第一篇:综合教程6课文翻译Unit6-9
Lesson6 Being There6.游过某地
旅行好比通奸:一个人总是怀着对自己国家不忠的企图,就算是只想象一下旅游这件事就不可避免地对你所住的地方产生不满意。人的身体里总有着一种向外跑的倾向。我们的这种到处跑的嗜好使我们变得像两个偷情的人一般:期待圆房。
只有在旅行过程中,我们才能体验到岁月的魅力。在国内,至少对美国人是这样,任何东西都必须是年轻的、新颖的,但是到了国外,我们却唯独钟情于年代久远的事物。我们想见的是那些历经岁月洗礼却幸存下来的事物。
当旅行时,我们可以放下自己的防卫、紧张,甚至为了逃避目前的忧虑回到从前也无妨,退回到过去而不是继续向前,也可以任自己的情绪随意爆发。
在旅行时,我们仿佛穿上了自己最漂亮的衣服,呈现的是最完美的自我。只有我们的护照还在提醒我们实际上还是普通人。我们到国外去是去见另一个“自我”——那个在飞机上降生的令人激动万分的陌生人。我们将会在欧洲看到在我们的文化中以方便之名(美其名曰为了方便)去掉或删除掉的任何东西,比如宗教、王权、自然之美、异质性和激情。而且我们的脑袋里一根筋地认为其它民族比我们更富于激情。
我们每个人内心深处都有一个伪装的自己,要不是这样的话,我们为什么要戴上黑眼镜,努力在言行上装出和其它地方的当地人一样呢?在家的时候,我们伪装自己,当出国时,我们可以努力成为一直想成为的人。姑且不论最近都在谈到的寻根问题,我们中很多人都已经厌倦了自己的根脉,也许是因为根还没有扎得很深的缘故吧,所以我们旅行是为了不受根脉问题的羁绊,享受充分地自由。
人类变得好奇之时,便是旅行起航之日。17世纪之前,囿于宗教的束缚,传统生活方式的羁绊、金钱和闲暇时间的匮乏,人们的好奇心受到了限制。在种种科学发现的推动下,物质世界的大门被愕然打开了。直到那时,为了寻找非宗教的东西,人们才开始了旅行。当人类开始变得世故,看清自己文化的本质甚至是超越了自己的文化,并养成了对任何东西都感到厌倦的现代能力时,外出旅行就应运而生了。在现代旅行者身上残存着一种类似十字军东征的圣战精神(只不过他们是一种个体的长期的奋战)——一种离开本国,和自己精神中某种隐晦的东西进行战斗的冲动。
当然,人们之所以旅行,最常见的原因之一是仅仅为了逃避。弗洛伊德说旅行是为了逃避父亲和家庭,我们可能还要加上一点——逃避我们熟悉的东西。我们总是不时会出现要放弃目前生活的这样一种想法,或者至少是暂时的远离。
旅行时,我们是在休假(拉丁语中休假vacation来源于词根vac,表示空的)——是空的,等着被填满的,一些旅行者疯狂的购物实际上只是购买一种全新生活的尝试,逃到一个陌生的地方也只是产生一种奢侈的解脱感,一种和陌生之地之间不负责任的、随意联想的情感。在陌生之地,你是一个看客,没有任何东西可以撼动你。
当我们在生机盎然的夏季旅行时,我们见到的就只是夏季型的人,不会见到他们在悲伤的秋天,漫长、黑暗的冬天和令人痛苦的春天的神情。我们游历过得地方都被太阳镀上了一层金边。鲜花和树木就像敬献给历史的花束一般。
至于语言,能够离开自己的语言,离开挂在我们嘴边的那些陈辞滥调是一件多么令人高兴的事情。在另一种语言中,各式各样的事物听上去是更舒服了。就像我们的耳朵被彻底地清洗过了一般,只要我们对他国语言不甚了解,任何其他语言听上去都像诗歌般动听。
因为我们旅行的原因太多了(有一些还自相矛盾),游记便成为了一个箱子,记游记的人把所有东西都往里面塞。最有趣的是,游记是可以拿来持续品尝的,特别是对于怀旧情结的表达。旅行就像孩子们玩的游戏,过去我们是在房子里玩,现在我们是在不同的国家玩。游记刻画的是一个悲剧性的弧线:以一个冉冉上升的灵魂作为起点,却以一个垂死灵魂的陨落作为终点。最早的旅行者们旅行看到的是令人惊奇的事物,赞叹的是世界的多样性,但是近期的旅行者则像坐在垂死文化边缘的参观者;早期旅行者在见到异域之地时,第一眼便会爱上它们,但是现在我们只知道在看最后一眼时才会产生爱慕之情,在它垂死之际才会想要去亲吻它,吸入它吐出的最后一口气。在一些古代社会中,曾经有这样的习俗:儿子吸入父亲的最后一口气,因为包含了父亲即将离开的灵魂,今天的旅行者所做的,也大抵如此吧。游记已经变成了现代人悼念过去的一种典型的现代事物。我们像保险估价师评估损害一样奔走各处旅行着。在国内,我们激进地反对任何形式的具有民族特性的东西,而到了国外却崇拜它们。,具有讽刺意味的是,美国需要欧洲胜过欧洲需要美国。对于法国人来说,巴黎只是一个居住的地方,而对于美国人来说,巴黎是梦想起飞的地方。
Evelyn Waugh在1946年写道:“在不久的将来,我期望不会看到太多的有关游记的书籍”。因为他看到世界正在向“单一文化”转变,某一地方带给人的特殊感觉正在变成各个地方给我们的感觉都是相同的。
Waugh没有预测到的是,游记类书籍也会像小说和诗歌一样发生改变,因为文化的每一次小小的变动都会产生某一独特的文学形式。我们旅行的原因是多种多样的,Waugh低估了这一点。
总是会有这样的旅行者,他们旅行是问了寻找最坏的东西,为他们的焦虑和绝望找到辩解的理由,把各式标签贴在他们幻灭的理想之上,就像过去贴在皮箱之上的标签一样。为什么Paul Theroux要去南美洲,那个他很显然厌恶的地方?Shiva Naipaul 最最害怕的在非洲得到了证实,正如他哥哥最害怕的在亚洲得到了证实一样。作为一种自我惩罚,Graham Greene花了4个月的时间游历利比亚丛林。
甚至废墟也发生了改变。我们今天有的是只是“变成废墟”的地方,再也不复经典的古代遗迹。也有旅行者对此持一种积极的快乐的心态,因为他们本身就喜欢糟糕的东西。对于他们来说,糟糕在当今社会对应的就是“异乎寻常”,糟糕就是一种另类的崇高,一种抢夺所带来的狂喜和忘形。
随着其它国家呈现的“异乎寻常”的景象的减少,游记作者不得不在他们自己身上找寻这种“异乎寻常”和独特性。人这种向外跑的倾向变成了向内跑,现代的游记的书籍是缺乏这种独特性的,而经典的游记书中是有的。在《卡尔斯旅行》一书中,Philip Glazebrook游历了几个土耳其不吸引人的村庄似乎仅仅是为了说明自己曾经到那一游,可谓讽刺至极。(讽刺是当代旅行者的惯用伎俩)。像Glazebrook这样经验丰富的旅行者,他所寻找的东西中,其中之一就是一个能显著的突出他自己的地方。
也许在未来我们应该像James Holman那样去旅行,Holman在眼睛失明后被迫从英国海军退役,于1819年开始周游世界。大部分时间他是独自一人旅行的,既不说任何外国语言,也只使用公共的交通工具,他却旅游岛了远至西伯利亚的地方,回国后就他所经历的写成并发表了厚厚的几卷本。他几乎没有感觉,他说,因为眼睛失明,任何东西他都错过了。(他在某一时间碰到了一个聋子,他们结伴同游了)。
因为Holman看不见,人们通常会邀请他用手来捏一些东西,作为他们感知事物的一种方式----而这也是今天的旅行者不得不做的。今天的旅行者要“捏捏”他们所游览过的地方,直到这些地方能产出一些东西来,或任何东西。
Unite7做黑人胜过做女人
成为第一个在国会立足的黑人女性使我变成某种现象人物。国会中还有9个黑人和另外10位女性。我是第一个同时克服了两种阻碍(黑人,女人)的人。在这两种阻碍下,作为一个黑人的阻碍要大大低于作一个女人。
