现代大学英语（第三版）精读3 课件 B3U6

ContentsUnit6Lead-in

GenerationGapWarm-upQuestionsLead-inGenerationGapPleasewatchthevideoandtrytoanswerthefollowingquestions：1.Haveyouheardoftheterm“generationgap”?Whatdoesitmean?2.Doyouthinkthatdifferentgenerationsoftentendtohavedifferencesintheirviews,interests,habits,andattitudes?Why?3.Haveyoueverexperiencedsuchdifferencesinyourfamily?Warm-upQuestions1.Can

youcalculatethetimeperiodinwhichthestoryisset?Whathappenedduringthisperiodthataffectedeverybody’slifeintheUSandthereforelingeredoninpeople’smemories?2.Whatdoyouthinktheauthoristalkingabouthere?Ishetalkingabouthismother’slifeandtheagingproblemssheisgoingthrough,ortheproblemofthegenerationgap,orboth?3.Whatdoyouthinkoftherelationshipbetweengenerationsinourcountry?Howdoyouthinkthegenerationgapshouldbedealtwith,inlightofthetraditionalChinesevaluesoffilialloveandrespectfortheelderlyandcareandlovefortheyoung,soastoestablishaharmonioussociety?Lead-inText1.Abouttheauthor2.Background

3.Structure4.

Questionstocheckonpre-classwork5.GotothetextInMyDayRussellBakerText1.AbouttheauthorRussellBaker(1925—2019),infullRussellWayneBaker,Americannewspapercolumnist,author,humorist,andpoliticalsatirist,whousedgood-naturedhumortocommentslylyandtrenchantlyonawiderangeofsocialandpoliticalmatters.TextIn1979,hewonthePulitzerPrize,thehighesthonorforAmericanjournalists.ThetextistakenfromhisautobiographyGrowingUp,whichimmediatelybecameabestsellerandreceivedcriticalacclaim.BakerwasbornandraisedinatinyvillageintheVirginiamountains;hisfatherdiedwhenhewasfive,leavinghisschoolteachermotherwiththreechildrentoraise.HowshebroughtherfamilyupandtaughtthemtomakesomethingofthemselvesinthedepthsoftheDepression,isthestorynotonlyofBaker’slifebutofAmerica’s.

WatchthevideoandlearnmoreaboutRussellBaker.2.BackgroundTakenfromBaker’sautobiography,thistextdealswithtwohumanproblems:agingandgenerationgap.Oldageissometimesdescribedromanticallyasthebeautifulsettingsun,throwingitslastbeamsuponthegoldenpond.BertrandRussellcomparedittotheslowdownofamightyriverbeforejoiningthegreatsea.However,thislastphaseofhumanlifeisnotalwaysahappyone.“Oldageisnotforcowards.”Itisbecauseduringthisperiodonegoesthroughmanyphysiologicalandpsychologicalchanges.Hismovementbecomesslow,hishairturnsgray,histeethbegintodrop,hissightandhearingstarttogo.Thingscanactuallygetalotworse.TextTextApartfromtheirphysicalandmentaldeterioration,oldpeoplealsosufferfromloneliness,boredomandlackoflove,likeRussellBaker’smother.Thatiswhytheauthorbelievedthathismother’smindwanderedfreebecauseshewantedtogobacktotheolddayswhenshewasneededandloved,becauseshewantedtorecaptureherhappiness.However,Bakerdidnotunderstandhismothersowellbeforeshebecamesenile,andthisledhimtopondertheweavingofpastandpresentthatflowsthroughallfamilies.Hisregretoverbeing“foreveroutoftouch”withhismothermadehimfeelkeenlytheproblemofgenerationgap.TextThedisconnectionbetweenparentsandchildrenofcourseisnotanewsubject,butinthisarticle,Bakerlooksatthisissuefromboththepointofviewofasonandthepointofviewofafather,thusmakinghisviewsmuchmorebalanced.Unlikesomearticlesinwhichtheoldblametheyoungortheyoungblametheold,thisarticlediscussestheresponsibilitiesofbothgenerations.Hepointsoutthatyoungpeopleshouldunderstandtheimportanceoftheirpast;theyshouldhavemoreinterestinandrespectforwhattheirparentsstandfor—theirlegacy.Ontheotherhand,healsoadvisesoldpeopletoshowunderstandingtoyoungpeople’sgreaterinterestinthefuture,andwarnsthemnottostartlecturingtheyoungalwayswiththeexpression“inmyday.”3.StructureI.Attheageofeighty,mymotherhadabadfall,andhermindbegantowanderfreethroughtime.(paras.1–9)II.Mymotherhadbeenaformidablewomanwhenyoung,determinedandalways“ontherun”.(paras.10–15)III.Igraduallygaveuptryingtoarguemymotherbacktoreality/therealworld.(paras.16–39)1.Shecouldn’trecognizemebutrememberedherbirthday.2.Icametounderstandwhyshedwelledonthedeaddecades.3.Ibegantryingtotravelalongwithherintothepast.IV.Irealizedtherewasadisputeabouttimebetweenmychildrenandme,astherehadbeenbetweenmymotherandme.(paras.40–49)Text4.Questionstocheckonpre-classworkWhatwastheauthor’smotherlikewhenshewasyoung?Whatwerehermostunforgettablecharacteristics?Whathappenedtotheauthor’smotherafterherlastfallattheageofeighty?Whatwerethesymptoms?Aretheproblemstheauthor’smotherencounteredtypicalandinevitable?Doyouthinkit’sagoodideatosendone’sagingparentstoanursinghome?Isthereagenerationgapbetweentheauthorandhismother?Howisitreflectedifyouranswerisyes?Howdoyoulikethisstory?Anycriticisms?TextIn

