英语学习(中英文,语法细节解释,很好,很经典)

Light Pollution 守护黑暗天空,细话光污染casino
灯火辉煌的城市,光影交错。在欣赏现代科技带来的炫目夜景时,我们是否意识到——用光线填满的黑夜,已遮蔽了深邃苍穹那点点繁星?

By Andrew Fraknoi
那零 选 亦文 译 easy

You may think that light pollution isn’t something extraordinarily important. You may believe that every other type of pollution has a larger impact on the environment than light pollution does. You may not even have heard of it before. It may not be polluting our lakes, our air or the Earth’s living creatures, but light pollution is serious, and it needs to be addressed by everyone.
Light pollution, or “sky glow ”, is the glow you can see at night above cities and towns. Light pollution is a problem that has been accompanying man ever since he started his first fire some 15,000 years ago, and technology has only made it worse. Light pollution is the stray light that comes from streetlights, billboard signs, buildings, parking lots, sports arenas and any other source of illumination that is reflected or directed into the atmosphere. Light pollution is made worse with air pollution, as the small particles that float in the air serve to scatter and reflect the light, compounding the problem. The effect of light pollution is to reduce the contrast, and therefore the visibility of dimmer objects in the night sky, which affects professional, as well as amateur astronomers. Light pollution has obscured our view of constellations, meteor showers, and even the planets.
Light pollution exists on every continent except Antarctica. Urban light pollution means that one-fifth of the world’s population can no longer see the Milky Way with the naked eye. Many city kids, even if they did peer through the orange smog above their heads, would probably see only a handful of stars. We have lost our view of the stars, and we have mucked up our nighttime environment as well. Astronomers are calling for the dark places on Earth to be preserved as national parks, so that we do not lose completely our window on the Universe.
Light pollution impacts astronomical research and can even affect human health. The excess illumination also affects wildlife in various ways from altering migration routes to eating habits and breeding behavior, to name a few.
Lots of people find the ever-brightening night annoying, and animals that are programmed to prefer the dark may avoid brightened habitat. Sea turtles can get lost searching for a beach to lay eggs, and their hatchlings may confuse over-lit beachfront resorts for the ocean horizon, wasting precious energy needed to find the sea and escape predators. Because their necks aren’t yet long enough to see things far away, baby turtles rely on the mirror image of the moon to guide them to the sea, to begin their new life. A car may even hit a particular turtle, which was thinking the light from a nearby city was moonlight refle

cting off the ocean waves. Birds that live in and around cities can die because of sky glow, too. The abundance of bright lights can blind them, leading to countless collisions with buildings, billboards and other tall structures.
These are merely a few of the possible negative effects light pollution has on our world. A very serious issue in our modern-day society is that light pollution is a terrible waste of energy.
Reducing light pollution is not difficult. Light pollution is the easiest type of pollution to end. On an individual level, people can help reduce much sky glow by using lighting only when necessary and by choosing well shielded lighting fixtures.
The stars above us are a priceless heritage—not only for astronomers but for all humans. More of our children should be able to look up at night and see that the Milky Way is not just a candy bar .

或许你觉得光污染不是什么了不得的大事。或许你认为其他任何一种污染对环境造成的影响都要比光污染严重。没准儿在此之前你连听都没听说过光污染。或许此刻它并没有污染湖泊、空气或者地球上的生物,但是光污染之严重,需要大家协力解决。
光污染,也称“人工白昼”,在夜晚的城镇上空均可见到这种发光现象。自大约1.5万年前人类生起第一堆火起,光污染问题就一直伴随着人类,科学技术只是令这一问题更加严重而已。光污染属杂散光,来源于街灯、广告牌、建筑物、停车场、露天体育场以及其他反射或直射入大气层中的照明光。而空气污染又使光污染问题愈发严重,因为漂浮在空气中的小颗粒通过散射和反射光线,加剧了这一问题。由于光污染导致明暗对比降低,夜空中较暗物体的能见度因此而下降,这给专业及业余天文学者都造成了影响。光污染使星座、流星雨甚至行星都变得模糊不清,遮蔽了我们的视线。
除南极洲外,各大洲均存在光污染。城市光污染意味着世界上五分之一的人都无法再用肉眼看见银河。而许多在城市的孩子,即便他们能透过头顶上方的橙色烟雾凝视夜空,瞥见的也很可能只有屈指可数的几颗星星。我们已经看不见星星,也破坏了夜晚的自然环境。天文学家们呼吁,将地球上无光源的地点保护为国家公园,这样才不至于彻底丧失我们了解宇宙的窗口。
光污染不仅影响天文学研究,甚至还会影响人类健康。过度照明也会对野生动物造成不同方面的影响,譬如,改变迁徙路线、摄食习惯和繁育行为等。
许多人都会觉得持续明亮的夜晚很烦人,而天性喜黑的动物或许也会避开明亮的栖息地。海龟会在寻找海滩产卵的途中迷路,新生的小龟则会把过于明亮的海滩度假胜地误认为是大海的水平线,从而浪费掉寻找大海、躲避天敌的宝贵精力。由于幼

龟颈部不够长,视物不远,因此要依赖月亮的映像引导它们爬向大海,开始新的生活。一只这样的幼龟甚至可能会被汽车撞到,因为它误以为附近城市的灯光就是从海浪反射而来的月光。生活在城市及周边的鸟类也会死于人工白昼。大量的强光令它们无法视物,从而导致无数次撞上大楼、广告牌及其他高层建筑的事故发生。
这些仅仅是光污染可能给我们的世界所带来的几种负面影响。现代社会面临的一个非常严重的问题就是光污染是对能源的可怕浪费。
减少光污染并不难,它是最容易消灭的污染类型。就个人而言,仅在必要时使用照明,且选择遮光性能好的照明设备,就能有助于大幅减少人工白昼现象。
我们头顶上方的点点繁星,不仅对天文学家而言是无价遗产,对全人类来说也是如此。我们应该有更多的孩子能够仰望夜空,眼中所看到的银河不应仅仅只是(模糊的)“一条糖块”而已。

