现代大学英语精读第二版(第二册)学习笔记(原文及全文翻译)-3B

现代⼤学英语精读第⼆版（第⼆册）学习笔记（原⽂及全⽂翻WhatMyGardenTaughtMe—theHardWayJaredGarrettItwasAprilandthelastsnowoftheseasonhadcomeandgone.ThebackyardofmyhomeincentralUtahwasbeginningtoshowsignsoflife,withthegreenofgrasswarringwiththeyellowofbuddingdandelions.Mygardenplotwaslookinggood.Reallygood.Ihadtakenpainstoputittobedproperlyattheendofthepreviousseason,andIhadbeenplanningthisyear'sgardenforfivemonths!Fivemonthsofsketchingdesignsandplans,layoutsandtrestlesforbeans.Andnowthetimewasfastapproaching.Iturnedtomywife."Hey,"Isaid,allinnocentandcompletelyignorantofthepainIwasabouttocommitmyselfto,"whydon'tweplantsomecorn?""Greatidea."Sheprattledandclosedhereyesinthought."Isithardtogrow?"Ishrugged."Noway.Everybodydoescorn."ThreeweekslaterIwasready.Ihadtilledtheplotagain,mixinginsomenicemanureandkeepingitwateredtogetthewormsexcited.Onaperfect,sunnySpringday,withapacketofseedsinhand,Idashedoutsideandplantedfourrowsofcorninthesouthernendofthegarden.Isplashedsomewateronthefivebytenfootareaoffuturecobsandthenmovednorthuptheplottoputinsomebeansandzucchini.TwoweekslaterIstaredsullenlyatthebareplot.Nocornsprouts.None.Nofuturemaize.Glaringatthedirt,thenthesky,Iasked,"Why?"Nobodyanswered.Ijerkedopenthesheddooranddugthroughmyboxofseedpackets,finallycomingupwiththepacketofcornseeds.Havingonlycursorilyskimmedtheplantinginstructions,Ihadnotactuallyreadalloftheinformationavailable.Twolinesdown,Ifoundtheproblem:Plantinwarmgroundinasunnyarea.Ilookedupandglaredagain.Butthistime,Iglaredatthetreesthatshadedthesouthernendofmygardenforaboutsixhoursoftheday.Mutteringtomyself,"Tooearly.Plantedthemtooearly.Gottahavewarmground,"Imademywaytomyhealthytomatoplantsandtookcomfortintheirroughstemsandfuzzyleaves.Ibrokealeafoffandbreathedinitswonderfulpleasantsmell.Recharged,re-energizedandrenewed,Iweededaroundmyzucchinithenwentinside."Yeah,soweplantedthatcorninthewrongplace,"Isaid,steppingthroughthebackdoorintomysmallhome."Needstobeindirectsunlight.""Whatdoyoumean'we'?"mywifeasked,grinnImutteredsomethingwittyandrudeandwentofftothekitchen,insearchofadrinkofwater."Yeah,wellwe'llgiveitsometime.Maybeasitwarmsup,it'llgrowokay."Mywife,