温馨夜读II PART4 7.So Much to Learn

 

[00:00.51]7.So Much to Learn

[00:04.43]It was the last day of final examinations in a large Eastern university. 

[00:10.97]On the steps of one building, a group of engineering seniors huddled¹, discussing the exam due to begin in a few minutes. 

[00:19.46]On their faces was confidence. This was their last exam — then on to commencement and jobs.

[00:28.94]Some talked of jobs they already had; others of jobs they would get. 

[00:33.84]With all this assurance of four years of college, they felt ready and able to conquer the world.

[00:40.26]The approaching exam, they knew, would be a snap. 

[00:43.85]The professor had said they could bring any books or notes they wanted. 

[00:48.10]Requesting only that they did not talk to each other during the test.

[00:53.77]Jubilantly they entered into the classroom. The professor passed out the papers. 

[00:59.86]And smiles broadened as the students noted² there were only five essay-type questions.

[01:06.51]Three hours passed. Then the professor began to collect the papers. 

[01:12.06]The students no longer looked confident. 

[01:15.21]On their faces was a frightened expression. 

[01:18.70]No one spoke³ as, papers in hand, the professor faced the class.

[01:24.58]He surveyed the worried faces before him, then asked: “how many completed all five questions?”

[01:32.64]Not a hand was raised.

[01:35.90]“How many answered four?”

[01:38.63]Still no hands.

[01:42.22]“Three? Two?”

[01:45.60]The students shifted restlessly in their seats.

[01:49.19]“One, then? Certainly somebody finished one.”

[01:53.22]But the class remained silent. The professor put down the papers. “that is exactly what I expected,” he said.

[02:04.54]“I just want to impress upon you that, even though you have completed four years of engineering. 

[02:11.62]There are still many things about the subject you don’t know. 

[02:15.78]These questions you could not answer are relatively⁴ common in everyday practice.” 

[02:21.57]Then, smiling, he added: “you will all pass this course, but remember — even though you are now college graduates, your education has just begun.”

[02:33.17]The years have obscured the name of this professor, but not the lesson he taught.

1 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。