【英语趣味课堂】凯蒂亚的周末-Katia's Weekend

 Alex: Hey Katia. What about you? Tell me about your weekends. What do you usually do on the weekends?

Katia: Well, every weekend I think it's different but usually in the mornings I wake up and I'm actually very relaxed because I know I don't have a schedule¹ so usually I have coffee, breakfast and then I plan my weekend. So sometimes I do things only by myself but sometimes I go with friends. I like going to restaurants, I like being² in nature, I like biking, so there are many things but I think every weekend is different. It depends on how I'm feeling that day.

 

Alex: Nice. You were saying you plan your weekends, like you can plan them in advance³ or something that just as it goes, kind of like do things. How does it work?

 

Katia: Well usually in the mornings I check what I feel like doing and then that's what I plan. So for example, if I wake up and I feel like going, it's a nice day, I like to go to a park and then to the beach, then that's my plan so that's how I plan it. It's right on the moment. So it's somewhat⁴ of a plan.

 

Alex: You look like you enjoy going shopping a lot. Do you go shopping sometimes on the weekends?

 

Katia: Not at all. I don't like shopping at all. I wish I would enjoy it but I just, all the time it's the same. You see the same things, the same people, so it's the same all the time so it's not so exciting for me. I really don't enjoy it. Only I go if I have to.

 

Alex: Do you have your friends over or do you usually go visit friends or family during the weekends?

 

Katia: Sometimes I have my friends over. Usually have a small dinner, nice conversations and yeah just a quiet evening with my friends. And yes, and Sundays are family days so I reserve⁵ Sundays for my family.

 

Alex: Do you travel or do you go places around your city?

 

Katia: If I have the opportunity⁶ definitely⁷. I think it's always nice to go out from your everyday⁸ routine⁹. So if I can, of course I love to travel.

 

Alex: That's interesting.

 

重点词汇：

 

Learn Vocabulary¹⁰ from the lesson

by myself

 

Sometimes I do things only by myself, but sometimes I go with friends.

 

When you go somewhere 'by yourself,' it means¹¹ that nobody goes with you. Notice the following:

 

She prefers to learn things by herself, rather than have somebody tell her.

I don't really like going to restaurants by myself, but I do like going to movies alone.

in advance

 

I try to plan my weekend in advance.

 

If you plan something 'in advance,' you make plans for something in the future before it happens. Notice the following:

 

I would have been more comfortable if I had known¹² in advance that she was going to be here.

If you want to have a place to sit, you need to call in advance.

somewhat

 

It's somewhat of a plan.

 

If you have 'somewhat' of a plan, it means you do not have a complete plan, but you have part of a plan. Usually, 'somewhat' means something similar to 'kind of.' Notice the following:

 

It is still somewhat early, so I'm not really surprised there aren't more people here.

I am somewhat ready to go.  I just need about 5 more minutes.

a quiet evening

 

Usually I have a small dinner and a quiet evening with my friends.

 

When you have a 'quiet evening,' it means that you aren't doing anything special, but are just going to relax somewhere. Notice the following:

 

I usually try to have one quiet evening at home every weekend.

You sound like you just need a quite evening at home.

reserve

 

Sundays are family days, so I reserve Sundays for my family.

 

When you 'reserve' something, you save it for a special time or special person. Notice the following:

 

Can I reserve a table for four people for next Friday.

We need to reserve some time to get together before you leave.

 

1 schedule   

n.时间表，进度表，计划表，议事日程；vt.预定，编制目录，为某事安排时间

参考例句：

• The schedule of tomorrow is Paris.明天的日程是巴黎。
• This task is behind schedule.该任务落后于进度。

2 being   

n.存在；生存；生命存在，生命，人， 本质；art.在，有，是

参考例句：

• Can you explain to me the purpose of being?你能对我解释一下存在的目的吗？
• What is the purpose of our being?我们生存的目的是什么？

3 advance   

n.前进，预付 vi.前进，进展 vt.促进，推进

参考例句：

• The booking office sells tickets 3 days in advance.售票处预售3天的票。
• She walked 2 yards in advance of her husband.她走在她丈夫前面两码远的地方。

4 somewhat   

pron.一些，某物；adv.多少，几分

参考例句：

• The cake we made was somewhat of a failure.我们做的蛋糕不大成功。
• The two office buildings are somewhat alike in appearance.这两座办公楼在外形上有点相似。

5 reserve   

n.储备（物），储藏量，预备队；vt.储备，保存，保留，预定，预约

参考例句：

• We'll reserve the ticket for you till tomorrow noon.票为您保留到明天中午。
• This area was once a wildlife reserve.该地区曾是一个野生动物保护区。

6 opportunity   

n.机会；时机

参考例句：

• It's a pity that Mike passed up such a good opportunity.迈克错过了这么好的一个机会,真是可惜。
• I love the country,but I have less opportunity of seeing it.我热爱乡村,但我几乎没有机会见到它。

7 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

8 everyday   

adj.每天的，日常的，平常的

参考例句：

• Sweeping the floor is his everyday work.扫地是他的日常工作。
• He practices speaking English everyday.他每天练习说英语。

9 routine   

n.例行公事，惯例；adj.例行的，常规的

参考例句：

• It is everyday routine.这是每天的例行公事。
• She found the hospital routine slightly dull.她感到医院的工作有点枯燥乏味。

10 vocabulary   

n.词汇，词汇量；词汇表

参考例句：

• How can I widen my vocabulary?怎样扩大自己的词汇量？
• You can find all the new words in the vocabulary of the text.你能在课文的词汇表中找到所有的生词。

11 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

12 known   

adj.大家知道的；知名的，已知的

参考例句：

• He is a known artist.他是一个知名的艺术家。
• He is known both as a painter and as a statesman.他是知名的画家及政治家。