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1、大学英语精读第三版第二册Unit 1The dinner party晚宴I first heard this tale in India, where is told as if true -though any naturalist would know it couldnt be. Later someone told me that the story appeared in a magazine shortly before the First Wor ld War. That magazine story, and the person who wrote it, I have ne
2、ve r been able to track down.我最初听到这个故事是在印度，那儿的人们今天讲起它来仍好像实有其事似的尽管任何一位博物学家都知道这不可能是真的。后来有人告诉我，在第一次世界大战之后不久就出现在一本杂志上。但登在杂志上的那篇故事, 以及写那篇故事的人，我却一直未能找到。The country is India. A colonial official and his wife are giving a l arge dinner party. They are seated with their guests -officers and their wives, and
3、a visiting American naturalist -in their spacious dining room, which has a bare marble floor, open r afters and wide glass doors opening onto a veranda.故事发生在印度。某殖民官员和他的夫人举行盛行的晚宴。跟他们一起就座的客人有军官和他人的夫人，另外还有一位来访的美国博物学家筵席设在他们家宽敞的餐室里，室内大理石地板上没有铺地毯；屋顶明椽裸露；宽大的玻璃门外便是阳台。A spirited discussion springs up between
4、 a young girl who says that w omen have outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a major who says that they havent.席间，一位年轻的女士同一位少校展开了热烈的讨论。年轻的女士认为，妇女已经有所进步，不再像过去那样一见到老鼠就吓得跳到椅子上；少校则不以为然A womans reaction in any crisis, the major says, is to scream. An d while a man may feel like
5、 it, he has that ounce more of control tha n a woman has. And that last ounce is what really counts.“女人一遇到危急情况，”少校说，反应便是尖叫。而男人虽然也可能想叫，但比起女人来，自制力却略胜一筹。这多出来的一点自制力正是真正起作用的东西。”The American does not join in the argument but watches the other gues ts. As he looks, he sees a strange expression come over th
6、e face of t he hostess. She is staring straight ahead, her muscles contracting sl ightly. She motions to the native boy standing behind her chair and w hispers something to him. The boys eyes widen: he quickly leaves the room.那个美国人没有参加这场争论，他只是注视着在座的其他客人。在他这样观察时，他发现女主人的脸上显出一种奇异的表情。她两眼盯着正前方，脸部肌肉在微微抽搐。
7、她向站在座椅后面的印度男仆做了个手势，对他耳语了几句。男仆两眼睁得大大的，迅速地离开了餐室。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 on ly one thing -bait for a snake. He realizes there m
8、ust 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 f ourth the servants are waiting to serve the next course. There is onl y one place left - under the table.在座的客人中，除了那位美国人以外论证也没有注意到这一幕，也没有看到那个男仆把一碗牛奶放在紧靠门边
9、的阳台上。那个美国人突然醒悟过来。在印度， 碗中的牛奶只有一个意思引蛇的诱饵。他意识到餐室里一定有条眼镜蛇。 他意识到餐室里一定有条眼镜蛇。他抬头看了看屋顶上的椽子那是最可能 有蛇藏身的地方但那上面空荡荡的。室内的三个角落里也是空的，而在第 四个角落里，仆人们正在等着下一道菜。这样，剩下的就只有一个地方了餐桌 下面。His first impulse is to jump back and warn the others, but he kno ws the commotion would frighten the cobra into striking. He speaks qu ickly
10、, the tone of his voice so commanding that it silences everyone.I want to know just what control everyone at this table has. I w ill count three hundred - thats five minutes -and not one of you is to move a muscle. Those who move will forfeit50 rupees. Ready?The 20 people sit like stone images while
11、 he counts. He is saying .two hundred and eighty. when, out of the corner of his eye, he se es the cobra emerge and make for the bowl of milk. Screams ring out a s he jumps to slam the veranda doors safely shut.他首先想到的是往后一跳，并向其他人发警告。但他知道这样会引起骚乱，致使眼镜索受惊咬人。于是他很快讲了一通话，其语气非常威严，竟使所有的人安静了下来。我想了解一下在座的诸位到底有多
12、大的克制能力，我数三百下也就五分钟你们谁都不许动一动。动者将罚款五十卢比。准备好！”在他数数的过程中，那 20 个人像一尊尊石雕一样端坐在那儿。当他数到“280”时，突然从眼然处看到那条眼镜蛇钻了出来，向那碗牛奶爬去。在他跳起来把通往阳台的门全都砰砰地牢牢关上时，室内响起了一片尖叫声。You were right, Major! the host exclaims. A man has just shown u s an example of perfect self-control.“你刚才说得很对，少校！”男主人大声说。一个男子刚刚为我们显示了从容不迫、镇定自若的范例。”Just a mi
13、nute, the American says, turning to his hostess. Mrs. Wyn nes, how did you know that cobra was in the room?“且慢”，那位美国人一边说着一边转向女主人。温兹太太，你怎么知道那条眼镜蛇是在屋子里呢？”A faint smile lights up the womans face as she replies: Because it was crawling across my foot.。女主人的脸上闪现出一丝淡淡的微笑，回答说：“因为它当时正从我的脚背上爬过去。”1.她砰地关上门，一声不吭
14、地走了，他们之间那场争执就此结束。Their argument ended when she slammed the door and left without a wor d.2. 出席晚宴的客人对那个美国人威严的语气感到有点意外。The guests at the dinner party were slightly surprised at the command ing tone of the American.3. 约翰尼已长大成熟，不再害怕独自呆在家里了。Johnny has outgrown the fear of staying at home alone.4. 当全部乘客都向
15、出口处 (exit) 走去时，他却独自留在座位上，好像不愿意离开这架飞机似的。While all the other passengers made for the exit, he alone remained i n his seat as if unwilling to leave the plane.5. 这封信必须交给威尔逊博士本人。The letter is to be handed to Dr. Wilson himself.6. 南希虽然很想参加辩论，但腼腆得不敢开口。While she felt like joining in the argument, Nancy was
16、too shy to ope n her mouth.7. 你觉得什么时候最有可能在家里找到他？What do you think is the likeliest time to find him at home?8. 猎人一看见有只狐狸从树丛中出现并向他设下 (lay) 的陷阱 (trap) 方向跑去，脸上顿时闪出了兴奋的表情。The hunters face lit up with excitement as soon as he saw a fox emerg e from among the bushes and run in the direction of / make for the tr ap he had
