People are always talking about 'the problem of youth'. 

人们总是在谈论“青年问题”。 

talk about  谈论,议论,讨论

problem[5prCblEm]n.问题, 难题

youth[ju:W]n.青春, 青年时期, 初期, 少年, 青年们

If there is one -- which I take leave to doubt –

then it is older people who create it, not the young themselves.

如果这个问题存在的话 -- 请允许我对此持怀疑态度 -- 那么，这个问题是由老年人而不是青年人造成的。 

take leave to  冒昧, 请原谅

take leave to do sth. 是“擅自做”，“冒昧去做”的意思

take leave of  v.不辞劳苦,十分尽力v.向...告别,失掉

it is older people who create it, not the young themselves. 它是老年人而不是年轻人赞成的。

Let us get down to fundamentals and agree that the young are after all human beings -- people just like their elders. 

让我们来认真研究一些基本事实：承认青年人和他们的长辈一样也是人。 

after all   adv.毕竟

get down  v.(从...)下来, 吞下, 写下, 使沮丧

get down to  v.开始认真考虑

let us get down to fundamentals  让我们来认真研究一些基本事实

fundamental[7fQndE5mentl]adj.基础的, 基本的n.基本原则, 基本原理

fundament[5fQndEmEnt]n.基础, 基本原理, 臀部

fund[fQnd]n.资金, 基金v.支助, 投资

There is only one difference between an old man and a young one:

老年人和青年人只有一个区别：

the young man has a glorious future before him

青年人有光辉灿烂的前景，

and the old one has a splendid future behind him:

而老年人的辉煌已成为过去。

and maybe that is where the rub is.

问题的症结恐怕就在这里。

glorious[5^lC:riEs]adj.光荣的, 显赫的

splendid[5splendid]adj.壮丽的, 辉煌的, 极好的

rub[rQb]v.擦, 摩擦   

there is the rub = there is the problem  这就是问题所在

When I was a teenager, I felt that I was just young and uncertain –

that I was a new boy in a huge school,

and I would have been very pleased to be regarded as something so interesting as a problem.

我十几岁时，总感到自己年轻，有些事拿不准 -- 我是一所大学里的一名新生，如果我当时真的被看成像一个问题那样有趣，我会感到很得意的。 

teenager[5ti:n7eidVE]n.十几岁的青少年

regard as   v.把...认作

be regard as 被看作

uncertain[Qn5sE:tn]adj.无常的, 不确定的, 不可预测的, 靠不住的

For one thing, being a problem gives you a certain identity,

and that is one of the things the young are busily engaged in seeking. 

因为这至少使我得到了某种承认，这正是年轻人所热衷追求的。 

for one thing  adv.首先

identity[ai5dentiti]n.同一性, 身份, 一致, 特性, 恒等式

the young are busily engaged in seeking

engage in  v.使从事于, 参加

I find young people exciting. 

我觉得年轻人令人振奋，

They have an air of freedom, and they have not a dreary commitment to mean ambitions or love of comfort. 

他们无拘无束。既不追逐卑鄙的名利，也不贪图生活的舒适。 

air of freedom 自由自在

dreary[5driEri]adj.沉闷的

commit[kE5mit]vt.犯(错误), 干(坏事), 把...交托给, 提交, 答应负责

commitment[kE5mitmEnt]n.委托事项, 许诺, 承担义务

love[lQv]n.爱, 热爱, 爱情vt.爱, 热爱, 爱好, 爱慕vi.爱

love of comfort  贪图舒适

ambition[Am5biFEn]n.野心, 雄心     ambit[5Ambit]n.范围

They are not anxious social climbers, and they have no devotion to material things. 

他们不热衷于向上爬，也不一味追求物质享受。 

anxious[5ANkFEs]adj.观念的, 担忧的, 渴望的, 盼望的

social climber   n.<美> 想法挤入上流社会者, 攀高枝者, 巴结权贵向上爬的人

devotion[di5vEuFEn]n.热爱, 投入

devote[di5vEut]vt.投入于, 献身

All this seems to me to link them with life, and the origins of things. 

