美国语文第三册 第52期:闹钟

 　　A lady, who found it not easy to wake in the morning as early as she wished, bought an alarm clock. 有一位女士，发现不容易像自己希望的那样在清晨早点醒来，于是她买了一个闹钟。

　　These clocks are so made as to strike with a loud whirring noise at any hour the owner pleases to set them. 闹钟被制造出来，就是为了在主人设定的任何时间发出响亮的声音。

　　The lady placed her clock at the head of the bed, and at the right time she found herself roused by the long, rattling¹ sound. 女士把闹钟放在床头，到了设定的准确时间，她发现自己被一阵很长的咔嗒声吵醒了。

　　She arose at once, and felt better all day for her early rising. 她马上起床，一整天都因为早起而感觉更好。

　　This lasted for some weeks. 这样的情况持续了几个星期。

　　The alarm clock faithfully did its duty, and was plainly heard so long as it was obeyed. 闹钟忠诚地尽职尽责，而且只要主人服从闹钟的指令，就能按时听到它的声音。

　　But, after a time, the lady grew tired of early rising. 然而，过了一段时间以后，这位女士厌倦了早起。

　　When she was waked by the noise, she merely turned over in bed, and slept again. 被闹钟声吵醒之后，她只是在床上翻一个身，然后继续睡觉。

　　In a few days, the clock ceased to rouse her from her sleep. 几天以后，闹钟不再能使她从睡梦中醒来。

　　It spoke² just as loudly as ever; but she did not hear it, because she had been in the habit of not obeying it. 闹钟声还是一如既往地响亮，但她听而不见，因为她已经习惯了不再听从闹钟的指令。

　　Finding that she might as well be without it, she resolved that when she heard the sound she would jump up. 意识到她这样还不如没有闹钟，女士下定决心，一听到闹钟的声音，就跳起来。

　　Just so it is with conscience. 良心也是一样。

　　If we will obey its voice, even in the most trifling³ things, we can always hear it, clear and strong. 如果我们愿意听从它的声音，即使是关于最细微的事情，我们也总是能听到，清晰而强劲。

　　But if we allow ourselves to do what we have some fears may not be quite right, 然而，要是我们任由自己去做我们担心不是很正确的一些事情，

　　we shall grow more and more sleepy, until the voice of conscience has no longer power to wake us. 我们就会变得越来越困，直到良心的声音不再有力量把我们唤醒。

1 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 trifling   

adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的

参考例句：

• They quarreled over a trifling matter.他们为这种微不足道的事情争吵。
• So far Europe has no doubt, gained a real conveniency,though surely a very trifling one.直到现在为止,欧洲无疑地已经获得了实在的便利，不过那确是一种微不足道的便利。