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大学英语精读第六册 Unit 2

时间:2006-01-24 16:00来源:互联网 提供网友:999999   字体: [ ]
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             Unit Two

Text
    There is something fascinating about reading other people's mail if you are allowed to. Here is your chance to read the letters of American writer Sylvia Plath, which she wrote home to her mother from a hotel where she had a summer job as a waitress. At the time, she was a college student and was still at the start of her writing career. Through the letter we learn of her changing thoughts and moods concerning, boys and writing.

     THE BEGINNING OF A CARREER


                          Sylvia Plath
            The Belmont Hotel, cape1 Cod
                         June 11, 1952
Dear Mother,
    Your amazing telegram [telegram announcing $500 Mademoiselle prize for "Sunday at the Mintons," which I forwarded] came just as I was scrubbing tables in the shady interior of The Belmont dining room. I was so excited that I screamed and actually threw my arms around the head waitress who no doubt thinks I am rather insane! Anyhow, psychologically, the moment couldn't have been better. I felt tired -- one's first night's sleep in a new place never is peaceful -- and I didn't get much! To top it off, I was the only girl waitress here, and had been scrubbing furniture, washing dishes and silver, lifting tables, etc. since 8 a.m. Also, I just learned since I am completely inexperienced, I am not going to be working in the main dining room, but in the "side hall" where the managers and top hotel brass2 eat. So, tips will no doubt net much less during the summer and the company be less interesting. So I was beginning to worry about money when your telegram came. God! To think "Sunday at the Mintons" is one of two prize stories to be put in a big national slick! Frankly3, I can't believe it!
    The first thing I though of was: Mother can keep her intersession money and buy some pretty clothes and a special trip or something! At least I get a winter coat and extra special suit out of the Mintons. I think the prize is $500!
    ME! Of all people!…
    So it's really looking up around here, now that I don't have to be scared stiff about money … Oh, I say, even if my feet kill me after this first week, and I drop 20 trays, I will have the beach, boys to bring me beer, sun, and young gay companions. What a life.
    Love, your crazy old daughter.

                               Sivvy

                         June 12. 1952
    No doubt after I catch up on sleep, and learn to balance trays high on my left hand, I'll feel much happier. As it is now, I feel stuck in the midst of a lot of loud, brassy Irish Catholics, and the only way I can jolly myself is to say, "Oh, well, it's only for a summer, and I can maybe write about them all." At least I've got a new name for my next protagonist4 -- Marley, a gabby girl who knows her way around but good. The ration5 of boys to girls has gotten less and less, so I'll be lucky if I get tagged by the youngest kid here. Lots of the girls are really wise, drinking flirts6. As for me, being the conservative, quiet, gracious type, I don't stand much chance of dating some of the cutest ones … If I can only get "in" as a pal7 with these girls, and never for a minute let them know I'm the gentle intellectual type, it'll be O.K.
    As for the Mlle news, I don't think it's really sunk in yet. I felt sure they made a mistake, or that you'd made it up to cheer me. The big advantage will be that I won't have to worry about earning barely $300 this summer. I would really have been sick otherwise. I can't wait till August when I can go casually8 down to the drug store and pick up a slick copy of Mlle, flip9 to the index, and see ME, one of two college girls in the U.S.!
    Really, when I think of how I started it over spring vacation, polished it at school, and sat up till midnight in the Haven10 House kitchen typing it amidst noise and chatter11, I can't get over how the story soared to were it did…
    I get great pleasure out of sharing it [her feeling about the story] with you, who really understand how terribly much it means as a tangible12 testimony13 that I have got a germ of writing ability. The only thing, I probably won't have a chance to win Mlle again, so I'll try for a guest editorship maybe next or my senior year, and set my sights for the Atlantic. God, I'm glad I can talk about it with you -- probably you're the only outlet14 that I'll have that won't get tired of my talking about writing …
    Speaking again of Henry and Liz, it was a step for me to a story where the protagonist isn't always ME, and proved that I am beginning to use imagination to transform the actual incident. I was scared that would never happen, but I think it's an indication that my perspective is broadening.
   Sometime I think -- heck, I don't know why I didn't stay home all summer, writing, doing physical science, and having a small part-time job. I could "afford" to now, but it doesn't do much good to yearn15 about that, I guess. Although it would have been nice. Oh well, I'll cheer up. I love you.
                   Your own Sivvy

                        June 15, 1952

Dear Mother.
    … Do write me letters, Mommy, because I am in a very dangerous of feeling sorry for myself … Just at present, life is awful. Mademoiselle seems quite unreal, and I am exhausted16, scared, incompetent17, unenergetic and generally low is spirits … Working in side hall puts me part, and I feel completely uprooted18 and clumsy. The more I see the main hall girls expertly getting special dishes, fixing shaved ice and fruit, etc., the more I get an inferiority complex and feel that each day in side hall leaves me further behind … But as tempted19 as I am to be a coward and escape by crawling back home, I have resolved to give it a good month's trial -- till July 10 … Don't worry about me, but do send me little pellets of advice now and then.

