全新版大學(xué)英語【第二版】綜合教程1課文翻譯

Unit1WritingforMyselfRussellBaker1TheideaofbecomingawriterhadcometomeoffandonsincemychildhoodinBelleville,butitwasn'tuntilmythirdyearinhighschoolthatthepossibilitytookhold.UntilthenI'vebeenboredbyeverythingassociatedwithEnglishcourses.IfoundEnglishgrammardullanddifficult.Ihatedtheassignmentstoturnoutlong,lifelessparagraphsthatwereagonyforteacherstoreadandformetowrite.為自己而寫拉塞爾·貝克從孩提時代，我還住在貝爾維爾時，我的腦子里就斷斷續(xù)續(xù)地轉(zhuǎn)著當(dāng)作家的念頭，但直等到我高中三年級，這一想法才有了實現(xiàn)的可能。在這之前，我對所有跟英文課沾邊的事都感到膩味。我覺得英文語法枯燥難懂。我痛恨那些長而乏味的段落寫作，老師讀著受累，我寫著痛苦。2WhenourclasswasassignedtoMr.Fleagleforthird-yearEnglishIanticipatedanothercheerlessyearinthatmosttediousofsubjects.Mr.Fleaglehadareputationamongstudentsfordullnessandinabilitytoinspire.Hewassaidtobeveryformal,rigidandhopelesslyoutofdate.Tomehelookedtobesixtyorseventyandexcessivelyprim.Heworeprimlysevereeyeglasses,hiswavyhairwasprimlycutandprimlycombed.Heworeprimsuitswithnecktiessetprimlyagainstthecollarbuttonsofhiswhiteshirts.Hehadaprimlypointedjaw,aprimlystraightnose,andaprimmannerofspeakingthatwassocorrect,sogentlemanly,thatheseemedacomicantique.弗利格爾先生接我們的高三英文課時，我就準(zhǔn)備著在這門最最單調(diào)乏味的課上再熬上沉悶的一年。弗利格爾先生在學(xué)生中以其說話干巴和激勵學(xué)生無術(shù)而出名。據(jù)說他拘謹(jǐn)刻板，完全落后于時代。我看他有六七十歲了，古板之極。他戴著古板的毫無裝飾的眼鏡，微微卷曲的頭發(fā)剪得筆齊，梳得紋絲不亂。他身穿古板的套裝，領(lǐng)帶端端正正地頂著白襯衣的領(lǐng)扣。他長著古板的尖下巴，古板的直鼻梁，說起話來一本正經(jīng)，字斟句酌，彬彬有禮，活脫脫一個滑稽的老古董。3IpreparedforanunfruitfulyearwithMr.Fleagleandforalongtimewasnotdisappointed.Lateintheyearwetackledtheinformalessay.Mr.Fleagledistributedahomeworksheetofferingusachoiceoftopics.Nonewasquitesosimple-mindedas"WhatIDidonMySummerVacation",;butmostseemedtobealmostasdull.Itookthelisthomeanddidnothinguntilthenightbeforetheessaywasdue.Lyingonthesofa,Ifinallyfaceduptotheunwelcometask,tookthelistoutofmynotebook,andscannedit.Thetopiconwhichmyeyestoppedwas"TheArtofEatingSpaghetti".我作好準(zhǔn)備，打算在弗利格爾先生的班上一無所獲地混上一年，不少日子過去了，還真不出所料。后半學(xué)期我們學(xué)寫隨筆小品文。弗利格爾先生發(fā)下一張家庭作業(yè)紙，出了不少題目供我們選擇。像"暑假二三事"那樣傻乎乎的題目倒是一個也沒有，但絕大多數(shù)一樣乏味。我把作文題帶回家，一直沒寫，直到要交作業(yè)的前一天晚上。我躺在沙發(fā)上，最終不得不面對這一討厭的功課，便從筆記本里抽出作文題目單粗粗一看。我的目光落在"吃意大利細(xì)面條的藝術(shù)"這個題目上。4Thistitleproducedanextraordinarysequenceofmentalimages.VividmemoriescamefloodingbackofanightinBellevillewhenallofuswereseatedaroundthesuppertable—UncleAllen,mymother,UncleCharlie,Doris,UncleHal—andAuntPatservedspaghettiforsupper.Spaghettiwasstillalittleknownforeigndishinthosedays.NeitherDorisnorIhadevereatenspaghetti,andnoneoftheadultshadenoughexperiencetobegoodatit.AllthegoodhumorofUncleAllen'shousereawokeinmymindasIrecalledthelaughingargumentswehadthatnightaboutthesociallyrespectablemethodformovingspaghettifromplatetomouth.這個題目在我腦海里喚起了一連串不同尋常的圖像。