本文選自吳應(yīng)時主編的《大學英語六級閱讀真題精讀——晨讀伴侶》。本書對歷年國家大學英語六級考試（CET-6）的仔細閱讀部分進行了詳盡而精準的分析、翻譯和注釋，對四六級考生有著事半功倍的效果，對提升整體英語能力也很有幫助。
學習導(dǎo)讀：
這是一個渴望天才的時代，這是一個缺乏大師的時代。時代的矛盾讓我們對社會現(xiàn)狀產(chǎn)生思考，究竟是為什么，使得這個時代沒有如愛因斯坦般偉大的天才？文章先從數(shù)學不夠用的學理角度出發(fā)，繼而又討論了物理學體系、教育制度，到后面甚至連音樂這類興趣也考慮了進來。最后回到當今科學界的現(xiàn)實之中——憋論文，憋不出好論文，連發(fā)表的機會都沒有，更別說成名了。
Will there [ever] be another Einstein? This is the undercurrent?1(of conversation) [at Einstein memorial?2?meetings] [throughout?3?the year]. A new Einstein will emerge?4, scientists say. But it may take a long time. [After all], [more than] 200 years separated Einstein [from?5?his nearest rival], {Isaac Newton}.
未來會出現(xiàn)另一個愛因斯坦嗎？這個問題成了今年紀念愛因斯坦會議的潛在話題。新的愛因斯坦會出現(xiàn)，科學家稱。這可能需要很長的時間。畢竟，愛因斯坦同最近的匹敵者牛頓也相隔了200多年。
注：1. undercurrent n. 潛流，暗流；潛在的感情、影響或傾向（尤指與表面相反的）。例：
And there’s a strong undercurrent of resentment toward the baby boom.
另外，針對嬰兒潮，出現(xiàn)了一股強勁的潛在憎恨情緒。
[選自：WSJ: Facebook Chronicles A Lost Generation]
There was an undercurrent of fear and loss.
有一種恐懼和損失的潛流。
2. memorial n. 紀念碑；紀念儀式。例：
Every village had its war memorial.
每座村莊都有自己的戰(zhàn)爭紀念碑。
Though it never had a war memorial, the windswept village had a commemoration of its own.
盡管從沒有過戰(zhàn)爭紀念會，風拂村自己舉辦了紀念儀式。
[選自：BBC: Magazine]
adj. 紀念的，悼念的。例：
A memorial service is being held for her at St Paul’s church.
她的追悼會正在保羅教堂舉行。
3. throughout prep. 自始至終，貫穿。例：
The boy remained silent throughout.
那男孩始終保持沉默。
adv. 始終地。例：
The first song didn’t go too badly except that everyone talked throughout.
第一首歌唱得并不太差，只是所有人始終都在講話。
4. emerge vi. 浮現(xiàn)，出現(xiàn)，顯現(xiàn)
We pass through a stand of almond trees and emerge onto a deserted beach.
我們穿過一排銀杏樹，荒涼的海灘浮于眼前。
[選自：CNN: Exploring Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula]
emerge from出現(xiàn)，暴露(問題、意見等)，例：
Problems emerge when new breakthrough technologies arrive.
具有突破性的新技術(shù)到來時，新問題也會顯現(xiàn)。
【派】emergence(n.浮現(xiàn)，露出；出現(xiàn))
5. separate from 分開，離開。例：
Who’ll be separated from whom?
誰又將和誰分開？
They will have to decide if they want to stay or separate from the Church.
他們需要就留在或離開教堂做出抉擇。
[選自：BBC: NEWS | UK | Head to head: Women bishops]
Many physicists say the next Einstein hasn’t been born [yet], or is a baby [now]. That’s because the quest?1?for a unified?2?theory (that would account for?3?all the forces of nature) has pushed current mathematics [to its limits]. New math must be created [before the problem can be solved.]
許多物理學家說，下一個愛因斯坦還沒出生，要么就還是個嬰兒。因為對可能解釋所有自然力量的統(tǒng)一論的探求已經(jīng)將數(shù)學運用到了極限。解決這個問題之前必須創(chuàng)造新的數(shù)學。
注：1. quest vi. (for)搜尋，探求。例：
The whole team are questing for improvements for the newly set up system.