如果我说作为一个黑人的阻力远远大于作为一个女人,或许没有人会质疑我。为什么?因为“我们都知道”在美国存在对黑人的偏见。对女性存在偏见这样的想法在大多数男性看来——恐怕也包括大部分女性——是非常奇怪的。
许多年来对黑人的偏见对于大多数美国白人是隐形的。当黑人最终开始“关注”这个问题的时候,(发起了)入座运动、罢乘运动和自由骑车运动。美国人(对此)十分怀疑。“谁?我们?”白人用受伤的语调问。“我们歧视(黑人呢)?”(于是形成了)一个对美国白人长时间的、阵痛的再教育。(这个教育)花了白人许多年时间——包括那些自认为是自由主义者——去探索和根除他们已经作出的种族主义者的态度。
那么根除对女性的偏见有多难呢?我相信这是一个长时间的争斗。部分问题在于美国女性大多数被洗脑和适应了他们和黑人一样作为二等公民的角色。
让我解释一下。我从政超过20载。所有时间但尤其是最后六年,我做了如下工作:能影响竞选成败的所有的无聊的细节工作,这是大部分从政女性不可避免的命运。男性收获了胜利果实。
还是女性,大约有300万自愿者,在美国的政治世界中从事这样的工作。其中优秀者有望获得成为地区或者全国(竞选)副主席的荣耀。这个象征性的位置是一个女性多年忠心地(为竞选)做着邮政工作(回信之类)和组织卡牌聚会的奖赏。这样的一份工作,女性免费获得各州之间的旅行和时而的国家级会议。(会议上)女性也被认为是跟着他的男性上司进行投票。
在1963年,我尝试突破女性固有的角色,(于是)代表Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant(贫民窟)参加了纽约州议会竞选,反对声十分强烈。自从竞选开始,因为我的性别,我面对毫无掩饰的敌意。
不过四年后,当我竞选国会,性别成了最主要的问题。我所在的党内,也曾举行过秘密会议商讨如何阻止我。
我的对手,著名的民权领袖James Farmer试图塑造一个充满男性魅力的黑人形象。他的广播车在邻里间宣传,车上满是带着非洲式头发、穿着短袖套头衫和带着小胡子的年轻男性。当电视台那群人无视我的时候,他们也没意识到一个重要的数据,我和我的竞选经理Wesley MacD知道这个数。在我的选区,注册投票的女性是男性的2.5倍。而女性多数在学生家长和教师联谊会(PTAs)、教会、牌友和其他一些社会服务性组织中。我去找她们并且请求她们的帮助。Farmer先生一点都不知道是什么打败了他。当一个聪明的女大学毕业生开始找工作的时候,为什么第一个问题总是:“你会打字吗?”藏在这个问题背后的是历史的偏见。为什么女性总被认为是该做秘书而不是领导者?被认为是图书管理员和老师而不是医生和律师?因为女性被认为是不同的、低等的。快乐的家庭主妇和(对生活)满足的黑人的形象都是因为偏见。女性甚至没达到黑人表面上的水平(没黑人好)。最高法院中没有女性一席。内阁中曾有两位女性,但是现在一个没有。大使地位级别的女性有两位。女性“支配”着低收入(档次),做着无聊的、没有奖金的、没有前途的工作,即使她们升到一个理想的职位,同样的工作,她们的薪水也常常少于男性。
如果这都不是歧视,那么你们怎么这种现象呢?
几年前,我和一位政治领袖谈论一个充满前途的年轻女候选人,“为什么投入那么时间和精力来捧起她?”他问我。“你知道,他只能退出竞选然后结婚生子,若我们没让他准备
好参加市长竞选。”
大量的人对我抱有相同的看法。当我试图更进一步时,有许多人建议我回去教书,做回女性的本职工作,把政治留给男人。我热爱教书,并且准备好回去,只要我被说服说是这个国家不再需要一位女性的贡献。
不过在这种情况发生前——至少我们都知道今明几年是不会的——我们需要的是更多的女性参政。因为我们能做出十分特别的贡献。我希望我成功的事例能说服其他女性参政——不仅仅是一些邮政工作,管管办公室。
女性可以给政府带来共鸣,容忍,远见,耐心,坚韧这些天生就有的,也是在男性压迫之下不得不发展的品质。一国女性的生存状况塑造了这个国家的道德,宗教和政治。目前,我们国家需要女性的理想主义和决心,或者在其他地方更多地参与政治中来。
Unite 8Lesson OneHold Fast and Let Go
参考译文:两条生活的真理
抓紧,放松:明白了这对矛盾,你就踏进了智慧的大门
亚力山大.M·欣德勒
[1]生活的秘诀在于懂得何时抓紧,何时放松。因为人生就是一对矛盾:它既令我们抓紧人生的多种赐予,同时又要我们到头来把这些赐予放弃。老一辈犹太学者是这样说的:“一个人握紧拳头来到这个世界,但他却是松开手掌离开这个世界的。”
[2]毫无疑问,我们应该牢牢抓住生命,因为它奇妙,它有一种在上帝创造的世界里无孔不入,无处不在的美。我们大家都知道这一点。可我们却常常是在回首往事想起它时,才能认识这一真理。此时我们会突然发觉它已不复存在了。
[3]我们能记起已经凋谢时的美、已经消逝的爱。可是,我们更痛苦的回忆是,我们没有看见顶峰时的美,没有在别人以爱对我之时也爱回报。
[4]最近一次经历又使我领悟到了这个真理。一场剧烈的心脏病发作后,我被送进医院,接受了几天精心护理。医院可不是一个使人愉快的地方。
[5]一天上午,我得加做另外几项检查。我要用的医疗器械安装在医院另一段的大楼里。所以我只有坐轮椅穿过院子才能到达那里。
[6]当我们走出病房时,阳关正照在我身上。就我实际的经历而言,当时也没有什么别的。只不过就是阳关。而这时的阳光是多么美丽、多么温暖、多么 耀眼、多么辉煌!
[7]我打量着别人是否也在欣赏着这太阳的金色光芒。可是,人人都来去匆匆,大多数人的目光只盯在地上。这时我想到自己过去又何尝不是往往对每天的壮观景象视而不见,一头埋在细小的,有时甚至是卑鄙、自私的事务中。而对日常的奇观麻木不仁呢?
[8]从这次经历所获得的顿悟确如经历本身一样的平凡。生命的赐予是宝贵的,可惜我们对它们太掉以轻心了。
[9]这就是人生向我们提出的矛盾要求的第一个方面:不要因为太忙就忽视了生活中令人惊奇、令人敬畏的东西。每天黎明开始就要恭谨从事。抓住每个小时,捉住宝贵的每一分钟。
[10]紧紧抓住生活——可不要紧得使你不能松手。这就是生活的另一面——矛盾的另一方:我们必须接受损失,学会放松。
[11]这并不是容易学到手的一课。特别是当我们年轻时,认为世界是由我们掌握的。只要我们自己满腔热情,全力以赴地去追求,不管什么东西就能够——不,一定会...——得到。但是,随着生活继续前进,我们不断地面临各种现实,慢慢地、但也是肯定地使我们明白了
第二条真理。
[12]在生命的每个阶段上,我们都要蒙受损失——但也是在这个过程中得到成长。我们只有在脱离娘胎、失去它的庇护时,才能开始独立生活。我们要进各级学校、继而告别父母,告别童年的家。我们要结婚生育、继而送走子女。我们要经受父母、配偶丧亡的痛苦。我们
要面临体力或快或慢的逐渐消退。最终正如松手与握拳的比喻那样:我们自己也得走向不可抗拒的死亡,可以说失去原有的自身,失去我们拥有的或梦想过的一切。
[13]但是,为什么我们甘愿顺从于这些生活的矛盾需求呢?既然美转眼就会消逝,那为什么我们还要去创造那些美的东西呢?既然我们所爱的终归要被夺走,为什么我们还要倾心相爱呢?
