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走遍美国是我认为最优秀的口语教材之一，由美国新闻总署赞助，美国麦克米伦公司制作。在数十位英语专家和作者通力合作之下，费了8年（1983-1991）的时间，才制作完成这部划时代的巨作。虽然教材有点久远，但是对于练习口语还是非常的有帮助，大家可以通过以下步骤进行学习。1. 先看视频，了解大致情节。
2. 再听音频，盲听音频3-5遍，大致听懂。
3. 通过文本，学通全部内容。
4. 再听音频，模仿跟读练习语音和口语。
5. 盲听音频，最后盲听音频尽可能多遍，听出画面感。
ACT 1-1 “ 我想听听您的意见。”
【故事梗概】
在Stewart家的起居室里，Marilyn正在设计一件连衣裙。她停下来一会儿，和Ellen谈心。她和Richard将要有孩子了，买自己的房子另住的事提上了议事日程。就此事她想听听Ellen的意见。
Marilyn: Ellen, I'd like your opinion.Marilyn: Well, Richard and I feel that with a baby coming we need to have our own place to live.Marilyn: Well, what do you think about Richard and me looking for a small house or an apartment at this point in our lives?Ellen: We love having you here, and there is room and … and when the baby comes, the baby can stay in your room for a while.Marilyn: Richard feels we need to find a small house.Ellen: I remember when I was pregnant with Richard Philip and were living with Grandma and Grandpa. Philip was a young doctor, and he kept talking about having a house of our own. It's natural.Marilyn: What did you do?Ellen: We looked at a lot of houses.Marilyn: Did you find one?Ellen: Oh, not at first. We couldn't afford it. Grandpa wanted to lend us the money to buy one, but Philip is too independent. He didn't want to borrow any money.Marilyn: Sounds like Richard.Ellen: They're all alike. Richard is a real Stewart. He's independent and sometimes just stubborn.
1. I'd like your opinion.我想听听您的意见。这是一种征求别人的意见，询问某人的看法的表达方式。2. About what? 我的什么意见？ 在这里相当于“My opinion about what?”口语中，当上下文意思比较清楚时，句中可省略重复的部分。3. Well, Richard and I feel that with a baby coming we need to have our own place to live.哦，Richard和我觉得，我们快要有孩子了，需要有自己的房子住。with a baby coming: 指快要生孩子了。our own place: 这里指的是“a house belonging to ourselves”，自己的房子。4. Well, what do you think about Richard and me looking for a small house or an apartment at this point in our lives?呃，Richard和我在我们生活中的这个时候找一所小住宅或者一处公寓房子，你认为怎么样？What do you think about…? : 你觉得…怎么样？你认为…怎么样？在征求别人的意见时可以使用这个句型。at this point: 在这个时刻。相当于at this time.5. We couldn't afford it.我们买不起。afford: 买得起，承担得起(费用等)。常接在 can, could 或 be able to 后面。6. Grandpa wanted to lend us the money to buy one, but Philip is too independent. He didn't want to borrow any money.爷爷要想借给我们钱买一所房子，可是Philip独立性太强了。他不想借钱。lend : 借出，借给。borrow: 借入，借来。7. Sounds like Richard.听起来像 Richard一样。用来表明 某人的行为方式像另一人的。8. They're all alike.他们斯图尔特家的人都是一个样子。alike: 在这里作为表语形容词，用于be，look，sound等系动词或半系动词后面，表示“一样的，相同的，相似的”。
ACT 1-2 “没有必要操之过急。”
【故事梗概】
Ellen回顾了自己同Phillip建设小家庭的历程。Ellen建议Marilyn先去房地产经纪人处看看再说。
Marilyn: When did you buy a house?Ellen: After Richard was born. I was teaching music, and Philip was opening his first medical office.Marilyn: Where was the house?Ellen: Right here in Riverdale. Of course, it was a small house, but just right for us.Marilyn: It's funny. History repeats itself. Now Richard and I are having a baby, and we probably won't be able to afford a house right.Ellen: Why don't you look at some houses, Marilyn?Ellen: Look in the real-estate section of Sunday's Times. You'll learn a lot.Marilyn: Maybe we should speak to a real-estate agent about a house.Ellen: And a bank about a mortgage.Marilyn: I'll talk to Richard about it. I think it's a good idea, Ellen. We can learn a lot by asking.Ellen: And if I can be of any help, let me know. As a matter of fact, my friend Virginia Martinelli is a real-estate agent.Ellen: You won't believe this, but she sold us our first house and this one.Marilyn: Well, I'll tell Richard, and we'll go to see her. Do you think the skirt length is right, Ellen? Do you think it's too long?Ellen: I think the skirt is just right. Are you planning to attach a train to it?Marilyn: No. No train. Just the dress. But I am going to make a headpiece of lace.Ellen: That dress is gorgeous.Marilyn: Thanks, Ellen. And thanks for the advice about the house. I'll talk to Richard about it the minute he comes home.Ellen: And remember, we love having you here. There's no need to rush.
【语言点精讲】
1. When did you buy a house? 你们什么时候买的房子？Marilyn 把重音放在助动词did上了。如果句中的助动词重读了，表示急于知道更多的内容，否则句中助动词不重读。2. History repeats itself. 历史在重复。意思是说今天发生在Richard 夫妇身上的情况与多年前他父母买房的情景相似。3. Why don't you look at some houses?你们为什么不先看看房子呢？Why don’t you…? : 为什么不…呢？这是提建议的一种说法。4. Look in the real-estate section of Sunday’s Times. You'll learn a lot.看看星期天的《纽约时报》房地产广告部份，你会学到不少东西的。real-estate section: 报纸上刊登出售房子消息的版面。Times: 指《纽约时报》。这是New York Times的简称。5. Maybe we should speak to a real-estate agent about a house. … And a bank about a mortgage. 也许我们该去找一位房地产经纪人，谈谈买房子的事。......还可以找一家银行谈谈买房抵押借款的问题。speak to: 表示为某种目的而特为找某人谈话。real-estate agent: 房地产经纪人。And a bank about a mortgage．是“And you should speak to a bank about a mortgage.”的省略语。mortgage: 按揭，抵押贷款。通常是以房子作抵押向银行借款。大约用15到30年时间还清借款。6. And if I can be of any help, let me know.如果有我能帮忙的地方的话，就告诉我。用于向某人表示自己愿意提供帮助。be of help: 是“能帮忙，有所帮助”的意思。7. I'll talk to Richard about it the minute he comes home.等Richard一回家，我就去和他谈这件事。the minute: 在这里起一个连词的作用，相当于“as soon as”。8. There's no need to rush.没有必要操之过急。来源：Family Album U.S.A