【試題1】
It is odd to watch with what feverish ardor the Americans pursue prosperity and how they are ever tormented by the shadowy suspicion that they may not have chosen the shortest route to get it.
Americans cleave to the things of this world as if assured that they will never die, and yet are in such a rush to snatch any that come within their reach, as if expecting to stop living before they have relished them. They clutch everything but hold nothing fast, and so lose grip as they hurry after some new delight.
An American will build a house in which to pass his old age and sell it before the roof is on; he will plant a garden and rent it just as the trees are coming into bearing; he will clear a field and leave others to reap the harvest; he will take up a profession and leave it, settle in one place and soon go off elsewhere with his changing desires. If his private business allows him a moment’s relaxation, he will plunge at once into the whirlpool of politics. Then, if at the end of a year crammed with work he has a little spare leisure, his restless curiosity goes with him traveling up and down the vast territories of the United States. Thus he will travel five hundred miles in a few days as a distraction from his happiness.
Death steps is in the end and stops him before he has grown tired of this futile pursuit of that complete felicity which always escapes him.
參考譯文：
1 美國人以瘋狂的熱情追求繁榮，卻又常常拿不準自己是否真正選中了求富貴的最佳捷徑，因此深受其苦。見到美國人如此生活，旁觀者真是百思不解。
美國人緊緊抓住塵世中的東西不放，好像深信他們永遠也不會死似的。可一旦利益近在咫尺，美國人卻又追求得如此迫不及待，好像人生短促，豈能不及時行樂。他們什麼都抓在手裡，卻又什麼都抓不緊，因此為求新歡樂，常常便在匆忙中丟了舊愛好。
一個美國人會為安度晚年去興建一幢房子，卻又會在房頂還沒架上屋樑時就把它賣掉;他會在花園裡植樹栽花，卻又會在花園快要碩果累累時把它租給別人;他會在農田中播種耕耘，卻又會把收穫讓給他人;他會熱衷於一門專業，卻又會馬上將其放棄;他會在某處安家落戶，卻又會情移念轉，另尋安身之地。如果管理自家店鋪後仍有片刻閒暇，美國人會一頭栽進政治紛爭的旋渦之中。時值歲尾年首，終年忙碌的美國人竟會見縫插針，不忘休閒。於是他那永不休止的好奇之心，會與他一起同遊美國遼闊的大地，幾日內縱橫數百里河山，聊以消遣，暫將快樂置於一旁。
終於，死亡來臨了。死亡阻止了他，在他求歡樂興致仍濃之際。他沒有達到目的，極致的快樂總是與他擦肩而過。
【試題2】
It is well that the commonest fruit should be also the best. Of the virtues of the orange I have not room fully to speak. It has properties of health giving, as that it cures influenza and establishes the complexion. It is clean, for whoever handles it on its way to your table, but handles its outer covering, its top coat, which is left in the hall. It is round, and forms an excellent substitute with the young for a cricket ball. The pip can be flicked at your enemies, and quite a small piece of peel makes a slide for an old gentleman.
But all this would count nothing had not the orange such delightful qualities of taste. I dare not let myself go upon this subject. I am a slave to its sweetness. I grudge every marriage in that it means a fresh supply of orange blossom, the promise of so much golden fruit cut short. However, the world must go on.
With the orange we do live year in and year out. That speaks well for the orange. The fact is that there is an honeaty about the orange which appeals to all of us. If it is going to be bad—for the best of us are bad sometimes—it begins to be bad from the outside, not from the inside. How many a pear which presents a blooming face to the world is rotten at the core. How many an innocent-looking apple is harbouring a worm in the bud. But the orange has no secret faults. Its outside is a mirror of its inside, and if you are quick you can tell the shopman so before he slips it into the bag.
參考譯文：
說來也巧，這種最普通的水果恰恰是最好的水果。論其優點，難盡其詳。柑橘有益於健康，比如，可以治療流感，滋養面板。柑橘乾淨衛生，不管是誰把它端上餐桌，也只觸到它的表皮，即它的外衣，吃完以後便被丟在餐廳。柑橘是圓的，孩子們拿它當板球玩是再好不過了。柑橘核可用來彈射你的對手，一小片橘皮也能讓一個老者滑個趔趄。
但是，如若不是柑橘有甜美可口的味道，上述一切便不足為奇。我真不敢縱談它的美味，我被柑橘的美味所傾倒。每一個婚禮都使我感到痛惜，它意味著一束鮮橘花—未來金黃色果實的夭折。無奈，人類還得繼續繁衍。
我們年復一年地吃著柑橘生活，這就證明了柑橘的好處。事實上，是柑橘誠實的`品格令我們所有的人羨慕不已。如果它開始變壞的話—即使我們之中最優秀者有時也會變壞—它是從外表而不是從內裡開始的。有多少梨子，在向人們展現容光煥發的笑容時，內裡已經腐爛。有多少看上去純潔無暇的蘋果，剛剛發芽就已經包藏蛀蟲。而柑橘從不隱藏瑕疵。它的外表就是它內心的寫照。假如你反應快，不等售貨員把壞橘子放進紙袋兒，你就能把它指出來。
