B1U3课文及语言点

新世纪大学英语综合教程第一册   

B1U3 Text A课文

When people die, they cease to exist in this world physically. But forthe author of this essay, a pine tree in a nearby park brings back fondmemories of her dead mother and she knows clearly that love and memory willnever “die”. Now, she brings her sons to the same place.

ATime for Memories

Sharon Wright

1     Onewarm and pleasant summer afternoon, I sat on an old blanket under a pine treechatting with my mother. For years, we had been coming to this park for familypicnics and gatherings, and my mother and I often sat in this same spot.

2     In recent years, we usually just talked aboutlife, but sometimes we recalled events frommy childhood. Like the time I was thirteen and had my first date, when Motherbrought me to this spot under the tree and told me about the facts of life. Or the time a few years later, when my hair turned out pink for mysenior prom and she’d held me while I cried.But the most special event that occurrednext to this tree was when I told Mother I was getting married. Tears filledher eyes and this time I held her while she cried. She told me she was sad tolose her little girl but happy to see that I had turned into a beautiful youngwoman.

3     Overthe years, we’d watched the pine trees in this park grow tall and straightuntil their needles seemed to touch the clouds. Eachyear of their growth seemed to match our increasingly close relationship andthe deepening love we had for each other.

4     Onthis particular sunny afternoon, Mother and I sat quietly breathing in thescent of freshly mown grass. She was unusually solemn and took me by surprise when she asked me, “Who willyou bring here after I’m gone?”

5     Igave her one of my arched-eyebrow inquiries,then smiled. After a few moments, when she didn’t return my smile, I began towonder what made her ask such a disturbingquestion. Mother picked up a blade of grass and began to shred it with herfingernail. I’d become well acquainted with my mother’s habits, and thisparticular one indicated she had something serious onher mind.

6     Forseveral minutes, we sat in silence gathering our thoughts. A couple of bluebirds squawked nearby and an airplane flew overhead, but they didn’t ease the awkwardmoment between us. Finally, I reached over and took my mother’s hand in mine.“There’s nothing you can’t tell me, Mother,” I said. “We will handle thistogether, like we always have.”

7     Shelooked into my face, and her eyes filled with tears that spilt down her cheeks— cheeks that were alarmingly pale. Even before she said it, I knew what wascoming. Mother was dying.

8     Iheld her tightly while she told me that her heart condition was worsening andcouldn’t be repaired. I think I had known for quite a while but had not beenwilling to admit it to myself. She’d had several heart attacks and, a few yearsago, even open-heart surgery. What I didn’t know, and what she had kept from me, was that her condition wasn’timproving. We talked about her options, which werefew; we cried, held each other and wished for more time together.

9     Thatwas many years ago now. Mother died soon after that day, before my sons had achance to know her. I still come to the park, but now I bring my boys. I stillsit under that same sturdy pine tree on an old blanket and talk to my sons offamily picnics, gatherings and the grandmother they never knew. Just as mymother did with me, I tell my children about their youthful funny behaviors andpraise them for their accomplishments as young adults. We come to this specialplace to create our own memories — memoriesthat I know would make my mother smile with pride.

10    Notlong ago my oldest son wanted to come to the park and talk, so we came and satunder our tree. He hemmed and hawed for a few minutes, then he finally told mehe was getting married. I cried tears of joy as my son hugged me — his hug a rare and special treat. I told him how proud I wasof the man he had become.

11    AsI sat there that cool April afternoon soaking upthe sun and the smell of freshly mown grass, I felt I had come full circleunder this giant pine tree. Holding my son in my arms, I was happy for him,just the way I knew my mother had been happy for me all those years ago when Itold her I was getting married.

12   Lookingover my son’s shoulder, I saw that several young pine trees had been plantedrecently. As these trees grow straight and tall, I thought, will the lives ofmy family continue to grow with them? I wanted to share this spot with mygrandchildren, too.

13    The branches above were swaying in the breeze and in them I heard a whisperingvoice: Who will you bring here when I’m gone? It was my mother’s voice, and Itightened my arms around my son.

