英语小达人 421 A Good Heart to Lean On(3)

 Now that I am older, I believe this is a proper standard by which to judge people,  如今我已经长大成人，明白了善良的心才是评价人的恰当的标准，

even though I still don' t know precisely¹ what a good heart is.  尽管我仍不清楚它的确切涵义，

But I know the times I don't have one myself. 但是每当自己缺乏善心的时候，我总会有所警觉。

Unable to engage in many activities,  虽然父亲不能参加许多活动，

my father still tried to participate in some way.  但他仍然设法以某种方式参与进来。

When a local sandlot baseball team found itself without a manager, he kept it going.  当一个地方棒球队发现缺少一个领队时，他便去当领队。

He was a knowledgeable² baseball fan and often took me to Ebbets Field to see the Brooklyn Dodgers³ play.  他是个棒球迷，有丰富的棒球知识，过去常带我去埃比茨棒球场观看布鲁克林鬼精灵队的比赛。

He liked to go to dances and parties, where he could have a good time just sitting and watching. 他喜欢参加舞会和晚会，乐意坐着看。 

On one memorable⁴ occasion a fight broke out at a beach party,  记得有一次的海边晚会上，有人打架，

with everyone punching and shoving.  动了拳头，推推搡搡。

He wasn't content to sit and watch, 他不甘于坐在那里当观众，

but he couldn't stand unaided on the soft sand.  但又无法在松软的沙滩上自己站起来。

In frustration⁵ he began to shout, I'll fight anyone who will sit down with me! 于是，失望之下，他吼了起来：谁想坐下和我打？ 

Nobody did.  没有人响应。

But the next day people kidded him by saying it was the first time any fighter was urged to take a dive even before the bout⁶ began. 但是第二天，人们都开玩笑地说，比赛还没开始，拳击手就被劝认输，这还是头一次看见。 

1 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

2 knowledgeable   

adj.知识渊博的；有见识的

参考例句：

• He's quite knowledgeable about the theatre.他对戏剧很有心得。
• He made some knowledgeable remarks at the meeting.他在会上的发言颇有见地。

3 dodgers   

n.躲闪者，欺瞒者( dodger的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a crackdown on fare dodgers on trains 对火车逃票者的严厉打击
• But Twain, Howells, and James were jeeringly described by Mencken as "draft-dodgers". 不过吐温、豪威尔斯和詹姆斯都是被门肯讥诮地叫做“逃避兵役的人。” 来自辞典例句

4 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

5 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

6 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。