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Before Reading >> Background Information
I. O. Henry
O. Henry (1862~1910): American writer of short stories, best known for his ironic plot twists and surprise endings
- He was born on September 11, 1862 in North Carolina, where he spent his childhood.
- He went to Texas in 1882 and worked at various jobs — as a teller in an Austin bank
(1891~1894) and as a newspaperman for the Houston Post.
- In 1898 an unexplained shortage in the Austin bank was charged to him. Although many
people believed him innocent, he fled to the Honduras, but returned to be with his wife, who was fatally ill. He eventually served three years in prison, where he first started writing short stories.
- Upon his release he settled in New York City and became a highly successful and prolific
contributor to various magazines. Although his stories have been criticized as shallow and contrived, O. Henry did catch the color and movement of the city and evidenced a genuine sympathy for ordinary people. His approximately 300 stories are collected in Cabbages and Kings (1904, .classicsnetwork./etexts/599/), TheFourMillion (1906, : //. literaturepage. /read/ thefourmillion. html), TheVoiceof the City (1908), Options (1909), and others.
- He died on June 5, 1910 in New York City at the age of forty-seven. An alcoholic, he died
virtually penniless.
II. What Are They Famous For?
Do you know these greatest artists and their masterpieces? Steven Spielberg (1947~ ):
American motion-picture director, producer and executive, who achieved great mercial success and is among the most popular filmmakers of the late 20th century Masterpieces:Schindler’s List, JurassicPark, SavingPrivateRayn, etc. Mozart (1756~1791):
Austrian poser, the centrally important poser of the classicalera, and one of the most inspired posers in the Western musical tradition
Masterpieces:Symphony No.40 in G minor (G小调第40号交响曲)，Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman〞 (“小星星〞变奏曲) Xu Beihong (1895~1953):
Modern Chinese master of Fine Arts (美术)
Masterpieces:Horses
Pablo Picasso (1881~1973):
Spanish painter and sculptor, generally considered the greatest artist in the 20th century Masterpieces:The Barefoot Girl, Self-portrait, etc. Leonardo Da Vinci (1452~1519):
Florentine artist, one of the great masters of High Renaissance (文艺复兴盛期), celebrated as painter, sculptor, architect, engineer and scientist
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word Masterpieces:Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, etc. Ralph Lauren (1939~ ):
American fashion designer, the founder of the clothing pany called Polo.
Masterpieces:clothing for men, women and children, bedding and bath luxuries, gifts and much more
Wang Xizhi (303~379):
Wang Xizhi is known as the Sage of Calligraphy (书法). He is remembered not only for revolutionizing the art of Chinese writing, but also for his plete devotion to this traditional Chinese art form.
Masterpieces:Lan Ting Xu (the Prelude of the Orchid Pavilion), etc. William Shakespeare (1564~1616):
English playwright and poet, recognized in much of the world as the greatest of all dramatists Masterpieces:As You Like It, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Merchant of Venice, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, etc.
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word Global Reading >> Part Division of the Text
A piece of narration usually consists of a number of scenes. In each scene there are different characters who interact with each other. Now put down, in the following table, the characters and major events of the seven scenes in Text A. The first one has been done for you. Parts 1 2 3 4 5 Para(s) 1~2 3~8 9~17 18~21 22~33 the doctor, Sue 6 34~37 Sue, Johnsy Characters Sue, Johnsy the doctor, Sue Johnsy, Sue Behrman, Sue Sue, Johnsy Events Sue’s roommate Johnsy caught pneumonia. The doctor told Sue that Johnsy needed a strong will to live on. Johnsy decided that she would die when the last ivy leaf fell. Sue told Behrman about Johnsy’s fancy. As Johnsy was encouraged by the last leaf that wouldn’t give in to the weather, her will to live returned. The doctor told Sue that Johnsy would recover, but Behrman caught pneumonia himself and his case was hopeless. Sue told Johnsy about the kind deed that Behrman had performed without any thought of self. 7 38~39 Global Reading >> Questions and Answers
The story is, as indicated by its title, built around the last ivy leaf. In other words, the last ivy leaf is the main thread that runs through the whole story. The following questions are intended to help you get a clear idea of this point.
1. What was, at first, Johnsy determined to do if the last ivy leaf should fall? (=She made up her mind to die when the last leaf fell.)
2. What did she decide to do when she saw the last leaf still cling to the vine after two nights’ rain and wind?
(=She decided not to give up her life. )
3. How was it that the cold fierce wind did not blow away the last leaf?
(=Behrman, a kind neighbor, who was aware of Johnsy’s state of mind, risked death to paint the last leaf and save her.)
4. Why did Sue call the painted leaf Behrman’s masterpiece?
(=Because it was so perfect the girls both mistook it for the real thing.)