Annemarie,gavemeahug."You'llmakeitwork.Besides,we'reinUtah.It'ssunnyhere."Withgreaterhope,Iwasbackoutsideeverydayofthenextweek,checkingforsprouts.ItwasonaThursdaythatithappened.Iwassureitwasn'tgrass.Theshapewaswronganditwastoofarawayfromtheedgeofthelawn."Asprout!"Ishouted,sendingmykidsrunningandmywifewalking:shewascarryingthebaby."Yay!"mytwooldestboysshouted."Cornsprouts!"Anditwastrue.TherewereseveraltendergreenshootspokingoutofthetoughUtahsoil.Iwasexcited.Weweregonnahavecorn!Twomonthslaterwewereeatingrawgreenbeans,rawpeas,freshzucchiniandyellowsquash,andwereprettysureourpumpkinsweregoingtobebig.Butthecornstalksweretwofeet,maybethreefeet,high.Thestalkswerethinandtherootswerevisibleatthebaseofthestem.Ihadnoideawhattodo.Thenithappened.Icamehomefromworkonawindydaythatpromisedrain.Iwasbeamingatthecloudyheavens,pleasedthattheskywasgoingtowaterforme.Iwalkedinthefrontdoor,kickingoffmybootsandsettlingintomyprizedblueeasychair.Mytwooldestboyscamedashingup.Iheldoutmyarmsforhugsandkisses,buttheystoppedshort,theireyeswide."Dad,"myoldestboy,Thomas,intoned,"badnews."Hewasawell-readsixandanoldestbrother,bothofwhichhetookseriously.Hisyoungerbrother,Hintze,noddedinagreement."Badnews!""Thecornfelldown,"Thomassaid.Ileapttomyfeet,dashedthroughthehouseandflungthebackdooropenwide.“No,”Iwhispered.Itwastrue.Mysmallfieldoflight-emerald,three-and-a-halffeethighcornwasleaning.No,morethanleaning.Someofthestalkswerepracticallyhorizontal.Slippingmyfeetintomyworkshoes,Ihurriedtothecorn."See?"ItwasThomas,comingupbehindme,"Itfelldown.Thewinddidit."Inodded,numb.But,neveronetogiveup,Isettofeverishaction.Iwadedgentlyintothegarden,myhandstenderlyliftingeachcornstalkbacktoitsverticalposition.Thewindblew.Thecornfellagain.Icursedthewindandstraightenedmycornplantsagain,daringthewickedsouthwesternguststocomeagain.Theydid;thecornfell.Mutteringswearwordsforallthingsstormy,Igentlyropedeachandeverystalkup,tyingtherowstofirmanchorsoneachend.Nowthewinddieddown.Mycornwasgoingtolive!Itwasgoingtothrive!Itwouldprovideloadsofdelicious,nourishingstaplefoodformyfamily!BytheendofAugust,itwasclearmycornwouldprovideverylittle,ifany,delicious,nourishingstaplefoodformyfamily.Thetalleststalkinmytinyfieldreachednohigherthanmyneck.Smallnubsweregrowinghereandthereonthehealthiestoftheplants,buttheywerenotdevelopingwell.Intheend,wegotfivelittlecobs.Kernelshadformedovermaybeseventypercentofthecobs'body.ButIcouldn'tbelievethatthisdisasterwasdueonlytoinsufficientsunlight.Asaregularlysuccessfulgardener,Iknewthatsunlightwasvital,butmycornlookedwell,malnourished.Ireadthebackoftheseedpacketagain.Plantinwarmgroundinasunnyarea.Thecrumpledpacketalsosaidthatthecornwouldbereadyforharvestineighty-twodays.Itfurtherinformedmethattheseedcompanyhadalongtraditionofgoodseeds.Butitdidnotexplainwhymycornlookedlikeithadbeenonafortydayfast.Itturnedoutthatmycornhadindeedbeenonafast.Aforcedfast.AfastcausedbymyignoranceandbymyeagernesstoplantandunwillingnesstostudyandlearnaboutmycropsbeforeIplantedthem.IaskedagardenclubIhadjustbegunattendingiftheyhadanyideawhymycornhadbeensuchaspectacularfailure.Thepatronoftheclubsmiledandaskedme"Cornisbasicallyafruitfulgrass,"herumbled."Grassabsolutelyneedsnitrogen.Youcangetnitrogenpelletsattheseedshop."Henodded,takingabitefromaclubmember'shomegrownapple."You'vegottahaveit.Otherwise,yourcornwon'tcomeout.""Nitrogen."Embarrassedatmyignorance,Iburiedmyfaceinaplateofblueberrycobbler.Sowhatdidmygardenteachme?Afterlongdaysofstaringatbaregroundandthenurgingmypunystalkstogrow?Followedbyweeksofwishingthecorncobswouldfinallyformandthinkingthatcornwassupposedtobetaller,wasn'tit?MygardentaughtmetolookbeforeIleap.TotakeafewminutesandgeteducatedaboutwhatIamplanting.Mygardentaughtmetoaskaroundtotalktopeopleintheareawhohaveexperiencewithvegetablegardens.NowIplantmycorninthesunniestpatchofmybiggestgardenplot.ThisyearIamgoingtoplantbeansamongstthecorn,withpeasontheoutskirts.Didyouknowthatbeansgivethesoilnitrogen?Oh,andinmyshedIhaveabinofnitrogenpellets.Andtheprize?Bigcobsthatare100%coveredbysweet,yellowkernels.Loadsofdeliciousstaplefoodformyfamilytofeaston.园艺给我的教训一一历经磨难才学会园艺给我的教训——历经磨难才学会贾⾥德·加勒特那是在4⽉，这个季节的最后⼀场雪来了⼜去。我在犹他州中⼼⽼家后院⾥的⼀切开始复苏，青青的⼩草和黄⾊的含苞待放的蒲公英争相⽃艳。我的菜园规划得看起来好得不能再好了。为了把它收拾妥当，便于今年种植，我上个季末可费了不少⼼思。我为今年种植这个菜园都已经准备了五个⽉了！五个⽉来，我不停地草拟设计⽅案、菜园布局和⾖类蔬菜⽣长⽤的⽀架。现在这⼀刻就要到来了。我转身对我的妻子说：“嗨，我们为什么不种些玉米呢？”