大学基础英语

大学基础英语

Lesson One Half a Day

Naguib Mahfous

1. I walked alongside my father, clutching his right hand. All my clothes were new: the black shoes, the green school uniform, and the red cap. They did not make me happy, however, as this was the day I was to be thrown into school for the first time.

2. My mother stood at the window watching our progress, and I turned towards her from time to time, hoping she would help. We walked along a street lined with gardens, and fields planted with crops: pears, and date palms.

3. "Why school ?" I asked my father. "What have I done ?"

4. "I'm not punishing you, " he said, laughing. "School's not a punishment. It's a place that makes useful men out of boys. Don' t you want to be useful like your brothers?"

5. I was not convinced. I did not believe there was really any good to be had in tearing me away from my home and throwing me into the huge, high-walled building.

6. When we arrived at the gate we could see the courtyard, vast and full of boys and girls. "Go in by yourself, " said my father, "and join them. Put a smile on your face and be a good example to others. "

7. I hesitated and clung to his hand, but he gently pushed me from him. "Be a man, " he said. "Today you truly begin life. You will find me waiting for you when it's time to leave. "

8. I took a few steps. Then the faces of the boys and girls came into view. I did not know a single one of them, and none of

them knew me. I felt I was a stranger who had lost his way. But then some boys began to glance at me in curiosity, and one

of them came over and asked, "Who brought you?"

9. "My father, " I whispered.

10."My father's dead, " he said simply.

11. I did not know what to say. The gate was now closed. Some of the children burst into tears. The bell rang. A lady came along, followed by a group of men. The men began sorting us into ranks. We were formed into an intricate pattern in the great courtyard surrounded by high buildings; from each floor we were overlooked by a long balcony roofed in wood.

12."This is your new home, "said the woman. "There are mothers and fathers here, too. Everything that is enjoyable and beneficial is here. So dry your tears and face life joyfully. "

13. Well, it seemed that my misgivings had had no basis. From the first moments I made many friends and fell in love with many girls. I had never imagined school would have this rich

variety of experiences.

14. We played all sorts of games. In the music room we sang our first songs. We also had our first introduction to language.

We saw a globe of the Earth, which revolved and showed the various continents and countries. We started learning numbers, and we were told the story of the Creator of the universe. We ate delicious food, took a little nap, and woke up to go on with friendship and love, playing and learning.

15. Our path, however, was not totally sweet and unclouded. We had to be observant and patient. It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around. Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. And while the lady would sometimes smile, she would often yell and scold. Even more frequently she would resort to physical punishment.16. In addition, the time for changing one' s mind was over and gone and there was no question of ever returning to the

paradise of home. Nothing lay ahead of us but exertion, struggle, and perseverance. Those who were able took advantage of

the opportunities for success and happiness that presented themselves.

17. The bell rang, announcing the passing of the day and the end of work. The children rushed toward the gate, which was opened again. I said goodbye to friends and sweethearts and passed through the gate. I looked around but found no trace of my father, who had promised to be there. I stepped aside to wait. When I had waited for a long time in vain, I decided to

return home on my own. I walked a few steps, then came to a startled halt. Good Lord! Where was the street lined with gardens? Where had it disappeared to? When did all these cars invade it? And when did all these people come to rest on its surface? How did these hills of rubbish find their way to cover its sides? And where were the fields that bordered it? High buildings had taken over, the street was full of children, and disturbing noises shook the air. Here and there stood conjurers showing off their tricks or making snakes appear from baskets. Then there was a band announcing the opening of a circus,

with clowns and weight lifters walking in front.

18. Good God! I was in a daze. My head spun. I almost went crazy. How could all this have happened in half a day, between early morning and sunset? I would find the answer at home with my father. But where was my home? I hurried towards the crossroads, because I remembered that I had to cross the street to reach our house, but the stream of cars would not let up. Extremely irritated, I wondered when I would be able to cross.

