高级英语第一册第九课翻译与练习答案
新编大学英语第一册第9课-Final答案

Unit 9 Holidays and Special DaysUseful InformationHolidays are special times of respite from work and other routines. In some cases, they are legal holidays when stores, businesses and government offices are officially closed. In other cases, they are celebrated without taking time off from work. Holidays are often times for celebration, revelry, eating, drinking, travel, and family gatherings, but they may also be times of rest and reflection. The current trend is away from rest and reflection. Even Mardi Gras (大斋首日的前一天,直译为“油腻的星期二”), the day before the traditionally reflective period of Lent (大斋期), has turned into an entire week of parties, parades, and merry-making for those who make the annual pilgrimage to New Orleans, for example.In most cultures the scheduling of holidays originally was related to the seasons, the lunar cycle, and religion. Christmas (December 25) celebrates the birth of Jesus, but it is not actually known when Jesus was born. The first Roman emperor to espouse Christianity decided to have Christmas when the days are shortest to bring a spirit of optimism to the long winter months. It also helped bring Christianity to the pagans, who were accustomed to having festivals at the winter solstice, encouraging warmth and sunshine to return. Over the years Christmas has come to symbolize goodwill and generosity for both Christians and non-Christians through the personification of Santa Claus, originally a Christian saint, known as St. Nicholas. Nowadays Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer is almost as important a global symbol of Christmas as Jesus or Santa and the commercialization of Christmas for some people threatens to replace generosity with greed. Few people remember that the original Christmas gifts were given with generosity and humility by the Three Wise Men, all pagans, to Jesus, a Jewish child born in a manger (马槽). All they think of are the gifts they will give or receive, and all the money they have spent.One reason for the increasing popularity of Christmas is its proximity to New Year’s Day, permitting a long holiday to evolve out of both. In the U. S. the holiday has turned into an extended holiday season, lasting from Thanksgiving Day in late November until New Year’s Day, with a seemingly endless array of parties, dinners, concerts, parades, and vacation trips. The schools and colleges are closed from mid-December through early January when many people eat too much, drink too much, and watch too much American football on TV. Many gifts, cards, and annual letters are exchanged, and the various festivities are not always very restful. Then the same people make New Year’s Resolutions to eat less, drink less, spend less, and work harder in the coming year.Christmas is by far the most important holiday in English-speaking countries. Other important holidays in addition to Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, April Fools’ Day, and Easter. On Valentine’s Day, celebrated on February 14, people give cards, chocolates, flowers, and kisses to their spouses and sweethearts. On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, people wear green to celebrate the luck of the Irish, and eat corned beef and cabbage, and may drink green beer. During Easter Week in late March or early April, Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus while Jews celebrate Passover, in memory of the escape of the Jews from ancient Egypt, where they had been slaves. Although it is not actually a holiday and has no religious connotation, April Fools’ Day, celebrated on April 1, is a day when people play embarrassing trickson their friends and colleagues and even on their teachers. Another holiday with some similarity to April Fools’ Day is Halloween on October 31, when children wear funny or scary costumes and ask their neighbors for “tricks or treats”. The name Halloween means “hallowed evening”, the night before All Saints’ Day when Christian saints are honored. On the following day, All Souls’ Day, services and prayers are said for the dead. In many countries, it is a day when families visit cemeteries and place flowers on the tombs of their relatives. In Europe, Labor Day is celebrated on May 1, whereas in Canada and the United States, labor and laborers are honored by a legal holiday on the first Monday in September.Part One Preparation1. Holiday Words(教师用书第四次印刷版本的答案图中:1)竖行第12行的CANDY一词多圈了个A。
