Lesson 2

How to Improve Your English

如何提高你的英文

Dialogue 实用会话

Mack is talking to his friend Don.

M: Hi, Don! How are you doing in your English class?

D: Not so well, I'm afraid.

M: What's the problem?

D: I'm not improving. Tell me, how come your English is so good?

M: Well, uh... I have an American girlfriend.

D: Aha! That's it. Now I know what to do. (He runs off.)

M: Hey, come back! I was just kidding!

梅克正在和他的朋友唐聊天。

梅克：嗨，唐!你英文课上得怎么样?

唐 ：恐怕不怎么理想。

梅克：出了什么问题?

唐 ：我一直没进步。告诉我，为什么你的英文那么棒?

梅克：呃，这个吗…我交了个美国女朋友。

唐 ：啊哈!就是这样。现在我知道该怎么做了!(他跑走了。)

梅克：嘿，回来啊!我只是在开玩笑!

Key Points 重点提示

1. improve vt. & vi. (使)进步;改善

improvement n. 进步

make (a lot of/little) improvement in...

在…上有(很大/些许的)进步

例：Listening to English teaching radio programs can help you improve your English.

听英语教学广播节目能够帮助你提高英文。

If you don't listen to your tennis coach, how can you improve?

如果你不听教练的话，又怎么能进步呢?

I hear that your son is making a lot of improvement in his studies.

我听说你儿子的学业进步很多。

2. hi int. 嗨(打招呼声)

hey int. 嘿!喂!嗳!(表惊喜、询问、引人注意等的喊声)

例：A: Hi, Tom! How is it going?

B: Fine, thank you.

嗨，汤姆!最近怎么样?

很好，谢谢。

Hey! You dropped your book.

嘿!你的书掉了。

3. How are you doing in...?

你在…做得怎么样?

例： How are you doing in your new job?

你的新工作做得怎么样?

4. Not so well, I'm afraid. = I'm afraid (that) I'm not doing so well in my English class.

恐怕我英文课表现得不怎么理想。

此处的I'm afraid并不表示“害怕”，而是一种客气的用法，即等于"I think + (that)从句"的用法。使用"I'm afraid + (that)从句"比使用"I think + (that)从句"在语气上较为婉转客气。

例：I'm afraid (that) I can't help you this time.

恐怕这次我没办法帮你了。

5. How come + 主语 + 动词…?= Why + 倒装句? 为什么?

使用"How come...?"时，其后不采倒装句构，用直述句即可;而使用"Why...?"时，则其后的句子要倒装。

例：How come didn't you show up at the party? (×)

How come you didn't show up at the party? (√)

= Why didn't you show up at the party?

你为什么没去那场派对?

How come do you eat so much? (×)

How come you eat so much? (√)

= Why do you eat so much?

你为什么吃那么多?

6. Kid vt. & vi. (口语)(与…)开玩笑 & n. 小孩

例：A: I'm going to quit my job today.

B: Are you kidding?

我今天要辞职。

你在开玩笑吧?

John was only kidding you when he said he's gay.

约翰跟你说他是同性恋只是在开你玩笑。

gay a. (男)同性恋的

That kid over there looks just like my son.

那边那个小孩和我儿子长得好像。

请选出下列各句中正确的一项：

A: Hi, Jack. How are you 1 in your job?

B: Not so well, I'm 2 .

A: What's the 3 ?

B: The boss says business is not 4 .

A: So?

B: So, he's not happy.

A: Tell him Rome wasn't 5 in a day.

1. (A) making (B) doing (C) working (D) kidding

2. (A) sorry (B) scared (C) afraid (D) bad

3. (A) question (B) problem (C) cost (D) mistake

4. (A) progress (B) improving (C) fun (D) patient

5. (A) built (B) build (C) made (D) done

解答：1. (B) 2. (C) 3. (B) 4. (B) 5. (A)