第三十讲
Warm-up questions
How do you interpret the proverb A friend in need is a friend indeed ?
2. When you see anybody in need of help, what would you do?
Passage II I’ve Been Treated Like a Friend in Need
Text-Related Information
1. Passport
It is a small official book that proves the identity of a person and is used especially when traveling to a foreign country. Visa (签证) is an official stamp which is put in a passport by the embassy or consulate of a country one wants to visit, and which allows one to enter or leave that country, or travel through it.
2. Passenger Cabin
It is the compartment in a plane for passengers.
3. Shuttle Bus
Many airlines have shuttle bus service to carry passengers to and from the airport. This special service usually operates on a schedule between certain points in the city’s hotels, ticket offices and the airport. In this passage the shuttle bus refers to the bus that takes passengers between the terminal building (候机大楼) and the plane.
Text Explanation
Para. 1
I had many travel stories while I was in China and some of them were so heart-warming and unforgettable.
Para. 2
One travel experience where the openness and curiosity of the Chinese people helped to bridge our language and cultural differences was on a boat ride from Shanghai to Qingdao. As I walked around the deck, I’d frequently stop and write in my journal. Being the only non-Asian person on the boat, this drew quite a few curious looks, and finally a small group of people gathered around me and watched me write as if I were a sidewalk artist drawing portraits of passersby. I could tell they were enjoying watching me, so after I paused and smiled at them, I went on with my writing, mainly for their entertainment. But soon I stopped, and using my tiny amount of Chinese and their tiny amount of English, we introduced ourselves and told where we were from and where we were going. They took pictures of me with their friends and families, and I took pictures of them in return. When we arrived in Qingdao, I parted with my deck friends on the best terms and with a bit of advice about what to see and do in Qingdao.
Language Points:
Explanation of Difficult Sentences
1) One travel experience where the openness and curiosity of the Chinese people helped to bridge our language and cultural differences was on a boat ride from Shanghai to Qingdao.
Analysis: Where introduces a restrictive relative clause modifying experience. Bridge in the relative clause is used as a verb. Bridge our...differences means shortening our difference or making us closer.
Translation: 有一次，在从上海开往青岛的船上，中国人表现出来的坦率和好奇拉近了我们在语言与文化方面的距离。
Example: One experience where I learned a lot about life was in a small village in the south.
2) Being the only non-Asian person on the boat, this drew quite a few curious looks, and finally a small group of people gathered around me and watched me write as if I were a sidewalk artist drawing portraits of passersby.
Analysis: Being the only non-Asian person on the boat is a present participle used as an adverbial of cause. As if here introduces an adverbial clause of manner, and subjunctive mood is often required used with it. That’s why were is used instead of was.
Translation:由于船上只有我一个不是亚洲人，这招来很多好奇的目光，最后竟有一群人聚集在我的周围，他们看着我写东西，就像看一个给过路行人画像的街头艺人一样。
Example: Being the only foreigner in the school, she drew a lot of attention, and usually a small group of people gathered around her and listened to her as if she were a film star speaking to her fans.
3) But soon I stopped, and using my tiny amount of Chinese and their tiny amount of English, we introduced ourselves and told where we were from and where we were going.
Analysis: Using is a present participle and acts an adverbial of manner. The two where-clauses are the object clauses of the verb told.
Translation:可很快我还是停了下来，我说一点汉语，他们说一点英语，我们开始相互介绍，谈自己是从什么地方来，到什么地方去。
Example: But soon I stopped, and speaking half English and half Chinese, I told them where I had worked and where I had learned Chinese.
4) When we arrived in Qingdao, I parted with my deck friends on the best terms and with a bit of advice about what to see and do in Qingdao.
Analysis: Part is used as a verb meaning separate. On the best terms and with a bit of advice are two prepositional phrases used as an adverbial of manner modifying parted. About is a preposition and takes as its object an infinitive clause introduced by what.
Translation: 船到青岛要分别时，我与甲板上的朋友关系已相当融洽，他们还给我提了一点建议，告诉我在青岛去哪些地方玩。
Example: I left them on bad terms and with a bit of disagreement about what to buy with the money.
2. Important Words
1) curiosity n. the desire to know or learn 好奇心, 求知欲
e.g. Curiosity is part of a child’s nature. 好奇心是孩子的天性。
He didn’t have any curiosity in observing the stars. 他对观察星星一点都不好奇。
He looks at me with curiosity他好奇地看着我。
2) cultural a. of or related to culture 文化的
e.g. All kinds of cultural activities are held on our campus.
我们学校举办各种各样的文化活动
From the book you’ll find cultural differences between the East and the West.
从这本书里你将发现东西方的文化差异。
3) journal n. a magazine esp. of a society; a brief account of daily events (尤指社会团体办的)刊物; 日记
e.g. He subscribed to a monthly journal called Readers.
他每月订了一本叫读者的月刊
They made a journal of everything that happened on the ship.
他们把船上发生的任何事情都记了下来。
4) entertainment
n. the act of entertaining people, esp. the providing of food and drink 款待; 娱乐; 文娱表演
e.g. A cinema is a place of entertainment.电影院是一个娱乐休闲的地方。
Various kinds of entertainment are listed in the newspaper.
报纸上列出了各种各样的娱乐活动。
5) in return n. as an exchange or reciprocal action 返回；回报，作为报答
e.g. I gave him a present but he gave me nothing in return.
我给了他一个礼物，但他什么都没给我。
Linda helps me a lot and I hope I can do something in return.
琳达帮了我很多，我希望我能回报她什么。
6) on good (bad, equal, friendly) terms
have a good, bad etc. relationship 关系好 (坏、平等、友好)
eg: We work together on equal terms. 我们在平等的关系上一起工作。
After their argument they are no longer on good terms.
吵架之后，他们关系一直不好。