My

DayRussellBaker1

Attheageofeightymymotherhadherlastbadfall,andafterthathermindwanderedfreethroughtime.Somedaysshewenttoweddingsandfuneralsthathadtakenplacehalfacenturyearlier.OnothersshepresidedoverfamilydinnerscookedonSundayafternoonsforchildrenwhowerenowgraywithage.Throughallthisshelayinbedbutmovedacrosstime,travelingamongthedeaddecadeswithaspeedandeasebeyondthegiftofphysicalscience.2

“Where’sRussell?”sheaskedonedaywhenIcametovisitatthenursinghome.3

“I’mRussell,”Isaid.Text4

Shegazedatthisimprobablyovergrownfigureoutofaninconceivablefutureandpromptlydismissedit.5

“Russell’sonlythisbig,”shesaid,holdingherhand,palmdown,twofeetfromthefloor.ThatdayshewasayoungcountrywifeinthebackyardwithaviewofhazyblueVirginiamountainsbehindtheappleorchard,andIwasastrangeroldenoughtobeherfather.6

EarlyonemorningshephonedmeinNewYork.“Areyoucomingtomyfuneraltoday?”sheasked.7

Itwasanawkwardquestionwithwhichtobeawakened.“Whatareyoutalkingabout,forGod’ssake?”wasthebestreplyIcouldmanage.Text8

“I’mbeingburiedtoday,”shedeclaredbriskly,asthoughannouncinganimportantsocialevent.9

“I’llphoneyouback,”Isaidandhungup,andwhenIdidphonebackshewasallright,althoughshewasn’tallright,ofcourse,andweallknewshewasn’t.10

Shehadalwaysbeenasmallwoman—short,light-boned,delicatelystructured—butnow,underthewhitehospitalsheet,shewasbecomingtiny.Ithoughtofadollwithhuge,fierceeyes.Therehadalwaysbeenafiercenessinher.Itshowedinthatangrychallengingthrustofthechinwhensheissuedanopinion,andagreatoneshehadalwaysbeenforissuingopinions.

Text11“Itellpeopleexactlywhat’sonmymind,”shehadbeenfondofboasting,“whethertheylike

itornot.”12

“It’snotalwaysgoodpolicytotellpeopleexactlywhat’sonyourmind,”Iusedtocautionher.13

“Iftheydon’tlikeit,that’stoobad,”washercustomaryreply,“becausethat’sthewayIam.”14

Andsoshewas,aformidablewoman,determinedtospeakhermind,determinedtohaveherway,determinedtobendthosewhoopposedher.Shehadhurledherselfatlifewithanenergythatmadeherseemalwaysontherun.

