1、第一单元Writing for MyselfWhen we are writing we are often told tokeep our readers in mind, to shape what we say to fit theirtastes and interests. But there is one reader in particular whoshould not be forgotten. Can you guess who? Russell Bakersurprised himself and everyone else when he discovered thea
2、nswer.-我们写作时常常被告诫，脑子里要有读者，笔者所云一定要符合读者的口味和兴趣。但有一位读者特别不该忘记。你能猜出是谁吗？当拉塞尔贝克找到这个问题的答案时，他自己和别人都感到大为惊讶。-Writing for MyselfRussell Baker1 The idea of becoming a writer had come to me off and onsince my childhood in Belleville, but it wasnt until mythird year in high school that the possibility took hold. Un
3、tilthen Ive been bored by everything associated withEnglish courses. I found English grammar dull and difficult. Ihated the assignments to turn out long, lifeless paragraphsthat were agony for teachers to read and for me to write.-为自己而写拉塞尔贝克从孩提时代，我还住在贝尔维尔时，我的脑子里就断断续续地转着当作家的念头，但直等到我高中三年级，这一想法才有了实现的可能
4、。在这之前，我对所有跟英文课沾边的事都感到腻味。我觉得英文语法枯燥难懂。我痛恨那些长而乏味的段落写作，老师读着受累，我写着痛苦。2 When our class was assigned to Mr. Fleagle for third-yearEnglish I anticipated another cheerless year in that mosttedious of subjects. Mr. Fleagle had a reputation amongstudents for dullness and inability to inspire. He was said tobe
5、very formal, rigid and hopelessly out of date. To me helooked to be sixty or seventy and excessively prim.He woreprimly severe eyeglasses, his wavy hair was primly cut andprimly combed. He wore prim suits with neckties set primlyagainst the collar buttons of his white shirts. He had a primlypointed
6、jaw, a primly straight nose, and a prim manner ofspeaking that was so correct, so gentlemanly, that he seemeda comic antique.-弗利格尔先生接我们的高三英文课时，我就准备着在这门最最单调乏味的课上再熬上沉闷的一年。弗利格尔先生在学生中以其说话干巴和激励学生无术而出名。据说他拘谨刻板，完全落后于时代。我看他有六七十岁了，古板之极。他戴着古板的毫无装饰的眼镜，微微卷曲的头发剪得笔齐，梳得纹丝不乱。他身穿古板的套装，领带端端正正地顶着白衬衣的领扣。他长着古板的尖下巴，古板的直鼻
7、梁，说起话来一本正经，字斟句酌，彬彬有礼，活脱脱一个滑稽的老古董。3 I prepared for an unfruitful year with Mr. Fleagle and for along time was not disappointed. Late in the year we tackledthe informal essay. Mr. Fleagle distributed a homework sheetoffering us a choice of topics. None was quite sosimple-minded as What I Did on My Sum
8、merVacation, but most seemed to be almost as dull. I tookthe list home and did nothing until the night before the essaywas due. Lying on the sofa, I finally faced up to theunwelcome task, took the list out of my notebook, andscanned it. The topic on which my eye stopped wasThe Art of Eating Spaghett
9、i.-我作好准备，打算在弗利格尔先生的班上一无所获地混上一年，不少日子过去了，还真不出所料。后半学期我们学写随笔小品文。弗利格尔先生发下一张家庭作业纸，出了不少题目供我们选择。像暑假二三事那样傻乎乎的题目倒是一个也没有，但绝大多数一样乏味。我把作文题带回家，一直没写，直到要交作业的前一天晚上。我躺在沙发上，最终不得不面对这一讨厌的功课，便从笔记本里抽出作文题目单粗粗一看。我的目光落在吃意大利细面条的艺术这个题目上。4 This title produced an extraordinary sequence of mentalimages. Vivid memories came floodi
10、ng back of a night inBelleville when all of us were seated around the supper table -Uncle Allen, my mother, Uncle Charlie, Doris, Uncle Hal - andAunt Pat served spaghetti for supper. Spaghetti was still alittle known foreign dish in those days. Neither Doris nor I hadever eaten spaghetti, and none o
11、f the adults had enoughexperience to be good at it. All the good humor of UncleAllens house reawoke in my mind as I recalled thelaughing arguments we had that night about the sociallyrespectable method for moving spaghetti from plate tomouth.-这个题目在我脑海里唤起了一连串不同寻常的图像。贝尔维尔之夜的清晰的回忆如潮水一般涌来，当时，我们大家一起围坐在晚餐
