Unit 1

New Words

WordsPhonetic symbolsChinese
triumph/‘traɪʌmf/n. 胜利,凯旋;欢欣;vi. 获得胜利,成功
pledge/pledʒ/n. 保证,誓言;抵押;抵押品,典当物;vt. 保证,许诺;用……抵押;举杯祝……健康
pose/pəʊz/n. 姿势,姿态;装模作样;vt. 造成,形成;摆姿势;装模作样;提出…讨论;vi. 摆姿势;佯装;矫揉造作
routine/ruː’tiːn/n. [计] 程序;日常工作;例行公事;adj. 日常的;例行的
attain/ə’teɪn/n. 成就;vt. 达到,实现;获得;到达;vi. 达到;获得;到达
foundation/faʊn’deɪʃ(ə)n/n. 基础;地基;基金会;根据;创立
resource/rɪ’sɔːs; rɪ’zɔːs/n. 资源,财力;办法;智谋
faculty/‘fæk(ə)ltɪ/n. 科,系;能力;全体教员
comprehensive/kɒmprɪ’hensɪv/n. 综合学校;专业综合测验;adj. 综合的;广泛的;有理解力的
facility/fə’sɪləti/n. 设施;设备;容易;灵巧
community/kəˈmju:nətɪ/n. 社区;[生态] 群落;共同体;团体
explore/ɪk’splɔː; ek-/vt. 探索;探测;探险;vi. 探索;探测;探险
fascinating/‘fæsɪneɪtɪŋ/adj. 迷人的;吸引人的;使人神魂颠倒的
pursue/pə’sjuː/vt. 继续;从事;追赶;纠缠;vi. 追赶;继续进行
passion/‘pæʃ(ə)n/n. 激情;热情;酷爱;盛怒
unique/juː’niːk/n. 独一无二的人或物;adj. 独特的,稀罕的;[数] 唯一的,独一无二的
enthusiasm/ɪnˈθju:zɪæzəm/n. 热心,热忱,热情
reap/riːp/vt. 收获,获得;收割;vi. 收割,收获
benefit/‘benɪfɪt/n. 利益,好处;救济金;vt. 有益于,对…有益;vi. 受益,得益
opportunity/ˌɒpəˈtju:nətɪ/n. 时机,机会
overwhelm/əʊvə’welm/vt. 淹没;压倒;受打击;覆盖;压垮
available/ə’veɪləb(ə)l/adj. 可获得的;可购得的;可找到的;有空的
sample/‘sɑːmp(ə)l/n. 样品;样本;例子;vt. 取样;尝试;抽样检查;adj. 试样的,样品的;作为例子的
assume/ə’sjuːm/vt. 僭取;篡夺;夺取;擅用;侵占;vi. 假定;设想;承担;采取
emerge/ɪ’mɜːdʒ/vi. 浮现;摆脱;暴露
giant/‘dʒaɪənt/n. 巨人;伟人;[动] 巨大的动物;adj. 巨大的;巨人般的
mate/meɪt/n. 助手,大副;配偶;同事;配对物;vt. 使配对;使一致;结伴;vi. 交配;成配偶;紧密配合
roommate/‘ruːmmeɪt/n. 室友
owl/aʊl/n. 猫头鹰;枭;惯于晚上活动的人
virtual/ˈvɜ:tʃuəl/adj. [计] 虚拟的;实质上的,事实上的(但未在名义上或正式获承认)
virtually/ˈvəːtʃʊəli/adv. 事实上,几乎;实质上
enrich/ɪn’rɪtʃ; en-/vt. 使充实;使肥沃;使富足
glow/gləʊ/n. 灼热;色彩鲜艳;兴高采烈;vi. 发热;洋溢;绚丽夺目
confidence/‘kɒnfɪd(ə)ns/n. 信心;信任;秘密;adj. (美)诈骗的;骗得信任的
yield/jiːld/n. 产量;收益;vt. 屈服;出产,产生;放弃;vi. 屈服,投降
abundant/əˈbʌndənt/adj. 丰富的;充裕的;盛产
responsibility/rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪlətɪ/n. 责任,职责;义务
inherit/ɪn’herɪt/vt. 继承;遗传而得;vi. 成为继承人
inheritor/ɪn’hɛrɪtɚ/n. 继承人;后继者
transmit/trænz’mɪt; trɑːnz-; -ns-/vt. 传输;传播;发射;传达;遗传;vi. 传输;发射信号
acquire/ə’kwaɪə/vt. 获得;取得;学到;捕获
prosperous/‘prɒsp(ə)rəs/adj. 繁荣的;兴旺的
participate/pɑː’tɪsɪpeɪt/vt. 分享;分担;vi. 参与,参加;分享
incredible/ɪn’kredɪb(ə)l/adj. 难以置信的,惊人的;极好的
deny/dɪ’naɪ/vt. 否定,否认;拒绝给予;拒绝…的要求;vi. 否认;拒绝
undeniably/,ʌndi’naiəbli/adv. 不可否认地;确凿无疑地
depart/dɪ’pɑːt/vi. 离开;出发,起程;违反;去世;adj. 逝世的
inquisitive/ɪn’kwɪzɪtɪv/adj. 好奇的;好问的,爱打听的
engage/ɪn’geɪdʒ; en-/vt. 吸引,占用;使参加;雇佣;使订婚;预定;vi. 从事;参与;答应,保证;交战;啮合
despair/dɪ’speə/n. 绝望;令人绝望的人或事;vi. 绝望,丧失信心
embrace/ɪm’breɪs; em-/n. 拥抱;vt. 拥抱;信奉,皈依;包含;vi. 拥抱
stimulate/‘stɪmjʊleɪt/vt. 刺激;鼓舞,激励;vi. 起刺激作用;起促进作用
intellectual/,ɪntə’lektʃʊəl; -tjʊəl/n. 知识分子;凭理智做事者;adj. 智力的;聪明的;理智的
capacity/kə’pæsɪtɪ/n. 能力;容量;资格,地位;生产力
bind/baɪnd/n. 捆绑;困境;讨厌的事情;vt. 绑;约束;装订;包扎;凝固;植物的藤蔓;vi. 结合;装订;有约束力;过紧
assure/ə’ʃʊə; ə’ʃɔː/vt. 保证;担保;使确信;弄清楚
assured/ə’ʃʊəd/n. 被保险人;adj. 确定的;自信的
career/kə’rɪə/n. 生涯;职业;事业;速度,全速;vi. 全速前进,猛冲;adj. 作为毕生职业的
curve/kɜːv/n. 曲线;弯曲;曲线球;曲线图表;vt. 弯;使弯曲;vi. 成曲形;adj. 弯曲的;曲线形的
decent/‘diːs(ə)nt/adj. 正派的;得体的;相当好的
boast/bəʊst/n. 自夸;值得夸耀的事物,引以为荣的事物;vt. 夸口说,自吹自擂说;以有…而自豪;vi. 自吹自擂
bond/bɒnd/n. 债券;结合;约定;粘合剂;纽带;vt. 使结合;以…作保;vi. 结合,团结在一起
blossom/‘blɒs(ə)m/n. 花;开花期;兴旺期;花开的状态;vi. 开花;兴旺;发展成
decade/‘dekeɪd; dɪ’keɪd/n. 十年,十年期;十
genuine/‘dʒenjʊɪn/adj. 真实的,真正的;诚恳的
instinct/‘ɪnstɪŋ(k)t/n. 本能,直觉;天性;adj. 充满着的
confident/‘kɒnfɪd(ə)nt/adj. 自信的;确信的
secure/sɪ’kjʊə; sɪ’kjɔː/vt. 保护;弄到;招致;缚住;vi. 获得安全;船抛锚;停止工作;adj. 安全的;无虑的;有把握的;稳当的
stereotype/‘sterɪə(ʊ)taɪp; ‘stɪərɪə(ʊ)-/n. 陈腔滥调,老套;铅版;vt. 使用铅版;套用老套,使一成不变
comprehend/kɒmprɪ’hend/vt. 理解;包含;由…组成
cultivate/‘kʌltɪveɪt/vt. 培养;陶冶;耕作
range/reɪn(d)ʒ/n. 范围;幅度;排;山脉vt. 漫游;放牧;使并列;归类于;来回走动;vi. (在…内)变动;平行,列为一行;延伸;漫游;射程达到
innocence/‘ɪnəsəns/n. 清白,无罪;天真无邪
curiosity/kjʊərɪ’ɒsɪtɪ/n. 好奇,好奇心;珍品,古董,古玩
amount/ə’maʊnt/n. 数量;总额,总数;vi. 总计,合计;相当于;共计;产生…结果
flexibility/,fleksɪ’bɪlɪtɪ/n. 灵活性;弹性;适应性
approach/ə’prəʊtʃ/n. 方法;途径;接近;vt. 接近;着手处理;vi. 靠近
enthusiastic/ɪn,θjuːzɪ’æstɪk; en-/adj. 热情的;热心的;狂热的
enthusiastically/in,θju:zi’æstikəli/adv. 热心地;满腔热情地
talent/‘tælənt/n. 才能;天才;天资
evolve/ɪ’vɒlv/vt. 发展;进化;使逐步形成;推断出;vi. 发展,进展;进化;逐步形成
potential/pəˈtenʃl/n. 潜能;可能性;[电] 电势;adj. 潜在的;可能的;势的
bold/bəʊld/adj. 大胆的,英勇的;黑体的;厚颜无耻的;险峻的
enormous/ɪ’nɔːməs/adj. 庞大的,巨大的;凶暴的,极恶的
enormously/ɪ’nɔːməslɪ/adv. 巨大地,庞大地;非常地,在极大程度上

Phrases and expressions

  1. remind sb. of sb./sth. 使某人想起某人或某事;使某人想起(相似的)人或事
  2. get by 过活,过得去,勉强应付
  3. make the most of sth. 最大限度地利用某物
  4. reap the benefits (of sth.) 得享(某事物)好处
  5. in advance 预先,提前
  6. stand a chance (of doing sth.) 有(做成某事的)希望
  7. over time 逐渐地,慢慢地
  8. turn (sb./sth.) into sth. (使某人/某物)变成
  9. all at once 同时;一下子,突然
  10. take pleasure in (doing) sth. 乐于做某事
  11. open the door to sth. 给…以机会,给…敞开方便之门
  12. take delight in (doing) sth. 以(做)某事为乐
  13. be about to do sth. 正要发生某事,即将做某事
  14. go off 离开,走
  15. open up (使)出现,(使)成为可能
  16. take sb./sth. seriously 认真对待某人/某事
  17. sign up (for sth.) 报名
  18. get to sb. 使生气,使烦恼
  19. give sb. the benefit of the doubt 虽有怀疑但还是相信某人;姑且相信某人
  20. reduce sb. to sth. 使陷入(不利境地)
  21. as long as 只要
  22. feel like (doing) sth. 想要(做)某事
  23. safe and sound 安然无恙
  24. take sb./sth. away 拿走,带走,使消失
  25. be born to be/do sth. 天生适合做某事
  26. sb. can't wait 某人急着/等不及(用于强调对即将发生的事感到兴奋和迫不及待)

Articles

A

Para. 1

Good afternoon! As president of the university, I am proud to welcome you to this university. Your achievement is the triumph of years of hard work, both of your own and of your parents and teachers. Here at the university, we pledge to make your educational experience as rewarding as possible.

下午好!作为校长,我非常自豪地欢迎你们来到这所大学。你们所取得的成就是你们自己多年努力的结果,也是你们的父母和老师们多年努力的结果。在这所大学里,我们承诺将使你们学有所成。

Para. 2

In welcoming you to the university, I am reminded of my own high school graduation and the photograph my mom took of my dad and me. “Pose naturally”, Mom instructed us. “Wait!” said Dad, “Let’s take a picture of me handing him an alarm clock.” The clock woke me up every morning in college. It is still on my office desk.

在欢迎你们到来的这一刻,我想起自己高中毕业时的情景,还有妈妈为我和爸爸拍的合影。妈妈吩咐我们:“姿势自然点。”“等一等,”爸爸说,“把我递给他闹钟的情景拍下来。”在大学期间,那个闹钟每天早晨叫醒我。至今它还放在我办公室的桌子上。

Para. 3

Let me share with you something that you may not expect. You will miss your old routines and your parents’ reminders to work hard and attain your best. You may have cried tears of joy to be finally finished with high school, and your parents may have cried tears of joy to be finally finished with doing your laundry! But know this: The future is built on a strong foundation of the past.

让我来告诉你们一些你们未必预料得到的事情。你们将会怀念以前的生活习惯,怀念父母曾经提醒你们要刻苦学习、取得佳绩。你们可能因为高中生活终于结束而喜极而泣,你们的父母也可能因为终于不用再给你们洗衣服而喜极而泣!但是要记住:未来是建立在过去扎实的基础上的。

Para. 4

For you, these next four years will be a time unlike any other. Here you are surrounded by great resources: interesting students from all over the country, a learned and caring faculty, a comprehensive library, great sports facilities, and student organizations covering every possible interest — from the arts to science, to community service and so on. You will have the freedom to explore and learn about new subjects. You will learn to get by on very little sleep, meet fascinating people, and pursue new passions. I want to encourage you to make the most of this unique experience, and to use your energy and enthusiasm to reap the benefits of this opportunity.

对你们而言,接下来的四年将会是无与伦比的一段时光。在这里,你们拥有丰富的资源:有来自全国各地的有趣的学生,有学识渊博又充满爱心的老师,有综合性图书馆,有完备的运动设施,还有针对不同兴趣的学生社团——从文科社团到理科社团、到社区服务等等。你们将自由地探索、学习新科目。你们要学着习惯点灯熬油,学着结交充满魅力的人,学着去追求新的爱好。我想鼓励你们充分利用这一特殊的经历,并用你们的干劲和热情去收获这一机会所带来的丰硕成果。

Para. 5

You may feel overwhelmed by the wealth of courses available to you. You will not be able to experience them all, but sample them widely! College offers many things to do and to learn, and each of them offers a different way to see the world. If I could give you only one piece of advice about selecting courses, it would be this: Challenge yourself! Don’t assume that you know in advance what fields will interest you the most. Take some courses in fields you’ve never tried before. You will not only emerge as a more broadly educated person, but you will also stand a better chance of discovering an unsuspected passion that will help to shape your future. A wonderful example of this is the fashion designer, Vera Wang, who originally studied art history. Over time, Wang paired her studies in art history with her love of fashion and turned it into a passion for design, which made her a famous designer around the world.

有这么多课程可供选择,你可能会不知所措。你不可能选修所有的课程,但是要尽可能体验更多的课程!大学里有很多事情可做可学,每件事情都会为你提供不同视角来审视世界。如果我只能给你们一条选课建议的话,那就是:挑战自己!不要认为你早就了解自己对什么样的领域最感兴趣。选择一些你从未接触过的领域的课程。这样,你不仅会变得更加博学,而且更有可能发现一个你未曾想到的、能成就你未来的爱好。一个绝佳的例子就是时装设计师王薇薇,她最初学的是艺术史。随着时间的推移,王薇薇把艺术史研究和对时装的热爱结合起来,并将其转化为对设计的热情,从而使她成为全球闻名的设计师。

图片

Para. 6

Here at the university, it may not always be pleasant to have so many new experiences all at once. In your dorm, the student next door may repeatedly play the one song, which gives you a giant headache! You may be an early bird while your roommate is a night owl! And still, you and your roommate may become best friends. Don’t worry if you become a little uncomfortable with some of your new experiences. I promise you that the happy experiences will outweigh the unpleasant ones. And I promise that virtually all of them will provide you with valuable lessons which will enrich your life. So, with a glow in your eye and a song in your heart, step forward to meet these new experiences!

在大学里,一下子拥有这么多新鲜体验可能不会总是令人愉快的。在你的宿舍楼里,住在你隔壁寝室的同学可能会反复播放同一首歌,令你头痛欲裂!你可能喜欢早起,而你的室友却是个夜猫子!尽管如此,你和你的室友仍然可能成为最要好的朋友。如果有些新的经历让你感觉不那么舒心,不要担心。我保证快乐的经历会多于不快的经历。而且我保证几乎所有这些经历都会给你带来宝贵的经验教训,从而使你的生活更加丰富多彩。所以,带着热切的目光和欢乐的心情,去拥抱这些新的体验吧!

Para. 7

We have confidence that your journey toward self-discovery and your progress toward finding your own passion will yield more than personal advancement. We believe that as you become members of our community of scholars, you will soon come to recognize that with the abundant opportunities for self-enrichment provided by the university, there also come responsibilities. A wise man said: “Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.” You are the inheritors of the hard work of your families and the hard work of many countless others who came before you. They built and transmitted the knowledge you will need to succeed. Now it is your turn. What knowledge will you acquire? What passions will you discover? What will you do to build a strong and prosperous future for the generations that will come after you?

我们相信,你们的自我发现之旅和对爱好的寻求带给你们的将不仅仅是个人的进步。我们相信,当你们成为我们的学者群体中的一员时,你们很快就会认识到,大学不仅提供大量自我充实的机会,同时也带来了责任。一位智者说过:“教育代代相传,它就是社会的灵魂。”你们是你们家庭辛勤劳动成果的传承者,也是无数前辈辛勤劳动成果的传承者。他们积累了知识,并把知识传递给你们,而这些知识正是你们取得成功所必需的。现在轮到你们了。你们会获取什么样的知识?你们会发现什么样的兴趣爱好?你们怎样做才能为你们的子孙后代创造一个强大昌盛的未来?

Para. 8

We take great pleasure in opening the door to this great step in your journey. We take delight in the many opportunities which you will find, and in the responsibilities that you will carry as citizens of your communities, your country, and the world. Welcome!

我们很高兴能为你们人生旅途中这一重大阶段开启大门。我们很高兴你们将获得许多机会,也很高兴你们将作为社区、国家乃至世界的公民承担起应有的责任。欢迎你们!

B

My dear child,

我亲爱的孩子:

Para.1

You are about to participate in the next leg of your journey through life. For us, this part is bittersweet. As you go off to college, exciting new worlds will open up to you. They will inspire and challenge you; you will grow in incredible ways.

你即将踏上人生的下一段旅程。这让我们感到喜忧参半。当你离家、步入大学的校门,激动人心的崭新世界将会展现在你面前。这将带给你鼓舞,也会使你面临挑战;你将获得更大的进步与成长。

Para. 2

This is also a moment of sadness. Your departure to college makes it undeniably clear that you are no longer a child. There has been no greater joy than watching you arrive at this moment. You have turned our greatest challenge into our greatest pride. Although we have brought you to this point, it is hard to watch you depart. Remember above all things, we will miss you.

这也是令人伤感的时刻。离家去上大学就明确意味着你不再是个孩子了。没有什么比看到你走到今天这一步更令我们欣喜的了。你曾经是我们最大的挑战,现在却成为我们最大的骄傲。虽然是我们把你带到了这一步,但是看着你离开仍然很不舍。记住,最主要的是,我们会想念你。

Para. 3

College will be the most important time of your life. It is here that you will truly discover what learning is about. You often ask, “Why do I need to know this?” I encourage you to stay inquisitive, but remember this: “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.” What you learn is not as important as the fact that you learn. This is the heart of scholarship: moving from teacher-taught to master-inspired, on over to the point where you become a self-learner. So, take each subject seriously, and if something doesn’t immediately engage you, don’t despair. Embrace it as a challenge. Find a way to make it your own.

大学将是你人生中最重要的时光。只有在大学里你才会真正发现学习的真谛。你经常会问:“为什么我需要知道这个?”我希望你保持好奇心,但是记住:“教育就是当一个人忘记了在学校所学的一切之后剩下的东西。”你学什么并不如学习本身更重要。做学问的精髓就在于它可以使你从被动学习转向主动学习——直至成为一个真正具有学习能动力的自学者。所以,要认真对待每一门课程。如果某门课不能马上吸引你,不要绝望。把它当作一个挑战来接受它,设法使之成为你自己所喜欢的。

Para. 4

Of course, you must still take care to sign up for courses which stimulate your passion and your intellectual capacity. Don’t be bound by what other people think. Steve Jobs said, when you are in college, your passion will create many dots, and later in your life you will connect them. So, don’t worry too much about what job you will have; don’t be too practical. If you like French or Korean, study it even if someone else tells you that it’s not useful. Enjoy picking your “dots”. Be assured that one day, you will find your own meaningful career, and you will connect a beautiful curve through those dots.

当然,你还必须注意,要选择那些能够激发你的热情、拓展你的智力的课程。不要被别人的想法所左右。史蒂夫•乔布斯曾说过,在大学里,你的激情将会创造出很多个点,以后在生活中你会把这些点连接在一起。所以,不必过多担忧你将来会做什么样的工作,不要太现实。如果你喜欢法语或韩语,就去学,即使别人对你说学这些没用。尽情采集你的那些“点”。要坚信有一天,你会找到你自己的有意义的事业,你会把那些点串连成美丽的曲线。

Para. 5

You know that we always want you to do your best, but don’t let the pressure of grades get to you. We care only that you try your very best, and that you learn. It is better that your greatest effort earns a lesser grade than that no effort earns you a decent or higher grade. Grades in the end are simply letters fit to give the vain something to boast about, and the lazy something to fear. You are too good to be either. The reward is not the grade but what you learn.

你知道我们总是希望你竭尽全力,但不要让分数的压力困扰你。我们只关心你已经尽了力,并且学到了知识。你尽了最大的努力而分数不高比你没有努力却得了像样的或更高的分数更有意义。分数只不过是虚荣的人用以吹嘘和慵懒的人所恐惧的数字而己。而你既不虚荣,也不慵懒。努力的回报不是分数,而是你所学到的东西。

Para. 6

More importantly, make friends and trust others. The friends you make in college can be the best ones you will ever have. During these years, when you move into adulthood, the friends you make in college live closer to you than your family. You will form bonds of friendship that will blossom over many decades. Pick friends who are genuine and sincere. Select a few and become truly close to them. Don’t worry about their hobbies, grades, or looks. Instead, trust your instincts when you make new friends. You are a genuine and sincere person; anyone would enjoy your friendship. So be confident, secure, and proactive. If you think you like someone, tell them. You have very little to lose. Don’t be afraid to trust. Give others the benefit of the doubt, and don’t reduce anyone to stereotypes. Nobody is perfect; as long as others are genuine, trust them and be good to them. They will give back.

更重要的是,要结交朋友并信任他人。大学里结交的朋友可能是你会结交的最好的朋友。在你步入成年的这些年里,你在大学里结交的朋友比家人离你更近。你会结下将绽放几十年的友情。选择坦率真诚的人做朋友。选择几个朋友,真正走近他们。不必计较他们的爱好、成绩或长相。相反,结交新朋友时要相信你的直觉。你是坦率真诚的人,任何人都会喜欢和你做朋友,所以要自信,别害怕,要积极主动。如果你认为自己喜欢某个人,就告诉他。你不会损失什么的。不要害怕去信任别人。即使有所怀疑,也要相信别人,不要对任何人抱有成见。人无完人。只要他们真诚,就信任他们,善待他们。他们会给予回报的。

Para. 7

Remember also that your youth is full of strength and beauty, something that you will not comprehend until it is gone. You must guard and cultivate your strength and beauty. A healthy body and a sound mind are the greatest instruments you will ever possess. Enjoy life. Dance if you feel like it. Don’t be afraid of what other people think. But also keep yourself safe and sound. Don’t let the range of new experiences take your innocence, health, or curiosity away from you. Treasure your youth and the university experience before you.

还要记住,你的青春充满力和美,只有到青春逝去时你才能理解这一点。你必须要呵护和培养你的力和美。健康的身体和健全的思想是你将拥有的最大的资本。享受生活吧。想跳舞就跳舞,不用担心别人怎么想。但也要让自己平平安安的。不要让各种各样的新体验带走你的纯真、健康或好奇心。珍惜青春,珍惜你眼前的大学经历吧。

Para. 8

College is the time when you have:

  • the first taste of independence,
  • the greatest amount of free time,
  • the most flexibility to change,
  • the lowest cost for making mistakes.

在大学这一段时光里,你会:

  • 初尝独立的滋味,
  • 拥有最多的自由时光,
  • 享有最大的可塑性,
  • 承担最低的犯错代价。

Para. 9

Approach these years enthusiastically! Make the most of your time. Become the great thinker you were born to be. Let your talents evolve to their fullest potential. Be bold! Experiment! Learn and grow! We are enormously proud that you’ve made it this far, and we can’t wait to see what you will become.