貝爾維爾之夜的清晰的回憶如潮水一般涌來，當(dāng)時，我們大家一起圍坐在晚餐桌旁——艾倫舅舅、我母親、查理舅舅、多麗絲、哈爾舅舅——帕特舅媽晚飯做的是意大利細(xì)面條。那時意大利細(xì)面條還是很少聽說的異國食品。多麗絲和我都還從來沒吃過，在座的大人也是經(jīng)驗不足，沒有一個吃起來得心應(yīng)手的。艾倫舅舅家詼諧有趣的場景全都重現(xiàn)在我的腦海中，我回想起來，當(dāng)晚我們笑作一團(tuán)，爭論著該如何地把面條從盤子上送到嘴里才算合乎禮儀。5SuddenlyIwantedtowriteaboutthat,aboutthewarmthandgoodfeelingofit,butIwantedtoputitdownsimplyformyownjoy,notforMr.Fleagle.ItwasamomentIwantedtorecaptureandholdformyself.Iwantedtorelivethepleasureofthatevening.TowriteitasIwanted,however,wouldviolatealltherulesofformalcompositionI'dlearnedinschool,andMr.Fleaglewouldsurelygiveitafailinggrade.Nevermind.IwouldwritesomethingelseforMr.FleagleafterIhadwrittenthisthingformyself.突然我就想描述那一切，描述當(dāng)時那種溫馨美好的氣氛，但我把它寫下來僅僅是想自得其樂，而不是為弗利格爾先生而寫。那是我想重新捕捉并珍藏在心中的一個時刻。我想重溫那個夜晚的愉快。然而，照我希望的那樣去寫，就會違反我在學(xué)校里學(xué)的正式作文的種種法則，弗利格爾先生也肯定會打它一個不及格。沒關(guān)系。等我為自己寫好了之后，我可以再為弗利格爾先生寫點什么別的東西。6WhenIfinisheditthenightwashalfgoneandtherewasnotimelefttocomposeaproper,respectableessayforMr.Fleagle.TherewasnochoicenextmorningbuttoturninmytaleoftheBellevillesupper.TwodayspassedbeforeMr.Fleaglereturnedthegradedpapers,andhereturnedeveryone'sbutmine.IwaspreparingmyselfforacommandtoreporttoMr.FleagleimmediatelyafterschoolfordisciplinewhenIsawhimliftmypaperfromhisdeskandknockfortheclass'sattention.等我寫完時已是半夜時分，再沒時間為弗利格爾先生寫一篇循規(guī)蹈矩、像模像樣的文章了。第二天上午，我別無選擇，只好把我為自己而寫的貝爾維爾晚餐的故事交了上去。兩天后弗利格爾先生發(fā)還批改過的作文，他把別人的都發(fā)了，就是沒有我的。我正準(zhǔn)備著遵命一放學(xué)就去弗利格爾先生那兒挨訓(xùn)，卻看見他從桌上拿起我的作文，敲了敲桌子讓大家注意聽。7"Now,boys,"hesaid."Iwanttoreadyouanessay.Thisistitled,'TheArtofEatingSpaghetti'.""好了，孩子們，"他說。"我要給你們念一篇小品文。文章的題目是：吃意大利細(xì)面條的藝術(shù)。"8Andhestartedtoread.Mywords!Hewasreadingmywordsoutloudtotheentireclass.What'smore,theentireclasswaslistening.Listeningattentively.Thensomebodylaughed,thentheentireclasswaslaughing,andnotincontemptandridicule,butwithopen-heartedenjoyment.EvenMr.Fleaglestoppedtwoorthreetimestoholdbackasmallprimsmile.于是他開始念了。是我寫的！他給全班大聲念我寫的文章。更不可思議的是，全班同學(xué)都在聽著他念，而且聽得很專心。有人笑出聲來，接著全班都笑了，不是輕蔑嘲弄，而是樂乎乎地開懷大笑。就連弗利格爾先生也停頓了兩三次，好抑制他那一絲拘謹(jǐn)?shù)奈⑿Α?Ididmybesttoavoidshowingpleasure,butwhatIwasfeelingwaspuredelightatthisdemonstrationthatmywordshadthepowertomakepeoplelaugh.Intheeleventhgrade,attheeleventhhourasitwere,Ihaddiscoveredacalling.Itwasthehappiestmomentofmyentireschoolcareer.WhenMr.Fleaglefinishedheputthefinalsealonmyhappinessbysaying,"Nowthat,boys,isanessay,don'tyousee.It's—don'tyousee—it'softheveryessenceoftheessay,don'tyousee.Congratulations,Mr.Baker."我盡力不流露出得意的心情，但是看到我寫的文章竟然能使別人大笑，我真是心花怒放。就在十一年級，可謂是最后的時刻，我找到了一個今生想做的事。這是我整個求學(xué)生涯中最幸福的一刻。弗利格爾先生念完后說道："瞧，孩子們，這就是小品文，懂了沒有。這才是——知道嗎——這才是小品文的精髓，知道了沒有。祝賀你，貝克先生。"他這番話使我沉浸在十全十美的幸福之中?！