| Michael讲英文，李华是个中国学生，能讲英文，但是她还在不断地跟Michael学。大家可千万不要认为这两个在纽约的大学生老是到外面去玩。其实他们学习都很努力，现在他们就要在李华的宿舍里一起念书，准备考试。李华今天会学到两个常用语，一个是：what's up，这是一个用来打招呼的通俗说法。 另一个是： no brainer，意思是某件事很容易， 不用动脑子就能做成。 L: 嗨，Michael，快进来。 M: Hey, Li Hua, what's up? L: 什么？ M: What's up? What are you doing? L: What's up? 我倒是听人这么说过，可是我还没有弄清楚这句话到 底是什么意思，我应该怎么回答？ M: What's up is really a common greeting. L: 噢，what's up就是一般打招呼，不是指我的头上是什么呐？ M: No. It's like saying, "What is happening in your life?" L: 我知道了，what's up就是中文里我们说的：怎么样？ M: Well, it's really only spoken language. L: 要是我去看一个我已经有两个月没见的朋友，我在见到她的时 候我可以说What's up，对吗? M: Yes, definitely! L: 那别人对我说what's up？, 我又该怎么回答呢？ M: You can explain what's going on in your life, or you could say something as simple as: Not much. L: 要是你问我，What's up? 我就可以说： Oh， not much, just getting ready for our test. 意思就是：噢，没什么，就是在准备我们的考试。 M: That's good usage. You can really say anything. L: 对，你怎么回答都行。 好吧，我们该学习了。 我真是希望这次考试赶快过去。 M: You stress too much, this test will be a no brainer. L: 你是说我压力太大，没有脑子？ 你知道我脑子很灵的呀！ M: Smarter than me, that's for sure. What I mean is that this test will be really easy. No brainer means something that reqires little or no thought. L: 好，你承认我比你聪明。不过，我还得跟你学英文。你说，no brainer就是某件事很容易，不需要动脑子就行呀？ M: Yeah. L: 我知道了。象我哥哥那天去买车，运气好，碰到一个公司半价出售。 在这种情况下决定买不买，不就是no brainer吗？ M: That's right. L: 那次那个漂亮女孩邀你出去玩，你接受不接受邀请不也是很容易决定的吗？ M: Yeah, that was a really easy decision, could be called no brainer. Of course I would go out with her. L: 对，决定是容易做，但是你到头来还是不喜欢她。 M: That's true. When the University gave you a scholarship to come study here in New York, it was a no brainer for you too. L: 当然啦，大学给我奖学金来纽约念书，作这种决定还要动脑筋 啊？更何况我学习成绩那么好。 M: So then why are you bothering to study? L: 这还用问？ 再聪明的人也得念书嘛！ M: On, ok, let's get back to work. 李华今天学到了两个常用语，一个是：what's up？ 这是一个用来打招呼的通俗说法； 另一个是：no brainer，意思是某件事很容易，不用动脑子就能做成。 |
