听力文本

Grandpa, Malcolm Stewart, is sitting on the patio of the Stewarts' home. He is bothered by an article he is reading in the morning newspaper.

Robbie：[He enters the patio. ]Morning, Grandpa. Is something the matter, Grandpa?

Grandpa：The editorial in this paper made my friend Nat Baker very upset. Ah ! I'll read it to you. “The old library building on Chestnut Street, which has been vacant for over a year now, was supposed to be made into a community centerto serve the senior citizens as well as the younger people of Riverdale. Due to lack of funds for the repainting of the interior of the building and for the furniture needed, the plans for the community center have been postponed indefinitely. ”He's coming over to talk about it.

Robbie：Is it that serious a problem, Grandpa?

Grandpa：It is. Nat's not as lucky as I am, Robbie. He doesn't have any family with him. He lives alone and depends on places like a community center to be with people-people his own age.

Robbie：But there's the old community center on Elm Street.

Grandpa：It's small, and the problem is that it's set up primarily for kids to play. Ping-Pong tables, soda machines, and lots of music. it's too noisy for some older people like Nat.

Robbie：I never realized that.

Grandpa：It's hard for some older people to take all that noise. That's why the new community center is a good idea. Part of the building for older people, part of the building for younger people.

Robbie：I see what you mean.

[The doorbell rings.]

Grandpa：That must be Nat.

Robbie：It could be Alxandra. She's coming over this morning to help me with my math.

[He answers the door.]

Alexandra：Hi, Robbie.

Robbie：Hi, Alexandra. Come on in. Do you want something cold to drink?

Alexandra：I'd love some cola, please.

Robbie：Cola coming up. I really appreciate you coming over to help me with my math. My final exam is next Tuesday.

Alexandra：You're so good in all your other subjects. I just can't understand why you have so many problems with math.

Grandpa：[He enters the kitchen. ]Hi, Alexandra.

Alexandra：Hi, Mr. Stewart.

Grandpa：I thought that was Nat Baker who rang the front doorbell. Don't let me interrupt you.

Robbie：No problem, Grandpa. We're just having some cola before getting to the tough stuff-math.

Alexandra：He'll do anything to avoid getting down to math lessons,Mr. Stewart.

Grandpa：I was the same way.

Robbie：Really, Grandpa?

Grandpa：Really. I didn't like math. I wasn't good at it, and I didn't like studying it.

Robbie：But you had to be good at math. You graduated from engineering school.

Grandpa：I was. But not in high school. For some reason, I couldn't get a handle on it. Then, in college, I became good at it.

Alexandra：Then there's hope for Robbie.

Robbie：I can't wait. You think I can just skip it now and get to it at college?

Alexandra：You'll never get to college to find out, Robbie, if you skip it now.

[The doorbell rings.]

Grandpa：That must be Nat. [He goes to the door.]

Alexandra：Sit down, Robbie. Let's get to work.

Grandpa：[He enters with Nat Baker.]I'd like you to meet my friend Nat Baker. This is Alexandra Pappas, and this is my grandson Robbie, whom I think you've met once or twice before.

Alexandra：Nice to meet you, Mr. Baker.

Robbie：Hi, Mr. Baker. We met before.

Nat：Where?

Robbie：In town. At the hardware store.

Nat：I remember now. Right. Hi. [to Alexandra]

Hello, Alexandra.

Grandpa：Don't let us keep you from your math tutoring, Robbie. I know you want to get to it.

Robbie：Stay …stay.

Alexandra：I told you. He'll use any excuse to avoid math.

Nat：Did you read the story in the paper, Malcolm?

Grandpa：I did.

Nat：It's a serious matter for a lot of us. A serious matter.

Grandpa：It is. Come on out to the patio. We'll talk about it out there.

Nat：Thanks. [to Robbie] Nice to meet you…again.

Alexandra：What's the problem?

Robbie：Come on! You'll hear about it. [He and Alexandra walk toward the patio.]

