Unit 14 That’s Life
Part A Pre-listening Task
Additional questions for discussion
1. How important is any normal day to you?
1. How important is any normal day to you?
Every single day is an important day to me because it is part of my life. When I count the number of days I expect to live, it is amazing that the number is not that big at all. And I often tell myself that that number might be greatly reduced if something bad happened to me. That's why I must treasure each day, each hour within that day, and each minute within that hour, and try to get the most out of it. Just as somebody said, live each day as if it were the last day of your life.
2. How colorful is your life? Describe a particular event in your life that has amused you.
So far, my life is not extremely colorful yet. However, there are a few things that are amusing and worth talking about. Last summer, I traveled by plane for the first time in my lif
e. The flight was extremely bumpy (金希澈退伍颠簸的第一次心跳) at times because the weather was very bad. To tell you the truth, I thought of plane crashes and death. When I looked around, I saw many faces turn white. When the plane finally landed, I was so happy I was still alive. I overheard several people say they were scared to death. Then I felt a little better as I was not alone in my fear. Do you think that was amusing?
3. You must have experienced a lot in your life. Have you ever considered a way to record your experience of life and your feelings about it?
For the time being, I'm keeping a diary so that I can record my activities, experiences, feelings, and all other things that are worth recording. In the long run, I may decide to write an autobiography (自传) or write it in several parts, say, one part for every ten years of my life. I will do it for myself and for my children, and for my children's children. It may not be so colorful or exciting as the biographies of famous people. But I think it will have its place in history. It will be part of the history of ordinary people.
Part B Listening Tasks I
Language and Culture:
1. Background information: The strength of a country's currency depends on the strength of that country's economy. And the exchange rate between currencies can be rather unfair. Therefore it can be understood why the speaker, who lives in South Africa, was so nervous about paying for a dinner in a posh restaurant in London. It would be a huge sum when converted into South African rands. The unfair exchange rate usually kills one's desire to buy things in a country where the currency is very strong.
2. I find myself sitting bolt upright in bed just thinking about it.火山音
The thought that I might have to pay for a restaurant bill in London would be so frightening as to make me sit up straight in bed worrying about it.
3. ... would, if converted into rands, cost something approximating the national debt of the Dominican Republic.
... if calculated in South African rands, the sum would be so huge that it would almost be equal to the national debt of the Dominican Republic, a country in Latin America, know
1. Background information: The strength of a country's currency depends on the strength of that country's economy. And the exchange rate between currencies can be rather unfair. Therefore it can be understood why the speaker, who lives in South Africa, was so nervous about paying for a dinner in a posh restaurant in London. It would be a huge sum when converted into South African rands. The unfair exchange rate usually kills one's desire to buy things in a country where the currency is very strong.
2. I find myself sitting bolt upright in bed just thinking about it.火山音
The thought that I might have to pay for a restaurant bill in London would be so frightening as to make me sit up straight in bed worrying about it.
3. ... would, if converted into rands, cost something approximating the national debt of the Dominican Republic.
... if calculated in South African rands, the sum would be so huge that it would almost be equal to the national debt of the Dominican Republic, a country in Latin America, know
n to be heavily in debt. An exaggeration of course.
4. Then the tricky part.
Then would come a situation difficult for me to handle.
5. One cannot capitulate too quickly ...
One cannot withdraw one's offer to pay too quickly. Even though the speaker is unwilling to pay, his gentleman's upbringing requires him to at least pretend that he is willing to pay.
6. ... one must not be too insistent.
... one must not overdo one's resistance, as this may make the other feel that one is really eager to pay.
7. Under normal circumstances, when it's my turn to pay for a serious dinner, I cannot for the life of me remain indifferent.
司马南的简介 Even in South Africa, where there is no problem of an unfair exchange rate, it always bothers me when it's my turn to pay for an expensive dinner. I can't feel as if I don't care at all about the cost.
4. Then the tricky part.
Then would come a situation difficult for me to handle.
5. One cannot capitulate too quickly ...
One cannot withdraw one's offer to pay too quickly. Even though the speaker is unwilling to pay, his gentleman's upbringing requires him to at least pretend that he is willing to pay.
6. ... one must not be too insistent.
... one must not overdo one's resistance, as this may make the other feel that one is really eager to pay.