eadings1Baker'sfeelingsaboutEnglishcourses2Baker'simpressionofhisnewEnglishteacher3AtopicthatattractsBaker'sattention4Vividmemoriesthetitlebroughtback5Baker'ssuddendesiretowriteaboutthattopic6Answer:Anticipatingpunishment7Mr.Fleagle'sannouncement8Classmates'responsetotheessay9WhatBakerdiscovered·MainideasPartOne(Paras1-2)BakerwasboredbyeverythingassociatedwithEnglishcourses,includingessaywriting.PartTwo(Paras3-5)Bakerfoundhimselfattractedbyoneparticulartopicandwroteaboutitforhisownjoy.PartThree(Paras6-9)Theexperienceofwritingtheessayhelpedhimdiscoverhistalentforwritingandrealizewhathewishedtodoinlife.Unit2TextAAlltheCabbieHadWasaLetterFosterFurcolo1HemusthavebeencompletelylostinsomethinghewasreadingbecauseIhadtotaponthewindshieldtogethisattention.出租車司機擁有的就剩一封信福斯特·弗克洛他準(zhǔn)是完全沉浸在所讀的東西里了，因為我不得不敲擋風(fēng)玻璃來引起他的注意。2"Isyourcabavailable?"Iaskedwhenhefinallylookedupatme.Henodded,thensaidapologeticallyasIsettledintothebackseat,"I'msorry,butIwasreadingaletter."Hesoundedasifhehadacoldorsomething.他總算抬頭看我了?！澳愠鲕噯?？”我問道。他點點頭，當(dāng)我坐進(jìn)后座時，他抱歉地說：“對不起，我在讀一封信?！甭犐先ニ袷堑昧烁忻笆裁吹?。3"I'minnohurry,"Itoldhim."Goaheadandfinishyourletter."“我不著急，”我對他說，“你接著把信讀完吧?！?Heshookhishead."I'vereaditseveraltimesalready.IguessIalmostknowitbyheart."他搖了搖頭?！拔乙呀?jīng)讀了好幾遍了。我想我都能背出來了?！?"Lettersfromhomealwaysmeanalot,"Isaid."AtleasttheydowithmebecauseI'montheroadsomuch."Then,estimatingthathewas60or70yearsold,Iguessed:"Fromachildormaybeagrandchild?"“家書抵萬金啊，”我說?！爸辽賹ξ襾碚f是這樣，因為我老是在外旅行?！蔽夜懒克辛呤畾q了，便猜測說：“是孩子還是孫子寫來的？”6"Thisisn'tfamily,"hereplied."Although,"hewenton,"cometothinkofit,itmightjustaswellhavebeenfamily.OldEdwasmyoldestfriend.Infact,weusedtocalleachother'OldFriend'--whenwe'dmeet,thatis.I'mnotmuchofahandatwriting."“不是家里人，”他回答說?！安贿^，”他接著說，“想起來，也可以算是一家人了。埃德老伙計是我最老的朋友了。實際上，過去我倆總是以‘老朋友’相稱的——就是說，當(dāng)我倆相見時。我這人就是不大會寫東西?！?"Idon'tthinkanyofuskeepupourcorrespondencetoowell,"Isaid."IknowIdon't.ButItakeithe'ssomeoneyou'veknownquiteawhile?"“我看大家寫信都不那么勤快，”我說，“我自己筆頭就很懶。我看，你認(rèn)識他挺久了吧？”8"Allmylife,practically.Wewerekidstogether,sowegowayback."“差不多認(rèn)識了一輩子了。我倆小時候就一起玩，所以我倆的友誼確實很長了?！?"Wenttoschooltogether?"“一起上的學(xué)？”10"Allthewaythroughhighschool.Wewereinthesameclass,infact,throughbothgradeandhighschool."“都一起上到高中呢。事實上，我倆從小學(xué)到高中都在一個班里?！?1"Therearenottoomanypeoplewho'vehadsuchalongfriendship,"Isaid.“保持這么長久友誼的人可真不多見啊，”我說。12"Actually,"thedriverwenton,"Ihadn'tseenhimmorethanonceortwiceayearoverthepast25or30yearsbecauseImovedawayfromtheoldneighborhoodandyoukindoflosetoucheventhoughyouneverforget.Hewasagreatguy."“其實呢，”司機接著說，“近25到30年來，我跟他一年只見一兩次面，因為我從原來住的街區(qū)搬了出來，聯(lián)系自然就少了，雖說你一直放在心上。他在的時候可真是個大好人。”13"Yousaid'was'.Doesthatmean—?"“你剛才說他‘在的時候’。你是說——？”14Henodded."Diedacoupleofweeksago."他點了點頭?！扒皫讉€星期過世啦?！?5"I'msorry,"Isaid."It'snofuntoloseanyfriend--andlosingarealoldoneiseventougher."