在我看来，所有这些使他们与生命和万物之源联系在了一起。 

origin[5CridVin]n.起源, 由来, 起因, 出身, 血统, [数]原点

It's as if they were, in some sense, cosmic beings in violent and lovely contrast with us suburban creatures. 

从某种意义上讲，他们似乎是宇宙人，同我们这些凡夫俗子形成了强烈而鲜明的对照。 

as if they were cosmic beings 他们似乎是宇宙人

as if   adv.好象

in some sense  在某种意义上

cosmic[5kCzmik]adj.宇宙的

violent and lovely contrast  强烈而鲜明的对照

violent[5vaiElEnt]adj.猛烈的, 激烈的, 暴力引起的, 强暴的

contrast[5kCntrAst]vt.使与...对比, 使与...对照vi.和...形成对照n.对比, 对照, (对照中的)差异

suburban creatures  凡夫俗子

suburban[sE5bE:bEn]adj.郊外的, 偏远的

suburb[5sQbE:b]n.市郊, 郊区

creature[5kri:tFE]n.人, 动物, 傀儡, 创造物

All that is in my mind when I meet a young person. 

每逢我遇到年轻人，脑子里就想到 

He may be conceited, ill-mannered, presumptuous or fatuous,

but I do not turn for protection to dreary cliches about respect of elders as if mere age were a reason for respect. 

这些年轻人也许狂妄自负，举止无理，傲慢放肆，愚昧无知，但我不会用应当尊重长者这一套陈词滥调来为我自己辨护，似乎年长就是受人尊敬的理由。 

conceited[kEn5si:tid]adj.自以为是的, 逞能的, 狂想的

conceit[kEn5si:t]n.原义：想法, 意见, 自负, 幻想, 狂妄

ill-mannered   adj.态度恶劣的, 粗野的

presumptuous[pri5zQmptjuEs]adj.专横的

presume[pri5zju:m]vt.假定, 假设, 认为

presumption[pri5zQmpFEn]n.假定

fatuous[5fAtjuEs]adj.愚昧的, 昏庸的, 发呆的, 愚笨的, 自满的

cliche[5kli:Fei; kli:5Fei]n.陈词滥调, 铅版adj.陈腐的

respect of elders 尊敬老人

mere[miE]adj.仅仅的, 起码的, 纯粹的

I accept that we are equals, and I will argue with him, as an equal, if I think he is wrong. 

我认为我和他们是平等的。如果我认为他们错了，我就以平等的身份和他们争个明白。 

argue with  与某人议论

argue[5B:^ju:]vi.争论, 辩论vt.说服

Several cases have been reported in Russia recently of people who can read and detect colours with their fingers, and even see through solid doors and walls.

俄罗斯最近报导了几个事例，有人能用手指看书识字和辨认颜色，甚至能透过厚实的门和墙看到东西。

of people who can read and detect colours with their fingers, and even see through solid doors and walls. 是修饰主语cases的定语部分,由于太长,因此被移至谓语之后.

其中who can read and detect colours with their fingers, and even see through solid doors and walls. 是一个定语从句,修饰people.

who can read and detect colours with their fingers, 有人能用手指看书识字和辨认颜色

and even see through solid doors and walls. 甚至能透过厚实的门和墙看到东西

One case concerns an eleven-year-old schoolgirl, Vera Petrova, who has normal vision but who can also perceive things with different parts of her skin, and through solid walls.  

其中有一例谈到有一个名叫维拉.彼托洛娃的11岁学生。她的视力与常人一样，但她还能用皮肤的不同部位辨认东西，甚至看穿坚实的墙壁。 

concern[kEn5sE:n]vt.涉及, 关系到

vision[5viVEn]n.视力, 视觉, 先见之明, 眼力, 想象力, 幻想, 幻影, 景象vt.梦见, 想象, 显示

perceive[pE5si:v]vt.察觉v.感知, 感到, 认识到

skin[skin]n.皮, 皮肤, 兽皮, 皮毛, 外皮, 外壳v.长皮

different parts of her skin  皮肤的不同部位

This ability was first noticed by her father. 是她父亲首先发现她这一功能的。 

This ability 这一功能   was first noticed 首先被发现   by her father  被他的父亲

这个句子的意思: (她的)这一功能首先被她的父亲发现.