高级英语第一册第九课翻译

第九课马克吐温——美国的一面镜子(节选)诺埃尔格罗夫在大多数美国人的心目中,马克吐温是位伟大作家,他描写了哈克费恩永恒的童年时代中充满诗情画意的旅程和汤姆索亚在漫长的夏日里自由自在历险探奇的故事。
的确,这位美国最受人喜爱的作家的探索精神、爱国热情、浪漫气质及幽默笔调都达到了登峰造极的程度。
但我发现还有另一个不同的马克吐温——一个由于深受人生悲剧的打击而变得愤世嫉俗、尖酸刻薄的马克吐温,一个为人类品质上的弱点而忧心忡忡、明显地看到前途是一片黑暗的人。
印刷工、领航员、邦联游击队员、淘金者、耽于幻想的乐天派、语言尖刻的讽刺家:马克吐温原名塞缪尔朗赫恩克莱门斯,他一生之中有超过三分之一的时间浪迹美国各地,体验着美国的新生活,尔后便以作家和演说家的身分将他所感受到的这一切介绍给全世界。
他的笔名取自他在蒸汽船上做工时听到的报告水深为两口寻(12英尺)——意即可以通航的信号语。
他的作品中有二十几部至今仍在印行,其外文译本仍在世界各地拥有读者,由此可见他的享誉程度。
在马克吐温青年时代,美国的地理中心是密西西比河流域,而密西西比河是这个年轻国家中部的交通大动脉。
龙骨船、平底船和大木筏载运着最重要的商品。
木材、玉米、烟草、小麦和皮货通过这些运载工具顺流而下,运送到河口三角洲地区,而砂糖、糖浆、棉花和威士忌酒等货物则被运送到北方。
在19世纪50年代,西部领土开发高潮到来之前,辽阔的密西西比河流域占美国已开发领土的四分之三。
1857年,少年马克吐温作为蒸汽船上的一名小领航员踏人了这片天地。
在这个新的工作岗位上,他接触到的是各式各样的人物,看到的是一个多姿多彩的大干世界。
他完全地投身到这种生活之中,经常在操舵室里听着人们谈论民间争斗、海盗抢劫、私刑案件、游医卖药以及河边的一些化外民居的故事。
所有这一切,连同他那像留声机般准确可靠的记忆所吸收的丰富多彩的语言,后来都有机会在他的作品中得以再现。
蒸汽船的甲板上不仅挤满了富有开拓精神的人们,而且也载着一些娼妓、赌棍和歹徒等社会渣滓。
高级英语第三版第一册课后答案1,3,4,6,7,9,10

高英课内考点:第一课:Paraphrase1、we’re elevated 23 feet。
Our house is 23 feet above sea level.2、The place has been here since 1915,and no hurricane has ever bothered it。
The house was built in 1915,and since then no hurricane has done any damage to it.3、We can batten down and ride it out.We can make the necessary preparation and survive the hurricane without much damage。
4、The generator was doused,and the lights went out。
Water got into the generator,it stopped working。
As a result all lights were put out。
5、Everybody out the back door to the cars!Everyone go out through the back door and get into the cars!6、The electrical systems had been killed by water。
The electrical systems in the cars had been destroyed by water。
7、John watched the water lap at the steps,and felt a crushing guilt.As John watched the water inch its way up the steps,he felt a strong sense of guilt because he blamed himself for endangering the family by making the wrong decision not to flee inland。
高级英语第一册第九课课后习题答案

Translation:1.Tom was much bit as bright as the top student in his class.2.He was obsessed with fear of poverty.3.Donating Lake teems with fish and shrimps.4.Under such pressure, he had no other choice but quit office.5. A lot of children succumbed to small pox then.6.Much to his horror, he found the cabin flooded.7.Not until midnight did the surgeon finish the operation.8.That’s Peter all over.9.The history course has acquainted me with ancient civilization.10.The pursuits and problems of the young people find full expression in the newplay.Paraphrase:1.Because his literary works such as two novels about Huck Finn and Tom Sawyerare loved by Americans, who imagine he was adventurous, patriotic, romantic, and humorous.2.In his new profession he could meet people of all kinds.3. All would reappear in his books together with the colorful language that he took in with a good memory that seemed to be able to record things like a phonograph.4. Steamboat decks were mainly filled with people of pioneering spirit and also lawless people or social outcasts such as hustlers, gamblers and thugs.5. He took a horse-drawn public vehicle and went west to Nevada, following the flow of people in the Gold Rush.6. Mark Twain began working hard to become well known locally as a newspaper reporter and humorist.7. Those who came pioneering out west were energetic, courageous and reckless people, because those who stayed at home were slow, dull and lazy people.8. That’s typical of California.9. If we relaxed, rested or stayed away from this entire crazy struggle for success occasionally and kept the daring and enterprising spirit, we would be able to remain strong and healthy and continue to produce great thinkers.10. At the end of his life, he lost the last bit of his positive view of man and the world.。
高级英语第一册第九课

About the author
• Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, satirist, writer, and lecturer. Twain is most noted for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Clemens was a well known author in the United States, a popular comedian and monologist, and friend to presidents, artists, leading industrialists, and European royalty. Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been called a Great American Novel. He enjoyed immense public popularity and his keen wit and incisive satire earned him praise from both critics and peers. American author William Faulkner called Twain "the father of American literature.”
