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1、精选优质文档-倾情为你奉上LessonThreeTEXTAMessageoftheLandPiraSudhamPre-classWorkIReadthetextonceforthemainidea.Donotrefertothenotesdictionariesortheglossaryyet.Yes,theseareourricefields.Theybelongedtomyparentsandforefathers.Thelandismorethanthreecenturiesold.ImtheonlydaughterinourfamilyanditwasIwhostayedwithmyp
2、arentstilltheydied.Mythreebrothersmovedouttotheirwiveshouseswhentheygotmarried.MyhusbandmovedintoourhouseasisthewaywithusinEsarn.Iwastheneighteenandhewasnineteen.Hegavemesixchildren.Twodiedininfancyfromsickness.Therest,twoboysandtwogirls,wentawayassoonaswecouldaffordtobuyjeansforthem.Ouroldestsongot
3、ajobasagardenerinarichmanshomeinBangkokbutlateranemploymentagencysenthimtoaforeignlandtowork.Myothersonalsowentfaraway.OneofourdaughtersisworkinginatextilefactoryinBangkok,andtheotherhasajobinastore.Theycomehometoseeusnowandthen,stayafewdays,andthentheyareoffagain.Oftentheysendsomemoneytousandtellus
4、thattheyaredoingwell.Iknowthisisnotalwaystrue.Sometimes,theygetbulliedandinsulted,anditislikeaknifepiercingmyheart.Itseasierformyhusband.Hehasearswhichdonthear,amouthwhichdoesntspeak,andeyesthatdontsee.Hehasalwaysbeenpatientandsilent,mindinghisownlife.Allofthemremainmychildreninspiteoftheirlongabsen
5、ce.Maybeitsfatethatsentthemawayfromus.Ourpieceoflandissmall,anditisnolongerfertile,bleedingyearafteryearand,likeus,gettingoldandexhausted.StillmyhusbandandIworkonthisland.Thesoilisnotdifficulttotillwhenthereisalotofrain,butinabadyear,itsnotonlytheploughsthatbreakbutourhearts,too.No,wetwohaventchange
6、dmuch,butthevillagehas.Inwhatway?Onlytenyearsago,youcouldbarterforthings,butnowitsallcash.Yearsago,youcouldaskyourneighborstohelpbuildyourhouse,reapthericeordigawell.Nowtheylldoitonlyifyouhavemoneytopaythem.Plasticthingsreplacevillagecrafts.Menusedtomakethingswithfinebamboopieces,butnolonger.Plastic
7、bagslitterthevillage.Shopshavesprungup,filledwithcolorfulplasticthingsandgoodswehavenousefor.Theyounggoawaytotownsandcitiesleavingusoldpeopletoworkontheland.Theythinkdifferently,Iknow,sayingthattheoldareold-fashioned.Allmylife,Ihaveneverhadtogotoahairdresser,ortopaintmylipsornails.Theseroughfingersa
8、ndtoesareforworkinginthemudofourricefields,notforlookingpretty.Nowyounggirlsputonjeans,andlooklikeboysandtheythinkitisfashionable.Why,theyarewillingtoselltheirpigorwaterbuffalojusttobeabletobuyapairofjeans.Inmyday,ifIweretoputonapairoftrousersliketheydonow,lightningwouldstrikeme.Iknow,timeshavechang
9、ed,butcertainthingsshouldnotchange.Weshouldofferfoodtothemonkseveryday,gotothetempleregularly.Youngpeopletendtoleavethesethingstooldpeoplenow,andthatsashame.Why,onlytheotherdayIheardaboyshoutandscreamathismother.IfthatkindofthinghadhappenedwhenIwasyoung,thewholevillagewouldhavecondemnedsuchanungrate
10、fulson,andhisfatherwouldsurelyhavegivenhimagoodbeating.Asforme,Iwouldntchange,couldntchangeevenifIwantedto.AmIhappyorunhappy?Thisquestionhasneveroccurredtome.Lifesimplygoeson.Yes,thisbagofbonesdressedinragscanstillplantandreapricefrommorningtilldusk.Disease,wounds,hardshipandscarcityhavealwaysbeenpa
