课文原文（双语）
Is that you, Susan? 是你吗，Susan？
It’s me, Grandpa. 是我，爷爷。
Am I glad to see you! 我看到你真的很高兴！
And am I glad to see you! 我看见你才高兴呢！
I am also glad to be here. 我很高兴来这里。
How are things? 近况如何？
I have been talking to a group of salesmen since ten this morning, and I’m real exhausted. 我一直在与一群推销人员谈话，从今天上午十点起，我实在是精疲力竭了。
Well, you look good. 嗯，你看起来蛮好的。
What’s Harry doing tonight? Harry今晚做什么？
He and Michelle are visiting relatives in New Jersey today. 他和Michelle今天去New Jersey拜访亲戚去了。
The rest of our family went to the movies. 我们家里其余的人都去看电影了。
So it’s just you and me, Susan. 所以，这里只有你和我，Susan。
It’s nice to be alone with you, Grandpa. We don’t get to see enough of each other. 很高兴单独与你在一起，爷爷。我们在一起的时间太少了。
Oh, I feel the same way, Susan. I miss seeing you. 噢，我也有同样的感受，Susan。我很想见到你。
But to tell the truth, next time I’d like to go into the city and meet you there, instead of you coming here. 但是，老实说，下一次我想到城里看你，而不是你到这里来。
You don’t need to do that, Grandpa. 你不用这样，爷爷。
Yeah, I do. I need to get out more. 不，我要这样。我需要多出门去。
Well, I mean there’s a lot to do around the house, and I love being here with the family, you know, but I’m restless. 我的意思是这屋里有很多事可做，而我也喜欢和家人在一起，你知道的，但我闲不住。
Since I retired, I’ve got extra time on my hands. 自从我退休以后，我有过多空闲时间。
I understand, Grandpa. 我能体会，爷爷。
I think you do. Frankly, I’d like to use my brain a little more. 我想你能体会。坦白地说，我想多用用我的脑子。
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. 爷爷，你精力这么好，又有这么多年的经验。也许有很多地方可以让你去工作。特别是在营造界。
But at my age, I’m not looking for a full-time job. I’m retired. But I’m bored. 但是，像我这般年纪，我不会去找一个上全天班的工作。我退休了。但我感到无聊。
Well, there must be something. Maybe I can help. 嗯，一定可以找到事做。也许我能帮忙。
Let’s go into the kitchen, and maybe you can help me set the table. 我们到厨房去，也许你能帮我摆桌子。
Sounds good to me. What are we having? 我来。我们吃些什么？
I prepared lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and a tossed green salad to begin with. 我准备了羊肉，马铃薯泥，还有蔬菜沙拉当头道菜。
Grandpa, you are a terrific guy! You’re still thinking about something to do, aren’t you? A job of some kind. 爷爷，你真了不起！你还在想要找点事做，是吗？找点工作。
That’s right. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks now. There must be some way to put my mind to good use. 是的。为这事我想了几个星期。总会有办法让我发挥才智。
We’ll find a solution. A positive solution to your finding a way to use that wonderful mind of yours. 我们会找到解决的办法。一个好法子，能够让你施展你的学识。
Susan talks to her assistant Sam: （Susan与助手Sam交谈：）
Sam, would you come in, please? Sam，请进来一下，好吗？
You sound like something’s bothering you, Susan. 听起来好像你有什么心事，Susan？
The sketches for the cover of the new doll book? 是新玩具书的封面设计吗？
That’s not it. Please sit down. 不是这种事，请坐下。
Sure. 好的。
I need your advice on a personal matter, but it’s not about me. 我有件私事，需要听听你的高见，但这不是关于我自己的事。
You need my advice on a personal matter, and it’s not about you. OK. 你有私事需要听我的意见，而且不是关于你自己的。好吧。
It’s about my grandfather. 是关于我爷爷。
What’s the problem? 什么事？
It won’t sound like a big deal, but it is. I had dinner with him Saturday, and he’s very unhappy about not working. 这事听起来没啥严重，但实际上很要紧。星期六我与他一起吃晚餐，他对没有工作感到怏怏不乐。
I thought he was retired and pleased to be living with the family. 我原以为他退休了，乐于跟家人住在一起。
He is, but there’s so much energy and talent in the man, and he doesn’t get to use it. 没有错，但是他有那么多的精力和才能，却又用不上。