“真遺憾，”我說，“失去朋友真不是個滋味，失去個真正的老朋友更讓人受不了?！?6Hedidn'treplytothat,andwerodeoninsilenceforafewminutes.ButIrealizedthatOldEdwasstillonhismindwhenhespokeagain,almostmoretohimselfthantome:"Ishouldhavekeptintouch.Yes,"herepeated,"Ishouldhavekeptintouch."他開著車，沒有接話兒。我們沉默了幾分鐘?？晌抑浪€在想著老埃德。他又開口時，與其說是跟我說話，還不如說是自言自語：“我真該一直保持聯(lián)系。真的，”他重復(fù)道，“我真該一直保持聯(lián)系?！?7"Well,"Iagreed,"weshouldallkeepintouchwitholdfriendsmorethanwedo.Butthingscomeupandwejustdon'tseemtofindthetime."“是啊，”我表示贊同，“我們都該與老朋友保持更多的聯(lián)系。不過總是有事情冒出來，好像就是抽不出空來?！?8Heshrugged."Weusedtofindthetime,"hesaid."That'sevenmentionedintheletter."Hehandeditovertome."Takealook."他聳了聳肩?！拔覀冞^去總能抽出空來，”他說?！靶爬镞€提到呢?！彼研胚f給我，“你看看吧?！?9"Thanks,"Isaid,"butIdon'twanttoreadyourmail.That'sprettypersonal."“謝謝你，”我說，“不過我不想讀你的信。這純屬私事。”20Thedrivershrugged."OldEd'sdead.There'snothingpersonalnow.Goahead,"heurgedme.司機聳一聳肩?！袄习５氯硕妓懒?。沒什么私事不私事了?？窗?，”他催促說。21Theletterwaswritteninpencil.Itbeganwiththegreeting"OldFriend,"andthefirstsentenceremindedmeofmyself.I'vebeenmeaningtowriteforsometime,butI'vealwayspostponedit.Itthenwentontosaythatheoftenthoughtaboutthegoodtimestheyhadhadtogetherwhentheybothlivedinthesameneighborhood.Ithadreferencestothingsthatprobablymeantsomethingtothedriver,suchasthetimeTimSheabrokethewindow,theHalloweenthatwetiedOldMr.Parker'sgate,andwhenMrs.Culverusedtokeepusafterschool.信是用鉛筆寫的。稱呼寫著“老朋友”，而開頭第一句話讓我想到自己。“早就想寫信了，可就是一拖再拖?！毙爬锝又鴮懙?，他常?；叵霃那皟扇俗≡谝粋€街區(qū)時的快樂時光。信里提到些事，可能對司機很重要，比如“那次蒂姆·謝打破窗子，那年萬圣節(jié)前夕，我們把老帕克先生的大門拴了起來，還有卡爾弗太太老是在放學(xué)后把咱倆留下訓(xùn)斥的那陣子”。22"Youmusthavespentalotoftimetogether,"Isaidtohim.“你們倆準(zhǔn)是在一起度過了不少時光，”我對他說。23"Likeitsaysthere,"heanswered,"aboutallwehadtospendinthosedayswastime."Heshookhishead:"Time."“就跟信里寫的那樣，”他回答說，“我倆在那個時候能花的只有時間。”他搖頭嘆道：“時間啊?！?4Ithoughtthenextparagraphoftheletterwasalittlesad:Ibegantheletterwith"OldFriend"becausethat'swhatwe'vebecomeovertheyears--oldfriends.Andtherearen'tmanyofusleft.信里接下來的那段我覺得有點凄涼：“信的開頭我寫著‘老朋友’，因為這么多年來，我們這對老朋友漸漸都老了。我們這些人當(dāng)中留下的也不多了?！?5"Youknow,"Isaidtohim,"whenitsaysherethattherearen'tmanyofusleft,that'sabsolutelyright.EverytimeIgotoaclassreunion,forexample,therearefewerandfewerstillaround."“你要知道，”我對他說，“信里說我們這些人當(dāng)中留下的不多了，說得一點不錯。比如說，每次我去參加老同學(xué)聚會，來的人總是越來越少?！?6"Timegoesby,"thedriversaid.“時間不饒人啊，”司機說。27"Didyoutwoworkatthesameplace?"Iaskedhim.“你們倆以前在一起工作嗎？”我問他。28"No,butwehungoutonthesamecornerwhenweweresingle.Andthen,whenweweremarried,weusedtogotoeachother'shouseeverynowandthen.Butforthelast20or30yearsit'sbeenmostlyjustChristmascards.Ofcoursethere'dbealwaysanotewe'deachaddtothecards--usuallysomenewsaboutourfamilies,youknow,whatthekidsweredoing,whomovedwhere,anewgrandchild,thingslikethat--butneverarealletteroranythinglikethat."“不，不過沒成家時我倆總在一起閑蕩。后來，兩人都成了家，就不時相互串門。可最近這二三十年來，主要就是寄寄圣誕卡了。