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英语周刊第19期
在线英语听力室 (1970-01-01)  字体: [ ]  
本 期 目 录 :

1.英语听力-经典教程 最新精选
2.美文欣赏-美的力量
3.想笑就笑-一分一块钱
4.童话故事-Cinderella
5.英文歌曲-All about loving you 全心爱你
6.科普知识-朝中奖,夕死可矣
7.体育英语-奥运英语情景对话:如何面对失败
8.名人名言-幽默Humor[英语名人名言]
9.英文演讲-President's Radio Address
10.学习技巧-口语学习第一课

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英语周刊提醒您:
英语听力-经典教程 最新精选

经典教程

疯狂英语

沛沛英语  

自考英语

美国谈判技巧

突破对话跟我学

最新精选

美国故事

雅思词汇真经

背诵为王第一册 

背诵为王第二册

背诵为王第三册


美文欣赏-美的力量

               The Power of Beauty

                 美的力量

1. One of the most successful, influential and 1)beloved women in American history, Eleanor Roosevelt once said that she had one regret: she wished she had been prettier. Who hasn't felt the same way? We are all too 2)aware of our 3)physical 4)imperfections. To overcome them, we spend 5)billions upon billions of dollars every year-on 6)cosmetics, 7)diet products, fashion, and 8)plastic surgery.

身为美国史上最成功、最有影响力且最受人喜爱的女性之一的罗斯福夫人曾说她有一个遗憾:她希望自己长得更漂亮。谁没有过同样的想法呢?我们都强烈感觉到自己身体的缺陷。为了克服缺陷,我们每年都要花费几十亿美元--在化妆品、减肥食品、流行时尚与整容手术上。

1.1) beloved (a.) 受人喜爱的 2) aware (a.) 明白的 3) physical (a.) 身体的 4) imperfection (n.) 不完美,瑕疵 5) billion (n.) 十亿 6) cosmetics (n.) 化妆品 7) diet (n.) (特种)饮食 8) plastic surgery (n.) 整形外科) 兴奋的

2. Why do we care so much about how we look? Because it matters. Because beauty is powerful. Because even when we learn to value people mostly for being kind and wise and funny, we are still moved by beauty. No matter how much we argue against it or pretend to be 1)immune, beauty 2)exerts its power over us. There is simply no escape.

我们如此这么在意自己的外貌?因为它很重要。因为美的力量很大。因为即使我们学着基本上去看重仁慈、智能、风趣的人,但我们仍会受到美的感动。无论我们多么用力辩驳,或假装对它免疫,美仍然对我们产生影响。根本无法逃避。

2.1) immune (a.) 免疫的 2) exert (v.) 发挥出

3. Aristotle said, "Beauty is a greater 1)recommendation than any letter of introduction." It's not fair, but it's true. We simply treat beautiful people better than we do others. 2)Attach a photograph of a beautiful author to an essay, and people will think that it is more creative and more 3)intelligently written than exactly the same 4)essay 5)accompanied by the photo of a 6)homely author.

亚里斯多德说:「美是比任何介绍信都要有用的推荐函。」这并不公平,但却是事实。我们就是会对美丽的人比较好。把一位美丽作家的照片贴在作品上,读者就会认为这篇文章较有创意,写得更有智能。完全相同的文章配上相貌平凡的作家照片,评价就会较低。

3.1) recommendation (n.) 推荐 2) attach (v.) 贴上,附上 3) intelligently (adv.) 聪明地 4) essay (n.) 论文,小品文 5) accompany (v.) 伴随 6) homely (a.) 平凡的

4. As children, beautiful people are more likely to become favorites with parents and teachers. Later, they're more likely to get good jobs and 1)promotions. Beautiful lawyers get paid more than their less attractive 2)colleagues. Good-looking 3)criminals are more likely to win the 4)sympathy of judges and 5)juries. Attractive people 6)in need are more likely to receive help from strangers.

漂亮的小孩比较容易获得父母与老师的宠爱。长大后,他们比较容易找到好工作与获得升迁。漂亮的律师赚的钱比卖相较差的同事多。长得好的罪犯比较容易获得法官与陪审团的同情。有吸引力的人在穷困时,获得陌生人帮助的机率也比较大。

4.1)promotion (n.) 升迁 2) colleague (n.) 同事 3) criminal (n.) 罪犯 4) sympathy (n.) 同情 5) jury (n.) 陪审团 6) in need (a.) 穷困的,有需要的

5. In 1)bodily form, 2)symmetry is beauty. One thing that makes men and women attractive to each other is having a 3)symmetrical body. Men with an 4)alluring, symmetrical 5)figure begin having sex at an earlier age, have sex earlier in relationships and have two to three times as many sex partners as their 6)asymmetrical 7)pals. It doesn't seem fair-it isn't-but symmetrical men also make better lovers. In her book, 8)Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty, Harvard 9)psychologist Nancy Etcoff describes research which shows that the best way to predict whether or not a woman will have an orgasm during sex is to look at the symmetry of her partner. This turns out to be a better 10)predictor "than the couple's feeling of love, the 11)investment of either party in the relationship, the male's 12)potential 13)earnings, or the level of sexual experience or frequency of lovemaking of the couple."

在体型方面,对称就是美。男女互相吸引的因素之一,就是拥有匀称的身材。身材迷人匀称的男人发生第一次性经验的年龄比较早,每谈一次恋爱也比较早发生性行为,而且性伴侣的人数是身材不匀称者的两到三倍。似乎不太公平--的确是不公平--但身材匀称的男人也是比较好的情人。哈佛心理学家南茜艾特考夫在她的著作《美者生存:美的科学》中介绍一些研究,显示如果要预测女性是否会有性高潮,最可靠的指针是看她伴侣的身材是否匀称。结果发现这项指针的可靠性甚至超过「这对情侣恋爱的感觉、双方的感情投入、男方潜在的赚钱能力、双方性经验的水平或做爱的频率」。

5. 1) bodily (a.) 身体的 2) symmetry (n.) 对称 3) symmetrical (a.) 对称的 4) alluring (a.) 诱人的 5) figure (n.) 身材 6) asymmetrical (a.) 不对称的 7) pal (n.) 伙伴 8) survival (n.) 生存 9) psychologist (n.) 心理学家 10) predictor (n.) 预测工具 11) investment (n.) 投资 12) potential (a.) 潜在的

6. Symmetrical women have it better, too. Surprisingly, women's symmetry 1)varies throughout each month. As 2)indicated by changes in the 3)measurements of their ears, fingers and other body parts, women become most symmetrical-and most attractive-when they most need to be: on the day when they ovulate.

