现代大学英语精读1第二版8-16单元课文语言点.doc
Unit 8
III Detailed Discussion of the Text
1. In the middle of the desert, I came upon a young man standing by the roadside. (Para. 1 )
come upon: (literary) to meet, find, or discover by chance or by accident
More examples:
During their trip they came upon an unknown animal.
The other day, I came upon a very interesting book that deals with this issue.
Compare: "to come upon" and "to come across"
2. He had his thumb out and held a gas can in his other hand. (Para. 1)
This is the usual gesture of hitchhikers when they ask for a free ride. The gas can obviously is meant to explain why he needed this favor He had run out of gas. 3. There was a time.., when you'd be considered a jerk if... (Para. 1)
Drill students in the attributive clauses introduced by "when" in the following pattern:
--Has he always been in such poor health?
No, there was a time when he was as strong as a horse. --
Substitutes:
Has he always been so fond of Western music?
Has the water in that river always been so dirty?
Has corruption always been such a serious problem?
Has the weather always been so dry here in spring?
jerk: (informal) a stupid person who does not care about the effects of his actions
4. With gangs, drug addicts,.., lurking everywhere,... (Para. 1)
This is a prepositional phrase ("with" + its complex object) used as an adverbial of reason.
It could be turned into an adverbial clause introduced by "as": As gangs, drag addicts,.., are lurking everywhere,...
gang: a group of criminals who work together
addict: someone who is unable to stop taking drugs
lurk: to wait silently and secretly, ready to do wrong
5. Leaving him stranded.., did not bother me so much. What bothered me was... (Para. 2)
leave sb/sth done: to make sb/sth stay in a certain state
More examples:
They left the food untouched.
Never leave the door unlocked.
We are not going to leave anything untried.
Drill students in subject clauses introduced by "what" in the following pattern:
--What did he say at the meeting yesterday?
--I don't know what he said. / I don't remember what he said. / I'm not interested in
what he said. / OK, let me tell you what he said. / What he said was very funny.
Substitutes:
What did he do?
What did he see?
6. I never even lifted my foot off the accelerator. (Para. 2)
how he could have been so indifferent, so The author was really shocked--
unfeeling and so unsympathetic.
accelerator: the part or a car that can make the car go faster when you press it 7( .... relying solely on the goodwill of his fellow Americans. (Para. 3)
"To rely on" and "to depend on" are sometimes synonyms. But in the following context, "to depend on" is the right choice:
--Are you going?
--That depends. It depends on whether I'm free.
fellow Americans: other Americans like oneself. Also: fellow students, fellow teachers, fellow workers
8. The idea intrigued me. (Para. 4)
intrigue: to interest greatly; to fascinate; to attract
9. The week I turned 37, I realized that I had never taken a gamble in my life. (Para. 5)
The week I turned 37...: The week (when) I turned 37...
Here "when" is often omitted. Similarly, we say "the day I was born...", "the year he got married...", "the night the fire broke out...", etc.
take a gamble: We can also say "to take a rest", "to take a risk", etc. Pay attention to this kind of collocation.
10( .... through the land of the almighty dollar. (Para. 5)
the land of the almighty dollar: the country in which money has as much power
as God ("it" here referring to the United States). The dollar is the most powerful thing/motive.
11( .... and headed for the Golden Gate Bridge with a 50-pound pack on my back and a sign displaying my destination to passing vehicles: "America." (Para. 6)
The author was holding a sign showing people where he was going. The fact that he put "America" as his destination may have been the reason why he was so well treated. It must have caught the attention of the media and roused people's patriotic feelings. Golden Gate Bridge is in San Francisco.
12. hitched (Para. 7)
= hitchhiked
"To hitch" can also mean "to fasten (a trailer, etc)".
13( .... to watch out for the cowboys in Wyoming. (Para. 7)
... to be careful about the cowboys in Wyoming.
More examples of "to watch out":
Watch out for cars when you're crossing the street.
Watch out! The train is coming.
14( .... when it seemed to run contrary to their own best interests. (Para. 7)
... when it seemed to be in a way that was opposite to their best interests./.., when it seemed to be exactly what they should not have done for their own safety.
run contrary to: to run against; to run counter to
"Contrary" is an adverb here.
15( .... a car pulled to the road shoulder. (Para. 8)
The word "pull" is often used to describe the movement of a car.
eg He had to pull up at the red light. (to make the car come to a halt)
The policeman ordered him to pull over. (to stop his car at the side of the road)
She pulled in to let the truck pass. (to move to the side of the road and stop)
shoulder: (AmE) an area of ground at the side of the road where drivers can stop their cars if they have some trouble; roadside
16( .... old ladies dressed in their Sunday finest. (para. 8)
... old ladies who were wearing their best clothes.
It could be that these ladies were on their way to the church or back home from the church.
"In" is often used to mean "wearing sth".
More examples:
He looked very handsome in his army uniform.
I saw a woman in black hurrying to the hotel.
The boy was in rags, and he was hungry.
17. I didn't know whether to kiss them or scold them for stopping. (Para. 8)
I didn't know whether I should thank them for their kindness or criticize them for running this risk.
The author was obviously deeply touched. He says this to emphasize the kindness and courage of the two old ladies, not to suggest that it was wrong or stupid.
"Whether" cannot be replaced by "if' in this pattern. "If" is usually followed by a clause and without "or".
18( .... she'd rather risk her life than feel bad about... (Para. 8)
... she preferred to risk her life rather than feel guilty about...
More examples of the use of "would rather., than... ":
I'd rather stay at home than go out tomorrow.
I'd rather marry someone I can trust than someone who has lots of money but no heart.
We'd rather live a simple life with clean air, clean water and clean food than a life of luxury in a heavily polluted place.
19( .... a trucker pulled over, locking his brakes so hard he skidded on the grass shoulder. (para. 9)
trucker: truck driver
locking his brakes: putting on suddenly (slamming on/applying) his brakes
skid: to slide sideways and go out of control
... robbed at knifepoint (Para. 9) 20( .
... robbed while the robber pointed a knife at him. Also: at gunpoint 21. But I hate to see... (Para. 9)
The proper translation would be: 我真不愿见到 ......
More examples:
I hate to disturb you, but could you take a look at my computer?
I really hate to ask my parents for money.
22. compassionate (Para. 10)
feeling sympathy for sb who is suffering
"Compassionate" and "sympathetic" are synonyms. But in the following sentences, the word "sympathetic" is used, not "compassionate":
They are very sympathetic to our plan.
I like to talk to her about my problems. She has a very sympathetic ear. 23. a house painter (Para. 10)
a man who paints houses, not an artist who paints pictures 24. But what I found most touching was the fact that they all did it as a matter of
course. (Para. 11)
as a matter of course: as the most natural way to act
Tell the students to complete the following sentences involving the use of "fact" followed by an appositive clause (同位语从句):
I was very much impressed by the fact that...
The fact that.., shows that agriculture is still our greatest problem.
We cannot ignore the fact that...
25. The executive director.., banded me a brochure for a local campground. (Para. 12)
executive director: can be translated as 执行董事，常务经理，主管人员, etc
brochure: a thin book giving information or advertising sth
campground: (AmE) an area where people can camp that often provides water, gas, food and other services. It is estimated that nationwide there are more than 16,000 such campgrounds in the United States.
26. to pitch a tent (Para. 12)
to set up a tent
This is a typical collocation.
More examples:
to solve a problem/to park a car/to mow the lawn/to make sense/to fit the description/to dial the phone/to give permission/to take pride in/to harvest results
27. Now we're talking. (Para. 12)
This is used when you think someone's suggestion is a very good idea.
【(informal)I welcome that offer or suggestion 这才像话;这才合我的心意】
More examples:
1) --I suggest we first get a hamburger and then a big ice cream.
~Now we (you) are talking! Let's go.
2) --Let's call it a day. We can't work all day.
--Now we (you) are talking.
28. Tell you what. (Para. 12)
"(I'll) tell you what" is used when you are suggesting or offering sth.
More examples:
1) --I'd like to go very much. But it's too far away.
Tell you what. You take my car. I'm not going anywhere today.
2) ~ won't be able to come back home until 7:00. But I have to pick up my son at 5:30.
--Tell you what. I'11 pick up your son and take him to my place. 29. His wife,.., a seventh-grade science teacher, was cooking a pot roast... (Para. 13)
In the US education begins in elementary school, which is for children between the ages of 5 and 11, then goes on to middle school, which is for children between 11 and 14, then to high school, which is for children of 14 or 15 to 18 years old. After that there will be college or university.
pot roast: meat cooked in a pot on top of the stove, not in the oven 30(.... "mountain stay-at-home people" who rarely entertained in their house. (Para. 13)
stay-at-home people: people who are happy to stay at home all the time and do not like to do exciting things
Draw the students' attention to the way this compound word is formed.
More examples:
the next-to-last step/a wait-and-see policy/a take-it-or-leave-it attitude/a get-rich-quick dream
31. This revelation made my night there all the more special (Para. 13)
revelation: something surprising suddenly made known to you. It comes from the verb "reveal".
all the more special: used for emphasis, which means "more special than usual". Similarly:
all the more difficult, all the more interesting
32. I... had been scheduled to talk to every class... (Para. 14)
be scheduled to do sth: to be planned that sb will do sth or sth will happen
More examples:
He is scheduled to go to the Great Wall during his visit.
The railway is scheduled to go into operation in 2005. 33. to run sb over (Para. 14)
to hit sb with a car or other vehicle
eg He was run over by a bus.
34 .... how my faith.., had been renewed. (Para. 15)
faith: strong belief or trust
People are often said to have or have no faith in such things as human nature, God, government, etc.
35. In spite of everything you can still depend on the kindness of strangers. (Para. 15)
in spite of: regardless of; despite
More examples:
In spite of the bad weather conditions we still had a good harvest.
He did not succeed in spite of his poverty. He succeeded because of it.
Unit 9
III Detailed Discussion of the Text
1. The policeman on the beat... (Para. 1)
eat: an area of the town or city that a police officer regularly walks around b
on/walking the beat: (of a policeman) on duty, walking around
2. The impressiveness was normal and not for show, for spectators were few. (para. 1 )
The police officer walked that way habitually, not to attract attention or admiration because there were few people in the streets.
for show: with the purpose of looking attractive or impressive rather than being useful
3. The time was barely ten o'clock, but chilly gusts of wind with a taste of rain in them had almost emptied the streets. (Para. 1 )
barely: hardly; only just
More examples:
She spoke so softly. I could barely hear her.
I can barely make both ends meet. How can I buy a car?
a taste of rain: a small amount of rain
empty: to make (a place) empty; to cause people leave (a place)
More examples:
The TV series emptied the streets at 8 pm every Saturday.
He emptied his pockets to show that he really had no money on him.
The river finally empties into the Atlantic. (used as an intransitive verb)
4. Trying doors as he went, swinging his club with many clever movements, turning now and then to cast his watchful eye down the peaceful street, the officer, with his strongly built form and slight air of superiority, made a fine picture of a guardian of the peace. (Para. 2)
This sentence conveys very important information about the police officer; he is described as the guardian of the peace on the beat.
Questions to elicit responses from students:
1) What did the police officer do while walking the beat? What for? What does all this show about this police officer?
trying doors as he went: to find whether they were locked (his strong sense of responsibility)
swinging his club with many clever movements: to warn off would-be
troublemakers (his confidence and competence as a cop)
turning now and then to cast his watchful eye down the peaceful street: to
notice possible danger or illegal activity (his vigilance as a policeman)
2) What made him look a guardian of the peace?
his strongly built form: physically, he was strong enough to deal with lawbreakers (his strength)
slight air of superiority: spiritually, he was able to overpower criminals (his pride and sense of dignity as a law-enforcing officer)
cast one’s eye on/over/down sth: to look at, or read sth quickly
eye: a particular way of seeing, judging or understanding sth
5. The area was one that kept early hours. (Para. 2)
People in that area closed their stores pretty early.
6. all-night lunch counter (Para. 2)
all-night: open all night
lunch counter: a counter in a store or restaurant where food is served or sold to be taken out
7. Halfway down a certain block, the policeman suddenly slowed his walk. (Para.
3)
Question: Why did the policeman slow down?
Because he saw a man standing in the doorway and he became suspicious, or because he was excited that it might be the friend he had expected to see.
