大學英語能力進階閱讀教程第二冊
大學英語精讀第二冊翻譯題答案
引導語：下文內容是大學英語精讀第三版(上海外語教育出版社 董亞芬主編)第二冊Book2Unit1~Unit10 翻譯答案，希望能夠幫助到您，謝謝您的閱讀。
Book2 Unit1 翻譯
1.她砰地關上門，一聲不吭地走了，他們之間那場爭執就此結束。
Their argument ended when she slammed the door and left without a word.
2. 出席晚宴的客人對那個美國人威嚴的語氣感到有點意外。
The guests at the dinner party were slightly surprised at the commanding tone of the American.
3. 約翰尼已長大成熟，不再害怕獨自呆在家裡了。
Johnny has outgrown the fear of staying at home alone.
4. 當全部乘客都向出口處 (exit) 走去時，他卻獨自留在座位上，好像不願意離開這架飛機似的。
While all the other passengers made for the exit, he alone remained in his seat as if unwilling to leave the plane.
5. 這封信必須交給威爾遜博士本人。
The letter is to be handed to Dr. Wilson himself.
6. 南希雖然很想參加辯論，但靦腆得不敢開口。
While she felt like joining in the argument, Nancy was too shy to open her mouth.
7. 你覺得什麼時候最有可能在家裡找到他?
What do you think is the likeliest time to find him at home?
8. 獵人一看見有隻狐狸從樹叢中出現並向他設下 (lay) 的陷阱 (trap) 方向跑去，臉上頓時閃出了興奮的表情。
The hunter』s face lit up with excitement as soon as he saw a fox emerge from among the bushes and run in the direction of / make for the trap he had laid.
Book2 Unit2 翻譯
1) 會上有人建議任命一個十一人委員會來制定新章程。
It was suggested at the meeting that a committee of eleven be appointed to make a new constitution.
2) 這些青年科學家通過現場觀察，獲得了研究工作所需的第一手資料。
By making on-the-spot observations, the young scientists obtained first-hand information they needed in their research work.
3) 他很可能會因視力不好而被拒收入伍。
It is very likely that he will be rejected by the army because of his bad eyesight.
4) 委員會成員在新機場最佳選址 (location) 這一問題上持有不同意見。
The committee members have conflicting opinions as to the best location of the new airport.
5) 亨利創作的藝術品在許多方面比他兄弟的要好。
Henrys works of art are superior in many respects to those of his brothers.
6) 我們產品質量的穩步提高在很大程度上是由於設備有所改進。
The steady rise in the quality of our procts owes much to the improvement of our equipment.
7) 吉姆本想按照自己的判斷行事，但他沒有這樣做，因為作為軍人他得服從命令。
Jim would have preferred to act on his own judgment, but he didnt because as a soldier he had to obey the order.
8) 如果讓我來決定我們是要一個沒有自行車的城市呢，還是要一個沒有汽車的城市，我會毫不猶豫地選擇後者。
Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a city without bikes or one without cars, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.
Book2 Unit3 翻譯
1. She got a post as a cashier at a local bank. But she was soon fired because she proved to be incompetent.
她在當地一家銀行找到一份出納員的工作，但不久因不稱職而被解僱了。
2. It is obviously/clearly his young assistant who is running the book store.
很明顯是他的年輕助手在經營這家書店。
3. No sooner had the proposal been announced at the meeting than she got to her feet to protest.
這項建議在會上一宣布，她就站起來提出異議。
4. Bill has applied to Harvard University for a teaching assistantship, but his chances of getting it are slim.
比爾已向哈佛大學申請助教職位，但他得到它的可能性很小。
5. Being short of funds, they are trying to attract foreign capital.
由於缺乏資金，他們正在想辦法吸引外資。
6. The room smells of stale air. It must have been vacant for a long time.
這個房間有股霉味，一定是好久沒人住了。
7. As far as hobbies are concerned, Jane and her sister have little in common.
就業余愛好而言，珍妮和她妹妹幾乎沒有什麼共同之處。
8. It is self-evident that the ecation of the young is vital to the future of a country.
不言而喻，青年人的教育對於一個國家的未來是至關重要的。
Book2 Unit4 翻譯
1) 那小女孩跑得太快，身體一下失去平衡，跌倒了。
The little girl ran so fast that she was thrown off balance and fell over / down.
2) 他致力於研究工作的精神 (devotion to research) 給我留下了很深印象，但我對他那些深奧的理論絲毫不感興趣。
I was impressed by his devotion to research but I did not have the slightest interest in his profound theories.
3) 千萬別說可能會被人誤解的話。
Be sure not to say anything capable of being misunderstood.