[14]为了要解决这个矛盾,我们必须寻找一个更广阔的视角,透过永恒的窗口来观看我们的生命。做到了这一点,我们会发觉,虽然我们的生命是有限的,但是我们在地球上的行为却在编织着一个没有时间限制的图案。
[15]生命决不只是存在。它是变动不止的,无情地 流逝不息的。父母的生命在我们身上延续,而我们的生命又将在我们的子女身上延续。我们建立的习俗制度会持续下去。而我们的生命就活在其中。我们创造的美好的东西不会因为我们的死亡 而黯淡无光。我们的肉体会消亡,我们的双手也会枯萎,但它们在真善美中所创造的一切将在日后长存!
[16]不要为了聚集那些只会化成尘土、化作灰烬的东西耗尽你的精力、你的生命。与求追求物质不如追求理想,因为只有理想才能使生命有意义,才有长存的价值。
[17]一所房屋加上爱心,你就有了一个家;一个城市加上正直守法,你就有了一个社区。在一对红砖上加上真理,你就有了一所学校;哪怕是最卑微简陋的建筑,只要有宗教,你就有了一所圣殿;把公正加在长期的人生努力奋斗中,你就有了文明教养。把这一切聚合起来,加以提高,使之超越于现存的缺点,还要有人类得到拯救的憧憬,永远无求无争,那么你将会有一个闪耀着希望的绚丽光彩的未来。
Unit9 How to grew old
题目虽是这么说,我可是要讨论“如何不老去”的话题。在我这岁数,这可是很重要的问题。首要建议就是先考察一下你的祖先。虽然我父母过世较早,但其他的前辈还好。只有外祖父才67岁就英年早逝,其他祖父辈的亲戚都活到了80多岁。据我所知,惟一一个没有长寿的亲戚死于一种当今罕见的疾病——杀头。我有一个太祖母,她认识吉本,活到了92岁,直到最后的时日还在对孩子们严加管教。我的外祖母一共生了10个孩子,1个夭折,还做过多次流产。守寡以后她全身心投入到妇女的高等教育事业中去,是格顿学院的创始人之一,致力于开设女性医学专业。她常常提起在意大利遇到的一位忧郁的老绅士。问他忧郁的原因才知道他刚刚和自己的两个孙子分别。“我的天哪!”我外祖母叫道:“我有72个孙子孙女,若是与他们每分别一次就忧伤一次,我这辈子可真够受的了!”“你真是个特别的母亲啊!”他说。但作为72个孙辈中的一个,我还是很喜欢她这种做法的。外祖母年过八旬之后入睡困难,便养成了每日读书到凌晨3点的习惯。读的是些大众科普书籍,我想她怕是没有时间在意自己变老的现实吧。所以我说这就是永葆青春的秘笈。你要对自己能力所及的事情保有浓厚广泛的兴趣,“活了多少年还能活几年”的问题不过是些数字而已。
至于健康,真没什么可说的,因为我也没怎么生过病。我不过是想吃就吃,想喝就喝,想睡就睡,也从不刻意去做大家认为有益健康的事情,但实际上我想做的事对健康都颇有益处。
老年时期一定要杜绝两种危险的心理倾向。一个就是要避免无休止地沉湎于往昔。活在回忆之中,为逝去的美好时光懊悔,为死去的朋友悲伤,毫无裨益。一个人应该关注未来,关注需要做的事情。这可不简单啊,毕竟一个人的历史是呈上升趋势增长的。常常会想:过去自己是多么活力四射,思维又是多么敏捷锐利。要真是这么回事,你应该记不得这些啊;你要
是记着了,怎么能说自己的脑子不够用了呢?
另一点就是要避免奢求从年轻人身上汲取活力。孩子们大了就想过自己的生活了,如果你还像他们小时候那样照顾他们就会成为他们的负担,除非他们极度麻木。我不是说不应该关心孩子们,而是要关心地审慎宽容,切忌意气用事。在动物界,幼仔一旦能够独立生存父母就不管不问了;可是人类要做到这点就很难了,也许是由于幼年期过长的缘故吧。
在那些对合适的大众活动具有浓厚兴趣的人看来,老年时期可以轻松度过。也正因为如此,从前的长久经历才能升华为智慧,而这种智慧不会让人悲观绝望。告诉已成年的孩子们不要犯错误根本没必要。一来他们不相信你一点错误不犯;二来犯错本身也是学习的重要组成部分嘛。若是你自己没什么个人喜好,要想晚年不至于空虚,就只能一心铺在儿孙身上了。但有一点你一定要清楚,那就是孩子们可能只接受你的零花钱啊手织毛衣啊这类实实在在的东西,可别指望他们会稀罕你在周围团团转哦。
有些老年人恐惧死亡。要是年轻人这样想,那倒情有可原。那些害怕在战争中阵亡的年轻人,想到自己被生活所欺骗,错失了生命中最美好的东西,感到苦涩理所当然。但对于一个尝遍人生酸甜苦辣,实现一生抱负的老人来说,恐惧死亡就有点不光彩了。战胜对死亡的恐惧的最好的方法是――至少对我而言是可行的――逐步的拓宽你的兴趣,并使其不受人际感情的影响,直到自我的围墙慢慢地坍圮,你的生命加快融入到众生之中。一个人应当像一条河流――开始时窄而浅,静静流淌于两岸之中,然后,奔腾冲击于岩石之间,飞流直下于高崖之处。慢慢地,河流越走越宽,河岸逐步退去,水流更显平缓,直到最后,毫无迹象地融入大海,平和地失去了独自的存在。垂暮之人,倘能如此看待生命,也就不会不会惧怕死亡,因为他所关注的事业仍在继续。倘若精力日衰,疲劳日增,想要进入永恒的休息也许就不会那样无法接受了。我希望自己能在工作中死去,我知道他人会继续我未竞的事业。想到我曾经竭尽全力地工作过,我就心满意足了。
第二篇:Unit 5 Fourteen Steps课文翻译综合教程二
Unit 5 Fourteen Steps
Hal Manwaring 1
They say a cat has nine lives,1 and I am inclined to think that possible since I am now living my third life and I’m not even a cat.My first life began on a clear, cold day in November 1934, when I arrived as the sixth of eight children of a farming family.My father died when I was 15, and we had a hard struggle to make a living.As the children grew up, they married, leaving only one sister and myself to support and care for Mother, who became paralyzed in her last years and died while still in her 60s.My sister married soon after, and I followed her example within the year.2
This was when I began to enjoy my first life.I was very happy, in excellent health, and quite a good athlete.My wife and I became the parents of two lovely girls.I had a good job in San Jose and a beautiful home up the peninsula in San Carlos.Life was a pleasant dream.Then the dream ended.I became afflicted with a slowly progressive disease of the motor nerves, affecting first my right arm and leg, and then my other side.Thus began my second life … 3
In spite of my disease I still drove to and from work each day, with the aid of special equipment installed in my car.And I managed to keep my health and optimism, to a degree, because of 14 steps.4
Crazy? Not at all.Our home was a split-level affair with 14 steps leading up from the garage to the kitchen door.Those steps were a gauge of life.They were my yardstick, my challenge to continue living.I felt that if the day arrived when I was unable to lift one foot up one step and then drag the other painfully after it — repeating the process 14 times until, utterly spent, I would be through — I could then admit defeat and lie down and die.2 So I kept on working, kept on climbing those steps.And time passed.The girls went to college and were happily married, and my wife and I were alone in our beautiful home with the 14 steps.5
You might think that here walked a man of courage and strength.Not so.Here hobbled a bitterly disillusioned cripple, a man who held on to his sanity and his wife and his home and his job because of 14 miserable steps leading up to the back door from his garage.3 As I became older, I became more disillusioned and frustrated.6
Then on a dark night in August, 1971, I began my third life.It was raining when I started home that night;gusty winds and slashing rain beat down on the car as I drove slowly down one of the less-traveled roads.4 Suddenly the steering wheel jerked in my hands and the car swerved violently to the right.In the same instant I heard the dreaded bang of a blowout.I fought the car to stop on the rain-slick
shoulder of the road and sat there as the enormity of the situation swept over me.5 It was impossible for me to change that tire!Utterly impossible!A thought that a passing motorist might stop was dismissed at once.Why should anyone? I knew I wouldn’t!Then I remembered that a short distance up a little side road was a house.I started the engine and thumped slowly along, keeping well over on the shoulder until I came to the dirt road, where I turned in — thankfully.Lighted windows welcomed me to the house and I pulled into the driveway and honked the horn.7