Global Reading >> Scanning
Scan Text A and find out other clues besides “the last ivy leaf〞, which help organize the story into a whole.
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word Clue 1: the last leaf
Clue 2: the doctor’s three visits Clue 3: soup
Clue 4: the Bay of Naples
Clue 5: Behrman’s masterpiece the doctor’s three visits
1. Johnsy was seriously ill. (Paras. 3~8)
2. Johnsy had a 50-50 chance for survival and death while Old Behrman was incurably sick. (Paras. 34~36)
3. Johnsy was sure to recover. (Para. 37) soup
1. Johnsy refused to take any soup when she decided to die with the fall of the last leaf. (Para. 16)
2. When she was shaken alive again by that undying last leaf, one of her first desires was to drink some soup. (Para. 31) theBayofNaples
1. Before she fell ill, Johnsy had wished to paint the Bay of Naples. (Para. 5) 2. Inspired by the last leaf, Johnsy again looked forward to painting it. (Para. 33) Behrman’smasterpiece
1. Old Behrman was a failure in art. He had always talked about a masterpiece, yet he was unable to deliver it. (Para. 18)
2. “Someday I will paint a masterpiece, and we shall all go away.〞 (Para. 20) 3. Finally, Old Behrman painted his masterpiece at the cost of his life. (Para. 39)
Global Reading >> Further Understanding
I. Story Telling
Suppose you are Sue, tell us in the first person a story which may cover the following points: 1. How did Johnsy and you meet. 2. How did she get ill.
3. What did the doctor tell you about Johnsy’s illness.
II. Dialogue Making
Make a dialogue between Sue and Behrman according to the sentence “She told him of Johnsy’s fancy, and how she feared she would, indeed, light and fragile as a leaf herself, float away, when her slight hold upon the world grew weaker〞 in Paragraph 19.
III. Discussion
1. What encouraged Johnsy to regain the will to live and how?
2. According to you, how would Johnsy react after realizing what Mr. Behrman had done for her?
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word Detailed Reading
I. Difficult Sentences
1. “Johnsy〞 was familiar for Joanna.Paraphrase the sentence. (=“Johnsy〞 was a pet name for Joanna.)
2. They had met at a cafe on Eighth Street and found their tastes in art, chicory salad and bishop sleeves so much in tune that the joint studio resulted.What are “chicory salad〞 and “bishop sleeves〞?
(=The pictures show what “chicory salad〞 and “bishop sleeves〞 are.)
Why did the joint studio e into being?
(=Because the two girls have so many things in mon.)
3. In November a cold, unseen stranger, whom the doctors called Pneumonia, stalked about the district, touching one here and there with his icy fingers. Johnsy was among his victims.What kind of rhetorical method is used here? (=Personification.)
What does “touching one here and there with his icy fingers〞 mean?
(=It means the illness spread quickly from one to another.) What does “victims〞 mean here?
(=The “victims〞 were those who had got the illness.)
4. “I will do all that science can acplish. But whenever my patient begins to count the carriages in her funeral procession I subtract 50 per cent from the curative power of medicines.〞Translate the sentence into Chinese.(=“只要是科学能做到的，我会尽一切努力的。可是，但凡病人开始计算她出殡的行列里有几辆马车的时候，我就要把医药的疗效减去一半。〞)What can you infer from the sentence?
(=Johnsy was seriously ill. The doctor held out little hope for her because she seemed to lose the will to hang on to life.)
5. I’ll not be gone a minute.What is the meaning of the sentence? (=I will be back in a few minutes.)
6. For the rest he was a fierce little old man, who mocked terribly at softness in any one, and who regarded himself as guard dog to the two young artists in the studio above.Judging from the phrase “mocked terribly at softness in any one〞, what kind of person was Mr.
Behrman?
(=Mr. Behrman was a kind of person who laughed greatly at anyone who showed weakness in front of him.)
How is the characteristic of Mr. Behrman illustrated in the following text?
(=When hearing of Johnsy’s fancy, and how Sue feared Johnsy would, light and fragile as a leaf herself, float away, Mr. Behrman, “with his red eyes plainly streaming, shouted his contempt for such foolish imaginings〞.)
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7. But, Lo! After the beating rain and fierce wind that had endured through the night, there yet stood out against the brick wall one ivy leaf.What does “endure〞 mean? (=It means “continue〞.)
What is the function of “that had endured through the night〞?
(=It is an attributive clause used to modify “the beating rain and fierce wind〞.)
What is the subject of the whole sentence?
(=The subject is “one ivy leaf 〞. The main sentence is in inversion due to the fronting (前置) of “there〞.)
8. “Even chances,〞 … What does “even〞 here mean?
[=It means “(of amounts, distances, values) equal〞.]
