Lesson Four
Key Verbs 关键动词：
afford 买得起，承担得起
announce 宣布，郑重地说，通报
apologize 道歉，深感歉意，谢罪
For the laptops，I suggest you buy a new model of Dell which has a long battery life and very high speed.
——Oh，no.I didn't mean I don't want a Dell.It's just that I can't afford it.I want one with good quality，but it must be less expensive.And it should be user-friendly.
Did you ever think of buying a second-hand house then？
——Yes.It's a little cheaper but it'll cost more in down payments.We can't afford it either.
I can't afford to pay that much right now.May I pay by installments？
——Yes，you may，but you have to fill out another form.
Five hours overtime！Godness！That's tough indeed.Do you think your health can afford it.
——I don't care.I need money.I haven't paid into my insurance plan for months.
Luckily，the House of Representatives announced that it has reached a compromise on just how to pay for the costly reform measure.
——Yeah.But the President still needs to take campaign.The plan is losing popular support.
Jim，what's the news on today's Morning Channel？
——The city authority announced plans to build more greenways to encourage local people and travelers to ride bicycles.
John，I heard that you're going to be in charge of sales department.Is it true？
——Yes，but it has not been announced.So，I still have to wait and see.
Hi，waiter，my steak is too raw.I just ordered mine well done.But this one here is almost medium.
——I'm sorry.I'll bring you another one.I'd like to apologize for our carelessness.
Hello，Mark.We have just received the invoice，but unfortunately we were charged for some things that we didn't order.
——I'm sorry to hear that.Could you please email me the invoice number and the model names of the parts you ordered？I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you.
We are unhappy with your restaurant service.We're badly treated by a rude waiter.He ruined the reputation of your restaurant.
——We do apologize for it.Thanks for your telling us.I'll speak to our manager about it.
Notes to the text 课文注释：
battery life待机时间，电池寿命；good quality质量好；userfriendly用户界面友好；second-hand二手的；down-payment首付款；to pay by installments分期支付；overtime加班；Godness天那！我的老天！；tough难办的，棘手的；insurance保险；luckily好在，幸运地；the House of Representatives众议院；to reach a compromise达成一项妥协方案；the costly reform measure很花钱的改革措施；the president总统，总裁；to take campaign发起一场运动；to lose popular support丧失了民众的支持；the Morning Channel早安频道；the city authority市政当局；greenways绿道；to encourage local people鼓励当地民众；in charge of sales department担当销售部负责人；to wait and see等着瞧；my steak is too raw我的牛排煎得太生；well done（medium）煎老一点（煎得半生不熟）；carelessness做事不仔细；invoice发票；unfortunately不幸的是；to be charged for被付了款；model names型号名称；for the inconvenience caused to you为我们给你方造成的不便；to be treated by a rude waiter受到你方一位粗鲁的服务生的虐待；to ruin the reputation毁了你们的好名声
Practice 练习
Oral Translation 口头汉译英：
我买不起名牌车（famous brand car），它们太贵了。当然名牌车可以开得很快，它们的速度通常可以达到（to achieve）每小时150～200千米。但是，高速在城市的范围内（within city limit）又有什么用？在每一个城市的范围内都有限速（speed limit），一般在市中心（downtown area）是每小时40～50千米，在郊区（outskirts）也最多只能开到70～80千米。在高速公路（super highway）上的限速是100～120千米。只不过，名牌车在红灯转成绿灯时，起步速度（starting speed）要比任何其它汽车快。
昨天市政当局（the city authority）宣布了建设更多绿道的计划，以鼓励市民和游客们骑自行车。这个计划相当好（fairly good），因为骑自行车可以减少对汽车的使用，这是环境保护（to protect the environment）的一个非常重要的方法。但是，问题是，你可以沿着海边或在郊区建造绿道，但这些绿道如何（how can）穿过（to go through）市中心，又如何到达（lead to）游客们想去访问的名胜古迹呢（places of historic interest）？所以市政当局应该制定（to make out）相关（relative）法律来加快（to speed up）绿道的建设。
Paragraphs Recitation 背诵英语口语短文：
Americans are particular about（较真）time.When you are invited anywhere，they always tell you time.They expect you to come on time，that is，within about 20 minutes.For instance（比如），dinner in an American household may be any time between 5 p.m to 8 p.m.，so an American will specify（明确规定）the time when inviting you.He means to come no earlier than that time，and probably no later than15 minutes after that time.If you can't get there on time，it is polite（有礼貌）to call and say you will be late.If you do arrive late，apologize（抱歉）as soon as you arrive.Give a reason for your lateness，then don't worry about it.
University or college campuses（校园）in China can range（范围）from the very small to the very large.The main gate into the campus is usually the East Gate.On campus there would be usual facilities（设施）such as teaching buildings，student dorms，library，sports ground，dining rooms，supermarket，post office and banks.Most students would own（拥有）a bike but often these are stolen（被盗）.Dining rooms are cheap and crowded at the meal times but the food is not of a high quality.There are often many small restaurants outside the campuses.You can eat out for delicious food if you can afford to pay.