現代大學英語精讀的重點講解
I was grateful to all the people I met for their rides, their food, their shelter, and their gifts. But what I found most touching was the fact that they all did it as a matter of course.
One day I walked into the chamber of commerce in Jamestown, Tenn. to find out about camping in the area. The executive director, Baxter Wilson, 59, handed me a brochure for a local campground. Seeing that it cost $12, I replied, "No, that's all right. I'll try something else." Then he saw my backpack. "Most people around here will let you pitch a tent on their land, if that's what you want," he said. Now we're talking, I thought. "Any particular direction?" I asked. "Tell you what. I've got a big farm about ten miles south of here. If you're here at 5:30, you can ride with me."
I accepted, and we drove out to a magnificent country house. Suddenly I realized he'd invited me to spend the night in his home. His wife, Carol, a seventh-grade science teacher, was cooking a pot roast when we walked into the kitchen. Baxter explained that local folks were "mountain stay-at-home people" who rarely entertained in their house. "When we do," he said, "it's usually kin." This revelation made my night there all the more special.
The next morning when I came downstairs, Carol asked if I'd come to their school and talk to her class about my trip. I agreed, and before long had been scheduled to talk to every class in the school. The kids were attentive and kept asking all kinds of questions: Where were people the kindest? How many pairs of shoes did you have? Did anybody try to run you over? Did you fall in love with someone? What were you most afraid of?
Although I hadn't planned it this way, I discovered that a patriotic tone ran through the talks I gave that afternoon. I told the students how my faith in America had been renewed. I told them how proud I was to live in a country where people were still willing to help. I told them that the question I had had in mind when I planned this journey was now clearly answered. In spite of everything, you can still depend on the kindness of strangers.
對於那些搭乘我、給我提供食物、遮蔽和禮物的人，我都心懷感激。但是我發現，最令我感動的卻是，他們把這些都當作理所當然的。
一天，我走進田納西州詹姆斯敦的一個商會。我想在這個地區露營。59歲的執行理事Baxter Wilson給我一本關於當地露營的手冊，看到它標價12美元，我説，“不，説得準確些，我想要些別的東西。”然後他看到我的揹包。“這裏的很多人會允許你在他們的地裏露營的，如果你想的話，”他説。你説的對，我想。“還有別的特別的指點嗎？”我問。“喂，我給你講啊，這裏南邊10英里的地方，是我的大農場。如果你在這裏呆到5：30，你可以做我的車過去。”
我接受了他的邀請，我們驅車駛向一處華麗的農舍。突然，我意識到他這是邀請我和家人共度夜晚。他的妻子是一位七年級的科學老師，我們進入廚房時，她正在燉肉。Baxter告訴我，當地人通常習慣於和家人安靜地呆在一起，很少在家中舉辦社交活動或外出參加社交活動，“我們舉行社交活動，”他説。“通常是邀請親戚。”這一新發現是我度過的那天晚上更加特殊。
第二天早上，當我走下樓時， Carol問我，是否願意去他們的學校，跟她的學生們講自己的旅行。我同意了，很快就安排我給學校的每個班級講話。孩子們聚精會神地聽着，不停地問這樣那樣的問題：最善良的人住在哪裏？你有多少雙鞋子？有沒有人想從你身上壓過去？你有沒有愛上哪個人？你最害怕什麼？
儘管這不在我的計劃之內，但是我發現，那天下午的講話裏，都貫穿着愛國的語氣。我告訴學生們，我重新燃起了對美國的'信心。我告訴他們，我是多麼為生活在這樣一個人們仍願意幫助別人的國家而自豪。我告訴他們，我規劃這次旅行時，縈繞在我頭腦中的問題已經有了清晰的答案。儘管你什麼都有，但你還是要依賴於陌生人的善意。
hure n. 小冊子
例句：
I'll send you the brochure right away.
我會把公司簡介即刻給您寄去。
h v. 投,向前傾跌,扎牢,定調,用瀝青覆蓋
例句：
We planned to pitch our camps in the mountains.
我們計劃在山裏紮營。
rtain v. 娛樂,招待,懷抱
例句：
I like to entertain friends with music and refreshments at home.
我喜歡在家裏用音樂和茶點招待朋友。
lation n. 揭露,泄露,發覺
例句：
Have you read the ex-minister's amazing revelations in the newspaper?
你看了前任部長在報上揭露的那些驚人的事實沒有？
ntive adj. 注意的,留意的
例句：
You should be attentive to what your parents have said.
你應該注意傾聽父母所説的話。
iotic adj. 愛國的
例句：
His patriotic action raised our admiration.
他的愛國行為激起了我們的敬佩。
1. But what I found most touching was the fact that they all did it as a matter of course.
【參考譯文】但是我發現，最令我感動的卻是，他們把這些都當作理所當然的。
【結構解析】“most touching ... as a matter of course”做整個句子的賓語，“ that they all did it as a matter of course”做"fact"的同位語，"as a matter of course"意思是“自然，不用説，照例”。
2.I told them that the question I had had in mind when I planned this journey was now clearly answered.
【參考譯文】我告訴他們，我規劃這次旅行時，縈繞在我頭腦中的問題已經有了清晰的答案。
【結構解析】賓語的主幹是“the ered”。
