新标准大学英语(第二版)综合教程2 Unit 4 A篇练习答案及课文翻译

ContentsActiveReading1ChiefintroductiontoO.HenryO.Henry’smainworksWarmingUpWarmingUpWilliamSydneyPorter(September11,1862–June5,1910),knownbyhispennameO.Henry,wasanAmericanshortstorywriter,whowroteaboutthelifeofordinarypeopleinNewYorkCity.O.Henry’sshortstoriesareknownfortheirwit,wordplay,warmcharacterization,andsurpriseendings.•TheGiftoftheMagi《麦琪的礼物》•TheCopandtheAnthem《警察和赞美诗》•TheRansomofRedChief《红毛酋长的赎金》•TheLastLeaf《最后一片藤叶》•ARetrievedReformation《浪子回头》•TheFurnishedRoom《带家具出租的房间》WarmingUpTheGiftoftheMagiisaboutayoungcouplewhoareshortofmoneybutdesperatelywanttobuyeachotherChristmasgifts.UnbeknownsttoJim,Dellasellshermostvaluablepossession,herbeautifulhair,inordertobuyaplatinumfobchainforJim’swatch;whileunbeknownsttoDella,Jimsellshisownmostvaluablepossession,hiswatch,tobuyjeweledcombsforDella’shair.Theessentialpremiseofthisstoryhasbeencopied,re-worked,parodied,andotherwisere-toldcountlesstimesinthecenturysinceitwaswritten.WarmingUpTheCopandtheAnthemisaboutaNewYorkCityhobonamedSoapy,whosetsouttogetarrestedsothathecanbeaguestofthecityjailinsteadofsleepingoutinthecoldwinter.Despiteeffortsatpettytheft,vandalism,disorderlyconduct,and“mashing”withayoungprostitute,Soapyfailstodrawtheattentionofthepolice.Disconsolate,hepausesinfrontofachurch,whereanorganantheminspireshimtocleanuphislife—andisironicallychargedforloiteringandsentencedtothreemonthsinprison.WarmingUpInTheRansomofRedChief,twomenkidnapaboyoften.Theboyturnsouttobesobrattyandobnoxiousthatthedesperatemenultimatelypaytheboy’sfather$250totakehimback.Thepatternof“TheRansomofRedChief”issuggestedbythefirstsentenceofthestory:“Itlookedlikeagoodthing:butwaittillItellyou.”Thestoryisessentiallyironic;inaseriesofcomicreversals,theexpectedeventisreplacedbyitsopposite.WarmingUpInTheLastLeaf,awomannick-namedJohnsyhascomedownwithpneumonia,andisclosetodeath.Outsidethewindowofherroom,theleavesfallfromavine.Johnsydecidesthatwhenthelastleafdrops,shetoowilldie,whileherroommateSue,whostayswithher,triestotellhertostopthinkingsopessimistically.WarmingUpInthesameapartmentbuilding,anartistnamedBehrmanhasbeenclaimingthathewillpaintamasterpiece.Astormcomes,thelastleafdoesnotfall,northenextday.WhenJohnsyisstrongenough,SuerevealstoherthattheirneighbourBehrmanhasdiedofpneumonia,andthattheoneremainingleafisinfacthismasterpiecedoneforJohnsy’ssaketolive.ARetrievedReformationtellsthetaleofsafecrackerJimmyValentine,recentlyfreedfromprison.Hegoestoatownbanktocaseitbeforeherobsit.Ashewalkstothedoor,hecatchestheeyeofthebanker’sbeautifuldaughter.TheyimmediatelyfallinloveandValentinedecidestogiveuphiscriminalcareer.Hemovesintothetown,takinguptheidentityofRalphSpencer,ashoemaker.Justasheisabouttoleavetodeliverhisspecializedtoolstoanoldassociate,alawmanwhorecognizeshimarrivesatthebank.Jimmyandhisfiancéeandherfamilyareatthebank,inspectinganewsafe,whenachildaccidentallygetslockedinsidetheairtightvault.Knowingitwillsealhisfate,Valentineopensthesafetorescuethechild.However,muchtoValentine’ssurprise,thelawmandeniesrecognizinghimandletshimgo.WarmingUpTheFurnishedRoomisperhapsthebleakestofO.Henry’sbest-knownstories.Thebasicironicplotcanbesummarizedinasentence—ayoungmancommitssuicideinthesameroomwhereayoungwomanforwhomhehasvainlysearchedkilledherself.ThefactthattheyoungmanendsupintheverysameroominwhichhislostsweethearttookherlifeisoneofthemostextremecoincidencesinallofO.Henry’sfiction.Itisastoryoftransience,oflivesthatmovethroughableak,indifferentworld,leavingonlybitsofthemselves.WarmingUpAftertwentyyearsTextAftertwentyyears1Thepolicemanonthebeatmoveduptheavenueimpressively.Theimpressivenesswashabitualandnotforshow,forspectatorswerefew.Thetimewasbarelyteno’clockatnight,butchillygustsofwindwithatasteofraininthemhadwellnighde-peopledthestreets.Text2Tryingdoorsashewent,twirlinghisclubwithmanyintricateandartfulmovements,turningnowandthentocasthiswatchfuleyeadownthepacificthoroughfare,theofficer,withhisstalwartformandslightswagger,madeafinepictureofaguardianofthepeace.Thevicinitywasonethatkeptearlyhours.Nowandthenyoumightseethelightsofacigarstoreorofanall-nightlunchcounter;butthemajorityofthedoorsbelongedtobusinessplacesthathadlongsincebeenclosed.Text3Whenaboutmidwayofacertainblockthepolicemansuddenlyslowedhiswalk.Inthedoorwayofadarkenedhardwarestoreamanleaned,withanunlightedcigarinhismouth.Asthepolicemanwalkeduptohimthemanspokeupquickly.4“It’sallright,officer,”hesaid,reassuringly.“I’mjustwaitingforafriend.It’sanappointmentmadetwentyyearsago.Soundsalittlefunnytoyou,doesn’tit?Well,I’llexplainifyou’dliketomakecertainit’sallstraight.Aboutthatlongagothereusedtobearestaurantwherethisstorestands–‘BigJoe’Brady’srestaurant.”Text5“Untilfiveyearsago,”saidthepoliceman.“Itwastorndownthen.”6Themaninthedoorwaystruckamatchandlithiscigar.Thelightshowedapale,square-jawedfacewithkeeneyes,andalittlewhitescarnearhisrighteyebrow.Hisscarfpinwasalargediamond,oddlyset.Text7“Twentyyearsagotonight,”saidtheman,“Idinedhereat‘BigJoe’Brady’swithJimmyWells,mybestchum,andthefinestchapintheworld.HeandIwereraisedhereinNewYork,justliketwo