. address: 对付,处理。
. sky glow: 人工白昼,指广告牌、广告灯、霓虹灯以及城市夜景照明等发出的强光使夜晚如同白天一样的现象。
. particle: 微粒,颗粒;compound: 使加重,使恶化。
. smog: (常指由汽车尾气和工业区排出的烟与雾混合而成的)烟雾。
. muck up: 破坏,弄糟。
. window on sth.: 了解信息的渠道,窗口。
. impact: 对……产生不良影响;affect: 影响,通常指不好的影响。
. programme: 训练;培养。
. mirror image: 镜像,映像(左右相反之影像)。
. candy bar: 单独包装的条(块)状糖,这里用来形象地比喻夜空中模糊呈现的银河形状。没有光污染的情况下,银河在晴天夜晚可见,是横跨夜空的一条宽而发亮的银白色光带,银河里有许多小光点,辉映成一片,这其实是由无数颗恒星的光形成的;银河由大量恒星构成,它是银河系的一部分,银河系则是太阳系所属的星系。
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Bioluminescence —Nature’s Dazzling Light Show in the Sea 生物发光——深海的炫目光影秀casino
《阿凡达》的全球热映使人们对这部电影充满了惊奇与赞叹,影片为我们展现了一个只存在于想象中的瑰丽世界:荧光点点的繁茂森林,千奇百怪的神秘物种……无与伦比的视觉特效激起了人们丰富的想象和好奇心,那点点荧光中到底蕴藏着怎样的奥秘呢?让我们一起跟随这篇文章揭开谜底吧!
Bioluminescence —Nature’s Dazzling Light Show in the Sea


生物发光——深海的炫目光影秀
穆阳 选 岳晓玲 译 medium

The artists who created the luminous forest for the blockbuster movie Avatar could have found plenty of real-life inspiration in those marine creatures that light up their world and ours with bioluminescence.
Deep in the ocean, where sunlig

ht can no longer penetrate , lies an incredible world of darkness. And this just happens to be the location of one of nature’s most impressive artificial light shows. The creatures here have evolved their own ways of dealing with the darkness. Through a process known as bioluminescence, they have developed the ability to use chemicals within their bodies to produce light. If you have ever seen a firefly then you have witnessed the same process in action.
Bioluminescence is mainly a marine phenomenon. It is not found in freshwater. On land, it is seen only in a few species of fungi and insects. It is the oceans where this unique ability achieves its highest form. Hundreds of species of fish and invertebrates flash their colors in a light show that can sometimes rival the streets of Las Vegas.
At one time, bioluminescence was explained by wild stories of sea monsters and other mysteries of the deep. But scientists now know that bioluminescence is the result of the certain chemical reactions. This effect is very similar to that in green light sticks. When the seal in the stick is broken, the two chemicals mix together and give off a soft, green glow. At least two chemicals are required to produce bioluminescence. The first is known as a luciferin . This is the chemical that creates the light. The second chemical is called a luciferase and is the substance that actually catalyzes the chemical reaction . When these chemicals are mixed together in the presence of oxygen, light is produced. Most of the light created by marine organisms is blue-green in color. This is because blue light travels best in water, and because most marine organisms are sensitive to blue light.
These creatures produce light for a variety of reasons. For some, it is a warning to stay away. For others, it is a form of camouflage . Certain species of shallow water squid give off light to blend in with the moonlight. Some creatures use their light for navigation. Some use it for communication. Other creatures use bioluminescence as a trap. The anglerfish uses a lighted “lure” on the top of its head to attract its prey. When the unsuspecting animal is within striking distance, the anglerfish is down with a lightening-fast snap of its powerful jaws. Whatever the reason for producing this dazzling light show, it remains as one of the natural world’s most bizarre and spectacular facts.
There is bioluminescence all over the world, but few places have enough bioluminescent creatures be classified as a biobay. There are about a dozen bioluminescent bays in the world, but the largest and brightest is Mosquito Bay in Vieques, Puerto Rico .
The luminescence is caused by those micro-organisms (dinoflagellates ) in the bay’s water which glow whenever the water is disturbed, leaving a trail of neon blue. A combination of factors create the necessary conditions for bioluminescence: The bay has a very narrow opening to the sea, which offers excellent protection from winds and ti

des and lets the dinoflagellates thrive in a calm environment. There are over 700,000 of the organisms per gallon of water; no other biobay comes close to this concentration. Also, the mangroves here are a vital source of nutrients for the organisms, and the temperate climate helps. Finally, man has helped out the dinoflagellates. The Bay has been preserved and protected; motor boats are not allowed in these waters.
Imagine the water sparkling like glitter as you splash your feet, or diamonds dripping from your fingertips as it cascades from your hand, or perhaps a glowing trail as you glide through the water… You will feel the true natural wonder of bioluminescence.

艺术家们在《阿凡达》这部巨片中创造出了流光溢彩的森林,其实,他们可以从现实的海洋生物中发掘大量灵感,它们用生物发光点亮了自己的世界,同时也点亮了我们的世界。
阳光难以抵达的深海,是一片神奇的黑暗世界。这里恰恰是自然界最奇美的生物光影秀之所在。这里的生物已然演化出各自独特的方式来应对周围漆黑的环境。通过一种名为“生物发光”的过程,它们已进化出能用体内的化学物质产生光亮的能力。如果你曾见过萤火虫,那么你其实就已经目睹了同样的运作原理。
生物发光现象主要出现在海洋中,淡水中并无此种现象。在陆地上,生物发光仅见于少数菌类和昆虫身上。这种独特的现象唯有在海洋中才被演绎到了极致。成百上千种鱼类和无脊椎动物在这场光影秀中闪烁出自己斑斓的色彩,有时都可以与拉斯维加斯(灯火辉煌)的街道相媲美。
人们曾一度用大洋海怪及深海神秘事件的怪诞故事来解释生物发光现象,不过如今,科学家们已经知道,生物发光是某种化学反应的结果,其原理与绿色荧光棒的原理极其相似。荧光棒里的密封垫被折断后,里面的两种化学物质一经混合,便会发出一种柔和的绿光。生物发光现象的产生需要至少两种化学物质。其一为虫荧光素,这种化学物质可以制造光亮;其二则是虫荧光素酶,其功能实际上相当于化学反应中的催化剂。当这些化学物质在有氧的情况下混合在一起时,光亮就产生了。海洋生物创造的光多为蓝绿色,这是因为一方面蓝光在水中传播的速度最快,另一方面大部分海洋生物都对蓝光比较敏感。
这些生物发光的原因多种多样。对有些生物而言,发光相当于是发出一种远离自己的警告;对另一些生物而言,光亮则相当于保护色。某些种类的浅水枪乌贼就会发出与月光相近的亮光;有些生物还会利用其发出的光亮作导航之用。还有些生物利用发光来进行交流。更有些生物把发光用作陷阱。琵琶鱼用其脑袋顶部发光的“诱饵”来吸引它的猎物。当毫无提防的猎

