课文原文（双语对话）

Susan: You like living in New York, don’t you? / 你喜欢住在纽约，是吗？

Harry: Oh, I love it. It’s so convenient. I can take the bus to work … or the subway … or a taxi. And there’s so much to do. Lots of movie houses, and the theater. / 噢，我喜欢住在纽约。一切都很方便，我可以坐公共汽车上班……或者搭地铁……或者坐计程车。而且这里总是有许多事可做。很多电影院，还有剧院。

Susan: I know what you mean. / 我懂得你的意思。

Harry: I’d like to live in the city, but living in New Jersey and the suburbs is better for Michelle. Trees, grass. / 我也喜欢住在城里，但住在New Jersey的郊区对Michelle要好些。有绿树，有草地。

Susan: There’s a lot of good things about suburban living. I grew up in Riverdale, remember? So I know. But, as a working woman, I think New York has all the conveniences—including the best tomatoes. / 郊区生活是有许多优点。你记得吗？我就是在Riverdale长大的，所以我了解这些。但是就职业妇女来说，我觉得纽约具备了一切便利的条件——包括上好的蕃茄。

Harry: The truth is, I’d like to live in the city. Michelle’s the right age. There are lots of things for her here. / 老实说我也想住到城里来。Michelle正处于成长的年龄。这里有许多适合她的东西。

Susan: You’re right, Harry. Today is the perfect example. Michelle and her friends are at the aquarium in Brooklyn. They come back here for lunch, then go uptown to the Museum of Natural History. There’s so much for young people to see and do. It’s just incredible! / 你说的对，Harry。今天就是一个很好的例子。Michelle和她的朋友们在参观Brooklyn的水族馆。他们回到这儿来吃午餐，然后再往北去自然历史博物馆。这里有很多可供年轻人看和做的事情。简直是难以置信！

Harry: Not just for young people. What about me? I’ve never been to the aquarium or the Museum of Natural History. Have you? / 不仅仅对年轻人来说是这样。对我还不是一样？我从来没有去过水族馆或自然历史博物馆。你呢？

Susan: Oh yes, Harry. My mother and father often took us somewhere in the city on the weekends. Dad was a busy doctor, but he usually managed to squeeze a Sunday in with Richard, Robbie, and me. I used to love to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. / 去过了，Harry。我父母经常在周末带我们去城里的一些地方。爸爸是个很忙的医生，但是他总会设法挤出星期天和Richard、Robbie及我在一起。我过去很喜欢去大都会美术馆。

Harry: I’ve been there several times. Twice with Michelle. / 我到那儿去过好几次。其中两次是和Michelle去的。

Susan: You ought to think about spending more time with Michelle at all the great places in the city. / 你应当考虑多花点时间陪Michelle去城里所有的好地方看看。

Harry: Well, perhaps, you’ll help me select some of the great places. And perhaps, you’ll join us? / 好的，也许，你能帮我挑一些好地方。也许你能跟我们一起去？

Susan: Perhaps I will. / 也许吧。

（Michelle和朋友们到达，大家一起玩拼字游戏）

Michelle: Cheese—c-h-e-e-s-e. / Cheese—c-h-e-e-s-e。

Susan: Terrific! Michelle wins with a six-letter word, plus she gets an additional ten points for a total of sixteen points. / 好极了！Michelle赢了，她的单字有六个字母，加上另外的十分，她一共得十六分。

Michelle: I think it’s too easy. / 我觉得它太简单了。

Susan: Michelle is quite right. She just said it’s too easy. / Michelle非常对。她仅仅说它太容易了。

（游戏结束后，Harry和Susan继续他们的谈话）

Harry: There’s a conversation we have to finish. / 我们有一段话还没有谈完呢。

Susan: What was it about? / 刚才谈什么？

Harry: It was about caring. I said that it makes me feel good that you care about Michelle. Well, I do care about Michelle. And it makes me feel good that you care about me. You’re a … wonderful friend. And it makes me feel good that you care about us. / 谈到关心。我是说我感到很高兴你关心Michelle。是的，我真的关心Michelle。而且你关心我，也让我感到很高兴。你是个……极好的朋友。使我太高兴了，你关心我们大家。

