Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
1. Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
English is an international language. Therefore, it is necessary for us to learn it. It can be rewarding or just a waste of time. It's up to you. It depends on how you study it. Here are some tips about learning English.
First, don't be afraid to make mistakes. You will learn from them. Second, you must not be shy. Be thick-skinned and speak up! Finally, you mush be patient. Remember, "Rome wasn't built in a day."
a little bit disencouraged
universal
Mandarin 普通话，国语
Your stay here is just(or only) a waste of time.
Exercise is very rewarding for our health.
It pays to exercise ...
It is up to you. 随你吧
by fits and starts. 断断续续地
eg.My brother studied accounting by fits and starts, so he failed.
tip (about) = advice (on)
tip somebody on something tip vt.建议
a good piece of advice 不说: a good advice
be patient with somebody 对...有耐心
2. How to Improve Your English
Mack is talking to his friend Don.
M: Hi, Don! How are you doing in your English class?
D: Not so well, I'm afraid.
M: What's the problem?
D: I'm not improving. Tell me, how come your English is so good?
M: Well, uh…I have an American girlfriend.
D: Aha! That's it. Now I know what to do. (He runs off.)
M: Hey, Come back! I was just kidding!
funny farm 疯人院improve sth = make a lot of improvement in sth
talk to(with) sb. about sth. vi. talk sb into doing vt.说服
When he gave a speech, we realized that he was just talking nonsense.
He is a problem student.
greeting 招呼语How are you doing in ...? or: How are you getting along? 近来怎么样？久违的老朋友还可以说：How are you? or How have you been?
Howdy 美国南部招呼语answer: Howdy
blind date 相亲,盲目约会
I am afraid (that省略) it is going to rain, so we can't go on a picnic. 我认为...(弱语气)
What's the problem (with)? = What's wrong? = What's the matter (with)?
goof around 浪费时间，混时间Aha, that's it. = Aha, I get it. = I understand.
kidding = joking
3. The City of Song
Listening to music is the favorite pastime of many people all over the world. This is especially true for people living in Vienna, the city of song. Being the home of Mozart, this city is the birthplace of classical music and the waltz.
Music fills the air in Vienna. Going to public concerts is often free of charge. And don't forget, Vienna is also home to the world famous Vienna Boys' Choir. No wonder people say Austria is always alive with the sound of music.
Austria Australia
potbelly 大肚皮He is a potbelly.
jog 慢跑
the world over adv. = around the world = throughout the world = all over the world
maestro 艺术大师，名作曲家
birthplace 发源地，诞生日
classical 古典的classic 经典的
be free (of charge) 免费This sample is free of charge.
be enslaved by 被...奴役
be home to / be homed of 发源地，老家
chore 杂物(可数)
no wonder + clause adv.难怪No wonder Bruce is in such a good shape, he excercises every day.
4.He Who Hesitates Is Lost
Mike is in Vienna with his girlfriend Daisy.
M: Are you having a good time, Daisy?
D: Are kidding? I'm having the time of my life. I loved the concerts.
M: Concert going is fantastic but what else can we do?
D: Biking along the banks of the river Danube could be fun.
M: It sounds like a great idea!
D: Let's do it then.
M: You're right. As they say, "He who hesitates is lost."
He who works hard will be successful. "He" means anyone. or: one, those
I was lost in that music. 沉醉于= be absorbed in one's work
While on vocation last year, I visited France and Italy. 渡假
Chinese character 中国字不说Chinese words
have a lot of fun = have a good time
a lot of concert
The artist will put on (hold) an exhibit next month. (put on 娱乐)
fantastic = wonderful, great, awesome, terrific (cool for the young)
aweful = terrible 糟
Biking along the bank could be/can be/must be/is fun.
Learning English is fun. fun 好玩(a good time) funny 滑稽含义不同fun man, funny man The students made fun of the new kid of class. 嘲笑
5. Bungee Jumping
Bungee jumping looks like fun. It makes me nervous just to watch someone do it. It certainly takes a lot of guts to jump one thousand feet above the water with only a rope tied to your legs. It scares me just to think about it.
However, it is something I really want to do one day. Some people think I'm crazy. They say to jump is foolish enough, but to have to pay for it is madness. I don't agree. For me, to live a short and exciting life is far better than to live a long and boring one. What do you think?
wild boar 野猪
Paper originated in China. 起源于
looks like tastes like 后接名词
watch someone do/doing do强调事实doing强调正在进行
guts (口语) = courage Bill does not have guts to ask Marry to go out for a date.
be tied to = be bound(bind) to 被...绑在
That poor dog is tied/bound to the fence, he can not run away.
be scared of = be frightened of Peter is scared of snakes. He scared me to death.
He looked into the mirror and found he looked much older.
cockroach(es) 蟑螂
get somewhere 有出息get nowhere 没出息
lunatic n.adj疯子luna 月亮(拉丁文)
I agree with you on this point, but I disable agree with you on that point.
agreeable 相处容易的: I like Marry, because she's a very agreeable personality.
6. Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained
Lisa and Bill are talking about their future.
L: What's your goal in life, Bill?
B: To fly in the sky and feel as free as a bird.
L: That's easy.
B: What do you mean?
L: Go bungee jumping.
B: You mush be kidding. It's too dangerous.
L: Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
If nothing is ventured, nothing will be gained.
Growing up is learning experience.
pluck up one's courage 鼓起勇气muster up one's courage
pearl 珍珠Pearl 女人名
carve out 雕刻出,开创出By going to school and studying hard, Sam carved out a good career of his future. Achieve/attain/reach/fulfill one's goal
Peter and Bruce are as busy as bees.
What do you mean by calling me at midnight?
take it easy 放松点
7. Doctor Death
Whether very sick people should be helped to end their own lives is a question many people cannot answer. However, Dr.Kevorkian is an exception. That he has done this more than twenty times is known to everyone. Some say what he is doing is immoral. They call him Doctor Death. Others say what he is doing is merciful. They call it mercy killing. Whether Dr.Kevorkian should be allowed to continue doing this is a real problem for the government. There seem to be two sides to the argument. Which side are you on?
spooky 幽灵般的Halloween 万圣节
to end one's own life = to put an end to one's own life
When the movie came to an end, many people were crying. 结束
I helped Mother wash(do) the dishes last night.
Every rule has its exception. = There is an exception to every rule.
With an exception ....
inconvenient 不方便不说：Are you convenient? 而说：Are you free?
That he doesn't study makes me angry. 名词从句that 不能省
mercy killing 安乐死
One is known by company he keeps. 观其友，知其人
8. No Hearts or No Brains?
Helen and Dick are talking about the previous article.
H: I don't understand how people can think Dr. Kevorkian is doing the right thing.
D: Well, helping people die with dignity is not that bad, in it?
H: Don't you know ? Where there is life, there is hope.
D: Come on. Be realistic. Those people who want to die are suffering. It's better that they go quickly and painlessly.
H: All you men have no hearts.
D: And all you women have no brains.
We teach our children to memorize/remember their telephone number by heart. 默背
Peter is really a kind of man at heart. at heart 本性上
beat one's brains 绞尽脑汁I stayed up all night and beat my brains, but I couldn't think of the answer. understanding = considerate = thoughtful 体谅的
To my understanding, .... = To my knowledge, .... (放句首)就我所知
kangaroo 袋鼠that bad = so bad
Where there is a will, there is a way. 有志者，事竟成