【流行美语第7课】量入为出,管住你的钱包!
[audio]http://f1.w.hjfile.cn/doc/201107/pa37534.mp3[/audio][size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry在和李华商量去什么地方渡假。他们会用到两个常用语:make up your mind和live within your means。[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: Lihua, do you want to go to Toronto? I did a little [url=http://dict.hjenglish.com/w/research]research[/url] and found some really cool tours and -[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]LH: Larry, 我不是很想去多伦多,我想去个有热带风情的地方。[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: Tropical?[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 没错!你说加勒比海怎么样?[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: The Caribbean? Wow, that is very [url=http://dict.hjenglish.com/w/tropical]tropical[/url]... actually, I know someone who went there last summer, let me give him a call -[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]LH: 不过! 我又非常想去泰国,那里的水果和美食太诱人了!
Larry: What?? Thailand? Make up your mind, Lihua![/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: Make up? 化妆?你在说什么啊?[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: No, not the make-up you put on your face. To "make up your mind" means to make a choice and stick to it.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 哦,to make up your mind就是拿定主意。[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: Yea. For example, it often takes you a long time to make up your mind when it comes to what to wear when we go out.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 这倒是。出门前我总是不能决定穿哪身衣服。[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: And what about your friend at school that couldn't decide which class she wanted to take?[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 没错。那个同学特别爱学习,什么课都想选,可是一学期的时间只有那么多,选修课的数量是有限的。 I wish she would make up her mind!我希望她能快点作出决定。[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: Yea, exactly. Indecisive people can sure be [url=http://dict.hjenglish.com/w/annoy]annoying[/url] sometimes...especially when they cause others to waste time...[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: Larry,你说的indecisive people - 犹豫不决的人,是在说我吧?我也很想定下旅行的目的地,可是...真的是有太多好玩的地方,我实在拿不定主意![/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: What about money? We can drive to Toronto. Thailand would be extremely expensive. Airfare alone would cost us a couple thousand dollars. We do have to live within our means, after all.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 你说的live within our means,是什么意思?[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: The phrase "living within your means" means to live within the limits of your financial situation. Or, in other words, not spending more money than you can afford to spend.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 哦,to live within your means就是量入为出,不过度消费。[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: That's right. And if we are to live within our means, we certainly cannot afford a vacation in Thailand![/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 你是说,从我们的经济情况考虑,去泰国花销太高,我们承受不了?可是你工作这么久,不是已经攒些钱了么?[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: Not that much money! I'm just an entry-level worker. It will take some years of saving up money before I can afford things like tropical vacations.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 啊?还得再攒好几年才能来个热带风情之旅?唉,Larry, 这只能怪你平时不知节省。你看,你老去外面饭馆吃饭,比在家里吃贵多了![/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: So... if I were living within my means, we'd have enough money for a nice vacation?[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 对啊!如果你平时消费节制,我们现在就能去泰国了![/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: But, Lihua, I just don't have time to cook. And plus, I'm not that good at it! And there are things about your spending habits that could change, too - like cutting out some of your shopping. That would definitely help you live within your means.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 啊?你让我也减少支出,少买东西多存钱?这个嘛...[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua. Do you want to save money or not?[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 那好吧,我下决心存钱 (不情愿的口气)。[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: Don't sound so depressed, Lihua. We can still go on vacation this year and still be living within our means. We just need to find a place closer to home. But first, let's make up our mind on where we want to go.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 好吧! 希望我们真能做到即能愉快旅行又不让荷包大出血! 不过,我不想去多伦多,我想去海边![/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: How about South Carolina? It will take awhile to get there, but we could drive.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 南卡罗莱纳?有美丽的沙滩么?[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: Absolutely.[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 那....贵么?[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: We would still be living within our means if we go there. What do you think?[/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082] LH: 是吗?我们能承受得起旅行的花费?让我想想,让我想想....对了! Larry, 我忽然想到,如果我们去海边,我肯定要花很多钱买漂亮的游泳衣、太阳镜、裙子什么的。算了,要不还是去多伦多吧![/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]Larry: Make up your mind, Lihua![/color][/size]
[size=4][color=#4b0082]今天李华学了两个常用语。一个是to make up one's mind,意思是“拿定主意”。另一个是to live within one's means,意思是“量入为出,不过度消费”。[/color][/size]
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