而在翻译成汉语时,往往根据情况把英语里的被动语态转换成主动语态.

One day she came into his office and happened to put her hands on the door of a locked safe. 

一天，维拉走进父亲的办公室，偶然把手放在一个锁着的保险柜的门上， 

happen[5hApEn]vi.发生, 碰巧, 偶然v.发生, 恰巧, 偶然发现

put her hands on the door of a locked safe 把手放在一个锁着的保险柜的门上

put … on …   把… 放在…. 上

a locked safe  一个锁着的保险柜

the door of a locked safe  一个锁着的保险柜的门

Suddenly she asked her father why he kept so many old newspapers locked away there, and even described the way they were done up in bundles. 

她突然问父亲为什么把这么多的旧报纸锁在柜子里，还说了报纸捆扎的情况。

lock away  把...锁藏起来

do up  v.束起, 重新整修, 收拾齐整, 疲乏, 包好

bundle[5bQndl]n.捆, 束, 包v.捆扎

why he kept so many old newspapers locked away there, 为什么把这么多的旧报纸锁在柜子里

so many old newspapers locked away there这么多的旧报纸(被)锁在柜子里

and even described the way they were done up in bundles还说了报纸捆扎的情况

the way they were done up in bundle  报纸捆扎的情况

they were done up in bundle 是一个定语从句,修饰 the way

Vera's curious talent was brought to the notice of a scientific research institute in the town of Ulyanovsk, near where she lives,

and in April she was given a series of tests by a special commission of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federal Republic.  

维拉的特异功能引起了她家附近乌里扬诺夫斯克城一个科研单位的注意。4月里，俄罗斯卫生部一个特别委员会对她进行了一系列的测试。 

Vera's curious talent was brought to the notice of a scientific research institute in the town of Ulyanovsk, near where she lives,

维拉的特异功能引起了她家附近乌里扬诺夫斯克城一个科研单位的注意

curious[5kjuEriEs]adj.好奇的, 求知的, 古怪的, 爱挑剔的

talent[5tAlEnt]n.天才, 才干, 才能

bring … to the notice of  ,引起某人的注意

scientific[saiEn5tifik]adj.科学的  science[5saiEns]n.科学, 自然科学, 理科

a scientific research institute  一个科研单位

the town of Ulyanovsk  乌里扬诺夫斯克城 

a scientific research institute in the town of Ulyanovsk  乌里扬诺夫斯克城一个科研单位

and in April she was given a series of tests by a special commission of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federal Republic. 4月里，俄罗斯卫生部一个特别委员会对她进行了一系列的测试。 

a series of  一连串的      a series of tests  一系列的测试

a special commission 一个特别的委员会

the Ministry of Health  卫生部

of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federal Republic俄罗斯卫生部一个特别委员会

ministry[5ministri]n.(政府的)部门

During these tests she was able to read a newspaper through an opaque screen and, stranger still, by moving her elbow over a child's game of Lotto she was able to describe the figures and colours printed on it; and, in another instance, wearing stockings and slippers, to make out with her foot the outlines and colours of a picture hidden under a carpet.

在这些测试中，她能隔着不透明的屏幕读报纸。更为奇怪的是，她把肘部在儿童玩的“罗托”纸牌上移动一下，便能说出印在纸牌上的数字和颜色。还有一次，她穿着长筒袜子和拖鞋，能用脚步识别出藏在地毯下面的一幅画的轮廓和颜色。 

be able to   v.能, 会

During these tests在这些测试中

she was able to read a newspaper through an opaque screen她能隔着不透明的屏幕读报纸

opaque[Eu5peik]n.不透明物adj.不透明的, 不传热的, 迟钝的

and, stranger still, 而且,更为奇怪的是

by moving her elbow over a child's game of Lotto 把肘部在儿童玩的“罗托”纸牌上移动一下

elbow[5elbEJ]n.肘

lotto[5lCtEu]n.一种对号码的牌戏

a child's game of Lotto 儿童玩的“罗托”纸牌

she was able to describe the figures and colours printed on it; 她能说出印在(纸牌)上的数字和颜色。

