這場戲：靠打官司爭到單獨考場
第 14 章 · 共 17 章 · 5'02"
海瑟的媽媽悄悄告訴布拉德，女兒在化療，只求別讓孩子被區別對待，一句 I just don't want her to be singled out（我只是不想讓她被區別對待）。後來布拉德在考場被拒單獨應考，父親搬出 the magic word: lawsuit（那個有魔力的詞：打官司），當場把單獨房間爭了回來。維權和替人說話都用得上。
媽媽請求別讓孩子 single someone out（被區別對待）
a matter of time 遲早會發生的事reluctant to 不太情願去做singled out 被單獨拎出來、被區別對待
海瑟的媽媽悄悄告訴布拉德，女兒正在化療，只希望別讓孩子被區別對待，一句 I just don't want her to be singled out（我只是不想讓她被區別對待）說得很剋制；布拉德決定讀碩士，還和南希聊到 a matter of time（遲早會發生的事）。最緊張的是考場上，他因妥瑞氏症被拒單獨應考，對方說 I can't make an exception（我不能破例），父親趕來搬出 the magic word: lawsuit（那個有魔力的詞：打官司），替他爭到單獨房間。想表達「遲早」，想求人「破例」，這幾句都用得上。
A1–C2 是歐標等級。點一個等級後，比它高的卡片會變淡，播放到那裡不會自動暫停。
“I just don't want her to be singled out.”
我只是不想讓她被單獨區別對待。
一句話說清母親的怕：不是怕病，是怕孩子被同學另眼相看。
I just don't want someone to be ...
替家人說出顧慮、向人解釋請求時用；正式文書裡別這麼口語。
I don't want her treated any differently. ／ The last thing I want is for her to stand out.
中性
just 輕讀，want her to 連讀，singled out 放慢收尾。
I just don't want him to be picked on for his accent. 我只是不想他因為口音被人欺負。
“Tourette's does have its privileges.”
妥瑞氏症也有它的好處嘛。
把缺陷講成一個冷笑話，does 一重讀，自嘲裡全是坦然。
X does have its ...
自嘲式地找補一件小好處時用；對不熟的人別拿病開玩笑。
There is an upside to it, believe it or not. ／ Even this has its perks.
口語
does 重讀，have its 輕讀連讀，privileges 從容收尾。
Working nights does have its perks; the office is empty. 上夜班也有好處，辦公室一個人都沒有。
“Would it bother you if I did go away?”
如果我真的走了，你會介意嗎？
用過去式的 did 說假設，把“萬一要走”問得小心翼翼。
Would it bother you if ...
試探對方對自己計劃的反應時用；對長輩問會顯唐突。
Would you mind if I left for a while? ／ How would you feel if I moved away?
中性
Would it 連讀，did 重讀，go away 句尾略降。
Would it bother you if I took the job in another city? 要是我去外地接這份工作，你會介意嗎？
“How could anybody possibly concentrate if I'm in that room?”
我要是進了那間教室，誰能集中得了注意力？
用反問把自己的處境攤在對方面前，比直接抗議更有力。
How could anybody ... if ...
用反問點出對方安排不合理時用；對願意講理的人有效，對強硬者別指望它立刻改變決定。
Who could concentrate with me in that room? ／ How is anyone supposed to focus if I'm in there?
中性
possibly 重讀表質疑，concentrate 連讀，if I'm in that room 降調。
How could anybody sleep with that drilling outside? 外面這麼打鑽，誰睡得著？
下一章 · 15give up on someone對某人放手這場戲：陪學生玩讀書遊戲意思是「破例、網開一面」：對通常的規則開個特例，比如考試中心說不能破例，就是 I can't make an exception。
a matter of time，常和 it's only、just 連用，比如化療遲早會被看出來，就說 it was only a matter of time。
single someone out，指把人從一群人裡單獨拎出來，可以是表揚也可以是針對，如 singled out for attention。
指為有特殊需要的人提供的特別安排，比如單獨考場、延長答題時間；布拉德要的就是 special testing accommodations。
因為父親一提要起訴，考試中心立刻改口同意單獨安排，所以他說那個管用的詞就是 lawsuit（打官司）。
