【饥饿游戏】38

 A large balcony off a building to the right has been reserved for 

the Gamemakers.Television crews have claimed most of the other 

balconies. But the City Circle and the avenues that feed into it are

completely packed with people. Standing¹ room only. At homes

and community halls around the country, every television set

is turned on. Every citizen of Panem is tuned² in. There will be

no blackouts tonight.

Caesar Flickerman, the man who has hosted the interviews

for more than forty years, bounces onto the stage. It’s a little

scary because his appearance has been virtually unchanged

during all that time. Same face under a coating of pure white

makeup³. Same hairstyle that he dyes a different color for each

Hunger Games. Same ceremonial suit, midnight blue dotted

with a thousand tiny electric bulbs that twinkle like stars.

They do surgery in the Capitol, to make people appear younger

and thinner. In District 12, looking old is something of an

achievement since so many people die early. You see an elderly

person you want to congratulate them on their longevity⁴,

ask the secret of survival. A plump person is envied because

they aren’t scraping by like the majority of us. But here it is

different. Wrinkles aren’t desirable. A round belly⁵ isn’t a sign

of success.

This year, Caesar’s hair is powder blue and his eyelids⁶ and

lips are coated in the same hue⁷. He looks freakish but less

frightening than he did last year when his color was crimson⁸

and he seemed to be bleeding. Caesar tells a few jokes to

warm up the audience but then gets down to business.

The girl tribute from District 1, looking provocative⁹ in a

see-through gold gown, steps up the center of the stage to join

Caesar for her interview. You can tell her mentor¹⁰ didn’t have

any trouble coming up with an angle for her. With that flowing

blonde hair, emerald green eyes, her body tall and lush . . .

she’s sexy all the way.

Each interview only lasts three minutes. Then a buzzer¹¹

goes off and the next tribute is up. I’ll say this for Caesar, he

really does his best to make the tributes shine. He’s friendly,

tries to set the nervous ones at ease, laughs at lame¹² jokes, and

can turn a weak response into a memorable¹³ one by the way he

reacts.

I sit like a lady, the way Effie showed me, as the districts

slip by. 2, 3, 4. Everyone seems to be playing up some angle.

The monstrous¹⁴ boy from District 2 is a ruthless killing¹⁵ machine.

The fox-faced girl from District 5 sly and elusive¹⁶. I spotted¹⁷

Cinna as soon as he took his place, but even his presence

cannot relax me. 8, 9, 10. The crippled boy from 10 is very

quiet. My palms are sweating like crazy, but the jeweled dress

isn’t absorbent and they skid¹⁸ right of if I try to dry them.

(镶珠的衣服根本不吸汗，我想擦擦汗，可浑身的汗水径直

扑簌簌地淌下来)。 

11.Rue¹⁹, who is dressed in a gossamer²⁰ gown complete with

wings, flutters her way to Caesar. A hush²¹ falls over the crowd

at the sight of this magical wisp of a tribute. Caesar’s very

sweet with her, complimenting her seven in training, an excellent

score for one so small. When he asks her what her greatest

strength in the arena²² will be, she doesn’t hesitate. “I’m very 

hard to catch,” she says in a tremulous voice. “And if they

can’t catch me, they can’t kill me. So don’t count me out.”

“I wouldn’t in a million years,” (“我不会淘汰你，一万年也不会。)”

says Caesar encouragingly.

The boy tribute from District 11, Thresh, has the same dark

skin as Rue, but the resemblance stops there. He’s one of the

giants, probably six and a half feet tall and built like an ox, but

I noticed he rejected the invitations from the Career Tributes

to join their crowd. Instead he’s been very solitary²³, speaking

to no one, showing little interest in training. Even so, he

scored a ten and it’s not hard to imagine he impressed the

Gamemakers. He ignores Caesar’s attempts at banter²⁴ and 

answers with a yes or no or just remains²⁵ silent.

If only I was his size, I could get away with sullen²⁶ and hostile

and it would be just fine! I bet half the sponsors are at least 

considering him. If I had any money, I’d bet on him myself.

And then they’re calling Katniss Everdeen, and I feel myself,

as if in a dream, standing and making my way center stage. I

shake Caesar’s outstretched hand, and he has the good grace

not to immediately wipe his off on his suit.

“So, Katniss, the Capitol must be quite a change from District

Twelve. What’s impressed you most since you arrived

here?” asks Caesar.

What? What did he say? It’s as if the words make no sense.

My mouth has gone as dry as sawdust. I desperately²⁷ find

Cinna in the crowd and lock eyes with him. I imagine the

words coming from his lips. “What’s impressed you most 

since you arrived here?” I rack my brain for something that 

made me happy here. Be honest, I think. Be honest.