2. 大學英語精讀第二冊YOURSELF閱讀翻譯
雖然托馬斯傑佛遜才開始努力設計佛吉尼亞大學直到晚年，教育的普通人occupiedhis思想幾十年。他認為無知（無知）是自由的敵人，他想糾正他所認為是弱點的學校（機構）仿照歐洲設置。他想，「academicalvillage」周圍綠樹成蔭的草坪將提供一個理想的環境，追求更高的教育。這樣的一個中心村是一個廟，將房子大學圖書館知識。當佛吉尼亞決定成立一個州立大學的1818，退休的美國總統，最終能夠把自己的人才，時間，和精力創造這一新的教育機構。由時間，他完成了他的設計，傑佛遜發明了一種全新的美國設置的高等教育：大學校園。1812，傑佛遜決定開始建立他的「學術村，「弗吉尼亞大學，在夏洛茨維爾，弗吉尼亞州，遠離城市中心。他打算在這個地方促進學習因為它是自然景觀，並遠離任何可能幹擾或傷害學生。該大學由2排房屋，每邊五個，導致一個主要建築。主建築，大廳，成為最重要的大學的一部分，因為它包含了圖書館。通過把整個機構的圖書館，而教堂周圍，傑佛遜改變了美國大學建築學院。傑佛遜的目標是創建一個新的體制形式，他的理想的教育系統，一個系統，他認為應該給每個公民，他需要的信息進行日常業務。這種新方法的公民教育要求的新型大學，一個在學生和教授可以共存和分享想法。他試圖創造這種環境相結合的教授和學生的教室，和聯系的所有建築覆蓋的人行道，部門之間的知識交流得以順利進行。傑佛遜也承認的重要性，學生的生活，並給出了許多想法和計劃的學生，生活，和運動設施（設施）。
3. 請問全新版大學進階英語 綜合教程2 課文翻譯有嗎
全新版大學進階英語綜合教程2課文原文及翻譯：
Howard Gardner, a professor of ecation at Harvard University, reflects on a visit toChina and gives his thoughts on different approaches to learning in China and theWest.
哈佛大學教育學教授霍華德·加德納回憶其中國之行,闡述他對中西方不同的學習方式的看法。
Learning, Chinese-Style
Howard Gardnereastern Chinese city of Nanjing with our 18-month-old son Benjamin while studyin1 For a month in the spring of 1987, my wife Ellen and I lived in the bustlingarts ecation in Chinese kindergartens and elementary schools.
But one of the mostelling lessons Ellen and I got in the difference between Chinese and American ideas of ecation came not in the classroom but in the lobby of the Jinling Hotel where we stayed in Nanjing.
中國式的學習風格
霍華德·加德納，1987年春,我和妻子埃倫帶著我們18個月的兒子本傑明在繁忙的中國東部城市南京住了一個月,同時考察中國幼兒園和小學的藝術教育情況然而,我和埃倫獲得的有關中美教育觀念差異的最難忘的體驗並非來自課堂,而是來自我們在南京期間寓居的金陵飯店的大堂。
The key to our room was attached to a large plastic block with the room number on it. When leaving the hotel, a guest was encouraged to turn in the key, either by handing it to an attendant or by dropping it through a slot into a box. Because the key slot was narrow, the key had to be positioned carefully to fit into it.
我們的房門鑰匙系在一塊標有房間號的大塑料板上酒店鼓勵客人外出時留下鑰匙,可以交給服務員,也可以從一個槽口塞入鑰匙箱。由於口子狹小,你得留神將鑰匙放准位置才塞得進去。
Benjamin loved to carry the key around, shaking it vigorously. He also liked to try to place it into the slot. Because of his tender age and incomplete understanding of the need to position the key just so, he would usually fail.
Benjamin was not bothered in the least. He probably got as much pleasure out of the sounds the key made as he did those few times when the key actually found its way into the slot.
本傑明愛拿著鑰匙走來走去,邊走邊用力搖晃著。他還喜歡試著把鑰匙往槽口裡塞。由於他還年幼,不太明白得把鑰匙放准位置才成,因此總塞不進去。
本傑明一點也不在意。他從鑰匙聲響中得到的樂趣大概跟他偶爾把鑰匙成功地塞進槽口而獲得的樂趣一樣多。
(3)大學英語能力進階閱讀教程第二冊擴展閱讀：
英語翻譯技巧：
1、詞義的選擇和引伸技巧
英 漢兩種語言都有一詞多類和一詞多義的現象。一詞多類就是指一個詞往往屬於幾個詞類，具有幾個不同的意義；一詞多義就是同一個詞在同一詞類中又往往有幾個不 同的詞義。
在英譯漢的過程中，我們在弄清原句結構後，就要善於運用選擇和確定原句中關鍵詞詞義的技巧，以使所譯語句自然流暢，完全符合漢語習慣的說法；選擇確定詞義通常可以從兩方面著手。
2、詞類轉譯技巧
在英譯漢過程中，有些句子可以逐詞對譯，有些句子則由於英漢兩種語言的表達方式不同，就不能逐詞對譯，只能將詞類進行轉譯之後，方可使譯文顯得通順、自然；對詞類轉譯技巧的運用須從四個方面加以注意。
4. 新視野大學英語讀寫教程第二冊課後翻譯句子答案
Unit1
1.她連水都不願喝一口,更別提留下來吃飯了.
She wouldn't take a drink, much less could she stay for dinner.