當(dāng)然，我倆都總在卡上寫幾句——通常是關(guān)于各自家里的情況，不是嗎，孩子們在干些什么，誰搬到哪兒，添了個小孫子，都是這類事——可一直都沒正兒八經(jīng)地寫過信什么的。”29"Thisisagoodparthere,"Isaid."WhereitsaysYourfriendshipovertheyearshasmeantanawfullottome,morethanIcansaybecauseI'mnotgoodatsayingthingslikethat."Ifoundmyselfnoddinginagreement."Thatmusthavemadeyoufeelgood,didn'tit?"“這一處寫得好，”我說，“這里寫道：‘你多年的友誼對我非常重要，遠(yuǎn)比我能說出來的重要得多，因為我不擅長說這樣的話。’”我頷首稱是?！斑@話準(zhǔn)讓你聽著開心，是吧？”30ThedriversaidsomethingthatIcouldn'tunderstandbecauseheseemedtobeallchokedup,soIcontinued:"IknowI'dliketoreceivealetterlikethatfrommyoldestfriend."司機說了句什么，可我沒聽明白，因為他似乎哽噎得厲害。于是我接著說：“我也真想收到這樣一封老朋友的來信?！?1WeweregettingclosetoourdestinationsoIskippedtothelastparagraph.SoIthoughtyou'dliketoknowthatIwasthinkingofyou.Anditwassigned,YourOldFriend,Tom.我們快到目的地了，于是我跳到最后一段?！耙虼宋蚁肽阋欢ㄏ胫牢业胗浿??！毙拍┦鹈骸袄吓笥褱贰薄?2Ihandedbacktheletteraswestoppedatmyhotel."Enjoyedtalkingwithyou,"IsaidasItookmysuitcaseoutofthecab.Tom?TheletterwassignedTom?我們在我的旅店前停下，我把信遞了回去?！昂芨吲d能和你聊聊，”我將衣箱從車上提下時說。湯姆？信的署名是湯姆？33"Ithoughtyourfriend'snamewasEd,"Isaid."WhydidhesignitTom?"“我記得你朋友叫埃德，”我說，“為什么他署名湯姆呢？”34"TheletterwasnotfromEdtome,"heexplained."I'mTom.It'saletterIwrotetohimbeforeIknewhe'ddied.SoInevermailedit."“這封信不是湯姆寫給我的，”他解釋說，“我是湯姆。這是我在得知他去世前寫給他的信。所以我一直沒寄出?！?5Helookedsortofsorrowful,orasifheweretryingtoseesomethinginthedistance."IguessIshouldhavewrittenitsooner."他神情有點悲傷，似乎想看清遠(yuǎn)處什么東西。“我想我真該早些寫這封信?！?6WhenIgottomyhotelroomIdidn'tunpackrightaway.FirstIhadtowritealetter—andmailit.我進(jìn)了旅館房間之后，沒有馬上打開箱包。首先我得寫封信——而且要寄出去?！nswersthequestions1Whatdoesthestorybeginwith?Answer:Thestorybeginswiththecabdriverreadingaletter.2Whathelpedstartaconversationbetweenthecabdriverandthepassenger?Answer:TheletterTomwrotetohisfriendEd.3Whatwastheirconversationcenteredon?Answer:TheirconversationwascenteredonthelifelongfriendshipbetweenthedriverandOldEd.4HowdidtheauthorgettolearnmoreaboutthefriendshipbetweenthedriverandEd?Answer:Theauthorgottolearnmoreabouttheirfriendshipbyreadingtheletterhimself.·MainideasPartOne(Paras1-20)FromaconversationwiththecabdrivertheauthorlearnedhowmuchheregrettedfailingtokeepupcorrespondencewithhisoldfriendEd.PartTwo(Paras21-35)Readingtheletterbyhimself,theauthorlearnedmoreaboutthelifelongfriendshipbetweenthedriverandOldEd.PartThree(Paras36)Thedriver'sexperienceurgedtheauthortoreachforhispen.TextBNeverLetaFriendDownJimHutchison1"Comingtothefootballmatchthisafternoon?"BillMcIntoshasked59-year-oldRoyceWeddingastheydrankbeerattheEurekaHotelintheAustraliantownofRainbow.Royceshookhishead."IpromisedMomI'dburnofftheweedsononeofourfields."決不拋棄朋友吉姆·赫奇森"下午去看足球賽嗎？"比爾·麥金托什問59歲的羅伊斯·韋丁。他們兩人正在澳大利亞的虹鎮(zhèn)尤里卡飯店喝啤酒。羅伊斯搖搖頭。"