1、Garfield,一只猫的传奇-Garfield,Garfield is a comic strip created by Jim Davis, featuring the cat Garfield, the pet dog Odie, and their socially inept owner Jon Arbuckle. As of 2006, it is syndicated in roughly 2,570 newspapers and journals and it currently holds the Guinness World Record for being the wor
2、lds most widely syndicated comic strip. The popularity of the strip has led to an animated cartoon show, several animated television specials and two feature-length live-action films, as well as a large amount of Garfield-related merchandise.,Garfield debuted on June 19, 1978, which fans consider Ga
3、rfields birthday. The strip pokes fun at pet owners and their relationship with their pets, often portraying the pet as the true master of the home. Garfield also struggles with human problems, such as diets, loathing of Mondays, apathy, boredom, and so on. Garfield is able to understand anything th
4、at Jon or other humans say. He supposedly cannot talk back, but often Jon seems to be able to tell what he is saying just from his expression or gestures which are much like those of a human. However, Garfield is able to talk in “thinking“ to Odie and the other animals. Odie understands what Garfiel
5、d says to him, but in general cannot communicate back to Garfield except by barking because he is the only character that doesnt seem to have any normal way of communicating. Garfield, apparently, is able to type, and he has written messages that Jon has read and understood (typically letters to San
6、ta Claus); however, this happens very rarely. He is also apparently able to tell time (although this, as well, has often been the subject of controversy because he repeatedly states than he cant).,A live-action movie version of the comic strip, Garfield: The Movie had its debut in the United States
7、on June 11, 2004. The film employed a computer-animated Garfield and live-action Odie. Garfields second live-action feature film, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, was released on June 16, 2006. For his work on the strip, creator Jim Davis received the National Cartoonist Society Humor Strip Award fo
8、r 1981 and 1985, and their Reuben Award for 1989.,Garfield: Eh? Marriage? Well, this is kind of sudden. There may be some legal issues here. Look, I like you, but not as a spouse. Maybe as a servant, we could stay together, make it work. Jon: So what do you say. Liz?,What do you say? 不是“你说什么”的意思，而是相
9、当于“How about it”，这可是个很常用的表达，很多场合都可以用到。例如：Ill give you 500 dollars for that horse. What do you say?,Garfield: Well, I think Jon has touched bottom now. Hmm, we gotta put an end to this torture. Time for a new DJ. Somebody take my temperature. Jon: Garfield! Garfield: Whoa! Man, you have changed. Jon:
10、 I cant have you messing this up for me, okay? Garfield: Oh, I get it. Its her. She doesnt like our music. Whatever happened to Jon? My metal-head guy. My dude. You were so much cooler when you wore a mullet.,Touch bottom “Reach the lowest point 打倒最坏的程度“，例如：During the recession the economists kept s
11、aying that we hadnt touched bottom yet. 3. Put an end to “停止，结束，终结”的意思，例如：The advent of sound in motion pictures put an end to many a silent stars career. 4. Medal-head guy 这里的意思是“喜爱重金属音乐的人”。,Liz: Jon, I have incredible news. Guess whos going to be speaking at this years fund-raiser for the royal An
12、imal Conservancy. Jon: Siegfried and Roy? Liz: Oh, come on. Jon: Just Siegfried? Liz: Jane Goodall dropped out at the last minute because shes nursing a sick chimp and they asked me. I mean, its gonna be at this really cool castle on a huge estate.,6. Drop out Withdraw from participation in a group
13、such as a school, club, or game; also, withdraw from society owing to disillusionment. 例如： He couldnt afford the membership dues and had to drop out. fund-raiser：募捐者 Conservancy自燃物源的）保护管理 Gonna：going to Chimp：黑猩猩 Due：会费 a charge or fee for membership，as in club or organization,Jon: The news is, I, u
14、h.I finally house-trained Odie. Liz: Really? Jon: Yeah. Liz: That would explain the rose petals. I have to pack. Im so sorry about dinner. But you know what? I will send your regards to the queen. Okay, congratulations on Odie.,House-train 其实猫猫狗狗都是很聪明的，你完全可以教会它们在固定的地方大小便，这种教会猫猫狗狗不随地大小便的行为就叫house-tra
15、in。例如：Youd better house-train your pet cat. Regards：问候 eg：give the family my best regards,Garfield: You moron. This is a huge mistake, Jon. One of your biggest. Dont roam. Stay home. Odie and I are not just coming along for the ride, pal. This is actually an intervention. Jon: Okay, guys. Here we ar
