洪恩环境英语第八册练习 Lesson 2

　　This is Lesson Two.
Thomas Jones's mother is describing her son to a reporter.
Listen to the interview.
So tell me,Mrs.Jones,how long has Thomas been a writer?
Since he was a little boy.He wrote cute stories about animals.
He was a good writer then too.
He's a terrific¹ writer now,that's for sure.
His articles for Ladies'Quarterly are really great.
Thell me,when did he start writing professionally?
Let me see..I think it was in 1985.
Yes,of course,when he sold his first collection of short stories,
Mysteries of Stamford.Yes,He's been a professional writer for a long time now.
since 1985.Most of the time he's worked for himself.
You know...short stories,newspaper articles.
But then for a time there was no money in this,
so in 1990 he took a nine-five job.
He was a writer at an advertising² agency³-Cross and Rubicon.
I think it was-for one year.
That was before he took the job at Ladies'Quarterly,wasn't t?
Yes.Thomas worked at Cross and Rubicon from September 1990 to August 1991.
He never really like that job.
Maybe he just didn't like being in the world of big business..you know..
writing to sell things to peopl who don't want to buy them.
Kind of cheap,if you know what I mean.Thomas is very sensitive.
Anyway,he now works⁴ for that magazine...What's its name?
Ladies'Quarterly.
Yes.That's it.Ladies'Quarterly.At the present time,
Thomas writes for ladies'Quarterly.
Good.Now listen and repeat.
Thomas Jones is a writer.
He's a terrific writer.
he's been a writer.
He's been a writer since 1985.
he was a writer
he was a writer at an advertising agency
He was a writer at an advertising agency in 1990.
Now I say,"Since 1985."And you say...
He's been a writer since 1985.
I say,"In 1990."And you say...
He's been a writer since 1990.
I say,"Now."And you say...
He's a writer now.
Ready?Let's begin.Since 1985.
He's been a writer since 1985.
In 1990.    He was a writer in 1990.
Now.   He's been a writer now.
since he was a little boy.
He's been a writer since he was a little boy.
From 1990 to 1991.
He was a writer from 1990 to 1991.
Before he took a job at Cross and Rubicon.
He was a writer before he took a job at Cross and Rubicon.
At the present time.
He's a writer at the present time.
For a long time now.
He's been a writer for a long time now.
Good.Steven has been doing a lot of work.Listen to what the says.
Since Maria left,I've been so busy I can't think.
I've been fixing the house.I've been buying baby furniture.
And I've been producing the shows.
Poor Steven.Let's listen to some more.
What else?Oh.At night I've been putting up wallpaper in the baby's room.
It's still a mess.How do parents do it all?
Imagine haveing three or four children!It's too much.
Maybe Steven's been working too hard.
There's been the cost of all this too.Poor Steven.
And the money!Anne and I have been spending too much money.
Babies are expensive.
Well,Steven been having a difficult time,hasn't he?
Now Listen and repeat.
I've been.
I've been fixing the house.
I've been
I've been buying baby furniture.
I've been producing the shows.
I've been putting up wallpaper.
I've been spending too much money.
OK.You hear....
Have you fixed⁵ the house yet?
And you say...
Yes.I've been fixing the house every day.
You hear...
Have you bought at any furniture for the baby yet?
And you say..
Yes.I've been buying baby furniture every day.
OK?Let's start.
Have you fixed the house yet?
Yes.I've been fixing the house every day.
Have you bought any baby furniture yet?
Yes.I've been buying baby furniture every day.
How about the baby's room?
Have you put up walpaper yet?
Yes.I've been putting up wallpaper every day.
And your wife?Have you spent time with your wife?
Yes.I've been spending time with my wife every day.
Well,what about your work at WEFL?Have you producing shows?
Yes.I've been producing shows every day.
And business?Has WEFL made any money?
Yes.WEFL's been making money every day.
How about me?Have you thought of me lately?
Yes.I've been thinking of you every day.
Sam Finch⁶ called Steven from Aspen.
Let's listen to some of their conversation.
Listen carefully for the name of a hotel.
It's the hotel where Sam wants to have dinner with Maria.
I've been busy.I've been making a business deal in California.
I'm in Aspen right now.
Yeah.I understand you're skiing with Maria.
We've made plans to meet this afternoon,
but I can't make it,and I have't been able to find Maria.
She moved to a different hotel.
If she calls,
tell her I'll meet her for dinner at the Grand Hotel at eight o'clock.
OK.The Grand Hotel.      How's Anne?
Anne's find.She hasn't been sleeping well lately.
But the doctors say she's doing fine.
That's good.How've you been...Dad?
Oh,I've been working hard lately.
Well,what's the name of the hotel where Sam wants to have dinner with Maria?
The Grand Hotel.Now listen and repeat.
She hasn't been sleeping
She hasn't been sleeping well lately.
Now you hear...
How's Anne?Has she been sleeping well?
And you say...
No.She hasn't been sleeping well lately.
You hear..
And Kathy?How has she been?Has she been feeling well?
And you say..
No.She hasn't been feeling well lately.
Ready?Let's begin.
How's Anne?Has she been sleeping well?
No.She hasn't been sleeping well lately.
And Kathy?How has she been?Has she hasn't been feeling well?
No.She hasn't been feeling well lately.
What about Jake and Mike?Have they been playing any basketball?
No.They haven't been playing any basketball lately.
And Maria?Have she been working hard?
No.She hasn't been working hard lately.
How about you?Have you been making any money?
No.I haven't been making any money lately.
Have you been doing well?
No.I haven't been doing well lately.
what about your English?Have you been studying a lot?
No.I haven't been studying Engllish a lot lately.
That's all for now.End of Lesson Two.

1 terrific   

adj.可怕的，极好的，非常的

参考例句：

• The game was terrific.那场比赛棒极了。
• Darren drove at a terrific speed.达伦以惊人的速度驾车。

2 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

3 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

4 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。

5 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

6 finch   

n.雀科鸣禽(如燕雀，金丝雀等)

参考例句：

• This behaviour is commonly observed among several species of finch.这种行为常常可以在几种雀科鸣禽中看到。
• In Australia,it is predominantly called the Gouldian Finch.在澳大利亚，它主要还是被称之为胡锦雀。