天气、政治、流行情报很容易成为人们日常谈论的话题。
天气、气候
1. 预计本周都应该是晴天。
It’s supposed to be sunny all week.
2. 气象员说今天是晴天，但天却阴沉得厉害。
The weatherman said it would be clear , but it's really cloudy.
3. 真不敢相信，现在才5月中旬，外面就这么热。
I can’t believe it’s only mid-May. It’s so hot outside.
4. 听说昨天是今年以来最热的一天。
They said yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far.
5. 这鬼天气真让人捉摸不透。
The weather can’t make up its mind what to do.
【解说】
1. “be supposed to ~”原本就用来表示谈论没有把握的话题，所以很适合用来形容天气。
2. 一说到天气预报，常常会使用 “The weatherman said…”。 “said” 也可以换成 “says”, 但要注意 “would” 也要相应地变成 “will”.
3. 谈话里可以使用一些夸张的说法。 “I can't believe”就是其中一种表达方式。这是为了表达自己强烈的感情。
4. “They say…”与 “The weatherman says…”意义完全相同。
5. “can't make up its mind”由 “自己无法决定”转义为“捉摸不透”。也可以使用 “unpredictable” 或 “changeable”, 如 “The weather is unpredicatable/changeable.”
政治、世界形势
6. 尽管失业率不断上升，首相仍然获得了很高的支持率。
The prime minister has maintained a high approval rating despite the increase in unemployment.
7. 在进行机构改革前，有几个障碍必须克服。
There are several hurdles to clear before structural reform can be carried out.
8. 世界各国能为事先中东和平做点什么呢?
What can the world do to help bring peace to the Middle East?
9. 你怎么看美国轰炸阿富汗这件事?
How do you feel about America’s aerial bombardment of Afghanistan?
10. 我无法使自己支持一个好战的政府。
I can’t bring myself to support a warlike government.
【解说】
6. “maintain”表示“保持某种状态”。如 “maintain contact with him.” (和他保持联系)。 “despite”常用于报纸，口语中则常使用in spite of.
7. Structural reform 为机构改革。经济改革、教育改革、政治改革分别为economic reform, educational reform. political reform. 动词为carry out (实行，执行)
8. Bring peace to ~意为带来和平。恢复和平为restore peace, 维护和平为maintain peace.
9. 与aerial bombardment相比，口语中更常使用aerial bombing. How do you feel about ~? 与What do you think of ~?同义，用来询问对方的意见。
10. 最好记住can’t bring myself to ~”这种表达方式，它表示“不想～”。如：I can’t bring myself to discuss it.” (我不想谈论这件事)
经济，景气
11. 最近银行的利率低的让人无法相信。
Interest rates at banks are incredibly low these days.
12. 你认为日本的经济萧条会持续到什么时候?
How long do you think this recession in Japan will continue?
13. 2001年经济不景气，致使失业率急剧上升。
Business was so slow in 2001 that unemployment shot way up.
