Lesson 85 Never too old to learn 活到老学到老

叶凝云

原文

    I have just received a letter from my old school, informing methat my former headmaster, Mr. Stuart Page, will be retiringnext week. Pupils of the school, old and new, will be sending hima present to mark the occasion. All those who have contributed towards the gift will sign theirnames in a large album which will be sent to the headmaster's home. We shall all remember Mr.Page for his patience and understanding and for the kindly encouragement he gave us when wewent so unwillingly to school. A great many former pupils will be attending a farewell dinner in hishonour next Thursday. It is a curious coincidence that the day before his retirement, Mr. Page willhave been teaching for a total of forty years. After he has retired, he will devote himself togardening. For him, this will be an entirely new hobby. But this does not matter, for, as he hasoften remarked, one is never too old to learn.

New words and expressions 生词和短语

inform  v. 告诉，通知
headmaster  n. 校长
contribute  v. 捐助，援助
gift  n. 礼物，赠品
album  n. 签名簿，相册

patience  n. 耐心
encouragement  n. 鼓励
farewell  n. 告别
honour  n. 敬意
coincidence  n. 巧合
total  n. 总数

devote  v. 致力于
gardening  n. 园艺
hobby  n. 爱好，嗜好

参考译文

    我刚刚收到母校的一封信，通知我说以前的校长斯图亚特.佩奇先生下星期就退休了。为了纪念这个日子，学校的学生——无论老同学还是新同学——将送他一件礼物。所有凑钱买此礼品的人都将自己的名字签在一本大签名簿上，签名簿将被送到校长的家里。我们不会忘记佩奇先生对我们既有耐心又充满理解，也不会忘记在我们不愿去上学时他给予我们的亲切鼓励。很多老同学都准备参加下星期四为他举行的告别宴会。佩奇先生退休的前一天正好是他执教满40年的日子，这真是奇妙的巧合。他退休后，将致力于园艺。对于他来说，这将是一种全新的爱好。但这没有关系，因为正如他常说的那样，人要活到老学到老。