Desperate Housewives 1《绝望主妇》1（精讲之六）

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Mary Alice Young: Of the many suburban rituals, none is quite so cherished as the neighborhood yard sale. The shoppers come to sift through the discarded belongings of someone they don't really know, in the hopes of finding bargains they don't really need, each so determined to save a few pennies, they often miss hidden treasures.

Susan: Hey, Paul.

Paul: Hi, Susan.

Susan: I got to say, I was a little surprised to see Mary Alice's award for sale. She got it for doing charity work, from the Chamber of Commerce.

Paul: Zach and I are moving. We don't need to carry any more with us than is absolutely necessary.

Susan: That makes sense. Still, I just want to make sure you didn't want to keep it, for Zach, something to remember his mother by.

Paul: Zach doesn't need a piece of glass to remember his mother. I'm out of newspaper. Here, let's call it ten bucks for everything.

Susan: Great. Speaking of Zach, I haven't seen him around lately.

Paul: He's been a bit depressed. I thought he could use a change of scenery, so I sent him to stay with relatives.

Susan: Oh, which ones?

Paul: You don't know them.

Susan: So, how'd you get the fat lip?

Paul: The usual way. Asking too many questions.

Gabrielle: Find out where Zach is?

Susan: No, but I can tell you this much. He's not staying with relatives.

Carlos: It's driving me crazy, mama. It could be any one of these guys she's having the affair with.

Mama Solis: No worry about it. I'm not letting her out of my sight.

Carlos: Now, who the hell is that? And look at the way she's touching him. You think that's the guy she's having the affair with?

Mama Solis: Carlos, don't be stupid. A guy she talks to in public isn't someone you're gonna worry about.

Carlos: So it's someone that she doesn't talk to. What do I have to do? Beat up every guy in town?

Mama Solis: Marriage takes work!

Lynette: I'm not surprised that he's playing it close to the vest. Paul knows we're on to him.

Bree: Zach said Mary Alice killed herself because of something that he had done, something bad. Is there anyone else who'd know what he was talking about?

Susan: No. That's why we have to find him. It's the only way we'll know the truth.

Bree: It just doesn't make any sense. Zach is such a sweet kid. I can't imagine him doing anything that terrible.

Gabrielle: Well, he did break into your house. I mean, the kid is obviously troubled in some way.

妙语佳句，活学活用

1. Make sense

是口语中常常出现的片语。Make sense 有两种意思，一种是“可理解的，合理的”，通常用否定形式，例如：This explanation doesn't make sense. 这个解释不合理。

另一个意思是“可行，说得通，合理的”，比如：It makes sense to find out first how many will attend the conference. 先确定一下有多少人会参加会议比较可行。

在片断中，That makes sense.的意思是“有道理”。

2. Have an affair with

常用来形容“韵事”、“关系不长久的恋情”，在文中可理解为“与……有染”、“婚外性关系”。如：Joni feels that her husband has an affair with some woman. 琼尼感觉到丈夫和别的女人有染。

3. Play close to the vest
“把守秘密”的意思。

比如：The thief plays close to the vest no matter how hard the police threaten him. 不管警察怎么威胁，小偷就是不肯把秘密说出来。

4. Be on to

有两种意思，一种是be aware of or have information about，比如：You'll never deceive us again; we're on to you. 你再也不能欺骗我们了。我们知道你的伎俩。另一个意思是 discover something important or profitable，比如：The researchers claim they are really on to something big. 研究者们声称他们发现了一些重要的东西。

文化面面观

Chambers of Commerce 商会

As early as the 1780s, businessmen realized they needed a commercial and trade organization to represent their interests in the wider community. Voluntary associations of local business leaders, usually culled from the service professions, chambers of commerce consider a wide variety of business, cultural, and community challenges. In addition to leadership development and fraternal aspects, chambers of commerce often focus on issues that directly involve local business leaders, such as zoning ordinances, property taxes, commercial development, and public relations efforts at promoting the business interests of the local area.

Chambers of commerce in the United States are modeled after similar organizations in England. Many chambers in older American cities evolved from two preceding associations: the Board of Trade and the Civic Association. While most chambers tackle a broad range of interests, many still cling to their roots and heavily promote trade and civic interests. Chambers of commerce also have an emphasis on charity work and raise money for the local community.

In 1912, a group of business leaders from local and regional chambers and trade associations founded the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. These leaders realized that they needed an organization in Washington, D.C., that would represent their interests regarding public policy issues. In 1926, they built a headquarters in the nation's capital in a building designed by the famous architect Cass Gilbert. By 1929, the chamber had more than 16,000 affiliated business organizations. The group worked closely with the government during World War I, organizing more than 400 War Service Committees to help coordinate business involvement in the war effort. The group remained supportive of the government until the New Deal. Like other business interests, they challenged President Franklin D. Roosevelt's policies, particularly over social security and public welfare. However, during World War II, the chamber once again rallied to aid the nation's efforts. After the war, the chamber once again fought expansion of the federal government and became a powerful lobbying force.

In 2002 there were 3 million businesses represented by the chamber, consisting of 3,000 state and local chambers, more than 800 business associations, and ninety-two American chambers of commerce overseas. Keeping with its tradition of representing local business leaders, 96 percent of its members were small businesses with 100 or fewer employees.

考考你

将下面的句子译成英语。

1. I thought he could use a change of scenery, so I sent him to stay with relatives.
2. How'd you get the fat lip?
3. Marriage takes work!

Desperate Housewives 1《绝望主妇》1（精讲之五）

1. 别再对那家伙抛媚眼了。他是不会在乎你的。
Don't bat your eyes at that guy. He'll just blow you off.

2. 这是新的工程计划，别再搞糟了。
This is the new project plan. No more screw-ups.

3. 你穿那件紧身衣服很好看。
You look beautiful in the form-fitting dress.