A：Thanks for offering to give me a lift. I'm looking forward to this party, but I didn't want to go alone.谢谢你的好意送我一程。我盼着参加这个晚会，但是我不想一个人去。

B：Don't mention it. It's my pleasure. Have you been to one of these large, sit-down dinner parties since you got to New Haven?不用谢。是我的荣幸。自从你来纽黑文市，你有没有去过这种大型的、坐下来吃饭的聚会?

A：No, this is my first. Last week I went to a cookout5 for new professors at Dean Barksdale's home. I took a taxi because I didn't want to be late. But I was the first one there.没有，这是第一次。上周我去巴克斯德尔主任家参加了一个为新来的教授在户外搞的一个野餐聚会。为了不迟到，我叫了一辆的士。我却是第一个到那里的。

B：I'll bet you were a little embarrassed.我猜你有点尴尬。

A：You're right. The invitation said two to seven. I was there at two o'clock, but most people didn't arrive until three or four. They didn't start cooking until five o’clock.你说得对。邀请函上说两点到七点。我两点钟到那里，但是大部分人直到三、四点才来。他们到五点钟才开始做饭菜。

B：Cookouts often start slowly. A two o'clock start means you arrive any time after two.户外野炊经常开始得很慢。两点钟开始意思是说两点钟以后的任何时间你都可以到。

A：Thanks for telling me this.谢谢你告诉我这些。

B：I was late getting back from the mall, but I'm hurrying.我从购物中心回来晚了，但是我在加快动作。

A：Why are you in such a hurry? They said, Dinner at eight, and it's only seven-fifteen. I don't want to be the first one there again.你为什么这么急?他们说，八点吃饭，现在才七点十五。我不想又是第一个到那里。

B：Don't worry. We won't be the first.不要担心。我们不会是第一个的。