第十四单元 Campus life
一、经典句型
1. If you expect to enter the university, you should apply now.
2. Bob entered the university at the age of seventeen.
3. He was admitted to Harvard University.
4. Do you live off campus?
5. I major in music. And you?
6. How many mandatory courses should you take?
7. Where's the administration building?
8. During your first year of college, did you make straight A's?
9. Isn't John graduating from college in June?
10. I'd better start cramming.
11. The library gets really crowded right about now.
12. I wonder if I have enough credits.
13. What was your GPA last semester?
14. I'm a graduate of Yale University. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree.
15. This is my first-year of college. I'm a freshman. I'm a first-year student
16. My uncle is a high school principal.
17. I went to grade school in Shanghai, and high school in Chicago.
18. My brother is a member of the faculty. He teaches economics.
19. John has extracurricular activities. He's on the football team.
20. In this college, students train to become diplomats.
If you expect to enter the university, you should apply now.
apply for 这个短语的意思是“申请” ,通常是要办理一定手续的正式申请。比如说,我们经常会用到
apply for a job
apply for a loan (贷款)
apply for a passport(护照)
apply for a visa(签证)等等
如果要申请大学的入学资格,就可以说apply for the admission of the university / college.
If you expect to …,you should …“如果你期望…,你就应该…”,这个句型不但可以用在校园英语的这个场景里面,还可以用在其他很多的生活场景中。比如在英语 900 句的课堂上,Will 老师就经常让学生来造这样一个句子:“如果你期望提高你的口语,你就应该张开口,反复地练习。”
'If you expect to improve your spoken English, you should open your mouth, and practice again and again.' 在这个WTO和奥运时代, 我们常说的一句话就是 'If you expect to find a good job, you should learn English well.'
Bob entered the university at the age of seventeen.
enter 这个词的意思是“进入” ,我们可以说 enter the school(入学), enter the government(进入政府工作), and enter the company(加入某家公司)。
在这个句子中,还有另外一个非常有用的短语,就是at the age of …, 意思是“在…岁的时候”。
如果我们要说“我 6岁入学”,
就可以讲“I entered school at the age of six”.
“Alex 在 25 岁的时候加入了惠普公司。 ”
“Alex entered HP at the age of 25.”
“Jane在 21 岁时成为了中央情报局的一员。 ”
'Jane entered the CIA at the age of 21.'
He was admitted to Harvard University.
admit 是“招收,接纳”的意思,其名词是 admission,表示“入学资格”,这句话的意思就是“他被哈佛大学录取了。 ”大多数中国学生要想到美国接受研究生教育,都得通过 GRE,TOELF,GMAT,LAST等考试,然后向美国大学申请奖学金或助教职位。我们通常说的得到美国大学的 offer,就是指 admission + scholarship, 即被录取,而且争取到了奖学金。如果你的朋友Joe告诉你 'I've got an offer from Yale University’, 那么你就应该立马给他一个大大的 hug,然后大声说, 'Congratulations!'
Do you live off the campus?
美国大学有的有固定的校园,有的则分散在城市的不同区域,有固定校园的大学一般都有宿舍供学生租用,也就是 dorm。宿舍租金一般不太贵,条件也能满足要求。大部分学校是让若干个学生share一套公寓, 所以我们中国学生熟悉的roommate这个词, 也就变成了flatmate.但也有一部分学生自己在学校外租房子住。off the campus 表示“校园之外”,那么“校园里面”怎么说呢?就是“on the campus”啦。在美国大学,如果你要问对方“你是住在学校里面吗?”只要在原句改动一个词就可以了,'Do you live on the campus? '
I major in music. What's your major?
major 是我们谈论到校园生活的一个常用词。
首先,如果它用作动词,major in意思是“以…为专业, 主修…”如果别人问自己 “What's you major?”或者是“What do you study at college?”你就可以说“I major in music/ computer science / math / physics/ chemistry etc.”
另外,major 还可以用作名词,意思是“某个专业的学生” ,比如Will 在大学的专业是英语, 他就会说,“I am an English major.” 同样, 你也可以说“I am a chemistry/ math/ psychology / sociology major.”
在北美的大学读书,除了有自己的专业课,也就是主修课之外,通常还会辅修其它的课程。
“辅修”在英文里面一般用 “minor in”这个短语。比如“Jenny在大学时主修英文,辅修法文。 ”就可以说成是“Jenny majors in English and minor in French.”