用满腔的热情拥抱大学时光吧!充分利用好你的时间。成为一个你注定会成为的优秀的思考者。使你的聪明才智发挥出最大的潜力。无所畏惧!勇于尝试!坚持学习,并不断成长!我们对于你已经取得的成功深感自豪,我们也迫不及待地盼望看到你未来的成就。

Your father

你的父亲

Unit 2

New Words

WordsPhonetic symbolsChinese
clutter/‘klʌtə/n. 杂乱,混乱;vt. 使凌乱;胡乱地填满
await/ə’weɪt/vt. 等候,等待;期待
vehicle/viːɪkəl/n. [车辆] 车辆;工具;交通工具;运载工具;传播媒介;媒介物
efficiency/ɪ’fɪʃ(ə)nsɪ/n. 效率;效能;功效
embarrass/ɪm’bærəs; em-/vt. 使局促不安;使困窘;阻碍
embarrassment/ɪm’bærəsmənt; em-/n. 窘迫,难堪;使人为难的人或事物;拮据
rust/rʌst/n. 锈;生锈;[植保] 锈病;vt. 使生锈;腐蚀;vi. 生锈;成铁锈色;变迟钝
blade/bleɪd/n. 叶片;刀片,刀锋;剑
tube/tjuːb/n. 管;电子管;隧道;电视机;vt. 使成管状;把…装管;用管输送;vi. 乘地铁;不及格
paste/peɪst/n. 面团,膏;糊状物,[胶粘] 浆糊;vt. 张贴,裱糊;用浆糊粘
toothpaste/‘tuːθpeɪst/n. 牙膏
polish/‘pɒlɪʃ/n. 磨光,擦亮;擦亮剂;优雅,精良;vt. 磨光,使发亮;使完美; 改进,润色;vi. 擦亮,变光滑
trash/træʃ/n. 垃圾;废物;vt. 丢弃;修剪树枝
dump/dʌmp/n. 垃圾场;仓库;无秩序地累积;vt. 倾倒;倾卸;丢下,卸下;摆脱,扔弃;倾销;vi. 倒垃圾;突然跌倒或落下;卸货;转嫁(责任等)
match/mætʃ/n. 比赛,竞赛;匹配;对手;火柴;vt. 使比赛;使相配;敌得过,比得上;相配;与…竞争;vi. 比赛;匹配;相配,相称;相比
mismatched/mɪs’mætʃ/adj. 配错的
purple/‘pɜːp(ə)l/n. 紫色;紫袍;vt. 使成紫色;vi. 变成紫色;adj. 紫色的;帝王的;华而不实的
closet/‘klɒzɪt/n. 壁橱;议事室,密室;小房间;vt. 把…关在私室中;adj. 秘密的,私下的;空谈的
comic/‘kɒmɪk/n. 连环漫画;喜剧演员;滑稽人物;adj. 喜剧的;滑稽的;有趣的
fiction/‘fɪkʃ(ə)n/n. 小说;虚构,编造;谎言
romantic/rə(ʊ)’mæntɪk/n. 浪漫的人;vt. 使…浪漫化;adj. 浪漫的;多情的;空想的
historical/hɪ’stɒrɪk(ə)l/adj. 历史的;史学的;基于史实的
beloved/bɪ’lʌvɪd; -‘lʌvd/n. 心爱的人;亲爱的教友;adj. 心爱的;挚爱的
stuff/stʌf/n. 东西;材料;填充物;素材资料;vt. 塞满;填塞;让吃饱;vi. 吃得过多
sack/sæk/n. 麻布袋;洗劫;vt. 解雇;把……装入袋;劫掠
plague/pleɪg/n. 瘟疫;灾祸;麻烦;讨厌的人;vt. 折磨;使苦恼;使得灾祸
clumsy/‘klʌmzɪ/adj. 笨拙的,不得当的
charity/‘tʃærɪtɪ/n. 慈善;施舍;慈善团体;宽容;施舍物
band/bænd/n. 带,环;[物] 波段;(演奏流行音乐的) 乐队;vi. 用带绑扎;给…镶边
curl/kɜːl/n. 卷曲;卷发;螺旋状物;vt. 使…卷曲;使卷起来;vi. 卷曲;盘绕
curler/‘kɝlɚ/n. 卷发的人;卷发夹子
strain/streɪn/n. 张力;拉紧;负担;扭伤;血缘;(植物、动物的)品种;种类;vi. 拉紧;尽力;vt. 拉紧;滥用;滤去;竭力
haul/hɔːl/n. 拖,拉;用力拖拉;努力得到的结果;捕获物;一网捕获的鱼量;拖运距离;vt. 拖运;拖拉;vi. 拖,拉;改变主意;改变方向
donation/də(ʊ)’neɪʃ(ə)n/n. 捐款,捐赠物;捐赠
curb/kɜːb/n. 抑制;路边;勒马绳;vt. 控制;勒住
sore/sɔː/n. 溃疡,痛处;恨事,伤心事;adj. 疼痛的,痛心的;剧烈的,极度的;恼火的,发怒的;厉害的,迫切的
ridiculous/rɪ’dɪkjʊləs/adj. 可笑的;荒谬的
toss/tɒs/n. 投掷;摇荡;投掷的距离;掷币赌胜负;vt. 投掷;使…不安;突然抬起;使…上下摇动;与…掷币打赌;vi. 辗转;被乱扔;颠簸;掷钱币决定某事
strip/strɪp/n. 带;条状;脱衣舞;vt. 剥夺;剥去;脱去衣服;vi. 脱去衣服
craft/krɑːft/n. 工艺;手艺;太空船;vt. 精巧地制作
clip/klɪp/n. (塑料或金属的)夹子;回纹针;修剪;剪报;vt. 剪;剪掉;缩短;给…剪毛(或发)用别针别在某物上,用夹子夹在某物上;vi. 剪;修剪;剪下报刊上的文章(或新闻、图片等);迅速行动;用别针别在某物上,用夹子夹在某物上
item/‘aɪtəm/n. 条款,项目;一则;一件商品(或物品);v. 记下;逐条列出;adj. 又,同上
emotional/ɪ’məʊʃ(ə)n(ə)l/adj. 情绪的;易激动的;感动人的
bug/bʌg/n. 臭虫,小虫;故障;窃听器;vt. 烦扰,打扰;装窃听器;vi. 装置窃听器;打扰
reverse/rɪ’vɜːs/n. 背面;相反;倒退;失败;vt. 颠倒;倒转;vi. 倒退;逆叫;adj. 反面的;颠倒的;反身的
token/‘təʊk(ə)n/n. 表征;代币;记号;vt. 象征;代表;adj. 象征的;表意的;作为对某事的保证的
limp/lɪmp/n. 跛行;vi. 跛行,一拐一拐地走;缓慢费力地前进;adj. 柔软的,无力的;软弱的
surge/sɜːdʒ/n. 汹涌;大浪,波涛;汹涌澎湃;巨涌;v. 汹涌;起大浪,蜂拥而来
breeze/briːz/n. 微风;轻而易举的事;煤屑;焦炭渣;小风波;vi. 吹微风;逃走
shiver/‘ʃɪvə/n. 颤抖,战栗;碎片;vt. 颤抖;打碎;vi. 颤抖;哆嗦;打碎
complain/kəm’pleɪn/vt. 抱怨;控诉;vi. 投诉;发牢骚;诉说
chill/tʃɪl/n. 寒冷;寒意;寒心;vt. 冷冻,冷藏;使寒心;使感到冷;vi. 冷藏;变冷;adj. 寒冷的;冷漠的;扫兴的
chilly/‘tʃɪlɪ/adj. 寒冷的;怕冷的
stride/straɪd/n. 大步;步幅;进展;vt. 跨过;大踏步走过;跨坐在…;vi. 跨;跨过;大步行走
melt/melt/n. 熔化;熔化物;vt. 使融化;使熔化;使软化;使感动;vi. 熔化,溶解;渐混
melting/‘meltɪŋ/adj. 融化的;溶解的;动人的;感伤的
shed/ʃed/n. 小屋,棚;分水岭;vt. 流出;摆脱;散发;倾吐;vi. 流出;脱落;散布
immense/ɪ’mens/adj. 巨大的,广大的;无边无际的;非常好的
fatigue/fə’tiːg/n. 疲劳,疲乏;杂役;vt. 使疲劳;使心智衰弱;vi. 疲劳;adj. 疲劳的
aboard/ə’bɔːd/adv. 在飞机上;[船] 在船上;在火车上;prep. 在…上
hut/hʌt/n. 小屋;临时营房;vt. 使住在小屋中;驻扎;vi. 住在小屋中;驻扎
barrel/‘bær(ə)l/n. 桶;枪管,炮管;vt. 把……装入桶内;vi. 快速移动
shell/ʃel/n. 壳,贝壳;炮弹;外形;vt. 剥皮;炮轰;vi. 剥落;设定命令行解释器的位置
shellfish/‘ʃelfɪʃ/n. 甲壳类动物;贝类等有壳的水生动物
bundle/‘bʌnd(ə)l/n. 束;捆;vt. 捆;vi. 匆忙离开
eel/iːl/n. 鳗鱼;鳝鱼
portion/‘pɔːʃ(ə)n/n. 部分;一份;命运;vt. 分配;给…嫁妆
migrate/maɪ’greɪt; ‘maɪgreɪt/vt. 使移居;使移植;vi. 移动;随季节而移居;移往
migration/maɪ’greɪʃ(ə)n/n. 迁移;移民;移动
wrap/ræp/n. 外套;围巾;vt. 包;缠绕;隐藏;掩护;vi. 包起来;缠绕;穿外衣
unwrap/ʌn’ræp/vt. 打开
suspicious/sə’spɪʃəs/adj. 可疑的;怀疑的;多疑的
suspiciously/sə’spɪʃəsli/adv. 怀疑地;猜疑地
pinch/pɪn(t)ʃ/n. 匮乏;少量;夹痛;vt. 捏;勒索;使苦恼;掐掉某物,修剪;vi. 夹痛;节省
vanish/‘vænɪʃ/n. 弱化音;vt. 使不见,使消失;vi. 消失;突然不见;成为零
slope/sləʊp/n. 斜坡;倾斜;斜率;扛枪姿势;vt. 倾斜;使倾斜;扛;vi. 倾斜;逃走
cracker/‘krækə/n. 爆竹;饼干;胡桃钳;解密高手
peak/piːk/n. 山峰;最高点;顶点;帽舌;vt. 使达到最高点;使竖起;vi. 消瘦;到达最高点;变憔悴;adj. 最高的;最大值的
stretch/stretʃ/n. 伸展,延伸;vt. 伸展,张开;(大量地)使用,消耗(金钱,时间);使竭尽所能;使全力以赴;vi. 伸展;足够买(或支付)
overtake/əʊvə’teɪk/vt. 赶上;压倒;突然来袭;vi. 超车
anticipate/æn’tɪsɪpeɪt/vt. 预期,期望;占先,抢先;提前使用
reluctance/rɪ’lʌkt(ə)ns/n. [电磁] 磁阻;勉强;不情愿
stoop/stuːp/n. 弯腰,屈背;屈服;vt. 辱没,堕落;俯曲;vi. 弯腰;屈服;堕落
restraint/rɪ’streɪnt/n. 抑制,克制;约束
scrape/skreɪp/n. 刮掉;擦痕;困境;刮擦声;vt. 刮;擦伤;挖成;vi. 刮掉;刮出刺耳声
delicate/‘delɪkət/adj. 微妙的;精美的,雅致的;柔和的;易碎的;纤弱的;清淡可口的
grip/grɪp/n. 紧握;柄;支配;握拍方式;拍柄绷带;vt. 紧握;夹紧;vi. 抓住
gradual/‘grædʒʊəl/n. 弥撒升阶圣歌集;adj. 逐渐的;平缓的
gradually/‘grædʒʊlɪ; ‘grædjʊəlɪ/adv. 逐步地;渐渐地
sway/sweɪ/n. 影响;摇摆;统治;vt. 影响;统治;使摇动;vi. 影响;摇摆
accompany/ə’kʌmpənɪ/vt. 陪伴,伴随;伴奏;vi. 伴奏,伴唱
pureed/ˈpjuəreid/n. 蓉;浓浆
tuna/‘tjuːnə/n. 金枪鱼,鲔鱼
awkward/‘ɔːkwəd/adj. 尴尬的;笨拙的;棘手的;不合适的
sip/sɪp/n. 抿;小口喝;单列直插式组件;vt. 啜;vi. 啜
champagne/ʃæm’peɪn/n. 香槟酒;香槟酒色

Phrases and expressions

  1. make it 获得成功;(尤指在困难情况下)准时到达,赶上
  2. free of/from 无…的;摆脱了…的
  3. catch oneself doing sth. 突然意识到自己在做某事
  4. throw away 扔掉,丢弃
  5. after all 终究,最终还是
  6. reverse oneself (争论中)改变主意/立场
  7. straighten up 把…弄整洁;直起身
  8. keep back 抑制,控制(感情);隐瞒某事
  9. with open arms 热烈地,欣然
  10. slow down (使)慢下来,(使)减速
  11. make sense 有意义,表述清晰,易于理解;明智,合乎情理
  12. at least 至少,起码;至少(指尽管没有更好的情况)
  13. lay sth. out 铺开;展开
  14. hang up 挂起(衣服);挂断电话
  15. be supposed to do sth. 应该做某事
  16. not that ... but (that) ... 不是…而是…
  17. once in a while 偶尔,有时,间或
  18. the small of one's back 后腰
  19. not care for sb./sth. 不喜欢某人/某物

Articles

A

A child's clutter awaits an adult's return

Para. 1

I watch her back her new truck out of the driveway. The vehicle is too large, too expensive. She’d refused to consider a practical car with good gas efficiency and easy to park. It’s because of me, I think. She bought it to show me that she could.

我看着她在车道上倒着她的新卡车。车太大,而且太贵。她就是不愿意考虑买辆开起来省油、停起来省心的实用型汽车。我想,原因在我。她买这辆车就是为了让我看看她的能耐。

Para. 2

“I’m 18,” she’d told me so often that my teeth ached. “I am an adult!”

“我18岁了,”她经常这样对我说,以至于听得我牙都疼了。“我是成年人了!”

Para. 3

I thought, is that true? Just yesterday you watched some cartoons. What changed between yesterday and today?

我心想,真的吗?昨天你还在看动画片呢。今天和昨天又能有多大的变化?

图片

Para. 4

Today she’s gone, off to be an adult far away from me. I’m glad she’s gone. It means she made it, and that I’m finally free of 18 years of responsibilities. And yet I wonder if she could take good care of herself.

今天她走了,远离我去寻求成年人的独立。我很高兴她离开了。这意味着她成功了,而我也终于可以从18年的责任中脱身了。但是我还是担心她能不能照顾好自己。

Para. 5

She left a mess. Her bathroom is an embarrassment of damp towels, rusted shavingblades, hair in the sink, and nearly empty tubes of toothpaste. I bring a box of big black garbage bags upstairs. Eye shadow, face cream, nail polish — all go into the trash. I dump drawers, sweep shelves clear and clean the sink. When I am finished, it is as neat and impersonal as a hotel bathroom.

她留下的是一片狼藉。她的卫生间真是凌乱不堪,有没拧干的毛巾,有生锈的剃刀片,散落在面盆里的头发,还有几支快挤空了的牙膏。我拿了一盒大号的黑色垃圾袋上了楼。眼影、面霜、指甲油——这些统统扔进垃圾袋。我把抽屉清空,把架子打扫干净,还把面盆擦洗干净。我打扫完后,卫生间就像酒店里的那样井井有条,丝毫没有人情味儿。

Para. 6

In her bedroom I find mismatched socks under her bed and purple pants on the closet floor. Desk drawers are filled with school papers, filed by year and subject. I catch myself reading through poems and essays, admiring high scores on tests and reading her name, printed or typed neatly in the upper right-hand corner of each paper. I pack the desk contents into a box. Six months, I think. I will give her six months to collect her belongings, and then I will throw them all away. That is fair. Grown-ups pay for storage.

在她的卧室里,我发现床下有不配对的袜子,壁橱底板上扔着紫色的裤子。书桌的抽屉里满是学校的卷子,按照年份和科目归了类。我发现自己竟然在翻看她的诗歌和作文,欣赏着考卷上的高分,端详着每张考卷右上角她用印刷体工工整整书写的或是打印的她的名字。我把书桌里的东西收拾到一个盒子里。六个月,我心想。如果过了六个月她还不来拿她的东西,我就会把它们一股脑儿全扔了。这算讲道理了吧。成年人存放东西是要付费的。

Para. 7

I have to pause at the books. Comic books, teen fiction, romantic novels, historical novels, and textbooks. A lifetime of reading; each book beloved. I want to be practical, to stuff them in paper sacks for the used bookstore. But I love books as much as she does, so I stack them onto a single bookshelf to deal with later.

轮到整理书的时候,我有些犹豫了。连环漫画册、青少年小说、言情小说、历史小说,还有课本。阅读是一辈子的事;每本书都是心爱之物。原本我想现实一点,把这些书塞进纸袋,然后送到旧书店。但是我跟女儿一样爱书如命,于是我把她的这些书归置到一个单独的书架上,等日后再作处理。

Para. 8

I go for her clothes. Dresses, sweaters, and shoes she hasn’t worn since seventh grade are placed into garbage bags. I am a plague of locusts emptying the closet. Two piles grow to clumsy heights: one for charity, the other trash.

接下来,我着手整理她的衣服。那些她从七年级起就不再穿的裙子、毛衣和鞋子都被装进了垃圾袋。就像蝗虫洗劫一样,我清空了壁橱。理出高高的、乱蓬蓬的两大堆东西:一堆捐给慈善机构,另一堆扔掉。

Para. 9

There are more shoes, stuffed animals, large and small posters, hair bands, and pink hair curlers. The job grows larger the longer I am at it. How can one girl collect so much in only 18 years?

可是还有更多的鞋子、填充动物玩具、大大小小的招贴画、发箍和粉红色的卷发夹。我越理,要理的东西就越多。一个小姑娘怎么能在短短的18年里收集了这么多东西?

图片

Para. 10

I stuff the garbage bags until the plastic strains. I haul them down the stairs, two bags at a time. Donations to charity go into the trunk of my car; trash goes to the curb. I’m earning myself sweat and sore shoulders.

我把东西往垃圾袋里塞,直到塑料袋快要被撑破了。我把垃圾袋拽下楼梯,一次拽两个。要捐给慈善机构的都放在我汽车的后备箱里;要扔掉的都放在路边。我弄得浑身是汗,肩膀酸痛。

Para. 11

She left the bedroom a ridiculous mess, the comforter on the floor, the sheets tossed aside. I strip off the comforter, blanket, sheets, and pillows. Once she starts feeding coins into laundry machines, she’ll appreciate the years of clean clothes I’ve provided for free.

她把卧室弄得乱到匪夷所思的地步,盖被掉在地板上,床单掀到一边。我把床罩、毯子、床单和枕套都拆了下来。等到她开始投币洗衣的那一天,她就会感激我这些年来为她无偿提供的干净衣服了。

Para. 12

I will turn her room into a crafts room. Or create the fancy guest room I’ve always wanted.

我打算把她的房间改作手工室,或者改成一间我一直想要的漂亮客房。

Para. 13

I turn the bed over. A large brown envelope is marked “DO NOT THROW AWAY”. I open it. More papers. I dump the contents onto the floor. There are old family photographs, letters, greeting cards, and love notes from us to her. There are comics clipped from newspapers and magazines. Every single item in this envelope has passed from our hands to hers. These are all things that we gave her. Suddenly, I feel very emotional.

我把床翻了个个儿,只见一个棕色的大信封,上面写着“不要扔掉”。我打开一看,又是纸。我把信封里的东西都倒在地板上。其中有家里的老照片、书信、贺卡、我们写给她的爱心留言,还有从报纸和杂志上剪下的漫画。信封中的每一样东西都是我们亲手给她的。我们以前给她的东西都在这里了。刹那间,我心潮起伏。

Para. 14

“DO NOT THROW AWAY”.

“不要扔掉”。

Para. 15

My kid - my clutter bug - knows me too well. As I read through the cards and notes, I think maybe the truck wasn’t such a bad idea, after all. Maybe it helps her to feel less small in a big world.

我的孩子——我那爱收集小玩意儿的收藏迷——对我太了解了。我一边翻看着卡片和留言,一边想:也许她买那辆卡车也不算什么太糟糕的主意。也许这能让置身于大千世界中的她不至于感到太渺小。

Para. 16

I reverse myself and bring back the garbage bags from the car and the curb. Clothes and shoes go back into the closet. I remake the bed and pile it with stuffed animals. My husband comes home and calls up the stairs.

我改变了主意,把垃圾袋从车里和路边又拿了回来。衣服和鞋子放回壁橱。重新铺好床,再堆上填充动物玩具。我丈夫回家了,对着楼上喊我。

Para. 17

“Just straightening up,” I tell him. “Can you find some boxes for her stuff?”

“我把房间稍微整理一下,”我告诉他。“你能找些盒子来装她的东西吗?”

Para. 18

He brings up boxes from the basement.

他从地下室拿上来几个盒子。

Para. 19

“She left a mess,” he says.

“她弄得真乱啊,”他说。

Para. 20

“I don’t mind,” I reply. Silence.

“我不介意,”我回答。沉默。

Para. 21

Then he says softly, “She’s not coming back.” I feel my throat tighten at the sadness in his voice. I try hard to keep back my tears.

然后他轻轻地说道:“她不会回来了。”他伤感的语气让我喉头一紧。我努力克制,不让眼泪流下来。

Para. 22

My little baby, my dependent child, isn’t coming back. But someday my daughter, the independent woman, will return home. Tokens of her childhood will await her. So will we, with open arms.

我的小宝贝儿,那个什么都让我操心的孩子,不再回来了。但是有一天,我的女儿,那位独立的女士,会回来的。家里有她童年的纪念品在等着她。我们也在等着她,张开双臂等她回来。

B

Para. 1

“Daddy, let’s take a walk.”

“爸爸,我们去散散步吧。”

Para. 2

It’s an April day in Virginia. He nods, puts his hands on the arms of his wheelchair, whispers something that makes little sense. I try to help him up, but he is too heavy and limp.

这是弗吉尼亚四月的一天。他点点头,把手放到轮椅的扶手上,嘟哝着谁也听不懂的话。我试着扶他起来,但是他太重了,而且也太虚弱了。

Para. 3

“Come for a walk, and then — I’ve brought you a surprise.”

“去散散步,然后呢——我给你带来了一个惊喜。”

Para. 4

The white curtains surge in the breeze.

微风吹过,白色的窗帘飘了起来。

Para. 5

Shivering, he complains it’s chilly. “It’s cold, I’m tired. Can’t we go home now?”

他哆嗦着,抱怨天太冷。“冷,我累了。我们现在回家不行吗?”

图片

Para. 6

Suddenly we’re far away in a time long past in part of a harbor I’ve never seen before. December, Chicago, I’m five, and cold. One glove is lost. My feet are tired. His legs are longer; he strides quickly through melting snow, toward buildings like airplane sheds with immense doors.

突然间,我们仿佛回到了很久很久以前,我们来到一个我从来没见过的港口。那时是十二月份,在芝加哥,我五岁,我很冷。一只手套丢了。我也走不动了。他的腿长多了,大步流星地走过正在融化的雪地,走向一群装着大门的像是飞机机库一样的建筑。

Para. 7

This is the most exciting place I have ever been. Suddenly my fatigue is gone. I could walk along here forever, at least until I find out how to get aboard one of the boats.

这是我到过的最令人兴奋的地方。忽然之间,我的疲惫消失得无影无踪。我可以一直在这里走下去,起码可以一直走到我设法登上其中的一条船为止。

Para. 8

We slow down our pace. Smaller sheds now. A green diner. Smells of fish and smoke. We enter a little hut. Barrels of salty water, string bags of shellfish,bundles of fish laid out on ice.

我们放慢了脚步。现在我们看到的是一些小一点的货棚,还有一间绿色的小餐馆。四周弥漫着鱼和烟的味道。我们走进一个小棚里。里面是一桶桶的海水,一网兜一网兜的贝类海鲜,还有一捆捆放在冰块上的鱼。

Para. 9

“Daddy, look at that snake!”

“爸爸,快看那条蛇!”

Para. 10

“No, that’s an eel,” says Daddy. “Smoked. We’ll take a portion home for supper.”

“不,那是鳗鱼,”爸爸说。“烟熏的。我们买一段回家当晚饭吃。”

Para. 11

“I certainly won’t eat that!”

“我才不吃那个东西呢!”

Para. 12

“All right,” he says, and carries the smelly package. As we walk back, he tells me about migrations of eels to the Sargasso Sea: how eels come down Dalmatian rivers and swim across the Mediterranean and then the whole Atlantic, until they reach the warm Sargasso Sea. Here they lay their eggs, and then the baby eels swim back to the native rivers of their parents.

“好吧,”他说道,然后拿起那包腥味很重的鱼。我们往回走的时候,他给我讲鳗鱼向马尾藻海洄游的故事:鳗鱼怎样从达尔玛提亚地区的河流游过地中海,再游过整个大西洋,直到抵达温暖的马尾藻海。它们在那里产卵,然后幼鱼再游回到它们的父母原先待过的河流。图片

Para. 13

Back at last in the apartment, he unwraps the eel, opens his pocket knife and slices carefully.

我们终于回到了公寓。他拆开鳗鱼包,打开折叠小刀,小心地切片。

Para. 14

“I won’t eat it,” I say suspiciously.

“我不吃,”我狐疑地说道。

Para. 15

“Try one bite, just for me.”

“尝一口,就算为了我。”

Para. 16

“I won’t like it.”

“我不会喜欢它的。”

Para. 17

While he hangs up our coats, I test one pinch. Smelly, smoky, and salty.

当他在挂我们的外套时,我尝了一丁点儿。很腥,带着烟熏味,还咸咸的。

Para. 18

He goes into the kitchen to heat milk for me and tea for himself. I test another pinch. Then another. He returns with the steaming cups.

他去厨房帮我热牛奶,并给他自己热茶。我又尝了一丁点儿。然后,又尝了一点儿。他从厨房回来,端着热气腾腾的杯子。

Para. 19

The eel has vanished.

鳗鱼已经消失得无影无踪了。

Para. 20

Because it is Sunday and I am five, he forgives me. Time slows down and the love flows in — father to daughter and back again.

因为是星期天,我又只有五岁,他原谅了我。时光在此刻驻足,爱意在此刻流淌——从父亲流向女儿,又从女儿流向父亲。

Para. 21

At 19, I fly out to Japan. My father and I climb Mount Fuji. High above the Pacific, and hours up the slope, we picnic on dried eel, seaweed crackers, and cold rice wrapped in the eel skin. He reaches the peak first.

十九岁的时候,我飞去日本。父亲和我一起登富士山。我们爬了几小时后,在俯瞰太平洋的山坡上野餐,吃着鳗鱼干、海苔饼干和鳗鱼皮包的冷饭团。他第一个登上山顶。

Para. 22

As the years stretch, we walk along waterways all over the world. With his long stride, he often overtakes me. I’ve never known anyone with such energy.

随着岁月的流逝,我们游遍了世界各地的江川湖海。他步子大,所以经常走得比我快。我不知道除了他,还有谁能有如此旺盛的精力

Para. 23

Some days, time flies with joy all around. Other days, time rots like old fish.

有些日子,时间在快乐中飞逝,也有些日子会像不新鲜的鱼一样,令人难受。

Para. 24

Today in the nursing home in Virginia, anticipating his reluctance, I beg boldly and encourage him, “Please, Daddy, just a little walk. You are supposed to exercise.”

今天,在弗吉尼亚的养老院里,虽然明知他不太愿意,我还是大胆地请求他、鼓励他:“来吧,爸爸,就走一小会儿。你应该锻炼锻炼。”

Para. 25

He can’t get out of his chair. Not that he often gets up on his own, but once in a while he’ll suddenly have a surge of strength. I stoop to lift his feet from the foot restraints, fold back the metal pieces which often scrape his delicate, paper-thin skin. “Come, now you can stand.”

他无法从轮椅上站起来。不是说他能常常靠自己站起身来,但是偶尔,他会突然来那么一股子劲儿。我弯下身,把他的脚从脚蹬里拿出来,收起经常把他脆弱的、薄纸般的皮肤擦伤的金属脚踏。“来,你现在可以站起来了。”

Para. 26

He grips the walker and struggles forward. Gradually I lift and pull him to his feet. Standing unsteadily, he sways and then gains his balance.

他抓住助步车,努力往前起身。慢慢地,我连拖带拽地帮他站了起来。他站在那儿,有点儿不稳,摇摇晃晃,然后才站稳了。

Para. 27

“See, you made it! That’s wonderful! All right, I’ll be right behind you, my hand in the small of your back. Now - forward, march!”

“看,你做到了!太好了!好吧,我就跟在你后面,我会用手扶着你的腰。好,往前,往前走!”

Para. 28

He is impatient with the walker as I accompany him to the dining room. I help him to his chair,and hand him a spoon. It slips from his fingers. Pureed tuna is heaped on a plastic plate. I encourage him, sing him old songs, tell stories, but he won’t eat. When I lift a spoonful of gray fishy stuff to his mouth, he says politely, “I don’t care for any.”

我陪着他往餐厅走,一路上他对助步车很不耐烦。我扶他在椅子上坐下,递给他一把勺子。勺子从他的指间滑落。塑料餐盘上是一堆金枪鱼肉糜。我鼓励他吃,唱老歌给他听,给他讲故事,但是他不肯吃。当我举起一勺灰灰的鱼肉糜送到他嘴边时,他客气地说:“我一点儿也不想吃。”

Para. 29

Nor would I.

换了我,我也不想吃。

Para. 30

Then I take the small smelly package covered in white wrapping paper from a plastic bag. He loves presents, and he reaches forward with awkward fingers to try to open it. The smell fills the room.

于是,我从一个塑料袋里取出一小包用白纸包着的带着腥味的东西。他喜欢礼物。他伸手用不怎么灵活手指试着打开纸包。房间里满是鱼腥味。

Para. 31

“Look, Daddy, they’ve been out of it for months, but at last this morning at the fish seller near the Potomac, I found some smoked eel.”

“看,爸爸,他们已经断货好几个月了。今天早上,我终于在波托马克河附近的鱼贩子那里找到了一些熏鳗鱼。”

Para. 32

We unwrap it, and then I take out the Swiss Army Knife my beloved aunt gave me “for safekeeping”, and slice the silvery flesh.

