走遍美國精講 ACT 8-1 這世界真小
在Stewart一家為祖父Malcolm Stewart的到來而興奮的同時，Malcolm正在一列由佛羅里達州開往紐約市的火車上。Malcolm坐在車廂里，一位女士Elsa坐到了他的旁邊。他們攀談了起來。原來Elsa也是來自於佛羅里達州的，並且他們的家離得不遠。
Elsa: Excuse me. Is this seat taken?
Grandpa: No, it"s not taken.
Elsa: Oh, thank you.
Grandpa: Oh, let me help you with this.
Elsa: Oh, thank you.
Grandpa: Do you want to sit by the window?
Elsa: No, no, no. I like the aisle seat better. Please, you sit by the window.
Grandpa: My name is Stewart…Malcolm Stewart. Pleased to meet you.
Elsa: I"m Elsa Tobin. How do you do?
Grandpa: Do you live in New York?
Elsa: No, no. I"m from Florida.
Grandpa: I am, too. But didn"t you just get on?
Elsa: No, no. I just changed my seat. A man next to me was smoking, and smoke really bothers me. Where are you from in Florida?
Grandpa: Titusville. It"s near Orlando.
Elsa: Small world. I"m from Titusville, too.
Grandpa: Really? What part?
Elsa: My husband and I live near Spaceport.
Grandpa: I know that area. My house is only a few miles from Spaceport. Do you still live there?
Elsa: Oh yes, yes. My husband"s there now. He couldn"t take time off to come to New York with me. Do you still live there?
Grandpa: No. I sold the house and the furniture, put a few personal things in an old trunk, and shipped it to my children in New York. That"s my destination.
【語言點精講】
1. Excuse me. Is this seat taken?
對不起，這座位有人嗎？在美國，如果別人身邊有空位置，應徵得那人的同意方能落坐。也可這樣說- "Excuse me, may I take the seat?"或"Excuse me, anyone sitting here?"
2. Oh,let me help you with this.
讓我來幫你吧。這是主動向別人提供幫助時的說法。本情境中，祖父Malcolm主動幫助Elsa把手提箱放到了行李架上。在美國，公共場合主動幫助女士，是男士有教養的表示。
3. I like the aisle seat better. Please, you sit by the window.
我喜歡靠走道的座位。請你坐在窗邊吧。
the aisle seat 靠走道的位置。by在這裡相當於"next to"。
4. But didn"t you just get on?
反問句"Didn"t you...?"的意思是「難道你不是…？」，表示問者很有理由相信是這麼一回事，相當於 "I think you..., am I right?"
get on -上車，上。 get on可用於火車、公共汽車、飛機等。
5. Small world.
這世界真小。感嘆語，熟人邂逅或在外鄉遇見同鄉人時用。也可以說"It"s a small world."
6. He couldn"t take time off to come to New York with me.
他脫不開身，不能和我一起上紐約來。
take time off 的意思是「不上班，不去工作，抽出時間，擠出時間」