Paraphrase the sentence.
(=She has equal chances for survival and death.)
II. Words & Expressions
in tune:harmonious(ly) (often followed by with) - 他的想法与我的一样。
(=His ideas were in tune with mine.)
- The price of gold coins fluctuates (波动) in tune with that of modities. Collocation：
out of tune with …与…不和谐
change one’s tune改变看法、做法等
joint: adj.held or done by two or more persons together
- She had taken the money out of the joint account she had with her husband.
- There are a number of different forms of business ownership, such as partnerships, corporations and joint ventures.
stalk: v.(of an evil force) move through (a place) in a threatening way; move quietly and cautiously in order to get near
- Fear stalks every dark stairwell and walkway. - 那片水域有追寻猎物的鲨鱼出没。
(=There are sharks stalking their prey in those waters.)
here and there: in various places
- We went here and there looking for berries.
- 这地区土地贫瘠，只是间或有一小块肥沃的地方。
(=The country is barren, with here and there a fertile spot.)
victim:n.person, animal, etc. suffering death, injury or loss
- Four people were killed in the explosion, but the police have not yet named the victims. - Thousands were victims of the plague in the Middle Ages.
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word scarcely: adv.not quite; almost not - She scarcely speaks a word of English. - 他一进房间铃就响了。
(=Scarcely had he entered the room when the phone rang.) CF:scarcely, barely & hardly
这三个词都是副词，都有“几乎不、刚好〞之意。
scarcely含有“不太够〞的意思，强调不能令人满意。例如： - There were scarcely a hundred people present. (=出席的人数还不足一百。)
- He is so uneducated that he can scarcely write his name. (=他太没文化了，连自己的名字都写不大出来。)
barely 含有“仅仅够、一点不多〞的意思，强调没有多余。例如： - He eats barely enough. (=他刚刚吃饱。)
- We barely succeeded. (=我们勉强成功。)
hardly 表示接近最低限度，差不多没有多余，而且强调困难。例如： - We could hardly endure the winter here. (=我们简直忍受不了这里冬天的寒冷。) - I could hardly speak for tears. (=我哭得几乎说不出话来。)
subtract:vt.take (a number, quantity) away from a larger number or quantity
- When total taxes are subtracted from personal ine, the remainder is called disposable ine. - Students were given a lot of practice in writing, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing.
merry: adj.happy; cheerful; bright and gay
- Peter and Mary were strolling about among the merry crowd enjoying Christmas Eve in Time Square.
- We had a merry time at the party.
- The more the merrier, the fewer the better fare. (=人越多越快乐, 人越少吃得越香。) Collocation：
as merry as a cricket/lark非常快活 make merry尽情欢乐；欢宴作乐 make merry over/of/about嘲弄；挖苦
- He is making merry over the boy who has no shoes.
backward:
1. adv. with the back or end first
- The helicopter can travel forward, backward, or sideways.
- Radar tests indicated Venus was actually rotating backward, pared to our planet. 2. adj. late in development
- 这个国家的一些落后地区还没有电力。
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word (=Some backward parts of the country do not have any electricity.) - Because of his long illness, Tom is backward in his studies. Collocation：
backward and forward来来回回；反复地 bend/fall/lean over backward竭尽全力
- They leaned over backward to make her feel at home. know sth. backward对某事物熟谙到倒背如流的地步
bare:adj.without covering, clothing, or decoration
- In giving first aid to an electric-shock victim, a caregiver must not touch the victim with bare hands.
- Soil held in place by plant roots is less likely to blow or wash away than bare soil. CF:bare, naked & nude
这几个词都是形容词，都有“赤裸的〞之意。
bare 指裸露的，含有无衣服、无保护或无装饰之意。例如： - It’s cold outside, but he went out with his head bare. (=外面很冷，但他还是光着头出去了。) - The hills were bare of vegetation. (=小山上一点花草树木都没有。)
naked指没有通常所应有的遮盖物。例如： - This mad man always walked around naked. (=这位精神病患者经常光着身子到处跑。)
- The fallacy has been exposed in its naked absurdity. (=这谬论的荒诞无稽已经赤裸裸地袒露了出来。)
nude 主要指人体裸露，也可指房间无装饰或光秃秃的。例如： - This model is posing in the nude for an artist. (=模特赤裸着身体，为艺术家摆好姿势。) - He is living in a single nude room. (=他住在一间光秃秃的单人房里。)
dreary: adj.dull; gloomy; causing low spirits
- Addressing envelopes all the time is dreary work. - 外贸前景暗淡。
(=Foreign trade prospects are dreary.)
in a whisper: in a low voice
- He bent down and addressed her in a whisper. - She said it in a whisper, so I couldn’t hear.
nonsense:n.foolish talk, ideas, behavior
- Currently, the Web contains everything from nonsense to up-to-the-minute news about the US presidency or US stock quotes from Wall Street. - 我从来没有听说过这种蠢话。 (=I have never heard such nonsense!)
