自考综合英语2-09.doc

Lesson Nine Forty Years On Norah Lofts 　　人有时像马一样，须要从后面戳一下才肯动起来，才能不断前进。戳的方式可以多种多样，课文所描述的是其中之一。两个未曾谋面、年龄相仿的远亲，从孩提时期到成年一直想像对方从长相到智力都远远胜过自己。双方家长也不断用对方的成绩激励自己的儿子上进。当两人已过花甲之年，都已小有名气终于见面时，才恍然大悟：原来双方家长玩的是同样的把戏，他们不禁开怀大笑。之后，他们举杯怀念这把戏的导演、他们已故的嘉丽阿姨。不论故事是真是假，难道你不认为一个人的精神面貌对事业成功与否十分重要吗? 　　1 John Bullyer and I met for the first time in 1956 when we were both in our early sixties, but it is true to say that he did more to shape my life than any other person. 　　2 John Bullyer came into my life through my Aunt Carrie. She was also aunt to John Bullyer, whom she referred to as Little-John-my-other-nephew all in one word, and she referred to him too often. 　　3 From Aunt Carries point of view it was fortunate, from mine, disastrous, that John Bullyer and I were the same age. Probably hundreds of comparisons were made before I became aware of them. The first that I remember was made soon after I began school where I had lain on the floor and wailed that I wanted to go home. Shortly after that my mother reported that Little-John-Aunt-Carries-other nephew had started school on the same day and taken to it like a duck to water. 　　4 And so it went on. Incredible boy, he knew his nine-times table, while I was still hopelessly bogged in the fours; I began to dread Aunt Carries formerly most welcome visits. She was certain to produce chocolate or sixpence from her purse; but as soon as she had gone, Mother was sure to say the dread words: 　　5 Aunt Carrie was telling me that John Bullyer... 　　6 The comparisons were, without exception, to my disadvantage. The wretched boy never set foot upon a football field without scoring a goal; I became conscious of my inferiority, for I was hopeless at games. 　　7 To me it seemed sinister that Mother always passed on any small achievement of mine. Once, at my prep. school, I had a story in the magazine and Mother was beside herself. 　　8 I must have another copy of that, she said, so that Aunt Carrie can send it to John Bullyers mother. What