ACT 1-1  “我想這樣或許是可行的。”

【故事梗概】

Robbie剛放學回來。Robbie和Ellen談起了Alexandra就要回國的事情。Ellen建議在家里為Alexandra舉辦一個餞行晚會。

Robbie: Hi, Mom.Ellen: Hi, Robbie. You're home from school early.Robbie: Yeah, they're getting the assembly hall ready for the graduation ceremony, so we all got to go home early. Too noisy to study.Ellen: Well, now that you're here, you can help me with dinner. I need those potatoes peeled and sliced.Robbie: Mom, give me a break. Alexandra's coming over to help me study for my math final.Ellen: Well, in that case, you can wash the dishes and clean up after dinner.Robbie: Can I invite Alexandra to stay for dinner?Ellen: Of course.Robbie: Thanks, Mom.Ellen: You and Alexandra have become good friends, haven't you?Robbie: Yes. I like her. She's a terrific person. I'm going to miss her when she goes back to Greece.Ellen: Would you like to give her a little farewell party?Robbie: Mom, that would be terrific! Maybe we could make it a surprise.Ellen: Oh, I don't know. Surprise parties don't always work out.Robbie: Well, we could tell her it's a graduation party for me. When Alexandra arrives, we'll surprise her.Ellen: Well, I suppose that might work.

【語言點精講】

1. Yeah, they're getting the assembly hall ready for the graduation ceremony, so we all got to go home early. Too noisy to study.是的，他們在收拾大禮堂，給畢業典禮作準備，所以我們都得早回家了。太吵了，沒有法子學習。assembly hall: 大禮堂。graduation ceremony: 一般指中學畢業典禮。大學畢業典禮在英國也這樣說，但在美國則稱為commencement，意謂學生從此將步入社會，開始人生的旅途。commence是“開始”之意。too…to…: 太……以致于不能……

2. I need those potatoes peeled and sliced.我需要把那些土豆削皮，切成片。peel: 剝皮。sliced: 切片。

3. Mom, give me a break. Alexandra's coming over to help me study for my math final.媽媽，讓我歇口氣吧。Alexandra要來幫助我學習數學，準備期末考試。give me a break. : 讓我喘口氣；讓我歇一會兒。final: 這里指的是final examination，期末考試。

4. Well, in that case, you can wash the dishes and clean up after dinner.哦，那樣的話，你可以在晚飯后洗盤子和收拾桌子。in that case: 既然如此，既然這樣。

5. Would you like to give her a little farewell party?你想不想給她舉行一個小小的歡送會？farewell party: 餞行晚會，歡送會。

6. Surprise parties don't always work out.這種給人一個驚喜的晚會并不是每次都成功的。work out: 在這里的意思是“成功，奏效”。

7. I suppose that might work.我想這樣或許是可行的。這句話是由suppose引導的虛擬語氣句。因為suppose表示主觀的推測，后面從句中常用could, would, might等虛擬語態的詞。