愛上英語
Hiding behind the loose dusty curtain, a teenager packed up his overcoat into the suitcase. He planned to leave home at dusk though there was thunder and lightning outdoors. He had got to do this because he was tired of his parents? nagging about his English study and did not want to go through it any longer. He couldn?t get along well with English and disliked joining in English classes because he thought his teacher ignored him on purpose. As a result, his score in each exam never added up to over 60.
His partner was concerned about him very much. She understood exactly what he was suffering from, but entirely disagreed with his idea. In order to calm him down and settle his problem, she talked with him face to face and swapped a series of learning tips with him. The items she set down helped him find the highway to studying English well.
The teenager was grateful and got great power from his friend?s words. Now, he has recovered from being upset and has fallen in love with English.
有個少年躲在積滿灰塵的松散窗簾后把大衣裝入手提箱。盡管外面正打雷閃電, 他仍計劃在黃昏時分離家出走。他不得不這樣做是因為厭倦了父母對他英語學習的嘮叨,不想再忍受下去了。他的英語學習總是無法取得進展,而且不喜歡參加英語課的學習,因為他以為老師有意忽視他。結(jié)果,他每次考試的分數(shù)合計從未超過60。
他的搭檔很關(guān)心他,也確切地理解他遭受的折磨,但卻完全不同意他的想法。為了使他冷靜下來好好解決問題,她和他面對面地交談,并交換了一系列的學習心得技巧。她寫下來的條款幫助他找到了學好英語的最佳捷徑。
這個少年非常很感激,并從朋友的話里獲得極大的動力?,F(xiàn)在,他已經(jīng)從沮喪中恢復過來,真正愛上了英語。
2. Different Countries Have Different Kinds of Englishes
不同的國家有不同的英語
Voyages of people from England play an important part in spreading the English language. At present, English is frequently spoken as an official or common language in many countries, such as America, Singapore, Malaysia and some African countries. All based on British English, the English spoken in these countries can be well understood by native English speakers. But actually, these Englishes have been gradually changing in accents, spellings, expressions and the usage of vocabulary.
Because of this fact, you can make use of the differences to tell which country the foreigners of your block are from. For example, if a boss fluently commands his driver, ?Come up straight to my apartment by elevator and take some gas for my trucks and cabs?, instead of requesting, ?Please come to my flat by lift and take some petrol for my lorries and taxis?, you can recognize his American identity, while the latter suggests that he is British.
英國人的航海在英語的傳播中扮演了重要的角色。目前,英語在許多國家被作為官方語言或通用語言頻繁地使用,例如美國、新加波、馬來西亞和一些非洲的國家。這些國家的英語都以英式英語為基礎,能很好地為以英語為本族語的人所理解。但是實際上,這些英語在口音、拼寫、表達和詞匯的使用方面都在逐漸變化。
因為這一情況的存在,你就可以利用這些英語之間的區(qū)別說出你們街區(qū)的外國人是哪個國家來的了。例如,如果有個老板流利地命令他的司機:“Come up straight to my apartment by elevator and take some gas for my trucks and cabs(直接搭電梯到我公寓上來拿卡車和出租車的汽油)”,而不是要求說,“Please come to my flat by lift and take some petrol for my lorries and taxis(請直接搭電梯到我公寓上來拿卡車和出租車的汽油)”,你就可以輕易地辨認出他的美國人身份,而后者卻暗示著那是一位英國人。(請注意:聽力錄音里第二段兩個“電梯”的單詞跟原文不一致,原文是對的,錄音弄錯了,elevator才是美式說法而lift是英式說法。)
3. A Hard Trip
一次辛苦的旅行
My sister was fond of traveling. Ever since graduating, she had been determined to organize a trip to an old temple. Since transporting fare was expensive, she decided to use a bicycle to cycle there not caring about the disadvantages. Her stubborn attitude was always her shortcoming. Once she made up her mind to do something, no one could persuade her to change her mind. Finally, we gave in as usual though we preferred to take a train. After we prepared everything, including the schedule, reliable weather forecast and the insurance, we began our trip.
Our journey was along a river flowing from a high altitude. Our pace was slow because the river frequently had many sharp bends through deep valleys, where the water seemed to boil. Just as I recorded in my journal, it was really a hard journey. But we also enjoyed great views. One night, I put my head on my pillow--a parcel of wool coats, and lay beneath the stars. When the flame in front of our cave went out at midnight, I found the sky so beautiful!