12、桌旁艾伦舅舅、我母亲、查理舅舅、多丽丝、哈尔舅舅帕特舅妈晚饭做的是意大利细面条。那时意大利细面条还是很少听说的异国食品。多丽丝和我都还从来没吃过，在座的大人也是经验不足，没有一个吃起来得心应手的。艾伦舅舅家诙谐有趣的场景全都重现在我的脑海中，我回想起来，当晚我们笑作一团，争论着该如何地把面条从盘子上送到嘴里才算合乎礼仪。5 Suddenly I wanted to write about that, about the warmthand good feeling of it, but I wanted to put it down simply formy own joy, not for
13、Mr. Fleagle. It was a moment I wanted torecapture andhold for myself. I wanted to relive thepleasure of that evening. To write it as I wanted, however,would violate all the rules of formal composition Idlearned in school, and Mr. Fleagle would surely give it a failinggrade. Never mind. I would write
14、 something else for Mr.Fleagle after I had written this thing for myself.-突然我就想描述那一切，描述当时那种温馨美好的气氛，但我把它写下来仅仅是想自得其乐，而不是为弗利格尔先生而写。那是我想重新捕捉并珍藏在心中的一个时刻。我想重温那个夜晚的愉快。然而，照我希望的那样去写，就会违反我在学校里学的正式作文的种种法则，弗利格尔先生也肯定会打它一个不及格。没关系。等我为自己写好了之后，我可以再为弗利格尔先生写点什么别的东西。6 When I finished it the night was half gone and ther
15、e was notime left to compose a proper, respectable essay for Mr.Fleagle. There was no choice next morning but to turn in mytale of the Belleville supper. Two days passed before Mr.Fleagle returned the graded papers, and he returnedeveryones but mine. I was preparing myself for acommand to report to
16、Mr. Fleagle immediately after schoolfor discipline when I saw him lift my paper from his desk andknock for the classs attention.-等我写完时已是半夜时分，再没时间为弗利格尔先生写一篇循规蹈矩、像模像样的文章了。第二天上午，我别无选择，只好把我为自己而写的贝尔维尔晚餐的故事交了上去。两天后弗利格尔先生发还批改过的作文，他把别人的都发了，就是没有我的。我正准备着遵命一放学就去弗利格尔先生那儿挨训，却看见他从桌上拿起我的作文，敲了敲桌子让大家注意听。7 Now, boys,
17、 he said. I want to read youan essay. This is titled, The Art of EatingSpaghetti.-好了，孩子们，他说。我要给你们念一篇小品文。文章的题目是：吃意大利细面条的艺术。8 And he started to read. My words! He was reading my wordsout loud to the entire class. Whats more, the entireclass was listening. Listening attentively. Then somebodylaughed, t
18、hen the entire class was laughing, and not incontempt and ridicule, but with open-hearted enjoyment.Even Mr. Fleagle stopped two or three times to hold back asmall prim smile.-于是他开始念了。是我写的！他给全班大声念我写的文章。更不可思议的是，全班同学都在听着他念，而且听得很专心。有人笑出声来，接着全班都笑了，不是轻蔑嘲弄，而是乐乎乎地开怀大笑。就连弗利格尔先生也停顿了两三次，好抑制他那一丝拘谨的微笑。9 I did m
19、y best to avoid showing pleasure, but what I wasfeeling was pure delight at this demonstration that my wordshad the power to make people laugh. In the eleventh grade,at the eleventh hour as it were, I had discovered a calling. Itwas the happiest moment of my entire school career. WhenMr. Fleagle fin
20、ished he put the final seal on my happiness bysaying, Now that, boys, is an essay, dont you see.Its - dont you see - its of the very essenceof the essay, dont you see. Congratulations, Mr.Baker.-我尽力不流露出得意的心情，但是看到我写的文章竟然能使别人大笑，我真是心花怒放。就在十一年级，可谓是最后的时刻，我找到了一个今生想做的事。这是我整个求学生涯中最幸福的一刻。弗利格尔先生念完后说道：瞧，孩子们，这就
21、是小品文，懂了没有。这才是知道吗这才是小品文的精髓，知道了没有。祝贺你，贝克先生。他这番话使我沉浸在十全十美的幸福之中。1. adultn. a fully grown person or animal成年人;成年动物e.g. The adults in the family like the world news section.2. agonyn. very great pain or suffering of mind or body (身心的)极度痛苦e.g. The wounded man was in agony.3. anticipatevt. expect预期，期望e.g. T
