常春藤生活英语【107】The Greatest Escape Artist: Houdini 脱逃大师胡迪尼

The Greatest Escape Artist: Houdini 脱逃大师胡迪尼

Harry Houdini was one of the best magicians the world has ever seen. Born as Erik Weisz in Hungary in 1874, Houdini moved with his family to America at the age of four. By the time he was nine years old, he was already performing as a trapeze artist. Houdini then began to develop his talents as an escape artist. He first performed with his brother and then later with his wife, Bess. Escape artists perform their stunts by breaking free from something, such as a locked box, chains and handcuffs, or a closed tank that is filled with water.

Houdini usually made his escapes offstage. This means that he appeared from behind a curtain after he had broken free. Later, his brother, who was also an escape artist, discovered something important. Audiences were more impressed when they could see the escape happen before their very eyes.

Houdini performed acts all over Europe and was known as "The Handcuff King." For some of his shows, he would ask local policemen to tie him up and lock him in jail. Then he would escape by twisting his body in certain ways to break loose from the chains and handcuffs. Sometimes he even dislocated his shoulders on purpose to do it! But Houdini performed even more amazing stunts. One was escaping from a straitjacket while hanging upside down from a building. Another was escaping from a locked tank that was filled with water.

哈利‧胡迪尼是世人所见过最为出色的魔术师之一。1874年于匈牙利出生、本名为艾瑞克‧怀兹的胡迪尼，四岁时便举家搬迁至美国居住。他年仅九岁时，便已经在表演空中飞人的特技。胡迪尼接着开始发展他在脱逃术上的天赋。他最初是与弟弟一起演出，之后则是与他的太太贝丝同台共演。脱逃术艺人透过挣脱某物的禁锢来展现他们的特技，这些物品包括上锁的箱子、锁炼及手铐、亦或是装满水的密闭水缸。

胡迪尼通常是在舞台后来完成他的脱逃。这意味他在挣脱后才会从布幕后出现。后来他那同样身为脱逃术艺人的弟弟，发现了一件重要的事。当观众可以目睹整个脱逃过程时，他们会更加赞叹。

胡迪尼在欧洲各地巡回表演，并且以『手铐之王』的名号著称。在他的一些演出中，他会请当地的警员将他绑起来锁在牢房里。然后他会以一些特殊的方式来扭曲自己的身体，好挣脱锁炼及手铐的束缚。有时他甚至会刻意使肩膀脱臼以达成目的！不过胡迪尼还表演过更令人称奇的特技。其中一项是在他倒吊于某栋建筑之际，要一边挣脱身上穿的束衣。另一项则是从装满水的上锁水缸中脱逃。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. impress　vt. 使留下深刻印象
The artist impressed me with his paintings.
那位画家的画作令我惊艳。
2. twist　vt. 扭动，扭
Sam twisted his ankle in a baseball game.
山姆在一场棒球赛中扭伤了他的脚踝。

Phrases for Learning

1. break free/loose　　（用力）挣脱；逃跑
The horse broke free from its stable.
那匹马从马厩里脱逃而出。
2. before + 所有格 + (very) eyes　　当着某人面前
The thief stole Lily's purse before her eyes.
小偷当着莉莉面前把她的皮包扒走了。
3. on purpose　　故意，有意
I didn't hurt your feelings on purpose.
我不是有意要伤你的心。
4. upside down　　颠倒地，倒置地
This box cannot be carried upside down.
这只箱子搬运时不能拿颠倒。

Extra Words

1. escape artist　n. 脱逃术表演者
2. chain　n. 链条；链子
3. handcuff　n. 手铐（常用复数，本文中亦作形容词用）
4. offstage　adv. 在舞台后，幕后
5. dislocate　vt. 使脱臼
6. straitjacket　n.（精神病人用的）约束衣

Grammar Check

Born as Erik Weisz in Hungary in 1874, Houdini moved with his family...
（1874年于匈牙利出生、本名为艾瑞克‧怀兹的胡迪尼……举家搬迁……）
　　本句原为"Houdini was born as Erik Weisz in Hungary in 1874, Houdini moved with his family..."，但这样便造成两句在一起无连接词连接的错误句构，其补救办法为将其中之一的子句化简为分词句构，其法则如下：
1. 被化简的子句中主词与主要子句的主词相同时，该主词要被删除，若主词不同时则要保留；
2. 之后的动词要变成现在分词；
3. 若该动词为 be 动词时，变成现在分词 being 之后可省略。
Zoe was lying comfortably on her bed, Zoe fell asleep. (×)
→ Lying comfortably on her bed, Zoe fell asleep.(○)
（柔依舒服地躺在她床上睡着了。）

本课程选自常春藤免费电子刊物。若对您英语学习有所帮助，请支持购买常春藤英语相关正版教材。