自考英语口语Episode23:TheCommunityCenter

时间：2022-04-02 16:33:23 作者：储老师

　　【导读】英语是山东自考本科专业必须要考的一门课程，很多山东自考考生对于英语科目是比较抵触的，尤其是英语是弱项的考生，对于如何去复习英语可能有些摸不着头脑，山东自考网的小编为大家总结了一些英语口语学习案例，快一起看下去吧。

英文文本 The Community Center
Act 1.
Robbie: Morning, Grandpa. Is something the matter, Grandpa?
Grandpa: The editorial in this paper has my friend Nat Baker real upset. Ah! I'll read it to you. "The old library building on Chestnut Street, which has been vacant for over a year now, was supposed to be made into a community center to serve the senior citizens as well as the younger people of Riverdale. Due to lack of funds for the repainting of the interior of the building and for the furniture needed, the plans for the community center have been postponed indefinitely." He's coming over to talk about it.
Robbie: Is it tat serious a problem, Grandpa?
Grandpa: It is. Nat's not as lucky as I am, Robbie. He doesn't have any family with him. He lives alone and depends on places like a community center to be with people- people hi own age.
Robbie: But there's the old community center on Elm Street.
Grandpa: It's small, and the problem is that it's set up primarily for kids to play. Ping-Pong tables, soda machines, and lots of music. It's too noisy for some older people like Nat.
Robbie: I never realized that.
Grandpa: It's hard for some older people to take all that noise. That's why the new community center is a good idea. Part of the building for older people, part of the building for younger people.
Robbie: I see what you mean.
Grandpa: That must be Nat.
Robbie: It could be Alexandra. She's coming over this morning to help me with my math.
Alexandra: Hi, Robbie.
Robbie: Hi, Alexandra. Come on in. Do you want something cold to drink?
Axexandra: I'd love some cola, please.
Robbie: Cola coming up. I really appreciate you coming over to help with my math. My final exam is next Tuesday.
Alexandra: You're so good in all your other subjects. I just can't understand why you have so many problems with math.
Grandpa: Hi, Alexandra.
Alexandra: Hi, Mr. Stewart.
Grandpa: I thought that was Nat Baker who rang the front doorbell. Don't let me interrupt you.
Robbie: No problem, Grandpa. We're just having some cola before getting to tough stuff- math.
Alexandra: He'll do anything to avoid getting down to math lessons, Mr. Stewart.
Grandpa: I was the same way.
Robbie: Really, Grandpa?
Grandpa: Really. I didn't like math, I wasn't good at it, and I didn't like studying it.
Robbie: But you had to be good at math. You graduated from engineering school.
Grandpa: I was. But not in high school. For some reason, I couldn't get a handle on it. Then, in college. I became good at it.
Alexandra: Then there's hope for Robbie.
Robbie: I can't wait. You think I can just skip it now and get to it at college?
Alexandra: You'll never get to college to find out, Robbie, if you skip it now.
Grandpa: That must be Nat.
Alexandra: Sit down, Robbie. Let's get to work.
Grandpa: I'd like you to meet my friend Nat Baker. This is Alexandra Pappas, and this is my grandson Robbie, whom I think you've met once twice before.
Alexandra: Nice to meet you, Mr. Baker.
Robbie: Hi, Mr.Baker. We met before.
Nat: Where?
Robbie: In town. At the hardware store.
Nat: I remember now. Right. Hi. Hello, Alexandra.
Grandpa: Don't let us keep you from your math tutoring. Robbie. I know you want to get to it.
Robbie: Stay...stay.
Alexandra: I told you. He'll use any excuse to avoid math.
Nat: Did you read the story in the paper, Malcolm?
Grandpa: I did.
Nat: It's a serious matter for a lot of us. A serious matter.
Grandpa: It is. Come on out to the patio. We'll talk about it out there.
Nat: Thanks. Nice to meet you...again.
Alexandra: What's the problem?
Robbie: Come on? You'll hear about it.

