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Harry Potter’s Magic Continues 哈利波特魔法再现

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If the words “Hogwarts,” “Quidditch,” and “Voldemort” mean nothing to you, then you must have been living in a cave for the past ten or so years. These all come, of course, from the fertile imagination of J.K. Rowling, the creator of the magical world of Harry Potter.

如果「霍格华兹」、「魁地奇」以及「佛地魔」对你来说都不具意义，那么你过去十多年一定是住在洞穴里。这些词汇当然都来自想象力丰富的J.K.罗琳，也就是哈利波特魔法世界的创造者。

For the uninitiated, Rowling’s fabulously successful series of books follows the life of the young wizard Harry, as he battles to save the world from his evil foe, Voldemort. Much of the story takes place in Hogwarts, where Harry learns all kinds of magic (that is, when he’s not racing around on a broomstick playing Quidditch, his favorite sport!)

给不熟悉故事的人一些前情提要，罗琳这套极为成功的系列书籍是在描述年轻巫师哈利的生活，他为拯救世界而对抗邪恶的劲敌佛地魔。大部分的故事都发生在哈利学习各种魔法的霍格华兹（更确切地说，学魔法是他没骑在扫帚上竞逐，大玩最热爱的运动魁地奇的时候）。

By now, Rowling’s own “rags-to-riches” story is almost as well-known as her books – having written the first novel as a single mother living on welfare, she presently boasts an estimated personal fortune of around US$800 million!

如今，罗琳本身从一贫如洗到家财万贯的故事几乎就和她的著作一样广为人知。写第一本小说时，她只是个靠社福救助过日子的单亲妈妈，到现在她的个人身价据估计已高达约八亿美元。

Die-hard Harry Potter fans around the world were left at a loss after the final installment of the series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” was published in 2007. There was no doubt much rejoicing, then, when a follow-up book of wizarding fairy tales penned by Rowling, “The Tales of Beedle the Bard,” came out last year. It may not feature Harry himself, but the book still carries a strong connection, since one of the tales plays a major role in the plot of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Rowling has also announced her next project, a Harry Potter encyclopedia, containing all kinds of fascinating facts about the wizard and his magical world, so fans have plenty to look forward to for the time being.

2007年，系列故事最后一集《哈利波特：死神的圣物》出版后，全世界死忠的哈利波特迷都感到怅然若失。所以去年罗琳所撰写的巫师界童话后续作品《吟游诗人皮陀故事集》上市时，想当然地也就让众人欣喜若狂。新作品虽不是关于哈利本身，但仍有着紧密的连结，因为其中一个故事在《哈利波特：死神的圣物》一书的情节发展中，扮演重要的角色。罗琳也宣布了接下来的计划，她要写一本哈利波特的百科全书，内容囊括所有关于这名巫师及其魔法世界的迷人之处，所以粉丝们暂时还能有所期待。

Vocabulary

单词发音

fertile [ˋfɝt!] adj.（创造力或想象力）丰富的

fabulously [ˋfæbjələslɪ] adv. 难以置信地；惊人地

series [ˋsiriz] n. 丛书

foe [fo] n. 敌人，仇敌

rags-to-riches 白手起家的

welfare [ˋwɛl͵fɛr] n. 社会救济（制度）

boast [bost] v. 拥有，包含

estimated [ˋɛstə͵metɪd] adj. 估计的﹐估算的

fortune [ˋfɔrtʃən] n. 财富

at a loss 不知如何是好, 茫然, 困惑

publish [ˋpʌblɪʃ] v. 出版；发行

connection [kəˋnɛkʃən] n. 关联

announce [əˋnaʊns] v. 宣布

fascinating [ˋfæsn͵etɪŋ] adj. 有极大吸引力的﹐迷人的

for the time being  目前; 暂时  if you describe how a situation will be for the time being, you mean it will be like that for a period of time, but may change in the future; temporarily

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单词发音

uninitiated [͵ʌnɪˋnɪʃɪetɪd] n. 无某种专业知识[经验]者

wizard [ˋwɪzɚd] n. 男巫；术士

broomstick [ˋbrum͵stɪk] n. 帚柄

presently [ˋprɛzntlɪ] adv. 现在，目前

die-hard 顽固的, 死硬的

installment [ɪnˋstɔlmənt] n.（分期连载的）部分

rejoicing [rɪˋdʒɔɪsɪŋ] n. 欣喜，喜悦，高兴

follow-up 增补的；后续的

bard [bɑrd] n. 吟游诗人，流浪诗人

encyclopedia [ɪnˌsaɪkləˈpidiə] n. 百科全书

课文朗读

课文讲解

Even if you’ve never read any of the Harry Potter novels, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen at least one of the equally successful movies. They have helped introduce Rowling’s world to a wider audience and have made the actor who plays Harry, Daniel Radcliffe, one of the most recognizable faces in the world.