8. In the doorway of a darkened hardware store a man leaned, with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. (Para. 3)
The writer was careful about the details in the description.
It had to be a darkened store and Bob's cigar had to be unlighted, otherwise the policeman would find that it was the man wanted by the police in Chicago.
9. As the policeman walked up to him, the man spoke up quickly. (Para. 3)
walk up: to walk towards sb
speak up: to speak louder so that people can hear you
(Obviously, the man in the doorway didn't want the police officer to suspect him.)
10. It's an appointment made twenty years ago. (Para. 3)
The man was eager to explain something to the police officer, which reflected the mentality of a man wanted by the police.
It is strange that they did not recognize each other. It could be the darkness and long separation. It could also be that Jimmy was cautious.
11. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn't it? (Para. 3)
sound: a link verb here
More examples:
It may sound easy to you, but actually it is very difficult.
The name sounds familiar, but I can't recall where I heard it.
It sounds good. OK, let's do it.
12 .... to make certain it's all straight (Para. 4)
... to make sure that it's all true. "Straight" here means "true, accurate"; it can
also mean "honest, frank", as in the following examples:
I'll be straight with you. You will lose this job if you don't work hard.
Yes or no? Can't you give me a straight answer?
13. The light showed a pale, square-jawed face with keen eyes, and a little white scar near his eyebrow. (Para. 6)
The match light showed a face which must have fitted the description of the wanted man, especially the square jaw and the white scar.
keen eyes: sharp eyes; eyes of good sight
14. His tiepin was a large diamond, oddly set. (Para. 6)
oddly set: the diamond placed in a strange or unusual way showing the owner's lack of taste
The mention of the diamond tiepin and that of the scar suggested what Bob had gone through in the West.
15. Twenty years ago tonight... (Para. 7)
Similar expressions: ten years ago this morning/this time yesterday/at exactly this hour next Sunday
16. The next morning I was to start for the West to make my fortune. (para. 7)
Cultural note: In popular ideas about America, the Wild West has always meant the land of opportunities and adventures, where many European settlers moved during the 19th century to establish new farms and new cities. In films it is often shown as a place where cowboys and
Native Americans fight each other, and where cowboys use guns rather than the law to settle arguments. Therefore, a situation where there are no laws or controls is sometimes described as being like the Wild West.
make one's fortune: to make a large amount of money
17.... no matter what our conditions might be... (Para. 7)
Notice this pattern:
no matter what = whatever no matter when = whenever
no matter where = wherever no matter who = whoever
no matter how = however
18. We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have our fate worked out and our fortunes made, whatever they were going to be. (Para. 7)
We thought by that time we would have found out our fate and known how much we have achieved materially--whether our fortune huge or small
work out: to happen, develop, or end in a particular way or to have a particular result
More examples:
The project didn't work out the way we wanted it to.
Things seem to be working out satisfactorily.
19. Haven't you heard from your friend since you left? (Para. 9)
Negative general questions are often used to show surprise.
More examples:
Mary's back. Didn't you know?
Aren't you going? It's such a beautiful place.
Haven't you had supper yet? It's almost 10.
20. "Well, yes, for a time we wrote," said the other. (Para. 9)
for a time: for a short period of time
The word "time" can form many useful phrases. Here are some of the most frequently used:
ahead of time, all the time, at any time, at one time, at the same time, for the time being, from time to time, in time, in no time, on time
21 .... we lost track of each other. (Para. 9)
... we lost contact with each other (neither of us knew where the other was).
keep/lose track of sb/sth: to pay attention to sb/sth so that you know where they are or what is happening to them, or fail to do this.
More examples:
-- Have you kept track of the stock market (股市)?
-- I have lost track of its latest development.
The airport has lost track of the plane.
It is important to keep track of current affairs. 22. You see, the West is a pretty big place, and I kept running around over it pretty lively. (Para. 9)
I kept moving around in the West, never staying in the same place for long. (That's why it was hard for us to keep track of each other.)
pretty lively: very quickly
23 .... and it's worth it if my old partner turns up. (Para. 9)
be worth it: (informal) used to say that you gain something from an action
eg The laptop is a bit expensive, but it was worth it.
turn up: to arrive at the place, especially in a way that is unexpected
More examples:
We waited for mouths before a good job opportunity turned up.
The police were ordered to arrest him as soon as he turned up. 24. He was a kind of slow man, though, good fellow as he was. (para. 13)
slow: not good and quick at understanding things
good fellow as he was: though he was a good fellow
More examples:
Poor as they were, they were quite happy.
Famous as she was, she was very modest.
25. I've had to compete with some of the sharpest brains going to get my money.
(Para. 13)
In order to make money, I had to compete with the most shrewd and crafty people.
sharp brains: people who can understand and think quickly and are not easily deceived
26. A man gets stuck in New York. It takes the West to make a man really keen. (Para. 13)
A man is unable to go very far or to be very successful in New York where life is boring. He has to go to the West to become an eager and exciting person.
The man from the West means that New York City was "civilized"; it had too many laws, and that getting rich quickly was less likely. In the West, however, one could by-pass the rules, and through being tougher and smarter one could become rich very fast (though dishonestly).
27. I'll be on my way. Hope your friend comes around all right. Are you going to leave immediately? (Para. 15)
I'll be on my way: I have to go now.
all right: without any problem
More examples':
1 hope you can understand the book all right.
I can see all right.
Are you going to leave immediately: The police officer (Jimmy) wanted to
make sure that Bob wouldn't escape while he was away.
28. “I should say not!” said the other (Para.10)
“Should” here is used to give emphasis to the statement.
29. a fine, cold rain. (Para 18)
fine: thin
30. The few foot passengers in that quarter hurried dismally and silently along with coat
collars turned high and pocketed hands.(Para. 18)
foot passenger: people walking in the street
Today we use “pedestrian” to refer to a person walking in the street, and “foot passengers” usually
means passengers on a boat, who are not in a car or other vehicles. (徒步摆渡者)
in that quarter: in that part of the city
with coat collars turned high and pocketed hands: their collars were turned high and their hands were in their coat pockets.
31. to fill an appointment (Para.18)
In modern English, „to keep an appointment? is more common. Another common collocation is „to
make an appointment?.
32. ….with collar turned up to his ears,… (para.19)
turned up: ( the tall man?s coat collar) was moved upward
the verb pattern is verb + adverb + object
Question: Why had the man turned up the collar to his ears?
He did it to cover part of his face.
Note the phrase “turn up” in the following sentence:… and it worth it if my old partner turns up (para.9) Here “turn up” is a phrasal verb, meaning „to arrive (refer to note 23)
33. "Bless my heart! "exclaimed the new arrival….( para.22)
bless my heart: (old-fashioned, spoken) usually „bless my soul?, used to express surprise
the new arrival: the man who has newly arrived
34. "It's Bob, sure as fate. (para 22)
sure as fate: (spoken) usually „(as)sure as hell?, used for emphasis
35. "Moderately. I have a position in one of the city departments.(para.26) moderately: reasonably, but not very well
in one of the city departments: (I have a job) in one of the departments of the city government (He did not say straight that he had a position in the police department.)
36. we'll go around to a place I know of, and have a good long talk about old times.(para.26)
know of sb/sth: (phrasal verb) to have heard of sb or sth and be able to give a small amount of information about them.
have a good long talk about the old times: have a hearty talk about those happy days we spent in the past.
37. arm in arm (Para.27)
臂挽臂
Draw students? attention to the adverbial use of these noun phrases.
shoulder to shoulder 肩并肩, face to face 面对面, hand in hand手拉手
38. At the corner stood a chemist's, brilliant with electric lights (Para.28) Note the inversion, in which the subject of the sentence „a drugstore? is placed after the main verb
„stood? because the subject is a bit too long..
brilliant with electric lights: very bright because of the electric lights. „with? means „because of
or caused by sb or sth?.
More examples:
His face is red with anger.
Her fingers were numb with cold.
They jumped with joy.
They were trembling with fear.
39. The man from the West stopped suddenly and released his arm. (Para.29) The man from the West suddenly stopped (talking about his life in the West) and withdrew his arm from the other man?s elbow.
release: to stop holding sth
Other uses of "to release":
The news was released in yesterday's New York Times. (to be made known)
She needed to do something to release her tension. (to get rid of)
We could release you from your duties for two days. Meanwhile, you take a good rest. (to allow you not to do your work)
40. You've been under arrest for ten minutes, "Silky" Bob. (Para. 31)
"Under" here means "being in the state or the process of sth".
More examples:
under control, under heavy influence, under attack, under repair, under construction
Silky Bob: what Bob was known as in the underworld (=the part of society consisting of criminal organizations and activities)
41. Chicago... wants to have a chat with you. (Para. 31)
"Chicago" here refers to the Chicago police. "Wants to have a chat with you" is a euphemism
(-a word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word), meaning "is trying to track you down, arrest you and take you to court".
42. Going quietly, are you? That's sensible. (Para. 31)
(You are) going quietly, will you? / You are not going to resist or put up a fight, are you? That's the right thing to do for you.
43. Now before we go on to the station... (Para. 31)
What station did the tall man refer to?
The police station.
44. I saw it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago. (Para. 33)
the man wanted: the man the police is trying to find and arrest
He was wanted for the cruel murder of three children. eg
45. Somehow I couldn't do it myself, so I went around and got a plain clothes man to do the job. (para.33)
Somehow I couldn't arrest you myself, so I had a plain clothes man do it.
Jimmy had mixed feelings. He knew what his duty was. But the memories of their friendship, the expressions of Bob's undying respect and admiration for him and the fact
Unit 10
III Detailed Discussion of the Text
1. In early 1977, the authorities announced the end of manual labor and arranged some type of work for us to do in the courtyard, so we could spend our days in our section. (Para. 1)
the authorities: the people or organizations in charge. Here it refers to the prison authorities.
Other frequently used expressions: city authorities, health authorities, police authorities, school authorities, local authorities, military authorities, British/US authorities, etc
announced the end of manual labor: (cultural note) In the past, Mandela and
other political prisoners locked up on Robben Island were made to work in a quarry (采石场) cutting stones, which was very hard manual labor
so we could spend our days in our section: so we could work near our cells
doing comparatively light work. "Section" here refers to the part of prison where
Mandela and other political prisoners were kept.
2. The end of manual labor was liberating. (Para. 1 )
This arrangement not only freed the prisoners from hard manual labor, but also saved them long trips to and from the quarry so that they now had time and energy for things they were unable to do in the past.
liberating: a present participle used as an adjective
Compare the present participle and past participle used as adjectives:
Present participle Past participle
He found the end of manual labor liberating. He felt liberated.
I found Dickens' novel very interesting. I was interested,
The news was very disappointing. I felt very disappointed,
The result was a bit surprising. Everybody was surprised.
The whole experience was exciting. We all got excited.
3. I could now spend the day.., or preparing legal documents. (Para. 1)
ractice the verb pattern "spend time doing sth" by eliciting responses to these P
questions:
How did Mandela spend his time in prison?
How did you spend last Sunday?
What did you do last night?
What does your father do now that he is retired?
What does a secretary do in a company?
preparing legal documents: This shows that Mandela did not ask for a lawyer He had decided to be his own lawyer
4. .... to pursue what became two of my favorite hobbies on Robben Island. ( Para. 1 )
pursue: to continue trying to do or achieve sth over a long period of time
eg to pursue a(n) career/goal/aim/objective/research/hobby/interest, etc
favorite: (adj) best liked or most enjoyed
More examples':
Who is your favorite writer?
This is my favorite song.
favorite: (n) 1) sth that you like more than others of the same kind;
2) sb who is liked and treated better than others
eg Would like more apple pies? It's your favorite.
His second daughter was her grandma's favorite. 5. To survive in prison one must develop ways to take satisfaction in one's daily life. (Para. 2)
In order to keep alive in prison, you must do things that you can do there and that can also make you feel happy in a way.
survive: to continue to live after an accident or war, or from an illness, or under extremely harsh conditions
one: (formal) people in general, including yourself, any person
More examples:
Great works of literature make one think.
One never knows what the weather would be.
Note: In everyday English, people usually use "you" rather than "one".
eg You know, you can be rich and unhappy.
