【走遍美国精讲笔记】第3课：祖父的行李箱 ACT 2 - 1
ACT 2-1 “这世界真小。”
【故事梗概】
在Stewart一家为祖父Malcolm Stewart的到来而兴奋的同时，Malcolm正在一列由佛罗里达州开往纽约市的火车上。Malcolm坐在车厢里，一位女士Elsa坐到了他的旁边。他们攀谈了起来。原来Elsa也是来自于佛罗里达州的，并且他们的家离得不远。
Elsa: Excuse me. Is this seat taken?
Grandpa: No, it's not taken.
Elsa: Oh, thank you.
Grandpa: Oh, let me help you with this.
Elsa: Oh, thank you.
Grandpa: Do you want to sit by the window?
Elsa: No, no, no. I like the aisle seat better. Please, you sit by the window.
Grandpa: My name is Stewart…Malcolm Stewart. Pleased to meet you.
Elsa: I'm Elsa Tobin. How do you do?
Grandpa: Do you live in New York?
Elsa: No, no. I'm from Florida.
Grandpa: I am, too. But didn't you just get on?
Elsa: No, no. I just changed my seat. A man next to me was smoking, and smoke really bothers me. Where are you from in Florida?
Grandpa: Titusville. It's near Orlando.
Elsa: Small world. I'm from Titusville, too.
Grandpa: Really? What part?
Elsa: My husband and I live near Spaceport.
Grandpa: I know that area. My house is only a few miles from Spaceport. Do you still live there?
Elsa: Oh yes, yes. My husband's there now. He couldn't take time off to come to New York with me. Do you still live there?
Grandpa: No. I sold the house and the furniture, put a few personal things in an old trunk, and shipped it to my children in New York. That's my destination.
【语言点精讲】
1. Excuse me. Is this seat taken?
对不起，这座位有人吗？在美国，如果别人身边有空位置，应征得那人的同意方能落坐。也可这样说- "Excuse me, may I take the seat?"或"Excuse me, anyone sitting here?"
2. Oh,let me help you with this.
让我来帮你吧。这是主动向别人提供帮助时的说法。本情境中，祖父Malcolm主动帮助Elsa把手提箱放到了行李架上。在美国，公共场合主动帮助女士，是男士有教养的表示。
3. I like the aisle seat better. Please, you sit by the window.
我喜欢靠走道的座位。请你坐在窗边吧。
the aisle seat 靠走道的位置。by在这里相当于"next to"。
4. But didn't you just get on?
反问句"Didn't you...?"的意思是“难道你不是…？”，表示问者很有理由相信是这么一回事，相当于 "I think you..., am I right?"
get on -上车，上。 get on可用于火车、公共汽车、飞机等。
5. Small world.
这世界真小。感叹语，熟人邂逅或在外乡遇见同乡人时用。也可以说"It's a small world."
6. He couldn't take time off to come to New York with me.
他脱不开身，不能和我一起上纽约来。
take time off 的意思是“不上班，不去工作，抽出时间，挤出时间”。
