美国故事 SENEWS-2007-0303-Feature
英语课
Now, the Special English program American Stories. Today we begin a new series from a book by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. The book is called "A Princess of Mars 1". It is the first book in a series that Mr. Burroughs wrote about a man who travels to Mars during the last years of the 1800s. There, the man meets strange beings and sees strange sights. At first he is a captive 2 then a warrior 3 and after many battles, a prince of a royal family. Shep O'Neal begins the story of "A Princess of Mars'.
I am a very old man. How old I do not know. It is possible I am a hundred, maybe more. I cannot tell because I have never aged 4 as other men do. So far as I can remember, I have always been a man of about thirty. I appear today as I did 40 years ago. Yet, I feel that I cannot go on living forever. Someday, I will die the real death from which there is no escape. I do not know why I should fear death, I, who have died two times. And I'm still alive. I have never told the story. I know the human mind will not believe what it cannot understand. I cannot explain what happened to me. I can only tell of the ten years my dead body lay undiscovered in an Arizona cave.
My name is John Carter. I am from the state of Virginia. Back the close of the civil war I found myself without a home, without money and without work. I decided 5 the best plan was to search for gold in the great deserts of the American southwest. I spent almost a year searching for gold with another former soldier Captain James Powell, also of Virginia. We were extremely lucky. In the winter of 1865, we found rocks that held gold. Powell was trained as a mining engineer. He said we had uncovered 6 over a million dollars worth of gold in only three months. But the work was slow with only two men and not much equipment. So we decided Powell should go to the nearest settlement to seek equipment and men to help us with the work.
On March 3rd, 1866, Powell said goodbye. He rode his horse down the mountain toward 7 the valley. I followed his progress for several hours. The morning Powell left was like all mornings in the deserts of the great southwest, clear and beautiful. Not much later, I looked across the valley. I was surprised to see three riders in the same place where I had last seen my friend. After watching for some time, I decided the three riders must be hostile 8 Indians. Powell, I knew, was well armed and an experienced 9 soldier, but I knew he would need my aid. I found my weapons placed a saddle 10 on my horse and started as fast as possible down the trail taken by Powell. I followed as quickly as I could until dark. About 9 o'clock the moon became very bright. I had no difficulty following Powell's trail. I soon found the trail left by the three riders following Powell. I knew they were Indians. I was sure they wanted to capture 11 Powell.
Suddenly I heard shots far ahead of me. I hurried ahead as fast as I could. Soon I came to a small camp. Several hundred Apache Indians were in the center of the camp. I could see Powell on the ground. I did not even think about what to do. I just acted, I pulled out my guns and began shooting. The Apaches were surprised and fled. I forced my horse into the camp and toward Powell. I reached down and pulled him up on the horse by his belt. I urged the horse to greater speed. The Apaches, by now, realized that I was alone and quickly began to follow. We were soon in very rough country. The trail I chose began to rise sharply 12. It went up and up. I followed the trail for several hundred meters more until I came to the mouth of a large cave.
It was almost morning now. I got off my horse and laid Powell on the ground. I tried to give him water but it was no use. Powell was dead. I laid his body down and continued to the cave. I began to explore the cave. I was looking for a safe place to defend myself or perhaps for a way out. But I became very sleepy. It was a pleasant feeling, my body became extremely heavy, I had trouble moving. Soon I had to lay down against the side of the cave, for some reason I could not move my arms or legs. I lay facing the opening of the cave. I could see part of the trail that had led me here and now I could see the Apaches. They had found me but I could do nothing. Within a minute, one of them came into the cave. He looked at me but he came no closer. His eyes grew wide, his mouth opened, he had a look of terror 13 on his face. He looked behind me for a moment and then fled. Suddenly, I heard a low noise behind me, so could the rest of the Apaches. They all turned and fled. The sound became louder, but still I could not move. I could not turn my head to see what was behind me. All day I lay like this. I tried again to rise and again. But I still could not move. Then, I heard a sharp sound. It was like a steel wire breaking. I quickly stood up, my back was against the cave wall. I looked down, there before me lay my body.
For a few moments, I stood looking at my body. I could not bring myself to touch it, I was very frightened. The sounds of the cave and the sight of my body forced me away. I slowly backed to the opening of the cave. I turned to look at the Arizona night. I could see a thousand stars. As I stood there, I turned my eyes to a large red star. I could not stop looking at it. It was Mars, the red planet 14, the red God of War. It seemed to pull me near. Then, for a moment, I closed my eyes. There was an instant of extreme cold and total darkness. Suddenly I was in deep, dreamless, peaceful sleep.
