新概念第三册全文翻译21-30.doc

--- lesson 21 Daniel Mendoza 丹尼尔.门多萨
1 Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.^两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
2 In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.^当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
3 Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.^因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
4 However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.^不过，拳击是十分野蛮的，因为当时没有任何比赛规则，职业拳击手有可能在比赛中受重伤，甚至丧命。
5 One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.^拳击史上最引人注目的人物之一是丹尼尔.门多萨，他生于1764年。
6 The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.^1860年昆斯伯里侯爵第一次为拳击比赛制定了规则，拳击比赛这才用上了手套。
7 Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.^虽然门多萨严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手，但在把这种粗野的拳击变成一种体育运动方面，他作出了重大贡献。是他把科学引进了这项运动。
8 In his day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.^门多萨在他的全盛时期深受大家欢迎，无论是富人还是穷人都对他祟拜备至。
9 Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.^门多萨在14岁时参加了一场拳击赛后一举成名。
10 This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.^这引起了当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
11 He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.^他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
12 In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.^事实上，门多萨不久便名声大振，致使汉弗莱斯与他反目为敌。
13 The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.^两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
14 A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.^于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
15 The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.^公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
16 Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.^后来，门多萨与汉弗莱斯再次在拳击场上较量，门多萨又输了一场。
17 It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.^直到1790年他们第3次对垒，门多萨才终于击败汉弗莱斯，成了全英拳击冠军。
18 Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.^同时，他建立了一所拳击学校，办得很成功，连拜伦勋爵也成了他的学生。
19 He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.^门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就可多达100英镑。
20 Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.^尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
21 After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.^他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
22 He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.^他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。
--- lesson 22 By heart 熟记台词
1 Some plays are so successful that they run for years on end.^有些剧目十分成功，以致连续上演好几年。
2 In many ways, this is unfortunate for the poor actors who are required to go on repeating the same lines night after night.^这样一来，可怜的演员们可倒霉了。因为他们需要一夜连着一夜地重复同样的台词。
3 One would expect them to know their parts by heart and never have cause to falter.^人们以为，这些演员一定会把台词背得烂熟，绝不会临场结巴的，
4 Yet this is not always the case.^但情况却并不总是这样。
5 A famous actor in a highly successful play was once cast in the role of an aristocrat who had been imprisoned in the Bastille for twenty years.^有一位名演员曾在一出极为成功的剧目中扮演一个贵族角色，这个贵族已在巴士底狱被关押了20年。
6 In the last act, a gaoler would always come on to the stage with a letter which he would hand to the prisoner.^在最后一幕中，狱卒手持一封信上场，然后将信交给狱中那位贵族。
7 Even though the noble was expected to read the letter at each performance,^尽管那个贵族每场戏都得念一遍那封信。
8 he always insisted that it should be written out in full.^但他还是坚持要求将信的全文写在信纸上。
9 One night, the gaoler decided to play a joke on his colleague to find out if,^一天晚上，狱卒决定与他的同事开一个玩笑，
10 after so many performances, he had managed to learn the contents of the letter by heart.^看看他反复演出这么多场之后，是否已将信的内容记熟了。
