“Tom, are you enjoying the automobile convention?” I asked. Tom did not answer. He was too busy conversing with the pretty salesgirl sitting next to him. “I hate to break up your conversation, Tom, but I really need your help. I’m not conversant with the theory behind this new fuel converter. What causes the conversion and why does it have a convex casing?”
“湯姆,這次汽車會(huì)議感覺怎么樣?”我問(wèn)道。湯姆沒有回答。他正忙著與坐在身邊的那位漂亮的金發(fā)女推銷員交談。“我不愿打擾你們的談話,湯姆,但我的確需要你的幫助。關(guān)于這個(gè)新型燃料轉(zhuǎn)換器的工作原理我不太熟悉,是什么引起的轉(zhuǎn)變?它為什么有個(gè)凸起的外殼呢?”
“I’m not sure how it converts fuel to energy,” Tom replied with a contrite smile. “But their salesgirls are very convincing.” Tom returned his attention to the attractive young salesgirl.
“我不太清楚它是如何把燃料轉(zhuǎn)變成能的。”湯姆回答道,臉上露出歉疚的笑容。“但他們的女推銷員是令人信服的。”說(shuō)完,他的注意力又回到那個(gè)迷人的女推銷員身上去了。
Contrary to popular belief, attending an automobile convention is hard work. I say this with conviction. In contrast with Tom’s goals of socializing, I contrive to learn new and complex things. Some of the brightest inventors converge at these automobile conventions. I enjoy listening to them discuss the latest controversies. I love it when they argue about how to replace conventional technology. I’ve heard some convincing arguments in favor of converting to electric cars. However, it is still a controversial issue. One thing is for true. We will not be seeing any electric can in our lifetime.
與普通人的想法相反,參加汽車會(huì)議對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)是件艱苦的工作。這一點(diǎn)我確信不疑。湯姆來(lái)的目的是社交。相比之下,我想設(shè)法學(xué)些新鮮、復(fù)雜一點(diǎn)的東西。這些汽車會(huì)議云集了一些最優(yōu)秀的發(fā)明家。我喜歡聽他們討論最近引起爭(zhēng)議的問(wèn)題。他們關(guān)于如何取代傳統(tǒng)技術(shù)的爭(zhēng)論的爭(zhēng)論我更是津津有味。我還聽見了贊成轉(zhuǎn)變?yōu)殡娏ζ嚨暮苡姓f(shuō)服力的論點(diǎn)。但是我電力汽車仍然是一個(gè)有爭(zhēng)議的話題。有一件事是肯定的——我們?cè)谟猩晔强床坏诫娏ζ嚵恕?/p>
“Hey, Tom,” I whispered, rather harshly. “Come on. You’re 75 years old and you can barely walk. She’s only 20. You conduct contravenes the rules of etiquette!”
“嗨,湯姆,”我壓低聲音很嚴(yán)肅的說(shuō),“算了吧,你都75歲了,老的快走不動(dòng)了。她才剛剛20歲。你的行為不合道德規(guī)范。”
“I don’t care!” He snapped back in a shaky voice. “Convict me if you want, but I’m only guilty of true love.” The salesgirl smiled politely.
“我不管!”他反駁道,聲音有些顫抖。“如果想判我有罪,你只管判好了。但我只會(huì)因真愛而判有罪。”聽了這話,女推銷員彬彬有禮地報(bào)以微笑。
“Oh, no, not again!” I said, shaking my head with a smile.
“噢,別再這樣了!”我邊說(shuō)邊笑著搖了搖頭。
Words:
contrary adj. 相反的,對(duì)抗的
contrast vt. 對(duì)照之后的懸殊差別/對(duì)比,對(duì)照
contravene v. 違反,抵觸
contrite adj. 悔悟的,悔罪的,痛悔的
contrive vt. 設(shè)計(jì),發(fā)明;設(shè)法
controversial adj. 引起或可能引起爭(zhēng)論的
controversy n. 爭(zhēng)論,辯論
convention n. 會(huì)議,傳統(tǒng)
conventional adj. 傳統(tǒng)的,習(xí)俗的
converge vi. 聚合,集中于一點(diǎn),會(huì)聚
conversant adj. 親近的,熟悉的
conversation n. 會(huì)話,非正式會(huì)談
converse vi. 談話,交談
conversion n. 轉(zhuǎn)變;改變信仰
convert vt. 轉(zhuǎn)換;轉(zhuǎn)變信仰
converter n. 煉鋼用的轉(zhuǎn)爐;轉(zhuǎn)換器
convex adj. 凸出的
convict vt. 證明…有罪,宣判…有罪
conviction n. 確信,深信,堅(jiān)信
convincing adj. 令人信服的,有說(shuō)服力的