胡敏讀故事記托福詞匯038：失控 Losing Control
I love to coddle babies. I have a little one of my own. That’s why I was protesting against the opening of an abortion clinic in our neighborhood. I still recollect how we clustered in front of the clinic and tried to clog the front entrance. We would march in a clockwise way to get our message across.
我喜歡悉心照料寶寶，我自己就有個小寶貝。所以，我非常反對在附近開一家專門墮胎的診所。我還記得我們聚集在診所門口、試圖堵住診所正門的場面。我們幾乎一整天都在診所前以順時針方向徘徊。我們在那里胡亂堆些宣傳冊和事先剪下的嬰兒照片。我們傳達信息的方式相當(dāng)粗野笨拙。
I also remember how we tried to form a coalition in the legislature to enact a code of laws that would limit abortions. We made a lot of cogent arguments. We tried to coax legislators into voting our way. Although several proposed laws were accepted for consideration, none were passed or codified. Eventually, our group began to coalesce with other anti-abortion groups. The coalescence gave us a stronger voice, but we also lost an element of control over the group’s activities.
我還記得，當(dāng)時為了制定有關(guān)限制墮胎的法典，我們曾力圖在立法機關(guān)里形成一個聯(lián)盟。我們提出許多有說服力的論點，并試圖以巧言誘哄立法委員會為我們投贊成票。盡管有幾個法律議案被接受并予以考慮，沒有一個議案被通過或形成法律條文。后來，我們的組織開始聯(lián)合其他反墮胎組織，這一聯(lián)合使我們的呼聲更具威力，但組織活動還缺少些許控制。
I never believed in using violence to achieve our cause. However, somebody in out group did and I’ll never forget that day. He shot and killed a clinical psychologist who was entering the abortion clinic. It was a cognitive act of brutality and it happened right in front of my eyes. I quickly ran to give aid to the wounded psychologist. She grabbed my arm to hold herself up, but her clutch loosened as she lost consciousness.
我從不相信使用暴力能實現(xiàn)我們的目標(biāo)。但我們組織中有人相信，我永遠忘不了那一天。他開槍打死了一位正往診所里走的臨床心理醫(yī)生。我認(rèn)為這是極其殘忍的行為，而這一暴行就發(fā)生在我眼前。我忙跑過去幫助那位受傷的心理醫(yī)生。她抓住我的手臂想站起來，但她緊握的手松開了，她已不省人事。
Since then, I’ve never taken part in any protest activities. Why can’t people with opposing opinions peacefully coexist in the same environment?
此后，我再也沒參加任何抗議活動。為什么意見相左的人就不能在同一屋檐下和平共處呢?
Words：
clinic n. 門診所
clinical adj. 臨床的
clip vt. 修剪
clockwise adj. 順時針方向的
clog vt. 阻礙;堵塞，阻塞
clumsy adj. 笨拙的，愚笨的
cluster n. 簇，串，群;vt. 叢生;聚焦
clutch n./v. 抓緊，緊握
clutter n. 混亂;v. 使混亂;亂堆在，塞滿
coalesce vi. 聯(lián)合，合并
coalescence n. 合并，聯(lián)合
coalition n. 聯(lián)合，同盟
coarse adj. 粗糙的
coax vt. 哄誘，巧言誘哄
coddle v. 嬌生慣養(yǎng)的，溺愛;悉心照料
code of laws 法典
codify vt. 編成法典，編輯成書
coexist vi. 同時存在，共存
cogent adj. (辯論等)有說服力的
cognitive adj. 認(rèn)知的，感知的
