Much to Live For 生命的追求 There is so much I have not been, so much I have not seen. I have not thought and have not done or felt enough—the early sun, rain and the seasonal delight of flocks of ducks and geese in flight, the mysteries of late-at-night. I still need time to read a book, write poems, paint a picture, look at scenes and faces dear to me. There is something more to be of value—something I should find within myself—as peace of mind, patience, grace and being kind. I shall take and I shall give, while yet, there is so much to live for—rainbows, stars that gleam, the fields, the hills, the hope, the dreams, the truth that one must seek. I’ll stay here—treasure every day and love the world in my own way!
Yao Ming：New Center Style 姚明：新式中锋 If 20 years ago you asked the average American basketball fan if a Chinese man could play center for an NBA team, his answer might have sounded something like this: “Ha ha. No, he’d be too short!” But now, the doubters are silent. Who closed their mouths? Houston Rockets,
2.26-meter-tall center Yao Ming, from China. Yao Ming grew up in a family of basketball players. When he was 12, Yao Ming started going to an athletics academy outside of Shanghai and later spent a lot of time studying NBA games televised in China. All this has paid off. Yao’s first NBA honor was his ranking as number-one draft pick, and he’s been elected for a Rookie-of-the-Month award. Yao Ming has a style different from those of tall centers in the past. He rarely goes for the flashy slams. He’d rather show off his silk-smooth free-throw shots, or use his height to pop in jump shots from the three-point line.
[注释]：
doubter: 持怀疑态度的人
athletics: activities, such as sports, exercises, and games, that require physical skill 体育运动
academy: 学院
televise: to broadcast or be broadcast by television （电视）播放
pay off：还清，赢利
ranking: of the highest rank 排名
draft: a system in which the exclusive rights to new players are distributed among professional teams （美国）职业运动的选秀
pick: the act of selecting or choosing; choice 挑选
rookie: a first-year player, especially in a professional sport 新秀选手
flashy: cheap and showy; gaudy 花哨的，华丽的
slam: to hit something with force; crash 灌篮
show off：炫耀
pop in：投入
Tall Tale 吹牛
A friend told me this story. He can stretch the truth a bit, so I’m not sure whether to believe him. But on the other hand, truth can be stranger than fiction! What do you think?
Two brothers were watching a horror film on video late one night. One brother dozed off and dreamed that he was being chased by the crazy man from the movie, who was trying to kill him. In the dream, he hid in a cupboard. There was no sound except his heart pounding, and he had no idea where his crazed captor was. He was terrified! At that moment, the video finished, and his brother put his hand on the shoulder of his sleeping sibling to wake him. The shock at that tense moment was enough that the sleeping brother suffered a massive heart attack and died instantly.
注释：
stretch ... a bit：夸大事实，言过其实
horror film：恐怖电影
doze off：打瞌睡
cupboard: a closet or cabinet, usually with shelves for storing food, crockery, and utensils 橱柜
pounding: 跳动声，重击声
captor: one that takes another as a captive 捕捉者
terrified: deeply afraid 恐惧的
sibling: one of two or more individuals having one or both parents in common; a brother or sister 兄弟，姐妹 massive heart attack：严重的心脏病
Nanotechnology：Beyond Your Wildest Dreams 纳米科技，超越终极想
Nanotechnology is the science of moving individual atoms around and putting them precisely where we want. Since everything is composed of atoms, by doing this we can, in theory, construct anything we want. For example, by moving around the atoms in a piece of coal, we could create a diamond.
Currently, nanotechnology is still quite crude. Scientists can alter the properties of things like plastics or cloth to make them harder or softer or more durable, but they can’t build something new from a collection of atoms. Why? Well, because things are made up of billions of atoms and it takes too long to move them around.
So, the next big step in nanotechnology will be building machines that can do this automatically. Once we have these we should be able to make almost anything with no waste and no pollution, at very little cost.
Scientists think that the first “Universal Assembler” might be built in around 15 years.
[注释]：
nanotechnology: 纳米技术
individual: of or relating to an individual, especially a single human being 个别的，单 独的，个人的
atom: a part or particle considered to be an irreducible constituent of a specified
system 原子
precisely: in a precise manner 准确地；明确地
be composed of: 由„„组成，由„„构成
construct: to form by assembling or combining parts; build 建造
currently: belonging to the present time目前
crude: unripe or immature 未成熟的
alter: to change or become different 改变
property: a characteristic trait or peculiarity, especially one serving to define or describe its
possessor 特性，属性
durable: capable of withstanding wear and tear or decay 耐久的
billion: 十亿(的)
Jimmy：Picture Books for Adults 几米：画给大人看的漫画 Artists and authors use many different ways to talk about society; many write novels, while others paint pictures. An artist in Taipei has found a different way to talk about life, people, and the problems we all face. His name is Jimmy Liao, and he creates illustrated books.
Jimmy is both an illustrator and an author. He draws all of the colorful pictures in his books and writes all of the storylines. His small paperback books usually have only one or two lines of text per page, the rest being filled by his cute, simple drawings. Simplicity is one of Jimmy’s strong points; he doesn’t lose the reader in complex plots or dialogues.
Jimmy’s books speak to readers about the ups and downs of living in the modern world. One of his most popular stories, Turning Left, Turning Right, tells of a short romance between a couple that live next to each other. The lonely pair meet one day in the park and immediately fall in love. When they leave each other at the end of a fun-filled day, they exchange telephone numbers, but the rain causes the numbers to become illegible. They are unable to contact each other, and soon return to their lonely lives.
Sad, right? Don’t start crying yet; there’s a catch to the story. You see, this man and woman actually live in the same building! The problem is, when they leave their apartments, one always turns to the left, while the other always turns to the right. The result is that they never realize they are neighbors. The lesson of the story? Life is in the details: things that seem small and insignificant can actually turn out to be important. And this is another of Jimmy’s talents: he shows his readers how the “little things” in life are often more important than we realize.
[注释]：
illustrate: 画插图
illustrator: 插图画家
storyline: 故事情节，故事大纲
paperback: a book having a flexible paper binding 平装本，纸面本
drawing: the art of representing objects or forms on a surface chiefly by means of lines 线条 画
simplicity: the property, condition, or quality of being simple or uncombined 简单
plot: the plan of events or main story in a narrative or drama 情节
ups and downs：起起落落
romance: a love affair 恋爱，罗曼史
illegible: not legible or decipherable 无法辨认的，字迹不清的
contact: to get in touch with; communicate with 联络，联系
catch: a tricky or previously unsuspected condition or drawback 圈套，陷阱
insignificant: lacking in importance; trivial 无意义的，微小的
talent: a marked innate ability, as for artistic accomplishment 才能
A Tale of Two Cities(excerpt) 双城记(节选) It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.
—— Charles Dickens
[注释]：
wisdom: a wise outlook, plan, or course of action 智慧，明智的行为，学识
epoch: a particular period of history, especially one considered remarkable or noteworthy age, era,
period 新纪元，时代，时期
incredulity: the state or quality of being incredulous; disbelief 怀疑
despair: to lose all hope 绝望，失望
查尔斯·狄更斯（1812—1870） ，英国大名鼎鼎的作家，是 19 世纪英国现实主义文学的主要代表。他笔耕一生，靠勤奋和汗水创作出《大卫·科波菲尔》 、《双城记》等世界名著。他的作品以妙趣横生的幽默、细致入微的心理分析以及现实主义描写与浪漫主义气氛的有机结合而著称。
Two Poems 诗两首
下面是两首著名的小诗。桑德堡的短诗《雾》曾在各种媒体上广为传播，是美国家喻户晓的名作。而在米莱创作的许多优美的抒情诗中，被引用最频繁的是《第一颗无花果》。
Fog
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
—— Carl Sandburg
First Fig
My candle burns at both ends,
It will not last the night,
But ah my foes and oh my friends
It gives a lovely light.
—— Edna St. Vincent Millay
[注释]：
harbor: a sheltered part of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for ships 海港 haunch: the hip, buttock, and upper thigh in human beings and animals 腰
fig: any of several trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus, especially F. carica, native to the Mediterranean region and widely cultivated for its edible multiple fruit 无花果
candle: readily bent; pliant 柔软的
Youth 青春 Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.
Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of sixty more than a boy of twenty. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.
Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child-like appetite of what’s next, and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the infinite, so long are you young.
When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at twenty, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch the waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at eighty.
—— Samuel Ullman
[注释]：
rosy cheeks: 玫瑰花般的脸颊
supple: readily bent; pliant 柔软的
vigor : physical or mental strength, energy, or force 精力，活力
temperamental : excessively sensitive or irritable; moody 心情变化快的，喜怒无常的 predominance : the state or quality of being predominant; preponderance 优势
timidity : shy 胆怯的，害羞的
appetite : 食欲，胃口，欲望，爱好
desert : 放弃，遗弃
wrinkle: to draw up into wrinkles; pucker 起皱
enthusiasm : great excitement for or interest in a subject or cause 狂热，热心，积极性 wireless : 无线的
infinite : having no limits 无限的，无穷的
aerial : 天线
[注释]：
harbor: a sheltered part of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for ships 海港 haunch: the hip, buttock, and upper thigh in human beings and animals 腰
fig: any of several trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus, especially F. carica, native to the Mediterranean region and widely cultivated for its edible multiple fruit 无花果
candle: readily bent; pliant 柔软的
Youth 青春 Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.
Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of sixty more than a boy of twenty. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.
Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child-like appetite of what’s next, and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the infinite, so long are you young.
When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at twenty, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch the waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at eighty.
—— Samuel Ullman
[注释]：
rosy cheeks: 玫瑰花般的脸颊
supple: readily bent; pliant 柔软的
vigor : physical or mental strength, energy, or force 精力，活力
temperamental : excessively sensitive or irritable; moody 心情变化快的，喜怒无常的
predominance : the state or quality of being predominant; preponderance 优势
timidity : shy 胆怯的，害羞的
appetite : 食欲，胃口，欲望，爱好
desert : 放弃，遗弃
wrinkle: to draw up into wrinkles; pucker 起皱
enthusiasm : great excitement for or interest in a subject or cause 狂热，热心，积极性 wireless : 无线的
infinite : having no limits 无限的，无穷的
aerial : 天线
cynicism: a scornful, bitterly mocking comment or act 玩世不恭，冷嘲热讽
pessimism: a tendency to stress the negative or unfavorable possible view 悲观，悲观主义 optimism: a tendency to expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of
a situation 乐观，乐观主义
塞缪尔·厄尔曼，1840 年生于德国，童年时移居美国。他在古稀之年才开始写作，是一个了不起的人。（本文由于手抄流传等多种原因，存在多个版本，这里采用作者原文。）
The Mountian Story 大山的故事 A son and his father were walking on the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams,“AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain, “AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!” Curious, he yells, “Who are you?”
He receives the answer, “Who are you?”
Angered at the response, he screams, “Coward!”
He receives the answer, “Coward!”
