美国语文第四册 第47期:老鹰树(1)

 　　In a distant field, stood a large tulip tree, apparently¹ of a century's growth, and one of the most gigantic. 在很远的地方矗立着一棵高大的郁金香树，显然已经生长了一个世纪，是那里最大的树木之一。

　　It looked like the father of the surrounding forest. 它看起来像是附近森林的父辈。

　　A single tree of huge dimensions, standing² all alone, is a sublime³ object. 一棵体积如此庞大的树木孤零零站立在那里，是一个非常壮观的景象。

　　On the top of this tree, an old eagle, commonly called the "Fishing Eagle". 在这棵树的顶端，一只老鹰——通常称作“鱼鹰”

　　had built her nest every year, for many years, and, undisturbed, had raised her young. 每年都在此筑她的鸟巢，养育它的下一代，并且已经持续了很多年，没有受到任何干扰。

　　A remarkable⁴ place to choose, as she procured⁵ her food from the ocean, and this tree stood full ten miles from the seashore. 由于它要到大海里觅食，所以要挑选一个比较醒目的地方搭窝，而这棵树距离海边整整10英里。

　　It had long been known as the "Old Eagle Tree". 长久以来，人们将这棵树叫做“老鹰树”。

　　On a warm, sunny day, the workmen were hoeing corn in an adjoining field. 在一个阳光灿烂的日子里，空气都是暖暖的。干活的人们在附近的玉米地里锄草。

　　At a certain hour of the day, the old eagle was known to set off for the seaside, to gather food for her young. 在一天的某个特定时刻，人们知道老鹰会出发去海边，为它的孩子们觅食。

　　As she this day returned with a large fish in her claws, the workmen surrounded the tree, 这天回来时，它爪子里抓着一条大鱼。干农活的人们围到了树边，

　　and, by yelling and hooting⁶, and throwing stones, so scared the poor bird that she dropped her fish, and they carried it off in triumph. 不断地又喊又叫，还向上扔石头，以此来吓唬可怜的鸟儿，使得它的鱼掉了下去。他们沾沾自喜地把鱼拿走了。

　　The men soon dispersed⁷, but Joseph sat down under a bush near by, to watch, and to bestow⁸ unavailing pity. 人们很快散去，但约瑟夫在附近一个安静的地方坐了下来，想看看会怎么样，并且表达一下徒劳的同情。

　　The bird soon returned to her nest, without food. 鸟儿很快回到了它的巢，什么食物也没带回来。

　　The eaglets at once set up a cry for food, so shrill⁹, so clear, and so clamorous¹⁰ that the boy was greatly moved. 小鹰们立刻开始哭叫着要食物，声音是那么的尖利，那么的清晰，那么的吵闹，以至于男孩都被深深地触动了。

　　The parent bird seemed to try to soothe¹¹ them; but their appetites were too keen, and it was all in vain. 大鹰似乎在设法安抚它们，但它们的食欲太过旺盛，一切的安慰都无济于事。

　　She then perched herself on a limb near them, and looked down into the nest in a manner that seemed to say, "I know not what to do next." 随后，大鹰飞到了它们附近的一个树枝上栖息，低头向鸟巢里看去，那姿态仿佛在说“我不知道下面该怎么办”。

　　Her indecision was but momentary¹²; again she poised¹³ herself, uttered one or two sharp notes, 它的不知所措只持续了很短的时间；随即，它做好了准备，发出了一两声高亢的叫声，

　　as if telling them to "lie still," balanced her body, spread her wings, and was away again for the sea. 好似在告诉小鹰们“静静躺着”，身体找好了平衡，展了展翅膀，再次朝大海飞去。

　　Joseph was determined¹⁴ to see the result. 约瑟夫决定要看看结果。

1 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 sublime   

adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的

参考例句：

• We should take some time to enjoy the sublime beauty of nature.我们应该花些时间去欣赏大自然的壮丽景象。
• Olympic games play as an important arena to exhibit the sublime idea.奥运会，就是展示此崇高理念的重要舞台。

4 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

5 procured   

v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条

参考例句：

• These cars are to be procured through open tender. 这些汽车要用公开招标的办法购买。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• A friend procured a position in the bank for my big brother. 一位朋友为我哥哥谋得了一个银行的职位。 来自《用法词典》

6 hooting   

（使）作汽笛声响，作汽车喇叭声( hoot的现在分词 )； 倒好儿； 倒彩

参考例句：

• He had the audience hooting with laughter . 他令观众哄堂大笑。
• The owl was hooting. 猫头鹰在叫。

7 dispersed   

adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的

参考例句：

• The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。
• After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。

8 bestow   

v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费

参考例句：

• He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.他希望将那些伟大的荣誉授予这位英雄。
• What great inspiration wiII you bestow on me?你有什么伟大的灵感能馈赠给我？

9 shrill   

adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫

参考例句：

• Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
• The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。

10 clamorous   

adj.吵闹的，喧哗的

参考例句：

• They are clamorous for better pay.他们吵吵嚷嚷要求增加工资。
• The meeting began to become clamorous.会议开始变得喧哗了。

11 soothe   

v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承

参考例句：

• I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。
• This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。

12 momentary   

adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的

参考例句：

• We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
• I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。

13 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

14 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。