1、 Pre-Reading TaskPre-Reading Task While-Reading TaskWhile-Reading Task After-Reading Task After-Reading Task Unit 1:Text BUnit 1:Text B第1页1.Which of the following words can best describe the character of your mother?open frank kind talkative shy patient easy-going hard-working good-natured quick-tem
2、pered2.Can you give one or two examples to support your choice?Now read the passage and try to find out what the author Now read the passage and try to find out what the author thinks of her mother.thinks of her mother.Pre-reading TaskPre-reading TaskExercise 1 Before reading the passage,think over
3、the questions.Exercise 1 Before reading the passage,think over the questions.第2页Text BText BDetailed Study Detailed Study of the Textof the TextWhile-Reading TaskWhile-Reading Task第3页While-Reading TaskWhile-Reading Task Text B Text B My Mothers Desk My Mothers Desk 1 1 Im Im sitting sitting at at my
4、 my mothers mothers desk,desk,a a mahogany mahogany secretary secretary with with a a writing writing leaf leaf that that folds folds down down to to reveal reveal rows rows of of cubbyholes cubbyholes and and tiny tiny drawers drawers even even a a sliding sliding secret secret partment.Ive Ive lov
5、ed loved it it since since I I was was just just tall tall enough enough to to see see above above the the leaf leaf as as Mother Mother sat sat doing doing letters.letters.Standing Standing by by her her chair,chair,staring staring at at the the ink ink bottle,bottle,pens pens and and smooth smooth
6、 white white paper,paper,I I decided decided that that the the act act of of writing must be the most delightful thing in the world.writing must be the most delightful thing in the world.第4页While-Reading TaskWhile-Reading Task 2 2 Years Years later,later,during during her her final final illness,ill
7、ness,Mother Mother reserved reserved various various items items for for my my sister sister and and brother.brother.“But“But the the desk,”desk,”shed shed repeat,repeat,“is“is for for Elizabeth.”Elizabeth.”I I sensed sensed Mother Mother communicating communicating with with this this gift,gift,a a
8、 communication Id communication Id cravedcraved for 50 years.for 50 years.3 3 My My mother mother was was brought brought up up in in the the Victorian Victorian belief belief that that emotions emotions were were private.private.Nice Nice people people said said only only nice nice things.things.I
9、I never never saw saw her her angry,angry,never never saw saw her her cry.cry.I I knew knew she she loved loved me;me;she she expressed expressed it it in in action.action.But But as as a a teenager teenager I I yearned yearned forfor heart-to-heart heart-to-heart talks talks between between mother
10、and daughter.mother and daughter.第5页While-Reading TaskWhile-Reading Task4 4 They They never never happened.happened.And And a a gulfgulf opened opened between between us.us.I I was was“too“too emotional”.emotional”.She She lived lived“on on the the surfacesurface”.”.She She was was willing willing t
11、o to accept accept the the relationship relationship on on these these terms.terms.I was not.I was not.5 5 As As years years passed passed and and I I raised raised my my own own family,family,I I loved loved the the equilibriumequilibrium Mothers Mothers visits visits brought brought to to our our
12、home,home,her her sense sense of of humor,humor,the the way way she she sat sat at at the the piano piano and and filled filled the the house house with with music.music.But But still still I I kept kept trying trying to to draw draw from from her her what what she she could could not not give,give,
13、a a sharing sharing of of the the deep deep places of her heart.places of her heart.第6页6 6 At At last last I I set set my my feelings feelings downdown on on paper.paper.Only Only one one page,page,the the letter letter took took all all day day to to write.write.I I told told Mother Mother I I love
14、d loved her her and and thanked thanked her her for for our our harmonious harmonious home.home.ForgiveForgive me,me,I I wrote,wrote,for for having having been been criticalcritical.In In careful careful words,words,I I asked asked her her to to let let me me know know in in any any way way she she
15、chose chose that that she she did forgive me.did forgive me.7 7 I I mailed mailed the the letter letter and and waited waited eagerly eagerly for for her her reply.reply.None came.None came.8 8 EagernessEagerness turned turned toto disappointmentdisappointment,then then resignationresignation and,an
16、d,finally,finally,peace.peace.I I couldnt couldnt be be sure sure that that the the letter letter had had even even gotten gotten to to Mother.Mother.I I only only knew knew that that having having written written it,it,I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.I could stop trying to
17、make her into someone she was not.For the last 15 years of her life we enjoyed For the last 15 years of her life we enjoyed a relationship a relationship on her terms on her terms light,affectionate,light,affectionate,cheerfulcheerful.While-Reading TaskWhile-Reading Task第7页9 9 Now Now the the gift g