The Gilded Age and The Gold Rush
高级英语第一册第九课翻译与练习答案

第九课马克•吐温——美国的一面镜子(节选)诺埃尔•格罗夫在大多数美国人的心目中,马克•吐温是位伟大作家,他描写了哈克•费恩永恒的童年时代中充满诗情画意的旅程和汤姆•索亚在漫长的夏日里自由自在历险探奇的故事。
的确,这位美国最受人喜爱的作家的探索精神、爱国热情、浪漫气质及幽默笔调都达到了登峰造极的程度。
但我发现还有另一个不同的马克•吐温——一个由于深受人生悲剧的打击而变得愤世嫉俗、尖酸刻薄的马克•吐温,一个为人类品质上的弱点而忧心忡忡、明显地看到前途是一片黑暗的人。
印刷工、领航员、邦联游击队员、淘金者、耽于幻想的乐天派、语言尖刻的讽刺家:马克•吐温原名塞缪尔•朗赫恩•克莱门斯,他一生之中有超过三分之一的时间浪迹美国各地,体验着美国的新生活,尔后便以作家和演说家的身分将他所感受到的这一切介绍给全世界。
他的笔名取自他在蒸汽船上做工时听到的报告水深为两口寻(12英尺)——意即可以通航的信号语。
他的作品中有二十几部至今仍在印行,其外文译本仍在世界各地拥有读者,由此可见他的享誉程度。
在马克•吐温青年时代,美国的地理中心是密西西比河流域,而密西西比河是这个年轻国家中部的交通大动脉。
龙骨船、平底船和大木筏载运着最重要的商品。
木材、玉米、烟草、小麦和皮货通过这些运载工具顺流而下,运送到河口三角洲地区,而砂糖、糖浆、棉花和威士忌酒等货物则被运送到北方。
在19世纪50年代,西部领土开发高潮到来之前,辽阔的密西西比河流域占美国已开发领土的四分之三。
1857年,少年马克•吐温作为蒸汽船上的一名小领航员踏人了这片天地。
在这个新的工作岗位上,他接触到的是各式各样的人物,看到的是一个多姿多彩的大干世界。
他完全地投身到这种生活之中,经常在操舵室里听着人们谈论民间争斗、海盗抢劫、私刑案件、游医卖药以及河边的一些化外民居的故事。
所有这一切,连同他那像留声机般准确可靠的记忆所吸收的丰富多彩的语言,后来都有机会在他的作品中得以再现。
蒸汽船的甲板上不仅挤满了富有开拓精神的人们,而且也载着一些娼妓、赌棍和歹徒等社会渣滓。
高级英语答案第一册习题翻译unit 1.2.5.6.9.10.

Lesson 11A zig-zag path loses itself in the shadowy distance of the woods.2At the bazaar there are many stalls where goods of every conceivable kind are sold.3I really don't know what it is that has made him so angry.4The newly unearthed bronze vase is pleasing in form and engraved with delicate and intricate traditional designs.5Beyond the mountains there is a vast grassland that extends as far as the eye can see.6They decided to buy that house with. a garage attached.7The teachers make a point of being strict with the students.8This little girl is very much attached to her father.9To achieve the four modernization, we make a point of learning from the advanced science and technology of other countries.10As dusk fell, daylight faded away.11The apprentice watched his master carefully and then followed suit.12Frank often took a hand in the washing-up after dinner.The one I am thinking of particularly is entered by a Gothic - arched gateway of aged brick and stone. You pass from the heat and glare of a big, open square into a cool, dark cavernwhich extends as far as the eye can see, losing itself in the shadowy distance.此时此刻显现在我脑海中的这个中东集市,其入口处是一座古老的砖石结构的哥特式拱门。
高级英语1 lesson 9课外练习及答案