Text15Sheranafterchickens,anaxeinherhand,determinedonabeheadingthatwouldputdinnerinthepot.Sheranwhenshemadethebeds,ranwhenshesetthetable.OneThanksgivingsheburnedherselfbadlywhen,runningupfromthecellarevenwiththeceremonialturkey,shetrippedonthestairsandtumbleddown,endingatthebottominthedebrisofgiblets,hotgravy,andbatteredturkey.Lifewascombat,andvictorywasnottothelazy,thetimid,thedrugstorecowboy,themush-mouthafraidtotellpeopleexactlywhatwasonhismind.Sheran.16

Butnowtherunningwasover.ForatimeIcouldnotaccepttheinevitable.AsIsatbyherbed,myimpulsewastoargueherbacktoreality.OnmyfirstvisittothehospitalinBaltimore,sheaskedwhoIwas.Text17

“Russell,”Isaid.18

“Russell’swayoutwest,”sheadvisedme.19“No,I’mrighthere.”20“GuesswhereIcamefromtoday?”washerresponse.21“Where?”22“AllthewayfromNewJersey.”23“No.You’vebeeninthehospitalforthreedays,”Iinsisted.24

Soitwentuntiladoctorcamebytogiveoneofthoseoralquizzesthatmedicalmenapplyinsuchcases.Shefailedcompletely,givingwronganswersornoneatall.Thenasurprise.Text25“Whenisyourbirthday?”heasked.26“November5,1897,”shesaid.Correct.Absolutelycorrect.27“Howdoyourememberthat?”thedoctorasked.28“BecauseIwasbornonGuyFawkesDay.”29“GuyFawkes?”askedthedoctor,“WhoisGuyFawkes?”30SherepliedwitharhymeIhadheardherrecitetimeandagainovertheyears: “PleasetoremembertheFifthofNovember,

Gunpowdertreasonandplot. Iseenoreasonwhygunpowdertreason Shouldeverbeforgot.”Text31ThensheglaredatthisyoungdoctorsoillinformedaboutGuyFawkes’failedschemetoblowKingJamesoffhisthronewithbarrelsofgunpowderin1605.“Youmayknowalotaboutmedicine,butyouobviouslydon’tknowanyhistory,”shesaid.Havingtoldhimexactlywhatwasonhermind,sheleftusagain.32

Thendoctorsdiagnosedahopelesssenilityorhardeningofthearteries.Ithoughtitwasmorecomplicatedthanthat.Fortenyearsormoretheferocitywithwhichshehadonceattackedlifehadbeenturningtoarageagainsttheweakness,theboredom,andtheabsenceoflovethattoomuchagehadbroughther.Now,afterthelastbadfall,sheseemedtohavebrokenchainsthatimprisonedherinalifeshehadcometohateandtoreturntoatimeinhabitedbypeoplewholovedher,atimeinwhichshewasneeded.GraduallyIunderstood.Text33ThreeyearsearlierIhadgonedownfromNewYorktoBaltimore,whereshelived,foroneofmyinfrequentvisitsand,afterwards,hadwrittenherwithsomebanaladvicetolookforthesilverlining,tocountherblessingsinsteadofburdeningotherswithhermiseries.IsupposewhatitreallyamountedtowasathreatthatifshewasnotmorecheerfulduringmyvisitsIwouldnotcometoseeherveryoften.Sonsarecapableofsuchletters.Thisonewaswrittenoutofachildishfaithintheeternalstrengthofparents,anaïvebeliefthatageandwearcouldbeovercomebyaneffortofwill,thatallsheneededwasagoodpeptalktorechargeaflaggingspirit.Text34Shewrotebackinanunusuallycheeryveinintendedtodemonstrate,Isuppose,thatshewasmendingherways.Referringtomyvisit,shewrote:“IfIseemedunhappytoyouattimes,Iam,butthere’sreallynothinganyonecandoaboutit,becauseI’mjustsoverytiredandlonelythatI’lljustgotosleepandforgetit.”Shewasthenseventy-eight.35Nowthreeyearslater,afterthelastbadfall,shehadmanagedtoforgetthefatigueandlonelinessandtorecapturehappiness.IsoonstoppedtryingtoargueherbacktowhatIconsideredtherealworldandtriedtotravelalongwithheronthosefantasticjourneysintothepast.OnedaywhenIarrivedatherbedsideshewasradiant.36

