英语美文：传递人间的善良

【内容概述】

传递人间的善良：通往家乡悉尼每天一班的列车已经驶离车站，我只好站在高速公路的旁边等待好心人的帮助。一个素不相识的他给予了我温暖和关爱。25年之后，我竟然有机会回报这伟大的善良。

【美文赏读】

In 1978, I was 18 and was working as a nurse in a small town about 270 km away from Sydney, Australia. I was looking forward to[1] having five days off duty[2] . Unfortunately, the only one train a day back to my home in Sydney had already left. So I thought I'd hitch a ride[3](搭便车).

I waited by the side of the highway for three hours but no one stopped for me. Finally, a man walked over and introduced himself as Gordon. He said that although he couldn't give me a lift, I should come back to his house for lunch. He noticed me standing for hours in the November heat and thought I must be hungry. I was doubtful as a young girl but he assured[4] me I was safe, and he also offered[5] to help me find a lift home afterwards. When we arrived at his house, he made us sandwiches. After lunch, he helped me find a lift home.

Twenty-five years later, in 2003, while I was driving to a nearby town one day, I saw an elderly man standing in the glaring heat, trying to hitch a ride. I thought it was another chance to repay[6] someone for the favour[7] I'd been given decades earlier. I pulled over and picked him up. I made him comfortable on the back seat and offered him some water.

After a few moments of small talk, the man said to me, "You haven't changed a bit, even your red hair is still the same." I couldn't remember where I'd met him. He then told me he was the man who had given me lunch and helped me find a lift all those years ago. It was Gordon.

【精品注释】

[1] look forward to意思是“期望，期待”，这里to是介词。例如：I am looking forward to being admitted to my dream college. 我期待考上理想的大学。

[2] have five days off duty 意思是“有五天的假期”。On duty是上班，off duty是不上班，ask for leave 是请假。

[3] hitch a ride相当于 hitch a lift，意思是“搭便车”，此时lift为名词“免费搭车”的意思。例 如：I will give you a lift to the train station. 我顺便送你去火车站。

[4] assure是高考英语中常见的核心动词，意思是“ 使确信；向......保证；使......放心”。主要用法：assure sb (of sth) 或 assure sb +that从句。例如：I can assure you that you will get progress if you work day in and day out. 我可以向你保证，如果你夜以继日地工作你一定会取得进步。

[5] offer 在这里作动词，表示“主动提出，自愿给予”。例如：She offered to walk me home. 她主动要陪我走回家的。另外offer也有名词，表示提议，建议等。在部分国家也做录取涵的词义。

[6] repay是一个非常重要的动词，主要有如下两个方面的词义：

(1) 归还，偿还，还清 用法：repay a debt/loan/mortgage

(2) 酬报，报答 用法：repay sb (for sth) 例如：How can I repay my parents for all the care and love I receive from them? 我怎样才能报答父母所给予一切关爱。

[7] favour作名词使用是表示善行，善举；同时注意一个常用短语：in favor of(支持，赞成)。作动词的意思是 “偏爱”、“喜好”。例如：Opportunities favor the prepared mind. 机会总是偏向那些有准备的人。

试译:

1978年，我18岁，在离澳大利亚悉尼270公里的一个小镇做护士。我期待着有五天的假期。不幸的是，每天只有一班开回我在悉尼的家的火车已经开走。所以我想搭便车。

我在高速公路旁等了三个小时，但是没有人停下来。最后，一个人走过来，介绍自己是戈登。他说他虽然不能载我一程，但我应该回他家吃午饭。他注意到我在十一月的炎热中站了好几个小时，以为我一定饿了。我作为一个年轻的女孩我很怀疑，但他向我保证我是安全的，后来他还主动提出帮我搭便车回家。当我们到达他家时，他给我们做了三明治。午饭后，他帮我搭便车回家。

二十五年后的2003年，当我开车去附近的一个镇的时候，我看到一个老人站在灼热的路边，试图搭便车。我以为这是另一个报答别人几十年前给予我的恩惠的机会。我停下来把他载上车。我让他舒服地坐在后座上，给了他一些水。

聊了一会儿，那个男人对我说：“你一点都没变，连你的红头发也一样。”我记不起在哪儿见过他。然后他告诉我，他就是多年前给我吃午饭并帮我搭便车的那个人。是戈登。