文学故事教你挑礼物

关于圣诞节送什么礼物给别人的建议比比皆是，但是总的来说，经典故事为送礼提供了最好的指南之一。

双语精读

A guide to festive gift-giving from stage, page and screen

来自舞台、书本、银幕的节日送礼指南

Suggestions for what to get people for Christmas abound, but, collectively, classic stories provide one of the best guides to gifts.

关于圣诞节送什么礼物给别人的建议比比皆是，但是总的来说，经典故事为送礼提供了最好的指南之一。

An overarching lesson is that a present is not just an object but a statement-about you, the recipient and your feelings towards them. Another is that gifts are a chance to express hostility as well as affection.

一个首要的教训是，礼物不仅仅是一个物品，更是一种表达——关于你、收礼者、你对他们感情的表达。另一个教训是，礼物既是表达爱意，也是表达敌意的机会。

A gift to your estranged relative could offer them a festive truce. Alternatively, it could be a way to show them how little you think of them.

给疏而不和的亲戚送一份礼物，可以向他们表示节日休战之意。或者这也可以是向他们表示你有多么蔑视他们的一种方式。

That is the message of the tennis balls sent by the French dauphin to the hero of Shakespeare's "Henry V", one of the worst-judged gifts in literature. Irked by this mocking allusion to the revels of his youth, the English king promptly invades France.

在莎士比亚的《亨利五世》中，法国王太子送给主人公亨利五世网球，其中所传达的信息就是蔑视，这是文学作品中判断最失误的礼物之一。英国国王被这个对他少年纵乐的嘲弄和影射所激怒，于是立即入侵法国。

Or recall the toothpick and single tissue that the dismal Dursleys give their put-upon lodger Harry Potter in J. K. Rowling's books. If insulting an in-law is your aim, and they have young children, try inflicting a remote-control car, with which their offspring will smash up the furniture.

或者回想一下，在J.K.罗琳的小说中，阴沉的德思礼一家给寄居他们家的总是受气的哈利·波特送了牙签和一片纸巾作礼物。如果你的目标是侮辱你的姻亲，而且他们有年幼的孩子，那就试试送他们一辆遥控汽车，他们的孩子会用这汽车撞坏家具。

Before splashing the cash, remember that every gift comes with an obligation. That may simply be to say "thank you" for the bath salts and pretend you like them. But often it is more than that. If the recipient is unable to reciprocate, a present may be an unpayable debt.

在挥霍金钱之前，请记住，每一份礼物都伴随着一份义务。这义务可能只是为收到浴盐说声“谢谢”，并假装你很喜欢。但义务往往不止如此。如果收礼人无以回报，那么礼物可能是一笔无法偿还的人情债。

Or it can be an unwelcome claim to intimacy. This is particularly true when the gift is from a sleazy man to a woman he is pursuing. "Take back your mink," sings Miss Adelaide in "Guys & Dolls", "Take back your pearls/What made you think/That I was one of those girls?"

或者礼物可能是一种不受欢迎的对亲密关系的索要。当礼物是一个卑鄙下流的男人送给他正在追求的女人时，这一点尤其正确。“把你的貂皮大衣拿回去，”歌舞剧《红男绿女》中的阿德莱德小姐唱道，“把你的珍珠项链拿回去/你凭什么认为/我是那种女孩？”

Many of the most cherished gifts in fiction are modest. Before he penetrates Willy Wonka's factory, Charlie Bucket is given a single chocolate bar which he ekes out deliriously for a month.

小说中许多最受珍视的礼物都是很朴素的。在进入威利·旺卡的工厂之前，查理·巴克特收到了一板巧克力，他欣喜若狂地省着吃了一个月。

In stories, as in life, buying gifts can be a joy or a minefield, receiving them a blessing or a burden. They can convey a surrender or assert supremacy. They could sweeten your family Christmas or embitter it.

在故事中，就像在生活中一样，买礼物可以是乐事，也可以是雷区，而收礼物可以是福气，也可以是负担。礼物可以表示投降，也可以宣示霸权，可以让你的家庭圣诞节变得甜蜜，也可以让它变得苦涩。