“Feelinggoodtoday,”Isaid.Text37“Whyshouldn’tIfeelgood?”sheasked.“Papa’sgoingtotakemeuptoBaltimoreontheboattoday.”38Atthatmomentshewasayounggirlstandingonawharf,waitingfortheChesapeakeBaysteamerwithherfather,whohadbeendeadsixty-oneyears.WilliamHowardTaftwasintheWhiteHouse,Americawasayoungcountry,andthefuturestretchedbeforeitinbeamsofcrystalsunlight.“ThegreatestcountryonGod’sgreenearth,”herfathermighthavesaid,ifIhadbeenabletostepintomymother’stimemachine.Text39Aboutherfather,mygrandfather,mymother’schildhoodandherpeople,Iknewverylittle.Aworldhadlivedanddied,andthoughitwaspartofmybloodandboneIknewlittlemoreaboutitthanIknewoftheworldofthepharaohs.Itwasuselessnowtoaskforhelpfrommymother.Theorbitsofhermindrarelytouchedpresentinterrogatorsformorethanamoment.40

Sittingatherbedside,foreveroutoftouchwithher,Iwonderedaboutmyownchildren,andchildreningeneral,andaboutthedisconnectionbetweenchildrenandparentsthatpreventsthemfromknowingeachother.Childrenrarelywanttoknowwhotheirparentswerebeforetheyareparents,andwhenagefinallystirstheircuriositythereisnoparentlefttotellthem.Ifaparentdoesliftthecurtainabit,itisoftenonlytostuntheyoungwithsomeexemplarytaleofhowmuchharderlifewasintheolddays.Text41

Ihadbeenguiltyofthiswhenmychildrenweresmallintheearly1960sandlivingtheaffluentlife.Itirritatedmethattheirchildhoodsshouldbe,asIthought,soeasywhenmyownhadbeen,asIthought,sohard.Ihaddevelopedthehabitoflecturingthemontheharshnessoflifeinmyday.42

“Inmydayallwegotfordinnerwasmacaroniandcheese,andweweregladtogetit.”43

“Inmydaywedidn’thaveanytelevision.”44

“Inmyday…”45

“Inmyday…”Text46

Atdinneroneeveningasonhadoffendedmewithaninadequatereportcard,andasIclearedmythroattolecture,hegazedatmewithanexpressionofunutterableresignationandsaid,“Tellmehowitwasinyourday,Dad.”47

Iwasangrywithhimforthat,butangrierwithmyselfforhavingbecomeoneofthoseancientboreswhosehighlyselectivememoriesofthepastbecometransparentlydishonesteventosmallchildren.Itriedtobreakthehabit,butmusthavefailed.Betweenustherewasadisputeabouttime.Helookeduponthetimethathadbeenmyfutureinadisturbingway.Myfuturewashispast,andbeingyoung,hewasindifferenttothepast.Text48

AsIhoveredovermymother’sbedlisteningforsomesignalsfromherchildhood,Irealizedthatthissamedisputehadexistedbetweenherandme.Whenshewasyoung,withlifeaheadofher,Ihadbeenherfutureandresentedit.Instinctively,Iwantedtobreakfree,andceasebeingacreaturedefinedbyhertime.Well,Ihadfinallydonethat,andthenwithmyownchildrenIhadseenmyexcitingfuturebecomingtheirboringpast.49

Thesehopelessend-of-the-linevisitswithmymothermademewishIhadnotthrownoffmyownpastsocarelessly.Weallcomefromthepast,andchildrenoughttoknowwhatitwasthatwentintotheirmaking,toknowthatlifeisabraidedcordofhumanitystretchingupfromtimelonggone,andthatitcannotbedefinedbythespanofasinglejourneyfromdiapertoshroud.

