胡敏讀故事記托福詞匯036：我在一家報(bào)業(yè)公司的工作 My Job at the Newspaper Company
I work as the editor of a small newspaper. Our offices and printing presses are located on the grounds of an old citadel that has been standing since the days of the Civil War. The rent here is relatively cheap. However, the facilities are rather old and we’re constantly making repairs to the electrical circuits in our building. According to our circulation desk, we circulate about 10,000 papers each day. If I were to draw a circle around our circulation area, the circumference would be about 15 miles.
我在一家小報(bào)社當(dāng)編輯。我們報(bào)社的辦公室和印刷設(shè)備位于一座內(nèi)戰(zhàn)時(shí)修建的古老城堡里。這里的租金相對(duì)便宜，但設(shè)施陳舊，我們時(shí)常要維修樓里的電路。根據(jù)發(fā)行處的統(tǒng)計(jì)，我們每天發(fā)行的報(bào)紙1萬份。如果圍繞這發(fā)行范圍畫一個(gè)圈，周長(zhǎng)將達(dá)15英里左右。
Ours is a civilian company. However, due to our location, the military has the right to circumscribe the content of our newspaper. For that reason, I’m a bit circumspect about the articles that we publish. I try to print the news without being too critical of the government, the military or the people in power.
我們報(bào)社是一家民營企業(yè)。但由于位置特殊，軍隊(duì)有權(quán)限制報(bào)紙的內(nèi)容。正因?yàn)檫@樣，我對(duì)所發(fā)表的文章非常謹(jǐn)慎。我盡量印些不是特別批判政府、軍隊(duì)及當(dāng)權(quán)者的新聞。
Today, I’m thinking about running a story about lawyers. Lawyers have been around since the start of civilization. They are credited for writing the first civil code and the bill of civil rights. However, they are disliked for their circuitous manner of speaking and their ability to circumvent the law by citing obscure legal doctrines. They always make circular arguments to avoid the issue. Some lawyers are kind and helpful. Others are known for their lack of civility. A lot depends on the circumstances and how much money you have.
今天，我在考慮出一篇關(guān)于律師的文章。自人類文明起源時(shí)就有了律師。他們被譽(yù)為第一部民法典和公民權(quán)議案的撰寫人。但因?yàn)樗麄冋f話愛繞圈子，又有本市引用晦澀難懂的法律條文來規(guī)避法律約束，所以很是不討人喜歡。涉足政界的律師尤其擅長(zhǎng)拐彎抹角地講話。他們總是循環(huán)論證，避開主題。有些律師挺和善而且樂于助人的，其他律師則以沒有禮貌著稱。很多律師是為視具體情況及財(cái)富多寡而轉(zhuǎn)移的偽君子。
Perhaps a story about lawyers might be too controversial. I’d better think of a more agreeable subject.
也許關(guān)于律師的文章爭(zhēng)議太大，我還是想個(gè)更愉快的話題吧!
Words:
circle n. 圓周，圓形物;(具有共同興趣、利益的人們所組成的)圈子;集團(tuán);vt. 包圍，環(huán)繞
circuit n. 電路
circuitous adj. 迂回的，繞圈子的
circular adj. 循環(huán)的;圓的
circulate v. (使)循環(huán);傳閱，流傳;發(fā)行，銷售
circulation desk 圖書借還臺(tái);發(fā)行處
circumference n. 圓周;周長(zhǎng)
circumlocution n. 迂回累贅的陳述，拐彎抹角地講話;遁詞
circumscribe vt. 劃界限;限制
circumspect adj. 慎重的，仔細(xì)的
circumstance n. 環(huán)境，情況
circumvent v. 用計(jì)謀戰(zhàn)勝，規(guī)避
citadel n. 堡壘，要塞
cite vt. 引用;舉例
civil adj. 公民的;市民的;國內(nèi)的
civilian adj. 市民的，平民的;民間的
civility n. 禮貌，客氣，謙恭;(常用作civilities)禮儀;客套;寒暄
civilization n. 文明，文化
civil rights 公民權(quán)
Civil War 內(nèi)戰(zhàn)