所有的小組成員都在為新建立的系統(tǒng)尋求改進方案。
n. 搜尋，探求。例：
Jack’s quest for a wife finally ended when he met Anne.
杰克尋找伴侶的歷程最終在他遇到安妮的時候結(jié)束了。
【參】request(vt./n.請求，要求)
2. unified adj. 統(tǒng)一的。例：
Everything is a unified system of contradictions.
任何事物都是矛盾的統(tǒng)一體。
The President has taken great pains to say there has to be a unified response.
總統(tǒng)先生承受著巨大的痛苦表示必須作出統(tǒng)一的回應(yīng)了。
[選自：WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing]
3. account for 導(dǎo)致，解釋；（數(shù)量或比例上）占；為...做出說明；將（錢等）列入預(yù)算；對（政策等）負有責任。例：
They can’t account for all those cases.
他們無法解釋所有的案件。
Televisions account for20%of this country’s commercial electricity consumption.
電視占該國商業(yè)用電的20%。
The government must account for their reforms.
政府必須為改革負責。
Consumers, whose purchases account for about 70% of economic activity, face a variety of challenges.
消費者面臨一系列的挑戰(zhàn)，其消費額對經(jīng)濟活動占比約70%。
[選自：WSJ: Consumer Mood Darkens, but Indicators Brighten]
But researchers say there are many other factors?1?working against?2?another Einstein emerging [anytime soon].
但是研究者說，還有諸多別的因素妨礙著另一個愛因斯坦在近期誕生。
注：1. factor n. 因素，要素。例：
the key factor關(guān)鍵因素
internal/external factor 內(nèi)在/外在因素
Those scientists believe that our personalities and behavior patterns are largely determined by biological factors.
那些科學家認為，我們的個性和行為模式大多是由生物因素決定的。
2. work against 對...不利，竭力反對。在文中動詞短語一起作謂語。例：
Some person work against his plan.
有些人竭力反對這一計劃。
“We expect that these factors will continue to work against us in the second half of the year,” he added.
“我們期待這些因素能繼續(xù)在下半年起反對作用，”他補充道。
[選自：BBC: IBM profits rise]
【參】factual（adj.事實的，實際的）
[For one thing], physics is a much different field [today]. [In Einstein’s day], there were [only] a few thousand physicists [worldwide], and the theoreticians?1?(who could [intellectually] rival?2Einstein) [probably] would fit into a streetcar [with seats to spare].
一方面，當今的物理學與以往已不相同。在愛因斯坦那個時代，全世界只有幾千位數(shù)學家，而且能夠與愛因斯坦在智力上相抗衡的理論家，可能連一輛有軌電車都坐不滿。
注：1. theoretician n. 理論家。例：
socialist theoretician社會主義理論學家
He is a famous theoretician of Chinese.
他是中國一位著名的理論家。
2. rival n. 競爭者，對手 ?
business rival商業(yè)上的競爭對手
without rival無可匹敵，無敵
vt.競爭，對抗。文中此意。例：
Tennis cannot rival basketball in excitement.
網(wǎng)球不如籃球刺激。
China also has commitments to rival free trade blocs in East and Southeast Asia.
中國也同樣在竭力與東南亞自由貿(mào)易集團們競爭。
[選自：NPR: Pacific Trade Pact Gains, But Friction Remains]
adj. 競爭的，對手的。例：
The rival team lost by 12 points in the first round.
在第一輪比賽中，對方就輸?shù)袅?2分。
Education is different, [too]. One crucial?1?aspect?2(of Einstein’s training) (that is overlooked?3) is the years (of philosophy) (he read [as a teenager]) – {Kant, Schopenhauer and Spinoza, among others}. It taught him how to think independently?4?and abstractly?5?[about space and time], and it wasn’t [long] [before he became a philosopher himself.]