How many mandatory courses should you take?
Mandatory course 也可以说成 require course,就是我们常说的“必修课” 。那么“选修课” 怎么说呢? 是 elective courses. 在通过“必修课”或 “选修课”的考试后,都可以得到学分,也就是 credit.美国大学的选课制度比较灵活,只要能拿到要求的学分就能够毕业,而学习的时限则可以由学生自主决定,所以有一些学生选择了中途停学,在工作一段时间后再返回学校继续学习,有不少美国NBA球员就是这么做的。
Where's the administration building?
美国大学每个学期开学时,学生都需要到学校的 Administration Building 去查对你的必修课程和选择选修课程,并进行相应的登记。如果你是刚刚到美国大学求学的话,这句话可是非常管用的哟。对了,在问别人这个问题之前,可别忘了加上 Excuse me这个礼貌的短句。
During your first year of college, did you make straight A's?
美国大学的分数一般都用等级来表示, 英语就是 'grade', 而中国学校常用的百分制在英语中则是 score. 如果要申请美国大学的入学资格,中国学生一般都需要把 score 换算为 grade.我们说得到什么样的分数,一般是用 make这个动词, 例如, make good grades, make poor grades, make full mark. 具体谈到 grade, 分为 A, B, C,每个等级又有“加+”和“减-”,英语的“加”是 plus, “减”是 minus, A+和 B-分别是 'A plus'和 'B minus'. 如果你要问别人, “大学期间 你的成绩如何?”就可以说What kind of grades did you make in college?
Isn't John graduating from college in June?
Graduate from这个短语的意思是 “从某个学校毕业”,例如 graduate from high school / college. Graduation,或 commencement 都可以表示“毕业典礼”。美国大学的毕业典礼是非常隆重的 一件事情,毕业生都穿上典雅的学位服,进行即将告别学校的一系列活动。
需要注意的是 graduate作名词的用法,它表示“某个学校的毕业生” ,如 I am a graduate of Duke University.“我是杜克大学的毕业生。”而 graduate student 的意思则是研究生,如 I am a graduate student of Duke University“我是杜克大学的研究生。”
I'd better start cramming.
中国人说“临阵磨枪,不快也光” 。这个句型是平常学习不用功的学生在学期末经常挂在嘴边的,“我得赶快突击一阵子了。”I'd better do sth.这个句型用来表达“我最好去做某件事情”。 例如, 练了一个小时的口语已经口干舌燥了,你就对自己说 “I'd better have a break now.” 如果对自己的英语水平不满意,你会说, “I'dbetter work harder from now on.”
此外,我们还有一个非常实用的句型 You'd better do sth. “你最好去做某件事情。”这个句型可以用来给别人提出建议,如 You'd better get up early tomorrow. You'd better read this book carefully. You'd better leave this dangerous place right away. Cram这个词语原意是“添满,塞满”,如果是在校园里提到它,一般都是指“突击学习,应付考试”。
The library gets really crowded right about now.
中国的大学生都知道,每到学期末,学校图书馆都会被复习备考的学生挤爆。其实不少美国的学校也会出现这种情况。 我们常用 crowded这个词来表示某个地方因为人太多而变得拥挤不堪。
这个句型中,请大家注意两个词:get 这个词看似简单,但在口语中经常用到,这里的意思是“变得…”也就是 become的意思。但我们知道,在口语中,我们更偏好使用短的、容易读的词,所以 get 更加常用。
Real 这个词语在口语中作副词用,意思是“非常,极端地” ,它比 very, extremely更加口语化。举两个例句:The weather gets real cold during the winter of Beijing. “冬天北京的天气变得非常寒冷。” This year's spoken English exam gets real hard.“今年的口语考试变得非常难。 ”
I wonder if I have enough credits.
Credit 这个词的意思是“学分” ,它是可数名词,一个学分是 one credit, 两个学分就是 two credits. 在美国大学学习,如果想要毕业拿到学位,除了通过论文答辩之外,还必须拿够学校规定的学分。
这个句子看似简单,但里面却包含着一个非常经典的口语句型,I wonder if … ,即“我想知道某件事情是不是真的”。如果你对某件事情的判断不确定,想要别人告诉你,或者想知道对方是否愿意做这件事情,就可以用上这个句型。
比如,当你想和老外说话,但不知道他/她讲不讲英文,就可以问上这么一句,I wonder if you can speak English.