The door opened and a little girl stood there, peering at me.I rolled down the window and called out that I had a flat tire and needed someone to change it for me because I had a crutch and couldn’t do it myself.She went into the house and a moment later came out bundled in raincoat and hat, followed by a man who called a cheerful greeting.I sat there comfortable and dry, and felt a bit sorry for the man and the little girl working so hard in the storm.Well, I would pay them for it.The rain seemed to be slackening a bit now, and I rolled down the window all the way to watch.It seemed to me that they were awfully slow and I was beginning to become impatient.I heard the clank of metal from the back of the car and the little girl’s voice came clearly to me.“Here’s the jack-handle, Grandpa.” She was answered by the murmur of the man’s lower voice and the slow tilting of the car as it was jacked up.6 There followed a long interval of noises, jolts and low conversation from the back of the car, but finally it was done.I felt the car bump as the jack was removed, and I heard the slam of the truck lid, and then they were standing at my car window.8
He was an old man, stooped and frail-looking under his slicker.The little girl was about eight or ten, I judged, with a merry face and a wide smile as she looked up at me.He said, “This is a bad night for car trouble, but you’re all set now.” “Thanks,” I said.“How much do I owe you?” He shook his head.“Nothing.Cynthia told me you were a cripple — on crutches.Glad to be of help.I know you’d do the same for me.There’s no charge, friend.” I held out a five-dollar bill.“No!I like to pay my way.” He made no effort to take it and the little girl stepped closer to the window and said quietly, “Grandpa can’t see it.” 9
In the next few frozen seconds the shame and horror of that moment penetrated and I was sick with an intensity I had never felt before.7 A blind man and a child!Fumbling, feeling with cold, wet fingers for bolts and tools in the dark — a darkness that for him would probably never end until death.I don’t remember how long I sat there after they said good night and left me, but it was long enough for me to search deep within myself and find some disturbing traits.I realized that I was filled to
overflowing with self-pity, selfishness, indifference to the needs of others and thoughtlessness.8 I sat there and said a prayer.10
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”9 To me now, months later, this Scriptural admonition is more than just a passage in the Bible.It is a way of life, one that I am trying to follow.It isn’t always easy.Sometimes it is frustrating, sometimes expensive in both time and money, but the value is there.I am trying now not only to climb 14 steps each day, but in my small way to help others.Someday, perhaps, I will change a tire for a blind man in a car — someone as blind as I had been.14级台阶
人们说猫有9条命, 我倾向于认为这是可能的, 因为我现在活的是第三次生命, 而我不是猫。1904年11月的一个晴朗、寒冷的日子, 我开始了我的第一次生命。我成了一个务农家庭8个孩子中的第6个。我15岁时父亲去世, 我们全家都得为生计艰辛奔忙。孩子们长大后, 一个个结婚出嫁, 只剩下我和一个姐姐抚养和照顾妈妈。她晚年时瘫痪, 60多岁就去世了。我姐姐不久就嫁了人, 我也在当年结了婚。
这时我开始享受我的第一次生命。我非常幸福, 非常健康, 而且是一名相当出色的运动员。我们有两个可爱的女儿。我在圣何塞有份满意的工作, 在半岛北部的圣卡洛斯有幢漂亮的房子。生活是称心如意的梦想。好景不长, 美梦中断了。我得了缓慢发展的运动神经病, 先是我的右臂和右腿活动受阻, 而后是左侧。我的第二次生命就此开始……
尽管我有病, 但是借着安装在车里的特殊设备, 我仍然每天开车上下班。我设法保持健康和乐观, 从某种程度来说, 是缘于14级台阶。
在说疯话吧?完全不是。我们的房子是个错层式建筑, 从车库到厨房门有14级台阶。这些台阶是生活的标尺, 是衡量我的标准, 也是我继续生存的挑战。我认为哪一天要是我不能提起一只脚登上一级台阶, 再费劲地拖上另一只脚--如此重复14次直到精疲力竭, 那我就完了--那时我只能承认我失败了, 可以躺下来等死了。因此, 我坚持工作, 坚持爬那14级台阶。时光荏苒, 两个女儿上了大学, 相继幸福地结婚成家, 只剩下我们夫妻俩相濡以沫, 守居在有14级台阶的漂亮家中。
你们或许会想, 在这里行走的是个有勇气和力量的人, 事实并非如此。这里行走的是一个痛苦地失去理想的一瘸一拐的残疾人, 一个因为那从车库通向后门折磨人的14级台阶才保持精神正常、没有失去他的妻子、房子和工作的人。随着年龄增长, 我变得更失望和沮丧。
后来, 1971年8月的一个黑夜, 我开始了我的第三次生命。那天晚上我起程回家时在下雨;我缓慢地沿着一条不经常走的路开着车, 天刮起阵阵劲风, 急剧的雨点直落在车上。突然间, 手中的方向盘跳动起来, 车子猛烈地朝右侧转去。同时, 我听到可怕的轮胎爆裂的砰
声。我费劲地把车停在因雨水而滑溜的路肩上, 在这突如其来的严峻情况下, 我呆坐在车里。我不可能更换轮胎!根本不可能!可能有个过路的车会停下来, 这个念头一闪即逝。人家为什么就该停车呢?我知道我也不会。我想起离开支路不太远有幢房子。我起动了发动机, 车子慢慢摇晃着顺着路肩朝前蠕动到土路上, 谢天谢地, 在那儿我拐了上去。透着灯光的窗户把我迎向房子, 我开上车道, 按了喇叭。
门开了, 一个小女孩站在那儿, 费力地看着我。我摇下车窗, 大声说我的轮胎爆了, 需要有人帮我换掉它, 因为我是个用拐杖的残疾人, 没法自己动手。女孩进了屋, 一会儿又出来, 裹着雨衣, 戴着帽子, 后面跟着一个男人, 他高兴地向我问候。我舒舒服服地坐在车里, 一点没淋湿, 而那男人和小女孩在风雨交加的夜晚这么辛苦地干, 我感到有点儿歉意。反正, 我会给他们钱的。雨像是小点儿了, 我把车窗一直摇下看着车外。我觉得他们干得特别慢, 我开始不耐烦起来。车后传来金属碰撞声和小女孩清晰的说话声。“爷爷, 这是千斤顶把手。”那男人低沉的喃喃声回答了她。千斤顶顶起车子时, 车身慢慢倾斜。随后是好一会儿声响、晃动和从车后传来的低声话语, 但是轮胎终于换完了。移开千斤顶时, 我感觉到车子落地时的颠动;我听到关行李箱盖的声音;而后他们俩站在车窗旁。
那男人年迈, 弯腰曲背, 身穿油布雨衣, 显得身体虚弱。我猜那小女孩大约8岁或10岁, 有一张喜气的脸, 看我时笑容满面。他说, “这种糟糕的晚上车子有麻烦真够呛, 不过现在你没事了。”“谢谢, ”我说。“我该付你多少钱?”他摇摇头。“不要钱。辛西娅告诉我说你是个残疾人--用拐杖的。能帮上忙我很高兴。我知道你也会为我这么做。不要钱, 朋友。”我伸手递出一张5美元的钞票。“不要!我不喜欢欠人家的。”他没有收下钱的意思, 小女孩走近车窗, 轻声说道:“我爷爷看不见。”
在随后的几秒钟里, 我呆若木鸡, 那一片刻的羞耻和恐惧深深刺痛着我, 我有生以来第一次对自己感到那么强烈的厌恶。一个盲人和一个孩子!他们在黑夜里用湿冷的手指在黑暗中摸找和触摸螺栓和工具---对那老人来说, 这种黑暗可能将延续到他的生命结束。我不记得他们说了晚安离去后我在车里呆了多久, 但是足够我深刻反省, 挖找一些令我不安的品性。我意识到我极端自怜、自私、漠视他人的需要和不为别人着想。我呆在车上, 做了个祷告。
“所以无论何事, 你们要别人怎样待你们, 你们就得怎样待别人:这是摩西法律和先知教训的真义。”数个月过后, 如今对我来说, 这来自《圣经》的告诫不仅仅是《圣经》中的一段话, 而且是一种生活方式, 一种我现在要努力遵循的生活方式。这不总是容易的。有时令人沮丧, 有时在时间和金钱上要付出昂贵的代价, 但是有它的价值。我现在不仅每天爬14级台阶, 还尽量给人一些小小的帮助。或许有一天, 我会给一个坐在车里像我一样在心灵上有盲点的人换轮胎。
第三篇:Unit 7 The Chaser课文翻译综合教程三
Unit 7 The Chaser
John Henry Collier 1
Alan Austen, as nervous as a kitten, went up certain dark and creaky stairs in the neighborhood of Pell Street, and peered about for a long time on the dim hallway before he found the name he wanted written obscurely on one of the doors.He pushed open this door, as he had been told to do, and found himself in a tiny room, which contained no furniture but a plain kitchen table, a rocking-chair, and an ordinary chair.On one of the dirty buff-coloured walls were a couple of shelves, containing in all perhaps a dozen bottles and jars.An old man sat in the rocking-chair, reading a newspaper.Alan, without a word, handed him the card he had been given.“Sit down, Mr.Austen,” said the old man very politely.“I am glad to make your acquaintance.”
