2016年全国英语等级考试二级精品阅读文章(6)

The black belt is the highest level in karate. The student must master hundreds of skills to reach this high standard. The beginner must practice constantly, aiming chops and jabs at an imaginary partner. Later the student hardens the side of the hand by chopping into piles of sand. Finally, the advanced student practices self-control. This last step is also the hardest.

黑腰带级是空手道的最高级别。学员必需掌握了数百种技巧才能达到这么高标准的。初学者必需坚持不懈的练习，瞄准假想对手不断猛击。接下来，学员们就要通过打击沙袋练硬他们的拳头。最后，高级学员要学会自我控制。最后的一步也是最难的。

Many studies have shown that people with education are more successful in their life careers. Yet many famous people had very little education. Mark Twain, one of our most famous writers, and Charlie Chaplin, the great movie comedian, dropped out of school before 8th grade. The Wright brothers, who developed our first airplanes, never graduated from high school. Education is a great help, but it is possible to be successful even if you leave school early.

很多研究表明，受过教育的人在他们的职业生涯中(比没受过教育的人)更成功。然而，许多很著名的人只受了很少的教育。最著名的作家之一马克·土温以及伟大的喜剧演员查理·卓别林都在8年级之前就退了学。发明了我们的第一架飞机的怀特兄弟连高中都没读完。教育对人帮助很大，但即使你很早就离开了学校，你还是有可能会成功的。

　　Although fish do not produce sound the same way that humans do, they are by no means silent. When scientists brought listening devices down under the sea, they heard a large collection of whistles, beeps, and grunts. Poets who spoke of the silence under the seas did not realize that the underwater world is quite noisy.
　　尽管鱼类不像人类一样发声，可它们绝不是默不作声的。当科学家把收听设备装到海底，他们听到了大量各种各样的口哨声、嘟嘟声和哼哼声。诗人们在描述海底的宁静时并没有意识到水下世界其实是很喧哗的。

　　In many jungle films, the gorilla is seen as a fierce hunter, much like the leopard or the lion. In recent years, many investigators of forest life have painted a far different picture. Gorillas do not fight except in self-defense, and they do not eat meat when it is fed to them in zoos. Despite their powerful bodies and frightening appearance, they seem to be quite peaceful.
　　在很多丛林的影片中，大猩猩被看作凶猛的猎手，很像美洲豹或狮子。最近几年，很多森林生物的研究者们描绘了一副完全不同的画面。除了自卫，大猩猩是不会打斗的。在动物园里，它们不吃人们喂的肉，尽管他们有强大有力的身躯和吓人的外貌，但它们似乎也相当安静。公共英语等级考试