# 第三册 Lesson 59 Collecting 收藏

## 一、课文原文

People tend to amass possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so. Indeed they can have a delightful surprise when they find something useful which they did not know they owned. Those who never have to move house become indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter. They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years, in the belief that they may one day need just those very things. As they grow old, people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons, lack of physical and mental energy, both of which are essential in turning out and throwing away, and sentiment. Things owned for a long time are full of associations with the past, perhaps with relatives who are dead, and so they gradually acquire a value beyond their true worth.

Some things are collected deliberately in the home in an attempt to avoid waste. Among these I would list string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened, to save buying these two requisites. Collecting small items can easily become a mania. I know someone who always cuts sketches out from newspapers of model clothes that she would like to buy if she had the money. As she is not rich, the chances that she will ever be able to afford such purchases are remote; but she is never sufficiently strong-minded to be able to stop the practice. It is a harmless habit, but it litters up her desk to such an extent that every time she opens it, loose bits of paper fall out in every direction.

Collecting as a serious hobby is quite different and has many advantages. It provides relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at one's treasures is always a joy. One does not have to go outside for amusement, since the collection is housed at home. Whatever it consists of, stamps, records, first editions of books, china, glass, antique furniture, pictures, model cars, stuffed birds, toy animals, there is always something to do in connection with it, from finding the right place for the latest addition, to verifying facts in reference books. This hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it. There are also other benefits. One wants to meet like-minded collectors, to get advice, to compare notes, to exchange articles, to show off the latest find. So one's circle of friends grows. Soon the hobby leads to travel, perhaps to a meeting in another town, possibly a trip abroad in search of a rare specimen, for collectors are not confined to any one country. Over the years, one may well become an authority on one's hobby and will very probably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then, if successful, to larger audiences. In this way self-confidence grows, first from mastering a subject, then from being able to talk about it. Collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom.

## 二、重点词汇详解

| 单词 | 音标 | 词性 | 释义 | 用法说明 |
|------|------|------|------|----------|
| amass | /əˈmæs/ | v. | 积聚 | amass possessions 积攒物品 |
| indiscriminate | /ˌɪndɪˈskrɪmɪnət/ | adj. | 不加选择的 | indiscriminate collectors 不加选择的收藏者 |
| clutter | /ˈklʌtə/ | n. | 杂物，凌乱 | what can only be described as clutter 只能称之为杂物 |
| accumulate | /əˈkjuːmjəleɪt/ | v. | 积累 | accumulate belongings 积累物品 |
| sentiment | /ˈsentɪmənt/ | n. | 感情，感伤 | sentiment 感情因素 |
| requisite | /ˈrekwɪzɪt/ | n. | 必需品 | save buying these requisites 省得买这些必需品 |
| mania | /ˈmeɪniə/ | n. | 狂热，癖好 | become a mania 成为一种癖好 |
| sketch | /sketʃ/ | n. | 草图，素描 | cuts sketches out 剪下素描图 |
| remote | /rɪˈməʊt/ | adj. | 渺茫的 | chances are remote 可能性渺茫 |
| verify | /ˈverɪfaɪ/ | v. | 核实 | verifying facts 核实事实 |
| bearing | /ˈbeərɪŋ/ | n. | 关系 | have some bearing on 与……有关 |
| specimen | /ˈspesɪmən/ | n. | 标本 | a rare specimen 稀有标本 |
| contented | /kənˈtentɪd/ | adj. | 满足的 | makes a person contented 使人满足 |

## 三、语法知识点

### 1. what引导的名词性从句

> ...indiscriminate collectors of **what can only be described as** clutter.

what在从句中作主语，= things that can only be described as

### 2. in the belief that... 相信……

> They leave unwanted objects in drawers... **in the belief that** they may one day need just those very things.

in the belief that = believing that

### 3. such...that... 结果状语从句

> It litters up her desk to **such** an extent **that** every time she opens it, loose bits of paper fall out in every direction.

such + n. + that，表示"到如此程度以至于"。

### 4. Whatever引导让步状语从句

> **Whatever** it consists of, stamps, records, first editions of books... there is always something to do...

