(单词翻译:单击)
课文
Lesson 52 Mud is mud 实事求是
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Why did Harry decide to give up his little game?
My cousin, Harry, keeps a large curiously-shaped bottle on permanent display in his study. Despite the fact that the bottle is tinted a delicate shade of green, an observant visitor would soon notice that it is filled with what looks like a thick, grayish substance. If you were to ask Harry what was in the bottle, he would tell you that it contained perfumed mud. If you expressed doubt or surprise, he would immediately invite you to smell it and then to rub some into your skin. This brief experiment would dispel any further doubts you might have. The bottle really does contain perfumed mud. How Harry came into the possession of this outlandish stuff makes an interesting story which he is fond of relating. Furthermore, the acquisition of this bottle cured him of a bad habit he had been developing for years.
Harry used to consider it a great joke to go into expensive cosmetic shops and make outrageous requests for goods that do not exist. He would invent fanciful names on the spot. On entering a shop, he would ask for a new perfume called 'Scented Shadow' or for 'insoluble bath cubes'. If a shop assistant told him she had not heard of it, he would pretend to be considerably put out. He loved to be told that one of his imaginary products was temporarily out of stock and he would faithfully promise to call again at some future date, but of course he never did. How Harry managed to keep a straight face during these performances is quite beyond me.
Harry does not need to be prompted to explain how he bought his precious bottle of mud. One day, he went to an exclusive shop in London and asked for 'Myrolite', the shop assistant looked puzzled and Harry repeated the word, slowly stressing each syllable. When the woman shook her head in bewilderment, Harry went on to explain that 'myrolite' was a hard, amber-like substance which could be used to remove freckles. This explanation evidently conveyed something to the woman who searched shelf after shelf. She produced all sorts of weird concoctions, but none of them met with Harry's requirements. When Harry put on his act of being mildly annoyed, the assistant promised to order some for him. Intoxicated by his success, Harry then asked for perfumed mud. He expected the assistant to look at him in blank astonishment. However, it was his turn to be surprised, for the woman's eyes immediately lit up and she fetched several bottles which she placed on the counter for Harry to inspect. For once, Harry had to admit defeat. He picked up what seemed to be the smallest bottle and discreetly asked the price. He was glad to get away with a mere twenty pounds and he beat a hasty retreat, clutching the precious bottle under his arm. From then on, Harry decided that this little game he had invented might prove to be expensive. The curious bottle, which now adorns the bookcase in his study, was his first and last purchase of rare cosmetics.
参考译文
【参考译文】
我的堂兄哈里在他的书房里一直摆着一只形状古怪的大瓶子。尽管那只瓶子呈淡绿色，但细心的客人很快就会发现瓶里装的是一种看上去黏稠，颜色发灰的东西。要是你问哈里瓶里装着什么，他会告诉你是香水泥。如果你表示怀疑或惊奇，他会立即请你闻一闻，然后取出一些抹在你的皮肤上。这一简单的试验会消除你可能存有的一切疑虑。瓶里装的的确是香水泥。哈里如何得到这种稀奇古怪的东西的，这里有个有趣的故事，而且他挺爱把它讲给别人听。此外，得到这瓶香水泥还治好了他多年的一个坏习惯。
哈里曾认为走进一家名贵化妆品商店，荒唐地提出要买一种根本不存在的商品是件开心的事儿。他会当场编造出一些稀奇古怪的货名。他走进商店后，会提出要一种名叫香影的新型香水或什么不溶浴皂。要是女售货员告诉他从未听说过这些东西，他会装出十分遗憾和不安的样子。他爱听售货员说他想像出来的那种东西暂时脱销，于是他就煞有介事地许诺改天再来光顾。当然，他再也不会来了。我实在想像不出哈里在这些表演中是怎样装出一本正经的样子的。
毋须暗示哈里就会向你讲起他买下那瓶珍贵香水泥的经过。一天，他去伦敦一家高级商店要买一种叫密诺莱特的东西，店员露出诧异的神色。哈里又慢慢地，一字一顿说了一遍这个词，那个女售货员还是迷惑不解地摇了摇头。哈里便进一步解释密诺莱特是一种质地坚硬、状似琥珀的东西，可以用来除去雀斑。他的解释显然对女售货员有些启示。她一个货架接着一个货架地寻找，拿出各种各样稀奇古怪的化妆品，但没有一样能够符合哈里的要求。哈里装出不高兴的样子时，女售货员答应为他定货。哈里为他的骗术而感到洋洋得意，又提出要买香水泥。他原想女售货员会惊奇地望着他，不知所措，没料到这回该轮到他自己吃惊了。因为那女售货员听完哈里的话后，马上眼睛一亮，拿出几瓶东西放在柜台上让哈里挑选。哈里只好认输。他挑出一个看上去最小的瓶子，谨慎地问了价。他庆幸自己只破费了20英镑便得以脱身。他把那宝贵的瓶子放在腋下夹着，溜之大吉。从那以后，他认识到自己发明的小小恶作剧是要付出很大的代价的。在他书房的书柜里摆着那瓶形状古怪的香水泥就是他第一次也是最后一次购买的稀有化妆品。
词汇讲解
1.permanent adj. 永久的
例句：The incident left permanent traces on his mind.
