At the Movies 电影新片抢先看
Hollywood promises movie magic for the holidays
好莱坞保证让佳节洋溢电影魔力
December 1
The holiday season brings more than just exciting gifts, beautiful decorations and delicious food. At this time of year, Hollywood puts out some of its best on the big screen. Movie buffs can look forward to adventure, action and clever animation that movie studios promise to deliver in their holiday films.
Quantum of Solace
The holiday movie season begins with the 22nd James Bond adventure, Quantum of Solace. Daniel Craig again stars as Agent 007 in this sequel that begins just minutes after the end of 2006's Casino Royale. He is determined to destroy the criminal organization that was responsible for the death of his girlfriend Vesper Lynd. Bond's mission takes him to Austria, Italy and South America and features fast-paced car, boat and airplane chases.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
This long-awaited sequel follows the further misadventures of Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo. The story begins as the animals attempt to leave Madagascar, where they were shipwrecked in the first film.

    佳节所带来的，绝对不只是令人兴奋的礼物、美丽的装饰和美味佳肴而已。每年此时，好莱坞就会把最精彩的片子搬上大银幕。电影迷可以期待看到冒险、动作还有精湛的动画，电影制片厂保证会在假期档电影中呈现出这些银幕元素。
《007量子危机》
    假期档电影由第二十二部詹姆斯?庞德的冒险片《007量子危机》揭开序幕。丹尼尔?克雷格在这部续集中再次扮演007探员，剧情紧接着二００六年末《007首部曲：皇家夜总会》片尾的数分钟後展开。庞德决心消灭杀害他女友薇斯朋?琳德的犯罪组织。他随着此次任务前往奥地利、义大利和南美洲，并有快车、船艇、飞机追逐等精彩场面。
《马达加斯加2：逃向非洲》
    这部让人期待已久的续集描述爱力狮、马蹄、长颈男与河马莉再经历意外遭遇。故事由这群动物打算离开马达加斯加的那段开始，此处正是牠们在第一集中遭遇船难的地点。

animation (n) 动画
The animation of this cartoon is really good.
buff (n) …迷；爱好者
sequel (n) 续集
I wonder what will happen in the sequel to this book.
fast-paced (adj) 快速的
That movie is very fast-paced and full of action.
misadventure (n) 不幸的遭遇
Nathan had all kinds of misadventures on his vacation. So many things went wrong!
shipwrecked (pp) 遭遇船难的

Teaching Topic: 2 Fun 4 Words 教學主題： 以數字取代文字
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa注意中间用的是阿拉伯数字的2，因为2在这里是谐音的用法，Escape to Africa，同时还表示续集的意思
谐音的用法不是正统的英文，写作的时候还是要把每个字拼出来

---Welcome to the Chat Room! I’m Ken.
---And I’m Naomi. These first two holiday movies sound like they are full of adventure, don’t they, Ken?
---Yes, they do. But I have a question about Madagascar. Why is it called Escape 2 Africa, with the number 2 instead of the word two, T-W-O?
---Well, it’s just a fun way to show that this is a sequel, part 2 of a movie.
---Don’t we usually just say part 2 after the title in that case? Like Father of the Bride: part 2, or Sister Act: 2?
---That’s often true. But sometimes we just say the sequel after the title.
---So going back to Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, I understand that the number 2 shows that this is a sequel. But is that the only meaning?
---That’s a good point. The number 2 here is taking the place of the word to, T-O, because the animals in the movie travel to Africa.
---I remember another movie sequel that came out a few years ago. It was called 2 Fast 2 Furious. Is that the same idea?
---It is. The original was The Fast and The Furious. So for the second movie, the number 2 stands for the word too, T-O-O.
---今天的课文中提到这部电影Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa注意中间用的是阿拉伯数字的2，因为2在这里是谐音的用法，照理说Escape to Africa中间用to，但因为这是Madagascar的第二集，就用了2，第2集也可叫做sequel续集。Now can we use this trick in our writing if I want to write “It’s time 2 go 4 lunch”? I could use the numbers 2 and 4 instead of writing out the words.
---Well, I don’t recommend that.
---But I’ve seen it used in e-mails and text messages.
---OK. Well, maybe when we’re texting on our phones or instant messaging on our computers, these writing shortcuts are useful, but they are not proper English. So whatever you do, never use numbers instead of words when writing essays or articles.
---这种谐音的用法虽然方便省事，但是这并不是正统的英文，写作的时候还是要把每个字拼出来，如果是和朋友写e-mail或传简讯就没有问题
---Well, friends, this has been 2 fun 4 words, but it’s time to visit Michelle. So see you tomorrow.

