研究生英语阅读教程(基础级2版)课文03及其翻译

Whupping(whipping/Beating)FatAlbertByRudolphGiuliani[1]Myfatherwasanexcellent(perfect,wonderful)boxer.Hispooreyesightpreventedhimfrombecomingtheprizefighter(warrior/knight)hewantedtobe,butat6feetandalean150pounds,hewasfastandtough.Heunderstoodthesportandwoulddescribefightstomeingreatdetail,explainingthestrategiesandtechniquesofthegreatfighters,menlike(suchas)SugarRayRobinson,JoeLouis,WilliePep,RockyMarciano,andJerseyJoeWalcott.[2]Inboxing,hesaid,themostimportantskillwastostay(be)calm.Thiswasthebestlessonmyfatherevertaughtme—staycalm,especiallywhenthose(people)aroundyouareuneasyortroubled(upset).Theonewhostaysunruffledhasagreatadvantageinbeingabletohelpothers,tocontrolthesituation,tofixit.Thefighterwholoseshiscool(calmness)thefirsttimehe'shitwillendupflatonhisbackonthecanvas.Ifheremainscalm,evenwhilehe'sbeinghit,hecanlookforopportunitiestohitback.(knockdown-outknockout)[3]Thelessoncameinhandy(turnedout/provedtobeuseful).MyUncleWilliewasaNewYorkCitypoliceofficer.Longafterheretired,healwaysworeajacketand,usually,atie.Hewasashy(silent/timid)manwhokepttohimself(silent),andhe'dspendhisoffhoursreadingthepaperunderthetreeinfrontofourhouse.Nextdoorlivedanotherfamily,andthefatherwasalsoacop.Forsomereason,myuncledislikedhim—perhapshe'dbeennastyorunfairtoUncleWillie.Anyway,thisguy(man/fellow)hadasonnamedAlbert,abigfatkid,twoyearsolderthanme—Iwasabout5andhewas7.Alberttookadvantageofhissizetointimidate(frighten)theotherkids.He'dknockthemdownandroll(sit)onthem.[4]MyuncleusedtoreadSpring3100,thein-housepolicemagazine.Ilovedlookingatit—stilldo,infact.Iwouldporeover(studysth.carefully)UncleWillie'scopy,butonlyforsolong—myunclewouldalwaystakethemagazineback.Onedayhewassittingaloneunderthetreeandmymotherwasnowhereinsight.Hecalledmeover.AcopyofSpring3100wasbyhisside.[5]Youwantthismagazine,right?[6]Yes,Ireplied.[7]Youwantittokeep?[8]Sure!'[9]BeatupAlbert,andI'llgiveyouthemagazine.[10]Whatdoyoumean?[11]UncleWilliesaid,Look,yourfather'sbeenteachingyoutobox.ThrowacoupleofjabslikeyouroldmanshowedyouandAlbertwillstartcrying—he'safatslobandbulliesareneverastough(strong/powerful)astheyseem.[12]Iwasreluctant,becauseAlbertwasmuchheavierthanIwas.ButUncleWillieshowedmethemagazineandletmeholdit,beforetakingitbackandrepeatingthatitwouldbemineassoonasIgot(made)Alberttocryuncle.[13]Alittlewhile(moment)later,UncleWilliewassittinginhisusualchair,when(suddenly)IsawAlbertuptohisusualtricks,pushingsomekidsaround,allofthemsmallerthanhe.Idon'trememberexactlyhowit(fighting)started.AllIknowisthatIfoundmyselfinafightwithhim,justthetwoofus.[14]Istartedjabbingathisface—boom,boom,boom,exactlyasI'dbeentaught—andthey(jabs)werelanding,nearlyallofthem.Albertneverlaidahandonme—orifhedid,Ididn'tnotice.Hisnosestartedbleeding,ashinerwasrising(swelling)nicely(noticeably),andfinallyhestartedtocry.Thenheturnedandranhome(ad.).[15]Iwenthome,too,andtoldmymother.Sheslappedmehard(heavily)acrosstheface.Apologizerightnow,andI'mgoingtotellyourfathertonight.He'sgoingtogiveyouarealbeating.[16]Idon'twanttoapologize,Imumbled.Hestartedit.ForthatIgotasecondslap.[17]Albertwasstillcrying,andIbegrudgingly(reluctantly)said,I'msorry,Albert.Mymothermade(forced)us(to)shakehandsandorderedmetostayinfortherestoftheday.Iglancedatmyuncle,andthought,atleasthecouldgivemethedarnmagazine.ButIdidn'tgivehimup.Ijustwentslowlyuptomyroom.About20minuteslater,hisdaughter,mycousin(/=nephew/niece)Evangeline,cameup.ShewascarryinghiscopyofSpring3100.Mydadwantedyoutohavethis,shesaid.Sinceyouhavetostayinallday.Ilookedoutthewindow.UncleWilliewasstillthere,underhistree,andhegavemeanod—asmuchforkeepingmymouthshut,Iknew,asforwhippingAlbert.[18]Myfathercamehomethatevening,andmymothertoldhimwhathadhappened.Icouldhearthem(talk)talkingintheroomnextdoor.Itwashisfault,mymothersaid,forteachingmetobox.Heshouldgivemealicking(beating)I'dneverforget.Myfathercameuptome,butbeforehecouldadopt(~edchild)asuitableface(expression)ofdisapproval,heblurted,YouwhippedAlbert?Godalmighty(mighty=powerful)!He'stwoyearsolderthanyou,and25poundsheavier!(mighty=powerful)[19]Standinguptobulliesmightsoundlikeaglibcalltobemacho(brave),butthetruthisittakesatollonyou.Oneofthebestreasonstoletbulliesknowyouwon'tbackdown(withdraw/retreat)fromafightisso(difficult)thatitdoesn'tgetto(express)thatpoint(meaning).That'snotjustatheory—thereweremanytimes(cases/often)inmyadministrationwhenanearlyconfrontationledtofarlessfighting(struggle)downtheroad(inthedirection).Here'sanexample.Atabout8:40p.m.onWednesday,July17,1996,TWAFlight800crashedintotheAtlanticOceanjustoff(awayfrom)LongIsland.All230onboardtheParis-bound747,whichhadtakenofffromKennedyInternationalAirport,werekilled.MycommunityresponseteamandIgottothescene(site)(scenery)withinanhourandsetupanassistance(help)centerattheRamadaPlazaHotelneartheairporttoprovideaid(help)andcounseling(comfort)tofamilymembers.[boardingschool][20]Whenwegot(arrived)there,thefirstthingwetriedtodowas(to)obtain(get)themanifestso(that)wecouldbesurewhohadbeenontheplane.Airlinesarerequiredbylawtocompileacompletelistofpassengersonin