ACT 2-4  “為什么必須有這個就沒有那個？”

【故事梗概】

Marilyn把自己在工作和孩子間不知該如何選擇的問題講給了Susan。Susan認為她可以同時選擇這兩者，因為她可以在家里工作。

Susan: What's the problem?Ellen: Marilyn's career.Marilyn: Well, my choice of careers.Susan: Choice?Marilyn: My career as a fashion designer versus my career as a mother.Susan: Why does it have to be one or the other?Ellen: That's what I said.Marilyn: How's that?Susan: Why can't you do both?Ellen: She's right.Marilyn: Both?Susan: Well, that's what I do. I have a job, and I have Michelle. I take care of both to the best of my ability. It's not easy, but what is?Ellen: And that's what I did. I did both with Richard and Susan, and did both with Robbie.Marilyn: I thought you stayed home with Robbie.Ellen: I did. But I was lucky enough to have a career as a music teacher which I could continue at home.Susan: Why can't you work at home, Marilyn? You're very talented. Designing dresses is a career you could establish out of your home, couldn't you?

【語言點精講】

1. My career as a fashion designer versus my career as a mother.一個事業是當時裝設計師，另一個是當母親。versus:與……相對；對照著。

2. Why does it have to be one or the other?為什么必須有這個就沒有那個？one or the other: 指從兩者中選擇其一。

3. How's that?那是怎么說？

4. Well, that's what I do. I have a job, and I have Michelle. I take care of both to the best of my ability.不錯，我就是那樣做的。我有工作，我還有Michele，我盡我所能把兩方面都照顧好。to the best of my ability: 盡我所能。相當于as well as I can。

5. It's not easy, but what is?這是不容易，可什么事容易呀？what is的后面省略了easy。

6. I thought you stayed home with Robbie.我原以為你是呆在家里照顧Robie的。stay home: 呆在家里。

7. Designing dresses is a career you could establish out of your home, couldn't you?時裝設計是一種你可以在家里創立起來的事業，不是嗎？establish: 開辦，建立。out of: 在這里是以……為基地或中心進行活動的意思。