本文選自吳應(yīng)時(shí)主編的《大學(xué)英語(yǔ)六級(jí)閱讀真題精讀——晨讀伴侶》。本書(shū)對(duì)歷年國(guó)家大學(xué)英語(yǔ)六級(jí)考試(CET-6)的仔細(xì)閱讀部分進(jìn)行了詳盡而精準(zhǔn)的分析、翻譯和注釋,對(duì)四六級(jí)考生有著事半功倍的效果,對(duì)提升整體英語(yǔ)能力也很有幫助。

學(xué)習(xí)導(dǎo)讀:

我們生活在社會(huì)之中,我們的成長(zhǎng)歷程就是接受社會(huì)化的過(guò)程。在這個(gè)過(guò)程中,我們慢慢習(xí)慣于以社會(huì)標(biāo)簽來(lái)看待身邊的人。比如這個(gè)人是教授,那么我們認(rèn)識(shí)他的方式就在于我們對(duì)教授的固有印象,可能是富有學(xué)識(shí),也有可能是窮酸。總之,你之前對(duì)這個(gè)詞有怎樣的認(rèn)識(shí),當(dāng)你所認(rèn)識(shí)的人帶有著這個(gè)標(biāo)簽的時(shí)候,你就自然而然地把你對(duì)該詞的印象代入了此人身上。那么作者,當(dāng)他是服務(wù)員的時(shí)候,又和他展露了大學(xué)生身份的時(shí)候,顧客的反映如何呢,快看看吧。

[Like most people], Ive [long] understood that I will be judged [by my occupation?1], that my profession is a gauge?2(people use to see how smart or talented I am.) [Recently], [however], was disappointed to see that it [also] decides how Im treated [as a person]. ?
像大多數(shù)人一樣,我很久以前就明白,人們會(huì)根據(jù)我的職業(yè)來(lái)評(píng)價(jià)我。我的職業(yè)就如同一把標(biāo)尺,人們用它來(lái)衡量我的聰明才智。然而,最近我失望地發(fā)現(xiàn),我的職業(yè)也決定了別人把我當(dāng)成什么樣的人來(lái)對(duì)待。

注:1. occupation n. ①占領(lǐng),占據(jù),占用。例:

The armies finally withdrew after four-year’s occupation of this castle.
占據(jù)了這個(gè)城堡四年之后,軍隊(duì)忠于撤走了。

②職業(yè),工作。例:

All married women should have some occupation outside the home.
所有的已婚婦女除了做家務(wù)之外還應(yīng)當(dāng)有自己的職業(yè)。

And frankly, not everyone wants to do the kind of occupation that these certificates provide.
坦率地說(shuō),不是每個(gè)人都想做這些證書(shū)允許的那種職業(yè)。

[選自:MSN: Boomers face stark choices in bleak economy]

2. gauge n. 標(biāo)準(zhǔn)尺寸,規(guī)格,量規(guī),量表。例:

The fuel gauge in the car was broken.
汽車上的油表壞了。

Weekly applications for unemployment benefits are considered a gauge of the pace of layoffs.
每周失業(yè)救濟(jì)的申請(qǐng)次數(shù)被認(rèn)為是裁員速度的標(biāo)尺。

[選自:MSN: Weekly jobless claims tally down slightly]

[Last year] I left a professional position [as a small-town reporter] and took a job (waiting tables). [As someone paid to serve food to people], I had customers (I suspect?1?theyd [never] say or do to their most casual?2?acquaintances?3.) [One night] a man (talking on his cell phone) waved me away, [then] beckoned?4me [a minute later], [complaining he was ready to order and asking where I’d been].
去年,我辭去了小城記者的專業(yè)職位,換了一份餐廳服務(wù)員的工作。作為一個(gè)靠伺候別人吃飯賺錢(qián)的人,有些顧客對(duì)我說(shuō)過(guò)一些話、做過(guò)一些事——我想,即便是對(duì)最泛泛之交的熟人,他們也不會(huì)這樣吧。某天晚上,一位顧客用手機(jī)打電話時(shí),揮手讓我走開(kāi),一分鐘后又以手指示意我回來(lái),抱怨說(shuō)他已經(jīng)準(zhǔn)備好點(diǎn)菜了,問(wèn)我怎么走開(kāi)了。

注:1. suspect vt. 疑心,懷疑,猜想。例:

