(单词翻译:单击)
课文
【课文】
Lesson 22 By heart 熟记台词
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Which actor read the letter in the end, the aristocrat or the gaoler?
Some plays are so successful that they run for years on end. In many ways, this is unfortunate for the poor actors who are required to go on repeating the same lines night after night. One would expect them to know their parts by heart and never have cause to falter. Yet this is not always the case.
A famous actor in a highly successful play was once cast in the role of an aristocrat who had been imprisoned in the Bastille for twenty years. In the last act, a gaoler would always come on to the stage with a letter which he would hand to the prisoner. Even though the noble was expected to read the letter at each performance, he always insisted that it should be written out in full.
One night, the gaoler decided to play a joke on his colleague to find out if, after so many performances, he had managed to learn the contents of the letter by heart. The curtain went up on the final act of the play and revealed the aristocrat sitting alone behind bars in his dark cell. Just then, the gaoler appeared with the precious letter in his bands. He entered the cell and presented the letter to the aristocrat. But the copy he gave him had not been written out in full as usual. It was simply a blank sheet of paper. The gaoler looked on eagerly, anxious to see if his fellow actor had at last learnt his lines. The noble stared at the blank sheet of paper for a few seconds. Then, squinting his eyes, he said: 'The light is dim. Read the letter to me'. And he promptly handed the sheet of paper to the gaoler. Finding that he could not remember a word of the letter either, the gaoler replied: 'The light is indeed dim, sire, I must get my glasses.' With this, he hurried off the stage. Much to the aristocrat's amusement, the gaoler returned a few moments later with a pair of glasses and the usual copy of the letter with he proceeded to read to the prisoner.
参考译文
【参考译文】
有些剧目十分成功，以致连续上演好几年。这样一来，可怜的演员们可倒霉了。因为他们需要一夜连着一夜地重复同样的台词。人们以为，这些演员一定会把台词背得烂熟，绝不会临场结巴的，但情况却并不总是这样。
有一位名演员曾在一出极为成功的剧目中扮演一个贵族角色，这个贵族已在巴士底狱被关押了20年。在最后一幕中，狱卒手持一封信上场，然后将信交给狱中那位贵族。尽管那个贵族每场戏都得念一遍那封信。但他还是坚持要求将信的全文写在信纸上。
一天晚上，狱卒决定与他的同事开一个玩笑，看看他反复演出这么多场之后，是否已将信的内容记熟了。大幕拉开，最后一幕戏开演，贵族独自一人坐在铁窗后阴暗的牢房里。这时狱卒上场，手里拿着那封珍贵的信。狱卒走进牢房，将信交给贵族。但这回狱卒给贵族的信没有像往常那样把全文写全，而是一张白纸。狱卒热切地观察着，急于想了解他的同事是否记熟了台词。贵族盯着纸看了几秒钟，然后，眼珠一转，说道：光线太暗，请给我读一下这封信。说完，他一下子把信递给狱卒。狱卒发现自己连一个字也记不住，于是便说：陛下，这儿光线的确太暗了，我得去眼镜拿来。他一边说着，一边匆匆下台。贵族感到非常好笑的是：一会儿工夫，狱卒重新登台，拿来一副眼镜以及平时使用的那封信，然后为那囚犯念了起来。
词汇讲解
1.run (ran, run) v.（戏剧，电影等）连演，连映
例句：The film is so popular that it runs for several months.
这部电影非常受欢迎，连续上映了几个月。
2.lines n.（剧本中的）台词
3.part n.剧中的角色，台词
4.falter v.支吾，结巴说
例句：He would falter whenever he was asked why he cut classes.
每次被问及逃学的原因，他都会支支吾吾。
5.cast (cast, cast) v.连派……扮演角色
例句：He was cast the role of hero for many times.
他多次被选扮演英雄的角色。
6.role n.角色
7.aristocrat n.贵族
8.imprison v.关押
例句：In order to arrest and temporarily imprison criminal suspects, the police have taken effective measures.
为了方便抓捕和寄押犯罪嫌疑人，警方采取了有效的措施。
9.Bastille n.巴士底狱
10.gaoler n.监狱长，看守
11.colleague n.同事
12.curtain n.（舞台上的）幕布
13.reveal v.使显露
例句：We are determined to reveal facts that have been hidden by lies.
我们一定要揭露出被谎言包囊的事实。
14.cell n.单人监房，监号
15.blank adj. 空白的
例句：Please rule a blank sheet of paper.
请在一张白纸上画条直线。
16.squint v.眯着（眼）看，瞄
17.dim adj. 昏暗
18.sire n.（古用法）陛下
19.proceed v.继续进行
例句：We should proceed our journey regardless of any difficulty.
我们不论遇到什么困难都应该继续我们的旅行。
课文讲解
【课文讲解】
1.Some plays are so successful that they run for years on end.