中英对照版

Morning, Grandpa. 早安,爷爷。
Is something the matter, Grandpa? 怎么了，爷爷？
The editorial in this paper has my friend Nat Baker real upset. 这张报纸上的社论着实令我的朋友Nat Baker不高兴。
Ah! I'll read it to you. 啊！我来读给你听听。
"The old library building on Chestnut Street, “Chestnut街的老图书馆，
which has been vacant for over a year now, 已空了一年多，
was supposed to be made into a community center 原计划改成一座社区交谊中心
to serve the senior citizens 为Riverdale的老年人
as well as the younger people of Riverdale. 和年轻人服务。
Due to lack of funds 由于缺乏经费
for the repainting of the interior of the building 用来重新粉刷内部
and for the furniture needed, 和购买必需家具，
the plans for the community center 这项修建社区中心计划
have been postponed indefinitely." 被迫无限期延迟！”
He's coming over to talk about it. 他就是要来谈这个问题。
Is it that serious a problem, Grandpa? 这个问题有那么重要吗，爷爷？
It is. 是的。
Nat's not as lucky as I am, Robbie. Nat不像我这样幸运，Robbie。
He doesn't have any family with him. 他没有家人和他在一起。
He lives alone 他一个人生活
and depends on places like a community center 主要靠社区中心这样的地方
to be with people--people his own age. 和别人交往。
But there's the old community center on Elm Street. 但是在Elm街有一个旧的社区中心。
It's small, 它小小的，
and the problem is that it's set up primarily for kids to play. 而问题是它主要是让孩子们去玩的。
Ping-Pong tables, soda machines, and lots of music. 乒乓球，汽水贩卖机，热闹的音乐。
It's too noisy for some older people like Nat. 它对于像Nat这样的老人来说太吵了。
I never realized that. 我从来没有意识到这点。
It's hard for some older people to take all that noise. 一些老年人没法忍受那些噪音。
That's why the new community center is a good idea. 这就是为什么新的社区中心是个好主意。
Part of the building for older people, 建筑物中的一些由老年人用，
part of the building for younger people. 另一部分给年轻人用。
I see what you mean. 我明白你的意思。
That must be Nat. 一定是Nat。
It could be Alexandra. 可能是Alexandra 。
She's coming over this morning to help me with my math. 她今天早晨要来帮我补习数学。
Hi, Robbie. 嗨，Robbie。
Hi, Alexandra. Come on in. 嗨，Alexandra。请进。
Do you want something cold to drink? 想喝点什么凉的东西吗？
I'd love some cola, please. 请给我可乐。
Cola coming up. 可乐马上就来。
I really appreciate you coming over to help me with my math. 我真的很感谢你过来帮我补习数学。
My final exam is next Tuesday. 期终考试就在下周二。
You're so good in all your other subjects. 你别的功课都那样好。
I just can't understand 我就不懂
why you have so many problems with math. 为什么你在数学方面有那么多问题。
Hi, Alexandra. 嗨，Alexandra。
Hi, Mr. Stewart. 嗨，Stewart 先生。
I thought that was Nat Baker who rang the front doorbell. 我还以为是Nat Baker按大门铃呢。
Don't let me interrupt you. 别让我打搅你们。
No problem, Grandpa. 没有关系，爷爷。?
We're just having some cola 我们只是先喝点可乐
before getting to the tough stuff--math. 在对付难缠的数学之前。
He'll do anything to avoid getting down to math lessons, 他老是设法想逃避数学，
Mr. Stewart. Stewart 先生。
I was the same way. 我当年也是这样。
Really, Grandpa? 真的，爷爷？
Really. I didn't like math. 真的。我不喜欢数学。
I wasn't good at it, and I didn't like studying it. 我不精于此道，也不爱去学它。
But you had to be good at math. 但是你数学一科很好。
You graduated from engineering school. 你是从工学院毕业的。
I was. But not in high school. 说的对。但高中时不好。
For some reason, I couldn't get a handle on it. 因为某些原因，我就是开不了窍。
Then, in college, I became good at it. 然而，在大学，我变得很精于数学。
Then there's hope for Robbie. 看来Robbie还有希望。
I can't wait. 我迫不及待。
You think I can just skip it now and get to it at college? 你想我现在略过数学，等到上了大学再学可以吗？
You'll never get to college to find out, Robbie, 你根本就进不了大学去探究这个问题的答案，Robbie，
if you skip it now. 假如你现在略过它的话。
That must be Nat. 这一定是Nat。
Sit down, Robbie. Let's get to work. 坐下来，Robbie， 让我们开始做功课吧。
I'd like you to meet my friend Nat Baker. 我来向你们介绍我的朋友Nat Baker。
This is Alexandra Pappas, and this is my grandson Robbie, 这是Alexandra Pappas，这是我孙子Robbie，
whom I think you've met once or twice before. 我想你以前见过他一两次面。
Nice to meet you, Mr. Baker. 很高兴见到你，Baker先生。
Hi, Mr. Baker. We met before. 嗨，Baker先生。我们以前见过面。
Where? 在哪？
In town. At the hardware store. 在镇上。在五金商店。
I remember now. Right. Hi. 我现在想起来了。对了。嗨。
Hello, Alexandra. 哈，Alexandra。
Don't let us keep you from your math tutoring, Robbie. 别让我们打扰你的数学家教，Robbie。
I know you want to get to it. 我知道你想要开始啦。
Stay ... stay. 再待一会儿…再一会儿。
I told you. He'll use any excuse to avoid math. 我说嘛，他就适且找各种藉口来逃避数学。
Did you read the story in the paper, Malcolm? 你看到报纸上的新闻了吗，Malcolm？
I did. 看到了。
It's a serious matter for a lot of us. 对我们许多人来讲这可是个严重的问题。
A serious matter. 一个严重的问题。
It is. Come on out to the patio. 的确如此。请到院子里来吧。
We'll talk about it out there. 我们到外头谈。
Thanks. Nice to meet you ... again. 谢谢。很高兴再次…见到你。
What's the problem? 是什么问题?
Come on! You'll hear about it. 来吧!你将听到。