                        June 24, 1952
    … Last night I went on a "gang" birthday party at the "Sand Bar" where we sang and talked for a few hours. There were about forty of us kids from the hotel. I managed by some magic to get myself seated next to a fellow in his first year at Harvard Law -- and he was just a dear … The best part was when we came back. It was a beautiful clear starry20 night, and Clark went in to get me two of his sweaters to wear because it was cold, and brought out a book of T.S. Eliot's poems. So we sat on a bench where I could just barely read the print, and he put his head in my lap and I read aloud to him for a wile21. Most nice. The only thing is I am so inclined to get fond of someone who will do things with me like that -- always inclined to be too metaphysical and serious conversationally22 -- that's my main trouble … So glad to hear the check from Mlle is real. I hardly could believe it. Just now I am mentally so disorganized that I can't retain knowledge or think at all. The work is still new enough to be tiring, what with three changes a day into uniforms, and I am so preoccupied23 by mechanics of living and people that I can't yet organize and assimilate all the chaos24 of experience pouring in on me. In spite of everything, I still have my good old sense of humor and manage to laugh a good deal of the time … I'll make the best of whatever comes my way.

                     Much love to you,
                                 Sivvy

          New Words
    mademoiselle
n.  French title equivalent to Miss, abbr. Mlle

    shady
a. full of or providing shad; dark

    interior
n. the inner part of sth; inside

    insane
a.  seriously ill in the mind; mad
    anyhow
ad. in any case; anyway

    brass
n.  (sl.) high officials, executives, etc.

    net
vt. gain as profit 净赚

    slick
n.  a popular magazine printed on heavy, glassy paper(用油光纸印制的)通俗杂志
 
    frankly
ad. in an open, honest and straightforward25 way

    frank
a.

    intersession
n.  a period between two academic terms, sometime utilized26 for brief concentrated courses

    beer
n.  a bitter alcoholic27 drink made from grain 啤酒

    companion
n.  one who is often with another person; friend 同伴

    brassy
a.  loud and daring in a tasteless manner

    jolly
vt. make (sb.) feel good or agreeable, esp. to gain and end

    protagonist
n.  the chief character in a play or novel

    gabby
a.  very talkative

    ratio
n.  the relationship in number, quantity or size between two different things 比率

    tag
vt. follow closely

    flirt
n.  a person who behaves with a member of the opposite sex in a way that attracts interest and attention

    gracious
a.  very well-mannered and pleasant

    cute
a.  sharp-witted, clever, charmingly attractive

    pal
n.  (infml) friend

    flip
vi. turn over quickly

    index
n.  an alphabetical28 list of the names and subjects in a printed work 索引

    polish
vt. improve; perfect 润色

    soar
vi. fly high into the air; rise beyond what is common and ordinary

    tangible
a.  real; clear or definite enough to be easily seen, felt or noticed
 
    testimony
n.  proof; evidence

    germ
n.  the beginning of anything; origin 萌芽,起源

    editorship
n.  the position of an editor

    senior
a.  of the final year at high school or college
n.  student in the senior class

    outlet
n.  a way of releasing sth.

    perspective
n.  view; outlook; way of thinking about things 观点,看法

    broaden
v.  make or become broader

    heck
int. (used mainly as a mild curse) hell

    yearn
vi. have a strong desire; long

    uproot
vt. tear up by the roots

    inferiority
n.  the state or condition of being not good or less good in quality or value

    inferiority complex
    an abnormal feeling not as good as other people, sometimes resulting in avoidance of others or overly aggressive behavior 自卑情结

    inferior
a.

    coward
n.  a person who is afraid to face danger, pain or hardship

    pellet
n.  a little ball or similarly shaped object; piece

    gang
n.  a group of friends who frequently meet

    starry
a.  filled with stars that are visible

    sweater
n.  a warm knitted piece of clothing, which covers the upper part of one's body and arms 毛线衫,厚运动衫

    fond
a.  having a great liking29 or love for sb. or sth.