2.他認為我在對他說謊,但實際上我講的是實話.
He thought I was lying to him,whereas I was telling the truth.
3.這個星期你每天都遲到,對此你怎麼解釋?
How do you account for the fact that you have been late every day this week?
4.他們利潤增長的部分原因是採用了新的市場策略.
The increase in their profits is e partly to their new market strategy.
5.這樣的措施很可能會帶來工作效率的提高.
Such measures are likely to result in the improvement of work efficiency.
6.我們已經在這個項目上投入了大量時間和精力,所以我們只能繼續.
We have already poured a lot of time and energy into the project, so we have to carry on.
Unit3
1.你再怎麼有經驗碧沖,也得學習新技術.
You are never too experienced to learn new techniques.
2.還存在一個問題,那就是派誰去帶領歷慧並那裡的研究工作.
There remains one problem,namely,who should be sent to head the research there.
3.由於文化的不同,他們的關系在開始確實遇到了一些困難.
Their relationship did meet with some difficulty at the beginning because of cultural differences.
4.雖然他歷經沉浮,但我始終相信他總有一肢跡天會成功.
Though he has had ups and downs,I believed all along that he would succeed someday.
5.我對你的說法的真實性有些保留看法.
I have some reservations about the truth of your claim.
6.她長得不特別高,但是她身材瘦,給人一種個子高的感覺.
She isn't particularly tall,but her slim figure gives an illusion of height.
Unit4
1.有朋自遠方來,不亦樂乎?
It is a great pleasure to meet friends from afar.
2.不管黑貓白貓,能抓住老鼠就是好貓.
It doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white as long as it catches mice.
3.你必須明天上午十點之前把那筆錢還給我.
You must let me have the money back without fail by ten o'clock tomorrow morning.
4.請允許我參加這個項目,我對這個項目非常感興趣.
Allow me to take part in this project: I am more than a little interested in it.
5.人人都知道他比較特殊：他來去隨意.
Everyone knows that he is special:He is free to e and go as he pleases.
6.看她臉上不悅的神色,我覺得她似乎有什麼話想跟我說.
Watching the unhappy look on her face,I felt as though she wishes to say something to me.
Unit5
1.他說話很自信,給我留下了深刻的印象.
He spoke confidently,which impressed me most.
2.我父親太愛忘事,總是在找鑰匙.
My father is so forgetful that he is always looking for his keys.
3.我是十分感謝你給我的幫助.
I'm very grateful to you for all the help you have given me.
4.光線不足,加上地面潮濕,使得駕駛十分困難.
The bad light,coupled with the wet ground,made driving very difficult.
5.由於缺乏資金,他們不得不取消了創業計劃.
Being starved of funds,they had to cancel their plan to start a business.
6.每當有了麻煩,他們總是依靠我們.
They always lean on us whenever they are in trouble.
Unit6
1. 就像機器需要經常運轉一樣,身體也需要經常鍛煉.
(Just) as a machine needs regular running, so does the body need regular exercise.
2. 在美國學習時,他學會了彈鋼琴.
He learned to play the piano while studying in the United States.
3. 令我們失望的是,他拒絕了我的邀請.
To our disappointment, he turned down our invitation.
4. 真實情況是,不管是好是壞,隨著新科技的進步,世界發生了變化.
The reality is that, for better or worse, the world has changed with advance of new technologies.
5.我班裡大多數女生在被要求回答問題時都似乎感到不自在.
Most of the female students in my class appear to be ill at ease when (they are) required to answer questions.
6. 當地 *** 負責運動會的安全.
The local government took charge of the security for the sports meeting.
Unit7
1.在會上,除了其他事情,他們還討論了目前的經濟形勢.
At the meeting they discussed, among other things, the present economic situation.
2.我對大自然了解得越多,就越痴迷於大自然的奧秘.
The more I learned about the nature,the more absorbed I became in its mystery.
3.醫生建議說,有壓力的人要學會做一些新鮮有趣、富有挑戰性的事情,好讓自己的負面情緒有發泄的渠道.
The doctor remends that those stressed people should try something new,interesting and challenging in order to give their negative feelings an outlet.
4.那個學生的成績差,但老師給他布置了更多的作業,而不是減少作業量.
The teacher gives more homework to the student who has bad grades instead of cutting it down.
5.相比之下,美國的父母更趨向於把孩子的成功歸因於天賦.
By contrast,American parents are more likely to attribute their children's success to natural talent.
6.教師首先要考慮的事情之一是喚起學生的興趣,激發他們的創造性.
One of a teacher's priorities is to stimulate students' interests and their creativity.
Unit8
1. 她一點也不知道這幅畫有一天居然會價值100多萬美金.
Little did she know that this picture would one day be worth more than a million dollars.
2. 雖然我理解你說的話,但是我不同意你在這個問題上的看法.
While I understand what you say, I don』t agree with you on the issue.
3. 我認為警察的職責就是保護人民.
I think the police are meant to protect people.
4. 昨天我去看他,卻發現他已於幾天前出國了.
