Tales from the Huffmans

The words we use can be important, and political elections sometimes bring out the worst in language use.  Recently, two of the most common hate words² used by one political party about the other were “liberal” and “words.”  One presidential candidate³ denounced⁴ the other party’s candidate as “a privileged wordsmith⁵, a man of mere words who has ‘authored⁶’ two books and done little else.”  Another extremist⁷ from the same political party referred to the opposing candidate as “just an elitist⁸ who worked with words, and words are everything to him;” but this critic⁹ admired one of his opponents “because she’s a woman who’s worked with her hands.”

  Conservatives¹⁰ disdained¹¹ the opponent’s “book knowledge.”  One might ask whether this criticism is residual Puritanism¹² or merely the more familiar American anti-intellectualism¹³ which assumes that to work with words is not to work at all.  In this vision¹⁴, there is something dangerous about effective use of words: they confuse, they corrupt, and they get in the way¹⁵ of humility.¹⁶

  But, we all use words, we need words, and both political parties struggle constantly over which words to use in describing their opponents’ or their own words¹⁷.  One presidential candidate who himself had initially referred to an opponent’s health care plan as “a pig with lipstick,¹⁸” accused his opponent of calling his vice-presidential partner a pig. “I know he chooses his words carefully, and it was the wrong thing for him to say. I don’t choose my words very carefully, but he does, so he should have chosen them more carefully.” Was this implicit¹⁹ praise for his opponent?” 

  There is power in words. Language is a slippery fluid²⁰, a river into which you can dump anything at all as long as your opponent is the one who is downstream. To be fair, those political candidates who appear to decry²¹ facility²² in the use of words have been skillful themselves, not just at amoral manipulations²³ of words, but at the creation of “a fresh, vivid, home-made turn of speech²⁴.”

  One party’s presidential candidate referred to himself as an “Original Maverick”²⁵ in TV ads, sounding suspiciously like a logo²⁶ or brand name we’ve all heard of.  Original has the reassuring²⁷ sound of something like, “Serving Americans of discernment since 1951²⁸.”  Original usually means eccentric²⁹, strange, unusual, and also first and belatedly³⁰ copied by others.  His opponent was accused of using “fancy words, diplomas³¹, and authored books.”  His vice-presidential partner candidate added, “I do take issue with some of the principle there with that redistribution³² of wealth principle that seems to be espoused³³ by you.”  If wise choice of words does matter, after all, should this same person have said on another occasion, “nuclear weaponry, of course, would be the be-all-end-all³⁴ of just too many people in too many parts of our planet.”?  What does that mean?  When asked to comment on the claim that her partner had declared the American economy to be sound³⁵, she said “it was an unfair attack on the verbiage that the senator chose to use, because the fundamentals, as he was having to explain afterwards, he means our workforce³⁶, he means the ingenuity³⁷ of the American people. And, of course that is strong, and that is the foundation of our economy. So that was an unfair attack there, again, based on verbage that he used.”

  It would be difficult to find a better example of disdain³⁸ and lack of appreciation for words than that remarkable use of the non-word³⁹ of verbage, so close to garbage⁴⁰, so far from language. Did she mean verbiage, but pronounce it badly?

Notes:

1. verbiage: speech or writing that has many unnecessary words in it (冗词，废话).

2. hate words: intense hostility spoken often in anger or derision (攻击性词汇).

3. presidential candidate. a person selected by a political party to compete for the presidency of a country (总统候选人).

4. denounced: publicly accuse or proclaim a person or thing to be inferior or unacceptable (谴责，痛斥).

5. privileged wordsmith: a person having an advantage by means of using words well (有特权的辞匠).

6. authored: written one or several books (写作，创作).

7. extremist: A person who takes a position either far to the negative, or far positive to the average or normal position on an issue (极端主义者).

8. elitist: a person who enjoys advantage or favor over others because of superior education, training, or superior knowledge (杰出人物).

9. critic: a person who finds flaws or errors in ideas, individuals, information, etc. (批评家).

10. conservatives: people who favor traditional ideas as opposed to liberal or new ideas, especially in political or economic issues (保守派).

11. disdained: thought that someone or something was not important and did not deserve any respect (鄙视，蔑视).

12. residual Puritanism: a behavior of strictness learned and retained from a religious background (残存的清教徒行为). Puritans were a group of persons of very strict religious beliefs who came from Europe and settled in what is now the New England area of the U.S.

13. anti-intellectualism: a position opposing or hostile to intellectual ideas, concepts, or approaches to problem solving (反理智主义).

14. vision: a way of seeing or knowing something usually based on belief or knowledge (眼光，看法).

15. get in the way of. interfere with or obstruct a plan or system of someone or something else (干涉，干预).

16. humility: a quality or state of being humble (谦逊，谦恭).

17. both political parties struggle constantly over which words to use in describing their opponents’ or their own words: 两个政党都绞尽脑汁使用语词去描述对方或自己的说法。

18. “a pig with lipstick”: a metaphor meaning that for a pig, lipstick is just an added item that has no legitimate place or function (涂口红的猪，一个隐喻，表示对于猪来说涂上口红是不合理没有用的).  This phrase is commonly used to describe an idea or concept which is inappropriate or foolish by something it is associated with.

19. implicit: suggested or understood without being stated directly (暗示的).

20. slippery fluid: a metaphor meaning that language is slick, hard to get hold of, and easily dropped or lost from one’s grip or possession (柔滑的液体，该隐喻表示语言是柔滑的，很难抓得住，抓住了也很容易失去).

21. decry: make strong opposition to something, to denounce an idea or concept, person or activity, etc. (公开反对，谴责).

22. facility: the easy or evident ability or skill in the use of something or for some task (天赋，技能).

23. amoral manipulations: techniques without any moral sensibility or basis (是非不分的操纵，控制).

