82.A Man Who Said No

　　A friend of mine noticed a man staggering about in the Times Square subway station. A well-dressed Wall Street type, his coat was unbuttoned, a briefcase¹ dangled³ from his hand and he'd obviously had one too many.

　　Asked if he was all right, the man gave a slurred⁴ but affirmative response. However, my friend simply could not see someone brave the rough maw of a New York subway without trying to help. He followed the chap, and again asked, "Are you sure you're all right? What subway are you looking for? Do you need help getting home?"

　　At last, the object of his attentions snarled⁶, in a low voice, "Leave me alone! I'm an undercover cop!"

Notes:

　　(1) stagger v.蹒跚；摇摆（因衰弱、负重、酒醉等）

　　(2) the Times Square （美国）时代广场

　　(3) subway n.地铁

　　(4) briefcase n.手提箱

　　(5) dangle² v. 悬吊着或摇摆不定

　　(6) slurred adj.含糊不清的

　　(7) affirmative adj.肯定的

　　(8) brave the rough maw闻入是非之地

　　(9) maw n.动物的胃或咽喉，比喻随时会吞噬他物之物

　　(10) chap n.家伙

　　(11) snarl⁵ v.咆哮

　　(12) undercover adj.秘密的；暗中从事的

Exercises:

根据短文填空：

　　① A friend of mine noticed a man staggering _____in the Times Square subway station.

　　② His coat was unbuttoned, a briefcase _____from his hand and he'd obviously had one too many.

　　③ _____if he was all right, the man gave a slurred but affirmative response.

　　④ My friend simply Could not see someone _____the rough maw of a New York subway without trying to help.

　　⑤ At last, the _____of his attentions snarled, in a low voice, "Leave me alone! I'm an undercover cop!

82.说不的男子

　　我的一位朋友看到一个男子在时代广场的地铁车站摇摇晃晃地走。那个人穿着时髦，敞着怀，一个手提箱在他的手里悬吊着，很明显他是多喝了一杯。

　　我朋友问他怎么样，那男子含糊而肯定地回答说没问题。然而我朋友就是不能眼看着有人在纽约地铁独入是非之地而置之不顾。他跟在那家伙的后面，又一次问道：“你肯定你没事？你在找哪个地铁站？你需要帮忙回家吗？”

　　他所注意的对象终于忍耐不住了，对他低声咆哮道：“你给我走开！我是便衣警察！”

练习参考答案：

① about ② dangling ③ Asked ④ brave ⑤ object

1 briefcase   

n.手提箱，公事皮包

参考例句：

• He packed a briefcase with what might be required.他把所有可能需要的东西都装进公文包。
• He requested the old man to look after the briefcase.他请求那位老人照看这个公事包。

2 dangle   

v.(使)悬荡，(使)悬垂

参考例句：

• At Christmas,we dangle colored lights around the room.圣诞节时，我们在房间里挂上彩灯。
• He sits on the edge of the table and dangles his legs.他坐在桌子边上，摆动著双腿。

3 dangled   

悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口

参考例句：

• Gold charms dangled from her bracelet. 她的手镯上挂着许多金饰物。
• It's the biggest financial incentive ever dangled before British footballers. 这是历来对英国足球运动员的最大经济诱惑。

4 slurred   

含糊地说出( slur的过去式和过去分词 )； 含糊地发…的声； 侮辱； 连唱

参考例句：

• She had drunk too much and her speech was slurred. 她喝得太多了，话都说不利索了。
• You could tell from his slurred speech that he was drunk. 从他那含糊不清的话语中你就知道他喝醉了。

5 snarl   

v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮

参考例句：

• At the seaside we could hear the snarl of the waves.在海边我们可以听见波涛的咆哮。
• The traffic was all in a snarl near the accident.事故发生处附近交通一片混乱。

6 snarled   

v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说

参考例句：

• The dog snarled at us. 狗朝我们低声吼叫。
• As I advanced towards the dog, It'snarled and struck at me. 我朝那条狗走去时，它狂吠着向我扑来。 来自《简明英汉词典》