新概念第三册课文翻译及学习笔记：Lesson52

【课文】　　My cousin, Harry, keeps a large curiously-shaped bottle on permanent display in his study. Despite the fact that the bottle is tinted a delicate shade of green, an observant visitor would soon notice that it is filled with what looks like a thick, grayish substance. If you were to ask Harry what was in the bottle, he would tell you that it contained perfumed mud. If you expressed doubt or surprise, he would immediately invite you to smell it and then to rub some into your skin. This brief experiment would dispel any further doubts you might have. The bottle really does contain perfumed mud. How Harry came into the possession of this outlandish stuff makes an interesting story which he is fond of relating. Furthermore, the acquisition of this bottle cured him of a bad habit he had been developing for years.　　Harry used to consider it a great joke to go into expensive cosmetic shops and make outrageous requests for goods that do not exist. He would invent fanciful names on the spot. On entering a shop, he would ask for a new perfume called "Scented Shadow" or for "insoluble bath cubes". If a shop assistant told him she had not heard of it, he would pretend to be considerably put out. He loved to be told that one of his imaginary products was temporarily out of stock and he would faithfully promise to call again at some future date, but of course he never did. How Harry managed to keep a straight face during these performances is quite beyond me.　　Harry does not need to be prompted to explain how he bought his precious bottle of mud. One day, he went to an exclusive shop in London and asked for "Myrolite", the shop assistant looked puzzled and Harry repeated the word, slowly stressing each syllable. When the woman shook her head in bewilderment, Harry went on to explain that "myrolite" was a hard, amber-like substance which could be used to remove freckles. This explanation evidently conveyed something to the woman who searched shelf after shelf. She produced all sorts of weird concoctions, but none of them met with Harry"s requirements. When Harry put on his act of being mildly annoyed, the assistant promised to order some for him. Intoxicated by his success, Harry then asked for perfumed mud. He expected the assistant to look at him in blank astonishment. However, it was his turn to be surprised, for the woman"s eyes immediately lit up and she fetched several bottles which she placed on the counter for Harry to inspect. For once, Harry had to admit defeat. He picked up what seemed to be the smallest bottle and discreetly asked the price. He was glad to get away with a mere twenty pounds and he beat a hasty retreat, clutching the precious bottle under his arm. From then on, Harry decided that this little game he had invented might prove to be expensive. The curious bottle, which now adorns the bookcase in his study, was his first and last purchase of rare cosmetics.　　【课文翻译】　　我的堂兄哈里在他的书房里一直摆着一只形状古怪的大瓶子。尽管那只瓶子呈淡绿色，但细心的客人很快就会发现瓶里装的是一种看上去黏稠，颜色发灰的东西。要是你问哈里瓶里装着什么，他会告诉你是香水泥。如果你表示怀疑或惊奇，他会立即请你闻一闻，然后取出一些抹在你的皮肤上。这一简单的试验会消除你可能存有的一切疑虑。瓶里装的的确是香水泥。哈里如何得到这种稀奇古怪的东西的，这里有个有趣的故事，而且他挺爱把它讲给别人听。此外，得到这瓶香水泥还治好了他多年的一个坏习惯。　　哈里曾认为走进一家名贵化妆品商店，荒唐地提出要买一种根本不存在的商品是件开心的事儿。他会当场编造出一些稀奇古怪的货名。他走进商店后，会提出要一种名叫“香影”的新型香水或什么“不溶浴皂”。要是女售货员告诉他从未听说过这些东西，他会装出十分遗憾和不安的样子。他爱听售货员说他想像出来的那种东西暂时脱销，于是他就煞有介事地许诺改天再来光顾。当然，他再也不会来了。我实在想像不出哈里在这些表演中是怎样装出一本正经的样子的。　　毋须暗示哈里就会向你讲起他买下那瓶珍贵香水泥的经过。一天，他去伦敦一家高级商店要买一种叫“密诺莱特”的东西，店员露出诧异的神色。哈里又慢慢地，一字一顿说了一遍这个词，那个女售货员还是迷惑不解地摇了摇头。哈里便进一步解释“密诺莱特”是一种质地坚硬、状似琥珀的东西，可以用来除去雀斑。他的解释显然对女售货员有些启示。她一个货架接着一个货架地寻找，拿出各种各样稀奇古怪的化妆品，但没有一样能够符合哈里的要求。哈里装出不高兴的样子时，女售货员答应为他定货。哈里为他的骗术而感到洋洋得意，又提出要买香水泥。他原想女售货员会惊奇地望着他，不知所措，没料到这回该轮到他自己吃惊了。因为那女售货员听完哈里的话后，马上眼睛一亮，拿出几瓶东西放在柜台上让哈里挑选。哈里只好认输。他挑出一个看上去最小的瓶子，谨慎地问了价。他庆幸自己只破费了20英镑便得以脱身。他把那宝贵的瓶子放在腋下夹着，溜之大吉。从那以后，他认识到自己发明的小小恶作剧是要付出很大的代价的。在他书房的书柜里摆着那瓶形状古怪的香水泥就是他第一次也是最后一次购买的稀有化妆品。　　