参考译文

回忆的时节

莎伦·赖特

1    一个温暖宜人的夏日午后，在一棵松树下，我坐在一张旧毯子上与母亲聊天。我们来这个公园进行家庭野餐和聚会，已有很多年了，而且我和母亲经常会坐在这同一个地方。

2    近年来，我们一般只是谈谈生活，但有时也回忆起我的童年往事。比如我十三岁那年，第一次约会后，妈妈将我带到树下这个地方，给我讲解生理知识。又如几年以后，我的发型在高中毕业舞会显得不太合时宜，母亲让我在她怀中哭泣。但在这树下发生的最特别的事情，是我告诉母亲我要结婚了，当时她热泪盈眶。这次是她在我的怀里哭了。她说她很伤心，因为不再拥有那个小女孩，但她也很高兴看到我出落得成熟漂亮。

3    年复一年，我们看着公园里的松树长得巍峨挺拔，直至高耸入云。松树年年增高，我们之间的关系也越发密切，对彼此的爱也越发深厚。

4    在这个阳光明媚的下午，母亲和我静静坐着，呼吸着新剪的草散发出的清香。她的神情异常严肃，出乎意料地问我道：“我死了以后，你会带谁来？”

5    我皱起了眉头，狐疑地看了她一眼，然后微微笑了。过了一会儿，她还没有回以微笑，我开始纳闷她为什么会提出这样一个令人不安的问题。母亲捡起一片草叶，开始用指甲将它划成碎片。我非常了解母亲的各种习惯，这个动作表明她有心事。

6    有好几分钟的时间，我们静静地坐着，整理着自己的思绪。附近，几只蓝背樫鸟在嘎嘎叫着；头顶，一架飞机飞过，但这些并没有消除我们之间的尴尬。最后，我伸出手，握住了妈妈的手，“妈，什么事都可以跟我说的，”我说，“我们可以一起应付，就像以前一样。”

7     她凝视着我的脸，眼里噙着泪水，眼泪顺着苍白得吓人的脸颊流了下来。她还没开口，我就知道了：母亲将不久于人世了。

8    我紧紧地抱着她，听她诉说：她的心脏病越来越严重了，已经无药可救了。我想这个情况我已经知道一段时间了，只是一直不愿面对。她的心脏病已经发作了好几次，几年前还做过开心手术。但有一点我一无所知，而且她也一直瞒着我，那就是她的情况毫无好转。我们讨论了一下她的治疗方案，其实也是寥寥无几。我们哭了，拥抱在一起，只愿能有更多的时间在一起。

9    这已经是很多年前的事了，那天以后没多久母亲就去世了，那时我的儿子们还没有出世。我仍然到公园来，不过现在是带着我的儿子们。我仍然会坐在那棵茁壮的松树下，坐在旧毛毯上，跟孩子们说起家庭野餐、聚会和他们没见过的外婆。就像妈妈当年对我一样，我会谈论他们年少时的滑稽举动，表扬他们长大后所取得的成就。我们来到这个特别的地方来编织属于自己的回忆——我知道，这些回忆一定会令母亲自豪地微笑。

10   不久前，大儿子要我去公园，他有话跟我说。我们去了，坐在我们的树下。他嗯嗯呀呀了好几分钟，终于告诉我他要结婚了。我流下了快乐的泪水，儿子拥抱着我，他的拥抱可是难得又特别的。我告诉他我是多么地为他的成长而骄傲。

11   在那个凉爽的四月午后，沐浴在阳光中，呼吸着新剪的青草味道，我坐在那里，觉得自己回到了原地，就在这棵巨大的松树下。我把儿子揽在怀中，为他感到高兴，我知道，多年前当我告诉母亲我要结婚时，她也一样为我高兴。

12   从儿子的肩膀上方望去，我看到了几株最近新种的松苗。我想，当这些树长得高大挺拔之时，我的家人的生命也会跟它们一起延续不息吗？我希望我也能跟我的孙儿们分享这个地方。