I opened my eyes upon a very strange land. I immediately knew then I was on Mars. Not once did I question this fact. My mind told me I was on Mars as your mind tells you that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact, nor did I. I found myself lying on a bed of yellow colored grass that covered the land for kilometers. The time was near the middle of the day, and the sun was shining full upon me. It was warm. I decided to do a little exploring. Springing to my feet, I received my first Martians surprise - the effort to stand carried me into the Martian air to the height of above one meter! I landed softly 15 upon the ground, however, without incident. I found that I must learn to walk all over again. My muscles were used to the gravity of Earth, Mars has less gravity. My attempts to walk resulted in jumps and hops 16 which took me into the air. I once landed on my face. I soon learnt that it took much less effort for me to move on Mars than it did on Earth. Near me was a small low wall, carefully I made my way to the wall and looked over. It was filled with eggs, some already broken open. Small green creatures were in them. They looked at me with huge red eyes. As I watched the fierce looking creatures, I failed to hear 20 full-grown Martians coming from behind me. They had come without warning. As I turned, I saw them. One was coming at me with a huge spear with its sharp tip pointed 17 at my heart.
This is Bob Doughty 18. You have been listening to American Stories and our version 19 of "A Princess of Mars". The voice of John Carter was Shep O'Neal. Our program was written for radio produced and directed by Paul Thompson. Join us again next week for the next part of the Edgar Rice Burroughs' story "A Princess of Mars" on the Special English program
I am a very old man. How old I do not know. It is possible I am a hundred, maybe more. I cannot tell because I have never aged 4 as other men do. So far as I can remember, I have always been a man of about thirty. I appear today as I did 40 years ago. Yet, I feel that I cannot go on living forever. Someday, I will die the real death from which there is no escape. I do not know why I should fear death, I, who have died two times. And I'm still alive. I have never told the story. I know the human mind will not believe what it cannot understand. I cannot explain what happened to me. I can only tell of the ten years my dead body lay undiscovered in an Arizona cave.
My name is John Carter. I am from the state of Virginia. Back the close of the civil war I found myself without a home, without money and without work. I decided 5 the best plan was to search for gold in the great deserts of the American southwest. I spent almost a year searching for gold with another former soldier Captain James Powell, also of Virginia. We were extremely lucky. In the winter of 1865, we found rocks that held gold. Powell was trained as a mining engineer. He said we had uncovered 6 over a million dollars worth of gold in only three months. But the work was slow with only two men and not much equipment. So we decided Powell should go to the nearest settlement to seek equipment and men to help us with the work.
On March 3rd, 1866, Powell said goodbye. He rode his horse down the mountain toward 7 the valley. I followed his progress for several hours. The morning Powell left was like all mornings in the deserts of the great southwest, clear and beautiful. Not much later, I looked across the valley. I was surprised to see three riders in the same place where I had last seen my friend. After watching for some time, I decided the three riders must be hostile 8 Indians. Powell, I knew, was well armed and an experienced 9 soldier, but I knew he would need my aid. I found my weapons placed a saddle 10 on my horse and started as fast as possible down the trail taken by Powell. I followed as quickly as I could until dark. About 9 o'clock the moon became very bright. I had no difficulty following Powell's trail. I soon found the trail left by the three riders following Powell. I knew they were Indians. I was sure they wanted to capture 11 Powell.
Suddenly I heard shots far ahead of me. I hurried ahead as fast as I could. Soon I came to a small camp. Several hundred Apache Indians were in the center of the camp. I could see Powell on the ground. I did not even think about what to do. I just acted, I pulled out my guns and began shooting. The Apaches were surprised and fled. I forced my horse into the camp and toward Powell. I reached down and pulled him up on the horse by his belt. I urged the horse to greater speed. The Apaches, by now, realized that I was alone and quickly began to follow. We were soon in very rough country. The trail I chose began to rise sharply 12. It went up and up. I followed the trail for several hundred meters more until I came to the mouth of a large cave.
It was almost morning now. I got off my horse and laid Powell on the ground. I tried to give him water but it was no use. Powell was dead. I laid his body down and continued to the cave. I began to explore the cave. I was looking for a safe place to defend myself or perhaps for a way out. But I became very sleepy. It was a pleasant feeling, my body became extremely heavy, I had trouble moving. Soon I had to lay down against the side of the cave, for some reason I could not move my arms or legs. I lay facing the opening of the cave. I could see part of the trail that had led me here and now I could see the Apaches. They had found me but I could do nothing. Within a minute, one of them came into the cave. He looked at me but he came no closer. His eyes grew wide, his mouth opened, he had a look of terror 13 on his face. He looked behind me for a moment and then fled. Suddenly, I heard a low noise behind me, so could the rest of the Apaches. They all turned and fled. The sound became louder, but still I could not move. I could not turn my head to see what was behind me. All day I lay like this. I tried again to rise and again. But I still could not move. Then, I heard a sharp sound. It was like a steel wire breaking. I quickly stood up, my back was against the cave wall. I looked down, there before me lay my body.