我们把纸包打开,然后我拿出我亲爱的姨妈送给我的那把“防身用”的瑞士军刀,切开银色的鱼肉。

Para. 33

“What a beautiful picnic,” my father beams.

“多么美妙的野餐啊,”父亲笑容满面地说。

Para. 34

He takes a sip of his champagne, and then with steady fingers picks up a slice of eel and downs it easily. Then another, and another, until he eats the whole piece. And again, time slows down and the love flows in - daughter to father and back again.

他品了一口香槟,然后用一点儿也不哆嗦的手指捏起一片鳗鱼肉,轻松地咽了下去。接着,他吃了一片又一片,直到把整块鱼吃完。再一次,时光在此刻驻足,爱意在此刻流淌——从女儿流向父亲,又从父亲流向女儿。

Unit 3

New Words

WordsPhonetic symbolsChinese
limp/lɪmp/n. 跛行;vi. 跛行,一拐一拐地走;缓慢费力地前进;adj. 柔软的,无力的;软弱的
surge/sɜːdʒ/n. 汹涌;大浪,波涛;汹涌澎湃;巨涌;v. 汹涌;起大浪,蜂拥而来
breeze/briːz/n. 微风;轻而易举的事;煤屑;焦炭渣;小风波;vi. 吹微风;逃走
shiver/‘ʃɪvə/n. 颤抖,战栗;碎片;vt. 颤抖;打碎;vi. 颤抖;哆嗦;打碎
complain/kəm’pleɪn/vt. 抱怨;控诉;vi. 投诉;发牢骚;诉说
chill/tʃɪl/n. 寒冷;寒意;寒心;vt. 冷冻,冷藏;使寒心;使感到冷;vi. 冷藏;变冷;adj. 寒冷的;冷漠的;扫兴的
chilly/‘tʃɪlɪ/adj. 寒冷的;怕冷的
stride/straɪd/n. 大步;步幅;进展;vt. 跨过;大踏步走过;跨坐在…;vi. 跨;跨过;大步行走
melt/melt/n. 熔化;熔化物;vt. 使融化;使熔化;使软化;使感动;vi. 熔化,溶解;渐混
melting/‘meltɪŋ/adj. 融化的;溶解的;动人的;感伤的
shed/ʃed/n. 小屋,棚;分水岭;vt. 流出;摆脱;散发;倾吐;vi. 流出;脱落;散布
immense/ɪ’mens/adj. 巨大的,广大的;无边无际的;非常好的
fatigue/fə’tiːg/n. 疲劳,疲乏;杂役;vt. 使疲劳;使心智衰弱;vi. 疲劳;adj. 疲劳的
aboard/ə’bɔːd/adv. 在飞机上;[船] 在船上;在火车上;prep. 在…上
hut/hʌt/n. 小屋;临时营房;vt. 使住在小屋中;驻扎;vi. 住在小屋中;驻扎
barrel/‘bær(ə)l/n. 桶;枪管,炮管;vt. 把……装入桶内;vi. 快速移动
shell/ʃel/n. 壳,贝壳;炮弹;外形;vt. 剥皮;炮轰;vi. 剥落;设定命令行解释器的位置
shellfish/‘ʃelfɪʃ/n. 甲壳类动物;贝类等有壳的水生动物
bundle/‘bʌnd(ə)l/n. 束;捆;vt. 捆;vi. 匆忙离开
eel/iːl/n. 鳗鱼;鳝鱼
portion/‘pɔːʃ(ə)n/n. 部分;一份;命运;vt. 分配;给…嫁妆
migrate/maɪ’greɪt; ‘maɪgreɪt/vt. 使移居;使移植;vi. 移动;随季节而移居;移往
migration/maɪ’greɪʃ(ə)n/n. 迁移;移民;移动
wrap/ræp/n. 外套;围巾;vt. 包;缠绕;隐藏;掩护;vi. 包起来;缠绕;穿外衣
unwrap/ʌn’ræp/vt. 打开
suspicious/sə’spɪʃəs/adj. 可疑的;怀疑的;多疑的
suspiciously/sə’spɪʃəsli/adv. 怀疑地;猜疑地
pinch/pɪn(t)ʃ/n. 匮乏;少量;夹痛;vt. 捏;勒索;使苦恼;掐掉某物,修剪;vi. 夹痛;节省
vanish/‘vænɪʃ/n. 弱化音;vt. 使不见,使消失;vi. 消失;突然不见;成为零
slope/sləʊp/n. 斜坡;倾斜;斜率;扛枪姿势;vt. 倾斜;使倾斜;扛;vi. 倾斜;逃走
cracker/‘krækə/n. 爆竹;饼干;胡桃钳;解密高手
peak/piːk/n. 山峰;最高点;顶点;帽舌;vt. 使达到最高点;使竖起;vi. 消瘦;到达最高点;变憔悴;adj. 最高的;最大值的
stretch/stretʃ/n. 伸展,延伸;vt. 伸展,张开;(大量地)使用,消耗(金钱,时间);使竭尽所能;使全力以赴;vi. 伸展;足够买(或支付)
overtake/əʊvə’teɪk/vt. 赶上;压倒;突然来袭;vi. 超车
anticipate/æn’tɪsɪpeɪt/vt. 预期,期望;占先,抢先;提前使用
reluctance/rɪ’lʌkt(ə)ns/n. [电磁] 磁阻;勉强;不情愿
stoop/stuːp/n. 弯腰,屈背;屈服;vt. 辱没,堕落;俯曲;vi. 弯腰;屈服;堕落
restraint/rɪ’streɪnt/n. 抑制,克制;约束
scrape/skreɪp/n. 刮掉;擦痕;困境;刮擦声;vt. 刮;擦伤;挖成;vi. 刮掉;刮出刺耳声
delicate/‘delɪkət/adj. 微妙的;精美的,雅致的;柔和的;易碎的;纤弱的;清淡可口的
grip/grɪp/n. 紧握;柄;支配;握拍方式;拍柄绷带;vt. 紧握;夹紧;vi. 抓住
gradual/‘grædʒʊəl/n. 弥撒升阶圣歌集;adj. 逐渐的;平缓的
gradually/‘grædʒʊlɪ; ‘grædjʊəlɪ/adv. 逐步地;渐渐地
sway/sweɪ/n. 影响;摇摆;统治;vt. 影响;统治;使摇动;vi. 影响;摇摆
accompany/ə’kʌmpənɪ/vt. 陪伴,伴随;伴奏;vi. 伴奏,伴唱
pureed/ˈpjuəreid/n. 蓉;浓浆
tuna/‘tjuːnə/n. 金枪鱼,鲔鱼
awkward/‘ɔːkwəd/adj. 尴尬的;笨拙的;棘手的;不合适的
sip/sɪp/n. 抿;小口喝;单列直插式组件;vt. 啜;vi. 啜
champagne/ʃæm’peɪn/n. 香槟酒;香槟酒色
addict/‘ædɪkt (for n.); əˈdɪkt (for v.)/n. 有瘾的人;入迷的人;vt. 使沉溺;使上瘾
addiction/ə’dɪkʃ(ə)n/n. 上瘾,沉溺;癖嗜
positive/ˈpɒzətɪv/n. 正数;[摄] 正片;adj. 积极的;
enable/ɪn’eɪb(ə)l; en-/vt. 使能够,使成为可能;授予权利或方法
media/‘miːdɪə/n. 媒体;媒质(medium的复数);血管中层;浊塞音;中脉
outlet/‘aʊtlet/n. 出口,排放孔;[电] 电源插座;销路;发泄的方法;批发商店
alternative/ɔːl’tɜːnətɪv; ɒl-/n. 二中择一;供替代的选择;adj. 供选择的;选择性的;交替的
source/sɔːs/n. 来源;水源;原始资料
practically/‘præktɪk(ə)lɪ/adv. 实际地;几乎;事实上
negative/‘negətɪv/n. 否定;负数;[摄] 底片;vt. 否定;拒绝;adj.
aspect/‘æspekt/n. 方面;方向;形势;外貌
epidemic/epɪ’demɪk/n. 传染病;流行病;风尚等的流行;adj. 流行的;传染性的
neglect/nɪ’glekt/n. 疏忽,忽视;怠慢;vt. 疏忽,忽视;忽略
infant/‘ɪnf(ə)nt/n. 婴儿;幼儿;未成年人;adj. 婴儿的;幼稚的;初期的;未成年的
impact/‘ɪmpækt/n. 影响;效果;碰撞;冲击力;vt. 挤入,压紧;撞击;对…产生影响;vi. 影响;撞击;冲突;压紧(on,upon,with)
involved/ɪn’vɒlvd/adj. 有关的;卷入的;复杂的
agony/‘ægənɪ/n. 苦恼;极大的痛苦;临死的挣扎
risk/rɪsk/n. 风险;危险;冒险;vt. 冒…的危险
concern/kən’sɜːn/n. 关系;关心;关心的事;忧虑;vt. 涉及,关系到;使担心
concerned/kən’sɜːnd/adj. 有关的;关心的
discipline/‘dɪsɪplɪn/n. 学科;纪律;训练;惩罚;vt. 训练,训导;惩戒
structure/‘strʌktʃə/n. 结构;构造;建筑物;vt. 组织;构成;建造
plunge/plʌn(d)ʒ/n. 投入;跳进;vt. 使陷入;使投入;使插入;vi. 突然地下降;投入;陷入;跳进
decline/dɪ’klaɪn/n. 下降;衰退;斜面;vt. 谢绝;婉拒;vi. 下降;衰落;谢绝
cease/siːs/n. 停止;vt. 停止;结束;vi. 停止;终了
imaginary/ɪ’mædʒɪn(ə)rɪ/adj. 虚构的,假想的;想像的;虚数的
attribute/(for n.) ˈatrɪbjuːt; (for v.) əˈtrɪbjuːt/n. 属性;特质;vt. 归属;把…归于
personality/pɜːsə’nælɪtɪ/n. 个性;品格;名人
interaction/ɪntər’ækʃ(ə)n/n. 相互作用;[数] 交互作用;互动
blog/blɒɡ/n. 博客;部落格;网络日志
release/rɪ’liːs/n. 释放;发布;让与;vt. 释放;发射;让与;允许发表
endorphin/en’dɔːfɪn/n. 脑内啡
essential/ɪ’senʃ(ə)l/n. 本质;要素;要点;必需品;adj. 基本的;必要的;本质的;精华的
sustain/sə’steɪn/vt. 维持;支撑,承担;忍受;供养;证实
sustained/sə’steɪnd/adj. 持续的;持久的;持久不变的
arouse/ə’raʊz/vt. 引起;唤醒;鼓励;vi. 激发;醒来;发奋
feedback/‘fiːdbæk/n. 反馈;成果,资料;回复
interact/ɪntər’ækt/n. 幕间剧;幕间休息;vt. 互相影响;互相作用;vi. 互相影响;互相作用
gamble/‘gæmb(ə)l/n. 赌博;冒险;打赌;vt. 赌博;孤注一掷;冒险假设;vi. 赌博;孤注一掷;投机;打赌
lever/‘liːvə/n. 杠杆;控制杆;vt. 用杠杆撬动;把…作为杠杆;vi. 用杠杆撬
rational/‘ræʃ(ə)n(ə)l/n. 有理数;adj. 合理的;理性的
spoil/spɒɪl/n. 次品;奖品;vt. 溺爱;糟蹋;破坏;掠夺;vi. 掠夺;变坏;腐败
moderate/‘mɒd(ə)rət/vt. 节制;减轻;vi. 变缓和,变弱;adj. 稳健的,温和的;适度的,中等的;有节制的
moderation/mɒdə’reɪʃ(ə)n/n. 适度;节制;温和;缓和
multiple/‘mʌltɪpl/n. 倍数;[电] 并联;adj. 多重的;多样的;许多的
schedule/ˈʃedju:l/n. 时间表;计划表;一览表;vt. 安排,计划;编制目录;将……列入计划表

Phrases and expressions

  1. less than interesting/honest/helpful, etc. 一点也没有意思/一点也不诚实/一点也没有帮助
  2. add to sth. 增加,增添
  3. visit with sb. 叙谈,闲谈
  4. take the lead 树立榜样,带头;(赛跑或竞赛中)开始领先
  5. account for (在数量或比例上)占,占据;是…的原因,引起,导致;解释,说明
  6. fire off 匆忙发出(讯息或指示);开(枪),开(炮)
  7. keep up with 跟上,保持同步;和(朋友)保持联系
  8. at a disadvantage 处于不利地位的
  9. stand out 出色;显眼,突出
  10. set up 建立,设立,创立
  11. in large part 多半,在很大程度上,在大多数地方
  12. a wealth of sth. 丰富的某物
  13. make use of sth. 利用某物,使用某物
  14. give rise to sth. 引起,导致
  15. charge sb. with (doing) sth. 指控,控告,起诉
  16. keep sb. from (doing) sth. 不让某人做某事
  17. care for 照顾,照看
  18. tell of 描述,叙述
  19. as well (除…外)还…
  20. at risk 处境危险,受到威胁
  21. nothing but 仅仅,只有,不过

Articles

A

College life in the Internet age

Para. 1

The college campus, long a place of scholarship and frontiers of new technology, is being transformed into a new age of electronics by a fleet of laptops, smart phones and connectivity 2 hours a day.

大学校园长久以来都是学术之地,也是新技术的前沿。现在随着手提电脑和智能手机的大量出现,加上每天 2小时不间断的网络连接,大学校园正在转而进入电子设备的新时代。

Para. 2

On a typical modern-day campus, where every building and most outdoor commonareas offer wireless Internet access, one student takes her laptop everywhere. In class, she takes notes with it, sometimes instant-messaging or emailing friends if the professor is less than interesting. In her dorm, she instant-messagesher roommate sitting just a few feet away. She is tied to her smart phone, which she even uses to text a friend who lives one floor above her, and which supplies music for walks between classes.

在典型的现代校园里,每幢建筑和大部分室外公共区域都提供无线互联网接入,学生可以把手提电脑带到任何地方。课堂上,她用手提电脑记笔记,有时如果教授的课一点都没意思,她就会给朋友发送即时信息或电子邮件。在寝室,她甚至会给近在咫尺的室友发送即时信息。她离不开智能手机,甚至对住在楼上的朋友也要发短信;在从上一堂课去下一堂课的路上她也要用智能手机听音乐。

Para. 3

Welcome to college life in the 21st century, where students on campus are electronically linked to each other, to professors and to their classwork 24/7 in an ever-flowing river of information and communication. With many schools offering wireless Internet access anywhere on campus, colleges as a group have become the most Internet-accessible spots in the world.

欢迎来体验21世纪的大学生活:通过源源不断的信息流,学生之间、师生之间以及学生和课堂作业之间建立了电子化的联系,一天24小时,一周7天,从不间断。在许多学校,无线互联网连接覆盖了校园的各个角落,大学整体上也因此成为世界上互联网最普及的地方。

Para. 4

Students say they really value their fingertip-access to the boundless amount of information online, and the ability to email professors at a.m. and receive responses the next morning. “I always feel like I have a means of communication - in class and out of class,” says one engineering major.

学生们说他们非常看重动动手指就可获得无限的网上信息,还可以在凌晨两点给教授发电子邮件,并能在第二天早上收到教授的回复。一位工程专业的学生说:“我觉得无论在课内还是在课外,我都拥有一种交流手段。”

Para. 5

Many are using smart phones, not only to create their own dialects when texting, but also to do more serious work,such aspracticing foreign languages and analyzing scripts from their theater classes. In a university class on the history of American radio, students use smart phones to record their own radio shows. The course instructor said, “It’s adding to students’ sense of excitement about the subject,” Professors have been encouraged to tape their lectures and post them online. “We realized there might be some potential for a device that could get attention and encourage sophisticated thinking,” says one leading university director.

很多学生不仅使用智能手机自创语体发短信,而且也用智能手机来做更正经的工作,比如练习外语、分析戏剧课的脚本等。在一所大学的有关美国广播电台历史的课上,学生们用智能手机录下他们自己的广播节目。教授这门课的教师说:“这提高了学生学习这门课的兴奋感。”学校也鼓励教授录下授课内容并发布到网上。一位一流大学的主管说:“我们意识到,像这样一种能够引起学生关注、并促使他们深入思考的工具也许大有潜力。”

Para. 6

For most undergraduates, non-stop Internet connectivity is the fuel of college life. More than just toys, these instruments are powerful tools for the storage and management of virtually every kind of information. And as more people around the world adopt these instruments, they are becoming indispensable. So, students should use the wonders of the Internet to do homework, review lecture outlines, take part in class discussions and network online with their friends. But in doing so, students must remember to regulate and balance their time. Too much time online can mean too little time in real-life studying or exercising or visiting with friends. Students should not let the Internet world on their computer screens take them away from the real world outside.

对于大多数本科生来说,永不间断的互联网是大学生活的动力。网络工具不只是玩具,而且是储存和管理几乎各种信息的强大工具。随着世界上越来越多的人使用这些工具,它们已经变得不可或缺。所以,学生应该运用互联网所创造的奇迹来完成作业、复习讲座提纲、参与课堂讨论、与朋友们进行网上社交。但是在做这些的同时,学生们必须记住,要控制和平衡好时间。上网时间过长就意味着在现实生活中学习、锻炼或和朋友叙谈的时间过少。学生们不应该让电脑屏幕上的互联网世界使他们脱离外面的现实世界。

Para. 7

Colleges began embracing Internet access in the mid-1990s, when many began wiring dorms with high-speed connections. In the past few years, schools have taken the lead by turning their campuse into bubbles of Wi-Fi networks. In fact, a recent study in the US found that information technology accounted for 5% to 8% of college budgets, up from an estimated 2% to 3% in the mid-1980s.

大学在2世纪9年代中期迎来互联网,那时许多大学开始给学生寝室接入高速网络。在过去的几年中,学校率先把校园变成了被无线网络覆盖的世界。事实上,美国最近的一项研究发现,信息技术的投入占高校预算的5%-8%,比2世纪8年代中期约2%-3%的投入有所增加。

Para. 8

On one campus, students use Wi-Fi to fire off instant messages, review their homework assignments, and check their bank balances. Just nine miles down the highway, another university had been feeling a bit of a technology inferiority complex. To compensate, it spent tens of thousands of dollars to give every one of its incoming freshmen a free Apple iPad.

有一所大学里,学生用无线网络发送即时信息、复习家庭作业以及查看银行账户余额。而就在沿公路往前九英里处,另一所大学一直有种技术不如别人的自卑感。为了弥补这一点,该大学花了数万美元给每一名入学新生免费赠送了一台苹果iPad。

Para. 9

Some universities even require that all students own or lease a laptop. Some say the focus on technology prepares students for a wired world. “You have to keep up with the rest of the world. Students expect high-bandwidth information, and if you can’t deliver it, you’re at a competitive disadvantage”, states a university president.

有些大学甚至要求所有学生拥有或租用一台手提电脑。有人说注重技术可以使学生作好准备面对被网络连接的世界。一位大学校长指出:“你必须与世界保持同步,学生们期望通过高带宽获取信息。如果你不能提供,你就会在竞争中处于劣势。”

Para. 10

Other colleges are straining to stand out from their peers. The race to attract students with the most modem networks and the hottest systems has reached fever pitch. Some business majors are receiving free portable computers. In an always-connected mode, they can get information anytime and anywhere they need. One university is even giving its freshmen new smart phones to enrich the student experience and prepare them for success in a rapidly changing world.

其他大学正努力从同行当中脱颖而出。大学之间用最现代的网络和最热门的系统来吸引学生的竞争已经达到狂热的地步。一些商科专业的学生可以领到免费的便携式电脑。在永久在线模式下,他们可以根据需要随时随地获取信息。一所大学甚至为新生配备了智能手机,以丰富其大学经历,为他们在一个日新月异的世界上取得成功作好准备。

Para. 11

For those who prefer to travel laptop-free, colleges supply several computer labs. And for students who study late into the night, many have set up 24-hour repair shops where students can get their laptops fixed by the next day and receive a loaner in the meantime.

大学还为那些不喜欢随身携带手提电脑的学生提供了若干个机房。而且,许多大学为那些熬夜学习的学生开设了2小时电脑维修店,电脑第二天就可以修好,而且在电脑送修期间,学生可以使用维修点提供的代用电脑。

Para. 12

Colleges around the world have been replacing their computer systems for the past decade, in large part to provide students with the most advanced free system. The anywhere-anytime access has already yielded amazing benefits in education. With the widespread application of computer technologies, we are going to produce a generation of problem-solvers and intelligent thinkers, which is indispensable for the future of the world.

在过去的十年里,世界各地的大学都在更换其计算机系统,主要是为了给学生提供最先进的免费系统。随时随地的网络连接使教育深受裨益。随着计算机技术的广泛应用,我们将培养出善于解决问题和善于思考的一代人,这对于世界的未来是至关重要的。

B

Para. 1

Perhaps the greatest change the world has seen in modern times has been the rise of the Internet. It’s hard to deny the positive changes it adds to people’s lives as it makes life easier with quick access to things like maps, news, and online stores. As are search tool, it is unmatched. It’s a great way to keep up with friends. It enables a wealth of media outlets and alternative news sources. Internet access and the ability to make good use of it is practically a must for success in the modern world.

现代世界经历的最大变化也许就是互联网的崛起。我们难以否认网络给人们的生活带来的种种便利。通过网络,人们能够迅速地查到诸如地图、新闻和网上商店等,网络使生活变得简单。作为研究工具,互联网是无与伦比的。它是我们与朋友保持联系的极好的途径。它给我们提供多样的媒体渠道以及各种各样的新闻来源。有条件上网以及有能力充分利用网络是现代社会取得成功的必要条件。

Para. 2

Like any technology, though, it has negative aspects that become clear as we start to depend upon it. Like pollution and traffic jams that come with the convenience of cars, Internet access has proven so popular that it has given rise to a new kind of social epidemic, Internet addiction.

然而,像任何技术一样,随着我们开始依赖网络,网络的负面因素就显现出来。正如伴随着汽车的便利而来的是污染和交通堵塞一样,互联网的大行其道导致了一种新的社会流行病,那就是网瘾。

图片

Para. 3

Consider the following stories. A few years ago, a couple in the United States was charged with child neglect. It was their addiction to playing games online that kept them from caring for their two infant children. Another recent news story told of a man who spent so much time online that he didn’t sleep enough to keep his job. Eventually, he lost his house but kept his laptop and sti1spent all day online.

看看下面的报道。几年前,美国一对夫妇被指控疏于照顾孩子。正是因为他们迷恋网络游戏而疏于对两个幼儿的照顾。最近还有个关于一位男子的新闻报道,他因为上网时间过长,导致睡眠不足而丢掉了工作。最终,他连房子都没了,但他保留了手提电脑,仍然整日上网。

Para. 4

College students are impacted as well. There are many stories of excellent students who lost their university scholarships from poor grades, or of other students who failed at the university altogether simply because they spent too much time online. One student not only failed, but lost 1pounds. He was so involved online that he forgot to eat! Imagine the agony of this condition!

大学生们也受到影响。有很多报道是关于一些优秀的学生由于成绩差而失去奖学金,还有的学生因此而无法毕业,这全是因为他们上网时间过长所致。有一个学生不仅没有毕业,而且体重减了1磅。他过于沉迷网络,结果连饭都忘了吃!想一想,这是多么令人痛心啊!

Para. 5

These things did not happen to these people because they were lazy or stupid. They happened because of addiction. New college students, even the brightest and most successful ones, are most at risk from these effects because the Internet is important for their studies and because they are just entering a world where their online habits are no longer monitored by concerned parents. Without the discipline and structure of home, students have to manage time by themselves. During their very first term, their grades can plunge, their health decline, and their friendships cease.

这些事情发生在这些人身上,不是因为他们懒惰或愚蠢,而是因为他们上网成瘾。新入学的大学生,甚至是那些最聪明、最成功的大学生,受此影响的风险最大,因为互联网对他们的学业很重要,也因为他们刚刚进入一个新环境,他们的上网习惯不再受到关心他们的父母的监督。没有家人的监督和约束,学生们只能自己管理上网时间。在第一学期,他们可能成绩骤降、健康受损、友谊中断。

图片

Para. 6

It is easy for those who are unaffected by the powerful draw of connectivity - those who can easily control their time online - to view Internet addiction as an imaginary problem or to attribute its origins to a weak personality. But the brain chemistry behind Internet addiction is not imaginary. Many common Internet interactions, such as scoring points in online games, getting emails or instant messages, finding new blog entries, all cause the release of endorphins in the brain. Endorphins are the essential brain chemicals connected with positive feelings of success and pleasure. This is no surprise, considering that Internet interactions often involve succeeding at a challenge or having social exchanges. Our brains reward us for these activities in real life all the time.

那些不受网络巨大吸引力影响的人,也就是那些可以轻松控制上网时间的人,容易把网瘾问题看作是假想的问题,或者把网瘾的根源归咎于软弱的性格。但是,网瘾的背后有其脑部化学病理,这不是想象出来的。许多常见的网络互动,如在网络游戏中得分、接收电子邮件或即时信息、寻找新的博客日志,所有这些都会引发大脑中内啡肽的释放。内啡肽是大脑中与成功和快乐这些正面情绪相关的重要化学物质。鉴于网络互动经常包含成功应对挑战或进行社会交往,因此网络互动能引起内啡肽的释放也就不足为奇了。对于这些现实生活中的活动,我们的大脑一直在给予我们奖励。

Para. 7

The trouble with the Internet is that it makes it possible to have unnaturally long periods of endorphin release, sustained rewards from the brain that are as quick as the click of a mouse. These rewards are not actual, useful, real-life rewards, but simple stimulation that arouses positive feedback in the brain. In real life endorphins encourage us to interact with friends or family, or attempt to learn something new. With Internet addiction endorphins do nothing but keep people hooked to their computers. Internet addicts behave very much like gamblers pulling the lever at machines in Las Vegas, even if it is not rational, hurts their studies. or spoils their health and their lives.

互联网的问题在于,它可以造成过于长期的、非自然的内啡肽释放,也就是来自大脑的持续不断的奖励,就像点击鼠标一样快速。这些奖励不是真实的、有用的、现实的奖励,它们只是引发大脑中正面反馈的简单刺激。在现实生活中,内啡肽促使我们和朋友、家人交往或者尝试学习新东西。而一旦上网成瘾,内啡肽只会使人更加迷恋电脑。有网瘾的人的行为就好像那些在拉斯维加斯的赌徒们不断拉动赌博机的操作杆,虽然这样做不理智、妨害他们的学业或损害他们的健康和生活。

Para. 8

So watch how much time you spend online; moderation is your best defense against Internet addiction. Use the wonders of connectivity to enrich your studies, stay connected with distant friends and explore multiple new worlds. Just be careful. Notice if you find you are thinking about the Internet even when you’re not online, or if you prefer your online time to time with your real-life friends, or if you hide or lie about how much time you spend online. If you find yourself doing any of these things, take a step back. Look for other ways to enjoy your life. Get some exercise, which is a major source of endorphins! Visit a museum or a beautiful park. Get together with friends to study or schedule some fun time to relax. The Internet is a powerful tool, but make sure that you use it wisely for all the good value it offers and that you won’t let too much of a good thing become something bad.

