ACT 1-1 “她是个讨人喜欢的孩子。”
【故事梗概】
Susan和 Harry再看Michelle试穿他们给她新买的衣服。Susan表达了她对他们的新婚生活的满意。但是Harry似乎有心事。
Michelle: I really like this one. Susan. Do you?
Susan: Turn around, Michelle. Let me see the back of it. [Michelle turns around.] I like it a lot. It fits well. It doesn’t need any alterations. We must’ve bought the right size.
Harry: like the color. She looks good in blue.
Michelle: I like blue, too, Daddy.
Susan: Try on the skirt and blouse outfit, Michelle, the one that Daddy wanted you to wear.
Michelle: OK. [She leaves the room.]
Harry: Michelle has been a different kid since we’ve been married. She’s never been happier.
Susan: And I’ve never been happier. Harry. [She kisses him.] I love her very much. She’s been a joy.
Harry: We’re very lucky, the three of us…and becoming part of the Stewart family, too.
Susan: We couldn’t ask for anything more, could we?
Harry: Well…
Susan: Well? Could we ask for anything more?
【语言点精讲】
1. I like it a lot. It fits well.
我很喜欢它，它很合身。
I like it a lot.: 这里a lot是状语，修饰谓语like，要放在它后面。
fit: 合适，合身。
2. It doesn’t need any alterations. We must’ve bought the right size.
不需要任何改动，我们显然买对了尺码了。
alteration: 修改。这里指的是改动衣服的尺寸使其合身。
must’ve bought the right size: 显然买对了尺码。用“must have（or must’ve）+ 过去分词”是对过去发生的事情作出的肯定的推论。
3. She looks good in blue.
她穿蓝色很好看。
in: 表示穿着什么衣服
4. Try on the skirt and blouse outfit, Michelle, the one that Daddy wanted you to wear.
你试一下那套裙子和衬衫套服，Michelle，就是爸爸要你穿的那一套。
blouse: 女式衬衫。
outfit: 基本的含义是一套的东西。这里指套服。
5. Michelle has been a different kid since we’ve been married. She’s never been happier.
从我们结婚以来，Michelle似乎变了一个人，她从未像现在这样快乐过。
She’s never been happier. : never这个表示否定的词与比较级联用，实际上表达的是最高级的含义。这种组合所表达的强调的语气比较强烈。
5. She’s been a joy.
她是个讨人喜欢的孩子。
a joy: 这里指人。这是英语一个常用的修辞手法。注意joy在这里是可数名词，指一个人时要有不定冠词。又如，That boy is a headache.
6. We couldn’t ask for anything more, could we?
我们不能要求更多的幸福了，是不是？
ACT 1-2 “再换回你的牛仔裤。”
【故事梗概】
在Harry打算把心事托出的时候，Michelle进来了。他们的注意力又转到了Michelle的新衣服上。
Harry: Well…we…
Michelle: [She enters the room in her new skirt and blouse.] How do you like it, Daddy?
Harry: It’s my favorite outfit.
Susan: It’s good for every day. It will be good for school, Michelle.
Michelle: I like it, too. I always like skirts that go like this. [She twirls around to show how the skirt moves.] Do you want to see the winter jacket on me, Susan?
Susan: Yes, I do. Change back into your jeans, and put on the new winter jacket we bought today.
Michelle: OK. [She leaves the room.]
Susan: What did you mean by “well…?” You had something on your mind when I said we couldn’t ask for anything more.
Michelle: [She enters.] Is everything all right?
Harry: Everything is fine, Michelle.
【语言点精讲】
1. It’s good for every day. It will be good for school.
它适合每天穿。上学穿它会很好。
be good: 适合于。
every day: 每天。在作为形容词时连写为everyday，意思为日常的。
2. I always like skirts that go like this.
我一直喜欢这样飘动的裙子。
go: 在这里表示即将用实际行动表达的一种动作。如在哼一个曲调前可说The song goes like this. 又如，在教一个舞蹈动作时可以说The left foot goes like this.
3. She twirls around to show how the skirt moves.
她旋转身躯来显示裙子如何飘动。
twirl around: 快速转动。
4. Change back into your jeans, and put on the new winter jacket we bought today.
再换回你的牛仔裤，穿上我们今天买的冬季夹克。
change: 这里是换衣服。
jeans: 牛仔裤，又称 blue jeans, dungarees, denims, denim jeans。
winter jacket: 冬季夹克，棉衣。
5. You had something on your mind when I said we couldn’t ask for anything more.
当我说我们什么都有了时，你显然是有话要说。
ACT 1-3 “一家大的会计公司要我去工作。”
【故事梗概】
Harry对Susan讲出了他的心事：他得到了一个新的工作机会，但是这个工作是在洛杉矶。
Susan: Let’s take a look at the winter jacket. Come on over here, honey.
