美国语文第五册 第127期:迟到(1)

 　　A railroad train was rushing along at almost lightning speed. 火车近乎闪电般飞奔疾驰，

　　A curve was just ahead, beyond which was a station where two trains usually met. 前方有一处拐弯，拐弯过去通常是两列火车交汇站台。

　　The conductor was late,—so late that the period during which the up train was to wait had nearly elapsed;  下行车晚点了，按调度常规安排，上行车等待的时间即将结束，

　　but he hoped yet to pass the curve safely. 但司机仍然希望能安全闯过那道弯口。

　　Suddenly a locomotive dashed into sight right ahead. 一辆机车突然径直冲了过来，

　　In an instant there was a collision. 霎时间两车发生碰撞。

　　A shriek¹, a shock, and fifty souls were in eternity²; and all because an engineer had been behind time. 尖叫震惊中，五十条生命瞬间消失，所有这些，不过由于一位司乘人员的迟到而酿成的人间悲剧。

　　A great battle was going on. 一场伟大的战役战事正酣，

　　Column after column had been precipitated³ for eight hours on the enemy posted along the ridge⁴ of a hill. 一列列军队连续进攻沿山脊守护的敌军，战斗持续长达八小时之久。

　　The summer sun was sinking in the west; reenforcements for the obstinate⁵ defenders⁶ were already in sight; 夏日骄阳快要落山了，顽强的防御部队后备增援队伍已进入视野，

　　it was necessary to carry the position with one final charge, or everything would be lost. 发动最后一次进攻事不宜迟，否则，整个战役只能前功尽弃。

　　A powerful corps⁷ had been summoned from across the country, and if it came up in season all would yet be well. 全国紧急传令召集一支精锐兵团，如果部队能按时抵达，战事局面将大为改观。

　　The great conqueror⁸, confident in its arrival, formed his reserve into an attacking column, and ordered them to charge the enemy. 那位不朽的征服者，对自己麾下部队能投入战斗信心百倍，于是他将最后后备队亦悉数投入进攻，下令向敌军开火。

　　The whole world knows the result. Grouchy⁹ failed to appear; the imperial guard was beaten back; and Waterloo was lost. 整个世界对最终结果一目了然，格鲁希元帅未能按时抵达，帝国卫队被彻底击败，滑铁卢丢失，

　　Napoleon died a prisoner at St. Helena because one of his marshals was behind time. 拿破仑死在圣.赫勒拿监狱，战争失利由于那位元帅的迟到。

1 shriek   

v./n.尖叫，叫喊

参考例句：

• Suddenly he began to shriek loudly.突然他开始大声尖叫起来。
• People sometimes shriek because of terror,anger,or pain.人们有时会因为恐惧，气愤或疼痛而尖叫。

2 eternity   

n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷

参考例句：

• The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
• Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。

3 precipitated   

v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀

参考例句：

• His resignation precipitated a leadership crisis. 他的辞职立即引发了领导层的危机。
• He lost his footing and was precipitated to the ground. 他失足摔倒在地上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

5 obstinate   

adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的

参考例句：

• She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了，不会让任何人帮她的。
• The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。

6 defenders   

n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者

参考例句：

• The defenders were outnumbered and had to give in. 抵抗者寡不敌众，只能投降。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After hard fighting,the defenders were still masters of the city. 守军经过奋战仍然控制着城市。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

8 conqueror   

n.征服者，胜利者

参考例句：

• We shall never yield to a conqueror.我们永远不会向征服者低头。
• They abandoned the city to the conqueror.他们把那个城市丢弃给征服者。

9 grouchy   

adj.好抱怨的；愠怒的

参考例句：

• Grouchy people are always complaining for no reason.满腹牢骚的人总是毫无理由地抱怨。
• Sometimes she is grouchy, but all in all she is an excellent teacher.有时候她的脾气很坏，但总的来说她还是一位好老师。