补充教学材料.doc

Half a Day
Naguib Mahfous
Pre-class Work I
Read the text once for the main idea. Do not refer to the notes, dictionaries or the glossary yet.
I walked alongside my father, clutching his right hand. All my clothes were new: the black shoes, the green school uniform, and the red cap. They did not make me happy, however, as this was the day I was to be thrown into school for the first time.
My mother stood at the window watching our progress, and I turned towards her from time to time, hoping she would help. We walked along a street lined with gardens, and fields planted with crops: pears, and date palms.
"Why school ?" I asked my father. "What have I done ?"
"I'm not punishing you, " he said, laughing. "School's not a punishment. It's a place that makes useful men out of boys. Don' t you want to be useful like your brothers?"
I was not convinced. I did not believe there was really any good to be had in tearing me away from my home and throwing me into the huge, high-walled building.
When we arrived at the gate we could see the courtyard, vast and full of boys and girls. "Go in by yourself, " said my father, "and join them. Put a smile on your face and be a good example to others. "
I hesitated and clung to his hand, but he gently pushed me from him. "Be a man, " he said.
"Today you truly begin life. You will find me waiting for you when it's time to leave. "
I took a few steps. Then the faces of the boys and girls came into view. I did not know a single one of them, and none of them knew me. I felt I was a stranger who had lost his way. But then some boys began to glance at me in curiosity, and one of them came over and asked, "Who brought you?"
"My father, " I whispered.
"My father's dead, " he said simply.
I did not know what to say. The gate was now closed. Some of the children burst into tears. The bell rang. A lady came along, followed by a group of men. The men began sorting us into ranks. We were formed into an intricate pattern in the great courtyard surrounded by high buildings; from each floor we were overlooked by a long balcony roofed in wood.
"This is your new home, "said the woman. "There are mothers and fathers here, too. Everything that is enjoyable and beneficial is here. So dry your tears and face life joyfully. "
Well, it seemed that my misgivings had had no basis. From the first moments I made many friends and fell in love with many girls. I had never imagined school would have this rich variety of experiences.
We played all sorts of games. In the music room we sang our first songs. We also had our first introduction to language. We saw a globe of the Earth, which revolved and showed the various continents and countries. We started learning numbers, and we were told the story of the Creator of the universe. We ate delicious food, took a little nap, and woke up to go on with friendship and love, playing and learning.
Our path, however, was not totally sweet and unclouded. We had to be observant and patient. It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around. Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. And while the lady would sometimes smile, she would often yell and scold. Even more frequently she would resort to physical punishment.
In addition, the time for changing one' s mind was over and gone and there was no question of ever returning to the paradise of home. Nothing lay ahead of us but exertion, struggle, and perseverance. Those who were able took advantage of the opportunities for success and happiness that presented themselves.
The bell rang, announcing the passing of the day and the end of work. The children rushed toward the gate, which was opened again. I said goodbye to friends and sweethearts and passed through the gate. I looked around but found no trace of my father, who had promised to be there. I stepped aside to wait. When I had waited for a long time in vain, I decided to return home on my own. I walked a few steps, then came to a startled halt. Good Lord! Where was the street lined with gardens? Where had it disappeared to? When did all these cars invade it? And when did all these people come to rest on its surface? How did these hills of rubbish find their way to cover its sides? And where were the fields that bordered it? High buildings had taken over, the street was full of children, and disturbing noises shook the air. Here and there stood conjurers showing off their tricks or making snakes appear from baskets. Then there was a band announcing the opening of a circus, with clowns and weight lifters walking in front.
Good God! I was in a daze. My head spun. I almost went crazy. How could all this have happened in half a day, between early morning and sunset? I would find the answer at home with my father. But where was my home? I hurried towards the crossroads, because I remembered that I had to cross the street to reach our house, but the stream of cars would not let up. Extremely irritated, I wondered when I would be able to cross.
I stood there a long time, until the young boy employed at the ironing shop on the corner came up to me.
He stretched out his arm and said, "Grandpa, let me take you across."
Read the text a second time. Learn the new words and expressions listed below.
Glossary
across adv. take sb. ～: take sb. to the other side
alongside adv. side by side; next to
balcony n. 阳台
band n. a group of musicians, especially a group that plays popular music 乐队
beneficial adj. useful
border v. 与……接界；与……相邻
circus n. 马戏团
cling to v. to hold closely; refuse to let go
clown n. a person who dresses funnily and tries to make people laugh by his jokes or actions 小丑
conjurer n. a magician 魔术师
convince v. to make sb. believe; to persuade 说服
creator n. one who makes sth. for the first time 创造者；the Creator（宗教）造物主
crossroads n. a place where two or more roads cross 交叉路口
curiosity n. the desire to learn and know 好奇心
daze n. a condition of beging unable to think or feel clearly 晕眩
exertion n. effort 努力；尽力
glance n. a quick look at sth.
globe n. 地球；地球仪
halt n. a stop or pause
hatred n. strong feelings of dislike
hesitate v. to pause 犹豫不决
intricate adj. very complicated
introduction n. present for the first time 介绍
irritated adj. annoyed
joyfully adv. very happily
lift v. 抬；举；weight lifters: those who compete in contests of strength by lifting heavy objects
misgiving n. （常用复数）feelings of doubt and fear 顾虑
nap n. a short sleep during the day
observant adj. careful to observe (rules)遵守规则的
opportunity n. a chance
overlook v. to see a place from a building or window 俯视
palm n. 棕榈树；date ～ : 椰枣树
paradise n. heaven 天堂
perseverance n. to keep trying to do sth. in spite of the difficulties 顽强拼搏
physical adj. of material substance; often refers to human body 肉体的；身体的
rank n. a line (of people)
revolve v. to move or turn in a circle around a central point
rivalry n. 竞争
scold v. to angrily criticize sb. , especially a child
single adj. only one
sort n. , v. The noun means a kind or a type; the verb means to put things in a particular order
spin v. to turn round and round
startled adj. surprised and often slightly frightened
stream n. a natural flow of water; anything that moves on continuously; a ～ of: 一连串的
stretch v. 伸展；～ out: 伸出
sunset n. the time when the sun is seen to disappear as night begins 日落
surface n. 表面
sweetheart n. a person one loves
trace n. a sign that sth. is there 迹象；痕迹
trick n. （魔术）戏法
unclouded adj. without any cloud, clear, untroubled
uniform n. a special set of clothes which all members of a group wear, especially in a school, the army or the police
universe n. 宇宙
vain n. in ～ : without result
variety n. different kinds of the same thing 丰富多彩；品种多样
various adj. several of a variety
vast adj. very large
whisper v. to say something very quietly so that other people cannot hear what you are saying
yell v. to shout loudly because you are very excited, angry, or in pain

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
By Robert ·Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep

【作者简介】
罗伯特·弗罗斯特(Robert ·Frost 1874—1963)，弗罗斯特是20世纪美国文学史上伟大的新英格兰诗人之一。深深扎根于他充满挫折和辉煌的生活经历以及由此产生的感情，他的诗歌主要描写他所热爱的新英格兰质朴的乡村生活及乡村美景, 充满对新英格兰人民和生活的热爱。他的诗歌独具风格，以诗歌口语化,简单易懂著称，诗歌风格兼以东方“白居易”和“王维”之称，生动朴实地描写了田园风光和农村日常生活。他的诗充满了美国的乡土气息，流传广泛，深为人们喜爱，他的诗以描写农村生活为主，其中蕴含着丰富的哲理。特别是这种感情洋溢在每句诗行中。因此，通过了解他的生活经历，阅读和理解他的诗歌我们才可以真正走入他的精神世界。

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