大学基础英语

大学基础英语LessonOne HalfaNaguibMahfousIwalkedalongsidemyfather,clutchinghisrighthand.Allclotheswerenew:theblackshoes,thegreenschooluniform,andtheredcap.Theydidnotmakemehappy,however,asthiswasthedayIwastobethrownintoschoolforthefirsttime.Mymotherstoodatthewindowwatchingourprogress,andturnedtowardsherfromtimetotime,hopingshewouldhelp.Wewalkedalongastreetlinedwithgardens,andfieldsplantedwithcrops:pears,anddatepalms."Whyschool?"Iaskedmyfather."WhathaveIdone?""I'mnotpunishingyou,"hesaid,laughing."School'snotpunishment.It'saplacethatmakesusefulmenoutofboys.Don'tyouwanttobeusefullikeyourbrothers?"Iwasnotconvinced.Ididnotbelievetherewasreallyanygoodtobehadintearingmeawayfrommyhomeandmeintothehuge,high-walledbuilding.Whenwearrivedatthegatewecouldseethecourtyard,andfullofboysandgirls."Goinbyyourself,"saidmyfather,"andjointhem.Putasmileonyourfaceandbeaexampletoothers."Ihesitatedandclungtohishand,buthegentlypushedfromhim."Beaman,"hesaid."Todayyoutrulybeginlife.Youwillfindmewaitingforyouwhenit'stimetoleave."Itookafewsteps.Thenthefacesoftheboysandgirlscameintoview.Ididnotknowasingleoneofthem,andnoneofthemknewme.IfeltIwasastrangerwhohadlosthisway.thensomeboysbegantoglanceatmeincuriosity,andoneofthemcameoverandasked,"Whobroughtyou?""Myfather,"Iwhispered."Myfather'sdead,"hesaidsimply.Ididnotknowwhattosay.Thegatewasnowclosed.Somethechildrenburstintotears.Thebellrang.Aladycamealong,followedbyagroupofmen.Themenbegansortingusintoranks.Wewereformedintoanintricatepatterninthegreatcourtyardsurroundedbyhighbuildings;fromeachwewereoverlookedbyalongbalconyroofedinwood."Thisisyournewhome,"saidthewoman."Therearemothersandfathershere,too.Everythingthatisenjoyablebeneficialishere.Sodryyourtearsandfacelifejoyfully."Well,itseemedthatmymisgivingshadhadnobasis.thefirstmomentsImademanyfriendsandfellinlovewithmanygirls.Ihadneverimaginedschoolwouldhavethisrichvarietyofexperiences.Weplayedallsortsofgames.Inthemusicroomwesangfirstsongs.Wealsohadourfirstintroductiontolanguage.WesawaglobeoftheEarth,whichrevolvedandshowedvariouscontinentsandcountries.Westartedlearningnumbers,andweweretoldthestoryoftheCreatoroftheuniverse.Weatedeliciousfood,tookalittlenap,andwokeupgoonwithfriendshipandlove,playingandlearning.Ourpath,however,wasnottotallysweetandunclouded.hadtobeobservantandpatient.Itwasnotallamatterofplayingandfoolingaround.Rivalriescouldbringaboutpainandhatredorgiverisetofighting.Andwhiletheladywouldsometimessmile,shewouldoftenyellandscold.Evenmorefrequentlyshewouldresorttophysicalpunishment.16. Inaddition,thetimeforchangingone'smindwasoverandgoneandtherewasnoquestionofeverreturningtotheparadiseofhome.Nothinglayaheadofusbutexertion,struggle,andperseverance.Thosewhowereabletookadvantageoftheopportunitiesforsuccessandhappinessthatpresentedthemselves.Thebellrang,announcingthepassingofthedayandtheofwork.Thechildrenrushedtowardthegate,whichwasopenedagain.Isaidgoodbyetofriendsandsweetheartsandpassedthroughthegate.Ilookedaroundbutfoundnotraceofmyfather,whohadpromisedtobethere.IsteppedasidetoWhenIhadwaitedforalongtimeinvain,Idecidedtoreturnhomeonmyown.Iwalkedafewsteps,thencametoastartledhalt.GoodLord!Wherewasthestreetlinedwithgardens?Wherehaditdisappearedto?Whendidalltheseinvadeit?Andwhendidallthesepeoplecometorestonitssurface?Howdidthesehillsofrubbishfindtheirwaytocoveritssides?Andwherewerethefieldsthatborderedit?Highbuildingshadtakenover,thestreetwasfullofchildren,anddisturbingnoisesshooktheair.Hereandtherestoodconjurersshowingofftheirtricksormakingsnakesappearfrombaskets.Thentherewasabandannouncingtheopeningofacircus,withclownsandweightlifterswalkinginfront.GoodGod!Iwasinadaze.Myheadspun.Ialmostwentcrazy.Howcouldallthishavehappenedinhalfaday,betweenearlymorningandsunset?Iwouldfindtheanswerathomemyfather.Butwherewasmyhome?Ihurriedtowardsthecrossroads,becauseIrememberedthatIhadtocrossthestreettoreachourhouse,butthestreamofcarswouldnotletup.Extremelyirritated,IwonderedwhenIwouldbeabletocross.Istoodtherealongtime,untiltheyoungboyemployedatironingshoponthecornercameuptome.Hestretchedouthisarmandsaid,"Grandpa,letmeyouacross."第一课 半日我走在父亲的一侧牢牢地抓着他的右手。我身上穿的戴的全是新的黑鞋子绿校服红帽子。然儿我一点儿也高兴不起来因为今天我将第一次被扔到学校里去。母亲站在窗前望着我们缓缓前行我也不时的回头看她希望她会救我。我们沿着街道走着街道两旁是花园和田野田野里栽满了梨树和椰枣树。“我为什么要去上学”我问父亲“是我做错了什么了吗”“我不是在惩罚你”父亲笑着说道“上学不是一种惩罚。学校是把孩子培养成才的地方。难道你不想象你哥哥们那样成为一个有用的人吗”个大大的高墙围绕的建筑里对我有什么真正的好处呢。己进去吧”我父亲说“加入他们。笑一笑给其他的孩子做个好榜样。”我紧抓着父亲的手犹豫不决。但是父亲却把我轻轻地推就要真正开始自己的生活了。放学时我会在这等你的。”我走了几步便看见了一些孩子的面孔。他们中我一个也不认识。他们也没有一个认识我的。我感觉自己像是一个迷了路的陌生人。然而这时有些男孩开始好奇的打量我其中一个走过来问到“谁带你来的”“我爸爸”我小声说道。“我爸爸死了”他简短地说。子哭了起来。接着，铃响了，一位女士走了过来后复杂的队行站在那四周高楼耸立的院子里。每层楼都有长长的阳台阳台上带有木制顶棚从阳台上可以俯视到我们。一切能带给你们快乐对你们有益的事物这儿都有。因此擦干你们的眼泪快快乐乐地面对生活。”交了许多朋友并且爱上了许多女孩。我从未想过学校的生活是如此丰富多彩。我们玩着各种各样的游戏在音乐室里我们唱着第一次学会的歌。我们第一次接触到了语言的学习。我们看见了一个地球仪旋转它便能看见世界上的各个大洲和国家的名称。我们还开始学习数字听老师将造物主的故事。吃过美味的食物小睡之后我们醒来又继续在友谊和爱之中嬉戏学习。遵守纪律耐心听讲。学校生活也不光是嬉戏和无所事事。同学间的竞争还可能引起痛苦仇恨甚至打斗。虽然那位女士有时面带微笑但也经常会对我们大声吼叫并责骂我们甚至更常见的是体罚我们。另外我们再也不能改变主意再也不能回到天堂般的家里了。摆在我们面前的只有努力奋斗和坚持不懈。一旦机会来了那些有能力的人就会抓住它们去获取成功和幸福。这时大门被打开了。我向我的朋友和“女友们”告会在校门外等我的。于是我走到一边去等他。当我等了好久他也没来的时候我决定自己回家。我走了几步却惊奇地站住了。我的天哪!那条两边是花园的街道怎么不见了消失到哪里去了是什么时候这些车辆闯到马路上的又是什么时候这些人来到街道上歇憩的这一座座垃圾堆又是怎样堆到街道两旁的街道旁的田野又到哪里去了取而代之的是林立的高楼。街道上挤满了孩子。嘈杂声震荡着空气。街头巷尾站着杂耍艺人他们或玩着戏法或是让蛇从篮子里出现。接着一个乐队奏起了音乐宣布马戏表演的开始小丑和举重大力士走在前面。我的天切怎么可能就在从清晨到日落的这半天时间里发生或许回到家父亲会告诉我答案的。但是我的家又在哪里我赶紧奔向十字路口因为我记得要穿过那条街道才能到家但车流不息我极为恼怒我知何时才可以过去。我久久的站在那里直到在街道熨衣店里工作的小男孩向我走来。