Section C
Teenage Talk
At school, Sandy often went to the library with her best friend, Autumn, who came to America from Japan. They were in the same grade, even though Autumn was a year older. They helped each other with homework, worked on research for class assignments and talked about their problems.
Sandy explained her parents didn't like her makeup or her music and were getting very strict. Autumn's parents made her study on Saturday nights but Sandy didn't tell her parents. She didn't want to give them any ideas! 1. ______
The teenagers shared many secrets, trusting each other entirely. Sandy told Autumn about her telephone conversations with her brother Bill. An only child, Autumn liked hearing about Sandy's brother.
Sandy didn't tell anyone Autumn had a boyfriend. Autumn's parents didn't permit her to date and insisted Autumn attend Japanese school on Saturdays. During lunch, she visited her boyfriend, Jackson, at an ice cream shop near where he worked. Autumn described Jackson as very funny, always telling jokes and making her laugh. After seeing Jackson, Autumn usually shared his jokes with Sandy.
Autumn looked sad.
"What's the matter, Autumn?" asked Sandy.
"I wish I could really go out with Jackson, not just see him in secret. I do not often lie to my parents, but I have to lie about Jackson."
"I understand," said Sandy, "but you're lucky. At least you have a boyfriend."
"I feel lucky. He's so good looking, smart and funny. I really like him. I just wish I didn't have to keep secrets from my parents." 2.______
"I know what you mean. My brother, Bill, has been calling me, but doesn't want me to tell my parents."
"Why not?" asked Autumn.
"He's having a really hard time in school — failing one of his really difficult classes. I'm worried about him."
"Maybe your parents could help him. He should probably talk to them. What class is it?"
"Higher level math. Math was never his best subject," answered Sandy.
"He always seemed like a really bright person," said Autumn. 3. ______
"That's just an act," said Sandy. "Bill has a really hard time paying attention. You and I help each other work things out and do a lot together. Bill can't do that. He won't let anybody know he isn't perfect. That's why he doesn't want me to say anything to our parents, but they need to know. I promised I wouldn't tell them. What should I do? His grades are very low. If he fails, my parents will be so upset." 4. ______
"If you promised, you can't tell. But he sounds like he needs help."
"You're right, Autumn. He's mentioned dropping out of school. I'm so worried because my parents would feel terrible. I just don't know what to do."
"I don't get it. Why does he have to drop out? He's only failing one class," said Autumn.
"He feels he just doesn't fit in at college. He's very quiet, by himself and doesn't like to go to parties too much. He likes to sit at home, listen to music, and draw. He's kind of a dreamer." 5. ______
"Is he very unhappy?" asked Autum quietly.
"I'm not sure," said Sandy. "When I ask, he says no, but sometimes he doesn't really answer."
"That's brave — to ask," said Autumn.
" He's my brother. I want to help him," Sandy said. "College isn't right for him because he doesn't like to study. But I can't tell my parents because they go crazy when anything is not perfect," said Sandy. 6. ______
"That's probably why he doesn't tell them," said Autumn. "Sandy, this is a serious problem. He's in trouble and needs help — maybe more than you can give."
"Maybe we shouldn't talk like this, but I'm worried about him. It's so awful when you have to keep secrets. I hate secrets," said Sandy. 7. ______
"I do too," smiled Autumn, "but I'm glad you told me. My problem with Jackson doesn't seem so bad now."
Sandy smiled at her friend. "I'm happy for you. I think you need to stop thinking about Jackson so much. If your parents find out, you'll have a huge problem."
"You're right. I'd better get going. I'll call you tonight at eight o'clock."
"OK. Thanks for listening."
"No problem."
