“Tom, are you enjoying the automobile convention?” I asked. Tom did not answer. He was too busy conversing with the pretty salesgirl sitting next to him. “I hate to break up your conversation, Tom, but I really need your help. I’m not conversant with the theory behind this new fuel converter. What causes the conversion and why does it have a convex casing?”
“汤姆，这次汽车会议感觉怎么样?”我问道。汤姆没有回答。他正忙着与坐在身边的那位漂亮的金发女推销员交谈。“我不愿打扰你们的谈话，汤姆，但我的确需要你的帮助。关于这个新型燃料转换器的工作原理我不太熟悉，是什么引起的转变?它为什么有个凸起的外壳呢?”
“I’m not sure how it converts fuel to energy,” Tom replied with a contrite smile. “But their salesgirls are very convincing.” Tom returned his attention to the attractive young salesgirl.
“我不太清楚它是如何把燃料转变成能的。”汤姆回答道，脸上露出歉疚的笑容。“但他们的女推销员是令人信服的。”说完，他的注意力又回到那个迷人的女推销员身上去了。
Contrary to popular belief, attending an automobile convention is hard work. I say this with conviction. In contrast with Tom’s goals of socializing, I contrive to learn new and complex things. Some of the brightest inventors converge at these automobile conventions. I enjoy listening to them discuss the latest controversies. I love it when they argue about how to replace conventional technology. I’ve heard some convincing arguments in favor of converting to electric cars. However, it is still a controversial issue. One thing is for true. We will not be seeing any electric can in our lifetime.
与普通人的想法相反，参加汽车会议对我来说是件艰苦的工作。这一点我确信不疑。汤姆来的目的是社交。相比之下，我想设法学些新鲜、复杂一点的东西。这些汽车会议云集了一些最优秀的发明家。我喜欢听他们讨论最近引起争议的问题。他们关于如何取代传统技术的争论的争论我更是津津有味。我还听见了赞成转变为电力汽车的很有说服力的论点。但是我电力汽车仍然是一个有争议的话题。有一件事是肯定的——我们在有生之年是看不到电力汽车了。
“Hey, Tom,” I whispered, rather harshly. “Come on. You’re 75 years old and you can barely walk. She’s only 20. You conduct contravenes the rules of etiquette!”
“嗨，汤姆，”我压低声音很严肃的说，“算了吧，你都75岁了，老的快走不动了。她才刚刚20岁。你的行为不合道德规范。”
“I don’t care!” He snapped back in a shaky voice. “Convict me if you want, but I’m only guilty of true love.” The salesgirl smiled politely.
“我不管!”他反驳道，声音有些颤抖。“如果想判我有罪，你只管判好了。但我只会因真爱而判有罪。”听了这话，女推销员彬彬有礼地报以微笑。
“Oh, no, not again!” I said, shaking my head with a smile.
“噢，别再这样了!”我边说边笑着摇了摇头。
Words:
contrary adj. 相反的，对抗的
contrast vt. 对照之后的悬殊差别/对比，对照
contravene v. 违反，抵触
contrite adj. 悔悟的，悔罪的，痛悔的
contrive vt. 设计，发明;设法
controversial adj. 引起或可能引起争论的
controversy n. 争论，辩论
convention n. 会议，传统
conventional adj. 传统的，习俗的
converge vi. 聚合，集中于一点，会聚
conversant adj. 亲近的，熟悉的
conversation n. 会话，非正式会谈
converse vi. 谈话，交谈
conversion n. 转变;改变信仰
convert vt. 转换;转变信仰
converter n. 炼钢用的转炉;转换器
convex adj. 凸出的
convict vt. 证明…有罪，宣判…有罪
conviction n. 确信，深信，坚信
convincing adj. 令人信服的，有说服力的
