ACT 1-2 我们会找到一个解决办法的
【故事梗概】
Susan看Grandpa并不喜欢这种清闲的退休生活，主动提出要帮他找点事情做。Grandpa没有在意，让她帮助摆餐桌。没想到Susan却是当真的。
Susan: Grandpa, you have so much energy and so many years of experience. There are probably a lot of places for you to work. Particularly in the construction field.
Grandpa: But at my age, I’m not looking for a full-time job. I’m retired. But I’m bored.
Susan: Well, there must be something. Maybe I can help.
Grandpa: Let’s go into the kitchen, and maybe you can help me set the table.
Susan: Sounds good to me. What are we having?
Grandpa: I prepared lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and a tossed green salad to begin with.
Susan: Grandpa, you are a terrific guy!
[A little later, Grandpa and Susan are eating dinner in the kitchen.]
Susan: You’re still thinking about something to do, aren’t you? A job of some kind.
Grandpa: That’s right. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks now. There must be some way to put my mind to good use.
Susan: We’ll find a solution. A positive solution to your finding a way to use that wonderful mind of yours.
【语言点精讲】
1. But at my age, I’m not looking for a full-time job. I’m retired. But I’m bored.
可是我这把年纪了，我不想找一个全职的工作。我是退休了，可是我腻烦得要命。
a full-time job: 全职工作，全天工作。
retired: 退职的，退休的。这种形容词由动词加-ed构成，类似的词还有 bored（厌烦的）、interested（感兴趣的）等。
2. Sounds good to me.
这（主意）听着不错。sound: 意思是“听来像，令人觉得”。
这个句子省略了主语it。省略主语在口语里比较常见，例如: “Want something to drink?”的完整形成为“Do you want something to drink?”。
3. I prepared lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and a tossed green salad to begin with.
我做了羊肉块，土豆泥，还有拌蔬菜色拉当头道菜。
lamb chops: 羊肉块。chop这里指(一块)排骨，肋条肉。
mashed potatoes: 土豆泥。
tossed green salad: 蔬菜色拉。
4. A job of some kind．
找个什么工作之类的。
some在这里表示“某一种、未知的”，后面带单数可数名词。
5. I’ve been thinking about it for weeks now.
我想了有几个星期了。
have been thinking about: 使用了动词的现在完成进行式，表示“想”这个行为在过去发生并持续到现在。
6. There must be some way to put my mind to good use.
总该有个办法让我施展我的才能。
put my mind to good use: 施展我的才能。
7. We’ll find a solution. A positive solution to your finding a way to use that wonderful mind of yours.
我们会找到一个解决办法的。为让你能使用你那了不起的头脑寻找一个积极的解决办法。
find a solution: 找到一个解决办法。与后面的find a way同义。
to use that wonderful mind of yours: 使用你那了不起的头脑。最后面的of yours起强调作用，强调“你的”，这样说更有感情色彩。
