江蘇南菁高級中學 李現(xiàn)寶
這是一篇記敘文(narrative writing),講述的是一個社區(qū)書店因為時代的發(fā)展、人們閱讀方式和習慣的改變、經(jīng)營管理模式與社會脫節(jié)等因素面臨倒閉,但是,這個書店見證了社區(qū)居民的成長經(jīng)歷,承載著社區(qū)居民的童年記憶和相互之間深厚的情誼。于是,在社區(qū)居民的共同努力下,過時的社區(qū)書店蛻變?yōu)橐粋€緊跟時代發(fā)展,充滿流行元素,卻又不失舊時特色和回憶的新時代的書店。新的書店不僅僅是掀開了書店發(fā)展的新篇章,也暗示著人們的生活、人們的思想意識、整個社會也都掀開了一個新的篇章。好的東西不會過時,有愛、有創(chuàng)意的地方永遠是最流行的!
全文以第一人稱視角講述整個書店的變化過程,字里行間充滿著對舊書店的愛和不舍,又透露出對新書店的驚訝和欣慰。文章簡潔明了,卻又處處充滿著耐人尋味的語言,很容易引起讀者共鳴。全文544詞,建議用時7分鐘。
1.找出作者面對書店變化不同階段的不同感受,體會書店對于作者(或者社區(qū)居民)的特殊意義;
2.通過對故事梗概的理解,尋找書店發(fā)生巨大變化背后的原因,體會小說的主題;
3.深刻體會標題“A new chapter”的多重含義,并從中感悟發(fā)展、創(chuàng)新、進步的重要性,揭開屬于自己的新篇章。
1.legendary adj.非常著名的;享有盛名的
2.sympathy n.同情;贊同;支持
3.exterior n.(尤指建筑物的)外部;外觀;表面;外貌
4.pore v.仔細打量
5.organic adj.有機的;不使用化肥的;綠色的
6.humble adj.謙遜的;普通的
The day I heard that the Rainbow Bookstore was closing after fifty years of business,I was heartbroken.The bookstore,which was alegendaryfixture in the neighborhood,was a place where anyone could drop in and connect through their love of books.
When I hurried to the store,I saw that the books were already being packed into boxes.I had a long chat with Casey,the store's elderly owner.Sighing deeply,he told me how it was becoming difficultto run an independent bookstore.Most young people preferred reading e-books on tablets.More and more customers were being attracted by chain stores and online discounts.I tried to think of some words ofsympathy,but I had to admit that the Rainbow Bookstore couldn't stay in business much longer.
Childhood memories came back to me so clearly,as if the events had happened only yesterday.A bunch of us kids would frequently drop by the store after school.We'd look at the new books,or just chat with old Casey.He knew every book in the store and would always pick the perfect one for us from a dusty shelf.We spent hours reading,seated on the store's old,but comfortable furniture.Casey encouraged us to share our ideas and comments on the books by writing them on a large board in one corner of the store.
When I left the bookstore,it was becoming cold and dark outside.I turned to wave goodbye to Casey,but both he and his bookstore were already hidden in a thick mist.It made me realize that the bookstore and all that old Casey had given to the community could soon disappear for good.
A few months later,I was back in the neighborhood during my spring break vacation and was surprised to see that the Rainbow Bookstore was still there and open for business.Its old brickexteriorhadn't changed,but inside it was like a different world.In one area,a book reading was being delivered.Nearby,customers wereporingover shelves selling stationery,posters and other best-seller-themed gifts.The large board in the corner had been replaced by a big screen,where customers'comments on the month's best-seller were being displayed.Clearly,the Rainbow Bookstore was in good and creative hands.
I was told that the community had decided to work together on a campaign to save the Rainbow Bookstore.The campaign had been led by Jennifer Oakley,a saleswoman who had grown up in the neighborhood and who had now taken over the bookstore from Casey.
Under Jennifer's leadership,the bookstore was being turned into a place for literatureloving members of the community to get together.It had a café sellingorganicfood,and there were now more community events such as book readings,poetry recitals and even jazz concerts and movie nights,where people could gather to share an experience that couldn't be downloaded.
I joined Casey,who was looking up at the screen on which readers'comments kept popping up. “Well,as you can see,corporate knowledge combined with creativity has brought myhumblebookstore into the 21st century!I'm so pleased to see that everything I wanted it to offer to the community is still here.”
Ⅰ.Grasp the main content.
What brings the bookstore back to life again?
A.The well-designed decoration,familiar environment and modern facilities.
B.The joint efforts of the community and the creative ideas to run the bookstore.
C.The potential profits of running a bookstore there.
D.The desire to read from the masses.
Ⅱ.Understand the structure.
Complete the table with corresponding information.
(續(xù)表)
Ⅲ.Analyse the writing techniques.
“When I left the bookstore,it was becoming cold and dark outside.I turned to wave goodbye to Casey,but both he and his bookstore were already hidden in a thick mist.”
How do you understand “it was becoming cold and dark outside” and “both he and his bookstore were already hidden in a thick mist”?_
【點石成金】對故事中細節(jié)的細細品味和感悟能幫助我們更好地理解書中人物的情感(變化),深刻體會人物與書店之間那種無法割舍的情感,感受這種簡單而又深厚的情誼,同時,享受英語閱讀和思考的樂趣。閱讀時,應注意環(huán)境描寫對烘托人物心理所起到的暗示或象征的作用。
Ⅰ.Critical reading
Who saved the Rainbow Bookstore?What qualities was it that contributed to the success in saving the bookstore?
Ⅱ.Creative writing
How do you understand the title “A new chapter”?What would you do to write a new chapter for yourself as a student/family member/citizen...?Choose one of the topics and write a short passage about how to start a new chapter of your own.The title of your composition is“My new chapter”.
標題是文章的眼睛。通過對A new chapter故事的閱讀,我們能夠感受到一個好的標題的巨大作用:
1.設置懸念,引起讀者興趣;
2.貫穿文章,組織全文的線索;
3.鋪開情節(jié),呼應細節(jié),推動故事的發(fā)展;
4.揭示文章主旨,寄托情感,深化主題。
Title:______________________________
A friend of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present.On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office,a street urchin(流浪兒)was walking around the shiny new car,admiring it.
“Is this your car,mister?” he said.
Paul nodded.“My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was astounded.“You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you anything?Boy,I wish...”He hesitated.
Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for.He was going to wish he had a brother like that.But what the lad said jarred(使煩躁)Paul all the way down to his heels.
“I wish,” the boy went on,“that I could be a brother like that.”
Paul looked at the boy in astonishment,and then impulsively he added,“Would you like to take a ride in my car?”
“Oh yes,I'd love that.”
After a short ride,the boy turned with his eyes aglow,said,“Mister,would you mind driving in front of my house?”
Paul smiled a little.He thought he knew what the lad wanted.He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile.But Paul was wrong again.“Will you stop where those two steps are?”the boy asked.
He ran up the steps.Then in a little while Paul heard him coming back,but he was not coming fast.He was carrying his little crippled brother.He sat him down on the bottom step,then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.
“There she is,Buddy,just like I told you upstairs.His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent.And some day I'm going to give you one just like it...then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about.”
Paul got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of his car.The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.That Christmas Eve,Paul learned what Jesus meant when he said,“It is more blessed to give...”
1.What could be the best title for the text?
A.Brother's wish
B.Brother's kindness
C.A crippled brother
D.A Christmas present
2.What does the wish mean to Paul,the younger brother and the street boy?