口语讲解

1.Is something the matter, Grandpa?

怎么了？发生什么事了？通常用的还有What's wrong?What's the matter?What's up?

2.The editorial in this paper made my friend Nat Baker very upset.

make sb/sth + adj.使某人某事……make是使役动词，后面跟宾语和宾语补足语。

3.Due to lack of funds for the repainting of the interior of the building and for the furniture needed, the plans for the community center have been postponed indefinitely.

Due to因为，由于，相当于because of

4.I see what you mean.

see在这里是明白的意思。本来不明白，别人做出解释之后你明白了，可以说：I see.

5.I really appreciate you coming over to help me with my math.

感谢别人的帮助。

美国文化介绍

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！

(1)从newspaper一字的字面上，看不出你在这上面所能读到的所有的内容。除了新闻报道之外，报纸上还包括评论、广告、文艺及其他一些非新闻的内容。美国大约有二千六百种报纸。其中大约一千八百种是日报。New York Times(纽约时报)、The Washington Post(华盛顿邮报)及The Los Angeles Times(洛杉矶时报)是刊登国内外新闻最重要的三家报纸。

(2)美国的第一家报纸叫Public Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestic(国内外时事)。这份报纸的第一次出版是1690年在波士顿。Boston News-Letter(波士顿新闻)始创于1704年。这是在美国殖民时代第一家定期出版的报纸。

相关阅读一

英语幽默：美国报纸全接触

A Guide to U.S. Newspapers

1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.

2. The New York Times is read by people who think they run the country.

3. The Washington Post is read by people who think they should run the country.

4. USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don't really understand the Washington Post. They do, howeverlike the smog statistics shown in pie charts.

5. The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn't mind running the country, if they could spare the time, and if they didn't have to leave L.A. to do it.

6. The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country.

7. The New York Daily News is read by people who aren't too sure who's running the country, and don't really care as long as they can get a seat on the train.

8. The New York Post is read by people who don't care who's running the country either, as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.

9. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren't sure there is a country, or that anyone is running it; but whoever it is, they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped
minority, feministic atheist dwarfs, who also happen to be illegal aliens from ANY country or galaxy as long as they are democrats.

10. The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country, but need the baseball scores.

相关阅读二

National and local newspapers
　　There are more than 1500 daily newspapers in the US. Each one is usually sold only in one part of the country， e.g. in a city， but they cover national and international news. In larger cities there is often more than one newspaper and the different ones express different political opinions. Some newspapers are sold in nearly all parts of the US. E.g. USA today and the National edition of the New York Times. Two other newspapers， the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post are know and respected all over the US but cannot be bought everywhere. Other important newspapers are： the Boston Globe， sold in New England， the Chicago Tribune， sold in the Midwest， the Christian Science Monitor and USA Today， both sold nationally， and the Washington Post on the East Coast.

　　There are also weekly newspapers in all parts of the US which cover local news， such as what is happening in the local neighborhood（地方）。 Fewer people read these than read the daily newspapers.

　　Daily and Sunday newspapers

　　Daily newspapers are published on every day of the week except Sunday. Sunday newspapers are very big， often having several separate parts. They contain many longer articles and a lot of advertisements. Each section deals with a different subject. E.g. national and international news， sport， travel， etc. One section， the classifieds（分类广告） has advertisements for jobs and things for sale. Another section is called the funnies. There is often also a magazine which is in color.

　　Alternative newspapers

　　In the 1960s a group of newspapers began to appear that were later called in “alternative press”。 They expressed extreme（极端的） political opinions， especially left-wing opinion. Many of the newspapers which were part of this movement， such as the Village Voice in New York or the Reader in Chicago， are less extreme today and more widely read.