J_00795_ch20201

Lesson Two
The Man Who Could Work Miracles (I)
H. G. Wells　　
Learning Guide 
　　一个青年本来不相信有违反自然规律的所谓奇迹，却偶然发现自己能以意志力来创造奇迹。开始他对此困惑不解，甚至有些害怕。反复的试验证实他确实有这种本领，愉悦的情绪油然而生。这一特异功能实在太有用了，既能为他的早餐增加一个新鲜的鹅蛋，又能使他在10分钟之内完成全天的工作，还能把自己讨厌的人一下子贬到阴曹地府。不过这种非凡的天赋对自己、对他人究竟是福还是祸，此刻下结论还为时过早，要等到第3课才能见分晓。




1. Until he was thirty years old, Fotheringay did not believe in miracles. ① It was while he was asserting the impossibility of miracles that he discovered his extraordinary powers. He was having a drink in a bar. ②Toddy Beamish opposed everything he said by a monotonous but effective "So you say," and drove him to the limit of his patience. Angry with Mr. Beamish, Mr. Fotheringay determined to make an unusual effort. 




　　①It was asserting the impossibility of miracles that he discovered his extraordinary powers.
　　　这是在他斩钉截铁地说奇迹不可能发生的时候，他发现了自己的特异功能。 
　　　…was saying /stating clearly and forcefully that there were no such things as miracles. 
　　② Toddy Beamish opposed everything he said by a monotonous but effective "So you say," and drove him to the limit of his patience.
　　　无论他说什么，比尔什都说同一句单调却又很起作用的话加以反对：这可是你说的，这真使他忍无可忍。 
　　　Whatever he said, Toddy Beamish world disagree and say " That's only what you say, in a dull and unchanging, but effective way; this made him so angry that he could no longer put up with it. 
2. "Look here, Mr. Beamish," said Mr. Fotheringay. "Let us clearly understand what a miracle is. ①It's something contrary to the course of nature done by power of Will." 


　　①It's something contrary to the course of nature done by power of Will.
　　　奇迹是通过意志的力量产生违反自然规律的事物。 
　　　A miracle is something caused by the will of God, which is impossible according to the ordinary laws of nature. 
3. "So you say," said Mr. Beamish. 
4. "For instance," said Mr. Fotheringay. "Here would be a miracle. ①That lamp, in the natural course of nature, couldn't burn like that upside down, could it, Beamish?" 


　　①That lamp, in the natural course of nature, couldn't burn like that upside down, could it, Beamish?
　　　According to the normal laws of nature, that lamp couldn't burn upside dowm.
5. "You say it couldn't," said Beamish. 
6. ①"And you?" said Fotheringay. "You don't mean to say ... ?"


　　①"And you?" said Fotheringay, "You don't mean to say…?"
　　　What do you say?/ What's your opinion? Said Fotheringay. 
7. "No," said Beamish reluctantly. "No, it couldn't." 
8. "Very well," said Mr. Fotheringay. "Then here comes someone, perhaps myself, and stands here, and says to that lamp, as I might do, collecting all my will — 'Turn upside down without breaking, and go on burning steady, ' and — Hullo!" 
9. ①It was enough to make anyone say "Hullo!" The incredible was visible to them all. The lamp hung upside down in the air, burning quietly with its flame pointing down.


　　①It was enough to make anyone say " Hullo!" the incredible was visible to them all. 
　　　这足以让任何人惊叫一声哎呀！ 
　　　What happened following Mr. Fortheingay's command was something that puzzled everyone present. (All of them saw the unbelievable thing happen. The miracle occurred right before the eyes of everyone on the spot.) 
10. Mr. Fotheringay stood with a forefinger stretched out and the troubled face of one expecting a terrible crash. A cyclist, who was sitting next to the lamp, ducked and jumped across the bar. For nearly three seconds the lamp remained still. A faint cry of mental distress came from Mr. Fotheringay; "I can't keep it up," he said, "any longer." He staggered back, and the lamp suddenly fell. 
11. It was lucky it had a metal container, or the whole place would have been on fire. ①Mr. Cox, the landlord, was the first to speak, and his remark was to the effect that Fotheringay was a fool. ②Fotheringay himself was astonished beyond measure at the thing that had occurred. ③The subsequent conversation threw no light on the matter, and everyone accused Fotheringay of a silly trick. He himself was terribly puzzled, and he rather agreed with them. 


　　① Mr. Cox, the landlord, was the first to speak and his remark was to the effect that Fotheringay was a fool.
　　　店主科可斯先生第一个开口了，他的话的意思是佛泽林盖当众出丑了。 
　　　He made a few remark meaning that Fotheringay had made a fool of himself. 
　　② Fotheringay himself was astonished beyond measures at the thing that had occurred.
　　　Fotheringay himself was extremely surprised at the thing that had happened.
　　③ The subsequent conversation threw no light on the matter, and everyone accused Fotheringay of a silly trick. 
　　　（他们）接下来的谈话也没有把这件事闹明白，大家都指责说是佛泽林盖稿的鬼。 
　　　Then the people in the bar talked about what had happened, but could not understand what caused the lamp to hang burning upside down. So they blame Fotheringay for playing a silly trick on them.
12. ①He went home red-faced and hot. It was only when he found himself alone in his little bedroom that he was able to think clearly and ask, "What on earth happened?"
13. He had removed his coat and boots, and was sitting on the bed with his hands in his pocket. He was repeating for the seventeenth time, "I didn't want the thing to turn over," when② it occurred to him that at the precise moment he said the commanding words he had willed the thing that he said. And when he saw the lamp in the air he had felt that it depended on him to maintain it there ③without being clear how this was to be done. He decided on another experiment. 


