听力文本

Smell the Flowers 偷得浮生半日闲 ACT II教师讲解版视频

In the reception room of Susan's office. Susan greets Harry and Michelle.

Susan：Hi, Michelle. Hello, Harry. It's nice to see you again.

Michelle：Hello.

Harry：Hi, Susan. We have both been excited about seeing you and having lunch with you today. [He hands Susan a bouquet of flowers.]Michelle picked these flowers out for you.

Michelle：Daddy, can we go soon?

Harry：We're going to go to lunch in a few minutes, honey.

Michelle：But I'm thirsty.

Harry：OK. You go out and get a drink of water at the fountain.

Susan：[pointing] The fountain is over there,

Michelle. Near the Exit sign.

Michelle：Thank you.

Harry：Michelle is a little shy.

Susan：I used to be that way when I was her age.Harry, if Michelle doesn't want to go, we don't have to.

Harry：She'll be fine. Remember, I haven't dated anyone else since her mother died. This is a little difficult for her. Are you ready to go?

Susan：Yes. But could you wait one minute? I have a call to make. Would you excuse me? [She goes into her office. Sam is there.] Sam, get Mr. Levine at Toytown Stores on the telephone for me, please.

Sam：Right. [He dials.] Hello. Susan Stewart calling Mr. Levine, please. [to Susan] He's on the phone. [He hands her the telephone.]

Susan：Mr. Levine, Susan Stewart. I find myself in an embarrassing situation. I made another lunch date for today and forgot to enter it in my appointment book. Can you and I meet for drinks tomorrow? I'd really appreciate it …Yes…Thank you…Tomorrow at five o'clock at the Biltmore. I'll see you then. Thank you, Mr. Levine. [She hangs up.]

At the South Street Seaport later that afternoon.

Waiter：Welcome to the South Street Restaurant, folks. What'll it be?

Harry：What do you recommend?

Waiter：Well, the crab salad's always a big hit.

Harry：Susan, would you like the crab salad?

Susan：I'd love the crab salad.

Harry：Michelle, would you like to try the crab salad, too?

Michelle：OK, Daddy.

Harry：We'll have the three crab salads and a pitcher of lemonade.

Waiter：Help yourself to celery and carrots and other vegetables.

Harry：[to Susan] We used to catch crabs.

Susan：Where was that?

Harry：We had a summer house on Fire Island. Do you remember, Michelle?

Michelle：Sure. You and Mommy used to take me on the ferryboat.

Harry：Sometimes, at night, we would go down to the beach and catch crabs, remember?

Michelle：With a piece of meat on a string!

Harry：Right. Well, I think I'm going to get us all some vegetables.

[Harry leaves the table. The waiter arrives and sets down their food.]

Waiter：There you go.

Susan：Thank you.

Waiter:And some ice-cold lemonade.

Susan：Thank you.

Waiter：Enjoy it.

Susan：Michelle, can I help you with the lemonade?

Michelle：No, thank you. I'll wait for my father.

Susan：Michelle, can we have a talk?

Michelle：Sure.

Susan：I know you miss your mother.

Michelle：You do?

Susan：Yes, And I'm not trying to take her place.

Michelle：Then why are you and Daddy spending so much time together?

Susan：Because we like each other. And right now, he needs a friend.

Michelle：I'm his friend.

Susan：I know you are.

Michelle：Sometimes he's very sad.

Susan：And so are you, I think.

Michelle：Sometimes.

Susan：I'd like to be your friend, too. Will you let me be your friend, Michelle?

[She offers her hand to Michelle.Michelle accepts it.]

Harry：[He returns to the table.] So, what were you two talking about?

Michelle：Just girl talk, Daddy. It's too hard to explain.

Harry：You're probably right. Well, let's get started. [They begin to eat.]

