口語情景對話：走遍美國精選 當仁不讓 ACT 2 - 3

【故事梗概】

Boswell先生正在電視上做競選演講。Boswell的老練而富于煽動性的競選演說給Ellen心上投下了自我懷疑的陰影。家人都在給Ellen打氣，并要她也去做競選拉票演說。

Robbie: Hey, everybody, Mrs. Greenberg is on the phone. She says Carter Boswell is on the TV right now--doing a commercial.

Philip: What channel?

Robbie: Five.

Philip: Five? [He turns on the television.]

[They all watch the TV.]

Boswell: …and if you ask what I care about, I’ll tell you. I care about the school buildings in need of paint. I care about more lockersfor the teachers. I care about new fixturesin the hallways-- not music or dancing or entertainment. I care about the practicalthings. If you do, vote for me, Carter Boswell.

Ellen: A lot of people will agree with him.

Philip: I told you.

Robbie: Too bad kids can’t vote. It’s our school, but we can’t vote.

Richard: There are people in favor of the cultural programs, Mom.

Marilyn: There are, Ellen. Don’t be upsetby Boswell’s commercial.

Philip: You have to go on television, too.

Ellen: Boswell’s a powerful speaker.

Philip: You can be, too. Your ideas are good ones.

Ellen: I don’t know. I’m not sure I’m up to it.

【語言點精講】

1. Hey, everybody, Mrs. Greenberg is on the phone. She says Carter Boswell is on the TV right now--doing a commercial.

嗨，大家聽著，Greenberg夫人打電話來了，她說Carter Boswell現在正在電視上露面——他在廣告節目里講話。

commerical: 電視或收音機里的廣告。

2. I care about the school buildings in need of paint. I care about more lockers for the teachers. I care about new fixtures in the hallways--not music or dancing or entertainment. I care about the practical things.

我關心那些需要油漆粉刷的校舍，我關心給老師們多設一些衣物柜，我關心在走廊里安裝新燈具——而不是搞什么音樂課，舞蹈課和娛樂活動，我關心的是實用的東西。

in need of: 需要，缺少。這是較為正式用語。

locker: 金屬制的儲物柜。美國的學校里普遍設立這種柜子，分配給每位學生和老師存放東西之用，各人可自行加鎖。

fixture: 固定裝置。房屋里的附屬裝置，如電燈、洗手間的水池等。這里，Boswell先生是 在指學校走廊天花板的燈，或稱light fixture。

practical: 實用的。

3. If you do, vote for me, Carter Boswell.

如果你也關心實用的東西，請投我Carter Boswell一票。

do在這里代表上一句的謂語 care about the practical things.

4. There are people in favor of the cultural programs, Mom.

還是有人贊成文化項目的，媽媽。

in favor of :支持，贊同。在表決時可以說: “Those in favor, please raise your hands… Those against, please raise your hands.”

5. You have to go on television, too.

你也得上電視才好。

go on TV: 上電視，在電視上露面。

6. I’m not sure I’m up to it.

我不敢肯定我能頂得下來。

up to it: 在這里指能做得到，相當于able to do it.