胡敏读故事记单词托福词汇049（在线收听）

Lesson 49 Jack-of-all-trades, Master of None 万能博士——门门皆通，样样稀松

Words:

constituent n. 成分，要素

constitute vt. 建立（政府），组成，构成

constitution n. 组织，宪法

constrain n. 约束，限制

constrict vt. 约束；收缩；压紧；堵塞

construct vt. 建造；创立

constructive adj. 建设性的，有积极效果的

construe v. 解释，把。。。理解为

consult vt. 咨询，请教

consultant n. 顾问，咨询者

consume vt. 消费，消耗；大吃大喝

consumer n. 消费者

consumption n. 消耗，消费

contact vt. 使接触，与。。。联系

contagious adj. 传染性的，会感染的

contain vt. 包含，容纳

container n. 容器，集装箱

contaminate vt. 弄脏，污染，感染

contemplate v. 沉思，对。。。做周密考虑

I like being a congressman because I am fond of helping people. Many citizens think that it is an easy job, but in fact, it is very different. I get many calls from people who need things or want to complain about someone. Often, I do not have the answer.

Last week, a constituent contacted me and asked me to help him construe an article contained within the constitution. I had to hire a lawyer as a consultant. After consulting the lawyer, I was able to give the constituent some constructive suggestions and to constrain him to follow the law.

Consumers often call to complain about bad products or bad services. I recall one instance where a man complained that a restaurant had contaminated his container of food. He was very angry and showed no constraint. Fortunately, he did not consume the bad food. I asked him to contemplate who might have done it. At my request, he constructed a time line of the previous day’s events. We concluded that, after he departed the restaurant, he had momentarily left his food container within the reach of some monkeys in his laboratory. He conceded that the monkeys were probably responsible for the partial consumption of his food and the soiling of his food container.

Other voters call for emergency reasons. For example, one person called to report the outbreak of a contagious disease that constricts breathing. I had no idea what he was talking about. All I could do was to notify the local police and the World Health Organization.

The position of congressman truly constitutes several different jobs.

我喜欢做个议员，因为我喜欢帮助别人。许多公民认为当议员是份简单的差事，实则不然，议员难做啊。我接到许多人打来的要东西或是抱怨人的电话，我常常是无言以对。

上星期，一位选民跟我联系，让我帮他解释一下宪法中包含的某则条款。我只好请来一位律师做顾问。向律师请教一番后，我方才为那位选民提供了一些建设性意见，并强制他依法办事。

消费者常常打电话，抱怨劣质产品或劣质服务。我记得有一次一个男人投诉饭店弄脏了他的饭盒。他火冒三丈，一点也不克制自己的脾气。幸好他没有吃那些脏食。我让他好好想想还有谁可能这么干。在我的请求下，他编制出一份罗列前一天所有活动的时间表。我们得出的结论是，他离开饭店后，曾有片刻时间将饭盒放在实验室里一些猴子能够得到的地方。他不情愿地承认也许是猴子偷吃了部分食物，还弄脏了他的饭盒。

其他一些选民则是为急事打来电话。例如，一个人打电话举报一些突发的窒息性传染病。我根本不明白他在讲什么，只能通知当地警方还有世界卫生组织。

议员的职务实则由几个不同的工作构成！