高中英语语法填空:对话题型培优练习 Test 19

M: Hello, everyone! Today, Nina Weinstein, the English teacher is back to talk about some ways to sound less formal in a casual conversation. Nina, please.

W: Well, generally speaking, 　61　 we use a two-word verb, that's kind of an instant way to sound more informal and more natural.

M: Why don't you give a couple of examples?

W: “Get together”: “Let's get together for a meeting this weekend” rather than “Let's meet this weekend. And we say, “Let's set up a meeting” rather than “Let's arrange a meeting.”

M: So “get together” instead of “meet”, “set up” instead of “arrange”. 　62　 (add) one word kind of softens 　63　 a little bit.

W: Right, it makes it 　64　 (informal). We also say “I'm tied up next week” rather than “I'm busy next week”. Busy, we have many, many ways to say “I'm busy”, “I have a lot on my plate,” “I have a million things to do,” “I have a ton of paperwork.” So all of these very colorful idioms sound more like a native speaker, more informal and more natural.

M: Although actually, just going back to the word “busy” for 　65　 second, I mean that doesn't sound too bad if you say “I'm busy next week.” You could say “I'm tied up,” but...

W: You can say “I'm busy”. But if that's the only way you can say it, it makes your vocabulary sound as if it's pretty limited.

M: Well, is there any difference 　66　 “I'm busy” and “I'm tied up”?

W: Well, “I'm tied up” - that's much different than “I'm busy.” There's a meaning that I cannot change whatever it is I'm doing. For instance, if you call a company and you ask for Mr. Jones and they say “I'm sorry, he's tied up in a meeting,” the 　67　 (imply) meaning is that you cannot interrupt him. We don't want to just say “I'm busy” because then it doesn't carry that implication.

M: So we 　68　 (talk) about sounding more natural. But 　69　 you point out, there's something else traditionally important when talking to Americans — that is, making eye contact.

W: In some cultures it's not considered polite to look in the person's eyes when they're talking to you. But in our culture, if you don't make eye 　70　 and look at their eyes when they're talking, the speaker might feel that you're bored or you're not listening. And so this is really important. Or, in business, they might not feel like you're telling the truth.

M: If you're looking away?

W: If you're looking away. Exactly.