Reading and Thinking 课文精读 · 包你满意
一、课文原文及逐段翻译
第1段
Larry Belmont worked for a company that made robots. Recently it had begun experimenting with a household robot. It was going to be tested out by Larry's wife, Claire.
拉里·贝尔蒙特在一家机器人制造公司工作。该公司最近开始试验家用机器人。机器人将由拉里的妻子克莱尔进行试用。
第2段
Claire didn't want the robot in her house, especially as her husband would be away on a business trip for three weeks, but Larry persuaded her that the robot wouldn't harm her or allow her to be harmed. It would be a bonus. However, when she first saw the robot, she felt alarmed. His name was Tony. He seemed more like a human than a machine. He was tall and handsome with smooth hair and a deep voice, although his facial expression never changed.
克莱尔并不想家里有个机器人，尤其是在她丈夫要出差三周的时候，但是拉里劝她说机器人不会伤害她，也不会让她受到伤害，还会是个意外收获。然而，第一次看到机器人时，克莱尔还是有点惊慌。这个机器人名叫托尼，看着不太像机器，而更像个真人。托尼高大英俊，头发顺滑，嗓音低沉，不过他的面部表情始终不变。
第3段
On the second morning, Tony brought her breakfast and then asked her whether she needed help dressing. She felt embarrassed and quickly told him to go. Now she was being looked after by a robot that looked so human, and it was disturbing.
第二天早晨，托尼给克莱尔端来了早餐，还问她是否需要帮忙穿衣打扮。克莱尔感到非常尴尬，立刻让托尼走开。现在，她正由一个看起来这么像人类的机器人照料着，这很令人不安。
第4段
One day, Claire mentioned that she didn't think she was clever. Tony said that she must feel very unhappy to say that. Claire thought it was ridiculous that she was being offered sympathy by a robot, but she gradually admired his wisdom and integrity and began to trust him. He always treated her with dignity. She told him how she was unhappy that her home wasn't elegant enough for Larry, who wanted to improve his social position with a bigger salary. She wasn't like Gladys Claffern, one of the richest and most powerful women around.
有一天，克莱尔说她觉得自己并不聪明。托尼说她肯定是感到很不开心才会这么说。克莱尔觉得一个机器人对她表示同情十分荒谬，但她逐渐欣赏托尼的智慧和正直，并且开始信任他。托尼对她彬彬有礼。克莱尔告诉托尼自己多么不开心，因为家里不够雅致，而拉里想通过涨工资来提高自己的社会地位。克莱尔与格拉迪丝·克拉芬不同，后者是当地最有钱有势的女性之一。
第5段
As a favour, Tony promised to help Claire make herself more beautiful and her home more elegant. So Claire borrowed some library books for him to read, or rather, scan. She looked at his fingers with wonder as they turned each page. How absurd, she thought. He was just a machine.
作为一项恩惠，托尼答应帮助克莱尔，把她变得更漂亮些，也把她的家变得更雅致些。于是，克莱尔从图书馆借来了一些书让托尼阅读，应该说是让他扫视。她惊奇地看着托尼的手指翻动书页的样子，心想这太荒唐了。他只不过是一台机器罢了。
第6段
Tony gave Claire a new hairstyle and improved her makeup. As he was not allowed to accompany her to the shops, he wrote out a list of things that he would need for his work on the house. Claire went downtown and bought these things. She had an appointment to paint her nails, then she went into an expensive clothes shop. The saleswoman there was rude to her, so she rang Tony and told him she was being treated badly. He spoke to the woman, who immediately changed her attitude. Claire thanked Tony, telling him that he was a dear. As she turned around, there stood Gladys Claffern. How awful to be discovered by her, Claire thought. By the look on her face, Claire knew that Gladys thought they were in a relationship. After all, she knew Claire's husband's name was Larry, not Tony. Although it was completely innocent, Claire felt guilty.
托尼给克莱尔做了一个新发型，还改善了她的妆容。但是，由于托尼被禁止陪同克莱尔去商店，所以他开具了一张装修房子所需材料的清单。克莱尔去市中心购买了这些东西。她按预约去美甲后，走进了一家高档时装店。女店员对她很粗鲁，于是她打电话给托尼，告诉他说自己受到了不礼貌的对待。托尼同店员交谈之后，店员立刻改变了态度。克莱尔向托尼道谢，称托尼为"亲爱的"。当她转过身来，却看到格拉迪丝·克拉芬正站在那里。被她发现了，这多么难堪啊，克莱尔心想。从她脸上的表情判断，克莱尔知道格拉迪丝认为自己与托尼有暧昧关系。毕竟她知道克莱尔丈夫的名字是拉里，而不是托尼。虽然完全无事，克莱尔还是感到内疚。
第7段
When Claire got home, she wept. Gladys was everything Claire wished to be. Tony told her she was being sensitive and was just as good as Gladys. He suggested that she invite Gladys and her friends to the house the night before he was to leave and Larry was to return. By that time, Tony expected that the house, which was being completely transformed, would be ready.