所以,要留意你在网上花了多少时间。节制是对抗网瘾的最好的防御方式。利用网络创造的奇迹来充实你的学业、与远方的朋友保持联系、探索多样的新世界。只是要小心。留意一下,看自己不上网时是否还惦记着网络,或者你是否更愿意上网而不愿意与现实生活中的朋友在一起,或者你是否对上网时间进行掩饰和撒谎。如果你发现自己符合以上任何一种情况,那就要停下来想想了。去寻找其他享受生活的方式。做些运动,运动是内啡肽的重要来源!参观博物馆或去逛逛美丽的公园。和朋友们一起学习或安排娱乐时间来放松一下。互联网是一个强大的工具,但是要确保能明智地利用它,来获得它所能带来的一切好处,确保不会因过度使用而使它变成害人的东西。

Unit 4

New Words

WordsPhonetic symbolsChinese
era/‘ɪərə/n. 时代;年代;纪元
victim/‘vɪktɪm/n. 受害人;牺牲品;牺牲者
survivor/sə’vaɪvə/n. 幸存者;生还者;残存物
tragedy/‘trædʒɪdɪ/n. 悲剧;灾难;惨案
subsequent/‘sʌbsɪkw(ə)nt/adj. 后来的,随后的
associate/ə’səʊʃɪeɪt; -sɪeɪt/n. 同事,伙伴;关联的事物;vt. 联想;使联合;使发生联系;vi. 交往;结交;adj. 副的;联合的
congress/‘kɒŋgres/n. 国会;代表大会;会议;社交
congresswoman/‘kɑŋgrəswʊmən/n. (美)国会女议员;众议院女议员
tender/‘tendə/n. 偿付,清偿;看管人;小船;vt. 提供,偿还;使…变嫩;使…变柔软;vi. 投标;变柔软;adj. 温柔的;柔软的;脆弱的;幼稚的;难对付的
sympathy/‘sɪmpəθɪ/n. 同情;慰问;赞同
shield/ʃiːld/n. 盾;防护物;保护者;vt. 遮蔽;包庇;避开;保卫;vi. 防御;起保护作用
hail/heɪl/n. 冰雹;致敬;招呼;一阵;vt. 致敬;招呼;向…欢呼;猛发;使像下雹样落下;vi. 招呼;下雹;int. 万岁;欢迎
bullet/‘bʊlɪt/n. 子弹;只选某党全部候选人的投票;豆子;vi. 射出;迅速行进
priest/priːst/n. 牧师;神父;教士;vt. 使成为神职人员;任命…为祭司
remarkable/rɪ’mɑːkəb(ə)l/adj. 卓越的;非凡的;值得注意的
humanity/hjʊ’mænɪtɪ/n. 人类;人道;仁慈;人文学科
civilian/sɪ’vɪlj(ə)n/n. 平民,百姓;adj. 民用的;百姓的,平民的
grace/greɪs/n. 优雅;恩惠;魅力;慈悲;vt. 使优美
circumstance/ˈsɜ:kəmstəns/n. 环境,情况;事件;境遇
respond/rɪ’spɒnd/n. 应答;唱和;vt. 以…回答;vi. 回答;作出反应;承担责任
responder/rɪ’spɒndə/n. 响应器;回答者;应答机
widow/‘wɪdəʊ/n. 寡妇;孀妇;vt. 使成寡妇
solemn/‘sɒləm/adj. 庄严的,严肃的;隆重的,郑重的
solemnly/‘sɑləmli/adv. 庄严地;严肃地
sergeant/‘sɑːdʒ(ə)nt/n. 军士;警察小队长;海军陆战队中士;高等律师
commitment/kə’mɪtm(ə)nt/n. 承诺,保证;委托;承担义务;献身
automobile/‘ɔːtəməbiːl/n. 汽车;vt. 驾驶汽车
distinct/dɪ’stɪŋ(k)t/adj. 明显的;独特的;清楚的;有区别的
military/‘mɪlɪt(ə)rɪ/n. 军队;军人;adj. 军事的;军人的;适于战争的
personnel/pɜːsə’nel/n. 人事部门;全体人员;adj. 人员的;有关人事的
jail/dʒeɪl/n. 监狱;监牢;拘留所;vt. 监禁;下狱
confine/kən’faɪn/n. 界限,边界;约束;限制;vt. 限制;禁闭
solitary/‘sɒlɪt(ə)rɪ/n. 独居者;隐士;adj. 孤独的;独居的
chamber/‘tʃeɪmbə/n. (身体或器官内的)室,膛;房间;会所;vt. 把…关在室内;装填(弹药等);adj. 室内的;私人的,秘密的
establish/ɪ’stæblɪʃ; e-/vt. 建立;创办;安置;vi. 植物定植
harmony/‘hɑːmənɪ/n. 协调;和睦;融洽;调和
reconcile/‘rek(ə)nsaɪl/vt. 使一致;使和解;调停,调解;使顺从
conflict/‘kɒnflɪkt/n. 冲突,矛盾;斗争;争执;vi. 冲突,抵触;争执;战斗
conflicted/‘kɒnflɪktid/adj. 因心理冲突而不知所措的
advocate/‘ædvəkeɪt;-ət/n. 提倡者;支持者;律师;vt. 提倡,主张,拥护
grief/griːf/n. 悲痛;忧伤;不幸
rage/reɪdʒ/n. 愤怒;狂暴,肆虐;情绪激动;vi. 大怒,发怒;流行,风行
association//[ə,soʃɪ’eʃən]] n. 协会,联盟,社团;联合;联想
legislation/ledʒɪs’leɪʃ(ə)n/n. 立法;法律
authority/ɔː’θɒrɪtɪ/n. 权威;权力;当局
intense/ɪn’tens/adj. 强烈的;紧张的;非常的;热情的
involve/ɪn’vɒlv/vt. 包含;牵涉;使陷于;潜心于
fulfill/ful’fil/vt. 履行;实现;满足;使结束(=fulfil)
fulfillment/fʊl’fɪlmənt/n. 履行;实行;满足(感)
aspiration/æspə’reɪʃ(ə)n/n. 渴望;抱负;送气;吸气;吸引术
barely/‘beəlɪ/adv. 仅仅,勉强;几乎不;公开地;贫乏地
lane/leɪn/n. 小巷;[航]
terror/‘terə/n. 恐怖;恐怖行动;恐怖时期;可怕的人
awful/‘ɔːfʊl/adj. 可怕的;极坏的;使人敬畏的
abolish/ə’bɒlɪʃ/vt. 废除,废止;取消,革除
image/‘ɪmɪdʒ/n. 影像;想象;肖像;偶像;vt. 想象;反映;象征;作…的像
slippery/‘slɪp(ə)rɪ/adj. 滑的;狡猾的;不稳定的
concrete/‘kɒŋkriːt/n. 具体物;凝结物;vt. 使凝固;用混凝土修筑;vi. 凝结;adj. 混凝土的;实在的,具体的;有形的
primitive/‘prɪmɪtɪv/n. 原始人;adj. 原始的,远古的;简单的,粗糙的
crystal/‘krɪst(ə)l/n. 结晶,晶体;水晶;水晶饰品;adj. 水晶的;透明的,清澈的
reflect/rɪ’flekt/vt. 反映;反射,照出;表达;显示;反省;vi. 反射,映现;深思
lean/liːn/n. 瘦肉;倾斜;倾斜度;vt. 使倾斜;vi. 倾斜;倚靠;倾向;依赖;adj. 瘦的;贫乏的,歉收的
ignore/ɪg’nɔː/vt. 驳回诉讼;忽视;不理睬
patrol/pə’trəʊl/n. 巡逻;巡逻队;侦察队;vt. 巡逻;巡查;vi. 巡逻;巡查
slam/slæm/n. 猛击;砰然声;vt. 砰地关上;猛力抨击;vi. 砰地关上;猛力抨击
halt/hɔːlt/n. 停止;立定;休息;vt. 使停止;使立定;vi. 停止;立定;踌躇,犹豫
yell/jel/n. 喊声,叫声;vt. 喊叫着说;vi. 大叫,叫喊
backup/‘bækʌp/n. 支持;后援;阻塞;vt. 做备份;adj. 支持的;候补的
swell/swel/n. 肿胀;隆起;vt. 使膨胀;使隆起;vi. 膨胀;肿胀;隆起;adj. 漂亮的;一流的
monster/‘mɒnstə/n. 怪物;巨人,巨兽;残忍的人;adj. 巨大的,庞大的
roar/rɔː/n. 咆哮;吼;轰鸣;vt. 咆哮;呼喊;使……轰鸣;vi. 咆哮;吼叫;喧闹
limb/lɪm/n. 肢,臂;分支;枝干;vt. 切断…的手足;从…上截下树枝
current/‘kʌr(ə)nt/n. (水,气,电)流;趋势;涌流;adj. 现在的;流通的,通用的;最近的;草写的
submerge/səb’mɜːdʒ/vt. 淹没;把…浸入;沉浸;vi. 淹没;潜入水中;湮没
heave/hiːv/n. 举起;起伏;投掷;一阵呕吐;vt. 举起;使起伏;投掷;恶心;发出(叹息等);vi. 起伏;举起;喘息;呕吐
lord/lɔːd/n. 主;上帝;int. 主,天啊;vt. 使成贵族;vi. 作威作福,称王称霸
lower/‘ləʊə/vt. 减弱,减少;放下,降下;贬低;vi. 降低;减弱;跌落;adj. 下游的;下级的;下等的
collapse/kə’læps/n. 倒塌;失败;衰竭;vt. 使倒塌,使崩溃;使萎陷;折叠;vi. 倒塌;瓦解;暴跌
badge/bædʒ/n. 徽章;证章;标记;vt. 授给…徽章
identify/aɪ’dentɪfaɪ/vt. 确定;鉴定;识别,辨认出;使参与;把…看成一样 vi. 确定;认同;一致
betray/bɪ’treɪ/vt. 背叛;出卖;泄露(秘密);露出…迹象
crack/kræk/n. 裂缝;声变;噼啪声;vt. 使破裂;打开;变声;vi. 破裂;爆裂;adj. 最好的;高明的
moan/məʊn/n. 呻吟声;悲叹;vt. 抱怨;呻吟着说;vi. 抱怨,悲叹;呻吟
grab/græb/n. 攫取;霸占;夺取之物;vt. 攫取;霸占;将…深深吸引;vi. 攫取;夺取
slender/‘slendə/adj. 细长的;苗条的;微薄的
streak/striːk/n. 条纹,线条;倾向;vi. 飞跑,疾驶;加上条纹;vt. 飞跑,疾驰;加条纹于
stiff/stɪf/n. 死尸;令人讨厌者;流通票据;劳动者;vt. 诈骗;失信;adj. 呆板的;坚硬的;僵硬的;严厉的;拘谨的;稠的;(价格)高昂的;(酒)烈性的;adv. 极其;僵硬地;彻底地
heal/hiːl/vt. 治愈,痊愈;和解;vi. 痊愈
acute/ə’kjuːt/adj. 严重的,[医] 急性的;敏锐的;激烈的;尖声的
nightmare/‘naɪtmeə/n. 恶梦;梦魇般的经历;adj. 可怕的;噩梦似的

Phrases and expressions

  1. give one's life 捐躯,牺牲
  2. ring out 发出响亮的声音
  3. shield sb./sth. from sb./sth. 使…免受
  4. with (good/a good) grace 有风度地,情愿地
  5. be/get caught up in sth. 被卷入,陷入
  6. in the words of sb./in sb.'s words 用某人的话来说
  7. reserve sth. for sb./sth. 保留,预留
  8. relate to sth./sb. 理解,认同
  9. make sense of sth. 理解,弄懂某事(尤指困难或复杂的事)
  10. sum up 概况,总结,概述
  11. in need 在困难时,在贫困之中
  12. count on 依靠,指望
  13. call on 呼吁,号召
  14. live in terror of sb./sth. 一直很害怕某人/某物
  15. a string of 一连串,一系列(事件等)
  16. turn off 不再听,不再想
  17. lean on 依靠,依赖
  18. beat sb. to it 抢在某人之前做
  19. pull over (使)(车辆或司机)停靠在路边
  20. slip off/down 滑落,脱落
  21. bring sth. to a halt 使停住,使停止,使暂停
  22. cut through (在水中或空中)轻松地通过
  23. fill up with (使)充满,(使)装满
  24. identify sb. as sb. 表明…的身份
  25. catch up with 追上,赶上
  26. break through (sth.) 冲破,突破
  27. hold on 紧紧抓住,紧紧抱住
  28. let go (of sb./sth.) 放手,松开
  29. be grateful for 对…表示感激

Articles

A

Para. 1

Who’s a hero these days? In an era of heightened heroism, the word hero has become more common. We use hero to describe both victims and survivors of all kinds of difficulties and tragedies. Who are the heroes among us?

谁是当今的英雄?在一个英雄主义发扬光大的时代,“英雄”一词已经变得更加常见。我们把各种困难和悲剧的受害者和幸存者都称为“英雄”。那么,我们身边哪些人是英雄呢?

Para. 2

In the days subsequent to a mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, many described 20-year-oldpolitical associate Daniel Hernandez as a hero. During the horrible shooting, he courageously ran through the danger to save the life of one of the victims, his boss and friend,congress woman Gabrielle Giffords. Daniel held her head up so she could breathe and appliedpressure to her wounds. He spoke tender words of sympathy, telling her that he would find her husband and her parents and that everything would be fine. And he never left her side, staying beside her in the ambulance all the way to the hospital.

在亚利桑那州图森市枪击案发生后的日子里,许多人都把20岁的政界同事丹尼尔•赫尔南德兹描述为英雄。在骇人的枪击案发生时,他勇敢地冒着危险,去救助受害者之一、也是他的上司和朋友的加布里埃尔•吉福德议员。丹尼尔把她的头托高,便于她呼吸,并用力摁住她的伤口。他用温柔体贴的话语安慰她,告诉她他会把她的丈夫和父母找来,告诉她一切都会好的。而且,他一直守护在她身边,在去医院的路上,他也一直在救护车里陪伴在她身旁。

Para. 3

Another hero from the mass shooting in Tucson was Dory Stoddard. Dory gave his life for hiswife, Mavy. Dory and his wife had been friends since childhood and when Dory heard shots ring out he immediately fell on top of his wife to shield her from the hail of bullets. At the memorial service, the priest said: “Dory didn’t die a hero; he lived a hero.” Long known for his remarkable spirit and love of humanity, Dory Stoddard died as he had always lived, assisting others.

图森枪击事件中的另一位英雄是多利•斯托达德。多利为保护妻子梅维献出了自己的生命。多利和他的妻子自小青梅竹马。一听到枪声,多利马上扑在妻子身上为她挡住扫射过来的子弹。在葬礼仪式上,牧师说道:“多利一生英雄,非死才为英雄。”多利•斯托达德一直以来以精神高尚、富有爱心而为大家所熟知,他至死也同他生前一样在帮助他人。

Para. 4

These are civilian heroes, who acted instinctively with courage and grace when caught up in extraordinary circumstances.

这些都是平民英雄。他们在特别危急的情况下,本能地做出勇敢而高尚的举动。

Para. 5

But what about first responders, whose job is, in the words of the widow of a fallen police officer, “to rush toward danger”?

但是,那些应急救援人员是否也算是英雄呢?用一位已故警官遗孀的话来说,他们的工作就是“迎着危险上”。

Para. 6

In Toronto, Canada, downtown life stopped when more than 11,000 police and other emergency responders marched solemnly through the streets to honor Sergeant Ryan Russell, a 35-year-old “good man and good cop”, who believed deeply in his commitment to protect and serve. Sgt. Russell moved quickly to protect others from harm. He tried to stop a drunk driver in a stolen snowplow with only his police automobile and his goodwill to help others. Sadly, Sgt. Russell was unable to stop the drunk driver and was killed in the effort.

在加拿大多伦多市,1万1千多名警察和其他应急救援人员肃穆地在大街上游行,纪念一位具有高度保护和服务意识的“好男人和好警察”、35岁的瑞安•罗素警佐。当时整个市中心的其他活动都停止了。罗素警佐迅速采取行动,保护他人免受伤害。他仅凭着一辆警车和一颗帮助他人的善良的心,试图挡住一辆醉驾司机驾驶的偷来的扫雪车。不幸的是,他没能拦住醉驾司机,不幸牺牲。

Para. 7

It used to be that the word hero was reserved for those who performed acts of distinct courage beyond the call of duty. A soldier who runs through gunfire to rescue other military personnel is seen as a hero. So are larger-than-life leaders such as Nelson Mandela, who emerged after 27 years of jail, confined in a solitary chamber. He made the choice not to be bitter, and worked hard as South Africa’s first black president to establish harmony and helped society reconcile its conflicted past.

在过去,“英雄”一词仅限于称呼那些做出超乎职责范围的特别英勇的行为的人们。一位战士冒着枪林弹雨去抢救其他战友,他被看作英雄。同样,超凡卓越的具有传奇色彩的领袖人物也是英雄,比如纳尔逊•曼德拉。被囚禁于单人牢房27年后,曼德拉终于摆脱了牢狱生活。他没有抱怨,作为南非的第一位黑人总统,他努力奋斗,致力于创建和谐国家,促进社会化解以往的矛盾。

Para. 8

But today, our heroes are average men and women, “everyday heroes” to whom we can relate, people like us.

但是今天,我们的英雄是平凡的男男女女,他们是我们看得见、摸得着的“平民英雄”,是和我们一样的普通人。

Para. 9

However, while many people honor Sgt. Russell, some people raise this question when they try to make sense of a tragedy like Sgt. Russell’s: “Some first responders do not succeed in helping others and they get injured or die in their efforts. Do these people become heroes because of what happens to them as they try to help others - instead of what they actually make happen?”

虽然很多人尊重罗素警佐,但有些人在试图理解像罗素警佐这样的悲剧时提出了一个问题:“有些应急救援人员在帮助他人时没能获得成功,而自己却受伤或牺牲了。这些人不是因为他们成功帮助了别人,而是因为他们在帮助别人时所遭遇的不幸才成为英雄的吗?”

Para. 10

I asked road safety advocate Eleanor McMahon whether she thought Sgt. Russell was a hero. Ms. McMahon’s late husband, a police officer, was killed by a drunk truck driver in a 2006 off-duty bicycling accident. Through grief and rage, Ms. McMahon founded Share the Road, a cycling association, and worked tirelessly until the government established “Greg’s Law”, legislation that gave authority to police to immediately seize the automobiles of drunk drivers caught on the road.

我问道路交通安全倡导者埃莉诺•麦克玛农,她是否认为罗素警官是位英雄。麦克玛农女士的已故丈夫曾是一名警官,2006年的一天,他未当班,却在骑车时因一名醉驾卡车司机肇事而丧生。在悲伤和愤怒中,麦克玛农女士创立了“道路共享单车联合会”,一个自行车协会。她不懈地努力,直到政府颁布了格雷格法案,授予警察在路上一旦发现醉驾司机就当场予以扣留车辆的权力。

Para. 11

Ms. McMahon replied that she thought Sgt. Russell was indeed a hero. “Just imagine, in the middle of an intense snowstorm this policeman thinks: I’ve got to stop this snowplow before it hurts others.” Ms. McMahon summed up why she considered many police officers to be heroes: “It’s natural to be afraid of danger. It’s natural for that fear to cause most people to rush toward safety and away from danger. Heroes do just the opposite. They rush toward danger to help those in need.”

麦克玛农女士回答说,她认为罗素警官确实是英雄。“想象一下,在狂风暴雪中,这位警官想道:我必须挡住这辆扫雪车,不让它伤及他人。”麦克玛农女士概括了为什么她认为许多警官都是英雄的原因:“害怕危险是正常的。大多数人因害怕危险而奔向安全之处躲避危险,这也是正常的。而英雄则恰恰相反。他们迎着危险上,为的是帮助需要帮助的人。”

Para. 12

We count on first responders to rush toward danger, especially when it involves us or those we love. We expect nothing less. So when one of them dies doing that, we should recognize the heroic action even though we may doubt our own capacity to be heroic ourselves.

我们指望应急救援人员冲向危险,尤其是当我们或我们所爱的人身处险境时。这正是我们对应急救援人员的期望。所以,当他们中的一位因冲向危险而遭遇不幸时,我们应认可他们的英勇行为,哪怕我们可能怀疑自己是否具有这样的勇气。

Para. 13

The inspiring stories of heroes help remind us that ordinary people can do extraordinary things, whether it is in the fulfillment of their duties or as part of everyday life. We honor the fireman, the policeman, and the average citizen by recognizing their heroism. Perhaps, even more importantly, we honor them by working to change the circumstances that led to their death. By honoring them we can be inspired by them. Will we be heroes when circumstances call on us to act heroically? Hopefully, we will!

英雄们激励人心的事迹有助于提醒我们,平凡的人也可以做出不平凡的事,不管是履行职责,还是在日常生活中。我们向消防员、警察和普通平民致敬,赞扬其大无畏的精神。也许,甚至更为重要的是,我们要通过改变让他们遭遇不幸的环境来向他们致敬。通过缅怀他们,我们可以从中得到鼓舞。一旦有情况召唤我们挺身而出时,我们会当英雄吗?但愿我们会!

B

A hero's aspiration

Para. 1

Officer Jonda’s pulse quickened. Road conditions were dangerous on that cold, dark wintery night. The fierce storm made it hard to see, but she could tell the car ahead of her was in trouble. It was swaying. It was not swaying violently, and was still barely within the lane, but on the winding road in the fierce November rain, it was enough. Jonda had a sixth sense for accidents and lived in terror of them ever since that awful night so many years ago. She still couldn’t abolish the terrible image of that teenager screaming for help, her help. Help that she had been unable to give as she was driven back by the intense heat of the car fire.

琼达警官的心跳加快了。在那个寒冷、漆黑的冬夜,路况险恶。狂风暴雨令人视线不清,但她能感到前面的车出了麻烦。那辆车开得歪歪扭扭。虽然歪得不是很厉害,还勉强开在车道里,但在十一月大雨滂沱中的蜿蜒道路上,这已经够悬的了。琼达对事故有着第六感,并且自从很多年以前那个可怕的夜晚之后,她一直生活在对事故的恐惧中。那个十几岁的少年呼喊求助——向她求助——的骇人情景至今在她脑海中,挥之不去。她当时无能为力,因为汽车燃起的大火使她无法靠近。

Para. 2

Her subsequent report on the incident had dutifully noted the facts, as she had been trained to write them, facts that did not include screams or pain. It was strange to talk about them one way: a string of facts for a police report; and to think about them in another: burning metal and deep tire tracks on the slippery concrete, bits of safety glass like primitive crystals reflecting in pools of blood. These were memories Jonda could never really turn off. She leaned on her training for support, and these days she never ignored any signs of the next accident. She made a gesture to turn on the patrol car’s flashing lights, but her partner, David, beat her to it; he too had sensed the danger. “Let’s pull that car over before someone gets hurt,” he said.

她在事后的事故报告中按照以前的培训要求,就事论事地记录了事实,并没有对尖叫声和伤痛的描述。记录的是一种形式,即警方报告中的一连串事实;而回忆却是另一种形式:熊熊燃烧着的金属、湿滑水泥地上深深的车胎痕迹,还有散落在血泊中、如天然水晶般闪烁的安全玻璃碎屑。记录和回忆竟会如此不同,着实令人奇怪。这些成为琼达脑海中始终摆脱不掉的记忆。她靠着受过的训练来支撑自己。现在,她再不会放过任何预示下一起事故的征兆。她动手要去打开巡逻车上的警灯,但是她的搭档戴维抢先一步打开了警车顶灯,他也觉察到了险情。“我们让那辆车靠边停下,以免有人出事,”他说道。

Para. 3

The big car slowed, but not enough to stop at the warning sign as the driver slammed on the brakes. The car slipped off the road into the Dalton River.

那辆大轿车的司机猛踩刹车,车子慢了下来,但还是来不及停在警示线内。车子滑下公路,掉进了道尔顿河。

Para. 4

Jonda quickly brought the police car to a halt and got out. Yelling at David to call for backup help, she slipped down the side of the road to the water’s edge.

琼达急忙停下警车,来到车外。她一边喊着让戴维呼叫支援,一边沿路肩下滑到河边。

Para. 5

The rain had swelled the river into a raging monster. It roared well over its banks, rushing swiftly with tree limbs caught in the raging current. And half submerged in the current was the car. As big as it was, the force of the water had heaved it against a tree, the passenger seat submerged, water rushing over the windshield. “Dear Lord!” Jonda prayed. “Never again!” This is too much, too familiar, Jonda thought.

雨水使河水猛涨,变成一头凶猛的怪兽。它咆哮着冲上两岸,夹杂着被急流冲下的树枝,汹涌奔腾。那辆车一半己被水流淹没。尽管车不小,但是水流的力量把它顶在一棵树上,副驾驶座一侧被淹没,河水漫过挡风玻璃。“我的上帝啊!”琼达祈祷道。“不要再像上次一样啊!”这样的事让人受不了,太熟悉了,琼达心想。

Para. 6

The driver would not have had time to make it out, Jonda knew. Her flashlight beam barely cut through the heavy rain, but she could still see the trapped driver screaming and banging the window. And the car was filling up with water.

琼达知道,司机肯定来不及脱身。倾盆大雨中,她手电的光亮几乎没什么用,但是她还是能够看到被困司机在叫喊着,拍打着车窗。河水正在灌满车厢。

Para. 7

“David, I need the window hammer!” Jonda called over her radio and rushed toward the car. By the time she was at the driver door, the water was rushing up to her waist, and unbelievably cold, like her legs had been encased in ice. If she didn’t work quickly, she could lose the feeling in her lower body and collapse.

“戴维,我需要破窗锤!”琼达向对讲机呼叫,并冲向车子。当她来到驾驶员一侧的车门时,水已经涨到她的腰部,而且冰冷刺骨,她的双腿就像被冰包裹住一样。如果她动作不够快,她的下半身可能就会失去知觉,她就会瘫倒。

Para. 8

Through the window, Jonda saw the woman with water up to her chest. A work badge pinned to her chest identified her as Sandy. And she was old, 65 or 70. She would not last long in the icy water. Her eyes, betraying her intense fear, were locked on Jonda’s. “Save me,” she screamed.

透过车窗,琼达看到那位妇女,水已经淹到她的胸口。她胸前别有一枚工作胸卡,写着她的名字桑迪。她年事己高,有65岁或70岁。她在冰冷的水中支撑不了多久。她的眼中流露出极度的恐惧,直直地盯着琼达的眼睛。“救救我,”她大声呼喊着。

Para. 9

David caught up with Jonda and passed her the window hammer. “Ma’am,” she yelled through the window, “I need you to turn away from the glass! I’m going to break through!” The woman turned her head, and Jonda struck. The glass, thick as the old car was big, barely cracked. And with a heavy heart Jonda felt the car heave. The current was loosening it from the tree.

戴维赶到琼达身边,把破窗锤递给她。“夫人,”她透过车窗喊道,“请你转过身,避开玻璃!我要把车窗砸开!”那位妇女转过头去,琼达砸向车窗。这辆旧车车身大,窗玻璃也厚,砸一下几乎不见裂缝。这时,琼达感到车起伏了一下,她不禁心头一沉。水流正把车推离那棵树。

Para. 10

Jonda struck again with all her might and this time, mercifully, the window broke into little pieces. Water rushed in and the car heaved again, soon to be carried downstream.

琼达用尽全力又砸了一次,谢天谢地,这次车窗碎成了小片。水灌了进来,车又起伏了一下,它很快就会被冲到下游。

Para. 11

The woman tried to speak through her shivering lips. “Tell my grandchildren I love them,” she moaned.

