李华早上起床,发现昨天晚上下了整整一夜的雪,足足有两英尺深,看来今天是出不去了。今天我们要学两个常用语:total和zapped of energy.
(Knock on Li Hua's door, Li Hua opens it)
LH: Larry! 这么大的雪你怎么跑来了,路上一定特别难走吧?
LL: Li hua, you are right. When I left my apartment, I didn't think the road conditions were that bad, but the roads really are treacherous. I couldn't see where I was going!
LH: 啊?你是开车过来的?那你身上哪来的这么多雪呢?
LL: I just walked five blocks to your house because I got in a wreck. My car is totaled.
LH: Your car is totaled? 什么是totaled? 是不是开到一半陷在雪里了?我帮你去一起把车推出来吧!
LL: No, Lihua, when you say something is "totaled", it means that it is demolished beyond repair.
LH: Oh no Larry! 你说你的车已经撞得没办法修了,彻底报销了?怎么会呢?How did you total your car?
LL: I turned onto your street and I hit a patch of black ice. I lost control of my car and it went sliding at full speed into a telephone pole. The entire front end is totaled.
LL: You're right. I am really shaken up right now. Totaling my car is probably the scariest experience I have ever had.
LH: 好在撞烂的是你的车,而不是你的人。你好象除了受了点儿惊吓以外,毛发未伤嘛!
LL: You're right. Although my car is totaled, what's most important is that I'M not totaled.
LH: 没错,我们教授Johnson上次出了个小车祸,胳膊就骨折了,更不要说大车祸了,太可怕了。
LL: Yeah, I feel really lucky. People usually get badly injured when they total their cars. My knee feels a little funny, but other than that, I think the airbags did their job.
LH: 别多说了,快进来,赶紧叫拖车公司来把你的车拖走!
******
李华把Larry让到屋里,Larry忙着给拖车公司打电话,请他们帮忙把自己撞坏的车拖回家。
LL: Thanks for your help Li Hua, the towing company will be here soon to pick up my car.
LH: 不客气,只要你人没事我就高兴了。一会儿要不要出堆雪人、打雪仗。或许可以帮你转移一下注意力。
LL: Oh Lihua, I don't think I can. This is such a stressful situation. I feel totally zapped of energy.
LH: You are zapped of energy? 你是说精力旺盛?浑身上下有使不完的劲?那好,我们现在就走。
LL: No, Lihua, when I say I am zapped of energy, I mean that my energy level is very low and I am feeling tired.
LH: 哦,你说的zapped of energy意思是精疲力竭,一点力气都没有了。我能理解,你不仅出了车祸,把车子撞了个稀巴烂,而且走五条街到我这儿来,一定累死了。No wonder you're zapped of energy.
LL: Yeah, plus there is already about two feet of snow on the ground. Walking through that much snow can really zap the energy right out of you.
LH: I know you feel zapped. 你既然这么疲惫,不如躺在沙发上休息一会儿吧。我去给你泡杯茶,好不好?
LL: Yes, I would love that. Plus my knee still hurts a little, I think I should rest it for a while.
LH: 好,那你赶快躺下,你早上有没有吃东西,要不要我给你做个三明治填填肚子?
LL: Oh, Lihua, you're the best! Yes, even if you don't mind, I'd love a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You know, I cannot believe how zapped I feel. I can barely keep my eyes open!
LL: (Yawn) Thank you so much Lihua! I will certainly do the same for you next time you feel zapped of energy.
今天李华学了两个常用语,一个是total, 意思是彻底报销。另一个是zapped of energy意思是疲惫不堪。