B2-35 / CEFR B2 / EPISODE 35

Explaining Without Apologizing

Changing the plan while keeping its purpose

SceneFrank has a backpack with sandwiches and water. Tina arrives at the park gate carrying a large cake box. Their picnic spot is at the top of the hill.

Tina holding a photo beside Frank at a park entrance. — Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

Narrator

Frank has a backpack with sandwiches and water. Tina arrives at the park gate carrying a large cake box. Their picnic spot is at the top of the hill.

フランクのリュックにはサンドイッチと水が入っている。ティナが大きなケーキの箱を持って公園の入口にやってくる。ピクニックの目的地は丘の上だ。

Tina01

I brought a lemon cake. The whole thing.

レモンケーキを持ってきたわ。丸ごとね。

Frank02

That serves eight. There are two of us.

それ、8人分だよ。僕たちは2人だけど。

Tina03

A picnic should feel special. Two tiny slices in a plastic box wouldn't feel like a celebration.

ピクニックは特別なものじゃなきゃ。プラスチック容器に小さな2切れじゃ、お祝いって感じがしないもの。

Frank04

Fair enough. But it's a thirty-minute climb in the sun, and the icing is already starting to melt.

それは分かる。でも、日なたを30分登るんだよ。しかもアイシングが、もう溶け始めてる。

Tina05

Would it help if we cut it up first?

先に切り分けたら、少しはましになる？

Frank06

It would weigh the same and melt the same. We'd just have eight sticky pieces sliding around.

重さも溶け方も同じだよ。べたべたの8切れが箱の中で滑り回るだけだ。

Tina07

Then we eat two slices here. Problem reduced by twenty-five percent.

じゃあ、ここで2切れ食べましょう。問題が25パーセント減るわ。

Frank08

That helps with the weight. But the other six slices will still melt on the way up.

重さは減るね。でも、残りの6切れも登る途中で溶けちゃうよ。

Tina09

Well, I came for a picnic with you. We don't have to climb a hill for that.

でも、私が来たのは、あなたとピクニックをするためよ。それなら、丘を登らなくてもいいでしょう。

Frank10

Would you rather stay down here, then?

じゃあ、丘の下でピクニックをするほうがいい？

Tina11

Yes. We could find a shady spot instead of carrying the cake to the top.

ええ。ケーキを頂上まで運ぶ代わりに、日陰を探しましょうよ。

Frank12

There's a shady bench by those flowers. We'd miss the view from the top, though.

あの花のそばに、日陰のベンチがあるよ。ただ、頂上からの景色は見られないね。

Tina13

Then let's make this our destination. The cake's already here.

じゃあ、ここを目的地にしましょう。ケーキはもう到着してるもの。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“That serves eight.”

For food, serve followed by a number indicates how many people a quantity feeds, as in This recipe serves four. Frank points out that a whole cake intended for eight is too much for two.

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STORY English with optional Japanese translations

Words & context

“That serves eight.”