现代大学英语精读Unit3课本学习知识.doc

-! LessonThree TEXTA MessageoftheLandPiraSudham Pre-classWorkI Readthetextonceforthemainidea.Donotrefertothenotesdictionariesortheglossaryyet. Yes,theseareourricefields.Theybelongedtomyparentsandforefathers.Thelandismorethanthreecenturiesold.ImtheonlydaughterinourfamilyanditwasIwhostayedwithmyparentstilltheydied.Mythreebrothersmovedouttotheirwiveshouseswhentheygotmarried.MyhusbandmovedintoourhouseasisthewaywithusinEsarn.Iwastheneighteenandhewasnineteen.Hegavemesixchildren.Twodiedininfancyfromsickness.Therest,twoboysandtwogirls,wentawayassoonaswecouldaffordtobuyjeansforthem.OuroldestsongotajobasagardenerinarichmanshomeinBangkokbutlateranemploymentagencysenthimtoaforeignlandtowork.Myothersonalsowentfaraway. OneofourdaughtersisworkinginatextilefactoryinBangkok,andtheotherhasajobinastore.Theycomehometoseeusnowandthen,stayafewdays,andthentheyareoffagain.Oftentheysendsomemoneytousandtellusthattheyaredoingwell.Iknowthisisnotalwaystrue.Sometimes,theygetbulliedandinsulted,anditislikeaknifepiercingmyheart.Itseasierformyhusband.Hehasearswhichdonthear,amouthwhichdoesntspeak,andeyesthatdontsee.Hehasalwaysbeenpatientandsilent,mindinghisownlife. Allofthemremainmychildreninspiteoftheirlongabsence.Maybeitsfatethatsentthemawayfromus.Ourpieceoflandissmall,anditisnolongerfertile,bleedingyearafteryearand,likeus,gettingoldandexhausted.StillmyhusbandandIworkonthisland.Thesoilisnotdifficulttotillwhenthereisalotofrain,butinabadyear,itsnotonlytheploughsthatbreakbutourhearts,too. No,wetwohaventchangedmuch,butthevillagehas.Inwhatway?Onlytenyearsago,youcouldbarterforthings,butnowitsallcash.Yearsago,youcouldaskyourneighborstohelpbuildyourhouse,reapthericeordigawell.Nowtheylldoitonlyifyouhavemoneytopaythem.Plasticthingsreplacevillagecrafts.Menusedtomakethingswithfinebamboopieces,butnolonger.Plasticbagslitterthevillage.Shopshavesprungup,filledwithcolorfulplasticthingsandgoodswehavenousefor.Theyounggoawaytotownsandcitiesleavingusoldpeopletoworkontheland.Theythinkdifferently,Iknow,sayingthattheoldareold-fashioned.Allmylife,Ihaveneverhadtogotoahairdresser,ortopaintmylipsornails.Theseroughfingersandtoesareforworkinginthemudofourricefields,notforlookingpretty.Nowyounggirlsputonjeans,andlooklikeboysandtheythinkitisfashionable.Why,theyarewillingtoselltheirpigorwaterbuffalojusttobeabletobuyapairofjeans.Inmyday,ifIweretoputonapairoftrousersliketheydonow,lightningwouldstrikeme. Iknow,timeshavechanged,butcertainthingsshouldnotchange.Weshouldofferfoodtothemonkseveryday,gotothetempleregularly.Youngpeopletendtoleavethesethingstooldpeoplenow,andthatsashame. Why,onlytheotherdayIheardaboyshoutandscreamathismother.IfthatkindofthinghadhappenedwhenIwasyoung,thewholevillagewouldhavecondemnedsuchanungratefulson,andhisfatherwouldsurelyhavegivenhimagoodbeating. Asforme,Iwouldntchange,couldntchangeevenifIwantedto.AmIhappyorunhappy?Thisquestionhasneveroccurredtome.Lifesimplygoeson.Yes,thisbagofbonesdressedinragscanstillplantandreapricefrommorningtilldusk.Disease,wounds,hardshipandscarcityhavealwaysbeenpartofmylife.Idontcomplain. Thefarmer