还有很多这样的例子,如 :
I wonder if I should buy the book called “Who Moved My Cheese? ”
I wonder if they can make it. I wonder if the library is open in the winter vacation.
I wonder if you are married.
如果你问Will 老师, “Will, I wonder if I can learn to speak good English in six months.” 他会告诉你说, “As long as you work hard and smart, you are sure to make it.”(“只要你苦干加巧干,就一定能做得到!”)
What was your GPA last semester?
中国学生都知道学期可以说成是 term, 但在北美的大学里,我们也常用 semester 这个词。此外,如果是一个学年,我们则说成是 school year. GPA对于准备到美国留学的同学来说,应该是耳熟能详的一个词了,它的全称 general point average, 即“平均成绩点数” 。在进行录取时,美国大学一般都比较重视申请人的 GPA,多数大学对申请人GPA都有最低规定,不够最低 GPA要求的不予考虑。
GPA计算方法为:各科成绩按等级乘以学分再以总学分除之。
以百分制为例,90 至100 为 A等=4.0,
80 至 89 为 B 等=3.0,
70 至 79 为 C 等=2.0,
60 至 69 为D 等=1.0,
60 分以下为 F 等=0 点。
例如某学生的五门功课的学分和成绩为:
A课程四个学分,成绩 92(A),应得点数为 4*4=16,
B 课程三个学分,成绩 80(B),应得点数为 3*3=9,
C 课程两个学分,成绩 98(A),应得点数为 2*4=8,
D 课程六个学分,成绩 70(A),应得点数为 6*2=12,
E 课程三个学分,成绩 89(B),应得点数为 3*3=9。
以上五项成绩 GPA:
GPA=[(4*4)+(3*3)+(2*4)+(6*2)+(3*3)]/(4+3+2+6+3)=3.00
美国 90%的学校GPA计算方法为 4.00 制(4.00 Scale)的,又有 1%的学校会采取 5.00 制。
即 A等成绩为 5,B 等为 4,C 等为 3,D等为 2,F 等为 1,这些学校的最低入学标准也就相应提高了。
中国学生在申请时,应按照自己原先学校采用的 GPA 制提供成绩,同时注明采用了哪一种 GPA 制,对于我国学生很不利的是中国大部分学校的评分相当严,所以很多优秀学生 GPA 换算出来以后还不到 3.0,在有些大学里班上前 5 名的学生平均成绩可能会在 75 左右。而有的学生虽然平均成绩上了 80 但用上述方法一计算也不到 3.0-这取决与 90 分以上科目和 80分以下科目的多少。
GPA 指标是十分重要的,因为它反映了申请者一贯的学习态度和能力。由于读研往往意味着你要和导师公事多年,他们需要了解你长期的学习能力。 所以一般认为GPA比 GRE 重要。3.3 分、3.4 分美国一流大学绝对可以了,但是光是 GPA 哪怕是 4 分也不一定能上美国一流大学,还是要看你的几门考试成绩。
I'm a graduate of Yale University. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree.
前面我们已经谈到了 graduate作名词用是“某个学校的毕业生” 。
比如,I am a graduate of Stanford University. Will is a graduate of University of International Relations.
从大学毕业都会有学位,那么不同的学位用英语如何表达呢?
我们知道,学士(本科毕业)用 bachelor 这个词,硕士学位是 master, 文科称为 arts, 理科则通称为 science.所以,文科学士为 Bachelor of Arts(B.A.), 理科学士是 Bachelor of Science (B.S.), 文科硕士和理科硕士分别为 Master of Arts(M.A.),Master of Science(M.S.), 博士则无论文理科都用 Ph.D.表示。大家熟知的 MBA就是 Master of Business Administration. 即“工商管理硕士” 。此外近来在美国又兴起 MPA, Master of Public Administration, 即“公共管理硕士” 。
This is my first year of college. I'm a freshman.
大学一年级的学生称为:Freshman;
大学二年级的学生称为:Sophomore;
大学三年级的学生称为:Junior;
大学四年级的学生称为:Senior.
需要注意的是 freshman通指男生和女生,没有 freshwomen这个词。
研究生则统称为 graduate student.