中英对照版

Hi, Michelle. 嗨，Michelle。
Hello, Harry. 你好，Harry。
It's nice to see you again. 很高兴再见到你们。
Hello. 你好。
Hi, Susan. 嗨，Susan。
We have both been excited about seeing you 我们两个很高兴见到你
and having lunch with you today. 与我们一起吃午餐。
Michelle picked these flowers out for you. Michelle选这些花送给你。
Daddy, can we go soon? 爸爸，我们能快点走吗？
We're going to go to lunch in a few minutes, honey. 我们一会就去吃午餐，亲爱的。
But I'm thirsty. 可是我渴了。
OK. You go out and get a drink of water at the fountain. 好。出去在饮水机那儿喝点水吧。
The fountain is over there, Michelle. 饮水机在那儿，Michelle。
Near the Exit sign. 就在出口附近。
Thank you. 谢谢 。
Michelle is a little shy. Michelle有点不好意思。
I used to be that way when I was her age. 我像她这般年纪也是这样。
Harry, if Michelle doesn't want to go, Harry，如果Michelle不想去，
we don't have to. 我们不必勉强。
She'll be fine. 她没有问题。
Remember, 别忘了，
I haven't dated any one else since her mother died. 自从她母亲去世之后，我从没有和别人约会过。
This is a little difficult for her. 这对她来说有点不习惯。
Are you ready to go? 准备好动身吗？
Yes. But could you wait one minute? 是的。不过你能等一下吗？
I have a call to make. 我需要打个电话。
Would you excuse me? 失陪一下。
Sam, get Mr. Levine at Toytown Stores Sam，给Toytown Stores的Levine先生
on the telephone for me, please. 请替我拨电话。
Right. 好的。
Hello. Susan Stewart calling Mr. Levine, please. 喂，Susan Stewart想与Levine先生通话。
He's on the phone. 他在电话上。
Mr. Levine, Susan Stewart. Levine先生，我是Susan Stewart。
I find myself in an embarrassing situation. 我现在有一件很为难的事。
I made another lunch date for today 我和别人约好共进午餐
and forgot to enter it in my appointment book. 但忘了写到工作日程。
Can you and I meet for drinks tomorrow? 你和我能否在明天见面吗？
I'd really appreciate it.... Yes.... Thank you.... 我非常感激……好的……谢谢你……
Tomorrow at five o'clock at the Biltmore. 明天五点钟在Biltmore饭店。
I'll see you then. 到时候见啦。
Thank you, Mr. Levine. 谢谢你，Levine先生。
Welcome to the South Street restaurant, folks. 欢迎光临南街餐馆，各位。
What'll it be? 想来点什么？
What do you recommend? 你推荐什么？
Well, the crab salad's always a big hit. 嗯，蟹肉色拉一向是很受欢迎的。
Susan, would you like the crab salad? Susan，要不要蟹肉色拉？
I'd love the crab salad. 我要蟹肉色拉。
Michelle, would you like to try the crab salad, too? Michelle，要不要也试试蟹肉色拉？
OK, Daddy. 好的，爸爸。
We'll have three crab salads 我们来三份蟹肉色拉。
and a pitcher of lemonade. 和一壶柠檬汁。
Help yourself to celery and carrots and other vegetables. 请你们自己盛芹菜，胡萝和其他蔬菜。
We used to catch crabs. 我们以前常捉螃蟹。
Where was that? 在什么地方？
We had a summer house on Fire Island. 我们在火岛有一所避暑房屋。
Do you remember, Michelle? 你还记得吗，Michelle？
Sure. 当然记得。
You and Mommy used to take me on the ferryboat. 你和妈妈常带我坐渡船。
Sometimes, at night, 有时候，在夜里，
we would go down to the beach and catch crabs, 我们走到海边抓螃蟹，
remember? 记得吗？
With a piece of meat on a string! 用一根绳子拴着一点肉。
Right. 对。
Well, I think I'm going to go get us all some vegetables. 好啦，我想我去给大家盛点蔬菜来。
There you go. 东西来了。
Thank you. 谢谢。
And some ice-cold lemonade. 还有冰凉的柠檬汁。
Thank you. 谢谢。
Enjoy it. 请享用。
Michelle, can I help you with the lemonade? Michelle，我帮你倒点柠檬汁，好吗？
No, thank you. 不，谢谢你。
I'll wait for my father. 我要等我爸爸。
Michelle, can we have a talk? Michelle 我们能谈一谈吗？
Sure. 当然。
I know you miss your mother. 我知道你想念你妈妈。
You do? 真的知道？
Yes. And I'm not trying to take her place. 是的，我并不想取代她。
Then why are you and Daddy 那为什么你和爸爸
spending so much time together? 老是在一起呢？
Because we like each other. 因为我们彼此喜欢。
And right now, he needs a friend. 而且现在，他需要一个朋友。
I'm his friend. 我是他的朋友。
I know you are. 我知道你是。
Sometimes he's very sad. 他有时很忧郁。
And so are you, I think. 我想你也是如此。
Sometimes. 有时候。
I'd like to be your friend, too. 我也想成为你的朋友。
Will you let me be your friend, Michelle? 愿意让我成为你的朋友吗，Michelle?
So, what were you two talking about? 你们俩刚才谈什么了？
Just girl talk, Daddy. 只是女孩子之间的谈话，爸爸。
It's too hard to explain. 这很难解释清楚。
You're probably right. 也许你们说得对。
Well, let's get started. 好吧，我们开始吃吧。