18、ift of of her her desk desk told told me,me,as as shed shed never never been been able able to,to,that that she she was was pleased pleased that that writing writing was was my my chosen chosen work.work.1010 My sister stored the desk until we could pick it up.My sister stored the desk until we coul
19、d pick it up.Then Then it it stayed stayed in in our our attic attic for for nearly nearly a a year year while while we we converted a bedroom into converted a bedroom into a study.a study.11 11 When When at at last last I I brought brought the the desk desk down,down,it it was was dusty dusty from
20、from months months of of storage.storage.Lovingly,Lovingly,I I polished polished the the drawers drawers and and cubbyholes.cubbyholes.Pulling Pulling out out the the secret secret compartment,compartment,I I found found papers papers inside.inside.A A photograph photograph of of my my father.father
21、.Family Family wedding wedding announcements.announcements.And And a a one-page one-page letter,letter,folded folded and refolded many times.and refolded many times.12 12 Send Send me me a a reply,reply,my my letter letter asks,asks,in in any any way way you you choose.choose.Mother,Mother,you you a
22、lways always chose chose the the act act that that speaks speaks louder than words.louder than words.While-Reading TaskWhile-Reading Task第8页 I I realized realized that that Mother Mother expressed expressed her her emotions emotions/feelings feelings through through this this gift gift/expressed exp
23、ressed her her love love for for me me by by giving giving me me this this gift.gift.I I had had longed longed for for this this way of communication for 50 years.way of communication for 50 years.I sensed Mother communicating with this gift,I sensed Mother communicating with this gift,a communicati
24、on Id craved for 50 years.a communication Id craved for 50 years.第9页e.g.e.g.Shes an insecure child who Shes an insecure child who cravescraves attention.attention.Ive always Ive always cravedcraved love and acceptance.love and acceptance.crave:crave:v.v.to have an extremely strong desire for somethi
25、ng to have an extremely strong desire for something第10页 My My mother mother was was raised raised and and educated educated in in the the Victorian Victorian belief belief that that one one should should not not express express his his or or her emotions openly/in publicher emotions openly/in public
26、My mother was brought up in the Victorian belief that My mother was brought up in the Victorian belief that emotions were private.emotions were private.第11页e.g.e.g.She has She has broughtbrought upup three children.three children.If children are badly If children are badly broughtbrought upup,they b
27、ehave,they behave badly.badly.bring up:bring up:to raise,educate to raise,educate第12页 But But as as a a young young girl,girl,I I longed longed for for heart-to-heart heart-to-heart talks talks between between mother mother and and me.me.“Heart-to-heart“Heart-to-heart talks”talks”are are talks talks
28、 in in which which two two people people say say honestly honestly and and sincerely sincerely what what they they really really feel feel about about something.something.But as a teenager I yearned for heart-to-heart talks But as a teenager I yearned for heart-to-heart talks between mother and daug
29、hter.between mother and daughter.第13页e.g.e.g.She She yearnedyearned forfor him to come home.him to come home.Despite his great commercial success he still Despite his great commercial success he still yearnsyearns forfor critical approval.critical approval.cf.cf.Peter Peter yearnedyearned to return
30、to his native village.to return to his native village.yearn for:yearn for:to have a strong desire;long for to have a strong desire;long for第14页 There existed/occurred a difference and lack There existed/occurred a difference and lack of understanding between my mother and me.of understanding between
31、 my mother and me.And a gulf opened between us.And a gulf opened between us.第15页e.g.e.g.the the GulfGulf of Mexico of Mexico I dont think there is a great I dont think there is a great gulfgulf fixed between fixed between them.them.A A gulfgulf opened between the literary artist and the opened betwe
32、en the literary artist and the scientist in literature.scientist in literature.gulf:gulf:n.n.the part of the sea almost surrounded by land;the part of the sea almost surrounded by land;(fig.)dividing line,division(between opinions,etc.)(fig.)dividing line,division(between opinions,etc.)第16页 I showed
33、 my strong feelings to others too I showed my strong feelings to others too easily.She didnt express her emotions openly.easily.She didnt express her emotions openly.I was“too emotional”.She lived“on the surface”.I was“too emotional”.She lived“on the surface”.第17页 e.g.e.g.On the surfaceOn the surfac
