(学)课外翻译练习材料

(学)课外翻译练习材料Passage1Ontheotherpart,insteadofbeingitsownseer,letitreceivefromanotherminditstruth,thoughitwereintorrentsoflight,withoutperiodsofsolitude,inquest,andselfrecovery,andafataldisserviceisdone.Geniusisalwayssufficientlytheenemyofgeniusbyover-influence.Theliteratureofeverynationbearsmewitness.TheEnglishdramaticpoetshaveShakespearizednowfortwohundredyears.Undoubtedlythereisarightwayofreading,soitbesternlysubordinated.ManThinkingmustnotbesubduedbyhisinstruments.Booksareforthescholar’sidletimes.WhenhecanreadGoddirectly,thehouristooprecioustobewastedinothermen’stranscriptsoftheirreadings.Butwhentheintervalsofdarknesscome,ascometheymust—whenthesunishid,andthestarswithdrawtheirshining—werepairtothelampswhichwerekindledbytheirray,toguideourstepstotheEastagain.TheArabianproverbsays,“Afigtree,lookingonafigtree,becomethfruitful.”Itisremarkable,thecharacterofthepleasurewederivefromthebestbooks.Theyimpressuswiththeconviction,thatonenaturewroteandthesamereads.WereadtheversesofoneofthegreatEnglishpoets,ofChaucer,ofMarvell,ofDryden,withthemostmodernjoy—withapleasure,Imean,whichisingreatpartcausedbytheabstractionofalltimefromtheirverses.Thereissomeawemixedwiththejoyofoursurprise,whenthispoet,wholivedinsomepastworld,twoorthreehundredyearsago,saysthatwhichliesclosetomyownsoul,thatwhichIalsohadwell-nighthoughtandsaid.Butfortheevidencethenceaffordedtothephilosophicaldoctrineoftheidentityofallminds,weshouldsupposesomepre-establishedharmony,someforesightofsoulsthatweretobe,andsomepreparationofstoresfortheirfuturewants,wholayupfoodbeforedeathfortheyounggrubtheyshallneversee.Passage2Iwouldnotbehurriedbyanyloveofsystem,byanyexaggerationofinstincts,tounderratetheBook.Weallknow,that,asthehumanbodycanbenourishedonanyfood,thoughitwereboiledgrassandthebrothofshoes,sothehumanmindcanbefedbyanyknowledge.Andgreatandheroicmenhaveexistedwhohadalmostnootherinformationthanbytheprintedpage.Ionlywouldsaythatitneedsastrongheadtobearthatdiet.Onemustbeaninventortoreadwell.Astheproverbsays,“HethatwouldbringhomethewealthoftheIndies,mustcarryoutthewealthoftheIndies.”Thereisthencreativereadingaswellascreativewriting.Whenthemindisbracedbylabortheinvention,thepageofwhateverbookwereadbecomesluminouswithmanifoldallusion.Everysentenceisasbroadastheworld.Wethensee,whatisalwaystrue,that,astheseer’shourofvisionisshortandrareamongheavydaysandmonths,soisitsrecord,perchance,theleastpartofhisvolume.Thediscerningwillread,inhisPlatoorShakespeare,onlythatleastpart—onlytheauthenticutterancesoftheoracle;alltherestherejects,wereitneversomanytimesPlato’sandShakespeare’s.Ofcourse,thereisaportionofreadingquiteindispensabletoawiseman.Historyandexactsciencehemustlearnbylaboriousreading.Colleges,inlikemanner,havetheirindispensableoffice—toteachelements.Buttheycanonlyhighlyserve,whentheyaimnottodrill,buttocreate;whentheygatherformfareveryrayofvariousgeniustotheirhospitablehalls,and,bytheconcentratedfires,settheheartsoftheiryouthonflame.Thoughtandknowledgearenaturesinwhichapparatusandpretensionavailnothing.Gownsandpecuniaryfoundations,thoughoftownsofgold,cannevercountervailtheleastsentenceorsyllableorwit.Forgetthis,andourAmericancollegeswillrecedeintheirpublicimportance,whisttheygrowricheveryyear.Passage3ThemaplesmokeofautumnbonfiresisincensetoCanadians.Bestowingaromaforthenose,chromafortheeye,sweetnessforthespringtongue,thesugarmaplepromptsthissharingofafavoritemythandanoriginaletymologyoftheworldmaple.ThemapleloomslargeinOjibwafolktales.Thetimeofyearforsugaring-offis“intheMapleMoon.”AmongAjibwa,theprimordialfemalefigureisNokomis,awisegrandmother.Inonetaleaboutseasonalchange,cannibalwendigos—creaturesofevil—chasedoldNokomisthroughtheautumncountryside.Wendigosthroveinicycold.Whentheyenteredthebodiesofhumans,thehumanheartfrozesolid.Herewendigosrepresentoncomingwinter.TheywerehuntingtokillandeatpoorNokomis,thewarmembodimentoffemalefecunditywho,likethesummer,hasgrownold.Knowingthiswasapursuittothedeath.Nokimisoutsmartedthecolddevils.Shehidinsstandofmapletrees,allredandorangeanddeepyellow.Thismaplegrovegrewbesideawaterfallwhosemistblurredthetrees’outline.Astheypeeredthroughtthemist,slaveringwendigosthoughttheysawaragingfireinwhichtheirpreywasburning.ButitwasonlyoldNokomisbeinghiddenbytherightredleavesofherfriends,themaples.Andso,droolingiceandhuffingfrost,thewendigosleftherandsoughteasierprey.Fortheirserviceinsavingtheearthmother’slife.,thesemaplesweregivenaspecialgift:theirwateroflifewouldbeforeversweet,andhumanswouldtapitfornourishment.Passage4Alittleflapinthebackdroppulledopen.Andayoungmansteppedforth.Therestofthedancersdepartedandlefthimalone.Thelightstookonawhitehueandonesawthattheyoungmanwasverypalewithdark-penciledeyes.Hewasdressedinalightblousingshirtandtightbreechesofcream-coloredstain.Steppingforward,withcausalgrace,hebegantodance.Atfirst,allIcouldrealizeofhimwasthedelicate-footedmotion,thecoolnessandlightnessofthefigure.Heworesoftclose-fittingslippersandtheinstepsofhisfeetweresobeautifulandalivethatIfellinlovewithhimthematonce.Hewassmallandperfectlyformed,slender-hippedandprobablyquitetypicaloftheballetdancer.Andperhapstherewassomethingtoomanneredandtooself-consciousintheface.Hiseyesweredrawntoappearelongated,Oriental.Theheadwasfinelyshaped,dark-haired.Buttheveryself-consciousstyleofhimseemedtoaddtothecharm.Whatcouldequalthestance,thequicklightningmovementsofthebody,ortheseverecontrolofitsquietness?Butnoneofthesefeaturesbythemselvesgavethefulleffect.Thecompleteharmoniousaccordofthemoment—therewasnowaytoexplainit.Whentheballetwasoverandthedancerswerebowingoutsidethecurtain,Ifeltaterriblechildishsadness,thekindthatisfeltonlyaftertheaccidentalpleasure.Itisapuzzlingsensation,theregretforthelossofthatwhichonehadnot—no,never—evenhopedforinthefirstplace!Theyoungmanstoodalittleinfrontoftheothers,bowing.Inoticedthathisearswerebeautifullypointedandhishairwassleek.ThelightsintheAuditoriumwentup.Theorchestrabegantoplay.Peopleputontheirwrapsandbegantotalkinmatter-of-factvoices.ButIwasgravelyoccupiedwiththememoryoftheyoungman.MovingslowlyinthelargearenaoftheAuditorium,IfeltthatIwouldneverforgethim.Ilisteneddreamilytothemusicandwatchedtheaudiencemakedignifiedparadetotherearexit.Itseemed,tomyimpressionablemind,thateverythingexistedonlyforthecontemplationofhim.Passage5Timewasinmylifewhenthedawnhappenedtootherpeople.Iwasdefinitelynotamorningperson;Iassociatedthesunrisewithlongplaneflightsacrossmanytimezonesandgroggystrollsaroundthestrangecitieswaitingformyhotelroomtobecomeavailable.ThenIhadchildren,andthefirstlighttookonnewmeaning.Sometimesitwasthesighattheendofafretfulnightupwithafeverishbaby;ortheopposite,thejoyouscryofanexuberant3-year-oldeagertogetthedaygoing.Itwasonlylater,whenmorningsweretakenoverbythegetting-to-schoolfrenzy,thatIdiscoveredtheserenityofthesurprisinglyfasttransitionfromnighttoday.Forthesmallpriceof15minutesofsleepIcouldbuy15minutesofsolitarypeace—withacupofcoffeeandthenewspaper.Giventhetidbitoftimeatmydisposal,Idevelopedthehabitofskimmingthepaper,whichquicklycamedowntoasurreptitiousandalmostsuperstitiousritualcheckingoutobituaries.AtfirstIattributedthisnewhabittoadvancingage—Ihadrecentlyturned40—andglumlyconcludedthatIwasbecomingmorbid.Butwhy,then,wasIfindingmysecretritesouplifting?Finally,aftermanyyearsofstartingthedaythisway,IhavefiguredoutthatIamdoingitnottoobsessaboutdeathbuttofindoutaboutlife.Reallife.Obituariescapturethebenchmarksoflifespanwithoutpassingjudgmentormakingorderoutoftheevents.Thehighpointsareeasy—PulitzerPrizewinnersjokethatassoonastheyarenamedtheyknowwhattheheadlineisgoingtobeontheirobituary—butIreadmostattentivelyforcluestothedefeatsandtheflatlineperiods,theinexplicablechangesofheartandthetwistsoffate,thegamblesandtheunexpectedconsequences,thelooseends…Themessagethatcomesthroughoverandoveristhatalthoughtherearetimesinanylifewhenthingsseemstobeproceedingstepbylogicalstep,thewholeismostlyrandomandaskew.Life,aseverybiographyandobitIhaveeverreadconfirms,iswhathappenswhenyouaremakingotherplans.Passage6Notearsinthewriter,notearsinthereader.Nosurpriseforthewriter,nosurpriseforthereader.FormetheinitialdelightisinthesurpriseofrememberingsomethingIdidn’tknowIknew.Iaminaplace,inasituation,asifIhadmaterializedfromcloudorrisenoutoftheground.Thereisagladrecognitionofthelonglostandtherestfollows.Stepbystepthewonderofunexpectedsupplykeepsgrowing.TheimpressionsmostusefultomypurposeseemalwaysthoseIwasunawareofandsomadenonoteofatthetimewhentaken,andtheconclusioniscometothatlikegiantswearealwayshurlingexperienceaheadofustopavethefuturewithagainstthedaywhenwemaywanttostrikealineofpurposeacrossitforsomewhere.Thelinewillhavethemorecharmfornotbeingmechanicallystraight.Weenjoythestraightcrookednessofagoodwalkingstick.Moderninstrumentsofprecisionarebeingusedtomakethingscrookedasifbyeyeandhandintheolddays.Itellhowtheremaybeabetterwildnessoflogicthanofinconsequence.Butthelogicisbackward,inretrospect,aftertheact.Itmustbemorefeltthanseenaheadlikeprophecy.Itmustbearevelation,oraseriesofrevelations,asmuchforthepoetasforthereader.Forittobethattheremusthavebeenthegreatestfreedomofthematerialtomoveaboutinitandtoestablishrelationsinitregardlessoftimeandspace,previousrelation,andeverythingbutaffinity.Weprateoffreedom.Wecallourschoolsfreebecausewearenotfreetostayawayfromthemtillwearesixteenyearsofage.Ihavegivenupmydemocraticprejudicesandnowwillinglysetthelowerclassesfreetobecompletelytakencareofbytheupperclasses.Politicalfreedomisnothingtome.Ibestowitrightandleft.AllIwouldkeepformyselfisthefreedomofmymaterial—theconditionofbodyandmindnowandthentosummonsaptlyfromthevastchaosofallIhavelivedthrough.Passage7Inaspeechdeliveredin1952,RachelCarsonwarned,“Mankindhasgoneveryfarintoanartificialworldofhisowncreation.Hehassoughttoinsulatehimself,inhiscitiesofsteelandconcrete,fromtherealitiesofearthandwaterandthegrowingseed.Intoxicatedwithasenseofhisownpower,heseemstobegoingfartherandfartherintomoreexperimentsforthedestructionofhimselfandhisworld.Carsonvoicedtheseworriesbeforethetriumphoftelevisionorshoppingmalls,beforetheadventofair-conditioning,personalcomputers,videogames,theInternet