书城外语别样的名人风采
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第17章 丘吉尔和马克·吐温

Winston Churchill and Mark Twain met for the first time in 1900,when Churchill was just coming into prominence as a young statesman.The meet took place at a dinner in London.During the dinner,they decided to step outside for a smoke.

An observer,Sir William Harcourt,speculated that since both men tended to dominate conversations,the one who got the floor first would keep it.He told others at his table that since Twain was older and more experienced,Churchill's voice would get the first rest it had had in a long time.

When the two returned,Harcourt asked the young Churchill if he had enjoyed talking to Twain.Churchill replied with an enthusiastic tone“Yes.”Harcourt then asked Twain if he had a good chat with Churchill.Twain paused,then said,“I have a good smoke.”

丘吉尔和马克·吐温第一次见面是在1900年,那时丘吉尔还是崭露头角的政坛新秀。他们在伦敦的一家餐馆相遇。席间,他们决定出去抽会儿烟。

威廉·哈古特爵士注意到,由于丘吉尔和吐温两人均喜欢在对话中出风头,那么先说话的人就会抢占先机,把优势保持下去。他告诉同桌的其他人,由于吐温更老练些,丘吉尔的嗓子这下可以先休息了。

当两人抽烟回来后,哈古特问年轻的丘吉尔是否喜欢对吐温谈话,丘吉尔高兴地答道:“当然。”而当哈古特问吐温,他与丘吉尔的对话是否愉快时,吐温停了一下,说道:“我吸烟很愉快。”

1.statesman n.政治家

2.observer n.观察者,来源于动词observe(观察,注意到)

3.speculate v.推测,深思,投机

E.g.He speculated that the price of real estate would continue to rise.他推测房地产价格会继续上涨。

speculator n.:思索家,投机者speculation n.:投机,思索

4.tend v.易于,倾向于

E.g.People under stress tend to express their full range of potential.处于压力下的人容易发挥自己全部的潜力。

5.dominate v.主导,支配

E.g.A great man can dominate others by force of character.伟人能以人格的力量支配他人。

6.floor n.发言权

E.g.Now I will give the floor to the chairman.现在有请主席讲话。

注意:在此处floor不再是“地板”的意思。

7.enthusiastic adj.热情的,热心的

8.chat v./n.聊天,闲谈

E.g.You can have a chat with your friends if you feel tired.如果累了,可以和朋友聊聊天。

9.pause n.中止,暂停,停顿;停留

v.(1)暂停;中止;歇气;保留;停顿:

例句:“Why did you pause?Go on.”

“你为什么停顿下来了?继续下去。”

(2)等待(for);踌躇;犹豫:

例句:He paused for a reply.

他等待答复。

When he had run up the hill,he paused for a minute to rest.

他跑上小山时,停下来休息了一会儿。

1.come into prominence 崭露头角

prominence n.杰出,形容词为prominent

E.g.He is a prominent young man.他是一个杰出的年轻人。

2.take place 发生

E.g.The accident took place at midnight.事故发生在半夜。

3.enjoy doing 享受做某事,喜欢做某事

Do you enjoy swimming?你喜欢游泳吗?