purity n.纯净，纯洁，纯正

pursuit n.1.追求，寻求 2.追赶，追逐 3.[常pl.]（花时间和精力的）事，嗜好，消遣

in hot pursuit 穷追不舍

pyramid n.1.金字塔 2.金字塔形结构 3.锥状物，棱锥状的一堆东西

quaint a.奇特而有趣的，古色古香的

qualitative a.（性）质的，质量的，定性的

quantify vt.确定……的数量，量化

quantitative a.（数）量的，定量的

quart n.夸脱

quarterly a.季度的，每季一次的 ad.按季度，一季一次 n.季刊

quartz n.石英

quay n.码头

queer a.1.奇怪的，异常的 2.不舒服的，眩晕的

quench vt.止（渴），扑灭（火焰）

query n.问题，疑问，询问 v.1.对……表示疑问 2.问，询问

quest n.寻求，搜索，追求

questionnaire n.（作统计或调查用的）问卷，征求意见表

quilt n.被子，被单

quiver vi.颤抖，发抖，抖动 n.颤抖，抖动，颤声

quota n.定额，限额，配额

racism n.1.种族歧视，种族偏见 2.种族主义

racket n.1.喧嚷，吵闹 2.敲诈，勒索，诈骗 3.（网球等的）球拍

In Pursuit of Understanding Race

Joe had always been on a qualitative quest to understand his history and the racism that he had experienced. The quantitative data that said he was part Egyptian， part Nigerian， and part Irish did not matter to him even though he did not know which race to put on questionnaires. And he never took advantage of quotas， which would have allowed him to go to the best schools. He was in hot pursuit of his own answer and there were no quaint solutions.

He felt most queer， however， when he visited the Pyramids. He could not identify with the Egyptians， their mummies， or their quays along the River Nile. And when he danced with an African quilt around his shoulders near a quartz mine in Nigeria he also did not feel that he had quenched his thirst for understanding himself. Knowing that the time for his query was running short he took another quarterly vacation from his job to visit Ireland.

"So your pursuit of understanding has led you here at last， Lad？"Said the man sitting next to him in an Irish bar with tennis rackets on the wall while drinking a quart of beer. "You can’t quantify where you come from. It’s in your heart！ And there should be a purity to it all that makes you quiver when you finally understand it！"

As Joe left Ireland he knew that the man at the Irish bar had spoken true words of wisdom. He had no home country. He was just himself and that should be enough. Finally at peace Joe headed home. His quest was over.

弄清自己是谁

乔总是从质量上追求理解他的历史和他所经历的种族主义。从数据的数量上来看，他部分是埃及人、部分是尼日利亚人、部分是爱尔兰人，但这对他来说没有多大关系，尽管他不知道在问卷上该填哪个民族。他从来都不利用配额，尽管这样可以让他上最好的学校。他只是穷追不舍地寻找自己的答案，但是却没有奇特而有趣的解决办法。

但是，当他参观金字塔的时候，他感到很奇怪。他不能认同埃及人、他们的木乃伊或者他们在尼罗河沿岸的码头。当他肩上披着一块非洲被单在尼日利亚一个石英矿附近跳舞时，他同样感觉不到能扑灭他想了解自己的渴望。由于知道质疑的时间所剩不多了，他又放下工作请了一个季假访问了爱尔兰。

“这么说你对了解身世的追求终于使你来到这里，小伙子？”在一家爱尔兰酒吧坐在他身旁的一个人说，他喝着一夸脱啤酒，网球拍挂在墙上。“你无法确定你是哪里人，答案就在你心里！你身上应该有一种纯洁性，当你终于弄明白的时候，这种纯洁性会使你颤抖。”

离开爱尔兰的时候，乔知道酒吧里的人说的话真是充满智慧。他没有国家，他就是他，这就够了。他的心情终于平静下来，他踏上了回家的路。他的追求终于结束了。