figure[5fi^E]n.外形, 轮廓, 体形, 图形, 画像, 数字, 形状, 身份

and, in another instance, 在另一个例子中

wearing stockings and slippers,  穿着长筒袜子和拖鞋

stocking[5stCkiN]n.长袜

slipper[5slipE]n.拖鞋,

to make out with her foot 用脚识别出    make out  v.书写, 填写, 辨认出

the outlines and colours of a picture 一幅画的轮廓和颜色

hidden under a carpet. 藏在地毯下面的   hidden[5hidn]vbl.hide的过去分词adj.隐藏的

Other experiments showed that her knees and shoulders had a similar sensitivity. 

其他实验表明，她的膝盖和双肩有类似的感觉能力， 

During all these tests Vera was blindfold; and, indeed, except when blindfold she lacked the ability to perceive things with her skin. 

在所有这些实验中，维拉的双眼都是蒙着的。如果不蒙上双眼她的皮肤就不再具有识别物体的能力。 

was blindfold 被蒙着眼

blindfold[5blaindfEuld]n, 眼罩, 障眼物vt.将...眼睛蒙起来, 蒙骗adj.看不清的, 盲目的

blind[blaind]adj.瞎的, 盲目的vt.使失明, 缺乏眼光或判断力

During all these tests在所有这些实验中

when blindfold she lacked 当蒙上她的脸

the ability to perceive things with her skin  用皮肤识别物体的能力

It was also found that although she could perceive things with her fingers this ability ceased the moment her hands were wet. 

这是千真万确的。同时还发现，尽管她能用手指识别东西，但她的手一旦弄湿，这种功能便会立即消失。

although she could perceive things with her fingers尽管她能用手指识别东西

this ability ceased the moment her hands were wet

cease[si:s]v.停止, 终了

the moment her hands were wet  她的手一旦弄湿 (在她的手是湿的时候)

her hand were wet  是一个定语从句,修饰the moment

matterhorn[5mAtE:7hC:n]马塔角, 陡角山峰

Matterhorn  马特霍恩  matter[5mAtE]n.事件  horn[hC:n]n.(牛、羊等的)角, 喇叭

Alps[Alps]n.阿尔卑斯山

A mountain, 4,481.1 m (14,692 ft) high, in the Pennine Alps on the Italian-Swiss border. It was first scaled in 1865.

Modern alpinists try to climb mountains by a route which will give them good sport, and the more difficult it is, the more highly it is regarded.

现代登山运动员总想找一条能够给他们带来运动乐趣的路线来攀登山峰。他们认为，道路愈艰险愈带劲儿。 

In the pioneering days, however, this was not the case at all. 

然而，在登山运动的初期，全然不是这种情况。 

In the pioneering days  在登山运动的初期

pioneer[7paiE5niE]n.先驱, 倡导者, 先遣兵, 先锋

engineer[7endVi5niE]n.工程师

The early climbers were looking for the easiest way to the top,

because the summit was the prize they sought,

especially if it had never been attained before. 

早期登山者所寻找的是通往山顶的最方便的途径，因为顶峰特别是前人未曾到过的顶峰 -- 才是他们寻求的目标。

look for   v.寻找, 期待

The early climbers  早期登山者

the easiest way to the top 通往山顶的最方便的途径

easy – easiest

summit[5sQmit]n.顶点, 最高阶层adj.政府首脑的 

sought[sC:t]vbl.seek的过去式和过去分词

attain[E5tein]vt.达到, 获得v.达到

It is true that during their explorations they often faced difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, equipped in a manner which would make a modern climber shudder at the thought,

but they did not go out of their way to court such excitement.