参考翻译：有些剧目十分成功，以致连续上演好几年。
讲解：so……that结果状语从句
on end竖着, 连续地
My hair stands on end when you talk of parting with guano in December because there are bills which have to be met in February.
为了在二月份才需结算清的债务，你说在十二月份就出手海鸟粪，这简直叫我怒发冲冠。
Your sister will make on end of a fuss if she finds out you've borrowed her lipstick without asking.
要是你妹妹发现不经同意就借走了她的唇膏，她会无休止地唠唠叨叨的。
2.In many ways, this is unfortunate for the poor actors who are required to go on repeating the same lines night after night.
参考翻译：这样一来，可怜的演员们可倒霉了。因为他们需要一夜连着一夜地重复同样的台词。
讲解：go on继续下去
I can do nothing else than admire people so poor that they go on smiling like if they were the richest of the world. 我敬佩这些人，尽管贫穷但他们仍保持微笑，就好像自己是世界上最富有的人一样。
night after night类似day after day,day by day
The only way to be successful is working hard day after day.
成功的唯一途径就是日复一日地努力工作。
3.One would expect them to know their parts by heart and never have cause to falter.
参考翻译：人们以为，这些演员一定会把台词背得烂熟，绝不会临场结巴的。
讲解：know by heart用心
几个关于heart的词组：heart and soul全心全意 Lose heart灰心，失去信心 Lose one's heart to sb爱上某人
He put his heart and soul into advancing the cause.
他把全部心血都浇注在事业上。
4. Even though the noble was expected to read the letter at each performance, he always insisted that it should be written out in full.
参考翻译：尽管那个贵族每场戏都得念一遍那封信。但他还是坚持要求将信的全文写在信纸上。
讲解：Even though尽管，引导让步状语从句
5.One night, the gaoler decided to play a joke on his colleague to find out if, after so many performances, he had managed to learn the contents of the letter by heart.
参考翻译：一天晚上，狱卒决定与他的同事开一个玩笑，看看他反复演出这么多场之后，是否已将信的内容记熟了。
讲解：play a joke on sb开某人的玩笑
manage to设法做到某事
Make sure you manage to finish this work before the end of the month.
你一定要在月底前把工作完成。
6.The curtain went up on the final act of the play and revealed the aristocrat sitting alone behind bars.
参考翻译：大幕拉开，最后一幕戏开演，贵族独自一人坐在铁窗后阴暗的牢房里。
讲解：behind bars坐牢，身陷囹圄。相当于in prison
He was caught by the police and ended up behind bars.
他被警察逮捕，落了个锒铛入狱的下场。
7.The noble stared at the blank sheet of paper for a few seconds.
参考翻译：贵族盯着纸看了几秒钟。
讲解：stare at瞪着，盯着
You shouldn't always stare at others.
你不要总是直瞪瞪地盯着人家看。
8.Just then, the gaoler appeared with the precious letter in his bands.
参考翻译：这时狱卒上场，手里拿着那封珍贵的信。
讲解：with the precious letter in独立主格结构
独立主格结构主要表示谓语动词发生的时间、原因、条件或伴随情况等，相当于一个状语从句或并列句。
语法点
【语法点】
独立主格结构
独立主格结构主要表示谓语动词发生的时间、原因、条件或伴随情况等，相当于一个状语从句或并列句。
1. 用作时间状语
The work done (=After the work had been done), we went home. 工作完成后，我们就回家了。
2. 用作条件状语
Weather permitting (=If weather permits), they will go on an outing to the beach tomorrow. 如果天气允许的话，他们将在明天组织一次海滨小游。
3. 用作原因状语
An important lecture to be given tomorrow (=As an important lecture will be given tomorrow), the professor has to stay up late into the night. 因为明天要发表一个重要的演讲，教授不得不熬夜到很晚。
4. 用作伴随状语
He was lying on the grass, his hands crossed under his head (=and his hands were crossed under his head).他躺在草地上，两手交叉枕在脑后。
5. 表示补充说明
A hunter came in, his face red with cold (=and his face was red with cold). 一个猎人走了进来，他的脸冻得通红。(from www.nmet168.com)
We redoubled our efforts, each man working like two. 我们加倍努力，一个人干两个人的活。
注：独立主格结构表示时间、条件或原因时，相当于一个状语从句，一般放在句首，表示原因时还可放在句末；表伴随状况或补充说明时，相当于一个并列句，通常放于句末。
经典句子
【经典句子】
1、 Some plays are so successfulthat they run for years on end.
有些剧目十分成功，以致连续上演好几年。
2、 One would expect them to knowtheir parts by heart and never have cause to falter.
人们以为，这些演员一定会把台词背得烂熟，绝不会临场结巴的
3、 Even though the noble wasexpected to read the letter at each performance, he always insisted that it shouldbe written out in full.
尽管那个贵族每场戏都得念一遍那封信。但他还是坚持要求将信的全文写在信纸上。
4、 Much to the aristocrat’s amusement, ….
贵族感到非常好笑的是…
相关flash和视频讲解