(1,763words)Text我年轻的时候拉塞尔·贝克1

我母亲80岁的时候，摔了一跤，这最后一跤摔得很厉害。此后她的思绪便穿越时空，自由遨游了。有时候，她去参加半个世纪之前举行的婚礼和葬礼。有时候，她在星期天下午，为现已头发花白的子女主持家庭晚宴。她躺在床上进行这些活动，飞快、自如地在已逝去的岁月里穿越，这些依靠自然科学可做不到。2

“拉塞尔在哪儿？”有一天我到疗养院去看她时，她这么问我。3

“我就是拉塞尔，”我说。Text4

她盯着这个来自遥远未来、大个子的人，立即否认了我的话。5

“拉塞尔只有这么高，”她一边说，一边在离地面两英尺处，手心向下比划着。那天她是个年轻的乡村已婚妇人，站在后院里，看着苹果园后面蓝色的弗吉尼亚山脉；而我则是个论年龄都能当她父亲的陌生人。6 一天清晨，她给在纽约的我打电话。“今天你来参加我的葬礼吗？”她问。7 我被这个莫名其妙的问题弄醒了。“天哪，你胡说些什么呀？”这是我能给她的最好回应。Text8

“今天我就要下葬了，”她轻快地说，好似在宣布一件重大的社交活动。9 “我过会儿给你打过去，”我说完就立即挂断了电话。当我打回去的时候，她好像正常了。当然她不是真的正常了，这点我们都清楚。10 她一辈子体形娇小——矮个子，轻骨架，身材娇弱——现在躺在医院白色床单下面，变得更小了，像个玩具娃娃，眼睛特别大，目光犀利。她身上一直有股不服输的倔劲。她发表观点时，总是气鼓鼓地、挑战性地抬起下巴。这表情充分显现出这种性格。她一贯勇于发表自己的看法。Text11

“我都是有什么说什么，”她喜欢这样自夸，“不管别人喜不喜欢。”12 “把自己的看法如实告诉他人，不见得总是最好的处事原则，”我以往多次提醒她。13 “他们要是不喜欢，那也没办法，”她一贯如此回答，“因为这是我的处事方式。”14

这就是她的为人，她是个令人敬畏、心直口快、一意按自己的方式办事的人，决意要说服与她意见相左的人。对待生活，她总是全力以赴，看上去总是奔忙不休。Text15

她拿着斧子追赶鸡群，一定要宰一只来做菜。她小跑着整理床铺，小跑着摆餐桌。有一年的感恩节，她端着火鸡这道节日大菜，从地下室往上跑的时候，绊了一跤，在楼梯上摔倒，一直滚到楼梯底部，身上沾满了火鸡内脏的碎片、滚烫的肉汁以及摔成碎块的火鸡。她那次严重烫伤了。生活就是战斗，胜利不属于懒人，不属于胆小鬼，不属于游手好闲的人，也不属于不敢说心里话的人。她不断地奔跑。16

但是现在，她的奔跑结束了。有一段时间，我都无法接受这事实。每当我坐在她床边时，我都本能地想把她劝说回现实。我第一次到巴尔的摩的那家医院探视她的时候，她问我是谁。Text17

“拉塞尔，”我说。18 “拉塞尔远在西部，”她纠正我。19 “不，我就在这儿。”20 “猜猜我今天是从哪儿来的？”这是她的回答。21 “哪儿来的？”22 “大老远从新泽西来的。”23 “不对，你在这医院已经有三天了，”我坚持说。24

对话就这样进行下去，直到来了一位医生，对她进行了一次医务人员对这类病人惯用的口头测试。她完成得一塌糊涂，要么回答错误，要么答不上来。突然有个问答让我们惊讶万分。Text25

“你的生日是哪天？”医生问。26 “1897年11月5号，”她说。正确，百分之百正确。27 “你怎么记住这日子的？”医生问道。28 “因为我生于盖伊·福克斯日。”29 “盖伊·福克斯？”医生问道，“谁是盖伊·福克斯？”30

她用这些年来经常背诵的一个顺口溜来回答：

“请记住11月5号这个日子，

那天发生了火药叛国的阴谋大事。

我认为那火药叛国事件

没理由会被忘记。”Text31

她瞥了那医生一眼，他居然连盖伊·福克斯在1605年要用成桶的炸药把詹姆斯国王轰下王位的未遂计划一无所知。“你也许有很多医学知识，可你显然对历史一无所知，”她说。说完她想说的话之后，她又丢下我们不理不问了。32