“Is it true,” asked Alan, “that you have a certain mixture that has … er … quite extraordinary effects?”
“My dear sir,” replied the old man, “my stock in trade is not very large — I don’t deal in laxatives and teething mixtures — but such as it is, it is varied.I think nothing I sell has effects which could be precisely described as ordinary.” 6
“Well, the fact is …” began Alan.“Here, for example,” interrupted the old man, reaching for a bottle from the shelf.“Here is a liquid as colourless as water, almost tasteless, quite imperceptible in coffee, wine, or any other beverage.It is also quite imperceptible to any known method of autopsy.”
“Do you mean it is a poison?” cried Alan, very much horrified.“Call it a glove-cleaner if you like,” said the old man indifferently.“Maybe it will clean gloves.I have never tried.One might call it a life-cleaner.Lives need cleaning sometimes.”
“I want nothing of that sort,” said Alan.“Probably it is just as well,” said the old man.“Do you know the price of this? For one teaspoonful, which is sufficient, I ask five thousand dollars.Never less.Not a penny less.”
“I hope all your mixtures are not as expensive,” said Alan apprehensively.“Oh dear, no,” said the old man.“It would be no good charging that sort of price for a love potion, for example.Young people who need a love potion very seldom have five thousand dollars.Otherwise they would not need a love potion.” 14
“I am glad to hear that,” said Alan.“I look at it like this,” said the old man.“Please a customer with one article, and he will come back when he needs another.Even if it is more costly.He will save up for it, if necessary.”
“So,” said Alan, “you really do sell love potions?”
“If I did not sell love potions,” said the old man, reaching for another bottle, “I should not have mentioned the other matter to you.It is only when one is in a position to oblige that one can afford to be so confidential.“
“And these potions,” said Alan.“They are not just … just … er …”
“Oh, no,” said the old man.“Their effects are permanent, and extend far beyond the mere casual impulse.But they include it.Oh, yes they include it.Bountifully, insistently.Everlastingly.”
“Dear me!” said Alan, attempting a look of scientific detachment.“How very interesting!”
“But consider the spiritual side,” said the old man.22
“I do, indeed,” said Alan.“For indifference,” said the old man, “they substitute devotion.For scorn, adoration.Give one tiny measure of this to the young lady — its flavour is imperceptible in orange juice, soup, or cocktails — and however gay and giddy she is, she will change altogether.She will want nothing but solitude and you.”
“I can hardly believe it,” said Alan.“She is so fond of parties.”
“She will not like them anymore,” said the old man.“She will be afraid of the pretty girls you may meet.”
“She will actually be jealous?” cried Alan in a rapture.“Of me?” 27
“Yes, she will want to be everything to you.” 28
“She is, already.Only she doesn’t care about it.”
“She will, when she has taken this.She will care intensely.You will be her sole interest in life.”
“Wonderful!” cried Alan.31
“She will want to know all you do,” said the old man.“All that has happened to you during the day.Every word of it.She will want to know what you are thinking about, why you smile suddenly, why you are looking sad.”
“That is love!” cried Alan.33
“Yes,” said the old man.“How carefully she will look after you!She will never allow you to be tired, to sit in a draught, to neglect your food.If you are an hour late, she will be terrified.She will think you are killed, or that some siren has caught you.” 34
“I can hardly imagine Diana like that!” cried Alan, overwhelmed with joy.35
“You will not have to use your imagination,” said the old man.“And, by the way, since there are always sirens, if by any chance you should, later on, slip a little, you need not worry.She will forgive you, in the end.She will be terribly hurt, of course, but she will forgive you — in the end.”
“That will not happen,” said Alan fervently.37
“Of course not,” said the old man.“But, if it did, you need not worry.She would never divorce you.Oh, no!And, of course, she will never give you the least, the very least, grounds for —uneasiness.”
“And how much,” said Alan, “is this wonderful mixture?”
“It is not as dear,” said the old man, “as the glove-cleaner, or life-cleaner, as I sometimes call it.No.That is five thousand dollars, never a penny less.One has to be older than you are, to indulge in that sort of thing.One has to save up for it.” 40
“But the love potion?” said Alan.41
“Oh, that,” said the old man, opening the drawer in the kitchen table, and taking out a tiny, rather dirty-looking phial.“That is just a dollar.”
“I can’t tell you how grateful I am,” said Alan, watching him fill it.43
“I like to oblige,” said the old man.“Then customers come back, later in life, when they are better off, and want more expensive things.Here you are.You will find it very effective.”
“Thank you again,” said Alan.“Good-bye.” 45
“Au revoir,” said the man.解酒水
艾伦·奥斯丁,紧张得像只小猫,心里七上八下、忐忑不安的进了裴尔街区的一个楼道,黑乎乎的楼梯咯吱咯吱直响。他在昏暗的平台上停了下来,仔细张望了许久,才看到了那扇门,门上那个模糊不清的名字正是他要找的。
按别人说的,他推开了门,门里面是一间很小的屋子,屋里几乎没什么家具,除了一张餐桌,一把摇椅,还有一把普普通通的椅子。一面脏乎乎的暗黄色的墙上搁着两个架子,架子上陈列着十几个瓶瓶罐罐。一位老人正坐在摇椅上,看着报纸。艾伦一言不发把别人给的那张卡片递给了老人。
“请坐,艾伦先生,”老人礼貌地说。“很高兴认识你。”
“是真的吗?”艾伦问,“你真有那种药吗,有--嗯—很神奇效果的哪种药吗?”
