(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Grandpa, Malcolm Stewart, is in the living room of the Stewarts'home. He is waiting for his granddaughter Susan to come for dinner.
Grandpa：Is that you, Susan?
Susan：It's me, Grandpa.
Grandpa：Am I glad to see you!
Susan：And am I glad to see you! I am also glad to be here.
Grandpa：How are things?
Susan：I have been talking to a group of salesmen since ten this morning, and I'm real exhausted.
Grandpa：Well, you look good. What's Harry doing tonight?
Susan：He and Michelle are visiting relatives in New Jersey today.
Grandpa：The rest of our family went to the movies. So it's just you and me, Susan.
Susan：It's nice to be alone with you, Grandpa.We don't get to see enough of each other.
Grandpa：Oh, I feel the same way, Susan. I miss seeing you. But to tell the truth, next time I'd like to go into the city and meet you there, instead of you coming here.
Susan：You don't need to do that, Grandpa.
Grandpa：Yeah, I do. I need to get out more. Well, I mean there's a lot to do around the house, and I love being here with the family, you know, but I'm restless.Since I retired, I've got extra time on my hands.
Susan：understand, Grandpa.
Grandpa：I think you do. Frankly, I'd like to use my brain a little more.
Susan：Grandpa, you have so much energy and so many years of experience. There are probably a lot of places for you to work. Particularly in the construction field.
Grandpa：But at my age, I'm not looking for a full-time job. I'm retired. But I'm bored.
Susan：Well, there must be something. Maybe I can help.
Grandpa：Let's go into the kitchen, and maybe you can help me set the table.
Susan：Sounds good to me.What are we having?
Grandpa：I prepared lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and a tossed green salad to begin with.
Susan：Grandpa, you are a terrific guy!
[They hug.]
A little later. Grandpa and Susan are eating dinner in the kitchen.
Susan：You're still thinking about something to do, aren't you?A job of some kind.
Grandpa：That's right. I've been thinking about it for weeks now. There must be some way to put my mind to good use.
Susan：We'll find a solution. A positive solution to your finding a way to use that wonderful mind of yours.
中英对照版
Is that you, Susan? 是你吗,Susan?
It's me, Grandpa. 是我,爷爷。
Am I glad to see you! 我看到你真的很高兴!
And am I glad to see you! 我看见你才高兴呢!
I am also glad to be here. 我很高兴来这儿。
How are things? 近况如何?
I have been talking to a group of salesmen 我一直在与一群推销人员谈话
since ten this morning, 从今天上午十点起,
and I'm real exhausted. 我实在是精疲力竭了。
Well, you look good. 嗯,你看起来蛮好的。
What's Harry doing tonight? Harry今晚做什么?
He and Michelle 他和Michelle
are visiting relatives in New Jersey today. 今天去New Jersey拜访亲戚去了。
The rest of our family went to the movies. 我们家的其余的人都去看电影了。
So it's just you and me, Susan. 所以这儿只有你和我,Susan。
It's nice to be alone with you, Grandpa. 很高兴单独与你在一起,爷爷。
We don't get to see enough of each other. 我们在一起的时间太少了。
Oh, I feel the same way, Susan. 噢,我也有同样的感受,Susan。
I miss seeing you. 我很想见到你 。
But to tell the truth, 但是老实说,
next time 下一次
I'd like to go into the city and meet you there, 我想到城里看你,
instead of you coming here. 而不是到这儿来。
You don't need to do that, Grandpa. 你不用这样,爷爷。
Yeah, I do. 不,我要这样。
I need to get out more. 我需要多出门去。
Well, I mean 我的意思是
there's a lot to do around the house, 这屋里有很多事可做,
and I love being here with the family, 而我也喜欢和家人在一起,
you know, 你知道的,
but I'm restless. 但我闲不住。
Since I retired, 自从我退休以后,
I've got extra time on my hands. 我有过多空闲时间。
I understand, Grandpa. 我能体会,爷爷。
I think you do. 我想你能体会。
Frankly, 坦白地说,
I'd like to use my brain a little more. 我想多用用我的脑子。
Grandpa, 爷爷,
you have so much energy and so many years of experience. 你精力这么好又有这么多年的经验。
There are probably a lot of places for you to work 也许有很多地方可以让你去工作。
Particularly in the construction field. 特别是在建筑界。
But at my age, 但是像我这般年纪,
I'm not looking for a full-time job. 我不会去找一个上全天班的工作。
I'm retired. 我退休了。
But I'm bored. 但我感到无聊。
Well, there must be something. 嗯,一定可以找到事做.