物进入攻击距离时,琵琶鱼会以迅雷不及掩耳之势俯冲下来,用其强有力的大嘴突然猛咬住猎物。无论这种炫目光影秀是出于何种缘由产生的,它始终都是自然界最奇异壮观的现象之一。
生物发光现象遍布世界各地,但有足够多这种发光生物的地方却为数甚少,它们被称作荧光海湾。全球共有约12处荧光海湾,其中最大、最亮的是位于波多黎各别克斯岛的蚊子湾。
这里的点点荧光是由海湾水中的微生物(即腰鞭毛虫)发出的,水一受到搅动,这种微生物就会发光,留下一串蓝色虹光。各种因素的相互配合造就了生物发光现象的几个必备条件:这座海湾有一个通向大海的很窄的缺口,可以极好地保护腰鞭毛虫免受风浪的侵袭,使其在一个平静的环境中繁衍生息。这里每加仑的海水中有七十多万只此类微生物,这种密集程度是其他荧光海湾所无法比拟的。另外,红树属树木为这些生物提供了维持生命所必需的营养来源,温和的气候也提供了有利条件。最后是人类帮助腰鞭毛虫摆脱了困境。这座海湾一直都受到人类的保护,汽艇是不允许驶入这片水域的。
想象一下吧:当你用双脚拨弄这里的海面时,海水闪烁有如点点发光的小亮片;当海水从你手里滑落时,又似粒粒钻石从你指尖滴漏;甚至当你在海水中轻快游弋时,身后或许还会留下一串亮闪闪的水印……你定会体验到这一由生物发光所创造的真正的自然奇迹!

. bioluminescence: 生物发光(现象)。
. luminous: 发光的,明亮的;blockbuster: 耗费巨资拍摄的大片。
. penetrate: 穿透。
. invertebrate: 无脊椎动物。
. luciferin: 虫荧光素。
. luciferase: 虫萤光素酶;catalyze: 催化。
. camouflage: 伪装,保护色。
. squid: 枪乌贼;blend in with: 与……十分协调。
. Puerto Rico: 波多黎各,是位于西印度群岛的美国自治岛。
. dinoflagellate: 腰鞭毛虫,属于腰鞭毛目的原生动物,一种海生单细胞生物。
. gallon: 加仑,液量单位,英制等于4.546升,美制等于3.785升。
. mangrove: 红树属树木,尤指美国红树,生长于热带、亚热带地区河口、海边及沼泽地带。
. motor boat: 摩托艇,汽艇。
. cascade: 像瀑布般落下(或倾泻、流注)。
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脑筋急转弯
Chuck’s Unfaithful Wife
Chuck, a bestselling author of romantic fiction, had suspected for some time that his wife Eva was unfaithful, though he had no proof. One afternoon, while Chuck was working on his latest bodice-ripper, Eva mentioned that she intended to go to the movies and would be out for a few hours. As Eva went to the door, Chuck looked at her pensively , then resumed his work. Three hours later, Eva returned, took her coat off and asked Chuck weather he wanted some coffee. When

she returned from the kitchen, Chuck asked her to sit down as he wanted to talk to her.
“Eva,” he said, “I want a divorce.”
Can you figure out how he knew?

Answer:
On Eva`s way out, Chuck had noticed a run in her stocking. When she went to the kitchen for coffee, he noticed that the run was on her right leg.


Twice As Old
When asked how old she was, Suzie replied, “In two years I will be twice as old as I was five years ago.”How old is she?

Answer:
She’s 12.


Dog, Cat, and Mouse
A man has to take a dog, a cat, and a mouse across a river. He can only take one of the animals across at a time. If he takes the mouse, the dog will eat the cat. If he takes the dog, the cat will eat the mouse.How does he get the three animals across the river?

Answer:
1. The man takes the cat across and goes back to get the mouse.
2. The man then takes the mouse across and returns with the cat.
3. The man leaves the cat on the shore and takes the dog across. He leaves the dog with the mouse.
4. The man goes back to get the cat and all of the animals have made it across the river!


. bestselling author: 畅销书作者;fiction: 小说;suspect: 怀疑。
. bodice-ripper: 英雄救美人的言情小说;intend to do sth.: 计划,打算。
. pensively: 心事重重地,郁郁不乐地。
. run: (连裤袜、长筒袜等的)脱丝,抽丝。
. shore: (海、湖等的)岸。casino

The Cliffs of Sorrow 悲伤之崖

By Art Schneider
南希 译
In the 1944, as the war in the Pacific unwinds, the US Navy is approaching the island of Saipan. The island was home to several thousands of Japanese people. What follows is a hypothetical account of what was going on in the mind of a typical Japanese:
1944年,随着太平洋战争的展开,美国海军正在迫近塞班岛。这座岛屿上居住着数千的日本人。以下这段虚构的文字记述了一个典型的日本人的所思所想。

“I know the Japanese army is ready to face the American troops as they approach, but my fear grows strong. They say to us, the American take no prisoners, that is why we must be steadfast and strong and keep to our defenses.
“我知道日本军队已经做好了准备来面对步步逼近的美国人,尽管如此,我还是越来越害怕。人们说,美国人不接纳战俘,因此我们必须做到坚定、勇敢,严防死守。

“But day after day, and night after night, the news continues to worsen. We hear news that the ships of the ‘sleeping giant’, that Admiral Yamamoto had warned us that we had awakened, still approach. I am afraid, I choose not to be tortured and killed by the Americans. I must do the honorable thing according to the legend of my samurai brethren.
“然而,日复一日,夜复一夜,传来的消息越来越糟。山本上将曾经警告说我们唤醒了‘正在沉睡的巨人’。我们听说这个巨人的舰队此刻依然在向我们逼近。我很害

怕。我不愿被美国人折磨致死。我必须依照我的武士同胞的传奇,行光荣之事。

“We all know of a cliff by the north of our beloved island of Saipan. It is a beautiful white rock, but a steep drop into the ocean. We look out on the clear blue Pacific Ocean water, but the approaching armada of death betrays the calm pacific waters. We take to hills and one by one we fall to our deaths, the panic protects us from the threat of humiliation from our enemies. We are the residents of Saipan, we are gone.”
“我们都知道,在我们挚爱的塞班岛北边有一座悬崖。那是一块美丽的白色岩石,但是非常陡峭,几乎垂直坠入海洋。我们远眺太平洋,海水清澈蔚蓝,然而不断接近的死亡舰队却打破了水面的平静。我们爬上山,然后一个接着一个坠入死亡的怀抱。是恐慌保护我们免受来自敌人的羞辱。我们是塞班岛的居民,我们走了。”

This was over 65 years ago. The American navy did land, but the wholesale massacre of the Japanese people did not materialize. The American navy gained control of the Island continuing its “island-hopping ” strategy form Guam to Saipan to Iwo Jima to Guadalcanal to Okinawa and finally into to Tokyo.
这就是65年前发生的事。美国海军确实登陆了,但是针对日本人的灭绝性大屠杀并没有发生。美军取得了对该岛的控制,继续推行“跳岛战略”,从关岛到塞班,再到硫磺岛、瓜达尔卡纳尔岛和冲绳岛,一路推进,最终进入东京。