16、e. Garfield: Oh, quick flight. We must have been in the jet stream. England is no great shakes, huh? I mean, the buildings here look like, uh, the kennel back home. That is the kennel back home.,No great shakes （slang） 在口语中意思是“of no particular ability; unimportant; common“，例如：As opera companies go,
17、this one is no great shakes. Moron：白痴very stupid Sap Roam：wander Pal：friend Kennel：a shelter for dog,加菲猫的前世今生,Over the course of the strip, Garfields behavior and appearance evolved. Initially, he was drawn extremely obese with flabby jowls and small round eyes. 这是加菲猫在一九七八年六月十九日第一幅漫画中的模样。他有尖尖的耳朵，t字型
18、的鼻头，上唇和双颊长着许多小麻点。脸上长更多胡子，身上的斑纹也比较多。他性喜讽刺别人，讲风凉话，胃口大得惊人。这倒是从来不曾改变过。,Later, his appearance was slimmed down and his eyes enlarged. By 1981, Garfield started walking on his hind feet from time to time ，due to being too fat to walk on four legs. By the middle of 1983, his familiar appearance-featuring o
19、val-shaped eyes-had taken shape. By this time, Garfield was walking on two feet, and the strip emphasized sitcom situations such as Garfield making fun of Jons stupidity and his inability to make social connections. 这只胖猫咪变得越发圆滚滚了。他的脑袋呈球型，几乎跟身体一样大。他的眼睛也变大了，以便表达更多情绪(同时把食物盯得更紧!)他的鼻子是个简单的小椭圆形，他的胡子减少成每边三
20、根，头部的斑纹只剩每边三条，每边面颊也只有三个麻点。八零年代中期以来，这只疏懒成性的虎斑猫仍然觉得躺下最快乐。Jon and Odie have also evolved quite a bit, from being thin and starkly colored to the more believable cartoons they are today.,Ducks: I cant watch. If Lord Dargis gets the estate, were done for. Were doomed! Done for 意思是“Doomed to death or dest
21、ruction 死定了，完蛋了”，例如 Before he went to the hospital it seemed as if he was done for.,Dargis: Shes dead, Smithee. You can stop sucking up. Suck up （ suck up to sb） “拍马屁，献媚”，例如：Now that hes the boss theyre all sucking up to him, hoping to get big raises. 这种行为可真是够讨厌的。 Suck-up连写则表示“拍马屁/献媚的人”，例如：Hes such
22、a suck-up.,Dargis: Im sorry. I always get a little ahead of myself. Get ahead of oneself “To get ahead of oneself“ is to plan or do something which is not yet appropriate. Other things usually need to happen first. 例如比赛还没有结束，球迷们就开始庆祝胜利，这就是get ahead of themselves。我们来看一个例子： - After I win the first pri
23、ze in the essay contest, Im going to rent a new apartment, buy a new car, start dating Cozette, and tell the boss to shove it where - Sounds like youre getting a little ahead of yourself. - Well, a guy can dream, cant he?,Woman: Oh, my word. 和My dear，My God，Jesus 之类的词一样，my word 或者or upon my word 都是用
24、来表示感叹或是惊讶的。例如：Oh, my word! Youve changed so much! We shall see. “等着瞧！”如果有人小觑你，你就可以这么对他说。,Marten: You chaps know me. Im no snob. Right? But this cat is too much.,Too much When you say “_is too much“, it means you admire, or approve or think it is funny, or are really surprised, or shocked or angry. 有
25、些“I cant believe it“，“Wow! look at that“的意味。Too much 表示的也并不一定是否定的意味，例如：If someone tells a dirty joke, but its really funny, someone might say youre too much, but they mean it in a good way.,Winston: Dont get your knickers in a twist. I know hes a pain in the neck, but we just got to keep him safe ti
26、ll Monday.,Dont get your knickers in a twist. 意思是Dont get upset. 当你看到某个人很沮丧，并且你认为他是没来由的沮丧或者这种沮丧很好笑、根本没必要时，你就可以这么说。具体的用法还要根据场合和气氛来裁决 Pain in the neck 作pain in the ass / butt，意思是“烦恼的根源，烦人的东西/人”，例如： Joan is a real pain in the neck, with her constant complaining. Jack told his brother to stop being a pa
27、in in the ass.,Winston: Thank you, Sam. And now, Rommel, how about a nice tug of war? Rommel: Yeah. Marten: Ooh! Lord Dargis better watch out next time Rommels on the loose.,tug of war “拔河比赛”， On the loose “Free; unconfined”，尤指逃犯或是马戏团的动物，例如： That dog of theirs is on the loose all the time. According
28、 to the police, a murder is on the loose. On the loose 还可以指“行为放纵的，风流的”，例如：a bachelor on the loose,at every turn 意思是“Everywhere; also, continually, at every moment”，例如： We met with kindness at every turn. 我们总能遇到好人。 Life holds surprises at every turn. 生活总是充满惊奇的事情。 “Turn”在这里并不是指方向的改变，而是指事件的改变，这个片语通常都表示
29、夸大的意味。 Mock：嘲笑,Preston: I tell you, this cat is mocking us at every turn.,Bravo! Now off you go. Dargis: Well, that makes two of you. Did I mention how much I abhor (hate) fox hunting? Unless, of course, in self-defense. Garfield: That royal sleaze is hitting on Liz.,Bravo 这是个西班牙语，表示赞许，例如：The girl d
30、ances very well. The audience shouts: Bravo! that makes two of you 意思就是“something is. and so are you”，在这个片段里的意思就是：The castle is beautiful and youre beautiful, too. That makes two of 后面的you还可以换成us，表示“I agree, me too我也是这么认为的”，例如： -Im sure its going to rain.-That makes two of us. 这个you还可以换成them，表示“他们也是