If you smoke too much, you may harm your lungs.
get satisfaction from/find satisfaction in/take satisfaction in or from sth: to
feel happy or find pleasure in sth
More examples:
She finds great satisfaction in helping her neighbors to learn English.
The boy gets satisfaction from teaching his grandpa how to use the computer.
He used to take satisfaction in making fun of others. Now he knows better.
develop: to create sth over a period of time
Other collocations: develop methods/plans/a strategy/a new theory, etc
6. One can feel fulfilled by washing one's clothes so that they are particularly clean, by sweeping a hallway so that it is empty of dust, by organizing one's cell to save as much space as possible. (Para. 2)
Pay attention to the three parallel propositional phrases with "by".
feel fulfilled: to feel happy and satisfied because you are doing useful or important things empty of sth: completely without sth
More examples:
The restaurant was almost empty of customers.
The street was empty of traffic.
organize: to arrange things so that they can be found or used easily and quickly; to put things in a particular order
More examples:
He spent some time organizing his bookcase at the weekend.
He organized the information he had collected for the essay.
7. .... one can find the same pride in doing small things... (Para. 2)
take/find pride in (doing) sth: to feel very pleased about sth or sb
More examples:
The little town takes great pride in their recent achievements.
The children take pride in wearing school uniform.
8. .... they gave in (Para. 3)
... they unwillingly agreed
give in to: to finally agree to what sb wants, after refusing for a period of time
More examples:
The factory finally gave in to the workers' demand for a pay raise.
When you badly want a cigarette, don't give in to it.
9. garbage dump (Para. 4)
a place where garbage (BrE rubbish) is taken and left
10. I had to remove a great many rocks to allow the plants room to grow. (Para. 4)
1 have to take away a large number of rocks so that the plants have space to grow.
remove: to take away from a place; to get rid of; to force sb from an important
position or dismiss sb from a job
eg She removed the cups and glasses from the table.
The school authorities removed (--got rid of) a few strict rules.
The Minister of Defense was removed from office.
a great many/a good many/very many: a great number of
allow: to make it possible for sth to happen or sb to do/have sth
More examples:
Her job allows her much time to look after her baby.
His experience in the army allows him to handle dangerous situations firmly.
room: space
eg There isn't enough room in the car for two more people.
This book takes up too much room in my bag.
11. .... some of my comrades joked that I was a miner at heart... (Para. 4)
... some of my comrades said jokingly that I worked as if I were a miner
comrade: a close friend you have worked with, been in the military with, etc. Here "my comrades" refer to other ANC leaders who were also imprisoned on Robben Island.
at heart: basically; fundamentally. It is used to say what someone's basic character is. In the text, the phrase is used humorously.
More examples:
People say that in spite of his academic success, he is a farmer at heart.
Even at the age of eighty, he is young at heart. (He behaves and thinks like a much younger person.)
12. hardy plants (Para. 5)
plants that can live through difficult conditions, such as a cold winter or a drought
13. The authorities did not regret giving permission, for once the garden began to flourish, I often provided the warders with some of my best tomatoes and onions. (Para. 5)
regret doing sth: to feel sorry about sth you have done and wish that you have not done it
More examples:
He never regretted saying what he did at the meeting.
Some day, you'll regret making this hasty decision.
flourish: (of plants) to grow well and be healthy
More examples:
Keep the soil moist. That way the seedling will flourish.
Village markets have flourished in recent years. (figuratively, meaning "to develop well and be very successful")
provide sb with sth/provide sth for sb
More examples:
The school provides its students with many elective courses.
This hospital provides 500 beds for in-patients.
Is it true that free lunches are provided for your staff?. 14. While I have always enjoyed gardening, it was not until I was behind bars that I was able to tend my own garden. (Para. 6)
Although I have always loved gardening, I didn't have a garden of my own until I was in prison.
while: although
be behind bars: to be in prison
tend: (formal, old-fashioned) to look after sth/sb
15. .... the university's manual labor requirement. (Para. 6)
This sounds as if at the university, some kind of practical work done by hand was a requirement. This was not the same as manual labor in prison, which was forced, usually very hard.
16. .... I had neither the time nor the space to... (Para. 6)
neither… nor: used when mentioning two things and both are not true or possible
More examples:
The film was neither interesting nor beautifully shot.
She had neither the desire nor the cottrage to try it.
He did it neither for money nor for fame.
Neither my brother nor I am interested.
17. I began to order books on gardening. (Para. 7)
order: to ask for goods or service to be made, supplied or delivered
More examples:
He ordered a new desktop from the company's website.
Are you ready to order, sir? (at a restaurant)
We've ordered a taxi to take you to the airport. 18. through trial and error (Para. 7)
a way of achieving an aim or solving a problem by trying a number of different methods and learning from the mistakes that you made
More examples:
We have found a solution through trial and error.
They changed their policies after trial and error.
The best way of learning to ride a bike is by trial and error. 19. for a time (Para. 7)
Refer to Note 20, Unit 9.
More examples:
For a time he worked in a coalmine. Then he decided to go to college.
For a time, I didn't know what the trouble was, but then I realized. 20. enduring satisfaction (Para. 8)
satisfaction that lasts for a very long time
More collocations: enduring charm/memory/popularity
21. The sense of being the owner of the small patch of earth offered a small taste of freedom. (Para. 8)
Being aware that you could grow whatever you wanted on a small piece of land enabled you to enjoy a small amount of freedom.
sense: a particular feeling about sth
More phrases:
the sense of being different from your peers, a deep sense of despair, the sense of being appreciated, a great sense of relief
More examples:
In the darkness, they felt a growing sense of danger
Too many electronic products give you an unpleasant sense of being their slave. 22. In some ways, I saw the garden as a metaphor for certain aspects of my life. (Para. 9)
... I found handling certain aspects of my life is similar to tending a garden.
see sth/sb as: to see sth/sb in a particular way; to regard sth as
More examples:
He sees the poem as a celebration of human love.
They saw themselves as a bridge to peace.
metaphor: a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar
certain aspects of my life: This refers to what Mandela says in the last three paragraphs of this selection: his work as a national leader and the handling of human relationship in general, and of his marriage with Winnie in particular.
23. Leaders must also look after their gardens; they, too, plant seeds, and then watch, cultivate, and harvest the results. (Para 9)
Mandela is here comparing his gardening with his responsibility as a national leader. As in gardening, in his struggle as an ANC leader, he also has to plant seeds, and take care of what he has planted until in the end he harvests the results.
Note: here "garden", "plant seeds", "watch", "cultivate" and "harvest the results" are all used as metaphors. Have the students explain what these words or phrases each symbolizes, or represents.
24. Like gardeners, leaders must take responsibility for what they cultivate; they must mind their work, try to drive back enemies, save what can be saved, and eliminate what can not succeed. (Para. 9)
mind their work: to take care of sth/sb; to watch or be in charge of sth/sb
More examples:
Who's going to mind the department office when Jane is on leave?
A lot of Grandparents in China are helping mind their grandchildren.
save what can be saved, and eliminate what cannot succeed: Mandela seems
to be talking about his relations with his comrades in general, and his relations with his wife in particular.
When differences occur, a leader should always try to patch up/resolve/settle these differences.
However, if these differences concern matters of principle and cannot be reconciled, a leader must resolutely part from those people, just as one has to eliminate the weeds in one's garden.
25. I wrote Winnie two letters about.., deep red fruit. (Para. 10)
he "beautiful tomato plant" and how Mandela "made it grow from a tender T
seedling to a strong plant that produced deep red fruit" obviously refer to his relationship with his wife.
In paragraph 10, Mandela gives a specific example of how he tried to save his marriage but in vain by using a metaphor.
26. When it finally died, I removed the roots from the soil, washed them, and buried them in a corner of the garden. (Para. 10)
By telling Winnie what he did with the dead tomato plant in detail, Mandela wanted her to know he cared about their marriage and felt very sorry about their worsening relationship.
27. .... either through some mistake or lack of care, the plant began to wither and decline, and nothing I did would bring it back to health. (Para. 10)
Mandela seemed to feel that he was partly responsible for the way his relationship with his wife had declined, and that was why he did what he could to save their marriage. But he felt that their marriage probably wouldn't survive.
28. I told her this small story at great length. (Para. 11)
I told her the story about the potato plant in great detail.
at length:
1) for a long time
eg We discussed this problem at length.
2) in a full and complete way, in detail
Eg. The book discusses the topic at length.
3) (literary) after a long time, finally, in the end, at last
Eg. At length, the boy got permission from his parents to make a trip to Tibet on his own.
29. I don’t know what she read into that letter. (para.11)
I don?t know how she understood that letter. ( I hope she understood why I told her the story of the tomato plant. )
read into sth: to think that an action, remark or situation has a particular importance or meaning, often when this is not true.
More examples:
Don?t read too much into her remarks. (= Her remarks do not have the meaning or importance you think they have.)
--What do you read into the Vice President?s speech?
--He?s going to run for the President?
Unit 11
III Detailed Discussion of the Text
1. The year I found Maheegun, spring was late in coming. (Para. 1)
the year/day/first time/last time: Noun phrases of this type, followed by a relative clause, are used as an adverbial of time.
More examples:
The year I was born, my father was working towards a PhD degree.
The day Hans Christian Andersen returned to his hometown, almost all the people turned out to greet him.
spring was late in coming: In that spring it was unusually cold.
2. I picked him up and put him inside my jacket. (Para. 2)
Note the difference between "pick" and "pick up".
pick (cotton, tomatoes, apples, strawberries, etc): to take flowers, fruit, etc from the plant or the tree where they are growing
pick up:
1) to lift, take up by hand
eg Would you pick up the book from the floor?
He picked up the phone and dialed the number of the police.
2) to allow sb to get into your car and take them somewhere
eg Many people no longer pick up hitchhikers.
3) to return to an earlier subject or situation in order to continue it
eg Let's pick up the conversation after lunch.
3. Little Maheegun gained strength after I got the first few drops of warm milk in him. (Para. 2)
I got the first few drops of warm milk in him: This shows that the baby wolf
was very small and could not eat, or suck from a dish, so the boy had to feed him by getting the milk into his mouth.
4. He wiggled and soon he was full and warm. (Para. 2)
full: (informal) well fed, often to the point of discomfort
eg -- Would you like any more of the fish?
--No, thanks. I'm full.
Never exercise on a full stomach.
5. Not that we didn't have our troubles. (Para. 5)
When I say the year I got Maheegun was the happiest (year) of my life, I don't mean that Maheegun never caused troubles.
Questions: Who does "our" refer to? The boy and his family? Or the boy and the wolf cub?
not that: although it is not true that
eg She loved music but seldom went to concerts -- not that she couldn't afford to.
Questions: In what tone does the boy, the narrator of the story, tell about the troubles Maheegun causes? Do you think he was annoyed or angry?
6. Maheegun was the most mischievous wolf cub ever. (Para. 5)
Maheegun was the most mischievous wolf cub I had ever known of.
Note the end position of the adverb "ever" for emphasis.
More examples:
In his parents' eyes, he's one of the best artists ever.
I haven't heard anything like them, ever
7. He was curious too. Like looking into Grandma's sewing basket--which he upset, scattering thread and buttons all over the floor. (Para. 5)
He was curious, too. For example, he was eager to know what was in Grandma's sewing basket. He knocked it over, sending everything inside all over the floor
8. .... Maheegun would poke his head around the corner, waiting for things to quiet down. (Para. 5)
(At such times) he would move to and stay somewhere out of Grandma's sight, and wait until her anger died down.
wait for sth to happen/sb to do sth
eg We were waiting anxiously for Mr Miller to announce the winners.
The film crew waited for three hours for the sun to come up.
9. We hunted the grasshoppers that leaped about like little rockets. (Para. 6)
like little rockets: a simile in which the grasshoppers are compared to little rockets because the way the former jump is just like little rockets shooting upward
10. And in the fall, after the first snow our games took us to the nearest meadows in search of field mice. (Para. 6)
When it was getting cold, and there were no more grasshoppers (also because Maheegun needed something bigger to hunt as he grew), we had to go to the nearest meadow to hunt field mice.
take sb/sth to: to make sb/sth go from one level, situation to another
More examples:
His job as a UN official took him to over sixty countries.
