Dialogue 16
    FINDING A BABY-SITTER
    laurance--Can you get a baby-sitter for tonight?
    soony--I don't know.Why?
    laurance--Well,I thought we could go out for dinner and then go to a movie afterward.
    soony--I can call Debbie and see if she's available.She usually doesn't like to sit during the week,but she might make an exception.
    laurance--Well,do that,and then call me at the office if you have any luck.
    soony--Okay,but don't get your hopes too high.It's hard to find a good baby-sitter these days.
    注解：
    1）baby-sitter：指臨時為人照看孩子的人。美國很多女中學(xué)生、大學(xué)生課余替人看孩子，掙些零花錢。
    2）sit during the week = baby-sit on weekdays
    3）make an exception：做例外處理。make no exception：概部例外。
    4）if you have any luck = if you are successful;也可直譯為“如果你有運氣能辦成的話”
    ----------------------------------------
    Dialogue 17
    DON'T GET YOUR HOPES TOO HIGH
    laurance--They'll never help us.You know that old saying,"You can't get blood out of a turnip."
    soony--I know,I know.But that's no reason not to ask them.
    laurance--We asked them last year and what did they say?
    soony--actually,they didn't say anything.
    laurance--Yeah.They didn't say anything and they didn't do anything.
    soony--I think they might do something this year.I was talking to Gail last week and I thought I detected a more friendly attitude.
    laurance--There you go with your optimism!Don't get your hopes too high!
    soony--I won't,but it doesn't hurt to expect the best.Sometimes you get it!
    注解：
    1）turnip：蘿卜。
    2）Gail：人名。
    3）detect：察覺。
    4）attitude：態(tài)度。
    5）optimism：樂觀主義（態(tài)度、情緒）
    6）Don't get your hopes too high.=Don't expect too much.
    high是賓語補足語。high hope是“奢望”。
    7）It doesn't hurt to expect for the best：it是形式主語，
    不定式短語to expect for the best是真正的主語。
    ----------------------------------------
    Dialogue 18
    OUT FOR A PICNIC
    laurance--Just look!The day has dawned lovely!
    soony--It certainly looks clear--good day for a picnic.
    laurance--I was thinking the same thing.
    soony--Well,how about it then?
    laurance--Okay by me.How soon do you want to leave?
    soony--Say...in an hour.
    laurance--Make it an hour and a half.We have to take time to get some more food,and besides that I'd like to invite Nancy and Jim.
    soony--Fine.While you're getting things ready in the house,I'll go pack the car.
    注解
    1）dawn：（天）破曉。lovely在句中是起補足語的作用
    2）clear：（天氣）晴朗的。
    3）picnic：野餐。
    4）Say=shall we say：通常是來提建議征求對方意見。
    5）make it：（固定短語）用以約定時間。如：
    ----When shall we meet this afternoon?
    ----Well, let's make it four o'clock.Is that OK?
    6）pack the car：把物品裝入車內(nèi)。