19. I stood there a long time, until the young boy employed at the ironing shop on the corner came up to me.

20. He stretched out his arm and said, "Grandpa, let me take you across."

第一课半日

1 我走在父亲的一侧 牢牢地抓着他的右手。我身上穿的

戴的全是新的 黑鞋子 绿校服 红帽子。然儿我一

点儿也高兴不起来 因为今天我将第一次被扔到学校里去。

2 母亲站在窗前望着我们缓缓前行 我也不时的回头看她 希望她会救我。我们沿着街道走着 街道两旁是花园

和田野 田野里栽满了梨树和椰枣树。

3 “我为什么要去上学 ”我问父亲 “是我做错了什么了吗 ”

4 “我不是在惩罚你 ”父亲笑着说道 “上学不是一种惩罚。学校是把孩子培养成才的地方。难道你不想象你

哥哥们那样 成为一个有用的人吗 ”

5 我不相信他的话。我才不相信把我从家里拽出来 扔进那个大大的 高墙围绕的建筑里对我有什么真正的好处

呢。

6 到了学校门口，我们看到了宽阔的庭院，站满了孩子。“自己进去吧 ”我父亲说 “加入他们。笑一笑 给

其他的孩子做个好榜样。”

7 我紧抓着父亲的手 犹豫不决。但是父亲却把我轻轻地推开了。“拿出点男子气概来 ”他说 “从今天起你

就要真正开始自己的生活了。放学时我会在这等你的。”

8 我走了几步 便看见了一些孩子的面孔。他们中我一个也不认识。他们也没有一个认识我的。我感觉自己像是

一个迷了路的陌生人。然而这时有些男孩开始好奇的打量我 其

中一个走过来问到 “谁带你来的 ”

9 “我爸爸”我小声说道。

10 “我爸爸死了 ”他简短地说。

11 我不知道该说些什么。这时学校的门已经关上了 有些孩子哭了起来。接着，铃响了，一位女士走了过来 后

面跟着一群男人。那些人把我们排成几行。使我们形成一个错综复杂的队行 站在那四周高楼耸立的院子里。每层楼都

有长长的阳台 阳台上带有木制顶棚 从阳台上可以俯视到我们。

12 “这是你们的新家 ”那位女士说道 “这儿有你们的父母。一切能带给你们快乐 对你们有益的事物 这儿

都有。因此擦干你们的眼泪 快快乐乐地面对生活。”

13 这样看来我之前的顾虑都是毫无根据的了。从一开始我就结交了许多朋友 并且爱上了许多女孩。我从未想过

学校的生活是如此丰富多彩。

14 我们玩着各种各样的游戏 在音乐室里我们唱着第一次学会的歌。我们第一次接触到了语言的学习。我们看见

了一个地球仪 旋转它 便能看见世界上的各个大洲和国家的名称。我们还开始学习数字 听老师将造物主的故事。吃

过美味的食物 小睡之后 我们醒来又继续在友谊和爱之中嬉戏 学习。

15 然而 校园生活并不是完全甜蜜和阳光普照的。我们还必须遵守纪律 耐心听讲。学校生活也不光是嬉戏和无

所事事。同学间的竞争还可能引起痛苦 仇恨 甚至打斗。虽然那位女士有时面带微笑 但也经常会对我们大声吼叫并

责骂我们 甚至 更常见的是体罚我们。

16 另外 我们再也不能改变主意 再也不能回到天堂般的家里了。摆在我们面前的只有努力奋斗和坚持不懈。一

旦机会来了那些有能力的人就会抓住它们去获取成功和幸福。

17 铃响了 宣告一天学校生活的结束。孩子们匆匆奔向大门 这时大门被打开了。我向我的朋友和“女友们”告

完别 走出了校门。我四处张望却没发现父亲的踪影。他答应我会在校门外等我的。于是我走到一边去等他。当我等了

好久 他也没来的时候 我决定自己回家。我走了几步 却惊奇地站住了。我的天哪!那条两边是花园的街道怎么不见了

消失到哪里去了 是什么时候这些车辆闯到马路上的 又是什么时候这些人来到街道上歇憩的 这一座座垃圾堆又是怎

样堆到街道两旁的 街道旁的田野又到哪里去了 取而代之的是林立的高楼。街道上挤满了孩子。嘈杂声震荡着空气。

街头巷尾站着杂耍艺人 他们或玩着戏法 或是让蛇从篮子里出现。接着 一个乐队奏起了音乐 宣布马戏表演的开始

小丑和举重大力士走在前面。

18 我的天!我感觉一片茫然 头晕目眩 几乎快要疯了。这一切怎么可能就在从清晨到日落的这半天时间里发生

或许回到家 父亲会告诉我答案的。但是 我的家又在哪里 我赶紧奔向十字路口 因为我记得要穿过那条街道才能到

家 但车流不息 我极为恼怒 我知何时才可以过去。

19 我久久的站在那里 直到在街道熨衣店里工作的小男孩向

我走来。

20 他伸出手臂来说道 “爷爷 我扶您过马路吧。”