24. a fresh, vivid, home-made turn of speech: 新鲜、生动、自制的措辞。

25. “Original Maverick”: the first or unique individual who is intentionally different from others (首位特立独行的人). In the TV ads, the maverick is shown as a brave, cowboy type.

26. logo: A letter, symbol or identifying sign which represents a company, country, person, etc. (标识，标志).

27. reassuring: giving or restoring confidence or comfort to others (令人安心的，安慰的).

28. “Serving Americans of discernment since 1951”:  a typical advertising style statement which intends to capture the imagination of the public (服务于有鉴赏能力的美国人达半个多世纪之久，这是典型的广告风格的语句，其目的在于抓住公众的想象力).

29. eccentric: off centered, unusual, or out of the ordinary in behavior or appearance (怪异的，反常的).

30. belatedly: after the fact, or later than expected (迟，太迟).

31. diplomas: documents showing evidence of completion of a given educational level, such as BA, MS, PhD etc. (毕业文凭，学位证书).  Here the speaker is attempting to say that his opponent is attempting to show superiority by use of his educational achievements.

32. redistribution of wealth: the process of rearranging, or directing a given set of assets or wealth in a different way (财富重新分配).  Some politicians think of this as “taking from the rich and giving to the poor,” but it may mean simply restructuring tax levels based on wages or wealth so that there is a more equitable sharing in a society or nation.

33. espoused: offered or supported by an individual, group, etc. Given credit for an idea or technique (支持，拥护).

34. “be-all-end-all”: the ultimate or best final solution to a problem or task (宗旨，终极目的).

35. sound: healthy or robust (健康的，良好的).  In this case, it refers to a strong, secure economic basis.

36. workforce:  the entire or collective employed individuals in an area or nation (劳动人口，劳动大军).

37. ingenuity: the ability to arrive at unique and positive ideas or solutions to a problem which exists (足智多谋).

38. disdain: scorn or dislike of something or someone, or a policy or idea (鄙视，蔑视).

39. non-word: an unaccepted word, often a mistake of usage (错词).

40. garbage: the waste or spoiled food items which are discarded (垃圾).

During the recent days of economic problems, there have been many suggestions as to how people can save money by not being wasteful of electricity and water in their home.  This morning on television we saw a good demonstration¹ of how one family has started saving considerable money by following a few suggestions given them by their local power company.  Don and I watched with interest since we’ve been trying to use/waste less power since reading Al Gore’s book AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH² several years ago.

According to what we heard this morning, the single most important thing is to turn off lights when people are not in the room.  Don and I laughed a bit about that because we grew up with parents who were constantly admonishing³ us to do that;  then when our children were growing up, we kept telling them the same thing.  So, we are already doing what is most important.  Next important is to replace the traditional light bulbs in one’s house with the newer energy smart fluorescent type⁴.  Supposedly they last ten times longer as well as use less power.  We have already done that so we gave ourselves another “point⁵” for our “greenness⁶.”   Also, people were told to keep their refrigerator doors closed except for the moment they are in use.  We’ve always done that, so are on target⁷ there too. 

In addition, we decided to have an automatic thermostat⁸ installed so that our furnace and air conditioning units will automatically set our temperature after we go to bed at night and when we awaken in the morning.  We also agreed that we could save electricity by keeping room temperatures a bit lower in the winter and wearing heavier clothing, and in the summer by wearing lighter clothing. This is easy to do and saves energy.

One thing I listened to with special interest concerned the use of my electric dishwasher⁹. I use my dishwasher a lot, and even though we heat the water for it with natural gas, the drying cycle¹⁰ uses a lot of electrical energy.  The energy expert¹¹ suggested that people turn off the dishwasher heat and permit the dishes to dry naturally rather than with heat.  Don and I discussed this and realized we’d never done it, so when the program was finished, I went into the kitchen and checked to see how it could be done.  Our dishwasher has a simple button we can push whenever we choose to do this, so in the future, I think we’ll try to remember to do so. 

There were other things mentioned this morning, but the above items were the things that were stressed¹² and that anyone could take advantage of.  Because much TV is of little interest to me, it was refreshing to see a program of such interest this morning.

Notes:

1. demonstration: an action that proves that someone or something has a particular ability, quality, or feeling (证明，论证).

2. An Inconvenient Truth: a book by Al Gore, former Vice President under Bill Clinton, and an environmental activist ( 《难以忽视的真相》，该书由阿尔•戈尔著，他是克林顿当总统时的副总统又是保护环境的积极分子).  His highly successful book, also made into a movie, addresses the problem of global warming.

3. admonishing: telling forcefully; giving earnest advice (力劝，忠告).

4. fluorescent type: a tubular lamp containing mercury vapor which emits visible light when electrons pass through it (荧光灯，日光灯).

5. another “point”: one more reward given for doing something of value (再增加一分).

6. “greenness”: in this case, showing consideration in saving energy (节能/环保意识).  This helps keep the Earth green.

7. on target: correct, or doing the right thing; meeting a goal (正确，达到目标).

8. thermostat: an automatic device for regulating temperature (温度调节器).

9. electric dishwasher: a large kitchen appliance in which dishes, silverware and pans may be washed with hot water and detergent (洗碗机).

10. drying cycle: the period during which  heat dries moisture from the dishes, etc. in the dishwasher (烘干过程).

11. energy expert: a professional person who analyzes energy use and makes possible the saving of energy (节能专家).

12. stressed: emphasize a statement, fact, or idea (强调).

Today Don put together some more bookshelves here in our office.  We keep accumulating¹ more books than we get rid of² so always need more space for them.  Why so many books?  I guess it’s because we like to read.  We check out³ some books from the college library and others from the public library.  When new books come out by writers we particularly⁴ enjoy, we sometimes don’t want to wait until we can get them from the library because we know a book we see advertised⁵ probably won’t be ordered for one of those libraries soon, if at all.