For a few moments, I stood looking at my body. I could not bring myself to touch it, I was very frightened. The sounds of the cave and the sight of my body forced me away. I slowly backed to the opening of the cave. I turned to look at the Arizona night. I could see a thousand stars. As I stood there, I turned my eyes to a large red star. I could not stop looking at it. It was Mars, the red planet 14, the red God of War. It seemed to pull me near. Then, for a moment, I closed my eyes. There was an instant of extreme cold and total darkness. Suddenly I was in deep, dreamless, peaceful sleep.
I opened my eyes upon a very strange land. I immediately knew then I was on Mars. Not once did I question this fact. My mind told me I was on Mars as your mind tells you that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact, nor did I. I found myself lying on a bed of yellow colored grass that covered the land for kilometers. The time was near the middle of the day, and the sun was shining full upon me. It was warm. I decided to do a little exploring. Springing to my feet, I received my first Martians surprise - the effort to stand carried me into the Martian air to the height of above one meter! I landed softly 15 upon the ground, however, without incident. I found that I must learn to walk all over again. My muscles were used to the gravity of Earth, Mars has less gravity. My attempts to walk resulted in jumps and hops 16 which took me into the air. I once landed on my face. I soon learnt that it took much less effort for me to move on Mars than it did on Earth. Near me was a small low wall, carefully I made my way to the wall and looked over. It was filled with eggs, some already broken open. Small green creatures were in them. They looked at me with huge red eyes. As I watched the fierce looking creatures, I failed to hear 20 full-grown Martians coming from behind me. They had come without warning. As I turned, I saw them. One was coming at me with a huge spear with its sharp tip pointed 17 at my heart.
This is Bob Doughty 18. You have been listening to American Stories and our version 19 of "A Princess of Mars". The voice of John Carter was Shep O'Neal. Our program was written for radio produced and directed by Paul Thompson. Join us again next week for the next part of the Edgar Rice Burroughs' story "A Princess of Mars" on the Special English program
1 Mars
n.火星,战争
- As of now we don't know much about Mars.目前我们对火星还知之甚少。
- He contended that there must be life on Mars.他坚信火星上面一定有生物。
2 captive
adj.被俘虏的,不得自由行动的,被监禁的
- They led him captive.他们将他活捉。
- The rock star had a captive audience.那位摇滚歌星倾倒了许多观众。
3 warrior
n.勇士,武士,斗士
- The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
- A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。
4 aged
adj.年老的,陈年的
- He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了,也老点了。
- He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老,然而记忆力还好。
5 decided
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
6 uncovered
adj.无盖的,未保险的v.揭开…的盖子( uncover的过去式和过去分词 );揭露,发现
- His head was uncovered. 他光着头。
- A plot to assassinate the banker has been uncovered by the police. 暗杀银行家的密谋被警方侦破了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 toward
prep.对于,关于,接近,将近,向,朝
- Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
- Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了,并跑了过去。
8 hostile
adj.不友好的,敌对的;敌方的,敌人的
- The local people are hostile to outsiders.当地人敌视外地人。
- Their hostile looks showed that he was unwelcome.他们怀敌意的表情说明他不受欢迎。
9 experienced
adj.有经验的;经验丰富的,熟练的
- Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
- Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好,你比我更有经验。
10 saddle
n.鞍,车座,山脊,拖具;vt.装以马鞍,使负担;vi.装马鞍
- The bicycle saddle is too high for this child.这辆自行车车座对这孩子来说太高了。
- We got the order to saddle up just after dawn.我们得到命令,天一亮就要上好马鞍。
11 capture
vt.捕获,俘获;占领,夺得;n.抓住,捕获
- The company is out to capture the European market.这家公司希望占据欧洲市场。
- With the capture of the escaped tiger,everyone felt relieved.逃出来的老虎被捕获后,大家都松了一口气。
12 sharply
adj.锐利地,急速;adv.严厉地,鲜明地
- The plane dived sharply and rose again.飞机猛然俯冲而后又拉了起来。
- Demand for personal computers has risen sharply.对个人电脑的需求急剧增长。
13 terror
n.恐怖;可怖的人(事)
- We were in mortal terror of being found out. 我们非常害怕被发现。
- That guy is a proper terror. 那家伙真是讨厌。
14 planet
n.行星
- Neptune is the furthest planet from the sun. 海王星是离太阳最远的行星。
- Rubbish, however, is only part of the problem of polluting our planet. 然而, 垃圾只是我们这个星球的污染问题的一个方面。
15 softly
adv.柔和地,静静地,温柔地
- He speaks too softly for her to hear.他讲话声音太轻,她听不见。
- She breathed her advice softly.她低声劝告。
16 hops
跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 ); 单足蹦跳; 齐足(或双足)跳行; 摘葎草花
- The sparrow crossed the lawn in a series of hops. 那麻雀一蹦一跳地穿过草坪。
- It is brewed from malt and hops. 它用麦精和蛇麻草酿成。
17 pointed
adj.尖的,直截了当的
- He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
- She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。