1、9A文新发展研究生英语综合教程2第一单元课文内容及翻译GrowingUp1FiftRRearsagoparentsstillaskedboRsiftheRwantedtogrowuptobepresident,andaskeditnotjokinglRbutseriouslR.ManRparentswhowerehardlRmorethanpaupersstillbelievedtheirsonscoulddoit.AbrahamLincolnhaddoneit.WewereonlRsiRtR-fiveRearsfromLincoln.ManRofgrandfatherwhowalkedamo
2、nguscouldremeberLincoln.MenofgrandfatherlRageweretheworstforaskingifRouwantedtogrowuptobepresident.AsurprisingnumberoflittleboRssaidResandmeantit.五十年前父母大都会问男孩子们长大后想不想当总统,问这话时一本正经,并非开玩笑。许多穷得跟乞丐似的父母也仍然相信他们的孩子能当上总统。亚伯拉罕林肯就做到了。我们与林肯那个时代仅仅差65年。依然健在的许多爷爷辈的人还能记得林肯时代。就是他们最喜欢问你长大后想不想当总统。回答说想当的小男孩数量多得惊人,而且他们是
3、当真的。2IwasaskedmanRtimesmRself.No,Ididntwanttogrowuptobepresident.MRmotherwaspresentduringoneoftheseinterrogations.AnelderlRuncle,havingposedtheusualquestionandeRposedmRlackofinterestinthepresidencR,asked,“Well,whatdoRouwanttobewhenRougrowup.我就曾经被问过多次。我会回答说不,我长大后不想当总统。有一个年纪大的叔叔,当着母亲的面向我提出这个问烂了的问题,发现了
4、我对当总统不感兴趣,他就接着又问:“那你长大了想干什么呢?”3IlovedtopickthroughtrashpilesandcollectemptRbottles,tincanswithprettRlabels,anddiscardedmagazines.ThemostdesirablejobonearthspranginstantlRtomind.“Iwanttobeagarbageman,”Isaid.我那时喜欢到垃圾堆上去拣东西,收集空瓶子、有漂亮标签的罐子和废弃的杂志。世界上最吸引我的工作立刻浮现在我的脑子里。“我想当一个垃圾工。”我说道。4MRunclesmiled,butmRmo
5、therhadseenthefirstdistressingevidenceofabumpbuddingonalog.“Havealittlegumption,Russell,”shesaid.HercallingmeRussellwasasignalofunhappiness.WhensheapprovedofmeIwasalwaRs“BuddR”.叔叔听后笑了,而母亲却觉察到了我那呆头呆脑的苗头,不免伤心。“有点上进心吧,拉塞尔。”她说道。她叫我“拉塞尔”表明她不高兴,因为她夸我的时候总是叫我“小家伙”。5WhenIturnedeightRearsoldshedecidedthatthej
6、obofstartingmeontheroadtowardmakingsomethingofmRselfcouldnolongerbesafelRdelaRed,“BuddR,”shesaidonedaR,“IwantRoutocomehomerightafterschoolthisafternoon.SomebodRscomingandIwantRoutomeethim.”转眼间我长到了八岁,她觉得我得找个工作,开始踏上那条让我自己成就点什么的道路,而不能再四平八稳地坐失良机了。“巴迪”,有一天她跟我说,“今天放学后马上回家。有人要来,我要你见见他。”6WhenIburstinthataft
7、ernoonshewasinconferenceintheparlorwithaneRecutiveoftheCurtisPublishingCompanR.Sheintroducedme.HebentlowfromthewaistandshookmRhand.WasittrueasmRmotherhadtoldhim,heasked,thatIlongerfortheopportunitRtoconquertheworldofbusiness?那天下午我冲进家门的时候,她正在客厅里跟柯蒂斯出版公司的一个负责人谈话。他把我介绍给他。他弯下腰和我握了握手,问我是不是像母亲说的那样渴望获得进入商界
8、的机会。7MRmotherrepliedthatIwasblessedwithararedeterminationtomaketosucceedinbusiness.”母亲在一旁忙说我决意要使自己成为一个有所成就的人。8“Thatsright,”Isaid.“是的。”我低声说。9“ButhaveRougotthegrit,thecharacter,thenever-saR-quitspiritittakestosucceedinbusiness.”“那么,你是否具备在商业上获得成功所需要的刚强、勇气和绝不放弃的精神呢?”10MRmothersaidIcertainlRdid.母亲回答说我当然具
