本文選自吳應(yīng)時主編的《大學(xué)英語六級閱讀真題精讀——晨讀伴侶》。本書對歷年國家大學(xué)英語六級考試（CET-6）的仔細(xì)閱讀部分進(jìn)行了詳盡而精準(zhǔn)的分析、翻譯和注釋，對四六級考生有著事半功倍的效果，對提升整體英語能力也很有幫助。
學(xué)習(xí)導(dǎo)讀：
我們生活在社會之中，我們的成長歷程就是接受社會化的過程。在這個過程中，我們慢慢習(xí)慣于以社會標(biāo)簽來看待身邊的人。比如這個人是教授，那么我們認(rèn)識他的方式就在于我們對教授的固有印象，可能是富有學(xué)識，也有可能是窮酸?？傊?，你之前對這個詞有怎樣的認(rèn)識，當(dāng)你所認(rèn)識的人帶有著這個標(biāo)簽的時候，你就自然而然地把你對該詞的印象代入了此人身上。那么作者，當(dāng)他是服務(wù)員的時候，又和他展露了大學(xué)生身份的時候，顧客的反映如何呢，快看看吧。
[Like most people], I’ve [long] understood that I will be judged [by my occupation?1], that my profession is a gauge?2(people use to see how smart or talented I am.) [Recently], [however], was disappointed to see that it [also] decides how I’m treated [as a person]. ?
像大多數(shù)人一樣，我很久以前就明白，人們會根據(jù)我的職業(yè)來評價我。我的職業(yè)就如同一把標(biāo)尺，人們用它來衡量我的聰明才智。然而，最近我失望地發(fā)現(xiàn)，我的職業(yè)也決定了別人把我當(dāng)成什么樣的人來對待。
注：1. occupation n. ①占領(lǐng)，占據(jù)，占用。例：
The armies finally withdrew after four-year’s occupation of this castle.
占據(jù)了這個城堡四年之后，軍隊忠于撤走了。
②職業(yè)，工作。例：
All married women should have some occupation outside the home.
所有的已婚婦女除了做家務(wù)之外還應(yīng)當(dāng)有自己的職業(yè)。
And frankly, not everyone wants to do the kind of occupation that these certificates provide.
坦率地說，不是每個人都想做這些證書允許的那種職業(yè)。
[選自：MSN: Boomers face stark choices in bleak economy]
2. gauge n. 標(biāo)準(zhǔn)尺寸，規(guī)格，量規(guī)，量表。例：
The fuel gauge in the car was broken.
汽車上的油表壞了。
Weekly applications for unemployment benefits are considered a gauge of the pace of layoffs.
每周失業(yè)救濟的申請次數(shù)被認(rèn)為是裁員速度的標(biāo)尺。
[選自：MSN: Weekly jobless claims tally down slightly]
[Last year] I left a professional position [as a small-town reporter] and took a job (waiting tables). [As someone paid to serve food to people], I had customers (I suspect?1?they’d [never] say or do to their most casual?2?acquaintances?3.) [One night] a man (talking on his cell phone) waved me away, [then] beckoned?4me [a minute later], [complaining he was ready to order and asking where I’d been].
去年，我辭去了小城記者的專業(yè)職位，換了一份餐廳服務(wù)員的工作。作為一個靠伺候別人吃飯賺錢的人，有些顧客對我說過一些話、做過一些事——我想，即便是對最泛泛之交的熟人，他們也不會這樣吧。某天晚上，一位顧客用手機打電話時，揮手讓我走開，一分鐘后又以手指示意我回來，抱怨說他已經(jīng)準(zhǔn)備好點菜了，問我怎么走開了。
注：1. suspect vt. 疑心，懷疑，猜想。例：
In the end, I suspect the ultimate beneficiaries would be the same people who always win.
最后，我想最終受益的將總是同一批贏家。
[選自：BOINGBOING: 10 - October - 2006]
The police suspect Gary of the murder.
