重點講解現代大學英語
One day in Nebraska a car pulled to the road shoulder. When I reached the window, I saw two little old ladies dressed in their Sunday finest." I know you're not supposed to pick up hitchhikers, but it's so far between towns out here, you feel bad passing a person," said the driver, who introduced herself as Vi. I didn't know whether to kiss them or scold them for stopping. This woman was telling me she'd rather risk her life than feel bad about passing a stranger on the side of the road.
Once when I was hitchhiking unsuccessfully in the rain, a trucker pulled over, locking his brakes so hard he skidded on the grass shoulder. The driver told me he was once robbed at knifepoint by a hitchhiker. "But I hate to see a man stand out in the rain," he added. "People don't have no heart anymore."
I found, however, that people were generally compassionate. Hearing I had no money and would take none, people bought me food or shared whatever they happened to have with them. Those who had the least to give often gave the most. In Oregon a house painter named Mike noted the chilly weather and asked if I had a coat. When he learned that I had "a light one," he drove me to his house, and handed me a big green army-style jacket. A lumber-mill worker named Tim invited me to a simple dinner with his family in their shabby house. Then he offered me his tent. I refused, knowing it was probably one of the family's most valuable possessions. But Tim was determined that I have it, and finally I agreed to take it.
一天，在內布拉斯加州，一輛車在路邊停下。我向窗內看去，是兩位穿節日盛裝的小老太太。“我知道不該要求您搭乘過路人，但是這兩個小鎮距離太遠，如果不理過路人，你會感到內疚的，”司機説，她自我介紹説名叫Vi。我不知道是該親吻她，還是責備她停車。這位女士説，她更願意冒生命危急，而不是置路邊的陌生人於不顧而心懷愧意。
一個下雨天，我試圖搭車，但是失敗了。一位卡車司機把車開到路邊，剎車太猛，車子剎到路沿上。這位司機告訴我，他曾被一個持刀的搭乘者搶劫。“但我不願看到有人淋雨，”他説。“人們不是冷酷無情的。”
然而，我發現，人們通常都是有同情心的。他們聽説我沒錢，也不想要錢，就給我食物，或同我分享他們有的任何東西。沒有什麼東西的人總是給的最多。在俄勒岡州，一位油漆工意識到天冷，就問我是否有外套。當他聽説我有“一件薄的”，就開車帶我到他家，給我一件寬大、綠色的軍裝夾式克。一個叫 Tim的鋸木廠工人邀請我去他那簡陋的家，和他的家人共享簡單的晚餐。然後把自己的帳篷送給我，我拒絕了，因為我知道，那可能是這個家庭最值錢的家當了。但是Tim堅持要我收下，最後，我只得收下了。
hhiker n. 搭便車的旅行者,短篇廣告,順便插入的廣告
例句：
The driver stopped to pick up a hitchhiker.
司機停下來讓一個搭車人上了車。
d v. 責罵,訓斥
例句：
Don't scold him; he is a mere child.
別責備他，他只不過是個孩子。
vt 打滑剎車(製件缺陷,走下坡路)
例句：
Even as he shouted the warning the car skidded.
就在他高喊注意的.時候，汽車滑動了。
assionate adj. 有同情心的 vt. 同情
例句：
The plight of the refugees arouses the compassionate old man.
難民的困苦喚醒了那位有同情心的老人。
er-mill n. 鋸木場
例句：
Woodwork, such as doors, window casings, and baseboards, ready-made by a lumber mill.
木製品由木材廠加工成的木製品，如門、窗框和踢腳板
ession n. 財產,所有,擁有
例句：
The people had to gather up their few possessions and escaped abroad.
人們不得不收拾起僅有的一點財物逃到國外去。
1.I know you're not supposed to pick up hitchhikers, but it's so far between towns out here, you feel bad passing a person.
【參考譯文】我知道不該要求您搭乘過路人，但是這兩個小鎮距離太遠，如果不理過路人，你會感到內疚的。
【結構解析】"be supposed to"意思是“應該，被期望”，“ you feel bad”後省略了"in"，該句相當於"you will feel bad if you pass a person"。
woman was telling me she'd rather risk her life than feel bad about passing a stranger on the side of the road.
【參考譯文】這位女士説，她更願意冒生命危急，而不是置路邊的陌生人於不顧而心懷愧意。
【結構解析】“would ...”意思是“寧願...而不是...”。
