Thanks for offering to give me a lift. I'm looking forward to this party, but I didn't want to go alone.

谢谢你的好意送我一程。我盼着参加这个晚会，但是我不想一个人去。

No, this is my first. Last week I went to a cookout5 for new professors at Dean Barksdale's home. I took a taxi because I didn't want to be late. But I was the first one there.

没有，这是第一次。上周我去巴克斯德尔主任家参加了一个为新来的教授在户外搞的一个野餐聚会。为了不迟到，我叫了一辆的士。我却是第一个到那里的。

You're right. The invitation said two to seven. I was there at two o'clock, but most people didn't arrive until three or four. They didn't start cooking until five o’clock.

你说得对。邀请函上说两点到七点。我两点钟到那里，但是大部分人直到三、四点才来。他们到五点钟才开始做饭菜。

Thanks for telling me this.

谢谢你告诉我这些。

Why are you in such a hurry? They said, Dinner at eight, and it's only seven-fifteen. I don't want to be the first one there again.

你为什么这么急？他们说，八点吃饭，现在才七点十五。我不想又是第一个到那里。