确实，在探险中他们经常遇到惊心动魄的困难和危险，而他们装备之简陋足以使现代登山者一想起来就胆战心惊。但是，他们并非故意寻求这种刺激， 

perilous[5perilEs]adj.危险的

exploration[7eksplC:5reiFEn]n.探险

explore[iks5plC:]v.探险, 探测, 探究

nature[5neitFE]n.自然, 自然界

difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature惊心动魄的困难和危险

the most perilous nature  最危险的自然界

equip[i5kwip]vt.装备, 配备, 训练, 准备行装

in a manner  adv.在某种意义上

thought[WC:t]n.思考, 想法, 思想, 思潮, 关心, 关怀, 挂念vbl.think的过去式和过去分词

shudder[5FQdE] n. vi. 战栗, 发抖 

equipped in a manner with would make a modern climber shudder at the thought (of the manner)

装备之简陋足以使现代登山者一想起来就胆战心惊

at the thought of  adv. 一想起

they did not go out of their way to court such excitement. 他们并非故意寻求这种刺激

go out of one’s way  特地, 不怕麻烦

court[kC:t]n.法院, 庭院, 朝廷vt. 追求vi.求爱

They had a single aim, a solitary goal--the top! 

It is hard for us to realize nowadays how difficult it was for the pioneers. 

我们今天很难想像昔日的登山先驱们是多么艰苦。 

nowadays[5nauEdeiz]adv.现今, 现在

how difficult it was for the pioneers  昔日的登山先驱们是多么艰苦

Except for one or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix, which had rapidly become popular,

Alpine village tended to be impoverished settlements cut off from civilization by the high mountains.

除了泽曼特和夏蒙尼等一两个很快出了名的地方外，阿尔卑斯山山区的小村几乎全是高山环抱、与世隔绝的穷乡僻壤。

alpine[5Alpain]adj.高山的, 阿尔卑斯山的

Except for one or two places such as Zermatt and Chamonix, which had rapidly become popular, 除了泽曼特和夏蒙尼等一两个很快出了名的地方外，

except for  adv.除...以外

Such inns as there were were generally dirty and flea-ridden;

the food simply local cheese accompanied by bread often twelve months old,

all washed down with coarse wine. 

那里的小客栈一般都很肮脏，而且跳蚤猖獗。食物是当地的干酪和通常存放了一年之久的面包，人们就着劣酒吞下这种食物。 

generally[5dVenErEli]adv.一般, 通常, 一般地

Such inns as there were were generally dirty and flea-ridden那里的小客栈一般都很肮脏，而且跳蚤猖獗

flea[fli:]n.跳蚤, 低廉的旅馆，生蚤的动物

ridden[5ridn]adj.受折磨的, 受虐待的, 充斥...的,全是...的vbl.rid的过去分词

flea-ridden 布满跳蚤的

such inns as there were , 那里的小客栈, as there were 用来修饰inns, 作定语

the food (was) simply local cheese accompanied by bread often twelve months old

食物是当地的干酪和通常存放了一年之久的面包

local[5lEukEl]adj.地方的

cheese[tFi:z]n.干酪

the food simply local cheese, 在food后面省略了was .

all washed down with coarse wine. 人们就着劣酒吞下这种食物

wash down  v.冲洗, 咽下, 洗清, 冲净

coarse[kC:s]adj.粗糙的, 粗鄙的

Often a valley boasted no inn at all,

and climbers found shelter wherever they could

sometimes with the local priest (who was usually as poor as his parishioners), sometimes with shepherds or cheese-makers.

山谷里常常没有小客栈，登山者只好随遇而安。有时同当地牧师 （他通常和他的教民一样穷）住在一起，有时同牧羊人或制乳酪的人住在一起。 

Invariably the background was the same: dirt and poverty, and very uncomfortable. 

无论住在哪儿，情况都一样：肮脏、贫穷，极其不舒适。

invariably[In5veErIEb(E)lI]adv.不变地, 总是n.总是

For men accustomed to eating seven-course dinners and sleeping between fine linen sheets at home, the change to the Alps must have very hard indeed. 

