1、大学体验英语第三版课文原文及翻译FrogStory蛙的故事Acoupleofoddthingshavehappenedlately.最近发生了几桩怪事儿。IhavealogcabininthosewoodsofNorthernWisconsin.Ibuiltitbyhandandalsoaddedagreenhousetothefrontofit.Itisajoytolivein.Infact,Iworkoutofmyhomedoingaudioproductionandenvironmentalwork.AsatoolofthattradeIhaveacomputerandastudio.我
2、在北威斯康星州的树林中有一座小木屋。是我亲手搭建的,前面还有一间花房。住在里面相当惬意。实际上我是在户外做音频制作和环境方面的工作作为干这一行的工具,我还装备了一间带电脑的工作室。Ialsohaveatreefrogthathastakenupresidenceinmystudio.还有一只树蛙也在我的工作室中住了下来。Howodd,Ithought,lastNovemberwhenIfirstnoticedhimsittingatopmysound-boardovermycomputer.Ifiguredthathe(andIsayhe,thoughIreallydonthaveacluei
3、fsheisaheorviceversa)wouldbemorecomfortableinthegreenhouse.SoIputhiminthegreenhouse.Backhecame.Andstayed.AfterawhileIgotquiteusedtothefactthatasIwouldcheckmymorningemailandonlinenews,hewouldbetherewithmesurveyingtheworld.去年十一月,我第一次惊讶地发现他(只是这样称呼罢了,事实上我并不知道该称“他”还是“她”)坐在电脑的音箱上。我把他放到花房里去,认为他待在那儿会更舒服一些。可
4、他又跑回来待在原地。很快我就习惯了有他做伴,清晨我上网查收邮件和阅读新闻的时候,他也在一旁关注这个世界。Then,lastweek,ashewasclimbingaroundlookinglikeasmallgray/greenhuman,Istartedtowonderabouthim.可上周,我突然对这个爬上爬下的“小绿人或小灰人”产生了好奇心。So,thereIwas,workinginmystudioandmycomputerwashummingalong.IhadtostopwhenTreeFrogwentacrossmyview.Hestoppedandturnedaroundan
5、djustsattherelookingatme.Well,Isatbackandlookedathim.ForfivemonthsnowhehadbeenridingtherewithmeandIwassuddenlyovertakenbyanurgetoknowwhyhewasthereandnotinthegreenhouse,whereIfiguredhedliveahappierfroglife.于是有一天,我正在工作室里干活,电脑嗡嗡作响。当树蛙从我面前爬过时,我不得不停止工作。他停下了并转过身来,坐在那儿看着我。好吧,我也干脆停下来望着他。五个月了,他一直这样陪着我。我突然有一股
6、强烈的欲望想了解他:为什么他要待在这儿而不乐意待在花房里?我认为对树蛙来说,花房显然要舒适得多。“Whyareyouhere,”Ifoundmyselfaskinghim.“你为什么待在这儿?”我情不自禁地问他。AsIlookedathim,deadon,hiseyeslookeddirectlyatmeandIheardatone.Thetoneseemedtohitmerightinthecenterofmymind.Itsoundedverynearlylikethesameoneasmycomputer.InthattoneIcouldhearhim“say”tome,“Because
7、Iwantyoutounderstand.”Yo.Thatwasweird.“Understandwhat?”mymindjumpedin.Then,afteramomentoffeelingthiscommunication,IfeltIunderstoodwhyhewasthere.Icametounderstandthatfrogssimplywanttohearotherfrogsandtocommunicate.Possiblythetoneofmycomputersoundedtohimlikeothertreefrogs.我目不转睛地盯着他,他也直视着我。然后我听到一种叮咚声。这
8、种声音似乎一下子就进入了我的大脑中枢,因为它和电脑里发出来的声音十分接近。在那个声音里我听到树蛙对我“说”:“因为我想让你明白”。唷,太不可思议了。“明白什么?”我脑海中突然跳出了这个问题。然后经过短暂的体验这种交流之后,我觉得我已经理解了树蛙待在这儿的原因。我开始理解树蛙只是想听到其他同类的叫声并与之交流。或许他误以为计算机发出的声音就是其他树蛙在呼唤他。Interesting.真是有趣。Ikeptworking.Iwasworkingonastoryaboutglobalclimatechangeandhadjustreceivedafaxfromafriend.Thefaxsaidtha
9、ttheearthiswarmingat1.9degreeseachdecade.AtthatrateIknewthatthemapletreesthatIlovetotapeachspringforsyrupwouldnotsurviveformychildren.MybeautifulWisconsinwouldbecomeaprairiebythenextgeneration.我继续工作。我正在写一个关于全球气候变化的故事。有个朋友刚好发过来一份传真,说地球的温度正以每十年1.9度的速度上升。我知道,照这种速度下去,每年春天我都爱去提取树浆的这片枫林,到我孩子的那一代就将不复存在。我的故
