王强口语 第一册 Short conversation 001

　　Lesson One
Helping¹ the Homeless
Girl 1: Hi.
Whittaker: Hi, thanks for coming.
Girl 2: Hey, what's this all about, Whit²?
Girl 3: I've been on pins and needles ever since church.
Whittaker: Ooo-hoo, well, I figured a little suspense³ might increase your interest. Whet⁴ your appetite, so to speak.
Girl 1: We're having lunch?
Whittaker: No, and there are a lot of other people who won't today either.
Girl: 2: Huh?
Whittaker: You know how the pastor's been preaching about love and compassion⁵ over the last couple of Sundays?
Girls: Yeah?
Whittaker: Well, the elders decided⁶ that we need to extend that compassion to the homeless in our area. You know - those who don't have food or shelter. Now they've come up with an idea to make next week 'Compassion Week' - seven days of programs to help those in need. I figured the young people of the church should, well, have a chance to help out too.
Girl 3: Help out?
Whittaker: Well, because of your particular talents, I thought the three of you might come up with an idea to help raise money, clothing or food for the homeless. What do you think?
Girl 1: Why not? I'll help.
Girl 2: Yeah, me too.
Girl 3: Me three.
Whittaker: Good. I knew I could count on13 you. Long Conversations

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 whit   

n.一点，丝毫

参考例句：

• There's not a whit of truth in the statement.这声明里没有丝毫的真实性。
• He did not seem a whit concerned.他看来毫不在乎。

3 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

4 whet   

v.磨快，刺激

参考例句：

• I've read only the fIrst few pages of her book,but It was enough to whet my appetIte.她的书我只看了开头几页，但已经引起我极大的兴趣。
• A really good catalogue can also whet customers' appetites for merchandise.一份真正好的商品目录也可以激起顾客购买的欲望。

5 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。