全新大学英语综合教程1第二课文原文

Unit1TheideaofbecomingawriterhadcometomeoffandonsincemychildhoodinBelleville,butitwasn'tuntilmythirdyearinhighschoolthatthepossibilitytookhold.UntilthenI'dbeenboredbyeverythingassociatedwithEnglishcourses.IfoundEnglishgrammardullanddifficult.Ihatedtheassignmentstoturnoutlong,lifelessparagraphsthatwereagonyforteacherstoreadandformetowrite.WhenourclasswasassignedtoMr.Fleagleforthird-yearEnglishIanticipatedanothercheerlessyearinthatmosttediousofsubjects.Mr.Fleaglehadareputationamongstudentsfordullnessandinabilitytoinspire.Hewassaidtobeveryformal,rigidandhopelesslyoutofdate.Tomehelookedtobesixtyorseventyandexcessivelyprim.Heworeprimlysevereeyeglasses,hiswavyhairwasprimlycutandprimlycombed.Heworeprimsuitswithnecktiessetprimlyagainstthecollarbuttonsofhiswhiteshirts.Hehadaprimlypointedjaw,aprimlystraightnose,andaprimgentlemanly,socorrect,sowasthatspeakingofmannerthatheseemedacomicantique.IpreparedforanunfruitfulyearwithMr.Fleagleandforalongtimewasnotdisappointed.Lateintheyearwetackledtheinformalessay.Mr.Fleagledistributedahomeworksheetofferingusachoiceoftopics.Nonewasquitesosimple-mindedasWhatIDidonMySummerVacation,butmostseemedtobealmostasdull.Itookthelisthomeanddidnothinguntilthenightbeforetheessaywasdue.Lyingonthesofa,Ifinallyfaceduptotheunwelcometask,tookthelistoutofmynotebook,andscannedit.ThetopiconwhichmyeyestoppedwasTheArtofEatingSpaghetti.Thistitleproducedanextraordinarysequenceofmentalimages.VividmemoriescamefloodingbackofanightinBellevillewhenallofuswereseatedaroundthesuppertable—UncleAllen,mymother,UncleCharlie,Doris,UncleHal—andAuntPatservedspaghettiforsupper.Spaghettiwasstillalittleknownforeigndishinthosedays.NeitherDorisnorIhadevereatenspaghetti,andnoneoftheadultshadenoughexperiencetobegoodatit.AllthegoodhumorofUncleAllen'shousereawokeinmymindasIrecalledthelaughingargumentswehadthatnightaboutthesociallyrespectablemethodformovingspaghettifromplatetomouth.SuddenlyIwantedtowriteaboutthat,aboutthewarmthandgoodfeelingofit,butIwantedtoputitdownsimplyformyownjoy,notforMr.Fleagle.ItwasamomentIwantedtorecaptureandholdformyself.Iwantedtorelivethepleasureofthatevening.TowriteitasIwanted,however,wouldviolatealltherulesofformalcompositionI'dlearnedinschool,andMr.Fleaglewouldsurelygiveitafailinggrade.Nevermind.IwouldwritesomethingelseforMr.FleagleafterIhadwrittenthisthingformyself.WhenIfinisheditthenightwashalfgoneandtherewasnotimelefttocomposeaproper,respectableessayforMr.Fleagle.TherewasnochoicenextmorningbuttoturninmytaleoftheBellevillesupper.TwodayspassedbeforeMr.Fleaglereturnedthegradedpapers,andhereturnedeveryone'sbutmine.IwaspreparingmyselfforacommandtoreporttoMr.FleagleimmediatelyafterschoolfordisciplinewhenIsawhimliftmypaperfromhisdeskandknockfortheclass'sattention.Now,boys,hesaid.Iwanttoreadyouanessay.Thisistitled,'TheArtofEatingSpaghetti.'Andhestartedtoread.Mywords!Hewasreadingmywordsoutloudtotheentireclass.What'smore,theentireclasswaslistening.Listeningattentively.Thensomebodylaughed,thentheentireclasswaslaughing,andnotincontemptandridicule,butwithopen-heartedenjoyment.EvenMr.Fleaglestoppedtwoorthreetimestoholdbackasmallprimsmile.Ididmybesttoavoidshowingpleasure,butwhatIwasfeelingwaspuredelightatthisdemonstrationthatmywordshadthepowertomakepeoplelaugh.Intheeleventhgrade,attheeleventhhourasitwere,Ihaddiscoveredacalling.Itwasthehappiestmomentofmyentireschoolcareer.WhenMr.Fleaglefinishedheputthefinalsealonmyhappinessbysaying,Nowthat,boys,isanessay,don'tyousee.It's—don'tyousee—it'softheveryessenceoftheessay,don'tyousee.Congratulations,Mr.Baker.