decision [dɪ'sɪʒ(ǝ)n], certainly ['sɜ:tnlɪ], social ['sǝʋʃ(ǝ)l]
So Paula swore she would never drink.
But times change. People grow up. Maybe she should reconsider her decision never to drink? wondered Paula. It was certainly no fun being a social outcast. Her friends had stopped inviting her out. She had become sad and lonely. Getting home every evening from her office job. Nothing to look forward to other than the flickering screen of her television set and the purring body of her cat beneath her left hand on the sofa.
And then it was New Year's Eve again (и вот снова наступил канун Нового года). And this time her friends took pity on her (на этот раз подруги сжалились над ней; pity – жалость, сострадание), and did invite her to a house party (и пригласили на домашнюю вечеринку; do /зд./ – употребляется для усиления значения действия/). Paula was very happy to be invited (Паула очень обрадовалась, что ее пригласили; happy – счастливый; довольный). All she could hope for (все, на что она могла надеяться) was that her friends would know her well enough by now (это что подруги узнали ее достаточно неплохо к этому времени) to respect her wishes not to drink (чтобы уважать ее желание не пить).
It began well (началось все хорошо; to begin). Her friends greeted her warmly (подруги тепло ее приветствовали). There were many young men present (там присутствовало много молодых людей).
eve [i:v], would [wʋd], warmly ['wɔ:mlɪ]
And then it was New Year's Eve again. And this time her friends took pity on her, and did invite her to a house party. Paula was very happy to be invited. All she could hope for was that her friends would know her well enough by now to respect her wishes not to drink.
It began well. Her friends greeted her warmly. There were many young men present.
Paula became happy (Пауле стало весело: «радостно»), her normally still face creasing into smiles and making her look pretty (ее обычно бесстрастное лицо расплывалось в улыбке, от чего она выглядела весьма привлекательно: «и заставляло ее выглядеть привлекательной»; still – неподвижный, спокойный; to crease – образовывать складки; морщиться; to look – смотреть, глядеть; выглядеть, иметь вид).
Unfortunately all of this changed when her friends were well into their third or fourth drinks (к сожалению, все «это» изменилось, когда ее подруги пропустили по третьей, а то и по четвертой порции; to be well into smth. – серьезно заняться чем-л.; drink – питье, напиток; доза).
'Paula, you're being a spoilsport (Паула, ты портишь нам вечер; spoilsport – тот, кто портит удовольствие другим; to spoil – портить; sport – развлечение, приятное времяпровождение),' said Jenny, the girl who worked in accounts (сказала Дженни, девушка, которая работала в бухгалтерском отделе; accounts – отчетность; бухгалтерия). Minutes later Jenny got asked for a dance (/несколькими/ минутами позже Дженни пригласили на танец) and began whirling around on the dance-floor (и /та/ начала кружиться по танцполу)