英语畅谈中国文化50主题 17

　　17. Happy-go-lucky Chengdu
A: People like to call Beijing a political city because it’s the capital and there are lots of bureaucrats¹. Even taxi drivers talk politics. Shanghai, on the other hand, is viewed as a city of fashions. Ever since the 1930s, when Shanghai was under western rule, it has always been in full front of fashion. Guangdong is the center of the economy where business has the priority² as the saying goes,“whether a cat is black or white, it is a good cat as long as it catches mice.”Chengdu is a happy-go-lucky city. Do you know anything about Chengdu?
B: Chengdu is a major city in Sichuan Province. The temperature is mild and the land is very productive³, in fact, so fertile⁴ that even a stick will grow. The favorable⁵ environment has given rise to a very easy and relaxed life style. According to a 2005 survey, people’s expectation or monthly⁶ salary is 3000 Yuan. They believe that amount of money is enough to lead a happy life in Chengdu. Many Chengdu people drive a small fuel-efficient car called auto⁷. The car didn’t sell well in Beijing because Beijing thought it was too shabby. In fact, autos were even not allowed on Beijing’s Chang’an Avenue for some time.
A: Chengdu is also known for its tea houses.
B: Yes, there are tea houses everywhere. Unlike some other big cities, where tea houses are graded to serve different customers, tea houses in Chengdu offer a whole range of products. Everyone, yet a businessman, a migrant worker or a student can find something they want. People can spend a day in the tea house, either to talk business or simply relax.
A: Are there any other interesting games there?
B: Mahjong is a popular game among tea house goers in Chengdu. There was a joke on the internet that says as soon as the plane enters the Chengdu airspace, passengers can hear the sound of mahjong shuffling⁸. Chengdu is also known for its snacks. There are plenty of columbaries(?) and entertainment outlets⁹. You don’t always find a kind of restlessness¹⁰ in Chengdu as in other cities. But this doesn’t mean Chengdu people have closed minds. On the contrary, they are very open-minded.
A: It’s good for a person to be happy and forget about fame and wealth. But we still have to worry about social progress, right?
B: In fact, Chengdu has made great progress. It ranked the fourth in terms of economic growth in 2005 after Beijing、Shanghai and Guangzhou. During the National Day golden week holidays, Chengdu ranked the eighth of the top ten most popular tourist destinations.
A: This reminds me of a Chinese saying, “A lucky person doesn’t have to chase¹¹ luck.”

1 bureaucrats   

n.官僚( bureaucrat的名词复数 )；官僚主义；官僚主义者；官僚语言

参考例句：

• That is the fate of the bureaucrats, not the inspiration of statesmen. 那是官僚主义者的命运，而不是政治家的灵感。 来自辞典例句
• Big business and dozens of anonymous bureaucrats have as much power as Japan's top elected leaders. 大企业和许多不知名的官僚同日本选举出来的最高层领导者们的权力一样大。 来自辞典例句

2 priority   

n.优先处理的事，居先，优先（权）

参考例句：

• The development of the national economy is a top priority.发展国民经济是应予以最优先考虑的事。
• Things should be taken up in order of priority.办事应有个先后次序。

3 productive   

adj.能生产的，有生产价值的，多产的

参考例句：

• We had a productive meeting that solved some problems.我们开了一个富有成效的会议，解决了一些问题。
• Science and technology are part of the productive forces.科学技术是生产力。

4 fertile   

adj.肥沃的，富饶的；多产的，丰产的

参考例句：

• The district is fertile of wheat.该地区盛产小麦。
• Plants grow well in fertile soil.植物在肥沃的土壤里长势良好。

5 favorable   

adj.赞成的，赞成的；有利的，良好的，顺利的

参考例句：

• The book received a favorable review.这本书赢得了好评。
• Each nation suppressed news that was not favorable to it.每个国家都扣留对它不利的消息。

6 monthly   

adj.每月的，持续一个月的，每月发生的；adv.每月，按月； n.月刊；(复数）monthlies:月经

参考例句：

• The rent on his apartment was his biggest monthly expense.他的房租是每个月最大的开支。
• The monthly rent is $15,inclusive of light and water.每月租金15美元，包括水电费在内。

7 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

8 shuffling   

adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• Don't go shuffling along as if you were dead. 别像个死人似地拖着脚走。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some one was shuffling by on the sidewalk. 外面的人行道上有人拖着脚走过。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

9 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 restlessness   

n. 辗转不安，烦躁不安，不安定

参考例句：

• A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。
• Their gossips abraded her into restlessness. 他们的流言蜚语使她心烦意乱。

11 chase   

vt.追逐，追赶，追求；n.追赶

参考例句：

• The police grabbed the robbers after a long chase.警察经过长距离追赶后逮住了抢劫犯。
• Would you chase me if I did?如果我逃开了，你会来追吗？