警察懷疑加里是殺人兇手。
n. 嫌疑犯，可疑分子。例：
The suspects are armed and dangerous.
這些嫌疑犯帶有武器，十分危險。
【注】作名詞和作動詞時的讀法不同。
2. casual adj. ①偶然的，碰巧的。例：
a casual meeting 邂逅；
②臨時的，非正式的。例：
People didn't yet understand or believe that the virus couldn't be spread by casual contact.
人們認(rèn)為該病毒能通過日常接觸傳播。
[選自：WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Signs Ryan White HIV/AIDS Act]
casual worker 臨時工 ??
【參】 causal adj. 原因的，因果關(guān)系的
3. acquaintance n. 相識; 熟人, 相識的人; 了解。例：
The relationship between the two individuals concerned might be a casual acquaintance, a brother-sister type of friendship, an acquaintance with romantic overtones, or a passionate involvement.
兩人之間的關(guān)系可能只是泛泛之交，一種兄妹式的友誼，一種含帶愛情成分的結(jié)交,或是一種熱戀。
The virus arrives in a person’s e-mail box disguised as a reply from an acquaintance.
偽裝成為來自熟人的回復(fù)，該病毒就到達(dá)了某個人的電子郵箱。
[選自：CNN: Largest U.S. electricity producer survives worm]
4. beckon v. 向...示意; 吸引; 召喚; 引誘; 示意; 吸引; 召喚; 引誘。例：
They beckon for me to join their photo opportunity and I smile that smile you ? have as a child when first you see snow.
?他們招手呼喚我和他們一起照相，我微笑著，就像小孩子第一次看見下雪那樣的微笑。
The romance of the sea beckoned the young sailors.
航海的浪漫故事吸引著年輕水手們。
[選自：21世紀(jì)大英漢詞典]
I had waited tables [during summers] [in college] and was treated [like a peon?1] [by plenty of people]. But [at 19 years old], I believed I deserved inferior?2treatment [from professional adults]. [Besides], people responded to me [differently] [after I told them I was in college.] Customers would joke that [one day] I’d be sitting [at their table], [waiting to be served].
我在大學(xué)時暑假做過餐館服務(wù)員，那時很多人把我當(dāng)苦力看待。但那時我才19歲，我覺得，這些有專業(yè)技術(shù)的成年人認(rèn)為我低人一等，也是理所當(dāng)然的。而且，等我告訴他們我在讀大學(xué)時，他們對我的態(tài)度就不一樣了。有顧客開玩笑說，有朝一日我也會坐到他們所坐過的桌子旁，等著別人來伺候我。
注：1. peon n. 勞工; 日工; 散工。例：
He is a Spanish-American farm laborer or unskilled worker
他是美國西班牙裔雇農(nóng)或勞工
2. inferior adj.下等的，下級的，差的，次的； (be) inferior to 比…差。例：
Mercifully the public has the good sense not to buy the inferior articles more than once.
所幸的是，公眾有很好的判斷力，不會再次購買質(zhì)量低劣的商品。
Compared to a wired pair of headphones of the same price they are inferior for music sound quality.
相比于同價位的有線耳機，他們的音樂音質(zhì)要低劣些。
[選自：ENGADGET: Ask Engadget: Best solution for Bluetooth stereo audio?]
n. 下級，晚輩。例：
The foreman was very condescending to all of his inferiors.
這位領(lǐng)班對他的下屬非常謙遜。
[Once I graduated] I took a job [at a community?1?newspaper]. [From my first day], I heard a respectful tone [from everyone] (who called me.) I assumed?2?this was the way (the professional world worked [cordially?3].) ?
我一畢業(yè)就在一家社區(qū)報社找了份工作。我發(fā)現(xiàn)，從我工作的第一天起，每一個給我打電話的人說話都是彬彬有禮的。我想，職業(yè)領(lǐng)域里的人們就是這樣友好地相處的。
注：1. community n. 社區(qū), 共同社會; 社會, 公眾; 共同體; 共有。例：
The community in China can be divided into traditional community working unit and nontraditional community sub district office region. ??