身材匀称的女人也比较有利。令人惊讶的是,女人的匀称每一个月从头到尾都会变化。测量女人耳朵、手指与身体其它部位的尺寸变化显示:女人在最需要匀称时会变得最匀称--因此最有吸引力:就是排卵那一天。

6.1) vary (v.) 变化 2) indicate (v.) 显示 3) measurement (n.) 测量

7. Many of the physical 1)features that make us attractive to one another are, in fact, signals of our health and 2)fertility. For thousands of years, women have been using 3)makeup to try to look like teenagers. Why? Men everywhere find young, 4)fertile women to be the most sexually attractive.

许多使我们对他人具有吸引力的身体特征,其实是表现健康与生育能力的征兆。数千年来,女性一直用化妆品来使自己看起来像少女。为什么?因为世界各地的男人都觉得年轻而有生育能力的女性最具有性吸引力。

7. 1)feature (n.) 特征 2) fertility (n.) 生育能力 3) makeup (n.) 化妆品 4) fertile (a.) 有生育能力的

8. Men have a natural preference for women with youthfully narrow 1)waists and full 2)hips. Psychologist Devendra Singh tested men in 18 different cultures for their response to women of varying shapes. 3)Overwhelmingly they found women with a waist-to-hip 4)ratio of 0.7 as the most attractive. Marilyn Monroe was shaped just so. Another 1950s beauty, Audrey Hepburn, had a much 5)slimmer figure that 6)resembles the 7)skinny, 8)supermodel look that has recently been fashionable in the United States. But Hepburn's waist-to-hip ratio was exactly 0.7, just like Monroe's. It is no 9)coincidence that scientists have discovered that women with such a waist-to-hip ratio are the most fertile. By following their 10)instinct, men are naturally attracted to the most fertile women around.

男人很自然会偏好有青春细腰与丰臀的女人。心理学家戴维卓席恩对十八种不同文化中的男性进行测试,看他们对各种身材的女性有何反应。绝大多数的男人都认为腰与臀比率是0.7的女人最迷人。玛丽莲梦露的身材正是如此。1950年代另一位美女奥黛莉赫本的身材苗条得多,很像近年来美国流行的纤细、超级名模造型。但赫本的腰臀比也是0.7,跟玛丽莲梦露一样。科学家发现具有这种腰臀比的女性生育能力最强,这绝非巧合。男性听从本能,自然就会被吸引到最有生育力的女性身旁。

8.1) waist (n.) 腰 2) hip (n.) 臀部 3) overwhelmingly (adv.) 压倒性地 4) ratio (n.) 比例 5) slim (a.) 苗条的 6) resemble (v.) 类似 7) skinny (a.) 瘦的 8) supermodel (n.) 超级名模 9) coincidence (n.) 巧合 10) instinct (n.) 本能

9. These days, in addition to cosmetics, women and men both rely on 1)advanced technology to 2)enhance their beauty. 3)Wrinkles can be 4)stretched away with a face lift. Special 5)injections can make lips look attractively young and 6)plump. 7)Countless 8)creams and 9)chemicals promise clear, 10)glowing skin for men and women. Besides being a sign of youth, good skin also means that the person is likely to be healthy and free from 11)parasites.

除了化妆品之外,最近的男女都仰赖先进的科技来使自己变得更美。拉皮可以拉掉皱纹,特殊的注射可以使嘴唇年轻饱满、更加迷人。无数种面霜与化学药品保证男男女女都能拥有晶莹光润的肌肤。除了是年轻的象征之外,美丽的肌肤也代表这个人可能很健康,没有寄生虫。

9.1) advanced (a.) 先进的 2) enhance (v.) 促进 3) wrinkle (n.) 皱纹 4) stretch (v.) 绷紧 5) injection (n.) 注射 6) plump (a.) 丰满的 7) countless (a.) 数不尽的 8) cream (n.) 乳霜 9) chemical (n.) 化学药物 10) glow (v.) 发亮 11) parasite (n.) 寄生虫

10. Still, it's possible to go too far. At the end of the 19th century, some women even had 1)ribs 2)removed so they'd have that perfect narrow waist. Some people today have poison injected in the face to get rid of wrinkles, even though this means that their 3)facial muscles will be 4)paralyzed, unable to express certain 5)emotions.

不过,还是有可能做得太过火。十九世纪末,有些女人甚至拿掉一些肋骨,只为拥有完美的柳腰。今天有些人在脸上注射毒药来消除皱纹,即使脸部肌肉会因此瘫痪而做不出某些表情,也在所不惜。

10.1) rib (n.) 肋骨 2) remove (v.) 除去 3) facial (a.) 面部的 4) paralyze (v.) 瘫痪 5) emotion (n.) 情感

11. Our 1)sensitivity to physical beauty is not something we can control at will. We are born with it. Experiments 2)conducted by psychologist Judith H. Langlois showed that even small 3)infants prefer to look at attractive faces. Before they have met a single supermodel, before they have watched a single TV show, before they have opened up a single fashion magazine, they are drawn to the same faces which 4)adults have judged to be attractive.

我们对外在美的敏感,不是可以控制自如的。我们天生就这么敏感。心理学家朱迪丝蓝洛斯的实验显示,就连小婴儿也喜欢看漂亮的脸。他们从来没有见过超级名模、没看过电视节目,也没翻开过时尚杂志,却已经受到大人也认为有魅力的脸庞所吸引。

11. 1)sensitivity (n.) 敏感度 2) conduct (v.) 进行 3) infant (n.) 婴儿 4) adult (n.) 成年人

12. There are more important things in life than beauty. But as Etcoff says, "We have to understand beauty, or we will always be 1)enslaved by it." If you aim to be wise and kind and funny, it doesn't mean that you can't also try your best to look beautiful. There's no reason to feel guilty about being moved by beauty's power. It moves us all.

人生中有比美丽更重要的事,但就如艾特考夫所说:「我们必须了解美,否则我们永远都会是它的奴隶。」如果你的目标是要聪明、仁慈又风趣,这并不代表你就不能尽力让自己变得漂亮。被美的力量感动,并不需要有罪恶感,因为所有的人都受它感动。

                             更多美文


想笑就笑-一分一块钱

  A professor was giving a big test one day to his students. He handed out all of the tests and went back to his desk to wait.

  一天,教授正在给学生们监考。他发下试卷,然后回到讲台前等待。

  Once the test was over the students all handed the tests back in. The professor noticed that one of the students had attached a $100 bill to his test with a note saying "A dollar per point."

  考试结束了,学生们纷纷交回试卷。教授发现一张试卷上别着一张百元钞票,还有一张纸条写着:"一分一块钱。"

  The next class the professor handed the tests back out. This student got back his test and $64 change.