对于过惯了一顿饭吃7道菜、睡亚麻细布床单的人来说，变换一下生活环境来到阿尔卑斯山山区，那一定是很艰难的。 

Why, you may wonder, should spiders be our friends? 

你可能会觉得奇怪， 蜘蛛怎么会是我们的朋友呢？ 

Because they destroy so many insects, and insects include some of the greatest enemies of the human race. 

因为它们能消灭那么多的昆虫，其中包括一些人类的大敌，

insect[5insekt]n.昆虫, 卑鄙的人

destroy[dis5trCi]vt.破坏, 毁坏, 消灭v.消灭, 摧毁

include[in5 klu:d]vt.包括, 包含  exclude[iks5klu:d]vt.拒绝接纳, 把...排除在外, 排斥

enemy[5enimi]n.敌人

the human race 人类

some of the greatest enemies of the human race一些人类的大敌

Insects would make it impossible for us to live in the world;

they would devour all our crops and kill our flocks and herds, if it were not for the protection we get from insect-eating animals.

要不是人类受一些食虫动物的保护，昆虫就会使我们无法在地球上生活下去。昆虫会吞食我们的全部庄稼，杀死我们的成群的牛羊。 

Insects would make it impossible for us to live in the world;

昆虫就会使我们无法在地球上生活下去

they would devour all our crops and kill our flocks and herds,

它们（昆虫）会吞食我们的全部庄稼，杀死我们的成群的牛羊。

if it were not for the protection we get from insect-eating animals.

要不是人类受一些食虫动物的保护

devour[di5vauE]vt.(尤指动物)吞吃, 狼吞虎咽, 挥霍, (火灾等)毁灭, 破坏, 吞没

crop[krCp]n.农作物

flock[flCk]n.羊群, (禽、畜等的)群, 大量, 众多v.聚结

herd[hE:d]n.兽群, 牧群v.把...赶在一起放牧, 成群    herb[hE:b]n.药草, 香草

protection[prE5tekFEn]n.保护

insect-eating animal  食虫动物

the protection (that) we get from insect-eating animals   我们从食虫动物那里得到的保护

We owe a lot to the birds and beasts who eat insects but all of them put together kill only a fraction of the number destroyed by spiders. 

我们要十分感谢那些吃昆虫的鸟和兽，然而把它们所杀死的昆虫全部加在一起也只相当于蜘蛛所消灭的一小部分。 

put together  v. 把...加起来, 装配, 使成整体, 整理(思路,意见等)

together[tE5^eTE]adv.共同, 一起, 合起来, 集拢地

owe to  v.归功于

a fraction of the number destroyed by spiders  (被)蜘蛛消灭(昆虫)的一小部分

the birds and beasts who eat insects那些吃昆虫的鸟和兽

Moreover, unlike some of the other insect eaters, spiders never do the harm to us or our belongings. 

此外，蜘蛛不同于其他食虫动物，它们丝毫不危害我们和我们的财物。

moreover[mC:5rEuvE]adv.而且, 此外

unlike[5Qn5laik]adj.不同的, 不相似的prep.不象...,和...不同

other insect eaters  其他食虫动物

unlike some of the other insect eaters不同于其他食虫动物

belongings[bI5lRNINz]n.财产, 所有物, 相关事物, 亲戚

Spiders are not insects, as many people think, nor even nearly related to them. 

许多人认为蜘蛛是昆虫，但它们不是昆虫，甚至与昆虫毫无关系。 

relate[ri5leit]vt.叙述, 讲, 使联系, 发生关系

relate to  v.涉及

One can tell the difference almost at a glance, for a spider always has eight legs and insect never more than six.

人们几乎一眼就能看出二者的差异，因为蜘蛛都是8条腿，而昆虫的腿从不超过6条。 

a glance  向...瞟一眼

How many spiders are engaged in this work on our behalf? 

有多少蜘蛛在为我们效力呢？

engage[in5^eidV]vt.使忙碌, 雇佣, 预定, 使从事于, 使参加vi.答应, 从事, 交战

behalf[bi5hB:f]n.为, 利益

One authority on spiders made a census of the spiders in grass field in the south of England, and he estimated that there were more than 2,250,000 in one acre; that is something like 6,000,000 spiders of different kinds on a football pitch.  