那位妇女颤抖着双唇,努力想说些什么。“告诉我的孙子孙女,我爱他们,”她呜咽着。

Para. 12

Jonda leaned in and wrapped her arms around the woman. “We’re not going to lose you, Sanely! Put your arms around my neck and hold on! David, grab my waist and pull!”

琼达探进身子,用自己的双臂箍住妇女。“桑迪,我们不会让你死的!你抱住我的脖子,抓紧!戴维,搂住我的腰往外拉!”

Para. 13

With all her strength in the icy water, Jonda grabbed the slender woman out of her seat and through the broken window, David pulling at her waist. The car heaved one last time, and just as the woman cleared it, it was swallowed by the water.

戴维搂住她的腰往外拉。同时,琼达在冰冷的水里用尽全力把那位瘦弱的妇女拖出驾驶座,从砸破的车窗拉了出来。车最后又起伏了一下,那位妇女刚被救出,车就被水吞没了。

Para. 14

The woman was crying in Jonda’s arms. “It’s all right, ma’am,” Jonda said, tears streaking down her cheeks, unable to let go of the woman. “We didn’t lose you! We didn’t lose you!” she cried. Stiff and sore, Sandy cried, “Thank you!”

那位妇女在琼达的怀里哭了。“没事了,夫人,”琼达说道,泪水顺着她的脸颊滚落下来,她抱紧那位妇女不愿松开。“我们没有失去你!我们没有失去你!”她哭着说。四肢僵硬酸痛的桑迪也哭着说道:“谢谢你!”

Para. 15

Since the accident, the two women have become close friends. “She’s a fantastic woman,” Sandy says. “She just refused to let me die. I’m forever grateful to her.” But Jonda feels she has much to be grateful for too, because finally, she is healed and free of the acute nightmares of her past.

自从那次车祸之后,两位女士成了亲密的朋友。“她是一个了不起的女人,”桑迪说。“她绝不让我死。我永远感激她。”但是琼达感到她也同样很感激。因为她内心的创伤终于愈合了,她终于摆脱了过去痛苦的噩梦。

Unit 5

New Words

WordsPhonetic symbolsChinese
marathon/‘mærəθ(ə)n/n. 马拉松赛跑;耐力的考验;vi. 参加马拉松赛跑;adj. 马拉松式的;有耐力的
annual/‘ænjʊəl/n. 年刊,年鉴;一年生植物;adj. 年度的;每年的
route/ruːt/n. 路线;航线;通道;vt. 按某路线发送
harsh/hɑːʃ/adj. 严厉的;严酷的;刺耳的;粗糙的;刺目的
endurance/ɪn’djʊər(ə)ns; en-/n. 忍耐力;忍耐;持久;耐久
regardless/rɪ’gɑːdlɪs/adj. 不管的;不顾的;不注意的;adv. 不顾后果地;不管怎样,无论如何;不惜费用地
super/‘suːpə; ‘sjuː-/n. 特级品,特大号;临时雇员;adj. 特级的;极好的
contract/‘kɒntrækt/n. 合同;婚约;[kən’trækt]vt. 感染;订约;使缩短;vi. 收缩;感染;订约
prominent/‘prɒmɪnənt/adj. 突出的,显著的;杰出的;卓越的
sponsor/‘spɒnsə/n. 赞助者;主办者;保证人;vt. 赞助;发起
finance/faɪ’næns; fɪ-; ‘faɪnæns/n. 财政,财政学;金融;vt. 负担经费,供给…经费;vi. 筹措资金
furnish/‘fɜːnɪʃ/vt. 提供;供应;装备
substantial/səb’stænʃ(ə)l/n. 本质;重要材料;adj. 大量的;实质的;内容充实的
mechanism/‘mek(ə)nɪz(ə)m/n. 机制;原理,途径;进程;机械装置;技巧
contest/‘kɒntest/n. 竞赛;争夺;争论;vt. 争辩;质疑;vi. 竞争;争辩
distinction/dɪ’stɪŋ(k)ʃ(ə)n/n. 区别;差别;特性;荣誉、勋章
amateur/ˈæmətə(r)/n. 爱好者;业余爱好者;外行;adj. 业余的;外行的
odd/ɒd/n. 奇数;怪人;奇特的事物;adj. 奇数的;古怪的;剩余的;临时的;零散的
invisible/ɪn’vɪzɪb(ə)l/adj. 无形的,看不见的;无形的;不显眼的,暗藏的
assemble/ə’semb(ə)l/vt. 集合,聚集;装配;收集;vi. 集合,聚集
assembled/ə’sembəld/adj. 组合的;安装的
assert/ə’sɜːt/vt. 维护,坚持;断言;主张;声称
react/rɪ’ækt/vi. 反应,作出反应;产生(化学)反应;反抗,有反作用
apparent/ə’pær(ə)nt/adj. 显然的;表面上的
publicity/pʌb’lɪsɪtɪ/n. 宣传,宣扬;公开;广告;注意
crush/krʌʃ/n. 粉碎;迷恋;压榨;拥挤的人群;vt. 压碎;弄皱,变形;使…挤入;vi. 挤;被压碎
gear/gɪə/n. 齿轮;装置,工具;传动装置;vt. 开动;搭上齿轮;使……适合;使……准备好;vi. 适合;搭上齿轮;开始工作;adj. 好极了
style/staɪl/n. 风格;时尚;类型;字体;vt. 设计;称呼;使合潮流;vi. 设计式样;用刻刀作装饰画
shuffle/‘ʃʌf(ə)l/n. 洗牌,洗纸牌;混乱,蒙混;拖着脚走;v. 洗牌;推诿,推卸;拖曳,慢吞吞地走;搅乱
commentator/‘kɒmənteɪtə/n. 评论员,解说员;实况播音员;时事评论者
alike/ə’laɪk/adj. 相似的;相同的;adv. 以同样的方式;类似于
welfare/‘welfeə/n. 福利;幸福;福利事业;安宁;adj. 福利的;接受社会救济的
insane/ɪn’seɪn/adj. 疯狂的;精神病的;极愚蠢的
smash/smæʃ/n. 破碎;扣球;冲突;大败;vt. 粉碎;使破产;溃裂;vi. 粉碎;打碎;adj. 了不起的;非常轰动的;出色的
award/ə’wɔːd/n. 奖品;判决;vt. 授予;判定
prominence/‘prɒmɪnəns/n. 突出;显著;突出物;卓越
despite/dɪ’spaɪt/n. 轻视;憎恨;侮辱;prep. 尽管,不管
dim/dɪm/n. 笨蛋,傻子;vt. 使暗淡,使失去光泽;使变模糊;vi. 变模糊,变暗淡;adj. 暗淡的,昏暗的;模糊的,看不清的;悲观的,怀疑的
stroke/strəʊk/n. (游泳或划船的)划;中风;(打、击等的)一下;冲程;(成功的)举动;尝试;轻抚;vt. (用笔等)画;轻抚;轻挪;敲击;划尾桨;划掉;(打字时)击打键盘;vi. 击球;作尾桨手,指挥划桨;(打字时)击打键盘
legend/‘ledʒ(ə)nd/n. 传奇;说明;图例;刻印文字
magnificent/mæg’nɪfɪs(ə)nt/adj. 高尚的;壮丽的;华丽的;宏伟的
brilliant/ˈbrɪlɪənt/adj. 灿烂的,闪耀的;杰出的;有才气的;精彩的,绝妙的
individual/ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒʊəl/n. 个人,个体;adj. 个人的;个别的;独特的
inherent/ɪn’hɪər(ə)nt; -‘her(ə)nt/adj. 固有的;内在的;与生俱来的,遗传的
inherently/ɪnˈhɪərəntlɪ/adv. 内在地;固有地;天性地
mold/məʊld/n. 霉菌;模子;vt. 塑造;使发霉;用模子制作;vi. 发霉
critical/‘krɪtɪk(ə)l/adj. 鉴定的;[核] 临界的;批评的,爱挑剔的;危险的;决定性的;评论的
underline/ʌndə’laɪn/n. 下划线;下期节目预告;vt. 强调;在…下面划线;预告
humble/‘hʌmbl/vt. 使谦恭;轻松打败(尤指强大的对手);低声下气;adj. 谦逊的;简陋的;(级别或地位)低下的;不大的
generous/‘dʒen(ə)rəs/adj. 慷慨的,大方的;宽宏大量的;有雅量的
emphasize/‘emfəsaɪz/vt. 强调,着重
mutual/‘mjuːtʃʊəl; -tjʊəl/adj. 共同的;相互的,彼此的
obligation/ɒblɪ’geɪʃ(ə)n/n. 义务;职责;债务
graceful/‘greɪsfʊl; -f(ə)l/adj. 优雅的;优美的
youngster/‘jʌŋstə/n. 年轻人;少年
nevertheless/nevəðə’les/adv. 然而,不过;虽然如此;conj. 然而,不过
abstract/‘æbstrækt/n. 摘要;抽象;抽象的概念;vt. 摘要;提取;使……抽象化;转移(注意力、兴趣等);使心不在焉;vi. 做摘要;写梗概;adj. 抽象的;深奥的
concept/‘kɒnsept/n. 观念,概念
strategy/ˈstrætədʒɪ/n. 战略,策略
cooperation/kəʊ,ɒpə’reɪʃ(ə)n/n. 合作,协作;[劳经] 协力
crucial/‘kruːʃ(ə)l/adj. 重要的;决定性的;定局的;决断的
overcome/əʊvə’kʌm/vt. 克服;胜过;vi. 克服;得胜
fundamental/fʌndə’ment(ə)l/n. 基本原理;基本原则;adj. 基本的,根本的
outcome/‘aʊtkʌm/n. 结果,结局;成果
ambition/æm’bɪʃ(ə)n/n. 野心,雄心;抱负,志向;vt. 追求;有…野心
participation/pɑː,tɪsɪ’peɪʃn/n. 参与;分享;参股
hazard/‘hæzəd/n. 危险,冒险;冒险的事;vt. 赌运气;冒…的危险,使遭受危险
psychology/saɪ’kɒlədʒɪ/n. 心理学;心理状态
psychologist/saɪ’kɒlədʒɪst/n. 心理学家,心理学者
considerable/kən’sɪd(ə)rəb(ə)l/adj. 相当大的;重要的,值得考虑的
intensity/ɪn’tensɪtɪ/n. 强度;强烈;[电子] 亮度;紧张
psychological/saɪkə’lɒdʒɪk(ə)l/adj. 心理的;心理学的;精神上的
emphasis/‘emfəsɪs/n. 重点;强调;加强语气
exclusive/ɪk’skluːsɪv; ek-/n. 独家新闻;独家经营的项目;排外者;adj. 独有的;排外的;专一的
exclusively/ɪk’skluːsɪvlɪ/adv. 唯一地;专有地;排外地
outlook/‘aʊtlʊk/n. 展望;观点;景色;vt. 比……好看;用目光压倒;vi. 朝外看
demanding/dɪ’mɑːndɪŋ/adj. 苛求的;要求高的;吃力的
excessive/ɪkˈsesɪv/adj. 过多的,极度的;过分的
rate/reɪt/n. 比率,率;速度;价格;等级;vt. 认为;估价;责骂;vi. 责骂;被评价
accomplish/ə’kʌmplɪʃ; ə’kɒm-/vt. 完成;实现;达到
accomplishment/ə’kʌmplɪʃm(ə)nt; ə’kɒm-/n. 成就;完成;技艺,技能
adapt/ə’dæpt/vt. 使适应;改编;vi. 适应
define/dɪ’faɪn/vt. 定义;使明确;规定
redefine/riːdɪ’faɪn/vt. 重新定义
trait/treɪt; treɪ/n. 特性,特点;品质;少许
extreme/ɪk’striːm; ek-/n. 极端;末端;最大程度;极端的事物;adj. 极端的;极度的;偏激的;尽头的
extremely/ɪk’striːmlɪ; ek-/adv. 非常,极其;极端地
pave/peɪv/vt. 铺设;安排;作铺设之用

Phrases and expressions

  1. up to达到,至多
  2. in attendance 出席(重要的或官方的活动)
  3. might (just) as well 不妨,还不如,倒不如
  4. at a time 每组,每次,一次
  5. leave sb./sth. behind 把…抛在后面
  6. out loud 大声地
  7. fall ill 生病
  8. have no intention of doing sth. 不打算做某事,无意做某事
  9. endear sb. to sb. 使受欢迎,使被喜爱
  10. give away 分送,送掉(不需要的东西);使露马脚,暴露
  11. pass away 去世
  12. to this day 直到现在,至今
  13. the here and now现时
  14. early on在初期,开始不久
  15. free ride 白白得到的好处
  16. blame sb. for sth. 责怪,指责,把…归咎于
  17. place emphasis on sth. 重视
  18. cancel out 抵消
  19. on the surface 表面上,从外表看,乍一看
  20. in shape 健康状况良好
  21. deal with sth. 处理,应付
  22. the way of the world 大多数人的行为方式,世道,事情发生的规律
  23. pave the way for sth. 为某事物铺平道路,为某事物创造条件

Articles

A

Cliff Young, an unlikely hero

图片

Para. 1

Considered one of the toughest marathon events in the world, the 875-kilometer annual Australian race, a route from Sydney to Melbourne, is a harsh test of endurance for the world’s top athletes, regardless of their age. The young, super-fit runners train for months before a competition and are under contract to prominent sponsors like Nike and Adidas, who finance them and furnish them with a substantial support mechanism of money and equipment. The contest takes up to seven days to complete and is a challenging test of fitness and strength even for world-class athletes who compete for distinction and a cash prize.

澳大利亚一年一度的悉尼至墨尔本的马拉松比赛全长875公里,被认为是世界上最艰难的马拉松赛事之一,对任何年龄段的世界顶尖运动员来说都是一项严酷的耐力考验。体能超好的年轻选手在赛前要进行数月的训练,而且还和像耐克和阿迪达斯这样著名的赞助商签约,这些赞助商通过强大的资金和装备支持机制为选手提供资助和装备。这项比赛历时七天,即使对那些为荣誉和奖金而赛的世界一流运动员来说,这项比赛也是对体能和力量的严峻考验。

Para. 2

On the day of the race in 1983, Cliff Young, a toothless 61-year-old farmer and amateur runner, wearing rubber boots, and much older than the other runners, was in attendance. No one paid any attention to this odd-looking man who might as well have been invisible. The assembled crowd assumed Cliff was there to observe the race. When he asserted his intention to compete, the world-class athletes around him reacted with apparent disbelief and then with disrespect. Obviously, this was some sort of publicity trick.

1983 年比赛那一天,克里夫•杨,一个牙齿已全部脱落的61岁的农民业余选手也来参加比赛。他脚穿橡胶靴,年龄也比其他选手大得多。没有人注意到这个外表古怪的老头,他就跟个隐身人差不多。聚集的人群以为克里夫只是来观看比赛的。当克里夫明确表示自己是来参赛的时候,他周围的世界级选手先是表示出明显的怀疑,继而予以鄙视。显然,人们认为这只是媒体的炒作而已。

Para. 3

But the press was curious, so as he took his number and moved into the crush of runners in their special, expensive racing gear, the camera focused on him and the assembled reporters shouted question after question at Cliff. They asked: “Who are you?” “What are you doing?”

但是媒体记者颇为好奇,所以当克里夫领好自己的参赛号码,走进配备昂贵的特殊装备的参赛选手队伍时,镜头对准了他,聚集的记者们向他抛来一个又一个问题。他们问:“你是谁?”“你来做什么?”

Para. 4

“I’m Cliff Young. I’m from a large farm where we raise sheep outside of Melbourne.”

“我是克里夫•杨。我来自墨尔本郊外的一个大农场,我们在那里养羊。”

Para. 5

They went on, “What makes you think you can run this race? It takes a week to run this race on no more than six hours of sleep a night!”

他们接着问道:“你为什么认为自己有能力参加这项比赛?跑完全程要花一周的时间,而且每晚的睡眠不足六个小时。”

Para. 6

Cliff replied, “I’ve run sheep for two or three days at a time. This race should only be a couple more days than that. I believe I can do it.”

克里夫回答道:“我放羊时每一次都要跑上两三天。这项比赛只是需要再多花几天而己。我相信我可以做到。”

Para. 7

Soon, the marathon started and the young athletes left Cliff far behind. The crowds smiled, and some laughed out loud because he didn’t even run properly. He had the strangest running style; he appeared to shuffle. As the race progressed along, of course, the attention of the sports commentators and viewers alike was on the athletes at the front of the pack. Imagine everyone’s surprise the next morning when the news showed Cliff was still in the race! Not only that, but he had run through the entire night without sleeping. And it seemed that he intended to keep running until he reached the finish line or fell ill or was injured as many viewers now began to fear. They were uneasy and very concerned for his welfare. Many people said and even more people thought: “Surely, someone should stop this insane old man before he really harms himself!”

很快,马拉松比赛开始了,年轻的运动员把克里夫远远地甩在了后面。人们笑了,有些人还大声地笑,因为克里夫甚至连跑步的姿势都不正确。他跑步的样子怪极了,因为他似乎是在拖着脚走。随着比赛的进行,体育解说员和观众们的注意力都放到了那些领先的选手身上。想象一下第二天早上看到新闻报道说克里夫还在比赛的队伍里时,人们有多么惊奇!不仅如此,他还彻夜未眠,一直在跑。而且,看起来他决意要一直跑到终点,或一直跑到病倒或受伤为止,这正是许多观众现在开始担心的事情。他们变得不安起来,而且非常担心他的身心健康。许多人在说,甚至更多的人在想:“不用说,应该有人制止这疯狂的老头儿,免得他真的把自己弄伤!”

Para. 8

But Cliff had no intention of stopping. Although he was still far behind the world-class athletes, he kept at it. When he got to a major town, he was asked about his plan for the rest of the race. He said he would just keep running, and he did. With every passing hour and every shuffling step, he got just a little bit closer to the race leaders. Later, he told people that throughout the race he kept focused by imagining he was gathering his sheep and trying to outrun a storm.

但是克里夫没有要停下的意思。虽然他仍然远远落后于那些世界顶级的选手,但他还一直坚持着。当他抵达一个大城镇时,有人问他对接下来的比赛有什么计划。他说他会继续跑下去,而且他也的确是这样做的。随着每一小时的流逝和迈出的每一次拖拖拉拉的步履,他一点一点地接近领先的选手们。事后,他告诉人们,整个比赛过程中他都很专注,他把自己想象成是在赶着羊群、努力与暴风雨抢时间。

Para. 9

By the fifth night, he had overtaken them all. By the sixth day, he led the whole pack of runners by a wide lead. He led all the way to the finish line, smashing the record by finishing the 875-kilometer race in 5 days, 15 hours and 4 minutes - 9 hours faster than anyone before! In that instant, Cliff Young became a beloved national hero.

到了第五天夜里,他追上了所有的选手。到了第六天,他把整个队伍甩开一大截。他一路领先,直到终点,以5天15小时4分钟跑完875公里的赛程,打破了纪录,比之前最快的选手还快了9个小时!在那一刻,克里夫•杨成为受人爱戴的民族英雄。

Para. 10

When Cliff was awarded the first prize of $10,000, he said he didn’t know there was a prize and insisted that he had not entered for the money. He said, “There’re five other runners still out there doing it tougher than me,” and he gave them $2,000 each. He did not keep a single cent for himself. That act increased his fame and endeared him to all of Australia.

当克里夫得到一万元奖金时,他说他不知道比赛还有奖金,并坚持说他不是为了钱才参赛的。他说:“还没有到达终点的那五位选手,他们比我跑得更艰苦。”他给他们每人2,000元。他自己一分钱都没留。这一举动提高了他的声望,使他受到了所有澳大利亚人的爱戴。

Para. 11

Cliff came to prominence again in 1997, at age 75, when he attempted to become the oldest man to run around Australia and raise money for homeless children.

克里夫在1997年75岁时又一次赢得了声望。当时他试图成为环澳大利亚长跑年龄最大的人,并为无家可归的孩子们筹集善款。

Para. 12

For the rest of his life, Cliff kept running. Over the years, despite increasing age and physical challenges, he participated in many races and won a number of them. It was said that Cliff Young never kept a single prize. People gave him watches because he never had one. He would thank them because he did not want to hurt their feelings, but then gave them away to the first child he saw. He said, “I don’t need a watch. I know when it’s daylight, when it’s dark, and when I’m hungry.”

在他的余生里,克里夫一直坚持在跑。多年来,尽管年纪越来越大,身体状况也不如从前,但是他还是参加了许多比赛,并赢得了其中的多次比赛。据说克里夫从未为自己留下过任何奖品。因为他从没戴过表,所以人们就送他手表。他会感谢送他手表的人,因为他不想伤害他们的感情。但是随后,他就把表送给沿途上他看见的第一个孩子。他说:“我不需要手表。我知道什么时候是白天、什么时候是黑夜、什么时候肚子饿了。”

Para. 13

His love for running never dimmed, but in the year 2000, he suffered a mild stroke that ended his heroic running days. Cliff Young, the running legend, passed away on November 2, 2003. He was 81.

他对跑步运动的热爱从未衰减。但在2000年,他得了轻度中风,从而结束了他具有英雄色彩的跑步生涯。2003年11月2日,克里夫•杨这位长跑传奇人物与世长辞,享年81岁。

Para. 14

To this day, Cliff Young remains a magnificent reminder and brilliant example of how ordinary individuals can inherently achieve remarkable results. As the famous saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way!” With determination and preparation, we can achieve distinction and be a brilliant example to others.

直到今天,克里夫•杨依然是一个伟大的标杆和辉煌的榜样。他向世人表明,普通人也能凭潜在的能力取得非凡的成就。有句名言说得好:“有志者,事竟成!”有坚定的决心和充分的准备,我们就能获得殊荣,也能成为别人的光辉榜样。

B

Shaping young lives with sports

图片

Para. 1

The leaders of tomorrow are shaped and molded in the here and now. As the Roman poet, Juvenal, famously said, “A healthy mind is to be found in a healthy body.” For parents, teachers, and coaches, there is no greater responsibility than sustaining the mental and physical health of our young people.

未来的领导者塑造并培养于当下。正如罗马诗人尤维纳利斯的一句名言所说的:“健全的心智来自于健康的体魄。”对家长、老师和教练而言,最大的责任莫过于让我们的年轻人保持身心健康。

Para. 2

Growing children need inspiration and physical stimulation. Team sports are a great way to provide these attributes! More than just entertainment, through sports young people learn critical skills that will serve them well in their adult lives. The ability to work toward a common goal underlines the value of teamwork. Being both humble in victory and generous in defeat emphasizes the mutual obligation of graceful manners in all human interactions. The lessons our youth learn will stay with them all their lives, and there is no better place to assist this learning than on the playing field.

成长中的孩子需要精神激励和身体刺激。团队体育运动是提供这些特质的极好途径!运动不仅是娱乐,年轻人还可以通过运动学到让其在日后的成年生活中得以受益的重要技能。有能力为一个共同的目标而努力凸显了团队合作的价值。胜不骄、败不馁强调了在所有人际交往中保持优雅风度是彼此的义务。我们的年轻人从中学到的经验将伴随他们终生,而运动场正是帮助年轻人学习这些经验的最佳场所。

Para. 3

Of course, the most critical lessons youngsters receive are those that they are taught by their parents and teachers. Nevertheless, many lessons remain abstractconcepts until they are made real by life experiences. You can talk about how bitter lemons are or how sweet honey is. However, until you actually taste lemons and honey you cannot experience the true meaning of “bitter” and “sweet”. Knowledge comes from the application of ideas in the experience of real life. Strategy, teamwork, and cooperation are crucial concepts that can be best learned and understood through sports. Team sports give children a natural place to work hard and learn valuable life lessons.

当然,年轻人所获得的最重要的经验是父母和老师教给他们的。然而,只有在生活中真正经历过之后,许多经验教训才不再是抽象的概念。你可以说柠檬有多苦或者蜂蜜有多甜。但是,只有在你真正品尝过柠檬和蜂蜜之后,你才能体会“苦”与“甜”的真正含义。概念只有应用到现实生活中才能变成知识。运动可以让人最好地学习和理解策略、团队协作和合作这些至关重要的概念。团队体育运动给孩子们提供了一个自然场所,让他们去努力奋斗并学习宝贵的生活经验。

Para. 4

Naturally, those who are inherently talented will spend more time on the field and will achieve fame. They have the opportunity to develop leadership skills and earn the respect of their team members. However, the benefits of participating in team sports are not dependent on natural ability. Youth need not be stars to benefit from team membership. It doesn’t matter whether they are gifted at their chosen sport. As a famous American sportswriter said, “It’s not whether you win or lose. It’s how you play the game.”

当然,那些有运动天赋的人将会在运动场上花更多的时间,也将会出名。他们有机会培养自己的领导才能,并赢得团队伙伴的尊敬。然而,能否从参加团队体育运动中受益并不取决于天赋。年轻人不是非得成为体育明星才能从团队体育运动中受益。他们在自己选择的运动上有没有天赋并不重要。正如一位美国著名体育记者所说的:“输臝不重要,重要的是你在比赛中如何表现。”

Para. 5

Sports can inspire and encourage the less naturally talented athletes to be their best. What is missing in natural talent can be overcome through hard work, practice, and learning from the example of others. Those lacking in talent should never be envious, and they may learn more about the real world than the gifted players because they learn early on that there are no free rides and they will have to make continuous effort if they want to achieve in this world. Through sports, they will learn the value of individual hard work and even greater value of cooperation and teamwork. They will also learn the fundamental importance of planning and preparation for the positive outcome of their life’s ambitions. These are all lessons that will be valuable to them throughout their entire lives, both in their careers and their personal lives.

运动能激励和鼓舞那些天分并不太高的人做到最好。一个人天分不足可以通过努力奋斗、训练和向其他榜样学习来弥补。天分不足的人绝不该嫉妒他人,他们可以比那些有天赋的运动员更多地了解真实的世界,因为他们很早就知道世界上没有免费的午餐,而且要想在现实世界中取得成就,就必须不断地付出努力。通过运动,他们会认识到个人努力奋斗的价值,以及合作和团队协作更重要的价值。他们还将认识到,作好计划与准备对于实现人生理想来说极其重要。这些经验教训对于他们整个人生,包括他们的事业和个人生活,都是宝贵的。

Para. 6

Of course, participation in competitive team sports is not without hazards. Some psychologists have expressed considerable concern about the intensity of competition in youth sports. They argue that children often suffer psychological harm when the emphasis is exclusively on winning. A football coach, famous for his competitive spirit, said: “Winning isn’t everything; it is the only thing.” Such an outlook can be harsh on children when they feel pressured to win from the adults around them. Child psychologists often blame parents and coaches for being too demanding. By placing excessive emphasis on winning, children miss the learning opportunities sports can offer. In such circumstances, the sports experience uncovers negative, draining and harmful consequences, canceling out the many desirable effects of sports.

当然,参加竞技团队体育运动也并非没有危害。有些心理学家已经对年轻人体育竞技的激烈程度表示出相当大的忧虑。他们认为,当一味强调要赢得比赛时,孩子们经常遭受到心理上的伤害。一位以体育竞技精神闻名的橄榄球教练曾说:“赢不是一切;但赢是唯一重要的事。”这样的观念对孩子们来说有些苛刻,因为他们会迫于身边大人的压力去臝得比赛。儿童心理学家经常责怪父母和教练对孩子们要求过高。如果过分强调输赢,孩子们就失去了从运动中学习的机会。在这样的情况下,体育运动就会暴露出负面的、令人身心疲惫的和有害的后果,从而也就抵消了体育运动带来的诸多益处。

Para. 7

Sports teach much more than what is easily seen on the surface. Young athletes learn something every time they step onto the field. It does much more than just keep young bodies in shape and growing at healthy rates. Sports give youth a sense of self-worth and accomplishment and teach them to deal capably with failure and success. It helps them learn the ways of the world, the benefits of hard work and determination, and how to coexist with others to achieve a common goal, even with other team members they may not particularly like! It allows youth to find a role they can fill, then to change or adapt to that role, and, over time, to grow and redefine who they are and who they will become. These are all traits that can be extremely useful in the real world, and developing such traits at an early age paves the way for success later in life.