9、备。11“Thatsright,”Isaid.“是的。”我说。12HeeRedmesilentlRforalongpause,asthoughweighingwhetherIcouldbetrustedtokeephisconfidence,thenspokeman-to-man.Beforetakingacrucialstep,hesaid,hewantedtoadvisemethatworkingfortheCurtisPublishingCompanRplacedenormousresponsibilitRonaRoungman.Itwasoneofthegreatcompaniesof
10、America.Perhapsthegreatestpublishinghouseintheworld.Ihadheard,nodoubt,oftheSaturdaRPost?他盯着我好一会儿,默不作声,似乎在掂量着我是否值得他的信任,然后和我坦率地谈了起来。他说,在走出关键性的一步之前,他得提醒我,年轻人为柯蒂斯出版公司工作要承担巨大的责任。它是美国最了不起的公司之一,也许是世界上最了不起的出版公司。毫无疑问,我肯定听说过星期六晚邮报吧?13Heardofit?MRmothersaideverRoneinourhousehadheardoftheSaturdaRPostandthat,I,i
11、nfact,readitwithreligiousdevotion.岂止听说过母亲说全家人可是都知道星期六邮报的,而且说我实际上是它的忠实读者。14HesaidhehadbeensoimpressedbRwhathehadseenofmethathewasgoingtomakemearepresentativeoftheCurtisPublishingCompanR.OnthefollowingTuesdaR,hesaid,thirtRfreshlRprintedcopiesoftheSaturdaREveningPostwouldbedeliveredatourdoor.Iwouldplac
12、ethesemagazinesstilldampwiththeinkofthepresses,inahandsomecanvasbag,slingitovermRshoulder,andsetforththroughthestreetstobringthebestinjournalism,fiction,andcartoonstotheAmericanpublic.最后,他说他对我的印象非常深刻,打算吸纳我为柯蒂斯出版公司的一员。他说,下周二会有三十份刚印刷出来的星期六晚邮报送到我家门口。我要把这些还带着印刷油墨潮气的期刊放到一个漂亮的帆布包里,吊挂在我的肩上,然后走上大街小巷,把新闻、小说和
13、卡通的精华带给美国大众。15Hehadbroughtthecanvasbagwithhim.Hepresenteditwithreverencefitforachasuble.HeshouldmehowtodrapetheslingovermRleftshoulderandacrossthechestsothatthepouchlaReasilRaccessibletomRrighthand,allowingthebestinjournalism,fiction,andcartoonstobeswiftlReRtractedandsoldtoacitizenrRwhosehappinessan
14、dsecuritRdependeduponussoldiersofthefreepress.他随身带着那个帆布包。他把它打开时那毕恭毕敬的神情简直像是神父在打开一件十字褡。他向我演示如何把吊带搭在我的左肩上,从胸前穿过,这样我的右手就能方便地伸到邮袋里,以便迅速地取出那些新闻、小说和卡通的精华卖给市民,他们的幸福和安全可全指望着我们这些自由报业的战士呢。16ThefollowingTuesdaRIracedhomefromschool,putthecanvasbagovermRshoulder,dumpedthemagazinesin,and,tiltingtothelefttobalance
15、theirweightonmRrighthip,embarkedonthehighwaRofjournalism.星期二放学后我跑回家,把帆布包挎在肩上,装上杂志,左右移了移,让它的重量平衡,然后迈开步伐踏上了新闻业的征途。17WelivedinBelleville,NewJerseR,acommutertownatthenorthernfringeofNewark.Itwas1932,thebleakestRearoftheDepression.MRfatherhaddiedtwoRearsbefore,leavinguswithafewpiecesofSearsRoebuckfurnitu
16、reandnotmuchelse,andmRmotherhadtakenDorisandmetolivewithoneofherRoungerbrothers.ThiswasmRUncleAllenhadmadesomethingofhimselfbR1932.Asasalesmanforasoft-drinkbottlerinNewark,hehadanincomeof$30aweek,worepearl-graRspats,detachablecollars,andathree-piecesuit;washappilRmarried;andtookinthreadbarerelatives
17、.我们住在新泽西州贝勒镇,它位于纽瓦克北部边缘,处于一个市郊间上下班的枢纽上。那是1932年,大萧条最严峻的年代。父亲两年前就去世了,只留给我们几件从希尔斯罗巴克公司买来的家具,就没别的了。母亲带着多丽丝和我跟小舅舅艾伦住在一起。艾伦舅舅在1932年的时候就已经小有成就了。他在纽瓦克推销软饮料装瓶机。他每周的收入30美元;他总是脚上套着珠灰色的鞋套,颈上系着可脱卸衣领,身上穿着三件套的西服。他的婚姻也很美满。就是他接纳了我们这些穷亲戚。18WithmRloadofmagazinesIheadedtowardBellevilleAvenue.Thatswherethepeoplewere.The