sequel (n)续集
说明那部电影或小说的续集用to
The sequels to Batman have been very successful.
蝙蝠侠的电影续集相当的成功。
The writer spent five years finishing the sequel to his first novel.
这位作家花了5年的时间完成了他第一部小说的续篇。

fast-paced (adj)快速的
节奏或速度很快的
Melinda is a fast-paced worker. It's not easy to keep up with her.
Melinda的工作速度很快，要跟上她并不容易。
The fast-paced novel became the best seller of the year.
这部节奏很快的小说成为年度畅销书。

misadventure (n)不幸的遭遇
The couple's honeymoon was ruined by a series of misadventures.
这对夫妻的蜜月旅行被一连串的意外给搞砸了。
The life of the whole family has changed since the misadventure.
这个意外发生之后这个家庭的生活都改变了。

December 2
Australia
This romantic action-adventure stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in a sweeping saga set in northern Australia during World War II. Kidman plays an Englishwoman who comes into a cattle ranch in the most expensive movie ever filmed on location in Australia.
Bolt
This animated adventure tells the story of a German shepherd named Bolt, who is a famous television star with super powers. Bolt is accidentally released into the real world and discovers he has no super powers. With the help of a kitten and a hamster, Bolt survives one crazy situation after another.
Seven Pounds
Will Smith stars in this emotional story of an IRS agent. He feels bad about the mistakes he has made in his past, so he decides to help seven complete strangers. When he falls in love with a beautiful woman with heart trouble, his plans become more complicated.
Four Christmases
Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn star in this romantic comedy. They decide to spend Christmas Day with each of their four divorced parents with funny and touching results.

《澳大利亚》
    这部浪漫的动作冒险片由妮可?基嫚与休?杰克曼主演，是个壮阔的冒险故事，发生在二次世界大战期间的澳洲北部。基嫚饰演一名继承了一座牧场的英国女子。本片是以澳洲为拍摄地的电影中耗资最高的一部。
《雷霆战狗》
    这部动画冒险片叙述一只名叫「波特」的德国牧羊犬的故事，牠是知名电视明星，饰演拥有超能力的狗。「波特」意外落入现实世界後，才发现自己根本没有超能力。在猫咪与仓鼠的协助下，「波特」成功逃过了一连串的疯狂境遇。
《七生有幸》
    威尔?史密斯在这个感人的故事中扮演一名美国国税局稽查员。他对於自己过去犯下的错误耿耿於怀，因此决定协助七个完全陌生的人。後来他爱上了患有心脏疾病的美丽女子，他的计画也因此变得更为复杂。
《Four Christmases》
    瑞丝?薇斯朋与文生?范恩一同演出这出浪漫喜剧。片中两人决定跟他们离异的四位父母共度圣诞节，结局有趣而感人。

sweeping (adj) 广阔的；全面的（在此可指空间与时间的绵延）
come into(phr v) 继承
When Jane's grandfather died, she came into a lot of money.
animated (adj) 动画的
The movie is animated. There are no human actors in it.
IRS (Internal Revenue Service)(n) （美国）国税局
complicated (adj) 复杂的
These projects are not simple. In fact, they are quite complicated!
comedy (n) 喜剧
I love to watch comedies. They make me laugh.