教育也大不一樣。我們忽略了愛因斯坦所受教育的一個關(guān)鍵方面，那就是他青少年時閱讀了康德、叔本華和斯賓諾等人大量的哲學著作。這教會了他如何獨立和抽象地對時空進行思考，而且他自己也很快成為了一位哲學家。
注：1. crucial adj. 至關(guān)重要的，決定性的
the crucial factor關(guān)鍵因素。例：
The nineteenth century should he reckoned as the crucial period for the change in the structure if science.
十九世紀應(yīng)該被看做是科學結(jié)構(gòu)變化的關(guān)鍵時刻。
It finally obtained the crucial approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission in May.
他們終于在五月得到了中國證監(jiān)會的關(guān)鍵性批準。
[securities在金融業(yè)指證券，而bonds指債券。][選自：MSN: Buffett-backed carmaker BYD raises $219 million in China IPO - Business - ]
2. aspect n. 樣子，外表，面貌；（問題等的）方面。例：
Everyone wore a happy aspect in the party.
晚會上每個人都神情愉悅。
in all aspects全面。例：
We discussed all aspects of the war in the meeting.
我們在會上討論了戰(zhàn)爭的方方面面。
3. overlooked adj.被忽視的。例：
Unfortunately，I was overlooked.
不幸的是，我被忽視了。
In important ways, immigration is the overlooked, hidden advantage that strengthens American companies and the economy.
在重要的方面，移民是促進美國公司和經(jīng)濟的潛在的而又被忽視的優(yōu)勢。
[選自：FORBES: Moneyball, Immigration, and the Search for Hidden Advantage]
4. independently adv.獨立地，自主地。例：
I would like to be independently wealthy.
我想靠自己的努力來致富。
5. abstractly adv. 抽象地。例：
Can you talk about success abstractly?
你能抽象地談?wù)撓鲁晒幔?/div>
Too often we talk abstractly about health care, the environment, education, and criminal justice.
我們往往粗略地談?wù)撝l(wèi)生保健、環(huán)境、教育以及刑事司法。
[選自：MSN: Read an excerpt of Tavis Smiley's 'Accountable']
“The independence?1?created [by philosophical insight] is – ^in my opinion^ – the mark (of distinction) [between a mere artisan or specialist and a real seeker] (after truth,)?2” Einstein wrote [in 1944].
“在我看來，由哲學洞察力所創(chuàng)造出來的獨立意識是區(qū)分一個純粹的工匠或?qū)＜彝粋€真正的真理追求者的標志，”愛因斯坦在1944年寫道。
注：1. independence n. 獨立，自主。例：
This country gained its independence in 1890.
該國于1890年獲得獨立。
bid for independence 尋求獨立
2. after truth在這里是省略了who的定語從句，修飾seeker。After用作動詞就是追逐，男生常說的追妹子，可以用這個單詞來表達，例：
He is aftering the most beautiful girl in our class.
他在追我們班花。
And he was an accomplished?1?musician. The interplay?2?(between music and math) is [well] known. Einstein would [furiously?3] play his violin [as a way to think through a knotty?4?physics problem].
再者，愛因斯坦還是一位有造詣的音樂家。音樂和數(shù)學之間的相互影響是眾所周知的。愛因斯坦常常昂揚激烈地彈奏小提琴，而這正是他思考棘手的物理問題的方式。
注：1. accomplished adj. 有造詣的，學識淵博的。例：
She is an accomplished painter.
她是位有造詣的畫家。
Many of China’s most accomplished artists, movie directors, and writers cut their teeth in that decade.
中國最杰出的一批藝術(shù)家、導(dǎo)演和作家都在那個十年中走向成熟。
[cut sb.’s teeth原意為長牙齒，即到達成熟懂事的年齡之意]
[選自：WSJ: Minxin Pei: China's Cultural Devolution]
v.（accomplish的過去式和過去分詞）完成，實現(xiàn) ?
accomplish one’s purpose達成目的
【參】accomplishment(n.完成；成就)
2. interplay n.相互作用。例：
The interplay of political and economic is remarkable.
政治與經(jīng)濟的相互作用是顯著的。
3. furiously adv. 狂怒地，狂暴地，猛烈地。例：
I say furiously as my father enters.
我怒沖沖地說，這時我父親進來了。
The wind turbines aren't the only things to have been rotating furiously, it seems.
看起來，風力渦輪機并不是唯一在瘋狂旋轉(zhuǎn)的。
[選自：BBC: The spinning of turbine blades]
4. knotty adj. 棘手的，困難的；（木材）多結(jié)節(jié)的。例：
How to improve this country’s economy has always been a knotty issue.
怎樣提高該國的經(jīng)濟是個棘手的問題。
The knotty trunk of a hawthorn tree.
多節(jié)的山楂樹干。
[Under the Hawthorn Tree《山楂樹之戀》]
[Today], universities have produced millions of physicists. There aren’t many jobs [in science] [for them], [so they go to Wall Street and Silicon Valley [to apply their analytical?1?skills] [to more practical?2?– ^and rewarding?3^ – efforts].]
如今，大學培養(yǎng)出了數(shù)以萬計的物理學家。科學研究不能為他們提供足夠的工作崗位，因此他們?nèi)トA爾街和硅谷，將他們的分析技能應(yīng)用到更實用——而且更有利可圖——的工作中去。
注：1. analytical adj.分析的，分解的。例：
The scientist was making carefully analytical study of the experiment.
科學家正在對這一實驗做出細致的分析性研究。
The NYPD program began as a purely analytical exercise, according to documents and interviews.
據(jù)一些文件和采訪得知，紐約警察局項目作為一個純粹的分析訓(xùn)練展開。
[選自：NPR: AP IMPACT: NYPD Shadows Muslims Who Change Names]
2. practical adj. 實際的，實用的。例：
You were always so practical, Jim.
吉姆，你以前一向很實際。
3. rewarding adj. 報答的，有益的，值得的。例：
Reading is rewarding for everyone.
閱讀對每個人都是有益的。
“Maybe there is an Einstein (out there) [today],” said (Columbia University physicist) Brian Greene, “but it would be a lot harder for him to be heard?1.”
“可能現(xiàn)在什么地方就有一個愛因斯坦，”哥倫比亞大學物理學家布萊恩格林說，“但是，對他而言，想要成名會難很多?！?/div>
1. to be heard在這里字面意思就是被人聽見，在文中自然表示被大眾所知，即出名、成名。
[Especially] considering?1?what Einstein was proposing?2.
尤其是考慮到愛因斯坦所提出的理論。
注：ering在這里是動詞的ing形式，是現(xiàn)在分詞，作句子的謂語，可以將全句理解成Especially when it is considering what…
2. propose vt. 提議，建議；提名，推薦。例：
Tom proposed that we should go out for dinner.
湯姆提議我們出去吃飯。
I was proposed for chairman of the club.
我被推薦為俱樂部的主席
In September the administration will propose fuel-efficiency standards for the nine years from 2017.
在九月份，政府部門將提出燃料效率標準供2017年之后的九年使用。
[原文中就效率每年提升3%還是6%進行了討論，這將影響到2025年，所以從2017年算起，的確是9年，只是從文章中拿出一句話顯得有些奇怪罷了。][選自：ECONOMIST: The politics of the pump]
vi.(向某人)求婚。例：
Jim proposed to Mary.
吉姆想瑪麗求婚了。
“The actual fabric?1?(of space and time) curving?2? ^My God^, what an idea!” Greene said [at a recent gathering] [at the Aspen Institute]. “It takes a certain type (of person) (who will bang?3?his head [against the wall]) [because you believe you’ll find the solution.]”
“時空的實際結(jié)構(gòu)是彎曲的？天啊，這是一個什么樣的想法??！”格林在奧斯本學會舉辦的最近一次會上說道，“你要是認為你會找到答案，肯定有人會撞墻的?！?/div>
注：1. fabric n. 織物；結(jié)構(gòu)。例：
Synthetic fabrics usually don’t wrinkle as easily as cotton.
人造纖維織物一般沒有棉織物那么容易起皺。
The whole fabric of society was changed by the revolution.
