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Ready to Work 放假了！准备去打工

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课文讲解

I saw the most awesome basketball shoes at the mall today. I had dreams of shooting hoops in those shoes this summer, but Mom refused to buy them. They are super pricey, but I just have to get them on my feet. That’s why I’ve decided to get a job this summer. It’s definitely time for me to grow up a little. After all, I am going to be 16 soon.

今天我在购物中心看到一双超棒的篮球鞋。我之前幻想过这个暑假可以穿上那双鞋打篮球，但是妈妈不答应买给我。它们的确超级贵，但我就是必须把它们穿在脚上。这就是为什么我决定这个暑假要打工。现在的确是我该长大一些的时候了，毕竟，我都快满16岁。

Finding a job could be really easy, too. Mandy might hook me up with one at her parents’ bookstore. They need help with carrying boxes and unloading delivery trucks. It might be tough work, but my muscles will get huge. Plus, money doesn’t grow on trees, so I have to do something.

找工作也能够很简单。曼蒂也许可以提供给我一份在她父母的书店内的工作。他们需要有人帮忙搬箱子以及从货运车上卸货。这可能是个苦差事，但我可以练肌肉啊。而来，钱也不会长在树上，所以我必须做点什么。

I thought my parents would be supportive, just like they usually are. But when I brought the job up, they seemed to dislike the idea that I would be doing manual labor. I’ll build my body, make some cash, and might even read a book or two. What’s not to like about that?

我以为我爸妈是支持我的，就像他们平常一样。但是当我提出这份工作时，他们似乎不喜欢我会去做劳力工作的这个想法。我可以强健身体、赚一些钱，而且还可能读上一两本书。他们有什么不喜欢的？

单词发音

Vocabulary

awesome [ˋɔsəm] adj. 很好的﹐了不起的

After the band's awesome performance, the audience stood up and clapped their hands.

pricey [ˋpraɪsɪ] adj. 高价的；贵的

Even though the fancy restaurant was pricy, the service was not very good.

unload [ʌnˋlod] v. 卸下货物

load v. 装载

Workers spend hours unloading products from ship onto the docks.

muscle [ˋmʌs!] n. 肌肉

You can increase the size of your muscles by lifting weights.

bring up 提起……，谈到

The employee brought up his pay during a conversation with his boss.

manual labor 体力劳动

People who do manual labor must be tough and used to hard work.

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shoot hoops 投籃

hook someoneup with something 提供某人所需

supportive [səˋpɔrtɪv] adj. 支持的; 給予幫助和鼓勵的

课文朗读

课文讲解

Summer Jobs 暑期打工面面观

Teens want to be treated as adults. One way for them to gain respect, as well as pocket money, is by getting a job during the summer. It’s a very important step into the real world. The responsibility of working for others teaches teens how to interact with bosses and coworkers. Teens also learn how difficult it is to make and manage money. Supportive parents can offer useful advice on how to get a job, do a job well, and save money earned from that job.

青少年想要被当成大人对待。对他们来说，获得尊重以及零用钱的一个方法就是暑期打工。这是迈入真实世界的一个极重要步骤。为他人工作的责任感可教导青少年如何与老板以及同事们互动。青少年也学习到赚钱及金钱管理有多么不容易。支持孩子的父母可以提供关于如何找工作、做好工作，以及从工作中存钱的实用建议。

Summer work is not always fun and easy, though. First, it can be very hot and uncomfortable if teens are spending a lot of time outside. Second, summer jobs for teens often don’t pay well. It can be disappointing to work so hard and receive so little in wages. Furthermore, working can be exhausting and take away from study and family time. Nevertheless, if you do decide to take on work, you can feel proud of yourself for taking on an adult responsibility. When all is said and done, you will most likely have sharpened your interaction skills and learned many life lessons.

然而，暑期打工并不总是有趣又简单。第一点，如果青少年花很多时间待在户外，可能会极热又不舒服。第二点，暑期打工通常不会付给青少年很高的薪水。如此辛苦工作却只赚到一点点薪水可能会是令人失望的。再者，工作可能会使人精疲力竭，并且减少读书以及家庭时间。尽管如此，如果你真的决定接受工作，你会对自己承担了大人的责任而感到骄傲。经历过这一切，你将十之八九已提升了你的互动技巧并且学到许多人生课题。

－by Geoffrey Trager

单词发音

Vocabulary

interact [͵ɪntəˋrækt] v. 互动

Workers who interact with each other often usually enjoy their job more.

offer [ˋɔfɚ] v. 给予，提供

Fitness experts offer tips to clients on how to lose weight.

wage [wedʒ] n.〔按小时﹑日﹑周所计的〕工资﹐薪金

Many companies try to compete for experienced workers by increasing wages.

nevertheless [͵nɛvɚðəˋlɛs] adv. 不过，然而

The plate of pasta was huge; nevertheless, the hungry boy ate it all.

sharpen [ˋʃɑrpn] v. 加重; 使敏锐

sharp adj. 敏銳的

The writer sharpened her skills by attending creative writing classes.

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coworker [ˋko͵wɝkɚ] n. 同事

take away from 减少; 减小; 降低

take on 承担

when all is said and done  说到底, 毕竟, 归根到底