Act 2.
Nat: There is a way, Malcolm. We get our friends to roll their sleeves up and get to work.
Grandpa: It's certainly a good idea. If I could take a look at the place, I could probably tell what it requires to fix it up. How much paint, how many hours of work...
Nat: That's what I came to ask you to do, Malcolm.If you would supervise the refurbishing, I'll find the people to help do it.
Robbie: I'll help too, Mr.Baker. I can get some of my friends to go around the neighborhood and collect the furniture we need.
Alexandra: I'll help.
Grandpa: Tomorrow. Yes. We'll meet tomorrow morning, right here.
Robbie: Can we help?
Alexandra: I'd really like to.
Grandpa: Sure.
Nat: We might need you to come through with your friends, Robbie. Not just to go around the neighborhood asking for furniture, but to help with the paint job. That's backbreaking work and may be too much for us.
Robbie: I'll do it. I'll talk to them.
Alexandra: And tomorrow morning we'll all meet here to discuss the plan?
Grandpa: Come in, come in. Please, come in.
Nat: I'd like you to meet my friend Malcolm Stewart. Malcolm, this Joanne Thompson
Grandpa: Hello, Joanne. Nice to meet you.
Joanne: My pleasure, Malcolm.
Nat: And this is Abe Lucas. You must remember Abe. He ran the drugstore and used to play drums with the jazz band on weekends.
Grandpa: Oh, sure I do. Hi, Abe.
Abe: Hello, Mr. Stewart.
Grandpa: Malcolm, please.
Abe: Hello, Malcolm.
Grandpa: Sit down, sit down. Have some coffee. And I've got some delicious Danish pastry for you.
Nat: Where's your grandson Robbie and his friend Alexandra? Weren't they going to be here this morning?
Grandpa: I thought so, too. I'm surprised they're not here. Robbie left early this morning to meet Alexandra. Frankly, I thought they'd be here, but...
Nat: It's OK. I'm sure they meant well, but they probably had other things on their minds.
Joanne: I understand you used to be in the construction business, Malcolm.
Grandpa: I was, indeed.
Joanne: I wonder if you would take a look at the old library and make sure that it is in good condition so that we don't have to worry about any structural problems.
Grandpa: When can I do that? I'd be happy to.
Abe: We've got permission to go inside the old building during the week-Tuesday or Wednesday.
Grandpa: That's fine with me. I can do it either day.
Joanne: That would be very helpful.
Nat: I think the building just needs a good cleaning.
Abe: And a good paint job.
Joanne: Then we have to furnish it.
Grandpa: I wish Robbie and Alexandra had come to this meeting. They had some ideas about getting the place fixed up.
Joanne: Perhaps they'll show up. In the meantime, let me give you some additional thoughts and ideas I have.
Grandpa: OK.
Nat: Go ahead, Janne.
Janne: As I said, mostly the building just needs a good cleaning.
Nat: This place can be developed with one real intergenerational program.
Grandpa: That's an idea I like. A community center with the kinds of programs that fit everyone.
Nat: And programs that don't leave anyone out.
Joanne: It's asking a lot. But we can't do it without talking to the young people. Finding out what they want.
Grandpa: If only Robbie and Alexandra were here.
Nat: Don't be upset, Malcolm. We'll have a chance to talk to them later.
Grandpa: It's not like Robbie. If he says he's going to be here, he's here. I wonder what the problem is.

Act 3.
Robbie: Hi, everyone. Sorry I'm late. But Alexandra and I have been busy at work this morning on the community-center project.And we brought someone along who can help. You remember Charles Maxwell, Grandpa? He's the editor of the Riverdale paper. He wrote some nice articles on Mom when she was running for the school board.
Grandpa: Yes, I remember. You were a great help.
Maxwell: Hi, Mr. Stewart. Hope to be a bigger help on the new community-center project. From what Robbie and Alexandra have told me, you people are making one big story.
Grandpa: Let me introduce you, Mr. Maxwell. This is Nat Baker, who's responsible for this meeting, and this is Joanne Thompson-and Abe Lucas, who used to run the drugstore in town.
Maxwell: Robbie and Alexandra told me what you need to fix up the old library. I am planning to write an editorial that I think will help you.
Grandpa: Let's go. What are your questions?
Maxwell: OK. Now, I have...first...a couple of questions here. Have you talked to the community council? And have you had an engineer come in to do an inspection?
Maxwell: OK, what do you need most of all?
Grandpa: People power. Men and women, young and old, to give us their time.
Maxwell: To do what?
Joanne: To help scrub the building interior clean.
Nat: So that we can repaint it.
Maxwell: And you also need bodies to do repainting?
Grandpa: That's right. And we'll also need some ladders and some brushes and some paint.
Maxwell: When do you need the volunteers, and where do they report?
Grandpa: I've got the council to agree to open the building for us on the next four weekends.
Maxwell: How about furnishings? Are there any special requirements that I should list in the paper?
Joanne: Yes. Here is a copy of all the things we need to start with.
Maxwell: Let's see. Four desks. Eight straight-back chairs. Thirty folding chairs. Six table lamps. Three end tables .One piano. This is a good start. These items shouldn't be difficult to come by once I print the article in the paper. This community has always been very generous.
Grandpa: I agree, Mr. Maxwell.
Maxwell: What you're saying is, in order for this center to succeed, we need to put together volunteers from the various generations of future users.
Grandpa: That's right.
Nat: And without their energy and stamina, there's no way we can complete this project.
Maxwell: I've got it. Now give m some information about how you see the building being used.
Joanne: Oh, here. On the ground floor we have the reception area...
Grandpa: It's here, Robbie. Charles Maxwell lived up to his word. "At the Stewart family home on Linden street yesterday, a group of caring Riverdale citizens gathered to plan the refurbishing of the old library to transform it into a new community center. The original plan by the council was tabled because of lack for funds.The new plan needs you . You could call it a community unity plan. It needs your time, and it needs your energy. And it needs your contributions of furniture, paint, brushes, ladders, lamps, et cetera. A list of these items and a volunteer form can be picked up at the Riverdale Press offices. By working together, this community can do anything to benefit its citizens, and we know you will all work together towards refurbishing the old library and making it a new community center. Charles Maxwell, Editor."