How do we know about the books we want?  I read the BOOK REVIEW section of the NEW YORK TIMES⁶.  It is published each week end and contains both book reviews and book ads.⁷.  It also lists the “best sellers⁸,” those books of which the most copies have been sold that week.  There is a fiction⁹ list and a non-fiction list.  Many authors which we like are on the fiction best selling list just as soon as they come out, so I look for those names.  I know I will like anything written by the Chinese American writer Amy Tan¹⁰ and the Scottish writer Alexander McCall Smith¹¹.  When their new books come out, Don and I don’t want to wait to check them out; we usually buy them.  That is when we use the book store gift certificates¹² we receive. 

This week’s BOOK REVIEW listed a new book about China.  Kim has gone to Des Moines for the week end and there are several large book stores there, so I asked her to purchase it, using one of our gift certificates.  I also belong to the book shopping club¹³ of one of the book stores so get 10% off each book I purchase.  In addition, that store sends out coupons¹⁴ giving me an extra 15% off.  Therefore, we can get a hard copy¹⁵ of a new book for the price of a paper back¹⁶ copy which will come out at a later time, if at all.  If a book doesn’t sell enough copies in the hard-back edition, it won’t come out in paper back.  Don and I read books by our favorite authors out loud to one another.  It is a pleasure for both of us.  

This afternoon we started reading The Corpse Walker¹⁷ by Liao Yiwu¹⁸ which is about Chinese people, a compilation¹⁹ of 27 oral histories²⁰ from many different professions and walks of life²¹; from Erhu player²² to grave robber²³.  So far, it’s quite interesting.  Kim bought it for us.  We enjoy learning whatever we can about China, an extremely fascinating²⁴ country to us.  

Notes:

1. accumulating: gradually getting more and more possessions, knowledge etc. over a period of time (积累).

2. get rid of: give away something which is no longer wanted (丢弃，处理掉).

3. check out: borrow a book from a library (从图书馆借书).

4. particularly: especially, more than usual or more than others (特别，尤其).

5. a book we see advertised probably won’t be ordered for one of those libraries soon: 我们看到打广告的书很可能任何一家图书馆不会很快订购。句中，we see advertised 是 a book 的定语从句，定语从句为 we see (a book) advertised, 因此 advertised 为过去分词是 a book 的宾语补足语。

6. BOOK REVIEW section of the NEW YORK TIMES: a weekly section of the newspaper in which new books are discussed (纽约时报的书评专栏，该报每周出一期这样的专栏对新书进行讲评).

7. book ads.: advertisements for books (书籍广告).

8. best sellers: 最畅销书

9. fiction: books and stories about imaginary people and events (小说，故事).

10. Amy Tan: a very popular Chinese-American book writer in the U.S. (谭恩美，一位很受欢迎的华裔作家).

11. Alexander McCall Smith: a writer/lawyer who writes sympathetically about the country and people of Botswana in Africa (亚历山大•麦考尔•史密斯，作家兼律师，其著作对非洲的博茨瓦纳人民和国家表现出深深的同情).

12. gift certificates: coupons or cards paid for by one person who then gives them as gifts to be used in stores (礼券，可以购买的票证，然后送给他人，可以在商店使用).

13. book shopping club: a special purpose for which a small fee is paid each year, and which offers special benefits for the club member (购书俱乐部，俱乐部成员可以得到专门的优惠，但每年要为此付出数额不大的会费).

14. coupons: a small piece of printed paper that gives you the right to pay less for something or get something free (优惠卷).

15. hard-copy books: a book with a heavy binding and cover (精装书).

16. paper back: a book with a cover made of thick paper (平装书，简装书).

17. The Corpse Walker: 赶尸人

18. Liao Yiwu: a native contemporary Chinese poet, novelist and screen writer.  His articles and translations have occurred in many journals (廖以武，中国当代诗人、小说家和剧作家。他的文章和翻译作品由很多期刊刊登过).

19. compilation: a grouping of writings; in this case, oral histories, bound together (汇编，集，文中系口传历史故事集).

20. oral histories: vocal recounting of lives as experienced by various individuals (口传历史故事).

21. walks of life: vocations, professions, etc. (各行各业).

22. Erhu player: a musician who plays the traditional Chinese instrument known as the erhu (二胡演奏者).

23. Grave Robber: a person who steals items from burial plots or graves (盗墓贼).

24. fascinating: extremely interesting (非常有趣的，令人着迷的)

Central College is the name most often used for the liberal arts college¹ which is found in Pella, Iowa in the United States.  Originally it was chartered² as Central University of Iowa³ in 1853, and it became Central College when the Central Board of Trustees⁴ requested the name be changed in the early 1990s. Since the time of its existence⁵, less knowledgeable people have referred to it as Pella College and several other unofficial names, apparently reflecting the bias⁶ of the persons giving the name.

When chartered, the university included a College Preparatory School⁷, a Liberal Arts College⁸ and a Conservatory of Music⁹. Dr. Hendrik Peter Scholte, the leader of a group of dissident¹⁰ immigrants¹¹ from the Netherlands, offered the land to the Baptist Church¹² which already existed in the area.  From the beginning, the charter for Central was educationally liberal¹³ and an inclusive¹⁴ one for the mid-19^th century.  The charter stated that there was to be no bias¹⁵ in selecting faculty members or students on the basis of “race, religion, gender or country of origin¹⁶.”  Any student meeting the “educational and moral” requirements¹⁷ for entry was to be admitted¹⁸.  Central was also unusual in that from the beginning it had about half women and half men at a time when college education for women in the U.S. was not common.  About half of the faculty were also female.