Because of the beauty of the islands, the magnificent beaches Saipan have become a popular resort. And because of its proximity to Japan, the island has become a favorite tourist and shopping destination for the Japanese themselves. Just a three-hour flight and they can be swimming, sunning and spending in this tropical paradise.
岛上的美景和壮丽的海滩使塞班成为了一处度假胜地。由于靠近日本,它也成为了日本人最喜爱的一处旅游和购物场所。只消乘坐三个小时飞机,他们就能来到这座热带天堂游泳、沐浴日光和消费。

Today, the Banzai cliffs, as they are known, have become a place of remembrance for of the countries of the world. At the fought of the cliff, there are monuments from Japan, Korea, the United States, China, and Germany. With the hope that tragedy’s of Saipan and all wars for that matter are never allowed to happen again.
今天,被称作万岁崖的那块峭壁已经成为了世界各国的纪念场所。山.casino


Remarks by President Barack Obama at Town Hall Meeting with Future Chinese Leaders(Excerpt)奥巴马总统在与中国青年见面会上的演讲(节选
Museum of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
November 16, 2009

There is a Chinese proverb: “Consider the past, and you shall know the future.” Surely, we have known setbacks and challenges over the last 30 years.

Our relationship has not been without disagreement and difficulty. But the notion that we must be adversaries is not predestined—not when we consider the past. Indeed, because of our cooperation, both the United States and China are more prosperous and more secure. We have seen what is possible when we build upon our mutual interests, and engage on the basis of mutual respect.
And yet the success of that engagement depends upon understanding—on sustaining an open dialogue, and learning about one another and from one another. For just as that American table tennis player pointed out—we share much in common as human beings, but our countries are different in certain ways.
I believe that each country must chart its own course. China is an ancient nation, with a deeply rooted culture. The United States, by comparison, is a young nation, whose culture is determined by the many different immigrants who have come to our shores, and by the founding documents that guide our democracy.
Those documents put forward a simple vision of human affairs, and they enshrine several core principles—that all men and women are created equal, and possess certain fundamental rights; that government should reflect the will of the people and respond to their wishes; that commerce should be open, information freely accessible; and that laws, and not simply men, should guarantee the administration of justice.
Of course, the story of our nation is not without its difficult chapters. In many ways—over many years—we have struggled to advance the promise of these principles to all of our people, and to forge a more perfect union. We fought a very painful civil war, and freed a portion of our population from slavery. It took time for women to be extended the right to vote, workers to win the right to organize, and for immigrants from different corners of the globe to be fully embraced. Even after they were freed, African Americans persevered through conditions that were separate and not equal, before winning full and equal rights.
None of this was easy. But we made progress because of our belief in those core principles, which have served as our compass through the darkest of storms. That is why Lincoln could stand up in the midst of civil war and declare it a struggle to see whether any nation, conceived in liberty, and “dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal” could long endure. That is why Dr. Martin Luther King could stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and ask that our nation live out the true meaning of its creed. That’s why immigrants from China to Kenya could find a home on our shores; why opportunity is available to all who would work for it; and why someone like me, who less than 50 years ago would have had trouble voting in some parts of America, is now able to serve as its President.
That is why America will always speak out for these core principles around the world. We do not seek to impose any system of government

on any other nation, but we also don’t believe that the principles that we stand for are unique to our nation. These freedoms of expression and worship—of access to information and political participation—we believe are universal rights. They should be available to all people, including ethnic and religious minorities—whether they are in the United States, China, or any nation. Indeed, it is that respect for universal rights that guides America’s openness to other countries; our respect for different cultures; our commitment to international law; and our faith in the future.
These are all things that you should know about America. I also know that we have much to learn about China. Looking around at this magnificent city—and looking around this room—I do believe that our nations hold something important in common, and that is a belief in the future. Neither the United States nor China is content to rest on our achievements. For while China is an ancient nation, you are also clearly looking ahead with confidence, ambition, and a commitment to see that tomorrow’s generation can do better than today’s.
In addition to your growing economy, we admire China’s extraordinary commitment to science and research—a commitment borne out in everything from the infrastructure you build to the technology you use. China is now the world’s largest Internet user—which is why we were so pleased to include the Internet as a part of today’s event. This country now has the world’s largest mobile phone network, and it is investing in the new forms of energy that can both sustain growth and combat climate change—and I’m looking forward to deepening the partnership between the United States and China in this critical area tomorrow. But above all, I see China’s future in you—young people whose talent and dedication and dreams will do so much to help shape the 21st century.
I’ve said many times that I believe that our world is now fundamentally interconnected. The jobs we do, the prosperity we build, the environment we protect, the security that we seek—all of these things are shared. And given that interconnection, power in the 21st century is no longer a zero-sum game; one country’s success need not come at the expense of another. And that is why the United States insists we do not seek to contain China’s rise. On the contrary, we welcome China as a strong and prosperous and successful member of the community of nations—a China that draws on the rights, strengths, and creativity of individual Chinese like you.
To return to the proverb—consider the past. We know that more is to be gained when great powers cooperate than when they collide. That is a lesson that human beings have learned time and again, and that is the example of the history between our nations. And I believe strongly that cooperation must go beyond our government. It must be rooted in our people—in the studies we share, the business that we do, the kno

wledge that we gain, and even in the sports that we play. And these bridges must be built by young men and women just like you and your counterparts in America.
That’s why I’m pleased to announce that the United States will dramatically expand the number of our students who study in China to 100,000. And these exchanges mark a clear commitment to build ties among our people, as surely as you will help determine the destiny of the 21st century. And I’m absolutely confident that America has no better ambassadors to offer than our young people. For they, just like you, are filled with talent and energy and optimism about the history that is yet to be written.
So let this be the next step in the steady pursuit of cooperation that will serve our nations, and the world. And if there’s one thing that we can take from today’s dialogue, I hope that it is a commitment to continue this dialogue going forward.
So thank you very much. And I look forward now to taking some questions from all of you. Thank you very much. (Applause)



中国?上海科技馆
2009年11月16日
……
中国有句古话:“温故而知新。”的确,30年来,我们饱经挫折与挑战,两国关系亦不无分歧与困难。但历史告诉我们,两国并非命中注定一定要成为对手。事实上,由于合作,美中两国都变得更加繁荣和安全。我们深知,只要我们在互利互惠、相互尊重的基础上进行交往,就一定会有所建树。
但是,接触的秘诀在于理解——双方应开诚布公,互相了解,互相学习。正如当年美国乒乓球运动员指出的,作为人类,我们有着许多共同之处;但就某些方面而言,我们两国却各有千秋。
我认为各国应该沿着属于自己的发展道路前进。中国是一个古老的国度,有着深厚的文化底蕴。相对而言,美国还很年轻,其文化取决于投奔到这块土


Top Eight Big Cities That Are Not Capitals 全球八大“冒牌”首府城市casino
人们会习惯性地认为,一座在其所在州、省或国家最大或最受欢迎的城市必定就是首府,但这往往是错的……本文为你奉上一份榜单,上面的一些“冒牌”城市恐怕真会让人大吃一惊的!

