一向以为,每一种语言都承载着一个民族的智慧与文化。它的不断更新变化也反映着使用者思维方式的变异和他们所处社会的演进。倘若脱离了社会现实,单单把语言当作工具来学习,不但没有什么趣味,效果恐怕也要大打折扣。本书所收的短文中使用的都是鲜活生动、原汁原味的英语,其内容则是在我们这个日新月异的世界上最近发生的一些有意思的事情。这些记录真实事件的短文涉及政治、经济、科技、宗教、艺术、体育、娱乐等各个方面,正如折射国外社会风貌的一颗颗小水珠。读者们可以借鉴其中鲜活的词汇、生动的句法和颇富风趣的行文,由此改善阅读和写作的技巧;也可以从中管窥我们这个星球上各个角落人们十分多样化的生活和思想。
What’s in a Name?/名不可不正
Who’S Number One!/谁第一?
Don’t Make Rude Gestures at Traffic Cameras!/非礼勿动!
Smoking Style Gives Fugitive Away/无端却被香烟误
Wacky Warnings/荒唐警示
Hostage Training Exercise Fools Media/抢得假新闻
Romantic Valentines Crash Mobile Phone SyStem/浪漫成灾
LawJ Not Love,May Lie Behind Surge of Marriages/婚姻的法律动机
Vacuum Cleaner Saves Life/救命法宝
Beards a Risk to Food Safety?/胡子风险
Cash from Virgin Mary/圣母的恩赐
Bald Is Bad for Discipline/无发易受罚
The World’S Happiest People?/世界上最幸福的人?
Eloping No Crime if Love Blossoms/私奔无罪
No Place like Home/何处是家园
Police Cite Boy,7,for Taking$6 from Mom/七岁的盗窃犯
Exposure to Cocaine a Downer for Police/被动吸毒
Deaf-Mute Arrested in Phone Fraud Scheme/说不出的冤情
Biorn Borg Urges Europeans to Have More Sex/球星的忠告
1,000 Calls a Day/电话轰炸
Deadly Laund romat Games/死亡游戏
Man Burns Bottom in Flame Prank/玩火自焚
Love Has No Time Clock/爱值得等待
When Power Goes Off/断电以后
rish Students’Boozing Causing High Dropout Rate/拼将学业图一醉
Firm Gives$900,000 to Turkish Santa Claus/给圣诞老人捐款
Quarter of Bus Drivers Lack Driving Skills/不会开车的公车司机
A Wedding Rush Too Hot to Handle/喜事频频神父苦
Lovers Criss—Cross World in Vain/好事多磨
Taxi Drivels Passenger Is His Lon9—Lost Son/载得久别爱子归
Home Floorshow Strips Pensioners of Cash/看不得的表演
One in Three Britons Lies in Job Applications?/居不易,编简历
Attention Dunlops:Tired’of Your Name?/重利轻名
Harriage Vegas Style Fails to Please Girlfriend/赌城奇婚酿苦果
Top U.S.Companies for Working Homs/在职妈妈的好东家
It's a New Record for Cockroad Eating!/吃蟑螂新纪录
Nine—To—Five Is a Grind for Workers/朝九晚五是苦刑
Bar-Coded Cocaine???/带条码的可卡因
Web Site Helps Jailbirds Get Back Together/狱友可向网中寻
Two—Ply Crisis Takes Toll on Toilet Paper/厕纸缩水
Can World Cup Soccer Deter Jailbreaks?/安心坐牢看比赛?
Red Tape for Red Meat/吃肉规矩
Referee Resigns After Being Punished for Scoring/进球无功反有过