I study religious history. Ancient civilizations left us many classical stories. I like to learn how old kings and emperors ruled, and how each dynasty shaped its people.
我研究宗教历史。古代文明给我们留下了许多古典故事。我喜欢了解古代的国王和皇帝如何统治,以及每个王朝如何塑造它的人民。
My strongest conviction is that faith shapes history. Many people pray in a holy place. A historical record tells us about a historic temple. Myths and traditions also carry old beliefs. I am conscious of how deeply religion has changed our world.
我最坚定的信念是,信仰塑造历史。许多人在神圣的地方祈祷。一份历史记录向我们讲述了一座有历史意义的寺庙。神话和传统也承载着古老的信仰。我清楚地意识到宗教如何深刻地改变了我们的世界。
I am writing a manuscript about these ideas. I concentrate on my notes and absorb every detail. A short walk in fresh air can refresh my mind. I use a small recorder to keep my voice notes, and a ballpoint pen to write with.
我正在就这些想法写一份手稿。我专注于我的笔记,吸收每一个细节。在新鲜空气中走一小段路能让我头脑恢复清醒。我用一台小录音机保存语音笔记,用一支圆珠笔来写字。
Last night the electrical wire in my room broke. My battery was flat, and my flashlight was in my bag. The fluorescent light went out, so I lit a candle. Then I lay on my bed with a soft pillow under my head and a warm quilt over my legs.
昨晚我房间的电线断了。我的电池没电了,手电筒在包里。荧光灯灭了,所以我点了一支蜡烛。然后我躺在床上,头下枕着柔软的枕头,腿上盖着暖和的被子。
I put on my coat and a long scarf. The scarf was made of soft fur, and I tied it around my neck. My coat hung down to my waist. My undergarment kept me warm. I got a neat haircut on Tuesday. My hair now lies neatly, and I look smart.
我穿上外套,围上一条长围巾。这条围巾是用柔软的皮毛做的,我把它系在脖子上。我的外套垂到腰部。我的内衣让我保持温暖。星期二我理了个整洁的发型。现在我的头发整整齐齐,看起来又精神又时髦。
On Tuesday I met an old acquaintance, a Brazilian teacher, and a friendly student from Australia. Our host invited us to a luncheon. We drank water from a bottle. Bubbles rose in the glass, and ice floated on top.
星期二我见到了一位老熟人、一位巴西教师和一位来自澳大利亚的友好学生。我们的主人邀请我们参加午宴。我们喝瓶装水。气泡在杯中升起,冰块浮在上面。
At the luncheon, my friend said, "Hey, look at this!" and jokingly showed us a small doll. It looked like a superman. He told a funny myth about a monk who could kowtow and then rise into the air. He called it levitation.
午宴上,我的朋友说:“嘿,看看这个!”并打趣地给我们看一个小玩偶。它看起来像个超人。他讲了一个有趣的神话,说有位僧人先磕头,然后升到空中。他称之为升空。
After lunch we went on a small adventure in a muddy field near an old sewer. A child fell toward the water. I was full of terror. But I seized a long pole and pulled the child to safety. In that moment I helped rescue him from drowning.
午饭后,我们在一条旧下水道附近泥泞的田野里进行了一次小小的冒险。一个孩子朝水里倒去。我满心恐惧。但我抓住一根长杆,把孩子拉到安全的地方。在那一刻,我帮忙把他从溺水中救了出来。
On Easter Sunday we sang songs. A choir of voices sang in harmony. People gathered to celebrate the holy day. We could hear the river roar far away, and everyone felt at peace.
复活节那天我们唱歌。合唱团的声音和谐地唱着。人们聚在一起庆祝这个神圣的日子。我们能听到远处的河水咆哮,每个人都感到平静。
My research is a real challenge. I want to accomplish a clear goal. I took action. I realized that I must be an advocate for careful study. I hope readers show acceptance of new ideas.
我的研究是一个真正的挑战。我想完成一个明确的目标。我采取了行动。我意识到我必须成为严谨研究的倡导者。我希望读者能接受新的观点。
I analyze old records and classify them by date. I assess the value of each find. In my calculation I use decimal numbers. Ten minus three is seven. I try not to generalize too quickly, and I look for a measurable result.
我分析古老的记录,并按日期给它们分类。我评估每一件发现的价值。在我的计算中我使用小数。十减三等于七。我尽量不急于概括,并寻找一个可以衡量的结果。
The museum must allocate money for procurement. Old items lose value through depreciation, so a regulatory inspection is important. Some old books are exempt from tax. The beneficiary of the fund spoke on behalf of the team. The disposal of broken items follows strict rules.
博物馆必须为采购划拨资金。旧物品会因折旧而贬值,所以管理方面的检查很重要。一些旧书可以免税。基金的受益人代表团队发言。废弃物品的处理遵循严格的规则。
One strange case seemed absurd at first. A man was accused of cheating, but the damage he caused was actually accidental. It was apparent that he was not an abuser. The real victim was his honest neighbor.
