大学英语阅读unit2答案(大学英语阅读2课文)

A heated discussion about whether men are braver than women is settled in a rather unexpected way.

The Dinner Party

I first heard this tale in India, where is told as if true ―― though any naturalist would know it couldn't be. Later someone told me that the story appeared in a magazine shortly before the First World War. That magazine story, and the person who wrote it, I have never been able to track down.

The country is India. A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They are seated with their guests ―― officers and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist ―― in their spacious dining room, which has a bare marble floor, open rafters and wide glass doors opening onto a veranda.

A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who says that women have outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a major who says that they haven't.

"A woman's reaction in any crisis," the major says, "is to scream. And while a man may feel like it, he has that ounce more of control than a woman has. And that last ounce is what really counts."

The American does not join in the argument but watches the other guests. As he looks, he sees a strange expression come over the face of the hostess. She is staring straight ahead, her muscles contracting slightly. She motions to the native boy standing behind her chair and whispers something to him. The boy's eyes widen: he quickly leaves the room.

Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the boy place a bowl of milk on the veranda just outside the open doors.

The American comes to with a start. In India, milk in a bowl means only one thing ―― bait for a snake. He realizes there must be a cobra in the room. He looks up at the rafters ―― the likeliest place ―― but they are bare. Three corners of the room are empty, and in the fourth the servants are waiting to serve the next course. There is only one place left ―― under the table.

His first impulse is to jump back and warn the others, but he knows the commotion would frighten the cobra into striking. He speaks quickly, the tone of his voice so commanding that it silences everyone.

"I want to know just what control everyone at this table has. I will count three hundred ―― that's five minutes ―― and not one of you is to move a muscle. Those who move will forfeit 50 rupees. Ready?"

The 20 people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying "……two hundred and eighty……" when, out of the corner of his eye, he sees the cobra emerge and make for the bowl of milk. Screams ring out as he jumps to slam the veranda doors safely shut.

"You were right, Major!" the host exclaims. "A man has just shown us an example of perfect self-control."

"Just a minute," the American says, turning to his hostess. "Mrs. Wynnes, how did you know that cobra was in the room?"

A faint smile lights up the woman's face as she replies: "Because it was crawling across my foot."

NEW WORDS

heated

a. with strong, excited, and often angry feelings 热烈的；激烈的

unexpected

a. not expected 意外的

naturalist

n. one who makes a special study of plants or animals outdoors 博物学家（尤指直接观察动植物者）

shortly

ad. Soon; （in） a little time 不久，马上

colonial]

a. of or related to a colony or colonies 殖民地的

spacious

a. big; having much space 广阔的；宽阔的

dining

n. 餐厅

bare

a. not covered （with a carpet）; empty 不铺地毯的；赤裸的；光秃的

marble

n. 大理石

rafter

n. one of the sloping beams that support 椽

onto

prep. to a position or point on 到……之上; 向……之上

veranda

n. 阳台

spirited

a. full of spirit; lively

outgrow

vt. leave behind, as one grows older or more mature 长大得使……不再适用; 成长得不再要

mouse

n. 鼠

era

n. 时代，年代

major

#P#

n. 少校

crisis

n. time of difficulty, danger, etc. 危机

ounce

n. 盎司;少量

argument

n. discussion by persons who disagree; dispute 争论;辩论

hostess

n. 女主人

muscle

n. 肌肉

contract

vi. become shorter or smaller 收缩

contraction

n.

slightly

ad. a little 稍微地

slight

a.

motion

vi. give a signal by moving the hand or head 打手势;点（或摇）头示意

widen

v. make or become wider

bait

n. food used to attract fish, animals, or birds so that they may be caught 诱饵

cobra

n. poisonous snake found in India and Africa 眼镜蛇

likely

a. probable 可能的

impulse

n. sudden wish to do sth. 冲动

commotion

n. noisy confusion or excitement 混乱;骚动

tone

n. quality of voice or music 语气;音调

commanding

a. authoritative 威严的

forfeit

vt. suffer the loss of （sth.） as a punishment （作为惩罚而）失去

rupee

n. monetary unit of India, Pakistan, etc. 卢比

image

n. statue 雕像

emerge

vi. come or appear （from somewhere）

emergence

n.

slam

vt. shut loudly and with force 砰地关上

host

n. man who receives guests 男主人

faint

a. weak, indistinct 微弱的;不明显的

crawl

vi move slowly by pulling the body along the ground 爬行

  相关文章:

   大学四级考试对于我们大学生来说也是一场非常重要的考试，那么将要进行2020年上半年四级考试的小伙伴们一定要重视起来了。有的同学可能已经开始了复习，有的同学有可能还在为复习方法而烦恼。今天四六级为大家分享2020年上

   1.有很多人喜欢养宠物2.养宠物的利与弊3.你的建议TheAdvantagesandDisadvantagesofKeepingPets写作指南：这篇作文属于说明性作文，考生只需要将提纲中要求的内容组织起来便可。第1段提出很多人喜欢养宠物这种现象。第2段分析利弊，根据作文的标题可知此段是重点内容。养宠物的益处可以从很多方面说(比如消除孤独感、丰富日常生活、获得快乐等)，弊端

   AnnualCyclesoftheTrafficAccidentofaCity城市交通事故变换Trafficaccidentsareoneofthemostseriousproblemsinmoderncities.Manypeopleh

   fare=togo(走)welfaren.幸福，福利farewellint.再会n.告别faren.(车，船)费用，票价chargevt.费用，价钱;控告，指控;充电v.索价，要...支付;控告，指控;充电car,char=car(车)，torun(跑)dischargevt.允许...离开，释放

   今天是2018年11月17日，昨天大学英语四级口语考试也终于如期而至。口语考试的时候往往是许多考生最为紧张的时刻，不过口语考试并不是什么洪水猛兽，只要稍加练习，做到有话可说，就不会在考场上出现尴尬的场面。为了帮助大家顺利通过四级口语考试，四六级英语老师将会为各位考生提供最贴心的口语考试小提示，希望能够对各位同学有所帮助。本场对话的主题为“如何消除代沟”，这是一