常春藤生活英語：世界盡頭的光明

The Light at the Edge of the World　世界盡頭的光明

Each day, humans are faced with terrible news about war, poverty, and crime from every direction including TV, radio, and the Internet. To settle themselves, many people take some time out of their busy lives to meditate. It helps people quiet their minds and become more mentally focused. In Nepal, meditating is a huge part of daily life. One Buddhist nun has taken meditating to extremes. For the past 45 years, she has lived alone in a small hut at the base of Mount Everest and rarely left her home.

National Geographic Channel is showing a new series, The Light at the Edge of the World, which introduces viewers to this woman in Science of the Mind. Wade Davis, host of this interesting show and one of the great explorers of our time, is in search of what it means to be human. When he meets the nun, she helps him understand a few secrets of Buddhism. Also, Wade discovers some of the inner workings of his own brain when he spends time with this holy woman.

每天，人類經(jīng)由電視、廣播、網(wǎng)絡(luò)等各種管道，面對著關(guān)于戰(zhàn)爭、貧窮、犯罪等負(fù)面的新聞。為了沉淀心情，很多人在百忙之中抽空來打坐冥想。這能幫助人們靜下心來，在精神上更加專注。在尼泊爾，冥想占了日常生活中很大的一部分。一位尼姑將冥想發(fā)揮到極致。過去四十五年來，她都獨居在圣母峰山腳的小屋內(nèi)，而且很少離家。

國家地理頻道將播出一個全新系列──《世界盡頭的光明》，并在《心靈科學(xué)》中為觀眾介紹這位女士。這個精采節(jié)目的主持人，同時也是當(dāng)代偉大探險家之一的維德?戴維斯，在尋找生為人類的意義。當(dāng)他遇見這位尼姑時，她幫助他了解一些佛教的秘密。同時，在和這位修道女士的相處過程中，維德發(fā)現(xiàn)一些自己大腦內(nèi)部的運作方式。

Building Your Vocabulary

1.settle　vt. 使安定，使平靜

Irene took a deep breath to settle her nerves.

艾琳深吸了一口氣，好讓自己情緒安定下來。

2.quiet　vt. 使安靜

The soft music quieted the crying baby.

輕柔的樂聲讓哭鬧的嬰兒靜了下來。

3.inner　a. 內(nèi)部的;內(nèi)心的

Do you get the inner meaning of that movie?

你了解那部電影的內(nèi)在涵義嗎?

Phrases for Learning

1.be faced with...　　面臨……

Howard is faced with a decision that may change his whole life.

霍華德正面臨可能改變他一生的決定。

2.take...to extremes　　在……上走極端

Tina likes taking shopping to extremes. She once spent $100,000 on a present for her cat.

蒂娜喜歡極度揮霍。她曾經(jīng)花十萬塊買東西送給她的貓咪。

3.of our time　　當(dāng)代

Who is the greatest inventor of our time?

誰是當(dāng)代最偉大的發(fā)明家?

參考字詞

1.poverty　n. 貧窮

2.meditate　vi. 冥想，打坐

3.nun　n. 尼姑;修女

4.hut　n.(簡陋的)小屋

5.workings　n. 運作方式(恒為復(fù)數(shù))

6.holy　a. 修道的

Tips In Use

For the past 45 years, she has lived alone...and rarely left her home.

(過去四十五年來，她都獨居……而且很少離家。)

"for/over/during/in + the past/last +(數(shù)字∕few)+ ear(s)/month(s)..."表『過去……年∕月……以來(到現(xiàn)在)』。

注意：上述詞組通常與現(xiàn)在完成(進(jìn)行)式并用。

Daniel has been to many cities over the last 10 months.

(過去十個月來，丹尼爾去過了很多城市。)