王强口语 第一册 long conversation 14.1

　　Long Conversations
1.Conversations: (Find a partner and practice these dialogues.)
A:
Victor: Ah...what a night to stay home and watch the tube. I've got tons of snacks to pig out on. And I've got 50 channels of cable¹ to choose from! Ah...this is the life! I can kick back and vegetate² in TV land! This show stinks³! I think I'll channel surf a bit! John, can you pass the remote to me?
John: Get it by yourself! I'm right in the middle of studying for my TOEFEL test.
Victor: (Looking around) The remote...it's not in its usual place! How can I enjoy TV without a clicker! It must be here somewhere! Nope! Not under here...ouch! Not under here, either! Not in the chair! Nope! Not in the desk! Where it is I cannot guess! Forget the darn clicker! I'll just get up when I want to switch channels!
(At a party)
Hostess: Mary, phone for you! It's your son!
Mary: Victor? I hope nothing is wrong! (Answering the phone) Hello! What? The remote? Sometimes it gets wedged⁴ in the recliner!
Victor: Yes! The recliner! Thanks, mom. Bye! (Hangs up the phone) At long last this game of cat and mouse may be over! (Victor found the remote) Hello, sweetheart!
We're reunited at long last! Now to put you to good use! Now I can sit back, relax and channel surf at will! Huh? What the ...? The channels stopped changing! Ugh! The remote's batteries went dead!

1 cable   

n.缆绳，索；电缆；电报；vt.电汇，打电报

参考例句：

• Don't forget to cable us as soon as you arrive.别忘了一到就给我发个电报。
• The worker attached a cable.工人连接电缆。

2 vegetate   

v.无所事事地过活

参考例句：

• After a hard day's work,I vegetate in front of the television.经过一整天劳累，我瘫在电视机前一动不动。
• He spends all his free time at home vegetating in front of the TV.他一有空闲时间就窝在家里看电视。

3 stinks   

v.散发出恶臭( stink的第三人称单数 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透

参考例句：

• The whole scheme stinks to high heaven—don't get involved in it. 整件事十分卑鄙龌龊——可别陷了进去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soup stinks of garlic. 这汤有大蒜气味。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 wedged   

楔( wedge的过去式和过去分词 )； 楔形物； （击高尔夫球的）楔形铁头球棒

参考例句：

• The bone wedged in his throat and strangled him. 骨头卡在喉咙里使他窒息。
• He wedged himself through the narrow window. 他从狭窄的窗户中挤了过去。