母亲告诫儿子用功函

November 4, 2005
Dear Brad,
I hope when you say you didn’t do too bad on your exams, you mean you got mostly Bs and a few As. We don’t really expect you to get straight As (though that would be good), but we don’t want you to get straight Cs, either. Keep in mind that whether you choose to go to graduate school or get a job after graduating, people will be looking at your GPA. If it’s too low, you’ll have problems.
Also, when you say you only have a beer or two now and then, I hope you don’t really mean a beer or five. Keep in mind that even one beer can get you into trouble.
As for giving you more spending money, your dad and I think US$100 a month ought to be enough. After all, your room and board are paid for, except for meals on Sunday evenings. If you really want more, you should get a part-time job.
Love,
Mom

亲爱的布莱德：
我希望你所谈到的考试不至于太差是指你的成绩大部分都拿到Ｂ以及少数几个Ａ。我们并不真的期望你得到全Ａ（当然那是最好的），但我们也不想你全部都只得到全Ｃ。要记住，不论你毕业后选择的是就读研究所或就业，大家都会看你在学时的学业总平均分数。如果分数太低，你就会有问题。
接下来，当你说你只有偶尔才喝一、两杯啤酒时，我希望你真的不是意味一杯或五杯啤酒。要记住，甚至一杯啤酒都可能让你惹上麻烦。
至于给你多点零用钱，你爸和我认为一个月一百元美金应已足够了。毕竟，除了星期天晚上的那一餐之外，你的住宿和膳食费用已经为你付过了，如果你真的需要多点钱，就应去打工。
爱你的　
老妈　上
2005年11月4日

字词解说：

1. straight As学校成绩全部甲等
straight 全部的
注意:
美国的学校以ABC及F分等级，A表甲等(相当台湾各级学
校的90分以上)，卉(念成A minus)表甲下(相当于80 }- 89
分之间)，B表乙等，相当于70分至79分之间，C表丙等(相
当于60分至69分之间)，F则表丁等(相当于59分以下的不及格分数)。
例:That lazy guy skipped all his classes and got straight Fs on his grade report.
(那个懒人所有的课都旷课，成绩单上全部都不及格。)

2. graduate 毕业乙.研究所的
graduate from.二毕业于……
graduate school研究所
graduate student研究生
例:Gary graduated from MIT in 2005.
(葛雷2005年毕业于麻省理工学院。)

3. GPA(在校)总平均分数
=Grade Point Average

4. After all, S-}-V毕竟，……
例:You can't expect too much of him. After all, he，s still very young.
(你不能对他期望太高。毕竟，他仍很年轻。)

5. get sb into trouble使某人陷人困境/有麻烦
例:Drunk driving would certainly get you into trouble.
(酒后驾驶一定会让你惹上麻烦。)