2015年ESL之就医和人际交往 10 Problems Getting Along With Family

（单词翻译）

Problems Getting Along With Family 

Oscar: So you’re back from your mother’s birthday dinner. How was it? 

Priscilla: Same old, same old. It isn’t a family gathering¹ without a major meltdown or blowup. 

Oscar: Yikes, what happened? 

Priscilla: You know how it is. It starts out with bickering² and somebody taking offense³ at some slight or dig, or bringing up some old grievance⁴. 

Oscar: Well, that happens in most families. 

Priscilla: Yeah, but in mine, they often turn into screaming matches. We all raise our voices and somebody always storms out. 

Oscar: Even at your mother’s birthday dinner? 

Priscilla: The occasion doesn’t matter. My mother tries to be the peacemaker, but it doesn’t take much for tempers to flare⁵. 

Oscar: That never happens in my family. 

Priscilla: What?! Your family doesn’t fight when it gets together? 

Oscar: No, we try to sweep things under the rug and put on a brave face. 

Priscilla: What happens when you get mad at each other? 

Oscar: Nothing. 

Priscilla: What do you mean nothing? 

Oscar: A lot of our family meals are eaten in stony⁶ silence. 

Priscilla: Wow, I think I prefer our knock-down, drag- out fights! 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse