VOA标准英语2008年-Out in the Woods, Nonconformists Gather

An eccentric is defined as a person who deviates¹ from accepted conduct. Nonconformists have achieved greatness in many fields, but many of us remain wary² of those who seem odd, extreme, perhaps disturbed or even dangerous.

We think of eccentrics as loners. Yet a recent news dispatch from the western state of Wyoming reported that about 400 members of what was described as a loose affiliation³ of eccentrics called the Rainbow Family threw rocks and sticks at federal officers who were trying to arrest one of the group.

Once a year this loose affiliation of eccentrics chooses a forest, somewhere in America, in which to camp for a week. This year, 7,000 eccentrics were said to have pitched tents on Forest Service land in the Wyoming mountains.

Disconnected mavericks⁴ though they may be, these Rainbow Family persons have managed to put together a website, which begins thusly: "Some say we're the largest non-organization of non-members in the world. We have no leaders, and no organization." Yet, the description continues, these non-members in the non-organization do think alike about alternative lifestyles, non-violence, and peace and love. They're in favor of them, just as another loosely affiliated⁵ group of eccentrics called hippies were 40 years ago.

Uncomfortable though we are with eccentrics, Americans seem to tolerate them and sometimes admire their idealism. Several years ago, for instance, the refined New York Philharmonic orchestra staged a whole festival to salute⁶ American musical nonconformists described as solitary⁷ minds heartened by each other's work. The festival was entitled, The American Eccentrics.

　

 

 

 

1 deviates   

v.偏离，越轨( deviate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The boy's behavior deviates from the usual pattern. 这个男孩子的举止与一般人不同。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The limit occurs when the ordinate deviates appreciably from unity. 这个限度发生在纵坐标明显地从单位1偏离的时候。 来自辞典例句

2 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

3 affiliation   

n.联系，联合

参考例句：

• There is no affiliation between our organization and theirs,even though our names are similar.尽管两个组织的名称相似，但我们之间并没有关系。
• The kidnappers had no affiliation with any militant group.这些绑架者与任何军事组织都没有紧密联系。

4 mavericks   

未烙印的牲畜( maverick的名词复数 )； 标新立异的人，不合常规的人

参考例句：

• And what about the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki? 那达拉斯小牛队和诺维斯基呢？
• And we see it with bringing Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks. 而且我们看到它同实现基德向达拉斯小牛队。

5 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。

6 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

7 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。