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turn loose: allow (sth.) to be free of control - He turned the horse loose in the field.
- The World Bank makes grants to developing countries but it doesn’t just turn the money loose. (=世界银行拨款给开展中国家，但并不任其随意使用。)
look the part:have an appearance for a particular job, role, or position - If he wasn’t actually a thief he certainly looked the part. - Despite looking the part, Michael was not an artist at all.
masterpiece:n.a piece of work, esp. art, which is the best of its type or the best a person has done
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered Mark Twain’s masterpiece. - 第九交响曲是贝多芬最杰出的作品。
(=The Ninth Symphony was Beethoven’s masterpiece.)
to excess: to an extreme degree
- His father never smoked or drank to excess. - Don’t carry your grief to excess. Pattern:in excess of 超过
- Never spend in excess of your ine.
for the rest: as regards other matters
- The working conditions in my new job are excellent, but for the rest, I am not impressed. - 在其他方面，我再也没有注意到什么了。 (=For the rest, I could not notice anything more.) Collocation：
as to the rest至于其他方面
and all the rest of it 以与其他等等
- He is young and handsome and well-educated and all the rest of it.
fierce: adj.
1. violent and angry - a fierce looking man
- It was estimated that the fierce storm killed at least several thousand people and left more than one million without homes. 2. intense; strong
- While Apple enjoyed brighter sales, petitors in the IBM PC world fought a fierce battle for market share.
- 由于失业人数众多，寻找工作的竞争十分激烈。
(=Because there is so much unemployment, the petition for jobs is very fierce.)
mock:
1. v. ridicule; make fun of
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word Pattern:mock (at) sb./sth.
- He made all the other boys laugh by mocking the way the teacher spoke and walked. - The student did his best, and the teacher was wrong to mock at his effort. 2. adj. not real or true; like (in appearance, taste, etc.) something real - The army training exercises ended with a mock battle.
- Before each debate, he is expected to engage in mock debate.
fancy: 1. n.
1) sth. imagined; unfounded opinion or belief - Children usually have a lively fancy.
- I think he will e, but it’s only a fancy of mine. 2) liking formed without the help of reason - I have taken a fancy to that silly hat.
- 她停下来细看那件引起她兴趣的展览品。
(=She stopped to examine the exhibit that struck her fancy.) 2. vt.
1) form a picture of; imagine
- Fancy her having a fool like that for a husband! - Can you fancy yourself on the moon? 2) have a liking for; wish for - I fancy something sweet to eat.
- I had a suspicion that they fancied each other. 3. vi. form a picture of sth.; imagine - 想象一下！
(=Just fancy!)
4. adj. ornamental or brightly colored; not ordinary - fancy cakes
- That pattern is too fancy for me.
stream: 1. v.
1) produce a continuous flow of liquid
- His eyes were streaming with tears from the coughing. - The little child’s nose is streaming because of the cold. 2) move in a continuous flow; pour out - Blood streamed down his nose.
- They streamed out of the movie theater.
2. n. natural flow of water, usu. smaller than a river; a long and almost continuous series of events, people, objects, etc. - cross a stream
- a stream of people going into the house - 他没有反社会舆论潮流的勇气。
(=He doesn’t have the courage to go against the stream of public opinion.)
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persistent: adj.continuing; occurring again and again
- The persistent growth of the EU countries has been remarkable.
- Neither high prices nor high wages could explain persistent depression and mass unemployment.
mingle: v.mix (followed by with)
Pattern:mingle with; be mingled with
- Laughter mingled with the music, and appreciative ments. - Her excitement was mingled with a slight feeling of fear. - 空气中的香水味和汗臭味混杂在一起。
(=The smell of perfume and perspiration mingled in the air.)
stand out:be easily seen above or among others - The trip to Africa stood out in my memory. - These writers stood out above the rest. Collocation： stand by支持 stand for 代表 stand on坚持
stand well with … 与…相处得好
wear away:
1. (of time) pass gradually
- The day wore away, and we still couldn’t find a solution to the problem. - The fullness of spring has not yet worn quite away. 2. (cause to) bee thin or damaged by constant use - The pattern on the handle had pletely worn away. - 滴水正不断地磨损着这石头。
(=The dripping of the water is wearing away the stone.) Collocation： wear down磨损 wear off 磨损掉 wear out穿破
cling to: hold tight to
- The frightened child clung to her mother. - She wore a silk dress that clung to her figure.