如果还要细分的话,硕士研究生为 master candidate, 博士研究生为 doctoral candidate.之所
以用 candidate “侯选人”这个词,是因为还没有通过论文答辩,还没有获得学位。
My uncle is a high school principal.
“校长”这个词在英语里面有不同的词来表示,小学校长是 school master, 中学校长是 principal, 大学校长则是 president.
如果你在讲英语的时候突然忘记了这几个词的具体指代, 就可以用 head of the school 来模糊表达,这样美国人也是能够听得懂的。总之,我们说英语有这样一条原则,即便是表达上稍微有些灵活变动,也不要卡在那里不开口,从而影响了表达和交流的流畅性。
I went to grade school in Shanghai, and high school in Chicago.
美国的教育一般分为四级:
学前教育 pre-school education;
小学教育 grade school;
中学教育 high school, 可以分为 junior high school 和 senior high school, 相当于我们的初中和高中;大学教育 college education.大学的种类可谓是五花八门,有包含各门学科的综合性大学,comprehensive university, 如鼎鼎大名的 Havard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford,UCLA等。
还有一些专业性较强或规模比较小的学校称为 institute 或 college, 比如麻省理工学院就是Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 全美排名前十的达特矛斯学院 Dartmouth College.中国的国际关系学院称为 Institute of International Relations, 外交学院则是 Foreign Affairs College.此外,美国还有一些供上班的人业余进修的社区学院,叫 community college.
美国的大学多达 2000 多所,高等教育体系非常发达,大多数高中毕业生都能够顺利地进入大学继续深造。但如果想要进入一流大学学习,则必须有非常优异的中学成绩才有可能。
My father is a member of the faculty. He teaches economics.
Faculty是一个集合名词,意思是“一所学校的全体教师”,所以这个词没有复数形式。
到了美国大学,如果见到一个地方写着 'Faculty Only', 表示这里的设施是教师专用的,比如停车位,
电脑,阅览室等等。教经济学的老师通常是在大学的商学院工作。商学院怎么讲呢?
大学(university)下属的二级学院称为 school, 而单独的学院则是 college或 institute. 所以,如果要说哈佛大学的商学院,就应该是 business school of Havard University. 同样,大学下属的法学院是 law school, 外语学院是 foreign languages school。
Peter has extracurricular activities. He's on the football team.
在学校,我们除了学习之外,当然还要进行课外活动,也就是 extracurricular activities。在口语中,我们通常用另外一个比较简单的词 after-class activity.
另外还要注意,“他参加了橄榄球队”这个句子用的介词是 on.比如,你说“我参加了学校乐队。 ”就可以表达为 I am on the school band.
In this college, students train to become diplomats.
Train to become这个短语有一些特殊,它用主动语态表达了“被培养为…” 这个被动的含义。如果谈到一所师范大学(normal university),我们就可以说,In this university, students train to become high school teachers.
二、举一反三
1. If you expect to enter the university, you should apply now.
如果你期望进入这所著名中学,你就应该努力学习。
如果你期望找到一个好工作,你就应该把英语学好。
如果你期望把英语学好,你就应该多下功夫。
2. Will entered the university at the age of seventeen.
Tom七岁时上了小学。
Jenny14 岁上了中学。
Jim19 岁是上了大学。
3. He was admitted to Harvard University.
我已经被华盛顿大学录取了。
我弟弟被一所重点中学录取了。
我的一个朋友刚刚接到了耶鲁大学的录取通知书。
4. Do you live off campus?
你是住在校园里呢?
你是住在学生宿舍吗?
Peter 是住在公寓楼 103 房间吗?
6. How many mandatory courses should you take?
你们得上多少门选修课呀?
你得上多上少门必修课和选修课才能毕业呵?
7. here's the administration building?
学生餐厅在什么地方?
学校体育馆在什么位置?
学校的教学楼在什么地方?
8. During your first year of college, did you make straight A's?
在大学的头一年,你得到了好的分数了吗?
在大学你第二年,你得到过满分吗?
在你大学的第四年,你得到过 A+吗?