I went to see him yesterday, only to find that he had gone abroad several days before.
5. 在每周例會上,每個人的發言都不能偏離會議議題.
At the weekly meeting, everyone must confine their remarks to the subject.
6. 要是我沒說那些愚蠢的話該多好啊!那時我太年輕,不能明辨是非.
If only I hadn』t said those silly words! I was too young then to distinguish right from wrong.
Unit9
1. 我確信自己一定會有出息,即使至今我還沒做出大的成績.
I am sure that I will make something of myself, even though I have not achieved any major success so far.
2. 我這么多年來如此努力,我覺得自己應該有個好的前途.
I have been working hard for so many years; I feel I am entitled to a good future.
3. 當她丈夫離她而去,只留給她生活的殘局去收拾時,她的心智失常了.
When her hu *** and deserted her, leaving her with nothing but scattered pieces of life to pick up, she went insane.
4. 從我的立場看,母親當時過於嚴厲,並沒有顧及我的感受.
From my standpoint, Mother was too hard on me then, without taking my feelings into account.
5. 當我登上事業的頂峰時,常縈繞在我心頭的是母親說過的話：「面對生活,不放棄.」
I reached the summit of my professional career, mother's words "Never be a quitter in face of life" were constantly in my mind.
6. 你應該知道的,不能在大街上踢足球.
You should know better than to play football in the street.
5. 大學英語閱讀教程2的課文翻譯
告訴你三個方法，一是自己去買本閱讀教程的譯本，一般都有的。二是自己把課文打上來，我們幫你翻譯。三是你去找個課文的鏈接發上來，我們幫你。
我大學時學的閱讀教程和你的不一樣。
6. 新通用大學英語進階閱讀2翻譯
Unit 1
1. 許多人認為國際旅遊對經濟發展有積極作用。(proce … effect on)
Many people believe that international tourism proce positive effects on economic growth.
2. 高年級學生可以與新生一起分享他們的經歷：如何克服遇到的困難，如何適應新的環境。(adjust …to)
The senior and junior students could share their own experience about how to overcome the difficulty they have ever met, how to adjust to the new environment with the new students.
3. 該是有關當局採取適當的措施來解決交通問題的時候了。(It is time …, concerned, take steps)
It is time the authorities concerned took proper steps to solve the traffic problems.
4. 現在，越來越多的人認識到法制教育的重要性。(be aware that …, be of … )
Today an increasing number of people have been aware that law ecation is of great importance.
5. 應該鼓勵年輕人和他們的同齡人交往，發展他們的交際能力。 (communicate with… ) Young people should be encouraged to communicate with their peers and develop their interpersonal skills.
Unit 2
1. 據報道，有人設計出新型電腦游戲，不會對兒童行為有任何負面影響。（be reported that …, have … influence on …）
It is reported that new video games have been designed not to have negative influence on kids』 behavior in any way.
2. 當意識到所有現有的機器已被新的設計所取代時，校領導發起脾氣來。（lose one』s temper, be replaced with …）
The head of the school lost his temper when he realized that all the existing machine had been replaced with new designs.
3. 史蒂文聽說他對新項目的提議被當成荒謬之詞而遭到斷然否決，十分惱火。 （be upset to do …, be rejected as …）
Steve was very upset to hear that his proposal for the new project had been rejected as ridiculous.
4. 現代社會的孩子很難想像一個沒有電視和電腦的時代。（find it difficult to do …, conceive of）
The modern child finds it difficult to conceive of a time when there was no TV or Computer.
5. 面試官忘了問我現在老闆的名字，他好像對細節不大感興趣。（neglect to do …, be concerned with）
The interviewer neglected to ask about the name of my present boss; he seemed not to be concerned with the details.
Unit3
1. 由於這份工作提供良好的提升機會，我琢磨不透湯姆為什麼要辭掉它。(offer, promotion prospects, figure out )
As the job offers excellent promotion prospects, I can』t figure out why Tom quit it.
2. 我們已經向一個慈善組織提出申請，要求它為這個項目提供資助。(apply to … for …, grant )
We have applied to a charitable organization for a grant for the project.
3. 他的論文非常有助於我們對這個困難問題的了解。(enormously, contribute to )
His thesis has contributed enormously to our understanding of this difficult subject.
4. 毫無疑問許多國家將要參加2008年奧林匹克運動會。(there is no doubt, participate in )
There is no doubt that many countries will be participating in the Olympic Games in 2008.
5. 這家公司已經投資幾百萬美元編寫新的程序滿足發展需求。(invest, writing new programs, meet the requirements of…)
The company has invested millions of dollars in writing new programs to meet the requirements of the development.
Unit 4
1.在這種情況下約翰尼急切地抓住了難得的機會。 (jump at the chance)
In this case Johnny jumped at the rare chance to apply for the post.
2. 現在說是由於天氣關系才耽擱了航班還為時過早。(It is too early to say…)
It is too early to say that the weather is responsible for the delay of the flight.
