内容概述
东汉历法专家蔡邕因嗜酒被称为“醉龙”，后因政治原因被判处死刑，临刑时刑罚却被改为只拔去头发。故事简短地勾勒出一位古代中国数学家的生平悲剧。
中文正文
21° 醉龙断发
数学家蔡邕是中国众多历法专家之一，大约生活在公元 190 年前后。他的著作都散佚了。据说他善饮酒，赢得了“醉龙”的名声。后来因为政治原因被判处死刑。不过在行刑的那一时刻，只把他的头发削了。
英文正文
21° The Drunken Dragon loses his hair. The mathematician Ts'ai Yung, one of many Chinese calendric experts, flourished about 190 A.D. All of his works are lost to us. It has been reported that his persistent habit of conviviality earned him the name Drunken Dragon, and that at one time he was sentenced to death for political reasons, but at the last moment his sentence was commuted to having his hair pulled out.
英语学习拓展
常用词汇
mathematician音标/ˌmæθəməˈtɪʃn/
数学家。
原文用法：The mathematician Ts'ai Yung…
calendric音标/kəˈlendrɪk/
历法的；与历法有关的。
原文用法：one of many Chinese calendric experts
expert音标/ˈekspɜːt/
专家。
原文用法：同上。
flourish音标/ˈflʌrɪʃ/
繁荣；活跃于（某时期）。
原文用法：flourished about 190 A.D.
conviviality音标/kənˌvɪviˈæləti/
欢宴；嗜酒作乐。
原文用法：his persistent habit of conviviality
persistent音标/pəˈsɪstənt/
持续的；一贯的。
原文用法：同上。
sentence音标/ˈsentəns/
判决；宣判。
原文用法：he was sentenced to death
commute音标/kəˈmjuːt/
减轻（刑罚）；改判。
原文用法：his sentence was commuted to having his hair pulled out
同义词与近义词
对应核心词汇：flourish
对应核心词汇：flourish。
辨析：flourish 强调在某时期活跃或成功；thrive 强调茁壮成长；prosper 强调事业、经济繁荣。
对应核心词汇：expert
对应核心词汇：expert。
辨析：expert 泛指专家；specialist 强调某一领域的专家；authority 强调权威人士。
对应核心词汇：sentence
对应核心词汇：sentence。
辨析：sentence 指法庭正式宣判；condemn 语气更强，常指判处重刑或谴责。
常用短语与固定搭配
- one of many：众多……之一。原文用法：one of many Chinese calendric experts
- be lost to us：已经失传；为我们所不知。原文用法：All of his works are lost to us.
- earn someone the name：为某人赢得……名号。原文用法：earned him the name Drunken Dragon
- be sentenced to death：被判处死刑。原文用法：he was sentenced to death
- at the last moment：在最后一刻。原文用法：at the last moment his sentence was commuted
- be commuted to：被改判为。原文用法：his sentence was commuted to having his hair pulled out
常用句式
- Pattern: It has been reported that …：据报道……。原文例句：It has been reported that his persistent habit of conviviality earned him the name Drunken Dragon…
- Pattern: …, but at the last moment …：……，但在最后一刻……。原文例句：…he was sentenced to death for political reasons, but at the last moment his sentence was commuted to having his hair pulled out.
长难句解析
It has been reported that his persistent habit of conviviality earned him the name Drunken Dragon, and that at one time he was sentenced to death for political reasons, but at the last moment his sentence was commuted to having his hair pulled out.
- 主干：It has been reported that … and that … but …
- 修饰与从句：
- 两个 that 引导的主语从句并列，说明“据报道”的两件事； - his persistent habit of conviviality 为第一从句主语； - for political reasons 说明被判死刑的原因； - having his hair pulled out 为介词 to 的宾语，说明改判后的刑罚。
- 逻辑关系：先报告蔡邕嗜酒得名，再转折说明死刑被改判为拔发，形成简短而戏剧化的生平叙述。
语言使用特点
- 用词正式，如 flourished、conviviality、commuted，符合历史传记的文体；
- 用被动语态 It has been reported that … 表达传闻或史料记载；
- 句子结构紧凑，转折处用 but 制造戏剧性。
迁移练习
- 用 one of many 介绍一位你熟悉的历史人物。
- 解释 be commuted to 在文中的含义，并造一个句子。
- 翻译：据说他因为政治原因被判处死刑，但在最后一刻刑罚被减轻了。
点击展开参考答案
- （示例）Confucius is one of many influential thinkers in ancient China.
- （示例）In the story, "be commuted to" means the punishment was changed to a less severe one. Example: His prison sentence was commuted to community service.
- It was reported that he was sentenced to death for political reasons, but at the last moment his sentence was commuted.