He looks to his father and asks, “What’s going on?”
The father smiles and says, “My son, pay attention.”
And then he screams to the mountain, “I admire you!”
The voice answers, “I admire you!”
Again the man screams, “You are a champion!”
The voice answers, “You are a champion!”
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains, “People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.
It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your
competence. This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life; Life will give you back everything you have given to it.”
YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT’S A REFLECTION OF YOU!
[注释]：
scream: to make a loud, piercing sound 喊叫，尖叫
coward: one who shows ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain 懦夫，胆小的人
echo: to repeat (a sound) by the reflection of sound waves from a surface 回声
competence: a specific range of skill, knowledge, or ability 能力
coincidence: a sequence of events that although accidental seems to have been planned or arranged 巧合
Two Fables 寓言两则、
The Donkey and the Grasshopper
A donkey heard some grasshoppers chirping. He was enchanted and also wanted to possess their charming melody.
He asked, “What food do you eat to give you such beautiful voices?” They replied, “The dew.”
The donkey then decided that he would only eat dew. In a short time, he died of hunger.
The Kingdom of the Lion
The animals of the forest had a lion as their king. He was neither cruel, nor tyrannical, but
a just and gentle king.
As king, he made a royal proclamation for a general assembly of all the animals. He passed a law, stating, “All animals will now live together in perfect peace and friendship. The wolf and the lamb, the cat and the bird, the tiger and the deer, the fox and the rabbit, will no longer be
enemies.”
The rabbit said, “ Oh, how I have longed to see this day, in which the weak will be equal to
the strong.” And after saying this, he ran for his life.
[注释]：
donkey: the act of proclaiming or the condition of being proclaimed 宣布
assembly: 集合，大会，大集会
Does It Make a Difference 这样做有用
An old man was walking along the beach one evening at low tide. He noticed that thousands of starfish had been stranded on the sand by the receding waters. In the course of his walk he came upon a young man who was picking up some of the starfish and throwing them back into the sea.
“What are you doing?” the old man asked.
“Oh, just saving some starfish,” the young man replied.
“Well, you’re a fool,” the old man told him.
“Really?” replied the young man, “What makes you say so?”
“Well, just look at all the starfish on this beach. There are thousands of them.”
The old man looked around and then at the young man. “You don’t have the time nor the energy to save all of them. Your saving a few starfish is nice, but in the larger scheme of things it’s ridiculous. What difference could you possibly make?”
The young man looked at the old man for a moment. Then wordlessly, he bent down, picked up a starfish, and threw it far out into the water.
“Well,” he said, putting his hands on his hips in satisfaction, “I made a big difference to that one.”
And he tossed another into the ocean, “and this one”, tossed, “and this one...”
[注释]：
starfish : 海星
strand: 搁浅，使搁浅
recede: to move back or away from a limit, point, or mark 后退
toss: the act of tossing or the condition of being tossed 投，掷
Jane Eyre(excerpt) 简爱(节选)
"No， you must stay! I swear it--and the oath shall be kept."
"I tell you I must go!" I retorted, roused to something like passion."
"Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?--a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!--I have as much soul as you,--and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;--it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal,--as we are!"
—— Charlotte Bronte
[注释]：
swear: to make a solemn promise; vow 发誓
oath: the words or formula of such a declaration or promise 誓言
retort: to present a counterargument 反驳，反击
automaton: a self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot 机器人
morsel: a small amount; a piece (食物)一口，少量
snatch: to grasp or seize hastily, eagerly, or suddenly 攫取
dash: to splash; bespatter 泼溅
obscure: of undistinguished or humble station or reputation 身份卑微的
conventionality: the state, quality or character of being conventional 惯例，俗套，老一套
mortal: of or relating to humankind; human 人类的
grave: an excavation for the interment of a corpse 墓穴，坟墓
夏洛蒂·勃朗特的《简·爱》通过简·爱的自述，描绘了一个出身贫苦家庭、长相平凡、无依无靠的女家庭教师的曲折遭遇。简，成为纯洁、热情、坦率、热爱真理、敢于追求幸福的女性的象征，因而形象鲜明。作品成功之处还在于从作者对人性的描述中，我们隐约看到了自己——卑劣或美丽的人性，而觉得心有戚戚焉。
Rave the Day 锐舞终日 Rave”一词也算个时尚字眼，那么何为“Rave party”，仔细看看下面的短文。
It’s four in the morning. Outside, the night is quiet, and most people have been asleep for hours. Inside the club it’s a different story. It could be a club in Los Angeles or London, Tel Aviv or Shanghai, and its walls are vibrating. The thumping techno beat of the music is that loud, and it is
driving and energizing the dancers in the club. Arms flail, heads bounce up and down, and somebody is waving a pair of green neon glow sticks in the air. They’ve been dancing like this for hours, and they don’t plan to quit any time soon. When they finally leave the club, the sun will be up. They’ll be sweaty and exhausted, but also exhilarated, and happy. It’s a rave.
Simply defined, a rave is a party — often an all-night-long party —at which some form of electronic, synthesized music is played. The music is usually played by a DJ (deejay), who might specialize in one of the many varieties of electronica — techno, house, trance, ambient, hardcore, jungle, or drum and bass. Or he might play a little of everything, guiding the crowd to find the right feeling, and to bring the music and all the dancers into happy.
[注释]：
vibrate: to cause to tremble or quiver (使)摇摆
thump: to hit or fall in such a way as to produce a thump; pound 砰然地响
beat: a regular, rhythmical unit of time 拍子
energize: to give energy to; activate or invigorate 使活跃，给予精力
flail: to wave or swing vigorously; thrash 挥动，用力打
bounce: to move jerkily; bump 剧烈运动
neon: ［化］氖
exhilarate: 使高兴，使愉快
define: to state the precise meaning of (a word or sense of a word, for example) 定义 synthesize: to form a synthesis 综合
specialize: to pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study 专攻，专门研究 variety: the quality or condition of being various or varied; diversity 变化，多样性
电子音乐是西方乐坛较为流行和活跃的音乐形式，最常见的有二十多种。
house(music)： 浩室，又译作货仓音乐。是一种将迪斯科电子乐、电子鼓和蓝调音乐混音在一起的音乐形式，是流行舞曲的代表。
techno： 科技，又译作高科技音乐。是house 之后发展出来的一种电子混音音乐形式，其混音与浩室音乐类似，是更平缓的高科技电子音效舞曲。
trance： 迷幻，又译作迷情音乐。是继（hard）techno 之后出现的最具商业化的舞曲，其节奏更快更硬并加入一些钢琴速弹和迷幻效果的音效，产生恍惚迷幻的意境。
ambient： 氛围，又译作情境音乐。通过节奏的变换不断营造出多层次的空间感，音乐似乎缭绕不绝，却又模糊不清。
hardcore： 碎石，本为“硬核”。是一种改良techno 的，节奏激烈、速度极快的热舞音乐。
jungle： 丛林音乐。一种融合嘻哈音乐、舞曲和techno 音乐，节奏急骤，带有深沉邈远低
音拍的音乐。
drum and bass： 暂译作鼓与低音。由丛林音乐发展而来，但节奏稍慢，注重将不同的电子鼓声融入到音乐中，并突出低音节拍的深沉邈远。
Winner Never Quit 成功者决不放弃 A little girl—the 20th of 22 children, was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful.
When she was 4 years old, she contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralysed left leg.
At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it.
By 13 she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last.
For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last.
Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running.
One day she actually won a race, and then another. From then on she won every race she entered.
Eventually this little girl—Wilma Rudolph, went on to win three Olympic gold medals.
Winner never quit!
[注释]：
prematurely: 早产地
pneumonia: 肺炎
scarlet fever：猩红热
paralyse: to affect with paralysis; cause to be paralytic 使麻痹；引起瘫痪
l Persistence 毅力
Persistence is the key to success, whether for a single person or an organization. The lack of it would mean failure in reaching a certain goal. Success seldom comes easily on the first try. What separates the successful from the unsuccessful is persistence. Successful people also fail from time to time, but they don’t let their failure defeat their spirit. Successful people learn from defeats, revise their strategy as needed and try again and again until they succeed. Unsuccessful people try something once or twice and when it fails, they give up, usually passing
the blame on to someone or something else, and learn nothing from their own experience.
Successful people expect periodic defeats, learn what went wrong and why, don’t waste looking for someone to blame, make necessary adjustments, and try again. If you are persistent, you will almost inevitably succeed. If you are not persistent, you will almost certainly fail.
[注释]：
persistence: the act of persisting 毅力
revise: to reconsider and change or modify 修改
strategy: 策略
periodic: happening or appearing at regular intervals 定期的
inevitably: invariably occurring or appearing; predictable 不可避免的
0ay 2 Cost of Love 母爱无价
One night when my wife was preparing dinner, our little son took a piece of paper to her which read: For washing the car„„„„„„„„„„„„„.$5.00
For making my own bed this week„„„„„„„$1.00
Going to the provision shop„„„„„„„„.„„$0.50
Playing with little sister„„„„„„„„.„..„...$0.25
Taking out the rubbish„„„„„„„„„....„„.$1.00
Getting a good report card„„„„„„„„...„„$5.00
And for sweeping the common corridor„„„„„...$2.00
Total..„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„$14.75
His mother looked at him standing there expecting payment. I could see a thousand memories flashed through her mind. So she picked up the pen and turning the paper over, this is what she wrote:
For 9 months I carried you, growing inside me„„„„„„„No Charge
For the nights I sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you„„.No Charge
For the toys, food and clothes and wiping your nose„„„„„No Charge
When you add it all up, the full cost of my love„„„„„„No Charge
Well, when he finished reading, he had great big tears in his eyes. He looked at his mother and said, “Mummy, I love you.” Then he took the pen and in great big letters wrote on the “bill” “All paid.”
