Lesson 40 Food and talk进餐与交谈
Was Mrs. Rumbold a good companion at dinner?
Last week at a dinner party, the hostess asked me to sit next to Mrs. Rumbold. Mrs. Rumbold was a large, unsmiling lady in a tight black dress. She did not even look up when I took my seat beside her. Her eyes were fixed on her plate and in a short time, she was busy eating. I tried to make conversation.
'A new play is coming to "The Globe" soon,' I said. 'Will you be seeing it?'
'No,' she answered.
'Will you be spending your holidays abroad this year?' I asked.
'No,' she answered.
'Will you be staying in England?' I asked.
'No,' she answered.
In despair, I asked her whether she was enjoying her dinner.
'Young man,' she answered, 'if you ate more and talked less, we would both enjoy our dinner!" 参考译文
在上星期的一次宴会上，女主人安排我坐在兰伯尔德夫人的身旁。兰伯尔德夫人是一位身材高大、表情严肃的女人，穿一件紧身的黑衣服。当我在她身旁坐下来的时候，她甚至连头都没有抬一下。她的眼睛盯着自己的盘子，不一会儿就忙着吃起来了。我试图找个话题和她聊聊。
“一出新剧要来‘环球剧场’上演了，”我说，“您去看吗？”
“不，”她回答。
“您今年去国外度假吗？”我又问。
“不，”她回答。
“您就呆在英国吗？”我问。
“不，”她回答。
失望之中我问她饭是否吃得满意。
“年轻人，”她回答说，“如果你多吃点，少说点，我们两个都会吃得好的！”
—、单词讲解New words and expressions
host
1)n．待客的主人
hostess 女主人
the host nation 东道国，主办国
例: China is the host nation of the 2008 0lympic Games.
中国时2008奥运会的主办国。
Who will play host to the next Olympic Games? 谁将举办下一届奥运会。
2) n．在…上作主人，招待
例: The Parwells are such good hosts.
巴维尔一家非常热情好客。
He acted as host to his father's friends.
他作为主人招待他父亲的朋友。
3) n．旅店的老板，酒店老板
landlord男老板；landlady 女老板
waiter服务员waitress
host 男主人hostess 女主人
prince ['prins] 王子princess [prin'ses]公主actor 男演员actress女演员
hospitality n．好客：殷勤待客
hostile adj．敌意的，不友好的
hostility n．敌意，敌对
unsmiling adj．不笑的，严肃的
un:否定前缀
unhappy 不快乐的
unlucky 不走运的
uncomfortable 不舒服的
unsure 无把握的
unsparing 不吝惜的，不宽恕的
unsteady 不坚固的；不稳的
untrue 不真实的
unused 不习惯的
smiling adj．微笑的
laughing faces 笑脸
be no laughing matter 不是开玩笑的事
a smiling policeman 一个微笑的警察
a smiling face 一个笑脸
smile
1) n．微笑，笑容，喜色
force a smile 强颜欢笑
wear a smile 面带笑容
例：She was all smiles．她满面笑容。
a bewitching smile 令人销魂的一笑bewitching adj．使人心醉的，使人着迷的
a charming smile 妩媚的笑
a grim smile狞笑
grim[grim] adj．讨厌的，糟糕的；严厉的；严酷的
bitter adj．充满仇恨的：令人不快的：有苦味的
2) v．微笑
smile at sb 对…微笑
smile on sb or sth 对…表示赞成或鼓励
例：She smiled at his threats．她对他的威胁一笑置之。
Fortune smiled on us. 我们交了好运.
smile one's tears away 破涕为笑
laugh笑，发笑（笑出声）
sneer 嗤笑，嘲笑，讥笑（流露出高人一等，轻蔑的表情）
grin[grin] 咧着嘴笑，呲着牙笑
ridicule ['ridikju:l] 嘲弄，嘲笑laugh at
tight
1) adj.紧的、不松的(反义词loose)
a tight black dress 黑色的紧身衣
a tight knot 系的很紧的结
These shoes are too tight for me．这些鞋对我来说大太挤挤脚了
His fingers were tight on my arm．他紧紧抓住我的手臂。
a tight schedule 紧凑的日程安排
a tight match 势均力敌的比赛
或a close match
2)adj.小气的，憋闷的
A miser is tight with his money.
一个小气鬼对钱是很吝音的。
Her throat was tight with fear．她因恐怖而感到喉咙堵塞。
tighten['taitn]v．使变紧，使绷紧
反义词loosen
tighten up a screw 旋紧螺丝钉
tighten one' s belt省吃俭用
例: The police are tightening up on safety for the Queen' s visit. 警方为了女皇的来访正在加强安全保护措施。
fasten 使固定
blacken 使变黑
whiten 使变白
tighten V．使变紧是绷紧
tie V．系，扎，与…打成平局
tie fast 系紧
fix
1)V （使）固定，安装，修理，整理
例: The date is not completely fixed.
日期还没有完全确定
