美语情景对话 第434期:The Gift 生日礼物
Todd: So, Ruthie, what did you do today?
托德：鲁斯，你今天做什么了？Ruth: Well, I got up quite early this Morning, actually, to go shopping.
鲁斯：我今天早上起得很早，然后去购物了。Todd: Oh, yeah! (Yeah) Ooh, shopping.
托德：哦，是吗？（是啊）哦，购物！
Ruth: I really like shopping.
鲁斯：我特别喜欢购物。Todd: That's true but you're on a budget. You're trying to save money.
托德：这是没错，可是你不是在节省开支嘛。你在存钱啊。Ruth: I know, but is was my brother's birthday. Well, it is my brother's birthday in a week so.
鲁斯：我知道，可是我哥哥的生日快到了。我哥哥一周后过生日。Todd: Oh, no kidding.
托德：哦，不是开玩笑吧。Ruth: Yeah.
鲁斯：没有。Todd: So, what did you get your brother for his birthday?
托德：那你为你哥哥买什么生日礼物了？Ruth: Well, it was quite difficult to find something that I thought he would like, but I got him some cakes in the end, some Japanese cakes.
鲁斯：我认为很难找到他会喜欢的礼物，不过我最后给他买了蛋糕，一些日式蛋糕。Todd: Japanese cakes?
托德：日式蛋糕？Ruth: Yeah, they're in like a special presentation box.
鲁斯：对，蛋糕装在特别的包装盒里。Todd: So, how are you going to get the cakes to your brother? Just through the post office?
托德：那你怎么把蛋糕给你哥哥呢？去邮局寄给他吗？Ruth: Yes, I sent them in the post this morning.
鲁斯：对啊，我今天早上寄给他了。Todd: Oh, did you send them express or just regular mail?
托德：哦，你寄的是快递还是平邮？Ruth: No, regular mail because it was cheaper.
鲁斯：平邮，因为便宜。Todd: But, don't you want it to hurry and get there for his birthday?
托德：可是你不想缩短时间，赶在他生日的时候寄到吗？Ruth: I've got one week. I think it will get there in time.
鲁斯：我有一周的时间。我想蛋糕会及时寄到的。Todd: So, what do you think your brother will think of the cakes?
托德：那你觉得你哥哥会怎么看那些蛋糕？Ruth: I don't think he'll like them actually.
鲁斯：我想他不喜欢。Todd: No?
托德：为什么？Ruth: Well, he likes chocolate cake, and they look like they've got kind of chocolate inside but it's bean paste. I think he'll be disappointed.
鲁斯：因为他喜欢巧克力蛋糕，那些蛋糕看上去好像里面有巧克力，可是实际上那是豆沙。我想他会失望的。Todd: So what did your brother get you for your last birthday?
托德：那之前你过生日的时候你哥哥送你什么了？Ruth: That's a good question. He always gives me money, and he often gives me chocolate as well. He's very generous.
鲁斯：这是个好问题。他一般都给我钱，还有巧克力。他非常大方。Todd: Actually, I'm the same way. Guys like to give money. Money is so easy. No shopping involved.
托德：实际上我也是这样的。男生都喜欢送钱当礼物。给钱很简单嘛，也不用去购物。Ruth: It's practical, though, it's good.
鲁斯：虽然很实际，不过挺好的。Todd: Now, I've been told that when you give money for a gift, it's actually very impolite.
托德：可是有人跟我说给钱当礼物其实非常不礼貌。Ruth: Really?
鲁斯：真的吗？Todd: Is that true? Yeah!
托德：真的吗？是啊！Ruth: Why is that?
鲁斯：为什么呢？Todd: I don't know. Some people say it's just really impersonal. That you should take the time to get a gift.
托德：我也不知道。有些人说那种做法很不礼貌。你应该花时间去买个礼物。Ruth: Really! I really think if anybody gave me money I would be so pleased. It's a good present.
鲁斯：真的吗？可是我认为如果有人给我钱当作礼物我会很高兴的。那是个很好的礼物。Todd: Exactly, that's what I think. (Pause) Hey, um, actually, when are you going to see your brother next?
托德：没错，我也是那么想的。（停顿了一下）嘿，你下次什么时候见你哥哥？Ruth: Probably, I will see him in August of September.
鲁斯：大概八九月的时候吧。Todd: Oh, that's quite a way away.
托德：哦，那还好长时间呢。Ruth: Yes, about four months is that.
鲁斯：是啊，大概还有四个月。Todd: So is this a younger brother or older brother?
托德：你说的是你弟弟还是哥哥？Ruth: He's older. He's twenty-six.
鲁斯：是哥哥，他今年26岁了。Todd: Oh, he's twenty six.
托德：哦，他26岁了。Ruth: He's going to be twenty-six soon.
鲁斯：他马上就要26岁了。Todd: Ok, well, if you happen to e-mail him, tell him happy birthday.
托德：好的，如果你给他发电子邮件的话，替我跟他说一声祝他生日快乐。Ruth: Oh, certainly will do. Thanks.
鲁斯：哦，我当然会的。谢谢你。
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重点讲解：
1. in the end
最后；终于；
eg. As usual, the cops get the baddies in the end.
跟平常一样，警察最后把坏人都抓起来了。
eg. Things worked out well for Jeanne in the end.
对珍妮来说事情的最终结果不错。
2. in time
及时；
eg. Firemen reached the house on fire in time.
消防队员及时赶到那幢失火的房子。
eg. Disregarding all the difficulties, we arrived here in time.
尽管有那么多困难，我们仍然及时地到达了这儿。
3. quite a way
很远；很长时间；
eg. Some of them live in places quite a long way from here.
他们中有些人住的地方离这里很远。
eg. She had pedaled quite a way ahead of me when she looked back over her shoulder.
她在我的前面骑了好大一截，还笑着回头看我。
4. happen to do sth.
碰巧；凑巧；
eg. We happen to hold the same view.
我们两人的想法不谋而合。
eg. And, they happen to face natural disasters this year.
同时，他们碰巧在今年遇到了自然灾害。