Michelle: It’s kind of warm.
Susan: It is. That’s why we bought it for you. This will be a perfect jacket for the wintertime when it’s very cold out. But it’s kind of small also. We must’ve bought the wrong size.
Harry: Looks like we should’ve bought a bigger one. I guess we’ll have to exchange it, too. I’m sure the store has others.
Michelle: I look silly! It is too small!
Susan: You’re growing so fast, Michelle.
Michelle: Can I take it off? I’m hot!
Susan: Sure. Put it back in your room, and we’ll hang everything up later.
[Michelle leaves the room.]
Susan: [to Harry] Well, are you going to tell me what’s on your mind, Harry?
Harry: I have been offered a job with a major accounting company in Los Angeles. [repeating] I have been offered a job with a major accounting company in Los Angeles.
Susan: Los Angeles? That’s a big decision.
Harry: I know. It will also affect you and your job, if we decide to go.
Susan: Wow! It sure will. But first tell me about the job, Harry. If it’s a good one, then we’ll make it work for us.
【语言点精讲】
1. It’s kind of warm.
它很暖和。
kind of: 是状语，相当于sort of, a bit, somewhat. 口语中常读作kinda.
2. Looks like we should’ve bought a bigger one. I guess we’ll have to exchange it, too. I’m sure the store has others.
看来我们本该买一件大一点儿的。我想这一件我们也得去换掉，我敢说店里还有别的。We should’ve bought…: 我们本该买……。用 “should have +过去分词” 表示遗憾，即对于本该做但是没有做成某事而感到惋惜。
exchange: 这里指换掉已购买的商品。
3. We’ll hang everything up later.
过一会儿我们来把它们都挂起来。
4. Are you going to tell me what’s on your mind？
你要不要把你心上的事跟我说一下?
这里going to表示个人的意图，what在从句中是主语。当疑问词是句子主语时，问句的动词谓语保留在陈述句中的形式和语序，即不必倒装，亦不用另加助动词的办法。这样的问句成为名词从句时，语序也不产生变化的问题。
5. I have been offered a job with a major accounting company in Los Angeles.
洛杉矶一家大会计公司向我提供一个职位。
6. If it’s a good one, then we’ll make it work for us.
如果这工作不错，那么我们就考虑接受下来。
ACT 1-4 “明天才正式谈。”
【故事梗概】
Harry告诉Susan，如果他接受了这个工作，全家可能就要搬到洛杉矶去。而这将影响Susan的事业。
Harry: I have a client in the garment business on Seventh Avenue. I do his taxes every year. He has a big sales office in Los Angeles and the company in Los Angeles that does his major accounting work is looking for an executive. And he recommended me.
Susan: That’s wonderful, Harry.
Harry: Yes, but it would mean that we’d have to move to L.A.
Susan: What about the salary?
Harry: The real discussion comes tomorrow. Susan, I don’t plan to make any decisions until I have a chance to talk with you about it.
Susan: I understand, Harry.
Harry: And I don’t have to make a quick decision. They know that I’m married and that I have a family.
Susan: Well, there’s a lot to think about. If it’s a good job, then I’ve got to do some thinking about my career opportunities in Los Angeles.
Michelle: [She enters again.] Is everything OK?
Susan: Yes, honey.
【语言点精讲】
1. I have a client in the garment business on Seventh Avenue. I do his taxes every year.
我有个经营成衣业的客户，在第7街，我每年为他处理申报税款工作。
client: 委托人，客户。
garment: 衣服，成衣。
do his taxes: 这里指为他处理税务工作。在美国，每年需要自己填写报税单，大部分的公司以及一些个人会把报税的事情委托给专业的会计公司来处理。
2. He has a big sales office in Los Angeles and the company in Los Angeles that does his major accounting work is looking for an executive. And he recommended me.
他在洛杉矶有个很大的销售办事处，而洛杉矶承办他主要的会计工作的公司正在物色一名主管人员。他就推荐了我。
sales office: 销售办事处。
looking for an executive: “executive”是指公司的总经理，董事，主管。高级经理人才因难寻而抢手。专有一些人（或公司）代人寻觅这种人才，称为“猎头”（head-hunting），相反，一般的人觅取职业称为job-hunting。
3. Yes, but it would mean that we’d have to move to L.A.
是的，可那意味着我们得搬家到洛杉矶去。
move to sp.: 搬家到某地去。
L.A.: 洛杉矶。是Los Angeles的缩写。很多人喜欢用L.A. 称洛杉矶。
4. What about the salary?
工资怎么样？
5. The real discussion comes tomorrow.
明天才正式谈。
6. If it’s a good job, then I’ve got to do some thinking about my career opportunities in Los Angeles.
如果这职务不错的话，那么我就得想一想我在洛杉矶的工作机会了。
career opportunities: 工作机会，事业机会。