有一件奇怪的事起初看起来很荒唐。一个男人被指控作弊,但他造成的损坏实际上是偶然发生的。很明显他不是一个施暴者。真正的受害者是他诚实的邻居。
The results astonished me. It was amazing to see how much I had learned. My friend's patience was admirable. I felt deep appreciation for his help. The work was tiring but enjoyable. The continual noise caused some agitation, yet I stayed calm.
结果让我惊讶。看到自己学到了这么多真是令人惊叹。我朋友的耐心令人钦佩。我对他的帮助深表感激。工作很累但令人愉快。持续的噪音引起了一些不安,但我保持平静。
I learned a pressing lesson about poverty. Some poor villages thrive when they transform their old ways. Many people feel a sense of inferiority when they compare themselves with others. I am not averse to change. A kind act is akin to a gift. We should align our words with our deeds. Kindness can complement hard work. It can also counteract fear and bring harmony.
我学到了一个关于贫穷的紧迫教训。一些贫穷的村庄在改变旧方式后兴旺起来。许多人在与他人比较时会产生一种自卑感。我并不反对改变。善举类似于一份礼物。我们应当言行一致。善意可以补足勤奋。它也可以抵消恐惧,带来和谐。
Every morning I stand upright for a few minutes. The old tower is forty metres high. Laughter burst from the children. A shared history can bind people together and blend different cultures. A strong bond of trust grew between us. Life moves in a cycle, and change brings acceleration.
每天早晨我站直几分钟。那座古塔有四十米高。孩子们爆发出笑声。共同的历史能把人们团结起来,并融合不同的文化。我们之间形成了牢固的信任纽带。生命在循环中运行,而变革带来加速。
I made a definite choice: I will finish my book. The last chapter is optional, but I want it. I briefly gave a talk. After my announcement, many people asked to come to my arrival party. With permission, I captured photos. I can solve hard problems and implement my proposal.
我做了一个确定的选择:我要写完我的书。最后一章是可选的,但我想要它。我做了一次简短的演讲。在我宣布之后,许多人想来参加我的欢迎会。经许可,我拍了一些照片。我能解决难题并实施我的提议。
The addressee of my letter was my old teacher. A reminder on my desk told me to write back. Good things come to those who wait. Everything I have, I owe to my teachers. Their ideas lead me, purely and truly, and will stay with me forever. I am grateful for every living thing that helps me.
我信件的收信人是我以前的老师。桌上的一张提醒便条告诉我要回信。好的东西会降临到等待的人身上。我所拥有的一切都归功于我的老师。他们的思想纯粹而真实地引领着我,并将永远伴随着我。我感激每一个帮助我的生灵。
The area around the old church has a concrete barrier. The interior is cool and dark. A gray stone wall shows its age. One disadvantage is that the road is inconvenient in winter. I turned the tap to wash my hands. A bird of light weight swallowed a seed. Many species of birds live here.
老教堂周围的区域有一道混凝土屏障。内部凉爽而昏暗。灰色的石墙显示出它的年代。一个缺点就是这条路在冬天很不方便。我拧开水龙头洗手。一只体重很轻的鸟吞下了一粒种子。许多种类的鸟住在这里。
Traditional festivals keep old customs alive. Faith is essential to many people. I saw an antique lamp in the museum, and its fame spread far. The glass was fragile. The nurse who cleaned it worked very carefully.
传统节日让古老的习俗得以延续。信仰对许多人来说是不可或缺的。我在博物馆里看到一盏古董灯,它的名声远播。玻璃很易碎。负责清洁它的护士动作非常小心。
The old empire lasted for many centuries. In the ninth century it reached its height. A historian from Ohio wrote about it. One page was absent from the book. A book addict bought a rare copy, and he even asked about the after-sale service.
那个古老的帝国延续了许多世纪。在第九世纪它达到了鼎盛。一位来自俄亥俄州的历史学家写过它。书里有一页缺失了。一个嗜书如命的人买下了一本珍贵的抄本,他甚至询问了售后服务。
I read the old story aloud, and my students listened attentively. Amongst all the stories, this one moved me most. We held a short dialog about it. Then I asked them to retell the tale in their own words. "Try it yourself," I said.
我大声朗读那个古老的故事,学生们专注地听着。在所有故事中,这个最打动我。我们就它进行了一段简短的对话。然后我请他们用自己的话复述这个故事。“你自己试试吧,”我说。
The project took considerable time and needed careful coordination. The old walls were exposed to wind and rain. Some parts were critically damaged. In the past, a sudden illness could paralyze a whole village. Yet the pattern of daily life gave people a bright outlook. Music provided strong stimulation for the mind. Unlike the rich, the poor wore simple but stylish clothes. I threw old papers into the shredder.
这个项目花费了相当多的时间,需要仔细的协调。古老的墙壁暴露在风雨之中。有些部分损坏得很严重。在过去,一场突发的疾病可能让整个村庄瘫痪。然而,日常生活的模式给了人们一个光明的人生观。音乐给心灵带来强烈的刺激。与富人不同,穷人身穿朴素却时尚的衣服。我把旧纸扔进了碎纸机。