“我亲爱的先生,”老人回答到,“我这儿的货不是很多—泻药、长牙药我可没有—不过,我的东西虽不多,品种可也不少。而且我的这些药,它的药效,严格来说,可没一样可以说是普普通通的。”
“嗯,实际上…….”艾伦开口说。
“像这一瓶,” 老人打断艾伦,指着架子上的一瓶药水说,“这瓶药水跟水一样没颜色,也几乎没有味道,掺在水,葡萄酒,或者其它饮料中很难被察觉。就算是进行尸体解剖,就现在所知的方法来说,要发现也很难。”
“你的意思,它是毒药吗?”艾伦惊恐的喊道。
“你要是愿意,称它手套清除剂也可,”老人漠然回答,“也许它可以清除掉手套,我没试过。或者称它生命清除剂也未尝不可,生命有时也需要清除,人类才能得以净化。”
“这东西我可一点都不想要,”艾伦说。
“不要更好,”老人说,“你可知道这东西的价格?一茶匙的量,也够用了,我卖五千美元,绝对不能少,一分也不能少。”
“你的药不会都这么贵吧,”艾伦忧心忡忡。
“噢,亲爱的,不全这么贵,”老人说,“像这爱情水,如果我开这么个价,那可不是个好标价。买爱情水的年轻人很少有五千美元的,要不,他们也不会需要爱情水了。”
“听起来真是让人高兴,”艾伦说。
“我这么想来着,”老人说,“要是一样东西让顾客满意了,当他需要其它东西时,就会再回来,即便是更贵的货物,只要是有必要,省吃俭用他也会凑足了钱来买的。”
“那,”艾伦说,“你真有爱情水卖?”
“没爱情水,”老人说,“我会跟你罗嗦那些吗。一个人要是没点能耐,别人怎会这么信任他。”
“那这些药水,”艾伦说,“他们不会只是--只是—嗯—”
“哦,不会,”老人说,“药效会持久存在,服了这药水,他的爱情之水将会绵绵不断如滔滔江水,偶尔心头掠过的那爱的小浪花,只会是那其中的沧海一粟,当然这种偶尔的爱的浪花自然也有,哦,是,当然包括在内。但他们会源源不断,持之以恒,经久不衰的。”
“哦,天哪!”艾伦说,竭力摆出一副置身之外的神态,“那真太有趣了!” “你再想想精神方面!”老人说。“好,我会。“艾伦说。
“她对你不会再漠不关心,”老人说,“却是忠心耿耿。也不会再吹毛求疵而是柔情蜜意。年轻的姑娘只要吃过这么一小点儿爱情水---掺在橙汁、汤汁或是鸡尾酒中,丝毫闻不出味道---不管她之前多会寻欢作乐,吃过后,就会像变了个人似的。什么都不会想,什么都不会要,只会想一个人跟你呆着。”
“真让人难以相信,”艾伦说,“她可喜欢呼朋唤友了。”
“以后她不会喜欢了,”老人说,“她会担心,你在聚会上会碰到漂亮姑娘。” “她真会嫉妒吗?”艾伦欣喜若狂,“会为我吗?” “会的,她会希望,对于你来说,她就是你的一切。” “她已经是我的一切了,早就是了,只是她不在乎而已。”
“服了爱情水后,她会在乎的你,会非非常常在乎你的。你将会是她生命中唯一的乐趣。” “太棒了!”艾伦叫道。
“她会想知道你所做的一切,”老人说,“当天你所发生的一切,字字句句都想知道。她会想知道你在想些什么,为什么你突然笑了,为什么你会看上去很伤心。”
“这就是爱情!”艾伦叫道。
“对,是爱情,”老人答,“她对你的照顾将会是那样的无微不至!她绝不会让你累着,绝不会让你在风口坐着,对你的饮食她也丝毫不会有疏忽。如果你迟到半小时,她会惶恐不安,担心你是不是被杀了,是不是被哪个狐狸精给迷住了。”
“真难想像戴安娜会成哪样!”艾伦喜不自禁。
“你不需要发挥你的想象力,”老人说,“另外,还有,因为这世上总是不乏狐媚妖艳的女子,万一你以后稍有放纵,也不用担心,最终她会原谅你的。当然,那是会带给她很大的伤害,但最后她还是会原谅你。”
“不会发生那样的事,”艾伦激动地说。
“当然不会,”老人说,“不过,即便发生了,你也用不着担心。她永远不会背弃你,噢,绝对不会!而且,她也绝对不会给你造成一点,一点点的不快。”
“那要多少钱,”艾伦问,“你这神奇的药水。“
“没那个贵,”老人答,“那个手套清除剂,或者我有时会叫它,生命清除剂。没它贵,那要五千美元,绝不能少给一分钱。能奢侈一下买这种药水的,年龄肯定比你大。得存上点钱才买得起这个。”
“那爱情水呢?”艾伦问。
“哦,这个,”老人答到,一边拉开餐桌抽屉,拿出一个看上去又脏又小的药水瓶,“这只要一美元。”
“真不知道该怎么感谢你,”艾伦,看着老人把药水灌进小瓶,说。
“我非常乐意为你们效劳,”老人回道,“那么,如果你们以后生活宽裕点了,才会再回来购卖一些更贵的东西。拿好了,它的药效非常好,这点你以后会知道的。”
“谢谢你,”艾伦说,“再见。” “Au revoir,(再见)”老人说。
第四篇:综合教程6 unit 1 答案
Unit One: A Class Act
TEXT COMPREHENSION
IV.Explain in your own words the following sentences taken from the text.1.I was extremely excited when I imagined myself in attractive pictures like those of popular actresses in Hollywood.2.I felt so frustrated that I was on the verge of tears when I wondered, as I had done innumerable times, why the unsympathetic teacher would not overlook my clothes even once and see how hard I tried to comply with the school policy and how eager I was to participate in all the activities.LANGUAGE WORK
I.Explain the underlined parts in each sentence in your own words.proper uniforms, knowing how hard it was to obtain clothes. the amount of food, water, petrol or other necessary substances was limited;had become less severe or strict with
2).Every day I would often, alone. hold back;schoolmates
endure the punishment;the embarrassment I had to go through every day
so angry and likely to argue with my teachers in order to protect me
the dress that I liked very much
6).At assembly I didn’t bother to wait for the command but walked slowly and reluctantly to the stage without being asked to do so
for I cheered myself up with the idea;get absorbed in the story of A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and not think about anything else;calm down and get back my self-control
place. said unexpectedly;agreeable;vicious
9).I through the rest of the day the warmth generated by her thoughtfully chosen words. was in high spirits;feeling happier and more confident due to
strong point;instilled in me, and perhaps the whole class, a feeling of pity, sympathy and understanding for someone who was suffering
TRANSLATION
I.Translate the following sentences into English, using the words or phrases given in brackets.1).这家公司是由几名有事业心的年轻人创立的。(enterprising)
The company was started by a couple of enterprising young men.2).那是他唯一一次自己在午夜前睡觉的,因为他实在太累了。(of one’s own accord)
It was the only time when he went to bed of his own accord before midnight, because he was really too tired.3).经过长时间的仔细酝酿,书才得以完成。(meticulous)
Many hours of meticulous preparation have gone into writing the book.4).她从头到脚穿着一身黑。(be attired)
She was attired from head to foot in black.5).为攒我们去度假的钱,我节衣缩食整整一年。(scrimp and save)
I’ve been scrimping and saving all year to pay for our holiday.6).我知道他是好意,但我希望他别来管我们。(well-meaning)
I know he’s well-meaning, but I wish he’d leave us alone.7).当有人指出他犯了错误时,他非常生气。(indignant)
He became very indignant when it was suggested he had made a mistake.8).说了多少次了,安东尼,刀子和叉子要放入中间的抽屉!(umpteen)
I’ve told you for umpteen times, Anthony, knives and forks go in the middle drawer!
