成人高等教育英语教材第二册10-成人高教英语

UNIT 10

Welcome!

Integrated Skills Development

Dialogues
A. We'd Be Very Happy to Come

Wang Tao is working in a joint venture. His colleague, Bob Anderson, is a technician. He comes from Britain. Wang Tao and his wife, Li Hui, would like to have Bob Anderson and his wife, Anna, over for dinner. Here is the dialogue between Wang Tao and Bob.
Wang Tao: Are you doing anything Saturday evening?
Bob: Nothing special, why?
Wang Tao: We'd like to have you and your wife over for dinner this Saturday evening. Would you be able to come?
Bob: This Saturday evening?
Wang Tao: Yes. We hope you'll be able to join us.
Bob: Thank you for the invitation. We'd be very happy to come.
Wang Tao: Good.
Bob: What time shall we arrive?
Wang Tao: How does 7:00 sound?
Bob: 7:00 is fine. We'll be looking forward to it.

B. We Enjoyed Ourselves Very Much

It's 10:00 p.m., Bob Anderson and his wife, Anna, are about to leave. They express their thanks to Wang Tao and his wife, Li Hui. Here is the dialogue between Bob, Anna, Wang Tao and Li Hui.
Li Hui: Here are your coats.
Bob: Thanks, it's been a marvelous evening. It was very kind of you to invite us.
Wang Tao: Don't mention it. It was nice to see you again.
Anna: Well, we enjoyed ourselves very much.
Wang Tao: I'm glad you could come. You must come again.
Bob: Good night, and thanks again.
Li Hui: Good night. Drive carefully. It's a very wet night.

Passage Accepting an Invitation in America

Once you accept an invitation, it is better not to change your mind. Americans arrange the table and food for the number of guests they have invited.
Americans are particular about time. But they do not expect you to come "on time", rather 15 minutes later than the time specified. For instance, if you are invited to come at six, the host will expect you no earlier than that time and probably no later than fifteen minutes after six.
It is an American custom to show guests around the house, but they do not expect you to touch everything you see. If you are interested in something you see, you should ask for permission to touch it.
At the table, conversation is general, but you should comment about how good the food is. If you truly do not like the food, you may say something about how nice it looks or ask how it is prepared.
Except on a very formal occasion, it is all right to help yourself to more food. Do not wait to be helped every time you finish something. If you truly want something, do not say "No" for the sake of politeness.

New Words and Expressions

colleague
n. 同事，同行

comment
v. 注释；评论，提意见

finish
v. 完成，结束

host
n. 主人；节目主持人

invitation
n. 邀请，请帖

occasion
n. 场合，时刻

permission
n. 允许，答应，同意，许可

politeness
n. 礼貌，斯文，文雅

specify
v. 指定，具体说明，详细说明

technician
n. 技术员，技术人员

have... over
请…过来

change one's mind
改变主意

be particular about
特别讲究…

no later than
不迟于

show... around
领…到处参观

for the sake of
为了

Merry Learning

A Joke

The lecturer had been talking on evolution（进化） for two hours. Then he asked: "If we had tails like a monkey, where are they?"