7. Under normal circumstances, when it's my turn to pay for a serious dinner, I cannot for the life of me remain indifferent.
司马南的简介 Even in South Africa, where there is no problem of an unfair exchange rate, it always bothers me when it's my turn to pay for an expensive dinner. I can't feel as if I don't care at all about the cost.
8. that little piece of paper sticking out from the leather cover:
the bill that sticks out from the leather folder. In a good Western restaurant, the bill is put inside a leather folder.
9. The bill began to obsess me.
The bill occupied all my mind and I couldn't think of anything else.
10. I trust you accept Central African waginkas?
The waginka is an imaginary kind of money, an invention of the writer. He considers making the offer in the expectation that the restaurant would refuse, thus leaving it to his brother-in-law to take care of the bill.
11. ..., as casually as I could, unfold the bill.
..., I tried my best to look calm when I opened the folder.
12. My shoes fell off just like they do when a person is hit by a bus.
On seeing how expensive the meal was, I was so shocked that I felt as if I were hit by a bus.
the bill that sticks out from the leather folder. In a good Western restaurant, the bill is put inside a leather folder.
9. The bill began to obsess me.
The bill occupied all my mind and I couldn't think of anything else.
10. I trust you accept Central African waginkas?
The waginka is an imaginary kind of money, an invention of the writer. He considers making the offer in the expectation that the restaurant would refuse, thus leaving it to his brother-in-law to take care of the bill.
11. ..., as casually as I could, unfold the bill.
..., I tried my best to look calm when I opened the folder.
12. My shoes fell off just like they do when a person is hit by a bus.
On seeing how expensive the meal was, I was so shocked that I felt as if I were hit by a bus.
counter-offer n. 反提议
capitulate v. 屈从，不再反对
mean a. 吝啬的
insistent a. 坚持的
claret n. 红葡萄酒，红酒(尤指法国波尔多生产的红葡萄酒邵小毛)
snatch v. 抢，强夺
tactical a. 战术上的
upbringing n. 教养，养育
preclude v. 阻止
obsess v. 困扰
nudge v. (通常用肘)轻推
assertively ad. 武断地，肯定地
waginka (文中人物随便编造的一种货币名，实际上并没有这个单词。)
bolt upright 笔直地
the Dominican Republic 多米尼加共和国(拉丁美洲)
for the life of one 无论如何
capitulate v. 屈从，不再反对
mean a. 吝啬的
insistent a. 坚持的
claret n. 红葡萄酒，红酒(尤指法国波尔多生产的红葡萄酒邵小毛)
snatch v. 抢，强夺
tactical a. 战术上的
upbringing n. 教养，养育
preclude v. 阻止
obsess v. 困扰
nudge v. (通常用肘)轻推
assertively ad. 武断地，肯定地
waginka (文中人物随便编造的一种货币名，实际上并没有这个单词。)
bolt upright 笔直地
the Dominican Republic 多米尼加共和国(拉丁美洲)
for the life of one 无论如何
Unfair Exchange
The exchange rate between South Africa's currency, the rand, and many Western currencies is quite unfair. One rand will buy fewer than ten US cents. As a South African, when I'm in London my great fear is being left holding a restaurant bill. I find myself sitting bolt upright in bed just thinking about it.
I recently visited England, where I was brought up. I stayed with my sister and her husband, and one evening they suggested we eat out.
I knew that the cost of dining at the sort of restaurant they wanted to go to would, converted into rands, be something approximating the national debt of the Dominican Republic.
Obviously I would have to offer to pay. My brother-in-law would then, hopefully, make a counter-offer (还价). Then the tricky (（形势、工作等）复杂的) part. One cannot capitulate (让步) too quickly and appear mean. On the other hand, one must not be too insistent.
The exchange rate between South Africa's currency, the rand, and many Western currencies is quite unfair. One rand will buy fewer than ten US cents. As a South African, when I'm in London my great fear is being left holding a restaurant bill. I find myself sitting bolt upright in bed just thinking about it.
I recently visited England, where I was brought up. I stayed with my sister and her husband, and one evening they suggested we eat out.
I knew that the cost of dining at the sort of restaurant they wanted to go to would, converted into rands, be something approximating the national debt of the Dominican Republic.