,cellphones,cloning,geneticengineering,andaslewofotherinventionsthathavemadetheartificialworldevermoreseductive.UnlikeEarth,theartificialworldismadbeforeus.Itfeedsourbelliesandmindswithtastypabulum;itsheltersusfromdiscomfortandsickness;itproclaimsouringenuity;itflattersourpride.Snuginsidebubblesfashionedfromconcreteandsteel,formsiliconandplasticandwords,wecanpretendwearerunningtheplanet.Bycontrast,thenaturalworldwasnotmadeforourcomfortorconvenience.Itprecededusbysomebillionsofyears,anditwilloutlastus;itmocksourpride,becauseitsurpassesourunderstandingandcontrol;itcanbedangerousanddemanding;itwilleventuallykillusandreclaimourbodies.Weshouldnotbesurprisedthatincreasingnumbersofpeoplechoosetoliveentirelyindoors,leavingbuildingsonlytorideinairplanesorcars,viewingthegreatoutside,iftheyviewitatall,throughsealedwindows,butmoreoftengazingintoscreens,listeningtohumanchatter,cutofffrom“therealitiesofearthandwaterandthegrowingseed.”Passage8From1908to1948,aremarkablewoman,RenaC.Hayden,rantheJohnLewisChilds’elementarySchool,K-8,withimpeccabletasteandalbeit,anironhand.Asprincipal,shehiredandfiredthestaffforitsclassroomsaswellasforitskitchen;personallypolicedtheschoolyardsatrecess,makingmiscreantswalksinglefilebehindher;disciplinedandonoccasion,expelledunrulystudents;andcameknockingloudlyonparents’doorsinhercapacityassometimetruantofficer.Shestoodnomorethan5’1”;wasstocky,withanenormouschestanddelicate,smalllimbs.Noanimalrightsactivist,sheworehatswithbirdsonthem,tailoredsuitswithastoleoflittlefoxesdrapedoverhershouldersandsensibleleathershoes.Hervoice,whenshehadtoraiseit,soundedtoherpupilslikethewrathofGodHimself,andherbulgingblueeyescommandedattention.Awestruckchildrenwhisperedhername.Bothteachersandpupilswitheredunderherterriblegaze.Forforthyears,Mrs.Haydenpersonallyoversawtheeducationofnearlyeverykidintown.TheylearnedEnglishgrammarbydiagrammingsentences,writingbypracticingthePalmermethod;theylearnedtoreadbysoundingouttheirletters,arithmeticbyworkingwithflashcardsatschoolandathome.Thosethatwouldnotorcouldnotmastertheseskillswereremandedtosummerschool,andifthatdidnothelp,theywereunceremoniouslyleftback.Shecommandedsomuchrespectthatfewparentseverdisagreedwithherjudgments.Strongincharacterandsocialinpurpose,sheledthePledgeofAllegianceandthe23rdPsalmatassemblies,headedtheJohnLewisChilds‘contingenttotheMummer’sParadeatThanksgivingandmarchedintheveryfirstranksofeveryMemorialDaycelebration.Duringtheearlyyears,manyofherchargesleftschooluponcompletingeighthgrade;shehadonlyninebriefyearstoteachthemtothinkclearlyandindependently,topolishthemanydiamondsintheroughshebelievedthemtobe,toinspirethemwiththehighestidealsofAmericanculture.Passage9It’snottheturkeyalonewe’regratefulfor.Notthecranberrysauceorthestuffingoreventhepumpkinpie.Someofthepeopleseatedatthetablearestrangers—friendsoffriends,cousinsofin-laws—andsomearealmostdesperatelyfamiliar,facesweliveandworkwitheveryday.Inanyotherweek,todaywouldmerelybeThursdayandthegatheringofallthesepeople—thecookingandservingandcleaning—achore.Buttodayitdoesn’tfeelthatway.Thehost—perhapsit’syou—standsupandasksthatwegivethanks,andwedo,eachinourownway.Andwhatwe’rethankfulforissimplythis,thefood,theshelter,thecompanyand,aboveall,thesenseofbelonging.Asholidaysgo,Thanksgivingisinsomewaysthemostphilosophical.Todaywetrynottotakeforgrantedthethingswealmostalwaystakeforgranted.Wetryifonlyinthatbriefpausebeforetheeatingbegins,toseethroughthewell-wornpatternsofourlivestowhatliesbehindthem.Inotherwords,wetrytounderstandhowveryrichweare,whetherwefeelveryrichornot.TodayisoneofthefewtimesmostAmericansconsciouslysetdesireaside,ifonlybecausedesireisincompatiblewiththegratitude—nottomentiontheabundance—thatThanksgivingsummons.It’stemptingtothinkthatoneThanksgivingisprettymuchlikeanother,exceptfordifferencesintheguestlistandtherecipes.Butitisn’ttrue.Thisisalwaysafeastaboutwherewearenow.Thanksgivingreflectsthecomplexionoftheyearwe’rein.someyearsitfeelsbuoyant,almostjubilantinnature.OtheryearsitseemsmarkedbyaconspicuoushumilityuncommoninthecalendarofAmericanemotions.Andthisyear?WewillprobablyrememberthisThanksgivingasabanquetofmixedemotions.Thisis,afterall,aprofoundlyAmericanholiday.Theundertowofbusinessasusualseemsespeciallystrongthisyear.Theshadowofawarandmisgivingsoverthefutureloominthemindsofmanyofus.MostyearsweenjoytheprivacyofThanksgiving,butthisyear,somehow,theholidayfeelslikepartofapublicefforttorememberandreclaimforourselveswhatitmeanstobeAmerican.Thatmeansgivingthanksforsomefundamentalprinciplesthatshouldbehonoredeverydayoftheyearinthelifeofthisnation—principlesofgenerosity,toleranceandinclusion.Thisisafeastthatnooneshouldbeturnedawayform.Theabundanceofthefoodpiledonthetableshouldsignifythatthereisplentyforall,plentytobeshared.Thewelcomewefeelmakessenseonlyifwealsoextendittoothers.Passage10Forthebestpartpf20years,AlanGreenspanhasbeenasymbolofthestupidityofageism.HebecamechairmanoftheUSFederalReserveat61,whenplentyofworkershavealreadybeentossedonthescrapheapandmanyothersarepreparingtowinddownforretirement,HisgoldenyearsinchargeofUSeconomywerewhenhewaspushing70andhe’sstillthereaged78.Greenspanisthedoyenofcentralbankers,stilltalkedaboutinalmostreverentialtermsbyhispeers.ThefactthattheFedchairmanrarelygivesinterviewsandmakespublicpronouncementsthataretoeconomistswhatFinnegansWakeistoliteratureonlyaddstomystique.Itis,then,withsometrepidationthatthequestionhastobeasked:hasBigAlanfinallylosttheplot?Atthestartoflastweek,GreenspanpresidedoverameetingoftheFedwhichkeptinterestratesonholdat1%,theleveltheyhavebeenpeggedatfornearlyayear.Astatementaccompanyingthedecisionsaidtheriskstoinflationwerebalanced,whichmeanstheFedthinksthereisasmuchchanceofthecostoflivinggoingupasgoingdown.OnThursday,hewjoblessnessclaimsintheUSfelltotheirlowestlevelingettingonforfouryears,andthepictureofarecoveringlabouringmarketwasunderlinedbyFriday’snon-farmpayrollswhichshowedanincreaseof288,000,abovewhathadbeenexpected.Theeconomyisexpandingatanannualrateof4.5%,surveysofbothmanufacturingandtheservicesectorarestrong,thehousingmarketisbooming,inflationhasstartedtopickup.Hardlysurprisingly,Greenspan’scalloninflationisnowcomingunderthemicroscope,evenbythoseontheKeynesianleftwhotendtofavourexpansionarymacroeconomicpolicies.