基础英语轻松学【44】吸血鬼，引起世界恐慌的幻想

　　本课您将学到：be keen on sb./sth.（热衷），have a reputation for（尽人皆知），have的被动语态表达法

　　自从十九世纪末，英国作家Bram Stoker创作出他的经典小说《德古拉伯爵》之后，吸血鬼的形象就在流行文化中占据了举足轻重的地位，一夜之间以次为主题的恐怖片、小说和漫画书都出现了，全世界至今仍有数不清的鬼迷对这个幻想出来的形象痴迷不已。

　　今天，我们就来聊聊关于吸血鬼的话题。

　　We tend to imagine vampires（吸血鬼） as bat-like creatures（生物） dressed in black capes （斗篷）with high collars（领子）. Tales of vampires exist in abundant（大量的） variety all over the world, but the richest folklore（民间传说） is probably found among the peoples of eastern Europe.

　　Vlad Dracul, orVlad Impaler, ruled Wallachia between 1456 and 1476. He had a reputation（名声） for the most barbaric（野蛮的） acts of cruelty. Dracul, whose name means son of the dragon, allegedly had thousands of people killed by impaling them on wooden stakes（木桩）. It is said he was especially keen on mass（集中） executions（死刑）, and would have a table set up nearby to enjoy a delicious banquet（盛宴） while the dying screamed.

　　他的恶行可能被后人夸大了，然而有关他的传说在他死后流传了很久。人们认为他并没有死，而是变成了吸血鬼，在黑夜里横行。传言不胫而走，在以后的几个世纪里，吸血鬼恐慌遍布欧洲。许多尸体的头都被砍掉，并被用木桩穿透心脏，以防止其变成吸血鬼。人们还办法找出活人中存在的吸血鬼。

　　Vampires were identified by handing out garlic in church and observing who did not eat it. Unfortunate people thought to be vampires were certain to meet with a very unpleasant end.

　　One major scare in the 1700s only died out when Austrias Empress Marie Theresa declared（公开宣布） that vampires did not exist, and banned（禁止） the opening of graves（墓穴）.

　 「读书笔记」

　　人们都倾向于把吸血鬼想象成蝙蝠似的动物，穿着高领的黑斗蓬。（We tend to imagine vampires as bat-like creatures dressed in black capes with high collars）

　　vary是动词，意思是使不同、更改，如：He never varied his habits.（他从未改变过自己的习惯。）variety是它的名词形式，意思是种类，如：Hospitals deal with diseases of every variety.（医院诊治各种各样的疾病。）

　　许许多多形形色色的吸血鬼故事流传于世界各地，（Tales of vampires exist in abundant variety all over the world）但最生动的民间故事来源于东欧。（but the richest folklore is probably found among the peoples of eastern Europe.）

　　瓦拉德古又名刺穿人瓦拉，（Vlad Dracul, orVlad Impaler）1456-1476年间统治Wallachia，（ruled Wallachia between 1456 and 1476）他的残酷和野蛮尽人皆知。（He had a reputation for the most barbaric acts of cruelty）

　　德古是龙之子的意思（son of the dragon西方的龙可与我们中国的龙大步相同，他们认为龙是一种凶狠而恐怖的动物。）传说中他曾经将几千人定死在木桩上。（allegedly had thousands of people killed by impaling them on wooden stakes）

　　动词allege是 断言,宣称 的意思，如：A newspaper article alleged that the cabinet was going to resign.（一家报纸宣称内阁即将辞职。）多指没有充分证据或理由的情况下，一种类似于炒作的宣称。末尾加上d变成形容词，意思是声称的,被说成的,被断言的，再加上ly变成副词，意思是据传说,据宣称，同样是指没有太多证据的宣称。

　　据说他嗜好大屠杀，（It is said he was especially keen on mass executions）常在一旁放一张桌子，（would have a table set up nearby）在临死者的哀号声中享用盛宴。（to enjoy a delicious banquet while the dying screamed.）

　　be keen on sth./sb.热爱、渴望某种事物；对某人感兴趣

　　Jessie is keen on sports, especially cricket and rugby.

　　Jessie热爱运动，尤其是板球和橄榄球。

　　人们在教堂内分发大蒜，谁没吃蒜，就认为谁是吸血鬼。（Vampires were identified by handing out garlic in church and observing who did not eat it）被视为吸血鬼的倒霉跪下场凄惨。（Unfortunate people thought to be vampires were certain to meet with a very unpleasant end）

　　介词by后面的部分，常表示借由方式，by handing out garlic in church and observing who did not eat it借由在教堂内分发大蒜并观察谁不吃它来确认谁是吸血鬼。By的后面还可以接单个的词，表示以为工具，如：They crossed the river by ferry.（他们乘渡船过了河。）

　　十八世纪的大恐慌终于在奥地利女王马丽德瑞莎宣告吸血鬼不存在，而且禁止开棺之后结束。（One major scare in the 1700s only died out when Austrias Empress Marie Theresa declared that vampires did not exist, and banned the opening of graves.）

　　scare做动词是惊吓,使恐惧的意思，做名词就表示大恐慌，如：There was a rabies scare in town.（城里发生了狂犬病恐慌。）

　　die out在这里可不是指人的死亡，而是表示某种风潮的逐渐消失、灭绝，如：Many old customs have died out.（许多旧的风俗已不复存在。）

　 「句型留言板」

　　have a reputation for sth.

　　某人因某事而闻名，人尽皆知。

　　The store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.

　　该店买卖公平,声誉极佳。

　　所谓好事不出门，坏事传千里，更多的人常因坏事而出名，如：

　　Michael has a reputation for being difficult to work with, but I think he is fairly easy-going.

　　人们都说与麦克共事很难，可我却觉得他相当平易近人。

　 「语法小教室」

　　have有使,让;招致的意思，所以许多被动语态的句子，都可以用sb. have sth. done的句子来表达，如：

　　Pas had his hands burned.

　　爸的手给烫伤了。

　　Ive had the stove lighted.

　　我已经让人把炉子点着了。