22、he police had anticipated trouble from the soccer fansand were at the ground in large numbers.4. antiquen.古物，古玩e.g. He can tell a real antique from a fake one.5. argumentn.论据，论点;争论e.g. There are many arguments against smoking.6. assignvt. give as a share or duty配，分派e.g. Those rooms have been assigne
23、d to us.7. assignmentn. a piece of work that is given to a particular person (分配的)工作，任务，作业e.g. I hardly ever take pictures except on assignment.8. associatevt. join or connect together; bring in the mind使联系起来;使联想e.g. Through science weve got the idea of ssociatingprogress with future.9. avoidvt. kee
24、p or get away from避免e.g. The pilots had to take emergency action to avoid adisaster.10. borevt. make (sb. ) become tired and lose interest使(人)厌烦e.g. I hope youre not getting bored listening to me.11. careern.生涯，事业；职业e.g. We can learn much by reading about the careers of greatmen.12. comica.滑稽的;喜剧的n.
25、连环漫画(册)e.g. Most of these trips had exciting or comic moments.13. commandn. , v.命令，指令e.g. The officer commanded his men to fire.14. composevt. write or create (music, poetry, etc.)创作e.g. He teaches music and also composes music.15. congratulationn. (usu.pl) expressionof joy for sb.s success, luck, e
26、tc.祝贺，恭喜e.g. We offer our congratulations on her success.16. contemptn.轻视，轻蔑e.g. Many voters hold their politicians in contempt.17. demonstrationn. act of showing or proving sth.表明;证明e.g. Can you give us a simple demonstration of gravity?18. disciplinen. punishment; order kept (among school-children
27、, soldiers,etc.)惩罚，处分;纪律e.g. The army was criticized for its harsh discipline.19. distributevt. divide and give out among people, places, etc.分发，分配，分送e.g. In the move most of the furniture was left to theneighbors or distributed among friends.20. essayn.散文，小品文;论说文e.g. The other day I came across an
28、interesting essay on thewar with Napoleon.21. essencen. the most important quality of a thing本质;精髓e.g. Accuracy is one of the essence f the English language.22. extraordinarya. very unusual or strange不同寻常的;奇特的e.g. He is a man of extraordinary talents.23. face up tobe brave enough or accept or deal w
29、ith勇敢地接受或对付e.g. She must face up to the fact that she is no longer young.24. finallyad. at last最终，终于e.g. Finally, I should like to thank you all for coming and towish you a pleasant journey home.25. formala. (too) serious and careful in manner and behavior; based oncorrect or accepted rules刻板的，拘谨的;正
30、式的，正规的e.g. Business letters are usually formal, but we write in aninformal way to family members or friends.26. hold backprevent the expression of (feelings, ears, etc.)控制(感情、眼泪等)e.g. She kept trying to hold back her tears.27. hopelesslyad. very much; without hope十分，极度;绝望地e.g. The story is hopelessl
31、y confusing.28. humorn.心情;幽默，诙谐e.g. He is in a good humor today.29. imagen. a picture formed in the mind形象;印象;(图)像e.g. I had this image of London in my head which was totallydifferent from what it really is.30. inabilityn. lack of power, skill or ability无能，无力e.g. Her inability to oncentrate could ca
32、use an accident.31. inspirevt. fill (sb.) with confidence, eagerness, etc.激励，鼓舞e.g. The last leaf on the tree that never fell off inspired thedying patient with the will to live on.32. jawn.颌，颚e.g. Which jaw moves up and down when you talk?33. necktien. tie领带e.g. He likes to wear narrow neckties.34.