Dr. Scholte, “the dominie¹⁹” was himself a former Professor of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Utrecht, in the Netherlands.  He had been persecuted²⁰ and imprisoned for his rejection²¹ of some of the religious teachings²² of the State Church in Holland, and he led a group of enlightened followers²³ to a holding of property which he had purchased for them in Iowa.  They chose the city’s founding name Pella²⁴ after the classical Greek “City of Refuge²⁵,” in Macedonia²⁶, a place of refuge, for citizens who were fleeing their tormentors²⁷.  Among the hundred or so followers were several professional families, including doctors, artists, writers, businessmen, lawyers, musicians, teachers etc.  In Pella they avoided any denominational ties²⁸ to any existing church, and in chartering the college, they insisted on the same standards²⁹.

Central continued under ownership of the Baptist Church until 1918 when it was given over to the (Dutch) Reformed Church³⁰ in America for financial reasons.  It remained a small teaching institution—under 200 students—until after World War II when returning veterans³¹, along with the major efforts and new programs of administrative leaders, played a role in its growth, both financially and academically³².  Further qualitative and quantitative growth³³ progressed steadily; currently with an enrollment³⁴ of about 1,700 students and a faculty of more than 100 full time teachers. 

Since the 1960s Central College has become known for its International Studies Programs³⁵ (now in France, Austria, Spain, the Netherlands, England, Wales, Yucatan, China and Kenya). About 60% of students graduating have had a foreign study experience. Other major areas of strength include; Natural Sciences, English & Linguistics, Modern Languages, Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology³⁶, Business & Economics, Math & Computer Sciences, Philosophy & Religion, Education, Physical Education and Exercise Science.

 The campus itself has been greatly extended and is recognized for its beauty and efforts to utilize natural resources³⁷wisely.  Both men‘s and women‘s athletic teams are known for their outstanding performances, having won national championships³⁸ in at least 6 sports, and having more than 80% participation in intramural sports³⁹.  Although the majority of student athletes are no longer of Dutch origin, the sports teams are still referred to as the Flying Dutchmen⁴⁰, or the Central Dutch.(565 words)

Notes:

1. Central College is the name most often used for the liberal arts college: an undergraduate college intended to provide for and develop the general intellectual capacities such as reasoning and judgment as opposed to professional or vocational skills (中央学院是一所本科人文学院，旨在培养全面的知识和能力，如推理和判断，而不是培养职业技能。).

2. chartered: approved by granting of a charter from the state which permit’s a college to offer those study areas and related academic work as stated in the charter (特许设立，须经州政府批准、授意其章程，该章程明确规定该学校可以提供哪些学习领域和相关课程).

3. Central University of Iowa: the original name at the time of the granting of a charter to Central College (爱荷华中央大学，即中央学院特许成立时的校名).

4. Board of Trustees: a governing board elected or appointed to direct the policies of an educational institution (大学董事会，经选举或任命产生，是指导学校政策的管理机构).

5. Since the time of its existence: since the period of time that something has occurred (自从它存在的那天起).

6. reflecting the bias: showing the misunderstanding or orientation of the persons involved (反映了有关人员的偏见).

7. College Preparatory School: a high school which prepares a person to enter college (大学预备学校).  At that time both Latin and Greek languages were usually required for entrance to college, as was true in European universities.

8. Liberal Arts College: a baccalaureate level 4-year college (一所本科四年制的人文学院).

9. Conservatory of Music: a school of music, which at that time was not considered to be part of the Liberal Arts College (音乐学院，当时并没把它当作人文学院的一部分).

10. dissident: (only before noun) 持不同政见的

11. immigrants: people coming from another country (移民).

12. Baptist Church: 浸信会

13. educationally liberal: encouraging students to develop a large range of interests and knowledge and respect for other people’s opinions (在教学上鼓励学生博学多闻并尊重他人的意见和想法)

14. inclusive: intended for all types of people (有意包括各种人的).

15. bias: prejudice or favoritism shown for some principle or idea (偏见).

16. country of origin: the nation in which a person was born (出生国家).

17. “educational and moral” requirements: 教育和道德要求

18. admitted: allowed to attend or take part in (允许入学).

19. dominie: the Dutch term for pastor or minister of a church (牧师，荷兰语).

20. persecuted: treated cruelly or unfairly (受迫害).

21. rejection: refusal to accept a given idea or concept (拒绝).

22. religious teachings: beliefs taught by a religious group which are expected to be accepted by members (宗教信仰).

23. enlightened followers: 有见识、明智的追随者

24. Pella: the name of a city in Iowa, taking its name from a city in Classical Greek Macedonia (爱荷华州的一个城市名，该名取之于古希腊的一个城市名).  It was a place of refuge for people fleeing from persecution.

25. refuge: safety, shelter or protection from danger or distress (庇护所，避难处).

26. Macedonia: an ancient country in the northern part of ancient Greece (马其顿，曾经是一个古老的国家，位于古希腊的北部).

27. tormentors: people who deliberately treat someone cruelly by annoying them or hurting them (摧残、折磨他人者).

28. denominational ties: 教派的联系

29. in chartering the college, they insisted on the same standards: 在特许设立学院时，他们也坚持相同的标准。

30. Reformed Church: 归正会

31. veterans: persons who have served in the armed forces of a country (老兵).

32. academically: in terms of curriculum or course of studies (在学习课程方面).

33. Further qualitative and quantitative growth: 在质量和数量方面的进一步发展

34. enrollment: official registration in a program or course of studies (招生).

35. International Studies Programs: 国外学习项目

36. Sociology & Anthropology: 社会学与人类学

37. natural resources: 自然资源

38. national championships: 全国冠军

39. intramural sports: athletic activities within the college, not between colleges (校内的运动).

40. Flying Dutchmen: the name given to the athletic teams from Central College; which was established by Dutch immigrants in 1853 (给中央学院的体育队取的名字，该学院系荷兰移民于1853年建立的).  The name was taken from the name of a dramatic mythical opera by the 19th century German composer, Richard Wagner, in which a fierce, legendary Dutch sea captain is condemned to sail the seas until Judgment Day. His sailing ship was also known as the Flying Dutchman, and in the mythical story the ship and its crew were feared for their bold and furious attacks on other sailing ships,

March 26th was History Day¹ in the state of Iowa.  Throughout the state both middle school and high school students had written and submitted² original papers³ based on an individual project⁴ on a topic of their choice.  These papers had to focus⁵ on the theme of “Conflict and conflict resolution⁶.”  That is not an easy topic for young people to understand and write about, but a number of them tried to do so.  Don and I both read and evaluated research papers, his from high school students and mine from middle school⁷ students.  We were both impressed with the topics they chose and the sources⁸ they used.