Her excellent performance soon took her to the top management of the firm. 11. By then, Maheegun was half grown. (Para. 6)
At that time, Maheegua had not yet grown into an adult wolf but he was on the way of becoming one. (In half a year, Maheegun reached the stage of development that is equivalent to adolescence for humans.)
half: (adv) not completely; to some degree; partially
More examples:
The door is half open.
The man looked half dead when he was found.
The chicken is half cooked.
12. Gone was the puppy-wool coat. In its place was a handsome black mantle. (Para. 6)
His hair changed. It used to be covered with soft thick hair, and now it had turned into a beautiful black and was no longer woolly.
Note the metaphor the writer uses in describing the change in Maheegun's hair. When he was a cub his hair was just like a puppy-wool coat; when he was half grown, his hair became so beautiful that he looked as if he was wearing a black mantle. 13. They belonged only to Maheegun and myself. (Para. 7)
Only the two of us knew what we did together and how happy we were. No one else could share our happiness.
they: the winter months that came soon
14. It all served to fog my mind with pleasure so that I forgot my Grandpa's repeated warnings, and one night left Maheegun unchained. (Para. 8)
Although my Grandpa had told me to chain Maheegun at night, I forgot to do so one night—I was so happy with him that my alertness slackened.
Here "it" refers to what is said in the previous paragraph.
serve (only) to do sth: to have a particular effect or result
More examples:
His appearance on the scene served only to worsen the situation.
Their action can only serve to harden the attitude of the military.
fog: (figuratively) to confuse or hide
More examples:
He said the alcohol had fogged his brain. (caused him not to think clearly)
The chairman's speech served only to fog the issue. (made it less clear)
leave + n + v-ed/adj/prep: to cause to be or to remain in a particular state or position
More examples:
He leaves the window open when the weather is fine.
The flood left hundreds of people homeless.
She hates to leave the house in a mess.
They never leave the door unbolted at night.
15. The following morning in sailed Mrs Yesno, wild with anger, who demanded
Maheegun be shot because he had killed her rooster. (Para. 8)
The next morning Mrs Yesno came in. She was very angry, and told us to shoot Maheegun dead because he had killed her cock.
Note the inverted sentence order: in sailed Mrs Yesno
sail: (of people) to move in a confident manner
wild with sth: showing strong uncontrolled feelings because of sth
demand (that) sth be done/sb do sth: to ask for/request firmly and not be
willing to accept a refusal
More examples:
The police demanded that the gangsters lay down their guns.
The demonstrators demanded that the results be made public. 16. Often he would sit with his nose to the sky, turning his head this way and that as if to check the wind. (Para. 9)
with his nose to the sky: He raised his head in such a way that his nose pointed toward the sky.
turning his head this way and that: moving his head in different directions
as if to check the wind: as if he was trying to find out in which direction the wind was blowing
Questions: Why did Maheegun do that? What was he trying to find out?
Obviously, he hit the scent or a she-wolf and was trying to find out where she was.
17. The warmth of the stove soon brought sleep to me. (Para. 10)
The warmth of the stove made me sleepy and soon I fell asleep. 18. But something caused me to wake up with a start. I sat up, and in the moon-flooded cabin was my grandfather standing beside me. (Para. 10)
I don't know why, but I woke up suddenly. I sat up and found the cabin bright with moonlight and my grandfather standing beside me.
start: an act of moving your body quickly and suddenly because you are surprised, afraid, etc
flood: (v) to fill or enter a place in large numbers or amounts
eg Most of the mornings his study is flooded with sunlight.
The waiting shoppers flooded in as soon as the store opened.
19. On the top was the clear outline of a great wolf sitting still, ears pointed, alert, listening. (Para. 11)
The clear figure of a big wolf was sitting without moving on the top of the rock. His ears were raised and he seemed to be listening very attentively.
ears pointed, alert, listening: an absolute construction that describes the state the wolf was in sitting on the rock
20. The whole white world thrilled to that wild cry. (Para. 14)
Everything in the snow-covered wildness seemed to be aroused/stirred by the passionate cry of Maheegun.
thrill to sth: (formal) to feel excited at sth
eg The young audience thrilled to the song and started humming. 21. Then after a while, from the distance came a softer call in reply. Maheegun stirred, with the deep rumble of pleasure in his throat. He slipped down the rock and headed out across the ice. (Para. 14)
After a while, a less wild/passionate cry came from the distance answering the call. Maheegnn moved, and he seemed pleased, for I heard sounds of pleasure coming from his throat. Then he got down from the rock and moved away across the ice. 22. "Yes, he's gone to that young she-wolf." (Para. 15)
she-: used as a prefix, meaning female.
More examples:
a she-tiger (-a tigress), a she-devil (=an evil woman)
23. "He will take her for life, hunt for her, protect her. This is the way the Creator planned life. No man can change it." (Para. 16)
take her for life: It is believed that a wolf pairs with its mate for life.
for life: all your life, for the whole of your life
the Creator: God. According to the first book of the Bible, known as Genesis, God created the world and everything in it in six days, and on the seventh day God rested. When God made human beings, he made a man called Adam out of the earth, and then made a woman called Eve out of one of Adam's ribs (one of the curved bones that surround your chest). God assigned different roles to Adam and Eve--the first man and woman, Adam's role being to take care of Eve, provide for her and protect her, and also to guide her.
24. I tried to tell myself it was all for the best, but it was hard to lose my brother. (Para. 17)
I tried to convince myself that it was the best thing to do in the long run, but it was hard to be without Maheegnn, whom I now looked upon as my brother.
(all) for the best: (of an action) producing a good result, although it might seem unpleasant at the time
More examples:
They had to sell their car, but since they are both without a job, it's probably for the best.
His parents didn't want him to work in London, but they knew it was perhaps for the best.
25. For the next two years I was as busy as a squirrel storing nuts for the winter. (Para. 18)
as busy as a squirrel storing nuts for the winter: a simile meaning that the boy was busy preparing himself for a future career
26. .... I would still wonder if Maheegun, in his battle for life, found time to remember me. (Para. 18)
for life: for existence
27. It was not long after that I found the answer. (Para. 19)
Not long after that, I found the answer. Soon I found that Maheegun still remembered me.
Note: Here "that" is a pronoun which goes with the preposition "after", and it is not a conjunction.
28. So I decided to come back home on my own. (Para. 21)
(all) on one's own: without help, by one's own efforts or resources; alone, without anyone else, responsible for oneself
More examples:
That Christmas dawn he was fifteen, Robert got all the milking done on his own.
Much of college success depends on whether you can study on your own. 29. A mile down the road I slipped into my snowshoes and turned into the bush. (Para. 22)
After walking a mile along the road, I decided to cut/take a shortcut through the bush. So I quickly put on my snowshoes, left the road and moved into the bush.
slip (into/out of): to put on or take off (garments, etc) quickly
snowshoe: a light, wide flame that is attached to your shoe to make it easier to walk on soft snow without sinking
30. I circled to my right and stumbled into a snow-filled creek bed. (Para. 23)
(Trying to locate the position of the tall pine tree on the north slope of Little Mountain,) I moved around to the right only to fall into a creek bed that was filled with snow.
31. By then the snow had made a blanket of white darkness, but I knew only too well there should have been no creek there. (Para. 23)
By that time, it was snowing heavily, and the sky/air was so thick with big snowflakes that I could hardly see through them, but I realized that I had taken the wrong direction, for there was no creek where I should have moved to.
a blanket of sth: a thick layer or covering of sth
eg a blanket of snow/fog/cloud/mist
white darkness: this combination of two words that have, or seem to have, opposite meanings is a figure of speech known as oxymoron (逆喻,矛盾形容法)
More examples:
el kindness, living death, loving hatred, wise fool cru
only too: (adj/adv) very
eg We know only too well that it's a touch-and-go business (不可确定的事).
Turn to him whenever you need help. He would be only too pleased. 32. I tried to travel west but only to hit the creek again. (Para. 24)
I tried to move west but found myself having come back to the creek again.
only to do sth: (written) used to show that something is surprising or unexpected when an earlier action is considered
eg Ausable returned home only to find Max, his enemy, standing halfway across his room.
hit: (informal) arrive at, reach
eg You'll hit the main road in five minutes' drive.
They decided to have a break after hitting a difficult point.
The yen hit an all-time low (= reached its lowest point ever) on the money market yesterday.
33. I knew I had gone in a great circle and I was lost. (Para. 24)
I realized that I had been moving this way and that around the same area and that I had lost my way.
be/get lost: to be unable to find your way, not knowing where you are.
More examples:
Don't panic when you are lost in the forest.
It's easy for a new arrival to get lost in a big city like Beijing. 34. There was only one thing to do. Camp for the night and hope that by morning the storm would have blown itself out. (Para. 25)
I knew that it was dangerous to move on in the blinding snow, and that the only thing to do was to stay where I was and get some sleep during the night and hope that I would find the snowstorm had stopped the next morning.
blow itself out: (of a storm) to lose force or cease entirely
eg The weather forecast says that the storm will soon blow itself out and move out to sea.
35. .... I was in deep trouble. (Para. 25)
... I was in a very dangerous situation (I might be frozen to death here if I couldn't find my way).
trouble: a situation that is difficult or has a lot of trouble
More examples:
The company is in big financial trouble.
You might get into trouble if you have too many credit cards.
Can anyone help get me out of trouble?
36. Everything had been smothered by the fierce whiteness. (Para. 25)
Everything had been heavily covered by thick snow, and its whiteness was blinding and frightening.
37. The light of another day still saw no end to the storm. I began to get confused. I couldn't recall whether it had been storming for three or four days. (Para. 26)
At dawn the next day, the storm was going on. I found myself unable to think clearly. I couldn't tell whether the snowstorm had continued into its third or fourth day.
see: (written) to be the time when/the place where an event happens; to witness
More examples:
September 21, 2006 saw the 65th anniversary of the university.
The house saw many important meetings in the country's history. 38. A great white stillness had taken over and with it, biting cold. (Para. 27)
The storm had blown itself out. Now nothing in this white world moved. It was quiet and terribly cold. / What dominated this world of whiteness now was stillness plus biting cold. It had taken over from the snowstorm. / Stillness along with biting cold had taken over from the snowstorm.
take over from: (of one thing) to become more important, successful or
powerful than another, and finally replace it
More examples:
After raining for a whole week, finally sunny days took over.
It didn't take long for the computer to take over from the typewriter. 39. My supply of wood was almost gone. There must be more. (Para. 27)
I had little firewood left. I needed more wood for a fire to keep warm in the biting cold.
40. Slashing off green branches with my knife, I cut my hand and blood spurted freely from my wound. (Para. 28)
While cutting twigs (=small branches) from green branches with my knife, I cut my hand and blood started pouring out fi'om the wound.
Note the difference between "cut" and "cut off'.
cut a person's hand, etc: to make a wound in the skin of one's hand, etc
More examples:
The farmer cut his toe while planting rice in the paddy field.
The boy fell off his bike and cut his leg.
cut off a person' hand: to remove one's hand from his/her arm
eg In that country, they punish pickpockets by cutting off their hands.
A worker had a finger cut off while feeding a meat grinder. 41. It was a timber wolf. (Para. 29)
timber wolf: also called gray wolf. It is the best-known wolf type. Maheegun is also a gray wolf.
42. The howl seemed to freeze the world with fear. (Para. 30)
The long loud cry seemed to have struck terror into every living creature, and they suddenly became still.
freeze: to stop moving because of fear, etc
eg The children froze at the frightening moan.
43. It was the food cry. (Para. 30)
food cry: (here) The wolf howled telling his partner to come over for food. 44. Suddenly the world exploded in snarls. I was thrown against the branches of the shelter. (Para. 33)
Suddenly with terrible snarls, the wolf began to attack. I was sent flying and landed against the shelter
45. Slowly I worked my way out of the snow and raised my head. (Para. 33)
work one's way to/into/out of: to move or pass to/out of a particular place or
state, usually gradually
eg The old man worked his way to the door and out of the house.
The ambitious man worked his way to top management. (figuratively) 46. Maybe it was relief or weakness or both--I don't know. (Para. 35)
I wasn't quite sure why I cried. Maybe I cried because I was now out of danger, or maybe because I was so weak that I wanted to let all my anxiety of the past few days pour out in tears.