  第二堂课,教授把试卷都发回学生们手中。其中一个学生不但得到了试卷还得到64块钱的找零。

   更多内容


童话故事-Cinderella

  ONCE there was a gentleman1 who married, for his second wife, the proudest and most haughty woman that was ever seen. She had, by a former husband, two daughters of her own humor, who were, indeed, exactly like her in all things. He had likewise, by another wife, a young daughter, but of unparalleled goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her mother,2 who was the best creature in the world.

  No sooner were the ceremonies of the wedding over but the stepmother3 began to show herself in her true colors. She could not bear the good qualities of this pretty girl, and the less because they made her own daughters appear the more odious. She employed her in the meanest work of the house:4 she scoured the dishes, tables, etc., and scrubbed madam's chamber, and those of misses, her daughters; she lay up in a sorry garret,5 upon a wretched straw bed,6 while her sisters lay in fine rooms, with floors all inlaid,7 upon beds of the very newest fashion, and where they had looking-glasses8 so large that they might see themselves at their full length from head to foot.

  The poor girl bore all patiently, and dared not tell her father,9 who would have rattled her off; for his wife governed him entirely. When she had done her work, she used to go into the chimney-corner, and sit down among cinders and ashes,10 which made her commonly be called Cinderwench;11 but the youngest, who was not so rude and uncivil as the eldest, called her Cinderella.12 However, Cinderella, notwithstanding her mean apparel, was a hundred times handsomer than her sisters,13 though they were always dressed very richly.

  It happened that the King's son14 gave a ball,15 and invited all persons of fashion to it. Our young misses were also invited, for they cut a very grand figure among the quality. They were mightily delighted at this invitation, and wonderfully busy in choosing out such gowns, petticoats, and head-clothes16 as might become them. This was a new trouble to Cinderella; for it was she who ironed her sisters' linen, and plaited their ruffles;17 they talked all day long of nothing but how they should be dressed.

  "For my part," said the eldest, "I will wear my red18 velvet suit with French trimming."

  "And I," said the youngest, "shall have my usual petticoat; but then, to make amends for that, I will put on my gold-flowered manteau,19 and my diamond stomacher,20 which is far from being the most ordinary one in the world."

  They sent for the best hairdresser they could get to make up their head-dresses and adjust their double pinners, and they had their red brushes and patches from Mademoiselle de la Poche.21

  Cinderella was likewise called up to them to be consulted in all these matters, for she had excellent notions,22 and advised them always for the best, nay, and offered her services to dress their heads, which they were very willing she should do. As she was doing this, they said to her:

  "Cinderella, would you not be glad to go to the ball?"

  "Alas!" said she, "you only jeer me; it is not for such as I am to go thither."

  "Thou art in the right of it," replied they; "it would make the people laugh to see a Cinderwench at a ball."

  Anyone but Cinderella would have dressed their heads awry, but she was very good, and dressed them perfectly well. The sisters were almost two days without eating,23 so much were they transported with joy. They broke above a dozen laces24 in trying to be laced up close, that they might have a fine slender shape, and they were continually at their looking-glass. At last the happy day came; they went to Court, and Cinderella followed them with her eyes as long as she could, and when she had lost sight of them, she fell a-crying.25

  Her godmother,26 who saw her all in tears, asked her what was the matter.

  "I wish I could -- I wish I could -- "; she was not able to speak the rest, being interrupted by her tears and sobbing.

  This godmother of hers, who was a fairy,27 said to her, "Thou wishest thou couldst go to the ball; is it not so?"

  "Yes," cried Cinderella, with a great sigh.

  "Well," said her godmother, "be but a good girl,28 and I will contrive that thou shalt go." Then she took her into her chamber, and said to her, "Run into the garden, and bring me a pumpkin."29

  Cinderella went immediately to gather the finest she could get, and brought it to her godmother, not being able to imagine how this pumpkin could make her go to the ball. Her godmother scooped out all the inside of it, having left nothing but the rind; which done, she struck it with her wand,30 and the pumpkin was instantly turned into a fine coach,31 gilded all over with gold.32

  She then went to look into her mouse-trap, where she found six mice,33 all alive, and ordered Cinderella to lift up a little the trapdoor, when, giving each mouse, as it went out, a little tap with her wand, the mouse was that moment turned into a fine horse, which altogether made a very fine set of six horses of a beautiful mouse-colored dapple-gray. Being at a loss for a coachman, the godmother could not think of what to use.

  "I will go and see," said Cinderella, "if there is never a rat34 in the rat-trap -- we may make a coachman35 of him."

  "Thou art in the right," replied her godmother; "go and look."

  Cinderella brought the trap to her, and in it there were three huge rats. The fairy made choice of one of the three which had the largest beard, and, having touched him with her wand, he was turned into a fat, jolly coachman, who had the smartest whiskers eyes ever beheld. After that, she said to Cinderella:

  "Go again into the garden, and you will find six lizards36 behind the watering-pot, bring them to me."

  She had no sooner done so but her godmother turned them into six37 footmen, who skipped up immediately behind the coach, with their liveries38 all bedaubed with gold and silver, and clung as close behind each other as if they had done nothing else their whole lives. The Fairy then said to Cinderella:

  "Well, you see here an equipage39 fit to go to the ball with; are you not pleased with it?"

  "Oh! yes," cried she; "but must I go thither as I am, in these nasty rags?"

  Her godmother only just touched her with her wand, and, at the same instant, her clothes were turned into cloth of gold and silver, all beset with jewels. This done, she gave her a pair of glass slippers,40 the prettiest in the whole world. Being thus decked out, she got up into her coach; but her godmother, above all things, commanded her not to stay till after midnight,41 telling her, at the same time, that if she stayed one moment longer, the coach would be a pumpkin again, her horses mice, her coachman a rat, her footmen lizards, and her clothes become just as they were before.

  She promised42 her godmother she would not fail of leaving the ball before midnight; and then away she drives, scarce able to contain herself for joy. The King's son who was told that a great princess,43 whom nobody knew, was come, ran out to receive her; he gave her his hand as she alighted out of the coach, and led her into the ball, among all the company. There was immediately a profound silence,44 they left off dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so attentive was everyone to contemplate the singular beauties of the unknown new-comer. Nothing was then heard but a confused noise of:

  "Ha! how handsome she is! Ha! how handsome she is!"

  The King45 himself, old as he was, could not help watching her, and telling the Queen softly that it was a long time since he had seen so beautiful and lovely a creature.

  All the ladies were busied in considering her clothes and headdress, that they might have some made next day after the same pattern, provided they could meet with such fine material and as able hands to make them.

  The King's son conducted her to the most honorable seat, and afterward took her out to dance with him; she danced so very gracefully46 that they all more and more admired her. A fine collation47 was served up, whereof the young prince ate not a morsel,48 so intently was he busied in gazing on her.