There were about ten places where the students came to discuss their projects, papers etc.  One of them was Central College.  Don and I went there at 8:15 in the morning to receive instructions⁹ for the day.  Each of us had a partner who also read the same papers we were given, and we had to reach a consensus¹⁰ as to the quality of the papers.  We also were required to choose the top two¹¹ papers we read; these will eventually¹² be placed with the other top papers and read by other judges.  Finally, the two best in the state will be chosen and these will be submitted to the national contest¹³.

My partner was Sara Caldwell, a retired middle school social studies teacher.  We enjoyed working together and came close¹⁴ in our evaluations of the papers.  We had to interview¹⁵ the students whose papers we read and then tell them how to improve their research, etc.  Also we hoped to encourage¹⁶ them to participate¹⁷ again next year.  I’m sure that most of them will.  One thing we encouraged all of them to do was to place more reliance¹⁸ on books and less on the Web.  We also encouraged them to use more primary sources¹⁹, sources that actually describe an event as it happened etc.  One of my students was a young lady whose father had been a space scientist²⁰ in Russia.  He helped launch Sputnik²¹.  It was fascinating²² to have such a first-hand account of the event from the Russian point of view.  Her father now teaches engineering at one of our state universities.  Sara and I predict many more good research papers from that young lady.  Another paper we enjoyed was written by a young baseball player.  He hates the steroid problem²³ found among many U.S. baseball players, and his love of the so-called “American national sport^24” showed along with his research.  We both liked his enthusiasm for his topic and his sport. 

One other thing students could and did do was to give oral presentations on research, or to set up poster displays²⁵.  Those were interesting, but I like the papers best.  This was the third year I’ve judged History Day papers, and I probably will do so again next year.  I think students should be interested in both history and writing.  Don agrees.

Notes:

1. History Day: a day of meetings designated as being devoted to the study of history.  In this case students do special projects of historical subjects, write research papers, give talks, etc. (历史日，是开会研究历史的一天。为此学生做专门的以历史为主题的项目，写研究论文，发表演讲等).

2. submitted: handed in for consideration in a contest or for evaluation (递交).

3. original papers: essays written by students themselves (原创的论文).

4. project: an endeavor chosen by an individual to study and/or write and talk about (研究项目).

5. focus: concentrate on a  particular area (关注，聚焦).

6. conflict and conflict resolution: disagreement or argument and its solving (争端与争端的解决). 

7. middle school: 中间学校 (相当于初中)

8. sources:  places where students found their information - books, original documents, interviews etc. (来源，出处). 

9. instructions: advice about how to proceed in a situation (指令).

10. consensus: agreement (一致同意).

11. top two: the best two (papers) in this situation (最好的两个).

12. eventually: finally; at last (最后).

13. contest: competition (竞赛).

14. came close: agreed almost completely in our evaluations (看法很接近).

15. interview: talk with students, ask them questions about their projects etc. (面谈).

16. encourage: 鼓励

17. participate: take part  in an activity (参加).

18. to place more reliance: to use more; to give more importance to (更多地依靠，更重视).

19. primary sources: original materials; close to an event (直接来源，第一手资料).

20. space scientist: a scientist who does research in the area of space technology (航天科学家).

21. Sputnik: the first successful space vehicle in Russia (俄罗斯成功发射的第一个人造卫星).

22. fascinating: of great interest (非常有意思).

23. steroid problem: the difficulty caused by the use of steroids by athletes (类固醇问题).

24. American National Sport: a nickname for baseball, attesting to its popularity throughout the American public (美国的国球，垒球的别称). 

25. displays: special arrangements of materials for people to look at, read etc. (展览).

I recently received information about one of my former students.  It reminded me once again that one might easily overlook¹ one of the most rewarding² aspects³ of teaching as a career.  The most amazing thing to me is that I did not anticipate this when I began my career in teaching and research⁴ in biological science.  I did recognize that I would be rewarded⁵ both for my research efforts and for teaching, but I did not know how pleasant it would be to hear of and share the joy of one’s former students in their professional lives in research and teaching in the sciences. This news reminds me that one of the greatest rewards of teaching is to learn of the subsequent⁶ professional success of one’s former students.

Pam Soltis, a former student at Central College about thirty years ago, just received recognition⁷ at the national level for the research which she and her husband, Doug Soltis, have just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences⁸.  This is indeed a high honor, because PNAS publications are by invitation only⁹, upon the recommendation¹⁰ of a member of the National Academy of Science in the U.S, an elite group¹¹ of scientists.  Pam and Doug’s research reveals that diversity¹² in plants occurred in a relatively short¹³ time of about 5 million years.  This “Big Bang¹⁴” is an important fact.

Flowering plants are known to have existed for more than 130 million years.  The Soltis’ work is based on gene analysis¹⁵ in the DNA of chloroplasts¹⁶, the small objects in green plants which allow them to use light to produce sugars as a result of photosynthesis¹⁷.

I know that at least twenty of my former students have achieved similar recognition in quite a diverse number of areas of science, and I realize that this is a greater reward for me than the financial compensation¹⁸ and the public recognition by my peers¹⁹ and my administrators. I suspect²⁰ that there are many others as well, who I am not aware of, who have also achieved success in their professions, both in the sciences and in other fields.

