xiaomianwowo
A heated discussion about whether men are braver than women is settled in a rather unexpected way.
The Dinner Party
I first heard this tale in India, where is told as if true -- though any naturalist would know it couldn't be. Later someone told me that the story appeared in a magazine shortly before the First World War. That magazine story, and the person who wrote it, I have never been able to track down.
The country is India. A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They are seated with their guests -- officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist -- in their spacious dining room, which has a bare marble floor, open rafters and wide glass doors opening onto a veranda.
A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says that women have outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a major who says that they haven't.
"A woman's reaction in any crisis," the major says, "is to scream. And while a man may feel like it, he has that ounce more of control than a woman has. And that last ounce is what really counts."
The American does not join in the argument but watches the other guests. As he looks, he sees a strange expression come over the face of the hostess. She is staring straight ahead, her muscles contracting slightly. She motions to the native boy standing behind her chair and whispers something to him. The boy's eyes widen: he quickly leaves the room.
Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the boy place a bowl of milk on the veranda just outside the open doors.
The American comes to with a start. In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing -- bait for a snake. He realizes there must be a cobra in the room. He looks up at the rafters -- the likeliest place -- but they are bare. Three corners of the room are empty, and in the fourth the servants are waiting to serve the next course. There is only one place left -- under the table.
His first impulse is to jump back and warn the others, but he knows the commotion would frighten the cobra into striking. He speaks quickly, the tone of his voice so commanding that it silences everyone.
"I want to know just what control everyone at this table has. I will count three hundred -- that's five minutes -- and not one of you is to move a muscle. Those who move will forfeit 50 rupees. Ready?"
The 20 people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying "...two hundred and eighty..." when, out of the corner of his eye, he sees the cobra emerge and make for the bowl of milk. Screams ring out as he jumps to slam the veranda doors safely shut.
"You were right, Major!" the host exclaims. "A man has just shown us an example of perfect self-control."
"Just a minute," the American says, turning to his hostess. "Mrs. Wynnes, how did you know that cobra was in the room?"
A faint smile lights up the woman's face as she replies: "Because it was crawling across my foot."
heated
a. with strong, excited, and often angry feelings 热烈的;激烈的
unexpected
a. not expected 意外的
naturalist
n. one who makes a special study of plants or animals outdoors 博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者)
shortly
ad. Soon; (in) a little time 不久，马上
colonial]
a. of or related to a colony or colonies 殖民地的`
spacious
a. big; having much space 广阔的;宽阔的
dining
n. 餐厅
bare
a. not covered (with a carpet); empty 不铺地毯的;赤裸的;光秃的
marble
n. 大理石
rafter
n. one of the sloping beams that support 椽
onto
prep. to a position or point on 到...之上; 向...之上
veranda
n. 阳台
spirited
a. full of spirit; lively
outgrow
vt. leave behind, as one grows older or more mature 长大得使...不再适用; 成长得不再要
mouse
n. 鼠
era
n. 时代，年代
major
n. 少校
crisis
n. time of difficulty, danger, etc. 危机
ounce
n. 盎司;少量
argument
n. discussion by persons who disagree; dispute 争论;辩论
hostess
n. 女主人
muscle
n. 肌肉
contract
vi. become shorter or smaller 收缩
contraction
n.
slightly
ad. a little 稍微地
slight
a.
motion
vi. give a signal by moving the hand or head 打手势;点(或摇)头示意
widen
v. make or become wider
bait
n. food used to attract fish, animals, or birds so that they may be caught 诱饵
cobra
n. poisonous snake found in India and Africa 眼镜蛇
likely
a. probable 可能的
impulse
n. sudden wish to do sth. 冲动
commotion
n. noisy confusion or excitement 混乱;骚动
tone
n. quality of voice or music 语气;音调
commanding
a. authoritative 威严的
forfeit
vt. suffer the loss of (sth.) as a punishment (作为惩罚而)失去
rupee
n. monetary unit of India, Pakistan, etc. 卢比
image
n. statue 雕像
emerge
vi. come or appear (from somewhere)
emergence
n.
slam
vt. shut loudly and with force 砰地关上
host
n. man who receives guests 男主人
faint
a. weak, indistinct 微弱的;不明显的
crawl
vi move slowly by pulling the body along the ground 爬行
小宇宙晴
大学英语精读第二册翻译题答案
引导语：下文内容是大学英语精读第三版(上海外语教育出版社 董亚芬主编)第二册Book2Unit1~Unit10 翻译答案，希望能够帮助到您，谢谢您的阅读。
Book2 Unit1 翻译
1.她砰地关上门，一声不吭地走了，他们之间那场争执就此结束。
Their argument ended when she slammed the door and left without a word.
