Part I
Student: Uh, excuse me, Professor Thompson. I know your office hours are tomorrow, but I was wondering if you had a few minutes free now to discuss something.
Professor: Sure, John. What did you want to talk about?
Student: Well, I have some quick questions about how to write up the research project I did this semester—about climate variations.
Professor: Oh, yes. You were looking at variations in climate in the Grand City area, right? How far along have you gotten?
Student: I've got all my data, so I'm starting to summarize it now, preparing graphs and stuff. But I'm just. . . I'm looking at it and I'm afraid that it's not enough, but I'm not sure what else to put in the report.
Professor: I hear the same thing from every student. You know, you have to remember now that you're the expert on what you've done. So, think about what you'd need to include if you were going to explain your research project to someone with general or casual knowledge about the subject, like . . . like your parents. That's usually my rule of thumb: would my parents understand this?
Student: OK. I get it.
因此，你可以设想一下如果你需要向那些对这个话题只有一般或者随意一点知识的人解释你的研究项目，你会引入哪些内容呢？比如你需要向你的父母解释你的研究项目。
1. write up
to record sth in writing in a full and complete form, often using notes that you made earlier （利用笔记等）详细写出
E.g.: to write up your notes/the minutes of a meeting
把笔记 / 会议记录细节整理成文
2. variation |ˌveəriˈeɪʃn|
noun. a change, especially in the amount or level of sth （数量、水平等的）变化，变更，变异
E.g.: The dial records very slight variations in pressure.
该刻度盘能显示很微小的压力变化。
3. along|əˈlɒŋ|
adv. at or to an advanced point 进展；进行
E.g.:The morning was well along when we arrived. [=it was late in the morning when we arrived].
我们上午很晚的时候才到。
4. casual|ˈkæʒuəl|
adj. not showing much care or thought; seeming not to be worried; not wanting to show that sth is important to you 不经意的；无忧无虑的；漫不经心的；不在乎的
E.g.:They have a casual attitude towards safety (= they don't care enough) .
他们对安全问题采取无所谓的态度。
5. a rule of thumb
a practical method of doing or measuring sth, usually based on past experience rather than on exact measurement 实用的估算方法，经验工作法（常依据经验而非准确测量）
E.g.:As a rule of thumb, a cup of filter coffee contains about 80mg of caffeine.
凭经验估计，一杯过滤咖啡约含80毫克咖啡因。
Part II
Professor: I hope you can recognize by my saying that how much you do know about the subject.
Student: Right. I understand. I was wondering if I should also include the notes from the research journal you suggested I keep.
Professor: Yes, definitely. You should use them to indicate what your evolution in thought was through time. So, just set up, you know, what was the purpose of what you were doing—to try to understand the climate variability of this area—and what you did, and what your approach was.
Student: OK. So, for example, I studied meteorological records. I looked at climate charts. I used different methods for analyzing the data, like certain statistical tests, and then I discuss the results. Is that what you mean?
Professor: Yes, that's right. You should include all of that. The statistical tests are especially important. And also be sure you include a good reference section where all your published and unpublished data came from, ‘cause you have a lot of unpublished climate data.
Student: Hmm . . . something just came into my mind and went out the other side.
我希望通过我刚才的话你能认识到你对这个主题了解多少。
你应该用它们来说明你的想法是如何随着时间的推移而演变的。
有什么想法进了我的脑子，然后一闪而过。
1. recognize|ˈrekəgnaɪz|
verb. to admit or to be aware that sth exists or is true 承认；意识到
E.g.: We recognized that the task was not straightforward.
我们意识到这个任务并非轻而易举。
2. set up
to create sth or start it 创建；建立；开办
E.g.: A fund will be set up for the dead men's families.
将为死者家属设立一项基金。
3. meteorological|ˌmi:tiərəˈlɒdʒɪkl|
adj. the scientific study of the earth's atmosphere and its changes, used especially in forecasting the weather (= saying what it will be like) 气象学的
E.g.:meteorological forecasts
气象预报
4. reference section
The Reference Section, also called the Reference List or Cited Works List, is a list of the full text (or 'biographical') details of the in-text citations which have used in the main text. It includes information such as author, year of publication, title, and publisher or URL.参考部分，也称为参考列表或被引作品列表，是正文中引用的全文（或“传记”）详细信息列表，它包括诸如作者、出版年份、标题和出版商或 URL 等信息。
Part III
Professor: That happens to me a lot, so I've come up with a pretty good memory management tool. I carry a little pad with me all the time and jot down questions or ideas that I don't want to forget. For example, I went to the doctor with my daughter and her baby son last week and we knew we wouldn't remember everything we wanted to ask the doctor, so we actually made a list of five things we wanted answers to.
Student: A notepad is a good idea. Since I'm so busy now at the end of the semester, I'm getting pretty forgetful these days. OK. I just remembered what I was trying to say before.
Professor: Good. I was hoping you'd come up with it.
Student: Yes. It ends up that I have data on more than just the immediate Grand City area, so I also included some regional data in the report. With everything else it should be a pretty good indicator of the climate in this part of the state.
Professor: Sounds good. I'd be happy to look over a draft version before you hand in the final copy, if you wish.
Student: Great. I'll plan to get you a draft of the paper by next Friday. Thanks very much. Well, see ya.
Professor: OK.
加上其他那些数据，它应该是该州这一地区气候的一个很好的指标。
1. jot down
to write sth quickly 草草记下；匆匆记下
E.g.: I'll just jot down the address for you.
我得赶快把地址给你写下来。
2. end up
to find yourself in a place or situation that you did not intend or expect to be in 最终成为；最后处于
E.g.: If he carries on driving like that, he'll end up dead.
如果他继续这样开车，总有一天会把命都丢掉。
3. immediate|ɪˈmi:diət|
adj. next to or very close to a particular place or time 接近的；附近的；紧接的
E.g.: The director is standing on her immediate right.
主管就挨在她的右边站着。
4. draft|drɑ:ft|
noun. a rough written version of sth that is not yet in its final form 草稿；草案；草图
E.g.: The legislation is still in draft form.
这条法规还只是项草案。
10个月宝宝每天需要喝多少奶粉？
