对话文本

Z: Morning, Tom! What are you doing over there? Learning to dance?

T: can't you see? I'm practicing tai chi!

Z: oh my goodness. I'm sorry. But I don't think tai chi is to be practiced like that.

T: I'm just a beginner. Did my poses make me the butt of jokes?

Z: well, they just look a bit funny, but far from making a laughing stock out of you.

T: so, is there anything wrong with my strokes?

Z: to begin with, you should keep your neck erect upward at any time.

T: like this?

Z: good! And then, the entire body. Never incline your body forward or backward. Take care to regulate the point of balance. Place it at your waist.

T: did I do it right?

Z: no! you should avoid sticking out your belly. Keep your hip steady. Don't swing!

T: what should I do with my legs then?

Z: oh, yes, things are quite different with the limbs. Keep your knees bent a little. Right! They should be rich in elasticity. Move slowly when you shift your center of gravity from one leg to another.

T: fantastic! I guess the same is true with the arms, right?

Z: exactly! Move your arms in a relaxed manner. Well, don't stretch your fingers stiffly. Just keep them in a natural shape.

参考翻译

早啊,汤姆!你在那儿干什么啊?学跳舞?
你没看见我在打太极?
哦,天哪!不好意思,没看出来.可是太极拳有这么打的吗?
我只是初学啊.我的姿势是不是很搞笑?
恩,只是有一点点滑稽,不过不至于把你变成一个笑柄的.
那你看看,我动作哪里不对?
首先,不管什么时候,你的脖子应该竖直向上.
这样对吧?
好!还有全身上下,身子不要前倾也不要后倾.注意调解重心,保持在腰部.
这样?
不不不,不要挺肚子.臀部不要晃,要稳.
那我的腿呢?
对了,手脚四肢可就不一样了.膝盖要稍微弯曲一些.对! 要有弹性.把重心从一条腿移到另一条腿上时,要缓慢些.
好玩!我猜,手臂也是这样吧?
没错.手臂移动时要放松.恩,手指别伸得那样直,要自然点.

核心词汇
1.Erect: in an upright position straight 垂直的;竖直的;直立的

Stand with your arms by your side and your head erect. 手放两边，昂首站立。

2.Swing: to move backwards or forwards or from side to side while hanging from a fixed point; to make something do this (使)摆动,摇摆,摇荡

His arms swung as he walked. 他边走边摆着双臂。 V
A set of keys swung from her belt. 她腰带上挂着的一串钥匙摆来摆去。
As he pushed her, she swung higher and higher(= while sitting on a swing). 随着他推她，她在秋千上越荡越高。
He sat on the stool, swinging his legs. 他坐在凳子上晃动着两条腿。

3.Elasticity: the quality that something has of being able to stretch and return to its original size and shape (= of being elastic) 弹性;弹力

4.Bent: not straight 弯曲的

a piece of bent wire 一段弯曲的金属丝
Do this exercise with your knees bent(= not with your legs straight). 这个动作要求双膝弯曲。

5.Stiff: firm and difficult to bend or move 不易弯曲(或活动)的;硬的;挺的

stiff cardboard 硬纸板
a stiff brush 硬刷子
The windows were stiff and she couldn't get them open. 窗户紧，她开不开。
I've got a stiff neck. 我脖子发僵。

核心词组
1.far from something/from doing something: almost the opposite of something or of what is expected 几乎相反;远非
It is far from clear(= it is not clear)what he intends to do. 他打算怎样做一点都不清楚.

Computers, far from destroying jobs, can create employment. 计算机远非破坏就业,而是能创造就业.

2.laughing stock: a person that everyone laughs at because they have done something stupid 笑柄;笑料

I can't wear that! I'd be a laughing stock. 我可不能戴那个东西!否则会成为笑柄的.