[注释]：
provision: 供应; 预备
corridor: 走廊，通道
flash : to think of or remember something suddenly 闪现，一瞬间
wipe : to clean or dry something by rubbing 擦，揩，擦去
Great Expectations(excerpt) 远大前程(节选)
下面的一段文字选自查尔斯·狄更斯的《远大前程》（1860—1861），这是他比较晚期的作品。狄更斯在经历了丰富的人生后，对人、事、周围环境及自己的生活经历都有了深刻的理解，而他所有成熟的思想都汇总在《远大前程》一书中。这部作品的语言可谓是出神入化，要学习英国语言，这是一本典范。狄更斯的作品不矫揉造作，不选用那些华而不实的词语。他的用词都简单明了，通俗易懂。所以小说读来朴实无华，如行云流水。
As the night was fast falling, and as the moon, being past the full, would not rise early, we held a little council: a short one, for clearly our course was to lie by at the first lonely tavern we could find. So, they plied their oars once more, and I looked out for anything like a house. Thus we held on, speaking little, for four or five dull miles. It was very cold, and, a collier coming by us, with her gallery-fire smoking and flaring, looked like a comfortable home. The night was as dark by this time as it would be until morning; and what light we had, seemed to come more from the river than the sky, as the oars in their dipping stuck at a few reflected stars. —— Charles Dickens
天黑得很快，偏巧这天又是下弦月，月亮不会很早升起。我们就稍稍商量了一下，可是也用不着多讨论，因为情况是明摆着的，再划下去我们一遇到冷落的酒店就得投宿。于是他们又使劲打起浆来，我则用心寻找岸上是否隐隐约约有什么房屋的模样。这样又赶了四五英里路，一路上好不气闷，大家简直不说一句话。天气非常冷，一艘煤船从我们近旁驶过，船上厨房里生着火，炊烟缕缕，火光荧荧，在我们看来简直就是个安乐家了。这时夜已透黑，看来就要这样一直黑到天明，我们仅有的一点光亮似乎不是来自天空，而是来自河上，一浆又一浆的，搅动着那寥寥几颗倒映在水里的寒星。
[注释]：
council: an assembly of persons called together for consultation, deliberation, or discussion 讨
论会议
tavern: an inn for travelers 酒馆，客栈
plied their oars ：使劲划起桨来
collier: a coal ship 运煤船
gallery-fire：厨房
Great Expectations，意思是指一笔遗产，中文译为“远大前程”（有的译作“孤星血泪”）。这个译名给读者一种印象，即作品的主人公是有远大前程的。而事实上，这个“远大前程”是带讽刺意义的，这部作品的主题决非仅仅是写孤儿皮普想当上等人的理想幻灭的故事，如果这样理解，就领会错了狄更斯创作
这部作品的意义。皮普生活在姐姐家里，生活艰苦，他的理想是当一名像姐夫一样的铁匠，他没有想当上等人。后来他之所以想当上等人是因为环境的改变。狄更斯的哲学思想之一是环境对人思想的影响，不同的环境可以造就出不同的人。
Anthrax，Another Terrorist Weapon 炭疽热，恐怖分子的又一种武器 When one newspaper photo editor in Florida died of anthrax and another tested positive, people wondered if this was connected to the attacks of September 11. More cases are appearing around the U.S., but the FBI has yet to determine if these are terrorist attacks. However, recent events have brought one question to the minds of many—what is anthrax?
Anthrax is a disease that normally infects livestock killing almost every animal that contracts the disease. Humans that come into contact with these animals or their hides on a regular basis, such as ranchers, are at the greatest risk of getting this disease. This might be why anthrax is also known as the wool sorter’s disease.
Anthrax usually enters the body through the skin or by breathing. It cannot be spread from person to person, so it is not contagious. Anthrax is invisible to the naked eye and it has no smell or taste. The early symptoms of this disease are similar to those of the common cold. There is a vaccine for it that involves six shots. If it is caught in early stages, anthrax can be treated with antibiotics.
Anthrax, unlike the common cold, is not something that people catch every day. But if someone wanted to intentionally spread the disease, that’s another story.
[注释]：
editor: one who edits, especially as an occupation 编辑，编者
anthrax: an infectious, usually fatal disease characterized by ulcerative skin lesions 炭疽热（一种
传染病，由炭疽杆菌感染引起。通过与带病毒的动物部位如毛发、粪便、毛皮接触后可以
传染给人，病症为皮肤溃烂损伤）
infect: to invade and produce infection in 传染，感染
livestock: domestic animals 家畜，牲畜
contract: to acquire or incur 感染
rancher: one that owns or manages a ranch 牧场(或农场)主，农场工人
sorter: to arrange according to class, kind, or size; classify 从事分类的人，这里指皮毛工人 contagious: 传染性的，会感染的
invisible: 看不见的，无形的
naked: having no covering 无保护的，无遮盖的
symptom: a characteristic sign or indication of the existence of something else 症状，征兆 vaccine: 疫苗
antibiotic: 抗生素, 抗生学
intentionally: done deliberately; intended 有意地,故意地
The Garden of Eden 伊甸园 GOD had made a beautiful garden for the first man and woman to live in. The garden, called Eden, was full of many wonderful things. Flowers as beautiful to look at as they were to smell grew everywhere. Soft, green grass grew under foot. The joyful music of songbirds drifted across gentle, warm breezes. A clear flowing stream gave cool, fresh water to drink, while hanging from the limbs of the many trees were all sorts of delicious fruits. Tasty vegetables grew free for the gathering. In the Garden of Eden were also all manner of animals, both large and small. Adam and Eve didn’t have to be afraid of any of the beasts, for all the animals were their friends. GOD told the man and woman that it was their job to take care of their new home. He also told them that two special trees grew in the garden. One was the Tree of Life. The other was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
GOD told them, “You may eat the fruit that grows on all the trees except for one. You mustn’t touch the fruit that grows on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. If you eat the fruit that grows on that tree you will die.”
[注释]：
Eden: the garden that was the first home of Adam and Eve (圣经)伊甸园，乐园
drift: something moving along in a current of air or water 飘；漂流
breeze: a light current of air; a gentle wind 微风
Adam and Eve:亚当和夏娃(《圣经》中的人物，所谓的人类始祖)
Hallowe’en 万圣节
Hallowe’en is a popular festival in many countries all over the world, and every year it seems to get bigger.
It’s getting dark earlier and it’s starting to get cold. Christmas is still a long way away. We need something to cheer us up and take our minds of the fact that winter is nearly here. See how much you know about the traditional festival of Hallowe’en.
The origins of the name
The festival of Hallowe’en has its roots in Celtic and Roman traditions. Over 2,000 years ago the Celts in Britain, Ireland and parts of France celebrated Samhain to mark the beginning of winter. When the Romans invaded, they merged this with Feralia, their celebration of the passing of the dead. As Christianity spread, the Church tried to replace these pagan feasts with official Church holy days. One of these was November 1. It was called “All Hallows”, and October 31 was known as “All Hallows’ Eve”, and then Hallowe’en.
Hallowe’en traditions
In the past there was a tradition called “souling”. Poor people went around houses asking for food. In exchange, they promised to say prayers for the dead. People no longer go souling, but the habit has been transformed into a modern Hallowe’en game for children in America, who dress up as ghosts, witches and monsters and go around people’s houses.
Witches
Hallowe’en wouldn’t be fun without witches. Witches have always been part of popular folklore. Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” opens with three witches. A witch was someone — usually a woman— who had special powers and had dealings with the devil. The American town, Salem, is famous for the “witchcraft trials”, which took place there in 1692.
Pumpkins
The pumpkin has become a symbol of Hallowe’en. People
empty a pumpkin, cut a face into the side, and put a
candle inside to make a lamp. It’s known as a Jack
O’ Lantern, from a story about a man called Jack, who
made a deal with the devil.
Animals
Black cats, frogs, mice and spiders are just some of
the animals associated with Hallowe’en. Generally,
the more unpleasant the animal, the stronger the Hallowe’en connection. Nocturnal animals like bats are particular favourites, and if, as is the case with vampire bats, they like drinking blood, they are high on the Hallowe’en list.
[注释]：
Hallowe’en: 万圣节前夕（10 月31 日夜）
Celtic and Roman traditions: 在古代，凯尔特人要在夏末举行仪式感谢上苍和太阳的恩惠。 当时的占卜者点燃灯笼并施巫术以驱赶据说在四周游荡的妖魔鬼怪。后来，凯尔特人的
10 月31 日与罗马人用果仁和苹果来庆祝的丰收节融合了。
Samhain：也就是古代凯尔特人庆祝的节日（10 月31 日），意为“夏末”
merge: to blend together, especially in gradual stages 融合
Feralia：古代的一个宗教节日
pagan: one who has no religion 异教徒
witch: a woman popularly believed to have supernatural powers and practice sorcery, and often believed to be aided by spirits or a familiar 巫师，女巫
monster: 怪物，妖怪
folklore: the traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people, transmitted orally 民间
传说
Macbeth: king of Scotland 麦克白 (莎士比亚悲剧《麦克白》中的主人公)
Salem: 塞勒姆，美国东北部城市，因1692 巫师审判及N.霍桑的“匕墙之房”而著名
pumpkin: a coarse, trailing vine (Cucurbita pepo) widely cultivated for its fruit 南瓜 spider: 蜘蛛
nocturnal: of, relating to, or occurring in the night 夜的，夜曲的
vampire: a reanimated corpse that is believed to rise from the grave at night to suck the blood of
sleeping people 吸血鬼
万圣节期间，许多公共场所乃至居家院落，都会布置上很多装饰，诸如各式鬼怪、南瓜灯、黑猫以及巫婆的扫帚之类。孩子们则会穿上不同的万圣节服装，拎着南瓜灯挨家挨户地敲门并说“trick or treat”，向主人讨糖（或其他小东西）。给的话就是“treat”(请客)，不给的话他们就会用“trick”（砸玻璃、涂门啊之类恶作剧）来捣乱。 Two Peoms
《恬静的女孩》是一首非常有趣的短诗，本诗的前三行说：“我想把你比作没有星星的夜晚，要不是你的眼睛。”事实上，作者把姑娘的美目比作夜空的明星；后三行说：“我想把你比作无梦的睡眠，要不是你的歌声。”其实是形容姑娘甜美的歌声宛如天籁，让人如痴如醉。用反衬的手法写出了恬静姑娘的风采：她平静如水，明眸善睐；她轻柔如歌，使人心醉..
Quiet Girl
I would liken you
To a night without stars
Were it not for your eyes.
I would liken you
To a sleep without dreams
Were it not for your songs.
—— Langston Hughes
My People
The night is beautiful,
So the faces of my people.
The stars are beautiful,
So the eyes of my people.
Beautiful, also, is the sun.
Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.
—— Langston Hughes
[注释]：
liken: to see, mention, or show as similar; compare 常与to 连用，表示“把„„比作”的意思。 were: were it not for 是典型的虚拟语气，它的另外一种形式是If it were not for，表示“如果 不是„„”的意思。与事实相反，是一种假设的状况，其中的动词用过去时。
Langston Hughes，兰斯顿·休斯（1902—1967），美国杰出的黑人诗人，黑人文艺复兴运动
的卓越领导者，代表作品是《萎靡的布鲁斯》。他的诗大多是表现黑人群众的思想感情。所选的两首诗歌都是休斯脍炙人口的作品。
A Courageous Leader 勇敢的领袖
Koffi Annan has a tough job. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, he has made it his goal to fight against poverty, disease and war in the world. He has called upon the nations of the world to step in and try to solve these problems together. In Annan’s view, seeing a crime and failing to prevent it is as bad as committing the crime. He believes that the idea that states can do as they please within their borders is nonsense. Many people support Annan’s goals, but wonder if they are realistic. The United Nations has little power to act on its own. It has to receive permission from its member nations, but powerful countries like the United States often disagree with, and sometimes actively oppose, Annan’s ideas.
Despite the difficulties, Annan has succeeded in restoring a sense of respect to the United Nations. Though he speaks with a soft voice, and is known at the United Nations for being polite and elegant, he is also often praised for his toughness and courage. Annan’s goals may be difficult to achieve, but that hasn’t kept him from trying. Courage, he believes, will win out over cowardice in the end.