Harry: Now comes the good part. / 现在最精彩的部分来了。

Harry: Here are ten letters that express my feelings for you. / 这里有十个字母可以表达我对你的感情。

Susan: Don’t be silly, Harry. / 别闹了，Harry。

Harry: You want a hint? It’s two words. / 你需要提示吗？两个字。

Susan: Harry, I get it! / Harry，我想到了！

Harry: Well? Does that mean you’ll marry me? / 噢？你的意思是你答应嫁给我了？

Susan: Is that a proposal, or are we just playing a game? / 这是求婚呢，还是仅仅在玩游戏？

Harry: Sit down, Susan. There’s something I have to ask you. Susan, will you marry me? / 坐下，Susan。我有一件事要问你。Susan，你愿意嫁给我吗？

Susan: It’s such an important decision. There’s so many things to talk about. There are three things that have to be done first, Harry. First, we have to decide where to live. Second, we have to talk to Michelle together about being married. Third, you have to ask for my father’s permission. / 这是一个如此重要的决定。有许多事情需要讨论。首先我们必须做三件事，Harry。首先，我们得决定住在哪里。第二，我们必须一起跟Michelle谈谈我们结婚的事。第三，你必须徵得我父亲的同意。

Harry: Absolutely! But first things first. We have to go pick up Michelle. / 那当然！但事有先后。我们得去接Michelle了。

Susan: Oh, I’m so happy, Harry! / 噢，我太高兴了，Harry！

Harry: Not as happy as I am. / 我比你更高兴。

重难点分析

  1. 反意疑问句（Tag Questions）：“You like living in New York, don’t you?” — 反意疑问句用于确认信息或寻求同意，前肯定后否定，前否定后肯定。

  2. “used to” 的用法：“I used to love to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.” — 表示过去经常做但现在不再做的习惯或状态。

  3. “squeeze in” 的用法：“He usually managed to squeeze a Sunday in” — 表示挤出时间做某事，非常实用的口语表达。

  4. “care about” 的用法：本课多次出现，表示"关心、在乎"。注意区分 “care about”（关心某人/某事）和 “care for”（照顾、喜欢）。

  5. “assume” 的用法：“assume that if you care about Michelle” — 表示"假设、假定"，用于提出假设情况。

  6. “first things first” — 固定表达，意思是"重要的事情先做"。

核心词汇

词汇 释义 例句
convenient 方便的 It’s so convenient to live in the city.
suburb 郊区 Suburban living has many advantages.
aquarium 水族馆 The girls had a good time at the aquarium.
incredible 难以置信的 It’s just incredible!
squeeze 挤、压缩 He managed to squeeze a Sunday in.
starving 饥饿的 I’m starving, aren’t you?
appreciate 感激 I really appreciate your doing this.
shuffle 洗牌 First, you shuffle the deck.
counterclockwise 逆时针方向 Everyone goes counterclockwise.
proposal 求婚 Is that a proposal?

口语中的应用

  1. “I know what you mean.” — 表示理解对方的感受或想法，比 “I understand” 更口语化、更亲切。

  2. “It looks inviting.” — 形容食物看起来诱人，也可以形容地方看起来吸引人。

  3. “I can’t wait to…” — 表达迫不及待想做某事，如 “I can’t wait to take a bite.”

  4. “It’s nothing.” — 当别人感谢你时，表示"没什么、不客气"。

  5. “You’re wonderful with kids.” — 夸赞某人善于与孩子相处。

核心练习句型

  1. 反意疑问句：You like living in New York, don’t you?
  2. used to + 动词原形：I used to love to go to the museum.
  3. squeeze in + 时间：He managed to squeeze a Sunday in.
  4. care about + 某人/某事：I care about Michelle.
  5. can’t wait to + 动词：I can’t wait to take a bite.
  6. first things first：First things first, we have to pick up Michelle.