胡敏读故事记托福词汇136：失足少年 A juvenile offender
“ For a student who is so knowledgeable, you have recently been displaying an amazing lack of judgment, Brian,” the teacher said sternly. “ Tell me, how do you justify pouring kerosene into that kennel and then setting a match to it? The place went up in flames like a kiln, you know. You caused death and grievous injury to those poor, helpless puppies, you know! This is in total juxtaposition to what you wrote in your last essay on the value of life, including animal life. As far as I can see now, there was not a kernel of truth in those high-sounding ideas of yours, was there?”
“作为一个如此博学的学生，你最近表现得惊人地缺乏判断力，布莱恩，”老师严厉地说，“告诉我，你如何证明往狗窝上倒煤油， 然后把它点着是有道理的?那个地方像砖窑一样冒烟，这你知道。你使那些可怜无助的小狗死亡、严重受伤，你知道!这和你上次写的关于生命，包括动物的生命价值的论文的思想形成鲜明的对比。现在，就我而言，你的这些夸夸其谈的理论中没有真实的核心，对吗?”
Britain simply stood in silence, head bowed.
布莱恩只是默默地站着，低着头。
“ It is outside my ken how anyone of your intelligence can commit such a wanton act of vandalism. Now, while I am not keen on meting out punishment, as you are well aware, in this case I shall see to it that justice be done. The proceedings will, no doubt, be laborious, but I shall do everything I can to make sure you are sent to an institution for juvenile offenders, and justly so. And, as far as I am concerned, you can stay there till kingdom come!”
“像你这样聪明的人竟然做出这种荒唐的故意破坏的事情超出了我的知识范围。好了，你非常清楚，我并不热衷于进行惩罚，在这件事中，我会保证让正义得到伸张。毫无疑问，诉讼程序会很艰难曲折，但我将尽我所能，确保把你送到一个失足少年的收容所，这样做是公正的。我认为，你可以永远呆在那里!”
Still, Brian said nothing.
布莱恩还是什么也没说。
His teacher went on:” And when you come out, at the age of 21, you can kiss your dream of becoming a famous physicist, doing research into your favourite subject of kinetic energy goodby! A labourer, that’s what you’re going to be! Join a labour union, my young friend, become part of the labour movement, ha!”
他的老师继续说：“你21岁出来的时候，你可以和你想成为著名的研究动力学能量的物理学家的梦想再见了!一个体力劳动者，这就是你以后要当的!加入一个工会，我年轻的朋友，成为劳工运动的一员，哈!”
Words:
justice n. 正义，公平，公正
justify vt. 证明…是正当的或有理的
justly adv. 公正地，正当地
juvenile n./adj. 青少年(的)
juxtaposition n. (不同的)思想，文化，传统的对比
keen adj. (感觉、观察、理解等)敏锐的，敏捷的
keen on sth. 热衷于某事物
ken n. 视野，知识领域
kennel n. 狗舍，狗窝
kernel n. 仁，核心，要点中心
kerosene n. 煤油
kiln n. (砖、石灰等的)窑，炉
kinetic adj. 运动的，动力学的
kingdom n. 王国
till kingdom came 永久，永远
knowledgeable adj. 有知识的，博学的
labo(u)rer n. 劳动者(尤指体力劳动者)
labo(u)movement 劳工运动
labo(u)r union 工会
laborious adj. 费力的，艰难的
