---
url: https://gaojian.site/new-concept/book-3/52-mud-is-mud.md
description: 新概念英语第三册：Mud is Mud。精读、词块回忆、双向译练、句法、逻辑与FSRS复习。
---

# 52 · 实事求是

### 第1段

My cousin, Harry, keeps a large curiously-shaped bottle on permanent display in his study. Despite the fact that the bottle is tinted a delicate shade of green, an observant visitor would soon notice that it is filled with what looks like a thick, greyish substance. If you were to ask Harry what was in the bottle, he would tell you that it contained perfumed mud. If you expressed doubt or surprise, he would immediately invite you to smell it and then to rub some into your skin. This brief experiment would dispel any further doubts you might have. The bottle really does contain perfumed mud. How Harry came into the possession of this outlandish stuff makes an interesting story which he is fond of relating. Furthermore, the acquisition of this bottle cured him of a bad habit he had been developing for years.
Harry used to consider it a great joke to go into expensive cosmetic shops and make outrageous requests for goods that do not exist. He would invent fanciful names on the spot. On entering a shop, he would ask for a new perfume called "Scented Shadow" or for "insoluble bath cubes". If a shop assistant told him she had not heard of it, he would pretend to be considerably put out. He loved to be told that one of his imaginary products was temporarily out of stock and he would faithfully promise to call again at some future date, but of course he never did. How Harry managed to keep a straight face during these performances is quite beyond me.
Harry does not need to be prompted to explain how he bought his precious bottle of mud. One day, he went to an exclusive shop in London and asked for "Myrolite". The shop assistant looked puzzled and Harry repeated the word, slowly stressing each syllable. When the woman shook her head in bewilderment, Harry went on to explain that "myrolite" was a hard, amber-like substance which could be used to remove freckles. This explanation evidently conveyed something to the woman who searched shelf after shelf. She produced all sorts of weird concoctions, but none of them met with Harry's requirements. When Harry put on his act of being mildly annoyed, the assistant promised to order some for him. Intoxicated by his success, Harry then asked for perfumed mud. He expected the assistant to look at him in blank astonishment. However, it was his turn to be surprised, for the woman's eyes immediately lit up and she fetched several bottles which she placed on the counter for Harry to inspect. For once, Harry had to admit defeat. He picked up what seemed to be the smallest bottle and discreetly asked the price. He was glad to get away with a mere twenty pounds and he beat a hasty retreat, clutching the precious bottle under his arm. From then on, Harry decided that this little game he had invented might prove to be expensive. The curious bottle, which now adorns the bookcase in his study, was his first and last purchase of rare cosmetics.

中文理解：我的表兄哈里，常年在书房里摆着一个形状古怪的大瓶子。虽然瓶身带着淡雅的绿色，细心的客人仍很快就能看出，里面装着一种黏稠、灰乎乎的东西。要问哈里那是什么，他会告诉你，是香泥。如果你表示怀疑或惊讶，他会立刻请你闻一闻，再抹一点在皮肤上。只需这么一试，你就不会再怀疑了：瓶里确实是带香味的泥。至于他是怎样得到这古怪玩意儿的，那是一个他很爱讲的有趣故事。不仅如此，买下这瓶东西，还治好了他多年来逐渐养成的一个坏习惯。
哈里过去觉得，去高档化妆品店索要根本不存在的商品，是件极有趣的事。他会当场编出天花乱坠的名字，一进店便要买一种叫“香影”的新香水，或者“遇水不溶的沐浴块”。店员若说没听过，他就装得十分不悦。他最喜欢听对方说，某种凭空捏造的商品只是暂时缺货，还会郑重保证，改天一定再来，当然，他从没真的回来过。演这些戏时，哈里竟能一本正经、不露笑意，我实在想不通他是怎么做到的。
说起自己怎样买下那瓶宝贵的香泥，哈里用不着别人提醒，就会主动讲开。有一天，他走进伦敦一家高档商店，开口要买“密罗莱特”。女店员满脸困惑，他便慢慢重复这个词，把每个音节都咬得很清楚。对方还是茫然摇头，他就继续解释：“密罗莱特”是一种坚硬、像琥珀一样的物质，可以用来去雀斑。这番解释显然让店员想到了什么，她一架接一架地找，拿出各种稀奇古怪的调制品，可没有一样符合哈里的要求。他又装出有点不高兴的样子，店员便答应替他订货。哈里正为自己的“成功”陶醉，接着又索要香泥，原以为对方会目瞪口呆地看着自己。没想到，这回轮到他吃惊了：店员顿时眼睛一亮，拿来好几瓶，放在柜台上供他挑选。哈里这一次只得认输。他挑了一瓶看起来最小的，小心翼翼地问价。最后只花二十英镑便能脱身，他已经暗自庆幸，赶紧把这宝贵的瓶子夹在腋下，匆匆撤退。从此，他认定自己发明的这种小游戏，玩起来可能代价不菲。如今装点书房书柜的这个古怪瓶子，就是他第一次、也是最后一次购买的稀奇化妆品。