Lesson 9Mirror of America Ⅰ. Word explanation1. rangeA. to launchB. to wanderC. to seekD. to wonder2. cruiseA. voyageB. crowdC. cloudD. boat3. profoundA. perfectB. deepC. proudD. desirable4. frailtyA. weaknessB. stiffnessC. frugalityD. fracture5. coreA. centreB. threadC. edgeD. front6. obsessA. to processB. to observeC. to occupyD. to absorb7. attestA. to proveB. to arrestC. to attendD. to progress8. cosmosA. customB. systemC. universeD. course9. slumA. a piece of ground going up or downB. a city area of dirty, poor living conditionC. an area of soft wet landD. the entire tract of country drained by a river10. perceptionA. understandingB. conceptionC. entranceD. percentage11. rebuffA. to puffB. to opposeC. to refuseD. to reprove12. debunkA. to retellB. to exposeC. to impressD. to describe13. flirtA. to fling overB. to play withC. to throw awayD. to point at14. ingenuityA. stupidityB. realityC. clevernessD. truth15. deploreA. to look forB. to ask forC. to be in lack ofD. to be sorry about16. long and tiringA. scathingB. cynicalC. tediousD. abundant17. good, strong, quick at understandingA. keenB. reveredC. earnestD. puritanical18. the state of intellectually deceived or misledA. vanishB. ambitionC. illusionD. dreary19. importance with respect to power to produce an effectA. consequenceB. sultanC. clamourD. providence20. a prevailing tendency or inclinationA. epidemicB. trendC. gratitudeD. climaxⅡ.Replace each underlined part with one word learnt in the text, the first letter of which is given:1. You can't expect him too much. He is just a teenager.j2. The naughty boy of ten got our room messed up.m3. We really miss the life in the countryside years ago, itwas simple and pleasant.i4. The St. Lawrence River is suitable for ships to travelfrom the Great Lakes to the sea.n5. A wide and uninterrupted view was shown in thebeginning of the movie.pⅢ.Decide whether the following statements are true or false:1. In Nevada's Washoe region, Mark Twain tried very hard and persistently to get the enormous wealth of gold and silver but failed, because it belonged only to thelucky ones.2. TOM SAWYER is a story about the boyhood adventures of a lad whom Mark Twain named BillyRogers at first.3. According to Mark Twain, the people who stayed at home of California were slow, sleepy andsluggish-brained.4. Mark Twain's national reputation was first wellestablished as "the wild humorist of the Pacific Slope" because of the publication of THE ADVENTURES OFTOM SAWYER.5. If Mark Twain had not accepted the job as a reporter offered to him by TERRITORIAL ENTERPRISE,literature would have lost that literary giant.