Lesson Two Going Home

Pete Hamill

1. They were going to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There were six of them, three boys and three girls, and they got on the bus at

34th Street, carrying sandwiches and wine in paper bags. They were dreaming of golden beaches and sea tides as the grey,

cold spring of New York vanished behind them. Vingo was on

the bus from the beginning.

2. As the bus passed through New Jersey, they began to notice that Vingo never moved. He sat in front of the young people,

his dusty face masking his age, dressed in a plain brown suit that did not fit him. His fingers were stained from cigarettes

and he chewed the inside of his lip a lot. He sat in complete silence and seemed completely unaware of the existence of the others.

3. Deep into the night, the bus pulled into a Howard Johnson's restaurant and everybody got off the bus except Vingo.

The

young people began to wonder about him, trying to imagine his life: perhaps he was a sea captain; maybe he had run away from his wife; he could be an old soldier going home. When they went back to the bus, one of the girls became so curious

that she decided to engage him in a conversation. She sat down beside him and introduced herself.

4. "We're going to Florida," the girl said brightly. "You going that far?"

5. "I don't know," Vingo said.

6. "I've never been there," she said. " I hear it's beautiful."

7. "It is," he said quietly, as if remembering something he had tried to forget.

8. "You live there?"

9. "I was there in the Navy, at the base in Jacksonville".

10. "Want some wine?" she said. He smiled and took a swig from the bottle. He thanked her and retreated again into his silence.

After a while, she went back to the others as Vingo nodded in sleep.

11. In the morning they awoke outside another Howard

Johnson's and this time Vingo went in. The girl insisted that he join

them. He seemed very shy and ordered black coffee and smoked nervously, as the young people chattered about sleeping

on beaches. When they got back on the bus, the girl sat with Vingo again. After a while, slowly and painfully, he began to

tell his story. He had been in jail in New York for the last four years, and now he was going home.

12. "Are you married?"

13. "I don' t know."

14. "You don't know?" she said.

15. "Well, when I was in jail I wrote to my wife. I said,

'Martha, I understand if you can't stay married to me.' I said I was

going to be away a long time, and that if she couldn't stand it, if the kids kept asking questions, if it hurt her too much, well, she could just forget me. Get a new guy—she's a wonderful woman, really something—and forget about me. I told her she didn't have to write to me or anything, and she didn't. Not for three-and-a-half years."

16. "And you're going home now, not knowing?"

17. "Yeah," he said shyly. "Well, last week, when I was sure the parole was coming through I wrote her again. I told her that

if

she had a new guy, I understood. But, if she didn't, if she would take me back she should let me know. We used to live in Brunswick, and there' s a great oak tree just as you come into town. I told her if she would take me back, she should tie a yellow ribbon to the tree, and I would get off and come home. If she didn't want me, forget it, no ribbon and I'd understand

and keep going on through."

18. "Wow," the girl said. "Wow."

19. She told the others, and soon all of them were caught up in the approach of Brunswick, looking at the pictures Vingo showed them of his wife and three children. Now they were 20 miles from Brunswick, and the young people took the

window seats on the right side, waiting for the approach of the great oak tree. Vingo stopped looking, tightening his face

into the ex-con's mask, as if fortifying himself against still another disappointment. Then it was 10 miles, and then five, and the bus became very quiet.

20. Then suddenly all of the young people were up out of their seats, screaming and shouting and crying, doing small dances,

shaking clenched fists in triumph and exaltation. All except Vingo.

