【英语趣味课堂】神秘的本质-The Nature of Myths

Shirley: So you said Paul Bunyan is famous. How do people know about him. Is he in children’s story books or do you learn about him at school?

Jake: Yes, both. At school I remember having maybe a Paul Bunyan day. It’s not an actual national holiday but at school I think we had maybe one day when I was in preschool or kindergarten where we would just talk about Paul Bunyan. They would show us picture books of Paul Bunyan and we would make art based on Paul Bunyan. Things like that.

 

Shirley: That’s pretty amazing that he’s so famous and just for making the Mississippi river. Is there something special about the river that makes it important in America?

 

Jake: Well it’s definitely¹ the most important river in America, I would say. It’s large and it crosses the entire United² States down the middle and, yes, the Mississippi river is very important to the United States and especially where I’m from because I live near the Mississippi river in the United States.

 

Shirley: Are there any Native American stories to explain why the Mississippi river is such a big river and why it’s there?

 

Jake: I’m sure there are but unfortunately we choose to talk about the Paul Bunyan story more for one reason or another. I’m not sure why it’s the most famous, but I’m sure the Native Americans have much older stories to explain the Mississippi river.

 

Shirley: So Jake, is he famous for anything else other than making that big river?

 

Jake: Well, I think it’s maybe just a story about hard work for children and things like that, because they would say he had a huge ax³ and he could cut down ten trees with one swing and things like that.

 

Shirley: So, not really an environmentalist.

 

Jake: Not really. I think the story was invented before the environment (movement) was invented, so it’s a bit of an old story...

 

Shirley: So do they want children to go cut down trees or what’s the purpose of the story now?

 

Jake: Well I think it just means⁴ work hard and prosper⁵, like many stories in the United States.

 

Shirley: I see.

 

重点词汇：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

Native American

 

Are there any Native American stories to explain why the Mississippi river is so big?

 

Native Americans are the groups of people who were living (and continue to live) in North and South America before the European settlers came. They are also sometimes referred to as “Indians”. See the following examples:

 

Native Americans had different lifestyles depending on the available resources⁶ where they lived.

Unfortunately, Native Americans were treated poorly throughout⁷ America’s history.

unfortunate

 

Unfortunately, we choose to talk about the Paul Bunyan story more.

 

Unfortunate means unlucky. Unfortunately is an adverb which is the same as saying “it’s too bad that...”. Study the examples below:

 

Unfortunately, we won’t be able to finish painting today.

I broke one of the new wine glasses unfortunately.

for one reason or another

 

We choose to talk about the Paul Bunyan story for one reason or another.

 

“For one reason or another” can be used to explain the reason for something when you don’t really know what the reason is. It is almost like saying, “I am not sure why we do this, but there must be some reasons.” Notice the examples below:

 

My son likes to wear different colored socks for one reason or another.

For one reason or another, history always repeats itself.

environmentalist

 

So, Paul Bunyan is not really an environmentalist.

 

An environmentalist is a person who tries to conserve⁸ and protect things in nature such as plants, animals, oceans, rivers, soil, and the air quality. A person or a product that is concerned about the environment is also called “green”. Notice the following examples:

 

Hybrid⁹ cars are very popular with environmentalists.

Global¹⁰ warming is a top priority¹¹ for environmentalists.

prosper

 

The story of Paul Bunyan teaches children to work hard and prosper.

 

To prosper means to have success. It often refers to financial success but it also can refer to being healthy. See the examples below:

 

Since he quit drinking, he has really prospered¹² financially.

The fish really prosper near this coral¹³ reef¹⁴.

1 definitely   

adv.一定地，肯定地；明确地，确切地

参考例句：

• The team will definitely lose if he doesn't play.如果他不参加比赛，这个队肯定会输。
• I shall definitely be home before six o'clock.6点以前，我一定回家。

2 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

3 ax   

n.斧子

参考例句：

• He cut a hole through the wall with an ax.他用斧子在墙上砍出一个洞。
• He carried a large ax.他带了一把大斧。

4 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

5 prosper   

v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣

参考例句：

• With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
• It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。

6 resources   

n.勇气；才智；谋略；有助于实现目标的东西；资源( resource的名词复数 )；[复数]物力；办法；来源

参考例句：

• The world's resources are rapidly diminishing. 世界资源正在迅速减少。
• a policy to equalize the distribution of resources throughout the country 使资源在全国分布均衡的政策

7 throughout   

adv.到处，自始至终；prep.遍及，贯穿

参考例句：

• These magazines are sold at bookstores throughout the country.这些杂志在全国各地书店均有发售。
• Guilin is known throughout the world for its scenery.桂林以山水著称于世。

8 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

9 hybrid   

n.(动，植）杂种，混合物

参考例句：

• That is a hybrid perpetual rose.那是一株杂交的四季开花的蔷薇。
• The hybrid was tall,handsome,and intelligent.那混血儿高大、英俊、又聪明。

10 global   

adj.全球的；球形的；世界的

参考例句：

• A global environmental meeting is going to be held here.一个全球环境会议将在这里举行。
• The report takes a global view of the company's problems.这份报告对公司的问题作了综合性的论述。

11 priority   

n.优先处理的事，居先，优先（权）

参考例句：

• The development of the national economy is a top priority.发展国民经济是应予以最优先考虑的事。
• Things should be taken up in order of priority.办事应有个先后次序。

12 prospered   

成功，兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Mr. Black prospered from his wise investments. 布莱克先生由于巧妙的投资赚了不少钱。

13 coral   

n.珊瑚；adj.珊瑚色的，珊瑚红的

参考例句：

• Kate is wearing a coral necklace.凯特戴着一条珊瑚项链。
• The ship was wrecked on a coral reef.这条船在珊瑚暗礁上撞毁了。

14 reef   

n.礁，礁石，暗礁

参考例句：

• The ship and its crew were lost on the reef.那条船及船员都触礁遇难了。
• The ship was wrecked on a coral reef.这条船在珊瑚暗礁上撞毁了。