美国语文第五册 第264期:人类与动物(2)
时间：2019-02-13 作者：英语课 分类：美国语文第五册
英语课
But the inferior animals provide for themselves and their young without any of these things. 然而，低级动物无法为自己或后代制造任何劳动工具。
Now for the second distinction. Man, in all his operations, makes mistakes; animals make none. 现在，我们来谈谈第二个差异。就人类行为举止而言，凡夫俗子错误在所难免；
Did you ever hear of such a thing as a bird sitting on a twig 1 lamenting 2 over her half-finished nest and puzzling her little head to know how to complete it? 而动物不会犯错误。你是否听说栖息树枝上的小鸟哀叹自己尚未完工的巢穴，或是不知所措怎样将巢穴建好？
Or did you ever see the cells of a beehive in clumsy, irregular shapes, 你是否观察过那些拙笨、不规则的蜂房巢室，
or observe anything like a discussion in the little community, as if there were a difference of opinion among the architects? 是否留意在筑造蜂巢时，蜜蜂群体成员存在不同意见从而进行讨论？
The lower animals are even better physicians than we are; 与人类相比，低级动物不愧是更好的医生。
for when they are ill, they will, many of them, seek out some particular herb, which they do not, use as food, 动物生病时，它们大多寻找某些特殊药草，这类药草并非食用，
and which possesses a medicinal quality exactly suited to the complaint; 而是专门用作治病养伤，并且确实具有某种药物疗效；
whereas, the whole college of physicians will dispute for a century about the virtues 3 of a single drug. 相反，就医用疗效来说，哪怕一种药物，整个医学院专家医生们完全可以喋喋不休地辩论上百年。
Man undertakes nothing in which he is not more or less puzzled; 人类做事总喜欢瞻前顾后，
and must try numberless experiments before he can bring his undertakings 4 to anything like perfection; 他必须无数次躬身亲为，试图将事情做到近乎完善，
even the simplest operations of domestic life are not well performed without some experience; 然而，哪怕最简单的家庭生活缺乏实践，他亦无法做到称心如意。
and the term of man's life is half wasted before he has done with his mistakes and begins to profit by his lessons. 人类初涉某一事物，错误过失在所难免，每每开始从自身经验教训里终有所得，他的人生时光早已挥霍过半。
n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解
- He heard the sharp crack of a twig.他听到树枝清脆的断裂声。
- The sharp sound of a twig snapping scared the badger away.细枝突然折断的刺耳声把獾惊跑了。
adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 )
- Katydids were lamenting fall's approach. 蝈蝈儿正为秋天临近而哀鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Lamenting because the papers hadn't been destroyed and the money kept. 她正在吃后悔药呢，后悔自己没有毁了那张字条，把钱昧下来！ 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处
- Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
- She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。
企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务
- The principle of diligence and frugality applies to all undertakings. 勤俭节约的原则适用于一切事业。
- Such undertakings require the precise planning and foresight of military operations. 此举要求军事上战役中所需要的准确布置和预见。