Maybe I can help. 也许我能帮忙。
Let's go into the kitchen, 我们到厨房去,
and maybe you can help me set the table. 也许你能帮我摆桌子。
Sounds good to me. 我来。
What are we having? 我们吃些什么?
I prepared lamb chops, 我准备了羊肉,
mashed potatoes, and a tossed green salad to begin with. 马铃薯泥,还有蔬菜色拉当头道菜。
Grandpa, you are a terrific guy! 爷爷,你真了不起!
You're still thinking about something to do, aren't you? 你还在想要找点事做,是吗?
A job of some kind. 一些工作。
That's right. 是的。
I've been thinking about it for weeks now. 为这事我想了几个星期。
There must be some way to put my mind to good use. 总会有办法让我发挥才能的。
We'll find a solution. 我们会找到解决的办法。
A positive solution 一个好法子
to your finding a way to use that wonderful mind of yours. 能够让你施展你的学识。
口语讲解
二.口语讲解
1.It's me, Grandpa.
在应门的时候和打电话的时候都可以用It's me.来回答。而很少用I'm……
2.It's nice to be alone with you, Grandpa.We don't get to see enough of each other.
表示对和某人独处的喜悦。后面一句是说两个人不常见面。
3.But to tell the truth, next time I'd like to go into the city and meet you there, instead of you coming here.
But to tell the truth说实话，相当于to be frank,frankly,in fact.
4.I understand, Grandpa.
表示对对方的理解。
5. There are probably a lot of places for you to work. Particularly in the construction field.
向对方提出建议。
6.Sounds good to me.What are we having?
对对方的建议表示赞同。
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！
在美国，许多退休老人由于精力旺盛而不愿呆在家中度过晚年，一般都要找一些临时性工作做，有的则自愿做些公益事业，如给盲人读报、教目不识丁的人认字等。有些从工商界高级职位上退休的人，更能在各州郡的商业局或工业局内担任义务顾问的工作，为工商界提供咨询服务。
阅读素材
Growing Old
美国老年人
Happy birthday! Do birthdays really make people happy? Of course they do. Birthdays celebrate the day we were born. Moreover, that extra candle on the cake represents another year of growth and maturity-or so we hope. We all like to imagine that we're getting wiser and not just older. Most of us enjoy observing the miracle of growth in others, as well. For instance, seeing our children develop and learn new things makes us feel proud. For Americans, like people in most cultures, growing up is a wonderful process. But growing old? That's a different story.
生日快乐！生日真能使人快乐吗？这是当然的啊，庆生是庆祝我们来到世上的日子，除此之外，蛋糕上多加一支蜡烛也代表了另一年的成长与成熟--或者说至少我们希望能如此。我们都喜欢想象着自己能够越来越有智能，而不只是变老，我们大部份人也同时较喜欢观察别人成长的奇迹。例如：看到我们的孩子长大并学习新的事物使我们感到骄傲。而对美国人而言，就像大部份其它文化中的人们一样，长大是一个美好的历程，但是变老呢？那可就是另外一回事了。
Growing old is not exactly pleasant for people in youth-oriented American culture. Most Americans like to look young, act young and feel young. As the old saying goes, "You're as young as you feel." Older people joke about how many years young they are, rather than how many years old. People in some countries value the aged as a source of experience and wisdom. But Americans seem to favor those that are young, or at least "young at heart."