    metaphysical
a.  highly abstract; philosophical30 高度抽象的,哲理的

    disorganized
a.  in a confused state; badly planned or managed

    preoccupy
vt. fill the thoughts of sb. almost completely, esp. so that not enough attention is given to other things

    mechanics
n.  the way in which sth. works or is done

    mechanics of living
    simple routine matters of life

    assimilate
vt. take into the body and digest; understand completely and be able to use properly

    chaos
n.  a state of complete and thorough disorder31 and confusion

         Phrases & Expressions
  no doubt
  without doubt; certainly

  to top it off
  (usu. introducing sth. undesirable32) in addition to everything else

  be stuck in
  be unable to escape from (a disadvantageous position)

  know one's way around/ about
  understand how things happen in the world; be experienced in the way of the world

  as for
  in regard to; speaking of; concerning

  sink in
  get a firm place in the mind; become fully33 understood

  get over
  believe; learn to live with the shock of (sth. Very surprising or shocking)

  set one's sight for
  aim for, wish to get or win

  cheer up
  become hopeful, joyous34 or glad; stop being sad or discouraged

  at present
  at this time; now

  what with
  as a result of (used to introduce the reasons for a particular situation, esp. an undesirable one)

  be preoccupied by/with
  have the mind fixed35 on sth., esp. sth. worrying so that no attention is paid to anything else

