Fishing is my favourite sport. I often fish for hours without catching1 anything. But this does not worry me. Some fishermen are unlucky. Instead of catching fish, they catch old boots and rubbish. I am even less lucky. I never catch anything — not even old boots. After having spent whole mornings on the river, I always go home with an empty bag. ‘You must give up fishing!’ my friends say. ‘It’s a waste of time.’ But they don’t realize one important thing. I’m not really interested in fishing. I am only interested in sitting in a boat and doing nothing at all!
New words and expressions 生词和短语
catch v. 抓到
fisherman n. 钓鱼人，渔民
boot n. 靴子
waste n. 浪费
realize v. 意识到
参考译文
钓鱼是我特别喜爱的一项运动。我经常一钓数小时却一无所获，但我从不为此烦恼。有些垂钓者就是不走运，他们往往鱼钓不到，却钓上来些旧靴子和垃圾。我的运气甚至还不及他们。我什么东西也未钓到过 — 就连旧靴子也没有。我总是在河上呆上整整一上午，然后空着袋子回家。“你可别再钓鱼了！”我的朋友们说，“这是浪费时间。”然而他们没有认识到重要的一点，我并不是真的对钓鱼有兴趣，我感兴趣的只是独坐孤舟，无所事事！
自学导读
1．I often fish for hours without catching anything. 我经常一钓数小时却一无所获。
without 通常表示“缺乏”、“没有”：
I can’t repair the car without your help.
没有你的帮助我无法修理这车。
当它位于动名词前时，它表示“不曾”、“不”：
They tried to leave the restaurant without paying.
他们企图不付账就离开餐馆。
John left the room without telling anyone.
约翰离开房间时不曾告诉任何人。
2．Instead of catching fish, they catch old boots and rubbish. 他们往往鱼钓不到，却钓上来些旧靴子和垃圾。
instead有“作为替代”、“反而”等含义，一般以短语形式instead of出现：
Jack2 took part in the race instead of Tony.
杰克代替托尼参加了比赛。
Instead of sugar, he bought some salt.
他没有买糖，而是买了些盐。
副词instead单独使用时一般出现在句尾：
If you don’t want a holiday in England, why don’t you go to Australia instead?
如果你不想在英国度假，那你为什么不去澳大利亚呢？
3．I am even less lucky. 我的运气甚至还不及他们。
less是little的比较级，意为“不及”、“不如”、“更少”：
Tom has got little chocolate, and Jack has got even less.
汤姆只有一点儿巧克力，杰克则更少。
I spend less time on English than on French.
我花在英语上的时间比花在法语上的少。
（cf. 第8课语法）
4．…I always go home with an empty bag. ……然后空着袋子回家。
with可以表示“有……的”、“持有……的”、“随身带着……”等：
Who’s the man with the umbrella?
那个带伞的男人是谁？
Who’s the man with the beard?
那个留胡子的男人是谁？
Who’s the woman with the little boy?
带着那个小男孩的女人是谁？
5．I’m not really interested in fishing. 我并不是真的对钓鱼有兴趣。
表示“对……感兴趣”一般用be interested in sth. /doing sth.:
Tim is only interested in food.
蒂姆只对食物感兴趣。
I’m interested in collecting stamps.
我对集邮有兴趣。