10、乡美丽的威斯康星州也会在下一代变成一片草原。AtthatmomentTreeFrogleapedacrossmyfootandsatonthefloorinfrontofmycomputer.Hethenreacheduphishandtohisleftearandcuppeditthere.Hesatbeforethecomputerandreacheduphisrighthandtohisotherear.Heturnedhisheadthiswayandthatlisteningtothattone.Veryfocused.Hethenbegantoturnaverysubtle,but
11、brilliantshadeofgreenandleapedfullforceontothecomputer.此刻,树蛙从我脚背跳过去站在电脑前的地板上。然后他伸出手来从后面拢起左耳凝神倾听,接着他又站在电脑前伸出右手拢起另一支耳朵。他这样转动着脑袋,聆听那个声音,非常专心致志。他的皮肤起了微妙的变化,呈现出一种亮丽的绿色,然后他就用尽全力跳到电脑上。AndthenIrememberedthestoryaboutthefrogsthatIhadheardlastyearonpublicradio.Itsaidfrogsweredyingaroundtheworld.Itsaidthatbeca
12、usefrogsskinislikealungturnedinsideout,theirskinwasbeingaffectedbypollutionandglobalclimatechange.Itsaidthatfrogswerebeingfoundwhoseskinwaslikepaper.Alldriedup.Itsaidthatfrogsarean“indicatorspecies”.Thatfrogswilldiefirstbecauseofthesensitivity.我猛然想起去年在收音机里听到的一则关于青蛙的消息,说是全世界的青蛙正在死亡。消息说因为青蛙的皮肤就像是一个内里朝
13、外的肺,所以正在受到污染和全球气候变化的影响。据说已经发现有些青蛙的皮肤已变得像纸一样干瘪。还说青蛙是一个“物种指示器”,由于对环境敏感,这个物种会先遭灭顶之灾。Then,Iunderstood.这时我明白了。Thefrogshaveamessageforusanditisthesamemessagethatsomesoberfolkshavehadforus.“Therearenomorechoices.”Wehavereachedthetimewhenwemustbetheadultsfortheplanet,forthesakeofthefuturegenerationsofhumans
14、andforfrogs.青蛙向我们传递了一个信息。一些头脑清醒的人士也曾向我们传递过同样的信息,那就是“我们别无选择。”我们已经进入了关键时刻,为了人类的子孙后代,也为青蛙,我们必须对这个星球负起主人的责任。Becausewearerelated.因为我们休戚相关。ThenIunderstoodthattherearenoboundaries,thatthereisnomoretime.我还明白了我们之间没有界限,明白了时间的紧迫。Thatwe,forthesakeofourrelatives,mustactnow.为了我们的亲人,我们必须马上行动起来。AndthenIunderstood,n
15、otonlywhythefrogwasthere,but,alsowhyIamhere.于是我明白了这只青蛙此行的目的,也知道自己在这儿该做些什么。EinsteinsCompass爱因斯坦的指南针 YoungAlbertwasaquietboy.“Perhapstooquiet”,thoughtHermannandPaulineEinstein.Hespokehardlyatalluntilage3.Theymighthavethoughthimslow,buttherewassomethingelseevident.Whenhedidspeak,hedsaythemostunusualthi
16、ngs.Atage2,Paulinepromisedhimasurprise.Albertwasexcited,thinkingshewasbringinghimsomenewfascinatingtoy.ButwhenhismotherpresentedhimwithhisnewbabysisterMaja,allAlbertcoulddowasstarewithquestioningeyes.Finallyheresponded,“wherearethewheels?”小爱因斯坦是个安静的孩子。爱因斯坦夫妇赫尔曼和波琳认为他“或许太安静了”。爱因斯坦直到三岁时还很少开口说话。父母差点就误认
17、为他是反应迟钝,但有一个明显的事实打消了他们的疑虑,因为当他真的开口说话时,说出的话便异乎寻常。两岁时,母亲波琳许诺给他一个惊喜。小爱因斯坦非常高兴,以为妈妈会带给他一件有趣的新玩具。但当妈妈把刚出生的妹妹玛嘉抱到他面前时,小爱因斯坦只是以疑虑的眼光盯着她,最后说道,“轮子在哪儿?” WhenAlbertwas5yearsoldandsickinbed,HermannEinsteinbroughthimadevicethatdidstirhisintellect.Itwasthefirsttimehehadseenacompass.Helaythereshakingandtwistingthe
18、oddthing,certainhecouldfoolitintopointingoffinanewdirection.Buttryashemight,thecompassneedlewouldalwaysfinditswaybacktopointinginthedirectionofnorth.“Awonder,”hethought.TheinvisibleforcethatguidedthecompassneedlewasevidencetoAlbertthattherewasmoretoourworldthanmeetstheeye.Therewas“somethingbehindthi
19、ngs,somethingdeeplyhidden.”爱因斯坦五岁的时候有一次卧病在床,父亲赫尔曼送给他一个新玩意儿。正是这个小玩意开启了他的智力。那是小爱因斯坦第一次见到指南针。他躺在床上摇晃摆弄着这个稀奇的东西,认为自己能将指针糊弄到指向另一个方向。但是无论他怎样摆弄,指针却总是会回到原来指北的位置。“真奇妙”,他想。引导指南针的无形力量使爱因斯坦认识到,我们肉眼看到的只是世界的一部分,事物背后还有“某种东西,某种深藏着的东西”。SobeganAlbertEinsteinsjourneydownaroadofexplorationthathewouldfollowtherestofhisl