11、rtofmylife.Idontcomplain.Thefarmer:Mywifeiswrong.Myeyesdoseetheyseemorethantheyshould.Myearsdoheartheyhearmorethanisgoodforme.IdonttalkaboutwhatIknowbecauseIknowtoomuch.Iknowforexample,greed,anger,andlustaretherootofallevils.Iamatpeacewiththelandandtheconditionsofmylife.ButIfeelagreatpityformywife.I
12、havebeenforcingsilenceuponheralltheseyears,yetshehasnotoncecomplainedofanything.Iwantedtohavealotofchildrenandgrandchildrenaroundmebutnowcitiesandforeignlandshaveattractedmychildrenawayanditseemsthatnoneofthemwillevercomebacktolivehereagain.TowhomshallIgivethesericefieldswhenIdie?Forhundredsofyearst
13、hisstripoflandhasbelongedtoourfamily.Iknoweveryinchofit.Mychildrengrewuponit,catchingfrogsandmudcrabsandgatheringflowers.Stillthelandcouldnottiethemdownorcallthemback.Wheneachofthemhasapairofjeans,theyareofflikebirdsonthewing.Fortunately,mywifeisstillwithme,andbothofusarestillstrong.Woundshealoverti
14、me.Sicknesscomesandgoes,andwegetbackonourfeetagain.Ineverwanttoleavethisland.Itsnicetofeelthewetearthasmyfingersdigintothesoil,plantingrice,tohearmywifesighing, Oldman,ifIdiefirst,Ishallbecomeacloudtoprotectyoufromthesun.ItsgoodtosmellthescentofripeningriceinNovember.Thesoftcoolbreezemovesthesheaves
15、,whichrippleandshimmerlikewavesofgold.Yes,IlovethislandandIhopeoneofmychildrencomesbackonedaytolive,andgivesmegrandchildrensothatIcanpassonthelandssecretmessagestothem.Readthetextasecondtime.Learnthenewwordsandexpressionslistedbelow.Glossaryagencyn. 机构;代理处;这里指职业介绍所bamboon. 竹Bangkokn. 曼谷(泰国首都)barterv
16、.toexchangegoodsforothergoods以货易货breezen.alightgentlewindbuffalon. 美洲野牛;water : 水牛bullyv.tothreatentohurtsb.whoissmallerorweaker欺负(弱小)condemnv.toexpressstrongdisapproval谴责crabn. 蟹craftn.handmadeitems手工艺术(这里指手工产品)duskn.thetimebeforeitgetsdark黄昏Esarnn.avillageinThailandeviln.badorharmfulinfluenceoreff
17、ect邪恶exhaustedadj.tiredoutfashionableadj.popular合时尚的;时髦的faten. 命运fertileadj. landislandabletoproducegoodcrops肥沃的;富饶的forefathersn.people(especiallymen)whowerepartofyourfamilyalongtimeago祖先frogn. 蛙gardenern.apersonwhotakescareofagardengreedn.astrongdesireformoremoney,poweretc.thanyouneed贪婪hairdressern
18、.apersonwhocutsandshapesyourhairinaparticularstyle理发师hardshipn.difficultconditionoflife,suchaslackofmoneytobecomehealthyagain,torecoverfromawound,especiallytogrownewskin愈合infancyn.earlychildhood;babyhoodinsultv.tosayordosth.thatisrudeoractoffensivelytosomeone侮辱jeansn. (常用复数)牛仔裤litterv.toleave(plasti
19、cbags,bitsofwastepaperetc.)onthegroundinapublicplace扔得到处都是lustn.verystrongdesireforsex,moneyorpower淫欲;金钱欲;权力欲old-fashionedadj.notfashionable老式的,过时的monkn. 和尚,僧人nailn. 指甲piercev.tomakeaholethroughsomething;toonesheart:tomakeonefeetverysadreapv.tocutandgatheracropsuchasriceorwheat收割replacev.totakethepl
20、aceof替代ripenadj.mature成熟的ripplev.tomoveinverysmallwaves在微风中摆动scarcityn.alack;nothavingenough,especiallyfoodscentn.apleasantsmellsheavesn. (sheaf的复数),measureofquantityinfarming捆,束shimmerv.toshinewithasofttremblinglight发微光,闪烁sicknessn.illnesssighv. 叹息stripn.anarrowpieceof细长片templen.aplacefortheworship