Words: 710
青少年的對話
在學(xué)校,桑迪經(jīng)常和她的知心朋友秋去圖書館。秋是從日本來美國的。 她倆同年級,盡管秋比桑迪大一歲。做作業(yè)時, 她們總是相互幫助,做課堂小實驗時也一起動腦筋,她們還一起談?wù)撍齻兊臒馈?br />
桑迪告訴秋說自己父母不喜歡她的化妝品,也不喜歡她的音樂,而且變得很嚴(yán)厲。 而秋的父母強迫秋星期六晚上也學(xué)習(xí)。這一點,桑迪沒有告訴自己的父母。 她根本不想讓他們知道。
兩個少女私下里交流著許多秘密,彼此十分信任。 桑迪把她和哥哥比爾常在電話里聊的事兒講給秋聽。 秋喜歡聽桑迪哥哥的事情,因為她家就她一個獨生女。
桑迪沒有把秋有男朋友的事告訴別人。
秋的父母不讓她去約會。他們還堅持要秋星期六也得去上日語課。 秋的男朋友杰克遜工作的地方附近有一家冰淇淋店,秋趁午飯時間上那兒去看她的男朋友。 秋說杰克遜非常有趣,老講笑話,逗得秋大笑。 見過杰克遜后,秋通常都要把他說的笑話講給桑迪聽。
秋臉上露出了苦色。
"怎么啦,秋?" 桑迪問。
"我希望我能真正地和杰克遜一道出去約會,不是偷偷摸摸地去看他。 我對我父母很少撒謊,可說到杰克遜,我就得撒謊。"
"我理解,"桑迪說道。"你還是很幸運,至少你有個男朋友。"
"我感到幸運。而且他長得一表人才,聰明又風(fēng)趣。我真的喜歡他,但愿我不必再向父母隱瞞。"
"我明白你的意思。我哥哥比爾一直跟我打電話,可又不想讓我告訴父母他打了電話。"
"為什么?" 秋問道。
"他在學(xué)校日子真的不好過,有一門功課非常難,他跟不上。我為他擔(dān)心。"
"也許你父母能幫助他。他也許該跟你父母談?wù)?。是什么課程?"
"高等數(shù)學(xué)。數(shù)學(xué)從不是他的強項," 桑迪回答道。
"他一向看上去那么聰明," 秋說。
"裝裝而已,"桑迪說。"比爾真的很難集中精力。 你和我相互幫助,一起做許多事,一起解難題。 比爾卻不能。他不想讓別人知道他并不十全十美。 這就是為什么他什么也不讓我告訴父母,可他們需要知道。 我答應(yīng)他不告訴父母。我該怎么辦?他的分?jǐn)?shù)很低,要是這門課不及格,我父母就會非常不安。"
"既然答應(yīng)了他,就不能告訴你父母。可聽起來他需要幫助。"
"秋,你說得對。他提起過想中途輟學(xué)。我很擔(dān)心,因為我父母會很難過的。我真不知道該怎么辦。"
"這我就不明白了。他為什么想中途輟學(xué)?他只不過一門功課不好," 秋說道。
"他覺得自己不適合待在大學(xué)里。他話不多,什么事都悶在心里,不想與人多交往。 他喜歡一個人待在家里,聽音樂,畫畫。他像個夢想家。"
"他很痛苦嗎?" 秋悄聲問道。
"我還拿不準(zhǔn)," 桑迪說。"我問他時,他說不,可有時侯卻一言不發(fā)。"
"你敢問他,真有膽量," 秋說。
"他是我哥哥,我想幫助他," 桑迪說。
"大學(xué)不是他待的地方,因為他不喜歡讀書。 可我不能告訴我父母,要是有什么不完美的事,他們會氣瘋的。"
"也許這就是他為什么不對他們說實話的原因, " 秋說。"桑迪,這是個嚴(yán)重的問題。比爾有麻煩,他需要人幫忙,也許你一個人還幫不了他。"
"也許我們不該這樣談?wù)?,但我替他?dān)心。保守秘密真是件糟糕的事。我討厭保密。" 桑迪說。
"我也一樣," 秋笑著說。"但你能把比爾的事講給我聽,我很高興?,F(xiàn)在看來,我與杰克遜的問題似乎不那么讓人心煩了。"
桑迪朝她的朋友笑了笑。"我為你感到高興。我看你不要老想著與杰克遜的事兒, 要是你父母知道了,你就真有大麻煩了。"
"你說得對?,F(xiàn)在我得走了。晚上8點我給你打電話。"
"好的。謝謝你聽我說話。"
"不客氣。"