英國的《辣妹組合》重聚少了一位辣妹，經典美劇《老友記》的聚會也少了一位老友 Chandler 的臉面。《隨身英語》探討與多年不見的同學或同事再次相聚是否真的是每個人的愿望。

課文內容

詞匯: reunions 團聚

What is it about reunions that make some people reluctant to go to? Is it that they're afraid of being judged by people who they met in their heyday? Is it a fear of having betrayed high expectations? Or is it the risk of realising that the sparkle that held the group together is no longer there?

Fans have been keen on a Spice Girls reunion, but Posh Spice is saying 'no'. Fans have eagerly followed months of speculation about the five British singers getting together again. For this generation – now mainly middle aged mothers – it's a chance to introduce the band to their own daughters. But, unfortunately, it’s not gonna happen. They might see four of them.

The spoil sport seems to be Victoria Beckham. Maybe Posh Spice became too posh herself to shake her booty on a stage. She's said in the past that she’s got no plans to join with Baby, Scary, Ginger and Sporty.

"Doing the Olympics was an incredible honour. That's great. Thank you to everybody, but no more," she said after the group performed at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in London in 2012.

And then there's Friends. Well, no more chats at the (fictitious) Central Perk cafe for Chandler Bing. Actor Matthew Perry has announced that he won't attend the reunion show of the hit American TV sitcom which captured the imagination of audiences in several countries. It ended in 2004 after ten series.

Perry's spokesperson said he "may tape something" as a tribute to the series' creator James Burrows but… he is otherwise engaged. As some Hollywood actors do, he will star in a play in London which runs until May. It's a story about being middle aged. Enough said. 

詞匯表

reluctant 不情愿的
heyday 全盛時期
high expectations 高期望
eagerly  急切地、迫不及待地
speculation 推測，猜測
gonna (going to) 會（做什么，發(fā)生什么）
spoil sport 掃興者
posh 富貴的
to shake (her) booty （跟著音樂）搖擺（她的）臀部
fictitious 虛構的
to attend 參加
to capture the imagination  抓住了（人們的）想象力
to tape  錄影
tribute  致敬，致詞
otherwise engaged  抽不出身，有約在身

測驗與練習

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. True or false? Fans were disappointed by the news of Posh Spice not joining the Spice Girls reunion because they were sure she would be there.
2. What are Baby, Scary, Ginger and Sporty?
3. What is Central Perk?
4. What might the actor who played Chandler Bing do instead of joining the other members of the cast?
5. What does the author of the article mean by 'enough said'?

1. This band is great! Come on to the dance floor! __________!

capture your imagination       shake your booty        heyday       otherwise engaged

2. Alan and I are no longer a couple. The__________ is gone and we don't love each other anymore.

heyday      speculation       girl power     sparkle

3. My flatmate is __________. She goes to bed very early and doesn't allow me to organise dinner parties for my friends.

a spoil sport       posh       reluctant       otherwise engaged 

4. I've been waiting __________ for Matthew Perry's play to open at London's West End. I'm a fan!

keen      eagerly    reluctantly    unfortunately

5. I have to tell you something… Come on, let's go for __________.

a chat            a reunion          a performance      enough said    

2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處 。

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. True or false? Fans were disappointed by the news of Posh Spice not joining the Spice Girls reunion because they were sure she would be there.
False. The reunion of the five members of the pop group was surrounded by speculation so nobody could be sure it was going to happen.

2.  What are Baby, Scary, Ginger and Sporty?
These are the nicknames of the singers of the Spice Girls' group and Posh Spice is the fifth member.

3.  What is the Central Perk?
The Central Perk is the name of a factitious cafe where the main characters of the American sitcom Friends used to get together to chat and… drink coffee.

4. What might the actor who played Chandler Bing do instead of joining the other members of the cast?
According to his spokesperson, he might record a message paying tribute to the creator of the popular show Friends.

5. What does the author of the article mean by 'enough said'?
The author implies that being older and having other interests might be a reason for some people not to be keen on going to reunions and this might be the case regarding Matthew Perry.

2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處 。

1. This band is great! Come on to the dance floor! Shake your booty!

2. Alan and I are no longer a couple. The sparkle is gone and we don't love each other anymore.

3. My flatmate is a spoil sport. She sleeps very early and doesn't allow me to organise dinner parties for my friends.

4. I've been waiting eagerly for Matthew Perry's play to open at London's West End. I'm a fan!

5. I have to tell you something… Come on, let's go for a chat.