Teaching Topic: Stepfamily 教學主題： 再婚家庭中的稱謂
stepfather：继父，stepmother：继母
stepbrother：继兄弟，stepsister：继姐妹
half-brother：同父异母或同母异父的兄弟，half-sister：同父异母或同母异父的的姐妹
father-in-law：配偶的爸爸，mother-in-law：配偶的妈妈，
stepmother-in-law：继岳母

---Hi, friends! Welcome to another Chat Room! I’m Naomi, and this is Ken.
---Hi, everyone! Naomi, I’m curious.
---About something in the article?
---Yes, it’s the last line. The characters in the movie decide to spend Christmas Day with each of their four divorced parents. But are their parents remarried? How many parents are we talking about?
---Well, the parents might have remarried. So although the couple is visiting four sets of parents, they might have up to 8 parents here.
---But they aren’t just called mother and father, right?
---Right. So let’s talk about stepfamily. I have a stepfamily because my mother got remarried after my parents divorced. So my mom’s second husband is my stepfather.
---And if your dad gets married again, his wife will be your stepmother?
---You got it. I also have a stepsister and two stepbrothers.
---But you aren’t related to them at all.
---Correct. If my mother and her husband had a child together, that child would be my half-brother or half-sister.
---若是父亲，母亲再婚，他们再婚的配偶就是stepfather继父或stepmother继母，如果他们原本就有小孩，那他们的儿子就是stepbrother继兄弟，stepsister继姐妹，所以你和你的stepbrother和stepsister是没有血缘关系的，可是如果他们再婚又生了小孩，男生就是你的half-brother同父异母或同母异父的兄弟，女生就是你的half-sister同父异母或同母异父的的姐妹。OK, but in the movie we talked about the couple visiting each other’s parents as well.
---True. Your wife or your husband’s parents are called your mother-in-law and father-in-law.
---But what if your mother-in-law has remarried? Is her husband your stepfather-in-law?
---That’s right.
---father-in-law是你配偶的爸爸，mother-in-law是配偶的妈妈，如果你的岳父再婚她的现任老婆就是你的stepmother-in-law继岳母
---Now it’s time to visit another member of our Studio Classroom family, Michelle.

sweeping (adj)广阔的；全面的
势如破竹的，全面性的，彻底的
The basketball team won a sweeping victory at the finals.
这支篮球队在决赛中大获全胜。
Sweeping reform takes a lot of courage and time to accomplish.
全面性的改革需要很大的勇气及很长的时间来完成。

come into (phr v)继承
Sara came into a mansion after her uncle passed away.
Sara的叔叔过世之后她继承了一栋大宅。
He came into a large fortune at very young age.
他很年轻的时候就继承了一笔很大的财富。
Jerry came into his father's business when he was only 25.
Jerry年仅25岁的时候就继承了他父亲的事业。

complicated (adj)复杂的
The pattern of the fabric is too complicated for a dress.
这块布料的样式过度复杂不适合做礼服。
The plot of the movie is really complicated. It's hard for the audience to follow.
这部电影的情节非常复杂，观众们很难看得懂。

December 3
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Keanu Reeves stars in this remake of the 1951 science-fiction classic. An alien and his robot arrive from outer space to warn the human race that Earth may be destroyed. Jennifer Connelly costars as the young woman who befriends and tries to protect Reeves' character.
The Tale of Despereaux
This animated film is based on a children's bestseller about a mythical kingdom named Dor. A tiny mouse with oversized ears named Despereaux lives there. He is determined to save the kingdom from the gloom that has left the king brokenhearted. Despereaux uses his bravery and courage to make things right.
Marley & Me
Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star in this film adaptation of John Grogan's best-selling book. In it, a family learns some important life lessons from their playful dog named Marley.
Yes Man
Jim Carrey stars in this comedy about a man who decides to say yes to everything for an entire year. The resulting confusion changes his life in funny but rewarding ways.

