胡敏读故事记托福词汇081：切不开、嚼不烂的牛排 A Rubbery Steak
“I can’t really detect the elation in your facial expression,” Bob said. He sneered as he cut his streak with the edge if his knife. He wondered whether the tough meat was actually edible. It seemed to have more elasticity than taste.
“从你的脸上我的确能看出你的得意洋洋。”鲍勃说。他一边用刀刃切着牛排，一边轻蔑地笑着。他怀疑这么老的牛排是否真的可以吃。牛排看上去有弹性而不是有滋味。
“I’m in ecstasy.” Tom said, “The news media is calling the stadium I built a modern edifice. They say that it is energy efficient and that it meets the city’s tough new effluent wastewater standard. The mayor awarded me a plaque for being the most effective builder of the year. He is still shocked by the fact that only nine months have elapsed since we started this project, and now it is finished. Hoe many builders in this city can effectuate such progress in that short period of time? The answer is none.”
“我太高兴了。”汤姆说，“新闻媒体把我建的露天体育场叫做宏伟建筑物。他们说它有效地利用了能源，而且它符合城市严格的排放废水的新标准。由于我是本年度最有效的建筑商，市长奖励给我一块金匾。从开始动工到现在竣工，仅仅过去了九个月，市长为此更为震惊。这个城市还有多少建筑商能在如此短的时间内实现这么快的进度呢?答案是：一个都没有。”
“There’s no need to elaborate,” Bob said. “I’m well aware that your project was the model of efficiency. I just wish you wouldn’t act like such an egoist all the time.”
“你没必要详细阐述你的业绩了，”鲍勃说，“我十分清楚你的工程是个讲求效率的范例。我只希望你不要总是表现得像个自我主义者。”
“I think you mean egotist,” Tom said. “If you study my project, it might edify your mind. That assumes that you’re still educable.”
“我想是你把我看成自我主义者了。”汤姆说，“如果你研究一下我的工程，你的思想会受到启发。由此可以设想你还是可教育的。”
“Please stop before I eject my lunch on you,” Bob said. “You make me want to efface your name from that shiny award plaque.”
“请你停下来吧，不然我要把午饭喷到你身上了。”鲍勃说，“你烦的我真想把你的名字从闪闪的获奖金匾上擦去。”
“Why are you showing such effrontery?” Tom asked. “You’re my best friend.”
“你为什么表现的如此放肆?”汤姆说，“你可是我最好的朋友。”
“Yes, I am,” relied Bob. “That’s why I’m going to advise you not to effuse so much pride. It’s just as irritating as this rubbery steak.”
“是的，”鲍勃说，“这就是为什么我要建议你别表现的那么傲气十足。那就跟这块切不断、嚼不烂的牛排一样令人不快。”
Words:
ecstasy n. 狂喜
edge n. 边缘
edible adj. 可食用的
edifice n. 宏伟的建筑物，大厦
edify v. 开导，启发
educable adj. 可教育的，可培养的
efface v. 擦掉，抹去
effective adj. 有效的，有力的
effectuate vt. 实行，完成
efficiency n. 效率，功效
efficient adj. 生效的，能干的，有效率的
effluent adj. 流出的
effrontery n. 厚颜无耻，放肆(的行为)
effuse vt. 流出，散布
egoist n. 自我主义者
eject vt. 喷出，喷射
elaborate adj. 精细的，精心的;详尽的;vt. 详细阐述
elapse vt. (光阴)流逝
elasticity n. 弹力，弹性
elation n. 得意洋洋，兴高采烈