Obviously I would have to offer to pay. My brother-in-law would then, hopefully, make a counter-offer (还价). Then the tricky (（形势、工作等）复杂的) part. One cannot capitulate (让步) too quickly and appear mean. On the other hand, one must not be too insistent.
Under normal circumstances, when it's my turn to pay for a serious dinner, I cannot for the life of me remain indifferent. I cannot keep my eyes away from that little piece of paper sticking out from the leather cover. Even though I try to concentrate on the conversation, my mind is on what I could have done with all the money I am about to pay for the dinner.
Halfway through the main course my brother-in-law suggested a second bottle of French claret. Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!
When, inevitably (不可避免), the bill arrived, it was placed between us. We both ignored it. I was hoping my brother-in-law would snatch (攫取) it. This would be a tactical (战术的) advantage for me. My own upbringing (教养) precludes (阻止) me from snatching just as it precludes me from turning my fork over to pick up peas.
The bill began to obsess (迷住, 使困扰) me. It would be at least 200 pounds. In South Africa, this would allow me to dine out for a week.
I realized that if the bill were nearer to my brother-in-law, he would feel some obligation to pick it up. Perhaps by placing my elbows (肘) on the table, I could secretly nudge (用肘
Halfway through the main course my brother-in-law suggested a second bottle of French claret. Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!
When, inevitably (不可避免), the bill arrived, it was placed between us. We both ignored it. I was hoping my brother-in-law would snatch (攫取) it. This would be a tactical (战术的) advantage for me. My own upbringing (教养) precludes (阻止) me from snatching just as it precludes me from turning my fork over to pick up peas.
The bill began to obsess (迷住, 使困扰) me. It would be at least 200 pounds. In South Africa, this would allow me to dine out for a week.
I realized that if the bill were nearer to my brother-in-law, he would feel some obligation to pick it up. Perhaps by placing my elbows (肘) on the table, I could secretly nudge (用肘
轻推, 轻推为引起注意) it closer to him. Maybe I should say, "I'll handle this, if you don't mind," and then say assertively (断言地, 独断地), "Waiter! I trust you accept Central African waginkas? The present exchange rate is nine million to the pound."
My brother-in-law then made an unexpected move. He left the table.
I had no choice but to reach forward and, as casually as I could, unfold (打开) the bill. It was for 226 pounds.
My shoes fell off just like they do when a person is hit by a bus.
My sister said, "Don't worry about the bill. The owner is a business partner of ours -- we eat here free."
If I'd known that, I would have ordered lobster (龙虾).
Listen to the story and write down the answers to the questions you hear.
Questions:
1. Where did the story take place?
My brother-in-law then made an unexpected move. He left the table.
I had no choice but to reach forward and, as casually as I could, unfold (打开) the bill. It was for 226 pounds.
My shoes fell off just like they do when a person is hit by a bus.
My sister said, "Don't worry about the bill. The owner is a business partner of ours -- we eat here free."
If I'd known that, I would have ordered lobster (龙虾).
Listen to the story and write down the answers to the questions you hear.
Questions:
1. Where did the story take place?
-
---- In an expensive restaurant in London .
2. Is the speaker a native of South Africa?
----- No, he was brought up in England but now lives in South Africa .
3. With whom did he dine out that evening?
----- With his sister and brother-in-law.
4. What bothers him whenever he is in London? Why?
----- That he would be left holding a restaurant bill, because for someone who earns South African rands, a meal in London is just too expensive.
5. Why could he have ordered lobster that evening?
----- Because even if he had ordered lobster, a very expensive dish, it would have cost him nothing, as the owner of the restaurant was a business partner of his sister and brother-in-law's and they ate there for free.
Listen to the story again and choose the right answer to complete each of the following sentences.
1. The speaker considered the exchange rate between South Africa's currency and some Western currencies unfair because __________.
A. the rand is as strong as the US dollar or the British pound
B. the rand is only slightly weaker than the dollar or the pound
C. one rand amounts to less than ten US cents
D. one rand is equal to only one British penny
正确答案： one rand amounts to less than ten US cents
2. It can be inferred that __________.
A. the speaker did not want to waste money金瑞吉
B. the speaker did not want to eat out with his sister and brother-in-law
C. the speaker wasn't on good terms with his brother-in-law
D. the speaker was miserly by nature
正确答案： the speaker did not want to waste money
3. The speaker said, "...one must not be too insistent." What he meant was that he should not insist on __________.
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