(797words)Unit2．HemusthavebeencompletelylostinsomethinghewasreadingbecauseIhadtotaponthewindshieldtogethisattention.IsyourcabavailableIaskedwhenhefinallylookedupatme.Henodded,thensaidapologeticallyasIsettledintothebackseat,I'msorry,butIwasreadingaletter.Hesoundedasifhehadacoldorsomething.I'minnohurry,Itoldhim.Goaheadandfinishyourletter.Heshookhishead.I'vereaditseveraltimesalready.IguessIalmostknowitbyheart.Lettersfromhomealwaysmeanalot,Isaid.AtleasttheydowithmebecauseI'montheroadsomuch.Then,estimatingthathewas60or70yearsold,Iguessed:FromachildormaybeagrandchildThisisn'tfamily,hereplied.Although,hewenton,cometothinkofit,itmightjustaswellhavebeenfamily.OldEdwasmyoldestfriend.Infact,weusedtocalleachother'OldFriend'—whenwe'dmeet,thatis.I'mnotmuchofahandatwriting.toocorrespondenceourupkeepusofanythinkdon'tIwell,Isaid.IknowIdon't.ButItakeithe'ssomeoneyou'veknownquiteawhileAllmylife,practically.Wewerekidstogether,sowegowayback.WenttoschooltogetherAllthewaythroughhighschool.Wewereinthesameclass,infact,throughbothgradeandhighschool.Therearenottoomanypeoplewho'vehadsuchalongfriendship,Isaid.Actually,thedriverwenton,Ihadn'tseenhimmorethanonceortwiceayearoverthepast25or30yearsbecauseImovedawayfromtheoldneighborhoodandyoukindoflosetoucheventhoughyouneverforget.Hewasagreatguy.Yousaid'was'.Doesthatmean—Henodded.Diedacoupleofweeksago.I'msorry,Isaid.It'snofuntoloseanyfriend—andlosingarealoldoneiseventougher.Hedidn'treplytothat,andwerodeoninsilenceforafewminutes.ButIrealizedthatOldEdwasstillonhismindwhenhespokeagain,almostmoretohimselfthantome:Ishouldhavekeptintouch.Yes,herepeated,Ishouldhavekeptintouch.Well,Iagreed,weshouldallkeepintouchwitholdfriendsmorethanwedo.Butthingscomeupandwejustdon'tseemtofindthetime.Heshrugged.Weusedtofindthetime,hesaid.That'sevenmentionedintheletter.Hehandeditovertome.Takealook.Thanks,Isaid,utIdon'twanttoreadyourmail.That'sprettypersonal.Thedrivershrugged.OldEd'sdead.There'snothingpersonalnow.Goahead,heurgedme.Theletterwaswritteninpencil.ItbeganwiththegreetingOldFriend,andthefirstsentenceremindedmeofmyself.I'vebeenmeaningtowriteforsometime,butI'vealwayspostponedit.Itthenwentontosaythatheoftenthoughtaboutthegoodtimestheyhadhadtogetherwhentheybothlivedinthesameneighborhood.Ithadreferencestothingsthatprobablymeantsomethingtothedriver,suchasthetimeTimSheabrokethewindow,theHalloweenthatwetiedOldMr.Parker'sschool.afteruskeeptousedCulverMrs.whenandgate,Youmusthavespentalotoftimetogether,Isaidtohim.Likeitsaysthere,heanswered,aboutallwehadtospendinthosedayswastime.Heshookhishead:Time.Ithoughtthenextparagraphoftheletterwasalittlesad:IbegantheletterwithOldFriendbecausethat'swhatwe'vebecomeovertheyears—oldfriends.Andtherearen'tmanyofusleft.Youknow,Isaidtohim,whenitsaysherethattherearen'tmanyofusleft,that'sabsolutelyright.EverytimeIgotoaclassreunion,forexample,therearefewerandfewerstillaround.Timegoesby,thedriversaid.DidyoutwoworkatthesameplaceIaskedhim.No,butwehungoutonthesamecornerwhenweweresingle.Andthen,whenweweremarried,weusedtogotoeachother'shouseeverynowandthen.Butforthelast20or30yearsit'sbeenmostlyjustChristmascards.Ofcoursethere'dbealwaysanotewe'deachaddtothecards—usuallysomenewsaboutourfamilies,youknow,whatthekidsweredoing,whomovedwhere,anewgrandchild,thingslikethat—butneverarealletteroranythinglikethat.Thisisagoodparthere,Isaid.WhereitsaysYourfriendshipovertheyearshasmeantanawfullottome,morethanIcansaybecauseI'mnotgoodatsayingthingslikethat.Ifoundmyselfnoddinginagreement.Thatmusthavemadeyoufeelgood,didn'titThedriversaidsomethingthatIcouldn'tunderstandbecauseheseemedtobeallchokedup,soIcontinued:IknowI'dliketoreceivealetterlikethatfrommyoldestfriend.WeweregettingclosetoourdestinationsoIskippedtothelastparagraph.SoIthoughtyou'dliketoknowthatIwasthinkingofyou.Anditwassigned，YourOldFriend,Tom.Ihandedbacktheletteraswestoppedatmyhotel.Enjoyedtalkingwithyou,IsaidasItookmysuitcaseoutofthecab.TomTheletterwassignedTomIthoughtyourfriend'snamewasEd,Isaid.WhydidhesignitTomTheletterwasnotfromEdtome,heexplained.I'mTom.It'saletterIwrotetohimbeforeIknewhe'ddied.SoInevermailedit.Helookedsortofsorrowful,orasifheweretryingtoseesomethinginthedistance.IguessIshouldhavewrittenitsooner.WhenIgottomyhotelroomIdidn'tunpackrightaway.FirstIhadtowritealetter—andmailit.(1093words)Unit3Whetherwelikeitornot,theworldweliveinhaschangedagreatdealinthelasthundredyears,anditislikelytochangeevenmoreinthenexthundred.Somepeoplewouldliketostopthesechangesandgobacktowhattheyseeasapurerandsimplerage.Butashistoryshows,thepastwasnotthatwonderful.Itwasnotsobadforaprivilegedminority,thougheventheyhadtodowithoutmodernmedicine,andchildbirthwashighlyriskyforwomen.Butforthevastmajorityofthepopulation,lifewasnasty,brutish,andshort.Anyway,evenifonewantedto,onecouldn'tputtheclockbacktoanearlierage.Knowledgeandtechniquescan'tjustbeforgotten.Norcanonepreventfurtheradvancesinthefuture.Evenifallgovernmentmoneyforresearchwerecutoff(andthepresentgovernmentisdoingitsbest),theforceofcompetitionwouldstillbringaboutadvancesintechnology.Moreover,onecannotstopinquiringmindsfromthinkingaboutbasicscience,whetherornottheyarepaidforit.Theonlywaytopreventfurtherdevelopmentswouldbeaglobalstatethatsuppressedanythingnew,andhumaninitiativeandinventivenessaresuchthateventhiswouldn'tsucceed.Allitwoulddoisslowdowntherateofchange.Ifweacceptthatwecannotpreventscienceandtechnologyfromchangingourworld,wecanatleasttrytoensurethatthechangestheymakeareintherightdirections.Inademocraticsociety,thismeansthatthepublicneedstohaveabasicunderstandingofscience,sothatitcanmakeinformeddecisionsandnotleavetheminthehandsofexperts.Atthemoment,thepublicisintwomindsaboutscience.Ithascometoexpectthesteadyincreaseinthestandardoflivingthatnewdevelopmentsinscienceandtechnologyhavebroughttocontinue,butitalsodistrustsscienceisdistrustThisit.understanddoesn'titbecauseevidentinthecartoonfigureofthemadscientistworkinginhislaboratorytoproduceaFrankenstein.ItisalsoanimportantelementbehindsupportfortheGreenparties.Butthepublicalsohasagreatinterestinscience,particularlyastronomy,asisshownbythelargeaudiencesfortelevisionseriessuchasTheSkyatNightandforsciencefiction.Whatcanbedonetoharnessthisinterestandgivethepublicthescientificbackgrounditneedstomakeinformeddecisionsonsubjectslikeacidrain,thegreenhouseeffect,nuclearweapons,andgeneticengineeringClearly,thebasismustlieinwhatistaughtinschools.Butinschoolsscienceisoftenpresentedinadryanduninterestingmanner.Childrenlearnitbyrotetopassexaminations,andtheydon'tseeitsrelevancetotheworldaroundthem.Moreover,scienceisoftentaughtintermsofequations.Althoughequationsareabriefandaccuratewayofdescribingmathematicalideas,theyfrightenmostpeople.WhenIwroteapopularbookrecently,IwasadvisedthateachequationIincludedwouldhalvethesales.IincludedMaybeE=mc2.equation,famousEinstein'sequation,oneIwouldhavesoldtwiceasmanycopieswithoutit.Scientistsandengineerstendtoexpresstheirideasintheformofequationsbecausetheyneedtoknowtheprecisevaluesofquantities.Butfortherestofus,aqualitativegraspofscientificconceptsissufficient,andthiscanbeconveyedbywordsanddiagrams,withouttheuseofequations.Thesciencepeoplelearninschoolcanprovidethebasicframework.Buttherateofscientificprogressisnowsorapidthattherearealwaysnewdevelopmentsthathaveoccurredsinceonewasatschooloruniversity.Ineverlearnedaboutmolecularbiologyortransistorsatschool,butgeneticengineeringandcomputersaretwoofthedevelopmentsmostlikelytochangethewayweliveinthefuture.Popularbooksandmagazinearticlesaboutsciencecanhelptoputacrossnewdevelopments,buteventhemostsuccessfulpopularbookisreadbyonlyasmallproportionofthepopulation.Onlytelevisioncanreachatrulymassaudience.TherearesomeverygoodscienceprogrammesonTV,butotherspresentscientificwonderssimplyasmagic,withouttheintofittheyhowshowingorthemexplainingframeworkofscientificideas.Producersoftelevisionscienceprogrammesshouldrealizethattheyhavearesponsibilitytoeducatethepublic,notjustentertainit.Theworldtodayisfilledwithdangers,hencethesickjokethatthereasonwehavenotbeencontactedbyanaliencivilizationisthatcivilizationstendtodestroythemselveswhentheyreachourstage.ButIhavesufficientfaithinthegoodsenseofthepublictobelievethatwemightprovethiswrong.(812words)Unit4HecamefromarockyfarminItaly,somewheresouthofRome.HoworwhenhegottoAmerica,Idon'tknow.ButoneeveningIfoundhimstandinginthedriveway,behindmygarage.Hewasaboutfive-foot-sevenoreight,andthin.Imowyourlawn,hesaid.ItwashardtocomprehendhisbrokenEnglish.Iaskedhimhisname.TonyTrivisonno,hereplied.Imowyourlawn.ItoldTonythatIcouldn'taffordagardener.Imowyourlawn,hesaidagain,thenwalkedaway.Iwentintomyhouseunhappy.Yes,theseDepressiondaysweredifficult,buthowcouldItoturnawayapersonwhohadcometomeforhelpWhenIgothomefromworkthenextevening,thelawnhadbeenmowed,thegardenweeded,andthewalksswept.Iaskedmywifewhathadhappened.Amangotthelawnmoweroutofthegarageandworkedontheyard,sheanswered.Iassumedyouhadhiredhim.Itoldherofmyexperiencethenightbefore.Wethoughtitstrangethathehadnotaskedforpay.Thenexttwodayswerebusy,andIforgotaboutTony.Weweretryingtorebuildourbusinessandbringsomeofourworkersbacktotheplants.ButonFriday,returninghomealittleearly,IsawTonyagain,behindthegarage.Icomplimentedhimontheworkhehaddone.Imowyourlawn,hesaid.Imanagedtoworkoutsomekindofsmallweeklypay,andeachdayTonycleaneduptheyardandtookcareofanylittletasks.Mywifesaidhewasveryhelpfulthingsorlifttoobjectsheavyanyweretherewhenevertofix.Summerpassedintofall,andwindsblewcold.Mr.Craw,snowprettysoon,Tonytoldmeoneevening.Whenwintercome,yougivemejobclearingsnowatthefactory.Well,whatdoyoudowithsuchdeterminationandhopeOfcourse,Tonygothisjobatthefactory.Themonthspassed.Iaskedthepersonneldepartmentforareport.TheysaidTonywasaverygoodworker.OnedayIfoundTonyatourmeetingplacebehindthegarage.Iwanttobe'prentice,hesaid.Wehadaprettygoodapprenticeschoolthattrainedlaborers.ButIdoubtedwhetherTonyhadthecapacitytoreadblueprintsandmicrometersordoprecisionwork.Still,howcouldIturnhimdownTonytookacutinpaytobecomeanapprentice.Monthslater,Igotareportthathehadgraduatedasaskilledgrinder.Hehadlearnedtoreadthemillionthsofaninchonthemicrometerandtoshapethegrindingwheelwithaninstrumentsetwithadiamond.MywifeandIweredelightedwithwhatwefeltwasasatisfyingendofthestory.Ayearortwopassed,andagainIfoundTonyinhisusualwaitingplace.Wetalkedabouthiswork,andIaskedhimwhathewanted.Mr.Craw,hesaid,Ilikeabuyahouse.Ontheedgeoftown,hehadfoundahouseforsale,acompletewreck.Icalledonabankerfriend.DoyoueverloanmoneyoncharacterIasked.No,hesaid.Wecan'taffordto.Nosale.Now,waitaminute,Ireplied.Hereisahard-workingman,amanofcharacter,Icanpromiseyouthat.He'sgotagoodjob.You'renotgettingadamnthingfromyourlot.Itwillstaythereforyears.Atleasthewillpayyourinterest.Reluctantly,thebankerwroteamortgagefor$2,000andgaveTonythehousewithnodownpayment.Tonywasdelighted.Fromthenon,itwasinterestingtoseethatanydiscardedoddsandendsaroundourplace—abrokenscreen,abitofhardware,boardsfrompacking—Tonywouldgatherandtakehome.Afterabouttwoyears,IfoundTonyinourfamiliarmeetingspot.Heseemedtostandalittlestraighter.Hewasheavier.Hehadalookofconfidence.Mr.Craw,Isellmyhouse!hesaidwithpride.Igot$8,000.Iwasamazed.But,Tony,whereareyougoingtolivewithoutahouseMr.Craw,Ibuyafarm.Wesatdownandtalked.Tonytoldmethattoownafarmwashisdream.HelovedthetomatoesandpeppersandalltheothervegetablesimportanttohisItaliandiet.HehadsentforhiswifeandsonanddaughterbackinItaly.Hehadhuntedaroundtheedgeoftownuntilhefoundasmall,abandonedpieceofpropertywithahouseandshed.Nowhewasmovinghisfamilytohisfarm.Sometimelater.TonyarrivedonaSundayafternoon,neatlydressed.HehadanotherItalianmanwithhim.HetoldmethathehadpersuadedhischildhoodfriendtomovetoAmerica.Tonywassponsoringhim.Withanamusedlookinhiseye,hetoldmethatwhentheyapproachedthelittlefarmhenowoperated,hisfriendstoodinamazementandsaid,Tony,youareamillionaire!Then,duringthewar,amessagecamefrommycompany.Tonyhadpassedaway.Iaskedourpeopletocheckonhisfamilyandseethateverythingwasproperlyhandled.Theyfoundthefarmgreenwithvegetables,thelittlehouselivableandhomey.Therewasatractorandagoodcarintheyard.Thechildrenwereeducatedandworking,andTonydidn'toweacent.Afterhepassedaway,IthoughtmoreandmoreaboutTony'scareer.Hegrewinstatureinmymind.Intheend,Ithinkhestoodastall,andasproud,asthegreatestAmericanindustrialists.Theyhadallreachedtheirsuccessbythesamerouteandbythesamevaluesandprinciples:vision,determination,self-control,optimism,self-respectand,aboveall,integrity.Tonydidnotbeginonthebottomrungoftheladder.Hebeganinthebasement.Tony'saffairsweretiny;thegreatestindustrialists'affairsweregiant.But,afterall,thebalancesheetswereexactlythesame.Theonlydifferencewaswhereyouputthedecimalpoint.TonyTrivisonnocametoAmericaseekingtheAmericanDream.Buthedidn'tfindit—hecreateditforhimself.Allhehadwere24precioushoursaday,andhewastednoneofthem.(1110words)