　　① He went home red-faced and hot.
　　　He went home, feeling puzzled, confused and troubled. 
　　② it occurred to him that at the precise moment he said the commanding words he had willed the thing he said.
　　　Suddenly he realized the moment he gave the command, he made the thing he said happened with his mental power.
　　③ …without being clear how this was done.
　　　他并不明白他怎样能使那盏灯保持那种状态。 
　　　…though he did not know what he should do to keep the lamp in the air.
14. ①He pointed to his candle and collected his mind, though he felt he did a foolish thing. "Be raised up," he said. The candle was raised, hung in the air for a moment, and then fell with a crash on his table, leaving him in darkness.


15. For a time Mr. Fotheringay sat perfectly still, "It did happen, after all," he said. "And how I'm going to explain it, I don't know." ②He signed heavily, and began feeling in his pockets for a match. He could find none, and he groped about the table. "I wish I had a match," he said. He tried his coat, and there were none there, and ③then it dawned upon him that miracles were possible even with matches. He stretched out a hand. "Let there be a match in that hand," he said. He felt some light object fall across his palm, and his fingers closed upon a match. 


　　① He pointed to his candle and collected his mind. 
　　　他指着他的蜡烛，集中了意志。 
　　　He pointed to his candle and concentrated his mind. 
　　②He signed heavily, and began feeling in his pocket for a match 
　　　…searching his pocket with his fingers to find a match.
　　③ …then it dawned upon him that miracles were possible even with matches...
　　　然后他豁然明白了可以用创造奇迹的办法弄些火柴。 
　　　then he realized that he could get himself matches by using his will power. 
　　
16. After several futile attempts to light this, he threw it down, and then it occurred to him that he might have willed it to be lit. He did so, and saw it burning on the table. He caught it up hastily, and it went out.① His perception of possibilities enlarged, and he felt for and replaced the candle in its candlestick. "Here! You be lit," said Mr. Fotheringay, and at once the candle was burning. For a time he stared at it, and then looked up and met his own gaze in the looking glass. 
17. ②"What about miracles now?" said Mr. Fotheringay, addressing his own reflection.


　　① His perception of possibilities enlarged.
　　　He became more aware that miracles were possible.
　　② "What about miracle now?" said Mr. Fotheringay, addressing his own reflection. 
　　　“你现在对奇迹怎么看？”佛泽林盖先生对镜子里的自己说道。 
　　　Now what do you think of miracles? Do you still think them impossible? Mr. Fotheringay spoke to his own reflection in the mirror.
18. The subsequent thoughts of Mr. Fotheringay were confused. ①So far as he could see, he had only to will the thing. After his first experiences, he wished to make only very cautious experiments. But he lifted a sheet of paper, and turned a glass of water pink, and then green, and got himself a toothbrush. ②In the early hours of the morning he had reached the fact that his will power must be unusual and strong. ③The fears of his first discovery were now mixed with pride and ideas of advantage. He heard the church clock striking one, and decided to get into bed without further delay. ④As he struggled to get his shirt over his head, he was struck with a brilliant idea. "Let me be in bed," he said, and found himself so. "Undressed," he added; and, finding the sheets cold, he said hastily, "and in my nightshirt — no, in a nice soft woollen nightshirt. Ah!" he said with immense enjoyment. "And now let me be comfortably asleep..."


　　① So far as he could see, he had only to will the thing. 
　　　据他看来，他只须表达出意愿来，事情就会办成。 
　　　According to his understanding, he had just to try to make something happen with his mental power, it would happen.
　　② "In the early hours of the morning he reached the fact that his will power must be unusual and strong .
　　　到次日凌晨，他已经得出结论：他的意志力肯定是非凡的、强大的。 
　　　Now what do you think of miracles? Do you still think them impossible? Mr. Fotheringay spoke to his own reflection in the mirror.
　　③The fears of his first discovery were now mixed with pride and ideas of advantage.
　　　刚发现自己超凡能力时的恐惧心情这时已经渗入了自豪感和优越感。 
　　　Now he had a mixed feeling about his extraordinary power. ..while he was still afraid, he felt pride and a sense of superiority. 
　　④As he struggled to get his shirt over his head, he was struck with a brilliant idea.
　　　As he took off his shirt with difficulty, an idea came to him and impressed him as extremely clever. 
19. He awoke at his usual hour and ①was thoughtful all through breakfast-time. He wondered whether his experience might not be a dream. ②At last his mind turned again to cautious experiments. For instance, he had three eggs for breakfast; two were supplied by his landlady, good, but from the shop, and one was a delicious fresh goose-egg, laid, cooked, and served by his extraordinary will. ③ He hurried to work in a state of profound but carefully concealed excitement. All day he could do no work because of his astonishing knowledge, ④but this caused him no inconvenience, because he made up for it miraculously in his last ten minutes. 