我答應(yīng)我媽給我家的一塊地?zé)摹?2Bill,whowasthinbutstrong,lookingfarlessthanhis79years,peeredoutsideattheheat.Alightbreezewasblowingfromthenorth,makingconditionsperfectfortheburn.ButBillfeltuneasyaboutRoycedoingthejobalone.Thefarmerhadabadlegandwalkedwithgreatdifficulty.比爾瘦削而結(jié)實，79歲，但看上去遠(yuǎn)沒有那么老。他望著外面的炎熱空氣。一陣輕風(fēng)自北向南吹，這條件最適宜燒荒了。不過比爾對羅伊斯獨自干這活不放心。這個農(nóng)夫有條腿不好，行走很費勁。3Thepairhadbeenbestoffriendsfor30years,eversincethedayswhentheytraveledtogetherfromfarmtofarminsearchofwork.Now,livingalone12mileseastoftown,Billscrapedalivinghuntingfoxesandrabbits.OnceafortnighthewenttotowntobuysuppliesandcatchupwithRoyce,whohelpedruntheWeddingfamily'sfarm."I'llgiveyouahand,"Billsaid.兩人曾一起從一個農(nóng)場走到另一個農(nóng)場尋些活兒干，迄今已是30年的好朋友了。如今比爾獨自一人住在鎮(zhèn)東12英里處，靠打狐貍和野兔勉強過活。他兩個星期一次前來小鎮(zhèn)購物，會會幫著經(jīng)管自家的農(nóng)場的羅伊斯。"我?guī)湍阋话眩?比爾說。4ThepairsetoffinRoyce'scar.Soontheywerebumpingoverasandytracktotheweed-choked120-acrefield."Fire'stheonlywaytogetridofthisstuff,"saidBillastheytiedanoldtiretothetowbarwitha50-footchain.Soakingthetirewithgasoline,Billputamatchtoitandjumpedinthecar.兩人坐著羅伊斯的車動身了。沒多一會兒他們就顛簸在一條沙土路上，朝一塊面積120公頃、雜草叢生的田地開去。"火是除去這玩意兒的惟一辦法，"比爾說。他們用根50英尺長的鏈條把一個舊輪胎綁在牽引桿上。比爾在輪胎上澆透汽油，劃根火柴一點，便跳進(jìn)車?yán)铩?Drivingslowlyfromthesouthernedgeofthefield,theyworkedtheirwayupwind,leavingalineofburningweedsintheirwake.Halfwayupthefield,andwithoutwarning,thecarpitchedviolentlyforward,plowingintoahiddenbankofsand.兩人從農(nóng)田的南邊緩緩開車逆風(fēng)而行，所過之處留下一條燃著的草帶。開到地當(dāng)中，車猛地朝前一顛，沒等察覺，就陷進(jìn)了一個被草遮著的沙堆。6Thebreezesuddenlyswungaroundtotheirbacksandbegantogatherstrength.Fannedtowhiteheat,thefirelinesuddenlyburstintoawallofflame,headingdirectlytowardthem."Let'sgetoutofhere!"Roycesaid.微風(fēng)突然轉(zhuǎn)向，朝兩人身后吹來，而且越吹越強?；鹫田L(fēng)勢，燒得熾熱，一條火帶頓時就變成一道火墻，直撲兩人而來。"咱們快離開這兒！"羅伊斯說道。7Desperatelyhetriedtobackthecaroutofthesandbank.Butthewheelsonlyspundeeperinthesoftsand.他拼命想把車倒出沙堆?？绍囕喸谲浬忱镌睫D(zhuǎn)陷得越深。8Suddenlythefirewasonthem.Billpushedopenhisdooronlytofindhimselfflungthroughtheairas,witharoar,thegasolinetankexplodedandthecarleaptthreefeetofftheground.WhenitcrashedbackdownRoycefoundhimselfpinnedagainstthesteeringwheel,unabletomove.Thecar'sseatsandroofwerenowonfire.火頓時就撲到兩人身上。比爾推開車門，卻聽得一聲巨響，油箱爆炸了，車子飛離地面三英尺，他自己則被拋到空中。車子摔回地面后，羅伊斯發(fā)現(xiàn)自己被方向盤卡住，動彈不得。這時，車座和車頂也都燒著了。9Billlaywherehefell,allthebreathknockedoutofhim.Thefrontofhisshirt,shorts,barearmsandlegsweresoakedinburninggasoline.Thenthesightofthecarinflamesbroughthimuprightwithastart."Royce!"hecried,strugglingtohisfeetandheadingforthecar.比爾躺在跌落的地方，摔得氣都喘不過來。他的襯衣前襟、短褲、光裸的手臂和雙腿都浸在燃燒著的汽油里。接著汽車著火了，見此情景他驚坐起來。"羅伊斯！"他邊喊邊掙扎著站起身來，向汽車沖去。10Pullingopenthedoor,heseizedRoyce'sarmsthroughthesmoke."I'mstuck,"Roycesaid."Getyourselfaway!"他拉開車門，在煙霧中抓住羅伊斯的手臂。"我給卡住了，"羅伊斯說，"你快走！"11ThefirebitatBill'sarms,faceandlegs,buthetightenedhisgriponRoyce."I'mnotleavingyouhere,"hesaid.