流行美語第277課
李華在圖書館里埋頭讀書,為下個月的博士資格考試做準(zhǔn)備。她今天要學(xué)兩個常用語,quals和in the bag.
LL: So, Li Hua, how is the studying for your quals going? I can hardly see you behind those stacks of books.
LH: My qual? 你是說我的資格考試嗎?
LL: That's right - Quals is short for qualifying examinations.
LH: 還可以吧,不過馬上就要考試了,我特別緊張。
LL: Oh? When exactly are your quals, Li Hua?
LH: 下個月!我只有不到一個月的準(zhǔn)備時間了。
LL: One month is still quite a bit of time, Li Hua. What do you have left to do to get ready for your quals?
LH: 讓我想想....我還有好幾本書要讀,而且還要做一些模擬試題。
LL: I know you'll study hard, Li Hua, and you will have no trouble passing your quals.
LH: 謝謝你,Larry。我現(xiàn)在特別需要鼓勵。
LL: Say, Li Hua, you know, doctoral students aren't the only people who have quals.
LH: 什么,不光是博士生要通過資格考試,難道還有其他人嗎?
LL: Athletes have quals, too. For example, if an athlete wants to be part of the Olympic team, he has to make the quals.
LH: 哦,你是說運(yùn)動員啊。他們那叫資格選拔賽,比如說要想代表美國去參加奧運(yùn)會,就要先過選拔賽這一關(guān)。
LL: You are right. The quals that athletes participate in are generally qualifying races or qualifying rounds of sporting events.
LH: 你知道嗎,最近中國隊在世界杯預(yù)選賽中輸給了伊拉克。
LL: That's too bad. I didn't know China had lost. Who made it through the quals?
LH: 我知道入圍的隊有沙特阿拉伯-、伊朗、日本和韓國。
LL: See, you just have to work hard like these winning athletes, Li Hua, and you'll have no problem with your quals.
LH: 好在我的資格考試在教室里就能完成了,我不用去跑馬拉松。
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LL: You really shouldn't worry about the quals, Li Hua. I tell you, you have it in the bag, Li Hua.
LH: Hmmm....我皮包里只有錢夾、鑰匙、墨鏡、手機(jī),怎么會有資格考試呢?
LL: Ha, ha. I didn't mean you *really* had the qualifying exam in your bag, Li Hua. To have something "in the bag" means that you are guaranteed of success.
LH: 我懂了,你說I have the quals "in the bag" 意思就是說沒問題,我肯定能通過。
LL: That's right, Li Hua. You always study so hard. I know you've got it in the bag.
LH: 你真夠朋友!不過,我對這次考試可沒有百分之百的把握??刹皇撬腥硕寄芸歼^的。
LL: Don't think that way, Li Hua! You are going to do great!
LH: 可是你看看中國足球隊。他們原以為穩(wěn)操勝券,結(jié)果卻敗在了伊拉克隊的手下。
LL: Well, it is sometimes true that people *think* they have something in the bag and it doesn't quite turn out the way they thought it would.
LH: 就是說啊。所以,我絕對不能掉以輕心。
LL: But I don't think that is the case with you, Li Hua. Say...I've got some news I've been meaning to share with you.
LH: 有什么好消息嗎?你是不是升職了? is your promotion in the bag?
LL: You know, Li Hua, I think it is in the bag. My boss called me into the office and told me I was first in line for a promotion and that he was very pleased with my work.
LH: 恭喜你!Larry, 看起來你又要請客了。
LL: Thanks, Li Hua. I tell you what, after I find out my promotion is in the bag - and you find out your quals are in the bag, let's go out for a big celebration!
LH: 好,一言為定。
今天李華學(xué)到了兩個常用語。一個是quals, 是資格考試,或是資格選拔賽的意思。另一個是in the bag,,意思是有百分之百的把握。