33、 off and onfrom time to time; sometimes断断续续地;有时e.g. It has been raining off and on for a week.35. open-hearteda. sincere, frank诚挚的e.g. He was open-hearted in his wish to help us.36. out of dateold-fashioned过时的e.g. Will denim jeans ever go out of date?37. possibilityn.可能(性)e.g. Is there any possibili
34、ty of your getting to London thisweek?38. prima. (usu. disapproving) (of a person) too formalor correct in behavior and showing a dislike of anything rude;neat古板的，拘谨的;循规蹈矩的;整洁的e.g. Those young ladies are much too prim and proper toenjoy such a rude joke.39. primlyad.刻板地，拘谨地;循规蹈矩地;整洁地e.g. When the bo
35、ss came in, all the workers were sitting thereprimly.40. put downwrite down写下e.g. Heres my address - put it down before you forgetit.41. recallvt. bring back to the mind; remember回想起，回忆起e.g. I dont recall his name or where I met him.42. recapturevt. (lit) ring back into the mind; experience again再现;
36、再次经历e.g. They took a second honeymoon and tried to recapturetheir earlier happiness.43. relivevt. experience again, esp. in ones imagination体验，重温e.g. That was an experience I should not like to relive.44. reputationn.名声;名誉e.g. He is a man of good reputation.45. respectablea. (of behavior, appearance
37、, etc.) socially acceptable可敬的;体面的;文雅的e.g. Are these clothes respectable enough for MrsWhitehouses party?46. ridiculen. making or being made fun of嘲笑，嘲弄;被戏弄e.g. I know that ridicule may be a shield, but it is not aweapon.47. rigida. (often disapproving) fixed in behavior, views or methods;strict一成不变
38、的;严格的e.g. My father is very rigid in his thinking.48. scanv. look through quickly浏览，粗略地看e.g. He scanned the newspaper while having his breakfast.49. sealn.印，图章e.g. Please put a seal on the box.50. sequencen.一连串相关的事物;次序，顺序e.g. A sequence of bad harvests forced some Africancountries to ask for foreign
39、 aid.51. severea. completely plain; causing very great pain, difficulty, worry,etc.朴素的;严重的，剧烈的e.g. Shortages of staff are very severe in some places.52. spaghettin.意大利式细面条e.g. Many people consider spaghetti as their favored food.53. tacklevt. try or deal with处理，应付e.g. I dont know how to tackle this
40、problem.54. take holdbecome established生根，确立e.g. The newly planted vines quickly took hold.55. tediousa. boring and lasting for a long time乏味的;冗长的e.g. The tedious play put the audience to sleep.56. titlen. a name given to a book, film, etc.标题，题目vt. give a name to给加标题，加题目于e.g. The book was first publ
41、ished in 1969 under the title ofLife and Death.57. turn inhand in (work that one has done) (交作业)e.g. For your final grade, each of you must turn in a 7-pagepaper.58. turn outproduce编写;生产，制造e.g. The company turns out new computer games at a greatrate.59. violatevt. act against违背，违反e.g. They violated
42、the ceasefire（停火）agreement.60. whats morein addition, more importantly而且，此外;更有甚者e.g. How can you love this man? He watches TV all day long,and whats more, he seems not to have brushed histeeth for months!Proper NamesRussell Baker拉塞尔贝克Belleville贝尔维尔(美国地名)Fleagle弗利格尔(姓氏) Allen艾伦(男子名)Charlie查理(男子名) Doris多丽丝(女子名)Hal哈尔(男子名，Henry, Harold的昵称) Pat帕特(女子名，Patricia的昵称)
