李华和Larry 一起去骑马。李华今天要学两个常用语，mean streak 和soft
spot.

    LL： If this is your first time riding a horse， Li Hua ， I think
you shouldn't ride that black one over there. That horse looks like he's
got a mean streak.

    LH： A mean streak？你说那匹黑马吗？如果我没理解错， mean streak就
是 mean ，坏脾气的意思吧。

    LL： That's exactly what I am saying， Li Hua. A mean streak is the
potential for meanness.

    LH：那如果马的脾气太烈，会伤害骑手吗？

    LL： A horse with a mean streak might refuse to let a rider get on
- or even worse might try to throw a rider off their back.

    LH：我在电影里看过，有的马性情暴躁，会把骑手从马背上摔下来，看来真
得小心。那匹灰色的小马看着挺随和的。那我就骑它吧。It can't possibly have
a mean streak.

    LL： You know ， Li Hua ， it isn't only horses that can have mean
streaks. People can ， too.

    LH： Mean streak也能用在人身上？

    LL： Do you remember the super model Naomi Campbell ？ She was in
the news for throwing her cell phone at her housekeeper.

    LH：我记得，那个英国名模，我们叫他黑珍珠，她还有一次因为行李丢了，
大发雷霆，还动手打了警察呢！

    LL： That super model reminds me of a famous basketball coach in the
U.S. who also had a mean streak.

    LH：篮球教练？你说谁？

    LL： The former coach of the Indiana University basketball team Bobby
Knight was famous for his mean streak.

    LH：我知道印第安纳大学校队很厉害，可是没听说过他们教练的故事。那你
赶快告诉我！

    LL： There was one time he got so mad ， Li Hua ， he threw a chair
out on the basketball court during a game ！

    LH：他竟然在比赛的时候把椅子扔到赛场上？太暴躁了！Boy ， that coach
really did have a mean streak.

    LL： Well ， it is time to get on our horses， Li Hua. You can take
the nice gray horse ， and I'll try the black one with the mean streak.

    LH：小心点，Larry.

    LL： Don't worry， Li Hua. I'll show that horse who is boss ！ I have
a mean streak ， too！

    ******

    LL： So ， now that we have been riding for a while ， Li Hua ， I
don't think this black horse is so bad. I am actually developing a soft
spot for him.

    LH： A soft spot？什么是soft spot 啊？

    LL： A soft spot is a feeling of tenderness or affection for a person
or thing.

    LH：你不会是喜欢上这匹黑马了吧？你忘了，刚才它还对你又踢又咬呢！

    LL： I know it may seem funny ， but， yes， even though this horse
tried to bite me and throw me off his back， I do have a soft spot for
him.

    LH：这么烈的马，你怎么会喜欢呢？真搞不清楚！

    LL： Well ， ever since I showed him I was in control ， he's been
very good. And he's a handsome horse， too. It's hard to explain， but
sometimes you end up having a soft spot for a thing or a person that isn't
perfect.

    LH：我有点儿明白了。像是我中文班里有几个特别好的学生，可是不知道为
什么，反而是一个学得不怎么样的孩子最让我挂心。

    LL： So ， why do you have a soft spot for this particular student，
Li Hua？

    LH：人跟人不一样，有人就是不擅长学语言，那个学生发音不够标准，而且
总也记不住中文方块字的模样。

    LL： This person doesn't sound like the kind of person I'd have a
soft spot for if I were a teacher ， Li Hua.

    LH：他虽然不是个天才型的学生，可是每天上课都特别努力。我想喜欢他，
大概是因为希望他能学好吧。

    LL： You are such a dedicated teacher ， Li Hua. I know there are
students who have a soft spot for you.

    LH：那可不一定，我那些学生肯定觉得我很厉害。

    LL： Oh ， I don't believe that. Say， why don't we ride back to the
ranch now ， Li Hua. I'm getting a little thirsty and could use a drink.

    LH：好啊。哎？我的马怎么不走了？

    LL： It looks like your horse is hungry ， Li Hua. He apparently has
a soft spot for that clump of flowers ！

    LH：这下可惨了，谁它要吃到什么时候。

    今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是mean streak ，指坏脾气。另一个是soft
spot，指为什么事情动心。