[课程学习] [分享]研究生英语（unit10）

The Village
村庄
The text, which is excerpted from Thoreau’s masterpiece Walden, ( American writer. A seminal figure in the history of American thought, he spent much of his life in Concord, Massachusetts, where he became associated with the New England transcendentalists and lived for two years on the shore of Walden Pond (1845-1847). His works include Civil Disobedience (1849) and Walden (1854).索洛，亨利•戴维1817-1862美国作家，美国思想史上一个有创见的人物，他一生大部分时间在肯考德和马萨诸塞度过，在这些地方他同新英格兰的先验论者来往并在瓦尔登湖的岸边住了两年(1845-1947年），他的作品包括“公民的反抗”(1849年）和瓦尔登(1854年）) can be read on more than one level. But first and foremost, it is a beautiful description of the natural world. When we read of the rustle沙沙声of the leaves, the peeping of frogs, the chirp of birds, even the darkest night, we can see Thoreau’s fascination and ecstasy狂喜 when launching himself in the natural world.
In this text, Thoreau also uses images and figurative language to express his innermost thoughts and beliefs. According to him, only by sinking himself in the atmosphere of nature can men find truth. Such belief is revealed by the fact that he was so happy to launch himself into the night and feel his way through the words to his cabin in dark stormy night. According to Thoreau, losing one’s way is a valuable experience, because only after we are lost can we find ourselves, a paradox to express his theme that man can be regenerated.
On another level, we can see thoreau’s despite怨恨and pity for the villages’ spiritual slumbers睡眠, suggesting that their spirit should be awakened and improved. At the same time, Thoreau expresses his hatred for the unjust laws of society by refusing to pay a poll-tax人头税. He was detained拘留for a night in jail.

Detail explanation to the text
1. stroll 漫步；闲逛
We strolled through the park.
我们溜溜达达地穿过了这个公园。
My friend likes to stroll around the flea market on the chance of picking up something of value. 我的朋友爱逛旧货市场,希望能找到点有价值的东西
2. gossip 流言蜚语；背后议论人长短
You shouldnt listen to gossip. 你不应该听流言蜚语
They sat and gossiped all evening. 他们整晚上坐着胡聊
3. buttonwood 美国梧桐
If there were a buttonwood in one’s yard, the phenix would be there. 家有梧桐招凤凰
4. appetite 食欲；胃口
to lose ones appetite 食欲不振
He has a good appetite. 他的胃口好
（常与for连用）欲望
an appetite for learning 学习的强烈愿望
5. inhale 吸气；吸入
Inhale! Exhale! 吸气!呼气!
inhaled lunch and then rushed off to the meeting. 匆忙吞完午餐又赶去开会
6. incline 使倾斜; 使认为
What he said inclines me to think that he will agree to our plan. 他的话使我觉得他会同意我们的计划的
愿意；倾向
I incline to another point of view. 我倾向另一观点
7. allure 引诱, 诱惑
allure sb. From 诱使(某人)离开...
allure (sb.) into [to] 把(某人)诱入, 骗进
They allured her into a snare. 他们诱她落入圈套
9. forsake 革除(旧风习等); 抛弃(坏习惯)
He has forsaken his wife and children. 他遗弃了他的妻子和孩子
You must forsake your bad habits. 你必须革除你的坏习惯
10. prop 支持者；靠山
Her daughter was the only prop to the old lady during her illness.(喻)
她女儿是老太太病中唯一的依靠。
把…靠着；使保持在某一位置上
He propped his bicycle against the fence. 他把自行车靠着篱笆放好
Prop the gate open with something. 用什么东西支着大门让它开着吧
11. cast投；掷；抛
As soon as they reached the fishing area, the fishermen cast their nets into the sea.渔民们一到捕鱼区就把渔网撒进了大海
cast the fishing-line into the water 把钓鱼线抛入水中
As soon as he became rich he cast aside all his old friends who gave him some help. 他一富起来就抛弃了所有曾经给过他帮助的老朋友
*cast away 遭遇海难而流落某地
We were cast away by the storm on an island without food or water. 我们被风暴丢弃在小岛上,没有食物,也没有淡水
12. steer 驾驶（车或船）; 取（道）；朝…前进
He steered the ship carefully between the rocks.他小心地在礁石间驾驶船
a ship that steers well 好驾驶的船
steer clear (of) 避免；避开
13. muddy 泥泞的
When it rains the ground becomes very muddy.下雨时，地面变得很泥泞
a muddy brown 泥褐色的
muddy thinking 思路不清
a muddy color. 浑浊的颜色
muddy coffee. 浑浊的咖啡
a muddy path 泥泞小路
a muddy color 土色
14. latch 插上插销
Will the wardrobe latch? 衣橱门锁得上吗?
latch on = latch onto明白，了解
15. meanwhile 此时
Theyll be here soon. Meanwhile well have some coffee. 他们即刻就到，我们现在先喝点咖啡
meantime其时；其间
Please find a taxi, and in the meantime Ill pack some food. 请你叫辆出租汽车，趁这功夫我包上些食物
meantime作为名词比 meanwhile更为普遍
作为副词 meantime不及 meanwhile普遍
Meanwhile we waited. 与此同时，我们等候着
All of these uses are standard, however.
但是这些用法都是标准的
16. astray 迷路; 堕落
go astray 走错路; 误入歧途
lead (sb.) astray 使人堕落, 把人引入歧途
The boy was led astray by bad companions. 这小孩被坏伙伴引入歧途
17. put up 举起；抬起；张开（伞）
to put up a tent 架起帐篷
Put your hands up!; Put em up! 举起手来!
to put up a notice 张贴布告
接待；为…提供食宿；供膳宿
We can put up ten people for the night at a pinch. 必要时我们可以留宿十个人
18. perplexity窘困, 迷惑;令人困惑的事物
stare in perplexity 茫然不解地瞪着眼睛
the most discouraging perplexities 令人极沮丧的事情
19. I had no lock nor bolt but for the desk which held my papers,…除了放稿纸的书桌上锁以外，别的地方既没有上锁，也没有按插销….