Listening Power
dub (v) 稱呼為
feature (v) 以…為特色;是…的特徵
art gallery (n. phr) 畫廊
staggering (a) 驚人的; 難以想像的
instantly (adv) 立即,即刻
acclaimed (a) 受到讚揚的
compliment (n) 讚揚
overwhelmed (a) 情緒上無法承受的
art-dealer (n) 藝術經銷商
savings bond (n) 積蓄公債
investment (n) 投資
Expressions in the news
That is pretty much where those comparisons end. 相似之處,僅只於此。
Like many seven years old, Keiron Williamson of Holt in England likes to draw and paint, but that is pretty much where those comparisons end.
就跟一般的七歲小孩一樣,Keiron Williamson也喜歡塗塗畫畫。但他所做的不僅如此。
也就是說Keiron也跟其他同年紀的小孩一樣,會塗塗畫畫,但不一樣的是,他的畫作是可以賣錢的。
to get one's reactions to . . . 對某事的反應、看法為何
Fourteen minutes, his paintings were sold 28 thousand dollars. I have to get your reactions as parents to that number.
短短十四分鐘,他的畫就賣了兩萬八千元(美金)。我想知道做為夫母親的你們對這個成交數字的反應是什麼?
這個記者很喜歡用這個說法來詢問意見: 「I have to get your reactions to . . .」。這裡的number指的就是小朋友賣出畫作的所得金額。小朋友跟父母親都很謙虛的說,沒料到會這麼受歡迎,都說這個事件很overwhelming(令人難以置信),而他們都感到overwhelmed(覺得難以置信)。
Do you have a favorite . . . (so far)? (到目前為止,) 你有最喜歡的...嗎?
That makes a lot of sense. 那還挺有道理的。
"Do you have a favorite painting that you’ve painted so far? "
"No."
"You probably like them all the same. That makes a lot of sense."
「 到目前為止,你有最喜歡哪一幅自己的作品嗎?」「沒有。」「你大概每一幅都喜歡吧。這也是很有道理。」
「Do you have a favorite . . .? 」是很實用的問句。原句結合了現在完成式,配合so far,表示到目前為止的經驗裡,最喜歡的某個事物。面對記者的問題,天才小畫家只悠悠的答了一個「no」。或許是要化解尷尬吧,記者連忙補上了一句,「You probably like them all the same」,還自己評斷說認為很有道理:「That makes a lot of sense」。或許意思是每幅畫都很漂亮,也或許是指每幅畫都可以賣錢,所以每一幅都喜歡。
It's been said that . . . 有人這麼說 . . .
That's quite a compliment. 這真是極高的讚美。
It’s been said that the last child artist as good as Keiron was Picasso. That’s quite a compliment.
有個說法是,上一個如Keiron一樣傑出的兒童畫家就是畢卡索。這真是極高的讚美。
How do you plan to spend the money? 你打算怎麼花這筆錢呢?
要問別人得到了一筆錢怎麼花費,這句話就很實用了。回答時,花費在物品上的錢,可以與「on」這個介係詞共用,例如,I will spend the money on new clothes. 從新聞裡,我們也看到天才小畫家的純真,他預計要將一部分錢拿去儲蓄公債 (savings bonds),750英鎊拿去買蠟筆 (pastels)跟書。還好記者即時打斷,直說這是很好的投資,「Those are very good investments.」,不然恐怕小畫家會把整個家裡的財務狀況都跟全世界分享了。