11 The curtain went up on the final act of the play and revealed the aristocrat sitting alone behind bars in his dark cell.^大幕拉开，最后一幕戏开演，贵族独自一人坐在铁窗后阴暗的牢房里。
12 Just then, the gaoler appeared with the precious letter in his bands.^这时狱卒上场，手里拿着那封珍贵的信。
13 He entered the cell and presented the letter to the aristocrat.^狱卒走进牢房，将信交给贵族。
14 But the copy he gave him had not been written out in full as usual.^但这回狱卒给贵族的信没有像往常那样把全文写全，
15 It was simply a blank sheet of paper.^而是一张白纸。
16 The gaoler looked on eagerly, anxious to see if his fellow actor had at last learnt his lines.^狱卒热切地观察着，急于想了解他的同事是否记熟了台词。
17 The noble stared at the blank sheet of paper for a few seconds.^贵族盯着纸看了几秒钟，
18 Then, squinting his eyes, he said: 'The light is dim. Read the letter to me.'^然后，眼珠一转，说道：“光线太暗，请给我读一下这封信。”
19 And he promptly handed the sheet of paper to the gaoler.^说完，他一下子把信递给狱卒。
20 Finding that he could not remember a word of the letter either,^狱卒发现自己连一个字也记不住，
21 the gaoler replied: 'The light is indeed dim, sire. I must get my glasses.'^于是便说：“陛下，这儿光线的确太暗了，我得去把眼镜拿来。”
22 With this, he hurried off the stage.^他一边说着，一边匆匆下台。
23 Much to the aristocrat's amusement,^贵族感到非常好笑的是：
24 the gaoler returned a few moments later with a pair of glasses and the usual copy of the letter which he proceeded to read to the prisoner.^一会儿工夫，狱卒重新登台，拿来一副眼镜以及平时使用的那封信，然后为那囚犯念了起来。

--- lesson 23 One man's meat is another man's poison 各有所爱
1 People become quite illogical when they try to decide what can be eaten and what cannot be eaten.^在决定什么能吃而什么不能吃的时候，人们往往变得不合情理。
2 If you lived in the Mediterranean, for instance, you would consider octopus a great delicacy.^比如，如果你住在地中海地区，你会把章鱼视作是美味佳肴，
3 You would not be able to understand why some people find it repulsive.^同时不能理解为什么有人一见章鱼就恶心。
4 On the other hand, your stomach would turn at the idea of frying potatoes in animal fat -- the normally accepted practice in many northern countries.^另一方面，你一想到动物油炸土豆就会反胃，但这在北方许多国家却是一种普通的烹饪方法。
5 The sad truth is that most of us have been brought up to eat certain foods and we stick to them all our lives.^不无遗憾的是， 我们中的大部分人，生来就只吃某几种食品，而且一辈子都这样。
6 No creature has received more praise and abuse than the common garden snail.^没有一种生物所受到的赞美和厌恶会超过花园里常见的蜗牛了。
7 Cooked in wine, snails are a great luxury in various parts of the world.^蜗牛加酒烧煮后，便成了世界上许多地方的一道珍奇的名菜。
8 There are countless people who, ever since their early years, have learned to associate snails with food.^有不计其数的人们从小就知道蜗牛可做菜。
9 My friend, Robert, lives in a country where snails are despised.^但我的朋友罗伯特却住在一个厌恶蜗牛的国家中。
10 As his flat is in a large town, he has no garden of his own.^他住在大城市里的一所公寓里，没有自己的花园。
11 For years he has been asking me to collect snails from my garden and take them to him.^多年来，他一直让我把我园子里的蜗牛收集起来给他捎去。
12 The idea never appealed to me very much,^一开始，他的这一想法没有引起我多大兴趣。
13 but one day, after heavy shower,^后来有一天，一场大雨后，
14 I happened to be walking in my garden when I noticed a huge number of snails taking a stroll on some of my prize plants.^我在花园里漫无目的地散步，突然注意到许许多多蜗牛在我的一些心爱的花木上慢悠悠地蠕动着。
15 Acting on a sudden impulse, I collected several dozen, put them in a paper bag, and took them to Robert.^我一时冲动，逮了几十只，装进一只纸袋里，带着去找罗伯特。
16 Robert was delighted to see me and equally pleased with my little gift.^罗伯特见到我很高兴，对我的薄礼也感到满意。
17 I left the bag in the hall and Robert and I went into the living room where we talked for a couple of hours.^我把纸袋放在门厅里，与罗伯特一起进了起居室，在那里聊了好几个钟头。
18 I had forgotten all about the snails when Robert suddenly said that I must stay to dinner.^我把蜗牛的事已忘得一干二净，罗伯特突然提出一定要我留下来吃晚饭，这才提醒了我。
19 Snails would, of course, be the main dish.^蜗牛当然是道主菜。
20 I did not fancy the idea and I reluctantly followed Robert out of the room.^我并不喜欢这个主意，所以我勉强跟着罗伯特走出了起居室。
