My aunt Jennifer is an actress. She must be at least thirty-five years old. In spite of this, she often appears on the stage as a young girl. Jennifer will have to take part in a new play soon. This time, she will be a girl of seventeen. In the play, she must appear in a bright red dress and long black stockings. Last year in another play, she had to wear short socks and a bright, orange-coloured dress. If anyone ever asks her how old she is, she always answers, ‘Darling, it must be terrible to be grown up!’
New words and expressions 生词和短语
appear(1. 2)/ə'piə/v. 登场，扮演
stocking(1. 5)/'stokiŋ/n. (女用)长筒袜
stage(1. 2)/'steidʒ/ n. 舞台
sock(1. 6)/sok/ n. 短袜
bright(1. 4)/'brait/adj. 鲜艳的
Notes on the text 课文注释
1 She must be at least thirty-five years old. 她至少也有35岁了。
must be, 一定是，表示对现在情况的一种推测，带有一定的肯定程度。at least，至少。
2 in spite of, 尽管。
3 in a bright red dress, 穿一身鲜红色的裙子。介词in表示“穿着”。
4 orange-coloured, 橘红色的。
5 grown up, 成熟的，成人的。
参考译文
我的姑姑詹妮弗是位演员，她至少也有35岁了。尽管如此，她却常在舞台上扮演小姑娘。詹妮弗很快又要参加一个新剧的演出。这一次，她将扮演一个17岁的少女。演出时她必须穿一条鲜红色的裙子和黑色的长筒袜。去年在演另一个剧时，她不得不穿短袜和一件鲜艳的橘红色的衣服。一旦有人问起她有多大年纪，她总是回答：“亲爱的，长成大人真可怕啊！”
