The grown-ups’ response, this time, was to advise me to lay aside my drawings of boa constrictors, whether from the inside or the outside, and devote myself instead to geography, history, arithmetic and grammar. That is why, at the age of six, I gave up what might have been a magnificent career as a painter. I had been disheartened by the failure of my Drawing Number One and my Drawing Number Two. Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.
〖 精读笔记 〗
◆response /rɪˈspɒns/ n.回答；回应
◆advise /ədˈvaɪz/ v.劝告；忠告；建议
◎advise doing sth 建议做某事
◎advise sb to do sth 建议某人做某事
类似用法的动词：allow(允许)，permit(允许)，forbid(禁止)
e.g.
I'd advise waiting until tomorrow.
我建议等到明天再说。
The minister advised him to leave as soon as possible...
部长建议他尽快离开。
◆lay aside 把（某物）放在一边，放下（某物）
◎lay /leɪ/ v.放置，安放，平放
e.g.
She laid the baby on the bed.她把婴儿放在了床上。
◎aside /əˈsaɪd/ adv.在旁边；到（或向）一边
e.g.
He pulled the curtain aside.他把窗帘拉开。
◆devote [dɪˈvəʊt] v.献(身); 奉献，投入(时间、精力等)
◎devote sth to sth/sb 将…贡献给，把…奉献给
e.g.
He left the Senate to devote more time to his family.
为了能有更多时间陪伴家人，他离开了参议院。
◆arithmetic /əˈrɪθ.mə.tɪk/ v.算术；算术运算；计算
◆magnificent [mæɡˈnɪfɪsnt] adj. 壮丽的；华丽的
◆give up 放弃
◆might have been 本来可以，原本可能（虚拟语气的推测用法）
◆career /kə'rɪə/ n. 事业，职业
◆as prep.（介词）作为；当作
◆dishearten /dɪs'hɑːt(ə)n/ vt.使……失去希望或信心; 使……灰心
◆failure /'feɪljə/ n. 失败
◆tiresome /'taɪəs(ə)m/ adj. 烦人的；令人讨厌的
◆It is +adj+for sb+to do sth.对于某人来说做某事是怎么样的
◆be doing 和always连用，表示反复发生的动作，常带有厌烦、不满的情绪
So then I chose another profession, and learned to pilot airplanes. I have flown a little over all parts of the world; and it is true that geography has been very useful to me. At a glance I can distinguish China from Arizona. If one gets lost in the night, such knowledge is valuable.
In the course of this life I have had a great many encounters with a great many people who have been concerned with matters of consequence. I have lived a great deal among grown-ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. And that hasn’t much improved my opinion of them.
〖 精读笔记 〗
◆profession [prəˈfeʃn] n.职业
◆pilot [ˈpaɪlət] n.飞行员v. 驾驶
◆have flown现在完成时形式，表示站在现在的角度回顾到目前为止的一个时间段内，某一活动重复发生了多次。（flown为fly的过去分词）
◆it is true that geography has been very useful to me.
此句为it作形式主语置于句首，代替真正主语即that引导的主语从句
◆geography /dʒɪ'ɒgrəfɪ/ n. 地理(学)
◆at a glance一瞥；看一眼
◆distinguish /dɪ'stɪŋgwɪʃ/ v. 辨别
◎distinguish between区别，辨别
It is often difficult to distinguish clearly between fact and fiction in this book.
读这本书经常很难分辨其中的真实和虚构内容。
◎distinguish from辨别出；辨别与…的不同
She could not distinguish one child from another.
她无法把这两个孩子区分开。
◆Arizona /ˌæriˈzəunə/ n. 美国亚利桑那州
◆get lost 迷路
◆knowledge /'nɒlɪdʒ/ n. 知识
◆valuable /'væljʊb(ə)l/ adj. 有价值的；贵重的
◆in the course of在…过程中；在…期间
◎course [kɔːs] n.科目；课程；过程；进程
In the course of time, I began to understand.
随着时间过去，我开始明白了。
◆a good/great many许多，大量，众多（修饰可数名词复数）
◆a great deal 大量; 许多
◎a great deal 可单独使用,也可以用在形容词或副词的比较级前,表示“大量;许多”
◎a great deal of 只能用在不可数名词前，表示“大量的”
◆encounter [ɪnˈkaʊntə(r)] n.偶然相遇，邂逅
◆be concerned with sth/sb 关心,挂念;从事于
◆matter/'mætə/ n.事情; 问题
◆consequence[ˈkɒnsɪkwəns] n. 结果；重要性；推论
◆intimately [ˈɪntəmɪtlɪ]adv.熟悉地；亲切地；密切地
◆improve /ɪm'pruːv/ v. 改善
◆opinion /ə'pɪnjən/ n. 意见, 看法
Whenever I met one of them who seemed to me at all clear-sighted, I tried the experiment of showing him my Drawing Number One, which I have always kept. I would try to find out, so, if this was a person of true understanding. But, whoever it was, he, or she, wouldalways say,“That is a hat.” Then I would never talk to that person about boa constrictors, or primeval forests, or stars. I would bring myself down to his level. I would talk to him about bridge, and golf, and politics, and neckties. And the grown-up would be greatly pleased to have met such a sensible man.
〖 精读笔记 〗
◆clear-sighted adj.有见识的；聪明的
◆experiment /ɪk'sperɪm(ə)nt/ n. 实验；尝试
◆have always kept 现在完成时，表示从过去开始一直延续到现在的动作
◆would 这里表示过去反复发生或习惯性的动作
◆try to do sth.设法做某事，侧重努力
◆find out发现，找出
◆primeval /praɪˈmivəl/ adj. 原始的
◆talk to sb. 对某人讲话
◆politics /'pɒlɪtɪks/ n.政治
◆necktie /'nektaɪ/ n.领带
◆sensible [ˈsensəbl] adj.明智的；通情达理的