“Showmesomething,otherthancomputers,wherethepriceisfalling,”saysDeanBakeroftheCentreforEconomicPolicyResearchinWashington.Bakerisright.Clearly,riskstoinflationareontheupside,andmassivelyso.Theeconomyhasbeeninjectedwithacocktailofthreegrowth-inducingdrugs—negativerealinterestrates,arisingbudgetdeficitandafallingcurrency.Oilpriceshavetouched$40abarrelandthelabourmarketistightening.ItishardtobelievethatGreenspan,ajunkieforeconomicdatanomatterhowseeminglytrivial,hasnotspottedallthis.RatesintheUSarefarbelowaneutrallevel,whichwouldprobablybearound5%,yetGreenspanisinnohurrytoact.Passage11Foritisnotthelargehousesthatliveinthememoryofthevisitor.Hegoesthroughthemasamatterofduty,andforgetsaboutthemasamatterofcourse.Thepicturesthatlingerinhismind,calledupamomentbysuchsensationsasthesmellofrosesorofnew-mownhay,areofasimplernature.Alittlecottagenestlingamidstthewaysidetrees,thebluesmokecurlingupagainstthegreen,andabowerofrosesroundthedoor;orperhapsavillagestreetofwhichthenamehasbeenlongforgotten,withramblingoldinn,and,alittledistanceaway,thehoary,greychurch-towerinitstownshipoftombstones—thesearethepicturesofoldEnglandthatarecarriedawaytootherclimates.Anditisthecottage,morehomelythantheinn,moresacredthanthechurch,thatwerememberbest.……Thereisnothingobtrusiveabouttheoldcottages.Theydonotdominatethelandscape,butarecontenttobepartofit,andtopasunnoticedunlessonelooksspeciallyfortheirhomelybeauties.Themodernhouse,ontheotherhand,makesabidforyournotice.Itisbuiltonhighground,commandsawiderangeofcountry,andisseenfromfarandwide.Buttheoldcottagepreferstonestlesnuglyinshadyvalleys.Thetreesgrowcloselyaboutitinanintimate,familiarway,andatalittledistanceonlythewreathofcurlingsmoketellsofitspresence.Indeedtheoldcottagehasalwaysbeensomethingsoverycloseandsofamiliartous,thatitscharmshavebeenalmostentirelyoverlooked,anditisonlyofrecentyears,whenfastfallingintodecay,thatithasformedathemeforpenandpencil.Truthtotell,oflateyearsachangehascomeoverEngland.Thelifethattheoldcottagetypifiesisnowathingofthepast,andisdailyfadingmoreandmoreintothedistance.Twentieth-centuryEngland,theEnglandoftherailway,thetelegraph,andthemotorcar,isnottheEnglandoftheseoldscottages.Ourpointofviewhaschanged.Wenolongerseetheoldhomelylifeformwithin,butfromtheoutside…Butthecommonplaceofyesterdaybecomesthepoetry,suchaglamourdoesthemagicianTimecastoverthings,andtheoldlifebecomesevermoreandmoreattractiveasitslipsawayfromus,andwewatchitdisappearwithregretfulandkindlyeyes.Passage12TheintimacybetweenmanandNaturebeginswiththebirthofmanontheearth,andbecomeseachcenturymoreintelligentandfar-reaching.ToNature,therefore,weturnastotheoldestaimmostinfluentialteacherofourrace;fromonepointofviewonceourtask-master,nowourservant;formanotherpointofview,ourconstantfriend,instructorandinspirer.Theveryintimacyofthisrelationrobsitofacertainmysteryandrichnesswhichitwouldhaveforallmindsifitweretherewardofthefewinsteadofbeingtheprivilegeofthemany.Tothefewitis,ineveryage,fullofwonderandbeauty;tothemanyitisamatterofcourse.Theheavensshineforall,buttheyhaveachangingsplendortothoseonlywhoseeineverymidnightskyamajestyofcreativeenergyandresourcewhichnorepetitionofthespectaclecandim.Ifthestarsshonebutonceinathousandyears,menwouldgaze,awestruckandworshipful,onavisionwhichisnotlessbutmorewonderfulbecauseitshinesnightlyabovethewholeearth.Inlikemanner,andforthesamereason,webecomeindifferenttothatdelicatelybeautifulorsublimelyimpressiveskyscenerywhichthecloudsformandreform,composeanddissipate,athousandtimesonasummerday.Themystery,theterror,andthemusicofthesea;thesecretandsubduingcharmofthewoods,sofullofhealingforthespentmindortherestlessspirit;themajestyofthehills,holdingintheirrecessesthesecretsoflightandatmosphere;theinfinitevarietyoflandscape,neverimitativeorrepetitious,butalwaysappealingtotheimaginationwithsomefreshandunsuspectedloveliness—w