9).缝纫恐怕不是我的专长。(forte)
I’m afraid sewing isn’t one of my fortes.10).观众热烈的欢迎使她十分高兴。(buoy)
She was buoyed by the warm reception her audience gave her.II.Translate the following passage into English.参考译文
The foreign students at New York University come from more than 130 countries.Fifty percent are from Asia, especially South Korea, Japan and China.Foreign students are studying in all fourteen schools within the university.These include arts and sciences, law, business and education.Seventy-five percent of the foreign students are in graduate school.About twenty-five percent are in four-year programs that lead to a bachelor’s degree.The cost of attending New York University is different in each of its schools.For example, one year of study at the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service costs about $19,000.Some other schools within NYU cost more.Some cost less.The housing cost is about $9,000 a year.Bachelor’s degree students at NYU can borrow money from financial institutions to help pay for their studies.Foreign students in graduate school at NYU can get teaching or research jobs at the university.They can also get loans from financial institutions.Chinese Translation of Paragraphs
1.二战时,曼彻斯特饱受空袭之苦。成长在那里,意味着岁月艰难、钱财短缺、心情焦虑,也意味着许多家庭都是当铺的常客,包括我家。
2.不过,我的父母最是乐观向上。他们用勤劳、自尊和满屋子的欢笑撑起了这个家。我父亲身体结实,心灵手巧,他那双手几乎无所不能,从不缺木匠和手工活儿。他甚至偶尔还会参加偏 僻街道的拳击比赛,补贴家用。我母亲勤俭节约,把家收拾得干净利落。尽管条件艰苦,但她总能让自己的五个孩子吃得饱饱、穿得整整齐齐、干干净净地上学去。
3.问题是:虽说我的衣服熨得有棱有角,皮鞋擦得铮亮铮亮的,可总有些地方不符合标准校服的要求。尽管母亲缩衣节食为我筹到了大部分装束,但我仍然没能凑齐学校指定的蓝色运动上衣和帽圈。
4.由于战争影响,开始实施配给制度,大部分学校也放宽了对正规校服的要求,因为学校明白能有衣服穿已属不易。然而,我就读的女子学校却严格规定,每位学生必须穿正规的校服。于是那位负责每天集合的副校长就将训斥我视为她的任务来做。
5.尽管我试图去解释我为何没能按规定着装,尽管我也正逐渐向全套校服靠近,我每天依然会被揪出队列,在台上罚站,作为对违反校服规定者的警戒。
6.我每天站在同学面前,只能强忍泪水,不仅羞愧难耐,而且常常只有我一人挨罚。对我的惩罚还扩大到不能上体操课或者我钟爱的每周一次的交谊舞课。我多么希望在这所可怕的学校里,哪怕只有一位老师能睁开双眼看看我能够做什么,而不是不停地告诉我不能做什么啊!
7.不过,12岁的我在心里也毫无选择,只有眼睁睁地挨受惩罚。我明白不能让仁厚的母亲知道我所遭受的这种习惯性羞辱,这点非常重要。我也不敢冒险让她到学校替我求情,因为我知道那些心胸狭隘、不讲情面的教员们也同样会令她难堪,这意味着到时我们母女俩都要伤心、愤怒。老天!要是母亲再 告诉父亲的话,他立马会大发雷霆,冲到学校来保护我。
8.一天,我们全家在一家报纸举办的不收取费用的肖像模特摄影比赛中获了奖。我为此兴奋不已:那些好莱坞女星魅力四射的照片更令我想入非非。我迫不及待地想把这个激动人心的消息告诉朋友们。
9.在那之前,母亲告诉我必须穿那件绿色蕾丝镶边裙——我最好的服装——去上学,因为摄影比赛正好安排在放学之后。她丝毫没有意识到我所要面临的痛苦。
10.那天,我没有往常穿上这件心爱衣服时的喜悦。我心情郁闷地拖着沉重的步伐来到学校,发现自己成为了蓝色海洋中的一颗绿宝石。集合的时候,我没等人下命令就慢步走上台,去承受其他女生的窃笑和副校长那尖刻的眼神。
11.当我第无数次想到,这位老师怎么会如此麻木不仁,竟然从未透过我的着装,看看这颗顺从听话、渴望参与的女孩的心灵的时候,沮丧的泪水几欲夺眶而出。
12.集合之后的第一节课是我钟爱的英国文学,上课的教师也是我所钟爱的。我安慰自己说,至少我可以在后排座位上暂时沉浸在查尔斯·狄更斯的《双城记》之中,以便能回过神儿镇定下来。可是上课铃一响,麦克维小姐就叫我坐在前排正对她的座位上。可想而知,我当时是多么惊慌失措。我缓慢地站了起来,忍着泪水,走到前排。心想,麦克维小姐不会也加入到敌人的阵营里了吧?
13.我在前排坐下,麦克维小姐将头扭到一边,上下仔细地打量着我。接着,她说出了在那所讨厌的学校里听到的最中听的一句话。
14.“亲爱的,我敢说你是这所死气沉沉的学校里一道最亮丽、最可爱的风景。可惜啊,我只能有幸看你一节课,而不是一整天。”我幼小心灵中的那块坚冰瞬间消融了,我也不禁挺直了肩膀。
15.我相信我当时回敬她的笑容是她所见过的最灿烂的笑容了。她仔细斟酌的话语温暖了我,让我兴高采烈地度过了整整一天。
16.我垂着双眼低着头。在一次又一次地被叫出队列之后,虽然我始终竭力不让自己的痛苦
外露,但泪水还是又差点出卖了我内心的沮丧。
17.虽然麦克维小姐的专长是英语文学,但那天她却给我——给全班——上了一堂持怜悯之心的课,我永志不忘。她让我明白,一句及时的友善之言可以让人受益终生。着实,她贴心的话让我内心变得坚强起来,再也不为什么人、什么事所伤害。
第五篇:Unit 8 Focus on Global Warming课文翻译综合教程二
Unit 8 Focus on Global Warming
John Weier
Twenty-five years ago if you made a trip to the local library and perused the periodical section for articles on global warming, you’d probably have come up with only a few abstracts from hardcore science journals or maybe a blurb in some esoteric geopolitical magazine.As an Internet search on global warming now attests, the subject has become as rooted in our public consciousness as Madonna2 or microwave cooking.Perhaps all this attention is deserved.With the possible exception of another world war, giant asteroid, or an incurable plague, global warming may be the single largest threat to our planet.2 For decades human factories and cars have spewed billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and the climate has begun to show some signs of warming.Many see this as a harbinger of what is to come.3 If we don’t curb our greenhouse gas emissions, then low-lying nations could be awash in seawater, rain and drought patterns across the world could change, hurricanes could become more frequent, and El Ninos could become more intense.Our Warming Planet
What has worried many people now is that over the past 250 years humans have been artificially raising the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.Our factories, power plants, and cars burn coal and gasoline and spit out a seemingly endless stream of carbon dioxide.We produce millions of pounds of methane by allowing our trash to decompose in landfills and by breeding large herds of methane-belching cattle.Nitrogen-based fertilizers, which we use on nearly all our crops, release unnatural amounts of nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere.Once these carbon-based greenhouse gases get into the atmosphere, they stay there for decades or longer.According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC)since the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide levels have increased 31 percent and methane levels have increased 151 percent.Paleoclimate readings taken from fossil records show that these gases, two of the most abundant greenhouse gases, are at their highest levels in the past 420,000 years.Many scientists fear that the increased concentrations of greenhouse gases have prevented additional thermal radiation from leaving the Earth.In essence, these gases are trapping excess heat in the Earth’s atmosphere in much the same way that a windshield traps solar energy that enters a car.Much of the available climate data appear to back these fears.5 Temperature data gathered from many different sources all across the globe show that the surface temperature of the Earth, which includes the lower atmosphere and the surface of the