体育运动教给我们的远比表面上看起来的多得多。年轻的运动员每次踏上运动场都能学到一些东西。运动远不只是让年轻人保持健康的体魄并健康成长。运动能给年轻人带来自我价值感和成就感,并教会他们很好地对待成败。体育运动帮助年轻人了解处世之道,使他们认识到肯努力和有决心的益处,以及学会如何与他人、甚至是那些自己其实不怎么喜欢的队友相处以实现共同的目标。体育运动使年轻人找到自己的角色定位,然后为了这一角色去作出相应的改变或调整,并随着时间的流逝逐渐成长,重新界定他们自己是什么样的人以及他们要成为什么样的人。这些都是在现实世界中极其有用的品质。早期培养这样的品质会为年轻人未来生活的成功铺平道路。

Unit 6

New Words

WordsPhonetic symbolsChinese
numerous/‘njuːm(ə)rəs/adj. 许多的,很多的
reliable/rɪ’laɪəb(ə)l/n. 可靠的人;adj. 可靠的;可信赖的
contrast/‘kɒntrɑːst/n. 对比;差别;对照物;vt. 使对比;使与…对照;vi. 对比;形成对照
indicate/‘ɪndɪkeɪt/vt. 表明;指出;预示;象征
indicator/‘ɪndɪkeɪtə/n. 指标,标志,迹象;指示器;[试剂] 指示剂;
decrease/dɪ’kriːs/n. 减少,减小;减少量;vt. 减少,减小;vi. 减少,减小
assess/ə’ses/vt. 评定;估价;对…征税
alter/‘ɔːltə; ‘ɒl-/vt. 改变,更改;vi. 改变;修改
stake/steɪk/n. 桩,棍子;赌注;火刑;奖金;vt. 资助,支持;系…于桩上;把…押下打赌;vi. 打赌
academic/ækə’demɪk/n. 大学生,大学教师;学者;adj. 学术的;理论的;学院的
undermine/ʌndə’maɪn/vt. 破坏,渐渐破坏;挖掘地基
significant/sɪg’nɪfɪk(ə)nt/n. 象征;有意义的事物;adj. 重大的;有效的;有意义的;值得注意的;意味深长的
significantly/sɪg’nɪfɪk(ə)ntlɪ/adv. 显著地;相当数量地
interfere/ɪntə’fɪə/vt. 冲突;介入;vi. 干涉;妨碍;打扰
overall/‘əʊvərɔːl/n. 工装裤;罩衫;adj. 全部的;全体的;一切在内的;adv. 全部地;总的说来
proof/pruːf/n. 证明;证据;校样;考验;验证;试验;vt. 试验;校对;使不被穿透;adj. 防…的;不能透入的;证明用的;耐…的
approximately/ə’prɒksɪmətlɪ/adv. 大约,近似地;近于
seemingly/‘siːmɪŋlɪ/adv. 看来似乎;表面上看来
consistent/kən’sɪst(ə)nt/adj. 始终如一的,一致的;坚持的
toll/təʊl/n. 通行费;代价;钟声;伤亡人数;vt. 征收;敲钟;vi. 鸣钟;征税
given/‘gɪv(ə)n/adj. 赠予的;沉溺的;规定的;prep. 考虑到
indication/ɪndɪ’keɪʃ(ə)n/n. 指示,指出;迹象;象征
compromise/‘kɒmprəmaɪz/n. 妥协,和解;折衷;vt. 妥协;危害;vi. 妥协;让步
whereas/weər’æz/conj. 然而;鉴于;反之
marginal/‘mɑːdʒɪn(ə)l/adj. 边缘的;临界的;末端的
commit/kə’mɪt/vt. 犯罪,做错事;把…交托给;指派…作战;使…承担义务
committed/kə’mɪtɪd/adj. 坚定的;效忠的;尽心尽力的;承担义务的
withdraw/wɪð’drɔː/vt. 撤退;收回;撤消;拉开;vi. 撤退;离开
striking/‘straɪkɪŋ/adj. 显著的,突出的,惊人的;打击的;罢工的
generate/‘dʒenəreɪt/vt. 使形成;发生;生殖;产生物理反应
anew/ə’njuː/adv. 重新;再
permanent/‘pɜːm(ə)nənt/n. 烫发(=permanent wave);adj. 永久的,永恒的;不变的
owing/‘əʊɪŋ/to 由于 ; 因为 ; 因……的缘故
erode/ɪ’rəʊd/vt. 腐蚀,侵蚀;vi. 侵蚀;受腐蚀
characteristic/kærəktə’rɪstɪk/n. 特征;特性;特色;adj. 典型的;特有的;表示特性的
intensive/ɪn’tensɪv/n. 加强器;adj. 加强的;集中的;透彻的;加强语气的
recreation/,rekrɪ’eɪʃ(ə)n/n. 娱乐;消遣;休养
surplus/‘sɜːpləs/n. 剩余;[贸易] 顺差;盈余;过剩;adj. 剩余的;过剩的
accustomed/ə’kʌstəmd/adj. 习惯的;通常的;独有的
depress/dɪ’pres/vt. 压抑;使沮丧;使萧条
convention/kən’venʃ(ə)n/n. 大会;[法] 惯例;
controversial/kɒntrə’vɜːʃ(ə)l/adj. 有争议的;有争论的
conventional/kən’venʃ(ə)n(ə)l/adj. 符合习俗的,传统的;常见的;惯例的
formative/‘fɔːmətɪv/n. 构词要素;adj. 形成的;造型的;格式化的
abandon/ə’bænd(ə)n/n. 放任;狂热;vt. 遗弃;放弃
appealing/ə’piːlɪŋ/adj. 吸引人的;动人的;引起兴趣的;恳求似的
myth/mɪθ/n. 神话;虚构的人,虚构的事
resolve/rɪ’zɒlv/n. 坚决;决定要做的事;vt. 决定;溶解;使…分解;决心要做…;vi. 解决;决心;分解
soar/sɔː/n. 高飞;高涨;vi. 高飞;高耸;往上飞舞
frank/fræŋk/n. 免费邮寄特权;vt. 免费邮寄;adj. 坦白的,直率的;老实的
vigorous/‘vɪg(ə)rəs/adj. 有力的;精力充沛的
absorb/əb’zɔːb; -‘sɔːb/vt. 吸收;吸引;承受;理解;使…全神贯注
tuition/tjuː’ɪʃ(ə)n/n. 学费;讲授
tremendous/trɪ’mendəs/adj. 极大的,巨大的;惊人的;极好的
relevant/ˈreləvənt/adj. 相关的;切题的;中肯的;有重大关系的;有意义的,目的明确的
spite/spaɪt/n. 不顾;恶意;怨恨;vt. 刁难;使恼怒
obstacle/‘ɒbstək(ə)l/n. 障碍,干扰;妨害物
collective/kə’lektɪv/n. 集团;集合体;集合名词;adj. 集体的;共同的;集合的;集体主义的
collectively/kə’lektivli/adv. 共同地,全体地
claim/kleɪm/n. 要求;声称;索赔;断言;值得;vt. 要求;声称;需要;认领;vi. 提出要求
endure/ɪn’djʊə; en-; -‘djɔː/vt. 忍耐;容忍;vi. 忍耐;持续
bulge/bʌldʒ/n. 胀;膨胀;凸出部分;vt. 使膨胀;使凸起;vi. 膨胀;凸出
tutor/‘tjuːtə/n. 导师;家庭教师;助教;vt. 辅导;约束;vi. 当家庭教师;(美)在家庭教师指导下学习
startle/‘stɑːt(ə)l/n. 惊愕;惊恐;vt. 使吓一跳;使惊奇;vi. 惊吓;惊跳;惊奇
startled/ˈstɑ:tld/adj. 受惊吓的
necessity/nɪ’sesɪtɪ/n. 需要;必然性;必需品
luxury/‘lʌkʃ(ə)rɪ/n. 奢侈,奢华;奢侈品;享受;adj. 奢侈的
glimpse/glɪm(p)s/n. 一瞥,一看;vt. 瞥见;vi. 瞥见
prioritize/praɪ’ɔrətaɪz/vt. 给…排出优先级;优先处理;优先考虑
aware/ə’weə/adj. 意识到的;知道的;有…方面知识的;懂世故的
influential/,ɪnflʊ’enʃ(ə)l/n. 有影响力的人物;adj. 有影响的;有势力的
illustrate/‘ɪləstreɪt/vt. 阐明,举例说明;图解;vi. 举例
cite/saɪt/vt. 引用;传讯;想起;表彰
dropout/‘drɒpaʊt/n. 中途退学;辍学学生
evidence/‘evɪd(ə)ns/n. 证据,证明;迹象;明显;vt. 证明
exhaust/ɪg’zɔːst; eg-/n. 排气;废气;排气装置;vt. 排出;耗尽;使精疲力尽;彻底探讨;vi. 排气
abuse/ə’bjuːz/n. 滥用;虐待;辱骂;弊端;恶习,陋习;vt. 滥用;虐待;辱骂
authentic/ɔː’θentɪk/adj. 真正的,真实的;可信的
stress/stres/n. 压力;强调;紧张;重要性;重读;vt. 强调;使紧张;加压力于;用重音读
tension/‘tenʃ(ə)n/n. 张力,拉力;紧张,不安;电压;vt. 使紧张;使拉紧
relieve/rɪ’liːv/vt. 解除,减轻;使不单调乏味;换…的班;解围;使放心
burden/‘bɜːd(ə)n/n. 负担;责任;船的载货量;vt. 使负担;烦扰;装货于
convince/kən’vɪns/vt. 说服;使确信,使信服
convinced/kən’vɪnst/adj. 确信的;深信的
ensure/ɪn’ʃɔː; -‘ʃʊə; en-/vt. 保证,确保;使安全
responsible/rɪ’spɒnsɪb(ə)l/adj. 负责的,可靠的;有责任的
formal/‘fɔːm(ə)l/n. 正式的社交活动;夜礼服;adj. 正式的;拘谨的;有条理的
advanced/ədˈvɑ:nst/adj. 先进的;高级的;晚期的;年老的
singular/‘sɪŋgjʊlə/n. 单数;adj. 单数的;单一的;非凡的;异常的
financial/faɪ’nænʃ(ə)l; fɪ-/adj. 金融的;财政的,财务的
furthermore/fɜːðə’mɔː/adv. 此外;而且
readily/‘redɪlɪ/adv. 容易地;乐意地;无困难地
concede/kən’siːd/vt. 承认;退让;给予,容许;vi. 让步
mature/mə’tʃʊə/vt. 使…成熟;使…长成;慎重作出;vi. 成熟;到期;adj. 成熟的;充分考虑的;到期的;成年人的

Phrases and expressions

  1. interfere with 妨碍,阻止
  2. cut class 逃课
  3. on the other hand 另一方面…;从另一方面说…
  4. take a/its toll on 对…产生不良影响
  5. at risk (of) 处境危险,受到威胁
  6. to begin with 起初,开始的时候;首先
  7. in other words 换言之;换句话说
  8. cut back on 削减,缩减;(尤指为了健康而)少吃,少喝,减少
  9. cut corners (为节省时间或金钱而)草草行事,偷工减料
  10. bit by bit 逐渐地,一点一点地
  11. burn the midnight oil 挑灯夜战,开夜车
  12. drop out 退学,辍学;退出,脱离
  13. in turn 相应地;轮流地,依次地
  14. contribute to 促成,造成(某事发生)
  15. hold on to 继续感到,仍然相信
  16. be in the/a minority 占少数
  17. as for 关于,至于
  18. a matter of (doing) sth. 关乎…的事情
  19. look back 回忆起,回顾
  20. feel sorry for oneself 自我怜悯
  21. be envious of 妒忌,羡慕
  22. catch / get / have a glimpse of 一瞥,飞快地一看
  23. relieve sb. of sth. 解除某人的负担

Articles

A

To work or not to work

——That is the question

![图片](https://mmbiz.qpic.cn/mmbiz_jpg/ibeDpq8cmryBibLyyAwGS6dibgF9ZkeGWqpHwVexYJ5kzfmqyTcLS03pkg6iaLnTGTOZ2CT3fLrR4ibStW5mBS10Feg/640?wx_fmt=jpeg&wxfrom=5&wx_lazy=1&wx_co=1)

Para. 1

There are numerous and reliable ways by which one can measure the impact of employment on student achievement, and we used several in our research. We compared the grades of students who work a great deal with those who work in limited amounts or not at all. We also contrasted workers with non-workers, on different indicators of their commitment to education. Additionally, we followed students over time as they increased or decreased their work hours, and we assessed how different patterns of employment altered school performance and engagement.

要衡量工作经历对学生成就的影响有许多可靠的方法。在我们的研究中,我们采用了几种方法。我们比较了打很多工的学生和打工时间有限或者根本不打工的学生的学习成绩。我们也对比了打工学生和不打工学生在学习投入程度方面的不同指征。另外,我们长期跟踪学生,了解他们在打工时间增加或减少时的表现。而且,我们还评估了不同的打工模式如何改变学习成绩和学习参与度。

`\Para. 2``

We have simplified and classified the data and the results are clear: The stakes are high. A heavy commitment to a part-time job during the academic year, say, working 20 hours per week or more, undermines and significantly interferes with school achievement and commitment. Overall, our study offers proof that students who worked more than 20 hours weekly were not comparable to their classmates. They earned lower grades, spent less time on homework, cut class more often, and cheated more frequently. And they reported lower levels of commitment to school and more modest educational aspirations.

我们把数据加以简化和归类,得出的结论很明确:学生打工付出的代价很大。在学年中花过多精力兼职打工,比如,一周打工20个小时或更长时间,会影响和严重干扰学习成绩和学习投入程度。总的来说,我们的研究证明,每周打工超过20个小时的学生学习成绩不及班上其他同学。他们的分数更低,花在作业上的时间更少,逃课更频繁,作弊更常见。而且据反映,他们的学习投入程度较低,学习志向也不够远大。

Para. 3

On the other hand, we also detected a different pattern. Working for approximately 10 hours per week or less seemingly does not take a consistent toll on school performance. Nevertheless, given that half of all employed seniors, about one-third of all juniors, and about one-fifth of all second-year students work above the 20-hour limit, indications are that a large number of students are at risk of compromising their school careers with their part-time jobs.

但是,我们也发现了另外一种不同的模式。每周打工大约10个小时或更少的时间对学习成绩似乎没有持续的影响。不过,鉴于一半的大四打工学生、约三分之一的大三打工学生以及约五分之一的大二打工学生的打工时间都超过20个小时的上限,由此表明,有很多学生面临因打工而危及学业的风险。

Para. 4

Whereas it is true that more disengaged students are more likely to work long hours to begin with, it appears that working makes a marginal situation worse. In other words, over time, the more students work, the less committed to school they become. When students withdraw from the labor force or cut back on their work hours, however, the results are striking: Their interest in school is generated anew. This then is good news: The negative effects of working on schooling are not permanent.

虽说一开始确实是学习兴趣不大的学生更容易长时间地打工,但是打工看起来会让他们原本勉强的学习状况变得更糟。换言之,随着时间的推移,学生打工时间越长,他们对学习的投入就越少。但是,当学生退出打工队伍或者减少打工时间后,结果也引人注目:他们对学习的兴趣被重新激发起来。所以,这是个好消息,即打工对学习的负面影响并非是永久性的。

Para. 5

We uncovered numerous explanations for the undesirable effects of working on students’ engagement in school. First, owing to their demanding work schedule, working students have less time to devote to school assignments. One common response to this time pressure is that they cut corners by taking easier classes, copying assignments from other students, cutting class, or refusing to do work assigned by their teachers. Over time, as these become established practices, students’ commitment to school is eroded bit by bit.

我们发现了打工对学生学习参与度产生负面影响的很多种原因。首先,由于紧张的打工日程,打工的学生用来完成学校作业的时间就减少了。面临这样的时间压力,打工学生一个普遍的应付办法就是偷懒,比如选择较容易的课程、抄袭其他学生的作业、逃课或者不做老师布置的作业。时间一长,当这些变成习以为常的做法以后,学生对学习的投入也就一点一点地减少。

Para. 6

Second, in order to work 20 hours or more each week, many students must work evenings. Evening work interferes not only with doing homework, but with both sleep and diet. Studies show that working students get less rest and eat less healthy meals than non-working students. Burning the midnight oil makes working teenagers more tired in school. Teachers frequently complain about working students falling asleep in class. Nearly a third of the students in our study said they were frequently too tired from work to do their homework.

第二,为了每周能打工20个小时或更长时间,许多学生必须要在晚上工作。晚上工作不仅影响做作业,而且影响睡眠和饮食。研究表明,与不打工的学生相比,打工学生的休息时间更少,饮食也不够健康。熬夜让打工的青少年在学校时感觉更疲倦。老师们经常抱怨打工学生在课堂上睡觉。在我们的调查中,将近三分之一的学生说,他们经常因打工太累而不做作业。

Para. 7

Third, it appears that the excitement of earning large amounts of spending money makes school seem less rewarding and interesting. Although mind-wandering during school is characteristic of young adults, working students report significantly more of it than non-workers. Indeed, the rush from earning and spending money may be so strong that students who have a history of intensive employment, those who, for example, have been working long hours since their second year, are actually at greater risk than their classmates of dropping out before graduating.

第三,挣到数量可观的零花钱所带来的兴奋感似乎让上学显得没意义和乏味。虽说在学校学习时心不在焉是年轻人的通病,但是据反映,打工的学生比不打工的学生在这方面表现得更为糟糕。事实上,赚钱和花钱带来的快感也许过于强烈,以至于有长时间打工史的学生,比如从大二开始就长时间打工的学生,实际上比其他同学面临更大的辍学风险。

Para. 8

Finally, working long hours can be associated with increased alcohol and drug use. Working students use drugs and alcohol about 33% more often than non-working students. Our long-term study shows that working long hours leads to increased alcohol and drug use for entertainment and recreation among working students. Teenagers with between $200 and $300 of monthly surplus income frequently have more money to spend than their peers, and often they become accustomed to spending their earnings on drugs and alcohol. According to our study, alcohol and drug use, in turn, may be linked to disengagement from school, and therefore, is likely to depress school performance.

最后,长时间打工与饮酒和吸毒的增多有关。打工的学生吸毒和饮酒的概率比不打工的学生要高出大约33%。我们的长期研究显示,长时间打工导致打工的学生更多地饮酒和吸毒,他们借此来娱乐和消遣。每月多收入200至300美元的青少年通常比其他同学有更多的零花钱,而且他们也常常习惯于把自己赚来的钱花在吸毒和饮酒上。我们的研究表明,饮酒和吸毒相应地可能造成学习兴趣减弱,因此很可能导致学习成绩下降。

Para. 9

To summarize, convention has long held that early employment builds character. Our findings indicate that for many students, working 20 hours or more a week can contribute to decreased school performance and increased drug and alcohol use. We know that these findings may seem controversial to many. To our own surprise, our findings make us question how long we have held on to the conventional assumptions about the great value of work in our formative years. It’s time to abandon this appealing myth! We conclude that students should resolve to work no more than 10 hours per week if they want to be successful in school.

总而言之,长期以来的传统观念一直认为,早期的工作经历能锤炼性格。而我们的研究结果表明,对于许多学生而言,每周打工20个小时或更多时间会导致学习成绩的下滑以及吸毒和饮酒的增多。我们知道这些研究结果可能在许多人看来是有争议的。令我们感到惊讶的是,我们的研究结果促使我们质疑,为何长久以来我们一直坚守着那种打工有利于我们成长的传统想法。现在是摒弃这种诱人的错误观念的时候了!我们的结论是:要想学业成功,学生就应该下决心做到每周打工不超过10个小时。

B

Earn as you learn?

图片

Para. 1

As the cost of attending university has soared over the last two decades, a frank and vigorous debate is emerging over who should pay for the cost of higher education. While in some countries students have always been expected to absorb part or even all of their tuition costs through work or borrowing, in other countries the tremendous cost of attending university has been provided by the relevant education authority or by parents. I am proud to be in the small minority of students who “earn as they learn” and absorb the cost of their own university education in spite of the many obstacles.

随着近20年上大学费用的急剧攀升,高等教育费用应该由谁支付的问题引发了坦诚而激烈的争论。在有些国家,人们总是希望学生通过打工或贷款来承担部分或全部的学费,而在另一些国家,上大学的大笔费用一直由有关教育部门或者父母提供。我是少数派学生中的一员,通过“勤工助学”、克服种种困难去承担自己的学费,我为此而感到自豪。

Para. 2

As for the remaining majority, I ask myself, “Is it me, or are students these days just lazy?” “Collectively, they claim that they have no capacity to pay for college. I think it’s more a matter of them simply not wanting to pay or contribute. During college I consistently endured comments from peers with scholarships and loans, and peers who had new cars and expensive apartments, who would ask me, eyes bulging, “You mean your parents didn’t help you at all?” “How did you pay for tuition?” My response was simple: “I worked.” They would look at me blankly, as though I had told them I’d gone to the moon.

至于其他大多数人,我问自己:“是我情况特殊,还是现在的学生就是懒惰呢?”大家都说自己没有支付大学学费的能力。我认为倒不如说是他们不想自己出钱或不愿分担学费。在大学时,我一直忍受着其他同学的评论。他们拿着奖学金和助学贷款,或者开着崭新的汽车、住着昂贵的公寓。他们会瞪大眼睛问我:“你是说你的父母一点资助都不给你吗?”“那你怎么付学费啊?”我的回答很简单:“我打工。”然后他们就会一脸不解地看着我,仿佛我告诉他们我去过月球一样。

Para. 3

As an undergraduate student, I worked for two solid years as a day care provider earning minimum wage. Then I paid for the rest of my education by helping deaf children and working as a tutor in a private school. Looking back, I’m not sure how I managed to cover all the costs of my education. But I did. And I bought every single textbook and pencil myself too.

读本科时,我做了整整两年的日托保育员,拿的是最低工资。后来,我还照顾过失聪儿童,也当过私人学校的助教,以此支付我其余的学费。回顾过去,我都不清楚我是怎么设法付清了我所有的学费的。但是,我做到了。而且,每一本课本、每一支铅笔也都是我自己花钱买的。

Para. 4

Sometimes, I did feel a little sorry for myself, especially when I compared myself to wealthy students. I once asked another student if she worked. “Oh, no!” she said, startled, “I go to school full-time.” She was taking only 13 credit hours, and yet was “too busy” to work. She went on to explain that her parents paid for everything and provided her with every necessity, and many luxuries too!

有时候,我也有点儿为自己感到难过,尤其是当我把自己跟家境富裕的同学相比时。有一次,我问另一个同学她是否打工。“哦,我不打工!”她说,很吃惊的样子,“我是全职学生。”她只上13学分的课,但竟然“没有空”去打工。她接着解释道,她的父母负担她的所有费用,为她提供一切日常所需,还有许多奢侈品!

Para. 5

Truthfully, I was a little envious of her easy life as I took 18 credit hours so that I could graduate within four years. Besides, I was working 25 hours a week so I could pay tuition without future loan debt. And here’s something amazing: I pulled straight A’s and was at the top of my class!

说真的,我有点儿嫉妒她那轻松的生活。因为为了能在四年内毕业,我得上18个学分的课。另外,我每周打工25个小时,这样我才能付清学费,将来不会有贷款债务。而令人难以相信的是:我门门功课都得A,成绩在班里名列前茅!

Para. 6

One day I caught a glimpse of that same girl’s report card at the end of the term. She pulled C’s and a few B’s, low grades, which didn’t surprise me. Having to work hard and multitask forces you to prioritize, a skill she hadn’t learned.

期末的某一天,我瞥见了那位女生的成绩单。她得的大多是C,以及几个B,成绩不佳。对此我并不感到惊讶。要做到努力打工,并且要同时做好几件事,这就迫使你按轻重缓急来安排事情,而这种技能她还没有学会。

Para. 7

I am aware that my work and study choices are not popular and that many influential studies claim to illustrate that working while going to school negatively impacts educational performance. They cite increased dropout rates, lower scores and reduced lifetime earnings. Besides, these studies also give evidence that many students exhaust much of their earnings not on school, but on entertainment and partying while attending school. The studies also show increased abuse of alcohol and drugs, which leads me to question these students’ resolve and commitment to the serious side of life.

我明白,我这种半工半读的做法并不普遍,而且有很多颇有影响的研究声称半工半读会给学习成绩带来负面影响。他们引用的证据包括上升的退学率、下降的成绩以及减少的终身收入。而且,这些研究还提供证据说,在大学期间许多学生并没有把大部分赚来的钱用在学习上,而是用在娱乐和聚会上。这些研究还表明,酗酒和吸毒现象有所增加,这让我质疑这些学生缺乏意志力和责任心,对待生活不够认真。

Para. 8

For me, one of the most authentic benefits of the “earn-as-you-learn” approach is that, upon graduation, I was free from the substantial stress and tension of debt payments that make so many people worried and uneasy. Relieved of this considerable burden, I am convinced that I will be able to make intelligent career choices that will provide me with greater personal satisfaction and ensure better pay over the years to come.

对我来说,“勤工助学”最切实的好处之一就是,毕业时我没有还债的巨大压力和焦虑感,而这种压力和焦虑感让许多人忧心忡忡、忐忑不安。没有了这个大包袱,我确信我能明智地选择能让我获得更大的个人满足感、并保证今后有更称心收入的职业。

Para. 9

The central questions of this debate are: “What is the major purpose of attending university?” and “Who should be responsible for the cost?” For me, the answer has always been that my purpose is to get a formal education with an advanced degree and that the responsibility is my own. I understand that some will disagree with my singular approach to educational funding. But consider this, the path I have chosen has massive educational, financial, and psychological benefits!

争论的核心问题是:“上大学的主要目的是什么?”以及“谁应来负担上大学的费用?”对我而言,回答始终是:我上大学的目的是接受正规的教育、获得高等学位;一切费用应由我自己来承担。我知道有些人会不赞成我的这种不同寻常的教育筹资途径。但是想想看,我所选择的道路能带来教育上、经济上和心理上的巨大好处!

Para. 10

I am particularly proud that, in choosing this path of self-support, I have relieved my parents of the burden of my university education. Furthermore, by taking care of myself, without their assistance, I have given them the satisfaction of knowing that they successfully completed the task of raising me into adulthood.

让我尤其感到自豪的是,由于选择了自我资助,我解除了父母的负担,使他们不必承担我上大学的费用。而且,我不靠父母的帮助,自己照顾自己,这给了他们满足感,因为他们知道他们已经将我成功地培养成人了。

Para. 11

I will readily concede that it’s not always fun. It’s not! But, with acceptance that you will pay your own way, you will grow and mature and learn important skills that will serve you all your life. Want to know a successful path to a happy and sustainable life? Consider joining the ranks of those of us who “earn as they learn”!

