美国小学英语教材6:第150课 年轻的乔治·华盛顿(1)

 YOUNG GEORGE WASHINGTON Frederick Trevor Hill 年轻的乔治·华盛顿 弗雷德里克·特雷弗·希尔

We all know of George Washington as the wise and brave commander of the American army in our war for freedom, 我们都知道在自由之战中，乔治·华盛顿是最机智，最英勇的美国将领。

and as the first president of the United States. Both in war and in peace he served our country. 也是首位美国总统，不管是战争还是和平期间，他都为国家效力。

But what was he like as a boy? What did he enjoy doing; what lessons did he learn that helped him become a great leader of his people? 但他小时候是什么样子的？他喜欢干什么；他学习了哪些可以使他成为人民伟大领袖的东西呢？

THE PLANTATION¹ PLAYGROUNDS 种植园操场

George Washington was a country boy. His father, Augustine Washington, owned three large farms or plantations², 乔治是一名乡村男孩，他的父亲奥古斯汀·华盛顿拥有三个大农场或是种植园，

not far distant from each other in Virginia. On one of these plantations, which was later called Wakefield, 位于弗吉尼亚，三个农场距离不远，其中一个种植园，之后也被叫作“韦克菲尔德”，

Washington was born on February 22, 1732. The farmhouse³ which the family then occupied was a queer little two-story structure, 华盛顿生于1732年2月22日，他们一家拥有的农舍是一栋奇怪的两层建筑，

with a steep sloping roof, two big chimneys, four rooms on the ground floor and perhaps as many more in the attic⁴. 坡屋顶很陡，两个大烟囱，一层有四个房间，顶楼或许也是四个。

It was built close to the Potomac River, between two streams known as Bridge's Creek⁵ and Pope's Creek, 这里距离波托马克河很近，矗立在“桥河 ”和“波普河”两条小河流之间，

and all around it lay tobacco and corn fields fringed with forests. In later years this place became very familiar to the boy, 建筑周围种满了烟草和玉米地，周围都是森林，几年过后，小男孩熟悉了这里的环境，

but while he was still a mere⁶ baby, his family moved up the Potomac to another of his father's farms. 在他还是个孩子时，他们一家搬往了波托马克，他父亲的另外一个农场。

Here George lived until he was nearly eight years old. This plantation was then known as Hunting Creek. 乔治在那里生活到差不多8岁，这个种植园之后名为“狩猎溪”。

It was well named, for its creeks⁷ and rivers were fairly alive with fish, and the surrounding woods were full of quail⁸, 这些名字都很贴切，这些小溪和河流充满了鱼，周围的草丛充满了鹌鹑、

grouse⁹, wild turkeys, foxes, and deer. Indeed, the whole country was famous for its game, 松鸡、野火鸡、狐狸和鹿，整个乡村以打猎出名，

and from the Indians who lived in the neighboring forests Washington undoubtedly¹⁰ learned something about shooting and fishing. 印第安人就住在附近的森林中，华盛顿无疑向他们学习了一些开枪和钓鱼的本事。

 

1 plantation   

n.种植园，大农场

参考例句：

• His father-in-law is a plantation manager.他岳父是个种植园经营者。
• The plantation owner has possessed himself of a vast piece of land.这个种植园主把大片土地占为己有。

2 plantations   

n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Soon great plantations, supported by slave labor, made some families very wealthy. 不久之后出现了依靠奴隶劳动的大庄园，使一些家庭成了富豪。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• Winterborne's contract was completed, and the plantations were deserted. 维恩特波恩的合同完成后，那片林地变得荒废了。 来自辞典例句

3 farmhouse   

n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房）

参考例句：

• We fell for the farmhouse as soon as we saw it.我们对那所农舍一见倾心。
• We put up for the night at a farmhouse.我们在一间农舍投宿了一夜。

4 attic   

n.顶楼，屋顶室

参考例句：

• Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。
• What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理？

5 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

6 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

7 creeks   

n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪

参考例句：

• The prospect lies between two creeks. 矿区位于两条溪流之间。 来自辞典例句
• There was the excitement of fishing in country creeks with my grandpa on cloudy days. 有在阴雨天和姥爷一起到乡村河湾钓鱼的喜悦。 来自辞典例句

8 quail   

n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖

参考例句：

• Cowards always quail before the enemy.在敌人面前，胆小鬼们总是畏缩不前的。
• Quail eggs are very high in cholesterol.鹌鹑蛋胆固醇含量高。

9 grouse   

n.松鸡；v.牢骚，诉苦

参考例句：

• They're shooting grouse up on the moors.他们在荒野射猎松鸡。
• If you don't agree with me,please forget my grouse.如果你的看法不同，请不必介意我的牢骚之言。

10 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。