火舌舔著比爾的雙臂、臉和雙腿，但他緊緊地抓住羅伊斯不放。"我不會把你丟棄在這兒的，"他說道。12NowBilldughisheelsintothesandandpulledashardashecould.Suddenlyhefellbackward.Roycewasfreeandoutofthecar.AssoonashehaddraggedhimawayhepattedouttheflamesonRoyce'sbodyandonhisownlegsandarmswithhisbarehands.比爾兩個腳跟扎在沙堆里，拼命用力拉。突然他仰面倒下，羅伊斯被拉出了汽車。他一把將羅伊斯拉開，便趕緊赤手去撲滅羅伊斯身上以及自己腿上、手臂上的火。13Roycesawasecondexplosionrockthecar,asitwaseatenupbyflames.I'dbeashesnowifBillhadn'tgottenmeout,hethought.Lookingdown,Roycewasshockedbytheextentofhisinjuries.Hisstomachandlefthipwerecoveredindeepburns.Worsestill,hisfingerswereburnedcompletelyoutofshape.羅伊斯看著又一次爆炸把汽車震得直晃，車一下子被火苗吞噬。"要不是比爾把我拉出來，我這會兒就燒成灰了，"他暗想。他低頭一看，身上傷勢之嚴(yán)重令他大為驚訝。他腹部及左臀嚴(yán)重?zé)齻?。更糟糕的是，手指被燒得完全變了形?4Lyingonhisback,Billwasinequallybadshape.Piecesofblackenedfleshandskinhungfromhisforearms,handsandlegs.比爾仰天躺在地上，也一樣被燒得不成樣子。前臂以及手和腿上，一塊塊燒得焦黑的皮肉掛了下來。15Billlookedacrossathisfriend.ReadingthedespaircloudingRoyce'sface,Billsaid,"I'llgethelp.Youhangon."Roycenodded,butashewatchedBillsetoffslowlyacrosstheblackenedfield,hewonderedhowhisfriendwasgoingtowalkalmosttwomilesandgetoverthreefences.比爾朝自己的朋友望去，看出羅伊斯?jié)M臉絕望，便說："我去叫人。你頂住。"羅伊斯點了點頭，可當(dāng)他看著比爾穿過焦黑的田地緩緩走開時，真不知道這位朋友怎么去走那幾乎整整兩英里的路，還要跨越三道柵欄。16(AlifetimespentaroundthetoughpeoplewhomaketheirhomeintheAustralianbushhadpermanentlyfixedintoBill'ssoultwoprinciples:nevergiveupnomatterhowbadtheoddsandneverletafrienddown.Now,witheverystepsendingpainpiercingthrougheverypartofhisbody,hedrewonthosetwinpillarsofcharacter.IfIdon'tmakeit,Roycewilldieoutthere,hetoldhimselfoverandover.一輩子與居住在澳大利亞灌木地帶的那些剛強的硬漢一起生活的人生經(jīng)歷，將兩條準(zhǔn)則永久地銘刻在比爾心頭：無論多么艱難，決不泄氣，決不拋棄朋友。此時此刻，他每邁出一步，渾身上下便針扎似地疼，他完全是靠這兩種品質(zhì)支撐著。如果我不能挺住的話，羅伊斯就會死在那里，比爾一次又一次地告誡自己。17"What'sthematterwiththatdog?"saidVickyWedding,Royce'smom,peeringoutherwindow.Startledbyanoisebehindher,sheturnedtoseeBillleaningagainstthedoor."那條狗怎么啦？"羅伊斯的母親維基·韋丁說著朝窗外望去。聽到身后響動，她嚇了一跳，轉(zhuǎn)身一看，比爾正倚靠在門上。18"DearGod,whathappened?"sheexclaimed,grabbingBillashesliddownthedoorframe."天哪，出了什么事？"她驚問道，趕緊扶住正沿著門框癱坐下去的比爾。19"Wegotcaughtinthefire,"hewhispered,barelyabletospeak."Gethelp."VickysatBilldown,coveredhiminwettowelstoeasethepainofhisburns,andthenpickedupthephone."我們遭火燒了，"他低聲道，幾乎說不出話來。"快去叫人。"維基扶比爾坐下，用濕毛巾敷在他身上以減輕燒傷的疼痛，隨后便拿起了電話。20Throughoutthebumpy,hour-and-a-halfridetothehospitalinHorsham,neitherofthetwoinjuredmenspokeoftheirpain."Weshould'vegonetothefootballmatch,"Roycesaid,tryingtokeeptheirspiritsup.Billgrinnedweakly.他們坐上汽車前往霍舍姆的醫(yī)院，在長達(dá)一個半小時的顛簸的路途中，兩位傷者只字未提自己的傷痛。"咱們真該去看足球賽，"羅伊斯開口說道，想讓自己和朋友振作一下精神。比爾也輕輕一笑。21NotlongafterBillfoundhimselfatGovernmentHousebeingpresentedwiththeBraveryMedalforhiscourageousrescue.ButtherealhighlightforBillcamesixmonthsafterthefire,whenRoyce,justoutofhospital,walkedintotheEurekaHotelandboughthimabeer.