我乐于承认,勤工助学并非一直都充满乐趣。这并不好玩!但是,你一旦接受了你要靠自己负担学费的做法,你就会成长、成熟,并学会能让你受益终生的重要技能。你想知道一条通向快乐并能持续发展的人生之路吗?那就考虑加入我们“勤工助学”一族吧!

Unit 7

New Words

WordsPhonetic symbolsChinese
fraud/frɔːd/n. 欺骗;骗子;诡计
corruption/kə’rʌpʃ(ə)n/n. 贪污,腐败;堕落
expel/ɪk’spel; ek-/vt. 驱逐;开除
purchase/‘pɜ:tʃəs/n. 购买;紧握;起重装置;vt. 购买;赢得;vi. 购买东西
layer/‘leɪə/n. 层,层次;膜;[植]压条;放置者,计划者;vt. 把…分层堆放;借助压条法;生根繁殖;将(头发)剪成不同层次;vi. 形成或分成层次;
bribe/braɪb/n. 贿赂;vt. 贿赂,收买;vi. 行贿
rip/rɪp/n. 裂口,裂缝;vt. 撕;锯;vi. 裂开,被撕裂
accurate/ˈækjərət/adj. 精确的
exaggerate/ɪg’zædʒəreɪt; eg-/vt. 使扩大;使增大;vi. 夸大;夸张
principle/‘prɪnsɪp(ə)l/n. 原理,原则;主义,道义;本质,本义;根源,源泉
morality/məˈræləti/n. 道德;品行,美德
extensive/ɪk’stensɪv; ek-/adj. 广泛的;大量的;广阔的
facilitate/fə’sɪlɪteɪt/vt. 促进;帮助;使容易
nerve/nɜːv/n. 神经;勇气;[植] 叶脉;vt. 鼓起勇气
frustrate/frʌ’streɪt; ‘frʌs-/vt. 挫败;阻挠;使感到灰心;vi. 失败;受挫;adj. 挫败的;无益
frustration/frʌ’streɪʃn/n. 挫折
ultimate/‘ʌltɪmət/n. 终极;根本;基本原则;adj. 最终的;极限的;根本的
illegal/ɪ’liːg(ə)l/n. 非法移民,非法劳工;adj. [法] 非法的;违法的;违反规则的
fake/feɪk/n. 假货;骗子;假动作;vt. 捏造;假装…的样子;vi. 假装;做假动作;adj. 伪造的
browse/braʊz/n. 浏览;吃草;嫩草,嫩叶;vt. 浏览;吃草;vi. 浏览;吃草;漫不经心地看商品
locate/lə(ʊ)’keɪt/vt. 位于;查找…的地点;vi. 定位;定居
appropriate/əˈprəʊprɪət;(for v.)əˈprəʊprɪeɪt/vt. 占用,拨出;adj. 适当的;恰当的;合适的
web/web/n. 网;卷筒纸;蹼;织物;圈套;vt. 用网缠住;使中圈套;vi. 形成网
conscious/‘kɒnʃəs/adj. 意识到的;故意的;神志清醒的
cope/kəʊp/n. 长袍;vi. 处理;对付;竞争
plagiarism/‘pleɪdʒərɪz(ə)m/n. 剽窃;剽窃物
software/‘sɒf(t)weə/n. 软件
plagiarize/‘pleɪdʒəraɪz/vt. 剽窃;抄袭;vi. 剽窃;抄袭
launch/lɔːntʃ/n. 发射;发行,投放市场;下水;汽艇;vt. 发射(导弹、火箭等);发起,发动;使…下水;vi. 开始;下水;起飞
campaign/kæm’peɪn/n. 运动;活动;战役;vi. 作战;参加竞选;参加活动
eliminate/ɪ’lɪmɪneɪt/vt. 消除;排除
attach/ə’tætʃ/vt. 使依附;贴上;系上;使依恋;vi. 附加;附属;伴随
attached/ə’tætʃt/adj. 附加的;依恋的,充满爱心的
satisfactory/sætɪs’fækt(ə)rɪ/adj. 满意的;符合要求的;赎罪的
confront/kən’frʌnt/vt. 面对;遭遇;比较
reveal/rɪ’viːl/n. 揭露;暴露;门侧,窗侧;vt. 显示;透露;揭露;泄露
applaud/ə’plɔːd/vt. 赞同;称赞;向…喝彩;vi. 喝彩;鼓掌欢迎
awareness/ə’weənəs/n. 意识,认识;明白,知道;人群对品牌或产品的认知
imply/ɪm’plaɪ/vt. 意味;暗示;隐含
absolute/‘æbsəluːt/n. 绝对;绝对事物;adj. 绝对的;完全的;专制的
induce/ɪn’djuːs/vt. 诱导;引起;引诱;感应
descend/dɪ’send/vt. 下去;沿…向下;vi. 下降;下去;下来;遗传;屈尊
chaos/‘keɪɒs/n. 混沌,混乱
affirmative/ə’fɜːmətɪv/n. 肯定语;赞成的一方;adj. 肯定的;积极的
durable/‘djʊərəb(ə)l/n. 耐用品;adj. 耐用的,持久的
element/‘elɪm(ə)nt/n. 元素;要素;原理;成分;自然环境
lump/lʌmp/n. 块,块状;肿块;瘤;很多;笨人;vt. 混在一起;使成块状;忍耐;笨重地移动;vi. 结块;adj. 成团的;总共的;adv. 很;非常
inhabitant/ɪn’hæbɪt(ə)nt/n. 居民;居住者
encounter/ɪn’kaʊntə; en-/n. 遭遇,偶然碰见;vt. 遭遇,邂逅;遇到;vi. 遭遇;偶然相遇
automatic/ɔːtə’mætɪk/n. 自动机械;自动手枪;adj. 自动的;无意识的;必然的
bump/bʌmp/n. 肿块,隆起物;撞击;vt. 碰,撞;颠簸;vi. 碰撞,撞击;颠簸而行;adv. 突然地,猛烈地
prompt/prɒm(p)t/n. 提示;付款期限;DOS命令:改变DOS系统提示符的风格;vt. 提示;促进;激起;(给演员)提白;adj. 敏捷的,迅速的;立刻的;adv. 准时地
chase/tʃeɪs/n. 追逐;追赶;追击;vt. 追逐;追捕;试图赢得;雕镂;vi. 追逐;追赶;奔跑
reluctant/rɪ’lʌkt(ə)nt/adj. 不情愿的;勉强的;顽抗的
elevator/‘elɪveɪtə/n. 电梯;升降机;升降舵;起卸机
switch/swɪtʃ/n. 开关;转换;鞭子;vt. 转换;用鞭子等抽打;vi. 转换;抽打;换防
beep/biːp/n. 哔哔的声音;警笛声;vt. 嘟嘟响;vi. 嘟嘟响
horn/hɔːn/n. 喇叭,号角;角;vt. 装角于
subway/‘sʌbweɪ/n. 地铁;地道;vi. 乘地铁
herd/hɜːd/n. 兽群,畜群;放牧;vt. 放牧;使成群;vi. 成群,聚在一起
commute/kə’mjuːt/n. 通勤(口语);vt. 减刑;交换;用……交换;使……变成;vi. (搭乘车、船等)通勤;代偿
commuter/kə’mjuːtə(r)/n. 通勤者,经常乘公共车辆往返者;[交] 月季票乘客
elbow/‘elbəʊ/n. 肘部;弯头;扶手;vt. 推挤;用手肘推开
intimidate/ɪn’tɪmɪdeɪt/vt. 恐吓,威胁;胁迫
pregnant/‘pregnənt/adj. 怀孕的;富有意义的
nuisance/‘njuːs(ə)ns/n. 讨厌的人;损害;麻烦事;讨厌的东西
trend/trend/n. 趋势,倾向;走向;vt. 使…趋向;vi. 趋向,伸向
traditional/trə’dɪʃ(ə)n(ə)l/adj. 传统的;惯例的
minor/‘maɪnə/n. 未成年人;小调;辅修科目;vi. 辅修;adj. 未成年的;次要的;较小的;小调的;二流的
ignorant/‘ɪgn(ə)r(ə)nt/adj. 无知的;愚昧的
counsel/‘kaʊns(ə)l/n. 法律顾问;忠告;商议;讨论;决策;vt. 建议;劝告;vi. 商讨;提出忠告
counselor/‘kaʊnslɚ/n. 顾问;法律顾问;参事(=counsellor)
disgraceful/dɪs’greɪsfʊl; -f(ə)l/adj. 不名誉的,可耻的
insult/ɪn’sʌlt/n. 侮辱;凌辱;无礼;vt. 侮辱;辱骂;损害
target/‘tɑːgɪt/n. 目标,指标;(攻击的)对象;靶子;v. 把…作为目标;面向,对准(某群体)
staff/stɑːf/n. 职员;参谋;棒;支撑;vt. 供给人员;给…配备职员;vi. 雇用工作人员;adj. 职员的;行政工作的
hostile/‘hɒstaɪl/n. 敌对;adj. 敌对的,敌方的;怀敌意的
threaten/‘θret(ə)n/vt. 威胁;恐吓;预示;vi. 威胁;可能来临
threatening/‘θretnɪŋ/adj. 危险的;胁迫的;凶兆的
agency/‘eɪdʒ(ə)nsɪ/n. 代理,中介;代理处,经销处
perceive/pə’siːv/vt. 察觉,感觉;理解;认知;vi. 感到,感知;认识到
offensive/ə’fensɪv/n. 攻势;攻击;adj. 攻击的;冒犯的;无礼的;讨厌的
verbal/‘vɜːb(ə)l/n. 动词的非谓语形式;adj. 口头的;言语的;动词的;照字面的
slap/slæp/n. 掴;侮辱;掌击;拍打声;vt. 拍击;侮辱;掌击;掴…的耳光;vi. 掴;拍击;adv. 直接地;猛然地;恰好 curse
complaint/kəm’pleɪnt/n. 抱怨;诉苦;疾病;委屈
punch/pʌn(t)ʃ/n. 冲压机;打洞器;钻孔机;vt. 开洞;以拳重击;vi. 用拳猛击
utility/juːˈtɪlɪtɪ/n. 实用;效用;公共设施;功用;adj. 实用的;通用的;有多种用途的
executive/ɪgˈzekjʊtɪv/n. 总经理;执行委员会;执行者;经理主管人员;adj. 行政的;经营的;执行的,经营管理的
temper/‘tempə/n. 脾气;(钢等)回火;性情;倾向;vt. 使回火;锻炼;调和;使缓和;vi. 回火;调和
norm/nɔːm/n. 标准,规范
random/‘rændəm/n. 随意;adj. [数] 随机的;任意的;胡乱的;adv. 胡乱地
compassionate/kəm’pæʃ(ə)nət/vt. 同情;怜悯;adj. 慈悲的;富于同情心的
volunteer/,vɒlən’tɪə/n. 志愿者;志愿兵;vt. 自愿;vi. 自愿;adj. 志愿的
optimistic/ɒptɪ’mɪstɪk/adj. 乐观的;乐观主义的
prevail/prɪ’veɪl/vi. 盛行,流行;战胜,获胜

Phrases and expressions

  1. turn in 上交
  2. not to mention sth. 更不用说某事了
  3. rip off 盗窃
  4. if this/that is the case 敲…的竹杠
  5. cope with (成功地)对付,处理
  6. launch a campaign 发起一场运动
  7. make a complaint about sth. 除…外全部
  8. the good old days 过去的好日子
  9. be confined to sb./sth. 局限于某人/某事
  10. descend into 陷入…状况
  11. mind one's own business 别管闲事
  12. out of the way 不碍事
  13. crop up (突然)发生,显现
  14. cut in line 插队
  15. give chase 追赶
  16. play a role in (doing) sth. 在某事中起某种作用
  17. correspond with 相联系,相关
  18. cut both ways 对双方具有同等或同样的效果;有利有弊
  19. in a ... fashion 以…方式
  20. go beyond sth. 超出,超过
  21. make a complaint about sth. 因…提出投诉
  22. get lost 滚开,别来烦我
  23. live with 容忍,忍受
  24. show up 显露,显现出来;到达
  25. pass sth. on to sb. 传递(某物)
  26. point to 提到
  27. a variety of sth. 种种

Articles

A

When honesty disappears

图片

Para. 1

“Is anybody truly honest?” As numerous accounts of cheating, lying, and fraud crowd our newspaper pages and TV news, it seems that honesty is a rapidly vanishing value. And the reports indicate that, around the globe, corruption and dishonesty are so widespread that the health and well-being of society are at risk. These reports include stories such as the students who faced criminal charges for selling in advance copies of a university final exam, a student who was expelled when he turned in a term paper with the purchase receipt for it still inside the pages, and a clerk who ran his own Christmas cards through the office postage meter and was found out when he sent one of the cards to the company treasurer! We have all read or heard accounts such as these, not to mention the stories of dishonesty amongst all layers of society as exemplified by consumers who steal and politicians who demand bribes. Travelers ripped off so many towels last year that it cost a major hotel chain $3 million to replace them. Especially troubling are the reports that dishonesty is increasing amongst student populations around the world.

“有真正诚实的人吗?”我们的报纸版面和电视新闻充斥着不计其数的有关欺骗、说谎和诈骗的报道,诚实似乎已经成为正在迅速消失的价值观。而且这些报道表明,全球范围内腐败和不诚实现象蔓延范围之广已经危及到了社会的安康。这些报道中包括诸如此类的故事:学生因考试前贩卖大学期末考题而面临犯罪指控;一名学生因提交买来的、还夹着收据的学期论文而被勒令退学;一名职员用公司的邮资机来邮寄自己的圣诞贺卡,他在寄了一张贺卡给公司的财务主管后被发现!我们都读过或听过类似的事情,更别说社会各层面存在的种种不诚实行为,如偷窃东西的顾和索取贿赂的政客。去年一年,一家大型连锁酒店的大量毛巾被游客偷走,酒店因此花费了300万美元来添置新毛巾。尤其令人担忧的是,世界范围内有关学生不诚实行为的报道越来越多。

Para. 2

But are these reports truly accurate or do they exaggerate the situation? Should we be alarmed by these accounts of falling standards of principles and morality? The assumption is that student dishonesty is more extensive now than it was 20, 50, 100 years ago. If so, what’s behind it? If this is indeed the case, it’s deeply troubling as today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders! It’s possible that the desire to cheat is no greater than in the past. However, the critical importance of having a university degree may have increased the pressure to cheat in academic environments. Undoubtedly, modern technology facilitates the means and opportunities to cheat. The demanding task of writing term papers has always been a source of tense nerves and frustration, if not the ultimate homework nightmare. But now, with Internet access, illegal resources are just a few links away.

不过这些报道确实是真实的还是言过其实了呢?我们该不该因这些关于行为准则和道德水准下降的报道而感到不安呢?人们认定现在学生中的不诚实现象比20年、50年或100年前更为广泛。如果是这样,其背后的原因是什么呢?如果情况确实属实,那就令人十分担心了,因为今天的学生就是未来的领袖!也许现在学生骗人的欲望并不比从前大。然而,由于大学学位至关重要,这可能给学生带来更大的压力,使他们在学术上造假。毫无疑问,现代科技使人更容易获得造假的方法和机会。写学期论文这一艰巨的任务即便不是最可怕的作业,也一直是导致学生神经紧张和沮丧的原因之一。但是现在,网络唾手可得,点击几下鼠标就能找到非法的资源。

Para. 3

Modern students who want to fake a term paper don’t have to browse long. They only have to locate the appropriate website, purchase or order online papers, or even download them for free. One web service offers “highest quality papers at the lowest possible prices”, only $5.95 per page. Busy, cost-conscious students will find other “low-priced” term papers on websites that promise consumers “You will be happy and successful.” Some people worry that the Internet, once hailed as the ultimate learning tool, could become the best aid yet for cheating.

现在的学生如果想要伪造学期论文的话不必在网上浏览太长时间。他们只需要找到合适的网址,然后购买或订购网上论文,或者甚至免费下载论文。一个网络服务站提供“质量最高、价格最低的论文”,每页只需5.95美元。忙碌的、注重节约成本的学生还会找到其他出售“低价”论文的网站,这些网站向顾客许诺“你会既开心又成功。”有些人担心,曾经被奉为最棒的学习工具的互联网会成为作弊者最得力的帮手。

Para. 4

To cope with the growing plague of cheating, universities around the world now use anti-plagiarismsoftware and have very strict cheating and plagiarism policies. If students are caught plagiarizing or cheating in any way, they will be immediately expelled from school. Some college faculty decided to do more than talk about rising student cheating. Professors at a major university launched a campaign to try to eliminate one form of cheating. As 409 students filed out of their Introduction to Psychology exam, they found all but one exit blocked. Test monitors asked each student to produce an ID card with an attached photo. If they provided a satisfactory ID, they were fine. If they provided a satisfactory ID, they were fine. If they had left their ID at home, the officials confronted them and took their picture. The purpose of the campaign was to reveal hired cheaters, students who take tests for other students. The majority of students at the university applauded the new strategy.

为解决作弊泛滥的问题,世界各地的大学现在都在使用反抄袭软件,并且针对作弊和抄袭行为有严厉的惩罚政策。如果学生被抓到以任何方式抄袭或作弊,他们就会立刻被勒令退学。一些大学的教师不再只是谈论日益增多的学生作弊行为,他们决定采取行动。一所重点大学的教授发起一项运动,努力消除一种作弊行为。当409名学生排队离开“心理学入门”考试的考场时,他们发现除了一个出口以外,其他所有的考场出口都被堵上了。考官们要求学生出示带有照片的身份证件。如果他们能够提供令人满意的身份证件,他们就可以离开。如果他们把证件落在家里了,考官们就会当面质问他们,并拍下他们的照片。这项运动的目的就是要揭露那些雇来的作弊者,即替其他学生考试的学生。这所大学的大部分学生都对这个新举措拍手称快。

Para. 5

With awareness of increasing dishonesty in today’s society, it’s sometimes implied that in “the good old days” people were better, happier, and more honest. Were they more honest? Maybe yes, maybe no. Long ago, all American schoolchildren knew the historical story of how Abraham Lincoln walked five miles to return a penny he had overcharged a customer. It’s the kind of story that we think of as myth. But in the case of Lincoln, the story is true.

随着人们意识到当今社会的不诚实行为日益增多,有时这就暗示着在“过去的好时光”里,人们更好、更快乐、更诚实。过去的人更诚实吗?也许是,也许不是。很久以前,所有的美国学童都知道亚伯拉罕•林肯步行5英里去归还他多收顾客的一便士的历史故事。这是那种我们认为是杜撰出来的故事。但是,发生在林肯身上的这个故事的确是真实的。

Para. 6

Like the Lincoln tale, every society has stories stressing the absolute value of honesty. It is these stories that students need to remember when temptation induces them to cheat. Whether discovered or not, dishonesty has an undesirable effect on anyone who practices it. Equally importantly, the ill effects are not confined to the dishonest person alone. Without trust, ordered societies would descend into chaos. It’s important that we do what we say we will do, pay when we say we will, and create words that are our own. Perhaps the most important lesson our schools can teach is that we must trust each other. When honesty disappears, the affirmative, durable bonds of trust are eliminated and we all lose. The future of our society depends on mutual trust.

就像林肯的故事一样,每个社会都有强调诚实的绝对价值的故事。这些故事正是学生在受到作弊的诱惑时需要记住的。不管是否会被发现,不诚实都会给任何一个作弊者带来不利影响。同样重要的是,作弊不仅仅只给作弊者带来负面影响。没有诚信,有序的社会就会陷入混乱。我们承诺要做的事就一定要做,我们承诺要付出的就一定要付出,自己的东西一定要自己写,这些都是很重要的。也许我们的学校要教给学生的最重要的一课就是大家要彼此信任。当诚实消失时,信任这一积极的、持久的纽带就会消失,我们都会迷失。我们社会的未来依赖于我们彼此间的相互信任。

B

图片

Rays of hope in rising rudeness

Para. 1

Rudeness is a common element of modern life. “If you don’t like it, lump it.” Or “mind your own business.” Or “Get out of the way.” This kind of talk and attitude is cropping up more often in public experiences - on the highways, in theater lines, on public transport. Whether it is people smoking in public, or people cutting in line, the examples are almost endless.

粗鲁是现代生活中常见的现象。“你不喜欢,也得忍着”,或者“管好你自己的事”,或者“闪开”。这种粗鲁的语言和态度在公共场合越来越常见——在公路上、在电影院排队的队伍中、在公共交通工具上。不管是有人在公共场所吸烟,还是有人插队,这样的例子几乎数不胜数。

Para. 2

It is generally thought around the world that the inhabitants of large cities are ruder than their fellow citizens from smaller towns or the countryside. Walk down streets of any major capital around the world and you will encounter taxi drivers who believe a “Walk” sign at a walkway is an automatic invitation to bump their cars against pedestrians’ knees. Recently, an angry pedestrian reacted by kicking a cab, prompting the driver to get out and give chase. An hardly a day goes by without a reluctant office worker riding an elevator with someone talking loudly on the cell phone, despite the obvious disturbance to fellow passengers. “If you don’t like it, get out and switch to another elevator,” one cell phone user recently told another passenger who objected to his loud voice. In New York and other cities, quiet walks are a thing of the past. Who is to blame? The cell phone users talking loudly as well as the annoying drivers behind beeping car horns. In some big cities, subway terminals are bulging with herds of commuters, elbowing their way to grab seats, intimidating the old, the young, the disabled and the pregnant. It’s common to hear people on the bus or subway talking on their cellphones very loudly, being a nuisance to those around them.

世界范围内,人们普遍认为大城市的居民比较小城镇和农村的居民更为粗鲁。如果你走在世界上任何一座大都市的街上,你都会遇到那种出租车司机,他们把人行通道上的“行人通行”信号当作他们去撞行人膝盖的自动邀请。最近,一位愤怒的行人用踢出租车的方式回应了这样的粗鲁行为,结果却招致该出租车司机下车追赶他。还有,几乎每天都会发生这样的事:办公室职员不得不和一个用手机大声打电话的人同乘一部电梯,而这个人完全不顾自己已经明显干扰到了电梯里的其他乘客。最近,有个在电梯里打手机的人告诉电梯里反对他大声打电话的乘客说:“如果你不喜欢,出去换乘另一部电梯。”在纽约和其他城市里,安安静静地步行己成为过去的事了。这是谁的错?是那些打手机声音太大的人的错,也是那些令人讨厌的按喇叭的司机的错。在一些大城市里,地铁站里挤满了通勤的上班族。大家互相推搡,争抢座位,吓坏了老人、小孩、残疾人和孕妇。经常听到有人在公共汽车或地铁上非常大声地打电话,着实令周围的人厌烦。

Para. 3

What can we detect about such incidents? Some experts say the trend began decades ago when people became resistant to traditional values and manners. Others blame fast-paced modern lifestyles for contributing to a society that has little time to be polite. This is particularly true in big cities, where people are surrounded by strangers. As a noted psychologist has observed, “In a small town, the person to whom you are rude is more likely to be someone you are going to see again tomorrow.” In the city, if you have a minor conflict, it’s very unlikely you will ever encounter that person again.

从这些事件中我们可以看出什么端倪呢?一些专家说,这种趋势早在几十年前人们抵制传统价值观及传统习俗时就已经开始了。还有人指责快节奏的现代生活方式催生了人们无暇顾及礼貌的社会。在人们身边充满陌生人的大城市里尤其如此。正如一位著名心理学家所说的:“在小城镇里,你对一个人粗鲁,明天你更有可能还会遇到这个人。”在城市里,如果你和某人有个小摩擦,很可能你不会再碰到这个人。

Para. 4

Stress also plays a role in incidents of ignorant behavior. Cindy Kludt, a counselor who works with overworked nurses, says rudeness in hospitals corresponds with the stress of people constantly working under life-and-death circumstances. “If people at the top are rude or uncaring, rudeness moves on downward, affecting everyone’s behavior.”

压力也是造成漠视行为的一个因素。辛迪•克拉特是一位辅导过劳护士的咨询师。她说,医院里的无礼行为与人们总是在生死攸关的环境下工作所面对的压力相关。“如果医院的上层领导粗鲁无礼或不关心员工,粗鲁就会向下层传播,影响每个人的行为。”

Para. 5

Rudeness comes with stress and this is becoming strikingly common. Motorists regularly force bicyclists off the road, and large trucks intimidate autos moving too slowly in front of them. Disgraceful insults are shouted and even bottles and trash are thrown at road crews by upset drivers because lanes are restricted.

人们因为压力而变得粗鲁,这成为非常普遍的现象。机动车司机经常迫使骑自行车的人让路,大货车威逼着他们前面那些开得太慢的汽车。因车道限行,心情烦躁的司机会脱口骂出难听的话,甚至会向养路工人丢掷瓶子和垃圾。

Para. 6

Public officials are often the target of people’s frustration. Staff assistants in public institutions tell of rude, hostile, and sometimes threatening words from people who feel government agencies are rude or mistreating them. As rudeness in public dealings cuts both ways, citizens perceive that public servants habitually ignore them, and they in turn treat the public servants in an offensive fashion.

公共机构的官员常常是人们发泄不满的对象。公共机构的工作人员说,一些人对他们说出粗鲁的、充满敌意的、有时是威胁性的话,因为这些人觉得政府机构对他们粗鲁或者没有善待他们。在公共交往中粗鲁行为是双向的,由于市民感到公务员对他们总是熟视无睹,他们反过来也对公务员咄咄逼人、气势汹汹。

Para. 7

Sometimes, such behavior goes beyond verbal abuse. A worker in a restaurant was slapped and cursed by a customer after she told him no table would be available for two hours. A man in the United States recently won damages for injuries suffered when he made a complaint about a woman for using bad language in her loud conversation. After being told to “get lost”, he was beaten with an umbrella by the woman and punched by her companion. Utility crews in big cities report increasing violence from people who have complaints against the power company. “Our repair crews have a rough time in some apartment houses where a lot of people live with relatively little space,” says a utility company executive. “That makes short tempers, and angry, rude behavior shows up.”

有时候,这种行为不只是言语辱骂。当一名餐厅的员工告知一位顾客两小时之内餐厅无空位时,这位顾客扇她耳光并咒骂她。最近美国一名男子起诉一妇女得到了损害赔偿金。说他在抱怨那个妇女大声喧闹、口吐脏字后遭受到身体伤害。那个妇女对他说“滚开”后,又用雨伞打他,她的同伴也挥拳打他。据大城市里的公共事业工作人员反映:对电力公司有怨气的用户对他们施以暴力的行为越来越多。“有些公寓房里的很多住户不得不住在相对狭小的空间里。我们的维修人员去那里工作时很不容易。”一位公共事业公司的管理人员说道,“空间狭小使住户爱发脾气,愤怒和粗鲁的行为也就随之出现。”

Para. 8

There is disagreement as to whether the situation is improving or not. Many see little hope for a decline in today’s rude behavior. In fact, some see a new pattern emerging in big cities — the “norm of non-involvement” as one psychologist calls it. Others are feeling more hopeful. For example, one international organization, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, inspires people to practice kindness and to pass it on to others! The organization points to a variety of indicators showing kinder and more compassionate citizens. More people are volunteering their time for community projects; also, donations of goods and money to charities have increased. These acts of kindness would have a positive effect on others and would help to reduce the stress in society. Let’s hope this optimistic view prevails and brings a better, brighter world for us all.