How does one measure satisfaction from one’s career? At least for me, and I realize now that the same is true for many others: one can take great pleasure in the recognition that one has made some sort of difference in the lives of others.  I wonder why it took me so long to recognize this?  Both of my parents were teachers and I know they appreciated the fact that their teaching was appreciated by their former students.  Perhaps it is the major reason why the teaching vocation²¹ continues to attract people into a career that certainly will not make them rich or famous.  At the very least, I hope this is as true for other teachers as it has been and is for me. [473 words]

Notes:

1. overlook: fail to notice something, or not see how important it is (忽视).

2. rewarding: giving satisfaction, pleasure, or profit (值得的，有意义的，有回报的).

3. aspects: various parts of the whole; different phases of something (方面).

4. research: the process of collecting information and of looking for and finding the cause of something, or the nature of something (研究).

5. reward：报答，报偿，奖赏

6. subsequent: following after something else; coming next in time or place (随后的).

7. recognition: public respect and thanks for someone’s work or achievements (表扬，表彰).

8. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: the journal published by the National Academy of Science; probably the most prestigious journal in the United States for reports of significant research (国家科学院公报).

9. PNAS publications are by invitation only: 只有受邀请者才能在国家科学院公报上发表文章。

10. recommendation: a supportive letter written to acknowledge the value of a person or piece of research, work, etc. (推荐信).

11. elite group: a group of the highest stature, the best of its kind (精英人群).

12. diversity: the fact that very different people or things exist within a group or place (多样性).

13. relatively: in comparison with a similar thing, person, group etc. (相比较地).

14. “Big Bang”: an explosive development, very rapid or fast, meaning that it occurred in a rather short time (爆炸式的快速发展，指在短时间内发生的变化).

15. gene analysis: study of the genetic makeup of a living organism; in this case, the genetic makeup of DNA found in the chloroplasts of a plant cell (基因分析，对有机物的基因组成的研究，此处指的是在植物细胞的叶绿体中发现的脱氧核糖核酸的基因组成).

16. chloroplasts: the elliptical small bodies found within plant cells which contain the pigment chlorophyll, and which permit plants to carry out photosynthesis (叶绿体，系植物细胞内的很小的椭圆形物体，它含有叶绿素并能使植物进行光合作用).

17. photosynthesis: 光合作用

18. compensation: payment for work done (补偿).

19. peers: people who belong to the same social or professional group as another person (同辈，同事，同等地位的人).

20. suspect: think or believe that something is so (觉得……属实).

21. vocation: a specific profession or type of work which one pursues (工作，职业).

One of the enjoyable events of Homecoming² at Central College in Pella, Iowa, is the Lemming Race.  This completely frivolous³ event for undergraduate⁴ students was started by Central College students, Larry Happel, Class of 1977, and his friend, Jack Grubaugh, who was elected by students as Grand Lemming⁵ of the first year’s festivities⁶.  We knew these students well, and both had a good sense of humor⁷.  Happel is now Associate Director of Sports Information at Central⁸, and Grubaugh, who was my advisee as a Biology major⁹, has a PhD¹⁰ in Biology and does research with fish and clams¹¹ of the Mississippi River habitats¹².

Lemmings are small rodents¹³ found in the far Northern Hemisphere¹⁴, and as part of their natural means of population control¹⁵, the lemmings faithfully¹⁶ follow the leader of the group, and the leader and followers will run and jump off a high cliff¹⁷, falling to their death in the ocean water below. 

The annual Lemming Race at Central College commemorates¹⁸ this event, and initially¹⁹ students raced about 100 yards from the area near Geisler Library²⁰, down Peace Mall²¹ to the pond²² in the center of campus, where the pairs of runners, one leg of each bound to the other by a rope, ran and jumped into the water to the accompaniment²³ of laughter by the crowd of students and alumni spectators²⁴ gathered near the pond.

There were initially student teams of males and females, all dressed outrageously²⁵ in swim suits or colorful old clothing. Now, the legs are no longer tied, and even some faculty²⁶ may join many students as they race with the “lemmings” and add to the hilarity²⁷ as they splash into the pond²⁸, throwing water on each other and on the spectators near the pond. 

There are about as many cameras as spectators, taking photos of the event, and all are laughing and shouting as the runners flail²⁹ about in the water.  Many of the contestants³⁰ and the crowd wear special Lemming Day shirts³¹ on the day of the race, and all welcome it as a means of “letting off steam³²” in a harmless tradition³³ unique³⁴ to Central College Homecoming week end.

Grand Lemming this year was David Trotter, a senior Environmental Science major³⁵, who defeated ten other students for the honor of leading the Lemming Race and the associated celebrations of Lemming Day.  David threw caution to the wind, dressed in a costume called “early ‘90s Epic Rocky Balboa³⁶,” and said, “If I had the power, I’d dismiss classes all day on the day of the Lemming Race.” The Grand Lemming also thanked Central College President, David Roe, and others who permit this unique event to be a part of Homecoming.

Notes:

1. Lemming Race: a competitive event in which students dress in unusual costumes, run to the campus pond and jump into the water (旅鼠竞赛，是一项比赛，比赛中学生们穿着奇怪的服装，向校园里的池塘跑去，并跳入水中).

2. Homecoming: 毕业生返校

3. frivolous: 轻松搞笑的

4. undergraduate：本科生

5. Grand Lemming: or “King of the Lemmings,” name for the leader, who rules over the celebrations on Lemming Races (大旅鼠，又称“旅鼠王”，是旅鼠竞赛庆祝活动的领导).

6. sense of humor: 幽默感

7. Associate Director of Sports Information at Central：中央学院体育信息部副主任

8. my advisee as a Biology major：我指导过的生物专业的学生

9. festivities: celebrations or colorful activities; joyful events (庆祝活动).

10. PhD: 博士学位

11. clams: 蛤蜊

12. Mississippi River habitats: 密西西比河的栖息地

13. rodents: 啮齿目动物，如兔、鼠等

14. Northern Hemisphere：北半球

15. population control：人口控制

16. faithfully: with strict adherence to (忠心耿耿地)

17. cliff: 悬崖，峭壁

18. commemorates: does something in memory or in honor of a person or thing.; to serve as a memorial (纪念).

