【英语趣味课堂】成为素食主义者-Being Vegetarian

 Well, I'm going to talk a little bit about why I'm vegetarian¹. Actually, I became vegetarian when I was 8 years old. We did a project at school and I found out that animals are actually killed for us to eat and as an 8 year-old I thought that was rather immoral², so I went home and I told my parents that I didn't want to eat meat anymore so now I eat everything really except for meat and fish and I don't eat things with animals fats in either. I think really I'm a vegetarian now because it's a habit and if I were to eat meat, I think I would be quite ill. My favorite food is probably tofu although I like broccoli³ and I like chocolate as well. Sometimes because I like traveling, I go to places and it's really difficult for vegetarians⁴ because they don't really have anything for vegetarians to eat, so sometimes I just have like, a bowl of rice, or an omelet, or something like that, but when I'm at home, I like to cook for myself, and I like to cook nice vegetarian dishes, and stews⁵ and things like that. My parents didn't mind me becoming a vegetarian, and I think they were really good about it because I don't know many people, who when their child said they wanted to be a vegetarian would except that, so I was really grateful to my parents for being so nice and understanding about it.

学习内容：

project or found out

 

We did a project at school, and I found out that animals are actually killed for us to eat. 

 

A 'project,' in this sense, is a research task where students learn and then demonstrate⁶ their knowledge.  When you 'find something out' you learn or discover it.  Notice the following:

 

Will you have time to get together to work on the project tonight?

The neighborhood soon found out that the company was polluting the water.

immoral

 

As an eight-year-old, I thought killing⁷ animals to be eaten was rather immoral. 

 

Something that is 'immoral' goes against ethical⁸ ideas or principles about what is right and wrong. Notice the following:

 

They are an immoral company that doesn't pay their employees on time.

Most people think that stealing is immoral.

omelet

 

Sometimes, I just have like a bowl of rice or an omelet or something like that. 

 

An 'omelet' is a dish made with eggs and sometimes vegetables or cheese.  Notice the following:

 

My favorite breakfast food is an omelet.

You can choose whatever you want in the omelet, and they make it right there.

mind

 

My parents didn't mind me becoming a vegetarian. 

 

When someone doesn't 'mind' something, it means that it doesn't bother or cause a problem for him.  Notice the following:

 

So your parents don't mind when you play your music loud like this?

Do you mind driving? My eyes are really tired.

grateful

 

I was really grateful to my parents for being so nice and understanding about it. 

 

When you are 'grateful' about something, you feel thankful for it.  Notice the following:

 

He gave me a present to show me how grateful he was.

I'm really grateful for all your help.

1 vegetarian   

n.素食者；adj.素食的

参考例句：

• She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
• I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。

2 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。

3 broccoli   

n.绿菜花，花椰菜

参考例句：

• She grew all the broccoli plants from seed.这些花椰菜都是她用种子培育出来的。
• They think broccoli is only green and cauliflower is only white.他们认为西兰花只有绿色的，而菜花都是白色的。

4 vegetarians   

n.吃素的人( vegetarian的名词复数 )；素食者；素食主义者；食草动物

参考例句：

• Vegetarians are no longer dismissed as cranks. 素食者不再被视为有怪癖的人。
• Vegetarians believe that eating meat is bad karma. 素食者认为吃肉食是造恶业。

5 stews   

n.炖煮的菜肴( stew的名词复数 )；烦恼，焦虑v.炖( stew的第三人称单数 )；煨；思考；担忧

参考例句：

• Corn starch is used as a thickener in stews. 玉米淀粉在炖煮菜肴中被用作增稠剂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Most stews contain meat and vegetables. 炖的食物大多是肉类和蔬菜。 来自辞典例句

6 demonstrate   

vt.论证，证明；示范；显示；vi.示威游行

参考例句：

• Let me demonstrate to you how this machine works.我给你演示一下这台机器的运转情况。
• How can I demonstrate to you that my story is true?我怎样才能向你证明我的话是真实的呢？

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。