词汇预习

• Shakespeare [高考]
  美[ˈʃeɪkspir] | 英[ˈʃeɪkspɪər]
  n. 莎士比亚（英国诗人、剧作家）
• particularly [高考]
  美[pərˈtɪkjələrli] | 英[pəˈtɪkjələli]
  adv. 特别；尤其；详细地
• recall [高考]
  美[rɪˈkɔːl] | 英[rɪˈkɔːl]
  n. 回忆；取消；召回
  vt. 召回；恢复；回想起；唤起；与 ... 相似
• claim [高考]
  美[kleɪm] | 英[kleɪm]
  n. 索赔；宣称；声明；断言
  v. 声称；宣称；认领；索取
• cash [高考]
  美[kæʃ] | 英[kæʃ]
  n. 现金
  vt. 付现款；兑现
  adj. 现金的
• classic [高考]
  美[ˈklæsɪk] | 英[ˈklæsɪk]
  n. 杰作；古典作品；第一流艺术家
  adj. 最优秀的；传统的；古典的
• remote [高考]
  美[rɪˈmoʊt] | 英[rɪˈməʊt]
  adj. 遥远的；偏僻的；远程的；(感情等)距离很大
  n. 远程操作
• convey [高考]
  美[kənˈveɪ] | 英[kənˈveɪ]
  vt. 表达；传达；运输；转移
• debt [高考]
  美[det] | 英[det]
  n. 债务；恩情；负债状态；义务；罪
• tissue [高考]
  美[ˈtɪʃuː] | 英[ˈtɪʃuː]
  n. 纸巾；薄绢；(生物的)组织；织物
• affection [高考]
  美[əˈfekʃn] | 英[əˈfekʃn]
  n. 影响；感情；喜爱；慈爱
• bar [高考]
  美[ bɑːr] | 英[bɑː(r)]
  n. 酒吧；条；横木；栅
  vt. 禁止；阻挠；闩上；在 ... 设栅栏
• obligation [高考]
  美[ˌɑːblɪˈɡeɪʃn] | 英[ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃn]
  n. 义务；责任
• surrender [高考]
  美[səˈrendər] | 英[səˈrendə(r)]
  v. 投降；屈服；放弃
  n. 投降；屈服；放弃
• recipient [四级]
  美[rɪˈsɪpiənt] | 英[rɪˈsɪpiənt]
  n. 接受者；收信人
• unwelcome [四级]
  美[ʌnˈwelkəm] | 英[ʌnˈwelkəm]
  adj. 不受欢迎的，令人失望的，令人讨厌的
  n. 冷淡
  v. 冷淡地对待[接受]
• smash [四级]
  美[smæʃ] | 英[smæʃ]
  v. 打碎；粉碎；猛撞
  n. 破碎；撞击；轰动的演出；[网球]高压扣球
  adj. 极为成功的
• promptly [四级]
  美[ˈprɑmptli] | 英[ˈprɒmptli]
  adv. 迅速地；准时地；立即
• assert [四级]
  美[əˈsɜːrt] | 英[əˈsɜːt]
  vt. 断言；主张，坚持；生效；维护
• minefield [四级]
  美[ˈmaɪnˌfild] | 英[ˈmaɪnfi:ld]
  n. 雷区
  n. 需小心应付的局势
• blessing [四级]
  美[ˈblesɪŋ] | 英[ˈblesɪŋ]
  n. 祝福；祷告；幸事
• hostility [六级]
  美[hɑˈstɪləti] | 英[hɒˈstɪləti]
  n. 敌意；敌对状态；公开战争
• offspring [六级]
  美[ˈɔːfsprɪŋ] | 英[ˈɒfsprɪŋ]
  n. 后代；子孙；产物
• sweeten [六级]
  美[ˈswitn] | 英[ˈswi:tn]
  v. (使)变甜；使愉悦；净化
• guide to [六级]
  美[ɡaɪd tu] | 英[ɡaid tu:]
  v. 带领到
• intimacy [专四]
  美[ˈɪntɪməsi] | 英[ˈɪntɪməsi]
  n. 亲密；隐私
• abound [专四]
  美[əˈbaʊnd] | 英[əˈbaʊnd]
  v. 富于；充满
• festive [专八]
  美[ˈfɛstɪv] | 英[ˈfestɪv]
  adj. 欢乐的；节日的；喜庆的
• supremacy [专八]
  美[sʊˈprɛməsi] | 英[su:ˈpreməsi]
  n. 至高；主权；最高权力或地位
• allusion [专八]
  美[əˈluːʒn] | 英[əˈluːʒn]
  n. 暗指；暗示
• truce [专八]
  美[trus] | 英[tru:s]
  n. 休战；(争执；烦恼等的)缓和
  v. 以停战结束
• mink [专八]
  美[mɪŋk] | 英[mɪŋk]
  n. 貂；貂皮衣
• sleazy [专八]
  美[ˈslizi] | 英[ˈsli:zi]
  adj. 质地薄的；肮脏的；低廉的；低劣的
• reciprocate [专八]
  美[rɪˈsɪprəˌket] | 英[rɪˈsɪprəkeɪt]
  v. 互换；交换；报答；往返运动

重点讲解

A guide to festive gift-giving from stage, page and screen

来自舞台、书本、银幕的节日送礼指南

abound  v. 大量存在

【例】Humorous dialogues abound in the movie.

