Larry 和李華去朋友Frank 家參加新年派對。李華今天要學兩個常用語，dead
和happening.

    LL： Gosh ， there is hardly any one here ， Li Hua. This party is
really dead ！

    LH： Larry. 這里每個人明明都活得好好的，你為什么說the party is dead
呢？

    LL： Well ， because there aren't very many people here ， there isn't
much conversationand laughter. When a party isn't lively， we say it is
DEAD. And this party is dead. LH：噢，你是說這個party 不熱鬧，了無生氣
啊。現在時間還早，也許一會兒就熱鬧起來了。

    LL： I hope so. Speaking of places being dead today ， I went into
work for a little bit to get some things from my desk. There was no one
in the office - it was completely dead. LH：那當然了，今天是除夕，沒有
什么人會去辦公室的。

    LL： I guess the college campus must be dead now， too. LH：不光是
今天，期終考試結束后，學生們都回家過年了。The campus has been dead for
two weeks.

    LL： So ， Li Hua ， do you mind being on campus when it is dead like
it is now ？

    LH：確實有點孤單，不過人少也有人少的好處。比方說，圖書館里就特別安
靜。

    LL： Oh ， I bet the library is completely dead ！ I mean ， who would
be studying over the break？

    LH：我啊！不過你說的沒錯，校園里確實沒有什么人，可是停車特別方便。

    LL： I know what you mean about the convenience. This year I made
sure to do my Christmas shopping at a time when the shopping mall was
really dead. LH ：圣誕購物季節，商店里到處都是人。I cannot imagine a mall
being dead during the holidays.

    LL： I went early on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Since most people
work during those times ， it was pretty dead at the mall. LH ：這倒是
個好辦法，可以避開購物的人群，不用跟別人擠來擠去的。

    LL： That's right ， Li Hua. Hey， look ， the party isn't so dead
any more！ Some more people have shown up ， and the music has started.
LH： The party isn't dead at all. 你想去跳舞嗎？

    ******

    LL： Sure ， I'd love to dance， Li Hua. Now the party is really happening！

    LH：如果我沒猜錯得話，Happening 是dead的反義詞吧？

    LL： You are right， Li Hua. It is the opposite of a "dead" party.
A happening party is one that is lively and exciting - and where lots
of different things are happening. LH ：是啊，這個party 好像一下子就熱
鬧起來了。

    LL： Frank has done a good job. It is because of parties like this
that I love the holidays. Christmas and New Year's are such happening
times of the year. LH ：就是啊，新年圣誕確實熱鬧，大家都跟親朋好友在一
起，不過我也很喜歡春天和夏天。

    LL： Why do you like spring and summer， Li Hua ？

    LH：放春假和暑假我可以到外地去，visit some more happening places.

    LL： I can't imagine a more happening place than New York City. I
mean here in New York there is always something going on！

    LH：紐約確實很熱鬧，可是美國還有其他熱鬧的地方啊。

    LL： I suppose that is true. I've heard San Francisco has a very happening
art scene. LH ：我就很想去舊金山看看。還有，我還特別喜歡美國的布魯斯音
樂，所以很想到孟菲斯去。

    LL： I don't know ， Li Hua. I visited Memphis once ， and I didn't
think it was a very happening place. But then again ， I am not a fan
of Blues music. LH：貓王的雅園就在孟菲斯。我一直想去看看。我想，他當年
在雅園一定開過很多熱鬧的派對。

    LL： Elvis was famous for his wild parties. Look， the party is really
happening now. LH ： Come on， Larry. 我們去跳舞吧，這么熱鬧的party ，
我可不想就站在這兒。Let's go have some fun！

    LL： Okay ， Li Hua ！ Now this is my idea of a happening time！

    今天李華學到了兩個常用語。一個是dead，指了無生氣。另一個是happening
，指非常熱鬧。