By Vela Bloor
乐枫 选 雨遥 译 easy

What’s the capital of Australia? If you answered Sydney, you’re wrong but in good company, with travel website https://www.360docs.net/doc/0d12619392.html, coming up with a list of the 10 most surprising non-capital cities in the world. Here we’ve picked out eight to share with you.
1. New York City, New York
NYC is not the state capital, an honor given to the upstate town of Albany, which is also the birthplace of perforated toilet paper.
2. Sydney, Australia
Iconic though its harbor and opera house may be, it doesn’t get star billing . Canberra is actually capital of the land “Down Under .”
3. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
It’s fun, exciting and has s

omething for everyone, but that still doesn’t make it Brazil’s capital. While the city famous for the carnival used to be the capital, Brasilia now takes that position.
4. Istanbul, Turkey
It may have served as capital to ancient Romans and Ottomans, but that designation is long gone for Istanbul. Ankara, a city that is perhaps most famous for its angora-producing goats, is the capital.
5. Geneva, Switzerland
Neither this nor Zurich serve as this country’s capital. The picturesque, tranquil, UNESCO-recognized town of Bern holds this honor.
6. Johannesburg, South Africa
Interestingly, South Africa has three capital cities, none of which are “Jo’Burg”. Divided by branch of government, the capitals are: capital of the judiciary is Bloemfontein, capital of the administrative branch is Pretoria with Cape Town acting as the country’s legislative capital.
7. Timbuktu , Mali
Mysterious, exotic, and perhaps the country’s most recognizable name, it takes second place to the city of Bamako. Not only is Bamako supposedly the fastest growing city in Africa, but it has emerged as a world-respected center for music, attracting huge industry names to its local pubs where hometown artists play through the night.
8. Casablanca, Morocco
Not only is Casablanca not the capital of Morocco, neither are the other two top contenders, Fez or Marrakesh. Peaceful and culture-rich Rabat serves as this North African country’s capital.

澳大利亚的首都是哪座城市?如果你回答悉尼,那就错了,不过,你并不孤单,因为还有很多人像你一样会搞错。这不,旅游网站https://www.360docs.net/doc/0d12619392.html,就评出了全球十大最出人意料“冒牌”首府城市。我们从中挑出八座城市与你分享:
一、纽约市,纽约州
纽约市并非纽约州的首府,真正的首府是州北部城市奥尔巴尼,奥尔巴尼还是打孔卫生纸的诞生地。
二、悉尼,澳大利亚
悉尼标志性的海港和歌剧院或许颇负盛名,但它并非首都。堪培拉才是澳大利亚的“正牌”首都。
三、里约热内卢,巴西
里约热内卢充满了乐趣与激情,对每个人来说都值得一去,但这依然不能使它成为巴西的首都。这座以狂欢节而闻名的城市曾经是巴西的首都,如今,巴西利亚取代了这个位置。
四、伊斯坦布尔,土耳其
也许伊斯坦布尔曾是古罗马和奥斯曼帝国的首都,但那个称号早已一去不返了。安卡拉,这座因盛产安哥拉山羊毛而闻名的城市才是(土耳其的)首都。
五、日内瓦,瑞士
瑞士的首都既不是日内瓦,也不是苏黎世。伯尔尼才是拥有首都名号的城市,这座风景如画的安静城镇还被联合国教科文组织列为世界文化遗产。
六、约翰内斯堡,南非
有趣的是,南非有三个首都,不过约翰内斯堡并不是其中之一。根据政府职能划分,这三座首都分别为:司法首都布隆

方丹,行政首都比勒陀利亚和立法首都开普敦。
七、廷巴克图,马里
神秘而充满异域风情的廷巴克图或许是马里最知名的城市。但马里的首都是巴马科,廷巴克图只能名列第二。这不仅因为巴马科据说是非洲(经济)增长最快的城市,还因为它是世界瞩目的音乐中心,吸引了许多业内名家到当地酒吧,彻夜聆听本土艺术家的演奏。
八、卡萨布兰卡,摩洛哥
摩洛哥的首都既不是卡萨布兰卡,也不是非斯和马拉喀什另外两座名城。宁静的文化名城拉巴特才是这个北非国家的首都。

. upstate: 州的北部地区。
. star billing: 主角的地位,头牌。
. Down Under: 〈口〉澳大利亚。
. Timbuktu: 廷巴克图,马里中部城市,历史名城,位于非洲西北、撒哈拉沙漠南缘。

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And What Have You Done With Elbow? 谁动了我的“肘”?.casino
一支以“肘”为名的乐队可能会让你觉得古怪诡秘吧?但就是这支乐队,十几年来在摇滚界默默耕耘,执著地一路走来,终于“肘”击英国音乐水星奖!

And What Have You Done With Elbow?
谁动了我的“肘”?

By Manatt Fier
赵瑞超 译

The winner of this year’s Nationwide Mercury Prize goes to Elbow’s forth album The Seldom Seen Kid. The 20,000 pound Prize is one of Britain’s most coveted music prizes and is given each year to the British or Irish artist who succeeds in creating the Record of the Year. Elbow frontman Guy Garvey was overwhelmed. He gushed “I know I’m supposed to be cool and say something coy but it’s literally the best thing that’s ever happened to us” in his acceptance speech. In addition to prestige, the band also takes home a $35,000 cash award. The Seldom Seen Kid was a top 5 chart hit in the UK when released in March.

Listening to the modern Britpop group Elbow is like watching raindrops slide down windows during summer rain showers; mesmerizing, somber, gloomy but relaxing. The Manchester, England quintet has mastered the dream pop style that’s almost reminiscent of a psychedelic pop style of an earlier decade, separating themselves from the nearest pop/rock band with great success. Rocking the U.S. and European charts with hit singles and albums, Elbow has enjoyed all the success that comes with thriving music careers. Elbow began as a project of Guy Garvey (vocals), Richard Jupp (drums), Craig Potter (organ), Mark Potter (guitar) and Pete Turner (bass), all of whom met each other while at college in Bury in the 1990s. Establishing a home base of Manchester, the newly-formed (and self-proclaimed “prog without the solos”) rock band started out by playing gigs at various venues locally before finally signing with Island Records in 1998. A series of labels left Elbow quickly blowing through both Island and EMI before finally settling on the Manchester independent label Uglyman. The releasing

of the EPs Newborn and Any Day Now on that label led to the attention of V2, who signed the group with a contract and led to the release of the 2001 album Asleep in the Back. The album got a nod for that year’s Mercury Prize, making it across the pond as a U.S. release in 2002. Elbow’s 2004 album, Cast of Thousands, also fared well with American listeners, making the Billboard 200 and Top Heatseekers charts. But it wasn’t until Elbow’s 2008 release, The Seldom Seen Kid that the band’s name really skyrocketed in the music industry.

