A：Thanks for offering to give me a lift. I'm looking forward to this party, but I didn't want to go alone.謝謝你的好意送我一程。我盼著參加這個晚會，但是我不想一個人去。

B：Don't mention it. It's my pleasure. Have you been to one of these large, sit-down dinner parties since you got to New Haven?不用謝。是我的榮幸。自從你來紐黑文市，你有沒有去過這種大型的、坐下來吃飯的聚會?

A：No, this is my first. Last week I went to a cookout5 for new professors at Dean Barksdale's home. I took a taxi because I didn't want to be late. But I was the first one there.沒有，這是第一次。上周我去巴克斯德爾主任家參加了一個為新來的教授在戶外搞的一個野餐聚會。為了不遲到，我叫了一輛的士。我卻是第一個到那里的。

B：I'll bet you were a little embarrassed.我猜你有點尷尬。

A：You're right. The invitation said two to seven. I was there at two o'clock, but most people didn't arrive until three or four. They didn't start cooking until five o’clock.你說得對。邀請函上說兩點到七點。我兩點鐘到那里，但是大部分人直到三、四點才來。他們到五點鐘才開始做飯菜。

B：Cookouts often start slowly. A two o'clock start means you arrive any time after two.戶外野炊經(jīng)常開始得很慢。兩點鐘開始意思是說兩點鐘以后的任何時間你都可以到。

A：Thanks for telling me this.謝謝你告訴我這些。

B：I was late getting back from the mall, but I'm hurrying.我從購物中心回來晚了，但是我在加快動作。

A：Why are you in such a hurry? They said, Dinner at eight, and it's only seven-fifteen. I don't want to be the first one there again.你為什么這么急?他們說，八點吃飯，現(xiàn)在才七點十五。我不想又是第一個到那里。

B：Don't worry. We won't be the first.不要擔(dān)心。我們不會是第一個的。