婚姻生活‏

Peggy is looking a little gloomy today and Patrick, her co-worker, goes over to see if he can cheer her up. Peggy 今天看起來有點憂鬱，而她同事 Patrick 過去試著要安慰她一下。
Patrick: Why the long face?Patrick：為什麼扳著一副臉孔呢？
Peggy: My husband just got transferred to China.
Peggy：我丈夫剛調到中國。
Patrick: When does he leave?
Patrick：他何時離開呢？
Peggy: He has already left. He left last night.
Peggy：他昨晚就離開了。
Patrick: Is the transfer temporary or permanent?
Patrick：這是暫時還是長期調度呢？
Peggy: I'm not sure. All I know is that he will come back once every couple of months for the time being.
Patrick：我不確定。我所知道的是，目前他只能每隔幾個月才回來一趟。
Patrick: Ouch! That could put a strain on your marriage.
Patrick：噢！那樣的話，你們的婚姻真的會受到衝擊。
Peggy: I know. I'm afraid that we'll grow apart or that he'll cheat on me.
Peggy：我知道。我怕我們關係會愈來愈遠，或是他會對我不忠。
Patrick: Yeah. I heard that most Taiwanese men who work in China have a mistress or a girlfriend.
Patrick：嗯，我聽說大部分在中國的台商都會包二奶或是交女友。
Peggy: I don't know what to do.
Peggy：我不知道該怎麼辦。
Patrick: Did you talk it over with him before he left and tell him your feelings?
Patrick：在他離開之前，你有跟他討論過這個問題，以及告訴他你的感受嗎？
Peggy: Yes, but he said that he didn't have a choice because jobs were getting more and more scarce.
Peggy：有啊，但他說他沒有選擇，因為工作愈來愈難找了。
Patrick: Why don't you move to China?
Patrick：你何不搬去中國？
Peggy: We have an apartment here and a mortgage to pay. We are considering selling it, but the real estate market has really cooled off lately.
Peggy：我們在這居住的公寓還有貸款要付。我們正考慮賣掉它，但房地產市場最近真的很不景氣。
Patrick: Well, let me know if there's anything I can do for you.
Patrick：嗯，如果需要我為你做什麼的話，跟我說一聲。
Peggy: Thanks. I will.
Peggy：謝謝，我會的。

重要字詞講解：

1. mortgage (n.) 抵押借款 例：We have an apartment here and a mortgage to pay. （我們在這有一座公寓，而且還有貸款要付。） 例：They have paid off the mortgage. （他們已歸還抵押借款。） 2. scarce (adj.) 缺乏的 例：He said that he didn't have a choice because jobs were getting more and more scarce. （他說他沒有選擇，因為工作愈來愈難找了。） 例：Food and fuel were scarce. （食物和燃料都很缺乏。） 3. mistress (n.) 情婦 例：I heard that most Taiwanese men who work in China have a mistress or a girlfriend. （我聽說大部分在中國工作的台商都會包二奶或是交女友。） 例：He has a mistress in China. （他在中國有個情婦。） 4. strain (n.) 緊張狀態 例：That could put a strain on your marriage. （那可能造成你們的婚姻關係緊張。） 例：This could put a strain on our relationship. （這可能造成我們的關係緊張。） 5. transfer (n.) 調任 例：Is the transfer temporary or permanent? （這是暫時的還是長期調度呢？） 例：He wants a transfer to another team. （他想轉到另一隊。） 　小試身手 I have paid the _____. Books and pens were _____. He wants a _____ to another school. （我已付了抵押借款。） （書本和筆都很缺乏。） （他想轉到別校去。） 請 先 練 習 再 看 解 答 ☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆ 解答 I have paid the mortgage. Books and pens were scarce. He wants a transfer to another school. 相關實用句型解析 1. 暫時／目前 　　 for the time being 例：All I know is that he will come back once every couple of months for the time being. （我所知道的是，目前他只能每隔幾個月才回來一趟。） 例：：Let's buy a smaller house for the time being. （我們暫時買小一點的房子吧!） ※ 小叮嚀： 可以用 "for now" 或 "for the moment" 取代。 2. （關係）愈來愈遠 　　 主詞 + grow apart 例：I'm afraid that we'll grow apart or that he'll cheat on me. （我怕我們關係會愈來愈遠，或是他會對我不忠。） 例：We really grow apart after graduating. （畢業之後我們的關係越來越遠了。） 小試身手 1. 你必須暫時留在這裡。 _____________________________________________________________________ 2. 我並不在乎我們關係變得越來越遠。_____________________________________________________________________ 請 先 練 習 再 看 解 答 ☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆ 解答 1. You'll have to stay here for the time being. 2. I don't care about we growing apart.

