时差N小时 打游戏还是做正事?

 

Mike: Hey, Amanda, have you heard of the new online computer game? It's called Skullfire and it's all the rage¹ right now!

迈克：嘿，阿曼达，你知道最新的在线电脑游戏吗？它叫作Skullfire，是当下最火爆的游戏！

Amanda: Actually, I have heard of it. Isn't that the game where you go around and just shoot people? It seems like a pretty pointless game to me.

阿曼达：其实，我听说过它。是不是那个在里面拎着枪朝人四下射击的游戏？对我而言，它没什么意义。

Mike: You're kidding, right? I can spend hours playing that game. Besides, what better use is the Internet?

迈克：你开玩笑吧？我可以花几个小时玩这个游戏。你有什么办法更好地利用互联网？

Amanda: Um, let's see, off the top of my head there's checking your e-mail and looking up current news headlines. You could even do some online shopping. The Internet is like a virtual² library, where you can get your hands on almost any kind of information you're looking for. How can you be so ignorant³?

阿曼达：嗯，我的第一选择就是上网查看e-mail或阅读当前的头条新闻。你还可以网上购物。此外，互联网就像是一个虚拟图书馆，在那里你可以得到几乎任何你想要的信息。你怎么这么孤陋寡闻？

Mike: Since you're such an expert, what sort of things do you suggest I look up?

迈克：既然你如此专业，给我点建议，看些什么比较好？

Amanda: Well, a considerable⁴ problem right now is a lack of natural resources and a rise in gas prices. Why don't you go online and try to understand the situation better? You should really try to keep up with current events.

阿曼达：自然资源匮乏和天然气价格上升是当前的一个热点问题。你为什么不去上网更好地了解一下这个情况？你确实应该一下关心时事。

Mike: I keep up with current events! I read the newspaper every day!

迈克：我关心时事了！我每天都看报纸！

Amanda: Does it still count if you only read the comics and skim⁵ the articles?

阿曼达：但是，像你那样只看漫画或粗枝大叶地浏览文章，能起什么作用呢？

Mike: It's not my fault that current events are boring.

迈克：那不是我的错，时事文章确实很无聊。

1 rage   

vi.(烈火)熊熊燃烧；发怒；怒斥；季风

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• Haines got into a rage.海恩斯勃然大怒。

2 virtual   

adj.实质上的，事实上的，实际上的

参考例句：

• This reply is a virtual acceptance of our offer.这一回答实质上是接受了我们的建议。
• At that time the East India Company was the virtual ruler of Bengal.那时东印度公司是孟加拉的实际统治者。

3 ignorant   

adj.无知的，没有学问的，愚昧的，不知道的

参考例句：

• They are unbelievably ignorant.他们无知到令人难以置信的地步。
• He's not stupid,merely ignorant.他并不愚蠢，只是无知。

4 considerable   

a.相当多的，相当大的，相当重要的

参考例句：

• He saved the child at considerable risk to himself. 他冒着极大的生命危险救了那个孩子。
• The flood resulted in a considerable reduction in production. 这次水灾造成相当大的减产。

5 skim   

vt.撇(去)；掠过；浏览，略读；vi.浏览

参考例句：

• It took me an hour to skim the book.我费了一个小时把这本书草草地读了一遍。
• He tried to skim off the best players from the local school teams.他试图从当地学校的球队中选拔出一批最好的球员。