Conversation

1. Conversation An American named Frank is complaining to his friend, Lucy, about the useless gift he received from his Taiwanese friend. (F = Frank, L = Lucy)

2. F: I just don’t know what to do with this package of tea. My Taiwanese friend, Leo, gave it to me yesterday. L: It’s a lovely gift, but you don’t drink tea. And you also don’t know how to prepare this special kind of tea. F: You are right. But I can’t exchange it for anything else because he didn’t give me the receipt.

3. L: Of course, he didn’t. Taiwanese people think it’s impolite to include the receipt with a gift. F: Why is that? L: They think it’s offensive to reveal the price they paid for the gift. F: So, I’d embarrass him if I asked for the receipt, wouldn’t I?

4. L: Yes, it would be rude, so don’t even think about doing that. F: I don’t want to destroy our relationship, but it seems Leo has wasted his money. It’s a pity I can’t exchange it for something more useful. L: Not really. It’s the thought that counts. Remember, in Taiwan, a package of high-quality tea is an ideal gift because it shows respect.

5. F: I shouldn’t complain then because he is honoring me as a good friend. L: That’s right. Friendship is much more valuable than money!

6. exchange [Iks`tSendZ] vt.換貨 Reading

7. receipt [rI`sit] n. [C]收據 Reading

8. destroy[dI`strOI] vt.破壞 Reading

9. pity [`pItI] n. [C]可惜的事 Reading

10. do with sth 表示「處理某事」。do • with的同義詞還有deal with、cope • with、handle。例： • ‧When facing a difficult situation, the • experienced manager always • takes action to do with/cope with/ • deal with/handle it. Reading

11. 2. My Taiwanese friend, Leo, gave it to me yesterday. give為授與動詞，it代替上句的this package of tea，為直接受詞，me 為間接受詞。 Reading

12. But I can’t exchange it for anything else.... exchange A for B表示「拿A交換B」。例： ‧You can go to the bank to exchange US dollars for NT dollars. Reading

13. Why is that? that為代名詞，用來代替上一句中的Taiwanese people think...a gift. Reading

14. ...reveal the price they paid for the gift. they paid for the gift為關係子句，修飾先行詞the price，且此關係子句省略了關係代名詞受格 which/that。 Reading

15. ..I’d embarrass him...wouldn't I? wouldn’t I 為附加問句，因前面敘述句為肯定用法(I’d)，所以這裡附加問句要用否定形，以徵詢聽者同意或確認。 Reading

16. ...something more useful. 一般形容詞修飾名詞時大都放在名詞之前，但若是修飾something、nothing、everything等不定代名詞時，形容詞就要放其後。例： ‧There is nothing serious. Don’t be so anxious. Reading

17. not really 表示「不完全是那樣」，口語中常用來對提問作否定回答。例： ‧ “Is John the one to be responsible for the case?” “Not really.” Reading

18. It’s the thought that counts. 此為分裂句句構，強調的是the thought。 Reading

19. much在此修飾後面的比較級more valuable，其他可修飾比較級的還有even和far。例： ‧The price of the meal is even more expensive than we expected. ‧The age of the man is far older than we guessed. Reading