13   头顶的树枝在微风中摇曳，我听到耳语般的声音：“我死了以后你会带谁来？”那是母亲的声音，我将儿子搂得更紧了。

Unit 3Useful Expressions

Good Usage  （Para. 1）

sat on an old blanket under a pine tree

chatting with my mother

for years

sat in this same spot

Good Usage  （Para. 2）

brought meto…

turned out

I was gettingmarried

Tears filledher eyes

sad to loseher little girl but happy to see that …

turned into abeautiful young woman

Good Usage  （Paras. 3-4）

tall and straight

touch the clouds

our increasingly close relationship

the deepening love

breathing in the scent of freshly mown grass

took me by surprise

Good Usage  （Para.5）

myarched-eyebrow inquiries

return my smile

ask such adisturbing question

picked up a bladeof grass

shred it withher fingernail

well acquaintedwith

had somethingserious on her mind

gathering ourthoughts

ease the awkwardmoment

reached over

took my mother’shand in mine

there’s nothing…

handle thistogether

Good Usage  （Paras.7-8）

looked into myface

tears that spiltdown her cheeks

spilt down

held her tightly

her conditionwas worsening

couldn’t berepaired

admit it tomyself

kept from me

her conditionwasn’t improving

wished for moretime together

Good Usage  （Para.9）

had a chance to…

just as…

praise them for…

create our ownmemories

smile with pride

Good Usage  （Paras.10-11）

not long ago

hemmed and hawed

getting married

cried tears ofjoy

a special andrare treat

how proud I wasof the man…

soaking up

come fullcircle

holding myson in my arms

was happy for

Good Usage  （Paras.12-13）

looking over myson’s shoulder

grow straightand tall

continue to

share…with

a whisperingvoice

tightened…around

Key Words and Expressions for Text  A

recall vt.  

rather fml bring back to the mind; remember 〖较正式〗回想，回忆起  

e.g.  1. I seem to recall I’ve met him before somewhere.

我似乎记起来以前在哪见过他。

2. Can you recall exactly what happened?

你确切地记得发生了什么事吗？

Usage:

recall something

recall (that)

recall doing sth.

recall what/how/where etc.

turn out

    1. happen to be, or be found to be, in the end 结果（是），原来（是），证明（是）

e.g.  1) Though we did not have enough time to make preparations, the evening party turned out (to be) a success.

2) It turned out that she was a friend of my sister’s.

她原来是我妹妹的朋友.

3) “How did the party turn out?” “It turned out very well. Thanks.”

“宴会举行得怎么样?”“非常成功, 谢谢。”

2. be present at an event; appear, assemble or attend 在场；露面；集合；出席

e.g.  Thousands turned out to watch yesterday’s match againstIreland.

成千上万的人到现场观看了昨天对爱尔兰的那场比赛。

occur vi. 

rather fml (esp. of unplanned events) take place; happen〖较正式〗（尤指意外的事情）发生

e.g.  1. The tragedy occurred only half an hour after the plane had taken off.

2. A third of accidental deaths occur in the home.

三分之一的意外死亡发生在家里。

CF: happen, occur, take place

happen和occur指意外发生的，没有计划的事情。occur比happen正式。

e.g. The accident happened/occurred at about 9.30.

happen还可以表示某事是另一事的直接后果。

e.g. What happened when you told him the news?

你告诉他这消息时, 他有何反应?

take place表明事情的发生是有计划的。

e.g. The funeral took place on 24 April at 3 pm.

take sb. by surprise

happen unexpectedly and cause surprise to, esp. in a way that leaves one unprepared 使（某人）惊奇，使（某人）没有准备

e.g.  1. The teacher’s question took me by surprise; he asked me if I had read Shakespeare in the original.

2. His heart attack was so sudden that I think even the doctors were taken by surprise.

他的心脏病发作得如此突然，我想医生对此都会觉得意外。

inquiry n.

request for help or information (about sb. / sth.) (也写作enquiry) 查询；请求（得到帮助或信息）

e.g.  1. I don’t know how to get to that small town but I have been making inquiries about it.

2. I don’t know who sent the gift, but I’ll make some inquiries.

我不知道是谁送的礼物，不过我会去打听打听。

disturbing a.  

worrying or upsetting 烦扰的，担心的，令人不安的

e.g.  1. The local government is now faced with a disturbing increase of crime rate.

