欢乐美语:After-school Activities 课余活动

　　INTRODUCTION¹ TO ACT I
Today on TUNING² IN THE U.S.A., Dr³. Philip Stewart takes his wife Ellen for a rowboat ride. They are having fun. But something is on Philip’s mind. Many of his young patients spend most of their afternoons at home watching television. There are better ways to spend time after school. As Ellen and Philip talk about the problem, Ellen gets and idea.
ACT I
Ellen: [singing] Row, row, row your boat. [speaking] OK? [singing] Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life-.
Philip: [He starts to sing while Ellen is singing.] Row, row, row your boat, merrily, merrily -- [speaking] Oh, Ellen, I missed my line.
Ellen: [She laughs.] Who cares? It’s a wonderful afternoon, Philip. You had a wonderful idea. What made you think of renting a rowboat?
Philip: A beautiful day, a beautiful wife, a beautiful song…
Ellen: [She laughs.] Beautiful song? You have something on your mind, Philip.
Philip: Yes, I do. I had a patient yesterday. Do you remember Ben Tinker?
Ellen: Of course. I know Ben. He’s in your office quite often.
Philip: That’s right. First he has a cold, then a sore throat. Nothing really serious, but he’s always sick.
Ellen: Something must be wrong.
Philip: Yes. The boy sits home and watches television every afternoon. He needs to be more active.
Ellen: What do his parents say?
Philip: They both have to work all day. They can’t be with him in the afternoon. It’s unhealthy to sit inside every day. Children should be outside running around. Children need something to do after school.
El: Our children were lucky. I was at home to take care of them.
Ph: You taught them music, and you went for nature walks.
Ellen: Yes, but now, in most families, the fathers and the mothers have to work. Maybe the state government could do something.
Philip: Do you think we could do something about it?
Ellen: You know, I can do something. I can start a committee⁵. We can talk to people about the problem, and ask them to sign their names on a petition⁶. The petition could ask the state government to give money for afternoon programs in the schools.
Philip: [He thinks.] After-school programs. Now, that sounds good.
Ellen: Yes. There should be organized activities: art, drama⁷, sports and games. Of course, music.
Philip: That’s it! That’s the answer to Ben’s problem. After-school activities are much better than television.
Ellen: And active children will stay strong and healthy.
Philip: Right! And what do healthy children mean to a doctor?
Ellen: Tell me, doctor.
Philip: Well, maybe I can take an afternoon off from work. And you and I can rent another rowboat!
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Ellen Stewart is in a large shopping center in Riverdale, New York. She sits in the shopping center at a small table, talking to the shoppers. She wants them to stop and sign their names to a petition. The petition is a letter to Ellen’s local state government representative⁸. The petition asks the state government to give money for afternoon activities in schools.
ACT II
Ellen: Excuse me, sir.
Man: Yes?
Ellen: I’m Ellen Stewart. Could you sign your name to our petition?
Man: Maybe. I have to read it first.
Ellen: Please do. It’s about after-school programs for children with working parents.
Man: [He reads.] “Dear Representative Alvarez…”
Ellen: He’s our local representative to the state government.
Man: Yes, I know. [He reads the petition.] “We are a group of citizens concerned about our children.” Hmm. After-school programs? That sounds very good.
Ellen: Do you have children?
Man：I have two. A boy and a girl.
Ellen: Do you need a program for them to go to after school?
Man: Yes. Both my wife and I work full-time⁹. This is a very good idea. We need this. Where do I sign?
Ellen: Right here.
Woman: [to the man] Hey, Pete! Hi!
Man:　Oh，Donna．Hi！
Woman：What are you doing here?
Man: I’m signing a petition. It asks for after-school programs for children.
Woman: Well, I agree with that idea.
Ellen: Our committee thinks children watch too much television. They need to be active.
Woman: You’re right.
Ellen: This petition is for our local government representative. I think there are going to be a lot of names. So maybe he’ll try to get the state government to help.
Woman: I hope so. I’ll sign my name.
El: Thank you. We need lots of signatures¹⁰.
Man: I think you’ll get them. Good luck!
Ellen: Thank you. And good-bye. [to another man] Oh, sir. May I bother you?
2nd man: Yes?
Ellen: I have a petition. It asks Representative Alvarez to get more money from the state government for education.
2nd man: I’m very interested in your petition. But I’m afraid I cannot sign it.
Ellen: Well, will you please read it. Then decide.
Robbie: [He walks toward¹¹ Ellen.]
Ellen：Robbie! What are you doing here?
Robbie : I’m going to the video store. It’s just a few stores away. [to the man] Oh, hell⁴. Nice to see you again, sir.
2nd man: Do you know me?
Robbie: You came to Riverdale High School. I interviewed you for the school newspaper.
2nd man: I remember now. Robbie…?
Robbie: Robbie Stewart.
2nd man: Is this your mother?
Robbie: Yes. I’m sorry, I thought you knew each other. This is my mother, Ellen Stewart.
2nd man: How do you do, Mrs. Stewart?
Ellen: You do look familiar. I didn’t get your name.
Robbie: Mom! This is Representative Alvarez.
Ellen: You’re Representative Alvarez! How do you do?

