(完整版)应用型大学英语第四册unit2参考译文

Text: A white heron 白鹭1 The forest was full of shadows as a little girl hurried through it one summer evening in June. It was already eight o’clock and Sylvia wondered if her grandmother would be angry with her for being so late.2 Every evening Sylvia left her grandmother’s house at five thirty to bring their cow home. It was Sylvia’s job to bring the animal home to be milked. When the cow heard Sylvia’s voice calling her, she would hide among the bushes.1 六月的一个黄昏，森林里树影婆娑，一个小女孩正在其中匆匆穿行。

已经是晚上八点了，西尔维娅想，这么晚回家，外婆会不会生气呢？2 每天傍晚五点半，西尔维娅就离开外婆家去把母牛牵回家。

她的活就是把这头牲口赶回家挤奶。

母牛听到西尔维娅叫她的声音时，老是躲到灌木丛中去。

3 This evening it had taken Sylvia longer than usual to find her cow. The child hurried the cow through the dark forest, toward her grandmother’s home. As the cow stopped at a small stream to drink, Sylvia put her bare feet in the cold, fresh water of the stream.4 She had never before been alone in the forest as late as this. Sylvia felt as if she were a part of the gray shadows and the silver leaves that moved in the evening breeze.3 这天晚上，西尔维娅花了比平时更长的时间才找到母牛。

小女孩赶着牛，匆匆穿过阴暗的树林，向外婆家走去。

母牛在一条小溪边停下来饮水时，西尔维娅就把她的光脚浸在冰凉清澈的溪水中。

4 她以前从未这么晚还独自一人呆在林子里。

西尔维娅觉得自己仿佛与灰暗的树影和在晚风中摇曳的银色树叶融为一体了。

5 It was only a year ago that she came to her grandmother’s farm. Before that, she had lived with her mother and father in a dirty, crowded factory town. One day, Sylvia’s grandmother had visited them and had chosen Sylvia from all her brothers and sisters to come help her on her farm in Vermont.5 她是一年前才来到外婆的农场。

之前，她和父母住在一个肮脏拥挤的工业小镇。

一天，西尔维娅的外婆来看望他们，在西尔维娅所有的兄弟姐妹中挑中了她，把她带回佛蒙特州的农场做帮手。

6 The cow finished drinking, and as the nine-year-old child hurried through the forest, the air was suddenly cut by a sharp whistle not far away. Sylvia knew it wasn’t a friendly bird’s whistle. She forgot the cow and hid in some bushes. But she was too late.7 “Hello, little girl,”a young man called out cheerfully. “How far is it to the main road?”Sylvia was trembling as she whispered “two miles”. She came out of the bushes and looked up into the face of a tall young man carrying a gun.6 母牛喝完水后，这个九岁的小女孩继续在林中匆匆前行。

突然，不远处传来一声尖锐的口哨声，打破了林中的宁静。

西尔维娅知道，这不是鸟儿亲切的啼鸣。

于是她不顾母牛，躲进了一丛灌木，但是已经太晚了。

7 “嗨，小姑娘，这儿离大路有多远啊？”一个年轻人高兴地喊道。

西尔维娅浑身颤抖，低声嗫嚅道：“两英里。

”她从灌木丛中钻出来，抬头看到一个高高的小伙子，手里拿着一杆枪。

8 The stranger began walking with Sylvia as she followed her cow through the forest. “I’ve been hunting for birds,”he explained, “but I’ve lost my way. Do you think I can spend the night at your house?”Sylvia didn’t answer. She was glad she could see her grandmother standing near the door of the farm house.8 西尔维娅继续赶着母牛穿过森林，陌生人跟着她走。

“我是来寻找鸟的，”他解释道，“但我迷了路，我能不能在你们家住一宿？”西尔维娅没有回答。

她很高兴看到外婆正站在农舍门口等她。

9 When they reached her, the stranger explained his problem to Sylvia’s smiling grandmother.10 “Of course you can stay with us,”she said. “We don’t have much, but you’re welcome to share what we have. Now Sylvia, get a plate for the gentleman!”9 他们走上前去，陌生人向西尔维娅的外婆说明了他的困境，外婆一脸笑意。

10“您当然可以住在这里。

”她说道，“我们不怎么富裕，但还是欢迎您和我们分享一切。

好了，西尔维娅，给这位先生拿只盘子。

”11 After eating, they all sat outside. The young man explained he was a bird collector. “Do you put them in a cage?”Sylvia asked. “No,”he answered slowly, “I shoot them and stuff them with special chemicals to preserve them. I have over one hundred different kinds of birds from all over the United States.”12 “Sylvia knows a lot about birds, too,” her grandmother said proudly. “She knows the forest so well, the wild animals come and eat bread right out of her hands.”11 晚饭后，三人都坐到屋外。

年轻人解释说他是个鸟类收藏家。

“您把它们关在笼子里吗？”西尔维娅问道。

“不，”他慢慢地回答，“我用枪把它们打下来，然后用一些专门的化学药物把它们制成标本保存起来。

我已经有来自美国各地一百多种不同鸟类的标本了。

”12 “西尔维娅对鸟也很熟悉。

”外婆自豪地说，“她对这片林子了如指掌，野生动物甚至都会到她身边，吃她手里的面包。

”13 “Maybe she can help me then,”the young man said. “I saw a white heron two days ago. I’ve been looking for it ever since. It’s a very rare bird. Have you seen it, too?”He asked Sylvia. But Sylvia was silent. “You would know it if you saw it,”he said. “It’s a tall, strange bird with soft white feathers and long thin legs. It probably has its nest at the top of a tall tree.”13 “这样或许她能帮帮我。

”年轻人说，“两天前我看见一只白鹭，然后一直在寻找它，这种鸟非常少见。

你见过它吗？”他问西尔维娅，但西尔维娅沉默不语。

“只要见到它，你就会知道是它。

”年轻人说，“这种鸟体型高大，非常奇特，羽毛又白又软，双腿细长。

它很可能把巢筑在大树的顶端。

”14 Sylvia’s heart began to beat fast. She had seen that strange white bird on the other side of the forest. The young man was staring at Sylvia. “I would give ten dollars to the person who showed me where it is.”15 That night Sylvia’s dreams were full of all the wonderful things she and her grandmother could buy for ten dollars.14 西尔维娅的心开始狂跳，她在森林的另一头见过这只奇特的白鸟。