ocean, has risen dramatically over several decades.Worldwide measurements of sea level show a rise of 0.1 to 0.2 meters over the last century.That’s an increase of roughly 1℃ every 4,000 years.Readings gathered from glaciers reveal a steady recession of the world’s continental glaciers.Taken together, all of these data suggest that over the last century the planet has experienced the largest increase in surface temperature in 1,000 years.Not surprisingly, many scientists speculate that such changes in the climate will probably result in hotter days and fewer cool days.6 According to the IPCC, land surface areas will increase in temperature over the summer months much more than the ocean.The mid-latitude to high-latitude regions in the Northern Hemisphere — areas such as the Continental United States, Canada, and Siberia — will likely warm the most.These regions could exceed mean global warming by as much as 40 percent.As far as human health is concerned, those hit hardest will probably be residents of poorer countries that do not have the funds to fend against changes in climate.7 A slight increase in heat and rain in equatorial regions would likely spark an increase in vector-borne diseases such as malaria.More intense rains and hurricanes could cause more severe flooding and more deaths in coastal regions and along riverbeds.Even a moderate rise in sea level could threaten the coastlines of low-lying islands such as the Maldives.All across the globe, hotter summers could lead to more cases of heatstroke and deaths among those who are vulnerable, such as older people with heart problems.The warmer temperatures may also lead to higher levels of near-surface ozone from cars and factories, which would likely cause more perilous air quality days and hospital admissions for those with respiratory problems.Taking Actions
Fortunately, we can take actions to slow down global warming.8 Global warming results primarily from human activities that release heat-trapping gases and particles into the air.The most important causes include the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil, and deforestation.To reduce the emission of heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides, we can curb our consumption of fossil fuels, use technologies that reduce the amount of emissions wherever possible, and protect the forests in the world.We can also do things to mitigate the impacts of global warming and adapt to those most likely to occur,9 e.g., through careful planning and other strategies that reduce our vulnerability to global warming.But we can’t stop there.We are also advocating policies that will combat global
warming over the long term, things like clean cars that run on alternative fuels, environmentally responsible renewable energy technologies, and stopping the clear-cutting of valuable forests.Clearly, global warming is a huge problem.It will take everyone — governments, industry, communities and individuals working together to make a real difference.Fortunately you can be part of them.关注全球气候变暖
二十五年前,如果你想去当地的图书馆通过各种期刊搜索关于全球气候变暖的文章的话,很可能你只能找到一些刊登在核心自然科学期刊或非常专业的地理科学杂志上的同类文章的摘要。然而,当今因特网搜索结果表明全球气候变暖,就像麦当娜或微波炉一样,成为所有人都十分关心的话题。
应该说公众对全球气候变暖的关注是很有必要的。除了一些可能的巨大灾害,例如新的世界大战、巨型小行星撞击地球、或是无法治愈的流行疾病等等,全球气候变暖可能是对地球的唯一最大威胁。近几十年来,人类的工厂和汽车向大气中排放了数十亿吨的温室气体,全球气候已经表现出了变暖的趋势。许多人认为这是灾难即将来临的不祥征兆。如果我们不再抑制温室气体的肆意排放,那么那些海拔很低的国家可能被海水淹没,同时多雨和干旱地区的分布也会发生变化,飓风将愈加频繁,而“厄尔尼诺”现象也会愈演愈烈。
地球正在变暖
现在令大多数人担忧的是在过去250年中人类已经人为地增加了大气中温室气体的浓度。我们的工厂、发电厂、汽车燃烧煤和汽油,排放出无穷尽的二氧化碳。我们任由垃圾在废渣填埋池里分解产生甲烷,还大量饲养胃里会产生甲烷气体的家畜,就这样我们人为制造了数百万吨的甲烷气体。我们几乎在所有的农田中都使用以氮为主要元素的化肥,导致超过正常数量的氧化氮进入大气之中。
一旦这些以碳为主要元素的温室气体进入大气层,它们就会存在几十年甚至更久。根据政府间气候变化问题专门研究小组的研究结果,自工业革命以来,空气中二氧化碳的含量增长了31%,甲烷气体的含量甚至增长了151%。从古代化石记录中得到的地质气候资料显示,这两种含量最多的温室气体(二氧化碳和甲烷)居过去42万年之首。许多科学家担心温室气体浓度日益增长会阻碍地球多余热量的散发。实际上,这些气体已经在阻碍地球大气中多余热量的散发,它们阻碍热量散发的原理就和汽车挡风玻璃阻碍太阳热量进入车厢是一样的。
大量可获得的气候数据证明人们的担忧是很有道理的。从全球各地搜集的气温数据显示地球表面温度,包括较低大气层和海洋表面温度,在过去几十年间剧烈上升。全球海平面测量数据也表明在上个世纪中,海平面上升了0.1—0.2米,也就是说海水温度每4000年上升大约1℃。冰川研究数据也显示全球大陆冰川正在逐步消融。总而言之,以上这些数据都
表明在过去一个世纪中,地球表面温度上升是近1000年里最快的。
很自然地,许多科学家推测这种种气候变化很可能会导致天气越来越热,凉爽的日子越来越少。根据政府间气候变化问题专门研究小组的研究,地表夏季温度上升幅度将远大于海面温度的上升幅度。北半球中高纬度地——例如美国大陆地区,加拿大和西伯利亚地区——温度上升将最为剧烈。这些地区温度上升幅度将超过全球平均温度上升幅度的40%。
就人类健康而言,那些受到最严重影响的将会是处于贫穷国家的居民,因为他们没有资金来抵御气候变化。在赤道地区,热量和降雨量少许增加就很可能会导致昆虫传播疾病的增加,例如疟疾。海岸地区与河道集中地区的降雨和飓风程度一旦变强,那将会造成更加严重的洪涝灾害和大批人员死亡。甚至海平面只是上升了一点,也会威胁到海拔很低的岛屿国家,例如马尔代夫。在全世界,更加炎热的夏天将导致更多人中暑,并且使那些体弱多病者,例如有心脏疾病的老人,失去生命。气温升高也会使近地面的臭氧含量增高,这些臭氧产生自工厂和汽车,并会使空气质量处于危险等级的日子越来越多,而且因为呼吸道疾病住院的人也会越来越多。
采取行动吧
幸运的是,我们可以多种采取措施来减缓全球变暖的进程。全球变暖很大一部分原因是人类活动排放出大量阻碍热量散失的气体和微粒子。其中最重要的原因是大量燃烧化石矿物燃料,例如煤炭、天然气和石油,还有就是滥砍滥伐。为了降低会阻碍热量散失的气体的排放,我们应该限制化石矿物燃料的使用,采取新技术降低所有有害气体的排放,并且保护我们的森林资源。
我们也可以设法减少全球气候变暖带来的负面效应,并且使自己适应可能发生的气候变化,例如,通过详细地规划和其他战略措施减少全球气候变暖带给我们的伤害。
然而这还远远不够。我们还应该通过政策提倡与全球气候变暖打一场持久战,例如,使用替代能源让汽车不再排放温室气体而变的清洁,使用对环境有利的可更新能源技术,并且停止砍伐宝贵的森林。
显而易见,全球气候变暖是个大问题。要解决这个问题,需要每个成员——政府、企业、公众和个人共同努力。幸运的是,你也可以是其中的一员。