1 introduction   

n.(to)介绍；传入，引进；导言，导论，绪论

参考例句：

• The introduction tells you how to use the book.引言告诉你怎样使用这本书。
• A letter of introduction will ensure you an interview.凭一封介绍信准保会接待你。

2 tuning   

n.调谐，调整，调音v.调音( tune的现在分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• They are tuning up a plane on the flight line. 他们正在机场的飞机跑道上调试一架飞机。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The orchestra are tuning up. 管弦乐队在定弦。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 Dr   

n.医生，大夫；博士(缩)（= Doctor）

参考例句：

• Dr.Williams instructs us in botany.威廉博士教我们植物学。
• The ward of the hospital is in the charge of Dr.Green.医院的这间病房由格林医生负责。

4 hell   

n.地狱，阴间；用以咒骂或表示愤怒，不满

参考例句：

• It's a hell of a hike from Sydney to Perth.从悉尼到珀斯的徒步旅行简直苦死了。
• The boss really gave me hell today.老板今天着实数落了我一通。

5 committee   

n.委员会，全体委员

参考例句：

• We referred the matter back to the Finance Committee.我们把这事转回给财政委员会处理。
• I am going to speak out against the committee's decision.我打算直言反对委员会的决定。

6 petition   

n.请愿书，申请书，诉状；v.请愿，正式请求

参考例句：

• Thousands of citizens subscribed the petition.几千名公民在请愿书上签名。
• The number of signers of the petition for a new school snowballed.要求增设新学校而签名的人像滚雪球似的越来越多。

7 drama   

n.戏剧；戏剧艺术

参考例句：

• He acted his part very well in the French drama.他在这出法国戏剧中演得很成功。
• The college published a drama review.学院出版了一份戏剧评论刊物。

8 representative   

n.代表，众议员，典型；adj.描写的，表现的，代理的，代表性的，代议制的，典型的

参考例句：

• He is a representative for a large steel company.他是一家大型钢铁公司的代理人。
• We have a representative sample.我们有一个代表性的样品。

9 full-time   

adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的

参考例句：

• A full-time job may be too much for her.全天工作她恐怕吃不消。
• I don't know how she copes with looking after her family and doing a full-time job.既要照顾家庭又要全天工作，我不知道她是如何对付的。

10 signatures   

n.签名( signature的名词复数 )；署名；签署；明显特征

参考例句：

• These two signatures are very similar, can you tell them apart? 这两处签名非常接近，你能把它们区分开来吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The isotopic signatures of most ancient limestones indicated the same process. 大多数古代石灰岩的同位素特征说明了同样的过程。 来自辞典例句

11 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。