中英文本

Five The Leader of a Country.No Big Deal!
第五课 国家领导人，没什么了不起
When Mike McGee acceded to the throne of Palador, he had no idea that it would soon be a white elephant!
当麦克麦吉就任帕拉多总统时，他不知道那很快就成了一个不值钱的东西！
He quickly learned that while he had a great range of power, there was no way to use it.
他很快了解到，尽管他的权力很广，却无法使用。
He could rule the country above all others, for example, but he could no longer abandon himself to any of his former pleasures, especially publicly.
比方说，他可以在万人之上治理国家，却再也不能像以前那样尽情享乐了，尤其是在公众面前。

There were simply a great variety of things he could no longer do.
他不能再做的种种事情可多啦。
When Mike was asbent from several key meetings, his staff called him absent-minded.
当麦克缺席几次重要会议的时候，他的众手下就会说他心不在焉。
When he refused to partake wholeheartedly in the hot discussions of the moment, they told him to stop being a wet blanket.
当他不愿全神贯注地参加热烈的时事讨论时，他们就叫他不要做一个扫兴的人。
But he was just not happy!
可他就是快乐不起来！
He had to abstain from sex, not take part in the abuse of any alcoholic beverages, listen to boring classical music and always be abounding in grace and dignity.
他得戒色，任何酒精饮料也不得滥喝，他得听无聊的古典音乐，时刻都要充满优雅和尊严。
It just didn't suit him.
这些东西对他来说真是太不合适了。
It didn't suit the country either.
这对国家也不合适。
In fact, he was quickly becoming abhorrent to all of his citizens.
事实上，他很快就厌恶他的所有公民了。
They had liked him a white back, but now they just wanted him to leave.
不久之前，他们还很喜欢他，可现在他们只想他下台。
When he finally told a white lie that he needed to return to America to visit his sick grandmother, they were happy to let him leave.
最后他告诉了他们一个善意的谎言，说他要回美国看望生病的奶奶，他们巴不得他赶快走人。
When he never returned, no one missed him.
他再也没有回来，也没有人想念他。
They just elected a new president more suited to the role of a puppet and moved on.
他们重新选了一个更加适合扮演傀儡的人当总统，日子还那样过着。
And Mike McGee happily spent the rest of his life in Las Vegas on the pension plan they gave to him!
靠着给他指定的退休金计划，麦克麦吉在拉斯维加斯幸福地过着他的晚年生活。

重点讲解

1.a while back 一段时间之前，不久以前

例句:We had a good rain a while back, but we need more now.
几个星期以前下了一场大雨，但我们现在更需要雨了。

2.abound in 充满，富于

例句:Examples abound in modern texts.
在现代的文章中这类例子不胜枚举。

3.absent from 缺席，不在

例句:He is absent from Hong Kong.
他不在香港。

4.absent-minded 心不在焉，健忘

例句:He's very learned but rather absent-minded.
他很有学问, 可是好忘事.

5.abuse of 对...的滥用；虐待

例句:Second, I will not tolerate abuse of our relationship with Member States.
其次，我不能容忍滥用我们与会员国的关系。

6.accede to 同意，答应；参加；就任，继任，即位

例句:They are ready to accede to our request for further information.
我们要是还需要资料,他们乐于随时提供。