Ⅳ. Fill in each of the blanks with one of the following words or expressions in its proper form. Each word or expression is to be used only once.acquaintanceship, contact, drain, every bit, to acknowledge,to acquaint with,to be accustomed to, to be broke, to succumb, to teem with, trap, vanish1. I have heard about your friend but I ___ not __him.advantageous.water.machine.enemies.8. The lawyer'shis guilt.11. Of course I ___ not ___ associating with societypeople like you.Ⅴ. Give the full spelling of the words according to the context.1. Honesty, justice are the ewhich will last forever.2. I told them of my strange, exciting and dangerousjourneys a3. Someone who is pfeels very loyal towards it.4. Someone who is rnot related to real life, for example about love or about ways of changing society.5. Something that is hrather witty or clever way.6. An ofuture, and believes that things will happen in the best possible way.7. If you dunderstand it, and remember it.8. If you psystem, you take part in it.9. Someone who is dconscientious way.10. Ccommunicating or spending time with them or the state of touching them.11. Gexpression of this feeling.12. A cmagazine which is always written by the same person or is always about the same topic.13. If you are ahappening, you are used to it or are familiar with it.14. If someone sets a tbecomes accepted or fashionable, and that is copied by a lot of other people.15. An enew, difficult, or important that you do or try to do.16. A cof it.17. If you ptry to make people believe that they are that thing.18. In the mtwo events.19. If you eyou cause people to have a particular opinion of you often because you have done something very well. The r____(20) that someone has is the opinion that other people have about them as a result of what they do and the way they behave.21. An oyou to do something that you want to do.22. If you are unot think they are very good, unusual, or worth your attention.23. A tor dug somewhere in order to catch animals or birds.24. Ievent that happens immediately without any delay. It is also used to describe food or some other product that is manufactured in such a way that you can make it ready for eating or using with very little time or effort, for example by just adding water.25. A cthought to be of very high quality and has become standard against which other similar things are judged.26. Aespecially for another person.27. A dshows that you have no doubts about what you are saying.28. If you cannot sfind it or them very difficult to bear or tolerate and you dislike it or them very strongly.29. If things such as ideas, beliefs. or statements s30. An itrue but is in fact false or something that looks like onething in appearance but is another thing in reality, or is not really there at all.