3. 現代英語中許多詞彙來源於拉丁文。 (be derived from)
In modern English many words are derived from Latin.
4. 我們也許不能理解75%的女性下班後要繼續照顧孩子。 (It might not …)
It might not be understood that 75 percent of women have to take care of their kids after work.
5. 平均來說，我們每天要在電腦前工作十小時。(on average)
On average, we spend almost ten hours a day working with computer.
Unit 5
1.除了倫敦的公寓，傑克還在義大利有一座別墅，在蘇格蘭有一座城堡。（in addition to）
In addition to his flat in London, he has a villa in Italy and a castle in Scotland.
2. 他試圖和妻子開個玩笑，但得到的反應只是沉默。（attempt to, be received）
He attempted to make a joke with his wife, but it was received in silence.
3. 史密斯先生總是每天撥出些時間給孩子們讀故事。（set aside）
Mr. Smith always sets some time aside every day to read stories to his children.
4. 這實際上是一種朋友之間的交流，而不是吵架。（kind of, rather than）
It is really a kind of communication between friends, rather than a quarrel
5. 由於提前接受了訓練，因此他在最新的影片中的特技效果極為出色。（as a result of, special effect）
As a result of being trained in advance, the special effects in his latest film are brilliant.
Unit 6
1. 保護也適用於文化遺產，因此也包括有歷史意義的事物，比如古建築、古戰場、歷史傳
說等。(apply to, cultural heritage)
Conservation is also applied to cultural heritage, thus including things of historical importance, such as old buildings, battlefields and oral traditions.
2. 任何人無權侵犯「他人」權利以獲取自身利益，不管這個「他人」是人，還是動物。(violate one』s right, as a result of)
No one has a right to benefit as a result of violating another's rights, whether that "other" is a human being or some other animal.
3. 1998年12月11--13日，在雲南昆明召開了第三屆全國生物多樣性保護及可持續利用研討會。(biodiversity conservation, sustainable)
The Third National Seminar on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Using was held in Kunming,Yunnan on December 11-13, 1998.
4. 很多電影明星對於自己的私生活受到公眾監視非常反感。(resent doing sth., under scrutiny)
Many film stars resent their private life being under public scrutiny.
5. 我們每天的事情很多，只有把最重要的優先安排才能保證有時間完成。(give priority to, ensure)
We have many things to do each day and we must give priority to those most important to ensure we have time for them.
Unit 7
1. 除了在大學的工作以外， Bob現在還在經營自己的公司。(in addition to)
Bob Trivisonno is now running his own research company—that is in addition to his job at the university.
2. 每天平均有650個讀者來到大英博物館閱覽室利用該館的100萬冊藏書。(repair to, an average of, draw upon)
An average of 650 readers daily repair to the British Museum Reading Room to draw upon a store of 100, 000 volumes.
3. 最讓我感興趣的事是Black先生的口音。這是哪裡的口音？(what fascinate…most) What fascinates me most is about Mr. Black accent. Where does it come from?
4. 這一地區的入室盜竊案件似有增無減。(to be on the increase) The number of burglaries in the area seems to be on the increase.
5. 今天我要把節食計劃置之腦後，想吃什麼就吃什麼。（inlge oneself）
I shall forget about dieting today. I am going to inlge myself, i.e. eat and drink what I like.
7. 全新版大學英語綜合教程第二冊第7單元課文詳解
全新版大學英語綜合教程第二冊第7單元課文詳解
導語：英語是世界上最廣泛的第一語言，因此我們從小就開始學習英語，下面是一篇關於學習英語的英語課文，歡迎大家來學習。
Learning about English
Part I Pre-Reading Task
Listen to the recording two or three times and then think over the following questions:
1. What is the passage about?
2. What's your impression of the English language?
3. Can you give one or two examples to illustrate(說明)the messiness of the English language?
4. Can you guess what the texts in this unit are going to be about?
The following words in the recording may be new to you:
eggplant
n. 茄子
pineapple
n. 菠蘿
hamburger
n. 漢堡牛肉餅，漢堡包
Part II
Text
Some languages resist the introction of new words. Others, like English, seem to welcome them. Robert MacNeil looks at the history of English and comes to the conclusion that its tolerance for change represents deeply rooted ideas of freedom.
THE GLORIOUS MESSINESS OF ENGLISH
Robert MacNeil
The story of our English language is typically one of massive stealing from other languages. That is why English today has an estimated vocabulary of over one million words, while other major languages have far fewer.
French, for example, has only about 75,000 words, and that includes English expressions like snack bar and hit parade. The French, however, do not like borrowing foreign words because they think it corrupts their language. The government tries to ban words from English and declares that walkman is not desirable; so they invent a word, balladeur, which French kids are supposed to say instead — but they don't.
Walkman is fascinating because it isn't even English. Strictly speaking, it was invented by the Japanese manufacturers who put two simple English words together to name their proct. That doesn't bother us, but it does bother the French. Such is the glorious messiness of English. That happy tolerance, that willingness to accept words from anywhere, explains the richness of English and why it has become, to a very real extent, the first truly globallanguage.