31、”。 hit on 俚语，意思是“to make persistent sexual advances to someone, especially unwanted ones，骚扰，勾引”，例如：You cant go into that bar without being hit on. Hit on 还有一个意思是“（碰巧）发现”，例如：Ive hit upon a solution to this problem.,Prince: Yes, my friends, I have returned to you at this, our darkest hour. So, Winny,
32、what exactly is Lord Dargis up to?,be up to 这里的意思是“to be busy or occupied with (an activity etc)“，例如：What is he up to now? 这个用法还可以表示“进行诡计/坏事occupied with or devising something harmful“意思，例如：We knew those two were up to something. 当表示这一意思的时候，也作up to no good，例如：Im sure those kids are up to no good. be
33、 up to还有几个常用的意思： 1） Be able to do or deal with 例如：When I got home, she asked if I was up to a walk on the beach. 这个用法常用于否定意义 not be up to something，例如：Hes not up to a long drive. 2）to reach the standard of 例如：This work isnt up to your best.,Go to any length 也写作go to any lengths / go to great lengths
34、，意思是“Take a great deal of trouble for something, go to extremes; to disregard any impediment that could prevent one from accomplishing ones purpose 千方百计，不择手段，竭尽全力”，例如：Hell go to great lengths to make a perfect chocolate cake.,assignment,1. 如果这场比赛输了，我们就完蛋了。 Were done for if we lost this match. 2 工人们全
35、都向他献媚，因为他是决定谁能拿到奖金的人。 The workers are all sucking up to him because hes the one who decides wholl get the bonuses. 3 -我找到一个有钱的老公后，就可以买一栋别墅，买一辆劳斯莱斯，还可以 after I find a rich husband, Ill buy a villa, a Rolls-Royce and.-你想的太超前了吧！ Sounds like youre getting a little ahead of yourself. 3. 她觉得她的计划到处碰壁。 She
36、found her plans frustrated at every turn. 4. 那调皮孩子哪儿去了? 我看, 他到哪儿也做不出好事来。 Wheres that naughty child? Im sure hell be up to no good wherever he is.,5别那样发火，谁也没有存心伤害你。 Dont fire up like that. No one meant to hurt your feelings. 6他不择手段，为所欲为。 He would go to any lenghths to get his own way. 7. You chaps kn
37、ow me. Im no snob. Right? But this cat is too much. 你们这些家伙知道我，我不是势利的人，对吧？但是这只猫太出格了。 8. Dont get your knickers in a twist. I know hes a pain in the neck, but we just got to keep him safe till Monday. 别沮丧了。我知道他挺烦人的，但是我们只要保证他的安全到周一就行了。,猫有九命吗,Some people believe in the superstition that cats have nine l
38、ives, because cats can survive falls from high places with few, if any injuries. This gives the appearance that the cats return to life after sustaining a fatal accident. Granted, they may sustain minor injuries, such as bloody noses, cracked teeth, or a few broken ribs, but they live to recover.,Th
39、e ability of the cat to survive these accidents that would kill humans or other animals is not due to multiple lives, but to several advantages they possess. Their small size and low body weight soften the impact as they make contact with the ground after falling from great heights. The highly devel
40、oped inner ears of cats equip them with an unusually keen sense of balance, which is critical to their landing on their feet. This sense of balance allows a cat falling upside down to right himself by rapidly determining his position, repositioning himself, and making any adjustments necessary to en
41、sure that he lands on all fours.,Since cats land on all four paws, the impact from landing on the ground is absorbed by all four. Additionally, cats bend their legs when they land, which cushions the impact by spreading the impact, not only through bones that could easily break, but through the join
42、ts and muscles as well. Most are surprised to learn that a cat stands a greater chance of survival if it falls from a higher place than from a lower place. New York veterinarians gathered data from their feline patients, which clearly support this fact. Ten percent of their patients died after falli
43、ng from 2-6 stories, while only five percent of the fatalities occurred when their patients fell from 7-32 stories.,Laws of physics explain why these survival rates vary. All falling bodies, regardless of their masses, accelerate by 22 miles per hour per second of their falls. The falling object, af
44、ter traveling a certain distance through the air reaches a final speed, or “terminalvelocity,“ because the objects friction with the air slows the fall. The smaller the objects mass, and the greater its area, the more it will slow. A cat falling from a higher floor, after it stops accelerating, spre
45、ads its legs into an umbrella shape, which increases the area against which the air must push and increases the friction, thus slowing the cats fall. Through the cats highly developed sense of balance, he buys more time tomaneuverhis body in preparation for landing on all fours. A cat falling from a lower height does not have the opportunity to increase its bodys area, slow its fall, or position his body to land on all four feet.,veterinarian: 兽医 feline: 猫科动物 velocity: 速度 maneuver: 控制,