这种情况现在是否有所改善,大家对此意见不一。很多人对于如今无礼行为是否会减少不抱什么希望。事实上,有些人看到城市中正在出现一种新的模式,一位心理学家称之为“不介入模式”。另一些人则感到比较乐观。例如,一个叫“随机善举基金会”的国际组织鼓励人们行善,并把友善传递给其他人!该组织指出,有各种迹象表明,更友善和更富同情心的市民大有人在。越来越多的人自愿花时间从事社区项目而且,捐给慈善机构的钱物也有所增加。这些友善的行为会给他人带来积极的影响,并有助于减少社会上的压力。我们希望这样的乐观看法可以流行开来,并给我们所有人带来一个更加美好、更加光明的世界。

Unit 8

New Words

WordsPhonetic symbolsChinese
gender/‘dʒendə/n. 性;社会性别;性交;vt. 生
variable/‘veərɪəb(ə)l/n. [数] 变量;可变物,可变因素;adj. 变量的;可变的;易变的,多变的;变异的,
contradiction/kɒntrə’dɪkʃ(ə)n/n. 矛盾;否认;反驳
intimate/‘ɪntɪmət/n. 知己;至交;vt. 暗示;通知;宣布;adj. 亲密的;私人的;精通的;有性关系的
magnetic/mæg’netɪk/adj. 地磁的;有磁性的;有吸引力的
sensitive/‘sensɪtɪv/n. 敏感的人;有灵异能力的人;adj. 敏感的;感觉的;[仪] 灵敏的;感光的;易受伤害的;易受影响的
deliberate/dɪ’lɪb(ə)rət/vt. 仔细考虑;商议;adj. 故意的;深思熟虑的;从容的
comparison/kəm’pærɪs(ə)n/n. 比较;对照;比喻;比较关系
ritual/‘rɪtʃʊəl/n. 仪式;惯例;礼制;adj. 仪式的;例行的;礼节性的
motion/‘məʊʃ(ə)n/n. 动作;移动;手势;请求;意向;议案;vt. 运动;向…打手势;vi. 运动;打手势
sequence/‘siːkw(ə)ns/n. [数]
deficiency/dɪ’fɪʃ(ə)nsɪ/n. 缺陷,缺点;缺乏;不足的数额
narrative/‘nærətɪv/n. 叙述;故事;讲述;adj. 叙事的,叙述的;叙事体的
retreat/rɪ’triːt/n. 撤退;休息寓所;撤退;vt. 退(棋);使后退;vi. 撤退;退避;向后倾
steer/stɪə/n. 阉牛;vt. 控制,引导;驾驶;vi. 驾驶,掌舵;行驶
steering/‘stɪrɪŋ/n. 操纵;指导;掌舵
intact/ɪn’tækt/adj. 完整的;原封不动的;未受损伤的
mission/‘mɪʃ(ə)n/n. 使命,任务;代表团;布道;vt. 派遣;向……传教
evidence/‘evɪd(ə)ns/n. 证据,证明;迹象;明显;vt. 证明
utter/‘ʌtə/vt. 发出,表达;发射;adj. 完全的;彻底的;无条件的
inevitable/ɪn’evɪtəb(ə)l/adj. 必然的,不可避免的
inevitably/ɪ’nevɪtəblɪ; ɪn’evɪtəblɪ/adv. 不可避免地;必然地
microphone/‘maɪkrəfəʊn/n. 扩音器,麦克风
spill/spɪl/n. 溢出,溅出;溢出量;摔下;小塞子;vt. 使溢出,使流出;使摔下;vi. 溢出,流出;摔下;涌流
elaborate/ɪ’læb(ə)rət/vt. 精心制作;详细阐述;从简单成分合成(复杂有机物);vi. 详细描述;变复杂;adj. 精心制作的;详尽的;煞费苦心的
drama/‘drɑːmə/n. 戏剧,戏剧艺术;剧本;戏剧性事件
rigid/‘rɪdʒɪd/adj. 严格的;僵硬的,死板的;坚硬的;精确的
farewell/feə’wel/n. 告别,辞别;再见;再会;adj. 告别的;int. 别了!(常含有永别或不容易再见面的意思);再会!
abrupt/ə’brʌpt/adj. 生硬的;突然的;唐突的;陡峭的
abruptly/ə’brʌptli/adv. 突然地;唐突地
panic/‘pænɪk/n. 恐慌,惊慌;大恐慌;vt. 使恐慌;vi. 十分惊慌;adj. 恐慌的;没有理由的
splash/splæʃ/n. 飞溅的水;污点;卖弄;vt. 溅,泼;用…使液体飞溅;vi. 溅湿;溅开
scare/skeə/n. 恐慌;惊吓;惊恐;vt. 惊吓;把…吓跑;vi. 受惊;adj. (美)骇人的
scared/skeəd/adj. 害怕的
spontaneous/spɒn’teɪnɪəs/adj. 自发的;自然的;无意识的
spontaneously/spɒn’teɪnɪəslɪ/adv. 自发地;自然地;不由自主地
transparent/træn’spær(ə)nt; trɑːn-; -‘speə-/adj. 透明的;显然的;坦率的;易懂的
relief/rɪ’liːf/n. 救济;减轻,解除;安慰;浮雕
process/prəˈses;(for n.)ˈprəʊses/n. 过程,进行;方法,步骤;作用;程序;推移;vt. 处理;加工;vi. 列队前进;adj. 经过特殊加工(或处理)的
nurture/‘nɜːtʃə/n. 养育;教养;营养物;vt. 养育;鼓励;培植
genetic/dʒɪ’netɪk/adj. 遗传的;基因的;起源的
tendency/‘tend(ə)nsɪ/n. 倾向,趋势;癖好
masculine/‘mæskjʊlɪn/n. 男性;阳性,阳性词;adj. 男性的;阳性的;男子气概的
feminine/‘femɪnɪn/adj. 女性的;妇女(似)的;阴性的;娇柔的
tend/tend/vt. 照料,照管;vi. 趋向,倾向;照料,照顾
restrain/rɪ’streɪn/vt. 抑制,控制;约束;制止
restrained/rɪ’streɪnd/adj. 克制的,受限制的;拘谨的
privilege/ˈprɪvəlɪdʒ/n. 特权;优待;vt. 给予…特权;特免
co-worker/,kəu’wə:kə/n. 同事;合作者
framework/‘freɪmwɜːk/n. 框架,骨架;结构,构架
diverse/daɪ’vɜːs; ‘daɪvɜːs/adj. 不同的;多种多样的;变化多的
subtle/‘sʌt(ə)l/adj. 微妙的;精细的;敏感的;狡猾的;稀薄的
constitute/‘kɒnstɪtjuːt/vt. 组成,构成;建立;任命
forth/fɔːθ/adv. 向前,向外;自…以后
casual/‘kæʒjʊəl; -zj-/n. 便装;临时工人;待命士兵;adj. 随便的;非正式的;临时的;偶然的
casually/‘kæʒjʊəlɪ/adv. 随便地;偶然地;临时地
worship/‘wɝʃɪp/n. 崇拜;礼拜;尊敬;vt. 崇拜;尊敬;爱慕;vi. 拜神;做礼拜
ally/‘ælaɪ/n. 同盟国;伙伴;同盟者;助手;vt. 使联盟;使联合;vi. 联合;结盟
committee/kə’mɪtɪ/n. 委员会
client/‘klaɪənt/n. [经] 客户;顾客;委托人
superficial/,suːpə’fɪʃ(ə)l; ,sjuː-/adj. 表面的;肤浅的 ;表面文章的;外表的;(人)浅薄的
scarcely/‘skeəslɪ/adv. 几乎不,简直不;简直没有
variation/veərɪ’eɪʃ(ə)n/n. 变化;[生物] 变异,变种
visible/ˈvɪzəbl/n. 可见物;进出口贸易中的有形项目;adj. 明显的;看得见的;现有的;可得到的
arbitrary/‘ɑːbɪt(rə)rɪ/adj. [数] 任意的;武断的;专制的
mood/muːd/n. 情绪,语气;心境;气氛
ceremony/‘serɪmənɪ/n. 典礼,仪式;礼节,礼仪;客套,虚礼
complicated/‘kɒmplɪkeɪtɪd/adj. 难懂的,复杂的
keen/kiːn/n. 痛哭,挽歌;adj. 敏锐的,敏捷的;渴望的;强烈的;热心的;锐利的
compatible/kəm’pætɪb(ə)l/adj. 兼容的;能共处的;可并立的
compatibility/kəm,pætɪ’bɪlɪtɪ/n. [计] 兼容性
corresponding/,kɒrɪ’spɒndɪŋ/adj. 相当的,相应的;一致的;通信的
philosophy/fɪ’lɒsəfɪ/n. 哲学;哲理;人生观
boundary/‘baʊnd(ə)rɪ/n. 边界;范围;分界线
poetry/‘pəʊɪtrɪ/n. 诗;诗意,诗情;诗歌艺术
affection/ə’fekʃ(ə)n/n. 喜爱,感情;影响;感染
alliance/ə’laɪəns/n. 联盟,联合;联姻
wit/wɪt/n. 智慧;才智;智力;v. <古>知道;即
ideal/aɪ’dɪəl; aɪ’diːəl/n. 理想;典范;adj. 理想的;完美的;想象的;不切实际的
inner/ɪnə/n. 内部;adj. 内部的;内心的;精神的
loyalty/‘lɒɪəltɪ/n. 忠诚;忠心;忠实;忠于…感情
enhance/ɪn’hɑːns; -hæns; en-/vt. 提高;加强;增加
integrate/‘ɪntɪgreɪt/n. 一体化;集成体;vt. 使…完整;使…成整体;求…的积分;表示…的总和;vi. 求积分;取消隔离;成为一体;adj. 整合的;完全的
integrated/‘ɪntɪgreɪtɪd/adj. 综合的;完整的;互相协调的
significance/sɪg’nɪfɪk(ə)ns/n. 意义;重要性;意思
vital/‘vaɪt(ə)l/adj. 至关重要的;生死攸关的;有活力的
conversely/‘kɒnvɜːslɪ; kən’vɜːslɪ/adv. 相反地
guarantee/gær(ə)n’tiː/n. 保证;担保;保证人;保证书;抵押品‘’vt. 保证;担保
gratitude/‘grætɪtjuːd/n. 感谢(的心情);感激
extend/ɪk’stend; ek-/vt. 延伸;扩大;推广;伸出;给予;使竭尽全力;对…估价;vi. 延伸;扩大;伸展;使疏开
profound/prə’faʊnd/adj. 深厚的;意义深远的;渊博的
profoundly/prə’faʊndlɪ/adv. 深刻地;深深地;极度地
miracle/‘mɪrək(ə)l/n. 奇迹,奇迹般的人或物;惊人的事例

Phrases and expressions

  1. in...terms 谈及,就…而言,在…方面

  2. in comparison 相比之下,比较起来

  3. make up for 弥补,补偿

  4. at the time 当时

  5. on a mission 执行任务

  6. pull away 开始驶离,开走

  7. in a new/bad/different, etc. light 从新的/不利的/不同的等角度看

  8. look sb. in the eye 正视某人

  9. to sb's relief 使某人感到欣慰的是

  10. be born with sth 生来就有某种疾病/性格等

  11. shower sb with sth =give sb a lot of things 大量给予

  12. a lack if =when there is not enough of sth or none of it 没有, 不足; 缺乏

  13. come into being =start to exist 诞生, 出现; 存在

  14. back and forth going in one direction and the in the opposite direction, and repeating this several times. 来回地

  15. apply to have an effect on or concern a particular person, group, or situation (对…)适用; (对…)有效

  16. a range of a numeber of people or things that are all different, but are all of the same general type 一系列

  17. not so much...as... used to say that one description of sb or sth is less suitable or correct than another 与其说是…不如说是…

  18. debt of gratitude / thanks the fact of being grateful to sb who has helped you 恩情, 人情债

  19. feel / be at home

    1.feel comfortable in a place or with a person 舒适自在, 不拘束;

    1. feel happy or confident about doing or using sth. 驾轻就熟,应用自如

Articles

A

Gender variables

in friendship:

Contradiction or not?

图片

Para. 1

When I think of my good friends, I see them in cinematic terms. The camerawork is entirely different for men and women. The “movie” memories I have of female friends are open and intimate. We are talking, interested in each other in a magnetic sort of way. They look straight into my eyes, sensitive to my feelings, listening to me with deliberate attention. In comparison, memories of male friends are in an entirely different film altogether. An action or adventure movie! Not much in the way of dialog. The ritual of motion, or the sequence of action, makes up for the deficiency of dialog and honest narrative.

想到我的好朋友们,我就会用看电影的眼光看待他们。对男性和女性的拍摄手法是完全不同的。我对女性朋友的“电影式”记忆是开放的、亲密无间的。我们交谈着,像磁铁般互相吸引着。她们直视我的眼睛,她们善解人意,她们用心倾听。相比较而言,我对男性朋友的记忆是完全不同的另一部影片。那是一部动作片或者冒险片!对话不多。习惯性的行动,或者说一系列的动作,弥补了对话及坦诚倾诉方面的不足。

Para. 2

My mind retreats back to my earliest childhood friend, Donald. I was still living in Europe at the time, and near my house was an old German truck left abandoned after the war. No wheels. No windshield. No doors. But the steering wheel was intact. Donald and I continuously “flew” to America in that truck, our “airplane”. Even now, I remember our daily ritual as we flew along, across Europe, across the Atlantic, on a mission of mercy. We were innocent and inseparable, the deep security that comes between best friends. Naturally, not one word of our evident feelings for one another was ever uttered; it was all done in actions.

我回想起我儿时最早的朋友唐纳德。那时候我还住在欧洲,我家房子附近有一辆战后遗弃的德国旧卡车。没有轮子,没有挡风玻璃,没有车门。但是方向盘还完好无损。我和唐纳德一直开着这辆卡车——也就是我们的“飞机”——“飞往”美国。即使到现在,我还记得我们每天飞行的那个套路。我们飞过欧洲,飞越大西洋,去执行救援任务。那时候的我们单纯,形影不离,有着最好的朋友之间才有的那种高度安全感。自然,对于我们彼此间显而易见的感情,我们从未吐露过一个字,一切尽付诸行动。

Para. 3

Each day, as we were flying over the Atlantic, there inevitably came that wonderful moment: “Engine failure!” I’d shout into the microphone, “We’ll have to jump out.” “A-a-a-a-a !” Donald made sounds like a failing engine. Glancing at me, he’d say, “I can’t swim!” “Fear not! I’ll drag you to shore, I’d bravely reply. And, with that, we’d both spill out of the truck onto the dusty street. I swam through the dust. Donald drowned in the dust, coughing, “Sharks!” he cried. But I always saved him. The next day, changing roles, the elaborate drama would repeat. “I can’t swim!” I’d say and Donald would save me. We saved each other from certain death hundreds of times, until finally a day came when my family really did leave for America. Donald and I stood rigid at the train station ready to say farewell. We didn’t know what to say; we couldn’t save each other this time. So, we just cried silently as the train pulled away.

每天,当我们飞翔在大西洋上空时,总是不可避免地会出现那精彩的时刻:“发动机故障!”我总会对着麦克风大叫,“我们必须跳出去。”“啊—啊—啊—啊—啊—!”唐纳德发出像发动机出现故障时的声音。他看了我一眼,说:“我不会游泳啊!”“别怕!我会把你拉上岸的。”我总是勇敢地回答。于是,说完这些后,我们两人都从卡车里扑到满是尘土的街道上。我在尘土中游泳。唐纳德淹没在尘土中,一边咳嗽,一边大叫:“有鲨鱼!”但我总是会把他救上来。第二天,我们交换角色,那精心策划的一幕又重复上演。“我不会游泳啊!”我会喊道,而唐纳德就会来救我。我俩数百次地把对方从必死的境地中救出,直到最终有一天我家真的要去美国了。我和唐纳德在火车站呆呆地站着,准备道别。我们不知道该说些什么,这次我们谁也救不了谁。于是,当火车驶离时,我俩只是默默地流泪。

Para. 4

These days, Jessica is one of my best friends. A recent occurrence made me reexamine and interpret my behavior in a new light. We were swimming at a beach in the Atlantic. The very Atlantic I had “flown” over in my German truck with Donald. We were far from shore when we abruptly turned back. We both thought we detected a shark! Water is not only a good conductor of electricity but of panic as well. We began splashing like crazy people toward the shore. In my panic, I suddenly realized how much I loved my friend Jessica, and what an irreplaceable friend she was. Although I was the faster swimmer, I fell back to protect her. In the end, the “shark” proved to be imaginary. But not my deep emotional feelings for my friend. It felt great back on the beach, a little scared and laughing with the excitement of being alive. We looked into each other’s eyes and Jessica spontaneously said, “I love you!” “Love you too!” I replied.

现在,杰西卡是我最好的朋友之一。最近发生的一件事让我从新的角度重新审视和解释我的行为。当时,我们正在大西洋的一个海滩游泳。就是我曾经和唐纳德坐在德国卡车里“飞越”过的那个大西洋。猛然回头,我们发现我们已经离岸很远了。我俩都认为发现了一条鲨鱼!海水不仅导电性很强,传递恐慌也很快。我们开始发疯似的噼里啪啦地游向海岸。惊恐之余,我突然意识到我有多爱我的朋友杰西卡,而且她是一位多么难以取代的朋友啊。虽然我游得比较快,但是我还是落在后面保护她。最后,所谓的“鲨鱼”证明并不存在。但我对我朋友的深情厚谊却是真真切切的。回到海滩上的感觉真是好极了,我们有点惊魂未定,同时又因逃命成功而激动地大笑。我们互相注视着对方的眼睛,杰西卡脱口而出:“我爱你!”“我也爱你!”我答道。

Para. 5

As I spoke, I realized just how gender-based my communication styles were. With women, I could be open, emotionally honest, and transparent. With male friends, it seemed impossible to express caring feelings no matter how deep the friendship was. I could easily utter “I love you” to my mother, my sisters and girlfriends; yet not once in my life had I been able to look a male friend in the eye and say the same thing. Quite impossible! Was this just me or was every male in the world similarly cursed? Was I emotionally backward or just a “guy”? I was determined to find out!

说这些时,我意识到我的交流方式是多么地因对方的性别不同而不同。和女性朋友在一起,我可以是开放的、真情流露的、直截了当的。但和男性朋友在一起时,不管我们之间的友情有多深,我似乎都无法表达对对方的关爱之情。对我的母亲、姐妹和女朋友,我可以轻松地说出“我爱你”;然而,我有生以来从未能做到看着一位男性朋友的眼睛并说出同样的话。这完全不可能!这样的情况只是发生在我一个人身上,还是说世界上所有的男人都面对着类似的困扰呢?是我情感不发达还是因为我只是个“男人”?我决心找出真相!

Para. 6

Much to my relief, research shows that I am, indeed, a “normal guy”. It seems that men and women have very different emotional and rational processes. Part of it is “nature” and part is “nurture”. We are born with very different genetic tendencies which society encourages as either “masculine” or “feminine”. These differences in behavior and communication styles were made famous by John Gray in his book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. This book and other articles helped me realize it’s OK I am the way that I am. Men do tend to be more restrained with emotional expressions. I learned that I did love all my friends - only the means of expression differs from one gender to the other. What a relief!

让我颇感欣慰的是,研究表明我实际上是一个“正常的男人”。男性和女性似乎有着截然不同的情感和理性处理方式。部分是“先天因素”,部分源自于“后天养成”。我们生来就有极其不同的基因倾向,这种倾向被社会强化为“男子气”或“女性化”。约翰•格雷的书《男人来自火星,女人来自金星》使这些行为和交流风格上的差异变得众所周知。这本书和其他文章使我认识到我那样的做法是正常的。男性确实往往在情感表达方面比较克制。我认识到,我其实爱我所有的朋友——只是表达的方式男女有别而已。这真让我松了一口气!

B

Similarities and differences:

Friendship across cultures

图片

Para. 1

Since I was five years old, I have had the good fortune to travel all over the world. I have had the privilege of living in Europe, Africa and North America and have made many foreign friends there.My family, friends, and co-workers are always very interested and curious and shower me with questions like: How do you begin a friendship in a foreign country? Are they different from us? Do people in those countries value friendship in fact, the framework and value of friendship is universal and comparable around the world. But the way friendship is expressed differs greatly from country to country. The difficulty when strangers from two countries meet is not alack of appreciation for friendship but the assumption of sameness. They do not anticipate the diverse expectations and subtle differences of what constitute friendship, how it comes into being and how it should be expressed. So, who is a friend? How should friends treat each other? That depends on where you are!

从五岁起,我就有幸周游世界各地。我很幸运,曾在欧洲、非洲和北美洲生活过,并且在那里结交了很多外国朋友。我的家人、朋友和同事总是饶有兴趣、充满好奇地向我提出一大堆的问题,例如:在外国你怎么开始一段友谊?外国人跟我们有区别吗?那些国家的人看重友谊吗?其实,友谊的准则和价值在全世界都是普遍存在的,而且是相似的。但是友谊的表达方式则因国家的不同而有着巨大的差别。当来自两个国家的陌生人相遇时,交友的困难不是不珍视友谊,而是想当然地认为对方跟自己一样。他们没有想到的是,在什么是友谊、如何建立友谊、如何表达友谊这些方面,双方有着不同的期待和微妙的差异。因此,谁是朋友?朋友之间该如何相待?这都取决于你身在何处!

Para. 2

In the United States, society is highly mobile and it is quite common for people to move back and forth across the country for a new job, education, or many other reasons. The term friend can be applied casually to a wide range of relationships - to someone you worship with, to a close business associate, to a childhood playmate, or a trusted ally, either man or woman.Theymay be parents of the children’s friends, a neighbor’s guests, members of a committee, or business clients from another town or even another country. For Americans, there are real differences among these relations; a friendship may be superficial, casual, situational or deep and enduring. But a foreign visitor who comes to an American home can scarcely find any variations. For an outsider, who sees only behavior visible on the surface, the differences seem arbitrary if they find any. The mood is relaxed, and there is little ceremony. Most people, old and young, are called by first names and family and friends alike interact freely and speak in a relaxed, casual way.

在美国,社会流动性极高,人们因为新工作、教育或其他许多原因而在国内搬来搬去是司空见惯的事。所以,“朋友”这个称谓可以宽泛地适用于一系列关系——朋友可以是与你一起做礼拜的人,可以是亲密的生意伙伴,可以是儿时的玩伴,也可以是可依赖的盟友。朋友可以是男的,也可以是女的。他们可以是孩子朋友的家长、邻居家的客人、某个委员会的委员,或者来自另一个城镇、甚至另一个国家的生意上的客户。对美国人而言,这些关系是有着真正的区别的;友谊可以是浅浅的、泛泛的、应景的,也可以是深厚而长久的。但是,一个到美国家庭做客的外国人几乎看不出其中的任何差别。对一个外来人而言,他们只看到表面的表现。即使他们发现其中有任何差别,他们也觉得这种差别似乎并非美国人有意为之。朋友之间气氛很轻松,也不太讲究礼数。不管老少,多数人都直呼其名。而且家人和朋友们都自由地交流,轻松随意地谈话。

Para. 3

Comparatively, friendship in other countries seems more complicated. In France, as in many other European countries, friends generally are of the same sex. Many French people doubt the possibility of cross-gender friendships. For the French, friendship is a one-to-one relationship that demands a keen awareness of the other person’s personality and specialized interests. The special relationship of friendship is based on what the French value most - on the mind, on compatibility of outlook, on a corresponding appreciation of artistic expression, on a love of fine foods, on philosophy, or on the enjoyment of sports. French friendships are private relationships with distinct boundaries. A man may play chess with one friend or discuss poetry with another for 30 years without learning about either of his friends’ personal lives or families.

相比之下,在其他国家,友谊似乎更为复杂。在法国,如同在许多其他欧洲国家一样,朋友一般是同性的。许多法国人都对异性之间的友谊持怀疑态度。对法国人而言,友谊是一种一对一的关系,需要十分了解对方的个性和特殊兴趣。友谊作为一种特殊关系,是基于法国人最为重视的一些方面,即拥有共同的思想、一致的世界观、对艺术表现的共同欣赏、对美食的喜爱、相同的人生哲学或者对体育的喜爱。法国人的友谊是带有明确界限的一种私人关系。一个人可30 年来与一位朋友下棋或者与另一位朋友讨论诗歌,但他可能对这两位朋友的私生活或家庭情况一无所知。

Para. 4

In Germany, friendship is much more a matter of feeling and affection. Youngboys and girls form deeply sensitive alliances, walk and talk together - not so much to polish their wits as to share their hopes, fears, and ideals, and tojoin in a kind of mutual discovery of each other’s own inner life.Within the family, the closest relationship over a lifetime is between brothers and sisters.German men and women find in their closest friends among the same sex theloyalty of a brother or the devotion of a sister.

在德国,友谊更多的是一种感觉和喜爱。年轻男孩和女孩结成灵犀相通的盟友,一起漫步、交谈,其目的与其说是为了变得更有智慧,不如说是为了分享他们的希望、忧虑和理想,以及为了共同参与对彼此内心世界的挖掘。在家庭中,一生中最亲密的关系是兄弟姐妹之间的关系。德国男性和女性在他们最亲密的同性朋友身上可以找到兄弟般的忠诚或者姐妹般的挚爱。

Para. 5

English friendships follow a still different pattern. Their basis is shared activity. They may share literary interests, serve on a committee, enjoy sports together or share a mutual love of walking. Close English friendships may be of the same sex or of mixed gender; friends may be found in two people, two couples or even a small group. English friendships are made outside the family but can often be enhanced by becoming an integrated part of a family’s social life.

英国人的友谊则又是另一种模式。英国人友谊的基础是共同参与活动。他们或许拥有共同的文学爱好、在一个委员会共事、一起享受体育活动或都喜欢散步。英国人之间的亲密友谊可以建立在同性之间,也可以是异性之间;朋友关系可以建立在两个人、两对夫妻甚至是一小群人之间。英国人的友谊是在家庭以外形成的,但是往往因其成为家庭社交生活的组成部分而得到进一步发展。

Para. 6

What, then, is friendship and what is its significance? To summarize, it’s a vital human quality that can bind people together for life. And unlike family, it involves freedom of choice. A friend is someone you choose and who chooses you. My friends are quite different from each other. Some are mutual friends. Conversely, others don’t even like each other! That is the odd thing about friendship. Just because I like two people does not guarantee that they will like each other. However, I owe them all a debt of gratitude. Whatever the continent or country, people have extended the hand of friendship and welcomed me into their lives. By opening the doors of friendship to me, they occupy a special place in my heart. They have profoundly enriched my life experience, because wherever I am, when I’m with friends, I feel at home. Themiracle of friendship is the same. It just takes time to understand the many different ways that friendship is expressed around the world.

那么,什么是友谊?友谊的意义何在?概括而言,友谊是人类的一个重要品质,它能使人们一生紧密相连。而且,和家庭不同的是,友谊具有选择的自由。朋友就是你选择了他、他也选择了你。我的朋友们各不相同。他们中有些彼此也是朋友。另一些则相反,他们甚至互不喜欢!这就是友谊的奇怪之处。仅仅因为我喜欢两个人并不能保证这两个人也彼此喜欢。不过,我对他们都心怀感激。无论在哪个大陆、哪个国家,人们都伸出友谊之手,欢迎我走进他们的生活。通过向我打开友谊之门,他们在我的心中占据着一个特殊的位置。他们极大地丰富了我的生活经历,因为无论我在哪里,只要跟朋友们在一起,我就感到舒适自在。友谊的奇妙之处是一样的。只是人们需要时间去理解世界各地表达友谊的许多不同方式。