不久，比爾在鎮(zhèn)公所被授予勇敢獎?wù)拢员碚闷溆戮人说膲雅e。但真正最令比爾激動的時刻是火災(zāi)發(fā)生六個月之后，剛剛出院的羅伊斯走進(jìn)尤里卡飯店，請他喝啤酒。22"Wemadeit,"saidRoyceastheyraisedtheirglasses."Here'stothebestfriendamancouldhave.""咱們贏了，"兩人舉杯時，羅伊斯說道，"為生死之交干杯。"Unit3PublicAttitudesTowardScience公眾科學(xué)觀StephenHawking斯蒂芬·霍金1Whetherwelikeitornot,theworldweliveinhaschangedagreatdealinthelasthundredyears,anditislikelytochangeevenmoreinthenexthundred.Somepeoplewouldliketostopthesechangesandgobacktowhattheyseeasapurerandsimplerage.Butashistoryshows,thepastwasnotthatwonderful.Itwasnotsobadforaprivilegedminority,thougheventheyhadtodowithoutmodernmedicine,andchildbirthwashighlyriskyforwomen.Butforthevastmajorityofthepopulation,lifewasnasty,brutish,andshort.無論我們是否愿意，我們生活的世界在過去一百年間已經(jīng)變化了許多，而且在未來的一百年里可能變化更多。有人想中止這種種變化，回到那個他們認(rèn)為更純潔更樸素的時代。但正如歷史所表明的，過去并非那么美妙。過去對享有特權(quán)的少數(shù)人不算太糟，但即便他們也無從享受現(xiàn)代醫(yī)療，而生育對婦女來說風(fēng)險極大。對占人口大多數(shù)的民眾而言，生命是艱難、殘忍而又短暫的。2Anyway,evenifonewantedto,onecouldn'tputtheclockbacktoanearlierage.Knowledgeandtechniquescan'tjustbeforgotten.Norcanonepreventfurtheradvancesinthefuture.Evenifallgovernmentmoneyforresearchwerecutoff(andthepresentgovernmentisdoingitsbest),theforceofcompetitionwouldstillbringaboutadvancesintechnology.Moreover,onecannotstopinquiringmindsfromthinkingaboutbasicscience,whetherornottheyarepaidforit.Theonlywaytopreventfurtherdevelopmentswouldbeaglobalstatethatsuppressedanythingnew,andhumaninitiativeandinventivenessaresuchthateventhiswouldn'tsucceed.Allitwoulddoisslowdowntherateofchange.不管怎樣，即使有人想這么做，他也無法將時鐘撥回到早先的時代。知識與技術(shù)不可能說忘就忘了。也沒有人能阻止未來的進(jìn)一步發(fā)展。即使所有用于研究的政府資金都被取消（現(xiàn)政府正在為此努力），競爭的力量仍將繼續(xù)帶來技術(shù)的發(fā)展。更何況，沒有人能阻止探究求索之士去思索基礎(chǔ)科學(xué)，無論他們是否會為此得到酬勞。惟一能阻止進(jìn)一步發(fā)展的辦法或許是一個壓制任何新事物的全球政府，但人類的進(jìn)取心與創(chuàng)造力如此旺盛，即便這個政府也不會成功。它所能做到的只是延緩變化的速度。3Ifweacceptthatwecannotpreventscienceandtechnologyfromchangingourworld,wecanatleasttrytoensurethatthechangestheymakeareintherightdirections.Inademocraticsociety,thismeansthatthepublicneedstohaveabasicunderstandingofscience,sothatitcanmakeinformeddecisionsandnotleavetheminthehandsofexperts.Atthemoment,thepublicisintwomindsaboutscience.Ithascometoexpectthesteadyincreaseinthestandardoflivingthatnewdevelopmentsinscienceandtechnologyhavebroughttocontinue,butitalsodistrustssciencebecauseitdoesn'tunderstandit.ThisdistrustisevidentinthecartoonfigureofthemadscientistworkinginhislaboratorytoproduceaFrankenstein.ItisalsoanimportantelementbehindsupportfortheGreenparties.Butthepublicalsohasagreatinterestinscience,particularlyastronomy,asisshownbythelargeaudiencesfortelevisionseriessuchasTheSkyatNightandforsciencefiction.如果我們承認(rèn)，我們無法阻止科學(xué)技術(shù)改變我們的世界，我們至少可以努力確保科技帶來的變化方向正確。在一個民主社會里，這意味著公眾需要對