= No matter what it consists of...

## 四、重点句型分析

### 1. tend to do 倾向于做
> People **tend to** amass possessions.

### 2. in an attempt to 试图
> Some things are collected deliberately **in an attempt to** avoid waste.

= in an effort to; trying to

### 3. have a bearing on 与……有关
> General matters which **have some bearing on** it.

= be related to; be relevant to

### 4. 长难句分析
> Collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom.

by引导方式状语插入主语和谓语之间；with no time for boredom为伴随状语。全句是本课也是全课的总结性陈述。

## 五、课文翻译

人们倾向于积攒物品，有时甚至没有意识到自己在这样做。确实，当他们发现自己拥有的某种有用的东西而以前不知道自己有它时，会感到一阵惊喜。那些从不需要搬家的人会成为不加选择的收藏者，收藏的只能称之为杂物。他们把不想要的东西留在抽屉、柜子和阁楼里多年，相信总有一天会用上那些东西。随着年龄增长，人们还因为另外两个原因积累物品：缺乏体力和精力（这两者是清理和丢弃所必需的）以及感情因素。拥有很久的东西充满了与过去的联系，也许与已故的亲人有关，因此它们逐渐获得了一种超出其真实价值的价值。

有些东西是故意收藏在家里的，试图避免浪费。其中我会列出绳子和牛皮纸，节俭的人在打开包裹后把它们留着，省得再买这两种必需品。收集小物件很容易变成一种癖好。我认识一个人，她总是从报纸上剪下她有钱就会买的时装式样的素描图。由于她并不富有，她能买得起这些东西的可能性微乎其微；但她总是不够坚强，无法停止这种做法。这是一种无害的习惯，但它把她的书桌塞得满满的，以至于每次打开，碎纸片就会向四面八方掉出来。

把收藏作为一种严肃的爱好则完全不同，并且有许多好处。它为闲暇时间提供了放松，因为仅仅看着自己的收藏品就是一种快乐。人们不必外出寻求娱乐，因为收藏就在家里。无论收藏的是什么——邮票、唱片、初版书、瓷器、玻璃器皿、古董家具、图画、模型汽车、填充鸟类标本、玩具动物——总有一些与收藏有关的事情可做，从为最新增加的物品找到合适的位置，到在参考书中核实事实。这种爱好不仅使人在所选学科方面受教育，还在与它相关的一般性事务上也有所教益。还有其他好处。人会想遇到志同道合的收藏者，征求意见、比较心得、交换物品、炫耀最新的发现。因此朋友圈扩大了。很快，这种爱好会带来旅行，也许是去另一个城镇参加聚会，可能是出国寻找稀有标本，因为收藏者不限于任何一个国家。多年来，一个人很可能成为他爱好方面的权威，很可能会被邀请在小聚会上做非正式演讲，如果成功的话，还会面对更多听众。这样，自信心就增强了，首先是来自掌握一门学科，然后是来自能够谈论它。收藏通过如此有建设性地占据业余时间，使人感到满足，没有时间感到无聊。

## 六、语言点精讲

### 写作手法
1. **分类论述**：无意收藏→癖好收藏→严肃收藏，三层递进
2. **辩证分析**：收藏的利与弊，既有消极面也有积极面
3. **总结升华**：最后一段总结收藏对人格的积极影响

### 文化背景
- 收藏（collecting）是英国人最常见的爱好之一
- "first editions"（初版书）在英语收藏界有特殊价值
- "compare notes"原意是"比较笔记"，引申为"交流心得"

## 七、课后练习要点

1. **名词性从句**：what引导的从句
2. **让步状语**：whatever引导的让步从句
3. **词汇搭配**：tend to, in an attempt to, have a bearing on
4. **写作练习**：就一种爱好写一篇分析其利弊的文章

## 八、本课小结

本课从三个层面分析了收藏行为：无意收藏、癖好收藏和严肃收藏。语法重点是what名词性从句、such...that结果状语、whatever让步从句。词汇方面掌握amass、indiscriminate、mania、verify、specimen、contented等核心词。写作上学习分类论述和辩证分析。