sin: n. offence against God, religion or good morals - In Christian theology, the first sin was mitted by Adam. - The man confessed his sin to the priest. CF:sin, crime & evil
这几个词都可用作名词，都有“犯罪、罪恶〞之意。
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word sin 意为罪恶，尤指违背某某和道德原如此的恶行。例如： - Hester did not confess her sins to the priest. (=海斯特没有向神父认罪忏悔。)
- Lying, stealing, dishonesty, and cruelty are sins. (=说谎、偷窃、不诚实和残酷都是罪恶。)
crime 多指刑事上的犯罪，也可指缺德。例如： - The police prevent and detect crime. (=警察的职责是防和侦察犯罪活动。)
- It’s a crime that he bullies his children that way. (=像他那样威吓自己的孩子真是缺德。) evil 意为邪恶、不善。例如： - to do evil (=做坏事)
- to return good for evil (=以德报怨 )
acute: adj.
1. (of diseases) ing quickly to the critical stage
- She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis (阑尾炎). - His disease is not acute but chronic. 2. severe
- Food shortages in some African countries are being acute. - 他在这份报道上对记者的怀疑特别厉害。
(=His distrust of reporters was particularly acute on this story.)
3. (of the mind or the senses) able to notice small differences, esp. of meaning or sound; working very well; sharp - an acute thinker
- Dogs have an acute sense of smell. CF:acute, critical & crucial
这三个词都是形容词，都有“严重的、紧急的〞之意。
acute通常指情况恶化而处在了危机或紧急状态之中。例如： - There was an acute lack of food. (=食物严重缺乏。)
- The problem is at its most acute in major cities. 〔=这个问题在大城市里尤为锋利。〕
critical 意为严重的、关键性的、危急的，与 crucial 一样都可指转折关头，但该词比 crucial 表现出更大的严重性，经常暗示某种情况略有变化就会导致深远的影响。例如： - I didn’t realize the unemployment problem here was all that critical. (=我没有意识到这里的失业问题竟如此严重。)
- Another minute’s lack of oxygen could be critical. (=再缺一分钟氧气就危险了。)
crucial 意为至关重要的、决定性的、紧要关头的，指紧急情况或危机的转折关头，强调为了取得满意的结果，某事绝对有必要发生。例如： - Speed is crucial to our success.
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word (=速度是我们成功的关键。)
- They are carrying out the crucial part of the experiment. (=他们在进展试验的决定性局部。)
flutter:
1. v. (cause to) move about in a quick, irregular way
- The bird fluttered its wings wildly but it could not get off the ground. - The butterfly fluttered into the room. - 他激动得心怦怦跳。
(=His heart fluttered with excitement.) 2. n. fluttering movement
- There was a flutter of wings among the trees. - Her new book on violence caused a flutter.
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word After Reading >> Useful Expressions
各处 here and there 一成的可能性 one chance in ten 画板 drawing board 吹着轻快的口哨 whistle a merry tune 倒着数count backward
几乎以耳语般的声音 in almost a whisper 听说 hear of 病好，康复 get well 十有八九 ten to one 厌烦 be tired of 撇开一切 turn loose one’s hold on everything 看上去很像 look the part 无节制地喝…drink … to excess 至于其他 for the rest 大肆嘲笑 mock terribly at 凝视着 peer/stare at 倒置的水壶 an upturned kettle 显眼，突出 stand out 〔时间〕流逝 wear away 紧紧抱住 cling to 脱离危险be out of danger 湿透 be wet through
After Reading >> Sentence Translation
1.I want to turn loose my hold on everything, and go sailing down, down, just like one of those poor, tired leaves.
(=我只想撇开一切，飘然而去，就像那边一片可怜的疲倦的叶子。)
2. The day wore away, and even through the twilight they could see the lone ivy leaf clinging to its stem against the wall.
(=白天慢慢过去了，即便在暮色黄昏之中，他们仍能看到那片孤零零的常青藤叶子，贴着砖墙，紧附着梗茎。)
3. When the elderly man regained consciousness now and again, the man repeatedly called for his son.
(=老人偶尔苏醒过来时，总是反复呼唤他的儿子。)
4. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine cut her short. (=她开始说一些深表同情的话，海军士兵却打断了她。) 5. 我会尽一切努力，只要是科学能做到的。 (=I will do all that science can acplish.)
6. 萧瑟秋风吹落了枝叶，藤上几乎光秃秃的。
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word (=The cold breath of autumn had blown away its leaves, leaving it almost bare.) 7. 两人面面相觑，哑然无语。
(=They looked at each other for a moment without speaking.)
8. 当我发觉他已是病入膏肓，分辨不出我是否就是他的儿子时，我猜测他真的需要我。 (=When I realized he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, I figured he really needed me.)
