时差N小时:打游戏还是做正事?

Mike: Hey, Amanda, have you heard of the newonline computer game? It's called Skullfire and it'sall the rage right now!

迈克：嘿，阿曼达，你知道最新的在线电脑游戏吗?它叫作Skullfire，是当下最火爆的游戏!

Amanda: Actually, I have heard of it. Isn't that thegame where you go around and just shoot people? Itseems like a pretty pointless game to me.

阿曼达：其实，我听说过它。是不是那个在里面拎着枪朝人四下射击的游戏?对我而言，它没什么意义。

Mike: You're kidding, right? I can spend hours playing that game. Besides, what better use isthe Internet?

迈克：你开玩笑吧?我可以花几个小时玩这个游戏。你有什么办法更好地利用互联网?

Amanda: Um, let's see, off the top of my head there's checking your e-mail and looking upcurrent news headlines. You could even do some online shopping. The Internet is like a virtuallibrary, where you can get your hands on almost any kind of information you're looking for. Howcan you be so ignorant?

阿曼达：嗯，我的第一选择就是上网查看e-mail或阅读当前的头条新闻。你还可以网上购物。此外，互联网就像是一个虚拟图书馆，在那里你可以得到几乎任何你想要的信息。你怎么这么孤陋寡闻?

Mike: Since you're such an expert, what sort of things do you suggest I look up?

迈克：既然你如此专业，给我点建议，看些什么比较好?

Amanda: Well, a considerable problem right now is a lack of natural resources and a rise ingas prices. Why don't you go online and try to understand the situation better? You shouldreally try to keep up with current events.

阿曼达：自然资源匮乏和天然气价格上升是当前的一个热点问题。你为什么不去上网更好地了解一下这个情况?你确实应该一下关心时事。

Mike: I keep up with current events! I read the newspaper every day!

迈克：我关心时事了!我每天都看报纸!

Amanda: Does it still count if you only read the comics and skim the articles?

阿曼达：但是，像你那样只看漫画或粗枝大叶地浏览文章，能起什么作用呢?

Mike: It's not my fault that current events are boring.

迈克：那不是我的错，时事文章确实很无聊。

知识点：

1. pointless adj. 无意义的

例句：I've already made up my mind; it's pointlessto argue with me. 我已下定了决心，再和我争论没什么意义了。

2. ignorant adj. 不知道的、无知的、愚昧的

例句：He was ignorant of the fact that the schoolwas closed for the day. 他不知道今天学校不开门。

3. skim v. 浏览;略读

例句：She forgot to study, so she had to skim over her material five minutes before the test. 她忘了复习，所以不得不在考前五分钟把参考资料再浏览一下。

4. all the rage 风行一时;流行

例句：This new cell phone is all the rage right now. 这款手机是目前最流行的款式。

5. get one's hands on... 获得……;得到……

例句：I get my hands on the newest model of laptop. 我拿到最新款的笔记本了。