新概念英语第三册lesson 52 Mud is mud(在线收听

Lesson 52: Mud is mud 实事求是
           
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
听录音,然后回答以下问题。
Why did Harry decide to give up his little game?

    My cousin, Harry, keeps a large curiously-shaped bottle on permanent display in his study. Despite the fact that the bottle is tinted a delicate shade of green, an observant visitor would soon notice that it is filled with what looks like a thick, grayish substance. If you were to ask Harry what was in the bottle, he would tell you that it contained perfumed mud. If you expressed doubt or surprise, he would immediately invite you to smell it and then to rub some into your skin. This brief experiment would dispel any further doubts you might have. The bottle really does contain perfumed mud. How Harry came into the possession of this outlandish stuff makes an interesting story which he is fond of relating. Furthermore, the acquisition of this bottle cured him of a bad habit he had been developing for years.
    Harry used to consider it a great joke to go into expensive cosmetic shops and make outrageous requests for goods that do not exist. He would invent fanciful names on the spot. On entering a shop, he would ask for a new perfume called 'Scented Shadow' or for 'insoluble bath cubes'. If a shop assistant told him she had not heard of it, he would pretend to be considerably put out. He loved to be told that one of his imaginary products was temporarily out of stock and he would faithfully promise to call again at some future date, but of course he never did. How Harry managed to keep a straight face during these performances is quite beyond me.
    Harry does not need to be prompted to explain how he bought his precious bottle of mud. One day, he went to an exclusive shop in London and asked for 'Myrolite', the shop assistant looked puzzled and Harry repeated the word, slowly stressing each syllable. When the woman shook her head in bewilderment, Harry went on to explain that 'myrolite' was a hard, amber-like substance which could be used to remove freckles. This explanation evidently conveyed something to the woman who searched shelf after shelf. She produced all sorts of weird concoctions, but none of them met with Harry's requirements. When Harry put on his act of being mildly annoyed, the assistant promised to order some for him. Intoxicated by his success, Harry then asked for perfumed mud. He expected the assistant to look at him in blank astonishment. However, it was his turn to be surprised, for the woman's eyes immediately lit up and she fetched several bottles which she placed on the counter for Harry to inspect. For once, Harry had to admit defeat. He picked up what seemed to be the smallest bottle and discreetly asked the price. He was glad to get away with a mere twenty pounds and he beat a hasty retreat, clutching the precious bottle under his arm. From then on, Harry decided that this little game he had invented might prove to be expensive. The curious bottle, which now adorns the bookcase in his study, was his first and last purchase of rare cosmetics.

New words and expressions 生词和短语

     permanent
adj. 永久的

     tint
v.   给……染色

     delicate
adj. 淡色的

     shade
n.   色度

     observant
adj. 观察力敏锐的

     dispel
v.   驱散,消除

     outlandish
adj. 稀奇古怪的

     acquisition
n.   获得

     cosmetic
n.   化妆品

     outrageous
adj. 无理的,令人不能容忍的

     fanciful
adj. 想像出来的

     insoluble
adj. 不可溶解的

     prompt
v.   敦促,激励

     exclusive
adj. 专售高档商品的

     syllable
n.   音节

     bewilderment
n.   迷惑,糊涂

     freckle
n.   雀斑

     evidently
adv. 显然的,明显地

     weird
adj. 奇异的,古怪的

     concoction
n.   调制品

     intoxicate
v.   陶醉,得意忘形

     blank
adj. 无表情的,茫然的

     discreetly
adv. 谨慎地

     clutch
v.   抓住

     adorn
v.   装饰,打扮

参考译文

    我的堂兄哈里在他的书房里一直摆着一只形状古怪的大瓶子。尽管那只瓶子呈淡绿色,但细心的客人很快就会发现瓶里装的是一种看上去黏稠,颜色发灰的东西。要是你问哈里瓶里装着什么,他会告诉你是香水泥。如果你表示怀疑或惊奇,他会立即请你闻一闻,然后取出一些抹在你的皮肤上。这一简单的试验会消除你可能存有的一切疑虑。瓶里装的的确是香水泥。哈里如何得到这种稀奇古怪的东西的,这里有个有趣的故事,而且他挺爱把它讲给别人听。此外,得到这瓶香水泥还治好了他多年的一个坏习惯。
    哈里曾认为走进一家名贵化妆品商店,荒唐地提出要买一种根本不存在的商品是件开心的事儿。他会当场编造出一些稀奇古怪的货名。他走进商店后,会提出要一种名叫“香影”的新型香水或什么“不溶浴皂”。要是女售货员告诉他从未听说过这些东西,他会装出十分遗憾和不安的样子。他爱听售货员说他想像出来的那种东西暂时脱销,于是他就煞有介事地许诺改天再来光顾。当然,他再也不会来了。我实在想像不出哈里在这些表演中是怎样装出一本正经的样子的。
    毋须暗示哈里就会向你讲起他买下那瓶珍贵香水泥的经过。一天,他去伦敦一家高级商店要买一种叫“密诺莱特”的东西,店员露出诧异的神色。哈里又慢慢地,一字一顿说了一遍这个词,那个女售货员还是迷惑不解地摇了摇头。哈里便进一步解释“密诺莱特”是一种质地坚硬、状似琥珀的东西,可以用来除去雀斑。他的解释显然对女售货员有些启示。她一个货架接着一个货架地寻找,拿出各种各样稀奇古怪的化妆品,但没有一样能够符合哈里的要求。哈里装出不高兴的样子时,女售货员答应为他定货。哈里为他的骗术而感到洋洋得意,又提出要买香水泥。他原想女售货员会惊奇地望着他,不知所措,没料到这回该轮到他自己吃惊了。因为那女售货员听完哈里的话后,马上眼睛一亮,拿出几瓶东西放在柜台上让哈里挑选。哈里只好认输。他挑出一个看上去最小的瓶子,谨慎地问了价。他庆幸自己只破费了20英镑便得以脱身。他把那宝贵的瓶子放在腋下夹着,溜之大吉。从那以后,他认识到自己发明的小小恶作剧是要付出很大的代价的。在他书房的书柜里摆着那瓶形状古怪的香水泥就是他第一次也是最后一次购买的稀有化妆品。

