胡敏读故事记单词雅思词汇第22课:The packing of a circus马戏团的成立

The packing of a circus
       The circus freaks gathered in chronological order around the circumference of the big tent where they had performed shows daily for the past two weeks. Then, like one clan unified in their chore, they clamped on to the large pins holding the tent in place and pulled them out. After that they clamored about in a very civilized manner until they had packed up the large tent, wiped off the wood chips and chopped down the remaining poles to be used as firewood. The wood that they had claimed two weeks ago was now theirs to circulate amongst themselves to help heat the small cabins where they all lived and fight the chill that came every night.
      Their efficiency at taking down the tent was cited respectfully in the civilian newspaper the following day. This paper had a large circulation and the circus freaks were thankful. Other towns were sure to know they were in the area because of it. They had hoped the article in the paper would also clarify which towns they would be visiting next. But it was a chronic problem that they could not always get the full press that they desired. They were nevertheless civil and accepted whatever promotion they could get. It was the circumstances of civilization that had made them what they were, but they were not going to turn their backs and cause problems. They were just glad to have a home, a clan that was like a big family, and jobs where they could be themselves and make a living.

马戏团的成立
    马戏爱好者们按时间顺序聚在了大帐篷的四周。在过去两周里，他们每天都在这个大帐篷里表演节目。接着，就像一个部落里的人一起干家务活一样，他们钳住固定帐篷的大铁钉，把它们拔了出来。之后他们便十分文明地叫嚷起来直到收好大帐篷、清扫完木头碎片并把剩下的柱子砍倒当柴烧。两周前他们要的那些木头现在全是他们的了，他们把这些木头分散到各家各户，给大家居住的小房间取暖，抵御每晚袭来的严寒。
    第二天的民间报纸表扬了他们高效拆除帐篷的事情，字里行间充满敬意。这份报纸的发行量很大，马戏爱好者们对此心存感激。由此，其他城镇的居民肯定知道他们在这个地方。他们希望报道同时会清楚地告诉人们他们接着要去哪个城镇表演。他们希望得到整个新闻界的关注，但这一愿望常常得不到实现，这是个长期存在的问题。不过他们很通情达理，能得到什么样的宣传，他们就接受什么样的宣传。正是文明环境塑造了他们，而他们不想背信弃义制造麻烦。他们就是乐意有个家，有一个像大家庭一样的部落，同时还有工作，这样他们不仅可以活得自在，而且还能养活自己。

单词详解:

chill          n.寒冷,寒风;冷淡;沮丧
               a.冷淡的,令人沮丧的
chip           n.屑片,碎片;缺口
               v.在...削出缺口,削下碎片
chop           n./v.砍,劈,剁
chore          n.1.家庭杂务2.日常零星工作,令人讨厌的工作
chronic        a.1.长期的;慢性的2(英口)讨厌的,严重的
chronologcal   a.按照date排列的
circulate      v.1环形,循环;流传,散播2发行,销售
circulation    n.1.流通,循环
                2.(货币等)的流通,(消息等)的流传;传播;(报刊等的)发行
                3.发行量
circumference  n.1圆周,周长2物体(或图形)的周界(或表面)
circumstance   n.环境,条件,情况
circus         n.马戏团,马戏表演,马戏场
cite           v.1.引证,引用;举出,提出
                 2.表彰,表扬,嘉奖
civil          a.1.公民的,公民应有的
                 2.文明的,通情达理的
                 3.(律)民事的,根据民法的,法定的
civilian       n.平民百姓a.平民百姓的,民用的
civilization   n.1文明(某一时间或地方的)文化2文明世界;文明社会;文明国家
civilize       v.使文明,使开化;教化,教导,使文雅
claim          v.1.要求;需要;值得2.声称有;拥有,具有
               n.1(根据权力而提出)要求,索赔2声称;主张;断言
clamo          v.叫嚷着要;疾呼,叫嚣,喧囔
               n.喧囔声,吵闹声
clamp          v.夹住,夹紧;固定
clan           n.氏族部落,宗派
calrify        v.澄清,阐明,使清楚明了