2007年12月大学英语四级考试冲刺阅读提高训练(七).docVIP

2洛基英语，中国在线英语教育领导品牌 THE FATHER AND HIS SONS 　　A father had a family of sons who were perpetually quarrelling among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession, and ordered them to break it in pieces. They each tried with all their strength, and were not able to do it. 　　He next unclosed the faggot, and took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into their hands, on which they broke them easily. He then addressed them in these words: My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as these sticks. 　　参考译文： 　　一位父亲有几个孩子，这些孩子时常发生口角。他丝毫没有办法来劝阻他们，只好让他们看看不合群所带来害处的例子。为了达到这个目的，有一天他叫他们替他拿一捆细柴来。当他们把柴带来时，他便先后地将那捆柴放在每一个孩子的手中，吩咐他们弄断这捆柴。他们一个个尽力去试，总是不能成功。 　　然后他解开那捆柴，一根根地放在他们手里，如此一来，他们便毫不费力地折断了。于是他就告诉他们说：「孩子们!如果你们大家团结一致，互相帮助，你们就像这捆柴一样，不能被你们的敌人折断;但如果你们自行分裂，你们就将和这些散柴一般，不堪一折了。 　　总结： 遇到的生词：perpetually 这里有个词根per- 意为：通, 总;exhortation 意为“劝告”;faggot 柴把;这篇里面有个词组，你发现了吗?of one mind 意为：vi.意见一致,同心协力，是一个动词词组哦! 　　An active lifestyle and a healthy, fish-rich diet are not only good for your heart, they may also help tackle the memory loss associated with old age, two leading neuroscientists said on Wednesday. 　　As people live longer, finding ways of halting the decline in mental agility is becoming increasingly important, said Professor Ian Robertson, director of the Institute of Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin. 　　The biggest threat to being able to function well and properly is our brains, he told journalists. 　　There is very strong evidence, particularly in the over-50s, that the degree to which you maintain your mental faculties depends on a handful o