Lesson 39

Question 1

自从past event/ time point以来/起/以后，……

Since the reform and opening up, laid-off workers have become a new societal problem in China.

Answer 1

自从改革开放以来，下岗职工成了中国一个新的社会问题。

Question 2

……（的时间）提前了＋（time duration）

提前＋（time duration）＋V.(下课/退休/毕业/回国/准备/告诉/完成)
If you are sick and cannot participate in this activity, please let me know in advance.

把…（的时间）提前＋（time duration）
The teacher advanced the time for the exam.

把…（的时间）提前＋到+ time point
The teacher advanced the exam time to tomorrow.

Answer 2

要是你病了，不能参加这个活动，请提前告诉我。

老师把考试的时间提前了。

老师把考试的时间提前到明天。

Question 3

Subj. 对……来说是一个（很大的/新的）挑战(n.)

It is a challenge for a foreigner to come to live in China.

Answer 3

一个外国人到中国来生活，这对他来说是一个挑战。

Question 4

把+责任/希望+放在sb./单位/政府+身上
We should not put all the responsibilities on the school, and parents should also be responsible for the education of their children.

Answer 4

我们不应该把责任都放在学校身上，父母也得对孩子的教育负责任。

Question 5

v.: Subj.计划＋V.P.
I plan to work in New York after graduating from college.

n.: 工作/学习/运动/旅行/减肥+计划
A good study plan can help you learn fast and well.

计划经济planned economy vs. 市场经济market economy

Answer 5

我计划大学毕业以后去纽约工作。

一个好的学习计划，可以帮助你学得又快又好。

Question 6

Employer解雇（了）employee
Employer把employee解雇（了）
The boss fired some workers who didn’t work hard.

Employee被employer解雇（了）
He was fired by his boss for not working hard.

Employee失业了
He lost his job

Answer 6

老板把一些工作不努力的职工解雇了。

由于工作不努力，他被老板解雇了。

他失业了。

Question 7

Subj. 过＋monosyllabic adj.(多/大/早/…)+ 会+ undesirable result
Dismissing too many employees can make employees worry.

Usual order for noun vs verb

Answer 7

解雇过多员工会让员工担心。

员工过多
过早结婚

Question 8

减轻＋负担/压力
负担/压力+减轻了
The unit must lay off too many staff to reduce the burden

Answer 8

单位必须解雇过多的工作人员来减轻负担。

Question 9

A就是sb.所说的B

“Laid-off” is what Americans call layoff.

Answer 9

下岗就是美国人所说的layoff。

Question 10

干活儿
干（了/过）＋time duration
When I was in college, I worked in the student cafeteria for three months.

Answer 10

在大学的时候，我在学生食堂干过三个月。

Labor work and house chores
干 = 做
活儿 = 工作

Question 11

Sentence1，换（一）句话说，sentence2
“The United States is the cemetery of the elderly.” In other words, the life of the elderly in the United States is very bad.

Answer 11

“美国是老年人的坟场”，换一句话说，就是在美国老年人的生活非常不好。

Question 12

下岗 vs. 失业

Answer 12

下岗 refers to unemployed or early retirement

Question 13

专业（的）训练/中文老师/音乐学校
Subject很专业
In the university table tennis team, he received professional training.

Answer 13

在大学的乒乓球队，他受到了专业的训练。

Question 14

看不起+sb.

I look down on them.

Answer 14

我看不起他们。

Question 15

Subj.自古（以来）＋就……
自古以来，subj.就……

把…分成+X类/X个……
The Chinese have divided work into two categories since ancient times: mental work and physical work.

Answer 15

中国人自古就把工作分成两类：脑力工作和体力工作。

Question 16

Sb. 穿得+很/不体面
He dressed very decently.

Some people think that it is not dignified to take home the food that has not been eaten in the restaurant.

Answer 16

他穿得非常体面。

有人觉得把在饭馆没吃完的菜带回家是很不体面的事情。

Question 17

体面的+工作/生活/事情

当+老师/工人/农民/老板/医生
In the eyes of Americans, doctors are a decent job, so I decided to be a doctor in the future.

Answer 17

在美国人看来，医生是一个很体面的工作，所以我决定以后我也要当医生。

Question 18

要想=要是你想+ achieve a goal，得/应该/最好+从……开始。

If we want to solve the problem of reemployment of laid-off workers, we must start by changing people’s thinking.

Answer 18

要想解决下岗职工再就业的问题，得从改变人们的想法开始。

Question 19

Sb./doing sth.很可耻/是可耻的

People who are not filial to their parents are shameful.

Answer 19

不孝顺父母的人很可耻。

Question 20

要求/安排/结构+不/很+合理
(不)合理的要求/安排/结构
China’s past economic structure was unreasonable.

Answer 20

中国过去的经济结构不合理。

Question 21

Sb.（没）有勇气＋v.p.
Sb. 很有勇气
The Chinese government has the courage to face the problems arising from reform and opening up.

Answer 21

中国政府有勇气面对改革开放中出现的问题。

Question 22

面对＋困难/问题/挑战/情况，subj.+ solution/reaction
Subj.＋得/必须/不知道怎么/有勇气＋面对+困难/问题/挑战/情况
This is my first time living in a foreign country by myself. Facing this challenge, I am a little nervous.

Answer 22

这是我第一次自己在外国生活，面对这个挑战，我有点儿紧张。