中國社區(qū)可分為傳統(tǒng)社區(qū)——單位和非傳統(tǒng)社區(qū)——街道辦事處管轄區(qū)。
Some in the medical community here are warning that the procedure would be extremely dangerous.
醫(yī)學(xué)界中有些人警告說，該過程極其危險。
[選自：BBC: Women may be given new hope of having a baby]
2. assume v. 以為; 認(rèn)為; 假定為; 承擔(dān)。例：
The key is that you must never assume it will never happen to you.
關(guān)鍵是，你千萬不要以為它永遠(yuǎn)不會發(fā)生在你頭上。
[選自：BBC: NEWS | UK | Preparing for Britain's big freeze]
【辯】assume，suppose；assume強調(diào)武斷地認(rèn)定某一事物為真實，而該事物尚未被證實或存在意見分歧：assume that prices will rise（認(rèn)為價格要上漲）；suppose指根據(jù)一些證據(jù)所得出的準(zhǔn)確預(yù)測。
3. cordially adv. 熱誠地, 友善地, 誠摯地。例：
As his studies, at a previous period of his life, had made him extensively acquainted with the medical science of the day, it was as a physician that he presented himself and as such was cordially received. ?
由于他的前半生對當(dāng)時的醫(yī)學(xué)科學(xué)作了廣泛的研究,于是他就以所熟悉的醫(yī)生這——行當(dāng)為業(yè),出現(xiàn)在這里,并且受到了熱烈歡迎。
Russian President Vladimir Putin joked cordially with President George W. Bush.
俄羅斯總統(tǒng)普京親切地與喬治·布什總統(tǒng)開玩笑。
[選自：NPR: Eyes On Whether APEC Leaders Will Don Aloha Shirts]
I [soon] found out [differently]. I sat several feet [away from an advertising sales representative?1?] [with a similar name]. Our calls would [often] get mixed up and someone asking for Kristen would be transferred?2?to Christie. The mistake was [immediately] evident. [Perhaps] it was because money was involved?3, but people used a tone [with Kristen] (that they [never] used [with me].)
但沒多久我發(fā)現(xiàn)情況并非如此。我與一位廣告銷售代表的座位只相距幾尺，他的名字和我的很相近。我們倆的電話經(jīng)常弄混，找Kristen的電話經(jīng)常會轉(zhuǎn)給Christie。一旦轉(zhuǎn)錯了，很快就能察覺出來。也許是因為牽涉到錢的問題，但是也可能是因為別人絕不會用對Kristen講話的語氣跟我講話。
注：1. representative n. 代表，代理人；短語：sales representative 銷售代表。例：
I wrote a letter to my representative introducing our new products.
我給代理人寫了一封信介紹我們的新產(chǎn)品。
However, you also have a right to speak with a company representative in English.
不過，你也有對企業(yè)代表用英文發(fā)言的權(quán)利。
[選自：MSN: Where's that promised in-room Internet connection?]
adj.（of）典型的，有代表性的。例：
This love poem is representative of the author’s best works.
這首愛情詩是這位作家的代表作。
2. transfer n. 遷移, 傳遞, 移動；v. 轉(zhuǎn)移, 調(diào)任, 調(diào)轉(zhuǎn); 轉(zhuǎn)移, 換車。例：
He has succeeded in getting ministers to resign and forced the government to transfer corrupt officials. ?
他曾成功地讓部長辭職，并迫使政府調(diào)任貪官。
[選自：BBC: Anna Hazare: India's pioneering social activist]
【注】重讀閉音節(jié)，雙寫尾字母。例：
Jack intends to transfer the property to his daughter.
杰克打算把財產(chǎn)轉(zhuǎn)讓給女兒。
Please arrange for the transfer of medical records to your new doctor.