21. Vingo sat there stunned, looking at the oak tree through his misty eyes. The tree was covered with yellow ribbons, 30 of

them, 50 of them, maybe hundreds, a tree that stood like a banner of welcome, blowing and billowing in the wind. As the young people shouted, the old con slowly rose from his seat, holding himself tightly, and made his way to the front of the

bus to go home.

第二课回家

1 他们准备去佛罗里达州的劳德岱尔堡。一行六人 三个男孩 三个女孩 拎着装满三明治和葡萄酒的纸带 在第

34街上了公共汽车。他们正梦想着 佛罗里达 金色的海滩和海潮 纽约那灰暗寒冷的春天在他们身后消失得了无踪迹。

温戈一开始就在车上。

2 当汽车穿过新泽西州时 他们开始注意到温戈从未挪过地方。他坐在这群年轻人的前面 身着不合体的浅棕色

套装 满是灰尘的脸使人无法看出他的实际年龄。过多地吸烟使他的手指成了黄色 他不停地咬着下唇 安静地坐在那

儿 好像完全没有意识到其他人的存在。

3 到了深夜 汽车开到一家霍德华·约翰逊连锁餐饮店前停了下来 所有的人都下了车 除了温戈。那群年轻人

开始对他产生了好奇 试着猜想他的生活阅历 或许他是个船长 或许他是从他妻子身边逃出来的 或许他是个退役回

家的老兵。当他们回到车上时 其中一个女孩忍不住内心的好奇 决定和他聊聊天。于是她坐到了他的身旁 做了一下

自我介绍。

4 “我们要去佛罗里达 ”那个女孩欢快地说 “你也要去那么远吗 ”

“我不知道。”温戈说道。

“我从未去过那儿 ”她说 “听说那儿很美。”

“是的。”他轻声地说 好像想起了他试图想要忘记的事情。“你住在哪儿 ”

“我在那儿的海军服过役 是在杰克逊维尔德海军基地。”

“你想喝点儿酒吗 ”她说 他笑了笑拿起酒瓶喝了一大口。道过谢后 他又陷入了沉默。过了一会儿 温戈大

气瞌睡 于是那个女孩又回到了她的同伴当中。

5 到了早上 当他们醒来的时候 车停在了另一个霍德华·约翰逊连锁餐饮店前面 这一次温戈进去了。那个女

孩坚持要求他加入他们年轻人。他看起来很腼腆 要了杯浓咖啡后就神情局促地抽起了烟 而年轻人们则喋喋不休地谈

起了在海滩上睡大觉的事。当他们回到车上 那个女孩又同温戈坐到了一起。过了一会儿 他就开始讲起了他的故事

语速缓慢且神情痛苦。在过去的四年里他一直在纽约的监狱里服刑 现在他要回家了。

6 “你成家了吗 ”

“我不知道。”

“你不知道 ”她说。

7 “是的。我在监狱时曾经给我的妻子写过信 我说 ‘玛莎 如果你想和我离婚 我能理解。’我说我要离开

很长一段时间 如果他无法忍受 如果孩子们不停地问这问那 如果这对她的伤害非常大的话 那么 她可以把我忘了。

再找个男人——她是个非常不错的女人 真的不一般——然后把我忘了。我告诉她不必给我写信或以其他的方式与我联

系 她也确实没再和我联系。就这样已经三年半了。”

8 “那么你现在要回家啰 而什么都还不知道 ”

9 “是的 ”他不好意思地说 “上个星期 当我确切地知道我很快就会被假释的时候 我又给她写了封信。我

告诉她如果她另外有人了 我理解。但是 如果她没有 如果她愿意接受我回家 要告诉我。我们过去一直住在布朗兹

威克 在进镇的地方有一颗大橡树 我告诉她如果她希望我回家 就在树上系一条黄色丝带 这样我就会下车回家。如

果她不接受我 就忘记这一切 也不必再系黄丝带 我也就知道了 我就随着汽车一直坐下去。”“啊 ”那个女孩感叹道 “啊 原来这样。”