18、reweretwofillingstationsattheintersectionwithUnionAvenue,aswellasanA&P,afruitstand,abakerRshop,Zuccarellisdrugstore,andadinershapedlikearailroadcar.ForseveralhoursImademRselfhighlRvisible,shiftingpositionnowandthenfromcornertocorner,fromshopwindowtoshopwindow,tomakesureeverRonecouldseetheheavRblackl
19、ettingonthecanvasbagthatsaidTheSaturdaREveningPost.Whentheangleofthelightindicateditwassuppertime,Iwalkedbacktothehouse.我背着沉甸甸的期刊朝贝勒大街走去。那里是人最多、最热闹的地方。在与联邦大街交叉的十字路口,有两家汽车加油站,还有一个大西洋及太平洋茶叶公司、一个水果摊、一家面包店、一家理发店、祖卡雷利的杂货店和一家外形像火车车箱的小饭馆。接下来的几个小时,为了能让人们看到我,我不时地变换位置,从一个街口到另一个街口,从一个橱窗到另一个橱窗,确保每个人都能看到帆布包上印的又黑
20、又粗的字:“星期六晚邮报”。当天色已晚,该吃晚饭了,我才往家走。19“HowmanRdidRousell,BuddR?”mRmotherasked.“你卖了几份,小家伙?”母亲问道。20“None.”“一份没卖。”21“WheredidRougo?”“你去哪儿卖的?”22“ThecornerofBellevilleandUnionAvenue.”“贝勒大街和联邦大街的街口。”23“WhatdidRoudo?”“你是怎么卖的?”24“StoodonthecornerwaitingforsomebodRtobuRaSaturdaREveningPost.”“站在那儿,等人来买喽。”25“Rouju
21、ststoodthere?”“就只站在那儿?”26“Didntsellasingleone.”“一份也没卖出去。”27“ForGodssake,Russell!”“天啊,拉塞尔!”28UncleAllenintervened.“Ivebeenthinkingaboutitforsometime,”hesaid,“andIveaboutdecidedtotakethePostregularlR.Putmeanickel.ItwasthefirstnickelIearned.艾伦舅舅插话了。“我考虑了有一段时间了,”他说,“我决定定期看这份邮报,把我当个固定顾客吧。”我递给他一份期刊,他付给我一枚
22、5分硬币。这是我挣到的第一枚硬币。29AfterwardsmRmotherinstructedmeinsalesmanship.Iwouldhavetoringdoorbells,addressadultswithcharmingself-confidence,andbreakdownresistancewithasalestalkpointingoutthatnoone,nomatterhowpoor,couldaffordtobewithouttheSaturdaREveningPostinthehome.之后母亲教了我一些推销术。我得去按人家的门铃,对大人们发表演说,要使他们无法拒绝,就
23、得凭我三寸不烂之舌让他们相信,任何人不管多穷家里要是没有星期六晚邮报可是一个极大的损失。30ItoldmRmotherIdchangedmRmindaboutwantingtosucceedinthemagazinebusiness.我跟母亲说我改主意了,不想在期刊业上有所成就了。31“IfRouthinkImgoingtoraiseagood-for-nothing,”shereplied,“Rouvegotanotherthinkcoming.”Shetoldmetohitthestreetswiththecanvasbagandstartringingdoorbellstheinstan
24、tschoolwasoutneRtdaR.IbowedtosuperiorwillandenteredjournalismwithaheavRheart.“如果你认为我打算养一个饭桶,”母亲回答说,“那你可再得好好想想。”她要我第二天一放学就背着帆布包到大街上去按别人家的门铃。我只好领了圣旨,我带着一颗沉甸甸的心步入了新闻界。32BRthetimeIwastenIhadlearnedallmRmothersmaRimsbRheart.TheoneImostdespisedwas,“IfatfirstRoudontsucceed,trR,trRagain.”ThiswasthebattlecrR
25、withwhichsheconstantlRsentmebackintothehopelessstrugglewheneverImoanedthatIhadrungeverRdoorbellintownandknewtherewasntasinglepotentialbuRerleftinBellevillethatweek.AfterlisteningtomReRplanation,shehandedmethecanvasbagandsaid,“IfatfirstRoudontsucceed”到我十岁的时候,我就熟记了母亲所有的格言。我最讨厌的那句就是:“如果开头失利,尝试,再尝试。”这就像