到家后，克莱尔啜泣不止。格拉迪丝是她竭力模仿的对象。托尼对克莱尔说，她这样想有点敏感，其实她像格拉迪丝一样优秀。托尼还建议在他离开、也就是拉里回家的前一天晚上，克莱尔邀请格拉迪丝和她的朋友们到家里来。到那个时候，托尼预计这栋正在彻底改造的房子将大功告成。
第8段
Tony worked steadily on the improvements. Claire tried to help by working on a light suspended from the ceiling, but she fell off the ladder. Even though Tony had been in the next room, he managed to catch her in time. As he held her, she felt the warmth of his body. She screamed, pushed him away, and ran to her room.
托尼的装修工作稳步进展。克莱尔试图帮忙安装天花板上的吊灯，但从梯子上摔了下来。尽管托尼当时在隔壁房间，但他还是及时接住了她。托尼抱着她的时候，她感受到了他身体的热度。她尖叫了一声，一把推开他，然后跑回了自己的房间。
第9段
The night of the party arrived. The clock struck eight. The guests would be arriving soon, so Claire dismissed Tony for the rest of the night. At that moment Tony took her in his arms, bringing his face close to hers. She heard him declare that he did not want to leave her the next day, and that he felt more than just the desire to please her. Then the front door bell rang.
聚会之夜到了。时钟敲响了八点整，客人们很快就要来了，于是克莱尔让托尼结束了当晚的工作，说当夜不再需要他了。就在那一瞬间，托尼将她揽入怀中，慢慢地贴近她的脸庞。克莱尔听着托尼宣布说他次日并不想离开她，而且他心里的愿望不只是让她开心而已。就在这时，前门的门铃响了。
二、重点单词
robot n.：机器人。Larry Belmont worked for a company that made robots.
household adj.：家庭的；家用的。experimenting with a household robot（试验家用机器人）
persuade v.：说服；劝说。Larry persuaded her that the robot wouldn't harm her
bonus n.：意外收获；额外好处。It would be a bonus.（这会是个意外收获。）
alarmed adj.：惊慌的；担忧的。when she first saw the robot, she felt alarmed
handsome adj.：英俊的；帅气的。He was tall and handsome with smooth hair
smooth adj.：光滑的；顺滑的。with smooth hair and a deep voice
embarrassed adj.：尴尬的；局促不安的。She felt embarrassed and quickly told him to go
disturbing adj.：令人不安的；引起焦虑的。it was disturbing
ridiculous adj.：荒唐的；荒谬可笑的。Claire thought it was ridiculous
gradually adv.：逐渐地；逐步地。but she gradually admired his wisdom
wisdom n.：智慧；才智。admired his wisdom and integrity
integrity n.：诚实；正直。his wisdom and integrity
dignity n.：尊严；高贵。He always treated her with dignity.
