六.COPE WITH

下面我們學學怎么用 cope with, c-o-p-e w-i-t-h, cope with 來表示 "對付" 或是 "應付". 比方, "對付心理問題是不容易的." 這句話英文可以這樣說: To cope with psychological problems is not easy. 現在我們作一組代換練習,學學這種用 法. 首先老師念一個句子, 學生跟著重復一遍, 接著老師念一個詞組, 學生就 把詞組代換到原來的句子里. 學生作練習的時候,請你也一起作.

M: To cope with an unhappy marriage is not easy.

M: single parenthood

F: To cope with single parenthood is not easy

M: the high cost of living

F: To cope with the high cost of living is not easy.

M: emotional problems

F: To cope with emotional problems is not easy.

M: psychological problems

F: To cope with psychological problems is not easy.

M: financial problems

F: To cope with financial problems is not easy.

七.HAD BETTER

下面我們學習用 had better, h-a-d b-e-t-t-e-r, had better 加上原型動詞來表示 "最好" 作某件事情. 比方 "她最好開始找個托兒所." 這句話英文可以 這樣說:

She had better start looking for a child-care center. 現在我們作一組代換練習學 學這種用法. 練習的內容是說到南希既然決定跟丈夫分居,自己帶大孩子, 她最 好作些什么安排, 比方存錢, 找公寓, 找托兒所等等. 請你跟學生一起作練習.

M: Nancy had better save some money.

M: get herself a car

F: Nancy had better get herself a car.

M: find an apartment

F: Nancy had better find an apartment.

M: start looking for a child-care center

F: Nancy had better start looking for a child-care center.

M: ask her parents to help

F: Nancy had better ask her parents to help.

下面一組代換練習的內容是說凱特認為南希應該跟父母談一談,最好三思而后 行等等. 請你跟剛才一樣作練習.

F: Nancy had better talk to her parents.

M: think the whole thing over

F: Nancy had better think the whole thing over.

M: work out the problems with Steve

F: Nancy had better work out the problems with Steve.

M: make up with Steve

F: Nancy had better make up with Steve.

八.WOULD RATHER

最后我們學習怎么用英文來表示 "寧愿怎么樣也不愿意怎么樣". 比方 "婚姻不 美滿還不如分居." Having a separation is better than having an unhappy marriage. 這句話可以換一個方式用 would rather, w-o-u-l-d r-a-t-h-e-r, would rather 加上原型動詞開頭的詞組再加上 than, t-h-a-n, than 改成 "我寧愿分居也 不愿意有不美滿的婚姻."I would rather have a separation than have an unhappy marriage. 下面我們作一組練習把這兩種說法作一個比較. 練習的作法是南希 用 is better than說一句話, 請你用南希作主語再加上would rather ...than 把句子 說出來. 下面就是一個例子:

F: Coping with the high cost of living is better than coping with emotional problems.

M: Nancy would rather cope with the high cost of living than cope with emotional problems.

這組練習比較難, 請你特別用心. 每作完一句老師就會把正確答案念給你聽.

F: Having a separation is better than having an unhappy marriage.

M: Nancy would rather have a separation than have an unhappy marriage.

F: Breaking up with Steve is better than having quarrels with him.

M: Nancy would rather break up with Steve than have quarrels with him.

F: Being a single parent is better than staying with Steve.

M: Nancy would rather be a single parent than stay with Steve.

F: Coping with financial problems is better than living with Steve.

M: Nancy would rather cope with financial problems than live with Steve.

F: Coping with the high cost of living is better than coping with emotional problems.

M: Nancy would rather cope with the high cost of living than cope with emotional problems.

九.聽短語回答問題

今天我們要聽的文章談到美國一般人的家庭和婚姻狀況.

請你注意聽.

In the past, American families tended to be quite large. Parents raising five or more children were common. Over the years the size of the family has decreased. One reason for this is an increase in the cost of living.

On the average, children attend schools for more years than they used to, making them financially dependent on their families longer. Moreover, children nowadays are better dressed and have more money to spend on entertainment. The parents usually take the responsibility for all the expenses.

Meanwhile, families are less close than they used to be. More and more American mothers work away from home. The break up of the family occurs when the parent divorce.

A lot of children in the U.S. live part of their young lives with only one parent.

Broken families usually result in problems for children and parents alike. Children blame themselves when their parents separate. They grow up feeling unsettled as they are moved back and forth between parents.

Usually one parent takes the responsibility for raising the children. These single parents must care for the children's emotional and psychological needs while also supporting them financially. This is very demanding and leaves very little time for the parent's own personal interests.

Single parents often marry other single parents. In this type of family, unrelated children are forced to develop brother or sister relationship. The situations of many American families today are not good.

However, recent signs indicate that things are getting better. The divorce rate is declining.

The rate of childbirth is rising. Perhaps Americans have learnd how important families are.

現在請你回答下面三個問題. 在你回答之后請你聽老師念正確答案.

第一個問題是:

M: Why have American families become smaller?

F: It is because the cost of living has increased.

第二個問題是:

M: What problems might children have when their parents break up?

F: They might have emotional and psychological problems.

第三個問題是:

M: What is a single parent?

F: A single parent is a person who raises his or her child alone.