在飯館里，服務(wù)員端來了Robbie和Alexandra點的東西。他們邊吃東西邊聊天。當(dāng)天晚上稍后的時候，在Stewart家，Robbie和Alexandra正在跳舞時，Robbie接到了來自Linda的電話。他被告知迷路的小狗Gemma已經(jīng)被主人認(rèn)領(lǐng)回去了。

    Waiter： And a cheeseburger， medium rare， with onion and French fries. And a ginger ale with lots of ice. Salad dressing？

    Robbie： Hey， I wanted you to hear my new sound system when the dog scratched on the front door. Let's finish eating， and then we'll go back to my house. I want you to hear my new tapes. I've got some great new dance music.

    Robbie： Hello. Stewart residence. Linda： Hello. Is Robbie Stewart there？

    Robbie： This is he. Who's this？

    Linda： This is Linda Aborn from the animal shelter. Robbie： It's Linda from the animal shelter. Yes， Linda. Hi. Linda： We have good news and bad news， Robbie. Robbie： Oh？

    Linda： The good news is that the Levinsons have come by to pick up the dog. The bad news is， you won't be able to adopt the dog. Robbie： That's OK. Linda： Come by one day and look at some of the other dogs. I'm sure there's one for you. Thanks， Robbie. And the Levinsons thank you for bringing their dog to us. Robbie： Thanks， Linda. Bye. Alexandra： The owners claimed Gemma？

    Robbie： That's right. Alexandra： I'm glad for the dog. Robbie： I guess I am， too. She said if I come by， she'll help me find another dog. Alexandra： Come on. Let's dance.

    「語言點精講」

    1. Hello. Stewart residence.你好。這里是Stewart家。

    Stewart residence： Stewart公館，Stewart 宅邸。這是打電話時的正式用語。

    2. This is he.我就是。當(dāng)電話里要找的人就是接電話者時，常用"This is he."或"This is she."來回答，另一種說法是"Speaking".此處請注意中英文表達(dá)上的差異。中文說： 我就是Stewart，英文不能說"I am Stewart."，而說"This is he." 因為雙方只能聽見彼此的聲音，看不見對方，故不用"I".

    3. Who's this？

    您是哪位？在打電話的時候，用于詢問對方的身份。此時不說 "Who are you？ "

    4. This is Linda from the animal shelter.我是動物收容所的Linda.打電話的時候常用"This is + 自己的名字"來做介紹自己的身份。

    5. It's Linda from the animal shelter.是動物收容所的Linda打來的電話。Robbie在告訴Alexandra電話是誰打來的。此處用it，而不是she做主語。

    1—5均為打電話用語，相對來說，這些說法以及使用場合都比較固定。

    6. We have good news and bad news， Robbie. Robbie，我們有個好消息，同時還有個壞消息。

    good news and bad news： （有）好消息和壞消息。美國人喜歡這樣說。并常說 First， the good news… Now， the bad news…