[注释]：
courageous: having or characterized by courage; valiant 勇敢的
poverty: the state of being poor; lack of the means of providing material needs or comforts 贫
穷，贫困
step in: 走进，干涉
commit: to do, perform, or perpetrate 犯（罪）
border: the line or frontier area separating political divisions or geographic regions; a boundary
边界，国界
realistic: of or relating to the representation of objects, actions, or social conditions as they
actually are 现实(主义)的
permission: consent, especially formal consent; authorization 许可
restore: to bring back to an original condition 恢复，使回复
elegant: characterized by or exhibiting refined, tasteful beauty of manner, form, or style 文雅的，
端庄的，雅致的
toughness: able to withstand great strain without tearing or breaking; strong and resilient 坚韧，
韧性
cowardice: ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain 怯懦，胆小
科菲·安南 1938 年4 月8 日生于加纳，先后在加纳和美国高等学府就读，获经济学学士和管理学硕士学位。1962 年进入联合国工作，先后在联合国非洲经济委员会、联合国总部、联合国日内瓦办事处、联合国难民署和世界卫生组织等部门工作。1996 年12 月17 日，第51 届联大任命安南为联合国第七任秘书长。2001年6 月26 日，第56 届联大批准安南连任，任期至2006 年12 月31 日。
Antelope and Lion 羚羊和狮子 In Africa, when the antelope wakes up every morning, the first thing that comes to his mind is“, I must be able to run faster than the fastest lion, or I will be killed by a lion.” And at just the same time, the lion wakes out of his dream, and the first thing flashing into his mind
is, “I must be able to catch up with the slowest antelope; otherwise I will starve to death.” So, almost at the same moment both the antelope and the lion jump to their feet, and start running toward the rising sun.
Such is life — whether you are an antelope or a lion, you ought to dash forward without hesitation when the sun rises.
[注释]：
antelope: 羚羊
flash: to cause (light) to appear suddenly or in intermittent bursts 闪现，闪光
hesitation: a pause or faltering in speech 犹豫，踌躇
Habit 习惯
Like everyone else, I have good and bad habits. Most of my habits don’t have a very serious effect on my daily life. Unfortunately, one of them does.
I am a procrastinator. I always put off doing things until the last possible moment. I picked up this bad habit from my brother. This habit really causes me problem, especially when I have many assignments due about the same time. My life seems to run in cycles of leisurely heaven and incredibly frantic hell. I wish I could get rid of this terrible habit.
[注释]：
procrastinator : to put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness 拖
延者，拖拉的人
incredibly : so implausible as to elicit disbelief 不能相信地，难以置信地
frantic: highly excited with strong emotion or frustration; frenzied 狂乱的，疯狂的
Learn Constantly 不断学习 Learning intelligibly is one of the characteristics that distinguish humans from other animals. In other words, learning spontaneously is one of man’s unique traits. Throughout the history, human have even learned acculturation, handing down their cultural heritages from generation to generation. Therefore, we can conclude that all forms of learning, inclusive of the acquisition of skill, the shaping of views, the absorption of knowledge, take a very essential part in the course of human civilization.
Once learning stops, vegetation arises. To each of us, the process of learning may be full of frustrations and boredom, yet the fruit is often sweet and satisfactory. In terms of learning, I am convinced that it’s better late than never. In this knowledge explosion era, in particular, no one should withstand the trend and concept of “lifelong learning”. The more efforts we make to learn, the more we can keep life, nature and the universe in perspective. Learning is the surest way to eternal joy.
[注释]：
intelligibly: capable of being understood 易理解地
distinguish: to perceive as being different or distinct 区别，辨别
spontaneously: happening or arising without apparent external cause; self-generated 自然地，本
能地
acculturation: the modification of the culture of a group or an individual as a result of contact with a different culture 文化适应，文化传入
heritage: something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition 传统 acquisition: the act of acquiring 获得
absorption: a state of mental concentration 吸收
civilization: cultural or intellectual refinement; good taste 文明，文化，文明社会
frustration: the act of frustrating or an instance of being frustrated 挫败，挫折，受挫 boredom: the condition of being bored; ennui 厌倦
convince: to bring by the use of argument or evidence to firm belief or a course of action (使)确
信，深信
explosion: a violent bursting as a result of internal pressure 爆发，发出，爆炸
withstand: to resist or endure successfully 抵挡，经受住
surest ： sure 的最高级
eternal: being without beginning or end; existing outside of time 永恒的，永远的
The Fox and the Rooster 狐狸和雄鸡
Once there was a fox sneaked into a farm and grabbed a prize rooster.
The farmer saw him and raised the alarm to his dogs, and they started chasing the thief. The fox, though he was holding the rooster in his mouth, was running very fast.
“Get him! Get him!” shouted the farmer to his dogs.
“No!” suddenly screamed the rooster. “Don’t come near me!”
“My master was very cruel to me,” explained the rooster to the fox.
“Tell him to stay away from me.”
The fox was delighted. “He wants you to stay away from him!” he shouted at the farmer, in the process releasing his hold on the rooster.
The rooster flew up into a tree and stayed there till he was rescued by his master.
Think twice before you open your mouth to speak.
[注释]：
sneak: to go or move in a quiet, stealthy way 溜
rooster: cock 雄禽，公鸡
grab: to take or grasp suddenly 夺取，抓住
rescue: to set free, as from danger 救出
Do You Fear the Wind 你可害怕风 Do you fear the force of the wind,
The slash of the rain?
Go face them and fight them,
Be savage again.
Go hungry and cold like the wolf,
Go wade like the crane:
The palms of your hands will thicken,
The skin of your cheek will tan,
You’ll grow ragged and weary and swarthy,
But you’ll walk like a man!
—— Hamlin Garland
[注释]：
slash: to cut or form by cutting with forceful sweeping strokes 抽打
savage: not civilized; barbaric 野蛮的，凶猛的
wade: 跋涉，费力行走
crane: 鹤；起重机
palm: the inner surface of the hand that extends from the wrist to the base of the fingers 手掌
tan: to make brown by exposure to the sun 晒黑，晒成褐色
ragged: having an irregular surface or edge; uneven or jagged in outline 粗糙的
weary: causing fatigue; tiresome 疲倦的，厌倦的
swarthy: having a dark complexion or color 黑黝黝的, 浅黑的 The Price of Miracle 奇迹的价格
Tess was a precocious eight-year-old girl when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn’t have the money for the doctor’s bills and their house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no one to loan them the money. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, “Only a miracle can save him now.”
Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be absolutely exact. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to the pharmacy with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good.
Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! “And what do you want?” the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. “I’m talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages,” he said without waiting for a reply to his question.
“Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,” Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone, “He’s really, really sick ... and I want to buy a miracle.”
“I beg your pardon?” said the pharmacist.
“His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?”
“We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I can’t help you,” the pharmacist said, softening a little.
“Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.”
The pharmacist’s brother was a well-dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?”
“I don’t know,” Tess replied with her eyes welling up, “I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.”
“How much do you have?” asked the man from Chicago. “One dollar and eleven cents,” Tess answered barely audibly, “And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.”
“Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the man, “A dollar and eleven cents — the exact price of a miracle for your little brother.”
He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said, “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”
That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and doing well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. “That
surgery,” her Mom whispered, “was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?”
Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost—one dollar and eleven cents—plus the faith of a little child.
[注释]：
precocious: 早熟的
desperation: the condition of being desperate 绝望
pharmacist: 药剂师
soften: to make less harsh, strident, or critical 变温和
audibly: 可听见地，听得清清楚楚地
mitten: (拇指分开的)两指手套; 露指长手套
neurosurgery: 神经外科
The End of A Dream
Tired of sleeping on the floor, a young man in Teheran saved up for years to buy a real bed. For the first time in his life, he became the proud owner of a bed which had springs and a mattress. Because the weather was very hot, he carried the bed on to the roof of his house. He slept very well for the first two nights, but on the third night, a storm blew up. A gust of wind swept the bed off the roof and sent it crashing into the courtyard below. The young man did not wake up until the bed had struck the ground. Although the bed was smashed to pieces, the man was
miraculously unhurt. When he woke up, he was still on the mattress. Glancing at the bits of wood and metal that lay around him, the man sadly picked up the mattress and carried it into his house. After he had put it on the floor, he promptly went to sleep again.
[注释]：tired: impatient; bored 厌烦的
Teheran: 德黑兰(伊朗首都)
spring: to move suddenly on or as if on a spring 弹簧
mattress: 床垫
gust: a strong, abrupt rush of wind 一阵风
sweep: to clean or clear, as of dirt, with or as if with a broom or brush 扫，刮
courtyard: an open space surrounded by walls or buildings, adjoining or within a building such as
a large house or housing complex 院子
smash: to break (something) into pieces suddenly, noisily, and violently; shatter 碰碎，摔碎 miraculously: able to work miracles 奇迹般地
unhurt: 没有受伤的
glance: to direct the gaze briefly 扫视
promptly: 迅速地
A Strange Present 一件奇怪的礼物
One day, when I was 14, my uncle sent me a pink T-shirt from ST. Louis, Missouri as my birthday present. On a beautiful Sunday morning, I wore this pink T-shirt and walked gently to the market. On the way, some boys whistled at me. I became very nervous, so I walked faster and more properly with more decorum, but more and more boys whistled at me later. Therefore, I couldn’t help but
become more agitated. Suddenly, I turned back and run to my home. I asked my mother, “Why did the boys whistled at me?” My mother looked at my T-shirt with a smile and said nothing. Then I turned to my father. “Why did the boys whistle at me?”My father looked at my beautiful new T-shirt and then laughingly asked, “Are you lonely?” Suddenly, I realized why the boys were whistling at me. The message on my pink T-shirt was“I am lonely”.
[注释]：
whistle: a small wind instrument for making whistling sounds by means of the breath 口哨 properly: characterized by appropriateness or suitability; fitting 恰当的
decorum: the conventions of polite behavior 礼貌
agitated: 激动的，表现不安的
Vacations in Space
Want a ride in a spaceship? It will cost you about 20 million US dollars. At least that’s what Dennis Tito recently paid for a trip to the International Space Station. What if you aren’t rich, but still want to travel in space? Don’t worry. Research supported by NASA might make your dream come true. Scientists are refining a process that, if successful, will enable rockets to take off from the back of an airplane. If people do end up taking vacations in space, don’t worry about finding somewhere to stay. Businessmen like British Richard Branson are already thinking about building hotels out there.
[注释]：
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (美国)
国家航空航天局；美国航天及太空总署
end up: 结束；告终
Much to Live For 生命的追求 There is so much I have not been, so much I have not seen. I have not thought and have not done or felt enough—the early sun, rain and the seasonal delight of flocks of ducks and geese in flight, the mysteries of late-at-night. I still need time to read a book, write poems, paint a picture, look at scenes and faces dear to me. There is something more to be of value—something I should find within myself—as peace of mind, patience, grace and being kind. I shall take and I shall give, while yet, there is so much to live for—rainbows, stars that gleam, the fields, the hills, the hope, the dreams, the truth that one must seek. I’ll stay here—treasure every day and love the world in my own way!
Yao Ming：New Center Style 姚明：新式中锋 If 20 years ago you asked the average American basketball fan if a Chinese man could play center for an NBA team, his answer might have sounded something like this: “Ha ha. No, he’d be too short!” But now, the doubters are silent. Who closed their mouths? Houston Rockets,
2.26-meter-tall center Yao Ming, from China. Yao Ming grew up in a family of basketball players. When he was 12, Yao Ming started going to an athletics academy outside of Shanghai and later spent a lot of time studying NBA games televised in China. All this has paid off. Yao’s first NBA honor was his ranking as number-one draft pick, and he’s been elected for a Rookie-of-the-Month award. Yao Ming has a style different from those of tall centers in the past. He rarely goes for the flashy slams. He’d rather show off his silk-smooth free-throw shots, or use his height to pop in jump shots from the three-point line.
[注释]：
doubter: 持怀疑态度的人
athletics: activities, such as sports, exercises, and games, that require physical skill 体育运动
academy: 学院
televise: to broadcast or be broadcast by television （电视）播放
pay off：还清，赢利
ranking: of the highest rank 排名
draft: a system in which the exclusive rights to new players are distributed among professional teams （美国）职业运动的选秀
pick: the act of selecting or choosing; choice 挑选
rookie: a first-year player, especially in a professional sport 新秀选手
flashy: cheap and showy; gaudy 花哨的，华丽的
slam: to hit something with force; crash 灌篮
show off：炫耀
pop in：投入
Tall Tale 吹牛
A friend told me this story. He can stretch the truth a bit, so I’m not sure whether to believe him. But on the other hand, truth can be stranger than fiction! What do you think?
Two brothers were watching a horror film on video late one night. One brother dozed off and dreamed that he was being chased by the crazy man from the movie, who was trying to kill him. In the dream, he hid in a cupboard. There was no sound except his heart pounding, and he had no idea where his crazed captor was. He was terrified! At that moment, the video finished, and his brother put his hand on the shoulder of his sleeping sibling to wake him. The shock at that tense moment was enough that the sleeping brother suffered a massive heart attack and died instantly.
注释：
stretch ... a bit：夸大事实，言过其实
horror film：恐怖电影
doze off：打瞌睡
cupboard: a closet or cabinet, usually with shelves for storing food, crockery, and utensils 橱柜
pounding: 跳动声，重击声
captor: one that takes another as a captive 捕捉者
terrified: deeply afraid 恐惧的
sibling: one of two or more individuals having one or both parents in common; a brother or sister 兄弟，姐妹 massive heart attack：严重的心脏病
Nanotechnology：Beyond Your Wildest Dreams 纳米科技，超越终极想
Nanotechnology is the science of moving individual atoms around and putting them precisely where we want. Since everything is composed of atoms, by doing this we can, in theory, construct anything we want. For example, by moving around the atoms in a piece of coal, we could create a diamond.
Currently, nanotechnology is still quite crude. Scientists can alter the properties of things like plastics or cloth to make them harder or softer or more durable, but they can’t build something new from a collection of atoms. Why? Well, because things are made up of billions of atoms and it takes too long to move them around.
So, the next big step in nanotechnology will be building machines that can do this automatically. Once we have these we should be able to make almost anything with no waste and no pollution, at very little cost.
Scientists think that the first “Universal Assembler” might be built in around 15 years.
[注释]：
nanotechnology: 纳米技术
individual: of or relating to an individual, especially a single human being 个别的，单 独的，个人的
atom: a part or particle considered to be an irreducible constituent of a specified
system 原子
precisely: in a precise manner 准确地；明确地
be composed of: 由„„组成，由„„构成
construct: to form by assembling or combining parts; build 建造
currently: belonging to the present time目前
crude: unripe or immature 未成熟的
alter: to change or become different 改变
property: a characteristic trait or peculiarity, especially one serving to define or describe its
possessor 特性，属性
durable: capable of withstanding wear and tear or decay 耐久的
billion: 十亿(的)
Jimmy：Picture Books for Adults 几米：画给大人看的漫画 Artists and authors use many different ways to talk about society; many write novels, while others paint pictures. An artist in Taipei has found a different way to talk about life, people, and the problems we all face. His name is Jimmy Liao, and he creates illustrated books.
Jimmy is both an illustrator and an author. He draws all of the colorful pictures in his books and writes all of the storylines. His small paperback books usually have only one or two lines of text per page, the rest being filled by his cute, simple drawings. Simplicity is one of Jimmy’s strong points; he doesn’t lose the reader in complex plots or dialogues.
Jimmy’s books speak to readers about the ups and downs of living in the modern world. One of his most popular stories, Turning Left, Turning Right, tells of a short romance between a couple that live next to each other. The lonely pair meet one day in the park and immediately fall in love. When they leave each other at the end of a fun-filled day, they exchange telephone numbers, but the rain causes the numbers to become illegible. They are unable to contact each other, and soon return to their lonely lives.
Sad, right? Don’t start crying yet; there’s a catch to the story. You see, this man and woman actually live in the same building! The problem is, when they leave their apartments, one always turns to the left, while the other always turns to the right. The result is that they never realize they are neighbors. The lesson of the story? Life is in the details: things that seem small and insignificant can actually turn out to be important. And this is another of Jimmy’s talents: he shows his readers how the “little things” in life are often more important than we realize.
[注释]：
illustrate: 画插图
illustrator: 插图画家
storyline: 故事情节，故事大纲
paperback: a book having a flexible paper binding 平装本，纸面本
drawing: the art of representing objects or forms on a surface chiefly by means of lines 线条 画
simplicity: the property, condition, or quality of being simple or uncombined 简单
plot: the plan of events or main story in a narrative or drama 情节
ups and downs：起起落落
romance: a love affair 恋爱，罗曼史
illegible: not legible or decipherable 无法辨认的，字迹不清的
contact: to get in touch with; communicate with 联络，联系
catch: a tricky or previously unsuspected condition or drawback 圈套，陷阱
insignificant: lacking in importance; trivial 无意义的，微小的
talent: a marked innate ability, as for artistic accomplishment 才能
A Tale of Two Cities(excerpt) 双城记(节选) It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness; it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity; it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness; it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair; we had everything before us, we had nothing before us; we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.
—— Charles Dickens
[注释]：
wisdom: a wise outlook, plan, or course of action 智慧，明智的行为，学识
epoch: a particular period of history, especially one considered remarkable or noteworthy age, era,
period 新纪元，时代，时期
incredulity: the state or quality of being incredulous; disbelief 怀疑
despair: to lose all hope 绝望，失望
查尔斯·狄更斯（1812—1870） ，英国大名鼎鼎的作家，是 19 世纪英国现实主义文学的主要代表。他笔耕一生，靠勤奋和汗水创作出《大卫·科波菲尔》 、《双城记》等世界名著。他的作品以妙趣横生的幽默、细致入微的心理分析以及现实主义描写与浪漫主义气氛的有机结合而著称。
Two Poems 诗两首
下面是两首著名的小诗。桑德堡的短诗《雾》曾在各种媒体上广为传播，是美国家喻户晓的名作。而在米莱创作的许多优美的抒情诗中，被引用最频繁的是《第一颗无花果》。
Fog
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
—— Carl Sandburg
First Fig
My candle burns at both ends,
It will not last the night,
But ah my foes and oh my friends
It gives a lovely light.
—— Edna St. Vincent Millay
[注释]：
harbor: a sheltered part of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for ships 海港 haunch: the hip, buttock, and upper thigh in human beings and animals 腰
fig: any of several trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus, especially F. carica, native to the Mediterranean region and widely cultivated for its edible multiple fruit 无花果
candle: readily bent; pliant 柔软的
Youth 青春 Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.
Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of sixty more than a boy of twenty. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.
Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child-like appetite of what’s next, and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the infinite, so long are you young.
When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at twenty, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch the waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at eighty.
—— Samuel Ullman
[注释]：
rosy cheeks: 玫瑰花般的脸颊
supple: readily bent; pliant 柔软的
vigor : physical or mental strength, energy, or force 精力，活力
temperamental : excessively sensitive or irritable; moody 心情变化快的，喜怒无常的 predominance : the state or quality of being predominant; preponderance 优势
timidity : shy 胆怯的，害羞的
appetite : 食欲，胃口，欲望，爱好
desert : 放弃，遗弃
wrinkle: to draw up into wrinkles; pucker 起皱
enthusiasm : great excitement for or interest in a subject or cause 狂热，热心，积极性 wireless : 无线的
infinite : having no limits 无限的，无穷的
aerial : 天线
[注释]：
harbor: a sheltered part of a body of water deep enough to provide anchorage for ships 海港 haunch: the hip, buttock, and upper thigh in human beings and animals 腰
fig: any of several trees or shrubs of the genus Ficus, especially F. carica, native to the Mediterranean region and widely cultivated for its edible multiple fruit 无花果
candle: readily bent; pliant 柔软的
Youth 青春 Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.
Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of sixty more than a boy of twenty. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.
Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.
Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child-like appetite of what’s next, and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the infinite, so long are you young.
When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at twenty, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch the waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at eighty.
—— Samuel Ullman
[注释]：
rosy cheeks: 玫瑰花般的脸颊
supple: readily bent; pliant 柔软的
vigor : physical or mental strength, energy, or force 精力，活力
temperamental : excessively sensitive or irritable; moody 心情变化快的，喜怒无常的
predominance : the state or quality of being predominant; preponderance 优势
timidity : shy 胆怯的，害羞的
appetite : 食欲，胃口，欲望，爱好
desert : 放弃，遗弃
wrinkle: to draw up into wrinkles; pucker 起皱
enthusiasm : great excitement for or interest in a subject or cause 狂热，热心，积极性 wireless : 无线的
infinite : having no limits 无限的，无穷的
aerial : 天线
cynicism: a scornful, bitterly mocking comment or act 玩世不恭，冷嘲热讽
pessimism: a tendency to stress the negative or unfavorable possible view 悲观，悲观主义 optimism: a tendency to expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most hopeful aspects of
a situation 乐观，乐观主义
塞缪尔·厄尔曼，1840 年生于德国，童年时移居美国。他在古稀之年才开始写作，是一个了不起的人。（本文由于手抄流传等多种原因，存在多个版本，这里采用作者原文。）
The Mountian Story 大山的故事 A son and his father were walking on the mountains.
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams,“AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain, “AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!” Curious, he yells, “Who are you?”
He receives the answer, “Who are you?”
Angered at the response, he screams, “Coward!”
He receives the answer, “Coward!”
He looks to his father and asks, “What’s going on?”
The father smiles and says, “My son, pay attention.”