請把醫(yī)療記錄轉(zhuǎn)給你的新醫(yī)生。
3. involve v. 包括, 潛心于, 使陷于。例：
These involve managing the cost of development, cost of operations, productivity, and product efficacy in the market.
這涉及管理開發(fā)成本、操作成本、生產(chǎn)力，和市場中的產(chǎn)品功效。
Recently released patent filings reveal new ways to control devices that do not involve physical contact.
最近公布的專利申請展示了如何用新的方式來控制不涉及身體接觸的設(shè)備。
[選自：BBC: Apple and Microsoft file patents for touchless controls]
My job title made people . So it was a shock [to return to the restaurant industry].
我的職業(yè)頭銜讓別人對我禮待有加，因此重回餐館工作讓我吃驚不小。
注：1. courtesy n. 禮貌; 謙恭有禮的言辭; 殷勤。例：
After a few words of courtesy, they got down to business.
? ??
他們客套了幾句，就開始談?wù)隆?/div>
But they are just expecting some common sense and some courtesy in how people interact.
但他們只是想知道一些關(guān)于如何與人交往的常識和禮節(jié)。
[選自：WHITEHOUSE: Discussing the Economy in Richmond]
It’s no secret that there’s [a lot] [to put up with] [when waiting tables], and [fortunately], much of it can be [easily] forgotten [when you pocket the tips.] The service industry, [by definition?1], exists to cater?2?to others’ needs. [Still], it seemed that many of my customers didn’t get the difference (between server and servant?3).
做餐飲招待的工作得忍耐許多事情，這不是什么秘密，好在小費入賬時，所有不愉快的心情都立馬煙消云散。服務(wù)業(yè)，顧名思義，是為了滿足他人的需要而存在的。盡管如此，很多顧客似乎沒有弄清楚服務(wù)人員與仆人之間的區(qū)別。
注：1. definition n. 定義, 清晰度, 精確度。例：
Here is the definition, which must be placed within a class definition for it to be compiled.
下面列出的是定義代碼，必須將它置于一個類定義里，否則無法編譯。
There are loose definitions that tend to change due to there not being a standard definition.
由于沒有一個標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的定義，松散的定義往往總在改變。
[選自：ENGADGET: Apple to face antitrust inquiry over iPhone coding restrictions?]
v. 備辦食物; 投合; 滿足; 為...提供飲食, 承辦的酒席。例：
Our literature and art ought to cater to popular taste.
我們的文藝應(yīng)該為人民群眾所喜聞樂見。
"In addition, we have to cater for their lodging, local transportation and feeding," he said.
“此外，我們要滿足他們的住宿，當(dāng)?shù)亟煌ê褪澄?，”他說。
[選自：BBC: Nigeria]
3. servant n. 仆人, 雇工, 傭人; 事務(wù)員; 公務(wù)員。例：
If you’re a minister, you are a civil servant, you are an employee of the government.
如果你是一名部長，你就是公務(wù)員，是政府雇員。
[選自：CNN: Why Ghonim's passion reignited revolt]
I’m [now] applying?1?to graduate school, (which means [someday] I’ll return to a profession) (where people need to be nice [to me] [in order to get what they want].) I think I’ll take them [to dinner] [first], and see how they treat someone (whose only job is to serve them.)
目前，我在申請讀研究生，這意味著有朝一日我會重返某個專業(yè)職位。在這個職位上，人們會為了一己之利而不得不對我以禮相待。我想，到時候，我會先帶他們?nèi)コ燥?，順便看看他們?nèi)绾螌Υ切┮苑?wù)他人為業(yè)的人。
1. apply vt.應(yīng)用；涂；使專心從事vi.申請；有關(guān)聯(lián)。例：
The new regulations also apply to day care centers, hotels, and other places that provide cribs.
新的規(guī)定還適用于日間護理中心，酒店等提供嬰兒床的場所。
[選自：CNN: Crib safety standards expanded]
