1、Unit 1The idea of becoming a writer had come to me off and on since my childhood in Belleville, but it wasnt until my third year in high school that the possibility took hold.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，这想法才有了实现的可能。Lying on the sofa, I finally faced up to the unwelcome task, took
2、the list out of my notebook, and scanned it. The topic on which my eye stopped was “The Art of Eating Spaghetti.”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看。我的目光落在“吃意大利细面条的艺术”这个题目上。When I finished it the night was half gone and there was no time left to compose a proper, respectable essay for Mr. Fleagle
3、.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。I did my best to avoid showing pleasure, but what I was feeling was pure delight at this demonstration that my words had the power to make people laugh.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。Unit 2“I hadnt seen him more than once or twice a year over the past
4、 25 or 30 years because I moved away from the old neighborhood and you kind of lose touch even though you never forget. He was a great guy.”近 25 到 30 年来，我跟他一年只见一两次面，因为我从原来住的老街坊搬了出来，联系自然就少了，虽说你一直放在心上。他在的时候可真是个大好人。 ”But I realized that Old Ed was stillon his mind when he spoke again, almost more to hi
5、mself than to me: “I should have kept in touch. Yes,” he repeated, “I should have kept in touch. ”可我知道他还在想着老埃德。他又开口时，与其说是跟我说话，还不如说是自言自语：“我真该一直保持联系。真的， ”他重复道， “我真该一直保持联系。 ”when it says here that there arent many of us left, thatsabsolutely right. Every time I go to a class reunion, for example, there
6、 are fewer and fewer still around. ”信里说我们这些人当中留下的不多了，说得一点不错。比如说， 每次我去参加老同学聚会，来的人总是越来越少。 ”Your friendship over the years has meant an awful lot to me, more than I can say be cause I m not good at saying things like that.你多年的友谊对我非常重要，远比我能说出来的重要得多，因为我不擅长说这样的话。He looked sort of sorrowful, or as if he we
7、re trying to see something in the distance. “I guess I should have written it sooner.”他神情有点悲伤，似乎想看清远处什么东西。 “我想我真该早些写这封信。Unit 3Some people would like to stop these changes and go back to what they see as a purer and simpler age.有人想中止这种种变化，回到那个他们认为更纯洁更朴素的时代。Even if all government money for research we
8、re cut off (and the present government is doing its best), the force of competition would stillbring about advances in technology.即使所有用于研究的政府资金都被取消 ( 现政府最擅此事 ) ，竞争的力量仍将继续带来技术的发展。What can be done to harness this interest and give the public the scientific background it needs to make informed decision
9、s on subjects like acid rain, the greenhouse effect, nuclear weapons, and genetic engineering?怎么样才能利用这种兴趣，向公众提供所需要的科学知识，以便其在酸雨、温室效应、核武器以及基因工程等问题上作出明达的决定呢 ?There are some very good science programmes on TV, but others present scientific wonders simply as magic, without explaining them or showing how
10、theyfit into the framework of scientific ideas.电视上有一些相当优秀的科学节目，但其他的节目把科学奇迹简单地作为魔术播出，既不加以说明，也不展现它们与科学观念的整体框架的关系。The world today is filled with dangers,hencethe sick joke that the reason we have not been contactedby an alien civilization is that civilizations tend to destroy themselves when they reach
11、 our stage.当今世界充满危险，因此就有了那个令人毛骨悚然的玩笑，说我们尚未受到外星文明造访的原因在于：但凡文明发展到我们目前的程度，它们往往就自我毁灭了。Unit 4Form them the dream is that talent and hard work can take you from log cabin to White House对于他们，美国梦的含义就是才能与勤劳让你从小木屋走向白宫.I managed to work out some kind of small weekly pay, and each day Tony cleaned up the yard a
12、nd took care of any little tasks.我设法凑了一小笔微薄的周薪，就这样托尼每天清扫院子，有什么零活，他都干了。He had learned to read the millionths of an inch on the micrometer and to shape the grinding wheel with an instrument set with a diamond.他学会了在千分尺上辨识一百万分之一英寸，会用镶嵌着金刚石的工具制作砂轮。He grew in stature in my mind.In the end, I think he stoo
13、d as tall, and as proud, as the greatest American industrialists.最后，我觉得他就和美国那些最大的实业家样高大、自豪。But, after all, the balance sheets were exactly the same. The only difference was where you put the decimal point.但究其实，两者的资产负债表完全样。惟的不同是你把小数点点在什么地方。Unit 6Taking a book off the shelf he soon found himself absor
14、bed, not by the words of the book, but by the notes penciled in the margin.他从书架上取下本书，很快便被吸引住了，不是被书的内容，而是被铅笔写的眉批。A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her golden hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers.位年轻的姑娘向我走来，她身材颀长纤细。一头卷曲的金发披在秀美的耳后；眼睛碧蓝
15、，如花似玉。This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful .这不会是爱情，但将是某种珍贵的、或许比爱情更美妙的东西，一种我曾经感激，并将永远感激的友情。Its not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell s wisdom. The true nature of a heart is seen initsresponse to the unattractive.梅奈尔小姐的智慧不难理解，也令人称奇。心灵的本质是从其对不美的事物的态度中反映出来的。“Tell me whom you love,“ Houssaye wrote, “and I will tell you who you are.”“告诉我你所爱者是谁， ”何赛写道， “我就知道你是什么样的人。 ”