答案见下页第一册第9课练习答案1-1: /答案:B1-2: /答案:A1-3: /答案:B1-4: /答案:A1-5: /答案:A1-6: /答案:C1-7: /答案:A1-8: /答案:C1-9: /答案:B1-10: /答案:A1-11: /答案:C1-12: /答案:B1-13: /答案:B1-14: /答案:C1-15: /答案:D1-16: /答案:C1-17: /答案:A 1-18: /答案:C 1-19: /答案:A 1-20: /答案:B 2-1: /答案:juvenile2-2: /答案:mischievous 2-3: /答案:idyllic2-4: /答案:navigable2-5: /答案:panorama3-1: /答案: F3-2: /答案: T3-3: /答案: F3-4: /答案: F答案: T4-1: /答案:am… acquainted with 4-2: /答案:contact4-3: /答案:acquaintanceship4-4: /答案:to drain4-5: /答案:was broke4-6: /答案:succumb4-7: /答案:teems with4-8: /答案:trap4-9: /答案:every bit4-10: /答案:is acknowledged答案:am accustomed to 4-12: /答案:vanished5-1: /答案:eternal5-2: /答案:adventures5-3: /答案:patriotic5-4: /答案:romantic5-5: /答案:humorous5-6: /答案:optimist5-7: /答案:digest5-8: /答案:participate5-9: /答案:diligent答案:Contact5-11: /答案:Gratitude5-12: /答案:column5-13: /答案:accustomed 5-14: /答案:trend5-15: /答案:enterprise5-16: /答案:consequence 5-17: /答案:project5-18: /答案:meantime5-19: /答案:establish5-20: /答案:reputation答案:opportunity 5-22: /答案:unimpressed 5-23: /答案:trap5-24: /答案:Instant5-25: /答案:classic5-26: /答案:Affection5-27: /答案:declaration 5-28: /答案:stand5-29: /答案:sweep5-30: /答案:illusion。
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第九课
马克•吐温——美国的一面镜子
(节选)
诺埃尔•格罗夫
在大多数美国人的心目中,马克•吐温是位伟大作家,他描写了哈克•费恩永恒的童年时代中充满诗情画意的旅程和汤姆•索亚在漫长的夏日里自由自在历险探奇的故事。
的确,这位美国最受人喜爱的作家的探索精神、爱国热情、浪漫气质及幽默笔调都达到了登峰造极的程度。
但我发现还有另一个不同的马克•吐温——一个由于深受人生悲剧的打击而变得愤世嫉俗、尖酸刻薄的马克•吐温,一个为人类品质上的弱点而忧心忡忡、明显地看到前途是一片黑暗的人。
印刷工、领航员、邦联游击队员、淘金者、耽于幻想的乐天派、语言尖刻的讽刺家:马克•吐温原名塞缪尔•朗赫恩•克莱门斯,他一生之中有超过三分之一的时间浪迹美国各地,体验着美国的新生活,尔后便以作家和演说家的身分将他所感受到的这一切介绍给全世界。
他的笔名取自他在蒸汽船上做工时听到的报告水深为两口寻(12英尺)——意即可以通航的信号语。
他的作品中有二十几部至今仍在印行,其外文译本仍在世界各地拥有读者,由此可见他的享誉程度。
在马克•吐温青年时代,美国的地理中心是密西西比河流域,而密西西比河是这个年轻国家中部的交通大动脉。
龙骨船、平底船和大木筏载运着最重要的商品。
木材、玉米、烟草、小麦和皮货通过这些运载工具顺流而下,运送到河口三角洲地区,而砂糖、糖浆、棉花和威士忌酒等货物则被运送到北方。
在19世纪50年代,西部领土开发高潮到来之前,辽阔的密西西比河流域占美国已开发领土的四分之三。
1857年,少年马克•吐温作为蒸汽船上的一名小领航员踏人了这片天地。
在这个新的工作岗位上,他接触到的是各式各样的人物,看到的是一个多姿多彩的大干世界。
他完全地投身到这种生活之中,经常在操舵室里听着人们谈论民间争斗、海盗抢劫、私刑案件、游医卖药以及河边的一些化外民居的故事。
所有这一切,连同他那像留声机般准确可靠的记忆所吸收的丰富多彩的语言,后来都有机会在他的作品中得以再现。
蒸汽船的甲板上不仅挤满了富有开拓精神的人们,而且也载着一些娼妓、赌棍和歹徒等社会渣滓。
从所有这些形形色色的人身上,马克•吐温敏锐地认识了人类,认识了人们的言与行之间的差距。
他在蒸汽船上工作的四年半时间是他真正接受教育的开端,而且也是最具有深远意义的教育。
到了晚年,马克•吐温还声言是密西西比河使他了解了各种各样的人的本性。
这种生活体验对他的全部创作都起了促进作用,然而他描写得最为成功的还是那些密西西比河上的人物。
随着铁路运输的发展,社会上对汽船领航员的需求日渐减少,而内战的爆发又阻碍了商业贸易的发展。
这时,马克•吐温便离开了密西西比河流域。
他在南方邦联游击队的一支杂牌队伍里当了两个星期的兵。
那支队伍想方设法避免与敌军交战。
在确信“我比发明撤退的人更精通撤退”之后,马克•吐温离开了那支队伍。
他乘驿站马车来到西部,在内华达州的华苏地区受到当时正流行的淘金热的诱惑。