21 To our dismay, we saw that there were snails everywhere:^使我们惊愕的是门厅里到处爬满了蜗牛：
22 they had escaped from the paper bag and had taken complete possession of the hall!^它们从纸袋里逃了出来，爬得满厅都是！
23 I have never been able to look at a snail since then.^从那以后，我再也不能看一眼蜗牛了。
--- lesson 24 A skeleton in the cupboard “家丑”
1 We often read in novels how a seemingly respectable person or family has some terrible secret which has been concealed from strangers for years.^在小说中，我们经常读到一个表面上受人尊重的人物或家庭，却有着某种多年不为人所知的骇人听闻的秘密。
2 The English language possesses a vivid saying to describe this sort of situation.^英语中有一个生动的说法来形容这种情况。
3 The terrible secret is called 'a skeleton in the cupboard'.^惊人的秘密称作“柜中骷髅”。
4 At some dramatic moment in the story, the terrible secret becomes known and a reputation is ruined.^在小说的某个戏剧性时刻，可怕的秘密泄漏出来，接着便是某人的声誉扫地。
5 The reader's hair stands on end when he reads in the final pages of the novel that the heroine, a dear old lady who had always been so kind to everybody, had, in her youth, poisoned every one of her five husbands.^当读者读到小说最后几页了解到书中女主人公，那位一向待大家很好的可爱的老妇人年轻时一连毒死了她的5个丈夫时，不禁会毛骨悚然。
6 It is all very well for such things to occur in fiction.^这种事发生在小说中是无可非议的。
7 To varying degrees, we all have secrets which we do not want even our closest friends to learn, but few of us have skeletons in the cupboard.^尽管我们人人都有各种大小秘密。连最亲密的朋友都不愿让他们知道，但我们当中极少有人有柜中骷髅。
8 The only person I know who has a skeleton in the cupboard is George Carlton, and he is very proud of the fact.^我所认识的唯一的在柜中藏骷嵝的人便是乔治.卡尔顿，他甚至引以为自豪。
9 George studied medicine in his youth. Instead of becoming a doctor, however, he became a successful writer of detective stories.^乔治年轻时学过医，然而，他后来没当上医生，却成了一位成功的侦探小说作家。
10 I once spent an uncomfortable weekend which I shall never forget at his house.^有一次，我在他家里度周末，过得很不愉快。这事我永远不会忘记。
11 George showed me to the guestroom which, he said, was rarely used.^乔治把我领进客房，说这间很少使用。
12 He told me to unpack my things and then come down to dinner.^他让我打开行装后下楼吃饭。
13 After I had stacked my shirts and underclothes in two empty drawers,^我将衬衫、内衣放进两个空抽屉里，
14 I decided to hang one of the two suits I had brought with me in the cupboard.^然后我想把随身带来的两套西服中的一套挂到大衣柜里去。
15 I opened the cupboard door and then stood in front of it petrified.^我打开柜门，站在柜门前一下子惊呆了。
16 A skeleton was dangling before my eyes.^一具骷髅悬挂在眼前，
17 The sudden movement of the door made it sway slightly and it gave me the impression that it was about to leap out at me.^由于柜门突然打开，它也随之轻微摇晃起来，让我觉得它好像马上要跳出柜门朝我扑过来似的。
18 Dropping my suit, I dashed downstairs to tell George.^我扔下西服冲下楼去告诉乔治。
19 This was worse than 'a terrible secret'; this was a real skeleton!^这是比“骇人听闻的秘密”更加惊人的东西，这是一具真正的骷髅啊！
20 But George was unsympathetic. 'Oh, that,' he said with a smile as if he were talking about an old friend.^但乔治却无动于衷。“噢，是它呀！他笑着说道，俨然在谈论一位老朋友。
21 'That's Sebastian. You forget that I was a medical student once upon a time.'^“那是塞巴斯蒂安。你忘了我以前是学医的了。”
--- lesson 25 The Cutty Sark “卡蒂萨克”号帆船
1 One of the most famous sailing ships of the nineteenth century, the Cutty Sark, can still be seen at Greenwich.^人们在格林威治仍可看到19世纪最有名的帆船之一“卡蒂萨克”号。
2 She stands on dry land and is visited by thousands of people each year.^它停在陆地上，每年接待成千上万的参观者。
3 She serves as an impressive reminder of the great ships of the past.^它给人们留下深刻的印象，使人们回忆起历史上的巨型帆船，
4 Before they were replaced by steamships, sailing vessels like the Cutty Sark were used to carry tea from China and wool from Australia.^在蒸汽船取代帆船之前。“卡蒂萨克”号之类的帆船被用来从中国运回茶叶，从澳大利亚运回羊毛。
5 The Cutty Sark was one of the fastest sailing ships that has ever been built.^“卡蒂萨克”号是帆船制造史上建造的最快的一艘帆船。
6 The only other ship to match her was the Thermopylae.^唯一可以与之一比高低的是“塞姆皮雷”号帆船。