And then he screams to the mountain, “I admire you!”
The voice answers, “I admire you!”
Again the man screams, “You are a champion!”
The voice answers, “You are a champion!”
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains, “People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.
It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your
competence. This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life; Life will give you back everything you have given to it.”
YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT’S A REFLECTION OF YOU!
[注释]：
scream: to make a loud, piercing sound 喊叫，尖叫
coward: one who shows ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain 懦夫，胆小的人
echo: to repeat (a sound) by the reflection of sound waves from a surface 回声
competence: a specific range of skill, knowledge, or ability 能力
coincidence: a sequence of events that although accidental seems to have been planned or arranged 巧合
Two Fables 寓言两则、
The Donkey and the Grasshopper
A donkey heard some grasshoppers chirping. He was enchanted and also wanted to possess their charming melody.
He asked, “What food do you eat to give you such beautiful voices?” They replied, “The dew.”
The donkey then decided that he would only eat dew. In a short time, he died of hunger.
The Kingdom of the Lion
The animals of the forest had a lion as their king. He was neither cruel, nor tyrannical, but
a just and gentle king.
As king, he made a royal proclamation for a general assembly of all the animals. He passed a law, stating, “All animals will now live together in perfect peace and friendship. The wolf and the lamb, the cat and the bird, the tiger and the deer, the fox and the rabbit, will no longer be
enemies.”
The rabbit said, “ Oh, how I have longed to see this day, in which the weak will be equal to
the strong.” And after saying this, he ran for his life.
[注释]：
donkey: the act of proclaiming or the condition of being proclaimed 宣布
assembly: 集合，大会，大集会
Does It Make a Difference 这样做有用
An old man was walking along the beach one evening at low tide. He noticed that thousands of starfish had been stranded on the sand by the receding waters. In the course of his walk he came upon a young man who was picking up some of the starfish and throwing them back into the sea.
“What are you doing?” the old man asked.
“Oh, just saving some starfish,” the young man replied.
“Well, you’re a fool,” the old man told him.
“Really?” replied the young man, “What makes you say so?”
“Well, just look at all the starfish on this beach. There are thousands of them.”
The old man looked around and then at the young man. “You don’t have the time nor the energy to save all of them. Your saving a few starfish is nice, but in the larger scheme of things it’s ridiculous. What difference could you possibly make?”
The young man looked at the old man for a moment. Then wordlessly, he bent down, picked up a starfish, and threw it far out into the water.
“Well,” he said, putting his hands on his hips in satisfaction, “I made a big difference to that one.”
And he tossed another into the ocean, “and this one”, tossed, “and this one...”
[注释]：
starfish : 海星
strand: 搁浅，使搁浅
recede: to move back or away from a limit, point, or mark 后退
toss: the act of tossing or the condition of being tossed 投，掷
Jane Eyre(excerpt) 简爱(节选)
"No， you must stay! I swear it--and the oath shall be kept."
"I tell you I must go!" I retorted, roused to something like passion."
"Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?--a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!--I have as much soul as you,--and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;--it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God's feet, equal,--as we are!"
—— Charlotte Bronte
[注释]：
swear: to make a solemn promise; vow 发誓
oath: the words or formula of such a declaration or promise 誓言
retort: to present a counterargument 反驳，反击
automaton: a self-operating machine or mechanism, especially a robot 机器人
morsel: a small amount; a piece (食物)一口，少量
snatch: to grasp or seize hastily, eagerly, or suddenly 攫取
dash: to splash; bespatter 泼溅
obscure: of undistinguished or humble station or reputation 身份卑微的
conventionality: the state, quality or character of being conventional 惯例，俗套，老一套
mortal: of or relating to humankind; human 人类的
grave: an excavation for the interment of a corpse 墓穴，坟墓
夏洛蒂·勃朗特的《简·爱》通过简·爱的自述，描绘了一个出身贫苦家庭、长相平凡、无依无靠的女家庭教师的曲折遭遇。简，成为纯洁、热情、坦率、热爱真理、敢于追求幸福的女性的象征，因而形象鲜明。作品成功之处还在于从作者对人性的描述中，我们隐约看到了自己——卑劣或美丽的人性，而觉得心有戚戚焉。
Rave the Day 锐舞终日 Rave”一词也算个时尚字眼，那么何为“Rave party”，仔细看看下面的短文。
It’s four in the morning. Outside, the night is quiet, and most people have been asleep for hours. Inside the club it’s a different story. It could be a club in Los Angeles or London, Tel Aviv or Shanghai, and its walls are vibrating. The thumping techno beat of the music is that loud, and it is
driving and energizing the dancers in the club. Arms flail, heads bounce up and down, and somebody is waving a pair of green neon glow sticks in the air. They’ve been dancing like this for hours, and they don’t plan to quit any time soon. When they finally leave the club, the sun will be up. They’ll be sweaty and exhausted, but also exhilarated, and happy. It’s a rave.
Simply defined, a rave is a party — often an all-night-long party —at which some form of electronic, synthesized music is played. The music is usually played by a DJ (deejay), who might specialize in one of the many varieties of electronica — techno, house, trance, ambient, hardcore, jungle, or drum and bass. Or he might play a little of everything, guiding the crowd to find the right feeling, and to bring the music and all the dancers into happy.
[注释]：
vibrate: to cause to tremble or quiver (使)摇摆
thump: to hit or fall in such a way as to produce a thump; pound 砰然地响
beat: a regular, rhythmical unit of time 拍子
energize: to give energy to; activate or invigorate 使活跃，给予精力
flail: to wave or swing vigorously; thrash 挥动，用力打
bounce: to move jerkily; bump 剧烈运动
neon: ［化］氖
exhilarate: 使高兴，使愉快
define: to state the precise meaning of (a word or sense of a word, for example) 定义 synthesize: to form a synthesis 综合
specialize: to pursue a special activity, occupation, or field of study 专攻，专门研究 variety: the quality or condition of being various or varied; diversity 变化，多样性
电子音乐是西方乐坛较为流行和活跃的音乐形式，最常见的有二十多种。
house(music)： 浩室，又译作货仓音乐。是一种将迪斯科电子乐、电子鼓和蓝调音乐混音在一起的音乐形式，是流行舞曲的代表。
techno： 科技，又译作高科技音乐。是house 之后发展出来的一种电子混音音乐形式，其混音与浩室音乐类似，是更平缓的高科技电子音效舞曲。
trance： 迷幻，又译作迷情音乐。是继（hard）techno 之后出现的最具商业化的舞曲，其节奏更快更硬并加入一些钢琴速弹和迷幻效果的音效，产生恍惚迷幻的意境。
ambient： 氛围，又译作情境音乐。通过节奏的变换不断营造出多层次的空间感，音乐似乎缭绕不绝，却又模糊不清。
hardcore： 碎石，本为“硬核”。是一种改良techno 的，节奏激烈、速度极快的热舞音乐。
jungle： 丛林音乐。一种融合嘻哈音乐、舞曲和techno 音乐，节奏急骤，带有深沉邈远低
音拍的音乐。
drum and bass： 暂译作鼓与低音。由丛林音乐发展而来，但节奏稍慢，注重将不同的电子鼓声融入到音乐中，并突出低音节拍的深沉邈远。
Winner Never Quit 成功者决不放弃 A little girl—the 20th of 22 children, was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful.
When she was 4 years old, she contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralysed left leg.
At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it.
By 13 she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last.
For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last.
Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running.
One day she actually won a race, and then another. From then on she won every race she entered.
Eventually this little girl—Wilma Rudolph, went on to win three Olympic gold medals.
Winner never quit!
[注释]：
prematurely: 早产地
pneumonia: 肺炎
scarlet fever：猩红热
paralyse: to affect with paralysis; cause to be paralytic 使麻痹；引起瘫痪
l Persistence 毅力
Persistence is the key to success, whether for a single person or an organization. The lack of it would mean failure in reaching a certain goal. Success seldom comes easily on the first try. What separates the successful from the unsuccessful is persistence. Successful people also fail from time to time, but they don’t let their failure defeat their spirit. Successful people learn from defeats, revise their strategy as needed and try again and again until they succeed. Unsuccessful people try something once or twice and when it fails, they give up, usually passing
the blame on to someone or something else, and learn nothing from their own experience.
Successful people expect periodic defeats, learn what went wrong and why, don’t waste looking for someone to blame, make necessary adjustments, and try again. If you are persistent, you will almost inevitably succeed. If you are not persistent, you will almost certainly fail.
[注释]：
persistence: the act of persisting 毅力
revise: to reconsider and change or modify 修改
strategy: 策略
periodic: happening or appearing at regular intervals 定期的
inevitably: invariably occurring or appearing; predictable 不可避免的
0ay 2 Cost of Love 母爱无价
One night when my wife was preparing dinner, our little son took a piece of paper to her which read: For washing the car„„„„„„„„„„„„„.$5.00
For making my own bed this week„„„„„„„$1.00
Going to the provision shop„„„„„„„„.„„$0.50
Playing with little sister„„„„„„„„.„..„...$0.25
Taking out the rubbish„„„„„„„„„....„„.$1.00
Getting a good report card„„„„„„„„...„„$5.00
And for sweeping the common corridor„„„„„...$2.00
Total..„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„„$14.75
His mother looked at him standing there expecting payment. I could see a thousand memories flashed through her mind. So she picked up the pen and turning the paper over, this is what she wrote:
For 9 months I carried you, growing inside me„„„„„„„No Charge
For the nights I sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you„„.No Charge
For the toys, food and clothes and wiping your nose„„„„„No Charge
When you add it all up, the full cost of my love„„„„„„No Charge
Well, when he finished reading, he had great big tears in his eyes. He looked at his mother and said, “Mummy, I love you.” Then he took the pen and in great big letters wrote on the “bill” “All paid.”