2. 出席晚宴的客人对那个美国人威严的语气感到有点意外。
The guests at the dinner party were slightly surprised at the commanding tone of the American.
3. 约翰尼已长大成熟，不再害怕独自呆在家里了。
Johnny has outgrown the fear of staying at home alone.
4. 当全部乘客都向出口处 (exit) 走去时，他却独自留在座位上，好像不愿意离开这架飞机似的。
While all the other passengers made for the exit, he alone remained in his seat as if unwilling to leave the plane.
5. 这封信必须交给威尔逊博士本人。
The letter is to be handed to Dr. Wilson himself.
6. 南希虽然很想参加辩论，但腼腆得不敢开口。
While she felt like joining in the argument, Nancy was too shy to open her mouth.
7. 你觉得什么时候最有可能在家里找到他?
What do you think is the likeliest time to find him at home?
8. 猎人一看见有只狐狸从树丛中出现并向他设下 (lay) 的陷阱 (trap) 方向跑去，脸上顿时闪出了兴奋的表情。
The hunter’s face lit up with excitement as soon as he saw a fox emerge from among the bushes and run in the direction of / make for the trap he had laid.
Book2 Unit2 翻译
1) 会上有人建议任命一个十一人委员会来制定新章程。
It was suggested at the meeting that a committee of eleven be appointed to make a new constitution.
2) 这些青年科学家通过现场观察，获得了研究工作所需的第一手资料。
By making on-the-spot observations, the young scientists obtained first-hand information they needed in their research work.
3) 他很可能会因视力不好而被拒收入伍。
It is very likely that he will be rejected by the army because of his bad eyesight.
4) 委员会成员在新机场最佳选址 (location) 这一问题上持有不同意见。
The committee members have conflicting opinions as to the best location of the new airport.
5) 亨利创作的艺术品在许多方面比他兄弟的要好。
Henrys works of art are superior in many respects to those of his brothers.
6) 我们产品质量的稳步提高在很大程度上是由于设备有所改进。
The steady rise in the quality of our products owes much to the improvement of our equipment.
7) 吉姆本想按照自己的判断行事，但他没有这样做，因为作为军人他得服从命令。
Jim would have preferred to act on his own judgment, but he didnt because as a soldier he had to obey the order.
8) 如果让我来决定我们是要一个没有自行车的城市呢，还是要一个没有汽车的城市，我会毫不犹豫地选择后者。
Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a city without bikes or one without cars, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.
Book2 Unit3 翻译
1. She got a post as a cashier at a local bank. But she was soon fired because she proved to be incompetent.
她在当地一家银行找到一份出纳员的工作，但不久因不称职而被解雇了。
2. It is obviously/clearly his young assistant who is running the book store.
很明显是他的年轻助手在经营这家书店。
3. No sooner had the proposal been announced at the meeting than she got to her feet to protest.
这项建议在会上一宣布，她就站起来提出异议。
4. Bill has applied to Harvard University for a teaching assistantship, but his chances of getting it are slim.
比尔已向哈佛大学申请助教职位，但他得到它的可能性很小。
5. Being short of funds, they are trying to attract foreign capital.
由于缺乏资金，他们正在想办法吸引外资。
6. The room smells of stale air. It must have been vacant for a long time.
这个房间有股霉味，一定是好久没人住了。
7. As far as hobbies are concerned, Jane and her sister have little in common.
就业余爱好而言，珍妮和她妹妹几乎没有什么共同之处。
8. It is self-evident that the education of the young is vital to the future of a country.
不言而喻，青年人的教育对于一个国家的未来是至关重要的。
Book2 Unit4 翻译
1) 那小女孩跑得太快，身体一下失去平衡，跌倒了。
The little girl ran so fast that she was thrown off balance and fell over / down.
2) 他致力于研究工作的精神 (devotion to research) 给我留下了很深印象，但我对他那些深奥的理论丝毫不感兴趣。
I was impressed by his devotion to research but I did not have the slightest interest in his profound theories.
3) 千万别说可能会被人误解的话。
Be sure not to say anything capable of being misunderstood.
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