In the end, I suspect the ultimate beneficiaries would be the same people who always win.
最后,我想最終受益的將總是同一批贏家。

[選自:BOINGBOING: 10 - October - 2006]

The police suspect Gary of the murder.
警察懷疑加里是殺人兇手。

n. 嫌疑犯,可疑分子。例:

The suspects are armed and dangerous.
這些嫌疑犯帶有武器,十分危險(xiǎn)。

【注】作名詞和作動(dòng)詞時(shí)的讀法不同。

2. casual adj. ①偶然的,碰巧的。例:

a casual meeting 邂逅;

②臨時(shí)的,非正式的。例:

People didn't yet understand or believe that the virus couldn't be spread by casual contact.
人們認(rèn)為該病毒能通過(guò)日常接觸傳播。

[選自:WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Signs Ryan White HIV/AIDS Act]

casual worker 臨時(shí)工 ??

【參】 causal adj. 原因的,因果關(guān)系的

3. acquaintance n. 相識(shí); 熟人, 相識(shí)的人; 了解。例:

The relationship between the two individuals concerned might be a casual acquaintance, a brother-sister type of friendship, an acquaintance with romantic overtones, or a passionate involvement.
兩人之間的關(guān)系可能只是泛泛之交,一種兄妹式的友誼,一種含帶愛(ài)情成分的結(jié)交,或是一種熱戀。

The virus arrives in a person’s e-mail box disguised as a reply from an acquaintance.
偽裝成為來(lái)自熟人的回復(fù),該病毒就到達(dá)了某個(gè)人的電子郵箱。

[選自:CNN: Largest U.S. electricity producer survives worm]

4. beckon v. 向...示意; 吸引; 召喚; 引誘; 示意; 吸引; 召喚; 引誘。例:

They beckon for me to join their photo opportunity and I smile that smile you ? have as a child when first you see snow.
?他們招手呼喚我和他們一起照相,我微笑著,就像小孩子第一次看見(jiàn)下雪那樣的微笑。

The romance of the sea beckoned the young sailors.
航海的浪漫故事吸引著年輕水手們。

[選自:21世紀(jì)大英漢詞典]

I had waited tables [during summers] [in college] and was treated [like a peon?1] [by plenty of people]. But [at 19 years old], I believed I deserved inferior?2treatment [from professional adults]. [Besides], people responded to me [differently] [after I told them I was in college.] Customers would joke that [one day] Id be sitting [at their table], [waiting to be served].
我在大學(xué)時(shí)暑假做過(guò)餐館服務(wù)員,那時(shí)很多人把我當(dāng)苦力看待。但那時(shí)我才19歲,我覺(jué)得,這些有專業(yè)技術(shù)的成年人認(rèn)為我低人一等,也是理所當(dāng)然的。而且,等我告訴他們我在讀大學(xué)時(shí),他們對(duì)我的態(tài)度就不一樣了。有顧客開(kāi)玩笑說(shuō),有朝一日我也會(huì)坐到他們所坐過(guò)的桌子旁,等著別人來(lái)伺候我。

注:1. peon n. 勞工; 日工; 散工。例:

He is a Spanish-American farm laborer or unskilled worker
他是美國(guó)西班牙裔雇農(nóng)或勞工

2. inferior adj.下等的,下級(jí)的,差的,次的; (be) inferior to 比…差。例:

Mercifully the public has the good sense not to buy the inferior articles more than once.
所幸的是,公眾有很好的判斷力,不會(huì)再次購(gòu)買(mǎi)質(zhì)量低劣的商品。

Compared to a wired pair of headphones of the same price they are inferior for music sound quality.
相比于同價(jià)位的有線耳機(jī),他們的音樂(lè)音質(zhì)要低劣些。

[選自:ENGADGET: Ask Engadget: Best solution for Bluetooth stereo audio?]

n. 下級(jí),晚輩。例:

The foreman was very condescending to all of his inferiors.
這位領(lǐng)班對(duì)他的下屬非常謙遜。

[Once I graduated] I took a job [at a community?1?newspaper]. [From my first day], I heard a respectful tone [from everyone] (who called me.) I assumed?2?this was the way (the professional world worked [cordially?3].) ?
我一畢業(yè)就在一家社區(qū)報(bào)社找了份工作。我發(fā)現(xiàn),從我工作的第一天起,每一個(gè)給我打電話的人說(shuō)話都是彬彬有禮的。我想,職業(yè)領(lǐng)域里的人們就是這樣友好地相處的。