[注释]：
provision: 供应; 预备
corridor: 走廊，通道
flash : to think of or remember something suddenly 闪现，一瞬间
wipe : to clean or dry something by rubbing 擦，揩，擦去
Great Expectations(excerpt) 远大前程(节选)
下面的一段文字选自查尔斯·狄更斯的《远大前程》（1860—1861），这是他比较晚期的作品。狄更斯在经历了丰富的人生后，对人、事、周围环境及自己的生活经历都有了深刻的理解，而他所有成熟的思想都汇总在《远大前程》一书中。这部作品的语言可谓是出神入化，要学习英国语言，这是一本典范。狄更斯的作品不矫揉造作，不选用那些华而不实的词语。他的用词都简单明了，通俗易懂。所以小说读来朴实无华，如行云流水。
As the night was fast falling, and as the moon, being past the full, would not rise early, we held a little council: a short one, for clearly our course was to lie by at the first lonely tavern we could find. So, they plied their oars once more, and I looked out for anything like a house. Thus we held on, speaking little, for four or five dull miles. It was very cold, and, a collier coming by us, with her gallery-fire smoking and flaring, looked like a comfortable home. The night was as dark by this time as it would be until morning; and what light we had, seemed to come more from the river than the sky, as the oars in their dipping stuck at a few reflected stars. —— Charles Dickens
天黑得很快，偏巧这天又是下弦月，月亮不会很早升起。我们就稍稍商量了一下，可是也用不着多讨论，因为情况是明摆着的，再划下去我们一遇到冷落的酒店就得投宿。于是他们又使劲打起浆来，我则用心寻找岸上是否隐隐约约有什么房屋的模样。这样又赶了四五英里路，一路上好不气闷，大家简直不说一句话。天气非常冷，一艘煤船从我们近旁驶过，船上厨房里生着火，炊烟缕缕，火光荧荧，在我们看来简直就是个安乐家了。这时夜已透黑，看来就要这样一直黑到天明，我们仅有的一点光亮似乎不是来自天空，而是来自河上，一浆又一浆的，搅动着那寥寥几颗倒映在水里的寒星。
[注释]：
council: an assembly of persons called together for consultation, deliberation, or discussion 讨
论会议
tavern: an inn for travelers 酒馆，客栈
plied their oars ：使劲划起桨来
collier: a coal ship 运煤船
gallery-fire：厨房
Great Expectations，意思是指一笔遗产，中文译为“远大前程”（有的译作“孤星血泪”）。这个译名给读者一种印象，即作品的主人公是有远大前程的。而事实上，这个“远大前程”是带讽刺意义的，这部作品的主题决非仅仅是写孤儿皮普想当上等人的理想幻灭的故事，如果这样理解，就领会错了狄更斯创作
这部作品的意义。皮普生活在姐姐家里，生活艰苦，他的理想是当一名像姐夫一样的铁匠，他没有想当上等人。后来他之所以想当上等人是因为环境的改变。狄更斯的哲学思想之一是环境对人思想的影响，不同的环境可以造就出不同的人。
Anthrax，Another Terrorist Weapon 炭疽热，恐怖分子的又一种武器 When one newspaper photo editor in Florida died of anthrax and another tested positive, people wondered if this was connected to the attacks of September 11. More cases are appearing around the U.S., but the FBI has yet to determine if these are terrorist attacks. However, recent events have brought one question to the minds of many—what is anthrax?
Anthrax is a disease that normally infects livestock killing almost every animal that contracts the disease. Humans that come into contact with these animals or their hides on a regular basis, such as ranchers, are at the greatest risk of getting this disease. This might be why anthrax is also known as the wool sorter’s disease.
Anthrax usually enters the body through the skin or by breathing. It cannot be spread from person to person, so it is not contagious. Anthrax is invisible to the naked eye and it has no smell or taste. The early symptoms of this disease are similar to those of the common cold. There is a vaccine for it that involves six shots. If it is caught in early stages, anthrax can be treated with antibiotics.
Anthrax, unlike the common cold, is not something that people catch every day. But if someone wanted to intentionally spread the disease, that’s another story.
[注释]：
editor: one who edits, especially as an occupation 编辑，编者
anthrax: an infectious, usually fatal disease characterized by ulcerative skin lesions 炭疽热（一种
传染病，由炭疽杆菌感染引起。通过与带病毒的动物部位如毛发、粪便、毛皮接触后可以
传染给人，病症为皮肤溃烂损伤）
infect: to invade and produce infection in 传染，感染
livestock: domestic animals 家畜，牲畜
contract: to acquire or incur 感染
rancher: one that owns or manages a ranch 牧场(或农场)主，农场工人
sorter: to arrange according to class, kind, or size; classify 从事分类的人，这里指皮毛工人 contagious: 传染性的，会感染的
invisible: 看不见的，无形的
naked: having no covering 无保护的，无遮盖的
symptom: a characteristic sign or indication of the existence of something else 症状，征兆 vaccine: 疫苗
antibiotic: 抗生素, 抗生学
intentionally: done deliberately; intended 有意地,故意地
The Garden of Eden 伊甸园 GOD had made a beautiful garden for the first man and woman to live in. The garden, called Eden, was full of many wonderful things. Flowers as beautiful to look at as they were to smell grew everywhere. Soft, green grass grew under foot. The joyful music of songbirds drifted across gentle, warm breezes. A clear flowing stream gave cool, fresh water to drink, while hanging from the limbs of the many trees were all sorts of delicious fruits. Tasty vegetables grew free for the gathering. In the Garden of Eden were also all manner of animals, both large and small. Adam and Eve didn’t have to be afraid of any of the beasts, for all the animals were their friends. GOD told the man and woman that it was their job to take care of their new home. He also told them that two special trees grew in the garden. One was the Tree of Life. The other was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
GOD told them, “You may eat the fruit that grows on all the trees except for one. You mustn’t touch the fruit that grows on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. If you eat the fruit that grows on that tree you will die.”
[注释]：
Eden: the garden that was the first home of Adam and Eve (圣经)伊甸园，乐园
drift: something moving along in a current of air or water 飘；漂流
breeze: a light current of air; a gentle wind 微风
Adam and Eve:亚当和夏娃(《圣经》中的人物，所谓的人类始祖)
Hallowe’en 万圣节
Hallowe’en is a popular festival in many countries all over the world, and every year it seems to get bigger.
It’s getting dark earlier and it’s starting to get cold. Christmas is still a long way away. We need something to cheer us up and take our minds of the fact that winter is nearly here. See how much you know about the traditional festival of Hallowe’en.
The origins of the name
The festival of Hallowe’en has its roots in Celtic and Roman traditions. Over 2,000 years ago the Celts in Britain, Ireland and parts of France celebrated Samhain to mark the beginning of winter. When the Romans invaded, they merged this with Feralia, their celebration of the passing of the dead. As Christianity spread, the Church tried to replace these pagan feasts with official Church holy days. One of these was November 1. It was called “All Hallows”, and October 31 was known as “All Hallows’ Eve”, and then Hallowe’en.
Hallowe’en traditions
In the past there was a tradition called “souling”. Poor people went around houses asking for food. In exchange, they promised to say prayers for the dead. People no longer go souling, but the habit has been transformed into a modern Hallowe’en game for children in America, who dress up as ghosts, witches and monsters and go around people’s houses.
Witches
Hallowe’en wouldn’t be fun without witches. Witches have always been part of popular folklore. Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” opens with three witches. A witch was someone — usually a woman— who had special powers and had dealings with the devil. The American town, Salem, is famous for the “witchcraft trials”, which took place there in 1692.
Pumpkins
The pumpkin has become a symbol of Hallowe’en. People
empty a pumpkin, cut a face into the side, and put a
candle inside to make a lamp. It’s known as a Jack
O’ Lantern, from a story about a man called Jack, who
made a deal with the devil.
Animals
Black cats, frogs, mice and spiders are just some of
the animals associated with Hallowe’en. Generally,
the more unpleasant the animal, the stronger the Hallowe’en connection. Nocturnal animals like bats are particular favourites, and if, as is the case with vampire bats, they like drinking blood, they are high on the Hallowe’en list.
[注释]：
Hallowe’en: 万圣节前夕（10 月31 日夜）
Celtic and Roman traditions: 在古代，凯尔特人要在夏末举行仪式感谢上苍和太阳的恩惠。 当时的占卜者点燃灯笼并施巫术以驱赶据说在四周游荡的妖魔鬼怪。后来，凯尔特人的
10 月31 日与罗马人用果仁和苹果来庆祝的丰收节融合了。
Samhain：也就是古代凯尔特人庆祝的节日（10 月31 日），意为“夏末”
merge: to blend together, especially in gradual stages 融合
Feralia：古代的一个宗教节日
pagan: one who has no religion 异教徒
witch: a woman popularly believed to have supernatural powers and practice sorcery, and often believed to be aided by spirits or a familiar 巫师，女巫
monster: 怪物，妖怪
folklore: the traditional beliefs, myths, tales, and practices of a people, transmitted orally 民间
传说
Macbeth: king of Scotland 麦克白 (莎士比亚悲剧《麦克白》中的主人公)
Salem: 塞勒姆，美国东北部城市，因1692 巫师审判及N.霍桑的“匕墙之房”而著名
pumpkin: a coarse, trailing vine (Cucurbita pepo) widely cultivated for its fruit 南瓜 spider: 蜘蛛
nocturnal: of, relating to, or occurring in the night 夜的，夜曲的
vampire: a reanimated corpse that is believed to rise from the grave at night to suck the blood of
sleeping people 吸血鬼
万圣节期间，许多公共场所乃至居家院落，都会布置上很多装饰，诸如各式鬼怪、南瓜灯、黑猫以及巫婆的扫帚之类。孩子们则会穿上不同的万圣节服装，拎着南瓜灯挨家挨户地敲门并说“trick or treat”，向主人讨糖（或其他小东西）。给的话就是“treat”(请客)，不给的话他们就会用“trick”（砸玻璃、涂门啊之类恶作剧）来捣乱。 Two Peoms
《恬静的女孩》是一首非常有趣的短诗，本诗的前三行说：“我想把你比作没有星星的夜晚，要不是你的眼睛。”事实上，作者把姑娘的美目比作夜空的明星；后三行说：“我想把你比作无梦的睡眠，要不是你的歌声。”其实是形容姑娘甜美的歌声宛如天籁，让人如痴如醉。用反衬的手法写出了恬静姑娘的风采：她平静如水，明眸善睐；她轻柔如歌，使人心醉..
Quiet Girl
I would liken you
To a night without stars
Were it not for your eyes.
I would liken you
To a sleep without dreams
Were it not for your songs.
—— Langston Hughes
My People
The night is beautiful,
So the faces of my people.
The stars are beautiful,
So the eyes of my people.
Beautiful, also, is the sun.
Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people.
—— Langston Hughes
[注释]：
liken: to see, mention, or show as similar; compare 常与to 连用，表示“把„„比作”的意思。 were: were it not for 是典型的虚拟语气，它的另外一种形式是If it were not for，表示“如果 不是„„”的意思。与事实相反，是一种假设的状况，其中的动词用过去时。
Langston Hughes，兰斯顿·休斯（1902—1967），美国杰出的黑人诗人，黑人文艺复兴运动
的卓越领导者，代表作品是《萎靡的布鲁斯》。他的诗大多是表现黑人群众的思想感情。所选的两首诗歌都是休斯脍炙人口的作品。
A Courageous Leader 勇敢的领袖
Koffi Annan has a tough job. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, he has made it his goal to fight against poverty, disease and war in the world. He has called upon the nations of the world to step in and try to solve these problems together. In Annan’s view, seeing a crime and failing to prevent it is as bad as committing the crime. He believes that the idea that states can do as they please within their borders is nonsense. Many people support Annan’s goals, but wonder if they are realistic. The United Nations has little power to act on its own. It has to receive permission from its member nations, but powerful countries like the United States often disagree with, and sometimes actively oppose, Annan’s ideas.
