評(píng)論
打印
Quick Thinking
腦筋急轉(zhuǎn)彎
Lydia gazed across the restaurant at the woman dressed in elegant garments.
利迪婭凝視著餐館那頭那個(gè)身穿精美服飾的女人。
She was a good example of a genteel woman, Lydia thought.
利迪婭想，她是有教養(yǎng)的女性中的一個(gè)范例。
Lydia looked back down at the piece she had been reading in the local gazette.
利迪婭回過來看一直在讀的當(dāng)?shù)卣珗?bào)上的那篇文章。
It was an article about the science of genetics.
這是一篇關(guān)于遺傳學(xué)的文章。
It made Lydia wonder whether gentility might be a product of genetic engineering.
它使利迪婭考慮文雅是不是遺傳工程的成果。
Could that be the genesis?
那有可能是起源嗎？
If so, she was doomed.
如果是這樣，她就死定了。
She was meeting her rich boyfriend's family next weekend.
下個(gè)周末，她就要見男友的家人了。
She would never be able to fit in with the gentry.
她永遠(yuǎn)也不可能與貴族相配。
“Sometimes, I feel as plain and insignificant as a gear in a giant machine,” said Lydia.
“有時(shí)候，我覺得自己像一臺(tái)巨型機(jī)器上的一個(gè)齒輪一樣普通而平凡。”利迪婭說。
“I don't think you're a gear” Ruth giggled.
“我不覺得你是齒輪，”露絲咯咯地笑道。
“But even if you were, at least you would be working towards generating useful.
“但即使你是，至少你也會(huì)努力造出有用的東西。
Frankly, I think you are more like a precious gem in a jewelry store.
坦率地說，我覺得你更像珠寶店里的一塊貴重的寶石。
In fact, you're like a diamond in the rough.”
事實(shí)上，你像‘一顆未經(jīng)加工的寶石。'”
“Please don't gibe me,” Lydia said.
“請(qǐng)不要嘲笑我，”利迪婭說。
“I feel as repulsive and small as one of those deadly germs often portrayed in the horror movie genre.”
“我覺得自己令人討厭，渺小，像恐怖類電影描述的那些致命的細(xì)菌那樣。”
“I'm not trying to mock you,” said Ruth.
“我不是要嘲笑你，”露絲說，
“It was a genuine observation.
“這是我觀察到的真實(shí)情況。
You are the most genial person I know.
你是我認(rèn)識(shí)的最和藹可親的人。
People born in the North are known for their manners.”
出生在北方的人以他們的風(fēng)度著名。”
“Thanks,” replied Lydia. “That was a very kind generalization. However, I was born in the South.
“謝謝，”利迪婭答道。“這是一個(gè)很友好的概括。但是，我出生在南方。
Can you generalize about people in the South?”
你能概括一下南方人的特征嗎？”
“Well, eh,” Ruth stuttered.
“唔，嗯，”露絲口吃了。
Ruth reached into her pocket and realized that she didn't bring enough money to pay her half of the restaurant bill.
魯斯把手伸進(jìn)口袋，發(fā)現(xiàn)她帶的錢不夠支付餐館賬單的一半。
“I know,” said Ruth. “People born in the South are known for being very generous! By the way, can I please borrow five dollars from you?”
“我知道，” 露絲說，“出生在南方的人以其慷慨大方而著稱。順便問一下，我能從你這里借5美元嗎？”
