其实我们每天的生活都很简单,但是这样简单的生活对于很多人来说,却是一种奢望。也许有一天你也会像Hugh一样在不经意间,碰到这群人,为他们的生存状况而担忧,从而思考自己的生活是否太过于安逸了。
发音：美式发音
语速：140词/分钟
使用方法：精听+角色扮演
Hugh: Do you ever feel like we aren't doing enough?
休:你觉不觉得我们有些事没做?
Bridget: Excuse me? I've already cleaned the house and prepared dinner! What more do you want from me?
布里吉特:什么?我已经打扫屋子而且准备好晚餐了!你还想要我怎么样?
Hugh: No, no…I mean not doing enough with our lives. We do the same thing, day in, day out: take the kids to school, go to work. ①The same daily grind every day. We are in a really fortunate position. We have enough money for everything we could possibly want. Our children are happy and healthy. Don't you ever think about how we can help others ②who are worse off than us?
休:不,不……我是说我们的生活中缺少些什么。我们每天做一样的事情:送孩子去上学,上班。每天过着单调的生活。我们实在是很幸运。我们有足够的钱买我们想要的东西。我们的孩子快乐又健康。你从来没想过我们可以帮助一些过得不如我们的人吗?
Bridget: At the moment, all I'm thinking about is how I can get the kids to eat their vegetables. Where did this come from? ③Are you having a mid-life crisis?
布里吉特:目前我所想的都是怎样才能让孩子们吃蔬菜。你怎么会有这样的想法?这是中年危机吗?
Hugh: I was driving home today and the traffic was all backed up. I decided to take a backstreet to bypass the jam, and I came across this homeless shelter. I pulled up at the red light and a guy from the shelter handed me this 1)pamphlet about them needing volunteers. There are all sorts of services they provide: offering meals, building shelters and homes, and even helping family members reconnect with each other.
休:今天我开车回家时,交通堵塞。我决定走小路绕过堵车,然后就经过了这家流浪汉收容所。我在停车等红灯的时候,一个从收容所里出来的人递给我这本小册子,上面说他们需要一些志愿者。他们提供各种各样的志愿者服务:做饭,建收容所和房子,甚至是帮助一些无家可归的人与家人重建联系。
Bridget: That all sounds amazing. But what can you do to help? You are only one person. Can you really make a difference?
布里吉特:听起来不错。但是你能做些什么呢?你只有一个人。你真能改变什么吗?
Hugh: Well I'll never know unless I try. I'm going to go down there first thing tomorrow ④and see if I can lend a hand.
休:没试过怎么知道不行?我打算明天先去一趟,看看我能否帮上忙。
Bridget: Well, I think that's really inspiring. Maybe after you see how it goes, you can encourage some of your friends to join in, too. It's great to see you doing your part.
布里吉特:我想这确实挺鼓舞人心的。也许你了解他们如何运作之后,也能鼓励你的一些朋友也加入其中。你能尽自己的一份力真是件好事。
Hugh: Well, they say charity begins at home…
休:嗯,他们说,一切慈善源于家庭……
Bridget: Perhaps you could start by washingthese dishes.
布里吉特:或许你可以先从洗碟子开始做起。
Smart Sentences
① The same daily grind every day. 每天过着单调的生活。
the daily grind: the daily monotonous parts of everyday life(单调的日常生活)。例如:
I'm now back to the daily grind after my two-week vacation.
度完两个星期的假后,我又回到了我枯燥而单调的生活。
② …who are worse off than us? ……过得不如我们的人?
worse off: not as good as sb.; worse than sb.(不如他人)。例如:
I'm quite satisfied that my job and pay are not worse off than most of my schoolmates.
对于我的工作和收入不比大多数同学差这一点,我相当满意。
③ Are you having a mid-life crisis? 这是中年危机吗?
mid-life crisis: refers to a period of dramatic self-doubt by some in middle age as a result of sensing the passing of youth and the imminence of old age(中年危机)。例如:
Come on, you are only in your early thirties. It's too early for you to have a mid-life crisis.
算了吧,你才三十出头,中年危机离你还远呢。
④ …and see if I can lend a hand. ……看看我能否帮上忙。
lend a hand: help sb. (帮助他人)。例如:
I'd be glad to lend a hand whenever you need me.
无论你什么时候有需要,我都乐意帮忙。