Cultural Note: In the US and the UK, women are allowed by society to cry, but men do not cry very much, except when someone close to them died, but most men do not feel comfortable crying at other times. A young boy who cries is sometimes disproved of and called a crybaby. It is only when under great emotional strain that a big boy of 16, like the narrator then, cries.
47. The cold and loss of blood were taking their toll. (Para. 36)
As it was extremely cold and I had lost a lot of blood, I felt so weak that I fell asleep.
take its/their/a heavy toll on sh/sth: to have a bad effect on sb/sth
More examples:
Years of hard work and anxiety have taken their toll on his health.
His liver trouble has taken a heavy toll on him.
The explosion of the World Trade Center in New York took its toll on US airlines.w
48. The sun was midway across the sky when I noticed how restless Maheegun had become. (Para. 37)
hen the sun was shining above/At noon, I noticed Maheegun had become W
very restless.
midway: in the middle position
49. I put the last of my birch bark on the fire and fanned it into life. (Para. 37)
fanned it into life: caused it to burn by blowing the fire
50. Suddenly, as if by magic, the police dog team came up out of the creek bed... (Para. 38)
Suddenly, something seemingly impossible happened--the pack of police dogs appeared. It looked as if they had been sent here through some magical power.
as if by magic: used as an adverbial of manner
More examples of "as if" followed by a prepositional phrase:
Alice, very pale, was leaning against him as if for support.
He fell over backwards and lay as if struck by lightning. 51. "Don't shoot!" I screamed and ran toward him, falling through the snow. (Para. 39)
... I ran toward my grandfather, trying to stop him from shooting Maheegun, but I didn't reach him. I fell because the snow was very deep.
through: as a result of
52. It was quite some time before my eyes came into focus enough to see my grandfather sitting by my bed (Para.41)
It took quite some time for my eyes to adjust themselves to be able to see my grandfather sitting by my bed.
Come into focus: (of your eyes) to begin to be able to see things clearly
Cf bring your eyes into focus: to make your eyes able to see things clearly Eg. When he woke up three days later, he couldn?t see anything clearly. It took him a few seonds
to bring his eyes into focus.
53. He should be fine. He is with his own kind. (para.44)
He is probably fine living among his fellow wolves.
“should: here express likelihood.
Unit 12
III Detailed Discussion of the Text
1. .... help with the milking. (Para. 1 )
... help milk the cows.
help with: to give a hand in
2. Strange how the habits of his youth clung to him still! (Para. 1)
It was strange how up to that moment he had continued doing things the way he had always done them from boyhood.
The complete form should be: It was strange how...
The elliptical form is often used in informal speech or narration.
More examples:
No wonder he lost his job.
Interesting how she came to know him.
Funny how it all started.
Question: What were the habits of his youth?
3. Yet what was the magic of Christmas now? (Para. 2)
This is a negative statement in question form.
Another example: What's the use of going there?
This sentence shows that Christmas no longer had much attraction since they were old and there were only the two of them at home.
4. His childhood and youth were long past, and his own children had grown up and gone. (Para. 2)
Question: What is meant by "his childhood and youth were long past"?
It means that he was no longer young.
Question: What is the meaning of "gone" here?
It means that they had left home.
5. It isn't worthwhile, perhaps... (Para. 3)
Complete the sentence: ... perhaps we shouldn't bother about the celebration.
6. Yes, Alice, even if there are only the two of us... (Para. 4)
Question: Did he agree with his wife?
No, he didn't agree with his wife. He felt that although their children were not coming, they should still have a proper Christmas.
7. trim (Para. 5)
to make neat, even or tidy by cutting
8. Why did he feel so awake tonight? For it was still night, a clear and starry night. (Para. 8)
Question: Why did Rob call it "tonight" since the title is "Christmas Day in the Morning"?
The reason is given in the second sentence.
The sentence beginning with "For" is actually a coordinate clause of reason. It is turned into a sentence to make it sound like an afterthought!
9. He slipped back in time, as he did so easily nowadays. (Para. 9)
He had recently got into the habit of recalling things in the past/of reminiscing/of letting his thoughts go back to the old days.
Question: Why did he easily slip back in time?
He was old now and old people tend to look backwards rather than forward because they often feel that they do not have much to look forward to in the future.
Question: What is the function of this sentence?
It introduces a flashback.
10. He was fifteen years old and still on his father's farm.., when he had overheard what his father was saying to his mother. (Para. 9)
on his father's farm: Note the use of "on" before the noun "farm".
He had not known it until one day...: The past perfect is used because the state of not knowing had lasted up to that day. "It" refers to the fact that he loved his father.
when: on which day. "When" here introduces an attributive clause.
overhear: to hear (sth spoken) without intention
11. Mary, I hate to call Rob... I wish I could manage alone. (Para. 10)
I hate to call: I don't want to call... / I'm sorry that I have to call,,,
I wish I could manage alone: This is expressed in subjunctive mood, indicating that in fact he couldn't.
12. His mother's voice was brisk, "... It's time he took his turn." (Para. 11)
brisk: quick, sharp and vigorous
take one's turn: to do one's share
Took is used here to indicate subjunctive mood. Notice the pattern "It's time sb + verb in the past tense".
13. He had never thought of it before, taking for granted the tie of their blood. (Para. 13)
He had never thought of the fact that his father loved him because he took the relationship of father and son as a matter of course. He had never given this a thought. 14. .... there would be no more loitering in the mornings and having to be called again. (Para. 13)
... he would never loiter in the morning and need no longer to be called again and again.
loiter: to move or go about business slowly and with many stops
15. .... stumbling blind with sleep and pulled on his clothes. (Para. 13)
The original text runs like this:
... stumbling blind with sleep, his eyes tight shut, but he got up and pulled on
his clothes.
Question: What is the meaning of "stumbling blind with sleep"?
When he got up, it was still very dark and he was very sleepy. He could hardly open his eyes and could not see or think clearly, so he walked or moved unsteadily and blindly.
16. And then on the night before Christmas... And he always saved and bought them each something, too. (Para. 14)
This paragraph describes how Rob and the family usually celebrated Christmas. The way they celebrated Christmas revealed their poverty.
mince pie: a pie with a filling of mincemeat (a mixture of chopped apple, spices, raisins, etc but no meat)
17. the ten-cent store (Para. 15)
a store where everything is cheap, supposedly no more than ten cents 18. He lay on his side and looked out of his attic window. (Para. 15)
lie on one's side: 侧身躺着
lie on one's back: 仰面躺着
lie on one's stomach: 趴着
Note: to lie, lied, lied 说谎; to lie, lay, lain 躺; to lay, laid, laid 放
19. Then Jesus had been born in a barn, ... bringing their Christmas gifts! (Para. 18)
What were the Christmas gifts the Wise Men brought?
This is an allusion to the Bible:
... And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold and frankincense (乳香), and myrrh (没
药)...
20. A thought struck him like a silver dagger. (Para. 19)
An idea suddenly crossed his mind.
The metaphor of a silver dagger is used to suggest the lightning speed with which the brilliant idea flashed across his mind.
21. He laughed to himself as he gazed at the stars. (Para. 20)
laugh to oneself: [暗自发笑
cf to laugh at sb 嘲笑他人,
gaze: to look intently and steadily (as in wonder)
22. .... he got up and crept downstairs, careful of the creaky hoards... (Para. 22)
creep: to move slowly and quietly, especially with one's body close to the ground
creaky boards: the wooden planks which make harsh, grating or squeaking sounds, suggesting that the house is old and the boards are no longer firm
Question: Why did he have to be careful of the creaky boards?
He had to be careful so that the boards would not make any noise and wake up his father, thus spoiling his plan.
23. The cows looked at him, sleepy and surprised. (Para. 22)
The cows seemed to him sleepy and surprised because this reflected his own feelings.
24. Two strong streams rushing into the pail, frothing and fragrant. (Para. 24)
froth: to cause to form a whitish mass of bubbles; to cause to foam
fragrant: sweet smelling
frothing and fragrant: alliteration (头韵)
25. The task went more easily than he bad ever known it to before. (Para. 25)
After "to", "go" is left out.
26. Milking for once was not a chore. (Para. 25)
For the first time milking was not a tedious, unpleasant and boring task. 27. He put the stool in its place... (Para. 25)
He put the stool back in its original place...
28. He put the covers over his head to silence his quick breathing. (Para. 26)
Question: Why did Rob put the covers over his head?
He did not want his father to hear his quick breathing and find out the truth. 29. His dancing heart was ready to jump from his body. (Para. 30)
he word "dancing" is used here to suggest that he was very excited and his T
heart was beating fast and "dancing" with joy.
30. The minutes were endless... (Para. 31)
The minutes seemed endless, because he was so eager to see how his father would react to his special gift. The feeling of the length of time is often connected with one's emotion.
31. a queer sobbing sort of a laugh (Para. 34)
a strange kind of laugh like sobbing
His father was so moved that he was choked with emotion.
32. His father was standing beside his bed, feeling for him... (Para. 34)
feel for sth: to try to find sth by touching; to grope for sth 33. He found his father and clutched him in a great hug. He felt his father's arms go around him. (Para. 36)
Words like "found" and "felt" indicate that it was dark and they couldn't see each other.
clutch: to hold tightly
hug: a close, affectionate embrace
34. His heart was bursting with love. (Para. 38)
His heart was filled/overflowing with love.
35. …come to think of it… (Para.39)
(informal) I?ve never thought about it before, but now when I think about it, I realize
that…
More examples:
We must hurry. Come to think of it, we only have two days left.
I normally write home once every month. Come to think of it, I should write to my mother today.
36. Outside the window now the stars slowly faded. (para.42)
Question: Why is the word “now” used here?
It is used here to indicate the switching back of time.
37. Love alone could waken love. (para.44)
Only love could waken love. Love could not be bought or forced.
Unit 13
III Detailed Discussion of the Text
1. "What do you think is going to happen, Jorkens?" one of us asked one day at the club. (Para. 1)
Notice that the story about the scientist was first told in the first person by the man with a big mustache Jorkens met in a Caribbean country. It was then retold by Jorkens to us one day at the club. Jorkens was obviously a member of our club who was probably generally acknowledged as the most well-informed and knowledgeable. Therefore we asked him that day what he thought was going to happen in the world.
2. "There are so many inventions.., of which we know nothing." (Para. 4)
Draw the students' attention to the grammar exercises on "of which", "about which", "on which", "for which", "against which".., etc.
3. "Now that a man can carry in a bag a bomb that is more powerful than several battleships, it is hard to find out what any country can do or will do next." (Para. 4)
This is no longer science fiction. When the technology for producing these terrible weapons is so easily available, the threat to the safety of the people in the world is only too real. Now the question is what we should do about this.
4. I was on a ship in the tropics, and we put into a port. (Para. 5)
in the tropics: in the tropical area. Judging by the context, the story must have been set in the tropical areas near the Caribbean Sea.
put into/in a port: to enter a port (said of a ship)
5. I was tired of looking at the tropical sea, so I went ashore and walked into a tavern to see if they had any decent wines in that country. (Para. 5)
go ashore: to go to the shore. "Ashore" here is an adverb.
Observe the following adverbs containing the prefix "a-":
They were walking abreast.
He was standing a few steps apart from them.
She left the door ajar.
Many of those visitors came from afar.
decent: acceptable, good enough
eg a decent meal, decent clothes, a decent job, a decent house, decent wages, a decent hotel, etc
6. .... with.., a certain look in his eyes that made me wonder if he might not have something interesting to tell. (Para 5)
Somehow the way the man looked made Jorkens feel that this man probably had something interesting to tell. But the story did not say why.
7. .... I called for a bottle of the queer local wine. (Para. 5)
ordered/asked for a bottle of the strange local wine. I
8. When the bottle had been uncorked and the wine poured out, like liquid tropical sunlight, I watched it go down under that black mustache. (Para. 5)
and the wine poured out: and the wine had been poured out ("Had been" is
omitted.)
Refresh the students' memory of the use of the prefix "un-" in verbs.
eg unlock, unzip, undress, unwrap, unfold, uncap, uncover, unload
like liquid tropical sunlight: It suggests that the wine was pretty strong, like hot liquid sunlight.
9. And when a certain amount had gone down, he began to talk. (Para. 5)
And when the man had downed a few glasses, when he was half drank, and his tongue was considerably loosened, he began to talk.