elegant adj.：优雅的；雅致的。her home wasn't elegant enough
favour n.：恩惠；善意的行为。As a favour, Tony promised to help
accompany v.：陪同；陪伴。He was not allowed to accompany her to the shops
appointment n.：预约；约会。She had an appointment to paint her nails
rude adj.：粗鲁的；无礼的。The saleswoman there was rude to her
guilty adj.：内疚的；感到惭愧的。Although it was completely innocent, Claire felt guilty
transform v.：使改观；彻底改变。the house, which was being completely transformed
declare v.：宣布；宣称；表白。She heard him declare that he did not want to leave her
desire n.：渴望；愿望。he felt more than just the desire to please her
三、一词多义与熟词生义
bonus 常见义为"奖金、红利"，课文 It would be a bonus 中意为"意外收获、额外好处"，指机器人试用给克莱尔带来的正面价值。
test out test 常见义"测试、检验"，课文化为词组 test out，意为"试用、实地检验（新机器）"。
favour 常见义"偏爱、好感"，课文 As a favour 意为"承蒙好意、作为帮忙"，指托尼出于善意答应帮忙。
accompany 常见义"陪伴、伴随"，课文 He was not allowed to accompany her to the shops 指"陪同（去商店）"，强调物理上的随行。
appointment 常见义"任命、职位"，课文 She had an appointment to paint her nails 指"预约（美甲）"，作可数名词。
declare 常见义"宣告、声明（官方）"，课文 declare that he did not want to leave her 在此含"表白心意"的浪漫意味。
desire 常见义"欲望、渴望"，课文 the desire to please her 中隐含"爱慕、取悦"的情感色彩。
transform 常见义"使改变形态"，课文 being completely transformed 指房屋被"彻底改造、焕然一新"。
四、重点词块
work for a company 在一家公司工作
experiment with 用……做试验
test out 试用；检验
on a business trip 出差
persuade sb. that... 说服某人……
harm sb. 伤害某人
be a bonus 是个意外收获
feel alarmed 感到惊慌
more like ... than ... 更像……而不是……
facial expression 面部表情
look after 照料；照顾
feel embarrassed 感到尴尬
be disturbing 令人不安
offer sympathy 表示同情
admire one's wisdom and integrity 欣赏某人的智慧与正直
treat sb. with dignity 尊重/彬彬有礼地对待某人
as a favour 作为帮忙
or rather 更确切地说
look at ... with wonder 惊奇地看着……
accompany sb. to... 陪同某人去……
write out a list 写下清单
go downtown 去市中心
have an appointment 有预约
be rude to sb. 对某人粗鲁
change one's attitude 改变态度
after all 毕竟；终究
in a relationship 有暧昧/恋爱关系
feel guilty 感到内疚
as good as 和……一样好
suspend from 悬挂于
fall off 从……摔下
catch sb. in time 及时接住某人
take sb. in one's arms 把某人揽入怀中
the desire to please sb. 取悦某人的愿望
五、长难句拆解
【原句 1】Claire didn't want the robot in her house, especially as her husband would be away on a business trip for three weeks, but Larry persuaded her that the robot wouldn't harm her or allow her to be harmed.
【主干】Claire didn't want the robot in her house, but Larry persuaded her that ...
【分层】especially as 引导原因状语从句，交代她不愿接纳机器人的背景；but 表转折引出 Larry 的态度；persuaded 后接 that 宾语从句，从句含 wouldn't harm 与 (wouldn't) allow her to be harmed 两个并列谓语，to be harmed 为不定式被动。
【译文】克莱尔并不想家里有个机器人，尤其是在她丈夫要出差三周的时候，但是拉里劝她说机器人不会伤害她，也不会让她受到伤害。
【考点】as 原因状语从句；but 转折并列句；that 宾语从句；不定式被动 to be harmed。
【原句 2】She told him how she was unhappy that her home wasn't elegant enough for Larry, who wanted to improve his social position with a bigger salary.
【主干】She told him how she was unhappy.
【分层】how 引导宾语从句，作 told 的直接宾语；该从句中嵌套 that her home wasn't elegant enough for Larry，说明 unhappy 的具体内容（可视为同位/原因）；who wanted ... 为修饰 Larry 的定语从句，with a bigger salary 为介词短语作方式状语。
【译文】克莱尔告诉托尼自己多么不开心，因为家里不够雅致，而拉里想通过涨工资来提高自己的社会地位。
【考点】how 宾语从句；that 从句作 unhappy 的同位语；who 定语从句；with 介词短语。
【原句 3】As he was not allowed to accompany her to the shops, he wrote out a list of things that he would need for his work on the house.
【主干】he wrote out a list of things.
【分层】As 引导原因状语从句，谓语 was not allowed to do 为"被动 + 不定式"；things 后接 that 引导的定语从句，would need 为过去将来时；for his work on the house 介词短语表目的。
【译文】由于托尼被禁止陪同克莱尔去商店，所以他开具了一张装修房子所需材料的清单。
【考点】As 原因状语从句；被动语态 be allowed to do；that 定语从句；过去将来时。
【原句 4】By the look on her face, Claire knew that Gladys thought they were in a relationship.
【主干】Claire knew that ...
【分层】By the look on her face 为介词短语作状语；that 引导宾语从句，作 knew 的宾语；该宾语从句中 thought 后又接省略 that 的宾语从句 they were in a relationship。
【译文】从她脸上的表情判断，克莱尔知道格拉迪丝认为自己与托尼有暧昧关系。
【考点】介词短语作状语；嵌套宾语从句（knew that ... thought (that) they were ...）。
【原句 5】At that moment Tony took her in his arms, bringing his face close to hers.
【主干】Tony took her in his arms.
