胡敏讀故事記托福詞匯080：一個中學生 The Middle School Student
“The duration of your study time is becoming shorter and shorter,” Mary said to her son, as she tried to brighten the dusky appearance of his room. “You used to be a dynamic student. I’m going to start restricting your TV time if you don’t start studying harder.”
“你學習的持續(xù)時間越來越短了。”瑪麗一邊把房間微暗的墻壁擦亮，一邊對兒子說，“你過去可是個充滿活力的學生。如果你在不開始加把勁，我要開始限制你看電視的時間了。”
“I can’t study under duress,” Tom replied. “Besides, after dusk, I feel so tired. My school subjects are so boring this year.”
“強迫之下我學不了。”湯姆回答。“此外，黃昏過后，我就太累的，而且今年我們學校開的課程也太乏味了。”
“As long as you dwell in my dwelling, you will need to follow my rules,” said Mary with a firm tone in her voice. “I have to economize every month just to pay your private school tuition. Now tell me exactly what you are studying.”
“只要你住在我的寓所，就必須服從我的規(guī)定。”瑪麗語氣堅定地說，“我必須每月都要節(jié)省，只是為了給你交私立學校的學費?，F在給我確切地說說你們都在學些什么?”
“Well, in art class, we’re learning to dye our tee shirts,” Tom replied. “In oceanography class, we’re studying the theory behind wave dynamics and ebb currents. In Chinese history class, we’re reading about the emperors of the Tang Dynasty. In astronomy class, we’re examining the last full eclipse of the sun. In philosophy class, we’re practicing eclecticism. In botany class, we’re dissecting dwarf plans. In biology class, our professor is teaching us about ecological diversity.”
“好吧。美術課上我們在學染T恤衫。”湯姆回答，“在海洋學課上，我們學習關于海浪動力學和退潮洋流的理論知識。中國歷史課上，我們讀有關唐代皇帝的書。天文課上，我們研究上次出現的月全食。哲學課上，我們連續(xù)用折衷主義分析問題。植物學課上，我們解剖矮小植物。生物學課上，教授正教我們關于生態(tài)多樣性的知識。”
“Is your biology teacher an ecologist?” Mary asked.
“你們生物學老師是個生態(tài)學者嗎?”瑪麗問。
“Yes, and he is a bit eccentric,” Tom replied. “He wears the exact same clothes every day.”
“是的，但他有點古怪，”湯姆說，“他每天都穿完全一樣的衣服。”
“Some intellectuals are known for their eccentricity,” Mary added. “What do you think of his teaching ability?”
“有些知識分子是以他們的古怪行為著稱的。”瑪麗接著說，“你認為他的教學能力怎么樣?”
“I find it to be very good,” replied Tom. “I’m always eager to study for his class.”
“我覺得很好。”湯姆回答，“我總是盼著上他的課。”
“Good,” replied Mary with a smile. “I’ll be expecting you to score an ‘A’ in that class.”
“很好，”瑪麗笑著說，“我期盼著你這門課得‘A’”。
Words:
duration n. 持續(xù)的時間
duress n. 強迫，監(jiān)禁
dusk n. 薄暮，黃昏
dusky adj. 微暗的，膚色黑的
dwarf n. 侏儒 vt. 把。。。顯得矮小
dwell vi. 居住，生活于
dwelling adj. 住處，寓所
dye n. 顏料，染料;vt. 染色
dynamic adj. 動力的;動態(tài)的，有活力的
dynamics n. 動力學
dynasty n. 朝代，王朝
eager adj. 渴望的，熱心的
ebb n. 退潮;v. 退潮，衰退
eccentric adj./n. 古怪的(人)，異常的(人)
eccentricity n. 反常，怪癖
eclecticism n. 折衷主義
eclipse n. 日食，月食;vt. 使失色;蓋過
ecological adj. 生態(tài)的，生態(tài)學的
ecologist n. 生態(tài)學者
economize vi. 節(jié)約，節(jié)省