　　① …was thoughtful all through breakfast -time…
　　　…he was thinking deeply all the time when he was having breakfast.
　　② At last his mind turned again to cautious experiments. 
　　　最后他又想到要谨慎地试验试验。 
　　　Finally he thought of trying a few more miracles.
　　③ He hurried to work in a state of profound but carefully concealed excitement.
　　　他赶快去上班，情绪激昂，但又藏而不露。
　　　He hurried to work with high spirit, but he tried to hide his excitement carefully. 
　　④.…but this caused him no inconvenience, because he made up for it miraculously in his last ten minutes.
　　　不过这倒是没有给他造成不便，因为他在下班前的10分钟之内奇迹般地把该做的事都干完了。 
　　　…but this caused no problems because he finished all that he had to do in the last ten minutes, by using his miraculous power. 
20. As the day passed, his state of mind passed from wonder to delight. He intended, among other things, to increase his personal property by acts of creation, and called into existence a number of nice things. ①But he could see that the gift required caution and watchfulness.


　　① But he could see that the gift required caution and watchfulness. 
　　　不过他明白，对这个天赋他必须小心，必须保持警惕（不可乱用，否则会惹出麻烦）。 
　　　But he knew that his unusual power should be used very carefully, and he should keep them secret, otherwise it might cause trouble. 
　　
21. After supper one night, he went out to try a few miracles in private by the gasworks. He stuck his walking stick into the ground and commanded the dry wood to blossom. The air was immediately full of the scent of roses. He struck a match and saw that this beautiful miracle was indeed accomplished. His satisfaction was ended by advancing footsteps. Afraid that someone would discover his powers, he said to the stick hastily, "Go back." What he meant was "Change back" ; but the stick moved backwards at a considerable speed, and there came a cry of anger from the approaching person. "Who are you throwing rosebushes at, you fool?" cried a voice.


22. "I'm sorry," said Mr. Fotheringay. He saw Winch, a policeman, advancing. 
23. "What do you mean by it?" asked Winch. "Hullo! It's you, is it? The man who broke the lamp at that bar! What did you do it for?Do you know that stick hurt?" 
24. For the moment Fotheringay could not utter a word. His silence seemed to irritate Mr. Winch. "You've been assaulting the police, young man, this time." 
25. "Look here, Mr. Winch," said Fotheringay, annoyed and confused. "I'm very sorry. The fact is ..." 
26. "Well?" 
27. ①He could think of no answer but the truth. "I was working a miracle." He tried to speak as casually as he could.
28. "Working a . .. ! Look! ②Don't talk rot. Working a miracle, indeed! Well, that's really funny! You're the man who doesn't believe in miracles... The fact is, this is another of your silly tricks. Now I tell you ..."
　　① He could think of no answer but the truth." I was working a miracle."
　　　他想不出别的答复，只好以实情相告。“我在创造奇迹。” 
　　　He had to tell the truth. As he couldn't find a better answer to convince the policeman, he had no choice but to tell him that he was performing a miracle.
　　② Don't talk rot.
　　　别胡说八道。 
　　　Don't talk nonsense. 
29. But Mr. Fotheringay never heard what Mr. Winch was going to tell him. ①He realized that he had given himself away. He became violently irritated. He turned on the policeman swiftly and fiercely. "Listen," he said. "②I've had enough of this. I'll show you a silly trick, Go to Hades!"
　　① He realized that he had given himself away. 
　　　他意识到他露了馅。 
　　　He realized that he had betrayed himself.
　　② I've had enough of this.
　　　I can't put up with your ridicule any more. 
30. He was alone!
31. Mr. Fotheringay performed no more miracles that night, ①nor did he trouble to see what had become of his flowering stick. He went back, scared and very quiet. "Good Heavens!" he said, "It's an extremely powerful gift. I didn't mean as much as that. Not really... I wonder what Hades is like."
　　①…nor did he trouble to see what had become of his flowering stick.
　　　也没有费神去看看他那根开花的拐杖到底怎么样了。 
　　　not did he bother to find out what had happened to his walking stick that had turned into a rosebush. 
32. He sat on the bed taking off his shoes. Struck by a happy thought he transferred the policeman to San Francisco, and then went to bed.
33. The next day Fotheringay heard two interesting pieces of news. Someone had planted a most beautiful climbing rose near the gasworks, and everyone was looking for Constable Winch.
（单选题）32.She said she couldn’t put up with living in that house because the noise of the train station near it nearly _____.
A． drove her madly
B． drove her to mad
C． drove her to madness
D． drove her mad
【答案】D
【解析】本题考查核心动词drive的用法。drive“迫使”后接形容词作宾补，drive sb. mad“使某人发疯”，该句句意是“她说她再也不能忍受住在那个房子里了,因为附近火车站的噪音快让她疯掉了。”
【知识点】核心动词drive的用法