对话文本


L: I'm planning to buy a bicycle. As you are quite a cycling enthusiast, I wish you might give me some advice.

J: with pleasure, chap. But before I start, I need to know what you want a bike for?

L: my purpose are two-fold. On the one hand, I've grown bored of commuting on suffocating buses every day and decided to ride to work. On the other hand, bicycling is a sport, and I intend to build up my body through constantly taking a ride over the weekends.

J: cycling during weekends? Do you mean riding to the mountainous countryside or just the neighboring towns?

L: does that make any difference?

J: can't be greater. If you ride on bumpy, hilly roads, a mountain bike is what you need. But if you just ride comfortably along the city lanes, you might choose a road bike.

L: are you designed differently?

J: a road bike features skinny tires and a lightweight frame. Its riding position puts you bent over the handlebars. It's not particularly beefy in construction, and generally, it won't stand up well under heavy loads or on really rough surfaces. In contrast, mountain bikes have wide tires and a stout frame. You sit higher on them and don't have to be hunched over.

参考翻译


我在琢磨买辆自行车.你是位自行车爱好者,能给我点建议吗?
没问题!我先问问,你要自行车做什么用?
有两方面原因.第一,每天上下班挤公交车实在烦人,所以想改骑车.第二,骑车是运动,周末骑车逛逛总可以锻炼锻炼身体嘛.
周末骑车?骑车去哪儿?是乡下去还是只是在附近的小镇上转悠?
这有关系吗?
关系很大呢.如果你在凹凸不平的山路上骑,就要选用山地车.如果只是在城市公路上骑,最好还是选用平地车.
这两种车的设计不同?
平地车的轮胎比较细,架子也比较轻.骑上去,你必须蜷曲俯卧在车把上.平地车也不够结实,载重量不可以太大,也难以胜任不平发热路面.相比之下,山地车轮胎较粗,架子结实厚重,骑在上面,就不必弯着背.

核心词汇


Enthusiast: a person who is very interested in something and spends a lot of time doing it 热中于…的人;热心者;爱好者 ~ (for/of sth)

a football enthusiast 足球爱好者
an enthusiast of jazz 爵士乐爱好者

suffocating:

1.making it difficult to breathe normally 令人呼吸困难的;闷的;使人窒息的
The afternoon heat was suffocating. 下午热得让人透不过气来.
2.restricting what somebody/something can do 起扼制作用的;压制的;束缚性的
Some marriages can sometimes feel suffocating. 有些婚姻有时候让人觉得受到束缚.

Bumpy

1.of a surface 平面 not even; with a lot of bumps 不平的;多凸块的
a bumpy road/track 崎岖不平的道路／小道
bumpy ground 坑坑洼洼的地面
2.of a journey 路上 uncomfortable with a lot of sudden unpleasant movements caused by the road surface, weather conditions, etc. 颠簸的
a bumpy ride/flight 颠簸的行车╱飞行

feature: to include a particular person or thing as a special feature 以…为特色;是…的特征 VN ~ sb/sth (as sb/sth)

The film features Anthony Hopkins as Picasso. 这部电影由安东尼 霍普金斯扮演毕加索.
The latest model features alloy wheels and an electronic alarm. 最新款式的特色是合金车轮和电子报警器.
Many of the hotels featured in the brochure offer special deals for weekend breaks. 小册子列举的多家旅馆都有周末假日特别优待.

Stout: strong and thick 粗壮结实的;厚实牢固的 usually before noun

a stout pair of shoes 一双厚实耐穿的鞋

核心词组


build somebody/yourself↔up: to make somebody/yourself healthier or stronger 增强…的体质;使更加强壮
You need more protein to build you up. 你得多吃蛋白质以增强体质.

stand up to something: (of materials, products, etc. 材料、产品等) to remain in good condition in spite of rough treatment 能承受;经受得住
The carpet is designed to stand up to a lot of wear and tear. 这种地毯设计得十分耐用.

in contrast with/to : 与...形成对比;与...相比
In contrast with his brothers, Tom is rather short. 与几位兄弟相比,汤姆的个子相当矮.