英语日常会话：感谢义务服务！[含声频]

来自世界不同地方的六位学生在美国相遇。他们都是交换学生，到美国大学就读一个学期，学习英语，了解美国文化，同时修专业课程。英语“日常会话” (Everyday Conversations)系列围绕这六位学生在美国的经历展开。这套材料适于中级或中级以上英语水平的学生使用。

在这个会话中，三个学生——Peter、Akinyi、Lee——将为一个秋季游艺活动担任义务服务员，他们在谈论这件事。

Peter: I thought we were all meeting up here this morning. Where are Lucía, Ajay and Jana?

Akinyi: Ajay and Jana are helping Lucía with a huge midterm project for one of her classes. You’re stuck with us.

Lee: But we’re ready to help!

Peter: Well, thanks for volunteering to help out at the fall festival. It’ll be a lot of fun, and all the money goes to the children’s hospital in town.

Akinyi: Could you explain one thing to me first? What exactly is a fall festival? I volunteered without knowing what I was getting myself into.

Lee: Me too!

Peter: Now I really appreciate that you volunteered! A fall festival is like an outdoor fair with a fall theme. There’s food and music, as well as games for children. This one is an off-campus event near a farm, so there’s even going to be a corn maze.

Lee: A corn maze? Like a maze made of corn?

Peter: Exactly. You have to walk through tall cornstalks trying to find your way out of the maze. Just when you think you’re finding your way, suddenly you come to a dead end, and you have to turn around and try a different path.

Akinyi: And what happens if you can’t find your way out?

Peter: There are people who will help you. You won’t be stuck in the maze forever.

让我们来学习一些词语。（也可阅读英文解释）

To be stuck with someone or something的意思是被与某人或某事拴在一起，不得不照料某人或某事。在这里是开玩笑。

To volunteer的意思是志愿或义务做某事。.

A fall festival是在秋季举行的户外游乐集会或展销活动。这种活动以秋天为主题，通常有时令食品和饮料，并且有音乐表演、游戏和工艺品展销。

短语 without knowing what (one) was getting (one)self into的意思是（一个人）不知具体情况或无意中（将其自己）卷入某一事中。

An off-campus event：校园外的活动

A maze 在这里是迷宫游戏的意思。A corn maze指玉米地迷宫，即在玉米地里砍倒一些玉米杆，形成回旋曲径，供人们玩走迷宫游戏。

A dead end：走不通的死路

A cornstalk：玉米秆

有兴趣听更多英语对话吗？请浏览“英语学习”专题网页。