胡敏讀故事記托福詞匯094：在新聞臺 At the News Station
“Did you read the news facsimile?” Tom asked. “Another fanatical religious faction has taken hostages at the embassy. These factious groups are more violent than their predecessors and their fanaticism is even more irrational. I am pretty sure it will be a major factor in their demise. Their strength will fade in a few years.”
“看了新聞傳真通信了嗎?”湯姆問，“又有一個(gè)狂熱的宗教派別在大使館扣押了人質(zhì)。這些宗教派組織比他們的前輩更殘暴，他們的狂熱變得越發(fā)喪失理性了。我敢斷定這將是導(dǎo)致他們滅亡的一個(gè)主要因素。他們的勢力幾年后就回漸漸衰弱下去。”
“I’m not sure about that,” Bill replied. “Their followers are pretty faithful. Part of the problem is that they cannot distinguish between a true religious leader and a fake. Many of the followers are extremely poor. They come from villages that are suffering from famine. They are willing to listen to anyone who will give them a warm meal and a promise of a better life. As a result, they often follow leaders with fancy houses and fanciful clothing. I suppose a dearth of food can famish you and make you anxious to believe any promise of a better life, regardless of your mental faculty. I just hope our negotiators don’t falter and give in to those fanatics.”
“對此我還不敢斷定，”比爾回答，“他們的追隨者很忠誠。部分原因在于他們區(qū)分不開真假宗教領(lǐng)袖。很多追隨者都很窮，他們來自正遭受饑荒的農(nóng)村。誰能給他們一口熱飯、一個(gè)改善生活的許諾，他們就聽誰的。所以，他們常常跟那些擁有豪華住宅和穿著花哨衣服的人身后。我想無論你的心里承受能力有多強(qiáng)，食物匱乏會使你挨餓，這會使你急于相信任何能改善生活的許諾。我只希望我們?nèi)フ勁械娜瞬粫丝s，不要屈服于這些狂熱之徒。”
“Desperation makes all of us fallible,” Tom said. “However, we should familiarize ourselves with the facts before we make any judgments. I’m going to send you there to obtain a factual account. I know you’ll report the story fairly and accurately.”
“絕望使我們都容易犯錯(cuò)誤，”湯姆說，“我們自己應(yīng)先熟悉情況，再作出判斷。我要派你去獲得真實(shí)的報(bào)道。我知道你會公正準(zhǔn)確地報(bào)道這一事件的。”
“Thanks, but what should I do about the story I was working on?” asked Bill.
“謝謝，可我目前手頭的報(bào)道怎么辦?”比爾問。
“The story about the falcon?” asked Tom. “Give it to the new reporter in the faint blue dress. As a beginner, she’s still fallible. She’ll be glad to receive an easy assignment.”
“那個(gè)關(guān)于獵鷹的報(bào)道?”湯姆問，“交給哪兒穿暗藍(lán)色衣服新來的記者吧。她初出茅廬，仍然是容易出錯(cuò)的。她會很高興接受這個(gè)輕松的任務(wù)。”
Words:
facsimile n. 摹本;復(fù)制品，贗品;電傳真，傳真圖像，傳真圖文像
faction n. 派別，宗派，小集團(tuán)
factious adj. 好搞派系的，喜傾軋的
factor n. 因素，變量
factual adj. 事實(shí)的，實(shí)際的
faculty n. 教職工總稱;才能，能力
fade vi. 逐漸消失，退色，枯萎
faint adj. 微弱的，模糊的，無力的，暗淡的
fairly adv. 公平地;相當(dāng)?shù)?/p>
faithful n. 信徒;
adj. 忠實(shí)的
fake n. 贗品，假貨
falcon n. (獵鳥用的)獵鷹
fallible adj. 易錯(cuò)的，可能犯錯(cuò)的
falter v. 蹣跚，猶豫，退縮
familiarize vt. 熟悉
famine n. 饑餓，饑荒
famish vt. 使挨餓
fanatical adj. 狂熱的;入迷的
fanaticism n. 狂熱，盲信
fanciful adj. 愛空想的，奇異古怪的，花哨的
fancy adj. 新奇的，精美的;昂貴的;高檔的