19. initially: at first, at the beginning, etc. (最初)

20. Geisler Library: a large building west of the Central campus area which houses the books and periodicals held by Central College (中央学院的图书馆，位于该校区的西部).

21. Peace Mall: the name of the pedestrian walkway through the Central College campus (穿过中央学院校区的一条步行通道). Once was a street, but was closed to traffic to become part of the interior campus.

22. pond: 池塘

23. accompaniment: 伴随发生的事

24. spectators: people watching an event of some sort (观众).

25. outrageously: unusually different (惊人地不同).

26. faculty: （全体）教员

27. hilarity: 欢闹，狂欢

28. splash into the pond：扑通跳入池塘里

29. flail: movement of the arms and legs in an uncoordinated activity; uncontrolled movement (手臂和腿脚像连枷一样挥动).

30. contestants: people involved in a contest; in this case the Lemming Race (参加旅鼠竞赛的人).

31. Lemming Day shirts: shirts that have been designed specifically to be worn at the Lemming Day activities (专门为旅鼠竞赛日设计穿的衬衣).

32. “letting off steam”: 释放能量

33. tradition: 传统（做法）

34. unique: singular; not found elsewhere (独一无二的).

35. environmental science major: a course of study dealing with the physical and biological aspects of the surround world.

36. “threw caution to the wind” idiom. without restraint; having no care for the moment.

37. in a costume called “early ‘90s Epic Rocky Balboa”；in the style common to the movie hero, Rocky Balboa popular in the early 1990s (穿着90年代早期的电影“洛基：勇者无惧”风格的服装).

This past weekend was Homecoming weekend¹ at Central College, where Don and I used to teach.  It was a very busy and enjoyable week end for all of us.  The weather was perfect, warm and sunny.  Since many of the alumni² wanted to (and did) attend the football game, the day was right for that activity³.    Besides the football game, there were many other events⁴ scheduled⁵ and enjoyed.

Friday noon Don and I attended a luncheon⁶ on campus that honored⁷ people who have contributed⁸ to the college in various ways.  It also honored the members of the class of 1957, who were having their fifty-year reunion⁹.  Many vigorous¹⁰ elderly¹¹ people were there.  That class has obviously¹² done well^l3.  Friday evening there was an event that only Central College has, the annual lemming race¹⁴.  I’ll have Don write a blog about it later, explaining this odd¹⁵ and humorous event.

Another special event on campus was a group of Buddhist monks¹⁶ who made a sand painting¹⁷ and were showing students how it was done.  Don and I went to see the demonstration¹⁸ and the Mandala¹⁹, the sand painting.  It was certainly interesting. 

Saturday morning Don and I gave a talk on China to Central College alumni who were interested in attending our “Life Long Learning Class²⁰.”  We enjoyed the opportunity²¹ to talk about China and its interesting developments. 

The football game was Saturday afternoon and Central College won, so that made everyone around campus happy.  That night we attended a special dinner where alumni were awarded for their achievements²².  I particularly²³ enjoyed it since one of my favorite English majors²⁴ from a number of years back received the outstanding alumnus award²⁵ for the year.  She now lives in Minnesota²⁶ and we don’t see her very often, so it was a treat²⁷ to sit with her at the dinner and see her receive the special recognition²⁸ that we believed she deserves.

Sunday morning some friends from New York City came to our home for breakfast and a good visit.  Don’s specialty²⁹ is omelettes³⁰ so he fixed them for us.  They were delicious as always.

Kim had a busy weekend too.  She graduated from Central fifteen years ago and her class had a small reunion that she was the chairperson³¹ for. She was out late, attending many get-togethers³² and had a very good time. 

All in all, Homecoming 2007 was enjoyed by all three of us.  Sunday night found us tired but happy.

Notes:

l. Homecoming weekend: A weekend, Friday and Saturday, usually in the fall when graduates of an institution return to have meetings, see a football game, visit with one another, etc. (毕业生回校的周末，星期五和星期天，通常是在秋天，届时有会议，看足球赛，相互叙旧等).

2. alumni: graduates of an institution (校友)

3. that activity: football game

4. events: individual activities, each a part of a larger group of pursuits of either an academic or an extracurricular nature (活动，事件).

5. scheduled: placed in a particular time and sequence of events, usually published in advance (安排，排定).

6. luncheon: a meal at noontime, generally light in nature (午餐).

7. honored: 向……表示敬意

8. contributed：做出贡献

9.fifty year reunion: a meeting or coming together of people who graduated 50 years ago (毕业五十年聚会).

10. vigorous：精力充沛的，健壮的

11. elderly：年长的

12. obviously: easily seen or noticed readily (显而易见的)

14. done well: have accomplished many things of various sorts.

15. annual lemming race: a competitive event as part of the homecoming celebration (一种竞赛，是毕业生回校活动的一部分).

16. odd: strange or unusual (特别的，不同寻常的)

17. Buddhist monks:（佛教中的）和尚

18. sand painting: an artistic design made by carefully placing colored sand in a pattern (沙画).

19. Mandala（曼荼罗，坛场）: The word is from the classical Indian language of Sanskrit. Loosely translated to mean “circle,” a mandala is far more than a simple shape. It represents wholeness, and can be seen as a model for the organizational structure of life itself–a cosmic diagram that reminds us of our relation to the infinite, the world that extends both beyond and within our bodies and minds.

20 life long learning class: 终生学习课

21. opportunity: a chance to do something of interest (机会).

22. achievements: accomplishments (成就)

23. particularly: especially or specifically of a certain kind, or for a certain reason.