After Reading >> Word Formation
What do you call the people who perform or create these arts? sculpture sculptor/sculptress dancedancer
poetry poet/poetess
drama/actingdramatist/actor/actress painting painter/artist music musician
fashion designfashion designer
movie makingmovie maker/director short stories (short story) writer/author novels novelist
photography photographer
cartoons/animationcartoonist/animator
After Reading >> Debate
Many years ago, a college student lost his life to save an old farmer’s life, which aroused a heated discussion among people. Some thought that it was not worthwhile for a college student who might contribute a lot to the society in the future to risk death for an old life, while some other people held the opposite view. What is your opinion? Make a debate about whether it was worthwhile for Old Behrman to risk death to save Johnsy’s life? Supporting arguments
1. It is the only way to save her life.
2. It is worthwhile for the old to risk death to save the young’s lives. Opposing arguments
1. Behrman could try other means to save Johnsy’s life instead of sacrificing himself. 2. Both the old’s and the young’s lives are valuable.
After Reading >> Dictation
Listen to a short passage about Princess Diana and her charity work and fill in the blanks.
The metamorphosis (转变) came the day in April 1987 when Diana opened Britain’s first
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word purpose-built ward (病房) for AIDSsufferers, at London’s Middlesex Hospital. Many were shocked at the fact that she didn’t wear anyprotectiveclothing. At that time theaverageBriton (英国人) knew very little about AIDS. Some believed it could be caught and passed on bytouch,kissing, or evenhuggingsomeone who wasinfected. The revelation (被揭露的事) that aroyal, like Princess Diana, the mother of two young sons, had taken such anenormousrisk with adeadlydisease shocked many people.
After Reading >> Writing Practice
I. Introduction
The general-to-specific pattern is probably one of the mon patterns in college writing. It may be used in any of these familiar places:
Introduction to a paper
Background in a research paper
Opening paragraphs for a discussion or an analysis
As the name suggests, this pattern is characterized by a movement in your thinking from a generalization to specific details. Your opening paragraph would begin with a general statement and then add details that explain it. The details may continue to bee increasingly specific.
II. A Sample
Writing is a plex sociocognitive process involving the construction of recorded messages on paper or on some other material, and, more recently, on a puter screen. The first skill area involves acquiring a writing system, which may be alphabetic (as in European languages) or nonalphabetic (as in many Asian languages). The second skill area requires selecting the appropriate grammar and vocabulary to form acceptable sentences and then arranging them in paragraphs. Third, writing involves thinking about the purpose of the text to be posed and about its possible effects on the intended readership.
In this example, the first sentence presents the general statement about the writing process. The succeeding statements consist of details and examples, introduced by the transitions first, second, and third.
This paragraph could have introduced a longer paper in which the writer discusses the kinds of training needed to learn to write, analyzes the results of a study about learning to write, or even introduces a topical literature review about teaching writing.
You can see that the general-to-specific pattern is one you will use frequently because of its versatility as well as its obvious ability to quickly and effectively introduce your ideas to your readers.
IV. Homework
Write a paragraph about your impressions of the story “The Last Leaf〞, using the general-to-specific pattern.
The Spirit of Kindness
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word The most touching thing about the story “The Last Leaf〞 is the way in which it captures the very best in humanity, the spirit of kindness. This it does through what seems at first sight an unlucky hero. The old artist appears to be a no-nonsense character, one without any time for sentimentality and softness. Yet we soon see his kindly nature peeping through his rough manner. Only at the end of the story, however, do we discover how kind and considerate he was, the old man risking death to save the girl.
After Reading >> Talk about the Pictures
(略)
After Reading >> Proverbs and Quotations
1. Charity begins at home, but should not end there. (=仁爱始于家庭，但不止于家庭。) 2. Charity covers a multitude of sins. [=仁爱可遮掩许多罪恶。〔一善遮百丑。〕] 3. Three helping one another bear the burden of six. (=三人互相帮助，可担六人重负。 ) 4. One hand washes another. (=有来有往，互相帮助。)
5. Love has no meaning if it isn’t shared. Love has to be put into action.
— Mother Teresa, Roman Catholic nun
(=爱假如不与人分享如此毫无意义。爱必须付诸行动。
——罗马天主教修女 特里萨嬷嬷)
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word Supplementary Reading >> Culture Notes
I. Generosity
i. Definition
Generosity is the habit of giving freely without coercion. Often equated with charity as a virtue, generosity is widely accepted in society as a desirable trait. Generosity can also be spending time, money, or labour, for others, without being rewarded in return.
