美国小学英语教材6:第218课 电灯的五十周年纪念(7)（在线收听）

EDISON THE MAN

爱迪生这个人

Thomas A. Edison was about five feet, nine inches tall.

爱迪生身高大约五英尺九英寸。

His features were large, his head well-shaped and covered with a mop of hair that usually fell down over his forehead.

他的特征明显，脑袋呈圆形，长着通常搭在额头上的头发。

His eyes were light gray. His expression was happy and calm.

他的眼睛是浅灰色的。他的表情快乐而平静。

One of the workers in the crew at Menlo Park described him as follows:

门洛帕克中的一名工作人员对他的描述如下：

“I like best to think of Edison in the old laboratory on the Jersey sand.

“我印象最深的是泽西岛沙子上旧实验室里的爱迪生。

It was at Menlo Park that through his genius the telephone spoke out loud and clear; that the first electric rail-way swung in curves around the lot;

在门洛帕克，他利用其天才让电话的性能更好；第一条电力火车蜿蜒行驶；

that the phonograph sang with a human voice; that the electric lamp threw its steady beam across the world.

留声机发出人类的歌声；电灯向世界投射出稳定的光束。

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In memory I see Edison, his black hair straggling over his forehead,

在记忆中，我看到爱迪生的黑色头发杂乱地搭在额头上，

a careless leg thrown across the arm of his chair, around him the noisy gang of his ‘boys’—

一条腿漫不经心地搭在椅子扶手上，周围是他的团队人员，

Edison either sunk deep in thought or looking up at some bit of fun, with his rare and hearty laughter that came upon us like a clap of applause.”

爱迪生要么陷入沉思，要么带着乐趣仰视，他难得的笑声像掌声一样。”

Edison led a very busy life, and accomplished great things, but he never rushed.

爱迪生过着非常忙碌的生活，成就了伟大的事情，但他从不着急。

He believed in making speed by not wasting time.

他相信，不浪费时间就可以提高速度。

He never ordered his crew to hurry, but let them stop by the way to joke and make merry.

他从不命令工作人员急于行动，而是允许他们停下来开玩笑和寻开心。

He had one of the finest qualities in the world — that of patience.

他具有世界上最好的素质之一：耐心。