大学英语精读第一册Unit Seven

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大学英语精读第一册Unit Seven

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大学英语精读第一册Unit Seven

　　TEXT

　　The author finds out that good intentions alone are not enough when his attempt to be kind to an old man leaves them both feeling worse than before.

　　The Sampler

　　In a certain store where they sell puddings, a number of these delicious things are laid out in a row during the Christmas season. Here you may select the one which is most to your taste, and you are even allowed to sample them before coming to a decision.

　　I have often wondered whether some people, who had no intention of making a purchase, would take advantage of this privilege. One day I asked this question of the shop girl, and I learned it was indeed the case.

　　"Now there's one old gentleman, for instance," she told me, "he comes here almost every week and samples each one of the puddings, though he never buys anything, and I suspect he never will. I remember him from last year before that, too. Well, let him come if he wants it, and welcome to it. And what's more, I hope there are a lot more stores where he can go and get his share. He looks as if he needed it all right, and I suppose they can afford it."

　　She was still speaking when an elderly gentleman limped up to the counter and began looking closely at the row of puddings with great interest.

　　"Why, that's the very gentleman I've been telling you about," whispered the shop girl." Just watch him now." And then turning to him:" Would you like to sample them, sir? Here's spoon for you to use."

　　The elderly gentleman, who was poorly but neatly dressed, accepted the spoon and began eagerly to sample one after another of the puddings, only braking off occasionally to wipe his red eyes with a large torn handkerchief.

　　"This is quite good."

　　"This is not bad either, but a little too heavy."

　　All the time it was quite evident that he sincerely believed that he might eventually buy one of these puddings, and I am positive that he did not for a moment feel that he was in any way cheating the store. Poor old chap! Probably he had come down in the world and this sampling was all that was left him from the time when he could afford to come and select his favorite pudding.

　　Amidst the crowd of happy, prosperous looking Christmas shoppers, the little black figure of the old man seemed pitiful and out of place, and in a burst of benevolence, I went up to him and said:

　　"Pardon me, sir, will you do me a favor? Let me purchase you one of these puddings. It would give me such pleasure."

　　He jumped back as if he had been stung, and the blood rushed into his wrinkled face.

　　"Excuse me," he said, with more dignity than I would have thought possible considering his appearance, "I do not believe I have the pleasure of knowing you. Undoubtedly you have mistaken me for someone else." And with a quick decision he turned to the shop girl and said in a loud voice, "Kindly pack me up this one here. I will take it with me." He pointed at one of the largest and most expensive of the puddings.

　　The girl took down the pudding from its stand and started to make a parcel of it, while he pulled out a worn little black pocketbook and began counting out shillings and pennies on to the counter. To save his "honour" he had been forced into a purchase which he could not possibly afford. How I longed for the power to unsay my tactless words! It was too late though, and I felt that the kindest thing I could do now would be walk away.

　　"You pay at the desk," the shop girl was telling him, but he did not seem to understand and kept trying to put the coins into her hand. And that was the last I saw or the old man. Now he can never go there to sample pudding any more.

　　NEW WORDS

　　author

　　n. the writer of a book, article, play, poem, etc. 作者

　　intention

　　n. purpose　目的;意图

　　sampler

　　n. one who finds out the quality of sth. by testing a part of it　品尝家

　　pudding

　　n. 布丁(西餐中一种松软的甜点心)

　　delicious

　　a. tasting or smelling pleasant　美味的，可口的

　　select

　　vt. choose from a group　挑选

　　selection

　　sample

　　vt. test a part of　品尝

　　purchase

　　n. buying

　　vt. buy

　　advantage

　　n. sth. useful or helpful　利益，好处;优点

　　privilege

　　n. special right given to a person　特权

　　instance

　　n. example, case　例子，实例

　　suspect

　　vt. feel doubt about; guess or suppose　怀疑;猜测

　　suspicion

　　afford

　　vt. have the money for 　担负得起

　　elderly

　　a. near old age 　上了年纪

　　limp

　　n. walk with an uneven step　跛行

　　counter

　　n. 柜台

　　spoon

　　n. 调羹

　　eagerly

　　ad. with strong interest or impatient desire　热切地，急切地

　　occasionally

　　ad. now and then; at times 　偶尔;间或

　　occasional

　　heavy

　　a. (of food, etc.) too rich to digest easily　(食物等)太油腻而不易消化

　　evident

　　a. plain and clear (to the eye or mind)　明显的，明白的

　　sincerely

　　ad. honestly　诚恳地

　　eventually

　　ad. in the end 　终于，最终

　　positive

　　a. sure, certain　有把握的，确信的

　　cheat

　　vt. deceive　欺骗

　　chap

　　n. man; boy; fellow　男人;小伙子;家伙

　　amidst

　　prep. in the middle of; among　在...中间

　　crowd

　　n. 人群

　　prosperous

　　a. rich; successful　富裕的;成功的;昌盛的

　　prosperity

　　figure

　　n. 外形，伦廓;体形

　　pitiful

　　a. making one feel pity 可怜的

　　benevolence

　　n. the desire to do good 仁慈

　　sting

　　vt. prick or hurt 刺，螫

　　wrinkle

　　v. (cause to) form into lines (使)起皱纹

　　dignity

　　n. calm and serious manner or style 尊严

　　appearance

　　n. that which can be seen; look 外表

　　pack

　　vt. put (things) into boxes, cases, etc. 把(东西)打包(或装箱)

　　stand

　　n. (货)架;(货摊)

　　worn

　　a. damaged by use or wear 破烂的，损坏的

　　pocketbook

　　a. a wallet for money and personal papers 皮夹

　　shilling

　　n. 先令

　　long

　　vi. wish earnestly 渴望

　　unsay

　　vt. take back (sth. that has been said) 收回(说过的'话)

　　tactless

　　a. 不策略的

　　coin

　　n. metal money 硬币

　　PHEASES & EXPRESSIONS

　　lay out

　　spread out 陈列

　　in a row

　　side by side in a neat line 成一长行

　　to one's taste

　　in a way that one likes 合...口味，中...的意

　　take advantage of

　　use (sth.) for one's own benefit 利用

　　for instance

　　for example

　　and what's more

　　also, and more importantly 而且，更重要的是

　　all right

　　certainly; beyond doubt 确实，无疑地

　　break off

　　pause 中止，中断

　　come down (in the world)

　　become poor; lose social position 落泊，潦倒;失势

　　out of place

　　improper (for one's surroundings) 不适当的;不相称的

　　do sb. a favo(u)r

　　do sth. kind to sb. 给某人以恩惠;帮某人忙

　　mistake...for

　　think wrongly that (sth. or sb.) is (sth. or sb. else) 把...错认为

　　pull out

　　take out 抽出，取出

　　count out

　　count (things) one by one 逐一数出

　　long for

　　wish very much for 渴望

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