流行美语 (Popular American) 260

Larry和李华去朋友Frank¹家参加新年派对。李华今天要学两个常用语，dead和happening.

LL: Gosh, there is hardly any one here, Li Hua. This party is really dead!

LH: Larry. 这里每个人明明都活得好好的，你为什么说the party is dead呢？

LL: Well, because there aren't very many people here, there isn't much conversation and laughter². When a party isn't lively, we say it is DEAD. And this party is dead.

LH: 噢，你是说这个party不热闹，了无生气啊。现在时间还早，也许一会儿就热闹起来了。

LL: I hope so. Speaking of places being³ dead today, I went into work for a little bit to get some things from my desk. There was no one in the office - it was completely⁴ dead.

LH: 那当然了，今天是除夕，没有什么人会去办公室的。

LL: I guess the college campus⁵ must be dead now, too.

LH: 不光是今天，期终考试结束后，学生们都回家过年了。The campus has been dead for two weeks.

LL: So, Li Hua, do you mind being on campus when it is dead like it is now?

LH: 确实有点孤单，不过人少也有人少的好处。比方说，图书馆里就特别安静。

LL: Oh, I bet⁶ the library is completely dead! I mean, who would be studying over the break?

LH: 我啊！不过你说的没错，校园里确实没有什么人，可是停车特别方便。

LL: I know what you mean about the convenience⁷. This year I made sure to do my Christmas shopping at a time when the shopping mall was really dead.

LH: 圣诞购物季节，商店里到处都是人。I cannot imagine a mall being dead during the holidays.

LL: I went early on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Since most people work during those times, it was pretty dead at the mall.

LH: 这倒是个好办法，可以避开购物的人群，不用跟别人挤来挤去的。

LL: That's right, Li Hua. Hey, look, the party isn't so dead any more! Some more people have shown up, and the music has started.

LH: The party isn't dead at all. 你想去跳舞吗？

******

LL: Sure, I'd love to dance, Li Hua. Now the party is really happening!

LH: 如果我没猜错得话，Happening是dead的反义词吧？

LL: You are right, Li Hua. It is the opposite of a "dead" party. A happening party is one that is lively and exciting - and where lots of different things are happening.

LH: 是啊，这个party好像一下子就热闹起来了。

LL: Frank has done a good job. It is because of parties like this that I love the holidays. Christmas and New Year's are such happening times of the year.

LH: 就是啊，新年圣诞确实热闹，大家都跟亲朋好友在一起，不过我也很喜欢春天和夏天。

LL: Why do you like spring and summer, Li Hua?

LH: 放春假和暑假我可以到外地去，visit some more happening places.

LL: I can't imagine a more happening place than New York City. I mean here in New York there is always something going on!

LH: 纽约确实很热闹，可是美国还有其他热闹的地方啊。

LL: I suppose that is true. I've heard San Francisco has a very happening art scene.

LH: 我就很想去旧金山看看。还有，我还特别喜欢美国的布鲁斯音乐，所以很想到孟菲斯去。

LL: I don't know, Li Hua. I visited Memphis once, and I didn't think it was a very happening place. But then again, I am not a fan⁸ of Blues⁹ music.

LH: 猫王的雅园就在孟菲斯。我一直想去看看。我想，他当年在雅园一定开过很多热闹的派对。

LL: Elvis was famous for his wild parties. Look, the party is really happening now.

LH: Come on, Larry. 我们去跳舞吧，这么热闹的party, 我可不想就站在这儿。Let's go have some fun!

LL: Okay, Li Hua! Now this is my idea of a happening time!

今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是dead, 指了无生气。另一个是happening,指非常热闹。
 

1 frank   

adj.坦白的，直率的，真诚的

参考例句：

• A frank discussion can help to clear the air.坦率的谈论有助于消除隔阂。
• She is frank and outgoing.她很爽朗。

2 laughter   

n.笑，笑声

参考例句：

• I don't know how my story caused so much laughter.我不知我的故事怎么引起如此大笑。
• The audience gave way to uncontrollable bursts of laughter.听众忍不住发出一阵阵笑声。

3 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？

4 completely   

adv.完全地，十分地，全然

参考例句：

• She never completely gave up hope.她从不完全放弃希望。
• I feel completely in the dark on this question.这件事使我感到茫然。

5 campus   

n.大学校园，学校校园；大学　

参考例句：

• They spoke of the old days on the campus.他们谈起昔日的校园生活。
• The campus covers an area of twenty square kilometres.这个校园占地二十平方公里。

6 bet   

v.打赌，以(与)...打赌；n.赌注，赌金；打赌

参考例句：

• I bet you can't do this puzzle.我敢说，你解决不了这个难题。
• I offered to bet with him.我提出与他打赌。

7 convenience   

n.便利，方便，有益，有用的，方便的用具、机械、安排等

参考例句：

• Come by to pick me up at your convenience.在你方便的时候来接我。
• Please reply at your earliest convenience.请在您方便时尽早答复。

8 fan   

n.风扇，迷，狂热者；v.煽，煽动，刺激

参考例句：

• Are you a football fan?你是足球迷吗？
• Jack is a baseball fan.杰克是个棒球迷。

9 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。