【分层】At that moment 时间状语；in his arms 与 took 构成"把……搂入怀中"；bringing his face close to hers 为现在分词短语作伴随状语，close to hers 为形容词短语作 bring 的宾语补足语。
【译文】就在那一瞬间，托尼将她揽入怀中，慢慢地贴近她的脸庞。
【考点】现在分词 bringing 作伴随状语；形容词短语作宾补；介词短语 in his arms。
六、语法点清单
1. 一般过去时叙述故事
全文以一般过去时讲述事件（worked, began, persuaded, felt, brought, gave, went 等），构成科幻叙事的时态骨架。
2. 过去将来时
was going to be tested out；would be away；wouldn't harm；was to leave / was to return；would be arriving。表示从过去看将来要发生的动作。
3. 过去进行时及其被动
she was being looked after；was being offered sympathy；the house was being completely transformed。强调在过去某一时刻正在进行的动作，被动式突出主语为承受者。
4. 被动语态
be tested out；be harmed；be allowed to accompany；be offered sympathy；be treated badly；be transformed。故事多从克莱尔视角写"被照料、被同情、被改造"。
5. 定语从句（that / who / which）
a company that made robots；things that he would need；Larry, who wanted ...；the woman, who changed ...；the house, which was being transformed。注意 which 引导非限制性定语从句。
6. 比较结构 more like ... than ...
He seemed more like a human than a machine. 用比较级突出托尼拟人化的外貌特征。
7. 现在分词作伴随状语
bringing his face close to hers；telling him that he was a dear。分词短语紧跟主句，补充伴随发生的动作。
8. 同位语
Larry's wife, Claire；Gladys Claffern, one of the richest ... women。逗号隔开的两部分同指一人，后者解释前者。
9. 连词 as 引导原因/时间
as her husband would be away（原因）；as they turned each page（时间）；As he held her（时间）。as 多义需结合语境判断。
10. 非谓语动词
to please her（目的）；being completely transformed（被动进行作定语）；to accompany her（不定式作主语补足）。
七、逻辑链
引子（第1段）：Larry 的公司试验家用机器人 → 机器人交由妻子克莱尔试用
↓
背景（第2段）：克莱尔不愿接纳，但被说服；初见 Tony 惊慌，Tony 过于拟人（高大英俊却面无表情）
↓
发展（第3—4段）：Tony 照料引发尴尬；克莱尔吐露自卑，逐渐欣赏并信任 Tony
↓
推进（第5—6段）：Tony 助其变美、改造房屋；商场事件显 Tony "魅力"，克莱尔陷入暧昧误会而内疚
↓
高潮（第7—8段）：克莱尔与 Gladys 比较而落泪；装修中 Tony 救下坠落的克莱尔，情感升温
↓
结局（第9段）：聚会夜 Tony 表白不想离开，门铃骤响，故事在悬念中收束
这是一篇"试用机器人"框架下的情感科幻短篇：第1—2段交代人物与冲突起点（人不愿、机太像人）；第3—8段是核心，用"尴尬→信任→暧昧→危机→温情"的情感曲线推进人机关系；第9段以表白与门铃收尾，留下戏剧悬念。全文大量使用过去进行时被动（was being looked after / transformed）来渲染"人被机器温柔包围"的微妙氛围。
八、写作迁移
模板 1：... was going to be tested out by ...
课文：It was going to be tested out by Larry's wife, Claire.
仿写：The new teaching method was going to be tested out by our class next week.（这种新教学法将由我们班在下周试用。）——用于引出"被试用的对象"。
模板 2：However, when she first saw ..., she felt ...
课文：However, when she first saw the robot, she felt alarmed.
仿写：However, when he first saw the result, he felt relieved.（然而，当他第一次看到结果时，他感到如释重负。）——用于转折后描写第一反应。
模板 3：As he was not allowed to ..., he wrote out a list of things that ...
课文：As he was not allowed to accompany her to the shops, he wrote out a list of things that he would need.
仿写：As he was not allowed to enter the lab, he wrote out a list of questions that he wanted to ask.（由于不被允许进入实验室，他写下了一张想问的问题清单。）——用于解释受限后的替代行动。
模板 4：He always treated sb. with dignity.
课文：He always treated her with dignity.
仿写：A true gentleman always treats others with dignity.（真正的绅士总是尊重他人。）——用于刻画人物品格。
模板 5：At that moment ... took sb. in his arms, bringing ...
课文：At that moment Tony took her in his arms, bringing his face close to hers.
仿写：At that moment the mother took her child in her arms, bringing warmth and comfort to the little one.（就在那一刻，母亲将孩子搂入怀中，给孩子带来温暖与安慰。）——用于描写亲密拥抱的瞬间。
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