2015年ESL之日常生活 19 Making Peace

Making Peace 

Vladimir: We need a ceasefire. The violence is escalating¹ and we need to put a stop to this. 

Hilary: I agree, but do you think our enemies will agree to a truce²? 

Vladimir: They’re as embattled as we are. They may welcome a suspension of hostilities³ until we can agree on a peace treaty. 

Hilary: I hate to think what their conditions will be for an armistice⁴. This war has dragged on for so long. 

Vladimir: I suspect they feel the same as we do. If we make a conciliatory gesture, I think they’ll respond in kind. 

Hilary: Do you really think so? We won’t come off as weak? 

Vladimir: I don’t think so. We’re taking the first step to peace. They’ll see that. 

Hilary: If you say so. All right, let’s do it. This war with our neighbors is getting old. Do you want to bring them this fruitcake or should I? 

Vladimir: I’ll take it, but first I’ll make sure their ugly, dirty, mean barking dog that wakes me up in the middle of the night is tied up. I don’t want to become a casualty while bringing them this peace offering! 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

2 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。

3 hostilities   

n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事

参考例句：

• Mexico called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. 墨西哥要求立即停止敌对行动。
• All the old hostilities resurfaced when they met again. 他们再次碰面时，过去的种种敌意又都冒了出来。

4 armistice   

n.休战，停战协定

参考例句：

• The two nations signed an armistice.两国签署了停火协议。
• The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap.意大利的停战不过是一个笨拙的陷阱。