:Mywifeiswrong.Myeyesdosee—theyseemorethantheyshould.Myearsdohear—theyhearmorethanisgoodforme.IdonttalkaboutwhatIknowbecauseIknowtoomuch.Iknowforexample,greed,anger,andlustaretherootofallevils. Iamatpeacewiththelandandtheconditionsofmylife.ButIfeelagreatpityformywife.Ihavebeenforcingsilenceuponheralltheseyears,yetshehasnotoncecomplainedofanything. Iwantedtohavealotofchildrenandgrandchildrenaroundmebutnowcitiesandforeignlandshaveattractedmychildrenawayanditseemsthatnoneofthemwillevercomebacktolivehereagain.TowhomshallIgivethesericefieldswhenIdie?Forhundredsofyearsthisstripoflandhasbelongedtoourfamily.Iknoweveryinchofit.Mychildrengrewuponit,catchingfrogsandmudcrabsandgatheringflowers.Stillthelandcouldnottiethemdownorcallthemback.Wheneachofthemhasapairofjeans,theyareofflikebirdsonthewing. Fortunately,mywifeisstillwithme,andbothofusarestillstrong.Woundshealovertime.Sicknesscomesandgoes,andwegetbackonourfeetagain.Ineverwanttoleavethisland.Itsnicetofeelthewetearthasmyfingersdigintothesoil,plantingrice,tohearmywifesighing, "Oldman,ifIdiefirst,Ishallbecomeacloudtoprotectyoufromthesun."ItsgoodtosmellthescentofripeningriceinNovember.Thesoftcoolbreezemovesthesheaves,whichrippleandshimmerlikewavesofgold.Yes,IlovethislandandIhopeoneofmychildrencomesbackonedaytolive,andgivesmegrandchildrensothatIcanpassonthelandssecretmessagestothem. Readthetextasecondtime.Learnthenewwordsandexpressionslistedbelow. Glossary agency n. 机构；代理处；这里指职业介绍所 bamboo n. 竹 Bangkok n. 曼谷（泰国首都） barter v.toexchangegoodsforothergoods以货易货 breeze n.alightgentlewind buffalo n. 美洲野牛；water～ : 水牛 bully v.tothreatentohurtsb.whoissmallerorweaker欺负（弱小） condemn v.toexpressstrongdisapproval谴责 crab n. 蟹 craft n.handmadeitems手工艺术（这里指手工产品） dusk n.thetimebeforeitgetsdark黄昏 Esarn n.avillageinThailand evil n.badorharmfulinfluenceoreffect邪恶 exhausted adj.tiredout fashionable adj.popular合时尚的；时髦的 fate n. 命运 fertile adj. ～landislandabletoproducegoodcrops肥沃的；富饶的 forefathers n.people(especiallymen)whowerepartofyourfamilyalongtimeago祖先 frog n. 蛙 gardener n.apersonwhotakescareofagarden greed n.astrongdesireformoremoney,poweretc.thanyouneed贪婪 hairdresser n.apersonwhocutsandshapesyourhairinaparticularstyle理发师 hardship n.difficultconditionoflife,suchaslackofmoneytobecomehealthyagain,torecoverfromawound,especiallytogrownewskin愈合 infancy n.earlychildhood;babyhood insult v.tosayordosth.thatisrudeoractoffensivelytosomeone侮辱 jeans n. （常用复数）牛仔裤 litter v.toleave(plasticbags,bitsofwastepaperetc.)onthegroundinapublicplace扔得到处都是 lust n.verystrongdesireforsex,moneyorpower淫欲；金钱欲；权力欲 old-fashioned adj.notfashionable老式的，过时的 monk n. 和尚，僧人 nail n. 指甲 pierce v.tomakeaholethroughsomething;to～onesheart:tomakeonefeetverysad reap v.tocutandgatheracropsuchasriceorwheat收割 replace v.totaketheplaceof替代 ripen adj.mature成熟的 ripple v.tomoveinverysmallwaves在微风中摆动 scarcity n.alack;nothavingenough,especiallyfood scent n.apleasantsmell sheaves n. (sheaf的复数),measureofquantityinfarming捆，束 shimmer v.toshinewithasofttremblinglight发微光，闪烁 sickness n.illness sigh v. 