一位研究蜘蛛的权威对英国南部一块草坪上的蜘蛛作了一次调查。他估计每英亩草坪里有225万多只蜘蛛。这就是说，在一个足球场上约有600万只不同种类的蜘蛛。 

One authority on spiders  一位研究蜘蛛的权威

authority[C:5WCriti]n.权威, 威信, 权威人士, 权力, 职权, 典据, 著作权威

author[5C:WE]n.作家, 创造者 

census[5sensEs]n.人口普查, 种群普查

Spiders are busy for at least half the year in killing insects. 

蜘蛛至少有半年在忙于吃昆虫。

at least  adv.至少

half the year  半年

It is impossible to make more than the wildest guess at how many they kill, but they are hungry creatures, not content with only three meals a day. 

它们一年中消灭了多少昆虫，我们简直无法猜测，它们是吃不饱的动物，不满意一日三餐。 

the wildest guess  无法猜测(最疯狂的猜测)

It is impossible to make more than the wildest guess at how many they kill

它们一年中消灭了多少昆虫，我们简直无法猜测

they are hungry creatures  它们是吃不饱的动物

three meals a day  一日三餐

content[kEn5tent]n.内容, 容量, 目录, 满足adj.满足的, 满意的, 愿意vt.使满足

content with  满足于...

not content with only three meals a day  不满意一日三餐

It has been estimated that the weight of all the insects destroyed by spiders in Britain in one year would be greater than the total weight of all the human beings in the country. 

据估计，在英国蜘蛛一年里所消灭昆虫的重量超过这个国家人口的总重量。

the weight of all the insects destroyed by spiders 蜘蛛一年里所消灭昆虫的重量

the total weight of all the human beings 人口的总重量

the total weight of all the human beings in the country. 这个国家人口的总重量

We can read of things that happened 5,000 years ago in the Near East,

where people first learned to write. 

我们从书籍中可读到5,000 年前近东发生的事情，那里的人最早学会了写字。

We can read of things that happened 5,000 years ago in the Near East,

我们从书籍中可读到5,000 年前近东发生的事情，

where people first learned to write.

那里的人最早学会了写字。

read of = read about 读到

that happened 5,000 years ago in the Near East 是一个定语从句，修饰things

5,000 years ago  5，000年前

the Near East  近东

the Middle East  n. 中东(一般泛指欧,亚,非三大洲连接的地区)

the Far East  n. 远东（远东：东亚和东南亚的国家和地区，特指中国、日本、朝鲜、韩国和蒙古）

But there are some parts of the world where even now people cannot write. 

但直到现在,世界上有些地方，人们还不会书写。 

some parts of the world  世界上有些地方

where even now people cannot write

even now  conj.尽管这样, 即使在现在

The only way that they can preserve their history is to recount it as sagas -- legends handed down from one generation of story tales to another. 

他们保存历史的唯一办法是将历史当作传说讲述，由讲述人一代接一代地将史实描述为传奇故事口传下来。  

The only way 唯一方式（办法）

The only way that they can preserve their history 他们保存历史的唯一办法

that they can preserve their history

preserve[pri5zE:v]vt.保护, 保持, 保存, 保藏

to recount it as sagas -- legends handed down from one generation of story tales to another.

将历史当作传说讲述，由讲述人一代接一代地将史实描述为传奇故事口传下来。

recount[ri5kaunt]v.叙述

saga[5sB:^E]n.传奇

legend[5ledVEnd]n.传说

hand down  v.传下来, 宣布

generation[7dVenE5reiFEn]n.产生, 发生, 一代, 一代人

gene[dVi:n]n.[遗传]因子, [遗传]基因

These legends are useful because they can tell us something about migrations of people who lived long ago, but none could write down what they did.  