A lot of bands come roaring out of the blocks full of youthful passion and claiming to be in it “for the long haul”. They make a great debut album and then stall or run out of gas. Elbow have done it the other way round. Elbow’s experimental and often melancholy Britpop genre of music has catapulted the band from Manchester, England to radio stations and charts across the U.S., stunning the rock scene with an emotional and almost psychedelic-sounding style of music that has put the quintet on the public radar since 1998. Elbow’s often playful tunes have caught on like a virus in the rock industry, infiltrating all types of media on their way to the charts. Here are the young men then, a weight on their shoulders, but love in their hearts.

“肘”乐队凭借第四张专辑《罕见的家伙》夺得今年的英国水星音乐大奖。水星奖是英国最令人神往的年度音乐奖项之一,颁发给获年度最佳唱片的英国或爱尔兰艺人,奖金高达两万英镑。“肘”乐队主唱盖伊?加维领奖时激动万分地说:“我想我应该冷静点,说一些谦虚的话,但这简直是我们经历过的最美妙的事情。”乐队不仅载誉而归,还捧回了35,000美元的现金大奖。《罕见的家伙》三月份在英国发行时,高居英国专辑榜前五位。

聆听“肘”乐队演绎的现代英伦摇滚音乐,就仿佛在夏日倾盆大雨中静观雨点沿窗户滑落,那份忧郁让人沉迷,却又酣畅淋漓。这个来自英格兰曼彻斯特的五人组合在他们的音乐中娴熟地运用了梦幻流行元素,让人不禁回想起十年前的迷幻流行风格,从而成功地在最近的众多流行/摇滚乐队中脱颖而出。“肘”乐队的单曲和专辑都雄霸欧美音乐排行榜,他们也享受着蒸蒸日上的音乐事.casino

Avatar《阿凡达》casino
刘彦 讲评

《阿凡达》(Avatar)是著名导演James Cameron在拍完《泰坦尼克号》(Titanic)之后时隔十二年才推出的最新作品。这种慢工出细活的程度,恐怕连“十年磨一剑”都不足以形容。《泰坦尼克号》曾经创下多项不可思议的纪录,神奇地成为史上最卖座电影。这回Cameron还能续写神话吗?

答案是肯定的。截至本文发稿时,《阿凡达》已经取代《泰坦尼克号》成为史上最卖座电影。换句话说,Cameron一人包揽了史上

全球最卖座和第二卖座的电影,岂一个牛字了得?想当年《泰坦尼克号》横扫奥斯卡,拿下最佳影片、最佳导演等多项大奖的时候,Cameron就曾经引用片中的经典台词来发表获奖感言:I’m the king of the world! 只可惜今年《阿凡达》没能横扫奥斯卡,不然Cameron就有机会继续引用自己片中的经典台词,对着小金人说I see you了。

《阿凡达》的故事其实并不新颖:潘多拉星球上有一种非常贵重的矿石Unobtanium。地球人极其渴望能够开采到这种稀缺资源,但要开采就得先说服潘多拉星球的纳威族人搬家。他们很重视自己的家园,而且他们膜拜的圣女之树就生长在矿石之上。所以,他们拒绝离开。

为了能够开采矿石,人类进行了阿凡达计划,将人类意识化身到适合在潘多拉生存的“阿凡达”肉身上。曾是海军士兵的Jake,因半身不遂渴望能重新站起来,欣然同意代替已经去世的孪生兄弟参与阿凡达计划。他成功混入纳威族中,还与族长女儿Neytiri产生了感情。

然而,带着使命而来的Jake却日渐发现地球人的暴虐和贪婪将毁灭充满生机的潘多拉星球。在人类的进攻和纳威人保卫家园的战役中,Jake最终选择了站在正义这边,携手纳威人战胜了自己的地球同胞。因为情节老套,某些观众戏谑地总结,《阿凡达》其实就是一部“史上最牛钉子户抗暴力拆迁”的影片。

片段一:Parker对Grace的工作进展程度甚为不满,要求她尽快说服纳威人离开家园,以便开发商开采矿石。

Parker Selfridge: Look, you’re supposed to be winning the hearts and the minds of the natives, isn’t that the whole point of your little puppet show? You look like them, you talk like them and they’ll start trusting us. We build them a school, we teach them English... But after - how many years? - relations with the indigenous are only getting worse.
Dr. Grace Augustine: That tends to happen when you use machine guns on them.
Parker Selfridge: Right, come here. This is why we’re here, Unobtanium. Because this little gray rock sells for 20 million a kilo. That’s the only reason. It’s what pays for the whole party. It’s what pays for your science. Comprendo? Now, those savages are threatening our whole operation. We’re on the brink of war and you’re supposed to be finding a diplomatic solution. So use what you’ve got and get me some results.

puppet show也可以称为puppet play,即木偶戏。Parker认为Grace跟纳威人打成一片,只是为了方便开发商开采矿石,并不是真心要跟他们交朋友,所以说到底不过在演“木偶戏”。正因如此,Parker觉得Grace的进度太慢:你把自己变成他们那样的外貌,学说他们的语言,给他们建立学校,教他们使用英语...... 费那么大的劲演这出“木偶戏”,还

不就是要赢得这些土著人的信任?结果,多少年过去了?地球人和土著人的关系反而越来越差。Parker说的the natives和the indigenous都是“土著人”。因为大部分地球人对纳威人有着天生的优越感,所以平时对话都会情不自禁地用“土著人”这个称呼。

Grace自然要替纳威人平反:这也不能怪他们。你要是对着他们开机关枪,这样的情形(指纳威人跟地球人的关系越来越僵)自然会发生。

Parker把Grace拉到模型前面,再次赤裸裸地直奔主题:Unobtanium矿石是我们来这里的唯一目的。这种小灰矿石,每公斤可以卖到2000 美元。所以整个计划能运行,你还能继续你的科研项目,都建立在我们可以开采到矿石的前提上。comprendo 来源于西班牙语comprender或意大利语comprendere,表示understand的意思。所以Comprendo? 就相当于我们熟悉的“知道不?懂不?”稍微歇了口气,Parker继续道:那些野人现在威胁着我们的整个采矿行动。我们已处在打仗的边缘,而你是应该提供解决方案的。所以,你最好赶紧利用手头的资源,给我做出点成绩来看!(别老是唧唧歪歪一堆废话,好像自己多替纳威人着想似的!)

