Ashley: Oh shoot! Its almost time for computer club, and I still need to transfer all the updated software to my external hard drive before I go.
Joe: That sounds annoying.
Ashley: Not at all! I actually never knew how interesting computer science was until I joined this club. Now, Im learning all kinds of stuff that I can use when I eventually enter the job market.
Joe: That makes sense. Ive been learning a lot too, from my fellow 1)choir group members.
Ashley: Thats surprising to hear, coming from the guy who once claimed to be “the best musician in the world!”
Joe: Alright, dont remind me. ①I guess coming to college, as an 2)accomplished high-school 3)soloist, I was kind of a know-it-all. But I really have learned a lot about 4)harmonization, both musically and otherwise.
Ashley: How so?
Joe: You mean musically? Well, when one person sings the first note of an 5)octave, and someone else sings the third…
Ashley: No no no, I mean in what other ways can you use harmonization?
Joe: Oh! Sorry about that. ②Im sure all that musical 6)terminology goes right over your head.
Ashley: Yeah, when you start to talk about musical terms, I pretty much just zone out. But I am interested to know how you can use group singing harmonies for real-life lessons.
Joe: Well, before I joined the choir group I was just a selfish solo singer and 7)instrumentalist. Now Ive learned that it takes teamwork to make a beautiful sound. And it takes a group of people with the same goal to accomplish something that is truly 8)spectacular. Working together with like-minded people, you can achieve successes you never even dreamed about!
Ashley: And you learned all that from a simple extra-curricular activity?
Joe: Yes, but its far from simple. Creating perfect harmony takes countless hours of practice and an ability to adapt to things that are happening around you.
Ashley: ③I think I get where youre coming from. You mean that if someone is able to adjust their attitude a little bit when people around them are doing something different, it can create a general sense of harmony. Is that right?
Joe: ④Hehe, I think youre getting the hang of it, and you didnt need to sing a single note!
Ashley: ⑤Thank heavens! If you heard my singing voice, it would create whatever the opposite of harmony is!
Joe: You mean 9)discord.
Ashley: Dont start in with the musical terms again. ⑥Youre gonna put me right to sleep, and Id miss my computer club. ⑦Speaking of which, Ive gotta get going. See ya later Pavarotti!
Joe: Later Ms. Bill Gates.
Ashley: Ew. Id be Ms. Jobs if anything.
Joe: Why?
Ashley: Bill Gates is kinda creepy. And Mac has a better 10)interface.
Smart Sentences
① I guess coming to college, as an accomplished high-school soloist, I was kind of a know-it-all.我想作為一個在高中有才華的獨奏家,來到大學(xué),我是有點自以為是。
know-it-all: sb. who thinks he knows everything and refuses to accept advice or information from others(自以為無所不知的人)。例如:
Wherever you go, you can always find an annoying know-it-all.不管到哪兒,總能碰到一個討人嫌的自以為是的人。
② Im sure all that musical terminology goes right over your head. 我想你沒搞明白那些的音樂術(shù)語。
go right over sbs head: too difficult to understand(無法弄明白)。例如:
Im afraid what he said at the meeting went right over my head.我恐怕沒搞明白他在會上說的話。
③ I think I get where youre coming from. 我想我明白你的意思了。
where sb. comes from: sb.s thought results from(某人想法的源頭)。例如:
Can you explain your point again? Im not sure I understand where you are coming from.
你能再解釋一下你的觀點嗎?我好像不明白你是怎么得出這個看法的。
④ Hehe, I think youre getting the hang of it, and you didnt need to sing a single note! 呵呵,我想你懂了,你不需要唱一個音符!
get the hang of sth.: succeed in learning how to do sth.(掌握某事的竅門)。例如:
After three weeks of using this new software, I think Ive finally got the hang of it.
用了這個新軟件三周后,我想我終于學(xué)會了。
⑤ Thank heavens! 感謝上帝!
Thank heavens: used to indicate you are very relieved about sth.(用以表示你對某事得到解脫的心情)。例如:
Thank heavens! We got here. What a trip!
謝天謝地,我們到了。真不容易!
⑥ Youre gonna put me right to sleep, and Id missd my computer club. 你快讓我睡著了,我錯過了計算機(jī)協(xié)會的時間了。
put sb. to sleep: bore sb.(讓人厭煩)。例如:That dull lecture put me to sleep.
那個沉悶的講演讓我昏昏欲睡。
⑦ Speaking of which, Ive gotta get going.說到這里,我要走了。
speaking of which: used to refer to sth. just mentioned(用以指剛剛提到的事)。例如:
Mom said she needs to borrow my camera tomorrow.
Speaking of which, I need to charge the battery.
老媽說明天要用我的相機(jī)。說到這個,我得去給電池充電了。
get going: depart(離開)。例如:
Ive gotta get going. Its late.
我得走了,太晚了。