這場革命改變了社會架構(gòu)。
2. curving adj. 彎曲的。這里省略了is，所以直接作表語?？谡Z中經(jīng)常省略，就好比我們說“啊，這東西彎的？”我們并沒有說“是”字，但表達的意思仍舊是“這東西是彎的”。例：
These two lines are curving.
這兩條線是彎曲嗎？
In the distance, he could see a swimming pool with curving sides, overhung by chinar trees and willows.
遠處，他看到兩邊彎曲的游泳池，被法國梧桐和柳樹懸掛了起來。
[選自：NEWYORKER: A Spoiled Man]
3. bang n. 砰砰的聲音；猛擊，猛撞。在翻譯的時候，我們把“用頭撞”的“頭”給省略了，因為在中文的習慣表達中，說一個人撞墻，那一定是用頭撞了。例：
The impolite boy shutting the door with a bang.
那個沒禮貌的男孩把門嘭的一聲關(guān)上了。
v. 發(fā)出砰的一聲。例：
bang on/at the door砰砰地敲門
The door banged open and came in Tom.
門砰的一聲開了，湯姆走進來了。
vt. 猛撞著某人（某物）；猛擊 ?
bang against/into 猛撞著某人（某物）。例：
The drunk guy banged into the tree.
那個醉鬼撞在了樹上。
Rose banged the robber over the head with a stick.
露絲用棍子猛擊那個劫匪的頭。
[Perhaps] the best examples are the five scientific papers (Einstein wrote [in his “miracle year”] (of 1905).) These “thought experiments” were pages of calculations?1(signed and submitted?2?to the prestigious?3?journal) {Annalen der Physik} [by a virtual unknown]. There were no footnotes or citations.
或許最好的例子是愛因斯坦在1905年他的“奇跡年”里所寫的5篇科學論文。這些“思想實驗”就是一頁頁的運算，由一個實際上默默無聞的人投給赫赫有名的《物理學年鑒》雜志。論文中沒有任何腳注或引用。
注：1. calculation n. 計算，盤算；計算的結(jié)果；深思熟慮，慎重的計劃。例：
A computer can do a calculation in a minute.
計算機可以在一瞬間做一次計算。
2. submit vi.(to)使屈服，服從。例：
After many times failure,I submitted to fate.
多次失敗后，我向命運屈服了。
vt. (to)呈送，提交。文中此意。例：
A sketch of the long report by the budget committed to the mayor.
預(yù)算委員會向市長遞交了一份長篇報告的梗概。
3. prestigious adj.受尊敬的，有聲望的。例：
He is a prestigious man in our village.
他是我們村里很有聲望的人。
In 2005, he and his ensemble won Britain’s most prestigious music award, the Mercury Prize.
在2005年，他和他的合奏團榮獲了英國最負盛名的音樂大獎——水星音樂獎。
[選自：NPR: Antony Hegarty's Otherworldly Sound]
4. footnote n. 腳注；補充說明。例：
Don’t forget to add the footnotes.
別忘了添加腳注。
vt. 給...添加腳注。例：
Tom is footnoting this sentence.
湯姆在為這個句子添加腳注。
5. citation n.引用，引文；表彰。例：
His citation says he showed outstanding and exemplary courage.
頒給他的嘉獎令稱他表現(xiàn)出非凡的勇氣，堪為表率。
They were discovered in nature for the first time in 2009, according to the citation.
據(jù)引文提到，準晶體管在自然界首次被發(fā)現(xiàn)是2009年。
What might happen to [such] a submission?1?[today]?
這樣的投稿放在今天會怎樣？
注：1. submission n. 投稿
You need to ensure that your submission adheres to the BBC’s Terms of Use.
敬請留意您的投稿符合英國廣播的條款。
[選自：BBC: Your Pictures: Your Wales]
“We {all} get papers (like those) [in the mail?1],” Greene said. “We put them [in the junk file].”
“我們大家都收到過像那樣的論文郵件，我們總是將它們?nèi)舆M垃圾郵件文件夾，”格林說。
注：1. in the mail在郵件里。例：
But when was the last time you got a personal letter in the mail?
但是你們上一次收到私人郵件是什么時候？
[選自：NPR: Read Any Good Personal Letters Lately? Me Neither]