Generosity is not solely based on one’s economic status, but instead, includes the individual’s pure intentions of looking out for society’s mon good and giving from the heart. Generosity should reflect the individual’s passion to help others.
ii. Generosity across America Name of place Ohio New York Dallas, Texas (视频略)
Stories of people helping others in need A Daycare Center offerss free for out-of-work parents. Parents can bring their children in if they have a job interview. A storekeeper helps unemployed people to get their interview clothes cleaned and pressed. An organization called Birthday Blessings helps homeless and under-privileged families for birthday parties for their kids. II. Random Act of Kindness
A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person or a group of people wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual or in some cases an animal. There will generally be no reason other than to make people smile, or be happier. Either spontaneous or planned in advance, random acts of kindness are encouraged by various munities.
Supplementary Reading >> Reading
I. Difficult Sentences
1. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was there, but he took no notice of her and the night noises of the hospital — the clanking of an oxygen tank, the laughter of night-staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans and snores of other patients.Translate the sentence into Chinese. (=每次护士来到病房，士兵总是在那儿，但他没有注意她，也没有注意夜晚医院里的嘈杂声——氧气罐的叮当声，夜班医护人员相互打招呼时的笑声，其他病人的叫喊声、呻吟声和打鼾声。)
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word 2. And he proved, in a uniquely human way, that there are people who care what happens to their fellow men.Translate the sentence into Chinese. (=他以一种极富人情味的方式证明了世间自有关心别人境遇的人。)
3. He was rushed to the airport in time to catch the one plane that might enable him to reach his dying father.Translate the sentence into Chinese. (=被急急送到机场，刚好赶上唯一一架或许能让他赶到垂危老父身边的飞机。)
4. He was heavily sedated and only partially conscious after a massive heart attack he had suffered the night before.Translate the sentence into Chinese. (=前一夜，老人突发严重的心脏病，被用了大量镇静剂，此刻神智只是局部清醒。)
II. Words & Expressions
elderly:adj.(of a person) old or ageing - He is very active as an elderly man.
- 威廉年近五十，他的父母都上了年纪。
(=William is nearly 50, and his parents are elderly.)
collapse: vi.(of a person) fall down, usu. unconscious because of illness, tiredness, etc.; fall down suddenly because of pressure
- The chair collapsed under her weight. - 亨利倒下了，死于心脏病。
(=Henry collapsed and died of a heart attack.)
regain: vt. recover; get (sth.) back again after losing it
- The government has regained control of the capital from rebel forces. - She made an effort to regain her self-control. - 她停下来换一口气。
(=She stopped to regain her breath.) Collocation：
regain courage恢复勇气 regain balance恢复平衡 regain health恢复健康
regain consciousness恢复知觉
now and again: at irregular intervals; occasionally - Now and again I go to town and do shopping there.
- We meet up for lunch now and again, but not as often as we used to. - 我们的手指甲有时需要剪一剪。
(=Our fingernails need cutting now and again.)
start off: start a journey; start a life, existence, or profession in a particular way - We started off down the road.
- It started off as a bit of joke but then people started taking it seriously.
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word - 他跑步出发, 但很快就累得慢下来成了步行。
(=He started off at a run but soon got tired and slowed down to a walk.)
wade:vi. walk with an effort (through water, mud, etc.)
- They had to wade knee-deep through mud to reach the victims. - 没有桥，我们只能趟过小溪。
(=There’s no bridge; we’ll have to wade across the stream.)
military: adj. of or for soldiers or armed forces
- He seems more like a military officer than a business executive. - 恶劣的天气妨碍了军事行动。
(=Bad weather hindered the military operation.) Collocation：
military spending军费支出 military training军训
military forces军事力量；军队 military discipline军纪
enable: adj. make (sb.) able to do sth. by giving him the necessary authority or means - Saving enough money now will enable you to retire fortably. - puterization should enable us to cut production costs by half. - 飞机使人们能够在空中旅行。
(=Airplanes enable people to travel through the air.)
partial: adj. of or forming the part; not plete
- The general has ordered a partial withdrawal of troops from the area. - The accident left him partially paralyzed. - 他还了一局部贷款。
(=He made a partial repayment of the loan.)
conscious: adj. awake, aware of what is happening around, and able to think; noticing the existence or presence of sth.
- She’s out of surgery but not fully conscious yet.
- People have bee much more conscious of the need to exercise regularly. - 我意识到自己犯了一个错误。
(=I was conscious that I had made a mistake.)
outline:n. the main shape or edge of sth., without any details; a description of the main facts about sth.
- She drew the outline of the boat and then colored it in.
- In this paper we will give a broad outline of the research we have been doing. - 先搭好框架, 再充实容。
(=First make an outline and then fill in the content.)
