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M7 【The Truth about Pyecraft 派克拉伏特的真实故事，中国国际广播，2002】 短篇小说，原作者H. G. Wells 阅读导引 英国文学有着悠久的历史和伟大的传统，是世界文学宝库中的一颗难球明珠。她不仅对西方文学有着根深蒂固和血脉相承的传统影响，而且对东方文学包括中国文学也有着深厚而顽强的影响力。“英国科幻小说之父”，H. G. Wells的作品《派克拉伏特的真实故事》中的人物---派克拉伏特是什么样的人，想知道吗？那就一睹为快吧。 美文欣赏 Pyecraft was possibly the fattest man in London. I met him in a club. When I was sitting alone, suddenly he came and sat down in a chair close by me. And then he began to talk about his fatness and his fatness and his fatness; all he did for his fatness and all he was going to do for his fatness; what people had advised him to do for his fatness and what he had heard of people doing for fatness similar to his. “I’d give anything to get it down,” he swore before he ordered another teacake. One day he asked if I could give him my great-grandmother’s recipe, which recorded the secret of losing weight. Actually, I knew little about the recipe, and I was quite worried when I took out the piece of paper. What if he got poisoned? But Pyecraft would not listen to my warning and insisted on trying the recipe. One month later I visited Pyecraft’s house to see whether the recipe worked. When I knocked at the door, I heard his voice saying, “Come in.” I opened the door. Naturally I expected to see Pyecraft. Well, you know, he wasn’t there! I never had such a shock in my life. There was his sitting-room in a state of disorder, plates and dishes among books and writing things, but Pyecraft— “It’s all right, my friend.” he said, and then I discovered him. There he was, right up close to the ceiling. Suddenly I realized that he was not holding on at all, that he was floating up there—just as a balloon might have floated in the same position.
“That recipe,” he said, “is too successful.” “How?” “I lost my weight—almost completely.” And then, of course, I understood. “My God, Pyecraft”, said I, “what you wanted was a cure for fatness! But you always called it weight. I thought you really mean losing your weight. That’s why I gave you the recipe. Let me help you.” I took his hand and pulled him down. He kicked about, trying to get a foothold somewhere. He was very like a flag on a windy day. I spent three whole days at his room, trying to help him live normally. He could get to the floor whenever he wanted simply by putting some heavy dictionaries on the top of his bookshelf. He just pulled out these books, and down he came. Finally I came up with a better idea. I suggested that he could wear some special lead underclothing. Pyecraft received my suggestion almost in tears. “I shall be able to come back to the club again,” he said. He does. Now he sits behind me eating another cake. And no one in the world knows—except me—that he weighs almost nothing; that he is just clouds in clothing, a weightless man.
生词注释 1. disorder: n. 混乱；无序 2. ceiling: n. 天花板 3. float: v. 漂浮 4. foothold: n. 落脚点 5. lead underclothing: n. 铅制内衣
难句解析 1. There was his sitting-room in a state of disorder, plates and dishes among books and writing things… 解析：该句可以改为：In a state of disorder was his setting-room; plates and dishes among books and writing things could be seen everywhere. 参考译文如下：“他的起居室里一片狼藉，书页和便签里还残留着吃剩的东西。” 2. …what you wanted was a cure for fatness! .... I thought you really mean losing your weight. 解析：what you wanted是主语从句。译文如下：“你想要就是治好肥胖症！...我本以为你的用意就是减减肥而已啦。” 3. He was very like a flag on a windy day. 解析：like a flag on a windy day是介词短语做表语。译文如下：“它犹如一面风中旗（随时都有倒下的可能）。” 4. He could get to the floor whenever he wanted simply by putting some heavy dictionaries on the top of his bookshelf. 解析：whenever引导让步状语从句；by putting…介词短语做方式状语。参考译文如下：“仅仅把一些沉甸甸的字典放到书架上层时，他随时都有可能跌到在地板上。” 阅读操练 1. According to the passage, we know that Mr Pyecraft is the very person who__________. A. is good at chatting with others B. is always talking about his fatness C. is fond of listening to gossip D. is always wearing dirty clothes 2. Mr Pyecraft was eager to get my great-grandmother’s recipe from me in order to__________. A. cook a variety of delicious dishes B. live a more comfortable life C. lose his weight as quickly as possible D. get rid of poison out of his body 3. What made the writer unimaginable was that__________. A. Mr Pyecraft’s living room was in a mess B. Mr Pyecraft never dared to lose his weight C. Mr Pyecraft is getting fatter and fatter D. Mr Pyecraft likes holding a flag at his room 4. The purpose of this story The Truth about Pyecraft is to tell us that__________. A. where there is a will, there is a way B. the more what one tries to hide, the more it exposed C. early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise D. things will develop in the opposite direction when they become extreme
