我想是在七月四日这天他们又把我屁股底下的椅子抽走了，事先并没有告知我。大洋彼岸的某个大人物决定要省钱，裁减校对员和可怜的打字员，使他能付来回旅费和住里兹饭店富丽堂皇的房间的房租。我付清累积欠排字工的小笔债务，又给马路对面的小酒馆送了一份礼以便继续赊帐，这样一来最后一次工资就所剩无几了。我只得通知旅馆老板我要搬走，我没有告诉他原因，因为那会使他担心他那微不足道的两百法郎。

I think it was the Fourth of July when they took the chair from under my ass¹ again. Not a word of warning. One of the big muck a mucks from the other side of the water had decided² to make economies; cutting down on proofreaders and helpless little dactylos enabled him to pay the expenses of his trips back and forth⁴ and the palatial⁵ quarters he occupied at the Ritz. After paying what little debts I had accumulated among the linotype operators and a goodwill⁶ token at the bistro across the way, in order to preserve my credit, there was scarcely anything left out of my final pay. I had to notify the patron of the hotel that I would be leaving; I didn't tell him why because he'd have worried about his measly two hundred francs.

　　如果丢掉了工作你怎么办？”这话始终在我耳边回荡，现在好了！完蛋了！除了再上街去没有什么事可做，步行、四处转悠、坐在长椅上消磨时间。现在蒙帕纳斯的人当然都认识我了，我还可以装一阵，假装我仍在报社工作，这样讨一顿早饭或晚饭吃也容易些。正值夏季，旅游者在大量涌来，我已想好了骗他们钱的法子。“你要干什么……”嗯，我要告诉你的是，我不愿意饿死。如果我什么都不干，一门心思只想着吃的，自己便会免于崩溃。一两周之内我还可以照常去保罗先生的餐馆，每天晚上饱餐一顿，他不会知道我是否还在工作。要紧的是吃饭，其余的托付给上帝好了。

"What'll you do if you lose your job?" That was the phrase that rang in my ears continually. ?a y est maintenant! Ausgespielt! Nothing to do but to get down into the street again, walk, hang around, sit on benches, kill time. By now, of course, my face was familiar in Montparnasse; for a while I could pretend that I was still working on the paper. That would make it a little easier to

点击收听单词发音  

1 ass
n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人
参考例句：
He is not an ass as they make him.他不象大家猜想的那样笨。 An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden.驴能负重但不能超过它能力所负担的。

2 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 proofread
vt.校正，校对
参考例句：
I didn't even have the chance to proofread my own report.我甚至没有机会校对自己的报告。 Before handing in his application to his teacher,he proofread it again.交给老师之前，他又将申请书补正了一遍。

4 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

5 palatial
adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的
参考例句：
Palatial office buildings are being constructed in the city.那个城市正在兴建一些宫殿式办公大楼。 He bought a palatial house.他买了套富丽堂皇的大房子。

6 goodwill
n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉
参考例句：
His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。 We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。

7 bum
n.臀部；流浪汉，乞丐；vt.乞求，乞讨
参考例句：
A man pinched her bum on the train so she hit him.在火车上有人捏她屁股，她打了那人。 The penniless man had to bum a ride home.那个身无分文的人只好乞求搭车回家。

8 providence
n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝
参考例句：
It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。 To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。

9 dough
n.生面团；钱，现款
参考例句：
She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。 The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。

10 sedulously
ad.孜孜不倦地
参考例句：
In this view they were sedulously abetted by their mother, aunts and other elderly female relatives. 在这方面，他们得到了他们的母亲，婶婶以及其它年长的女亲戚们孜孜不倦的怂恿。 The clerk laid the two sheets of paper alongside and sedulously compared their contents. 那职员把两张纸并排放在前面，仔细比较。

11 loathed
v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的过去式和过去分词 )；极不喜欢
参考例句：
Baker loathed going to this red-haired young pup for supplies. 面包师傅不喜欢去这个红头发的自负的傻小子那里拿原料。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Therefore, above all things else, he loathed his miserable self! 因此，他厌恶不幸的自我尤胜其它！ 来自英汉文学 - 红字

12 squat
v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的
参考例句：
For this exercise you need to get into a squat.在这次练习中你需要蹲下来。 He is a squat man.他是一个矮胖的男人。

13 misery
n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦
参考例句：
Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。 He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

14 retired
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
参考例句：
The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。 Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

15 itch
n.痒，渴望，疥癣；vi.发痒，渴望
参考例句：
Shylock has an itch for money.夏洛克渴望发财。 He had an itch on his back.他背部发痒。

16 scout
n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索
参考例句：
He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。 The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。

17 celebrated
adj.有名的，声誉卓著的
参考例句：
He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。 The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

18 mathematician
n.数学家
参考例句：
The man with his back to the camera is a mathematician.背对着照相机的人是位数学家。 The mathematician analyzed his figures again.这位数学家再次分析研究了他的这些数字。

19 demolish
v.拆毁(建筑物等)，推翻(计划、制度等)
参考例句：
They're going to demolish that old building.他们将拆毁那座旧建筑物。 He was helping to demolish an underground garage when part of the roof collapsed.他当时正在帮忙拆除一个地下汽车库，屋顶的一部份突然倒塌。

20 pseudonym
n.假名，笔名
参考例句：
Eric Blair wrote under the pseudonym of George Orwell.埃里克·布莱尔用乔治·奧威尔这个笔名写作。 Both plays were published under the pseudonym of Philip Dayre.两个剧本都是以菲利普·戴尔的笔名出版的。