新概念英语正版图书购买

 

  自学导读
  课文详注 Further notes on the text
  1.I have been trying to get my new room in order.我试图把我的新房间收拾整齐。
  (1)与课文开头那句话的后半部分一样,这个句子也用了现在完成进行时。(cf.本课语法)
  (2)get…in order表in“把……整理好”,in order的含义之一为“整齐”、“井然有序”:
  Get/Put everything in order before you leave the room.
  离开房间前把所有的东西都整理好。
  2.To make matters worse, the room is rather small…更糟糕的是房间还非常小……
  to make matters worse是个插入语,与主句之间要用逗号隔开。
  matters(复数形式)可以表示“事态”、“情况”。这个短语是个惯用语:
  I lost my way in the forest, and to make matters worse, it became dark.
  我在森林里迷了路。更糟糕的是,天开始黑了。
  3.At the moment, they cover every inch of floor space and I actually have to walk on them to get in or out of the room.这会儿,书把地板的每一点空隙都占据了,我实际上是踩着这些书进出房间的。
  (1)at the moment表示“此刻”、“目前”:
  At the moment, I'm busy preparing for the exams.
  目前我正忙着准备考试。
  (2)to get…为表示目的的不定式短语,相当于一个从句。
  4.You can sit here in your spare time and read the carpet!空闲时你可以坐在这儿读地毯!
  spare可以表示“空闲的”、“多余的”:
  I like to read in my spare time.
  我空闲时喜欢读书。
  Have you got a spare moment?
  你(现在)有空吗?


  语法 Grammar in use
  1.现在完成时与现在完成进行时
  在第4课、第28课的语法中,我们学习了现在完成时的用法以及经常与它连用的时间副词(或短语)、介词等。现在完成进行时由have been+现在分词构成,强调动作在某一段时间内一直在进行,而且动作现在有结果。到现在为止,该动作可能已不再继续进行,也可能还在继续进行,这要根据上下文来确定。句子中常含有all+表示时间的词语如all day, all morning等或for和since。一般说来,现在完成表示已完成的动作,现在完成进行时则可表示尚未完成的动作。有些动词,如learn, lie, live, rain, sit, sleep, stand, study, wait, work等本身就有持续性,现在完成时形式与现在完成进行时形式可以互换,惟一的区别是后者更强调动作的持续性:
  2.形容词、相应的副词及其用法
  (1)许多副词,特别是表示方式的副词,皆由形容词加-ly构成,如easy(容易的)/easily(容易地),beautiful(漂亮的)/beautifully(漂亮地)。一些频度副词也如此构成,如usual(通常的)/usually(通常)。还有少数几个表示程度及观点的副词也都以-ly结尾:high(高的)/highly(高度地),real(真的)/really(真正的)。这些副词与它相应的形容词的意义区别不大,比较容易掌握:
  She is very happy now.
  她现在很快乐。
  She lives happily with her mother.
  她和母亲一起快乐地生活。
  (2)有些副词虽然由形容词加-ly构成,但在意义上与其相应的形容词并不相同,如hard(勤奋的,困难的)/hardly(几乎不),cold(冷的)/coldly(冷淡的),late(迟到的,晚的)/lately(最近,近来),near(近的,接近的)/nearly(几乎,差不多,差点儿)。有些副词有两种形式。有的意义相同,如cheap(廉价地)/cheaply(廉价地),但有的意义不同如late(迟,晚)/lately(近来),hard(努力地,猛烈地)/hardly(几乎不)。有些副词在形式上与形容词相同,如fast(快),past(过去),far(远)等。
  (3)大多数方式副词的位置一般在宾语或动词后面:
  Look at this photo carefully.
  仔细看这张照片。(宾语后面)
  It snowed heavily last night.
  昨天夜里雪下得很大。(动词后面)
  Why don't you try to work hard?
  你为什么不努力工作呢?(动词后面)
  表示时间的副词常位于句尾,有时也可位于句首:
  This morning I got up very early/ late.
  今天早上我起得很早/晚。(句首或句尾)
  程度副词,如almost, enough, hardly, nearly, quite, rather, too等,大部分用在它们所修饰的词之前:
  The film was quite good.
  这个电影相当不错。(修饰形容词)
  I nearly cried out with surprise.
  我惊讶得几乎叫了起来。(修饰动词)
  副词的位置比较复杂,大部分要看具体情况。