  She went and sat down by her sisters, showing them a thousand civilities,49 giving them part of the oranges and citrons50 which the Prince had presented her with, which very much surprised them, for they did not know her. While Cinderella was thus amusing her sisters, she heard the clock strike eleven and three-quarters,51 whereupon she immediately made a courtesy to the company and hasted away as fast as she could.

  When she got home she ran to seek out her godmother, and, after having thanked her,52 she said she could not but heartily wish she might go next day to the ball, because the King's son had desired her.

  As she was eagerly telling her godmother whatever had passed at the ball, her two sisters knocked at the door, which Cinderella ran and opened.

  "How long you have stayed!" cried she, gaping, rubbing her eyes and stretching herself as if she had been just waked out of her sleep; she had not, however, any manner of inclination to sleep since they went from home.

  "If thou hadst been at the ball," said one of her sisters, "thou wouldst not have been tired with it. There came thither the finest princess, the most beautiful ever was seen with mortal eyes; she showed us a thousand civilities, and gave us oranges and citrons."

  Cinderella seemed very indifferent in the matter; indeed, she asked them the name of that princess; but they told her they did not know it, and that the King's son was very uneasy on her account and would give all the world to know who she was. At this Cinderella, smiling, replied:

  "She must, then, be very beautiful indeed; how happy you have been! Could not I see her? Ah! dear Miss Charlotte,53 do lend me your yellow suit of clothes which you wear every day."54

  "Ay, to be sure!" cried Miss Charlotte; "lend my clothes to such a dirty Cinderwench as thou art! I should be a fool."

  Cinderella, indeed, expected well such answer, and was very glad of the refusal; for she would have been sadly put to it if her sister had lent her what she asked for jestingly.

  The next day the two sisters were at the ball, and so was Cinderella, but dressed more magnificently than before. The King's son was always by her, and never ceased his compliments and kind speeches to her; to whom all this was so far from being tiresome that she quite forgot55 what her godmother had recommended to her; so that she, at last, counted the clock striking twelve when she took it to be no more than eleven; she then rose up and fled, as nimble as a deer.56 The Prince followed, but could not overtake her. She left behind one of her glass slippers, which the Prince took up most carefully. She got home but quite out of breath, and in her nasty old clothes, having nothing left her of all her finery but one of the little slippers, fellow to that she dropped. The guards at the palace gate were asked if they had not seen a princess go out.

  They said they had seen nobody go out but a young girl, very meanly dressed, and who had more the air of a poor country wench than a gentlewoman.

  When the two sisters returned from the ball Cinderella asked them if they had been well diverted, and if the fine lady had been there.

  They told her, yes, but that she hurried away immediately when it struck twelve, and with so much haste that she dropped one of her little glass slippers, the prettiest in the world, which the King's son had taken up; that he had done nothing but look at her all the time at the ball, and that most certainly he was very much in love with the beautiful person who owned the glass slipper.

  What they said was very true; for a few days after the King's son caused it to be proclaimed, by sound of trumpet, that he would marry her whose foot the slipper would just fit. They whom he employed began to try it upon the princesses, then the duchesses and all the Court, but in vain; it was brought to the two sisters, who did all they possibly could57 to thrust their foot into the slipper, but they could not effect it. Cinderella, who saw all this, and knew her slipper, said to them, laughing:

  "Let me see if it will not fit me."

  Her sisters burst out a-laughing, and began to banter her. The gentleman who was sent to try the slipper looked earnestly at Cinderella, and, finding her very handsome, said:

  It was but just that she should try, and that he had orders to let everyone make trial.

  He obliged Cinderella to sit down, and, putting the slipper to her foot, he found it went on very easily, and fitted her as if it had been made of wax.58 The astonishment her two sisters were in was excessively great, but still abundantly greater when Cinderella pulled out of her pocket the other slipper,59 and put it on her foot. Thereupon, in came her godmother, who, having touched with her wand Cinderella's clothes, made them richer and more magnificent than any of those she had before.

  And now her two sisters found her to be that fine, beautiful lady whom they had seen at the ball. They threw themselves at her feet to beg pardon60 for all the ill- treatment they had made her undergo. Cinderella took them up, and, as she embraced them, cried that she forgave them61 with all her heart, and desired them always to love her.

  She was conducted to the young prince, dressed as she was; he thought her more charming than ever, and, a few days after, married her. Cinderella, who was no less good than beautiful,62 gave her two sisters lodgings in the palace, and that very same day matched them with two great lords63 of the Court.

1. Gentleman: Cinderella's status as a gentleman's daughter makes her more acceptable as a future king's consort. It also places her above the status of peasant. Cinderella is not usually a rags-to-riches tale, but a riches-to-rags-to-riches tale.

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2. Mother: With over 340 versions of Cinderella, many variations of the story exist. Although this Perrault version does not mention Cinderella's mother beyond this reference, many versions have the dead mother providing assistance to her daughter in either animal form or through magical objects which appear from a tree on the mother's grave (the Grimms' version uses the tree).

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3. Stepmother: The stepmother is a common villain in fairy tales. The stepmother has been a villain since the earliest known versions of the Cinderella tale. The competition between the two women for the husband/father's affection provides a logical reason for the stepmother's cruelty. However, the stepmother has often replaced mothers in other tales, such as Snow White, when the image of a cruel mother was considered to be too harsh and terrifying for young audiences.

The image of the evil stepmother occurs frequently in fairy tales. She is associated with jealousy and cruelty (Olderr 1986). "In masculine psychology, the stepmother is a symbol of the unconscious in a destructive role" (von Franz 1970). The stepmother figure is actually two sided, in that while she has destructive intentions, her actions often lead the protagonist into situations that identify and strengthen his or her best qualities.

Perhaps one of the enduring elements of the Cinderella story comes from the politics of a family, usually a blended family. While many fairy tales have outside antagonists, Cinderella's trials are in her home and immediate family.

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4. Meanest work of the house: The meanest work would be the filthiest, harshest and most demeaning work in the household, such as scrubbing floors and emptying chamber pots.

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5. Garret: A garret is a room directly under the roof, or in other words, an attic (Webster's 1990).

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6. Straw bed: Until this century, straw beds were a common type of bedding for all but the supremely rich who could afford goose beds or other more expensive mattresses. Straw was used as the stuffing for the mattress.

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7. Floors all inlaid: Inlaid floors are parquet floors and were common in more elegant homes in previous centuries.

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8. Looking-glasses: In other words, mirrors. Mirrors are also a sign of luxury and wealth. In fairy tales, mirrors can be representative of a character's true nature which they reflect. Mirrors are especially important in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Here the mirrors represent the stepsisters' vanity and the family's wealth. The fact that the family owns mirrors large enough to give a full reflection of a person from head to toe shows that they have been extremely wealthy and thus powerful at least in the past if not Cinderella's present (Chevalier 1982).