Notice the way Jorkens described this man. He appeared quite ridiculous, quite a drunkard really, but later on we learned that he had been a government official. The author probably just wanted to add a few humorous touches, but they also showed a racist attitude towards Latin American people.
10. "We aimed at the mastery of the whole Caribbean." (Para. 6)
"It was our aim or purpose to have complete control of the whole Caribbean."
Notice the different meanings of the word "mastery" in this sentence:
Everybody was impressed by her quick mastery of those complicated theories. 11. "War is no longer a matter of armies; it depends on the intelligence of scientists." (Para. 6)
Modem wars do not depend on how big an army you have. The number of troops is no longer decisive. You depend more and more on high-tech, which means you
depend more and more on the intelligence of scientists. We should no doubt notice this new trend. But this does not mean that we can now come to the conclusion that whoever has the most advanced science and technology is invincible and therefore can dictate to the whole world what they should or should not do.
12. "And we had a scientist who, as I have since seen proved, had no rival west of the Atlantic." (Para. 6)
as I have since seen proved: as I have seen him proved without rival
have no rival: to be the very best
west of the Atlantic: referring to Latin American countries
13. "You shall hear." (Para. 8)
"Shall" here is used to show a promise, meaning that something is definite, certain to happen.
This use is formal and old-fashioned.
14. .... he was not at all what one would regard as the figure of a soldier. (Para. 11)
the figure of a soldier: the kind of person one would expect to see as a soldier, tall and strong
Notice that the word "figure" is usually used to refer to the shape of a woman's body.
eg She has a wonderful figure.
You have to watch your diet if you want to keep your figure.
The word "figure" has many other meanings as in: the exact figure (number); an important figure (person); a five-digit figure (money); to play the figure of a judge (character)
This sentence could be re-rendered as:
... he was not at all the kind of person one would regard as a soldier.
Ask students to make more sentences with: what we would regard as / what we might call / what one might describe as / what you would consider, etc.
15. "Our Minister... was a cavalry officer and could not adapt his ideas to modern science. He thought of war simply as an opportunity for cavalry charges and fine uniforms and glory." (Para. 12)
thought of war as: regarded war as
cavalry charges: charges on horseback; charge: a rush to the enemy to attack
fine uniforms and glory: beautiful uniforms and impressive appearance
adapt to: This is not a new word. Just give the students a few more sentences to translate to enhance their memory.
eg You have to adapt your teaching method to the kind of students you are dealing with now.
He found it difficult to adapt to the new conditions.
16. "We had to get rid of him in order to fulfill our just aspirations." (para. 12)
get rid of him: to get him out of the way or to remove him from office. Under a
). dictatorship it often means physical liquidation, involving a coup d'etat (政变
fulfill our just aspirations: to achieve our just goals
aspiration: a strong desire to have or achieve sth
Observe the following common collocations of the verb "fulfill": fulfill a hope/a promise/a wish/a dream/a pledge/one's duty/one's potential
17. "And it is just that we should have it." (Para. 14)
Make sure that the students do not mix up this "just" with the adverb "just". 18. "Once, if a nation had twelve battleships it was a Great Power..." (Para. 16)
It refers to the 19th century when colonialists and imperialists pursued gunboat diplomacy.
"Once" here means "at one time" or "there used to be' a time" or "in the past". It should not be mixed up with the conjunction "once".
eg Once you leave the country, you'll miss a lot of things.
Once you have power, you are also likely to abuse it.
Once you are seriously ill, you'll know how important it is to be healthy.
"Once" in these sentences means "the moment (something happens)". 19. "But what if we know how to let loose a plague capable of destroying whole
nations?" (Para. 16)
"What if" is a shortening of "What would happen if".
More examples:
What if the equipment doesn't arrive in time?
What if Jane refuses to play the wicked step-mother?
Simple as it may seem, this sentence actually is quite complicated grammatically. Ask the students to analyze the structure.
let loose: to let sb or sth go free
plague: any diseases causing death and spreading quickly to a large number of people. Here, it specifically refers to the germ warfare, a deliberate war act of spreading germs in order to kill as many people as possible, combatants and civilians alike.
20. "We looked for a new and deadlier germ." (Para. 18)
deadly: 1) (adj) very dangerous, likely to cause death
eg deadly poison, deadly enemy (bitter enemy), deadly silence (complete silence)
2) (adv) deadly serious (very serious), deadly boring (very boring) 21. "We knew that we had marvelous powers within our grasp, if only
Carasierra could be kept at his work." (Para. 18)
have sth within one's grasp: to be able to achieve or attain sth
eg They were quite sure that they had the championship within their grasp.
Humanity already has the technology within their grasp to send the first man to the Mars.
if only: Here it is used to introduce a conditional clause to express what you think should at least be done to achieve a purpose.
More examples:
I would travel round the world, if only I were twenty years younger.
We could have a much better harvest if only we had more water.
"If only" is usually used to express a strong wish.
More examples:
If only I knew there would be a terrible earthquake!
If only my mother were still alive.
could be kept at his work: the passive form of "could keep sb at his work"
keep sb at sth: to force sb to continue to do sth
This expression can also be used in the following sentence:
To do exercise once in a while is not enough. You've got to keep at it. 22. "Idle, was he?" I said, for I thought it likely in a hot country like that. (Para. 19)
"Idle, was he?" = "He was idle, was he not?"
More examples:
Now satisfied, are you?
Sick again, is she?
idle: inactive; lazy
23. "Always spurred on by a fierce ambition. His very life was devoted to making
inventions." (Para. 20)
always spurred on by a fierce ambition: always driven by a fierce ambition
fierce: very strong, done with very strong feelings and energy
Also: fierce emotions; fierce attack; fierce competition
very: (adj) used to emphasize a noun
eg He died that very day.
This was the very place I found it.
devote one's life to (doing) sth: Other nouns that can be used here are: time, energy, money, effort, etc.
24. "... but we forgot his folly." (Para. 20)
folly: a very stupid thing to do, especially sth that will have serious consequences to the person who does it
It is interesting how scientists are often misunderstood. We know in history that
even the greatest scientists have been regarded as foolish, if not dangerous, at one time. No wonder Emerson would say "To be great is to be misunderstood". 25. "... he was more than content." (Para. 23)
content: (adj) happy and satisfied
This word is not used before nouns. We can say, "He was quite content." But we have to say,
"He died with a contented look."
26. "l tried everything: threats, appeals to him to think of our ancient glory, even
bribes." (Para. 23)
think of our ancient glory: to think of his patriotic duty to help to recover our past glory
bribe: 1) (n) sth, especially money, offered or given in bribing
2) (v) to pay sb as a bribe
The word "bribe" is used in the following patterns:
He tried to bribe the custom officers to let them smuggle in cars.
He was able to bribe the head of the personnel department for his promotion.
She refused to accept the bribes (bribery).
27. "But nothing would turn him from his project. The splendor of his new inspiration gripped him, and he was like a man drugged." (Para. 23)
turn him from his project: to divert his attention from his project; to make
him give up that project
project: an important and carefully planned piece of work such as education projects, construction projects, research projects, etc
splendor: impressive beauty
gripped him: held his attention and interest very powerfully
he was like a man drugged: He was like a man who had been drugged.
28. "And the splendor of our position faded like dreams." (Para. 24)
position: Here, it refers to the places the man's country was in in relation to other countries.
fade (away): to gradually disappear (color, hopes, memory, dream, beauty, etc) 29. "We were so nearly one of the Great Powers but for a fancy that came to this man's mind." (Para. 24)
but for a fancy: if not for a fancy; if a fancy had not gripped this man
30. "But there was a queer light in his eyes that day, and really I think he hardly heard me. He would only say, 'l have done it, have done it.'" (Para. 26)
The way the man described the scientist was amusing. He obviously could not understand why the scientist behaved the way he did. He thought that he was stupid and queer, like a man drugged, because he could not make him afraid, and could not lure him with money.
The scientist was completely wrapped in his own thoughts, and was intoxicated in his new discovery. In face of this true scientific spirit, the man must have appeared totally helpless.
Notice that the word "queer" nowadays is often used to refer to homosexuals, therefore avoid using this word unless that is what you mean.
31. 'I saw only a square yard of grass, marked off with a strip of white tape." (Para. 31)
This scientist obviously was more interested in creating rather than destroying life.
mark an area off: to make an area separate by drawing a line around it or putting a rope around it (Here: by putting a strip of white tape around it)
a strip of: a thin narrow piece of(paper, cloth, tape, sand)
cf a slip of paper, a streak of white hair, a stretch of water, a strand of wire
32. "'You see no blade different from the rest?'" (Para. 34)
This is what some grammarians call "an intonation question", a statement in terms of the word order, but a question in meaning. It is used when the expected response is yes. Notice that this kind of questions always requires the use of the rising tone.
33. "'Then you have seen the most wonderful invention of all that man has made,' he replied with a wild look in his eyes." (Para. 36)
a wild look: a crazy look, the way a person might look when he feels a strong and uncontrollable joy
34. "'I do not work for use, but for wonder.'" (Para. 38)
Ask the students to comment on this. Should we work for use or wonder? Is it possible for people to do scientific research simply for truth? Isn't the desire for money, position, recognition and other rewards absolutely necessary for successful work in the scientific field?
35. ... and he gave me every facility, showing me the entire process in his laboratory." (Para. 44)
gave me every facility: gave me everything I needed to learn about the whole process
36. "Whether it was that the stranger's tale was told," Jorkens concluded, putting down his glass, "or that the influence of the strange wine was over, he fell then to silent brooding, gazing, as it seemed, into the past at the grip that his
country had lost on the Caribbean, perhaps on the world." (Para. 45)
Jorkens implied that the man told the story under the influence of the wine, that is, when he was drank.
concluded: ended his narration
brood: to keep thinking for a long time about sth that makes you very angry or worried
lose the grip on: to lose the power and control over
Unit 15
III Detailed Discussion of the Text
1. Clearing in the Sky (title)
clearing: a piece of land cleared of trees, weeds or bushes for cultivation
clearing in the sky: a patch of land on the top of a high mountain
2. .... pointing with his cane across the deep valley below us (Para. 1)
cane: a wooden stick or metal rod carried when walking especially as added support; walking-stick
3. I wiped the streams of sweat from my face to keep them from stinging my eyes. (Para. 2)
stream: Originally it means a small river (AmE creek), or a large brook, but here it is used metaphorically to refer to anything that flows continuously.
More examples:
A stream of people was coming out of the movie house.
Tears began to stream down her face when she heard this.
sting: to cause to feel a sharp pain as in "A bee stung him on the arm."
4. I had just finished walking, a half mile uphill from my home to his, carrying a basket of dishes to Mom. (Para. 3)
from my home to his: from my home to his (father's) home. Jesse was
married and had moved out. He lived about half a mile away further down the hill from his father.
dishes: Plates, cups, bowls, etc that can be used to contain food for a meal, but here it refers to the food contained in the dishes.
5. But I could not protest to him now. (Para. 4)
We usually say "We protest against sb about sth" and the word "protest" is usually translated into Chinese as 抗议--to make a strong objection to sth, especially a supposed injustice or offence.
Note: Pay attention to the shift of stress when "protest" is changed from the verb to the noun.
Pro'TEST v (stress on the 2nd syllable); 'PROtest n (stress on the 1st syllable)
More examples: record, import, export, produce, contrast, ally, exhibit, combine, increase, object, subject, project, permit, progress, insult
6. So I followed him down the little path between the pasture and the meadow (Para. 4)
pasture: land covered with grass and similar plants suitable for grazing animals
meadow: an area or a piece of land of grass to be used as hay
There are a few other words used in similar meanings:
grasslands, prairie (a large area of level grasslands especially in North America), steppe (flat grassy plain with few trees, especially in Siberia)
7. Suddenly he stopped.., and cut a wisp of alfalfa (Para. 5)
a wisp of: a small bunch, bundle or twist of (grass, hay, hair, straw, etc)
Note: Pay attention to such "unit words".
More examples:
a blade of(grass), a grain of(rice, sand), a dash of(sugar), a pinch of(salt) 8. When I bought this land everybody thought I was crazy. (Para. 8)
crazy: very foolish; stupid
eg a crazy idea, a crazy plan, a crazy move, a crazy policy 9. As I stood looking at this meadow of alfalfa in the saddle between two hills... (Para. 9)
"Saddle" means the seat (usually, made of leather)' to be placed on the back of a horse for the rider to sit on. Here it refers to the saddle-like ridge of high land between the two hills. This kind of metaphorical use is common in English.