9. Isn't John graduating from college in June?
我将于 2003年从这所大学毕业。
他们马上要中学毕业了。
Mary是三年前大学毕业的。
10. I'd better start cramming.
你最好现在就开始突击复习。
我们最好现在就开始学习法语。
你最好明天就和教授谈谈话。
11. The library gets crowded right about now.
晚上教室都很拥挤。
图书馆在假期不挤。
12. I wonder if I have enough credits.
我想知道你是否讲英语。
我想知道你能否帮我一个忙。
我想知道他是不是从加州来的。
14. I am a graduate of Yale University. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree.
我是国际关系学院的毕业生。我有文学士学位。
他是加州大学的毕业生。他有理科硕士学位。
她是哈佛大学毕业的。她拥有博士学位。
15. This is my first year of college. I'm a freshman.
这是我大学的第二年。我是大二学生。
这是他大学的第三年。他是大三学生。
这是她大学的第四年。她是大四学生。
16. My uncle is a high school principal.
我祖父是一个小学校长。
他的父亲是大学校长。
18. My brother is a member of the faculty. He teaches economics.
我表姐是中学老师。她教音乐。
Brown是大学老师。他教国际政治。
Irene女士是大学教授。她讲授中国大众传媒。
19. John has extracurricular activities. He's on the football team.
我有很多的课外活动。我参加了网球队。
他的课外活动不多。他只参加了剧社。
我们的课外活动很丰富。我们参加了足球队和排球队。
20. In this college, students train to become diplomats.
在这所大学,学生被培养成为医生和护士。
在这所大学,学生被培养成为工程师。
在这所学院,学生们被训练成为军官。
三、有问有答
1. A: If I want to enter college, when should I apply?
B:.
2. A: When did you enter high school?
B: .
3. A: I have an offer from Harvard University.
B:!
4. A: Do you live off campus?
B:.
5. A: My major is economics. ?
B:I major in music.
6. A: How many mandatory courses should you take?
B: .
7. A: Where's the administration building?
B:.
8. A: What kind of grades did you make in college?
B:.
9. A: When will you graduate from college?
B: .
10 A: Then final exam is coming!
B: .
11. A: Is the student's café very crowded now?
B:.
12. A: Have you got enough credits for graduating?
B: .
四、身临其境
2.
IRENE: ?
PAUL: Yes. I am interested in applying for graduate school here.
IRENE: Alright. Do you have some specific questions?
PAUL: Not really. I am in Madison visiting a friend. And I would like to go to school here too. So he told me to come to this office.
IRENE: ?
PAUL: No, I haven't sent the application.
IRENE: Well, I'm sorry to tell you, but the deadline for applications has already passed.
PAUL: I'm sorry. ?
IRENE: That means it is already too late to apply for school this fall semester.
PAUL: Really?
IRENE: Sure. So if you apply, you must apply to begin first semester next year.
PAUL: That is January next year. Yes?
IRENE: .
PAUL: Alright. Could you tell me what I need in my application?
IRENE: All the information is included in the application packet.
PAUL: I'm sure it is. But could you tell me also?
IRENE: All applicants to the graduate school must have three letters of recommendation, a
Personal Statement and one Resume. Also, all graduate students must have GRE or GMAT scores sent to us by the testing center.
PAUL: ?
IRENE: The application fee is $40.
PAUL: Alright. Give me one application packet please. I'll
IRENE :.
PAUL: Thank you.
第十五单元 Talking about Weather
一、经典句型
1. Nice day, isn't it?
2. What was the weather like yesterday? Yesterday it rained all day.
3. It looks like snow.
4. How's the weather in Boston? Is it mild?
5. It's very hot and humid.
6. What's the temperature today? It's 80 degrees.
7. There was a golf-ball-size hail this morning.
8. It's supposed to rain in the afternoon, don't forget to take your umbrella.
9. It'll be clear in the morning, and cloudy later.
10. It'll probably clear up this afternoon.
11. The wind is going down.
12. In winter the temperature will drop below zero.
13. We had lots of typhoons this year.
14. My laundry won't dry because ofthe humidity.
15. The days are getting hotter.
16. What does the weather forecast say?
17. I can't stand the heat in summer. It's boiling.
18. I'm hoping for a change in the weather.
19. Some people enjoy cold weather, but I don't.
20. It's a bit cold today.
Nice day, isn't it?
如果要主动和别人搭茬,这是个非常管用的句型。看起来是反意疑问句,其实则是在表达说话者本人的看法。回答这样的句子也有固定的套路,一般用 Oh yes it is. 表示附和对方的看法。其它表述天气的短句有:
Chilly Day!
Awful weather, isn't it?
Beautiful evening, isn't it?
