Mark Twain——Mirror of America words and expressions.ppt

Mark Twain——Mirror of America IV. Practice with words and expressions Look up the dictionary and explain the meaning of the italicized words. 查字典 解释斜体字的意思 1. ….Confederate guerrilla, prospector, starry-eyed optimist, acid-tongued cynic…(para.2) starry-eyed: romantic, dreamy; with the eyes sparkling in a glow of wonder 用眼神表示 洋溢 acid-tongued: sharp, sarcastic in speech Translation:邦联游击队员、淘金者、耽于幻想的乐天派、语言尖刻的讽刺家…… 2. …listening to pilothouse talk of feuds, piracies, lynchings, medicine 操舵室 世仇 海盗行为 shows…(para.4) medicine shows: shows given by entertainers who travel from town to town, accompanied by quacks and fake Indians, selling care-alls, snake-bite 陪伴，伴随 江湖医生 medicine etc. Translation:在操舵室听着人们谈论民间争斗、海盗抢劫、私刑案件、游医卖药演出…… 3. …For eight months he flirted with the colossal wealth available to the lucky and the persistent …(para.7) Flirt: originally meaning pretending love without serious intention, here meaning trying but not hard or persistently enough Translation:他三心二意地与只有既幸运又坚持不懈的追求者才能获取的巨额财富打了八个月交道 4. …The instant riches of a mining strike would not be his in the reporting trade …(para.8) Strike: the sudden discovery of some mineral ores Translation:从事新闻报道工作当然不能使他像采矿淘金那样可能一夜暴富 5. …then and now a hotbed of hopeful young writers.(para.8) hotbed : a place that fosters rapid growth or extensive activity, often used 养育，抚养 迅速，快速 of something evil Translation:无论是在当时还是现在，（旧金山）都是前途无量的年轻作家成长的摇篮。 6. …His descriptions of the rough-country settlers there ring familiarly in modern world accustomed to trend setting on 适应的 the West Cost. (para.9) ring: to produce, as by sounding, a specified impression on the hearer trend setting: taking the lead in starting a new ways o