A friend of mine noticed a man staggering about in the Times Square subway station. A well-dressed Wall Street type, his coat was unbuttoned, a briefcase¹ dangled³ from his hand and he'd obviously had one too many.

 

　　Asked if he was all right, the man gave a slurred⁴ but affirmative response. However, my friend simply could not see someone brave the rough maw of a New York subway without trying to help. He followed the chap, and again asked, "Are you sure you're all right? What subway are you looking for? Do you need help getting home?"

 

　　At last, the object of his attentions snarled⁶, in a low voice, "Leave me alone! I'm an undercover cop!"

 

Notes:

 

　　(1) stagger v.蹒跚；摇摆（因衰弱、负重、酒醉等）

        (2) the Times Square （美国）时代广场

 

　　(3) subway n.地铁

 

　　(4) briefcase n.手提箱

 

　　(5) dangle² v. 悬吊着或摇摆不定

 

　　(6) slurred adj.含糊不清的

 

　　(7) affirmative adj.肯定的

 

　　(8) brave the rough maw闻入是非之地

 

　　(9) maw n.动物的胃或咽喉，比喻随时会吞噬他物之物

 

　　(10) chap n.家伙

 

　　(11) snarl⁵ v.咆哮

 

　　(12) undercover adj.秘密的；暗中从事的

 

Exercises:

 

根据短文填空：

 

　　① A friend of mine noticed a man staggering _____in the Times Square subway station.

 

　　② His coat was unbuttoned, a briefcase _____from his hand and he'd obviously had one too many.

 

　　③ _____if he was all right, the man gave a slurred but affirmative response.

 

　　④ My friend simply Could not see someone _____the rough maw of a New York subway without trying to help.

        ⑤ At last, the _____of his attentions snarled, in a low voice, "Leave me alone! I'm an undercover cop!

 

82.说不的男子

 

　　我的一位朋友看到一个男子在时代广场的地铁车站摇摇晃晃地走。那个人穿着时髦，敞着怀，一个手提箱在他的手里悬吊着，很明显他是多喝了一杯。

 

　　我朋友问他怎么样，那男子含糊而肯定地回答说没问题。然而我朋友就是不能眼看着有人在纽约地铁独入是非之地而置之不顾。他跟在那家伙的后面，又一次问道：“你肯定你没事？你在找哪个地铁站？你需要帮忙回家吗？”

 

　　他所注意的对象终于忍耐不住了，对他低声咆哮道：“你给我走开！我是便衣警察！”

 

练习参考答案：

 

① about ② dangling ③ Asked ④ brave ⑤ object

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