20、ife.“Ihavenospecialgift,”hewouldsay,“Iamonlypassionatelycurious.”阿尔伯特?爱因斯坦就这样踏上了他穷其一生的探索之路。“我没有特殊的天分”,他常常说,“我只是有强烈的好奇心。”AlbertEinsteinwasmorethanjustcuriousthough.Hehadthepatienceanddeterminationthatkepthimatthingslongerthanmostothers.Otherchildrenwouldbuildhousesofcardsupto4storiestallbeforethecard
21、swouldlosebalanceandthewholestructurewouldcomefallingdown.MajawatchedinwonderasherbrotherAlbertmethodicallybuilthiscardbuildingsto14stories.Laterhewouldsay,“ItsnotthatImsosmart,itsjustthatIstaywithproblemslonger.”爱因斯坦不仅仅只是有好奇心。他的耐心和毅力使他做起事情来能比大多数人都更持久。其他孩子用纸牌搭楼房,搭到四层高时房子就会失去平衡而坍塌下来。而玛嘉却惊奇地看着她哥哥阿尔伯特能
22、有条不紊地搭起14层的纸牌高楼。后来爱因斯坦说道,“这不是因为我有多聪明,而是因为我能坚持得更久。”OneadvantageAlbertEinsteinsdevelopingmindenjoyedwastheopportunitytocommunicatewithadultsinanintellectualway.Hisuncle,anengineer,wouldcometothehouse,andAlbertwouldjoininthediscussions.Histhinkingwasalsostimulatedbyamedicalstudentwhocameoveronceaweekfo
23、rdinnerandlivelychats.阿尔伯特?爱因斯坦的思维发展得益于他有机会与成人进行智力交流。他的叔叔是工程师,经常到爱因斯坦家里来,于是爱因斯坦就有机会参与他们的讨论。爱因斯坦的思想还受到一位医科学生的启迪。此人每星期都来爱因斯坦家一次,与爱因斯坦一家共进晚餐,一起谈天说地。Atage12,AlbertEinsteincameuponasetofideasthatimpressedhimas“holy.”ItwasalittlebookonEuclideanplane1geometry.Theconceptthatonecouldprovetheoremsofanglesandl
24、inesthatwereinnowayobviousmadean“indescribableimpression”ontheyoungstudent.Headoptedmathematicsasthetoolhewouldusetopursuehiscuriosityandprovewhathewoulddiscoveraboutthebehavioroftheuniverse.爱因斯坦12岁的时候发现了一系列他认为是“神圣”的观念。那是一本有关欧几里得平面几何的小册子。原来人可以证明那些不易明显看出的角度和线段的定理。这个想法给年轻学生爱因斯坦留下了“难以形容的印象”。他把数学当做满足自己好
25、奇心并用以证明他后来发现宇宙运行规律的手段。Hewasconvincedthatbeautyliesinthesimplistic.Perhapsthisinsightwastherealpowerofhisgenius.AlbertEinsteinlookedforthebeautyofsimplicityintheapparentlycomplexnatureandsawtruthsthatescapedothers.Whiletheexpressionofhismathematicsmightbeaccessibletoonlyafewsharpmindsinthescience,Alb
26、ertcouldcondensetheessenceofhisthoughtssoanyonecouldunderstand.他坚信美丽寓于简朴。或许这个悟性才是激发他天分的真正力量所在。阿尔伯特爱因斯坦在表象复杂的大自然中寻求简朴的美,并发现别人看不到的真理。爱因斯坦用数学公式表达的思想也许只有少数才思敏锐的科学家才能理解,但他却能简洁地阐明自己思想之精髓,使人人都能够理解。Forinstance,histheoriesofrelativityrevolutionizedscienceandunseatedthelawsofNewtonthatwerebelievedtobeacomplet
27、edescriptionofnatureforhundredsofyears.Yetwhenpressedforanexamplethatpeoplecouldrelateto,hecameupwiththis:“Putyourhandonahotstoveforaminuteanditseemslikeanhour.Sitwithaprettygirlforanhouranditseemslikeaminute.THATsrelativity.”比如说,他的相对论推翻了数百年来一直被认为是完整地描述了自然界一切规律的牛顿定律,给科学界带来了一场彻底的变革。但是当有人敦促他举例说明,以便让大众
28、能理解相对论时,他说:“把手放在烫人的炉上时,一分钟就像是一个小时。坐在漂亮姑娘的身边,一个小时就像是一分钟。这就是相对论。”AlbertEinsteinswealthofnewideaspeakedwhilehewasstillayoungmanof26.In1905hewrote3fundamentalpapersonthenatureoflight(aproofofatoms),thespecialtheoryofrelativityandthefamousequationofatomicpower:E=mc.Forthenext20years,thecuriositythatwassparkedbywantingtoknowwhatcontrolledthec
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