【词汇】　　permanent adj. 永久的　　tint v. 给……染色　　delicate adj. 淡色的　　shade n. 色度　　observant adj. 观察力敏锐的　　greyish adj. 浅灰色的　　dispel v. 驱散，消除　　outlandish adj. 稀奇古怪的　　acquisition n. 获得　　cosmetic n. 化妆品　　outrageous adj. 无理的，令人不能容忍的　　fanciful adj. 想像出来的　　insoluble adj. 不可溶解的　　prompt v. 敦促，激励　　exclusive adj. 专售高档商品的　　syllable n. 音节　　bewilderment n. 迷惑，糊涂　　freckle n. 雀斑　　evidently adv. 显然的，明显地　　weird adj. 奇异的，古怪的　　concoction n. 调制品　　intoxicate v. 陶醉，得意忘形　　blank adj. 无表情的，茫然的　　discreetly adv. 谨慎地　　clutch v. 抓住　　adorn v. 装饰，打扮　　【重点词汇讲解】　　【permanent】　　例句：　　1. Experts say autism is permanent and cannot be cured.　　专家称自闭症是永久的而且无法治愈。　　2. In search of a permanent way round the problem, the Fed has asked Congress to let it pay interest on bank reserves.　　为了寻求解决这一问题的长效方法，联储要求国会同意让它对银行储备金支付利息。　　【observant】　　例句：　　1. Making small talk is about being observant about people you don"t know well.　　你和不熟悉的人聊天，一定要善于观察。　　2. Observant students of ideas will recognize Hindu beliefs in this movement as well.　　善于观察思想的人也会在这个运动中认出印度教信仰的影响。　　【dispel】　　英英：force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings　　例句：　　1. A series of speeches by Fed officials this week did little to dispel the presumption of lower rates.　　本周，一系列联储会的官员的讲话也没有打消降息的假设。　　2. She wanted to look light, dispel any impression she might have given that she was a humourless prude.　　她想使自己看起来轻松一些，摆脱掉那不苟言笑，一本正经的印象。　　3. Firstly, we should dispel the idea that learning Chinese is only useful for doing business with China.　　首先，应该纠正某些片面的观念，以为学华文不过是为了和中国做生意。　　【outlandish】　　例句：　　1. He never shoots down my outlandish statements.　　他从不批驳我那些稀奇古怪的说法。　　2. The dream of a high-tech Florida is not outlandish.　　建立一个高科技佛罗里达并非离经之谈。　　【outrageous】　　例句：　　1. I demand an explanation for this outrageous bill .　　我要你解释一下这张天价的帐单。　　2. Nothing, it seemed, was too outrageous for Houdini to tackle.　　似乎再过分的手段胡迪尼也对付得了。　　【fanciful】　　例句：　　1. We love him because he is full of fanciful stories.　　我们喜欢他是因为他有一肚子稀奇古怪的故事。　　2. Mr Graddol says the idea of English being supplanted as the world language is not fanciful.　　葛拉多尔表示，英语作为世界语言的地位被代替，这类想法并非不切实际。　　【prompt】　　英英：give an incentive for action　　例句：　　1. That claim is likely to prompt scepticism among environmental groups.　　这一声明很可能会激起环保团体的疑虑。　　2. Colombia hoped that the deal would prompt a wave of inward investment.　　哥伦比亚希望，此举能够激起一轮国内投资热潮。　　3. He was prompted by patriotism.　　他为爱国心所激励。　　【bewilderment】　　例句：　　1. The president"s face wilted in confusion and bewilderment.　　校长的脸上写满了困惑。　　2. Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.　　感到困惑又不把事情说出来，从而使世界上平添许多烦恼。　　【evidently】　　例句：　　1. He evidently wished no repetition of my intrusion.　　他显然并不愿我再来打搅。　　2. Evidently, he is immensely charmed with Miss Millar.　　他对米勒小姐显然很钟情。　　【weird】　　例句：　　1. Such remarks are not merely offensive, they are scientifically weird.　　这种说法不仅让人不快，而且从科学的角度来看也是非常荒诞的。　　2. Most of those comic book stories are too weird for me, but they certainly are creative if you like that stuff.　　我觉得这些连环漫画书的情节都太 奇怪了，但是如果你喜欢这一类型当然就会觉得很有创意。　　【intoxicate】　　例句：　　1. Sea wind intoxicate.　　海风醉人。　　2. He does not drink at all; a little wine way intoxicate him.　　他根本不喝酒，因为一点酒就能使他醉。　　【blank】　　例句:　　1. Mr Smith looked blank, when he was informed of his dismissal.　　史密斯先生接到他被解雇的通知时，目瞪口呆。　　2. My mind was a complete blank when I had to fill in the blanks on the test paper.　　当我得在试卷上填空的 时候，脑子却完全一片 空白。　　【discreetly】　　例句：　　1. These are proud people, so the teachers do it discreetly.　　他们都是自尊的人，所以老师们谨慎地做这些事。　　2. But we must use it discreetly, and not waste powder for nothing.　　但我们要谨慎地运用，不要滥用好像无谓地浪费火药。　　【adorn】　　英英：make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.　　例句：　　1. Nature knows well how to adorn itself.　　自然懂得怎么装点自己。　　2. Riches adorn the dwelling; virtue adorns the person.　　财富装饰家，美德装饰人。　　【常用短语】　　【on the spot】当场　　【put out】不安，不悦　　【out of stock】脱销　　【keep a straight face】板着脸　　【in bewilderment】迷惑的　　【in blank】目瞪口呆　　【from then on】从那时起