胡敏讀故事記托福詞匯11：時(shí)間沒白費(fèi) Time Not Lost
Lesson 11 Time Not Lost 時(shí)間沒白費(fèi)
I first met her at the university 8 years ago. My major was anthropology and her was history. We fell in love and wed, but three months later, she announced her intention to annul the marriage. She said that I never seemed interested in talking about history and that my apathy annoyed her. She moved away and I never anticipated seeing her again.
8年前的大學(xué)時(shí)代，我遇到了她。我得專業(yè)是人類學(xué)，她的專業(yè)是歷史。我們相戀結(jié)婚，但是婚后三個(gè)月，她宣布想取消這場婚姻。她說我對談?wù)摎v史毫無興趣可言，而我的冷漠令她煩惱。她搬走了，我也沒指望能再見到她。
Then, I ran into her last year while attending an annual convention at the University. She had passed to me an anonymous note that simply said,"look behind you." I had no idea it would be her.
然后，去年我在參加學(xué)校年會(huì)時(shí)邂逅了她。她讓人遞給我一張匿名紙條，上面就寫了一句：“往后看。”我壓根沒想到是她。
Now, she teaches an American History class at the University. She stimulates interest in history by taking her students to historic sites and having them experience antiquity in person. It thrills them to annotate their textbooks with first-hand information. Her anomalous teaching method draws a large number of students.
現(xiàn)在，她在這所大學(xué)里教美國歷史。她實(shí)屬歷史教授的另類。她帶領(lǐng)學(xué)生參觀歷史古跡，讓學(xué)生親自感受什么是古老，從而激發(fā)他們對歷史的興趣。學(xué)生們興奮于有第一手資料注解他們的課本。她那不同尋常的教學(xué)方式吸引了大批學(xué)生。
Last month, I joined her class for a trip to a house that antedated the American Civil War. We were fascinated by the antiquated furniture and the post-war antiques. In one room, I found a rusty bronze music box that plays the National anthem. In the bedroom, I found a hand-sewn book containing an anthology of civil war poems. In the bathroom, I discovered a pair of hand-blown glass bottles used for storing antibiotic pills and antiseptic. Perhaps the most interesting piece was an old box-styled camera, one of the first to use an aperture. It still worked.
上個(gè)月，我參加了他們班組織的一次參觀美國內(nèi)戰(zhàn)前一所老房子的活動(dòng)。我們被古色古香的家具和各式戰(zhàn)后古董所吸引。我再房間里發(fā)現(xiàn)一個(gè)沾滿銅銹但是能唱國歌的音樂盒。在臥室里，我找到了一本用手工針線裝訂成冊的內(nèi)戰(zhàn)詩集。在浴室里，我發(fā)現(xiàn)了一對裝抗生素片和防腐劑的自制玻璃瓶。也許最有趣的東西是一個(gè)古老的盒式相機(jī)，這也是最早使用光圈相機(jī)之一。它還能拍照片呢!
I never realized how interesting History could be. For that, I must thank my former wife, or should I say, my present wife. They are now one and the same!
我從前從未意識(shí)到歷史會(huì)如此有趣。這一點(diǎn)，我要感謝我的前妻，或者說我的現(xiàn)任妻子。她們是同一人!
英語單詞注釋
annotate v. 注解，注釋
announce vt. 宣布，發(fā)表，通告
annoy vt. 使惱怒;打擾
annual adj. 每年的
annul v. 廢除，取消
anomalous adj. 異常的，反常的，不規(guī)則的
anomaly n. 異常，不規(guī)則;異常的人或事
anonymous adj. 匿名的
antedate v. 發(fā)生于(存在于)。。。以前，(時(shí)間上)前于;提早日期
anthem n. 圣歌，贊美歌
anthology n. 詩集，文選
anthropology n. 人類學(xué)
antibiotic adj. 抗菌的，抗生的
anticipate vt. 預(yù)期，預(yù)料
antiquated adj. 陳舊的，過時(shí)的;古老的，年老的
antique n. 古董;adj. 古時(shí)的，陳舊的
antiquity n. 古跡;古物;古代，古老
antiseptic n. 殺菌劑，防腐劑
apathy n. 冷漠，無興趣
aperture n. 開口，孔;(照相機(jī)等的)孔徑，光圈