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9. Father: Cinderella's father is absent but not dead in most of the older versions of the tale. Since the conflict between Cinderella and her stepfamily is domestic, it can be assumed her father does not interfere in what was considered a woman's domain. Many modern interpretations, such as the recent film Ever After (1998) starring Drew Barrymore, have the father dead to explain why he does not prevent the mistreatment of his daughter.

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10. Cinders and ashes: Ashes are a symbol of mourning. Cinderella, perhaps unwittingly, mourns for her mother and her own predicament in an unfriendly household by being covered in ashes.

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11. Cinderwench: According to Webster's Dictionary, a wench is a "young woman."

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12. Cinderella: Some versions of the tale explain that Cinderella's true name is Ella to account for the nickname. Gail Carson Levine uses Ella in her novel, Ella Enchanted (1997) and Drew Barrymore is Danielle in Ever After (1998).

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13. Handsomer than her sisters: Her beauty shows that Cinderella is more virtuous and good than her sisters. In the past, and often still today, physical beauty was considered to reflect the true nature of a person.

In some versions of the tale, the stepsisters are beautiful like Cinderella, showing that external beauty is not equivalent to internal beauty.

In some Native American versions of the tale, the Cinderella character is portrayed as ugly and scarred, often caused by her jealous sisters, until she is transformed before the eyes of the community for her goodness.

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14. King's son: A prince is the suitor and a common character in romantic fairy tales such as this one. In several modern interpretations of the tale, the prince is a reluctant suitor, forced into the search for a wife, until he happily falls in love with Cinderella. The film The Slipper and the Rose especially builds up the prince's disapproval of the ball and wife hunt.

Also note that the prince is not called Prince Charming in the original tale. Walt Disney popularized the name with its usage in his film version of Cinderella.

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15. Ball: A ball is a large party in which the participants dress up in their finest clothes and dance. Balls were exclusively for the privileged and wealthy.

Many other variants of the tale have the Cinderella character meeting the prince at church, one of the few places where people of different classes might regularly see each other while gathered to worship in times past.

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16. Gowns, petticoats, and head-clothes: Perrault's experience and interest in fancy dress is emphasized in his version of Cinderella. He provides more detail and description of the ball clothes than most other versions of the tale. The detailed descriptions also show the literary, instead of oral, nature of his story. Perrault's language is intended for the printed page.

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17. Plaited their ruffles: Ironing and plaiting ruffles would be tedious work work with old fashioned irons.

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18. Red: Red is a color of passion and brilliance. It demands attention, which the sisters are hoping for in their pursuit of the prince for marriage.

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19. Manteau: A manteau is a cloak but occasionally refers to a woman's gown.

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20. Diamond stomacher: A stomacher is worn over the breast or chest. At one time it was fashionable for both women and men to wear stomachers. Women's stomachers were often highly ornamented.

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21. Red brushes and patches from Mademoiselle de la Poche: Red brushes and patches were types of make-up worn by society women. Red brushes were usually used like blush and the patches were usually fake beauty marks worn on the face.

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22. She had excellent notions: Cinderella is an intelligent and artistic woman. She knows how to make clothing appear at its best which was an important skill in her time. She only has rags to wear herself, but she has the taste to work with the finest materials. This was a sign of femininity.

Cinderella's willingness to share her dressing skills with her sisters also shows her good and generous heart.

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23. Two days without eating: There are a few possibilities for this affliction. Nervousness and excitement can lead to loss of appetite. One cannot help but wonder if the sisters were also considering their tight clothing and corsets. Quick diets before great events were not uncommon in past centuries just as they are today.

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24. Broke above a dozen laces: In the time of corsets and stays, laces were used to tie up clothes and make the body appear as slim as possible. The image of the stepsisters breaking many laces shows that they are not ideally thin and are trying to conceal their figures by contorting them into slimmer clothing.

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25. She fell a-crying: In many versions of the tale, Cinderella cries to show her frustration. It is not considered to be weakness but a testament of the terrible burden she bears.

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26. Godmother: The godmother did not become a common and well-known character in the Cinderella tale until Perrault incorporated her into his version of the story. Other versions of Cinderella in different cultures often have the heroine receive assistance from the deceased mother. The fairy godmother versions are the best known in Western culture thanks to Perrault and later versions from Disney and other sources.

The Grimms' version does not use the fairy godmother; a tree planted over the mother's grave provides the materials needed for Cinderella to attend the ball instead. Read their version here: Aschenputtel. The Scottish version, Rashin-Coatie, has a benevolent red calf that provides assistance.

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27. Fairy: Up until this point, the tale is not magical. The introduction of the fairy godmother provides the elements needed to make this a fairy tale, not necessarily because it has a fairy but because it has magic.

In general, fairy godmothers are supernatural benefactors to their human charges. The fairy godmother figure is derived from the three Fates who were thought to visit a newborn baby and bestow good or ill fortune upon it, such as in the Sleeping Beauty tale. The fairy godmother is a wholly benevolent character, however, while the Fates were capable of causing good or evil to occur. Gail Carson Levine explores the possibility of a harmful gift from a fairy godmother in her Cinderella novel, Ella Enchanted.

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28. Good girl: It is important that Cinderella be a "good girl" whose patience and perseverance has earned her the gifts she is about to receive from her godmother.

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29. Pumpkin: Besides being a suitable shape for a carriage, a pumpkin has several symbolic meanings beyond Halloween imagery. A pumpkin symbolizes feminine containment, the moon, witches, and a charm against evil spirits (Olderr 1986).

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30. Wand: A wand is "a slender stick or rod, especially one carried by a fairy, magician, conjurer, etc." (Websters 1990). A wand often represents the special powers of a magical character. Sometimes it represents the harnessing of those magical powers.

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31. Coach: The pumpkin coach is a popular image from the Cinderella tale, second only to the glass slipper. The coach itself is a sign of wealth and afforded only by the upper class.

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32. Gold: Gold, as always, is a precious metal and reserved for the wealthy in past centuries. An entire coach made of gold would be a symbol of great wealth and most likely reserved for royalty.

A famous golden coach in history belonged to Catherine the Great of Russia.

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33. Mice: Walt Disney gave the mice personalities and made them important characters in his well-known film of the story. In the older versions, the mice only exist for their necessary transformation into part of Cinderella's grand transportation to the ball.

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34. Rat: The rat's role in the tale has been explored by some authors in modern times. Two of the most notable are Phillip Pullman's I Was a Rat! (Amazon.com Link) and Susan Meddaugh's Cinderella's Rat (Amazon.com Link). The film version by Disney uses a horse instead of a rat.

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35. Coachman: A coachman is the driver of a coach.

