新编英语教程 7 Unit 14

1、Unit 14. Text I Reading the River Mark Twain I. Pre-reading and Brainstorming: v1. Please refer to the note about the author life experience and literary works. v2. What does the author compare to the river? Have you read some essays describing a river? v3. Can you imagine what a river looks like at

2、 sunset or on a moonlight night? Do you think you would enjoy the scene? About the author vMark Twain, pseudonym of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), American writer and humorist, whose best work is characterized by broad, often irreverent humor or biting social satire. Twains writing is also kn

3、own for realism of place and language, memorable characters, and condemnation of hypocrisy and oppression. vDid You Know vMark Twain, the pseudonym used by Samuel Langhorne Clemens, first appeared on February 3, 1863, in a piece he contributed to the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise. vPrior to a

4、dopting Mark Twain as his pen name, Clemens wrote under the pen name Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass for three humorous pieces he contributed to the Keokuk Post. vOn the Mississippi River, mark twain meant two fathoms deep. vTwain received an honorary doctorate from Oxford University in 1907.To pay off d

5、ebts accumulated as a result of failed business ventures, Twain toured the world as a lecturer, publishing his experiences in Following the Equator (1897). About the river vThe Mississippi River is the largest river system in North AmericaFlowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in we

6、stern Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for 2,320 miles (3,730 km)to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippis watershed drains all or parts of 31 U.S. states between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains and even reaches into southern Canada

7、. The Mississippi ranks fourth longest and tenth largest among the worlds rivers. vDictionary Work vwithout reserve without holding anything back; openly and freely vvoid of interest without any interest vdimplea depression or a small hollow on a surface vmajesticmagnificent, grand, stately vconspic

8、uouseasily seen, obvious vopala precious stone of a milky white color which seems to change in color according to its surroundings 蛋白石 vruddy flush reddish flow of water vradiatesend out light in all directions vruffled trail uneven path vbewitchedcharmed, enchanted, fascinated vrapturegreat joy and

9、 delight vwroughtformed, made vslicksmooth and slippery vstreaka long stripe on a surface which contrasts with the surface because it is a different color Quiz for “Reading the river” vAfter reading the essay, take this short quiz, v1. In the opening sentence of Two Ways of Seeing a River, Twain int

10、roduces a metaphor, comparing the Mississippi River to (A) a snake (B) a language (C) something wet (D) a beautiful woman with a deadly disease (E) the devils highway v2.In the first paragraph, Twain employs the technique of repeating key words to emphasize a main point. What is this repeated line?

11、(A) the majestic river! (B) I had made a valuable acquisition. (C) I still keep in mind a wonderful sunset. (D) I had lost something. (E) All the grace, the beauty, the poetry. v3.The detailed description that Twain provides in paragraph one is recalled from whose point of view? (A) an experienced s

12、teamboat captain (B) a small child (C) a beautiful woman with a deadly disease (D) Huckleberry Finn (E) Mark Twain himself, when he was an inexperienced steamboat pilot v4.In the first paragraph, Twain describes the river as having a ruddy flush. Define the adjective ruddy. (A) crude, rough, unfinis

13、hed condition (B) having a sturdy build or strong constitution (C) inspiring pity or compassion (D) reddish, rosy (E) neat and orderly v5.How are Twains comments on the sunset scene in the second paragraph different from his descriptions of it in the first paragraph? (A) The experienced pilot is now

14、 able to read the river rather than marvel at its beauty. (B) The older man has grown bored with life on the river and simply wants to return home. (C) The river looks strikingly different at sunset from the way it appears at dawn. (D) The river is suffering as a result of pollution and physical dec

15、ay. (E) The older and wiser man perceives the true beauty of the river in ways that the younger man would probably make fun of. v6.In paragraph two, Twain employs which figure of speech in the line concerning the rivers face? (A) mixed metaphor (B) oxymoron (C) personification (D) epiphora (E) euphe