我的妹妹很喜歡旅行。自從畢業(yè)以來,她就下定決心要組織一次往一座古廟的旅行。因為交通費用昂貴,她決定騎自行車去,毫不擔心其中的不利情況。頑固的態(tài)度一直都是她的缺點,一旦她下定決心要做的事,就沒有人能說服她改變主意。最后,我們像往常一樣讓步,盡管我們更喜歡乘火車去。我們準備好了所有東西,包括時間表、可靠的天氣預報,還有保險,就開始了旅程。
我們的旅程沿著一條從高海拔處流下來的河流前行。但我們的步伐很慢,因為當流經(jīng)深深的峽谷時,這條河流急轉(zhuǎn)彎很多,急湍的河水都似乎沸騰起來。正如我在旅行日志里記錄的那樣,這真是一次艱苦的旅行。但是我們也欣賞到了美麗的景色。一天晚上,我把頭枕在一包羊毛衣服做的枕頭上,躺在星空下,當巖洞前的火焰在午夜熄滅時,我發(fā)現(xiàn)夜空是如此的美麗!
4. A Horrible Earthquake
可怕的地震
Dirty water rose in wells and canals before the earthquake. But no one judged that an earthquake was coming. Suddenly, everything shook. It seemed as if the world was at an end. Millions of brick houses and a number of dams were destroyed. Railway tracks became useless bars. Pipes in mines burst and let out smelly steam. Huge cracks trapped cyclists everywhere.
The next day, this event was the headline or main title of all newspapers. With the reporters giving an outline of the disaster, the whole nation was shocked by the damage and the victim?s extreme suffering. People were moved when they read that the survivors comforted each other by saying ?Congratulations! You survived!?. So they not only expressed their sympathy sincerely, but also organized together to help the victims right away. The injured were rescued and the dead were buried. The frightened survivors were dug out from under the ruins and were offered shelter, fresh water and electricity. Thanks to people?s help, the loss was minimized.
地震前,水井和運河里的污水都漲涌起來。但是卻沒人判斷出地震即將來臨。霎那間,一切都在搖晃,似乎整個世界就要結(jié)束。數(shù)以百萬的磚房和許多水壩遭到破壞;鐵路軌道都變成無用的鐵條;煤礦管道紛紛爆裂,發(fā)出有臭味的蒸汽;到處都有騎車的人被巨大的裂縫陷住。
第二天,所有報紙都紛紛以大字標題或主要標題報道了這一事件。記者們描述了災難的大概情況,全國都被地震的破壞和災民們極度的苦難所震驚。當人們讀到幸存者以“恭喜啊,你還活著。”來互相安慰時,都被感動了。人們不僅衷心地表達了他們的同情,而且還立刻組織起來幫助災民。傷員被救助了,死者被埋葬了,嚇壞的幸存者被從廢墟中挖出來了,棲身處、凈水和電力也很快得到提供。多虧了人們的幫助,災區(qū)的損失被減到了最小。
5. The Great President
偉大的總統(tǒng)
As the founder of the republic, the president had many good qualities. Before coming to power, he was a generous lawyer. He was willing to selflessly help everyone who turned to him. He accepted no fee to offer legal guidance and opinions to those who were out of work or uneducated. Later, believing all mankind to be equal, he devoted himself to stopping the unfair anti-black laws. He set up the Black Youth League and was voted to be the leader. However, though he kept peaceful principles without violence and terror, his mean enemies still blew up his house and attacked his relatives, and he himself couldn?t escape being sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Not fearing of the prison guards? cruelty, he kept active and begged no mercy from them. As a matter of fact, he was always hopeful and never lost heart during the stage even though he was in trouble.
Finally, people rewarded him with the leader?s position and a gold blanket.