10 她把温戈的故事告诉了其他人 在区布朗兹威克的路上 他们看着温戈拿出的他妻子和三个孩子的照片 很快

都被深深地触动了。现在他们里布朗兹威克还有20英里了。那群年轻人都坐到车上右侧靠窗的座位 期待着看到那棵大

橡树。温戈将目光从车窗移开 脸绷得紧紧的 又恢复了之前那副假释犯的冷漠神情 好像在鼓足勇气去面对又一次的

失望、打击。离布朗兹威克只有10英里了 只有5英里了 车内一片寂静。

11 突然所有的年轻人都从他们的座位上跳了起来 大声叫着、喊着、欢呼着 手舞足蹈 摇晃着紧握的拳头以示

胜利和兴奋 除了温戈。

12 温戈坐在那儿 惊呆了 泪眼婆娑地望着那棵橡树。树上系满了黄丝带 有30条 有50条 也许有上百条

那棵树像一面欢迎的旗帜屹立在那儿随风飘扬。在年轻人欢呼时 那位老囚徒缓缓地从座位上站起来 用力地支撑着自

己 走到了车的前部 踏上了回家的路。

Lesson Three Message of the Land

Pira Sudham

1. Yes, these are our rice fields. They belonged to my parents and forefathers. The land is more than three centuries old. I'm

the only daughter in our family and it was I who stayed with my parents till they died. My three brothers moved out to their wives' houses when they got married. My husband moved into our house as is the way with us in Esarn. I was then eighteen and he was nineteen. He gave me six children. Two died in infancy from sickness. The rest, two boys and two girls, went away as soon as we could afford to buy jeans for them. Our oldest son got a job as a gardener in a rich man's home in Bangkok but later an employment agency sent him to a foreign land to work. My other son also went far away.

2. One of our daughters is working in a textile factory in Bangkok, and the other has a job in a store. They come home to see

us now and then, stay a few days, and then they are off again. Often they send some money to us and tell us that they are doing well. I know this is not always true. Sometimes, they get bullied and insulted, and it is like a knife piercing my heart.

It's easier for my husband. He has ears which don't hear, a mouth which doesn't speak, and eyes that don't see. He has always been patient and silent, minding his own life.

3. All of them remain my children in spite of their long absence. Maybe it's fate that sent them away from us. Our piece of

land is small, and it is no longer fertile, bleeding year after year and, like us, getting old and exhausted. Still my husband

and I work on this land. The soil is not difficult to till when there is a lot of rain, but in a bad year, it's not only the ploughs

that break but our hearts, too.

4. No, we two haven't changed much, but the village has. In what way? Only ten years ago, you could barter for things, but

now it's all cash. Years ago, you could ask your neighbors to help build your house, reap the rice or dig a well. Now they'll

do it only if you have money to pay them. Plastic things replace village crafts. Men used to make things with fine bamboo pieces, but no longer. Plastic bags litter the village. Shops have

sprung up, filled with colorful plastic things and goods we

have no use for. The young go away to towns and cities leaving us old people to work on the land. They think differently, I know, saying that the old are old-fashioned. All my life, I have never had to go to a hairdresser, or to paint my lips or nails. These rough fingers and toes are for working in the mud of our rice fields, not for looking pretty. Now young girls put on jeans, and look like boys and they think it is fashionable. Why, they are willing to sell their pig or water buffalo just to be

able to buy a pair of jeans. In my day, if I were to put on a pair of trousers like they do now, lightning would strike me.

5. I know, times have changed, but certain things should not change. We should offer food to the monks every day, go to the

temple regularly. Young people tend to leave these things to old people now, and that's a shame.

6. Why, only the other day I heard a boy shout and scream at his mother. If that kind of thing had happened when I was

young, the whole village would have condemned such an ungrateful son, and his father would surely have given him a good

beating.

7. As for me, I wouldn't change, couldn't change even if I wanted to. Am I happy or unhappy? This question has never occurred to me. Life simply goes on. Yes, this bag of bones

dressed in rags can still plant and reap rice from morning till dusk. Disease, wounds, hardship and scarcity have always been part of my life. I don't complain.

8. The farmer: My wife is wrong. My eyes do see—they see more than they should. My ears do hear—they hear more than is

good for me. I don't talk about what I know because I know too much. I know for example, greed, anger, and lust are the

root of all evils.

