ACT 1-2 我們會找到一個解決辦法的
【故事梗概】
Susan看Grandpa并不喜歡這種清閑的退休生活，主動提出要幫他找點事情做。Grandpa沒有在意，讓她幫助擺餐桌。沒想到Susan卻是當真的。
Susan: Grandpa, you have so much energy and so many years of experience. There are probably a lot of places for you to work. Particularly in the construction field.
Grandpa: But at my age, I’m not looking for a full-time job. I’m retired. But I’m bored.
Susan: Well, there must be something. Maybe I can help.
Grandpa: Let’s go into the kitchen, and maybe you can help me set the table.
Susan: Sounds good to me. What are we having?
Grandpa: I prepared lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and a tossed green salad to begin with.
Susan: Grandpa, you are a terrific guy!
[A little later, Grandpa and Susan are eating dinner in the kitchen.]
Susan: You’re still thinking about something to do, aren’t you? A job of some kind.
Grandpa: That’s right. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks now. There must be some way to put my mind to good use.
Susan: We’ll find a solution. A positive solution to your finding a way to use that wonderful mind of yours.
【語言點精講】
1. But at my age, I’m not looking for a full-time job. I’m retired. But I’m bored.
可是我這把年紀了，我不想找一個全職的工作。我是退休了，可是我膩煩得要命。
a full-time job: 全職工作，全天工作。
retired: 退職的，退休的。這種形容詞由動詞加-ed構成，類似的詞還有 bored（厭煩的）、interested（感興趣的）等。
2. Sounds good to me.
這（主意）聽著不錯。sound: 意思是“聽來像，令人覺得”。
這個句子省略了主語it。省略主語在口語里比較常見，例如: “Want something to drink?”的完整形成為“Do you want something to drink?”。
3. I prepared lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and a tossed green salad to begin with.
我做了羊肉塊，土豆泥，還有拌蔬菜色拉當頭道菜。
lamb chops: 羊肉塊。chop這里指(一塊)排骨，肋條肉。
mashed potatoes: 土豆泥。
tossed green salad: 蔬菜色拉。
4. A job of some kind．
找個什么工作之類的。
some在這里表示“某一種、未知的”，后面帶單數可數名詞。
5. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks now.
我想了有幾個星期了。
have been thinking about: 使用了動詞的現在完成進行式，表示“想”這個行為在過去發生并持續到現在。
6. There must be some way to put my mind to good use.
總該有個辦法讓我施展我的才能。
put my mind to good use: 施展我的才能。
7. We’ll find a solution. A positive solution to your finding a way to use that wonderful mind of yours.
我們會找到一個解決辦法的。為讓你能使用你那了不起的頭腦尋找一個積極的解決辦法。
find a solution: 找到一個解決辦法。與后面的find a way同義。
to use that wonderful mind of yours: 使用你那了不起的頭腦。最后面的of yours起強調作用，強調“你的”，這樣說更有感情色彩。