医生们诊断是“无可挽救的衰老”，或者“动脉硬化”。我认为情况要更复杂。十多年来，她那与生活抗争的猛劲，已经逐渐转化成了对年迈导致的衰弱、无聊、缺少他人疼爱等种种状况的愤怒。现在，最后狠狠摔了一跤之后，她倒好像是挣脱了将她禁锢在她所痛恨的生活中的锁链，回到从前那个周围人都疼爱她、需要她的年代。我渐渐明白了这一切。Text33

三年前，她住在巴尔的摩，我从纽约去看望她。我并不经常去看她，而那次见面后，我给她写了封信，老生常谈地劝她尽量寻找生活中高兴的事，想想自己幸运的地方，不要再唠唠叨叨抱怨自己的苦难，让人为她操心。现在看来这番话等于是警告她，如果以后再去看她时，她还是不高兴，我就不会常去了。儿子是写得出这种信的。写这样的信是出于孩子对父母“永恒力量”的愚蠢信任，天真地相信年迈和体衰可以用意志力克服，而一番激励打气的话就能给她渐渐衰退的精神充电。Text34

她用异常高兴的语气给我回了信，我想这是要表现她在努力改正。提起我的那次探视，她写道：“如果你觉得我有时看上去不高兴，我的确是不高兴。不过这事谁都无能为力，因为我太疲倦、太孤单了，我只想睡觉，忘掉这些。”那年她78岁。35 现在，过了三年，她严重摔伤，倒是真的忘却了疲惫和孤单，重获了幸福感。我不再试图把她拉回到我认为真实的那个世界，而是尽量随她一起踏上美妙的旅程，回到过去的岁月。一天我来到她床边时，她神采奕奕。36 “今天感觉不错吧，”我说。Text37

“难道我不应该高兴吗？”她问。“爸爸今天要带我坐船到巴尔的摩去。”38 那时的她是个年轻姑娘，站在码头上和父亲一起等候切萨皮克湾的汽轮——她的父亲61年前就去世了。那时，威廉·霍华德·塔夫脱已入主白宫，美国还是个年轻的国家，前程无量。“上帝创造的绿色地球上最伟大的国家，”我想她父亲可能这样对她说，假如我能搭乘她的时光机的话。Text39

关于她的父亲，也就是我的外祖父，她的童年以及她的亲人，我了解很少。一个世界存在过，又消失了，尽管我与这个世界有着莫大的联系，但我对它，就如同对古埃及法老们所生活的世界那样，知之甚少。现在再向我母亲求助，已为时过晚。问她问题，她的思绪只能在提问人身上停留片刻。40 坐在她床边，近在咫尺，却永远无法再沟通，此刻我开始思考我自己的孩子，所有的孩子，以及阻碍孩子与父母相互了解的因素。孩子很少想了解父母在成为自己的爸妈之前是什么样的人。当自己老了，年龄最终激起他们的好奇心时，已无父母来告诉他们任何事了。如果有家长稍稍给孩子讲述一点他们过去的生活，往往都是进行道德教育，讲他们小时候生活如何艰难，这使孩子无言以对。Text41

我曾对自己的这种做法感到内疚。20世纪60年代早期，我的子女还小，他们过着优裕的生活。我那时想，他们的童年如此安逸，而我的童年却那么艰苦，这使我愤愤不平。因此我养成一个习惯，通过给他们讲我小时候艰辛的生活来教导他们。42 “我小时候，我们的正餐就是意大利面条加奶酪，有这些我们就很高兴了。”43 “我小时候，我们没有电视。”44 “我小时候……”45 “我小时候……”Text46

一天晚上吃饭时，儿子的一张不尽如人意的成绩单惹怒了我。我清了清嗓子，打算教训他。他盯着我，神色难以形容，一副无可奈何的样子，“说吧，爸爸，说说你小时候的事。”47

我对他很生气，不过我对自己更生气，因为我已经成了一个唠唠叨叨、令人厌烦的老古董了，我只记得我想记住的往事，这种不诚实的记忆就连很小的孩子也能看穿。我也曾试图改掉这个毛病，但肯定是失败了。我和他对时间的认识有差异。他以一种不安的心态看待曾经是我的未来的那段时间。我的未来是他的过去。他还小，对过去不感兴趣。Text48

