美国小学英语教材3:第181课 男孩 蜜蜂和英国人(1)

 The Boy, The Bees, and The British 男孩、蜜蜂和英国人

Jack¹ wanted to be a soldier, so that he could help George Washington². 杰克想成为一名军人，这样他就能帮助乔治·华盛顿了，

But he found out that he could help just as well on his farm at home.  但他发现在自家的农场也可以帮得上忙。

The Coming Of The British 英国人的到来

I wish I could help General Washington, too, Mother! 妈妈，我希望我也能帮助华盛顿将军！

But here I must stay at home, while Father and brother Tom are fighting for our country. 但是我现在必须待在家里，此时爸爸和汤姆哥哥正在为我们的国家战斗。

Jack and his mother were sitting on the porch³ of their Virginia home one hot summer day in the year 1781. 1781年夏季里炎热的天，杰克和妈妈坐在弗吉尼亚家里的门廊上。

There were hard times in Virginia that year, 那一年，弗吉尼亚经历了一段艰难的时光，

for British soldiers rode everywhere, seizing all the horses, and whatever they could find for food.  因为英国人的铁蹄无处不在，他们抢走了所有的马匹和任何他们能找到的吃的东西。

You were left here to take care of me, Jack, said his mother, 杰克，你要留下来照顾我，妈妈说，

"The British have been here before and have taken all our horses except Old Bay⁴. 英国人之前来过这里，带走了我们所有的马匹，只剩下了一匹枣红色的老马。

They will, surely⁵ come again. You would not want me to meet them alone, would you?" 他们肯定会再回来的。你不想让我独自人面对他们，是吗？

Oh, no, indeed, Mother! replied Jack. "I wouldn't leave you alone, but I wish I could fight for my country." 是的，妈妈！杰克回答道，我不会留下你一个人，但是我还是希望能为我的国家战斗。

Try to be happy, Jack, said his mother, gently, 杰克，高兴点儿！妈妈温柔地说，

"Your brother Tom is in the army, and one boy is enough for me to spare just now. Wait until you are a little older." 你哥哥汤姆已经在军队里了，现在对我来说，割舍一个孩子就足够了。等你再长大一点儿再说吧。

But I am nearly fifteen, Mother, begged Jack. 但是妈妈，我都快15岁了。杰克央求说，

"Father says that George Washington was only a boy when he first fought for our country.  父亲说，乔治·华盛顿第一次为我们的国家战斗的时候，他也只是一个男孩。

Now he is general of all our army! 现在他是统帅我们所有军队的将军了！

 

1 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

2 Washington   

n.华盛顿特区(是美国首都)

参考例句：

• His birthplace is Washington,but he lives in San Francisco.他出生于华盛顿，但住在旧金山。
• They, together with my father,have gone to Washington.他们和我父亲一起去华盛顿了。

3 porch   

n.门廊，入口处，走廊，游廊

参考例句：

• There are thousands of pages of advertising on our porch.有成千上万页广告堆在我们的门廊上。
• The porch is supported by six immense pillars.门廊由六根大柱子支撑着。

4 bay   

n.海湾，狗吠声，月桂；vt.吠，使走投无路；vi.吠

参考例句：

• I enjoy the view of the bay in the starlight.我喜欢星光下的海湾风景。
• Dogs sometimes bay at the moon.狗有时会朝着月亮吠叫。

5 surely   

adv.确实地，无疑地；必定地，一定地

参考例句：

• It'should surely be possible for them to reach an agreement.想必他们可以达成协议。
• Surely we'll profit from your work.我们肯定会从你的工作中得到益处。