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36. Lizards: The lizards are often portrayed as frogs in illustrations and films of the tale. The Disney version avoids lizards altogether and uses a dog instead.

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37. Six: Six horses and footmen would be a grand number for a small coach, implying wealth and importance.

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38. Liveries: Liveries are the uniforms of servants in elegant and wealthy homes.

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39. Equipage: Equipage is the combined coach, horses, and servants used to transport Cinderella to the palace.

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40. Glass slippers: One of the most famous elements of the story, the glass slippers are important in many aspects. First, they would be expensive and thus proper footwear for a princess. Second, they represent Cinderella's delicate nature. She would have to be physically light and dainty to be able to wear the shoes without shattering them. Finally, I have always imagined the shoes might also be uncomfortable. Cinderella's ability to dance and wear them with grace shows she has mettle.

The glass slippers provided by Perrault have also been the source of great debate among folklore scholars. For years, the predominant theory was that the original tale included "fur" (French: vair) and not "glass" (French: verre), but that misprints and mistranslations from French sources have given us the famous glass slippers. Now most scholars believe Perrault intended the shoes to be made of glass to add to their magical quality (Tatar 2002).

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41. Till after midnight: Midnight is the most common time given as a deadline in the Cinderella tale. Since midnight marks the beginning of a new day and the end of power in the old day, such a deadline is also reasonable. Midnight also marks the beginning of the witching hour.

Many balls would start in the late evening and last until the early morning hours. Cinderella's need to leave at midnight would be an early departure from most balls.

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42. Promised: Cinderella promises to leave the ball before midnight but ultimately breaks this promise with her late departure. The breaking of the promise gives Cinderella a slight hint of imperfection and humanity. It also shows how much she is enamored with the prince.

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43. Great princess: Not surprisingly, Cinderella is mistaken for a princess thanks to her clothes and carriage. Her grand appearance makes entry into the ball possible despite her anonymity.

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44. A profound silence: While a dramatic element in the story--one can imagine a storyteller pausing for effect at this point in the story--the silence also shows that everyone at the ball is aware of Cinderella's entrance and suitably impressed by her physical presence.

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45. King: It is important that the king approves of his son's choice in a wife since he has the ability to censure his son and even take away his inheritance and birthright.

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46. Danced so gracefully: The ability to dance gracefully would be an important feminine trait in this time period.

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47. Collation: A collation is a meal.

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48. Ate not a morsel: The prince's inability to eat shows that he is in the throes of first love.

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49. A thousand civilities: Cinderella's ability to graciously interact with her stepsisters highlights her charm and goodness while emphasizing the stepsisters' vanity. They are unable to recognize the very woman who helped them dress for the ball a short time earlier.

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50. Oranges and citrons: Citrons are lemons. Both oranges and lemons were delicacies in many parts of Europe before the 20th century. Now food is shipped easily with economy before spoiling making these fruits available to a larger population.

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51. Eleven and three-quarters: The time is 11:45 and Cinderella has a fifteen minute warning that midnight is approaching. However, she fails to heed the warning.

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52. Thanked her: To emphasize her goodness once again, Perrault makes sure to have Cinderella thank her fairy godmother for help. This also allows Cinderella the opportunity to wish for help in attending the next ball.

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53. Miss Charlotte: The stepsisters are rarely named in any Cinderella tale. Perrault's use of a name comes from his literary embellishment of the tale and was a personal choice. The name he uses in the original French is Javotte.

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54. You wear every day: Cinderella asks only for her sister's everyday dress, not one of her fancy dresses for the ball. Still, her sister refuses to share even her most common dress with Cinderella.

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55. Forgot: Cinderella breaks her promise to leave the ball before midnight since she is busy with the prince. While forgetfulness is understandable, she does break her promise and is given a small element of humanity. The forgotten time also provides drama, causing Cinderella to run away and leave behind her shoe, providing the means for her identification later. The imagery of Cinderella's elegant clothes transforming back to rags as she runs home is a favorite scene for illustrators and filmmakers.

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56. Deer: Perrault does not resist portraying Cinderella as a beautiful and graceful deer even as she runs away in panic and rags from the palace

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57. Who did all they possibly could: Perrault's story is gentle in imagery, not describing the sisters' efforts in details. In some variants, such as the Grimm's Aschenputtel, the sisters cut off pieces of their feet to try to fit them into the slipper. The blood oozing from the slipper gives them away as impostors.

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58. Wax: Wax was a common molding material and conforms to any shape in liquid form. Perrault uses the image to emphasize how well the shoe fits Cinderella's foot.

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59. The other slipper: While the fitting of the lost shoe is romantic and gives Cinderella credibility, she often produces the second shoe in the pair to confirm her identity.

In many versions of the tale, Cinderella is transformed back into her ball gown once both shoes are on her feet. The Prince and/or his servants are not required to recognize Cinderella in her rags. The implication is that she is in her natural and rightful state when dressed in the better clothing.

In some variants of the tale, the prince acquires Cinderella's lost shoe by putting pitch or tar in the entrance to try to catch her when she runs away. He only succeeds in catching her shoe in the tar and then begins his search for its owner.

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60. Beg pardon: The sisters do not always beg for forgiveness in the tale. Sometimes their jealousy grows with Cinderella's good fortune and they are ultimately punished for their lack of charity. In the Grimm's Aschenputtel, they are filled with rage and scheme to capitalize on Cinderella's good fortune.

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61. Forgave them: Although Cinderella rarely metes out punishment upon her sisters in most versions of the tale, other forces often punish her stepfamily for her. In the Grimm's Aschenputtel, birds come and peck out their eyes when they attend Cinderella's church wedding.

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62. No less good than beautiful: Perrault's desire to emphasize Cinderella's virtuous good shows that she is forgiving and compassionate despite the ill-treatment she received from her stepsisters. Most versions of the story have Cinderella ambivalent of what happens to the sisters; she is busy marrying the prince instead.

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63. Matched them with two great lords: The stepsisters suffer various fates, including death or being turned to stone, in various versions of the tale. However, this version has a forgiving Cinderella who provides wealthy husbands for her stepsisters. In this way, everyone lives happily ever after whether they deserve it or not. Cinderella still receives the greatest reward, however.