片段二:Neytiri杀死那些不知名的生物,救了Jake一命。Jake再三表示感谢,Neytiri却毫不领情,冷冰冰地说那些生物原本不用死,都怪Jake鲁莽。

Neytiri: All this is your fault. They did not need to die.
Jake Sully: My fault? They attacked me! How am I the bad guy?
Neytiri: Your fault! Your fault!
Jake Sully: Easy.
Neytiri: You are like a baby. Making noise, don’t know what to do.
Jake Sully: If you loved your little forest friends, why not let them just kill my ass? What’s the thinking?
Neytiri: Why save you?
Jake Sully: Yeah, why save me?
Neytiri: You have a strong heart. No fear. But stupid! Ignorant like a child!

Neytiri的态度令Jake不解,所以他追问:我的过错?那些生物先攻击我的!怎么我倒成坏人了?

Neytiri非但没有收回她的指责,还越来越激动,不断重复“是你的错”。Jake赶紧回了一句“Easy.” 。这个easy并不是我们所熟悉的“简单”,而是“冷静”的意思。所以,Jake是想让Neytiri赶快calm down(冷静下来)。这种用法在日常对话里非常普遍。只要碰到某个人情绪特别激动的时候,我们就可以说:Easy! 举例如下:

A: Ripley is such a jerk! How can he do this to me? He should burn in hell! (Ripley太混账了!他怎么能这么对我?他不得好死!)
B: Easy, easy. Jerks will be jerks. Don’t let them affect your mood. It’s not worth it. (冷静,冷静。混蛋始终会是混蛋。别让那种人影响你的情绪。不值得。)

Neytiri进一步解释:你就像个婴儿,不停地吵闹,不知道该做什么。Jake自然不服气,反

问:如果你那么热爱那些生物,为什么不干脆由我死好了?你怎么想的?kill my ass其实就是kill me,因为Jake也在气头上,所以用了相对比较粗鲁的语言。

有心人可能已经注意到,Neytiri的台词往往都是省略句,内容特别简单。这是因为纳威人平时都讲自己的族语,所以英文不太灵光。这也是Neytiri以问句来回答Jake的问句的主要原因,她想确认一下自己没理解错Jake的意思:你是说,为什么要救你?

确认无误之后,Neytiri给出了答案:因为你有一颗强壮的心。你无所畏惧,但你太愚蠢了!就像个小孩一样,什么都不懂。这段话其实已经预示了本片的结局,因为这是典型的“欢喜冤家”在最初阶段给对方的评价。越说对方stupid、ignorant,两人最后走到一起的几率就越高。

片段三:Jake提醒纳威人,地球人很快就会发动战争,所以为了保命,大家都应火速逃离家园。Neytiri得知Jake原来是地球人派来的“奸细”,不由怒火中烧。

Jake Sully [to Na’vi people]: A great evil is upon us. Sky people are coming this way to destroy our home. Destroy! [to Neytiri]: Tell them they’re gonna be here soon. You have to leave, or you’re gonna die.
Neytiri: Are you certain of this?
Jake Sully: They sent me here to learn your ways, so one day I could bring this message, and that you would believe it.
Neytiri: What are you saying, Jake? You knew this would happen?
Jake Sully: Yes. At first, it was just orders. And then, everything changed. I fell in love. I fell in love with the forest. With the Omaticaya people. With you.
Neytiri: I trusted you.
Jake Sully: Trust me now, please.
Neytiri: You will never be one of the people!

sky people指的是“地球人”。虽然它的字面意思是“天上的人”,和“地球人”似乎矛盾,但对于潘多拉星球上的纳威人来说,“地球人”的确就是从天而降的外星人,所以用sky people这个称呼也在情理之中。

Jake怕很多人不懂他的意思,于是又单独对Neytiri说:快告诉大家,地球人马上就要到了。赶快撤离,否则会送命的。

Neytiri问Jake是否确定,Jake不再闪躲,将真相和盘托出:我就是地球人派来的。他们让我学你们的生活方式,跟你们打成一片,以便日后我可以将这个信息传达给你们,而你们也会买账。

Neytiri非常惊讶,又开始反问:你是什么意思,Jake?你早就知道这一切会发生?

Jake继续实话实说:是的,我早知道了。一开始,我只是服从命令(打入你们的阵营,怂恿你们搬走)。但后来,一切都变了。我爱上了这片丛林。爱上了Omaticaya部落的居民。爱上了你(Neytiri)。所以我现在真是出于担忧才通知你们赶紧撤离的,绝不是在给地球人做事。

Neytiri听了这番话,自然分外受伤

,恨恨地说了一句:我曾经如此信任你。Jake接了一句:那请你现在也继续相信我(赶紧撤离吧)。Neytiri的怒火显然没那么容易熄灭,她怒斥Jake:你永远不会成为我们当中的一员!

就像我前面提过的,男女主角之间的这种看似不可协调的冲突其实是典型的“欢喜冤家”桥段。这种感情的套路必然是双方从一开始就冲突,接着矛盾越来越深。直至最后,两人才冰释前嫌,终成眷属。《阿凡达》没能免俗:Jake最终选择和纳威人并肩作战,直至把地球人打败。他也因此得到了Neytiri的原谅。Jake将自己的意识永远脱离了人类的身体,植入了阿凡达的体内。从此,他将以阿凡达的形式生活在潘多拉星球上,与Neytiri共度幸福的一生。

俗套归俗套,无可否认的是,《阿凡达》是一场顶级的视觉盛宴。即使影片的情节和表演打动不了你,冲着无可比<



Dating and Romance 约会和浪漫.casino
Look at first sight
There is a romantic story about the nineteenth-century revolutionary, Garibaldi. He was on his ship entering a port when he saw a beautiful woman standing on the shore. ‘That is the woman I am going to marry,’ he said. It was love at first sight. The woman, when she met him, was swept off her feet by his good looks and personality. They were married within days and only had eyes for each other for the rest of their lives.
look at first sight 一见钟情
sweep someone off his feet 迅速堕入情网
only have eyes for 只对……感兴趣
一见钟情
有一个浪漫故事说的是19 世纪的革命者加里波第。他乘的船正驶进一个港口,这时,他看到岸上站着一位美丽的姑娘。 “这就是我要娶的姑娘。”他说,真是一见钟情!那位姑娘见到他时,为他的外表与品格所吸引,也迅速堕入情网。数日之内,他们就结了婚,终生只对对方感兴趣。

