读故事

At the outset of the war, Ted was willing to do anything. He came from a long line of fighters and this was his chance to add to their memory at the most, and carry on the family legacy at the least. Ted also had a younger brother, William, who wanted to join the army at the same time as Ted. At the suggestion of  their father, however, William decided to wait a year to see how the war was going.
Ted wished he had waited like William.
Ted went to the front lines at the peak of the war. When he arrived Ted told the officer at the wheel that he was proud to be at his service. The officer just laughed and sent him off to battle saying, “At the sacrifice of sounding stupid, son, all I can say to help you is fire at will, attach yourself to any company you can, and stay alive.”
He also said, “And don't worry, you won't have to atone for any of the crimes you commit in this battle. We just have to win!”
That was when Ted learned what it meant to be at war, it was hell! When bombs, rockets and bullets were flying in an area, he truly felt as if he had entered another planet where the atmospheric pressure had dropped. And Ted never got used to it. At times he almost went crazy.
When the war was over and Ted returned home, William was dejected that he never fought. Ted told him he was lucky.
Years later, Ted still suffered, having frequent flashbacks at work of being in the war.

记短语

at (the) most至多，不超过
at the outset开始时，起初
at the peak of在…顶峰期，在…高峰时期
at the sacrifice of以牺牲…为代价
at the same time同时；然而，不过
at the suggestion of根据…的建议
at (或behind) the wheel在驾驶，在操舵；控制，掌管
at times有时，间或
at war(with)(与…)处于交战状态，(同…)不和，(同…)进行竞争
at will随意，任意
at work在工作，在劳动；在运转，在起作用
at sb.'s service听某人吩咐，任凭某人使用，为某人效劳
atmospheric pressure【气】大气压力
atone for(为了过错等)进行弥补，进行补偿
attach to依附在…上，系在…上；依恋，喜爱；认为有(重要性等)

    战争开始的时候，特德是什么事情都愿意做。他从一大批战士中脱颖而出，这是他最多能让他们加深印象，最少也能继承家族遗产的机会。特德还有一个名叫威廉的弟弟，他想和特德同时参军。但是，根据父亲的建议，威廉决定等一年看看战争的发展情况。
    特德希望他像威廉一样做了一段时间的等待。
    特德在战争的高峰时期上了前线。到达的时候特德告诉指挥官他为能替他效劳感到骄傲。指挥官只是笑了笑，然后就送他上了战场。他说：“我的话可能听起来很愚蠢，但我还是要要做这个牺牲，孩子，我能说的管用的话就是随便开枪，尽量和别人在一起，要活着回来。”
    他还说：“别担心，你不必为战场上犯下的罪行做任何补偿。我们一定得打胜仗！”
到这时特德才明白了打仗是怎么回事，原来战争是地狱！当炸弹、火箭、子弹在一个地方满天飞的时候，特德真切地感受到他像是到了另外一个星球，那里的大气压力减少了。特德适应不了这种场面。有时他简直都要疯了。
    当战争结束特德回到家里时，威廉情绪很低落，因为他从没打过仗。特德告诉他，他真幸运。
    多年以后，特德仍然没有摆脱战争的阴影，他经常会回忆起在战场上打仗的情景。

本文选自新航道精品图书《读故事记短语》