中英文本

118.No Impulse Buying
118.不能冲动购物
"Now, no ifs and buts. No impulse buying today, okay, kids?"
"好啦，别找借口啦。今天不能有冲动性购买，好吗，孩子们？"
Mom said as she tried to imbue her children with an appreciation for self-control. "Okay, mommy!" they all said.
妈妈说, 她想让孩子们学会重视自我克制。"好的，妈咪！"他们齐声说道。
Then they entered the mall! Mom was ill at ease right away. There were toy stores everywhere.
接着他们进了商场！妈妈很快就不安起来。因为到处都是卖玩具的。
It was like they were immersed in another world-one of spending money!
好像他们浸没在另外一个世界，一个花钱的世界！
But she kept going; she had strengthened her own immune system beforehand by looking at their credit card bills.
可她没有停下来，她事先看过他们的信用卡账单，所以加强了自身的免疫系统。

Her husband had also imposed as strict of a rule on her as she had on her children: no impulse buying!
丈夫也给她立了很严的规矩，就像她给孩子们立了很严的规矩一样，那就是不能冲动购物！
The children did great. She had impressed them with not asking for anything.
孩子们表现得很好。她从不要求买什么，这给孩子们留下了印象。
But when mom saw a new dress imported from China she almost lost her control!
但是当她看到一件从中国进口的连衣裙时，她几乎失去了控制！
Her hand even started moving towards her purse. But then she saw her kids looking at her.
她的手甚至开始伸向钱包了。就在这时她发现孩子们正看着她。
If she wanted to impart to them anything, she had to first live it herself. She walked away.
如果她想教给他们任何东西。她得首先以身作则。她走了。
Her immediate forebears would have been proud! They never went shopping.
她的直系祖先一定会感到自豪！他们从不买东西。
Her mother even still knit her own sweaters! But mom was ignorant of those skills, just as her children would be.
她母亲现在还自己织毛衣！可是母亲不会织毛衣，就像孩子们不会织毛衣一样。
They thought society had improved on the old traditions, especially when it came to the quality of clothing.
他们认为社会已经改进了这些古老的传统，尤其是关系到衣服质量的时候。
If only modem society were less impartial to credit cards ...
要是当代社会对信用卡不那么公正就好了……
Anyhow, as the children were imitative of their mother, she was of them.
无论如何，正如孩子们会模仿母亲一样，她也会模仿他们。
They browsed through the mail, had a bite to eat in the food court and then went home.
他们在商场里随便逛了逛，在美食广场吃了点东西，然后就回家了。
Dad's mouth was hanging open when they walked in without a bag!
看到他们两手空空回来，父亲惊得半天合不拢嘴！

重点讲解

1.ifs and buts (为故意拖延而找的）借口，托词
例句：I don't want any ifs and buts—swallow your medicine at once.
我不要听你的理由， 快把药吞下去。
2.ignorant of (或about)对…不知道
例句：I am quite ignorant of what they intend to do.
我的确不知道他们打算干什么。
3.ill at east 局促不安，不自在
例句：He feels ill at east in the dark house.
在这座黑暗的房子里他感到局促不安。
4.imitative of 模仿…的
例句：When one shop started to prolong business hours, other shops on the same street were imitative of it.
铺开始延长营业时间，同一条街上的其他商店也都照方抓药。
5.immediate forebear 直系祖先
例句：His immediate forebear is British.
他的直系祖先是英国人。
6.immerse in 使浸没在，使专心于…，使深陷于…
例句：Peel and slice bananas, immerse in salt water, remove and dry.
香蕉去皮切片，泡于盐水中捞起沥干备用。