电影里有很多幽默的对话。

【搭配】abound with sth  有大量的某物

【例】The movie abounds with humorous dialogues.

电影里有很多幽默的对话。

【拓展】abundant  adj. 丰富的；大量的

recipient  n. 收受者

【例】a recipient of the award 领奖者

【近义词】receiver  n. 收受者

【反义词】giver/donor  n. 赠与者

hostility  n. 敌意

【例】I have no hostility toward him. 

我对他没有敌意。

【拓展】hostile  adj. 敌意的；敌对的

【辨析】hospitality  n. 友好款待；好客

Suggestions for what to get people for Christmas abound, but, collectively, classic stories provide one of the best guides to gifts.

关于圣诞节送什么礼物给别人的建议比比皆是，但是总的来说，经典故事为送礼提供了最好的指南之一。

abound  v. 大量存在

【例】Humorous dialogues abound in the movie.

电影里有很多幽默的对话。

【搭配】abound with sth  有大量的某物

【例】The movie abounds with humorous dialogues.

电影里有很多幽默的对话。

【拓展】abundant  adj. 丰富的；大量的

recipient  n. 收受者

【例】a recipient of the award 领奖者

【近义词】receiver  n. 收受者

【反义词】giver/donor  n. 赠与者

hostility  n. 敌意

【例】I have no hostility toward him. 

我对他没有敌意。

【拓展】hostile  adj. 敌意的；敌对的

【辨析】hospitality  n. 友好款待；好客

An overarching lesson is that a present is not just an object but a statement—about you, the recipient and your feelings towards them. Another is that gifts are a chance to express hostility as well as affection.

一个首要的教训是，礼物不仅仅是一个物品，更是一种表达——关于你、收礼者、你对他们感情的表达。另一个教训是，礼物既是表达爱意，也是表达敌意的机会。

abound  v. 大量存在

【例】Humorous dialogues abound in the movie.

电影里有很多幽默的对话。

【搭配】abound with sth  有大量的某物

【例】The movie abounds with humorous dialogues.

电影里有很多幽默的对话。

【拓展】abundant  adj. 丰富的；大量的

recipient  n. 收受者

【例】a recipient of the award 领奖者

【近义词】receiver  n. 收受者

【反义词】giver/donor  n. 赠与者

hostility  n. 敌意

【例】I have no hostility toward him. 

我对他没有敌意。

【拓展】hostile  adj. 敌意的；敌对的

【辨析】hospitality  n. 友好款待；好客

A gift to your estranged relative could offer them a festive truce. Alternatively, it could be a way to show them how little you think of them.

给疏而不和的亲戚送一份礼物，可以向他们表示节日休战之意。或者这也可以是向他们表示你有多么蔑视他们的一种方式。

estranged  adj. 疏远的；不和睦的

【例】He became estranged from his family after the argument. 

那场争吵后，他便与家人疏远了。

【拓展】strange  adj. 陌生的

【辨析】remote  adj. 远亲的

think little of sb  对某人评价不高

【例】He thinks little of his son-in-law.

他认为女婿不怎么好。

【反义词】think highly of sb 对某人评价高

That is the message of the tennis balls sent by the French dauphin to the hero of Shakespeare’s “Henry V”, one of the worst-judged gifts in literature. Irked by this mocking allusion to the revels of his youth, the English king promptly invades France.

在莎士比亚的《亨利五世》中，法国王太子送给主人公亨利五世网球，其中所传达的信息就是蔑视，这是文学作品中判断最失误的礼物之一。英国国王被这个对他少年纵乐的嘲弄和影射所激怒，于是立即入侵法国。

allusion  n. 暗指；间接提到

【例】to make no personal allusions in speaking 

说话时不影射任何人

【近义词】implication  n. 暗含的意思；暗指

【拓展】allude to sth 暗指；间接提到

Or recall the toothpick and single tissue that the dismal Dursleys give their put-upon lodger Harry Potter in J. K. Rowling’s books. If insulting an in-law is your aim, and they have young children, try inflicting a remote-control car, with which their offspring will smash up the furniture.

或者回想一下，在J.K.罗琳的小说中，阴沉的德思礼一家给寄居他们家的总是受气的哈利·波特送了牙签和一片纸巾作礼物。如果你的目标是侮辱你的姻亲，而且他们有年幼的孩子，那就试试送他们一辆遥控汽车，他们的孩子会用这汽车撞坏家具。

put-upon  adj. 被占便宜的；被利用的

【例】I don't mind helping them, but I can't help feeling a little put-upon.

我不介意帮他们，但我很难不觉得他们是在占我便宜/欺负我。

inflict  v. 给予（不好的东西）

【例】They inflicted a humiliating defeat on their rivals. 

