Nowadays, lots of people need glasses or contact lenses[1]. This story gives you some vocabulary, plus ways to compliment someone (they suit you) and typical questions to ask (are you nearsighted or are you farsighted?).[2]

By the way, English is strange. If you’re nearsighted, like many younger people, you can see to read but not far away. If you’re farsighted, you need reading glasses! If you have 2.0/2.0 vision[3], it’s perfect.

How about you? Do you prefer glasses or contacts? Or, do you want laser eye surgery[4]?

A: Hey, nice glasses! Are they new?

B: Yes, I just got them last week.

A: Nice! I like the frames[5]. They really suit you.

B: Thanks. They’re very light. I really like wearing them.

A: Where did you get them?

B: I went to Charlie’s Opticians[6]. They have a good selection of designer frames and they’re cheap.

A: The lenses are a little dark. Are they tinted[7]?

B: They have a coating[8] that get dark in the sun and gets light indoors. That way, I don’t need shades[9]. My eyes are sensitive to light.

A: Having glasses like that is very convenient.

B: Yes, and I save money, too. Prescription[10] sunglasses are expensive.

A: Are you nearsighted or farsighted?

B: Both. These are bifocals[11]. I’m getting on a bit. Getting old is hard.

A: You’re still young. Can you still see without your glasses?

B: No, I’m blind as a bat without them. I can’t do without them.

A: Have you thought of getting contacts or laser eye surgery?

B: No, I’m too lazy to use contacts. You have to clean them. And, I’m leery of getting surgery. Who knows what will happen?

A: I have a friend who had her eyes done. She’s glad she did. She says getting surgery made a world of difference. Not wearing glasses makes her feel free.

B: Just the same, wearing glasses isn’t so bad. I think I’ll stick with glasses. How about you? Do you have 2.0/2.0 vision?

A: No, I use contacts. They’re disposable, so I don’t need to worry about cleaning them. We both have bad vision. We must be good students!

B: No, our problem is using the computer too much!

Vocabulary

1. contact lenses: 隱形眼鏡。

2. compliment: 稱贊，贊美；nearsighted: 近視的；farsighted: 遠視的。

3. 20/20 vision: 雙眼都是2.0的視力。

4. laser eye surgery: 治療眼睛視力的激光手術。

5. frames: 眼鏡框。

6. optician: 配制眼鏡技師，眼鏡商。

7. tinted: 著色的。

8. coating: 涂層，覆蓋層。

9. shade: [～s]〈口〉太陽眼鏡，墨鏡。

10. prescription: （眼鏡等）根據驗光單磨制的。

11. bifocals: 雙光眼鏡，即雙焦點眼鏡，雙焦距眼鏡，是一種遠視、近視兩用眼鏡。

1. suit sb. a. No, I’ll keep my first choice, not change

2. designer ones b. feel nervous about trying. Hesitate

3. sensitive c. to make someone look attractive: e.g.

The glasses and you are good together.

4. convenient d. Anyway, that doesn’t change my idea

5. get on e. easy to feel (feel pain etc.)

6. blind as a bat f. I really can’t see without glasses

7. can’t do without g. get/pay someone to do for you

8. be leery of h. clothes etc. made by a famous person

9. have sth. done i. getting older! (such as over 40)

10. just the same j. makes my life easier, saves time

11. stick with k. use once, then throw out (don’t keep)

12. disposable l. I need this. If I don’t have, I can’t do.

Answers: 1–c, 2–h, 3–e, 4–j, 5–i, 6–f, 7–l, 8–b, 9–g, 10–d, 11–a, 12–k

Usage:

1. 本期會話教你如何在一句話的開頭使用動名詞作名詞，如：Getting old is hard. 這句話中，動詞是is，那么主語則是getting old，在這里，你不能使用動詞get old。不過，也可以使用動詞不定式to get old，但這種結構不是很常用，如：Swimming is healthy. / To swim is healthy. 但請注意，有時，一個動詞也可作名詞，如work，sleep，這時，你就無需在其后面加-ing了，如：Sleep is coming! 另外，rain和snow都是既當名詞又作動詞，也不要用-ing，如：Rain makes me sad.

2. 如果你感到緊張、遲疑或是有些恐懼、害怕的話，可以用“be leery of + 名詞 / 動詞+ing形式”來表達。如：I’m leery of big dogs (I avoid them)；I’m leery of changing jobs (I hesitate to do it, but I might).

3. 如果要說衣服的顏色或某種發型很適合你，這時可以用suit you來表達，即It looks good on you. 也可以說一份工作很適合你，如：She’s friendly, working in sales suits her. 如果對一個人或一種情況來說，某件物品或某種事物是合適的，那就表明它是與之相稱的或適合的，如：A coffee cup is a suitable present for a teacher, underwear is not!

（來源：英語學習雜志 編輯：丹妮）