How did the language of a small island off the coast of Europe become the language of the planet — more widely spoken and written than any other has ever been? The history of English is present in the first words a child learns about identity (I, me, you); possession (mine, yours); the body (eye, nose, mouth); size (tall, short); and necessities (food, water). These words all come from Old English or Anglo-Saxon English, the core of our language. Usually short and direct, these are words we still use today for the things that really matter to us.
Great speakers often use Old English to arouse our emotions. For example, ring World War II, Winston Churchill made this speech, stirring the courage of his people against Hitler's armies positioned to cross the English Channel: "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender."
Virtually every one of those words came from Old English, except the last — surrender, which came from Norman French. Churchill could have said, "We shall never give in," but it is one of the lovely — and powerful — opportunities of English that a writer can mix, for effect, different words from different backgrounds. Yet there is something direct to the heart that speaks to us from the earliest words in our language.
When Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 55 B.C., English did not exist. The Celts, who inhabited the land, spoke languages that survive today mainly as Welsh. Where those languages came from is still a mystery, but there is a theory.
Two centuries ago an English judge in India noticed that several words in Sanskrit closely resembled some words in Greek and Latin. A systematic study revealed that many modern languages descended from a commonparent language, lost to us because nothing was written down.
Identifying similar words, linguists have come up with what they call an Indo-European parent language, spoken until 3500 to 2000 B.C. These people had common words for snow, bee and wolf but no word for sea. So some scholars assume they lived somewhere in north-central Europe, where it was cold. Traveling east, some established the languages of India and Pakistan, and others drifted west toward the gentler climates of Europe, Some who made the earliest move westward became known as the Celts, whom Caesar's armies found in Britain.
New words came with the Germanic tribes — the Angles, the Saxons, etc. — that slipped across the North Sea to settle in Britain in the 5th century. Together they formed what we call Anglo-Saxon society.
The Anglo-Saxons passed on to us their farming vocabulary, including sheep, ox, earth, wood, field and work. They must have also enjoyed themselves because they gave us the word laughter.
The next big influence on English was Christianity. It enriched the Anglo-Saxon vocabulary with some 400 to 500 words from Greek and Latin, including angel, disciple and martyr.
Then into this relatively peaceful land came the Vikings from Scandinavia. They also brought to English many words that begin with sk, like sky and skirt. But Old Norse and English both survived, and so you can rear a child (English) or raise a child (Norse). Other such pairs survive: wish and want, craft and skill, hide and skin. Each such addition gave English more richness, more variety.
Another flood of new vocabulary occurred in 1066, when the Normans conquered England. The country now had three languages: French for the nobles, Latin for the churches and English for the common people. With three languages competing, there were sometimes different terms for the same thing. For example, Anglo-Saxons had the word kingly, but after the Normans, royal and sovereign entered the language as alternatives. The extraordinary thing was that French did not replace English. Over three centuries English graally swallowed French, and by the end of the 15th century what had developed was a modified, greatly enriched language — Middle English — with about 10,000 "borrowed" French words.
Around 1476 William Caxton set up a printing press in England and started a communications revolution. Printing brought into English the wealth of new thinking that sprang from the European Renaissance. Translations of Greek and Roman classics were poured onto the printed page, and with them thousands of Latin words like capsule and habitual, and Greek words like catastrophe and thermometer. Today we still borrow from Latin and Greek to name new inventions, like video, television and cyberspace.
As settlers landed in North America and established the United States, English found itself with two sources — American and British. Scholars in Britain worried that the language was out of control, and some wanted to set up an academy to decide which words were proper and which were not. Fortunately their idea has never been put into practice.
That tolerance for change also represents deeply rooted ideas of freedom. Danish scholar Otto Jespersen wrote in 1905, "The English language would not have been what it is if the English had not been for centuries great respecters of the liberties of each indivial and if everybody had not been free to strike out new paths for himself."
I like that idea. Consider that the same cultural soil procing the English language also nourished the great principles of freedom and rights of man in the modern world. The first shoots sprang up in England, and they grew stronger in America. The English-speaking peoples have defeated all efforts to build fences around their language.
Indeed, the English language is not the special preserve of grammarians, language police, teachers, writers or the intellectual elite. English is, and always has been, the tongue of the common man.
