新视界大学英语综合教程第三册Unit2Activereading课文及翻译

Unit 2 Active readingThe glass castle1 I never believed in Santa Claus.2 None of us kids did. Mom an

Unit2Activereading Theglasscastle 1 IneverbelievedinSantaClaus. 2 Noneofuskidsdid.MomandDadrefusedtoletus.Theycouldn’taffordexpensivepresents,and theydidn’twantustothinkweweren’tasgoodasotherkidswho,onChristmasmorning,foundallsorts offancytoysunderthetreethatweresupposedlyleftbySantaClaus.Sotheytoldusallabouthowother kidsweredeceivedbytheirparents,howthetoysthegrown-upsclaimedweremadebylittleelveswearing bellcapsintheirworkshopattheNorthPoleactuallyhadlabelsonthemsayingMADEINJAPAN. 3 “Trynottolookdownonthoseotherchildren,”Momsaid.“It’snottheirfaultthatthey’vebeen brainwashedintobelievingsillymyths.” 4 WecelebratedChristmas,butusuallyaboutaweekafterDecember25,whenyoucouldfind perfectlygoodbowsandwrappingpaperthatpeoplehadthrownawayandChristmastreesdiscardedonthe roadsidethatstillhadmostoftheirneedlesandevensomesilvertinselhangingonthem.MomandDad wouldgiveusabagofmarblesoradolloraslingshotthathadbeenmarkedwaydowninan after-Christmassale. 5 Dadlosthisjobatthegypsummineaftergettinginanargumentwiththeforeman,andwhen Christmascamethatyear,wehadnomoneyatall.OnChristmasEve,Dadtookeachofuskidsoutinto thedesertnightonebyone.Ihadablanketwrappedaroundme,andwhenitwasmyturn,Iofferedto shareitwithDad,buthesaidnothanks.Thecoldneverbotheredhim.IwasfivethatyearandIsatnext toDadandwelookedupatthesky.Dadlovedtotalkaboutthestars.Heexplainedtoushowthey constellations rotatedthroughthenightskyastheearthturned.Hetaughtustoidentifytheandhowto navigatebytheNorthStar.Thoseshiningstars,helikedtopointout,wereoneofthespecialtreatsfor peoplelikeuswholivedoutinthewilderness.Richcityfolks,he’dsay,livedinfancyapartments,but beoutofourminds theirairwassopollutedtheycouldn’tevenseethestars.We’dhavetotowantto tradeplaceswithanyofthem. 6forkeeps “Pickoutyourfavoritestar,”Dadsaidthatnight.HetoldmeIcouldhaveit.Hesaidit wasmyChristmaspresent.“Youcan’tgivemeastar!”Isaid.“Nooneownsthestars.”“That’sright,” Dadsaid.“Nooneelseownsthem.Youjusthavetoclaimitbeforeanyoneelsedoes,likethatdago ColumbusclaimedAmericaforQueenIsabella fellow.Claimingastarasyourownhaseverybitas muchlogictoit.” 7 IthoughtaboutitandrealizedDadwasright.Hewasalwaysfiguringoutthingslikethat. 8BetelgeuseRigel IcouldhaveanystarIwanted,Dadsaid,exceptand,becauseLoriandBrianhad alreadylaidclaimtothem. 9 Ilookeduptothestarsandtriedtofigureoutwhichwasthebestone.Youcouldseehundreds, maybethousandsorevenmillions,twinklinginthecleardesertsky.Thelongeryoulookedandthemore youreyesadjustedtothedark,themorestarsyou’dsee,layerafterlayerofthemgraduallybecoming visible.Therewasoneinparticular,inthewestabovethemountainsbutlowinthesky,thatshonemore brightlythanalltherest. 10 “Iwantthatone,”Isaid. 11Venus Dadgrinned.“That’s,”hesaid.Venuswasonlyaplanet,hewenton,andprettydinky comparedtorealstars.Shelookedbiggerandbrighterbecauseshewasmuchcloserthanthestars.Poor