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英文歌曲-All about loving you 全心爱你

All about loving you   Bon Jovi

Looking at the pages of my life

Faded memories of me and you

Mistakes you know I've made a few

I took some shots and fell from time to time

Baby, you were there to pull me through

We've been around the block a time or two

I'm gonna lay it on the line

Ask me how we've come this far

The answer's written in my eyes

*Every time I look at you, baby

I see something new

That takes me higher than before

and makes me want you more

I don't wanna sleep tonight

Dreaming's just a waste of time

When I look at what my life's been coming to

I'm all about loving you

I've lived, I've loved, I've lost

I've paid some dues, baby

We've been to hell and back again

Through it all you're always my best friend

For all the words I didn't say and all the things I didn't do

Tonight I'm gonna find a way (*)

You can take this world away

You're everything I am

Just read the lines upon my face

I'm all about loving you

All about loving you

全心爱你       邦乔飞合唱团

翻阅我生命的相簿

那是属于你和我的泛黄记忆

你知道我犯了不少过错

即使我多喝了几杯

你仍会在那里扶我一把

我不自觉回想起我们交往的时光

我今天一定要想个明白

问问自己为何能坚持下去

虽然答案早已写在我的眼中

宝贝,每当我望着你

总是可以得到惊喜

那会使我笑颜逐开

让我更加渴望拥有你

今夜我不想入睡

作梦不过是浪费时间

当我回顾生命中所有美好的时光

全都是爱你的一幕幕

我活过 爱过 也曾迷失过

付出不少代价宝贝

我们也承受过地狱般的苦痛

不管经过了什么 你永远是我最好的朋友

为了所有来不及说的话 来不及做的事

今晚我会想尽办法弥补

你可以带走整个世界

你是我的一切

看看镂刻再我脸上的情意

全是爱你

全都是爱你的一幕幕

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科普知识-朝中奖,夕死可矣

           Magazine Offers a Prize to Die For

  A leading science magazine is offering readers a prize to die for ? cryonics treatment. The lucky winner of the prize promoting the revamp of New Scientist magazine won't be able to collect the award until death when he or she will be cooled to a temperature at which decay of the body stops and then suspended in liquid nitrogen in a state known as cryonic preservation. "We think that the cryonics promotion is a way of making science interesting to everyone, not just scientists, which is exactly the same message we are trying to communicate about the magazine itself," editor Alun Anderson said in a statement. If and when the medical technology allows, the winner, preserved at The Cryonics Institute of Michigan in the United States, will be revived to continue their life. If the winner is not eager to be preserved, the magazine is offering an alternative prize--a week in Hawaii and a visit to the Mauna Kea* observatory.

  *Mauna Kea:莫纳基亚山,是夏威夷岛上的一座海拔4205米的休眠火山。山顶上有美国、英国、加拿大和智利等国家的多座天文台和大型天文望远镜。

  一本权威科学杂志为读者提供了一份值得为之去死的奖品--人体冷冻处理。《新科学家》杂志设立的这一奖项旨在为杂志的改版作宣传,幸运的获奖者要到死时才能领奖。届时获奖者的身体将被冷却到足以停止身体腐坏过程的低温,然后被悬浮在液氮中,进入冷冻保存状态。《新科学家》编辑埃伦-安德森在声明中说:"我们认为,宣传人体冷冻法能让所有人而不仅仅是科学家对科学产生兴趣。这也正是我们想传达给人们的关于杂志自身的讯息。"到医疗技术条件允许的时候,被保存在美国密歇根人体冷冻学院的获奖者将被复苏过来继续生活。如果获奖者对被冷藏兴趣不大,杂志也准备了替代奖品--到夏威夷旅游1周并访问莫纳基亚天文台。

  Remarks:人是社会性很强的生物,隔世再生的滋味并不一定好受,还是去夏威夷吧。

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体育英语-奥运英语情景对话:如何面对失败

K=Kern L=Lansing

K: Do you think what an athlete could not endure?

K: 你认为一个运动员不能忍受的是什么?

L: Pain?

L: 痛苦?

K: No. It's failure.

K: 不,是失败。

L: But American Kerri failed for many times.

L: 但是美国的Kerri却失败了许多次。

K: Yes. In Barcelona in 1992, Kerri had narrowly failed to qualify for the All-Around Competition. In Los Angeles, she was through to the All-Around Finals, but had to withdraw because of her ankle injured.

K: 是的,1992年在巴塞罗那,Kerri 只差一点点而没能进入全能决赛;在洛杉矶,她进入了全能决赛,却不得不退出,因为她扭伤了脚踝。

L: But her coach Bela Karolyi carried her into the medal ceremony, despite terrible pain in Sydney.

L: 但是在悉尼,尽管kerri 忍受着巨大的痛苦,她的教练Belakarolyi 还是抱着她出席了颁奖仪式。

K: Do you still remember the scene?

K: 你还仍然赢得那场面?

L: Yes. One fall in a vault event was almost unheard of for a term, however, she fell three in a row.

L: 是的,跳马比赛中一次摔倒都很少见,而她却一连三次摔倒。

K: Unbelievable!

K: 难以置信!

L: As she got up from the floor mat, a sharp pain shot through her left foot, but she fought to hold back tears.

L: 当她从垫子上站起来时,左脚感到一阵刺骨的疼痛。她强忍住了泪水。

K: Did she know her ankle was badly injured?

K: 她知道她的脚踝严重受了伤吗?

L: She knew, and she also knew she should withdraw from competition. But if she didn't make the second vault, her team would lose.

L: 她知道,她也知道,自己应该退出比赛。但是如果她不跳第二次,她的队就会输掉比赛。

K: Perhaps it should be a hard one, in a life of hard choices.

K: 在生命中的所有抉择中,这应当是非常困难的一个。

L: En. She walked to the starting positoin, pain in every step. She started to run..

L: 嗯。她走向起跑点,她每迈出一步都很痛苦,她开始助跑..

K: Oh, my dear!

K: 哦,天哪!

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名人名言-幽默Humor[英语名人名言]

The gods too are fond of a joke.

-- Aristotle

Nobody ever died of laughter.

-- Max Beerbohm

He who laughs last has not yet heard the bad news.

-- Bertolt Brecht

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Snore and you sleep alone.

-- Anthony Burgess

The most wasted day of all is that in which we have not laughed.

-- Sebastian Roch Nicolas Chamfort

In the end, everything is a gag.

-- Charlie Chaplin

He who laughs last is generally the last to get the joke.

-- Terry Cohen

If you want anything done well, do it yourself. This is why most people laugh at their own jokes.

-- Bob Edwards

He who laughs last didn't get it.

-- Helen Giangregorio

Nothing shows a man's character more than what he laughs at.

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.

-- Clive James

Learn to laugh at your troubles and you'll never run out of things to laugh at.

-- Lyn Karol

Now is the time for all good men to come to.

-- Walt Kelly

Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.

-- John F. Kennedy

With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die.

-- Abraham Lincoln

The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit.

-- W. Somerset Maugham

He who laughs, lasts.

-- Mary Pettibone Poole

Blessed is he who has learned to laugh at himself, for he shall never cease to be entertained.

-- John Powell

We are all here for a spell; get all the good laughs you can.

-- Will Rogers

He who laughs last thinks slowest.