21、ofagodorgods寺庙,庙宇tendv.Ifsth. stohappen,itmeansthatitislikelytohappenquiteoften,especiallysth.badorunpleasanttextilen.anymaterialmadebyweaving纺织品ungratefuladj.notshowingthankswoundn.injury伤口;(感情上的)痛苦TEXTBTheSonfromAmericalsaacBashevisSingerLsaacBashevisSinger(19041991)wasborninaJewishvillageinPoland
22、.In1935heimmigratedtoNewYork.Singerwrotemanystoriesandnovels,aswellasbooksforjuvenilesandfourautobiographies(includingLostinAmerica, 1981).In1978hisworkreceivedworldattentionwhenhewasawardedtheNoblePrizeinLiterature.ThevillageofLentshinwastiny.Itwassurroundedbylittlehutswiththatchadroofs.Betweentheh
23、utstherewerefields,wheretheownersplantedvegetablesorpasturedtheirgoats.InthesmallestofthesehutslivedoldBerl,amaninhiseighties,andhiswifeBerlcha.OldBerlwasoneoftheJewsdrivenfromRussiawhohadsettledinPoland.Hewasshort,broad-shouldered,andhadasmallwhitebeard,andinsummerandwinterheworeasheepskinhat,apadd
24、edcottonjacket,andstoutboots.Hehadahalfacreoffield,acow,agoat,andchickens.Thecouplehadason,Samuel,whohadgonetoAmericafortyyearsago.ItwassaidinLentshinthathebecameamillionairethere.Everymonth,theLentshinlettercarrierbroughtoldBerlamoneyorderandaletterthatnoonecouldreadbecausemanyofthewordswereEnglish
25、.HowmuchmoneySamuelsenthisparentsremainedasecret.Theyneverseemedtousethemoney.Whatfor?Thegarden,thecow,andthegoatprovidedmostoftheirneeds.NoonecaredtoknowwhereBerlkeptthemoneythathissonsenthim.Thehutconsistedofoneroom,whichcontainedalltheirbelongings:thetable,theshelfformeat,theshelfformilkfoods,the
26、twobeds,andtheclayoven.Sometimesthechickensroostedinthewoodshedandsometimes,whenitwascold,inacoopneartheoven.Thegoat,too,foundshelterinsidewhentheweatherwasbad.Themoreprosperousvillagershadkerosenelamps,butBerlandhiswifedidnotbelieveinnewgadgets.OnlyfortheSabbathwouldBerlchabuycandlesatthestore.Insu
27、mmer,thecouplegotupatsunriseandretiredwiththechickens.Inthelongwinterevenings,BerlchaspunflaxandBerlsatbesideherinthesilenceofthosewhoenjoytheirrest.OnceinawhilewhenBerlcamehomefromthesynagogue,hebroughtnewstohiswife.InWarsawtherewerestrikerswhodemandedthattheczarabdicate.SomebodybythenameofDr.Herzl
28、*hadcomeupwiththeideathatJewsshouldsettleagaininPalestine.Berlchalistenedandshookherhead.Herfacewasyellowishandwrinkledlikeacabbageleaf.Shewashalfdeaf.Berlhadtorepeateachwordhesaidtoher.HereinLentshinnothinghappenedexceptusualevents:acowgavebirthtoacalf,ayoungcouplegotmarried.Actually,Lentshinhadbec
29、omeavillagewithfewyoungpeople.TheyoungmenleftforZakroczym,forWarsaw,andsometimesfortheUnitedStates.LikeSamuel,theysentlettersandphotographsinwhichthemenworetophatsandthewomenfancydresses.BerlandBerlchaalsoreceivedsuchphotographs.Buttheireyeswerefailingandneitherhenorshehadglasses.Theycouldbarelymake
30、outthepictures.Samuelhadsonsanddaughtersandgrandchildren.TheirnamesweresostrangethatBerlandBerlchacouldneverrememberthem.Butwhatdifferencedonamesmake?Americawasontheothersideoftheocean,attheedgeoftheworld.Atalmud*teacherwhocametoLentshinhadsaidthatAmericanswalkedwiththeirheadsdownandtheirfeetup.Berl
