Lesson 42 Finding the Perfect Man 尋找如意郎君
Words:
comparable adj. 可比的，比得上的；類似的
comparative adj. 比較的
compassion n. 憐憫，同情
compatible adj. 可以并存的，相容的，協調的
compel vt. 強迫，使不得不
compelling adj. 緊迫的，使人非相信不可的
compensate vt. 補償，賠償
compensatory adj. 補償性的
compete vi. 競爭，比得上
competence n. 能力，勝任
competent adj. 有能力的，能勝任的
competition n. 競爭，競賽
competitiveness n. 競爭能力
compile vt. 匯集，編輯
complacence n. 自滿，自以為是
complaint n. 抱怨，怨言
complement vt. 補充，使完善
complementary adj. 補充的，補足的
complex adj. 復雜的，費解的；結構復雜的；n. 綜合體
complexity n. 復雜（性）
“I want to get married, but I’m having trouble funding a compatible man!” Mary said with a sigh. “He must possess a measure of competitiveness because I hate complacence. However, his desire for competition has to be complemented with a degree of compassion.”
“That type of man won’t be easy to find!” Jane replied. “I would prefer a man with a personality that is complementary to mine. He’d have to be a competent cook because I have absolutely no competence in that area. I’d also want him to be intelligent so that he can compensate for my inability to solve complex problems. ”
“You two girls are crying for the moon.” Ruth said. “What you really need in someone who will love you without complaint, like my last boyfriend. I never had to compel him to express his feelings to me. I think, in his mind, love was not a complexity. But how am I ever going to find someone who is comparable to my ex-boyfriend?”
“I suppose you can do a comparative study of every new guy you meet,” Mary replied with a laugh. “Or you can call up your ex-boyfriend and beg him to take you back. But why would he want you back after you made him compete with his best friend for your affection? It’s not like you can make things right with compensatory affection, can you? ”
“Look, girls, ” Jane said with a tone of dismay. “We’re not exactly princesses. We’re 30 years old and we’re still being too picky. Don’t you think we have enough compelling reasons to lower our standards? Why don’ t we just compile a list of all single men over 3 who wouldn’t mind going out with us? ”
“Good idea!” replied Mary and Ruth.
“我想結婚，但又找不到合適的男人！”瑪麗嘆了口氣說道。“他必須擁有一定的競爭能力，因為我討厭男人自以為是。但他的競爭欲還得有一定程度的同情心做補充。”
“那樣的男人很難找！”簡回答說，“我更喜歡一個跟我個性互補的男人。他必須是個稱職的廚師，因為我絕對沒有能力勝任做飯的工作。他還得是個聰明的男人，這樣他就能彌補我解決復雜問題時的無能為力了。”
“你們倆是在緣木求魚，簡直是異想天開！”魯絲說道，“你們真正需要的是一個無欲無悔愛你們的男人，就像我的前任男友。我從來不用強迫他向我傾訴感情。我想，在他心里，愛情不是件錯綜復雜的事。但我上哪去找能跟我前任男友相媲美的男人呢？”
“我想你可以對你遇上的每一位新男友做一番比較研究，”瑪麗笑著回答，“或者你可以給你前任男友打電話，求他再續前緣。但你弄得他為了獲得你的愛情而同他最好的朋友競爭，他又怎么會再續前緣呢？補償性的愛情好像不管用，對吧？”
“我說，姑娘們，”簡不無沮喪地說道，“我們又不是什么公主，我們已經30多了，還那么挑三揀四。難道我們沒有足夠令人信服的理由降低標準嗎？我們干嘛不寫一張清單，列出所以愿意同我們約會的30歲以上的單身漢呢？”
“好主意！”瑪麗和魯絲齊聲答道。