口语讲解

二.口语讲解

1.We have both been excited about seeing you and having lunch with you today.

表达对见到某人或与某人共进午餐的激动之情。

2.We're going to go to lunch in a few minutes, honey.

这里要注意的一点，几分钟后或几天之后表示将来时，用in a few minutes 或In a few days.而不是用after.

3.You go out and get a drink of water at the fountain.

表示建议。

4. But could you wait one minute? I have a call to make. Would you excuse me?

表示征求别人的意见。

5.I find myself in an embarrassing situation.

in an embarrassing situation.处境尴尬。

6.Susan, would you like the crab salad?

征求别人意见，另一方面也是在向对方推荐。

7.Michelle, can I help you with the lemonade?

表示向别人提供帮助。

美国文化介绍

三.美国文化介绍

我们在学英语的过程中，无论是老师还是其他朋友经常告诉我们，学习一种语言，不只要学其语言，还要学其文化。现在就了解一下本文中出现的一些美国特色的文化吧！

美国离婚率（divorce rate）之高， 是世界有名的。由于妇女受教育程度高，独立性强，谋生能力和男子相比也不逊色，因此夫妻间聚散自如，单亲家庭（ single-parent family，即父兼母职或母兼父职的家庭）也相对较多。

一般单亲家庭的小孩，对父亲或母亲另找对象，都需有一段适应的过程，他们的父亲或母亲，以及新的婚嫁对象，也往往能理解并尊重这些孩子们的心理和看法。

Harry 遭受丧偶之痛，而不是离婚，但他女儿Michelle起初对于父亲的新女友也觉得难以接受。Susan了解这种心理， 开门见山告诉Michelle她能体会女儿思念母亲的心情，并表示无意替代她母亲的地位，终于使Michelle放弃心里的芥蒂，与Susan建立沟通的基础。这是典型美国式的、直接了当的沟通方式。

阅读素材

四、阅读素材

七年之痒”还是“五年之痒”？

Married couples are at their greatest risk of divorcing just before their fifth anniversary, it is claimed.

有调查称，已婚夫妇在结婚第五年的时候离婚的可能性最大。

A study suggests that we tire of our partners far sooner than we did in the 50s, when the danger point was the 'seven-year itch'.

研究表明，我们对伴侣感到厌倦的时间比50年代提前了，那时候婚姻的危险期还是“七年之痒”。

Five decades on more women are pursuing careers - which can place extra stress on a relationship - and divorce has become increasingly acceptable.

