ACT 2-2 “ 咱们马上谈正事怎么样？”

【故事梗概】

在校友俱乐部的一间办公室里，Philip 和Robbie 见到了密歇根大学的招生主任Charley Rafer。Robbie的面试开始之前，Philip和Charley叙了一会儿旧。

Dean: Philip Stewart! It's great to see you!
Philip: Charley Rafer -- you look as young as ever.
Dean: You must be Robbie.
Robbie: Hi.
Philip: Yes, this is my younger son Robbie. Robbie, I want you to meet one of the best tennis players on the Michigan team -- Charley Rafer.
Robbie: Nice to meet you, Dean Rafer.
Dean: Well, are you as good a tennis player as your dad?
Robbie: No, I'm not very good at it.
Philip: Frankly, neither was I. Charley was the star of the team.
Dean: Yeah. Thanks. Well, how've you been, Philip?
Philip: Oh, working too hard.
Dean: Doesn't show. How's Ellen?
Philip: Fine, thank you. And how's Marge?
Dean: She's still giving the toughest English history exams in the school and loving every minute of it. And speaking of minutes, I have interviews until noon, so why don't we get right to work?
Philip: Can you have lunch with us later?
Dean: I'd love to, Philip, but I'm afraid I can't. I'm only here two days, and I have interviews with twenty-six applicants.
Philip: I understand. Well, thanks. I'll wait outside. Good luck, Son.

【语言点精讲】

1. Charley Rafer -- you look as young as ever.
You look as young as ever: 你看上去还像当年那么年轻。也可以说“You haven’t change a bit.”
“as +形容词或副词+as”句型表示“跟……一样”， 是常见的表示强调的句法。
as…as中间也可以用名词短语，但名词短语中必须有一表示性质的形容词来修饰名词。如Rafer主任说的: Are you as good a tennis player as your dad? （你的网球打得跟你爸一样好吧？）

2. You must be Robbie.
你一定是Robbie吧。must be表示一种有把握的猜测。

3. Frankly, neither was I. Charley was the star of the team.
老实说，我打得也不太好。Charley是我们队的明星选手。
frankly: 坦率地说。也可以说honestly.
neither was I: 我也（打网球打）不好。neither短句表示“某人也不”，用倒装句法。
the star of the team: 一群人中的明星，这里指球队中的明星选手，也可以说“the soul of the team”。star在口语中常作“出色的人”解。

4. Well, how've you been, Philip?
How've you been?: 这些年来你好吗？可以用来问候多年不见的朋友。

6. Doesn't show.
倒是看不出来。用于表示某事、某种状况并不明显。

7. She's still giving the toughest English history exams in the school and loving every minute of it.
她还是在学校里出最难的英国史考试题，且乐此不疲。
the toughest: 最难的，是形容词tough的最高级。
English history: 英语史。这是一门介绍英语演变及发展的课程。
love every minute of it: 形容非常享受作某事的样子，忙得乐此不疲。

8. And speaking of minutes, I have interviews until noon, so why don't we get right to work?
谈到每一分钟，我面谈一直排到了中午，咱们马上谈正事怎么样？
speaking of: 说起……来。转移话题或开辟新话题时常用的开场白。
get right to: 马上开始。