《走遍美国》Family Album U.S.A 第06集
走遍美国是我认为最优秀的口语教材之一，由美国新闻总署赞助，美国麦克米伦公司制作。在数十位英语专家和作者通力合作之下，费了8年（1983-1991）的时间，才制作完成这部划时代的巨作。虽然教材有点久远，但是对于练习口语还是非常的有帮助，大家可以通过以下步骤进行学习。
Harry离开后，Susan把他们点的饭菜打包回家里和Marilyn共享。她和Marilyn一边吃东西，一边谈论Harry。虽然Harry在第一次约会时就中途离开，Susan却对他的印象不错。突然，有人敲门，来访者居然是Harry。
Marilyn: What happened?
Susan: The baby-sitter called. His daughter is sick.
Marilyn: What's wrong?
Susan: I think she has a stomachache. He's a good father.
Marilyn: So...what do you think of him?
Susan: He's very nice. But I think he was nervous tonight. It was his first date in two years.
Marilyn: Will you see him again?
Susan: I hope so.
Marilyn: This food is delicious.
Susan: He didn't get a thing to eat.
Marilyn: You ordered enough for three or four people, but I'm not complaining. The food is delicious.
Susan: Who is that?
Marilyn: Do you think it's...
Susan: No. [She goes to the door and looks through the peephole] You won't believe it, Marilyn!
Marilyn: I believe it. Even without looking.
【语言点精讲】
1. What happened?怎么了？出什么事了？Marilyn随后问的 "What's wrong?"也是同样的意思。
2. What do you think of him?你觉得他怎么样？Marilyn实际想知道Susan对Harry的印象。这里的"think of"是“对…有(某种)看法”的意思。
3. I hope so.我希望如此。在这里相当于"I hope to see him again. "（我希望还能见到他。）
4. He didn't get a thing to eat.相当于 "He didn't eat anything."（他什么也没吃。）Susan鼓励Harry回家去照顾生病的女儿在先，又惦念他未吃饭。注意她在说这句话时的语气，关心挂念的心情溢于言表。
5. I'm not complaining.我不在意。常在非正式场合使用。也可以说"It's not a problem for me."
6. Do you think it's...Marilyn想说的是"Do you think it's Harry?"（会不会是Harry？），Marilyn期待着Susan来回答，所以她省略了句子的后一半。
ACT 3-2 “抱歉，我失陪了。”
Susan把Harry请入房间，Harry加入了她和Marilyn的晚餐。随后，Marilyn知趣的起身告辞，留给Susan和Harry一段独处的时间。
Harry: Hi!
Susan: How... ?
Harry: Your downstairs neighbor let me in.
Susan: Did you go home?
Harry: I did, but everything is OK, so I decided to come back. To apologize for leaving so early, I brought you a little gift. It's a bonsai tree for your new apartment. Hi, Marilyn. I hope it's not too late.
Marilyn: Oh, not at all. We're still eating.
Susan: Please,come in. Join us. It's our meal from the restaurant. And how is your daughter?
Harry: Oh, she's fine. It was only a tummy ache.
Susan: It's good that you went back.
Harry: Yes, I think it's important for me to be there since her mother died.
Susan: I agree.Aren't you hungry?
Harry: As a matter of fact... I am hungry.
Marilyn: There's lots of food left.
Harry: Mmm, this is delicious!
Susan: Enjoy!
Marilyn: I'm going to excuse myself. I have a lot of work to do to get ready for tomorrow. Good night, Harry. It was nice meeting you.
Harry: Bye,Marilyn.
Marilyn: Good night, Susan.
【语言点精讲】
1. How...?这句话实际上要问"How did you go inside the building? "Harry明白Susan要问什么，所以没等Susan说完，他已回答了"Your downstairs neighbor let me in."（你楼下的邻居放我进来的。）
2. To apologize for leaving so early, I brought you a little gift.为了就早走了一步向你道歉，我给你带来一件小小的礼品。To appologize for... 为了就某事道歉...