Patrick and Ada are having a chat about marriage, and they are giving their opinions on marrying someone from a different country. Patrick 和 Ada 正聊到婚姻的事；他們正對異國婚姻表達各自的意見。
Patrick: Would you ever consider marrying a foreigner?Patrick：你有沒有想過嫁給外國人呢？
Ada: Why not? As long as I'm in love with that person, I don't care where he comes from.
Ada：有何不可？只要我真的愛那個人，我不在乎他從哪裡來。
Patrick: That's what I thought at first, but now I'm starting to have doubts.
Patrick：我起初也是那麼想，但我現在開始懷疑了。
Ada: Why do you say that?
Ada：為何你會這麼說呢？
Patrick: Because I have many friends who are married to women from here, and I've heard a lot of horror stories.
Patrick：因為我有許多朋友娶這裡的女人，而我聽到很多可怕的故事。
Ada: Come on! They were probably just exaggerating.
Ada：別這樣嘛！他們可能誇大其詞了！
Patrick: I don't think so. One of my best friend's spouse seems to be psycho! She has these terrible mood swings and he really has to watch out what he says to her. He never knows if he's going to say something that might set her off. He says that he always feels like he's "walking on eggshells".
Patrick：我不這麼認為。我有一個要好的朋友，他的另一半似乎是神經病！她的情緒總是捉摸不定，所以我朋友真的要很小心對她說話。他從不知道他說的話是否可能會惹毛她。他說他總是有「如履薄冰」的感覺。
Ada: That's just one couple. I think that you' re just generalizing!
Ada：那只是這對夫婦的個案。我覺得你將它一概而論了！
Patrick: No way! I've got many other examples to back up my opinion! I have three other friends who are in the same boat.
Patrick：才沒有呢！我有許多例子可支持我的論點！我還有三位朋友也是同樣遭遇。
Ada: But maybe those guys are to blame! You've only heard one side of the story.
Ada：但可能是這些傢伙活該！你只聽到故事的其中一面。
Patrick: Maybe you're right. But there's no doubt in my mind that you should really think twice before making a life-long commitment.
Patrick：也許你是對的。但我十分確定在許下終身承諾前，應該三思而後行。

重要字詞講解：

1. foreigner (n.) 外國人 例：Would you ever consider marrying a foreigner? （你有沒有想過嫁給外國人呢？） 例：The foreigner is his wife. （這位外國人是他的太太。） 2. exaggerate (v.) 誇大其詞 例：They were probably just exaggerating. （他們可能誇大其詞了！） 例：He always exaggerates. （他總愛誇張。） 3. spouse (n.) 配偶 例：One of my best friend's spouse seems to be psycho! （我一個好友的另一半似乎是神經病！） 例：Their spouses are not teachers. （他們的配偶不是老師。） 4. generalize (v.) 泛論 例：I just think that you're just generalizing! （我認為你只是把它普遍化！） 例：This teacher is always generalizing. （這位老師上課總是泛泛而談。） 5. couple (n.) 夫婦 例：That's just one couple. （那只是一對夫婦。） 例：The young couple decided to start their tour tomorrow. （那對年輕夫婦決定明天開始旅遊。） 　小試身手 A: That _____'s _____ is a Japanese. The _____ is very young. B: You're too _____. Both of them are fifty years old. （A: 那位外國人的配偶是日本人。這對夫婦非常年輕。B: 你太誇大其詞了，他們兩人都 50 歲了。） 請 先 練 習 再 看 解 答 ☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆ 解答 A: That foreigner's spouse is a Japanese. The couple is very young. B: You're too exaggerating. Both of them are fifty years old. 相關實用句型解析 1. 把某人惹毛 　　 to set sb. off 例：He never knows if he's going to say something that might set her off. （他從不知道他說的話是否可能會惹毛她。） 例：：I am afraid what I just said has set her off. （我怕我剛才說的話已經把她惹毛了。） ※ 小叮嚀： "to set off" 原指「引爆...／使...爆炸」。 2. 共患難 　　 be in the same boat 例：I have three other friends who are in the same boat. （我還有三位朋友也是同樣遭遇。） 例：We're all in the same boat, so let's not criticize each other. （我們現在正共患難當中，不要在批評彼此了。） 小試身手 1. 你一但把他惹毛了，他可能採取報復手段。 _____________________________________________________________________ 2. 真正的朋友會與你共患難。_____________________________________________________________________ 請 先 練 習 再 看 解 答 ☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆ 解答 1. Once you set him off, he will probably take revenge. 2. True friends are in the same boat with you.