即使从未读过任何一本哈利波特小说，你也极为可能至少看过其中一部同样成功的电影。这些电影把罗琳的世界介绍给更广大的观众群，也让饰演哈利的演员丹尼尔，雷德克里夫成为全世界最熟悉的面孔之一。

This summer sees the next-to-last episode of the Harry Potter saga make it to the big screen. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” marks the dramatic high point of the series so far, as Harry struggles to come to terms with his frightening destiny. He will have to fight Voldemort alone, and only one of them will survive. Still reeling from the death of his beloved godfather, Sirius Black, Harry is further devastated by the loss of another dear friend and mentor (just in case you don’t know who he is, we won’t spoil the secret here). As in the other Harry Potter stories, there are also many light-hearted and amusing moments, especially involving Harry’s best friend, Ron Weasley. Plus, let’s not forget the added ingredient of romance, as Harry begins to have feelings for Ron’s younger sister, Ginny.

今年夏天，哈利波特系列的倒数第二集跃上大银幕。《哈利波特：混血王子的背叛》是该系列到目前为止的剧情高潮，哈利努力接受自己令人惧怕的命运。他将得孤军奋战对抗佛地魔，而两人之中只有一人能活下去。哈利仍无法接受失去挚爱的教父天狼星．布莱克，却因再失去另一位亲近的良师益友而感身心交瘁（怕你不知道他是谁，我们先别在这把秘密泄漏了）。如同其他哈利波特的故事情节，这集也有许多轻松愉快、有趣诙谐的片刻，特别是和哈利最好的朋友荣恩．卫思理有关。除此之外，我们也别忘了增添的爱情元素，因为哈利开始对荣恩的妹妹金妮有了特别的情愫。

As is often the case with movie adaptations of well-loved books, there will be those who feel that something has been lost in the transition from page to screen. However, if the previous Harry Potter movies are anything to go by, we are sure to be in for a thrilling ride bursting with dazzling special effects and captivating performances.

就像其他由广受喜爱的书籍改编的电影，总会有人觉得有些什么在书本到大银幕的转换间被遗漏了。然而，依前几集哈利波特电影来评断，我们可以确定这会是一场刺激的旅程，充满了目眩神迷的特效，以及精彩万分的演出。

−by David Vickers

Vocabulary

单词发音

recognizable [ˋrɛkəg͵naɪzəb!] adj. 可辨认的，可识别的

episode [ˋɛpə͵sod] n. 连续剧的一出（或一集）

come to terms with 妥协; 达成协议; 让步 to start to accept and deal with a difficult situation

destiny [ˋdɛstənɪ] n. 命运

beloved [bɪˋlʌvɪd] adj. 钟爱的﹐喜爱的

devastate [ˋdɛvəs͵tet] v. 摧毁﹐毁灭

light-hearted [ˋlaɪtˋhɑrtɪd] adj. 轻松愉快的; 轻松的

romance [roˋmæns] n. 浪漫情调

adaptation [͵ædæpˋteʃən] n. 改编

transition [trænˋzɪʃən] n. 转变

if something is anything to go by 以....当作参考; 凭...判断 means that something is taken as an example, an indication or even as evidence or proof of something

be in for 即将体验到(尤指不愉快的事物); 要遭到, 参加 to be going to experience something unpleasant very soon

burst [bɝst] v.（用进行式）塞满[（+with）] be overfull with

dazzling [`dæzlɪŋ] adj. 使人目眩的﹐令人眼花缭乱的

captivating [ˋkæptə͵vetɪŋ] adj. 令人神魂颠倒的

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单词发音

next-to-last 倒数第二的 next to the last

saga [ˋsɑgə] n. 冒险故事

so far 到目前为止 up to the present moment

reel [ril] v.〔尤指遭受打击或震惊而〕站立不稳; 旋转；似在旋转 to feel dizzy

godfather [ˋgɑd͵fɑðɚ] n. 教父

mentor [ˋmɛntɚ] n. 良师益友

spoil [spɔɪl] v. 搞糟

amusing [əˋmjuzɪŋ] adj. 有趣的，好玩的

Reading Questions

1. What does the article mention about J.K. Rowling?

A. She likes writing stories with happy endings.

B. She is one of the richest women in the world.

C. She has just finished writing a Harry Potter encyclopedia.

D. She has a very creative mind.

2. What is true about “The Tales of Beedle the Bard?”

A. It features in a story in the last Harry Potter novel.

B. It was published earlier this year.

C. It is the final part of the Harry Potter series.

D. It is a collection of the further adventures of Harry Potter.

3. According to the article, what happens in the latest Harry Potter movie?

A. Harry sacrifices himself to defeat Voldemort.

B. Harry is shocked when a close friend dies.

C. Harry has a big fight with his best friend, Ron.

D. Harry’s godfather is killed by Voldemort.

4. Which of the following is NOT implied in the article?

A. Most people are familiar with the Harry Potter series.

B. Just like the previous movies, the latest one has lots of light-hearted moments.

C. Some people prefer the Harry Potter books to the movies.

D. The Harry Potter movies are not as popular as the books.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer Official HD

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Official Trailer

 Answer