注:1. community n. 社區(qū), 共同社會(huì); 社會(huì), 公眾; 共同體; 共有。例:

The community in China can be divided into traditional community working unit and nontraditional community sub district office region. ??
中國(guó)社區(qū)可分為傳統(tǒng)社區(qū)——單位和非傳統(tǒng)社區(qū)——街道辦事處管轄區(qū)。

Some in the medical community here are warning that the procedure would be extremely dangerous.
醫(yī)學(xué)界中有些人警告說(shuō),該過(guò)程極其危險(xiǎn)。

[選自:BBC: Women may be given new hope of having a baby]

2. assume v. 以為; 認(rèn)為; 假定為; 承擔(dān)。例:

The key is that you must never assume it will never happen to you.
關(guān)鍵是,你千萬(wàn)不要以為它永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)發(fā)生在你頭上。

[選自:BBC: NEWS | UK | Preparing for Britain's big freeze]

【辯】assume,suppose;assume強(qiáng)調(diào)武斷地認(rèn)定某一事物為真實(shí),而該事物尚未被證實(shí)或存在意見(jiàn)分歧:assume that prices will rise(認(rèn)為價(jià)格要上漲);suppose指根據(jù)一些證據(jù)所得出的準(zhǔn)確預(yù)測(cè)。

3. cordially adv. 熱誠(chéng)地, 友善地, 誠(chéng)摯地。例:

As his studies, at a previous period of his life, had made him extensively acquainted with the medical science of the day, it was as a physician that he presented himself and as such was cordially received. ?
由于他的前半生對(duì)當(dāng)時(shí)的醫(yī)學(xué)科學(xué)作了廣泛的研究,于是他就以所熟悉的醫(yī)生這——行當(dāng)為業(yè),出現(xiàn)在這里,并且受到了熱烈歡迎。

Russian President Vladimir Putin joked cordially with President George W. Bush.
俄羅斯總統(tǒng)普京親切地與喬治·布什總統(tǒng)開(kāi)玩笑。

[選自:NPR: Eyes On Whether APEC Leaders Will Don Aloha Shirts]

I [soon] found out [differently]. I sat several feet [away from an advertising sales representative?1?] [with a similar name]. Our calls would [often] get mixed up and someone asking for Kristen would be transferred?2?to Christie. The mistake was [immediately] evident. [Perhaps] it was because money was involved?3, but people used a tone [with Kristen] (that they [never] used [with me].)
但沒(méi)多久我發(fā)現(xiàn)情況并非如此。我與一位廣告銷售代表的座位只相距幾尺,他的名字和我的很相近。我們倆的電話經(jīng)常弄混,找Kristen的電話經(jīng)常會(huì)轉(zhuǎn)給Christie。一旦轉(zhuǎn)錯(cuò)了,很快就能察覺(jué)出來(lái)。也許是因?yàn)闋可娴藉X(qián)的問(wèn)題,但是也可能是因?yàn)閯e人絕不會(huì)用對(duì)Kristen講話的語(yǔ)氣跟我講話。

注:1. representative n. 代表,代理人;短語(yǔ):sales representative 銷售代表。例:

I wrote a letter to my representative introducing our new products.
我給代理人寫(xiě)了一封信介紹我們的新產(chǎn)品。

However, you also have a right to speak with a company representative in English.
不過(guò),你也有對(duì)企業(yè)代表用英文發(fā)言的權(quán)利。

[選自:MSN: Where's that promised in-room Internet connection?]

adj.(of)典型的,有代表性的。例:

This love poem is representative of the author’s best works.
這首愛(ài)情詩(shī)是這位作家的代表作。

2. transfer n. 遷移, 傳遞, 移動(dòng);v. 轉(zhuǎn)移, 調(diào)任, 調(diào)轉(zhuǎn); 轉(zhuǎn)移, 換車。例:

He has succeeded in getting ministers to resign and forced the government to transfer corrupt officials. ?
他曾成功地讓部長(zhǎng)辭職,并迫使政府調(diào)任貪官。

[選自:BBC: Anna Hazare: India's pioneering social activist]

【注】重讀閉音節(jié),雙寫(xiě)尾字母。例:

Jack intends to transfer the property to his daughter.
杰克打算把財(cái)產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)讓給女兒。