34、e,this seems like a different problem,this seems like a different problem,but in fact theres an easy solution to it.but in fact theres an easy solution to it.On the surfaceOn the surface,it seems a simple story.,it seems a simple story.Half an hour later Enid had calmed down,at least Half an hour la
35、ter Enid had calmed down,at least on on the surface.the surface.on the surface:on the surface:the phrase literally refers to the qualities,the phrase literally refers to the qualities,emotions,etc.of someone or something emotions,etc.of someone or something that are easy to notice,but which are not
36、that are easy to notice,but which are not the only or not the real qualities,emotions,etc.the only or not the real qualities,emotions,etc.第18页 Years Years later later I I raised raised my my own own family,family,I I loved loved the the calm calm state state in in which which we we controlled contro
37、lled our our feelings feelings Mothers visits brought to our home Mothers visits brought to our home As years passed and I raised my own family,I loved the As years passed and I raised my own family,I loved the equilibrium Mothers visits brought to our home equilibrium Mothers visits brought to our
38、home 第19页e.g.e.g.She struggled to recover her She struggled to recover her equilibriumequilibrium.He tried hard to maintain his He tried hard to maintain his equilibriumequilibrium.equilibrium:equilibrium:n.n.1.state in which you are calm and not 1.state in which you are calm and not angry or upset
39、angry or upset第20页equilibrium:equilibrium:n.n.2.a balance between different people,2.a balance between different people,groups,or forces that compete with groups,or forces that compete with each other,so that none is stronger each other,so that none is stronger than the others and a situation is not
40、 than the others and a situation is not likely to change suddenly likely to change suddenlye.g.e.g.The government is anxious not to upset the The government is anxious not to upset the economic economic equilibriumequilibrium.第21页 But still I continued trying to understand/get But still I continued
41、trying to understand/get what she felt deep in her heart,which she could notwhat she felt deep in her heart,which she could notgive/express/tell.give/express/tell.But still I kept trying to draw from her what she could But still I kept trying to draw from her what she could not give,a sharing of the
42、 deep places of her heart.not give,a sharing of the deep places of her heart.第22页 At last I wrote down what I felt on paper.At last I wrote down what I felt on paper.At last I set my feelings down on paper.At last I set my feelings down on paper.第23页e.g.e.g.I have I have set downset down everything
43、I remember.everything I remember.Please Please setset it it downdown to my account.to my account.set down:set down:to write down;make a record of to write down;make a record of第24页 In In the the letter letter I I asked asked Mother Mother to to forgive forgive me me for for the the severe severe or
44、or perhaps perhaps unfair unfair judgments judgments I I had had made of people or things.made of people or things.The The expression expression“forgive“forgive me me for for doing”doing”is is used used when when one one is is going going to to say say something something or or ask ask something tha
45、t might seem to be rude or offensive.something that might seem to be rude or offensive.Forgive me,I wrote,for having been critical.Forgive me,I wrote,for having been critical.第25页e.g.e.g.ForgiveForgive me for being rude.me for being rude.Ill never Ill never forgiveforgive you for what you said to me
46、.you for what you said to me.forgive:forgive:v.v.to stop blaming or wanting to punish to stop blaming or wanting to punish第26页e.g.e.g.Mary is Mary is criticalcritical of Alice because she doesnt like her.of Alice because she doesnt like her.The report is highly The report is highly criticalcritical
47、of safety standards at of safety standards at the factory.the factory.cf.cf.The patients condition is The patients condition is criticalcritical.(dangerous,uncertain)(dangerous,uncertain)The Presidents support is The Presidents support is criticalcritical to this project.to this project.(very import
48、ant)(very important)critical:critical:a.a.judging severely;finding fault judging severely;finding fault第27页 At At first first I I was was eager eager for for an an answer answer and and then then I I became became disappointed disappointed and and at at last last I I gave gave up up the the hope hop
49、e and forgot about it.and forgot about it.Eagerness turned to disappointment,then resignation Eagerness turned to disappointment,then resignation and finally,peace.and finally,peace.第28页e.g.e.g.People were pushing each other out of the way in People were pushing each other out of the way in their th
50、eir eagernesseagerness to get to the front.to get to the front.Sam fell over in his Sam fell over in his eagernesseagerness to reach the telephone.to reach the telephone.cf.cf.eager:eager:a.a.full of strong desire full of strong desiree.g.e.g.eagereager for success for success eager eager to succeed