New Words and Expressions
messiness
n. 雜亂狀況
messy a.
massive
a. large in scale, amount, or degree 大量的，大規模的
vocabulary
n. 詞彙(量)
snack▲
n. a small meal 快餐，點心
snack bar
快餐櫃，小吃店
parade
n. 遊行;閱兵隊列
hit parade
a weekly listing of the current best-selling pop records 流行唱片目錄
corrupt▲
vt. cause errors to appear in; cause to act dishonestly in return for personal gains 訛用，使(語言)變得不標准;腐蝕，賄賂
ban
vt. forbid (sth.) officially 禁止，取締
walkman
n. a small cassette player 隨身聽
strictly speaking
嚴格地講
invent
vt. 發明
invention n.
fascinating
a. of great interest or attraction 迷人的，有極大吸引力的
manufacturer
n. 製造商
proct
n. 產品
tolerance
n. 容忍，寬容;忍耐
to a (very real, certain, etc.) extent
to the degree specified 在(極大，某種)程度上
necessity
n. 必需品;必要(性)
Anglo-Saxon
n. 盎格魯—薩克遜人
arouse
vt. provoke (a particular feeling or attitude) 喚起，激起
channel
n. 海峽;渠道;頻道
surrender
v. give in 投降
virtually
ad. for the most part, almost 差不多，幾乎
invade
vt. enter with armed forces 侵入，侵略
Celt
n. 凱爾特人
inhabit▲
vt. live in (a place) 居住於
Welsh
a., n. 威爾士語(的)，威爾士人的
mystery
n. 神秘的事物
Sanskrit
n. 梵語
resemble
vt. be like or similar to 與…相似
Greek
n. 希臘語
Latin
n. 拉丁語
systematic
a. done according to a system 有系統的
descend
vi. come down (from a source); go down 起源於;下來
linguist
n. a person who studies languages 語言學家
Indo-European
a. 印歐語系的
wolf
n. 狼
scholar
n. 學者
establish
vt. cause to be, set up 建立，確立
drift
vi. move or go somewhere in a slow casual way 漂泊
climate
n. (an area or a region with) a regular pattern of weather conditions 氣候(區)
Germanic
a. 日耳曼(人)的，日耳曼語的，德國(人)的
tribe▲
n. 部落
pass (sth.) on to (sb.)
hand or give (sth.) to (sb.) 將…傳給…
influence
n. 影響
Christianity
n. 基督教
Christian
a. 基督教的
n. 基督教徒
disciple
n. 信徒，門徒
martyr
n. 殉難者，烈士
Norse
n. (古)斯堪的納維亞語
addition
n. a person or thing added 增加的人(或物)
Norman
n., a. 諾曼人(的.)，諾曼語(的)，諾曼文化的
conquer
v. take possession and control by force; defeat 征服
kingly
a. 國王(般)的
royal
a. 國王或女王的;皇家的
sovereign▲
a. (of power) without limit, highest; (of a nation) fully independent 擁有最高統治權的，至高無上的;擁有主權的
alternative
n. one of two or more possibilities 供選擇的東西
modify
vt. change slightly 修改，更改
enrich▲
vt. make rich or richer; improve 使富裕，使豐富
Renaissance▲
n. (歐洲14-16世紀的)文藝復興
translation
n. 譯本，譯文;翻譯
Roman
a. 古羅馬的，拉丁語的
classic
n. a work of art recognized as having lasting value 經典作品
capsule▲
n. 密封小容器;膠囊;航天艙
habitual
a. done as a habit, regular, usual 慣常的
catastrophe▲
n. a sudden great disaster 大災難
thermometer
n. 溫度計
video
n., a. 錄像(的)
cyberspace
n. the notional environment in which communication over computer networks occurs 網路空間，虛擬空間
independent
a. not controlled by other people or things 獨立的，自主的
source
n. 源，來源
out of control
失去控制，不受約束
academy
n. 學會，學院，研究院
fortunately
ad. by good luck 幸運地，幸虧
put into practice
將…付諸實施
Danish
a. 丹麥(人)的，丹麥語的
liberty
n. freedom 自由
strike out
create, proce 創造，開創
cultural
a. of or involving culture 文化的
nourish▲
vt. 滋養，培育
preserve
n. 獨占的地區或范圍;禁獵地
vt. keep from harm, damage, etc., protect; save 保護，保存
grammarian
n. 語法學家
intellectual
n., a. 知識分子(的)
elite▲
n. the group regarded as the best (總稱)出類拔萃的人，精英
Proper Names
Robert MacNeil
羅伯特·麥克尼爾
Winston Churchill
溫斯頓·丘吉爾(1874 — 1965，英國政治家、首相)
Hitler
希特勒(1889 — 1945，納粹德國元首)
Julius Caesar
尤利烏斯·凱撒(100 — 44BC，古羅馬將軍、政治家)
Britain
英國
India
印度
Pakistan
巴基斯坦
Viking
(8 — 10世紀時劫掠歐洲西北海岸的)北歐海盜
Scandinavia
斯堪的納維亞
England
英格蘭
William Caxton
威廉·卡克斯頓(英國印刷商、翻譯家)
Otto Jespersen
奧托·葉斯柏森(1860 — 1943)
Language sense Enhancement
1. Read aloud paragraphs 17-19 and learn by heart.
2. Read aloud the following poem:
Languages
Carl Sandbury
There are no handles upon a language
Whereby men take hold of it
And mark it with signs for its remembrance.
It is a river, this language,
Once in a thousand years
Breaking a new course
Changing its way to the ocean.
It is a mountain effluvia
Moving to valleys
And from nation to nation
Crossing borders and mixing.
3. Read the following quotations. Learn them by heart if you can. You might need to look up new words in a dictionary.
The English language is the sea which receives tributaries from every region under heaven.
—— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Language ought to be the joint creation of poets and manual workers.
—— Georqe Orwell
England and America are two countries separated by the same language.
—— Georqe Bernard Shaw
4. Read the following joke and see if you can tell what caused the misunderstanding of the technician's words by the woman. You might need to look up new words in a dictionary.
An office technician got a call from a user. The user told the technician that her computer was not working. She described the problem and the technician concluded that the computer needed to be brought in and serviced.
He told her to "Unplug the power cord and bring it up here and I will fix it."
About fifteen minutes later she showed up at his door with the power cord in her hand.
;8. 大學英語精讀第二冊第2課內容講解
TEXT
A heated discussion about whether men are braver than women is settled in a rather unexpected way.
The Dinner Party
I first heard this tale in India, where is told as if true -- though any naturalist would know it couldn't be. Later someone told me that the story appeared in a magazine shortly before the First World War. That magazine story, and the person who wrote it, I have never been able to track down.
The country is India. A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They are seated with their guests -- officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist -- in their spacious dining room, which has a bare marble floor, open rafters and wide glass doors opening onto a veranda.
A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says that women have outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a major who says that they haven't.
"A woman's reaction in any crisis," the major says, "is to scream. And while a man may feel like it, he has that ounce more of control than a woman has. And that last ounce is what really counts."
The American does not join in the argument but watches the other guests. As he looks, he sees a strange expression come over the face of the hostess. She is staring straight ahead, her muscles contracting slightly. She motions to the native boy standing behind her chair and whispers something to him. The boy's eyes widen: he quickly leaves the room.
Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the boy place a bowl of milk on the veranda just outside the open doors.
The American comes to with a start. In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing -- t for a snake. He realizes there must be a cobra in the room. He looks up at the rafters -- the likeliest place -- but they are bare. Three corners of the room are empty, and in the fourth the servants are waiting to serve the next course. There is only one place left -- under the table.
His first impulse is to jump back and warn the others, but he knows the commotion would frighten the cobra into striking. He speaks quickly, the tone of his voice so commanding that it silences everyone.
"I want to know just what control everyone at this table has. I will count three hundred -- that's five minutes -- and not one of you is to move a muscle. Those who move will forfeit 50 rupees. Ready?"
The 20 people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying "...two hundred and eighty..." when, out of the corner of his eye, he sees the cobra emerge and make for the bowl of milk. Screams ring out as he jumps to slam the veranda doors safely shut.
"You were right, Major!" the host exclaims. "A man has just shown us an example of perfect self-control."
"Just a minute," the American says, turning to his hostess. "Mrs. Wynnes, how did you know that cobra was in the room?"
A faint smile lights up the woman's face as she replies: "Because it was crawling across my foot."
NEW WORDS
heated
a. with strong, excited, and often angry feelings 熱烈的;激烈的
unexpected
a. not expected 意外的
naturalist
n. one who makes a special study of plants or animals outdoors 博物學家(尤指直接觀察動植物者)
shortly
ad. Soon; (in) a little time 不久，馬上
colonial]
a. of or related to a colony or colonies 殖民地的`
spacious
a. big; having much space 廣闊的;寬闊的
dining
n. 餐廳
bare
a. not covered (with a carpet); empty 不鋪地毯的;赤裸的;光禿的
marble
n. 大理石
rafter
n. one of the sloping beams that support 椽
onto
prep. to a position or point on 到...之上; 向...之上
veranda
n. 陽台
spirited
a. full of spirit; lively
outgrow
vt. leave behind, as one grows older or more mature 長大得使...不再適用; 成長得不再要
mouse
n. 鼠
era
n. 時代，年代
major
n. 少校
crisis
n. time of difficulty, danger, etc. 危機
ounce
n. 盎司;少量
argument
n. discussion by persons who disagree; dispute 爭論;辯論
hostess
n. 女主人
muscle
n. 肌肉
contract
vi. become shorter or smaller 收縮
contraction
n.
slightly
ad. a little 稍微地
slight
a.
motion
vi. give a signal by moving the hand or head 打手勢;點(或搖)頭示意
widen
v. make or become wider
t
n. food used to attract fish, animals, or birds so that they may be caught 誘餌
cobra
n. poisonous snake found in India and Africa 眼鏡蛇
likely
a. probable 可能的
impulse
n. sudden wish to do sth. 沖動
commotion
n. noisy confusion or excitement 混亂;騷動
tone
n. quality of voice or music 語氣;音調
commanding
a. authoritative 威嚴的
forfeit
vt. suffer the loss of (sth.) as a punishment (作為懲罰而)失去
rupee
n. monetary unit of India, Pakistan, etc. 盧比
image
n. statue 雕像
emerge
vi. come or appear (from somewhere)
emergence
n.
slam
vt. shut loudly and with force 砰地關上
host
n. man who receives guests 男主人
faint
a. weak, indistinct 微弱的;不明顯的
crawl
vi move slowly by pulling the body along the ground 爬行