Dating dilemma
Do you fancy going Dutch
你想要均摊费用吗?
On a first data, who should pay for meals, drinks, tickets etc.? In the old days, the man would pick up the tab, but nowadays no body is quite sure. Will the woman think he’s a dinosaur if he pays? Or will she think he’s mean if he doesn’t? Will the man be grateful if the woman suggests they go Dutch or will he be insulted? There’s no right answer. You just have to play it by ear. Be sensitive to your partner’s feeling and you’ll probably get it right.
pick up the tab 付钱
go Dutch 均摊费用
play it by ear 见机行事
约会时的两难处境
第一次约会时,该由谁支付餐费、饮料费以及票费等呢?以往全部由男士支付,但是现在没有人敢肯定该怎么做了。如果他付钱的话,女士会认为他很傻吗?或者,如果他不付钱的话, 女士会认为他很抠门吗?如果女士建议各付各的话,他会很感激还是会感到受

到了侮辱?没有什么正确的答案。你只能见机行事。对同伴的感觉敏感些,你可能就会找对路子。


My Sister’s Keeper 《姐姐的守护者》casino
刘彦 讲评

《姐姐的守护者》(My Sister’s Keeper)翻拍自美国作家Jodi Picoult的畅销同名小说,于2009年6月首映。影片最终在美国本土的票房接近五千万美元,在大片成堆、票房动辄过亿的夏季市场显得很不起眼。不过,考虑到影片的制作成本只有三千万,这部作品也算是相当成功了。

当然,票房从来不是衡量质量的唯一指标。即使这部电影票房惨败,总收入远不及总成本,我仍然会认为它是值得推荐的优秀作品。首先,它成功地叙述了一个感人至深的故事。其次,演员的表现都很出色,无论是老牌的Cameron Diaz、Alec Baldwin和Joan Cusack,还是扮演Kate、Jesse和Taylor等重要角色的新生代演员。再次,影片的核心角色Anna由Abigail Breslin扮演。这位因《阳光小美女》(Little Miss Sunshine)而家喻户晓的童星第一次完全脱离本色出演,交出了一份漂亮的答卷。如果之前还有人说她只是运气好,捡到了适合自己的角色,现在应该没有人再质疑她的演技了。

这部电影属于典型的tearjerker(赚人眼泪的作品),几乎从头到尾都让观众揪心:Fitzgerald一家原本幸福美满,Sara和Brian先后生了一儿(Jesse)一女(Kate),其乐融融。一天,幼女Kate突然被查出患有先天性白血病,全家陷入了无尽的痛苦。在医生的提示下,夫妻俩准备再生一个孩子为Kate进行骨髓配型,好做骨髓移植以挽救她的生命。于是,在基因工程技术的帮助下,他们生下了Kate的“救星”——小女儿Anna。

从Anna出生为姐姐提供脐带干细胞开始,Anna就不断地扮演着“救星”的角色。每当Kate的病情复发,Anna就得贡献自己的血液和骨髓,以保住姐姐的生命。到了Anna 11岁那年,Kate因白血病并发了肾衰竭,这回能保住她生命的办法只剩一个:做肾移植。由于接受外人的肾移植成活率不高,而Sara、Brian和Jesse都不是合适人选,所以捐肾的任务自然又落到了Anna身上。

但是Anna已经厌倦了当姐姐的“人体器官库”,于是下定决心这回无论如何都不捐肾。为了表明自己的立场,她聘请了一位知名律师,状告Sara和Brian,并要求从他们那里解放自己的身体,获得“身体器官支配权”。这下,事情复杂了……

片段一:全家人坐在一起听Anna解释为什么要跟父母打官司,为什么不肯把自己的肾捐献出来救Kate。Anna罗列了一大堆理由:手术很疼很危险;厌倦了身体被一次次割开;自己也需要肾;不愿意被剥夺正常人理所当然能享受的美好生活,比如运动、当拉拉队员、参加派对

、去海滩玩等等。

Brian Fitzgerald: Baby, what I don’t understand is, why you didn’t say something earlier.
Anna Fitzgerald: When, dad? When should I talk to you about it? You’re never home. You leave me here with her (referring to Sara).
Sara Fitzgerald: Excuse me? You have never had to do anything you don’t want to do, and you know that!
Anna Fitzgerald: I always wound up doing everything, didn’t I?
Sara Fitzgerald: You spoiled shit!
Jesse Fitzgerald: Stop yelling at her!
Brian Fitzgerald: Everyone be quiet. We said she gets the table, she gets the table. (to Anna) Go ahead.
Anna Fitzgerald: Remember how the doctor said if I did the operation, I would have to be careful for the rest of my life? But I don’t want to be careful. Who wants to live like that?
Sara Fitzgerald: Anna, listen...
Anna Fitzgerald: I’m important too, mom. I’m important too!
Brian Fitzgerald: Hey, now...
Anna Fitzgerald: Let me go! (storms out)

一口气说出那么一长串理由,Anna显然忍了很久了。Brian问她既然有这么多委屈,为什么以前从来不提。Anna立刻反问:爸,我什么时候跟你提呢?你总是不在家,我只好整天对着她(指Sara)。

一听这话,Sara急了,立马提高了声调:你说什么?你可从来没被逼着做你不想做的事,你心里清楚得很!这里的excuse me显然不是因为没听清或没听懂对方原话发出的请求,而是一种带有强烈对抗情绪的“示威”,类似于中文里的“你说什么?有种就再说一遍?”

Anna丝毫没被吓到,继续顶嘴:可我最后不还是做了所有的事(一次次做手术,今天割这个,明天割那个,只为了救姐姐)?wind up等于end up,后面通常跟doing something,表示“最终做了某事”。Anna在这里用的是反义疑问句(I always wound up doing everything, didn’t I?),而不是简单的陈述句(I always wound up doing everything anyway),这毫无疑问加强了戏剧冲突性。

Sara本来就很恼火,现在看到Anna如此肆无忌惮地顶撞自己,气得直接爆了粗口,说Anna是spoiled shit。一般情况下,被宠坏的小孩都用spoiled brat来形容。此时,brat(不懂事的小毛孩)这个词显然已经无法体现Sara的愤怒,所以不登大雅之堂的shit脱口而出。

Jesse受不了这种气氛,喊了一句:别对着她吼!(意思是让Sara别大声骂Anna是shit。)Brian也赶紧跳出来主持大局:大家都别争了。我们说了要听她解释的,那就由她解释。这里的get the table不能按字面意思“得到桌子”来理解。因为当时一家人都围坐在桌子边讨论,颇有几分“圆桌会议”的味道,所以get the table可以引申为“得到发言的机会”。

Brian示意Anna继续,Anna就接着说下去:记不记得医生讲过,如果我做了捐肾手术,我一辈子都得特别谨慎地过日子?可是我不想

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