【英语趣味课堂】父亲-Father

Todd: Norm¹, you have three children, right?

 

Norm: Yes, I do. I'm very lucky.

 

Todd: What do your Children do? What kind of jobs do they have?

 

Norm: Well, my oldest one, he works² for Frito lay, which is a company owned by Pepsi Cola. He's a regional manager, which means he has the whole province of Ontario, and he is responsible for distribution³ for, he handles big budgets, we're talking about millions of dollars here, and he is a problem solver. When an area does not make profit, or if they have problems then they send him there to fix the problems. He's very good at that. He has very good human communication skills and he sees problems and he sees solutions that please everyone, so he's very successful. I have, my daughter, who does many things. She works in the circus industry. She teaches at L'arc de cirque in Quebec, and she's also has her own busker act with a friend and she also teaches trampoline at the circus school, and she also competes. She's an international athlete. She came in 7th at the world competitions in Hamburg last fall, and synchronized⁴ trampoline. And my youngest son, he's in computers. He enjoys it very much. He works for a big consulting company. They have contracts, government contracts, and he sets up the data base and trains the government people so that they can use the computers to, for example, monitor medical files of the people and the province.

 

Todd: Wow, you must be really proud. You have three amazing kids.

 

Norm: Thank you. Thank you. They worked very hard. Yes, and they're, they like also to experience different things so there all in that kind of field where they can change job when they find that the job is not as interesting anymore, so they ask for transfers⁵ and, that's the way they like it.

 

Todd: Well, you're one cool guy Norman. I'm not surprised that you have three successful children.

 

学习内容：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

very lucky

 

I'm very lucky to have three children

 

If you feel like you have good fortune or that something positives has happened by chance then you are 'very lucky.' Notice the following:

 

He hasn't been very lucky lately.

You are very lucky that nobody was hurt in the car accident.

problem solver

 

My son handles big budgets; he is a problem solver.

 

A 'problem solver' is a person who looks for good, practical solutions to situations. Notice the following:

 

Nobody is going to tell you what to do. They expect you to be a problem solver.

This job requires you to be a problem solver.

communication skills

 

My son has very good communication skills; he sees solutions that please everyone.

 

'Communication skills' are the ability to explain what you are thinking or need to other people and understand their responses.  This can refer to words, as well as personal interaction⁶ and if people feel comfortable with you. Notice the following:

 

Politicians should have good communication skills, not just read speeches.

He is extremely intelligent, but doesn't have the right communication skills for the job.

busker

 

My daughter has her own busker act with a friend, and she also teaches trampoline at the circus school.

 

A 'busker act' is entertainment that usually involves singing or dancing in an informal setting⁷. Notice the following:

 

There was a really good busker act outside the restaurant.

The cinema does not allow busker acts in front of its doors.

synchronized

 

She came in 7th for synchronized trampoline.

 

If things are 'synchronized' they happen at the same time.  In this case, performing the same actions as another person on the trampoline. Notice the following:

 

There is a group that does synchronized dances in the middle of the game.

She was part of a synchronized swimming group in high school.

1 norm   

n.标准，规范，平均数

参考例句：

• Of his age,the child is above the norm in arithmetic.在他那个年龄，这个孩子的算术能力是超过标准的。
• These events were aberrations from the norm.这些事件不合常规。

2 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

3 distribution   

n.运送；分发，分配；分布，分布状态

参考例句：

• The conference discussed the fair distribution of income and wealth.会议讨论了公平分配收入和财富的问题。
• Unequal distribution of wealth may cause division in society.财富分配不均会引起社会分裂。

4 synchronized   

同步的

参考例句：

• Do not use the synchronized keyword in Managed Objects. 不要在管理对象上使用synchronized关键字。 来自互联网
• The timing of the gun was precisely synchronized with the turning of the plane's propeller. 风门的调速与飞机螺旋桨的转动精确同步。 来自辞典例句

5 transfers   

n. 接送服务

参考例句：

• Some proposals to make transfers automatic have been made. 人们已提出了一些自动转让的方案。
• Embryo transfers speed up the process of building a high-quality herd. 胚胎转移加速了培养优质牛群的步伐。

6 interaction   

n.交流；相互作用，相互影响，合作

参考例句：

• The interaction of the two groups produced many good ideas.两个组的相互交流产生了许多好主意。
• Price is determined through the interaction of demand and supply.价格在供需的相互作用中形成。

7 setting   

n.背景

参考例句：

• The play has its setting in Vienna.该剧以维也纳为背景。
• Where and when a story takes place is called the setting.故事发生的地点和时间称为故事背景。