* **on permanent display**：长期展出；长期陈列；on display 说展出状态，permanent 延长持续范围。

* **invite you to**：邀请你……；invite + 人 + to do，本课是请对方试闻而非请客吃饭。

* **dispel any further doubts**：打消其余疑虑；dispel doubts / fears，提出测试结果来支撑，不靠语气。

* **cured him of a bad habit**：使他改掉坏习惯；cure + 人 + of + 问题，可比喻纠正习惯，不是医学治疗保证。

* **on the spot**：当场；在现场；本课指当场编造，依语境也可指现场位置。

* **put out**：扑灭；熄灭；表示扑灭或熄灭；不要与 put off 推迟混淆。

* **temporarily out of stock**：暂时缺货；temporarily 限定暂时，区别 permanently unavailable。

* **keep a straight face**：忍住不笑；一本正经；常用在滑稽场面中克制笑意。

* **asked for**：请求得到；向人要；请求得到帮助或物品；不要和 ask someone to do 的请求动作混淆。

* **in bewilderment**：困惑不解地；将抽象困惑与可见动作搭配。

* **conveyed something to**：让……领会到某种意思；convey + 信息 + to + 人；不等于只把物品搬过去。

* **met with**：符合；遭遇；本课 met with requirements 表示符合要求；现代常用 meet requirements，不加 with。meet with 常说遇到反对或反应。

* **put on his act**：装出一副样子；put on an act of…，区别真正的感觉和表演。

* **lit up**：露出喜色；亮了起来；face / eyes light up 描写情绪反应；灯作主语才是实际发光。

* **For once**：这一次；难得一次；强调与平常相反的罕见情况。

* **admit defeat**：认输；admit defeat 不加 a；常用于努力或较量后的收束。

* **beat a hasty retreat**：匆忙撤退；常带幽默地描写狼狈离开。

* **From then on**：从那以后；过去转折点用 then；现在的决定用 from now on。

* **first and last purchase**：第一次也是最后一次购买；first and last 联用强调仅此一次，适合讽刺结尾。

#### 原文注释 · My cousin, Harry, keeps a large curiously-shaped bottle on permanent display in his study.

注释：①delicate = pleasant and not strong。②observant = quick to notice things。 ③came into the possession = became the owner of。④stuff = material, matter, substance。 ⑤宾语从句中含有一个宾语从句。

#### 原文注释 · Harry used to consider it a great joke to go into expensive cosmetic shops and make outrageous requests for goods that do not exist.

注释：①这里的两个 for 介词短语由 or 连接，共同承接前面的 ask，表示两种并列的商品请求；可理解为省去重复的 ask，但 for 自身仍是介词，不作谓语。②if 引导的条件状语从句中含有一个省略了that 的she…it 作told 的直接宾语的从句，him 作间接宾语。③insoluble = that will not dissolve (in water)。④to keep a straight face = not to laugh, to stop oneself from laughing。⑤is quite beyond me = I do not understand it。

#### 原文注释 · Harry does not need to be prompted to explain how he bought his precious bottle of mud.

注释：①因为是从句，所以该句是正常语序，如果是倒装则为：How did he buy his precious bottle of mud.。②to explain 到freckles 作状语（不是从句），that 引导的宾语从句作explain 的宾语，从句中还有一个which 引导的定语从句修饰substance。

#### Summary 摘要

The assistant promised to order the "Myrolite" Harry had already asked for, so he then said he wanted perfumed mud. This time her eyes lit up and she immediately fetched several bottles which she put on the counter. Harry picked up the smallest bottle, and when he learned the price (£20), he paid and left with the bottle under his arm. This curious bottle, now in his study, was his first and last purchase of rare cosmetics. (77 words)

#### Composition 作文

\[1]For me, a day's shopping is the best way I think of to pass a day away from college or work. I have been looking forward to a day out shopping for weeks because I have wanted to get some new clothes for ages, so last Friday I took a day off. I got up at the usual time (as if I were going to work or college) because for me shopping is as serious as work. Before I left the house I made sure I put on a good pair of walking shoes and then caught the bus into the centre of the town.

\[2]Some people visit all the shops in the hope that they will find what they want at the prices they want to pay. Not me: I'm one of those shoppers who has a list of purchases—and with a fairly good idea of how much I want to pay.

\[3]The first thing I wanted was something to wear to a friend's wedding next month— and I didn't want to pay very much. I found just what I wanted in the second shop I visited. And in the second shoe shop I visited, I found a pair of shoes that would go with the new clothes and which I could wear to work afterwards. Within an hour I had bought the most important things on my shopping list. I was so pleased!

\[4]But then came the most difficult part of the day. The third thing on my shopping list was "Birthday present for Pat". I like to give her a present but it is always so difficult. This year, I decided, I would buy her a book. Do you know how long I spent in one large book shop? Two hours! And even then I didn't get her a book although I bought three for myself!

\[5]By the time I got home, it was six o'clock. I was absolutely exhausted, but pleased that I had managed to buy two things on my list. (337 words)

## 学完这一课

用 filled with what looks like… 描述尚不确定的物质，区分外观与成分。

[Nce · 本册复习台](/new-concept/book-3/review) · [三册选择地图](/new-concept/)

*译文依据整理稿，由本站按中文表达重新校订；解析据吴应时、何景霖整理资料及首轮审校稿；词伙与练习提示为本站学习设计。原PDF第184—187页，2022年2月第3版。*