-- Seen on a bumper sticker

When a person can no longer laugh at himself, it is time for others to laugh at him.

-- Thomas Szasz, The Second Sin, 1973

That is the best -- to laugh with someone because you think the same things are funny.

-- Gloria Vanderbilt

This world is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.

-- Horace Walpole

Humor is the first of the gifts to perish in a foreign tongue.

-- Virginia Woolf

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.

-- ee cummings

  

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英文演讲-President's Radio Address

May 19, 2007

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This week, my Administration reached an agreement with Republicans and Democrats in the Senate on immigration reform. I thank the leaders in both parties who worked hard to produce legislation that will secure the border, restore respect for the law, and meet the legitimate needs of our economy.

This legislation includes all the elements required for comprehensive immigration reform. It will improve security at our borders. It will give employers new tools to verify the employment status of workers and hold businesses to account for those they hire. It will create a temporary worker program. It will help us resolve the status of millions of illegal immigrants who are here already, without animosity and without amnesty. And it will honor the great American tradition of the melting pot by strengthening our efforts to help new arrivals assimilate into our society.

Here's how the bill works: First, it will require that strong border security and enforcement benchmarks are met before other elements of the legislation are implemented. These benchmarks include completing our plan to double the number of Border Patrol agents, improving border infrastructure, and maintaining enough beds in our detention facilities so that all those apprehended at the border can be held and returned to their home countries. We will also improve work site enforcement by implementing an effective system to verify worker eligibility using tamper-resistant identification cards, and by imposing stiffer penalties on companies that knowingly violate the law. Once these benchmarks are met, they will trigger other provisions of comprehensive reform.

The legislation will create a new temporary worker program. Such a program will help our economy and take pressure off the border by providing foreign workers with a legal and orderly way to enter our country to fill jobs that Americans are not doing. To ensure that this program is truly temporary, workers will be limited to three two-year terms, with at least a year spent outside the United States between each term. Temporary workers will be allowed to bring immediate family members only if they demonstrate that they can support them financially, and that their family members are covered by health insurance.

This legislation will also help resolve the status of illegal immigrants who are already in our country without amnesty. Those who come out of the shadows will be given probationary status. If they pass a strict background check, pay a fine, hold a job, maintain a clean criminal record, and eventually learn English, they will qualify for and maintain a Z visa. If they want to become citizens, they have to do all these things, plus pay an additional fine, go to the back of the line, pass a citizenship test, and return to their country to apply for their green card.

This legislation will also strengthen our efforts to help new immigrants assimilate. The key to unlocking the full promise of America is the ability to speak English. This bill affirms that English is the language of the United States. And it provides new opportunities for immigrants to learn English and embrace the shared ideals that bind us as a nation.

In addition, this legislation will clear the backlog of family members who've applied to come to our country lawfully, and have been waiting patiently in line. This legislation will end chain migration by limiting the relatives who can automatically receive green cards to spouses and minor children. And this legislation will transform our immigration system so that future immigration decisions are focused on admitting immigrants who have the skills, education, and English proficiency that will help America compete in a global economy.

I realize that many hold strong convictions on this issue, and reaching an agreement was not easy. I appreciate the effort of Senators who came together to craft this important legislation. This bill brings us closer to an immigration system that enforces our laws and upholds the great American tradition of welcoming those who share our values and our love of freedom.

Thank you for listening.

END

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学习技巧-口语学习第一课

今天李华和Michael在对话里使用的两个常用语,一个是:to ditch,另一个是:to hit the spot。现在Michael正在图书馆里做功课,李华来找他。

L:嗨,Michael,功课做得怎么样了?

M: I can't think. It's too noisy. Let's ditch this place.

L:你没法动脑筋,因为这儿太闹。你还说什么来啦?Ditch this place,什么意思呀?

M: Ditch! To ditch means to quickly leave a place you no longer want to be.

L:噢,to ditch就是你不想再呆在那个地方,想赶快离开。你的意思就是要马上离开图书馆。不对啊,ditch这个字不是可以解释为地上挖的沟吗?你说的ditch是同一个字?

M: Yes, it is. Same word, same spelling, but a different meaning.

L:原来是同一个字,同样拼法,但意思不同。噢,Michael,再举个例子给我听,好吗?

M: If we want to get away from someone you could say, "Let's ditch him," which means to leave someone behind.

L:你的意思是to ditch 不仅可以指地方,还能指人。上次我们跟Mary 一起去看电影,看完电影我们俩没跟Mary打招呼就走了,这就可以说:We ditched Mary,对不对?

M: That's correct.

L:要是你干活干腻了,不想干了,那该说……

M: To ditch work.

L:不想去开会……

M: To ditch the meeting. You can also say: to ditch the concert.

L:我知道,那是不想去音乐会。要是和朋友约好了,可是又不想去了,那该怎么说呀?

M: To ditch my friend. Hey, can we ditch the library now! I am really tired and could use some coffee.

L:Ok,让我们离开这图书馆吧。你累了,想喝咖啡。走,去校园外的那个咖啡馆吧。

L:好,咖啡馆到了。

M: Yep, here's the coffee shop. Li Hua, what do you want, my treat this time.

L:你请我啊?那太好了。我要一杯咖啡就行了。

M: Sounds good. Two coffees please. Here's your coffee, Li Hua.

L:Thanks!

M: No problem. Oh, so hot! Be careful. Good coffee, really hits the spot. I feel more awake now.

L:对,咖啡是不错,你已经觉得清醒点儿啦!我可不信咖啡的作用就那么快!对了,刚才你说:"It really hits the spot? To hit the spot."不是击中要害吗?你刚才说的好象不是这个意思。你怎么老是说一些怪里怪气的话。

M: Hit the spot means to satisfy one's need. I really needed some coffee earlier so it really hit the spot.

L:原来hit the spot 就是满足一个人的需要。你刚才很想喝咖啡,喝了就感到非常过隐,很痛快。Hit the spot是哪三个字组成的?

M: Hit-the-spot. For example, if you are hungry and go eat you could say, "That food really hit the spot."

L:中文里也有这个说法。肚子非常饿的时候去吃饭。吃饱了就感到心满意足。洗个热水澡真痛快,那该怎么说?

M: A hot bath would hit the spot.

L:吃个汉堡包真过隐,该怎么说?

M: A burger would hit the spot. Let's go, I'm hungry.

L:好家伙,喝了咖啡,又肚子饿了,要去吃汉堡包。这回我可不奉陪了,I have to ditch you now. 再见了!

M: Ok. Bye. 再见。

  Michael和李华在对话中用了to ditch和to hit the spot. To ditch表示要离开某个人,因为你不想跟他在一起了;或表示要马上离开一个不想再呆的地方。To hit the spot是感到过隐,觉得很痛快。

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