美國語文第五冊 第210期：考試（06）
Yes, I remember I have, and found the air up there as warm as mustard;
是的，我記得曾經(jīng)遇見這樣的事，我發(fā)現(xiàn)天花板上端空氣非常熱，
and when I got down, and bent my head near the floor to pick up something, I found it as cold as could be.
但當(dāng)我從椅子上下來時，我俯身將頭貼近地面去撿地上掉落的東西時，我發(fā)現(xiàn)空氣實在太涼。
That is ever the case; but I wish you to tell me how the cold air always happens to settle down to the lower part of the room,
情況正是如此，不過，我希望你能告訴我，為什么冷空氣總是在房間下端，
while the warm air, somehow, at the same time, gets above.
而暖空氣總在房間上端？
Why, why, heavy things settle down, and the cold air,
哎呀，對，重的東西下沉，比如冷空氣，
yes, yes, that's it, I am sure—the cold air is heavier, and so settles down, and crowds up the warm air.
不錯，不錯，就是這樣，我相信，冷空氣更重，所以它就往下運動，但暖空氣相反往上升。
Very good. You then understand that cold air is heavier than the heated air, as that iron is heavier than the water;
太對了，這樣，你就明白了冷空氣比暖空氣重，正如鑄鐵套比水要重是一個道理。
so now we will go back to the main question—what makes the smoke go upwards?
現(xiàn)在，我們再回到主要問題，煙怎么會上升呢？
Oh! I see now as plain as day; the cold air settles down all round, like the iron box,
天呀！我現(xiàn)在太清楚不過了，冷空氣聚集下端，
and drives up the hot air as fast as the fire heats it, in the middle, like the water;
一旦用火加熱，熱空氣很快上升，就像鑄鐵套中間的水，將水頂上去；
and so the hot air carries the smoke along up with it, just as feathers and things in a whirlwind.
暖空氣裹住煙上升，好像旋風(fēng)中盤旋而上的羽毛和塵埃。
Well! I have found out what makes smoke go up—isn't it curious?
天呀！我終于知道了煙是如何上升的，這該多么奇怪呀！
"Done like a philosopher!" CRIed Bunker.
“實在不愧是哲學(xué)家！”邦克高聲叫道，
The thing is settled. I will grant that you are a teacher among a thousand.
好了，事情已經(jīng)完美解決，我真是服了你，你可真是千里挑一的好老師，
You can not only think yourself, but can teach others to think; so you may call the position yours as quick as you please.
自己思考不說，還教會他人思考；只要你樂意，你隨時可以給自己封上這一光榮稱號。