Despite the difficulties, Annan has succeeded in restoring a sense of respect to the United Nations. Though he speaks with a soft voice, and is known at the United Nations for being polite and elegant, he is also often praised for his toughness and courage. Annan’s goals may be difficult to achieve, but that hasn’t kept him from trying. Courage, he believes, will win out over cowardice in the end.
[注释]：
courageous: having or characterized by courage; valiant 勇敢的
poverty: the state of being poor; lack of the means of providing material needs or comforts 贫
穷，贫困
step in: 走进，干涉
commit: to do, perform, or perpetrate 犯（罪）
border: the line or frontier area separating political divisions or geographic regions; a boundary
边界，国界
realistic: of or relating to the representation of objects, actions, or social conditions as they
actually are 现实(主义)的
permission: consent, especially formal consent; authorization 许可
restore: to bring back to an original condition 恢复，使回复
elegant: characterized by or exhibiting refined, tasteful beauty of manner, form, or style 文雅的，
端庄的，雅致的
toughness: able to withstand great strain without tearing or breaking; strong and resilient 坚韧，
韧性
cowardice: ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain 怯懦，胆小
科菲·安南 1938 年4 月8 日生于加纳，先后在加纳和美国高等学府就读，获经济学学士和管理学硕士学位。1962 年进入联合国工作，先后在联合国非洲经济委员会、联合国总部、联合国日内瓦办事处、联合国难民署和世界卫生组织等部门工作。1996 年12 月17 日，第51 届联大任命安南为联合国第七任秘书长。2001年6 月26 日，第56 届联大批准安南连任，任期至2006 年12 月31 日。
Antelope and Lion 羚羊和狮子 In Africa, when the antelope wakes up every morning, the first thing that comes to his mind is“, I must be able to run faster than the fastest lion, or I will be killed by a lion.” And at just the same time, the lion wakes out of his dream, and the first thing flashing into his mind
is, “I must be able to catch up with the slowest antelope; otherwise I will starve to death.” So, almost at the same moment both the antelope and the lion jump to their feet, and start running toward the rising sun.
Such is life — whether you are an antelope or a lion, you ought to dash forward without hesitation when the sun rises.
[注释]：
antelope: 羚羊
flash: to cause (light) to appear suddenly or in intermittent bursts 闪现，闪光
hesitation: a pause or faltering in speech 犹豫，踌躇
Habit 习惯
Like everyone else, I have good and bad habits. Most of my habits don’t have a very serious effect on my daily life. Unfortunately, one of them does.
I am a procrastinator. I always put off doing things until the last possible moment. I picked up this bad habit from my brother. This habit really causes me problem, especially when I have many assignments due about the same time. My life seems to run in cycles of leisurely heaven and incredibly frantic hell. I wish I could get rid of this terrible habit.
[注释]：
procrastinator : to put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness 拖
延者，拖拉的人
incredibly : so implausible as to elicit disbelief 不能相信地，难以置信地
frantic: highly excited with strong emotion or frustration; frenzied 狂乱的，疯狂的
Learn Constantly 不断学习 Learning intelligibly is one of the characteristics that distinguish humans from other animals. In other words, learning spontaneously is one of man’s unique traits. Throughout the history, human have even learned acculturation, handing down their cultural heritages from generation to generation. Therefore, we can conclude that all forms of learning, inclusive of the acquisition of skill, the shaping of views, the absorption of knowledge, take a very essential part in the course of human civilization.
Once learning stops, vegetation arises. To each of us, the process of learning may be full of frustrations and boredom, yet the fruit is often sweet and satisfactory. In terms of learning, I am convinced that it’s better late than never. In this knowledge explosion era, in particular, no one should withstand the trend and concept of “lifelong learning”. The more efforts we make to learn, the more we can keep life, nature and the universe in perspective. Learning is the surest way to eternal joy.
[注释]：
intelligibly: capable of being understood 易理解地
distinguish: to perceive as being different or distinct 区别，辨别
spontaneously: happening or arising without apparent external cause; self-generated 自然地，本
能地
acculturation: the modification of the culture of a group or an individual as a result of contact with a different culture 文化适应，文化传入
heritage: something that is passed down from preceding generations; a tradition 传统 acquisition: the act of acquiring 获得
absorption: a state of mental concentration 吸收
civilization: cultural or intellectual refinement; good taste 文明，文化，文明社会
frustration: the act of frustrating or an instance of being frustrated 挫败，挫折，受挫 boredom: the condition of being bored; ennui 厌倦
convince: to bring by the use of argument or evidence to firm belief or a course of action (使)确
信，深信
explosion: a violent bursting as a result of internal pressure 爆发，发出，爆炸
withstand: to resist or endure successfully 抵挡，经受住
surest ： sure 的最高级
eternal: being without beginning or end; existing outside of time 永恒的，永远的
The Fox and the Rooster 狐狸和雄鸡
Once there was a fox sneaked into a farm and grabbed a prize rooster.
The farmer saw him and raised the alarm to his dogs, and they started chasing the thief. The fox, though he was holding the rooster in his mouth, was running very fast.
“Get him! Get him!” shouted the farmer to his dogs.
“No!” suddenly screamed the rooster. “Don’t come near me!”
“My master was very cruel to me,” explained the rooster to the fox.
“Tell him to stay away from me.”
The fox was delighted. “He wants you to stay away from him!” he shouted at the farmer, in the process releasing his hold on the rooster.
The rooster flew up into a tree and stayed there till he was rescued by his master.
Think twice before you open your mouth to speak.
[注释]：
sneak: to go or move in a quiet, stealthy way 溜
rooster: cock 雄禽，公鸡
grab: to take or grasp suddenly 夺取，抓住
rescue: to set free, as from danger 救出
Do You Fear the Wind 你可害怕风 Do you fear the force of the wind,
The slash of the rain?
Go face them and fight them,
Be savage again.
Go hungry and cold like the wolf,
Go wade like the crane:
The palms of your hands will thicken,
The skin of your cheek will tan,
You’ll grow ragged and weary and swarthy,
But you’ll walk like a man!
—— Hamlin Garland
[注释]：
slash: to cut or form by cutting with forceful sweeping strokes 抽打
savage: not civilized; barbaric 野蛮的，凶猛的
wade: 跋涉，费力行走
crane: 鹤；起重机
palm: the inner surface of the hand that extends from the wrist to the base of the fingers 手掌
tan: to make brown by exposure to the sun 晒黑，晒成褐色
ragged: having an irregular surface or edge; uneven or jagged in outline 粗糙的
weary: causing fatigue; tiresome 疲倦的，厌倦的
swarthy: having a dark complexion or color 黑黝黝的, 浅黑的 The Price of Miracle 奇迹的价格
Tess was a precocious eight-year-old girl when she heard her Mom and Dad talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very sick and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex next month because Daddy didn’t have the money for the doctor’s bills and their house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and it was looking like there was no one to loan them the money. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother with whispered desperation, “Only a miracle can save him now.”
Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be absolutely exact. No chance here for mistakes. Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way six blocks to the pharmacy with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good.
Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it! “And what do you want?” the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. “I’m talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven’t seen in ages,” he said without waiting for a reply to his question.
“Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,” Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone, “He’s really, really sick ... and I want to buy a miracle.”
“I beg your pardon?” said the pharmacist.
“His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?”
“We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I can’t help you,” the pharmacist said, softening a little.
“Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.”
The pharmacist’s brother was a well-dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?”
“I don’t know,” Tess replied with her eyes welling up, “I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.”
“How much do you have?” asked the man from Chicago. “One dollar and eleven cents,” Tess answered barely audibly, “And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.”
“Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the man, “A dollar and eleven cents — the exact price of a miracle for your little brother.”
He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said, “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”
That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neurosurgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and doing well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place. “That
surgery,” her Mom whispered, “was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?”
Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost—one dollar and eleven cents—plus the faith of a little child.
[注释]：
precocious: 早熟的
desperation: the condition of being desperate 绝望
pharmacist: 药剂师
soften: to make less harsh, strident, or critical 变温和
audibly: 可听见地，听得清清楚楚地
mitten: (拇指分开的)两指手套; 露指长手套
neurosurgery: 神经外科
The End of A Dream
Tired of sleeping on the floor, a young man in Teheran saved up for years to buy a real bed. For the first time in his life, he became the proud owner of a bed which had springs and a mattress. Because the weather was very hot, he carried the bed on to the roof of his house. He slept very well for the first two nights, but on the third night, a storm blew up. A gust of wind swept the bed off the roof and sent it crashing into the courtyard below. The young man did not wake up until the bed had struck the ground. Although the bed was smashed to pieces, the man was
miraculously unhurt. When he woke up, he was still on the mattress. Glancing at the bits of wood and metal that lay around him, the man sadly picked up the mattress and carried it into his house. After he had put it on the floor, he promptly went to sleep again.
[注释]：tired: impatient; bored 厌烦的
Teheran: 德黑兰(伊朗首都)
spring: to move suddenly on or as if on a spring 弹簧
mattress: 床垫
gust: a strong, abrupt rush of wind 一阵风
sweep: to clean or clear, as of dirt, with or as if with a broom or brush 扫，刮
courtyard: an open space surrounded by walls or buildings, adjoining or within a building such as
a large house or housing complex 院子
smash: to break (something) into pieces suddenly, noisily, and violently; shatter 碰碎，摔碎 miraculously: able to work miracles 奇迹般地
unhurt: 没有受伤的
glance: to direct the gaze briefly 扫视
promptly: 迅速地
A Strange Present 一件奇怪的礼物
One day, when I was 14, my uncle sent me a pink T-shirt from ST. Louis, Missouri as my birthday present. On a beautiful Sunday morning, I wore this pink T-shirt and walked gently to the market. On the way, some boys whistled at me. I became very nervous, so I walked faster and more properly with more decorum, but more and more boys whistled at me later. Therefore, I couldn’t help but
become more agitated. Suddenly, I turned back and run to my home. I asked my mother, “Why did the boys whistled at me?” My mother looked at my T-shirt with a smile and said nothing. Then I turned to my father. “Why did the boys whistle at me?”My father looked at my beautiful new T-shirt and then laughingly asked, “Are you lonely?” Suddenly, I realized why the boys were whistling at me. The message on my pink T-shirt was“I am lonely”.
[注释]：
whistle: a small wind instrument for making whistling sounds by means of the breath 口哨 properly: characterized by appropriateness or suitability; fitting 恰当的
decorum: the conventions of polite behavior 礼貌
agitated: 激动的，表现不安的
Vacations in Space
Want a ride in a spaceship? It will cost you about 20 million US dollars. At least that’s what Dennis Tito recently paid for a trip to the International Space Station. What if you aren’t rich, but still want to travel in space? Don’t worry. Research supported by NASA might make your dream come true. Scientists are refining a process that, if successful, will enable rockets to take off from the back of an airplane. If people do end up taking vacations in space, don’t worry about finding somewhere to stay. Businessmen like British Richard Branson are already thinking about building hotels out there.
[注释]：
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (美国)
国家航空航天局；美国航天及太空总署
end up: 结束；告终