【英语时差8，16】饮酒过度让朋友担心不已

 Dear Annie:

I am concerned about my dear friend, "Laura." She has always been a drinker, but recently her drinking has increased to an alarming level.

When Laura is sober, she is a vivacious¹, outgoing, fun-loving person. However, when she drinks, she can no longer carry on an intelligent conversation. She behaves outrageously² and it is embarrassing to be in public with her. Seeing a drunk, out-of-control woman is, frankly³, pathetic. I don't know if she is unable to recognize the stares of disgust or just doesn't care.

Laura has a husband and adult children. It seems wrong to stand by while she slips further away, but I know from experience that she will be angry and defensive⁴ if I confront her about her drinking. If a person has a supportive family, shouldn't it be their responsibility to deal with this?

What is the responsibility of friends in a situation such as this? Saying nothing feels wrong, but I know confrontation⁵ will end badly. － Her Sober FriendDear Sober:

A friend cares enough to speak up. Don't be angry or accusatory with Laura. Instead, approach her when she is sober, and do so with love and concern. Tell her she is a smart and vivacious friend, but when she drinks, she loses the qualities that make her so wonderful. She may be convinced to seek help.

alarming  (adj.)   惊人的；吓人的vivacious  (adj.)   活泼的；有朝气的intelligent  (adj.)   聪明的；有才智的outrageously  (adv.)   骇人听闻地；无法无天地frankly  (adv.)   老实地；明白地pathetic  (adj.)   可悲的；可怜的defensive  (adj.)   防卫的；守势的to confront  (v.)   面对；面临supportive  (adj.)   支持的；辅助的

1 vivacious   

adj.活泼的，快活的

参考例句：

• She is an artless,vivacious girl.她是一个天真活泼的女孩。
• The picture has a vivacious artistic conception.这幅画气韵生动。

2 outrageously   

凶残地； 肆无忌惮地； 令人不能容忍地； 不寻常地

参考例句：

• Leila kept smiling her outrageously cute smile. 莱拉脸上始终挂着非常可爱的笑容。
• He flirts outrageously. 他肆无忌惮地调情。

3 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

4 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

5 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。