9. I am at peace with the land and the conditions of my life. But I feel a great pity for my wife. I have been forcing silence

upon her all these years, yet she has not once complained of anything.

10. I wanted to have a lot of children and grandchildren around me but now cities and foreign lands have attracted my children

away and it seems that none of them will ever come back to live here again. To whom shall I give these rice fields when I

die? For hundreds of years this strip of land has belonged to our family. I know every inch of it. My children grew up on it, catching frogs and mud crabs and gathering flowers. Still the land could not tie them down or call them back. When each of them has a pair of jeans, they are off like birds on the wing. 11. Fortunately, my wife is still with me, and both of us are still strong. Wounds heal over time. Sickness comes and goes,

and

we get back on our feet again. I never want to leave this land. It's nice to feel the wet earth as my fingers dig into the soil,

planting rice, to hear my wife sighing, "Old man, if I die first, I shall become a cloud to protect you from the sun." It's good

to smell the scent of ripening rice in November. The soft cool breeze moves the sheaves, which ripple and shimmer like

waves of gold. Yes, I love this land and I hope one of my children comes back one day to live, and gives me grandchildren

so that I can pass on the land's secret messages to them.

第三课土地的讯息

1是的 这些都是我们的稻田。它们曾属于我的父母和祖辈。这片土地有三百多年的历史了。我是家里唯一的女孩。

所以 我一直陪在父母身边直到他们去世。我的三个兄弟结婚以后就都搬到他们的女人家里去了。按照我们伊萨恩的风

俗 我男人进了我们家的门。那时我18岁 他19岁。我们生了六个孩子 有两个孩子在襁褓中就病死了 剩下的两个

男孩和两个女孩在我们能为他们买得起牛仔裤的时候 就离开

了家门。我的大儿子在曼谷的一个有钱人家里做圆丁 后

来一家劳务所介绍送他到国外干活去了。我的小儿子离家也很远。

2我们的一个女儿现在在曼谷的一家纺织厂上班 另一个

女儿在一家商店里工作。他们偶尔回家来看我们 待上几

天就又走了。他们经常寄钱给我们并告诉我们他们过得很好。我知道这并不全是真的。有时 当我知道 它们受欺负

受侮辱时 我就心如刀割。而这一切对于我的男人来说就好过些

他有一对听不见的耳朵、一张不说话的嘴和一双看不

见的眼睛。他总是不紧不慢 沉默寡言 自个儿过日子。

3虽然孩子们长时间不在家 但他们始终是我的孩子 也

许是命运让他们离开了我们。我们的这片土地很小 也不

再肥沃 就像我们一样 一年年地被榨干了血 慢慢上了年纪

渐渐精疲力竭了。而我和我的男人还在这片土地上耕作。

当雨水多的时候土地还不难耕种 可要是赶上干旱 干硬的土

地不仅使我们的犁耕碎了 我们的心也碎了。

4是的 我们两口子一直没怎么变 可是我们的村子却变

了很多。怎么变了 就在十年前你还可以和别人换东西

可现在就得用现金了。几年前你还可以喊你的邻居们帮你盖房子、割麦子或挖口井。但现在只有付钱给他们 他们才干。

塑料制品代替了村里的手工做的东西。过去男人们常常用好的竹简做东西 但现在已经不再做了。塑料袋扔的村里哪儿

都是。还突然冒出些商店 里面摆满了五颜六色的塑料制品和对我们没有用的东西。年轻人离开了家去了城镇 留下我

们这些上了年纪的人种田。我知道他们的想法和我们不同 他们说我们岁数大的人跟不上时代。我这一辈子从来没说非

得去理发店或者涂唇膏 染指甲。我这粗手粗脚是用来在稻田里的泥地里干活的 而不是摆样子好看的。现在的年轻姑

娘们穿上了牛仔裤 看着像小伙子 可她们却认为这是时髦。哦 只为了能买条牛仔裤 她们宁愿卖掉猪或水牛。我年

轻的时候要是能穿上她们那样的裤子 准得遭雷劈。

5我知道时代已经变了 但是有些东西是不该变的 我们

还应该每天为僧人提供吃的 定期去寺庙上香。现在的年

轻人往往把这些事留给上了岁数的人去做 这真是太不像话了。