Please arrange for the transfer of medical records to your new doctor.
請(qǐng)把醫(yī)療記錄轉(zhuǎn)給你的新醫(yī)生。

3. involve v. 包括, 潛心于, 使陷于。例:

These involve managing the cost of development, cost of operations, productivity, and product efficacy in the market.
這涉及管理開(kāi)發(fā)成本、操作成本、生產(chǎn)力,和市場(chǎng)中的產(chǎn)品功效。

Recently released patent filings reveal new ways to control devices that do not involve physical contact.
最近公布的專利申請(qǐng)展示了如何用新的方式來(lái)控制不涉及身體接觸的設(shè)備。

[選自:BBC: Apple and Microsoft file patents for touchless controls]

My job title made people . So it was a shock [to return to the restaurant industry].
我的職業(yè)頭銜讓別人對(duì)我禮待有加,因此重回餐館工作讓我吃驚不小。

注:1. courtesy n. 禮貌; 謙恭有禮的言辭; 殷勤。例:

After a few words of courtesy, they got down to business.
? ??
他們客套了幾句,就開(kāi)始談?wù)隆?/div>

But they are just expecting some common sense and some courtesy in how people interact.
但他們只是想知道一些關(guān)于如何與人交往的常識(shí)和禮節(jié)。

[選自:WHITEHOUSE: Discussing the Economy in Richmond]

It’s no secret that there’s [a lot] [to put up with] [when waiting tables], and [fortunately], much of it can be [easily] forgotten [when you pocket the tips.] The service industry, [by definition?1], exists to cater?2?to others’ needs. [Still], it seemed that many of my customers didn’t get the difference (between server and servant?3).
做餐飲招待的工作得忍耐許多事情,這不是什么秘密,好在小費(fèi)入賬時(shí),所有不愉快的心情都立馬煙消云散。服務(wù)業(yè),顧名思義,是為了滿足他人的需要而存在的。盡管如此,很多顧客似乎沒(méi)有弄清楚服務(wù)人員與仆人之間的區(qū)別。

注:1. definition n. 定義, 清晰度, 精確度。例:

Here is the definition, which must be placed within a class definition for it to be compiled.
下面列出的是定義代碼,必須將它置于一個(gè)類定義里,否則無(wú)法編譯。

There are loose definitions that tend to change due to there not being a standard definition.
由于沒(méi)有一個(gè)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的定義,松散的定義往往總在改變。

[選自:ENGADGET: Apple to face antitrust inquiry over iPhone coding restrictions?]

v. 備辦食物; 投合; 滿足; 為...提供飲食, 承辦的酒席。例:

Our literature and art ought to cater to popular taste.
我們的文藝應(yīng)該為人民群眾所喜聞樂(lè)見(jiàn)。

"In addition, we have to cater for their lodging, local transportation and feeding," he said.
“此外,我們要滿足他們的住宿,當(dāng)?shù)亟煌ê褪澄?,”他說(shuō)。

[選自:BBC: Nigeria]

3. servant n. 仆人, 雇工, 傭人; 事務(wù)員; 公務(wù)員。例:

If you’re a minister, you are a civil servant, you are an employee of the government.
如果你是一名部長(zhǎng),你就是公務(wù)員,是政府雇員。

[選自:CNN: Why Ghonim's passion reignited revolt]

Im [now] applying?1?to graduate school, (which means [someday] Ill return to a profession) (where people need to be nice [to me] [in order to get what they want].) I think I’ll take them [to dinner] [first], and see how they treat someone (whose only job is to serve them.)
目前,我在申請(qǐng)讀研究生,這意味著有朝一日我會(huì)重返某個(gè)專業(yè)職位。在這個(gè)職位上,人們會(huì)為了一己之利而不得不對(duì)我以禮相待。我想,到時(shí)候,我會(huì)先帶他們?nèi)コ燥垼槺憧纯此麄內(nèi)绾螌?duì)待那些以服務(wù)他人為業(yè)的人。

1. apply vt.應(yīng)用;涂;使專心從事vi.申請(qǐng);有關(guān)聯(lián)。例:

The new regulations also apply to day care centers, hotels, and other places that provide cribs.
新的規(guī)定還適用于日間護(hù)理中心,酒店等提供嬰兒床的場(chǎng)所。

[選自:CNN: Crib safety standards expanded]