但我完全不知道也没有意识到种玉米要付出多少⼼血。“好主意！”她信口说道，接着她闭上眼睛想了想，问：“玉米好种吗？”我耸耸肩说：“没问题！人人都种玉米。”三周后⼀切准备就绪。我⼜把地耕了⼀遍，并在地⾥施了⼀些好肥料，保持土壤水分充足，好让蠕虫活跃起来。在⼀个阳光明媚的春日，我拿了⼀⼩包种子冲到外面，在莱园的南头种下四行玉米。我在这块五英尺宽、十英尺长的即将结出玉米的地⾥洒了些水，然后向北走去，种了些菜⾖和西葫芦。两周后，我闷闷不乐地看着那片光秃秃的土地。没有玉米苗长出来，⼀株也没有，将来也结不出玉米来。我看看那块地，⼜仰天而问：“为什么呢？”没有人回答。我猛地打开棚子的门，在装有各种种子包装袋的盒子⾥翻找，最终找到了玉米种子的包装袋。之前我只是草草地看了⼀眼种植说明，根本就没有读完所有有⽤的信息。再往下读两行，我发现了问题所在，上面写着：种植在温暖向阳的地⽅。我⼜抬头看了看，但这次我看的是前面⼀排树，它们每天大约有六个⼩时都在遮着菜园的南端。我自言自语道：“太早了，种得太早了。应该种在温暖的地⽅。”我走向正在健康⽣长着的西红柿，摸着它们粗糙的茎和有绒毛的叶子，我深感欣慰。我摘下⼀片叶子，沉浸在它那沛人⼼脾的芳香中。我再次感到精力充沛、精神饱满、体力恢复，回屋前我给西葫芦除了草。我该谐而⼜有点粗鲁地低语了几句，然后走向厨房去找水喝。“那好吧，我们给它点时间，也许随着天气渐渐变暖，它会长得很好的。”我的妻子安娜玛丽给了我⼀个拥抱，说道：“你会成功的。而且我们是在犹他州，这⾥阳光充足。”到了第二周，我每天都更加满怀希望地出去查看发芽了没有。终于在⼀个星期四，种子发芽了。我确信那不是草，因为外形不⼀样，而且它“呀！”我那两个大⼀点的⼉子喊道：“玉米芽！”真真切切的，我看到好几个嫩绿⾊的芽正从犹他州坚硬的土地中破土而出。我兴奋极了，我们要有玉米了！两个⽉后，我们吃着鲜嫩的青⾖、豌⾖、新鲜的西葫芦和黄⾊的南这些玉米梗很细，在茎的基部还能看到有根。我不知道该怎么办好了。后来不幸发⽣了。在⼀个狂风不⽌、暴⾬在即的下午，我下班回到家⾥。看着满天的乌云我眉飞⾊舞，欣喜⽼天要为我下⾬浇园了。我从前门进了房间，踢掉靴子，坐到我珍爱的蓝⾊安乐椅上。我的两个大⼉子冲了进来，我张开双臂准备拥抱亲吻他们，但是他们突然停住了，眼的玉米。不仅仅是歪着，有的玉米秆都横着躺下了。我急匆匆地穿上⼯作鞋赶紧冲到玉米地⾥。“看到了吧？”跟着跑来的托马斯说，“它们都被风吹倒了。”我呆呆地点了点头。但我可不是⼀个轻易放弃的⼈，我⼜狂热地⾏动起来。我⼩⼼翼翼地趟⽔⾛进菜园，⽤⼿轻轻地把每⼀株⽟⽶扶起来。风⼀刮，⽟⽶⼜倒下了。我⼀边骂着风，⼀边⼜⼀次把⽟⽶扶起来，我可不怕这可恶的西南风再刮来。确实⼜来了，⽟⽶再次倒下。我喃喃⾃语地说起粗话，咒骂着所有与暴风⾬有关的事。我轻轻地把每⼀株⽟⽶扶起绑好，把每⼀排⽟⽶都牢牢绑在两头的⽀架上。现在风平息了，我的⽟⽶会活下去！它们会茂盛地⽣长！⼜可以为我们家提供许多美味⼜营养丰富的主⾷了。8⽉底到了，很明显，我的⽟⽶就算能结籽，也只能为我们家提供⼀点点美味⼜营养丰富的主⾷。那⽚地上最⾼的⽟⽶还不到我的脖⼦，只有⼏棵最健康的⽟⽶秧上零星地长了⼏根⼩⽟⽶棒，就这⼏个也长得不太好。最后我们只收获了5根⼩⽟⽶棒，⼀根⽟⽶棒上只有⼤约70%的地⽅结了⽟⽶粒。我认为这不仅仅是阳光不⾜造成的。我在园艺⽅⾯⼀向还⽐较擅长，根据经验，我知道阳光是最关键的因素，但是我的⽟⽶看起来很好，就是有点营养不良。我⼜看了⼀遍种⼦包装袋后⾯的说明：种在温暖向阳的地⽅。已被弄皱了的包装袋上还写着：可以在82天后收获⽟⽶。它还告知我这家种⼦公司长久以来都⽣产好种⼦，但是包装袋上没说明为什么我的⽟⽶看起来像是经历了40天的斋戒。事实证明，我的⽟⽶确实是在禁⾷，但它是被迫禁⾷。是由于我的⽆知和急于种植造成的，是由于种植之前，我不愿意去学习和研究该如何种植这种庄稼造成的。我之前刚加⼊了⼀个菜园倶乐部，我向俱乐部咨询，问他们是否知道我种植的⽟⽶为什么会如此失败。倶乐部的⼀位⽼会员笑着问我是否⽤过氮肥。“⽟⽶从本质上说是⼀种多产⽲本科植物”，他⽤低沉的声⾳说，“这种植物⼀定要⽤氮肥，你可以去种⼦店买些氮肥。”他点点头，咬了⼀⼝由⼀名俱乐部会员带来的⾃家种的苹果，接着说道：“⼀定要施些氮肥。否则，你的⽟⽶长不好的。”“氮肥。”我为⾃⼰的⽆知感到困窘，只得埋头吃⼀盘蓝莓馅饼。我的菜园教会了我什么？盯着那⽚光秃秃的⼟地看了数⽇，⼜急急地催促着弱⼩的⽟⽶秆快长⾼？接下来的⼏周盼着它快点结⽟⽶棒，认为⽟⽶应该长得再⾼⼀点，是这些吗？我的菜园教会我要三思⽽后⾏；要在种植⼀样植物之前花⼏分钟对它多了解⼀下；它还教会我要向周围那些有种植经验的⼈讨教。现在我把⽟⽶种在了菜园⾥最⼤的那块地⾥，那⾥阳光最充⾜。今年我打算在⽟⽶之间的空隙⾥种上菜⾖，并在它们的周围种上豌⾖。你知道吗？菜⾖可以为⼟壤提供氮。哦，我还在棚⼦⾥放了⼀桶氮肥。⾄于收获嘛，⼤⼤的⽟⽶棒上结满了饱满的⾦灿灿的⽟⽶粒，这么多的美味主⾷够我们⼀家尽情享受了。KeyWords:previous['pri:vjəs]