16、mism v7.In the final paragraph, Twain raises questions in regard to the way that a doctor might examine the face of a beautiful woman. This passage is an example of what technique? (A) wandering away from the subject (B) drawing an analogy (C) making a transition to an entirely new topic (D) deliber

17、ate word-for-word repetition to achieve emphasis (E) anti-climax vANSWERS: 1. B; 2. D; 3. E; 4. D; 5. A; 6. C; 7. B. vIII. Language Points And Difficult Points vL15: trained eyes: experienced pilot vL18: trifling feature: insignificant characteristics vLL.21-22. I still kept in mindwhen steamboating

18、 was new to me.-I could still recall a sunset scene which I had watched and which had impressed me so favorably soon after I became a sailor. vL31: splendor: excellent or grand beauty, maginificance. vL.35. I stood like one bewitched. I drank it in, in a speechless rapture.-I remained standing, tota

19、lly absorbed in it, with a joy and excitement beyond verbal expression /that could not be expressed in language. vLL.36-39. But as I have said, a daywhen I ceased altogether to note them.-However, as I mentioned earlier, gradually, the splendid reflections of the sun, the moon, and the stars on the

20、river surface began to lose their attention /no longer attracted my attention and, eventually, they did not seem to mean anything at all to me. vLL.39-41. Then, if that sunset sceneafter this fashion:-If that same sunset had reoccurred /If I had a second chance to see the same sunset, I would have w

21、atched it without feeling excited any longer, and I would have said to myself, in this way. vL48: to fish for: to catch fish v To fish for steamboat: to be the trouble of steamboats vLL.52-54. All the value any feature of itthe safe piloting of a steamboat.-The only meaning any peculiar motion on th

22、e water surface, that used to be an expression of beauty and romance to me, now held was as a useful guide helping to ensure a safe voyage. vL57: hidden decay: an underlying serious disease IV.Comprehension and Analysis: v1. Main ideas: vBy making contrasts between the uneducated and knowledgeable v

23、iew of the same sunset scene on the Mississppi river, the author concludes that knowledge works against beauty and robs it of romance. v2. Purpose of writing: vto tell reader one should not lose aesthetic ability even if he has mastered the professional skills. v3. Organization and Development: vPar

24、t I (para1.): General description of the river by two contrasting views. Contrast and analogy are used in this paragraph. v1) analogy: the river a book v2) contrast between the uneducated passengers view and the trained eye v3)Conclusion: the basic difference lies in the fact that the uneducated pas

25、senger sees the natural beauty of the scene, which is lost to the trained eye. Whatever the latter sees is related to the professional and practical use. vPart(para.2-3): Specific description of the sunset scene of the river by two contrasting views. vConclusion: The same scene no longer held beauty

26、 to the author, what was left was only its practical and professional significance. vPart(para.4) By taking further example, the author laments the fact that human beings might suffer the loss of the ability to perceive and appreciate beauty and romance, which result from their professional training

27、. v. v4. Method: contrast, analogy. v5. Figures of speech: metaphor, personification, alliteration. v6. Descriptive details are employed to appeal to the readers senses, e.g. in para 2. and para 3. the marvelous lights and color are full of imagination and charms v7. Difficult sentences for paraphra

28、sing: vLine 11-13: It is the most insignificant and commonplace expression the water ever makes, and the most horrible to a pilots eye. vL.41we have very little to be thankful for in that. vL.14-16- to the experienced pilot, these were not pictures, but the most horrible signs and the most serious warnings. vL.56 Are not all her visible charm full of what are to the doctor the signs of an underlying disease. 课文翻译(学生译文）（ v 水面在一定时候就会变成一本内容丰富的好 的书：这本书对于从没有过水上航行经历的 人来说就是天书，而毫无保留得告诉我它的 精髓，似乎用低沉而又清晰的声音对那些人 表达它最珍贵的秘密。并且它不是一本可以 看一遍就放在一边的书，因为每天都有新的 故事。在那1200米的长河里任何一处都充满 吸引力。 v从未领略过它风采的游客们被那奇特的令