What a nice / beautiful /awful/ terrible day!
What a downpour!
Days are getting hotter / colder!
What's the weather like yesterday?
What's the weather like ……? 这个句型是用来询问 “ (某个时间)天气如何”?
如:What's the weather like last week?
What's the weather like in winter?
如果昨天整天下雨,我们可以说 Yesterday it rained all day. 要是雨下得非常大,我们还可以说 What a downpour! “这是场倾盆大雨” 。
下大雨的表达方式非常丰富。
如:It's really coming down.
It's pouring. It's raining heavily.
It looks like snow.
It looks like …句型是用来表达“看上去要…了。 ”
例如:It looks like rain.
It looks like storm.
It looks like a wonderful day.
How's the weather in Boston? Is it mild?
How is the weather ……?这个句型的加上时间或地点状语,表示询问具体的天气状况。老 外常问我的一句话就是 How's the weather in Beijing? 当然还可以有 How is the weather in New York? How's the weather in the spring of London? How was the weather in Shanghai this summer? Mild表示天气是温和的,反义词是 harsh,意思是“ (天气)恶劣的”。
英语中有两个基本句型来询问天气,分别用 what 或 how,请注意动词的时态:
What's the weather like?
How's the weather?
What was the weather like?
How was the weather?
What will the weather be like tomorrow?
It's very hot and humid.
如果要表达天气状况,英语中通常有两个句型:
It 引导句型,后面加 be和天象的形容词形式,或直接加表示天象的动词:
It was cloudy yesterday and it's windy today.
It's been cloudy all the week.
It's windy.
It's raining.
It's going to snow tomorrow.
It'll clear up soon.
There be引导的句型,后面加上天象的名词形式,但是注意原本不可数的表示天气的名词在这个句型当中,当作可数名词处理,表示一种天气状况。
There was a light shower in the morning.
There will be a big wind tomorrow.
There's a cool breeze outside.
There's a heavy rain last night.
There's a lot of fog today.
There is a lot of rain this year.
There's much less snow this year than last year.
另外,有时天象本身做主语,例如:
The wind is going down. (风小了。)
The fog is beginning to lift. (雾开始消散了。)
The rain is getting lighter. (雨小了。)
The snow is coming down. (下雪了。)
What's the temperature today? It's 80 degrees.
注意问气温多高是用的 what's 句型,美国官方虽然已经使用摄氏来表示温度,但普通美国人在日常生活中仍使用华氏温度计量,即 Fahrenheit。华氏温标规定水在 1 大气压下的凝固点为 32=F,而沸点为 212=F。难怪美国人会告诉你 The average temperature in summer in L.A. is 80 degrees. 华氏温度换算为摄氏的公式是“减去 32 在乘以 5/9”,相反则是“乘以9/5 再加上 32”,如40摄氏度大概相当于104华氏。
There was a golf-ball-size hail this morning.
Golf-ball-size 是一个复合名词,“高尔夫球大小的(冰雹)”,也可以说成是 egg-size,“鸡蛋大小的”。
It's supposed to rain in the afternoon, don't forget to take your umbrella.
It's supposed to ……是一个表示较肯定预测的句型。
例如:It's supposed to snow next week. It's supposed to have a sand storm in the spring.It'll be clear in the morning, and cloudy later.
这里我们可以总结一下用来描述天气的形容词:
clear “天气晴朗的” ,
cloudy “多云的”,
windy“风大的”,
sunny “阳光灿烂的”,
muggy “闷热的”,
boiling“炎热的”,
breezy “凉风吹拂的” ,
humid “潮湿的”,
freezing “冷得结冰的” 。
It'll probably clear up this afternoon.
Clear up是指天气由阴转晴。
如:The weather will clear up next week.
The wind is going down
“风势减弱”是用 go down, 如果是起风了,则是 The wind is rising. 或 The wind is getting stronger.
In winter the temperature will drop below zero.
温度“下降”用动词 drop, “上升”则是 rise. Below zero是零度以下,如果零度以上,则一般不作特别的说明。
We had lots of typhoons this year.
Typhoon就是台风,如果到了美国,还会常常听到 tornado这个词,就是“龙卷风”。北京近几年沙尘暴肆虐,在英语里就是 sand storm.
My laundry won't dry because of the humidity.
Laundry在这里可不是洗衣房,而是洗过的衣服。Humidity指“空气湿度” 。
The days are getting hotter.