中文译文

社区服务中心
ACT 1
罗比：[他来到廊坪。]爷爷，早上好。有什么事不对劲吗，爷爷？
爷爷：这张报纸上的社论使我的朋友纳特•贝克很不高兴。啊！我来念给你听。“栗树街上的旧图书馆大楼已闲置一年多，原计划改建为社区中心，为里弗代尔的老年公民和年轻人服务。由于缺乏粉刷内部并购置所需家具的资金，建立社区中心的计划已被无限期推迟。”他很快就要来和我谈这个问题。
罗比：爷爷，这是个严重的问题吗？
爷爷：是的。纳特不像我这样幸运，罗比。他家里没有别人在身边，他独自生活，依赖像社区中心这一类的地方来同别人——和他年纪差不多的人——接触。
罗比：在榆树街不是有个旧社区中心吗？
爷爷：那太小了，而且问题是，它主要是为供孩子们游戏而设立的。有乒乓球台、冷饮出售机，还经常放音乐。对于像纳特这样的老年人来讲，那地方太吵闹了。
罗比：我以前没有想到这一点。
爷爷：要某些老年人忍受那样的吵闹声是很痛苦的，因此建立新的社区中心是个好主意。房子的一部分供老年人使用，一部分供年轻人使用。
罗比：我懂你的意思了。
[门铃响了。]
爷爷：准是纳特来了。
罗比：也可能是亚历山德拉，她今天上午要过来帮我学数学。[他去开门。]
亚历山德拉：嗨，罗比。
罗比：嗨，亚历山德拉，进来吧。你想喝点冷饮吗？
亚历山德拉：请给我一杯可乐。
罗比：可乐马上就来。我真感谢你过来帮我学数学，我星期二就要期末考试了。
亚历山德拉：你别的科目都成绩很好。我简直无法理解你为什么数学方面有那么多困难。
爷爷：[他进入厨房。]嗨，亚历山德拉。
亚历山德拉：嗨，斯图尔特先生。
爷爷：我还以为前门按电铃的是纳特•贝克呢，别让我打扰你们。
罗比：没关系，爷爷。我们喝点可乐就去碰那令个头痛的问题——数学。
亚历山德拉：他光会想方设法逃避数学功课，斯图尔特先生。
爷爷：我当年也是这样。
罗比：爷爷，真的吗？
爷爷：真的。我那时不喜欢数学，我数学学得不好，也不喜欢钻研它。
罗比：可是你一定得数学学得很棒才行啊，你是从工学院毕业的。
爷爷：我数学学得不错，可在中学时候不行。不知为了什么原因，我就是抓不到数学的窍门。后来上了大学，我数学就学好了。
亚历山德拉：那么说罗比还有希望。
罗比：我迫不及待了，你认为我能不能现在就把数学跳过去，到上了大学再认真学它？
亚历山德拉：罗比，如果你现在把数学跳过去，你将永远上不了大学，也就永远无法弄清楚是否学得好了。
[门铃响了。]
爷爷：一定是纳特来了。[他去开门。]
亚历山德拉：罗比，坐下来吧，咱们开始干正事。
爷爷：[他同纳特•贝克一起进来了。]我想让你们认识一下我的朋友纳特•贝克。这是亚历山德拉•派巴斯，这是我的孙子罗比，我想你以前见过他一两次。
亚历山德拉：认识你很高兴，贝克先生。
罗比：嗨，贝克先生。我们以前见过面。
纳特：在哪儿见的？
罗比：在镇上，五金商店。
纳特：我想起来了，对，嗨。[对亚历山德拉说]你好，亚历山德拉。
爷爷：别让我们妨碍你们的数学辅导，罗比。我知道你们想快点开始。
罗比：先别去……留一下。
亚历山德拉：我早就告诉过你了，他会利用一切借口来躲避数学功课的。
纳特：马尔科姆，你看了报上那段消息吗？
爷爷：我看了。
纳特：这对我们很多人来说是一件严重的事情，一件严重的事情。
爷爷：是的，出来到廊坪上来，我们到那儿谈这件事。
纳特：谢谢。[对罗比说]很高兴再次认识你。
亚历山德拉：出了什么问题？
罗比：来吧！你听听就知道了。[他同亚历山德拉向廊坪走去。]

