李华在图书馆里埋头读书，为下个月的博士资格考试做准备。她今天要学两个常用语，quals和in the bag.

LL: So, Li Hua, how is the studying for your quals going? I can hardly see you behind those stacks of books.

LH: My qual? 你是说我的资格考试吗？

LL: That's right - Quals is short for qualifying examinations.

LH: 还可以吧，不过马上就要考试了，我特别紧张。

LL: Oh? When exactly are your quals, Li Hua?

LH: 下个月！我只有不到一个月的准备时间了。

LL: One month is still quite a bit of time, Li Hua. What do you have left to do to get ready for your quals?

LH: 让我想想....我还有好几本书要读，而且还要做一些模拟试题。

LL: I know you'll study hard, Li Hua, and you will have no trouble passing your quals.

LH: 谢谢你，Larry。我现在特别需要鼓励。

LL: Say, Li Hua, you know, doctoral students aren't the only people who have quals.

LH: 什么，不光是博士生要通过资格考试，难道还有其他人吗？

LL: Athletes have quals, too. For example, if an athlete wants to be part of the Olympic team, he has to make the quals.

LH: 哦，你是说运动员啊。他们那叫资格选拔赛，比如说要想代表美国去参加奥运会，就要先过选拔赛这一关。

LL: You are right. The quals that athletes participate in are generally qualifying races or qualifying rounds of sporting events.

LH: 你知道吗，最近中国队在世界杯预选赛中输给了伊拉克。

LL: That's too bad. I didn't know China had lost. Who made it through the quals?

LH: 我知道入围的队有沙特阿拉伯-、伊朗、日本和韩国。

LL: See, you just have to work hard like these winning athletes, Li Hua, and you'll have no problem with your quals.

LH: 好在我的资格考试在教室里就能完成了，我不用去跑马拉松。

******

LL: You really shouldn't worry about the quals, Li Hua. I tell you, you have it in the bag, Li Hua.

LH: Hmmm....我皮包里只有钱夹、钥匙、墨镜、手机，怎么会有资格考试呢？

LL: Ha, ha. I didn't mean you *really* had the qualifying exam in your bag, Li Hua. To have something "in the bag" means that you are guaranteed of success.

LH: 我懂了，你说I have the quals "in the bag" 意思就是说没问题，我肯定能通过。

LL: That's right, Li Hua. You always study so hard. I know you've got it in the bag.

LH: 你真够朋友！不过，我对这次考试可没有百分之百的把握。可不是所有人都能考过的。

LL: Don't think that way, Li Hua! You are going to do great!

LH: 可是你看看中国足球队。他们原以为稳操胜券，结果却败在了伊拉克队的手下。

LL: Well, it is sometimes true that people *think* they have something in the bag and it doesn't quite turn out the way they thought it would.

LH: 就是说啊。所以，我绝对不能掉以轻心。

LL: But I don't think that is the case with you, Li Hua. Say...I've got some news I've been meaning to share with you.

LH: 有什么好消息吗？你是不是升职了？ is your promotion in the bag?

LL: You know, Li Hua, I think it is in the bag. My boss called me into the office and told me I was first in line for a promotion and that he was very pleased with my work.

LH: 恭喜你！Larry, 看起来你又要请客了。

LL: Thanks, Li Hua. I tell you what, after I find out my promotion is in the bag - and you find out your quals are in the bag, let's go out for a big celebration!

LH: 好，一言为定。

今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是quals, 是资格考试，或是资格选拔赛的意思。另一个是in the bag，意思是有百分之百的把握。

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