2. The following programme contains scenes that may be disturbing to some viewers.

下面的节目包含一些可能会让部分观众不安的场景。

indicate vt.

show or make clear, esp. by means of a sign 表示，标示

e.g.  1. Research indicates that eating habits are changing fast.

2. The study indicates a strong connection between poverty and crime.

研究表明贫穷与犯罪之间的强相关性。

have ... on one’s mind 

be preoccupied with sth.; worry about sth. 心事重重; （为某事而）烦恼

e.g.  1. Ann is very quiet these days; she must have something on her mind.

2. Sorry I forgot. I’ve got a lot on my mind at the moment.

抱歉我真忘了。我现在脑子里满是事儿。

Verb phrases with mind

change one’s mind 改变主意	make up one’s mind 作出决定	go out of/slip one’s mind 忘记
bear/keep…in mind 记住	speak one’s mind直率地表达意见	be of one mind意见一致
be out of one’s mind 发狂	bring/call sth. to mind 想起	have a mind of one’s own 有主见
be in two minds 犹豫不决	come/spring to mind 出现在脑海中	turn over sth. in your mind 反复考虑某事
take a load/weight off one’s mind 使某人如释重负	give sb. a piece of one’s mind 坦诚相告（尤指不满对方行为）	ease one’s conscience/mind 消除某人的内疚忧虑等
keep one’s mind on sth. 继续专心于某事	take one’s mind off sth. 使某人不再担忧某事	set/put one’s mind at rest 使某人放心
cross/enter one’s mind （想法等）出现

ease vt. 

make or become less severe 减轻，舒缓

e.g.  1. I eased her mind by telling her that her children turned out to be safe.

2. The plan should ease traffic congestion in the town.

这个计划应该能减轻城市的交通拥堵状况。

awkward a.

1. causing difficulty or uncomfortable feeling; inconvenient or embarrassing 尴尬的；为难的

e.g.  1) She asked me some very awkward questions, which made me quite embarrassed.

2) There was an awkward moment when she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

有一阵很尴尬，她不知道该笑还是该哭。

3) The handle of this teapot has an awkward shape.

这茶壶把儿的形状真别扭。

2. lacking skill or grace; clumsy 无技巧的；不熟练的；不灵活的；笨拙的

e.g.  1) Swans are surprisingly awkward on land.

天鹅在陆地上笨拙得出奇。

  2) I was always an awkward dancer.

我跳舞一向是笨手笨脚的。

keep sth. from sb.

not to tell (someone) about (something); prevent from hearing about 不把…告诉（某人）；防止（某人）听到（某事）

e.g.  1. She knew that John was keeping something from her.

2. I think we ought to keep the truth from him until he’s better.

我想我们应该先不告诉他真相，等到他好些再说。

option n.  

one of a number of courses of action that are possible and may be chosen 可选择的办法

e.g.  1. You must finish the work before five o’clock; you have no option.

2. Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year.

学生可以选择二年级出国学习。

create vt.

 cause (something new) to exist; produce (something new) 创造；创建；创作

e.g.  1. Some people believe the universe was created by a big explosion.

有些人相信宇宙是由于一个大爆炸产生的。

2. The government plans to create more jobs for young people.

政府计划为年轻人创造更多工作机会。

rare a.

1. extremely unusual or uncommon 稀少的，罕有的

e.g.  1) It’s extremely rare for it to be this hot in early April.

2) I only saw Helen on the rare occasions when I went into her shop.

我只是在仅有的几次去海伦店里才见到她的。

2. (usu of beef) cooked so that the inside is still red and juicy; underdone （通常指牛肉）半熟的（里面色红肉嫩的）

 e.g. I’d like my steak rare, please.

soak up  

receive and absorb into one’s senses, body or mind 接受；吸收；沉湎于

e.g.  1. You can use a paper towel to soak up the cooking oil.

2. Go to a sidewalk cafe, order coffee, and soak up the atmosphere.

去个路边咖啡店，点杯咖啡，好好沉浸在那种气氛中。

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