当我待在母亲床边，听她说话，想了解些有关她童年的蛛丝马迹时，我认识到我和她之间也存在同样的差异。她年轻的时候，未来的生活等待着她，而那时我就是她的未来，但我却讨厌这种状况。我不自觉地想摆脱这种状况，不再按照她的标准生活。我最终实现了这个愿望，但是之后从我自己的孩子身上，我看着曾令我兴奋不已的未来成为令他们厌烦的过去。49

在我母亲生命的最后阶段，我的这些不抱希望的探视使我由衷地希望自己不曾如此轻率地抛弃过去。我们所有人都来自过去，子女应该了解是什么塑造了现在的他们，他们应该知道生命是全人类拧成的一股绳，由远古时代延伸至今，它不是一个从尿布到寿衣的单一旅程。Text

…forchildrenwhowerenowgraywithage....forchildrenwhowerenowoldpeoplewithgrayhair.with:becauseofe.g.1)Hisfacewasbluewithanger.2)Shewasbeamingwithexcitement.3)Herfingerswerenumbwithcold.TextAnalysis

…travelingamongthedeaddecadeswithaspeedandeasebeyondthegiftofphysicalscience....travelingamongthepastdecadessoquicklyandeasilythatnophysicalsciencewouldbeabletomanagetodoit.gift:ability;talente.g.1)Thelittlegirlhasagiftfordrawing.2)Hehasmanynaturalgifts.physicalscience

自然科学TextAnalysis

nursinghome:

aplacewherepeoplewhoareoldorwhoareunabletotakecareofthemselvescanliveandbetakencareofTextAnalysis

Shegazedatthisimprobablyovergrownfigureoutofaninconceivablefutureandpromptlydismissedit.ShelookedsteadilyatmeandcouldnotrecognizemebecauseIwasmuchtoobigforthesoninhermind.ShesimplycouldnotimaginethedistantfuturewhenherlittleRussellwouldbethattallandbig.Thereforesheimmediatelyputthatthoughtoutofhermind.TextAnalysis

ThatdayshewasayoungcountrywifeinthebackyardwithaviewofhazyblueVirginiamountainsbehindtheappleorchard,andIwasastrangeroldenoughtobeherfather.Thatdayshewasayoungcountrywifeinthebackyardbehindtheappleorchard,fromwhichshecouldseethehazyblueVirginiamountains.Shecouldnotassociatethisstrangeroldenoughtobeherfatherwithhersonwhowasonlyastallastwofeetfromtheflooratthattime.TextAnalysis

ThatdayshewasayoungcountrywifeinthebackyardwithaviewofhazyblueVirginiamountainsbehindtheappleorchard,andIwasastrangeroldenoughtobeherfather.Virginiamountainsbehindtheappleorchard:VirginiaissituatedontheeastcoastoftheU.S.Itisoneofthe13originalstates,andassuch,thenameandthementionofitsmountainsandappleorchardsoftenarousenostalgicfeelingsinAmericans.TextAnalysis

“Areyoucomingtomyfuneraltoday?”sheasked.Thewayshetalkedaboutherownfuneralwasclearlyanindicationthathermindwasgoing.JustamomentagoshemighthavebeenstillayoungcountrywomaninVirginia.Itshowedhowhermindcouldwanderfreeintime.TextAnalysis

Itwasanawkwardquestionwithwhichtobeawakened.Oneexpectedtohearanimportantandurgentmessagewhenheisawakenedsoearlyinthemorning.ButwhatRussellheardwassimplyaquestionwhichwassillyandimpossibletoanswer.awkward:difficult;unpleasant;uncomfortableTextAnalysis

“I’mbeingburiedtoday,”shedeclaredbriskly,asthoughannouncinganimportantsocialevent.“I’mgoingtobeburiedtoday,”shesaidquickly,asifannouncinganimportantsocialevent.Note:thepassivepresentcontinuoustenseisusedtodenoteafutureevent.TextAnalysis

Therehadalwaysbeenafiercenessinher.Whatevershedid,shediditdeterminedly,withgreateffort.TextAnalysis

Itshowedinthatangrychallengingthrustofthechinwhensheissuedanopinion,andagreatoneshehadalwaysbeenforissuingopinions.Thischaractertraitofherswasshownwhensheexpressedanopinion.Shewouldstickoutherchinangrilyanddefiantly.Whenevershehadsomethingtosay,shewouldsayit,neverafraidofspeakinghermind.Trytoturn“andagreatoneshehadalwaysbeenforissuingopinions”intonormalorder.TextAnalysis