LessonTwo GoingHomePeteHamillTheyweregoingtoFortLauderdale,Florida.Thereweresixofthem,threeboysandthreegirls,andtheygotonbusat34thStreet,carryingsandwichesandwineinpaperbags.weredreamingofgoldenbeachesandseatidesasthegrey,coldspringofNewYorkvanishedbehindthem.Vingowasonthebusfromthebeginning.AsthebuspassedthroughNewJersey,theybegannoticethatVingonevermoved.Hesatinfrontoftheyoungpeople,hisdustyfacemaskinghisage,dressedinaplainbrownsuitdidnotfithim.Hisfingerswerestainedfromcigarettesandhechewedtheinsideofhislipalot.Hesatincompletesilenceandseemedcompletelyunawareoftheexistenceofothers.Deepintothenight,thebuspulledintoaHowardJohnson'srestaurantandeverybodygotoffthebusexceptTheyoungpeoplebegantowonderabouthim,tryingtoimaginehislife:perhapshewasaseacaptain;maybehehadrunawayfromhiswife;hecouldbeanoldsoldiergoinghome.Whenwentbacktothebus,oneofthegirlsbecamesocuriousthatshedecidedtoengagehiminaconversation.Shesatbesidehimandintroducedherself."We'regoingtoFlorida,"thegirlsaidbrightly.goingthatfar?""Idon'tknow,"Vingosaid."I'veneverbeenthere,"shesaid."Ihearbeautiful.""Itis,"hesaidquietly,asifrememberingsomethinghehadtriedtoforget."Youlivethere?""IwasthereintheNavy,atthebaseinJacksonville"."Wantsomewine?"shesaid.Hesmiledandtookafromthebottle.Hethankedherandretreatedagainintohissilence.Afterawhile,shewentbacktotheothersasVingonoddedsleep.InthemorningtheyawokeoutsideanotherHowardJohnson'sandthistimeVingowentin.Thegirlinsistedthatjointhem.Heseemedveryshyandorderedblackcoffeeandnervously,astheyoungpeoplechatteredaboutsleepingonbeaches.Whentheygotbackonthebus,thegirlsatwithVingoagain.Afterawhile,slowlyandpainfully,hebegantotellhisstory.HehadbeeninjailinNewYorkforthelastyears,andnowhewasgoinghome."Areyoumarried?""Idon'tknow.""Youdon'tknow?"shesaid."Well,whenIwasinjailIwrotetomywife.Isaid,'Martha,Iunderstandifyoucan'tstaymarriedtome.'Isaidwasgoingtobeawayalongtime,andthatifshecouldn'tstandit,thekidskeptaskingquestions,ifithurthertoomuch,well,shecouldjustforgetme.Getanewguy—she'sawonderfulwoman,reallysomething—andforgetaboutme.Itoldherdidn'thavetowritetomeoranything,andshedidn't.Notforthree-and-a-halfyears.""Andyou'regoinghomenow,notknowing?""Yeah,"hesaidshyly."Well,lastweek,whenIwastheparolewascomingthroughIwroteheragain.Itoldherthatifshehadanewguy,Iunderstood.But,ifshedidn't,ifshewouldtakemebacksheshouldletmeknow.WeusedtoliveinBrunswick,andthere'sagreatoaktreejustasyoucomeintotown.Itoldherifshewouldtakemeback,sheshouldtieayellowribbontothetree,andIwouldgetoffandcomehome.shedidn'twantme,forgetit,noribbonandI'dunderstandandkeepgoingonthrough.""Wow,"thegirlsaid."Wow."Shetoldtheothers,andsoonallofthemwerecaughtintheapproachofBrunswick,lookingatthepicturesVingoshowedthemofhiswifeandthreechildren.Nowtheywere20milesfromBrunswick,andtheyoungpeopletookthewindowseatsontherightside,waitingfortheapproachofgreatoaktree.Vingostoppedlooking,tighteninghisfaceintotheex-con'smask,asiffortifyinghimselfagainststillanotherdisappointment.Thenitwas10miles,andthenfive,thebusbecameveryquiet.Thensuddenlyalloftheyoungpeoplewereupouttheirseats,screamingandshoutingandcrying,doingsmalldances,shakingclenchedfistsintriumphandexaltation.AllVingo.Vingosattherestunned,lookingattheoaktreethroughhismistyeyes.Thetreewascoveredwithyellowribbons,30ofthem,50ofthem,maybehundreds,atreethatstoodlikeabannerofwelcome,blowingandbillowinginthewind.Asyoungpeopleshouted,theoldconslowlyrosefromhisseat,holdinghimselftightly,andmadehiswaytothefrontofthebustogohome.第二课 回家1三个女孩拎着装满三明治和葡萄酒的纸带在第34街上了公共汽车。他们正梦想着佛罗里达金色的海滩和海潮纽约那灰暗寒冷的春天在他们身后消失得了无踪迹。温戈一开始就在车上。当汽车穿过新泽西州时他们开始注意到温戈从未挪过地方。他坐在这群年轻人的前面身着不合体的浅棕色套装满是灰尘的脸使人无法看出他的实际年龄。过多地吸烟使他的手指成了黄色他不停地咬着下唇安静地坐在那儿好像完全没有意识到其他人的存在。到了深夜汽车开到一家霍德华来所有的人都下了车除了温戈。那群年轻人开始对他产生了好奇试着猜想他的生活阅历或许他是个船长或许他是从他妻子身边逃出来的或许他是个退役回家的老兵。当他们回到车上时其中一个女孩忍不住内心的好奇决定和他聊聊天。于是她坐到了他的身旁做了一下自我介绍。“我们要去佛罗里达”那个女孩欢快地说“你也要去那么远吗”“我不知道。”温戈说道。“我从未去过那儿”她说“听说那儿很美。”“是的。”他轻声地说好像想起了他试图想要忘记的事情。“你住在哪儿”“我在那儿的海军服过役是在杰克逊维尔德海军基地。”“你想喝点儿酒吗”她说他笑了笑拿起酒瓶喝了一大口。道过谢后他又陷入了沉默。过了一会儿温戈大气瞌睡于是那个女孩又回到了她的同伴当中。到了早上当他们醒来的时候车停在了另一个霍德华逊连锁餐饮店前面这一次温戈进去了。那个女孩坚持要求他加入他们年轻人。他看起来很腼腆要了杯浓咖啡后就神情局促地抽起了烟而年轻人们则喋喋不休地谈起了在海滩上睡大觉的事。当他们回到车上那个女孩又同温戈坐到了一起。过了一会儿他就开始讲起了他的故事刑现在他要回家了。“你成家了吗”“你不知道”她说。很长一段时间如果他无法忍受如果孩子们不停地问这问那如果这对她的伤害非常大的话那么她可以把我忘了。再找个男人——她是个非常不错的女人真的不一般——然后“那么你现在要回家啰而什么都还不知道”“是的”他不好意思地说“上个星期当我确切地知道我很快就会被假释的时候我又给她写了封信。我告诉她如果她另外有人了我理解。但是如果她没有如果她愿意接受我回家要告诉我。我们过去一直住在布朗兹威克在进镇的地方有一颗大橡树我告诉她如果她希望我回家就在树上系一条黄色丝带这样我就会下车回家。如果她不接受我就忘记这一切也不必再系黄丝带我也就知道了原来这样。”她把温戈的故事告诉了其他人在区布朗兹威克的路上他们看着温戈拿出的他妻子和三个孩子的照片很快都被深深地触动了。现在他们里布朗兹威克还有20英里了。那群年轻人都坐到车上右侧靠窗的座位期待着看到那棵大橡树。温戈将目光从车窗移开脸绷得紧紧的又恢复了之前那副假释犯的冷漠神情好像在鼓足勇气去面对又一次的失望、打击。离布朗兹威克只有10英里了只有5英里了车内一片寂静。突然所有的年轻人都从他们的座位上跳了起来大声叫着、喊着、欢呼着手舞足蹈摇晃着紧握的拳头以示胜利和兴奋除了温戈。温戈坐在那儿惊呆了泪眼婆娑地望着那棵橡树。树上系满了黄丝带有30条有50条也许有上百条那位老囚徒缓缓地从座位上站起来用力地支撑着自己走到了车的前部踏上了回家的路。LessonThree MessageofthePiraSudhamYes,theseareourricefields.Theybelongedtomyparentsandforefathers.Thelandismorethanthreecenturiesold.I'mtheonlydaughterinourfamilyanditwasIwhostayedwithparentstilltheydied.Mythreebrothersmovedouttotheirwives'houseswhentheygotmarried.MyhusbandmovedintoourhouseasisthewaywithusinEsarn.Iwastheneighteenandhewasnineteen.Hegavemesixchildren.Twodiedininfancyfromsickness.Therest,twoboysandtwogirls,wentawayassoonaswecouldaffordtobuyjeansforthem.Ouroldestsongotajobasagardenerinarichman'shomeinBangkokbutlateranemploymentagencysenthimtoaforeignlandtowork.Myothersonalsowentfaraway.OneofourdaughtersisworkinginatextilefactoryBangkok,andtheotherhasajobinastore.Theycomehometoseeusnowandthen,stayafewdays,andthentheyareoffagain.Oftentheysendsomemoneytousandtellusthattheyaredoingwell.Iknowthisisnotalwaystrue.Sometimes,theybulliedandinsulted,anditislikeaknifepiercingmyheart.It'seasierformyhusband.Hehasearswhichdon'thear,amouthwhichdoesn'tspeak,andeyesthatdon'tsee.Healwaysbeenpatientandsilent,mindinghisownlife.Allofthemremainmychildreninspiteoftheirlongabsence.Maybeit'sfatethatsentthemawayfromus.Ouroflandissmall,anditisnolongerfertile,bleedingyearafterand,likeus,gettingoldandexhausted.StillmyhusbandandIworkonthisland.Thesoilisnotdifficulttotillwhenisalotofrain,butinabadyear,it'snotonlytheploughsthatbreakbutourhearts,too.No,wetwohaven'tchangedmuch,butthevillageInwhatway?Onlytenyearsago,youcouldbarterforthings,butnowit'sallcash.Yearsago,youcouldaskyourneighborstobuildyourhouse,reapthericeordigawell.Nowthey'lldoitonlyifyouhavemoneytopaythem.Plasticthingsvillagecrafts.Menusedtomakethingswithfinebamboopieces,butnolonger.Plasticbagslitterthevillage.Shopshavesprungup,filledwithcolorfulplasticthingsandgoodswehavenousefor.Theyounggoawaytotownsandcitiesleavingusoldpeopletoworkontheland.Theythinkdifferently,Iknow,sayingthattheoldareold-fashioned.Allmylife,Ihaveneverhadtogotoahairdresser,ortopaintmylipsornails.Theseroughfingersandtoesareforworkinginthemudofricefields,notforlookingpretty.Nowyounggirlsputonjeans,andlooklikeboysandtheythinkitisfashionable.Why,theyarewillingtoselltheirpigorwaterbuffalojusttobeabletobuyapairofjeans.Inmyday,ifIweretoputonapairoftrousersliketheydonow,lightningwouldstrikeme.Iknow,timeshavechanged,butcertainthingsnotchange.Weshouldofferfoodtothemonkseveryday,gotothetempleregularly.Youngpeopletendtoleavethesethingstopeoplenow,andthat'sashame.Why,onlytheotherdayIheardaboyshoutandscreamathismother.Ifthatkindofthinghadhappenedwhenwasyoung,thewholevillagewouldhavecondemnedsuchanungratefulson,andhisfatherwouldsurelyhavegivenhimgoodbeating.Asforme,Iwouldn'tchange,couldn'tchangeevenifwantedto.AmIhappyorunhappy?Thisquestionhasneveroccurredtome.Lifesimplygoeson.Yes,thisbagofbonesdressedinragscanstillplantandreapricefrommorningtilldusk.Disease,wounds,hardshipandscarcityhavealwayspartofmylife.Idon'tcomplain.Thefarmer:Mywifeiswrong.Myeyesdosee—theyseemorethantheyshould.Myearsdohear—theyhearmorethanisgoodforme.Idon'ttalkaboutwhatIknowbecauseIknowmuch.Iknowforexample,greed,anger,andlustaretherootofallevils.Iamatpeacewiththelandandtheconditionsoflife.ButIfeelagreatpityformywife.Ihavebeenforcingsilenceuponheralltheseyears,yetshehasnotoncecomplainedanything.Iwantedtohavealotofchildrenandgrandchildrenaroundmebutnowcitiesandforeignlandshaveattractedchildrenawayanditseemsthatnoneofthemwillevercomebacktohereagain.TowhomshallIgivethesericefieldswhenIdie?Forhundredsofyearsthisstripoflandhasbelongedtofamily.Iknoweveryinchofit.Mychildrengrewuponit,catchingfrogsandmudcrabsandgatheringflowers.Stillthelandcouldnottiethemdownorcallthemback.Wheneachofthemhasapairofjeans,theyareofflikebirdsonthewing.Fortunately,mywifeisstillwithme,andbothofusarestillstrong.Woundshealovertime.Sicknesscomesandgoes,andwegetbackonourfeetagain.Ineverwanttoleavethisland.nicetofeelthewetearthasmyfingersd