ACT 2
纳特：有一个办法，马尔科姆，我们可以找我们的朋友，大家一起卷起袖子干起来。
爷爷：这真正是个好主意。如果我能去看一看那个地方，我或许能够判断要把它整修好都需要什么，要多少油漆涂料，多少工时……
纳特：我就是来找你干这个的，马尔科姆。如果你肯监督整修的工作，我就去找人帮忙干。
罗比：我也愿意帮忙，贝克先生。我可以找我一些朋友在邻里四处转转，收集一些我们需要的家具。
亚历山德拉：我也愿意帮忙。
爷爷：明天就干。对，我们明天上午开个会，就在这儿。
罗比：我们能帮忙吗？
亚历山德拉：我真愿意帮忙。
爷爷：当然了。
纳特：罗比，我们可能会需要你把你的朋友们找来，不光是在邻里四处求人给家具，而且还要帮忙油漆粉刷。那是很累人的活儿，我们老头们可能干不下来。
罗比：我去找他们，和他们谈。
亚历山德拉：明天上午我们就在这儿开会讨论计划吗？
爷爷：就决定在明天上午吧。
次日上午，爷爷在厨房里，他在等侯纳特的朋友还有罗比的朋友到来。
[门铃响了。]
爷爷：[他去开门。]进来，进来，请进。
纳特：我想让你认识一下我的朋友马尔科姆•斯图尔特。马尔科姆，这是琼•汤普森。
爷爷：你好，琼。[他同她握手。]很高兴认识你。
琼：我很高兴认识你，马尔科姆。
纳特：这位是艾贝•卢卡斯，你一定记得艾贝，他过去经营那家杂货店，常在周末在爵士乐队中当鼓手。
爷爷：噢，我当然记得，嗨，艾贝。[他同艾贝握手。]
艾贝：你好，斯图尔特先生。
爷爷：请叫我马尔科姆吧。
艾贝：你好，马尔科姆。
爷爷：请坐，请坐，喝咖啡吧，我还为你们准备了一些可口的丹麦点心。
纳特：你的孙子罗比和他的朋友亚历山德拉在哪儿？他们不是也要参加今天上午的会吗？
爷爷：我本来也以为是要来的，他们没有来，我感到很意外。罗比今天一大早就去接亚历山德拉了。坦白说，我本以为他们会来到这儿的，可是……
纳特：没有关系，我确信他们本意是好的，不过他们可能还有别的事。
琼：听说你过去从事建筑业，马尔科姆。
爷爷：是的，的确是这样。
琼：我想知道你肯不肯去看一下旧图书馆大楼，确认它状况良好，好让我们不必为任何结构上的问题担心。
爷爷：我什么时候可以去看？我很愿意去。
艾贝：我们已经获准在不是周末的日子到那老房子里去——星期二或星期三都行。
爷爷：我没问题，这两天中哪一天我都可以去。
琼：那将对我们很有利。
纳特：我认为那房子只是需要好好打扫一下。
艾贝：还要好好粉刷油漆一遍。
琼：然后我们得给它放上家具。
爷爷：罗比和亚历山德拉要是来开会就好了，他们对怎样装修这个地方有些主意。
琼：也许一会儿他们会来的，现在请允许我把我的一些另外的想法和主意告诉你们。
爷爷：好吧。
纳特：请讲吧，琼。
琼：正如我说过的那样，那楼房主要只缺好好打扫一下。
稍过了一会儿。
纳特：这个地点可以依照一个真正的把几代人都包括在内的计划建设起来。
爷爷：我喜欢这个想法，一个开展适合所有人的活动计划的社区中心。
纳特：这些活动计划要不使任何人被排除在外。
琼：这样做工作相当艰巨，但是我们不同年轻人谈一谈就无法这样做，要弄清楚他们想要什么。
爷爷：要是罗比和亚历山德拉在这儿就好了。
纳特：甭着急，马尔克姆，我们以后会有机会同他们谈的。
爷爷：罗比平常不是这样的，如果他说来，就一定会来，我不知道发生了什么问题。