作為共和國的創(chuàng)始人,這位總統(tǒng)具備許多的優(yōu)秀品質(zhì)。還在掌權(quán)之前,他就是一位慷慨的律師。他愿意無私地幫助那些向他求助的人。他免費為失業(yè)的,或沒有受過教育的人提供法律指導和意見。后來,因為相信所有人類都是生來平等,他全身心投入到廢除不平等的反黑人法律工作中。他建立了黑人青年團并被選為領(lǐng)袖。然而,盡管他堅持沒有暴力、沒有恐怖的和平原則,卑鄙的敵人還是炸毀了他的家、襲擊了他的親屬,他自己也無法逃脫被判30年徒刑的遭遇。
在獄中,他毫不畏懼獄警的殘酷,始終保持積極的態(tài)度,不向他們乞求憐憫。實際上,他在任何一個困境時期都充滿著希望,從未灰心。
最后,人們以領(lǐng)袖的職位和一塊金毯子回報了他的貢獻。
6. A Brave Maid
勇敢的女仆
A wooden vase from the Ming Dynasty at the entrance of the reception hall amazed everyone. The artists designed it in a rare style and selected valuable jewels to decorate it. People thought highly of its fancy colour of honey and the beautiful paintings on it.
The vase used to belong to a former castle. But when the country was at war, the enemy troops exploded the castle. Debates on how the vase survived went on and on. In order to remove people?s doubt, a team of no less than 20 people carried out an informal investigation. The evidences they found showed that a maid took the vase apart and asked a sailor to sink it in a local well. She never gave away the secret even under the cruel trial of the enemies who were in search of treasures.
It is worth giving this brave maid a fortune in return.
接待大廳入口處的明朝木制花瓶 使每個人都驚奇不已。藝術(shù)家以一種罕有的風格設計它,并挑選了貴重的珠寶裝飾它。人們高度贊賞它那蜂蜜般的奇特顏色,還有上面繪制的繪畫。
這個花瓶曾經(jīng)屬于一座從前的城堡,但在戰(zhàn)爭期間,敵人的軍隊炸毀了城堡,于是關(guān)于這個花瓶是如何幸存下來的爭論就一直在持續(xù)著。為了解開人們的疑問,一個由不少于20人的調(diào)查隊開展了一次非正式的調(diào)查。他們找到的證據(jù)表明,有個女仆 把花瓶拆開,然后讓一名水手把它沉到當?shù)氐囊粋€水井里。她從來沒有泄露這個秘密,即使是在搜尋財寶的敵人殘酷的審訊下。
這位女仆真是值得給予一大筆錢作為對她的回報。
7. A Fair Competition
公平的比賽
Swifter, Higher and Stronger stands for the spirit of the Olympics. But fairness is the basis of this motto. Only when you win fairly will you and your homeland deserve the great glory. But nowadays, unlike the ancient honest slave competitors, some hopeless athletes who can?t bear the pain of training cheat when taking part in games. Medals seem to have magical power causing them to cheat, and the prize money has replaced the motto as their only goal.
So, in the gymnastics event to be held in our city next month, one of the host?s responsibilities is to keep competitions fair. They advertised on posters outside the stadium to promise that every competitor is to have a regular physical examination in a gymnasium one after another. No one can bargain on this. The volunteers in charge will be very strict. It is foolish to cheat because they will not be admitted to compete and will even be fined as well.
? 更快!更高!更強!”代表著奧運精神。但是公平卻是這一格言的基礎。只有當你公平地贏得比賽,你和你的祖國才會承受這樣的光榮。但如今,不像古代那些誠實的奴隸參賽者,有些沒有希望的運動員無法承受訓練的痛苦,于是在參加比賽時作假。獎牌似乎有某種魔力使他們作假,獎金也已經(jīng)代替了奧運格言成為了他們唯一的目標。
因此,在我們市下個月即將舉行的一場體操賽事中,主辦方的其中一項責任就是要確保比賽的公平。他們在體育場外的海報上做廣告,承諾說每個參賽者都將在體育館一個一個地參加常規(guī)的身體檢查。對此沒有人可以討價還價。負責此事的志愿者將非常嚴格。作假是很愚蠢的,因為他們將不被允許去競賽,甚至還將被罰款。
8. Computers
電腦
The goal of early calculating machines was to simplify difficult sums. But with the help of new technology, electronic chips replaced tubes and a revolution of artificial intelligence has arisen. From then on, the appearance of computers totally changed our lives. They can not only download information from the wet when connected by the network or mobile phone signals, but also solve different types of logical problems. With operators as their coaches, they can even control rockets to explore the moon and instruct androids with the human race?s characters to mop floors and watch over your naughty niece. Anyhow, computers are so helpful that they do bring happiness.
However, computers are easily attacked by viruses. This reality has become a hard-to-deal with-problem. As a result, computers are dangerous in a way. So, personally, I worry about their universal applications in some fields, such as finance.