那件事在他头脑里留下了永久的印象。
2.tint v.给……染色
3.delicate adj. 淡色的
例句：Lavender has a delicate fragrance.
熏衣草有淡淡的香味.
4.shade n.色度
5.observant adj.观察力敏锐的
例句：Journalists are trained to be observant.
新闻记者都要训练成有敏锐观察力的人。
6.dispel v.驱散，消除
例句：Work dispels boredom.
工作消除无聊。
7.outlandish adj. 稀奇古怪的
例句：Her outlandish attire made her conspicuous in the crowd.
她异国风格的服饰使她在人群中很打眼。
8.acquisition n.获得
例句：He devotes his time to the acquisition of knowledge.
他把时间用在获取知识上。
9.cosmetic n.化妆品
10.outrageous adj. 无理的，令人不能容忍的
例句：We simply cannot entertain such outrageous ideas.
我们怎么也不能存有如此可耻的念头。
11.fanciful adj. 想像出来的
12.insoluble adj. 不可溶解的
13.prompt v.敦促，激励
例句：The accident prompted her to renew her insurance.
那件事故促使她重续保险。
14.exclusive adj.专售高档商品的
15.syllable n.音节
16.bewilderment n.迷惑，糊涂
例句：We entered into a bewilderment of mountains.
我们走进了乱山丛中。
17.freckle n.雀斑
18.evidently adv. 显然的，明显地
例句：They were evidently bent on mischief.
他们显然是存心捣蛋。
19.weird adj. 奇异的，古怪的
20.concoction n.调制品
21.intoxicate v.陶醉，得意忘形
例句：The prospect of success intoxicates me.
成功的前景令我陶醉。
22.blank adj.无表情的，茫然的
23.discreetly adv. 谨慎地
例句：He acted with discretion,ie discreetly.
他做得很谨慎。
24.clutch v.抓住
例句：Mary was clutching her doll to her chest.
玛丽把洋娃娃抱在怀里。
25.adorn v.装饰，打扮
例句：She likes to adorn herself with jewels.
她喜欢佩戴珠宝。
课文讲解
1.My cousin, Harry, keeps a large curiously-shaped bottle on permanent display in his study.
on display陈列着,在展览
例句：There are many exhibits on display in the museum.
博物馆里陈列着许多展览品。
加上permanent这个形容词表示一直的意思。
2.Despite the fact that the bottle is tinted a delicate shade of green, an observant visitor would soon notice that it is filled with what looks like a thick, grayish substance.
(1)despite引导让步状语从句
在英语中，despite/(in)despite of/in spite of是介词（短语），都可接名词（短语）、动名词（短语），只是(in)despite of是较古老的用语，这短语中的in可以省略。如：
They had a wonderful holiday, despite/in spite of/(in) despite of bad weather. 尽管天气不好，他们的假日还是过得极为愉快。
Despite/In spite of/(In) despite of wanting to see him again, she refused to reply to his letters.她尽管很想再见到他，但却不愿意给他回信。
Despite/In spite of/(In) despite of the fact that we tried our best, we didn’t win. 尽管我们尽了最大的努力，我们还是没有得胜。
(2)the fact that同位语从句
(3)be filled with充满着
例句：His voice is filled with emotion.