More examples:
the mouth of a river, the foot of a mountain, a few ears of corn, in the heart of the wood, to mat the tops of the trees, to be blanketed with snow, the canopy of hickory(a high overhead covering made of hickory leaves or branches), to fondle the clouds (to touch or stroke lovingly the way you fondle a doll, or a baby, or a kitten)
10. He sowed a cover crop and turned it under (Para. 9)
"Cover crop" here seems to be mainly used to make the land fertile.
"Under" here is used as an adverb.
11. I followed him… down a little narrow cattle path into the deep hollow. (Para. 11 )
"Hollow" here is not an adjective. It is used as a noun meaning a valley.
Another example: He was drinking from the hollow of his hands.
12. Then we went up the winding footpath... (Para. 15)
"A winding road" is not straight. It is full of bends or curves.
In English we often come across words spelt the same but meaning different things and also having different pronunciations.
eg to wind/waind/, wound, wound/waund/绕圈
to wound/wund/, wounded, wounded/'wu:ndid/使受伤
lead/li:d/领导;引导 lead/led/
tear/tio/眼泪 tear/teo/撕开;撕碎;撕去;拽去
13. "Fertile," he laughed as he reached down and picked up a double handful of the soil. (Para. 31)
soil: dirt, earth, mud, clay. These words are similar in meaning.
Read the following to get a sense of the differences between these words:
It has taken him 20 years to improve the soil.
Because of the strong dry wind from the desert, there is very little top soil left on our land.
There is only a dirt road leading to the village.
The space ship will return to earth tomorrow.
It is no joke carrying all this earth up the mountain to build the temple.
These clay horses were unearthed recently in Xi'an.
The kids were making mud pies near the river.
He was sitting there digging dirt from under his nails with a pocketknife.
Geology is part of the earth science.
I feel that I am the happiest man on earth.
The heavy rain turned the earth into mud and our car soon got stack. 14. But I have cheated death many times! (Para. 36)
Although I have been very close to dying many times, I have managed to escape death. 多次,
15. Now I've reached the years the Good Book allows to a man. Three score years and ten. (Para. 36)
the Good Book: the Bible
score: Here it means twenty. So three score and ten is three times twenty plus ten. It equals 70. Interestingly enough, it is very similar to Chinese. We also used to talk about 人生七十古来稀
.
Note: the word "score" could also mean the number of points made by players in a game or students in tests and examinations.
16. The doctors told me to sit still and take life easy. (Para. 42)
The doctors told me not to do anything, not to work too hard or do too much, just relax.
take life easy: relax, live in comfort, not to worry (also: take it easy, or take things easy)
Unit 16
III Detailed Study of the Text
1. The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street (title)
Question: Who are the monsters? Are they really responsible for all the troubles that happen on Maple Street? Where are the real monsters?
are due: to be expected to happen or arrive at a particular time
eg The train is due in exactly 25 minutes.
Their baby is due in October. (他们的孩子预计十月出生)
She is due to arrive at 5:30.
The meeting is due to start in 5 minutes. 2. porch (Para. 1 )
(AmE) a structure attached to the entrance of a house that has a roof and that may or may not have wails
Collocations: a front/back porch, an enclosed porch (-a porch that has walls) 3. Steve Brand polishes his car parked in front of his house. (Para. 1)
parked in front of his house: past participle phrase used as an attributive qualifier
More examples:
a book written by Mark Twain
memory sticks made in Canada
an IMAX cinema opened last week
a 3-D movie produced in the US
4. A Good Humor man (Para. 1)
a man who sells Good Humor products
Good Humor: an American brand of ice cream sold from ice cream tracks as well as stores.
The Good Humor Company started in Youngstown, Ohio during the early 1920s and covered most of the country by the mid 1930s. At its peak in the 1950s, the company operated 2,000 "sales cars".
5. .... and is just stopping to sell some ice-cream... (Para. 1)
stop to do sth: to stop (doing what you are doing in order ) to do sth else
More examples:
She was working. When she saw me, she stopped to talk to me.
I worked the whole day. I only stopped to eat my meals.
I had to stop to ask direction many times.
6. a couple of (Para. 1)
two of the same kind or a small number of
More examples:
a couple of days/weeks/months/years, a couple of people, another/first/next/last couple of hours/weeks, etc
7. gossip (Para. 1)
to spend time talking to somebody about other people's behavior and private lives
or about other things that do not concern oneself
8. Another man waters his lawn. (Para. 1)
Like "water", the following nouns can also be used as verbs:
land, screw, face, back, grade, score, question, fish, book, ship, paper, truck, bike, dust, etc
More examples:
The workers are loading goods from a ship.
She slowly backed the car into the garage.
Before we move in we have to paper the room first.
Would you please book a ticket for me?
9. a tremendous roar (Para. 2)
a terrible continuous loud noise, especially made by animals like lions, or by a man or a machine
10. A flash of light plays on his face... (Para. 2)
A flash of light shines on and moves about on his face...
11. .... the man.., stands there speechless. (Para. 2)
"Speechless" here is used as the subject complement denoting the state "the man" is in. It is not used to modify the verb "stands".
More examples:
The sun was burning hot.
He was lying there, fast asleep.
Three months later, she came back home, penniless.
12. from across the street (Para. 2)
The preposition "from" can be followed by another preposition. Draw students' attention to the use of such double prepositions.
More examples:
He jumped from behind the tree.
She drew a gun from inside the drawer.
I came from beyond the mountains.
13. Guess it was a meteor, honey. Came awful close, didn't it? (Para. 7)
Ellipsis is common in speaking. In both of the sentences above, the subject is dropped. "Guess it was..." should be "I guess..." and "Came awful close..." should be "It came awful close..."
14. We see a man screwing in a light bulb on a front porch... (Para. 8)
Let students imagine themselves reporting to the police what they have seen or heard in a serious fight which finally led to a murder case.
They may use the following expressions:
I saw sb do/doing sth
I heard sb do/doing sth
I found sb doing sth
15. .... finding that nothing happens. (Para. 8)
... finding that the light is not on.
nothing happens: used to say that what you do does not bring about a result you expect
More examples:
I knocked at the door for five minutes, but nothing happened. (=There was no answer.)
I shut my eyes and was ready for a good beating, but nothing happened. 16. A man working on an electric power mower plugs in the plug. (Para. 8)
A man who's going to mow his law put the plug of an electric power mower into the socket.
work on: (phrasal verb) to be in the process of doing sth
More examples:
The boy's working on a math problem.
The director's working on a new movie.
17. He turns on the switch, on and off, but nothing happens. (Para. 8)
on and off/off and on: starting, stopping, and starting again
eg It rained off and on for a week.
The man worked in a restaurant on and off.
She's had headache on and off for a couple of years. 18. .... a woman is seen dialing her phone. (Para. 8)
sb is seen doing sth: the passive form of"people see sb doing sth"
More examples:
The man was seen putting his hand into a women's bag.
The girl was seen playing with her pet dog.
19. Operator, something's wrong with the phone. (Para. 9)
Operator, my phone is not working properly.
operator: someone who works for a telephone company, whom you can call for help when you have problems with your phone
something's wrong with... / there's something wrong with...
More examples:
There seems to be something wrong with the computer, but I don't know what it is.
There is nothing seriously wrong with you. You just have a little cold.
20. .... the power's off. (Para. 10)
There is no power; power is no longer connected.
off: (adv especially of machines, electrical devices, lights, etc) not operating because it's not switched on
More examples:
The light was off, and the room was pitch dark.
The heat was off and it was terribly cold.
on: (adv) the opposite of "off'
21. I can't get anybody on the phone, either. (Para. 11)
I can't get anybody to answer the phone. 没人接电话。
22. Phone won't work. (Para. 13)
The phone refuses to work.'
This is another elliptical sentence, in which the definite article "the" is missing.
) indicating future action. It is a won't: here, not an auxiliary verb (助动词
modal verb (情态动词) used to describe a situation that is continuing.
More examples:
He won't stop asking for permission to start a garden in prison. (=He keeps asking... /
He refuses to stop asking...)
The door won't open. (=It's impossible to open the door.)
work: (of a machine or device) to do what it is supposed to do; to operate without failure
More examples:
Our air-conditioner is working beautifully.
This Xerox machine doesn't work. We have to get it fixed. 23. I'll cut through the back yard.., see if the power's still on on Cherry Street. I'll be right back. (Para. 16)
cut through (a place): to go through a place because it is the shortest route to another place
More example:
To get home before dark, the boy decided to cut through the wood.
I'll be right back: I'll be back in a minute.
the power is still on on Cherry Street: The first "on" goes with "is still", the second one with "Cherry Street".
24. Doesn't make sense. (Para. 17)
There doesn't seem to be a good reason or explanation for all this.
(sth) make sense:
1) to have a clear meaning and be easy to understand
eg The instructions don't make any sense at all.
2) to be a sensible thing to do
eg It makes sense to leave early to avoid traffic jams.
3) there seems to be a good reason or explanation for sth
eg Why did she mm down the job? It doesn't seem to make sense.
25. Why should the power and the phone line go off all of a sudden? (Para. 17)
should: (modal verb) used after "why" when giving or asking the reason for sth
More examples:
Why should anyone want to eat dog meat?
Why shouldn't she buy an expensive bag if she can afford it?
all of a sudden: suddenly
26. Maybe it's an electrical storm or something. (Para. 18)
or something: (informal) used to suggest another name, choice, etc that is not specified
More examples:
Sit down and let me get you a cup of tea or something?
Maybe we can go to the movies or something.
27. Well, why don't you go downtown and check with the police? (Para. 21)
Why don't you/we do sth: a way of making a suggestion
More examples:
Why don't you ask Harry for help? He's something of computer expert.
Why don't we all sit down and have a cup of tea?
downtown: (chiefly US) the main or central part of a city or town; the part of a city or town where there are tall buildings, stores, offices, etc
check with sb: to ask sb; to talk with sb in order to get information, approval, etc, about sth
More examples:
You'd better check with yottr doctor to find out whether you can make this long trip.
I'11 check with my lawyer and see what he has to say about this. 28. A little power failure and right away we get all excited. (Para. 21)
As soon as anything goes wrong, we'll get nervous/make a fuss.
Pay attention to the structure of the sentence.
noun phrase + and + a clause indicating result
More examples:
A few nice words and he will do anything for you. (=if you say a few nice words, he will do anything for you.)
One step forward and you are dead! (=As soon as you take one step forward, you'll be dead.)
One more mistake and you are fired! (-If you make one more mistake, you'll be fired.)
29. We'll get this all straightened out. (Para. 23)
straighten sth out: (phrasal verb) to solve a problem or to deal successfully with a confusing situation.
More examples:
It will take a while before the two countries can straighten out their differences.
We still need to straighten out a few things before we sign the agreement. 30. Out of gas? (Para. 25)
Is the car out of gas? / Have you nm out of gas? / You have no more gas?
out of: (a person or a thing) to no longer have sth
More examples:
We're out of sugar/coffee/salt, etc.
The grocery store's out of skim milk.
We must help those who are out of work.
31. I just had it filled up. (para. 26)
I had my car filled with gas a very short time ago.
fill (sth) up: (phrasal verb) to become full, or to make sth become full
eg Our collection box (捐款箱) is filling up fast.
Their eyes filled up with tears when the movie was over. 32. It is just as if... as if everything had stopped. (Para. 28)
More examples of the use of "as if":
He looked as if he had never heard of it. (with a clause)
She opened her mouth as if to say something. (with an infinitive phrase)
He was standing there as if waiting for somebody. (with a present participle
phrase)
The wolves were about to jump on the boy when Maheegun came, as if by magic, to the boy's rescue. (with a preposition phrase)
33. We'd better walk downtown. (Para. 28)
We had better walk downtown.
had better: 1) to make a suggestion when the subject is "we"
eg It's getting dark; we'd better take a taxi home.
2) to give advice if the subject is "you" and what you advise sb to do is for his/her own good
eg You'd better stop smoking.
3) to make a threat if the subject is "you" and what you tell sb to do is for your
own good
eg You'd better give me your gun.