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word toughen: vt. make sth. or sb. tough, strong, or stronger
- The government wants to toughen (up) the existing drug laws/controls. - Car windows are usually made from toughened glass. - 军队生活使他锻炼得坚忍不拔。
(=His time in the army certainly toughened him up.)
limp: adj. lacking strength or energy; not stiff or firm - The green beans were limp from overcooking. - 他身体突然变得软弱无力，然后倒在地上。
(=His body suddenly went limp and he fell down on the floor.)
encouragement:n.action of encouraging; thing that encourages - Children need lots of encouragement from their parents. - 她的成功对她的姐妹来讲是种激励。
(=Her success acted as an encouragement to her sisters.)
take no notice (of sb./sth.): pay no attention (to sb. / sth.)
- I must take no notice of their politeness or kindness which was designed to trap me into giving information.
- If you take no notice of what I say, you’ll pay for it.
moan:n.a long, low sound because of pain or suffering
- He tried to forget his wartime experience, but in his dreams he heard again the moans of the dying.
- 昨晚我们听到了萧萧风声。
(=We heard the moan of the wind last night.)
sympathy: n.feelings of pity and sorrow for sb. else’s misfortune - It’s not money she wants; it’s just a little sympathy.
- I have no sympathy for people who say they can’t find work but are really just too lazy to look for it.
- 一个悲伤的人渴望得到同情。
(=A man in sorrow craves for sympathy.)
cut (sb.) short: interrupt
- John tried to say something, but Frank cut him short.
- He stiffened angrily and was about to speak when she cut him short. - 我的旅行因雨而中断。
(=My trip was cut short, because of rain.)
serial: adj.happening one after another in time or order
- A serial killer is a person who mits many murders, one after another, often over a long period of time.
- 她是图书管理员，负责定期刊物。
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word (=She’s a librarian, in charge of serial publications.)
pull out:remove (sth.) by pulling - He pulled out a chair and sat down.
- The agent pulled out a gun and shot him dead. - 把这根铁丝拉长，一直拉到很细很细。 (=Pull out the wire until it is very thin.)
Supplementary Reading >> prehension Tasks
I. Listening prehension
True or False
1. The holiday season is a time for giving back to those homeless. (F) (=The holiday season is a time for giving back to those in need.)
2. Kentucky has the third highest poverty rate in the United States. (F) (=Kentucky has the fifth highest poverty rate in the United States.)
3. People are encouraged to donate food and volunteer their time to help against hunger and homelessness. (T)
4. For thousands of families, the holidays are a stressful time when they worry about putting food on the table and buying gifts for small children. (T) Script:
This is Governor Steve Beshear … About Kentucky.
The holiday season is a time for giving back to those in need, thinking about those less fortunate and reaching out a helping hand to your neighbor.
We’re making sure the Governor’s Office leads by example.
Last month, Jane partnered with Goodwill Industries of Kentucky to kick off the first-ever Coats for the monwealth coat drive. This program has already seen major successes. New or gently used coats have been collected from several state government buildings and donated to Goodwill locations across the state.
We also recognized Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, November 15th to 21st. Kentucky has the fifth highest poverty rate in the United States and is fourth highest with households that lack dependable, consistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious food to maintain good health.
Unfortunately, far too many Kentuckians are unaware of how prevalent poverty is in their own backyards. I encourage all Kentuckians to donate food or volunteer their time to a shelter or food bank to help take a stand against hunger and homelessness in their munities.
For thousands of families, the holidays are a stressful time when worries about putting food on the table and buyingbuying gifts for small children take center stage. The Governor’s Office food drive and toy drive are aimed to help make this season a little merrier for those struggling during these difficult economic times.
All donations made during the drives will go to charity organizations across the state coordinating the distribution of gifts and provisions throughout the holiday season.
The old saying, “cold hands, warm heart〞 couldn’t be more appropriate this winter. As the
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word temperatures keep dropping and the first snowflakes touch down, let’s keep the spirit of giving alive and well inside all of us.
This is Governor Steve Beshear … About Kentucky.
II. Pair Work
Discuss the following questions with your partner after watching the video clip. (视频略)
1. What did Laura find in the mud of leaves? (=Sixty dollars.)
2. How much was she going to give away in random act of kindness? (=Forty dollars.)
3. Discuss with your partner how to deal with the money in random act of kindness.
III. Debate: The Spirit of Lei Feng, Outdated or Not?
i. Who’s Lei Feng?
Lei Feng was a soldier of the People’s Liberation Army in the People’s Republic of China. After his death, Lei Feng remained a cultural icon symbolizing selflessness, modesty, and dedication.
Chinese leaders have praised Lei Feng as the personification of altruism. The term huó Léi Fēng (literally living Lei Feng) has bee a noun (or adjective) for anyone who is seen as selfless, or anyone who goes out of their way to help others.
ii. Discuss the Spirit of Lei Feng Serving the people wholeheartedly Spirit of altruism Self-motivation Self-realization
Taking pleasure in helping others Contribution to charity
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