3. It's a bonsai tree for your new apartment.bonsai tree是指“盆栽，盆景”。美国人有时喜欢送给朋友一盆绿色的盆景来向朋友表示希望友谊长存。
4. I think it's important for me to be there since her mother died.我认为我在场是很重要的，因为她母亲不在了。since在这里是“因为，由于，既然”的意思。
5. Aren't you hungry?你一定饿了吧？因为Susan知道Harry没有吃晚饭，所以她没有问"Are you hungry?"，而是用了反问句，意思相当于You must be hungry.
6. There's lots of food left.在口语中，以 There 开始，表示“有...”的句子，常用单数形式there's，尽管后面接的有可能是复数名词。这是语言自然演变所致。书面语中仍宜区分。
ACT 3-3 “ 你生活中还有别的女人吗？”
客厅里只留下了Susan和Harry，他们的谈话涉及到了更多的私人问题。
Susan: She's going to a fashion show here in the city tomorrow. She is sleeping here so she won't have to travel from Riverdale in the morning.
Harry: You two must be close.
Susan: We are. The whole Stewart family is close.
Harry: I like that.
[Later that evening...]
Harry: And then, two years ago, my wife died.
Susan: You missher.
Harry: I do...yes, but I have Michelle...and with time...
Susan: Is there anyone else in your life?
Harry: No, not yet. What about you?
【语言点精讲】
1. She's going to a fashion show here in the city tomorrow.be going to表示在最近的将来预定或按计划要作的事。fashion show: 时装表演。
2. You two must be close.你们两个一定很要好。must be 表示一种肯定的推测。close在这里的意思是“亲密的，关系好的”。
3. I have Michelle...and with time..."and with time..." 随着时间的流逝，相当于"as time goes by."
4. Is there anyone else in your life?这句话是在委婉的问" Do you have a special woman or girlfriend in your life? "（你生活中还有别的女人吗？）
5. What about you? 你呢？这句话通常用来反问对方。在本语境中，意思是"Do you have a special man or boy friend in your life?"（你有没有男朋友？）
ACT 3-4 “这是不是说我以后可以再见到你？”
Harry和Susan聊到了半夜。Harry起身告辞。在Harry离开前，Susan给出了希望进一步交往下去的暗示。Harry在离开时撞倒了Susan放在门外的雨伞架。
Harry: Ooh, speaking of keeping busy -I have an early start tomorrow, and the baby-sitter has to get home. Where did the time go? It's midnight. Thank you, Susan. I had an ice evening.
Susan: Me too,Harry. Harry?
Harry: Yes?
Susan: I'd like to meet your daughter someday.
Harry: Does that mean that I can see you again?
Susan: Of course.
Harry: Wonderful. I'll call you, and we'll go out to dinner.
Susan: Please do.
Harry: I promise I won't leave early.
Susan: It was for a good reason.
Harry: You know something?
Susan: What?
Harry: I think we're going to be good friends. Good night, Susan.
Susan: Good night, Harry. Have a safe trip home.
Susan: Are you all right?
Harry: Sorry.
Susan: I never liked that umbrella stand. Good night, Harry.
【语言点精讲】
1. Ooh, speaking of keeping busy...speaking of，提到。用以转换话题的惯用语。
2. Where did the time go?时间到哪里去了？时间过得真快。
3. Does that mean that I can see you again? 这是不是说我以后可以再见到你？"Does that mean that ...?"（这是不是不说...？这是不是意味着...?）用来向别人确认一件事或者一种说法。
4. You know something? 这是一种引起话题的说法。意思为“你知道吗？我想告诉你一件事。”这句话是"Do you know something?"的口语形式。
5. I think we're going to be good friends. be going to do，将会，表示比较短时期内的未来可以推定会发生的事或预订要做的事。注意Harry的发的是它的口语音：gonna
6. I never liked that umbrella stand. 我一直不大喜欢那个伞架。如果有人不小心碰倒或摔坏了我们的东西，我们常讲: "I never liked it." 或 "I never liked it anyway."，为的是让对方不感到太尴尬。如果客人吃饭时摔了盘子，我们可以说: "I never liked that dish anyway."umbrella stand: 伞架。