  词汇学习 Word study
  1.own
  (1)vt. 拥有:
  I own over a thousand books.
  我有一千多本书。
  Who owns this car?
  这辆车是谁的?
  (2)vt.,vi. 承认:
  He owned(that)he had made a mistake.
  他承认自己犯了个错误。
  He owned to stealing the wallet.
  他承认偷了钱包。
  (3)adj.自己的:
  He lives in his own house.
  他住在自己家里。
  He has a car of his own.
  他有一辆自己的车。
  2.quite与quiet
  由于发音和词形都很相似,这两个单词往往容易搞混,其实区别很大。
  (1)quite为程度副词,表示“完全”、“相当”、“很”等含义:
  I'm quite ready.
  我已全准备好了。
  That hat is quite pretty.
  那顶帽子很漂亮。
  Are you quite certain?
  你敢完全肯定吗?
  She isn't quite happy.
  她不是很开心。
  (2)quiet可作形容词,表示“安静的”、“平静的”、“静止的”、“寂静的”等:
  Please be quiet.
  请安静点。
  The sea was very quiet this morning.
  今天上午大海很平静。
  The house became quiet again when the children were gone.
  孩子们走了之后屋子里又变得寂静了。


  练习答案 Key to written exercises
  1.关键句型练习答案
  A What has happened: We have just moved(1.1);This has not been easy(1.3); I have…put(11.4-5); I have ever seen(1.9)
  What has been happening: I have been working(1.1);I have been trying(1.2)
  C have explained…have understood…Have you been listening…has been working/ has worked…has been earning/ has earned…has she earned…have not been listening
  2.难点练习答案
  1 carefully  2 hard  3 hard  4 late  5 nearly  6 fast  7 high
  3.多项选择题答案
  1 b  2c  3c  4a  5b  6d
  7 c  8 b  9a  10 c  11b  12 d


  课堂笔记
  有just就是完成时
  现在完成进行时-动作有延续
  现在完成时:1、在漫长地时间段,过去发生的,还一定要对现在产生影响
  2、在过去发生的动作,一直延续到现在
  I have been working hard all morning(还在继续)
  get my new room in order
  in order :有秩序,有次序
  get sth in order 使...有秩序
  to make matters worse-插入语,放开头,“更糟糕的是”
  rather相当的
  at the moment:(=now)现在
  every inch:每一英寸(夸张)
  help sb (to)do sth:帮某人做某事
  help sb with sth
  he help me to learn english
  he help me with my english
  with your help:在你的帮助下
  with your help i made great progress
  i have ever seen:做定语从句出现,是最高级的标志
  gazed at:对...向往,羡慕
  not at all起强调作用
  key structures
  i have read the book书已看完
  i have been reading the book还没看完,还要继续
  i have read 'Oliver Twist' five times
  跟次数连用的,一定只能用完成时
  语法精髓
  1、you should go to bed.you have been watching/have watched TV for 5 hours
  2、i_____having been(writing)letters since breakfast
  3、i (have written)3 letters since breakfast
  4、sorry,but Mr.Smith has left for Beijing
  leave瞬间动词
  1、和现在完成进行时连用的,一定不能是次数
  2、和现在完成进行时连用的动词,一定不能时短暂动词
  5、i have been looking for him everywhere,where can he be?
  special difficulties
  have been doing
  强调动作有可能继续发生
  不能是短暂动词,次数不能连用
  形容词-做表语,定语
  副词-修饰动词,形容词,副词词性本身
  beautiful--beautifully
  不是所有的形容词都可以加ly(asleep)
  不是所有的副词都一定以ly结尾(late)
  不是所有的加ly的都是副词
  有些词加了ly后,反而意思会改变
  有些词的形容词和副词同行
  late(adj,adv)迟 lately:近来
  hard努力地(=difficult)困难地 hardly几乎不
  high:(adj)高的 high(adv)高度地 highly:高度地
  deep:深的(adj)(adv) deeply:深度地
  near:在旁边的 nearly:几乎,将近
  keep order:保持秩序
  动词+宾语+形容词--做宾补
  get,keep,make,find
  else一定放在不定代词和疑问代词后面anything else、anybody else
  different--形容词,加副词或名词做宾语
  other-形容词
  the other--代词
  otherwise-连词,“否则',副词(=differently)
  hurry up,otherwise you will miss train

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