34. It couldn't be the meteor. (Para. 29)
It was not likely to be the meteor
35. jerks his head (Para. 34)
moves his head suddenly and quickly
36. Whoever was in that thing that came by overhead. (Para. 37)
Those who were in that UFO which came flying over our head.
whoever: no matter who
come by: to make a short visit to a place on one's way to somewhere else
overhead: (adv) above your head
37. Whatever gave you that idea? (Para. 40)
What gave you that idea?
"Whatever" here is more emphatic than "what". It is often used to show anger or impatience.
More examples:
It can't be done? Whatever do you mean?
A policeman came? Whatever did he want?
Whatever is the matter with you?
38. From outer space yet! (Para. 42)
(他) 还在说什么“来自外星”呢～
39. .... that boy of yours (Para. 43)
This is more emphatic than "your boy". It is often used to express strong approval or disapproval, here disapproval.
More examples:
That daughter of yours is really sweet.
That coat of yours is dirty!
Look, I' m not at all interested in that car of yours! 40. comic books (Para. 43)
(also comics AmE) magazines that tell children funny stories in pictures 41. And this thing, being so close--why, there's no telling the sort of stuff it can do. (Para. 46)
being so close: as it was so close
why: (inter) used to show that you are surprised or annoyed
More examples:
And her son is so young. Why, he is not yet six.
1 was so busy yesterday. Why, I didn't even have time to eat my meals.
There's no knowing/telling/saying: (informal) It is not possible to know what will happen.
More examples:
There's no telling how long the talks could drag on.
There's no telling what the voters will do in the next election. 42. You might not even be able to get to town. (Para. 49)
might: used here to show sth is possible although you are not certain about it.
More examples:
You might be late ifyou walk there.
I don't know. She might like it.
You might have heard about it.
43. And it wasn't until the ship landed that... (Para. 51)
--一直要到飞船着陆以后才 ......
More examples of "not... until":
It wasn't until this morning that I finally heard the news.
It wasn't until my mother passed away that I realized how much I loved her.
It wasn't until I met you that my life began to have a purpose. 44. .... conscious of his parents staring at him... (Para. 51)
More examples of "conscious of sb doing sth ":
All this time, I was conscious of somebody following me.
He was working so hard. He was not even conscious of somebody entering the room.
45. That was the way they prepared things for the landing; (Para. 51)
the way sb does sth: the manner in which sb behaves or thinks, or in which sth happens
More examples:
That's the way we do things here.
I don't like the way he speaks to the students.
I didn't mind what he said, but the way he said it hurt me. 46. There's laughter at this, but it's a laughter that comes from a desperate attempt to lighten the atmosphere. (Para. 55)
Hearing Tommy's words, some people laugh, not because they think the boy's remarks funny, but because they are terrified and try to reduce people's anxiety about the situation.
47. .... got the same deal (Para. 56)
got the same problem
48. .... the car engine start up all by itself (Para. 58)
... the car engine begins working with nobody operating it.
(all) by itself: (of an object) without a person making it work
More examples:
The door seemed to open all by itself.
For a few minutes, the curtain opened and closed, on and off, all by itself. 49. How come his car just started like that. (Para. 60)
how come: used to ask how or why sth has happened
Note: Unlike the why-question, this does not require inversion (=any change) in the word order.
cf Why didn't you go?
How come you didn't go?
50. And he never did come out... (Para. 62)
Drill students in the use of” do" in affirmative sentences for emphasis.
eg ~ thought you like fish.
--I do like fish, but I'm too full.
Substitutes:
I thought you also went to the party.
I thought you have a sister.
I thought your father worked in the Army.
51. .... the general impression holds that... (Para. 70)
... most people here believe that...
hold: (formal) to have a particular opinion or belief
52. different from us (Para. 70)
Note: "From" is the preposition generally used both in writing and speaking. "To" is common in spoken English. "Different than" is also accepted and used in American English.
Call students' attention to the importance of "adj + prep" collocations, such as different from, interested in, afl.aid of, fond of, sure of, busy with, good at, angry with,
be full of, etc.
53. .... fit that description... (Para. 70)
... is like the person Tommy describes--an alien from outer space sent to Maple Street to prepare for the landing
fit/match a/the description: to be like the description given by the police, witness, etc
More examples:
He doesn't fit the description, he is much too thin.
This is not the house my mother's looking for. It doesn't fit the description.
54. practical joke (Para. 71)
a trick that is intended to give sb a surprise or shock, or to make them look stupid
55. I just don't understand it... any more than any of you do! (Para. 72)
I don't understand why my car engine goes on and off as everybody else doesn't.
not any more than/no more than: used to emphasize that sb does not have a
particular quality or would or does not do sth
More examples:
I don't earn any more than you do. Why do I have to pay more?
I don't want to go any more than you do. But somebody has to go there.
I don't like him any more than you do. But we have to help him. 56. A couple of times... I'd come out here on the porch and I'd see... (Para. 77)
... I would come out here.., and I would see...
would: used to say that sth happened often and regularly in the past
More examples:
Professor Li would always begin a lesson with a quiz.
Whenever he came to Beijing, he'd take an overnight train. 57. She's making it up, anyway. (Para. 78)
make sth up: to invent sth, such as an excuse or a story, often in order to deceive
More examples:
Nobody believed him. He made up the whole story.
The boy made up an excuse to cut classes.
58. There's a quiet that blankets the whole area... (Para. 79)
... the street has become very quiet...
Note: In the sentence "blanket" is used figuratively.
blanket: (v) to cover with or as if with a blanket
eg New grass blankets the river banks.
59. It doesn't seem right, though, keeping watch on them. (Para. 80)
though: (adv) in spite of what the woman says
keep (a) watch on sb: to watch sb carefully to make sure that they are safe or they do not do sth bad
More examples:
The police kept a close watch on a gang of drug dealers.
A nurse sat by the patient's bed and kept watch on him.
60. Maybe under normal circumstances we could let it go by... (Para. 81)
Normally, we could tolerate and ignore all that and wouldn't say anything...
Here "it" refers to Goodman's habit of looking up at the sky in the small hours of the morning.
61. Just stay where you are, Steve. (Para. 82)
Don't come near. / Don't move closer to my house.
62. .... if anybody sets foot on my porch... (Para. 82)
set foot in/on a place: to go to a place, especially when there's sth special about you doing this
More examples:
Neil Armstrong made history when he set,foot on the Moon in 1969.
He would never again set foot in the town which he had left in disgrace.
63. You'd better watch who you're seen with, Steve! ... you aren't exactly above suspicion yourself. (Para. 87)
This is a warning to Steve that if he supports/specks for Goodman, he would be suspected, too.
above/beyond suspicion: definitely not guilty of doing anything wrong
cf under suspicion: believed to be possibly guilty of doing sth wrong
eg After Pearl Harbor, her father was under suspicion simply because he had worked for a Japanese firm.
64. From age eight and up! (Para. 88)
Every one of us living on Maple Street is under suspicion. Everyone who's eight-years old or older.
age eight: (AmE) eight-year old
65. self-appointed hanging judge (Para. 91)
self-appointed: behaving as if you had responsibility or authority but without having been chosen by other people
a hanging judge: a judge who is likely to give severe punishments to people who commit crimes
66. I think we'd better keep our eye on you, too! (Para. 91)
keep our/your/an eye on sb: to keep (a) watch on sb (Refer to Note 59.)
67. I think everything might as well come out now. (Para. 93)
We might soon know who the alien is that has been sent from outer space and
hidden among us.
come out: (of sth that has been kept secret) to become known publicly
More examples:
The truth about what really happened came out finally.
68. Go ahead, what's my wife said.~ let's get it all out. (Para. 95)
tell us what my wife has said. Tell us all she's said. Ok,
go ahead: said to sb in order to give them permission to start to do sth
More examples:
1 ) -- Could I ask a couple of questions?
-- Sure, go ahead.
2) -- Could I go and get some writing paper? I'll be right back.
-- Certainly, go ahead.
get sth out of (sb): to persuade or force sb to give information, etc
69. And then we might as well set up some kind of kangaroo court. (Para. 95)
Note Steve's sarcastic tone throughout paragraph 95. He uses various expressions of making suggestions, such as "Let's do sth", "might as well do sth.", "How about...", etc. Actually he's pointing out that his neighbors are getting unreasonable, and they're turning into a mob.
might as well: used to make a suggestion when what you are suggesting seems to be the only sensible course of action, although you are not enthusiastic about it.
More examples:
I'm not sure what I should do, so I might as well go with the flow (=Do what most people do).
Anyway, you're here; you might as well stay.
If they don't get along, they might as well separate for some time.
kangaroo court: an unofficial court that punishes people illegally and unfairly 70. How about a firing squad at dawn, Charlie, so we can get rid of all the suspects? (Para. 95)
firing squad: a group of soldiers who are ordered to shoot and kill a prisoner 71. How come you're so dense all of a sudden, (Para. 98)
Steve is surprised that Charlie should become so unreasonable that he asks such personal questions. Steve's remarks also suggest that under normal circumstances Charlie is a friendly and reasonable person.
72. a ham radio set (Para. 99)
a radio set operated by a ham--someone who sends and receives radio messages for fun. The word "ham" is often used before another noun, such as a ham radio, a ham radio operator, a ham radio station, etc. Obviously, Steve's radio set can both send and receive messages.
73. You're standing here all set to find a scapegoat--all desperate to point a finger
at a neighbor! (Para. 102)
all set to do sth: to be ready to do sth. It is an adjective phrase, used here as a subject compliment.
More examples:
The team is all set to win the championship.
The little girl was all set to do it herself.
point a/the finger at sb, point an accusing finger at sb: to accuse or blame sb
for sth bad that has happened
More examples:
Whenever something goes wrong, someone will point a finger at me.
It's no use pointing fingers at each other. Let's put our heads together to find a solution.
74. Well now, look, friends, the only thing that's going to happen is that we'll eat each other up alive--- (Para. 102)
If we keep blaming each other, we will get nothing straightened out, and we'll only destroy ourselves.
Here Steve speaks out the message of the teleplay. Have students locate other sentences/ paragraphs that convey the message.
eat sb (up) alive: to be very angry with sb; to criticize sb very angrily; to defeat or destroy sb
More examples:
Once the truth comes out, they will cat us alive.
If they disclose more secret information, the military will eat them alive.
If I fail to meet the deadline for a paper again, Professor Liu will eat me alive.
75. A figure suddenly materializes in the darkness. (Para. 104)
A person suddenly appears unexpectedly in the darkness. / Suddenly, in a strange way, people see the shape of a person in the darkness.
76. In the silence we can hear the slow, measured footsteps on concrete... (Para. 104)
It is very quiet and we can hear the figure's slow, careful and controlled steps. 77. Will you people wise up? (Para. 106)
This is a rhetorical question. Steve is trying to urge Don Martin and some others to think and act sensibly and not to use a gun when they are not certain who the approaching figure is.
you: (informal) often used with a noun when people speak to someone or several people directly.
More examples:
Calm down, you gifts!
You boys, come over.
Will you guys listen to reason?
wise up: to start to think and act in a more intelligently way
78. You'd let whatever's out there walk right over us, wouldn't you? (Para. 107)
Charlie accuses Steve of not doing anything to protect people on Maple Street from the coming Monster.
whatever's out there: whatever's moving toward us whether it's an object, a person or a monster
walk (all) over sb: to defeat them very easily
79. No! No! Please! (Para. 118)
following stage direction describes how violent people on Maple Street The
become. They have turned into a mob attacking Charlie. Ironically, the person who's been most anxiously and madly searching for a scapegoat has now fallen victim to the madness of his neighbors.
80. People in the crowd take this up and repeat the question aloud. (Para. 128)
People pick out a new scapegoat and begin to deal with Tommy who is now suspected of being the monster.
81. Understand the procedure now? (Para. 135)
Question: What procedure?
The procedure of conquering/destroying each human community by causing the people to suspect one another and finally destroy themselves.
82. Then I take it this place.., this Maple Street... is not an exception. (Para. 139)
I suppose this Maple Street is not an exception.
I (can) take it (that)...: I suppose that...
More examples:
I take it that you've heard about Joe's divorce?
Can I take it you're not going to the party?
83. By no means. (Para. 140)
I don't at all think this Maple Street is an exception.
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