50年之后，更多的妇女在追求事业——这会给两人的关系带来额外的压力——而离婚也变得更容易接受了。

The findings emerged in a study of divorce trends in the U.S., Scandinavian countries and in Russia.

这些是对美国、北欧国家和俄罗斯的离婚趋势进行的一项调查得出的结论。

Experts believe they will also apply to Britain, which has gone through many of the same social changes.

专家相信，这些结论同样适用于英国，因为英国经历了许多相同的社会变革。

Researchers found that the 'honeymoon' period for newlyweds lasts less than five years and that disillusionment and disaffection often set in by the end of that period.

研究人员发现，新婚夫妇的“蜜月期”已经持续不到五年时间。蜜月期结束后，对于婚姻本质的领悟和对伴侣的不满就会显露出来。

There is an added incentive to battle through this period, however. The study showed that those who manage to make it to ten years are likely to remain married for good.

然而，熬过这段时期还有另外一个动机。研究表明，那些婚姻可以维持十年的人很可能一辈子都不会离婚。

Aiva Jasilioniene, an academic specialising in marriage and cohabitation studies, helped produce the report for the Max Planck Institute in Rostock, Germany.

艾娃·佳斯里尼恩是研究婚姻和同居问题的专家，她帮助研究者为德国罗斯托克市的马克斯·普朗克协会做了这份报告。

She said: "Crisis point for the modern marriage is arriving sooner.

她说，“现代婚姻的危险期提前了。”

"One of the explanations for these changes in divorce risk is that during the first decade of marriage both partners go through crucial life - course transitions and challenging experiences - completion of education, building a career, bearing children and so on.”

“这种变化的一种解释是，在结婚的第一个十年，夫妻双方都在经历生命中的一个重要阶段——转变人生方向和接受考验——完成学业、建立职业生涯、生儿育女等等。”

"During the later years, the couple have developed strategies to deal with problems they arise."

“在之后的几年里，夫妻二人已经形成了处理各种问题的方法。”

The decision to remain together could have a more practical basis, however.

然而，决定继续在一起生活的原因可能更实际一些。

Researchers found that after the five-year point of marriage, couples are increasingly deterred from parting by the cost of divorce and of running separate lives.

研究人员发现，结婚五年之后，两个人会由于离婚和独自生活的代价而越来越不愿意分开。

The findings are likely to shed new light on the state of marriage in Britain, which is at the centre of a growing political argument.

研究结果可能会给英国日益激烈的政治辩论焦点——婚姻问题带来些启示。

The Tories are proposing tax breaks for married couples, who tend to stay together longer than co-habiting couples and whose children tend to be healthier, do better at school, and go on to better jobs than children from broken or single-parent families.

保守党正提议为结婚的夫妇免税，因为结婚的人比同居的人呆在一起的时间更长，他们的孩子比家庭破裂或单亲家庭的孩子更健康、在学校表现更好，找到的工作也更好。

Other results suggest that those who marry at a younger age are more likely to divorce.

另有研究表明，过早结婚的人更容易离婚。

This could help explain our falling divorce rate.

这刚好能解释英国的离婚率为什么在下降。

In Britain, women marry at 33 on average, and men at 36 - each three years older than the average a decade ago.

在英国，女人的平均结婚年龄是33，男人是36——分别比十年前的平均结婚年龄大三岁。

And at the same time, the divorce rate is falling.

与之相对应，离婚率正在下降。

Last year, the rate fell to 12.2 in every 1,000 couples. This is the lowest since 1984, according to the Office for National Statistics. The total number of divorces in 2006, 132,418, is the lowest since 1977.

去年，离婚率降到了每1000对夫妇中有12.2对离婚。英国国家统计办公室的数据显示，这是自1984年以来的最低值。2006年的离婚总数是132418例，是自1977年以来的最低值。