我们的故事

Extracted from the poppy seed pod,

鸦片是从罂粟籽当中提取而出的

It activates a natural substance in the brain, dopamine,

它刺激了大脑中一种天然物质的分泌:多巴胺

That controls feelings of pleasure and reward,

这种物质传递着快乐与兴奋

Generating a sense of euphoria And physical addiction.

使人产生一种欢愉的感觉 并且导致生理上的依赖

Ho lao chin runs a lucrative opium den.

何老金开设了一家利益颇丰的鸦片馆

He gets the drug from the British.They grow it in India.

他从英国人那里买来鸦片 他们在印度种植

For the British traders, it's like printing money.

对英国贸易商来说 这就像印钞票

For the Chinese, it's devastating.

而对中国人来说 这是毁灭性的

This one drug opium had such a powerful impact on people's minds

鸦片这种药物对人的大脑 有着巨大的影响力

that it became the single largest commodity traded worldwide in the early 19th century.

在十九世纪早期 它就成为了 世界贸易中唯一销量最大的商品

Twelve million Chinese are addicted.

一千二百万中国人沉迷于此

Fifteen times more than the number of heroin addicts In the US today.

比今天美国海洛因吸食者的数量 要高出十五倍

Draining China's silver reserves And tearing the country apart.

这掏空了中国的白银储备 国家变得四分五裂

The addiction to opium was so widespread,

鸦片吸食普遍到

that we have about 30% of court officials addicted.

近百分之三十的官员有毒瘾

It really was a disease that would cripple a great empire.

这个病害足以使 一个伟大帝国的衰落

重点讲解

1、devastating

毁灭性的;极具破坏力的

The city of Ormac took the full force of the winds and devastating floods.

奥马克城受到了狂风和灾难性洪水的猛烈袭击。

Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.

婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

极其引人注目的;令人印象深刻的

a devastating display of galloping and jumping.

令人难忘的骑马飞奔和跳跃表演

I was devastating, if I do say so myself.

如果让我来说的话，我真是棒极了。

2、reserve

保留;留出;预留

A double room with a balcony overlooking the sea had been reserved for him.

特地为他预留了一间带阳台的海景双人房。

In the United States lanes are reserved for cars with more than one occupant.

在美国，多人乘坐的汽车有专行道。

预订;保留;预约

I'll reserve a table for five.

我要预订一张5人的桌子。

Demand will be huge, so ask your newsagent to reserve your copy today.

需求量会很大，所以今天得请卖报摊主为你预留出你那份。

寡言;矜持;内敛

The subject is one which must be discussed with reserve.

对这个话题必须进行慎重的讨论。

His natural reserve made him appear self-conscious.

他天生的内敛性格让他显得有些拘谨。