最新四级晨读主题美文100篇 14(在线收听

Student Rags

Student rags is a ‵well established practice|associated ‵particularly with older Universities of students|mounting some sort of pageant|and collecting money for charity. From the students’ point of view|it is a ‵festive occasion. They ‵think up themes|and ‵decorate a float|(a truck with a flat loading area)|to represent their concept — perhaps a pirate ship, an operating theatre, a coal mine|or something topical and humorous. Then the group of students| associated with that float|‵dresses up to sustain the impression. The Rag Day is ‵often held in February|when it is ‵still decidedly cold, but this does ‵not seem to deter the girls|from dressing in the flimsiest of garments as mermaids or grass-skirted Nawacan maidens, or the lads from turning out as cave men|and the like. There is usually a ‵magazine for the occasion; its contents being ‵mainly humorous|and vulgar, for students feel|that they are given license|for some mild misbehavior.

In this connection|they indulge in ‵certain stunts, for example the ‵kidnapping of local personalities|or people of the entertainment world — who ‵rather like the publicity anyway, or climbing public buildings, for example to put a ‵chamber pot on top|of a steeple. The authorities can be vexed with|the ‵more outrageous of the capers, for example|painting statues, for it is ‵expensive to clean off the paint, but ‵lesser liberties|such as throwing bags of flour|at policemen are tolerated — ‵only just. So, students ‵let off steam|and ‵enjoy a sense of camaraderie, the public is entertained|and contributes by buying magazines|or putting money in collecting boxes. And ‵eventually the cash collected finds its way|into local charitable organizations. The students ‵usually have a Grand Ball|which is often fancy dress ‵too, and this finishes off a strenuous day.

There was a time|when student life was ‵more privileged and leisurely, and perhaps the pressures today|give ‵less scope for participation. Also many students ‵lack the will|to accept social burdens, so there is ‵always something of a struggle these days|to find volunteers for the work involved. Nevertheless ‵each year sees effort coalescing|so that in the end the ‵familiar procession|winds its way through the streets, the public lines the route, ‵weirdly dressed students thrust collecting boxes|under citizens’ noses|and ‵cajole them to part with some money.
学生破衣节

学生破衣节这种做法早已固定下来,与一些老牌大学特别有关系,学生们准备游行和筹集慈善款。从学生的观点看,这是节日场面。他们构思出各种主题,装饰彩车(一般是平板卡车)来表现自己的想法——也许是海盗船、手术台、煤矿,或是某种反映现实而幽默的东西。然后与那辆彩车有关的一组学生,打扮化装起来,加强效果。破衣节往往在2月间举行,那个时候天气仍十分寒冷,但这似乎阻挡不住姑娘们穿上极薄的衣服,打扮成鱼美人,或身披草裙的纳瓦肯少女,小伙子们也冒着天寒装扮成穴居人之类。节日期间通常会编有一本专门的杂志,内容大都幽默庸俗,学生们感到得到了做些许小出格行为的许可。

在这一点上,他们热衷于某种噱头,例如绑架当地名流,或娱乐界人士——这些人本来就颇喜欢抛头露面嘛,或者攀登公共建筑物,如把夜壶放在教堂尖塔上。当局对那些过分的恶作剧(例如涂抹塑像,清除油漆花费很大)可能大为恼火,但小一点的冒犯(如向警察扔面粉袋)还是能够被忍受的——仅此为止。就这样,学生们拼命地发泄,尽情享受着友情,公众得到了娱乐,通过买杂志或捐款来捧场。筹得的现款最终归于当地的慈善机构。学生们常举行盛大舞会,通常是化妆舞会,以此结束这令人兴奋的一天。

学生生活曾经一度享有特权,颇为悠闲。然而也许是因为如今过大的压力使得学生没有机会过多的参与其中,而且许多学生缺乏接受社会重担的意志,所以近年来寻找有关工作的志愿者总是很费事。然而每年都有人齐心协力,最后那条熟悉的游行队伍总会绕过大街小巷,公众总是夹道欢迎。身穿奇装异服的学生们把募捐箱塞到公民的鼻子底下,哄骗他们慷慨解囊。

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