31、andBerlchacouldnotgraspthis.Howwasitpossible?Butsincetheteachersaidsoitmustbetrue.OneFridaymorning,whenBerlchawaskneadingthedoughfortheSabbathloaves,thedooropenedandanoblemanentered.Hewassotallthathehadtobenddowntogetthroughthedoor.Hewasfollowedbythecoachmanwhocarriedtwoleathersuitcases.Inastonishme
32、ntBerlcharaisedhereyes.ThenoblemanlookedaroundandsaidtothecoachmaninYiddish, Hereitis.Hetookoutasilverrubleandpaidhim.Thenhesaid, Youcangonow.Whenthecoachmanclosedthedoor,thenoblemansaid, Mother,itsme,yoursonSamuel-Sam.Berlchaheardthewordsandherlegsgrewnumb.Thenoblemanhuggedher,kissedherforehead,bot
33、hhercheeks,andBerlchabegantocacklelikeahen, Myson!AtthatmomentBerlcameinfromthewoodshed,hisarmspiledwithlogs.Thegoatfollowedhim.Whenhesawanoblemankissinghiswife,Berldroppedthewoodandexclaimed, Whatisthis?ThenoblemanletgoofBerlchaandembracedBerl. Father! ForalongtimeBerlwasunabletoutterasound.Thenhea
34、sked, AreyouSamuel?Yes,Father,IamSamuel. Well,peacebewithyou. Berlgraspedhissonshand.Hewasstillnotsurethathewasnotbeingfooled.Samuelwasntastallandheavyasthisman,butthenBerlremindedhimselfthatSamuelwasonlyfifteenyearsoldwhenhehadlefthome.Berlasked, Whydidntyouletusknowthatyouwerecoming?Didntyoureceiv
35、emycable?Samuelasked.Berldidnotknowwhatacablewas.Berlchahadscrapedthedoughfromherhandsandenfoldedherson.IneverthoughtIcouldlivetoseethis.Now,Iamhappytodie,Berlchasaid.Berlwasamazed.Thesewerejustthewordshecouldhavesaidearlier.AfterawhileBerlcametohimselfandsaid, Pescha,youwillhavetomakeadoubleSabbath
36、puddinginadditiontothestew.ItwasyearssinceBerlhadcalledBerlchabyhergivenname.OnlynowdidBerlchabegintocry.Yellowtearsranfromhereyes,andeverythingbecamedim.Thenshecalledout, ItsFridayIhavetopreparefortheSabbath.Yes,shehadtokneadthedoughfortheloaves.Withsuchaguest,shehadtomakealargerSabbathstew.Thewint
37、erdayisshortandshemusthurry.Hersonunderstoodwhatwasworryingher,becausehesaid, Mother,Iwillhelpyou.Thenoblemantookoffhisjacketandremainedinhisvest,onwhichhungasolidgold-watchchain.Hrolleduphissleeves. Mother,IwasabakerformanyyearsinNewYork,hesaid,andhebegantokneadthedough.Berlchaweptforjoy.Herstrengt
38、hlefther,andsheslumpedontothebed.Berlsaid, Womenwillalwaysbewomen.Andhewenttotheshedtogetmorewood.Thegoatsatdownneartheoven;shegazedwithsurpriseatthisstrangeman.TheneighborshadheardthegoodnewsthatBerlssonhadarrivedfromAmericaandtheycametogreethim.ThewomenbegantohelpBerlchapreparefortheSabbath.Somela
39、ughed,somecried.Theroomwasfullofpeople,asatawedding.AfterBerlchalitthecandles,fatherandsonwenttothelittlesynagogueacrossthestreet.Anewsnowhadfallen.Thesontooklargesteps,butBerlwarnedhim, Slowdown.InthesynagoguetheJewssangtheirprayers.Allthetime,thesnowoutsidekeptfalling.WhenBerlandSamuellefttheHolyP
40、lace,thevillagewasunrecognizable.Everythingwascoveredinsnow.Onecouldseeonlythecontoursoftheroofsandthecandlesinthewindows.Samuelsaid, Nothinghaschangedhere.Berlchahadpreparedfish,chickensoupwithrice,meat,carrotstew.Thefamilyateanddrank,andwhenitgrewquietforawhileonecouldhearthechirpingofthehousecricket.AfterthefinalprayerSamuelasked, Father,whatdidyoudowithallthemoneyIsentyou?Berlraisedh