叹息 strip n.anarrowpieceof细长片 temple n.aplacefortheworshipofagodorgods寺庙，庙宇 tend v.Ifsth. ～stohappen,itmeansthatitislikelytohappenquiteoften,especiallysth.badorunpleasant textile n.anymaterialmadebyweaving纺织品 ungrateful adj.notshowingthanks wound n.injury伤口；（感情上的）痛苦 TEXTB TheSonfromAmericalsaacBashevisSinger LsaacBashevisSinger(1904—1991)wasborninaJewishvillageinPoland.In1935heimmigratedtoNewYork. Singerwrotemanystoriesandnovels,aswellasbooksforjuvenilesandfourautobiographies(includingLostinAmerica, 1981).In1978hisworkreceivedworldattentionwhenhewasawardedtheNoblePrizeinLiterature. ThevillageofLentshinwastiny.Itwassurroundedbylittlehutswiththatchadroofs.Betweenthehutstherewerefields,wheretheownersplantedvegetablesorpasturedtheirgoats. InthesmallestofthesehutslivedoldBerl,amaninhiseighties,andhiswifeBerlcha.OldBerlwasoneoftheJewsdrivenfromRussiawhohadsettledinPoland.Hewasshort,broad-shouldered,andhadasmallwhitebeard,andinsummerandwinterheworeasheepskinhat,apaddedcottonjacket,andstoutboots.Hehadahalfacreoffield,acow,agoat,andchickens. Thecouplehadason,Samuel,whohadgonetoAmericafortyyearsago.ItwassaidinLentshinthathebecameamillionairethere.Everymonth,theLentshinlettercarrierbroughtoldBerlamoneyorderandaletterthatnoonecouldreadbecausemanyofthewordswereEnglish.HowmuchmoneySamuelsenthisparentsremainedasecret.Theyneverseemedtousethemoney.Whatfor?Thegarden,thecow,andthegoatprovidedmostoftheirneeds. NoonecaredtoknowwhereBerlkeptthemoneythathissonsenthim.Thehutconsistedofoneroom,whichcontainedalltheirbelongings:thetable,theshelfformeat,theshelfformilkfoods,thetwobeds,andtheclayoven.Sometimesthechickensroostedinthewoodshedandsometimes,whenitwascold,inacoopneartheoven.Thegoat,too,foundshelterinsidewhentheweatherwasbad.Themoreprosperousvillagershadkerosenelamps,butBerlandhiswifedidnotbelieveinnewgadgets.OnlyfortheSabbathwouldBerlchabuycandlesatthestore.Insummer,thecouplegotupatsunriseandretiredwiththechickens.Inthelongwinterevenings,BerlchaspunflaxandBerlsatbesideherinthesilenceofthosewhoenjoytheirrest. OnceinawhilewhenBerlcamehomefromthesynagogue,hebroughtnewstohiswife.InWarsawtherewerestrikerswhodemandedthattheczarabdicate.SomebodybythenameofDr.Herzl*hadcomeupwiththeideathatJewsshouldsettleagaininPalestine.Berlchalistenedandshookherhead.Herfacewasyellowishandwrinkledlikeacabbageleaf.Shewashalfdeaf.Berlhadtorepeateachwordhesaidtoher. HereinLentshinnothinghappenedexceptusualevents:acowgavebirthtoacalf,ayoungcouplegotmarried.Actually,Lentshinhadbecomeavillagewithfewyoungpeople.TheyoungmenleftforZakroczym,forWarsaw,andsometimesfortheUnitedStates.LikeSamuel,theysentlettersandphotographsinwhichthemenworetophatsandthewomenfancydresses. BerlandBerlchaalsoreceivedsuchphotographs.Buttheireyeswerefailingandneitherhenorshehadglasses.Theycouldbarelymakeoutthepictures.Samuelhadsonsanddaughters—andgrandchildren.TheirnamesweresostrangethatBerlandBerlchacouldneverrememberthem.Butwhatdifferencedonamesmake?Americawasontheothersideoftheocean,attheedgeoftheworld.Atalmud*teacherwhocametoLentshinhadsaidthatAmericanswalkedwiththeirheadsdownandtheirfeetup.BerlandBerlchacouldnotgraspthis.Howwasitpossible?Butsincetheteachersaidsoitmustbetrue. OneFridaymorning,whenBerlchawaskneadingthedoughfortheSabbathloaves,thedooropenedandanoblemanentered.Hewassotallthathehadtobenddowntogetthroughthedoor.Hewasfollowedbythecoachmanwhocarriedtwoleathersuitcases.InastonishmentBerlcharaisedhereyes. ThenoblemanlookedaroundandsaidtothecoachmaninYiddish, "Hereitis."Hetookoutasilverrubleandpaidhim.Thenhesaid, "Youcangonow." Whenthecoachmanclosedthedoor,thenoblemansaid, "Mother,itsme,yoursonSamuel-Sam." Berlchaheardthewordsandherlegsgrewnumb.Thenoblemanhuggedher,kissedherforehead,bothhercheeks,andBerlchabegantocacklelikeahen, "Myson!"AtthatmomentBerlcameinfromthewoodshed,hisarmspiledwithlogs.Thegoatfollowedhim.Whenhesawanoblemankissinghiswife,Berldroppedthewoodandexclaimed, "Whatisthis?" ThenoblemanletgoofBerlchaandembracedBerl. "Father! " ForalongtimeBerlwasunabletoutterasound.Thenheasked, "AreyouSamuel?" "Yes,Father,IamSamuel. " "Well,peacebewithyou. "Berlgraspedhissonshand.Hewasstillnotsurethathewasnotbeingfooled.Samuelwasntastallandheavyasthisman,butthenBerlremindedhimselfthatSamuelwasonlyfifteenyearsoldwhenhehadlefthome.Berlasked, "Whydidntyouletusknowthatyouwerecoming?" "Didntyoureceivemycable?"Samuelasked. Berldidnotknowwhatacablewas. Berlchahadscrapedthedoughfromherhandsandenfoldedherson. "IneverthoughtIcouldlivetoseethis.Now,Iamhappytodie,"Berlchasaid.Berlwasamazed.Thesewerejustthewordshecouldhavesaidearlier.AfterawhileBerlcametohimselfandsaid, "Pescha,youwillhavetomakeadoubleSabbathpuddinginadditiontothestew." ItwasyearssinceBerlhadcalledBerlchabyhergivenname.OnlynowdidBerlchabegintocry.Yellowtearsranfromhereyes,andeverythingbecamedim.Thenshecalledout, "ItsFriday—IhavetopreparefortheSabbath."Yes,shehadtokneadthedoughfortheloaves.Withsuchaguest,shehadtomakealargerSabbathstew.Thewinterdayisshortandshemusthurry. Hersonunderstoodwhatwasworryingher,becausehesaid, "Mother,Iwillhelpyou." Thenoblemantookoffhisjacketandremainedinhisvest,onwhichhungasolidgold-watchchain.Hrolleduphissleeves. "Mother,IwasabakerformanyyearsinNewYork,"hesaid,andhebegantokneadthedough. Berlchaweptforjoy.Herstrengthlefther,andsheslumpedontothebed. Berlsaid, "Womenwillalwaysbewomen."Andhewenttotheshedtogetmorewood.Thegoatsatdownneartheoven;shegazedwithsurpriseatthisstrangeman. TheneighborshadheardthegoodnewsthatBerlssonhadarrivedfromAmericaandtheycametogreethim.ThewomenbegantohelpBerlchapreparefortheSabbath.Somelaughed,somecried.Theroomwasfullofpeople,asatawedding.AfterBerlchalitthecandles,fatherandsonwenttothelittlesynagogueacrossthestreet.Anewsnowhadfallen.Thesontooklargesteps,butBerlwarnedhim, "Slowdown." InthesynagoguetheJewssangtheirprayers.Allthetime,thesnowoutsidekeptfalling.WhenBerlandSamuellefttheHolyPlace,thevillagewasunrecognizable.Everythingwascoveredinsnow.Onecouldseeonlythecontoursoftheroofsandthecandlesinthewindows.Samuelsaid, "Nothinghaschangedhere." Berlchahadpreparedfish,chickensoupwithrice,meat,carrotstew.Thefamilyateanddrank,andwhenitgrewquietforawhileonecouldhearthechirpingofthehousecricket. AfterthefinalprayerSamuelasked,