But what can I do? What kind of advice are you looking for? 但我能帮什么忙？你希望能得到什么建议？
Simply this. John Marchetta runs this company. He founded this company. 简单说来是这样的。John Marchetta经营这家公司。他创办了这家公司。
Right. 对。
John Marchetta gave me my start here six years ago, when I first graduated from college. He gave me the chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident. 六年前，John Marchetta让我在这里起步，那时我刚从大学毕业。他提供给我施展才能的机会，使我对自己更加有信心。
Right. 是的。
Maybe he can do the same thing for your grandfather. Or at least give him some advice. 也许他能为你爷爷做同样的事。再不然至少可以给他一些忠告。
Right. 对。
Then I’ve solved your problem. 说来我替你解决问题了。
I can always depend on you, Sam. 我知道我可以依靠你，Sam。
I’m glad to help. Shall I call Mr. Marchetta for you? 我很乐意帮忙。要我替你打电话给Marchetta先生吗？
No, no. I’ll do that. Thanks. 不，不。我自己来，谢谢你。
Susan meets with Mr. Marchetta: （Susan与Marchetta先生会面：）
Now, how’s the Stewart family? 那么，Stewart全家人都好吗？
Fine, thank you, Mr. Marchetta. Except for my grandfather. 都好，谢谢你，Marchetta先生。除了我爷爷。
What’s wrong, Susan? What’s wrong with him? 怎么啦，Susan？他怎么啦？
He needs to work. In fact, that is the reason why I’m here to see you. I know you’re building a new factory, and I thought … maybe … my grandfather is so experienced in the construction trade, he could be so valuable. 他需要工作。事实上，这是我来见你的原因。我知道你在兴建一座新工厂，我觉得……也许……我爷爷在营造这一行业经验丰富，他或许能够有所用。
Tell him to come and see me at ten o’clock tomorrow morning. I have an idea that may solve the problem for him and help a lot of other people. 告诉他来见我，明天上午十点钟。我有个主意，也许能解决这个问题，并且对其他很多人有益。
Really, Mr. Marchetta? Can I tell him that? 真的吗，Marchetta先生？我可以把这消息告诉他吗？
Sure can. Ten o’clock in the morning. Here. 当然可以。上午十点，在这里。
Oh, thank you! 噢，谢谢你！
Grandpa meets Mr. Marchetta: （爷爷与Marchetta先生会面：）
Hi. I’m Malcolm Stewart. 嗨。我是Malcolm Stewart。
John Marchetta. Sit down, sit down. Susan has told me a great deal about you. She says you’re quite a man. 我是John Marchetta。请坐，请坐。Susan告诉我许多关于你的事。她说你是个了不起的人。
She says a lot of wonderful things about you too, Mr. Stewart. 她也谈起不少你的非凡作为，Stewart先生。
That’s always nice to hear, Mr. Marchetta. 听到这事总是好的，Marchetta先生。
Call me John. May I call you Malcolm? 叫我John。我能称你Malcolm吗？
Let’s talk business. 我们来谈谈正经事。
That’s music to my ears. 正合我意。
I understand you used to be in the construction business. 听说你过去在营造界工作。
Yup. Forty-three years. 是的，四十三年。
Here’s a brief description of forty-three years of on-the-job training. 这是一份简单的记录，关于我四十三年的工作经历。
That is some history! You’re a valuable asset, Malcolm. Very valuable. 这阅历了不得！你是很有价值的资产，Malcolm，很有价值。
Thank you. Yup. Forty-three years. Half that time in my own construction company. Big jobs–factories, shopping malls. That kind of thing. 谢谢你。是的。四十三年，一半时间是在我自己的营造公司。大的工程——工厂、大型购物中心等等。
Then you retired. 然后你退休了。
Yes. After my wife died, and I felt I should spend more time with my children and grandchildren. I lived in Florida, and they lived in New York. 是的。我妻子去世后，我觉得应该多花些时间与儿子、孙子们在一起。我住在Florida，而他们住在纽约。
I understand. My daughter Cami lives in New York. I like being near her. 我了解。我女儿Cami住在纽约。我喜欢离她近一点。
When I came here, I planned to take a few months off. Relax with the family and then look for some work. Put my experience on the line … but, unfortunately, there isn’t any work for a retired person my age. 当我初到这里，我计划休息几个月。与家人轻松一段时间，然后找个工作。考验考验我的阅历……但是，很不幸，没有我这种年纪的退休老人的工作。
