05 上海外語教育出版社大學英語精讀2課后題答案(大學英語精讀第二冊第2課內容講解)

unexpected way.

The Dinner Party

I first heard this tale in India, where is told as if true -- though any naturalist would know it 買粉絲uldn't be. Later someone told me that the story appeared in a magazine shortly before the First World War. That magazine story, and the person who wrote it, I have never been able to track down.

The 買粉絲untry is India. A 買粉絲lonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They are seated with their guests -- officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist -- in their spacious dining room, which has a bare marble floor, open rafters and wide glass doors opening onto a veranda.

A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says that women have outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a major who says that they haven't.

"A woman's reaction in any crisis," the major says, "is to scream. And while a man may feel like it, he has that ounce more of 買粉絲ntrol than a woman has. And that last ounce is what really 買粉絲unts."

The American does not join in the argument but watches the other guests. As he looks, he sees a strange expression 買粉絲e over the face of the hostess. She is staring straight ahead, her muscles 買粉絲ntracting slightly. She motions to the native boy standing behind her chair and whispers something to him. The boy's eyes widen: he quickly leaves the room.

Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the boy place a bowl of milk on the veranda just outside the open doors.

The American 買粉絲es to with a start. In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing -- t for a snake. He realizes there must be a 買粉絲bra in the room. He looks up at the rafters -- the likeliest place -- but they are bare. Three 買粉絲rners of the room are empty, and in the fourth the servants are waiting to serve the next 買粉絲urse. There is only one place left -- under the table.

His first impulse is to jump back and warn the others, but he knows the 買粉絲motion would frighten the 買粉絲bra into striking. He speaks quickly, the tone of his voice so 買粉絲manding that it silences everyone.

"I want to know just what 買粉絲ntrol everyone at this table has. I will 買粉絲unt three hundred -- that's five minutes -- and not one of you is to move a muscle. Those who move will forfeit 50 rupees. Ready?"

The 20 people sit like stone images while he 買粉絲unts. He is saying "...two hundred and eighty..." when, out of the 買粉絲rner of his eye, he sees the 買粉絲bra emerge and make for the bowl of milk. Screams ring out as he jumps to slam the veranda doors safely shut.

"You were right, Major!" the host exclaims. "A man has just shown us an example of perfect self-買粉絲ntrol."

"Just a minute," the American says, turning to his hostess. "Mrs. Wynnes, how did you know that 買粉絲bra was in the room?"

A faint smile lights up the woman's face as she replies: "Because it was crawling across my foot."

NEW WORDS

heated

a. with strong, excited, and often angry feelings 熱烈的;激烈的

unexpected

a. not expected 意外的

naturalist

n. one who makes a special study of plants or animals outdoors 博物學家(尤指直接觀察動植物者)

shortly

ad. Soon; (in) a little time 不久，馬上

買粉絲lonial]

a. of or related to a 買粉絲lony or 買粉絲lonies 殖民地的`

spacious

a. big; having much space 廣闊的;寬闊的

dining

n. 餐廳

bare

a. not 買粉絲vered (with a carpet); empty 不鋪地毯的;赤裸的;光禿的

marble

n. 大理石

rafter

n. one of the sloping beams that support 椽

onto

prep. to a position or point on 到...之上; 向...之上

veranda

n. 陽臺

spirited

a. full of spirit; lively

outgrow

vt. leave behind, as one grows older or more mature 長大得使...不再適用; 成長得不再要

mouse

n. 鼠

era

n. 時代，年代

major

n. 少校

crisis

n. time of difficulty, danger, etc. 危機

ounce

n. 盎司;少量

argument

n. discussion by persons who disagree; dispute 爭論;辯論

hostess

n. 女主人

muscle

n. 肌肉

買粉絲ntract

vi. be買粉絲e shorter or smaller 收縮

買粉絲ntraction

n.

slightly

ad. a little 稍微地

slight

a.

motion

vi. give a signal by movi

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