Part 1 Lazy Summer

暑假來了，“懶蟲”Joe 在忙碌了一個學期后，決定宅在家里好好休息，而好友Miranda則勸他多做有意義的社會實踐。

（The sound of a Skype ringtone.）

Joe： Hey Miranda！ Long time no speak.

Miranda： I know！ Its been forever， hasnt it？ Hows your summer been going so far Joe？

Joe： Its been just like that Bruno Mars song The Lazy Day. But instead of a lazy day， Ive taken it to the next level. Its what I like to call “a lazy month.”

Miranda： ①Cmon， you must have done something of substance since spring semester wrapped up.

Joe： Cant say that I have， honestly. You know， we work so damn hard during the school year， on countless projects and assignments.②So all Im saying is， its a relief to be able to kick back and 1）chillax for a while. Dont you ever find yourself 2）jonesing for a little 3）downtime now and then？

Miranda： Of course I feel overworked during the school year， but its the opposite come summertime. ③I feel cooped up， like a bird in a cage 4）yearning to fly free. If you just step out your front door and smell the fresh air， it may inspire you to do more with your free time than just sitting around like a couch potato.

Joe： Hey！ I resent that remark. I am not necessarily a couch potato. I happen to spend a lot of time at my desk—playing fantasy baseball and watching hilarious home videos. Have you ever seen an elephant nursing a zebra？ Funniest thing ever！

Miranda： Hehe， youll have to send me the link. But funny vids aside， there are so many worthwhile things to do out there in the world.

Joe： Like what？

Miranda： Lots of things. Almost anything other than what youre doing right now， which seems to be a whole lot of nothing.

Joe： Geez， take it easy！ ④If I wanted a guilt trip I woulda called my mother. She is the 5）reigning queen of them.

Miranda： ⑤Well， I bet “the queen of guilt trips” would eat her words， and then probably swell with pride to discover that her son was actually doing something meaningful and productive， rather than dedicating himself to his so-called “lazy summer.”

Joe： OK. OK. But that still doesnt explain why you are going out of your way to get me out and about？

Miranda： You really dont get it do you？ This is about more than just you. Thats the whole point. The idea of social practice is about getting you out of your comfort zone， not only for your own good， but for the 6）betterment of society.

Joe： Well， it wont help society， but... I did start writing a novel recently.

Miranda： Wow thats awesome！ Whats it about？

Joe： ⑥A 7）rogue cop， who lost his wife in a horrific hit-and-run， has to take care of his three daughters alone while on the hunt for 8）vengeance.

Miranda： Ooohh... Sounds 9）riveting！⑦Maybe you could get an internship at the local police station， to learn more about the ins and outs of the job.

Joe： Huh... Thats a great idea！ You are an amazing friend Miranda. I cant thank you enough. gotta get on that right now. Ill let you know how it goes.

Miranda： Good for you. I knew you had it in you. Ill see you around.

Joe： See ya！

Smart Sentences

① Cmon， you must have done something of substance since spring semester wrapped up. 拜托，春季學期結束以來你一定做了一些有意義的事。

do sth. of substance： do sth. of importance or significance（做重要或有意義的事）。例如：

Some people believe they are born to do something of substance and look down on anything they deem petty.

有些人認為他們生來就是做大事的，看不起他們眼里所謂的小事。wrap up： bring to a conclusion（結束某事）。例如：

The annual convention will wrap up this evening.

年度大會將在今晚結束。

② So all Im saying is， its a relief to be able to kick back and chillax for a while. 所以我想說的是，能夠放松放松真的是種解脫。

kick back： take it easy； relax（松懈，放松）。例如：

This holiday， Ill kick back at home and listen to my favorite music.

這個假期我打算在家里放松放松，聽聽自己最喜愛的音樂。

③ I feel cooped up， like a bird in a cage yearning to fly free. 我感到很壓抑，就像被困在籠子里的小鳥渴望自由飛翔一樣。

cooped up： kept in a small place with no freedom（禁閉，困住）。例如：

Its not good for students to be cooped up on campus before the exam.

學生考試之前都呆在學校里對他們不好。

④ If I wanted a guilt trip I woulda called my mother. 如果我想被罵的話可以打電話給我媽媽。

guilt trip： a feeling of guilt or responsibility， esp. one not justified by reality（負罪感，尤其人為的負罪感）。例如：

Every summer I went home， I would get a guilt trip from my dad.每年暑假我回家，我父親總會給我好一頓教訓。

⑤ Well， I bet “the queen of guilt trips” would eat her words， and then probably swell with pride to discover that her son was actually doing something meaningful and productive.我打賭罵人女王會收回她的話，而且也許會很自豪地發現她的兒子在做一些有意義并且富有成效的事。

eat ones words： admit that what he/she said is wrong（被迫收回之前的話，承認說錯）。例如：

If Tom actually passes the exam， I may have to eat my words.如果湯姆真的考試及格，那我就可能要認錯了。

swell with pride： become filled with pride（驕傲，自大）。例如：

Ted has swelled with pride ever since he got that acceptance letter from Yale.

泰德自從接到耶魯的錄取通知書后，驕傲得很。

⑥ A rogue cop， who lost his wife in a horrific hit-and-run， has to take care of his three daughters alone while on the hunt for vengeance. 一個勇敢的警察，在一起可怕的肇事逃逸交通事故中失去了妻子，他必須一邊獨自照顧三個女兒，一邊尋找機會復仇。

hit-and-run： an accident in which the driver of a motor vehicle leaves the scene of an accident（肇事逃逸的交通事故）。例如：

My granddaughter was the victim of a hit-and-run accident.我孫女是一起肇事逃逸交通事故的受害者。

⑦ Maybe you could get an internship at the local police station， to learn more about the ins and outs of the job. 也許你可以到當地的警局實習，以便能夠了解到這個職業的方方面面。

ins and outs： details and facts of a situation（細節和事實）。例如：

You cant really learn all the ins and outs of a banks operation through a summer internship.

在銀行里進行暑假實習不可能真正了解銀行運作的方方面面。