  make the best of
  do as well as one can with

  come one's way
  happen to one

             Proper Names
  Sylvia Plath
  西尔维亚.普拉斯

  Belmont
  贝尔蒙特

  Cape Cod
  科德角

  Mademoiselle
  《小姐》杂志

  Minton
  明顿

  Marley
  马莉

  the Atlantic
  《大西洋》月刊

  Henry
  亨利

  Liz
  莉兹

  Harvard Law (School)
  哈佛大学法学院

  Clark
  克拉克

  T.S. Eliot
  T.S. 艾略特                   


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 cape ITEy6     
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风
参考例句:
  • I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
  • She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。
2 brass DWbzI     
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器
参考例句:
  • Many of the workers play in the factory's brass band.许多工人都在工厂铜管乐队中演奏。
  • Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
3 frankly fsXzcf     
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说
参考例句:
  • To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说,我一点也不赞成这个主意。
  • Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说,我不反对改革。
4 protagonist mBVyN     
n.(思想观念的)倡导者;主角,主人公
参考例句:
  • The protagonist reforms in the end and avoids his proper punishment.戏剧主角最后改过自新并避免了他应受的惩罚。
  • He is the model for the protagonist in the play.剧本中的主人公就是以他为模特儿创作的!
5 ration CAxzc     
n.定量(pl.)给养,口粮;vt.定量供应
参考例句:
  • The country cut the bread ration last year.那个国家去年削减面包配给量。
  • We have to ration the water.我们必须限量用水。
6 flirts 5848f49822390f17228dd78b6d46e6b8     
v.调情,打情骂俏( flirt的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • She flirts with every man she meets. 她同她遇到的每个男人调情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She flirts with every handsome man she meets. 她和所遇到的每个美男子调情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
7 pal j4Fz4     
n.朋友,伙伴,同志;vi.结为友
参考例句:
  • He is a pal of mine.他是我的一个朋友。
  • Listen,pal,I don't want you talking to my sister any more.听着,小子,我不让你再和我妹妹说话了。
8 casually UwBzvw     
adv.漠不关心地,无动于衷地,不负责任地
参考例句:
  • She remarked casually that she was changing her job.她当时漫不经心地说要换工作。
  • I casually mentioned that I might be interested in working abroad.我不经意地提到我可能会对出国工作感兴趣。
9 flip Vjwx6     
vt.快速翻动;轻抛;轻拍;n.轻抛;adj.轻浮的
参考例句:
  • I had a quick flip through the book and it looked very interesting.我很快翻阅了一下那本书,看来似乎很有趣。
  • Let's flip a coin to see who pays the bill.咱们来抛硬币决定谁付钱。
10 haven 8dhzp     
n.安全的地方,避难所,庇护所
参考例句:
  • It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后,这真是一个安乐窝。
  • The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。
11 chatter BUfyN     
vi./n.喋喋不休;短促尖叫;(牙齿)打战
参考例句:
  • Her continuous chatter vexes me.她的喋喋不休使我烦透了。
  • I've had enough of their continual chatter.我已厌烦了他们喋喋不休的闲谈。
12 tangible 4IHzo     
adj.有形的,可触摸的,确凿的,实际的
参考例句:
  • The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
  • There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。
13 testimony zpbwO     
n.证词;见证,证明
参考例句:
  • The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
  • He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。
14 outlet ZJFxG     
n.出口/路;销路;批发商店;通风口;发泄
参考例句:
  • The outlet of a water pipe was blocked.水管的出水口堵住了。
  • Running is a good outlet for his energy.跑步是他发泄过剩精力的好方法。
15 yearn nMjzN     
v.想念;怀念;渴望
参考例句:
  • We yearn to surrender our entire being.我们渴望着放纵我们整个的生命。
  • Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。
16 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
17 incompetent JcUzW     
adj.无能力的,不能胜任的
参考例句:
  • He is utterly incompetent at his job.他完全不能胜任他的工作。
  • He is incompetent at working with his hands.他动手能力不行。
18 uprooted e0d29adea5aedb3a1fcedf8605a30128     
v.把(某物)连根拔起( uproot的过去式和过去分词 );根除;赶走;把…赶出家园
参考例句:
  • Many people were uprooted from their homes by the flood. 水灾令许多人背井离乡。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The hurricane blew with such force that trees were uprooted. 飓风强烈地刮着,树都被连根拔起了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 tempted b0182e969d369add1b9ce2353d3c6ad6     
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词)
参考例句:
  • I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚,但还是没开口。
  • I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。
20 starry VhWzfP     
adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的
参考例句:
  • He looked at the starry heavens.他瞧着布满星星的天空。
  • I like the starry winter sky.我喜欢这满天星斗的冬夜。
21 wile PgcwT     
v.诡计,引诱;n.欺骗,欺诈
参考例句:
  • The music wiled him from his study.诱人的音乐使他无心学习下去。
  • The sunshine wiled me from my work.阳光引诱我放下了工作。
22 conversationally c99513d77f180e80661b63a35b670a58     
adv.会话地
参考例句:
  • I am at an unfavourable position in being conversationally unacquainted with English. 我由于不熟悉英语会话而处于不利地位。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The findings suggest that happy lives are social and conversationally deep, rather than solitary and superficial. 结论显示,快乐的生活具有社会层面的意义并与日常交谈有关,而并不仅仅是个体差异和表面现象。 来自互联网
23 preoccupied TPBxZ     
adj.全神贯注的,入神的;被抢先占有的;心事重重的v.占据(某人)思想,使对…全神贯注,使专心于( preoccupy的过去式)
参考例句:
  • He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to notice anything wrong. 他只顾想着心事,没注意到有什么不对。
  • The question of going to the Mount Tai preoccupied his mind. 去游泰山的问题盘踞在他心头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
24 chaos 7bZyz     
n.混乱,无秩序
参考例句:
  • After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后,城市一片混乱。
  • The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。
25 straightforward fFfyA     
adj.正直的,坦率的;易懂的,简单的
参考例句:
  • A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
  • I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。
26 utilized a24badb66c4d7870fd211f2511461fff     
v.利用,使用( utilize的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • In the19th century waterpower was widely utilized to generate electricity. 在19世纪人们大规模使用水力来发电。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The empty building can be utilized for city storage. 可以利用那栋空建筑物作城市的仓库。 来自《简明英汉词典》
27 alcoholic rx7zC     
adj.(含)酒精的,由酒精引起的;n.酗酒者
参考例句:
  • The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
  • Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。
28 alphabetical gfvyY     
adj.字母(表)的,依字母顺序的
参考例句:
  • Please arrange these books in alphabetical order.请把这些书按字母顺序整理一下。
  • There is no need to maintain a strict alphabetical sequence.不必保持严格的字顺。
29 liking mpXzQ5     
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢
参考例句:
  • The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
  • I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。
30 philosophical rN5xh     
adj.哲学家的,哲学上的,达观的
参考例句:
  • The teacher couldn't answer the philosophical problem.老师不能解答这个哲学问题。
  • She is very philosophical about her bad luck.她对自己的不幸看得很开。
31 disorder Et1x4     
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调
参考例句:
  • When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后,他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
  • It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。
32 undesirable zp0yb     
adj.不受欢迎的,不良的,不合意的,讨厌的;n.不受欢迎的人,不良分子
参考例句:
  • They are the undesirable elements among the employees.他们是雇员中的不良分子。
  • Certain chemicals can induce undesirable changes in the nervous system.有些化学物质能在神经系统中引起不良变化。
33 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
34 joyous d3sxB     
adj.充满快乐的;令人高兴的
参考例句:
  • The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
  • They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。
35 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
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