7 Both these ships set out from Shanghai on June 18th, 1872 on an exciting race to England.^两船于1872年6月18日同时从上海启航驶往英国，途中展开了一场激烈的比赛。
8 This race, which went on for exactly four months, was the last of its kind.^这场比赛持续了整整4个月，是这类比赛中的最后一次，
9 It marked the end of the great tradition of ships with sails and the beginning of a new era.^它标志着帆船伟大传统的结束与一个新纪元的开始。
10 The first of the two ships to reach Java after the race had begun was the Thermopylae, but on the Indian Ocean, the Cutty Sark took the lead.^比赛开始后，“赛姆皮雷”号率先抵达爪哇岛。但在印度洋上，“卡萨萨克”号驶到了前面。
11 It seemed certain that she would be the first ship home, but during the race she had a lot of bad luck.^看来，它首先返抵英国是确信无疑的了，但它却在比赛中连遭厄运。
12 In August, she was struck by a very heavy storm during which her rudder was torn away.^8月份“卡蒂萨克”号遭到一场特大风暴的袭击，失去了一只舵。
13 The Cutty Sark rolled from side to side and it became impossible to steer her.^船身左右摇晃，无法操纵。
14 A temporary rudder was made on board from spare planks and it was fitted with great difficulty.^船员用备用的木板在船上赶制了一只应急用的舵，并克服重重困难将舵安装就位，
15 This greatly reduced the speed of the ship,^这样一来，大大降低了船的航速。
16 for there was a danger that if she travelled too quickly, this rudder would be torn away as well.^因为船不能开得太快，否则就有危险，应急舵也会被刮走。
17 Because of this, the Cutty Sark lost her lead.^因为这个缘故，“卡蒂萨克”号落到了后面。
18 After crossing the Equator, the captain called in at a port to have a new rudder fitted,^跨越赤道后，船长将船停靠在一个港口，在那儿换了一只舵。
19 but by now the Thermopylae was over five hundred miles ahead.^但此时，“赛姆皮雷”号早已在500多英里之遥了。
20 Though the new rudder was fitted at tremendous speed, it was impossible for the Cutty Sark to win.^尽管换装新舵时分秒必争，但“卡蒂萨克”号已经不可能取胜了，
21 She arrived in England a week after the Thermopylae.^它抵达英国时比“塞姆皮雷”号晚了1个星期。
22 Even this was remarkable, considering that she had had so many delays.^但考虑到路上的多次耽搁，
23 There is no doubt that if she had not lost her rudder she would have won the race easily.^这个成绩也已很不容易了。毫无疑问，如果中途没有失去舵， “卡帝萨克”号肯定能在比赛中轻易夺冠。
--- lesson 26 Wanted: a large biscuit tin 征购大饼干筒
1 No one can avoid being influenced by advertisements.^没有人能避免受广告的影响。
2 Much as we may pride ourselves on our good taste, we are no longer free to choose the things we want,^尽管我们可以自夸自己的鉴赏力如何敏锐，但我们已经无法独立自主地选购自己所需的东西了。
3 for advertising exerts a subtle influence on us.^这是因为广告在我们身上施加着一种潜移默化的影响。
4 In their efforts to persuade us to buy this or that product,^做广告的人在力图劝说我们买下这种产品或那种产品之前，
5 advertisers have made a close study of human nature and have classified all our little weaknesses.^已经仔细地研究了人的本性，并把人的弱点进行了分类。
6 Advertisers discovered years ago that all of us love to get something for nothing.^做广告的人们多年前就发现我们大家都喜欢免费得到东西。
7 An advertisement which begins with the magic word FREE can rarely go wrong.^凡是用“免费”这个神奇的词开头的广告很少会失败的。
8 These days, advertisers not only offer free samples, but free cars, free houses, and free trips round the world as well.^目前，做广告的人不仅提供免费样品，而且还提供免费汽车，免费住房，免费周游世界。
9 They devise hundreds of competitions which will enable us to win huge sums of money.^他们设计数以百计的竞赛，竞赛中有人可赢得巨额奖金。
10 Radio and television have made it possible for advertisers to capture the attention of millions of people in this way.^电台、电视使做广告的人可以用这种手段吸引成百万人的注意力。
11 During a radio programme, a company of biscuit manufacturers once asked listeners to bake biscuits and send them to their factory.^有一次，在电台播放的节目里，一个生产饼干的公司请听众烘制饼干送到他们的工厂去。
12 They offered to pay $10 a pound for the biggest biscuit baked by a listener.^他们愿意以每磅10美元的价钱买下由听众烘制的最大的饼干。
13 The response to this competition was tremendous.^这次竞赛在听众中引起极其热烈的反响。
14 Before long, biscuits of all shapes and sizes began arriving at the factory.^不久，形状各异，大小不一的饼干陆续送到工厂。
15 One lady brought in a biscuit on a wheelbarrow.^一位女士用手推车运来一个饼干，
16 It weighed nearly 500 pounds.^重