他说话时情绪激动。
(4)what looks like a thick, grayish substance是what引导的介词的宾语从句。
3.How Harry came into the possession of this outlandish stuff makes an interesting story which he is fond of relating.
(1)How comes
How come 的用法大部份就等于 why 但是它的用法没有像 why 那么广, 它通常是用在你觉得奇怪, 而问为什么的时候, 比如说有人早上一大早要去 supermarket 你就会问他. "How come?" 另外, 当别人问你一个问题, 而你不想回答时可以说 "How come?" 相当于, "Why do you ask that?" 也就是说 "It's none of your business! "
虽然 how come 跟 why 的用法上差不多, 但二者的问法不同, 例如上句, "Why is our oven broken?" 换成 how come 的话, 要说成, "How come our oven is broken?" 注意一下, 这二句的 be 动词位置是不一样的.
(2)be fond of喜欢,喜爱,爱好
例句：He is fond of worldly enjoyments.
他喜爱世俗的享乐。
4.Harry used to consider it a great joke to go into expensive cosmetic shops and make outrageous requests for goods that do not exist.
it在这里指代的是to go into expensive cosmetic shops and make outrageous requests等后面所有成分。
5.If a shop assistant told him she had not heard of it, he would pretend to be considerably put out.
pretend to be假装
例句：His ploy is to pretend to be ill.
他的手法就是装病。
6.How Harry managed to keep a straight face during these performances is quite beyond me.
(1)How Harry managed to是主语从句，一些疑问代词，如how,why,what,when引导的句子都可以做主语从句。
(2)manage to达成, 设法
例句：He managed to skip the washing - up.
他变著法地不做洗碗的事。
(3)keep a straight face 扳着面孔,不动声色,忍住不笑
例句：He sounded so foolish that I could hardly keep a straight face.
他说话听起来那样傻气，我简直忍不住笑。
(4)beyond me指的是我想不明白。
7.However, it was his turn to be surprised, for the woman's eyes immediately lit up and she fetched several bottles which she placed on the counter for Harry to inspect.
(1)it was his turn to轮到某人做某事
(2)light up喜形于色,露出愉快的表情
例句：Tom will really light up when he sees his new bike.
汤姆看到他的新自行车时一定会高兴起来。
(3)for sb to do sth见语法部分。
8.From then on, Harry decided that this little game he had invented might prove to be expensive.
(1)from then on从那以来,从此
例句：From then on she knew she would win.
她从那时起就知道自己会得胜.
(2)prove to be经证明是,判明是
例句：They proved to be faithful to the country .
他们后来表明是忠于国家的。
语法学习
for+ 不定式是英语中一个十分有用的结构，不仅在阅读理解中经常出现，而且，如果同学们在书面表达中能巧妙地运用它，将会增添文章亮点，提高文章的档次。为帮助同学们正确理解和掌握这一结构，本文对这一结构的用法作了一个全面的归纳，同时，对于其使用上应注意的地方也给出了详细的说明。
一、for+宾语+不定式的句法功能1. 用作主语For you to ask Joe would be a big mistake. 你要是去问乔，那将是一大错误。For Ann to go to France would make me very happy. 安要是到法国去将使我感到很高兴。注：这类结构通常会借助形式主语来表达，即在句首使用形式主语，而将真正用作主语的for+宾语+不定式结构移至句末。如：It’s too expensive for me to buy. 太贵了，我买不起。It’s impossible for me to leave my family. 我是不可能离开家的。It’s impossible for the job to be finished in time. 这项任务要按时完成是不可能的。It’s an honour for me to be asked to speak here. 我很荣幸被邀在这里讲话。It’s a new experience for her to be travelling by plane. 坐飞机对她是—次新经历。—It’ll take time for her to recover from the illness. 她的病要很长时间才能痊愈。It took twenty minutes for the smoke to clear. 过了20分钟烟才散完。2. 用作表语It is for you to decide. 该由你来决定。His idea is for us to travel in separate cars. 他的意思是我们不要同乘一辆汽车。Our aim is for students to learn as quickly as possible. 我们的目的是让学生尽快学到东西。All I want is for us to be together. 我希望的只是我们能在一起。The simplest thing is for him to resign. 最简单的办法是他辞职。3. 用作宾语She hates for people to feel sad. 她不愿看到人们忧心忡忡。They didn’t mean for her to read the letter. 