Sometimes there is, and sometimes there isn’t. Well, I’m involved with an organization, and we’re trying to resolve that problem. 有时候有，有时候没有。嗯，我参加一个组织，试图解决这类问题。
What’s that? 什么组织？
TOPS. T-O-P-S–means Talented Older People’s Society. TOPS。T-O-P-S全名是优秀老人协会。
I’d like to be a member. How much are the dues? 我想加入做为会员。会费多少？
There are no dues. The organization serves major companies in this city. 不要会费。这个组织为本市各大公司服务。
Why? 为什么？
Because our members are men and women like you. Experienced, talented, retired. But our members want to go out there and use their talents. They want to work. 因为，这个组织的会员都是像你这样的人。有经验，有才能，退休了。但会员们希望在社会上贡献他们的才能。他们想工作。
That is fantastic, John! 那太好了，John！
I’ve got an idea for you, Malcolm. Just fill out this form for me. It’ll only take a few minutes. Sit right here, and do it while I talk to my secretary. When I get back, we’ll talk about my new factory. 我倒替你想出了一个主意，Malcolm。请把这份表填好。只要几分钟时间。就坐在这里填，我去和秘书说个话。我回来后，我们谈一谈我的新工厂。
My company is a member of TOPS. So I try hard to find opportunities for people like you, Malcolm. And when I see an opportunity, I can act on it. 我的公司也是优秀老人协会的会员，所以我努力为像你这样的人寻找机会，Malcolm。而且当我一看到机会，我就可以处理。
Well, I can use your brainpower on the job right now. Have you got time this morning to go over to the construction site with me? I’d like to have you meet my foreman–get some background on the job. 嗯，我马上可以将你的才智用在这项工程上。今天上午你有时间去看一看建筑工地吗？我希望带你去认识工头——了解这项工程的一些背景。
I’ve got plenty of time. 我有的是时间。
I’ll be right back. We’ll go over to the job site together. 我马上就回来。我们等一会儿一起去工地。
Malcolm, you worked on the Spaceport project? Malcolm，你曾负责"太空港"的案子？
My company was the contractor. I built the theater there with my own two hands, practically. 我的公司承包了这项工程。我建造这个剧院，差不多是独自完成的。
I understand. 我明白了。
Well, I’m glad to see you two guys getting along so well because, Danny, Malcolm is on the TOPS team. He’s going to be working with you for a while. His experience will be valuable to both of us. 好的，看到你们两位相处得这么好我很高兴，因为Danny，Malcolm是TOPS的一员。他将与你一起工作一段时间。他的经验对你我都很有用。
Welcome aboard, Malcolm! 欢迎加入，Malcolm！
I’m going back to my office. Give me a call later, Malcolm. I’ll tell you the time and date of the next TOPS meeting. I’d like you to meet the group. 我要回办公室了。请稍后打电话给我，Malcolm。我要告诉你TOPS下次聚会的时间。我希望你能与协会的成员见面。
I will, John. And again–thanks. 我会的，John。再次谢谢你。
No … thank you. And thank Susan. 不……谢谢你。还要谢谢Susan。
He’s quite a man. A real inspiration for me. 他是个了不起的人。他给我很大的启发。
OK, Danny. I know you didn’t expect to have me around, but I think I can be of some help to you. 好啦，Danny。我知道你没有预期我出现在你身边，但我觉得我可以对你略有帮助。
Let me tell you something, Malcolm. With your background and experience, I can learn something … and I do need some advice on a difficult problem. Let me show you this. 我跟你说，Malcolm。依你的背景和经验，我能学到一些东西……我的确有一个难题要请教你。我给你看看这个。
I don’t want to give you a final opinion without studying these building plans more carefully. But a simple solution might be to move the air-conditioning units instead of redesigning the entire system. It might be simpler and less expensive. 我不想给你总结的意见，在没有仔细研究这些建筑图的情况下。但是，一个简单的解决办法可能是移动空调设备，而不必重新设计整套系统。这样可能比较简单而且省钱。