“It’snotalwaysgoodpolicytotellpeopleexactlywhat’sonyourmind,”Iusedtocautionher.“It’snotalwayswisetotellpeopleyouropinions,”Iusedtowarnher.policy:anidea,belieforprinciplethatguidesthewayyouliveorbehavee.g.1)Istillthinkhonestyisthebestpolicy.2)Underthecircumstances,silencehasalwaysbeenhispolicy.3)“It’smypolicynottosayanythingtothepress,”saidthepopstar.(sb./sth.)beonone’smind:bethinkingandworryingabout(sb./sth.)e.g.1)Youlooktroubled.Isthereanythingonyourmind?2)Don’tbotherthesalesmanager.He’sgotalotonhismind.3)Finallyhedecidedtospitoutwhatwasreallyonhismind.TextAnalysis

“It’snotalwaysgoodpolicytotellpeopleexactlywhat’sonyourmind,”Iusedtocautionher.(sb./sth.)beonone’smind:bethinkingandworryingabout(sb./sth.)e.g.Youlooktroubled.Isthereanythingonyourmind?Don’tbotherthesalesmanager.He’sgotalotonhismind.Finallyhedecidedtospitoutwhatwasreallyonhismind.TextAnalysis

“Iftheydon’tlikeit,that’stoobad,”washercustomaryreply,“becausethat’sthewayIam.”Iftheydon’tlikeit,that’stoobad,butthereisnothingIcandoaboutitbecausethatismyhabit.Wemustnotthinkthattheauthor’smotherwasreallyapologetic.No,shewasawomanofstrongcharacter.Shewasusedtohavingthingsherownway.Shelikedtosayexactlywhatwasonhermind,andwasproudofit.TextAnalysis

Andsoshewas,aformidablewoman,determinedtospeakhermind,determinedtohaveherway,determinedtobendthosewhoopposedher.soshewas:thatwasthekindofwomanshewasPayattentiontotheuseoftheword“so.”bend:causesb.tosubmitoryieldTextAnalysis

Shehadhurledherselfatlifewithanenergythatmadeherseemalwaysontherun.Whatevershedid(housework,raisingchildren,etc.),shediditwithgreateffortandspeed,sosheseemedtobealwaysrunning.hurl…at:throwat,withalotofforceon:usedtoindicateastateorconditionofsth.ontherun:alwaysbusyorinahurryAlso:ontheincrease;onthedecline;onfireTextAnalysis

Sheranafterchickens,anaxeinherhand,determinedonabeheadingthatwouldputdinnerinthepot.determinedonabeheadingthatwouldputdinnerinthepot:determinedtokillachickenandcookitfordinnerNote:thehumorouseffectachievedbyusingaformalwordlike“beheading”andbydescribingthedramaticsceneofayoungcountrywomanrunningafterchickenswithanaxeinhand.TextAnalysis

…shetrippedonthestairsandtumbleddown,endingatthebottominthedebrisofgiblets,hotgravy,andbatteredturkey.Asshewasrunningupstairswiththeturkey,shestumbled,felldown,andlandedatthebottomofthestairs.Theturkeyflewfromherplattertotheground,withitsgiblets,hotgravyallovertheplace.TextAnalysis

Lifewascombat,andvictorywasnottothelazy,thetimid,thedrugstorecowboy,themush-mouthafraidtotellpeopleexactlywhatwasonhismind.Inthedaysoftheauthor’smother,thePuritanworkethicwasstillverystrong.Lifewasastruggle,afight.Workhaditsmoralvalue.victorywasnotto:victorydidnotbelongtoTextAnalysis

Lifewascombat,andvictorywasnottothelazy,thetimid,thedrugstorecowboy,themush-mouthafraidtotellpeopleexactlywhatwasonhismind.Note:Cowboysarepeopleemployedtolookaftercattle,especiallyonhorseback,inNorthAmerica.Americansstillthinkofcowboystodayashonest,independent,andstrongmen.Thisromanticviewcomesmorefrommoviesandbooksthanfromreallife.Peoplethinkofcowboysaswearingbluejeans,cowboyboots,andaspeciallargehat.Adrugstorecowboyisa