他们并未打算让她看那封信。I would like for you to stay as long as you want. 我希望你留下来，想留多久就留多久。注：这类结构用作宾语的情形主要见于非正式的美国英语中，且主要限于like, hate, mean, intend等少数动词。不过，当有形式宾语时，这类结构用作宾语的情况倒是很普遍(注意形式宾语的使用)。如：He made it very difficult for us to refuse. 他弄得我们很难拒绝。I thought it strange for -FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">她这么晚还不回来，我觉得有些奇怪。4．用作定语It’s time for everybody to go to bed. 是大家睡觉的时候了。There’s nothing for the cats to eat. 猫没有东西可吃了。Have you got something for me to do? 你给我找了什么事做吗? All that remains for me to do is to say goodbye. 剩下我所要做的就是告辞了。5. 用作同位语He gave orders for one million military personnel to demobilize. 他命令100万军人复员。
6. 用作状语(1) 目的状语。如：目的状语。如：I can’t wait for them to finish talking. 我不能等到他们把话谈完。She opened the door for me to come in. 她开门让我进去。She looked up and nodded for me to come in. 她抬起头来，并点头让我进去。For sales to increase, we must lower our prices. 为了增加销量，我们必须降低价格。(2) 结果状语。如：The print is too small for me to read without glasses. 印刷字体太小，我不带眼镜就看不清。I wish you’d write clearly enough for us to read it. 但愿你能写得清楚点，我们好能看明白。(3) 条件状语。如：How would it do for me to write to him? 我来给他写信如何? (4) 比较状语。如：There's nothing worse than for a person to ill-treat a child. 没有什么比虐待小孩更恶劣的了。(5) 原因状语。如：They made it difficult for me to see her. 他们从中作梗，让我不易见到她。
二、for+宾语+不定式的用法注意1. 其中的不定式有时可以是进行式。如：It’s a new experience for her to be travelling by plane. 坐飞机对她是—次新经历。2. 其中的不定式有时可以是被动式。如：It is essential for him to be prepared for this. 有必要让他对此有所准备。3. 能用于it’s adj. for sb to do sth的形容词不多，主要的有bad, bold, clever, common, honest, necessary, nice, normal, pointless, rare, (all) right, rude, sensible, stupid, tactful, thoughtful, typical, unimportant, unusual, vital, wise, wrong等。但是请注意：likely和probable不这样用。如：她可能今晚到。正：She’s likely to arrive this evening. 误：It’s likely for her to arrive this evening. 她很可能会发脾气。正：It’s probable that she’ll be in a bad temper. 正：She’ll probably be in a bad temper. 误：It’s probable for her to be in a bad temper. 4. 该结构中的介词for原则上不能换成to，但在某些特殊结构中可以换成to。如：The policeman signed for [to] me to stop. 警察打手势叫我停下。It will be convenient for [to] me to see you this evening. 今晚去见你，我很方便。注：能这样用to代替for的结构只限于sign to [for], be convenient for [to]等少数情形。 5. 在通常情况下，其中的不定式不能换成动名词。如：你能不能安排在周一把货送到? 正：Can you arrange for the goods to be delivered on Monday? 误：Can you arrange for the goods being delivered on Monday?
经典句子
1.Mud is mud.
实事求是。
2.Despite the fact that the bottle is tinted a delicate shade of green, an observant visitor would soon notice that it is filledwith what looks like a thick, grayish substance.
尽管那只瓶子呈淡绿色，但细心的客人很快就会发现瓶里装的是一种看上去黏稠，颜色发灰的东西。
3.This brief experiment woulddispel any further doubts you might entertain.
Entertain：To hold the attention of withsomething amusing or diverting。使有兴趣的用法。
这一简单的试验会消除你可能存有的一切疑虑
4.How Harry came into thepossession of this outlandish stuff makes an interesting story which he is fond of relating.
哈里如何得到这种稀奇古怪的东西的，这里有个有趣的故事，而且他挺爱把它讲给别人听。
5.He expected the girl to look athim in blank astonishment.
他原想女售货员会惊奇地望着他，不知所措
6.Harry decided that this little game he had invented might prove to be expensive.
他认识到自己发明的小小恶作剧是要付出很大的代价的。
