胡敏读故事记托福词汇070：上尉的演说 The Captain’s Speech
“We must honor the dead,” said the commander, with a look of disapprobation. It was a disastrous battle. The entire town was destroyed. There was smoke everywhere. Hundreds of deceased soldiers lay in a state of disarray. “Captain, make sure that the band plays a good dirge.”
这是一场损失惨重的战役。整个城镇都被摧毁。战火的硝烟还没有散去。数百名死去的士兵横七竖八地躺在那里。“我们必须向死难者致敬，”指挥官说话时一脸的不满。“上尉，一定让乐队为他们演奏一首表达我们哀思的挽歌。”
The captain motioned the three-man band to start playing. As the music began to play, the captain turned and faced his men. The captain was a very bright and discerning man. He immediately discerned the disadvantage that this situation could create. This battle had caused a discernible difference in the morale of the men. Most of his men were still teenagers. None of them had ever experienced the horror of battle.
上尉示意三人乐队开始演奏。音乐一起，上尉就转过身面对他的士兵。上尉头脑聪明，眼光敏锐。他马上察觉出这种局面会带来的不利影响。这场战役使士兵们的士气产生了明显的变化。他们中大多数人还是青少年。没有人曾经经历过战争的恐怖。
The captain began to speak. “Men, we cannot disavow what happened today. We had no choice in the matter. Do not think that I can’t see the look of disapproval on some of your faces. I know that s scene like this can easily disarrange your thoughts, no matter how brave you are. However, you must not let this disaster disaffect you. You have to discard any thoughts of disbanding. Instead, let this horrible event have the opposite effect. Let us disabuse ourselves of the idea that we are invincible. Let it persuade us to complete our mission to disarm the rebels and to bring peace and stability to this region. As soon as we succeed in ending this dreadful war, the government will disburse funds to help rebuild this country. It will allow the people to return to a normal life. The children will return to school. Life will go on and you’ll be discharged to go home to your families.”
上尉开始讲话了。“士兵们，我们不能否认今天发生的一切。在这个问题上我们别无选择。不要以为我看不出你们一些人脸上的不满。我明白，无论你多么勇敢，眼前这一幕也会很容易搅乱你的思想。但是你不可以因为这种灾难而产生不满情绪。你必须丢弃一切解散军队的念头。相反，我们要化恐怖为力量。让我们打消我们是战无不胜的错误念头。让着惨烈的一幕激励我们去完成解除乱党武装、恢复本地区和平与稳定的使命。一旦我们胜利地结束这场可怕的战争，政府会支付专款重建家园。人们将恢复正常的生活，孩子们将回到学校，生活会继续下去，你们也会解散回家与家人团聚。”
“What a disarming speech!” the men murmured.
“真是一番消除疑虑的演讲啊!”士兵们低声嘟囔着。
Words:
dirge n. 哀歌，挽歌
disabuse v. 打消(某人)的错误念头，纠正，解惑
disadvantage n. 缺点，坏处，不利
disaffect v. (政治上的)不满，叛离
disapprobation n. 不赞成，非难
disapproval n. 不赞成
disarm v. 缴械，解除武装;缓和，消除(敌意、疑虑等)
disarming adj. 使接触警戒心，消除敌意的
disarrange v. 打乱，搅乱
disarray n. 混乱，漫无秩序
disaster n. 灾难，不幸;彻底的失败
disastrous adj. 损失惨重的;悲伤的
disavow v. 不承认，否认
disband v. 解散(军队)
disburse v. 支付
discard vt. 丢弃
discern vt. 看出;觉察到
discernible adj. 可识别的
discerning adj. 有识别力的;眼光敏锐的
discharge vt. 释放;排除;n. 流出;放电
