1.        What do you think are the good points and the not-so-good points about eating a picnic lunch?

Well, looking at the good points, I’d say that firstly, it’s a very pleasant feeling sitting outside to eat, because you can enjoy the fresh air and sunny weather while you’re eating, assuming it’s a nice day of course! And it also makes a nice change from sitting inside to eat, which we do most of the time.

So those would be some of the good things about it, and as for the downsides, well I guess if you’re unlucky, you might get mosquitos(蚊子) or things flying around you, which could get quite irritating (厌烦), especially if you got bitten by one. And as well as this, I suppose another not-so-good thing about them is that it’s a bit of an effort carrying all your food and drink to the picnic site.

But on the whole I’d say the good points definitely outweigh the bad points!

assuming = 假定

it’s a bit of an effort = 有点麻烦

the good points (definitely) outweigh the bad points = 优点大于缺点

2.        On what occasions (or, in what circumstances) do people choose to eat outdoors and on what occasions do people choose to eat in a restaurant?

Well I’ve never really thought about it before, but my feeling would probably be that people generally eat outdoors on informal (非正式的) occasions, for example when they’re with friends or family, whereas(而) I think it’s fair to say that for more formal occasions, like business dinners and banquets, people tend to choose restaurants to eat at, probably because it’s relatively easier to organize.

So that’s one thing, and I think it’s also true that a lot of people like to go for picnics when they have a whole day free, because having a picnic generally takes a lot longer than having a meal at home or in a restaurant.

I think it’s fair to say that…… = 我觉得可以说

3.        What are some differences between eating in an open-air environment and eating indoors?

Well obviously one of the differences would be that if you’re eating outside, you’re gonna be affected by the weather, whereas if you’re indoors, then it really doesn’t matter what the weather’s like, because it won’t have any effect on your meal. So that’s one thing, and from a more personal point of view, I find that eating outside is generally more relaxing than eating inside, which is because I think being outside has a kind of calming effect on us, if you know what I mean!

has a calming effect = 有镇静效果

4.        Do Chinese people often have picnics?

Well it’s hard to generalize, of course, but on the whole (总的来说), I wouldn’t say they do, at least not here in Hangzhou anyway, because it seems to me that most people either eat at home or at a restaurant, simply as it’s much less effort than preparing a picnic. And I mean, if I think of the people I know, they probably only have a picnic about two or three times a year, if that!

it’s hard to generalize, of course = 有点难概括 （当然）

at least not here in Hangzhou anyway = 至少不在这里（杭州）

two or three times a year, if that! =，顶多量、三次

5.        If you were going to have a picnic, what sort of place would you choose to go to?

Well first of all, I’d want to go to a place which was well away from traffic, because that way it would be more peaceful, and you wouldn’t get horrible exhaust fumes blowing around you. And as well as this, I would also choose a place with lots of greenery, for example sitting on a nice lawn surrounded by trees and flowers, because I mean, that’s what having a picnic’s all about, isn’t it.

a place which was well away from …= 离……远一点

that way it would be more peaceful =  这样就会平静一点

that’s what having a picnic’s all about, isn’t it = 野餐不就应该这样子，对不对！

Sit in the shade= 坐在阴凉处

6.        When people are going to have a picnic, what preparations do they usually do?

Well I’d say the first thing people do is go to the supermarket to get all the food, and also things like disposable (一次性的)  cups and plates, which they can just throw away after they’ve finished using them. So that’s probably the main thing, and depending on how big the picnic is going to be, some people might decide to cook a few dishes to take on the picnic. What else?还有什么？ Um……., oh yeah, and one other thing people might need to do if they’re going to a popular picnic area is to make a booking a few days in advance, because some places can get pretty crowded.