同那只有既幸运而又锲而不舍的追求者才能取得的巨大财富三心二意地打了八个月交道之后,他遭到了失败。
在破产和灰心之余,他接受了为弗吉尼亚市《领土开发报》当记者的工作,这一行动将获得文学界永久的感激。
自从他因淘金失败而感到心灰意冷之后,马克•吐温便开始努力博取作为一名报社记者和幽默作家的地区性声望。
从事新闻报道工作当然不能使他像淘金成功者一样立成巨富,但在挣钱方面他的笔杆却比他的锄镐要有效得多。
1864年春季,在他加盟《领土开发报》还不足两年之时,他又乘驿站马车前往旧金山,那儿在当时和现在都是有前途的年轻作家成长
的摇篮。
马克•吐温磨炼并试验了他的新笔力,但他却因写了一些尖锐的评论文章而被迫暂时离开这座城市。
他围绕着虐待华人等一类问题对市政府提出的尖锐批评惹得一些官员大为恼火,因之他只好逃到萨克拉门托山谷的金矿区暂避风头。
他对那儿的拓荒者们的描写使西海岸地区富有创新精神的现代人倍感亲切。
“这儿的人们真是了不起——因为那些笨手笨脚、无精打彩、呆头呆脑的懒汉都呆在家里……正是那些人们为加利福尼亚赢得了这样的声誉:当他们着手进行一项宏伟的事业时,他们会不计代价或风险而以一种豪迈的气概和闯劲勇往直前,一千到底。
加利福尼亚人至今仍保持着这样的声誉,因而,每当他们发起一项新的惊天动地的壮举时,那些素来稳重的人便会像往常一样微笑着说:‘看吧,这完全是加利福尼亚的风格’。
”
1864年与1865年之交的那个冬天,马克•吐温是在安吉尔斯矿区度过的。
在这段沉闷的日子里,他记了一本笔记。
在杂乱无章的有关天气情况和乏味无趣的有关矿区饭食情况的记录条目中夹着一条叙述当天听到的一则故事的记录——这条记录决定了他一生事业的发展方向:“科尔曼用他的跳蛙——与陌生人赌50美元——陌生人没有跳蛙,科尔曼去给他弄来一只——陌生人利用这段时间将科的跳蛙肚子塞满铅弹,这样,科的跳蛙跳不起来,陌生人的跳蛙便得以获胜。
”
经过马克•吐温的生花妙笔改写之后,这个故事登在美国各地的报纸上,成了家喻户晓的“卡拉韦拉斯县有名的跳蛙”。
至此,马克•吐温作为“太平洋海岸狂放的幽默大师”的声望已在全国范围内牢固地确立起来了。
两年之后,他得到了一个以美国人特有的眼光去观察欧洲旧大陆的机会。
在纽约市,“费城号”蒸汽船准备进行一次到欧洲和圣地的观光航行。
这是美国人第一次组织较大规模的团体观光旅行——也可以看作是一个国家发展史上的某种里程碑。
马克•吐温作为加利福尼亚一家报纸的记者被委派随同观光团采访。
如果读者们期望能读到有关这次旅行见闻的神采飞扬的描写的话,那他们是要倍感意外的。
举例来说,他对于那没有给他留下什么好印象的土耳其君主苏丹是这样报道的,“人们可以任意选择一个地方设一个陷阱,一夜之间准可捕捉到十几个更有能耐的人。
”他信口开河地对一些受人景仰的艺术家和艺术珍品加以鄙薄,甚至对宗教圣地也敢于以亵渎性的言辞加以侮蔑。
回国以后,越来越多的报纸开始刊登他的文章,整个美国都同他一齐欢笑。
他一回到美国,他的旅行杂记《傻子出国旅行记》立即成为畅销书。
三十六岁时,马克•吐温开始定居于康涅狄格州哈特福德镇,他的最优秀的作品全是在那段时间里问世的。
早在1870年,马克•吐温就试着写了一篇关于一个他名之为比利•罗杰斯的男孩子的童年历险故事。
两年后,他又将主人公的名字改为汤姆,并着手将故事改编成剧本。
直到1874年他才开始认真地扩展故事情节。
《汤姆•索亚》于1876年出版后,很快成为美国儿童故事的经典之作。
这部描写汤姆的顽皮、勇敢、机智以及他对贝琪•莎切尔的天真纯洁的感情的故事几乎像《独立宣言》一样成了今天美国学校里的必读书本。
马克•吐温本人的独立宣言却是由另一个人物表达出来的。
在《汤姆•索亚》第六章里,他引出了“村里的流浪少年,镇上酒鬼的儿子哈克贝利•费恩”。
哈克不愿在清教徒道格拉斯寡妇家过上等人的体面生活,从那里逃出来后对他的朋友汤姆•索亚发牢骚说:“我试过了,还是不行;不行啊,汤姆。
那不是我过的日子……那寡妇家吃饭要听钟声,睡觉要听钟声,起床也要听钟声,什么事情都得规规矩矩,简直叫人受不了。
”
《汤姆•索亚》风靡美国九年之后,哈克被赋予独立的生命,成为一本被许多人认为是最成功的描写美国人的作品的书中的主人公。
他同一个逃跑出来的奴隶一起乘坐木筏沿着密西西比河顺流而下的漂流航程展现了一幅幅揭示美国社会生活全貌的生动画面。
通过
对密西西比河,尤其是对哈克•费恩这一人物的描写,马克•吐温将自己想从那束缚着自己并常常令自己苦恼的生活步调中摆脱出来,从生活中的各种清规戒律以及为了事业成功而进行的艰苦挣扎中解放出来的愿望表达得淋漓尽致。
马克•吐温认为,美国人的理想中缺少了一种成分。
他说:“我们只消偶尔地躺下来好好放松休息一下,保持锋棱利角,我们将有可能成为一个多么朝气蓬勃的民族,一个多么富有思想的民族啊!”
马克•吐温的一生都笼罩在悲剧的阴影之中,自己的亲人一个接一个地去世:他的父亲在他十二岁那年死于肺炎,他的兄弟亨利在一次汽船爆炸事故中遇难;他的儿子朗顿才满十九个月即离开人世。
他的大女儿苏茜死于脊膜炎;克莱门斯夫人在佛罗伦萨死于心脏病;而他的小女儿也因癫痫病的发作淹死在楼上的浴盆里。
这位曾令全世界欢笑的人自己却饱尝了人世的辛酸。
他早期作品中的道德说教厚厚地包着一层幽默的外衣,现在幽默换成了辛辣的讽刺。
对于美国军队在一个火山口上屠杀六百名菲律宾摩洛人的行为,他没有直接进行抨击,而是假装为之高唱赞歌。
在《神秘的陌生人》中,他指出人类应该抛弃宗教幻想,依靠自己而不是上帝的力量去创造一个更加美好的世界。
他自己的最后一个幻想到后来似乎也破灭了。
在晚年口述自传的时候,他以极端绝望的心情谈到人从尘世的苦难中的最终解脱:“……他们从世界上消失了,在这个世界上他们无足轻重,无所成就;甚至他们的存在本身就是个错误,是个失败,是种愚蠢。
这个世界上也没有留下丝毫能表明他们存在过的痕迹。
这个世界赠给他们的只是一日的哀伤和永久的遗忘。
”
(摘自《国家地理》,1975年9月)。