在美国这个以年轻人为中心的社会中，老化对人们而言并不是一件愉快的事，大部份的美国人都希望自己看起来年轻、行动年轻、并且感觉年轻，如一句古老的名言说：「你感觉自己有多年轻，你就有多年轻。」老年人说自己的年龄时常开玩笑说自己是多少 years young，而不说多少 years old 。某些文化中的人视老年人为经验与智能的资源，可是美国人似乎比较喜欢年轻人，或者至少是「心里年轻」的人。
Many older Americans find the "golden years" to be anything but golden. Economically, "senior citizens" often struggle just to get by. Retirement-typically at age 65-brings a sharp decrease in personal income. Social Security benefits usually cannot make up the difference. Older people may suffer from poor nutrition, medical care and housing. Some even experience age discrimination. In 1987, American sociologist Pat Moore dressed up like an older person and wandered city streets. She was often treated rudely-even cheated and robbed. However, dressed as a young person, she received much more respect. Of course, not all elderly Americans have such negative experiences. But old age does present unique challenges.
许多美国的老年人觉得他们的「黄金年代」一点都不黄金。在经济上来说，老年人常是挣扎着勉强度日。退休--通常在六十五岁的时候--使个人收入骤减，而社会保障制度的福利并不能补足差额，老年人常遭遇营养、医疗照顾、和居住环境的问题。有些人甚至曾经碰到年龄歧视的问题，在一九八七年有一位美国的社会学家派特?摩尔装扮成老人在街上游荡，结果人们多半对她很粗鲁，甚至骗她或抢她的东西，可是当她穿著年轻时，人们就对她尊重多了。当然也不是所有的美国老人家都有这样糟糕的经验，不过年纪大确实会遭遇一些特别的挑战。
Ironically, the elderly population in America is expanding-fast. Why? People are living longer. Fewer babies are being born. And middle-aged "baby boomers" are rapidly entering the ranks of the elderly. America may soon be a place where wrinkles are "in." Marketing experts are already focusing on this growing group of consumers. And even now the elderly have a great deal of political power. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), with over 30 million members, has a strong voice in Washington.
而很不幸偏偏美国老年人口又正在扩增中--很快速地扩增，为什么呢？因为现在的人越来越长命，婴孩的出生却减少，而当初在婴儿潮时出生现在是中年人的很快地就要进入老年阶段了，美国恐怕马上会成为一个皱纹「很流行」的国度。行销专家们已经开始注意这群人口持续增加中的消费者，而这群老年人现今甚至在政治上也相当有力，因为美国退休人员协会拥有超过三千万的会员，对华盛顿具相当的影响力。
A common stereotype of older Americans is that they are usually "put away" in nursing homes and forgotten about. Actually, only about 5 percent live in some type of institution. More than half of those 65 or older live with or near at least one of their children. The vast majority of the elderly live alone and take care of themselves. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 75 percent own their own homes. Over a million senior adults live in retirement communities. These provide residents with meals, recreation, companionship, medical care and a safe environment.
一般人对美国老人家的刻板印象是被「遣送到」养护院去，然后被人遗忘。然而事实上，只有百分之五的人住在此类机构中，超过半数的六十五或六十五岁以上老人，是与孩子同住或住在其中一个孩子的附近。绝大部份的老年人是自己住并自己照顾自己的，根据美国户口调查局的统计，他们百分之七十五拥有自己的房子，超过一百万名老年人住在退休者的社区中，这些社区为其居民提供饮食、娱乐、友谊、医疗照顾、以及安全的环境。
Despite the challenges they face, Americans in their "twilight years" generally refuse to give up on life. They find a variety of ways to keep themselves active. To help them stay in shape, they may join mall walkers clubs, fitness programs and even the "Senior Olympics." They can enjoy hours of entertainment at senior centers and adult amusement parks. Many enroll in continuing education programs to maintain their mental skills. For Americans, if you're going to grow old, you might as well do it gracefully.
纵然他们遭遇挑战，处在迟暮之年的美国老年人通常还是不愿意放弃他们的生活，他们寻求各种不同的方法使自己更有活力，为了保持强健的身体状况，他们参加购物中心的竞走俱乐部、健身课程、甚至奥林匹克老人运动会。他们可以在老人中心和成人公园里逍遥好几个小时，许多人报名参加延伸制教育以维续他们的心智技能。如果你是将要进入老年期的美国人，你也可以优雅地做做这些活动。