ACT 3
罗比：大家好。对不起，我来晚了。可是亚历山德拉和我今天上午一直忙着搞社区中心的项目，我们还带来了一位能帮助我们的人。爷爷，你还记得查尔斯•马克斯韦尔吗？他是里弗代尔报纸的编辑，妈妈竞选联合校董会董事的时候，他写过几篇很友好的有关妈妈的文章。
爷爷：是的，我记得，你当时对她帮助很大。
马克斯韦尔：嗨，斯图尔特先生，我希望在新的社区中心的项目上我能起更大的作用。我从罗比和亚历山德拉所说的话里知道，你们各位正筹划着造一条大新闻。
爷爷：让我给你介绍一下，马克斯韦尔先生。这是纳特•贝克，他是负责召集这次会议的人，这是琼•汤普森——还有艾贝•卢卡斯，他过去经营镇上的杂货店。
马克斯韦尔：罗比和亚历山德拉对我讲了你们修整旧图书馆楼都需要什么，我计划要就此写一篇社论，我想它能对你们有帮助的。
爷爷：我们这就开始说正事，你请提问题吧。
马克斯韦尔：好吧。首先……我这儿有两三个问题。你们和镇议会谈过了吗？还有，你们是否已找过一位工程师来检查一下？
稍后。
马克斯韦尔：好，你们最需要的是什么？
爷爷：人力。男子和妇女，年轻人和老年人，我们需要他们把业余时间给我们。
马克斯韦尔：做什么事？
琼：帮助把大楼内部刷洗干净。
纳特：好让我们重新刷一遍油漆和白灰。
马克斯韦尔：你们还需要劳力搞刷油漆的活儿？
爷爷：对。我们还需要梯子、刷子和油漆。
马克斯韦尔：你们什么时候需要志愿工作人员来，他们到哪儿报到？
爷爷：我已经使镇议会同意在今后四个周末为我们开放旧图书馆楼。
马克斯韦尔：家具的事怎么样？有没有要我在报纸上列举的特殊需求？
琼：有。这张单子上开的是我们一开始所需要的家具设备。[她递给他一张单子。]
马克斯韦尔：让我看看。四张书桌，八把直背椅，三十张折叠椅，六个台灯，三张茶几，一架钢琴。
这是个很好的开端，一旦我把文章在报上刊登出来，这些东西应该不难弄到，我们这个社区一向是慷慨为怀的。
爷爷：马克斯韦尔先生，我同意这个看法。
马克斯韦尔：你们刚才说的是，为了要使这个社区中心取得成功，我们需要从未来使用中心的各个不同年龄层的人中聚集志愿工作者。
爷爷：是这样。
纳特：没有他们的力量和干劲，我们是无法完成这个项目的。
马克斯韦尔：我都明白了。现在请跟我说一下你们设想这大楼将如何利用。
琼：噢，请看这个。[她拿一张设计平面图给他看。]在一层我们有个接待区……
次日，爷爷在廊坪上，他在阅读报上查尔斯•马克斯韦尔的社论。他读着的时候，屏幕上出现人们油漆新的社区中心并布置家具的场面。
爷爷：在这儿，罗比，查尔斯•马克斯韦尔说到做到。[他给罗比念社论。]“昨天在林登大街斯图尔特家住宅内，有一批里弗代尔的关心公益的公民聚集在一起，计划重新修整旧图书馆，把它改建为一个新的社区中心。原先镇议会所订的计划由于缺乏经费而无限期搁置，新的计划需要你们。你可以称这个计划为社区团结计划，它需要你们的时间，也需要你们的精力，它还需要你们捐赠家具、油漆、刷子、梯子、灯具等等。有关这些东西的单子和申请参加志愿工作的表格可到《里弗代尔报》报社索取。我们社区通过共同努力，可以为本社区公民的福利有所建树，我们知道读者们都愿意共同努力修整旧图书馆楼，将它建成为新的社区中心。编者查尔斯•马克斯韦尔。”