Intelligent Reading 聪明的读书方法

 　　In your reading you must have in view some definite aim ---- some aim other that the wish to derive¹ pleasure. I conceive that to give pleasure is the highest end of any work of art, because the pleasure procured² from any art is tonic³, and transform the life into which it enters. But the maximum of pleasure can only be obtained by regular effort, and regular effort implies the organization of that effort. Open-air walking is a glorious exercise; it is the walking itself which is glorious. Nevertheless, when setting out for walking exercise, the sane⁴ man generally has a subsidiary aim in view. He says to himself either that he will reach a given point, or that he will progress at a given speed for a given distance, or that he will remain on his feet for a given time. He organizes his effort, partly in order that he may combine some other advantage with the advantage of walking, but principally in order to be sure that the effort shall be an adequate effort. The same with reading. Your paramount⁵ aim in poring over literature is to enjoy, but you will not fully⁶ achieve that aim unless you have also a subsidiary aim which necessitates⁷ the measurement of your energy. Your subsidiary aim may be aesthetic⁸, moral, political, religious, scientific, erudite; you may devote yourself to a man, a topic, an epoch⁹, a nation, a branch of literature, an idea ---- you have the widest latitude¹⁰ in the choice of an objective; but a definite objective you must have.

　　Arnold Bennett: Literary Taste and How to Form It

　　你们读书的时侯，必须牢记某个确定目的----除了希望得到乐趣之外，要有一个目的。我以为给人带来乐趣乃是任何艺术作品的最高境界，因为从任何艺术中取得的乐趣是令人振奋的，而且使得进入艺术天地的人面貌为之一变。不过乐趣的极致只能通过持之以恒的努力而获得，持之以恒的努力意味着那种努力要有条有理。户外散步是一项令人心醉的锻炼；而令人心醉的正是散步本身。然而，准备出去散步然锻炼的时侯，头脑清醒的人一般总抱有一个附带目的。他告诉自己，或者我要抵达一个规定的地点，或者我要以规定的速度向规定的远处行进，或者我要在规定的时间内站着不动。他有条有理安排自己的努力，多少是为了把一些其他的益处和散步的益处结合起来，不过主要还是为了确信这番努力是一项令人满意的努力。读书也是这个道理。你们全神贯注于文学作品的时侯，首要的目的是玩赏，不过若要完全达到目的，你们非得抱有一个附带目的，它使得你们必须测定自己的精力。你们的附带目的可以放在审美、道德、政治、宗教、

　　科学、博学方面；你们可以专门研读一人，一个题目，一个时代，一个国家，一个文学分支，一个思想----在选择一个对象时你们有着最广泛的回旋余地；不过一个确定对象是必须要有的。

1 derive   

v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• We shall derive much benefit from reading good novels.我们将从优秀小说中获得很大好处。

2 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》

3 tonic   

n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的

参考例句：

• It will be marketed as a tonic for the elderly.这将作为老年人滋补品在市场上销售。
• Sea air is Nature's best tonic for mind and body.海上的空气是大自然赋予的对人们身心的最佳补品。

4 sane   

adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的

参考例句：

• He was sane at the time of the murder.在凶杀案发生时他的神志是清醒的。
• He is a very sane person.他是一个很有头脑的人。

5 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

6 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

7 necessitates   

使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The increase in population necessitates a greater food supply. 人口的增加需要更多食物供应。
• Your proposal necessitates borrowing money. 你的提议使借款成为必要。

8 aesthetic   

adj.美学的，审美的，有美感

参考例句：

• My aesthetic standards are quite different from his.我的审美标准与他的大不相同。
• The professor advanced a new aesthetic theory.那位教授提出了新的美学理论。

9 epoch   

n.(新)时代；历元

参考例句：

• The epoch of revolution creates great figures.革命时代造就伟大的人物。
• We're at the end of the historical epoch,and at the dawn of another.我们正处在一个历史时代的末期，另一个历史时代的开端。

10 latitude   

n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区

参考例句：

• The latitude of the island is 20 degrees south.该岛的纬度是南纬20度。
• The two cities are at approximately the same latitude.这两个城市差不多位于同一纬度上。