You just earned your weight in gold, Malcolm. Welcome aboard! 你可帮了大忙，Malcolm。欢迎加入我们的行列！
It all happened so quickly! I can’t believe it! 这一切发生得太快了！我简直不敢相信！
I’m glad Mr. Marchetta was so helpful. He was more than helpful. He actually took me to meet his foreman. 我真高兴，Marchetta先生如此帮忙。他不仅仅是帮忙。事实上他带着我去见他的工头。
I’m thrilled for you, Grandpa. I don’t know how to thank you, Susan. You’re a wonderful granddaughter. 我真为你兴奋，爷爷。我不知道如何谢你，Susan。你真是个好孙女。
It’s good to see you so happy. 能看见你如此高兴，太好了。
I’ll be at the construction site tomorrow. What are you doing tomorrow night? 明天我要去工地，你明天晚上做什么？
I’m not doing anything. Why? 我没有要做什么。怎样？
How about a date with your grandfather? I owe you a good steak dinner. 和你爷爷约个会好吗？我欠你一顿牛排晚餐。
I’ll accept. Tomorrow night. You and me. Dinner. What time? 我接受邀请。明天晚上。你和我。吃晚饭。什么时候？
I’ll pick you up here at seven. Is that OK? 我七点钟到这里来接你。可以吗？
I can’t wait! And you can tell me all about your first full day back on the job. 我盼望着那个时候！到时候你就可以告诉我关于你重回工作第一天的全部情况了。
It’s a deal! 就这么约定！
重难点分析
- “Am I glad to see you!” — 倒装强调结构，比"I’m glad to see you"语气强烈得多，表示"我真是太高兴见到你了！"
- “How are things?” — 问候语，相当于"How are you?“或"How’s everything?"。
- “I’m real exhausted.” — real 在口语中可作副词，相当于 really。
- “to tell the truth” — 固定表达，意为"老实说/说实话”。
- “I’ve got extra time on my hands.” — 表示"我手头有太多空闲时间"。
- “put my mind to good use” — 表示"好好利用我的才智"。
- “Sounds good to me.” — 表示"听起来不错/我没问题"。
- “It won’t sound like a big deal, but it is.” — 固定表达 a big deal 表示"大事/了不起的事"。
- “That’s music to my ears.” — 习语，字面义"那是我耳朵的音乐"，引申义"正合我意/太好了"。
- “That is some history!” — some 在此表示"了不起的/不得了的"。
- “You just earned your weight in gold.” — 习语，表示"你帮了大忙/你非常有价值"。
- “Welcome aboard!” — 表示"欢迎加入！"，常用于新员工入职。
- “It’s a deal!” — 表示"一言为定！"。
核心词汇
| 词汇 | 音标 | 释义 |
|---|---|---|
| exhausted | /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪd/ | 精疲力竭的 |
| restless | /ˈrestləs/ | 闲不住的，不安分的 |
| retired | /rɪˈtaɪərd/ | 退休的 |
| bored | /bɔːrd/ | 无聊的 |
| energy | /ˈenərdʒi/ | 精力，能量 |
| experience | /ɪkˈspɪriəns/ | 经验 |
| construction | /kənˈstrʌkʃn/ | 建筑，营造 |
| talent | /ˈtælənt/ | 才能，天赋 |
| confident | /ˈkɑːnfɪdənt/ | 自信的 |
| opportunity | /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/ | 机会 |
| organization | /ˌɔːrɡənəˈzeɪʃn/ | 组织，机构 |
| foreman | /ˈfɔːrmən/ | 工头，领班 |
| contractor | /ˈkɑːntræktər/ | 承包商 |
| solution | /səˈluːʃn/ | 解决方案 |
| inspiration | /ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃn/ | 启发，灵感 |
| asset | /ˈæset/ | 资产，宝贵的人/物 |
口语中的应用
- “Am I glad to see you!” — 强调式表达强烈情感。
- “How are things?” — 日常问候，比"How are you?“更随意。
- “Sounds good to me.” — 表示同意或接受建议。
- “That’s music to my ears.” — 听到好消息时的地道表达。
- “Let’s talk business.” — 表示"我们谈正事吧”。
- “Welcome aboard!” — 欢迎新成员加入团队。
- “It’s a deal!” — 确认约定或交易。
- “I can’t wait!” — 表示迫不及待。
核心练习句型
-
表达"说实话"：
- To tell the truth, I’d like to go into the city.
- Frankly, I’d like to use my brain more.
-
表达"需要建议"：
- I need your advice on a personal matter.
- What kind of advice are you looking for?
-
表达"依靠某人"：
- I can always depend on you.
- I can count on you.
-
表达"解决问题"：
- We’ll find a solution.
- Let me try to work something out.
-
表达"约时间"：
- Tell him to come and see me at ten o’clock.
- How about a date with your grandfather?
-
表达"一言为定"：
- It’s a deal!