他们让对手吃了一场很没面子的败仗。

【搭配】inflict sth on sb  给某人某物；让某人遭受某事

【辨析】afflict  v. 折磨；使痛苦

【搭配】sb be afflicted with sth  某人被某事折磨

【例】He has been afflicted with nightmares.

他噩梦缠身。

Before splashing the cash, remember that every gift comes with an obligation. That may simply be to say “thank you” for the bath salts and pretend you like them. But often it is more than that. If the recipient is unable to reciprocate, a present may be an unpayable debt.

在挥霍金钱之前，请记住，每一份礼物都伴随着一份义务。这义务可能只是为收到浴盐说声“谢谢”，并假装你很喜欢。但义务往往不止如此。如果收礼人无以回报，那么礼物可能是一笔无法偿还的人情债。

reciprocate  v. 回报；报答

【例】He greeted me and I reciprocated his friendliness. 

他向我问候，我也回应了他的友好表示。

【近义词】return  v. 回应；回报

【例】I need to return his favor/love.

我需要回报他的恩情/回应他的爱意。

【反义词】unrequited  adj. 没有回应的；单方面的

【例】unrequited love  单相思；单恋

Or it can be an unwelcome claim to intimacy. This is particularly true when the gift is from a sleazy man to a woman he is pursuing. “Take back your mink,” sings Miss Adelaide in “Guys & Dolls”, “Take back your pearls/What made you think/That I was one of those girls?”

或者礼物可能是一种不受欢迎的对亲密关系的索要。当礼物是一个卑鄙下流的男人送给他正在追求的女人时，这一点尤其正确。“把你的貂皮大衣拿回去，”歌舞剧《红男绿女》中的阿德莱德小姐唱道，“把你的珍珠项链拿回去/你凭什么认为/我是那种女孩？”

claim  n. 索要；索赔

【例】to make a claim to compensation/a pay raise

索要赔偿/要求涨薪

【搭配】claim to fame 成名（讽刺）

【例】His claim to fame is that he went to school with the Prime Minister.

他出名是因为他曾经是首相的同学。

Many of the most cherished gifts in fiction are modest. Before he penetrates Willy Wonka’s factory, Charlie Bucket is given a single chocolate bar which he ekes out deliriously for a month.

小说中许多最受珍视的礼物都是很朴素的。在进入威利·旺卡的工厂之前，查理·巴克特收到了一板巧克力，他欣喜若狂地省着吃了一个月。

eke sth out  （靠节省）使某物用很久

【例】There isn’t much food left. We have to eke it out till the end of the month.

没有多少粮食了，我们必须省着吃到月底。

assert  v. （强势地）维护；彰显

【例】He asserted his authority by silencing any disagreement.

他把所有反对意见都压下去，从而彰显了自己的权威。

【搭配】assert oneself 显示自己的威风/自信/权威等

【例】She can’t understand why he has to assert himself during the conversation at dinner table.

她无法理解，为什么吃饭时闲聊，他也非要显出自己的厉害。

In stories, as in life, buying gifts can be a joy or a minefield, receiving them a blessing or a burden. They can convey a surrender or assert supremacy. They could sweeten your family Christmas or embitter it.

在故事中，就像在生活中一样，买礼物可以是乐事，也可以是雷区，而收礼物可以是福气，也可以是负担。礼物可以表示投降，也可以宣示霸权，可以让你的家庭圣诞节变得甜蜜，也可以让它变得苦涩。

eke sth out  （靠节省）使某物用很久

【例】There isn’t much food left. We have to eke it out till the end of the month.

没有多少粮食了，我们必须省着吃到月底。

assert  v. （强势地）维护；彰显

【例】He asserted his authority by silencing any disagreement.

他把所有反对意见都压下去，从而彰显了自己的权威。

【搭配】assert oneself 显示自己的威风/自信/权威等

【例】She can’t understand why he has to assert himself during the conversation at dinner table.

她无法理解，为什么吃饭时闲聊，他也非要显出自己的厉害。

课后练习

• One of the lessons about gift-giving from classic stories is that ____.

  A. a gift has to be an object with great monetary value
  B. a gift is a common and enduring subject in literary classics
  C. a gift is a chance to deepen your understanding of the world
  D. a gift can convey not only positive feelings but also negative ones

• What did the gifts given by the Dursleys show?

  A. Their lack of judgement and perception.
  B. The punishment for smashing the furniture.
  C. Their contempt and dislike for Harry Potter.
  D. The growing alienation between in-laws.

• What is the problem of overly expensive gifts?

  A. The recipient will bear the burden of returning the favor.
  B. The recipient may be envied by the people around them.
  C. The recipient may no longer be satisfied with modest gifts.
  D. The recipient must be thankful and pretend to like the gifts.

• She sent them an invitation as a way to ____ the kindness they had extended to her.

  A. allude
  B. inflict
  C. reciprocate
  D. assert