早期計算機器的目的是簡化比較難的計算。但是在新技術(shù)的幫助下,電子芯片代替了電子管,一場人工智能革命由此掀起。從那時起,電腦的出現(xiàn)完全改變了我們的生活,它們不僅能在網(wǎng)絡或移動電話信號的連接下從網(wǎng)上下載信息,而且可以解決各種類型的邏輯問題。在操作員的教練下,它們甚至還可以控制火箭探索月球,指導具有人類性格的機器人擦洗地板和照顧你調(diào)皮的侄女。不管怎么說,電腦都是如此的有用,以致的確給人們帶來了快樂。
然而,電腦很容易受到病毒的攻擊,這一現(xiàn)實已經(jīng)成為一個難以處理的難題,結(jié)果,電腦在某種程度上是很危險的。因此,就個人而言,我很擔心電腦在某些領(lǐng)域,例如金融方面的廣泛應用。
9.保護野生動植物
Wildlife Protection
Dinosaurs died out because of an unexpected incident. But wildlife today disappears or is in danger just because humans do harm to it. For example, tigers are hunted for fur to make carpets so that they can only live in secure reserves; grassland is destroyed without mercy so that dust storms come into being affecting distant cities.
Last year, scientists saw some monkeys rubbing themselves with a certain kind of insects to protect themselves from fierce mosquitoes biting. According to the result of the inspection, they found that the insect contains a powerful drug, so local farmers were employed to catch the insects. The ending was that the insects disappeared from the whole zone. When told that it was a loss to humans, the farmers burst into laughter and responded, ?Our real loss is our decreasing income.?
We should appreciate the natural balance and pay more attention to the importance of wildlife protection. Not until we succeed in letting wildlife live in peace, can we smile in relief.
恐龍因一次意外事件而滅絕,但是今天的野生動植物卻是因為人類的傷害而消失或處在危險中。例如,老虎被獵殺以獲取做地毯的皮毛,以致它們只能生活在安全的保護區(qū)里;草地被毫不憐憫地破壞,以致沙塵暴開始影響遙遠的城市。
去年,科學家觀察到猴子在身上擦某種昆蟲來保護自己不受兇猛的蚊子的叮咬。根據(jù)檢查的結(jié)果,他們發(fā)現(xiàn)這種昆蟲含有一種具有強大效力的藥物,于是,當?shù)氐霓r(nóng)民都被雇來抓蟲子。結(jié)果是,這種昆蟲從這整個地區(qū)都消失了。當被告知說這是整個人類的損失時,農(nóng)民們都突然大笑著回應道:“我們減少的收入才是我們真正的損失呢!”
我們應該意識到自然平衡的重要,更加注意野生動植物的保護。直到我們成功讓野生動植物安詳平靜地生活,我們自己才能如釋重負地笑開顏。
10. My First Band
我的第一支樂隊
I was very sensitive to music. Just dipping into the music books briefly, I could sing or play well. To be honest, I always dreamt of becoming a famous folk actor. I was so confident that I never decreased my devotion.
I formed my first band called ?Rolling Frog?. At the beginning, we relied on performing on instruments in pubs or to passers ?by to earn extra money in cash. Then we wore false beards to pretend to be the musicians whom people were familiar with. In addition, we attached humorous acts to our performances and played jokes on each other. Soon, our ?funny jazz? became famous and invitations to perform for broadcast stations began to come. Afterwards, we sorted out attractive music and made a record in a studio. A million or so copies were sold and we became millionaires.
It was painful that the band broke up finally. But above all, I realized my dream to be a musician.
我對音樂很敏感,只要簡要地瀏覽一下樂譜,我就能演唱或演奏得很好。說實話,我一直都夢想著能成為出名的民間演員,自信的我從未減少過熱愛。
我組成的第一支樂隊叫做“搖滾蛙”。開始,我們依靠在酒吧里或向路人表演樂器來掙些零花的現(xiàn)金。然后我們帶上假胡子假扮人們熟悉的音樂家,除此之外,我們在表演中加上幽默的動作,互相開著玩笑。很快,我們的“滑稽爵士樂”出了名,到廣播電臺表演的邀請開始多起來。隨后,我們把我們吸引人的音樂做了分類,在一間音樂工作室錄制了1張唱片,大約賣出了100萬張,這使我們都成了百萬富翁。
樂隊最終的解散讓我很心痛,但最重要的是,我實現(xiàn)了自己當音樂家的夢想。