母語人士在非正式的談話中常使用俚語(slangs),特別是在和朋友相處的時候。在電視影集和電影當中常會聽到許多俚語,聽不懂的時候會覺得好像被排擠在外 (feel left out)或者跟不上時代(fall behind the times),有些用法甚至在只收錄標準英文(standard English)用法的字典當中找不到。英文學習者該怎麼樣來學習這些表達方式(expressions)呢?
FunDay小老師推薦你一個好方法—從對話的上下文(context)來判斷俚語的意思。這篇文章將帶著你做個練習,從對話的脈絡推敲出俚語的意思,這10個題目不僅可以讓你測試你的語感有多接近母語人士,也能夠讓你下次聽到不熟悉的俚語的時候,不會立刻馬上腦袋一片空白,而是試著相信自己的判斷力來理解其意含。
作答說明:
請閱讀以下題目,每一題答題時間盡量掌握在20-30秒之間,且盡量用直覺作答。每答對一題得1分,對答之後計算分數可知自己的語感有多接近母語人士。
參考分數區間:
7-10 為near native English speaker (接近母語人士程度)
4-6 為 Active English learner and fluent in English(積極英文學習者且能流暢地使用英文)
1. “Do you like oyster omelet?”
“ No way. I tried it once and felt like I was gonna puke.”
(A) sneeze
(B) faint
(C) vomit
<正確答案> (C)
<解析> puke (v.) 嘔吐
2. “I really dig the color, but I’m not crazy about the style.”
(A) hate
(B) like
(C) choose
<正確答案> (B)
<解析> dig (v.) 原本是「挖掘」的意思,俚語則表示「喜歡」或「覺得吸引人」
3. “Maria has a great body, but she always hides it with baggy clothing.”
“I know. People are saying she’s a prude.”
(A) She has no sense of style.
(B) She is excessively modest.
(C) She cannot afford expensive things.
<正確答案> (B)
<解析> prude (n.) 老古板或過分保守的人
4. “So did you end up buying the motorbike?”
“No…the guy selling it just gave off a really weird vibe. I didn’t feel like he’s trustworthy.”
(A) outlook
(B) energy
(C) smell
<正確答案> (B)
<解析> vibe (n.) 氛圍; 感覺
用法:have or give off good/bad vibes 氣氛好/不對頭
5. “Do you have a plan for the weekend?”
“Not really. Just hang out with the fam.”
(A) friends
(B) family
(C) free time
<正確答案> (B)
<解析> fam是family (家人)的簡稱。
6. “There is still some pizza up for grabs- anyone wants them?”
“Yes, sure, I’ll have a bite.”
(A) available for anyone to take
(B) getting cold
(C) on sale
<正確答案> (A)
<解析> grab (n.)(v.)原本是「抓取;奪取」的意思 ,up for grab表示「人人皆可爭取或任何人皆可得到」之意
7. “Is she your girlfriend?”
“Not really. We have sort of a friends with benefits thing going on.”
(A) an extramarital affair
(B) fair-weather friends
(C) sexual relationship without dating or commitment
<正確答案> (C)
<解析> a friends with benefits字面上的意思是「共享利益的朋友」,事實上是指擁有肉體關係但又沒有正式交往的朋友。
8. “What do you think of the movie?”
“To tell you the truth, it was pretty lame. I expect better for a superhero movie.”
(A) limping
(B) weak
(C) stupid and disappointing
<正確答案> (C)
<解析> lame(adj.)原本有「跛腳」(limping)的意思,也可形容「理由」的「薄弱」,如a lame excuse(薄弱的理由),在俚語上則代表「愚蠢且令人失望」之意。
9. “My best friend is demanding that I take one week of vacation to attend her wedding in Bali.”
“Wow. Is she always such a diva?”
(A) loves hanging out with friends
(B) a very generous person
(C) wants too much attention
<正確答案> (C)
<解析> diva (n.) 比較常見的用法是指娛樂圈如Lady Gaga或者Jolin這類女神級的人物,在這裡指得是有公主病、太想從別人身上得到關注的人。
10. “I am going to see a friend, but I’ll be back…are you guys gonna be here for a little while longer?”
“Maybe…but I think we’re gonna bounce soon.”
(A) have a drink
(B) leave
(C) come back
<正確答案> (B)
<解析> bounce (v.) 彈 ;(俚)離開
覺得這篇文章有趣嗎?歡迎上FunDay網站學習更多有趣且實用的英文俚語,立即註冊,30天內免費享用超過15000情境聽讀課程喔! http://goo.gl/s7MgV9