24. English majors: people who have majored or specialized in English language and literature (英国语言文学专业的学生).

25. the outstanding alumnus award: 优秀校友奖

26. Minnesota: the name of the U.S. state located just north of Iowa and bordering on Canada (明尼苏达州，位于爱荷华州北部，与加拿大接壤).

27. a treat: something especially enjoyable or desirable (难得的乐事).

28. recognition：赏识

29. specialty: 专长

30. omelettes: a food prepared by beating eggs, partially cooked and with desired meats or vegetables added, then folded over in half (煎蛋卷).

31. chairperson：主席

32. get-togethers：聚会

Each Monday afternoon during the school year¹ Don and I go to Jefferson Elementary School² here in Pella³ to read with a 4^th grade student.  This is the third year we have been involved⁴ in the “literacy” program⁵ and we enjoy it very much.  We have worked with the same 4^th grade teacher⁶ each year.  She chooses a student for each of us to work with.  It is always a student who she feels can profit⁷ from reading out-loud⁸ with an adult⁹ discussing what is being read.

This year I am working with a little girl named Shelby. She reads pretty well, but she also seems to have need of attention¹⁰ of an adult to read with her. Don works with a little boy who needs to pay more attention to his comprehension¹¹. Each year we’ve been happy to watch our students develop¹² and improve in various ways.

When Shelby was assigned¹³ to me last fall, it was obvious that she really wasn’t pleased that her teacher had placed us together¹⁴. It was obvious that she’s a shy¹⁵ person and she didn’t want to have to be with a stranger¹⁶.  However, we soon became friends, and when Don and I missed several weeks when we went to China, she was quite pleased when I returned to read with her again.

Shelby reads well and has an expressive¹⁷ voice.  Sometimes I wonder how well she understands a certain word so I’ll ask her if she really knows what it means and we’ll discuss it¹⁸.  Today one such word was “cinch,” meaning to tighten a saddle on a horse.¹⁹  She knew its meaning and said she knew it because she has ridden a horse²⁰ and put a saddle on it.  I’m often surprised at²¹ some of the experiences my students have had.

Our students are allowed to choose the book they will read with us.  I feel that Shelby chooses very good books, much better than the little girl I read with last year did²².  Today Don’s student, J.D., finished²³ his book and then took a test²⁴ on it.  Don says J.D. does well on his tests.  I haven’t given one²⁵ to Shelby yet as she hasn’t finished a book on Monday while I’m there. 

When school ends²⁶ the first week in June, our reading program will end also. However, Don and I will have good memories²⁷ of the year.  We always do.²⁸  When our children were young, we read out loud to them every night.  Our Jefferson School reading program seems to be a normal extension²⁹ of what we were doing then.  We hope to continue being helpers again next year.

Notes

1. school year: an academic year, usually September through May or June in the U.S. (学年，在美国通常为九月至第二年的五、六月).

2. Jefferson Elementary School: a building in which children attend kindergarten through 5th grade classes (杰弗森小学，包含幼儿园大班到小学五年级).  This school is named after Thomas Jefferson, one of our early U.S. presidents.  Many schools in the U.S. are named after famous presidents such as Washington, Lincoln, etc.

3. Pella (派拉): a small city in south central Iowa where Central College is located, and where we live

4. have been involved in…: have been a part of…; have taken part in some activity (参与了).

5. literacy program: a reading program designed to encourage students to become better readers (提高阅读能力项目). Literacy refers to ability to read and write a language. Many schools in the U.S. now have such programs, and using volunteers such as adults, college students, etc.

6. 4th grade teacher: a person who is responsible for teaching students at the 4th grade level of elementary school (四年级负责老师).  The students are about 9 years old.

7. profit (from…): gain, or become better (by doing a given exercise or lessons) (获益).

8. read out-loud: read and say what is written at a volume so that it can be heard easily, not silent reading (大声读出来以便别人能够很容易听到).

9. adult: a person who has reached the legal age to vote in a given country or state ( 成人).  In most of the U.S. this is the age of 21 years.  However, some people think that adulthood begins at the age of 18, when one is allowed to drink alcoholic beverages in some states, and when one may be drafted into the military service.

10. attention: the interest that people show in someone or something (关注). 

11. comprehension: the ability to understand something about what is being said or discussed about a topic, person or thing (理解力).

12. develop: make progress or mature in some activity or growth (发展、成长).

13. was assigned to me: was given to me (to do or complete something for some reason) (分配给我).

14. it was obvious that she really wasn’t pleased that her teacher had placed us together: 她的老师将我们两人放在一起，她确实不高兴，这是显而易见的。

15. shy: timid, nervous about meeting and speaking to other people, especially people one doesn’t know (胆小、害羞).

16. stranger: a person who is not known to one, or with whom one is not acquainted (陌生人).

17.expressive: showing meaning or effective in exhibiting feelings (有表达力的).

18. Sometimes I wonder how well she understands a certain word so I’ll ask her if she really knows what it means and we’ll discuss it: 有时候我想知道她对某一个词理解得怎么样，我就问她是否知道这个词的意思，于是我们就一起讨论这个词.

19. Today one such word was “cinch,” meaning to tighten a saddle on a horse: 今天就有这样一个字，是”cinch”，意思是把马鞍收紧。A saddle is a piece of equipment, usually leather, placed as a seat on the back of an animal, such as a horse, donkey, mule etc.

20. has ridden a horse: has sat, guided and traveled on a horse (曾经骑过马).

21. surprised at…: having the feeling you have when something unexpected or unusual happens (对……感到惊奇).

22. the little girl I read with last year did: 此处，I read with last year 是定语从句，修饰the little girl，did (chose books)是little girl的谓语动词。

23. finished: completed (完成).

24. took a test: took an exam given to someone or something to detect performance level (考试了).

25. one: a test, 此处one是代词。

26. ends: terminates a designated period of time (结束).

27. good memories: 美好的记忆。

28. We always do: We always have good memories.

29. extension: a continuation of an action, or period of activity, or time (延伸).