《当地球停止转动》
    这部翻拍自一九五一年科幻经典的电影由基努?李维担纲演出。一名外星人和他的机器人从外太空前来警告人类，地球可能会被毁灭。和基努连袂演出的是珍妮佛?康纳莉，她饰演一名年轻女子，协助基努诠释的角色，并且努力保护他。
《浪漫的老鼠》
    这部动画片根据畅销童书改编，描述一个虚构的国度「Dor」。那里住了一只拥有超大耳朵的小老鼠德佩罗。牠下定决心要把王国从令国王心碎的黑暗势力中拯救出来。德佩罗凭着勇气与胆识力挽狂澜。
《马利与我》
    这部电影改编自约翰?葛罗根的畅销小说，由欧文?威尔森与珍妮佛?安妮斯顿主演。在片中，一家人从一只调皮的小狗马利身上学到重要的人生课题。
《没问题先生》
    金?凯瑞主演的喜剧片，描述一名男子决定一整年对任何事情都说没问题。结果造成的混乱让他的生命全然改观，趣味横生却获益良多。

science-fiction (adj) 科幻的
Stephen likes to read about life on other planets. He's a science-fiction fan.
remake (n) 翻拍；再造
alien (n) 外星人
Some people believe aliens live on Mars.
mythical (adj) 神话的；虚构的
gloom (n) 黑暗；忧郁的心情
Gloom filled the room when everyone discovered they'd failed the test.
adaptation (n) 改编
rewarding (adj) 有意义的；值得的
Working with children is very rewarding.

Teaching Topic: Yes, sir! 教學主題： 只會說 yes 的人
yes man通常形容一个没有主见，唯唯诺诺的人，yes man是一个对上司所交代的命令一律服从，凡事都是说yes的人
slacker：工作很混，爱偷懒，能不做事就不做事的人，go-getter：进取上进的人

---Hi, friends! I’m Ken, and this is Naomi.
---And this week in the Chat Room we’ve been talking about holiday movies. All of them sound really entertaining, don’t they?
---And funny, too, even the titles are humorous, like “Yes Man”. The main character decides to say “yes” to everything for an entire year, so he’s called “Yes Man”.
---Well, it is funny, Ken. But this is really a term we sometimes say when we’re talking about business. A yes man is someone who always says “yes” to his boss.
---But it’s good to agree with your boss.
---It is. But a yes man never even questions what he’s asked to do. He’s so worried about making his boss like him that he always just agrees with everything his boss says.
---Oh, kind of like a puppy.
---Yeah. That’s a great way to describe a yes man.
---一个yes man照字面上的解释就是一个只会说yes的人，yes man通常形容一个没有主见，唯唯诺诺的人，yes man是一个对上司所交代的命令一律服从，凡事都是说yes的人。Are there any other words to describe people at the office?
---Well, some workers don’t really do that much work. They just show up late, surf the Internet all day and never seem to finish any tasks. If you have a coworker like this, she’s a slacker.
---Mm, that sounds negative. Can we use this in school as well?
---Oh, sure. A student who isn’t focused on his studies and never finishes his homework is also a slacker.
---So what’s the opposite of a slacker?
---I’d say a go-getter. A go-getter is ambitious with lots of energy and good ideas. Maybe you know someone like this. She works hard and thinks creatively. She gets good grades or she gets promoted often. She is a go-getter.
---slacker是工作很混，爱偷懒，能不做事就不做事的人，相反是一个go-getter照字面的意思就是很会go-get进取上进的人
---Now all you go-getters keep your magazines open. Michelle is going to give us some Language Tips.

remake (n)翻拍，再造
Harrison Ford stars in the remake of "Sabrina".
哈里森福特在“新龙凤配”这部电影中担纲演出。
The remake of the film "King Kong" received a lot of attention
金刚这部老片重拍受到许多注目。

gloom (n)黑暗，忧愁的心情
The writer's work is full of despair and gloom.
这位作者的作品充满了绝望和忧郁。
The family has lived in gloom ever since the tragedy.
自从这场悲剧发生后，这个家庭活在一片愁云惨雾之中。
The boat slowly vanished into the gloom.
这艘船慢慢地消失在黑暗中。

rewarding (adj)有意义的，值得的
Teaching is a very rewarding career.
教书是一份很有价值的事业。
Our trip to Africa was a very rewarding experience.
这趟非洲之旅是一个非常有意义的经验。