Blind date

Jennifer and David got to know each other on an Internet dating site. Last week, they met for the first time. Read what they say about each other:

 

David’s story

Jennifer was the best-looking woman I had ever met. I thought she was a model. She looked glamorous in her short black dress. I was really glad I had put my best suit on. I fancied her straight away and I think she liked me. I mean, what is there about me that isn’t to like? I wasn’t really sure how to act at first, and was a bit tongue-tied at the beginning. But after a few drinks I felt more relaxed and we started chatting.

I think Jennifer liked my jokes. I got the impression that she was rather serious as she didn’t talk much about herself.

The meal was very good and the waitress was very helpful, so I gave her a generous tip.

I suggested going to a disco, but Jennifer said she had to get up early the next day, so I called her a taxi. I was going to mention that geocaching was my hobby when the taxi came.

I think the evening went well and I’m looking forward to our second date. She said she would be busy for the next three months, but I’ll call her then. I hope we can meet again. Perhaps she might like to go geocaching with me.

 

Jennifer’s story

David didn’t look at all like his photograph on the Internet dating site. I think it must have been an old one. His hair was shorter and he was wearing an awful black striped suit. I thought he looked kind and friendly but I didn’t fancy him.

I don’t know if it was the alcohol, but when he started talking, I didn’t get a chance to say anything. He made some stupid jokes and laughed at them himself (I didn’t think they were funny). I didn’t want to listen to silly jokes. I wanted to talk about more serious things – you know, get to know him better, his family, his interests and hobbies and so on.

During the meal David had a long conversation with the waitress about the wine. He ignored all my suggestions and that put me in a really bad mood, so I didn’t say anything for the rest of the evening. I was happy when the meal was finished. It was a miserable evening. I couldn’t wait to get a taxi and go home.

This was my first Internet date and I think it was my last one. I wonder if I will tell my friends about David when we go geocaching tomorrow.

Discuss

1. Will they have a next date? Why?

2. Do you have any suggestions for David or Jennifer?

重难点讲解

1. 复合形容词的比较级和最高级

复合形容词的比较级和最高级一般是在该形容词前直接加more和most构成。如：

hard-working→more hard-working→most hard-working；

heart-breaking→more heart-breaking→most heart-breaking

但如果复合形容词的第一个构成成分本身就是一个可以通过添加词尾-er和-est构成比较级和最高级的形容词，那么这个复合形容词的比较级和最高级则通过添加词尾-er和-est将第一个形容词成分变为比较级和最高级来构成，而不是在复合形容词前添加more和most。如：

low-paid→lower-paid→lowest-paid；

good-looking→better-looking→best-looking

 

2. What is there about me that isn’t to like?

该句是一个there be句型的特殊疑问句，我们不妨先来看这样一个句子： There is nothing about me that isn’t to like. 如果我们就划线部分提问，句子自然就会变成课文中的这个句子了。在这个句子中，that引导的从句是“nothing about me”的定语，在课文句子中，that引导的从句则是“what about me”的定语。我们可以将“What is there about sb/sth that …？”作为一个句型，表示“……有什么值得/可以……的呢？” 。例如：

（1）What is there about Mary that makes you fancy her? 玛丽有什么值得你喜欢的?

（2）What is there about the book that interests you so much? 这本书有什么让你这么感兴趣?

 

3. But after a few drinks I felt more relaxed and we started chatting.

动词start后可以跟动名词，也可以跟不定式，但二者使用有区别。start doing强调动作开始并持续下去，而start to do强调动作本身的开始。比较：

（1）She started cooking dinner two days ago. 她两天前就开始做饭了。

（2）The ice started to melt. 冰开始融化了。

 

4.I got the impression that she was rather serious as she didn’t talk much about herself.

在这个句子中的 “that she was rather serious as she didn’t talk much about herself”是一个同位语从句。同位语从句一般跟在fact, idea, news, question, hope, possibility等表示抽象概念的名词之后，用以说明这些抽象词所表示的具体内容。引导同位语从句的词通常是that, whether或者wh-词。如：

(1) They were excited to hear the news that their team had won the game. 听说他们队赢了这场比赛，他们兴奋不已。

（2）The question whether there is life on Mars has not been answered. 火星上是否有生命这一问题还没有答案。

 

5.I was going to mention that geocaching was my hobby when the taxi came.

这句话中的when表示“这时”之义，所以我们想要表达“正要做……，这时……”这一意义时可以使用句型be going to do sth when ...。如：

（1）I was just going to leave my office when you rang. 我正要离开办公室，你打电话来了。

（2）He was going to bed when there was a knock on the door. 他正要上床睡觉，这时有人敲门。

 

6. Perhaps she might like to go geocaching with me.

动词go后面可以跟动词ing形式，表示“去做……”。英语中常见的这类表达法有：

go swimming（去游泳）, go fishing（去钓鱼）, go skating（去滑冰）, go shopping（去购物）,go boating（去划船）等。

 

7. I think it must have been an old one.

must可用于推测，表示根据情况推断某事一定是真的。“must have + 过去分词”结构则表示对过去发生的事情的推断。如：

（1）You must be Mr White. 您一定是怀特先生吧。

（2）Nobody is here; they must have all gone home. 这里一个人也没有，想必他们都回家了。

 

8.I couldn’t wait to get a taxi and go home.

句型“sb can’t wait to do sth”表示“某人迫不及待地想做某事”。如：

（1）The food smells good. I can’t wait to taste. 这食物闻起来真香，我迫不及待地要尝一口。

（2）He couldn’t wait to offer his hand and said “How do you do?” 他急不可耐地将自己的手伸了过去，说：“你好！”