21 champagne
n.香槟酒；微黄色
参考例句：
There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。 They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。

22 treatise
n.专著；(专题)论文
参考例句：
The doctor wrote a treatise on alcoholism.那位医生写了一篇关于酗酒问题的论文。 This is not a treatise on statistical theory.这不是一篇有关统计理论的论文。

23 braces
n.吊带，背带；托架( brace的名词复数 )；箍子；括弧；（儿童）牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来
参考例句：
The table is shaky because the braces are loose. 这张桌子摇摇晃晃，因为支架全松了。 You don't need braces if you're wearing a belt! 要系腰带，就用不着吊带了。

24 coves
n.小海湾( cove的名词复数 )；家伙
参考例句：
Grenada's unique layout includes many finger-like coves, making the island a popular destination. 格林纳达独特的地形布局包括许多手指状的洞穴，使得这个岛屿成为一个受人欢迎的航海地。 来自互联网

25 joints
接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）
参考例句：
Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。 Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

26 degenerate
v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者
参考例句：
He didn't let riches and luxury make him degenerate.他不因财富和奢华而自甘堕落。 Will too much freedom make them degenerate?太多的自由会令他们堕落吗？

27 hops
跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花
参考例句：
The sparrow crossed the lawn in a series of hops. 那麻雀一蹦一跳地穿过草坪。 It is brewed from malt and hops. 它用麦精和蛇麻草酿成。

28 phantoms
n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 )
参考例句：
They vanished down the stairs like two phantoms. 他们像两个幽灵似的消失在了楼下。 来自辞典例句 The horrible night that he had passed had left phantoms behind it. 他刚才度过的恐布之夜留下了种种错觉。 来自辞典例句

29 rue
n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔
参考例句：
You'll rue having failed in the examination.你会悔恨考试失败。 You're going to rue this the longest day that you live.你要终身悔恨不尽呢。

30 advertising
n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的
参考例句：
Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗? The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

31 strictly
adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地
参考例句：
His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。 The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

32 destined
adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的
参考例句：
It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。 The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。

33 worthy
adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的
参考例句：
I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。 There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

34 motive
n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的
参考例句：
The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。 He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

35 massacre
n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀
参考例句：
There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。 If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

36 reign
n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势
参考例句：
The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。 The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

37 scenarios
n.[意]情节；剧本；事态；脚本
参考例句：
Further, graphite cores may be safer than non-graphite cores under some accident scenarios. 再者，根据一些事故解说，石墨堆芯可比非石墨堆芯更安全一些。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法 Again, scenarios should make it clear which modes are acceptable to users in various contexts. 同样，我们可以运用场景剧本来搞清楚在不同情境下哪些模式可被用户接受。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

38 astounding
adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词)
参考例句：
There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。 The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》

39 skull
n.头骨；颅骨
参考例句：
The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。 He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。

40 thoroughly
adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地
参考例句：
The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。 The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

41 lugubrious
adj.悲哀的，忧郁的
参考例句：
That long,lugubrious howl rose on the night air again!夜空中又传来了那又长又凄凉的狗叫声。 After the earthquake,the city is full of lugubrious faces.地震之后，这个城市满是悲哀的面孔。

42 inhaling
v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 )
参考例句：
He was treated for the effects of inhaling smoke. 他因吸入烟尘而接受治疗。 来自辞典例句 The long-term effects of inhaling contaminated air is unknown. 长期吸入被污染空气的影响还无从知晓。 来自互联网

43 reeks
n.恶臭( reek的名词复数 )v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的第三人称单数 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象）
参考例句：
His statement reeks of hypocrisy. 他的话显然很虛伪。 来自《简明英汉词典》 His manner reeks prosperity. 他的态度表现得好象有钱的样子。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

44 nostrils
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Her nostrils flared with anger. 她气得两个鼻孔都鼓了起来。 The horse dilated its nostrils. 马张大鼻孔。

45 undoubtedly
adv.确实地，无疑地
参考例句：
It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。 He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

46 sculptor
n.雕刻家，雕刻家
参考例句：
A sculptor forms her material.雕塑家把材料塑造成雕塑品。 The sculptor rounded the clay into a sphere.那位雕塑家把黏土做成了一个球状。

47 scrupulousness
n.一丝不苟；小心翼翼
参考例句：

48 conscientiousness
责任心
参考例句：
Conscientiousness is expected of a student. 学生要诚实。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Only has the conscientiousness, diligently works, can make a more splendid result! 只有脚踏实地，努力工作，才能做出更出色的成绩！ 来自互联网

49 insipid
adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的
参考例句：
The food was rather insipid and needed gingering up.这食物缺少味道，需要加点作料。 She said she was a good cook,but the food she cooked is insipid.她说她是个好厨师，但她做的食物却是无味道的。

50 prosaic
adj.单调的，无趣的
参考例句：
The truth is more prosaic.真相更加乏味。 It was a prosaic description of the scene.这是对场景没有想象力的一个描述。

51 marvels
n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
The doctor's treatment has worked marvels : the patient has recovered completely. 该医生妙手回春，病人已完全康复。 来自辞典例句 Nevertheless he revels in a catalogue of marvels. 可他还是兴致勃勃地罗列了一堆怪诞不经的事物。 来自辞典例句