这些传说是有用的，因为他们告诉我们很久以前生活在这里的移民的一些事情。但是没有人能写下来。

These legends are useful  这些传说是有用的

because they can tell us 因为他们（可以）告诉我们

something about migrations of people who lived long ago, 很久以前生活在这里的移民的一些事情。

but none could write down what they did.  但是没有人能写下来。

migration[mai5^reiFEn]n.移民   emigration[7emi5^reiFEn]n.移民出境，侨居, [总称]移民

migrate[mai5^reit, 5mai^reit]vi.移动, 移往

grate[^reit]n.壁炉, 炉   rate[reit]n.比率, 速度

Anthropologists wondered where the remote ancestors of the Polynesian peoples now living in the Pacific Islands came from. 

人类学家过去不清楚如今生活在太平洋诸岛上的波利尼西亚人的祖先来自何方， 

wonder[5wQndE]n.奇迹, 惊奇, 惊愕vt.对...感到惊讶, 惊奇, 想知道vi.惊讶, 怀疑

anthropologist[7AnWrE5pClEdVist]n.人类学者, 人类学家

anthrop  n.人类学    ology[5ClEdViz]n.学问, 科学

remote[ri5mEut]adj.遥远的, 偏僻的, 细微的

ancestor[5AnsistE]n.祖先, 祖宗

the Pacific Islands 太平洋诸岛上

where the remote ancestors of the Polynesian peoples now living in the Pacific Islands came from

the remote ancestors of the Polynesian peoples 波利尼西亚人的祖先

now living in the Pacific Islands 如今生活在太平洋诸岛上

the remote ancestors of the Polynesian peoples now living in the Pacific Islands

如今生活在太平洋诸岛上的波利尼西亚人的祖先

The sagas of these people explain that some of them came from Indonesia about 2,000 years ago. 

当地人的传说却告诉人们：其中一部分是约在2,000年前从印度尼西亚迁来的。 

that some of them came from Indonesia about 2,000 years ago. 

Polynesian[7pCli5ni:ziEn]adj.玻利尼西亚人的n.玻利尼西亚人

Polynesia[7pCli5ni:ziE]n.玻利尼西亚

Indonesia[7indEu5ni:zjE]n.印尼(东南亚岛国)

Indonesian[7indEu5ni:FEn, -VEn]adj.印度尼西亚的n.印度尼西亚人, 印度尼西亚语

poly-[`pClI]表示“多的, 多个的, 多于一的”之义

Indo-[5IndEJ]表示“印度的, 印度人的, 印欧语系”之义

Polynesia  玻利尼西亚  Indonesia  印度尼西亚

But the first people who were like ourselves lived so long ago that even their sagas, if they had any, are forgotten. 

So archaeologists have neither history nor legends to help them to find out where the first 'modern men' came from. 

于是，考古学家们既缺乏历史记载，又无口头传说来帮助他们弄清最早的“现代人”是从哪里来的。 

neither nor  既不...也不...

neither[5naiTE, 5ni:TE]adj.pron.两者都不conj.既不...又不, 也不

neither history nor legends  既缺乏历史记载，又无口头传说

to help them to find out  去帮助他们弄清

find out  v. 找出, 发现, 查明(真相等)

the first 'modern men’   最早的“现代人”

where the first 'modern men' came from 最早的“现代人”是从哪里来的

Fortunately, however, ancient men made tools of stone, especially flint, because this is easier to shape than other kinds.  

然而， 幸运的是，远古人用石头制作了工具，特别是用燧石，因为燧石较之其他石头更容易成形。 

fortunately[5fC:tFEnEtlI]adv.幸运地

tools of stone  石制工具

especially[is5peFEli]adv.特别, 尤其 （指大类中某一个特别的东西，如“我喜欢体育运动，特别是足球”）

specially[5speFElI]adv.特别地, 临时地

flint[flint]n.打火石, 极硬的东西, 燧石

They may also have used wood and skins, but these have rotted away. 

他们也可能用过木头和兽皮，但这类东西早已腐烂殆尽。

have used  用过 (完成时)

skin[skin]n.皮, 皮肤

rot[rCt]v.(使)腐烂, (使)腐败n.腐烂, 腐败