1-7 英国人爱喝茶

 

The English Like Tea

 

Foreigners may scoff¹¹, marketing² men may try to seduce³ with alternatives, but the English still carry on doggedly⁴² in their devotion to what they consider to be one of the few good things ever to come from elsewhere.

 

While other people stiffen⁵³ their sinews⁴ with something stronger, the English constitution⁵ merely demands tea. They have imbued⁶ it with almost mystical curative and comforting qualities. In moments of crisis, as a remedy for shock or just at a social gathering⁷ someone will suggest tea. It is probably their only addiction⁸.

 

Tea to the average English man or woman usually means Indian tea. It is served with milk and sugar and the folklore⁹⁷ surrounding its preparation is prodigious¹⁰⁸. First the teapot has to be heated. The tea, once made, has to be left to “stand” and “brew¹¹⁹” -- but not so long that it becomes “stewed¹².” Cold milk is poured into the bottom of each cup and then tea is added either with the addition of water or, more normally, “just as it comes” -- neat and strong.

 

China tea is considered smarter and preparation rituals are similar, but milk is always added after the tea if it is taken at all. A slice of lemon is often substituted. Sugar goes in last.

 

注释：

1.scoff [skCf] vi. 嘲弄，嘲笑，讥笑

2.doggedly [5dC^idli] adv. 坚持不懈地；固执地

3.stiffen [5stifEn] vt. 使顽强；加强；提高

4.sinew [5sinju:] n. 力量；精力

5.constitution [7kCnsti5tju:FEn] n. 体质；素质

6.imbue⁶ [im5bju:] vt. 使充满

7.folklore [5fEuklC:(r)] n. 民俗；民间传说

8.prodigious [prE5didVEs] adj. 巨大的，庞大的

9.brew [bru:] vi. 被冲泡 ； 被煮沸

英国人爱喝茶

 

外国人嘲笑也好，销售商用代用品来诱惑也好，不管怎么样，英国人仍然一如既往地喜爱这种他们视为为数不多的几种上乘外来货之一。

　　别国的人用更烈性的东西来增强体力，但英国人的体质却只需要茶。他们认为，茶具有几乎是神奇的治疗与慰藉功能。在危急的时刻，作为压惊之物，或者聚会时，总会有人提议喝茶。喝茶可能就是他们惟一的嗜好了。

　　对于一般的英国男女来说，茶通常指的是印度茶。喝茶的时候要加牛奶和糖。有关沏茶的民间习俗五花八门。首先茶壶要加热。茶一旦泡了，得先“不动”它，让它“沏”一下，但又不能时间太长把茶焖烂了。要先将凉牛奶倒入每个杯子，然后加上泡好了的茶，有时再添加一些水，而更通常的情况是“就这样”什么也不加，使茶清爽、浓烈。

英国人认为喝中国茶更时髦。沏茶程序差不多，不过，如果要加牛奶的话，一般是在茶沏好后加。常常也以一片柠檬来代替。最后加的是糖。

 

1 scoff   

n.嘲笑，笑柄，愚弄；v.嘲笑，嘲弄，愚弄，狼吞虎咽

参考例句：

• You are not supposed to scoff at religion.你不该嘲弄宗教。
• He was the scoff of the town.他成为全城的笑柄。

2 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

3 seduce   

vt.勾引，诱奸，诱惑，引诱

参考例句：

• She has set out to seduce Stephen.她已经开始勾引斯蒂芬了。
• Clever advertising would seduce more people into smoking.巧妙策划的广告会引诱更多的人吸烟。

4 doggedly   

adv.顽强地，固执地

参考例句：

• He was still doggedly pursuing his studies.他仍然顽强地进行着自己的研究。
• He trudged doggedly on until he reached the flat.他顽强地、步履艰难地走着，一直走回了公寓。

5 stiffen   

v.(使)硬，(使)变挺，(使)变僵硬

参考例句：

• The blood supply to the skin is reduced when muscles stiffen.当肌肉变得僵硬时，皮肤的供血量就减少了。
• I was breathing hard,and my legs were beginning to stiffen.这时我却气吁喘喘地开始感到脚有点僵硬。

6 imbue   

v.灌输(某种强烈的情感或意见)，感染

参考例句：

• He managed to imbue his employees with team spirit.他成功激发起雇员的团队精神。
• Kass is trying to imbue physics into simulated worlds.凯斯想要尝试的就是把物理学引入模拟世界。

7 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

8 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

9 folklore   

n.民间信仰，民间传说，民俗

参考例句：

• Zhuge Liang is a synonym for wisdom in folklore.诸葛亮在民间传说中成了智慧的代名词。
• In Chinese folklore the bat is an emblem of good fortune.在中国的民间传说中蝙蝠是好运的象征。

10 prodigious   

adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的

参考例句：

• This business generates cash in prodigious amounts.这种业务收益丰厚。
• He impressed all who met him with his prodigious memory.他惊人的记忆力让所有见过他的人都印象深刻。

11 brew   

v.酿造，调制

参考例句：

• Let's brew up some more tea.咱们沏些茶吧。
• The policeman dispelled the crowd lest they should brew trouble.警察驱散人群，因恐他们酿祸。

12 stewed   

adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧

参考例句：

• When all birds are shot, the bow will be set aside;when all hares are killed, the hounds will be stewed and eaten -- kick out sb. after his services are no longer needed. 鸟尽弓藏，兔死狗烹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• \"How can we cook in a pan that's stewed your stinking stockings? “染臭袜子的锅，还能煮鸡子吃！还要它？” 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说