Lecture 13 The Midnight Visitor

1、The Midnight VisitorLecture 13Main ContentsLead-InReading ComprehensionDiscussionFast ReadingAssignmentsLead-inI. PredictionHow do you think of “The Midnight Visitor”? PredictionA strangerA mysterious personAn evil personA secret agentLead-inII. DiscussionWhats the image of a spy in the movies? Desc

2、riptionHandsome or beautiful Calm Quick-mindedStrong bodyStrong-willedReading ComprehensionThe Midnight Visitor (P. 218)Reading ComprehensionRead the text quickly, then finish the exercises on p. 222-3.EspionageEspionage refers to secret attempts to gather confidential information, usually of a poli

3、tical, military or industrial nature. Espionage activities are primarily carried out by individual nations to gain data on other nations. EspionageOne of the most notorious espionage institutions in the world is the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the U.S.A., which was established in 1947. Alth

4、ough espionage is not illegal under international law, every country has laws against other nations spying on them.II. Answer the questions: 1. Who is the main character of the story? 2. What was Ausable? 3. Was he a good spy? 4. Whats the first impression of Ausable on Fowler? II. Answer the questi

5、ons: 5. What are the qualities that make Ausable a good spy? Strong in body and in mindQuick-wittedTacticalKnowledgeableResourcefulGallantReading ComprehensionI. Read the text once again and find out the places where you could feel the suspense. Examples1. For halfway across the room, a small automa

6、tic pistol in his hand, stood a man. (L. 35)Examples2. Fowler jumped at the sudden knocking at the door. (L. 80) Examples3. The knocking at the door became louder and a voice was raised. (L. 94)Examples4. The doorknob turned. (L. 101)III. Stylistic Devices1. HumorCan you find out the sentences that

7、can show the humor of the author? Ausable did not fit the description of any secret agent Fowler had ever read about. (L.1)It was a small room, on the sixth and top floor, and scarcely a setting for a romantic figure. (L.4)Instead, you have spent a dull evening in a French music hall with a sloppy f

8、at man who, instead of having messages slipped into his hand by dark-eyed beauties, gets only an ordinary telephone call making an appointment in his room. (L. 17)Except for the gun, he did not look very dangerous. (L.46)I thought that such an important paper as the one we are waiting for should hav

9、e a little extra protection. (L.86)2. Foreshadowing Can you find any clues that indicate there was actually no balcony and the man knocking at the door was not a policeman before you came to the end of the story? Fowlers eyes went to the single window of the room. It was an ordinary window. (L.56)The management promised to block it off. But they havent. (L. 68)Retelling Please make