“The lamb stew,” I get out.

Caesar laughs, and vaguely²⁸ I realize some of the audience

has joined in.

“The one with the dried plums?” asks Caesar. I nod. “Oh, I

eat it by the bucketful.” He turns sideways to the audience in

horror, hand on his stomach. “It doesn’t show, does it?” They

shout reassurances²⁹ to him and applaud. This is what I mean

about Caesar. He tries to help you out.

“Now, Katniss,” he says confidentially³⁰, “When you came out

in the opening ceremonies, my heart actually stopped. 

gossamer n. 蛛丝；薄纱；小蜘蛛网

banter n. （善意的）戏谑；逗弄

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 tuned   

adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• The resort is tuned in to the tastes of young and old alike. 这个度假胜地适合各种口味，老少皆宜。
• The instruments should be tuned up before each performance. 每次演出开始前都应将乐器调好音。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

4 longevity   

n.长命；长寿

参考例句：

• Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
• Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。

5 belly   

n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛

参考例句：

• The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
• His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。

6 eyelids   

n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色

参考例句：

• She was so tired, her eyelids were beginning to droop. 她太疲倦了，眼睑开始往下垂。
• Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 hue   

n.色度；色调；样子

参考例句：

• The diamond shone with every hue under the sun.金刚石在阳光下放出五颜六色的光芒。
• The same hue will look different in different light.同一颜色在不同的光线下看起来会有所不同。

8 crimson   

n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色

参考例句：

• She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
• Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。

9 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

10 mentor   

n.指导者，良师益友；v.指导

参考例句：

• He fed on the great ideas of his mentor.他以他导师的伟大思想为支撑。
• He had mentored scores of younger doctors.他指导过许多更年轻的医生。

11 buzzer   

n.蜂鸣器；汽笛

参考例句：

• The buzzer went off at eight o'clock.蜂鸣器在8点钟时响了。
• Press the buzzer when you want to talk.你想讲话的时候就按蜂鸣器。

12 lame   

adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的

参考例句：

• The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
• I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。

13 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

14 monstrous   

adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的

参考例句：

• The smoke began to whirl and grew into a monstrous column.浓烟开始盘旋上升，形成了一个巨大的烟柱。
• Your behaviour in class is monstrous!你在课堂上的行为真是丢人！

15 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

16 elusive   

adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的

参考例句：

• Try to catch the elusive charm of the original in translation.翻译时设法把握住原文中难以捉摸的风韵。
• Interpol have searched all the corners of the earth for the elusive hijackers.国际刑警组织已在世界各地搜查在逃的飞机劫持者。

17 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

18 skid   

v.打滑 n.滑向一侧；滑道 ，滑轨

参考例句：

• He braked suddenly,causing the front wheels to skid.他突然剎车，使得前轮打了滑。
• The police examined the skid marks to see how fast the car had been travelling.警察检查了车轮滑行痕迹，以判断汽车当时开得有多快。

19 rue   

n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔

参考例句：

• You'll rue having failed in the examination.你会悔恨考试失败。
• You're going to rue this the longest day that you live.你要终身悔恨不尽呢。

20 gossamer   

n.薄纱，游丝

参考例句：

• The prince helped the princess,who was still in her delightful gossamer gown.王子搀扶着仍穿著那套美丽薄纱晚礼服的公主。
• Gossamer is floating in calm air.空中飘浮着游丝。

21 hush   

int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静

参考例句：

• A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
• Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

22 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

23 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

24 banter   

n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑

参考例句：

• The actress exchanged banter with reporters.女演员与记者相互开玩笑。
• She engages in friendly banter with her customers.她常和顾客逗乐。

25 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

26 sullen   

adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的

参考例句：

• He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
• Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐，因为昨晚没睡好。

27 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

28 vaguely   

adv.含糊地，暖昧地

参考例句：

• He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
• He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面，对一切都视而不见。

29 reassurances   

n.消除恐惧或疑虑( reassurance的名词复数 )；恢复信心；使人消除恐惧或疑虑的事物；使人恢复信心的事物

参考例句：

• We have had some reassurances from the council that the building will be saved. 理事会保证会保留那座建筑，这使我们得到了些许安慰。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Everybody's reassurances have encouraged me. 大家的勉励鼓舞了我。 来自辞典例句

30 confidentially   

ad.秘密地，悄悄地

参考例句：

• She was leaning confidentially across the table. 她神神秘秘地从桌子上靠过来。
• Kao Sung-nien and Wang Ch'u-hou talked confidentially in low tones. 高松年汪处厚两人低声密谈。