. I have to prepare the supper for the whole family before I leave.

Shirley: Oh, Ben has been cooking for us since I started attending this evening class. The good thing is, he has made great progress in cooking.

Maria: The housework is really a big problem for me. My husband is on a business trip to the U.S. now and I have to take care of everything myself.

Shirley: How about your one-year-old baby?

Maria: I've asked my parents to live with us for a while, so they can look after her for me while I am at work or in the class.

Shirley: How sweet of them! I have to work in the day time, study at night, and do housework during my spare time. I really hope I have eight arms and legs, like an octopus.

Maria: Me too. Sometimes I do want to give it up. I can't deal with so many things at a time.

Shirley: When is your Adult College Entrance Exam?

Maria: It's close coming up at the end of this month. That will be no more than 15 days from now on.

Shirley: Oh, my Adult College Entrance Exam is also around then. I don't know if I can pass it.

Maria: Why don't you take the CPA exam? You are already a good accountant, having so many years of experience.

Shirley: I just want to study in a college, majoring in economics. I've had this dream for a long time.

Maria: I understand.

Shirley: Oh, this class ends very late. Do you have anyone to pick you up?

Maria: Don't worry, I can drive home and there won't be any problem.

听看学
雪莉：你又迟到了，玛丽亚。老师就快要来了。

玛丽亚: 我知道，但是我在走之前必须要做好全家的晚饭。

雪莉: 哦，自从我报名参加了夜校，本杰明就一直在为我们做饭。好在他现在厨艺大有长进。

玛丽亚：家务活对我来说确实是个问题。我丈夫现在在美国出差，我必须自己照料一切事情。

雪莉：你一岁的孩子怎么办？

玛丽亚：我让我的父母跟我一起住一段时间，这样，我工作或上课的时候他们就可以照顾她了。

雪莉：他们可真好！我白天工作，晚上学习，还要在空闲时间做家务。我真希望自己有八只胳膊和腿，像章鱼一样。

玛丽亚：我也是。有时候我真想放弃，我不能同时处理好所有的事情。

雪莉：你的成人高考是什么时候？

玛丽亚：就在这个月底，离现在只有不到15天了。

雪莉：哦，我的成人高考也快了。我不知道自己能不能通过呢。

玛丽亚：你为什么不考注册会计师呀？你已经是个好会计了，有多年的经验。

雪莉：我只想在大学里学经济，那是我长久以来的梦想。

玛丽亚：我知道。

雪莉：噢，这里很晚才放学，会有人来接你吗？

玛丽亚：别担心，我能开车回家，没有什么问题的。

经典背诵 Recitation
Maria: Recently I've had really busy days. Work, study and housework really drive me crazy. My husband is on a business trip. The good thing is, my parents help me take care of my daughter. My Adult College Entrance Exam is coming up shortly and I must study hard to prepare for it.

生词小结
business trip 出差

octopus n. 章鱼

accountant n. 会计

postgraduate n. 研究生

recruitment n. 招聘

词汇扩展 Vocabulary Builder
关于大学专业的词汇

基础词汇

economics 经济学

education 教育学

environmental science 环境科学

finance 金融

philosophy 哲学

psychology 心理学

sociology 社会学

提高词汇

anthropology 人类学

ecology 生态学

information technology 信息技术

linguistics 语言学

mass communications 大众传媒

statistics 统计学

家庭总动员 Do it together
两人一组，一方随机大声读出上面词汇的英文和中文，另一方用该词汇填入下面的句子，大声朗读出来并将句子翻译成中文。

I just want to study in a college, majoring in( ).

[例] 家长读education 教育学

孩子读 I just want to study in a college, majoring in education.

我只想在大学里学教育学。