Marchetta 先生和Grandpa 讲了关于优秀老人协会TOPS的事情，Grandpa 很
感兴趣，随即表示要入会。Marchetta 先生还要带Grandpa 去建筑工地。Grandpa
的新工作马上就要开始了。

    Grandpa ： When I came here ， I planned to take a few months off.
Relax with the family and then look for some work. Put my experience on
the line…but ， unfortunately， there isn't any work for a retired person
my age. Marchetta ： Sometimes there is ， and sometimes there isn't.
Well， I'm involved with an organization， and we're trying to resolve
that problem. Grandpa ： What's that？

    Marchetta ： TOPS. T-O-P-S-means Talented Older People's Society.
Grandpa ： I'd like to be a member. How much are the dues ？

    Marchetta ： There are no dues. The organization serves major companies
in this city. Why ？ Because our members are men and women like you. Experienced，
talented， retired. But our members want to go out there and use their
talents. They want to work. Grandpa ： That is fantastic， John ！

    Marchetta ： I've got an idea for you ， Malcolm. Just fill out this
form for me. It'll only take a few minutes. Sit right here， and do it
while I talk to my secretary. When I get back ， we'll talk about my new
factory. My company is a member of TOPS. So I try hard to find opportunities
for people like you ， Malcolm. And when I see an opportunity ， I can
act on it. Well ， I can use your brainpower on the job right now. Have
you got time this morning to go over to the construction site with me ？

    I'd like to have you meet my foreman—— get some background on the
job. Grandpa： I've got plenty of time. Marchetta ： I'll be right back.
We'll go over to the job site together.

    「语言点精讲」

    1. When I came here ， I planned to take a few months off.我来这里
以后，计划先休息几个月。

    plan to do sth. ：计划做某事，打算做某事。

    to take a few months off：休息几个月。

    2. Put my experience on the line. 这句话的意思相当于“to test my experience
by trying something.”（把我的经验考验一下。考验我的阅历。）

    3. Well ， I'm involved with an organization， and we're trying to
resolve that problem. 说起来，我参加了一个组织，我们这个组织正在力求解
决这个问题。

    be involved with：意思是“与……有关系”，“与……有牵连”。

    resolve ：解决（问题）。

    4. TOPS. T-O-P-S-means Talented Older People's Society. TOPS： Talented
Older People's Society的缩写，即优秀老人协会。另外Tops这个词本身也有
“最优秀”的意思，即“the best”，所以 TOPS 是个含义丰富的机构名称。

    5. How much are the dues？

    会费是多少？dues：费用，会费。

    6. Just fill out this form for me.请把这张表格填好。

    fill out：意思是“填写（表格）”，这是美国用法。英国英语用 fill in.

    7. Sit right here ， and do it while I talk to my secretary.请就坐
在这儿，趁我和我的秘书谈话的时间你（填一下这张表）。

    talk to sb. ：和某人谈话，对某人说…。talk to 是从主动的立场对某人
谈，有时是去吐露心里发愁的事，有时是去责备、吩咐或抗议、要求等。

    8. I've got plenty of time. 我时间多得是。

    plenty of 后面既可带不可数名词，也可以带可数名词。它主要表示量大，
还含有“足够”或“有余”的意思，等于lots of.

    9. I'll be right back.我马上回来。