沉降量SELECTED READING (1)
From RIP VAN WINKLE
Rip Van Winkle, however, was one of tho happy mortals（凡人）, of foolish, well-oiled dispositions（性格随和，与世无争）, who take the world easy, eat white bread or brown, whichever can be got with least thought or trouble, and would rather starve on a Penny than work for a pound(宁愿为缺少一个便士而挨饿，也不愿为挣一英镑而工作). If left to himlf（如能依着他的想法）, he would have whistled life away in perfect contentment; but his wife kept continually dinning（din, v., to make a noi）in his ears about his idleness, his carelessness, and the ruin he was bringing on his family. Morning, noon, and night her tongue was incessantly going, and everything he said or did was sure to produce a torrent of houhold eloquence (导致妻子一连串的唠叨). Rip had but one way of replying to all lectures of the kind, and that, by frequent u, had grown into a habit. He shrugged his shoulders, shook his head, cast up his eyes, but said nothing. This, however, always provoked a fresh volley（n., a sudden burst or shower of something）from his wife （一阵
连珠炮似的责骂）; so that he was fain (adj., be obliged) to draw off his forces, and take to (take refuge in ) the outside of the hou--the only side which, in truth, belongs to a hen-pecked husband.
Rip's sole domestic adherent was his dog Wolf, who was as much hen-pecked as his master; for Dame Van Winkle regarded them as companions in idleness, and even looked upon Wolf with an evil eye, as the cau of his master's going so often astray(to the wrong place). True it is, in all points of spirit befitting an honorable dog, he was as courageous an animal as ever scoured (v., arch thoroughly) the woods (常在森林里追猎捕食)--but what courage can withstand the ever-during （永不休止地）and all-betting （无所不在的）terrors of a woman's tongue? The moment Wolf entered the hou his crest (n., hair on the top of an animal’s head)fell (颈项上的毛皮垂了下来 ―― 一副垂头丧气的样子), his tail drooped to the ground, or curled between his legs, he sneaked about with a gallows air （显出一副好像要上断头台的样子）, casting many a sidelong glance at Dame Van Winkle, and at the least flourish of （稍一挥舞… ）a broomstick or ladle (a long-handled, bowl-shaped spoon) would to the door with yelping (
v., to utter a short, sharp bark or cry, esp. in pain or fright) precipitation (n., haste; speed).
亲爱的的英语
Times grew wor and wor with Rip Van Winkle as years matrimony (n., marriage) rolled on; a tart化痰饮(sharp,hot) temper never mellows with age, and a sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant u. For a long while he ud to console himlf, when driven from home, by frequenting a kind of perpetual (last forever)club of the sages(extremeky wi men) , philosophers, and other idle personages of the village; which held its ssions on a bench before a small inn, designated ( v., to mark) by a rubicund (adj., having a healthy reddish color) portrait of His Majesty George the Third (英王乔治三世陛下,1783 - 1820). Here they ud to sit in the shade through a long lazy summer's day, talking listlessly (lazily) over village gossip, or telling endless sleepy stories about nothing. But it would have been worth any statesman's money to have heard the profound discussions that sometimes took place, when by chance an old newspaper fell into their hands from some passing traveler. How solemnly they would listen to the contents, as drawled out (发票遗失证明模板慢条斯理地说出)by Derrick Van Bummel, the schoolmaster, a dapper( adj., neat in appearance) learned little man, who was not to be d
aunted (v., to frighten) by the most gigantic word in the dictionary; and how sagely they would deliberate upon (郑重考虑)public events some months after they had taken place.
The opinions of this junto大头菜做法 (秘密政治会议) were completely controlled by Nicholas Vedder, a patriarch (n., old man worthy of honor & respect)of the village, and landlord of the inn, at the door of which he took his at from morning till night, just moving sufficiently to avoid the sun and keep in the shade of a large tree; so that the neighbors could tell the hour by his movements as accurately as by a sundial. It is true he was rarely heard to speak, but smoked his pipe incessantly. His adherents(n., follower or supporter), however (for every great man has his adherents), perfectly understood him, and knew how to gather his opinions. When any thing that was read or related displead him, he was obrved to smoke his pipe 锤石怎么玩vehemently (passionately, intenly), and to nd forth short, frequent, and angry puffs; but when plead, he would inhale the smoke slowly and tranquilly, and emit it in light and placid clouds; and sometimes, taking the pipe from his mouth, and letting the fragrant vapor curl about his no, would gravely nod his head in token of perfect approbation (n., approval).
From even this strong-hold the unlucky Rip was at length routed (drive out) by 沙河粉电脑卡住不动了怎么办 his termagant (adj., noisy, bad-tempered, quarrelsome) wife, who would suddenly break in upon the tranquillity of the asmblage and call the members all to naught (nothing) (把所有成员都骂得一钱不值); nor was that august (having great dignity) personage, Nicholas Vedder himlf, sacred from the daring tongue of this terrible virago (免受这个凶悍的泼妇的辱骂), who charged him outright with encouraging her husband in habits of idleness.
Poor Rip was at last reduced almost to despair; and his only alternative, to escape from the labor of the farm and clamor of his wife, was to take gun in hand and stroll away into the woods. Here he would sometimes at himlf at the foot of a tree, and share the contents of his wallet with Wolf, with whom he sympathized as a fellow-sufferer in percution. "Poor Wolf," he would say, "thy mistress leads thee a dog's life (让你过着狗一般的生活,该短语原意为悲惨困苦的生活,这里用于狗,一语双关,为幽默之笔)of it; but never mind, my lad, whilst I live thou shalt never want (lack) a friend to stand by thee!" Wolf would wag his tail, look wistfully in his master's face, and if dogs can feel pity, I verily believe he reciprocated (give and take in exchange) the ntiment with all
