Larry和李華在一個餐館里商量周末的計(jì)劃。李華今天會學(xué)到兩個常用語glitch和tweak。
LL: What a busy morning in our office! We discovered a glitch in some new software we were trying out at work.
LH: 你們發(fā)現(xiàn)新的電腦軟件有一個glitch。Glitch是什么呀?
LL: A glitch is a technical problem. When your computer or software doesn't work the way it is supposed to, it often has a glitch.
LH: 噢, glitch就是技術(shù)故障。電腦或軟件不能正常運(yùn)作時往往就是因?yàn)橛辛斯收?。那你們弄清楚了沒有電腦軟件到底是什么問題呢?
LL: Well, glitches are often difficult to explain. Basically, we would try to use a certain function of the software, and it would cause the office computers to lock up.
LH: 用軟件的某一功能,辦公室的電腦就都不能用了,你說的就是所謂的電腦死機(jī)吧。
LL: Glitches are very frustrating. They cost a lot of time and effort.
LH: 沒錯,出了故障要花很多時間去解決,是很煩人的。對了,Larry,你聽說沒有,最近大家都在搶購一種電子游戲軟件,結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn)這種軟件有嚴(yán)重的技術(shù)問題 - it has a big glitch in it。聽說廠家正在回收產(chǎn)品呢。
LL: Oh, I know all about that! I love video games and actually bought that game system. It does have a serious glitch, and now I need to send it back to the company.
LH: 你也買了那軟件?那你就得把它寄回去。Larry,你說既然有問題,那廠家為什么還要出售他們的軟件呢?
LL: Sometimes the companies don't know about a glitch in a video game or video game system until enough people play it.
LH: 那倒也是,有的問題必須在很多人用了以后才會發(fā)現(xiàn)。 對了,Larry, 你不是說今天要跟老板一起吃午飯嗎?
LL: I was originally, but there was a glitch in our plans. My boss discovered he had two appointments on the same day, so he had to reschedule our lunch for next week.
LH: 你的老板也真是夠糊涂的,怎么會在同一天安排兩個午餐。幸好你是個年輕新雇員,取消和你的約會還不要緊。 Larry,我們說好了這個周末去參觀攝影展覽。這個計(jì)劃沒問題吧?Are there any glitches in that plan?
LL: I don't think there will be any glitches. I am really looking forward to it. When do you want to leave?
LH: 我也跟你一樣盼著去呢。星期六早上十點(diǎn)半出發(fā),怎么樣?
LL:Fine!
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LL: Hmmm, I need to do an errand Saturday morning. We may have to tweak our plans a little.
LH: Tweak our plans? Tweak這個字的發(fā)音有點(diǎn)怪。你的意思是要改變計(jì)劃嗎?
LL: Tweak, may be a funny-sounding word, but it means to adjust something just a little bit.
LH: Tweak的意思是稍微作些改動。 那你的意思是說星期六的計(jì)劃要變嘍。
LL: Right, we don't have to change our plans too much. If we just tweak the time a little bit and leave at 11:00, I can finish my errand, and we still have plenty of time to enjoy the exhibit.
LH: 沒問題。我們把10:30出發(fā)改成11點(diǎn)出發(fā)就行了。不過我們也不能玩得太晚嘍。
LL: Why is that?
LH: 我下個星期要在研討會上宣讀一篇論文。論文是寫完了,但我還要作一些修改。
LL: If the paper is in English, Li Hua, I can help you tweak it by reading it after we get back tonight.
LH: 我是用英文寫的, 你要是能幫我修改一下,那真是太好了。
LL: It would be my pleasure, Li Hua. Well, this has been a nice lunch, but I need to get back to work. I've had some ideas about how to tweak the computers at work.
LH: 瞧你,想出了修電腦的主意就急著要回去工作了。 你真有把握嗎?
LL: I'm not sure. But if I can't tweak it, maybe some one at the software company can. Thanks again for lunch, Li Hua. I'll see you later.
LH: 哎,Larry,你的午飯都沒怎么吃嘛。
LL: To be honest, it wasn't very good. I think the chef needs to tweak the seasoning. It was kind of bland.
LH: 這菜的確是沒有什么味道。廚師是該改變他的佐料了。再見,Larry。 Good luck tweaking your computers!
今天李華學(xué)到了兩個常用語。一個是glitch,意思是技術(shù)故障。還有一個是tweak, 意思是作小的改動。