The days 在这里表示“天气” ,get 在口语中相当于 become。
类似的句子还有:
In spring, it's getting warmer and warmer.
In winter, it's getting colder and colder.
What does the weather forecast say?
“天气预报”是 weather forecast, 可以泛指电视,广播,报纸和
网络上的天气预告。 I can't stand the heat in summer. It's boiling.
如果你受不了炎炎夏日,就可以用上本句型。Stand 在这里可不是“站立”的意思,而是“忍受”。Hot 虽然可以表达天气热,但还有两个更生动的形容词,boiling和 scorching.
I'm hoping for a change in the weather.
要是接连下雨很多天,喜欢运动的你一定很郁闷, 这时不由自主地会感叹“天气赶快转晴就好了。”
Some people enjoy cold weather, but I don't.
Enjoy是“喜欢热爱” ,例如:I enjoy cool days. I enjoy a big snowfall. Tom don't enjoy hot weather.
It's a bit cold today.
A bit 这个短语放在形容词前,表示“稍微(有点儿)”,如:It's a bit warm these days. The rain is a bit big. The wind is a bit strong.
二、有问有答
1. A: Nice day, isn't it?
B: .
2. A: ?
B: Yesterday it rained all day.
3. A: How's the weather in Boston? Is it mild?
B: .
4. A: ?
B: It's very hot and humid last month.
5. A: What's the temperature today?
B: .
7. A: It's supposed to rain in the afternoon, don't forget to take your umbrella.
B: .
8. A: ?
B: It'll be clear in the morning, and cloudy later.
10. A: How is the weather in winter?
B: .
11. A: We had lots of typhoons this year.
B: .
12. A: The days are getting hotter.
B: .
14. A: I can't stand the heat in summer. It's boiling.
B: .
15. A: ?
B: I'm hoping for a change in the weather.
17. A: ?
B: It's a bit cold today.
18. A: How was the weather in America this summer?
B: .
21. A: How do you like the weather in Beijing?
B: .
23. A: Nice and bright this morning!
B: .
24. A: How are the winters in Shanghai?
B: .
26. A: What a wonderful afternoon!
B: .
三、身临其境
1. Ann: Beautiful day, isn't it?
Bill: 天气并不像天气预报说的那样。
Ann: I wish it would stay this way for the weekend.
Bill: 只要别再下雪就可以了!
2. Anna: 看起来天要放晴了。
Jack: It's such a nice change.
Anna: I really don't think this weather will last.
Jack: 我只希望别再变冷就可以了。
3. Nick: It looks it's going to be sunny.
Mary: 是呀。今天天气比昨天好多了。
Nick: 可是有人说下个礼拜会有很多雨水。
Mary: Oh, let's just hope it stays warm.
4. Joe: 我想明天天气会好很多。
Mark: It's certainly a big improvement over yesterday.
Joe: But it's supposed to get cloudy and windy again this afternoon.
Mark: 冬天最冷的时间应该已经过去了。
5. David: !
Joanna: It is. Shinning sun and such pleasant breeze.
David: Why don't go to the beach?
Joanna: Beach? Isn't a bit cold at this time? ?
David: Paper says it's 10 centigrade.
Joanna: . Let's just go to the park nearby for some fresh air.
David: It's not that cold. . Come on Joan, put on you overcoat and go to the beach with me!
Joanna: No way. You know I'm from HK. You know the weather in HK, . It is very nice weather today, but to me . So, go to the park or otherwise we just stay warm at home.
6. Jackie: The weather is terrible today.
Daniel: 是呀。昨天阳光明媚,可现在却刮起了大风。
Jackie: 我妈妈已经打电话要我多穿些衣服了。
Daniel: 我也得穿些暖和的衣服。不然又得感冒了。
Jackie: That's right. Do it right now.
8. Lily: What are you doing, John?
John: I am reading the evening paper. I am checking the weather of Singapore.
Lily: 你是想到那里去旅行吗?
John: Yes I do. But Ican't stand hot weather, you know. 这个炎热的夏天把我折腾得够呛。
Lily: 去年这个时候我去过新加坡。这段时间那里的天气非常凉爽,而且没有暴雨。So if you go there now, I am sure you'll have a great time.
John: 报纸上也是这么说的。我想明天就去订机票和酒店。
Lily: That's a good idea!