26、一声战斗的呐喊,就是这句话,她一再地把我遣返到那毫无希望的战斗中去,即使我申辩说我已经按了镇上所有人家的门铃,觉得那个星期贝勒镇上不会有哪个人再来买这份期刊,那也无济于事。听完我的解释之后,她依旧会把帆布包递给我,说:“如果开头失利不要紧”33ThreeRearsinthatjob,whichIwouldgladlRhavequitafterthefirstdaReRceptforherinsistence,producedatleastonevaluableresult.MRmotherfinallRconcludedthatIwouldnevermakesomethingcareersth
27、atdemandlesscompetitivezeal.三年的卖报生涯要不是她坚持,我本来在第一天就可以开开心心地不干了至少产生了一个有价值的结果。母亲终于得出结论,我绝不能在商界干出什么名堂来,于是,她开始为我考虑其他不需要太多竞争热情的职业。34OneeveningwhenIwaselevenIbroughthomeashort“composition”onmRsummervacationwhichtheteacherhadgradedwithanA.ReadingitwithherownschoolteacherseRe,mRmotheragreedthatitwastop-drawer
28、seventhgradeproseandcomplimentedme.NothingmorewassaidaboutitimmediatelR,butanewideahadtakenlifeinhermind.HalfwaRthroughsuppershesuddenlRinterruptedtheconversation.十一岁那年的一天晚上,我拿回家一篇我写的关于暑假的短“作文”,老师在上面批了个“A”。母亲用她老师的眼光读了一遍,也认为这是一篇最优秀的七年级的散文,并表扬了我。当时她没再多说什么,但是一个新的想法已经在她的心里形成了。晚饭吃到一半的时候,她突然打断我们的谈话。35“Bud
29、dR,”shesaid,“maRbeRoucouldbeawriter.”“孩子,”她说,“也许你能当个作家。”36IclaspedtheideatomRheart.Ihadnevermetawriter,hadshownnopreviousurgetowrite,andhadntanotionhowtobecomeawriter,butIlovedstoriesandthoughtthatmakingupstoriesmustsurelRbealmostasmuchfunasreadingthem.Bestofall,though,andwhatreallRgladdenedmRheart,
30、wastheeaseofthewriterslife.Writersdidnothavetotrudgethroughthetownpeddlingfromcanvasbags,defendingthemselvesagainstangrRdogs,beingrejectedbRsurlRstrangers.Writersdidnothavetoringdoorbells.SofarasIcouldmakeout,whatwritersdidcouldntevenbeclassifiedaswork.这个想法还真打动了我的心。我虽然从没见过作家,以前也没显示出迫切的写作欲望,更不知道当作家是什
31、么概念,但是我喜欢读小说,因此我想,编小说一定跟看小说一样有趣。不过,最重要又真正让我心花怒放的是作家那安逸的生活。作家无需在镇上四处奔劳兜售帆布包里的期刊;也无需提防着那些恶狗,不会遭粗暴无礼的陌生人拒绝。作家可不用去按门铃。就我所理解的作家而言,作家所做的事情归起类来甚至不能莫是一种工作。37Iwasenchanted.WritersdidnthavetohaveanRgumptionatall.IdidnotdaretellanRbodRforfearofbeinglaughedatintheschoolRard,butsecretlRIdecidedthatwhatIdliketobe
32、whenIgrewupwasawriter.我满心欢喜。作家根本就不需要什么上进心。因为担心在学校会被嘲笑,我不敢告诉任何人,但是私下里我意已决:长大了要当作家。TheArtofFriendshipMakingFriendsinMidlifeOneeveningafewRearsagoIfoundmRselfinafunk.NothingwasreallRwrongmRfamilRandIwerehealthR,mRcareerwasbusRandsuccessfulIwasjustfeelingvaguelRdownandinneedofafriendwhocouldraisemRspirits,someonewhowouldmeetmeforcoffeeandletmerantuntilthecloudslifted.Troublewas,therewasnochumtocallandconfidein.OverthecourseofafewRearsallofmRoldest,closestgirlfriendshadmovedoutoftown,onebRone,insearchofbetterjobs,betterweather,bettermen.几年前的一个晚上,我发现自己陷入惶恐之中。并不是真地出了什么事我
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