最新2014外研社高中选修6精读课文与翻译(无误)

MODULE1SMALLTALKHOWGOODAREYOURSOCIALSKILLSHAVEYOUEVERCROSSEDTHEROADTOAVOIDTALKINGTOSOMEONEYOURECOGNIZEWOULDYOULOVETOGOTOAPARTYANDTALKCONFIDENTLYTOEVERYGUESTDOYOUWANTTOMAKEMOREFRIENDSBUTLACKTHECONFIDENCETOTALKTOPEOPLEYOUDONTKNOWANDAREYOUNERVOUSABOUTTHEIDEAOFBEINGATASOCIALEVENTINANOTHERCOUNTRYDONTWORRYWECANHELPYOUYOUNEEDNTWORRYABOUTSITUATIONSLIKETHESEIFYOUHAVEGOODSOCIALSKILLSANDTHEYAREEASYTOLEARNPEOPLEWITHGOODSOCIALSKILLSCOMMUNICATEWELLANDKNOWHOWTOHAVEACONVERSATIONITHELPSIFYOUDOALITTLEADVANCEPLANNINGHEREAREAFEWIDEASTOHELPYOULEARNHOWTODOSMALLTALKSMALLTALKISVERYIMPORTANTANDPREPARESYOUFORMORESERIOUSCONVERSATIONSBEPREPAREDHAVESOMELOWRISKCONVERSATIONOPENERSREADYFOREXAMPLETHINKOFARECENTNEWSSTORYNOTTOSERIOUS,EGASTORYABOUTAFILMSTARORSPORTSSTARTHINKOFTHINGSTOTELLPEOPLEABOUTYOURSTUDIESTHINKOF“SAFE”THINGSYOUCANASKPEOPLESOPINIONSABOUTMUSIC,SPORT,FILMS,ETCTHINKOFTOPICSTHATYOUWOULDAVOIDIFYOUWERETALKINGTOSTRANGERSANDAVOIDTALKINGABOUTTHEMTHATWAY,YOUDONTDAMAGEYOURCONFIDENCEDEVELOPYOURLISTENINGSKILLSLISTENINGISASKILLWHICHMOSTPEOPLELACK,BUTCOMMUNICATIONISATWOWAYPROCESSITINVOLVESSPEAKINGANDLISTENINGALWAYSREMEMBERYOUWONTIMPRESSPEOPLEIFYOUTALKTOOMUCHHEREARESOMEIDEASTOMAKEYOUABETTERLISTENERDOSHOWTHATYOUARELISTENINGBYUSINGENCOURAGINGNOISESANDGESTURESSMILING,NODDING,SAYING“UHHUH”AND“OK”,ETCKEEPGOODEYECONTACTUSEPOSITIVEBODYLANGUAGEASKFORMOREINFORMATIONTOSHOWYOURINTERESTDONTLOOKATYOURWATCHYAWNSIGNLOOKAWAYFROMTHEPERSONWHOSTALKINGTOYOUCHANGETHESUBJECTFINISHOTHERPEOPLESSENTENCESFORTHEMALWAYSREMEMBERTHEWORDSOFBENJAMINDISRAELI,BRITISHPRIMEMINISTERINTHE19THCENTURY“TALKTOAMANABOUTHIMSELF,ANDHEWILLSPEAKTOYOUFORHOURS”LEARNTHERULESIFYOUGOTOASOCIALOCCASIONINANOTHERCOUNTRY,REMEMBERTHATSOCIALRULESCANBEDIFFERENTINSOMECOUNTRIES,FOREXAMPLE,YOUHAVETOARRIVEONTIMEATAPARTYINOTHERCOUNTRIES,YOUDONTNEEDTOINADDITION,YOUNEEDTOKNOWHOWLONGYOUSHOULDSTAY,ANDWHENYOUHAVETOLEAVESOMEHOSTSEXPECTFLOWERSORASMALLGIFT,BUTINOTHERPLACES,YOUCANTAKETHINGS,BUTYOUNEEDNTIFYOUDONTWANTTREMEMBERALSOTHATINSOMECOUNTRIES,YOUMUSTNTTAKEFLOWERSOFACERTAINCOLOUR,BECAUSETHEYREUNLUCKYINMOSTPLACES,YOUDONTHAVETOTAKEAGIFTTOAPARTYBUTFINDOURFIRSTTHEWRONGKINDOFSMALLTALKESTHERGREENBAUMWASASALESWOMANFORAFIRMOFFAXMACHINESANDBUSINESSSUPPLIESBUTSHEWASALSOTHEMOSTOUTSPOKENHUMANBEINGINTHEWORLDWELL,WESTCHESTERCOUNTY,ATLEASTHERMOTTOWAS“EVERYTIMEIOPENMYMOUTH,IPUTMYFOOTINIT”ESTHERGREENBAUMSMAJORSHORTCOMINGWASTHATSHEHADACOMPLETEABSENCEOFSMALLTALKNO,THATNOTQUITETRUESHEHADSMALLTALK,BUTITWASTHEWRONGKINDINFACT,SHEHADNEVERLEARNTTHEBASICRULESOFSOCIALCOMMUNICATION,ANDASACONSEQUENCE,SHEMADESYSTEMATICMISTAKESEVERYTIMESHEOPENEDHERMOUTHITWASNOCOINCIDENCEEITHERTHATSHEWASNTAVERYGOODSALESWOMANONEDAYDURINGAMEETING,ESTHERWASINTRODUCEDTOANIMPORTANTCUSTOMER,AMATUREWOMAN“NICETOMEETYOU,”SHESAID“HOWOLDAREYOU”THECUSTOMERLOOKEDAWKWARD“FORTYFORTYFIVE”SAIDESTHER“YOULOOKMUCHOLDERANDYOURFRIENDSHESOLDERTHANYOU,BUTSHELOOKSMUCHYOUNGER”ONANOTHEROCCASION,ESTHERTEASEDATYPIST,“HEYWHENSYOURBABYDUE”THETYPISTWENTREDANDCONTRADICTEDESTHER“ACTUALLY,IMNOTPREGNANT,”SHESAID“OH,SORRY,”SAIDESTHERWITHOUTANYAPOLOGY“JUSTPUTTINGONALITTLEWEIGHT,HUH”ESTHERWASNEVERCAUTIOUSABOUTOTHERPEOPLESFEELINGSONEOFHERACQUAINTANCES,ASALESMANINTHEFIRM,WASGOINGTHROUGHAVERYMESSYDIVORCEANDWASVERYDEPRESSEDSHETRIEDTOCHEERHIMUP“FORGETHERSHEWASACOMPLETEFOOLNOONELIKEDHERANYWAY”MUCHOFTHETIME,ESTHERSAIDTHEFIRSTTHINGTOCOMEINTOHERHEADONEDAYATWORK,ACLERKCAMEINTOTHEOFFICEWITHANEWHAIRSTYLE“NICEHAIRCUT,”SAIDESTHER“HOWMUCHDIDITCOST”THEWOMANREPLIED,“IDRATHERNOTSAY”ESTHERREPLIED,“WELL,ANYHOW,EITHERYOUPAIDTOOMUCHORYOUPAIDTOOLITTLE”SHEMETAVERYFAMOUSWRITERONCE“HEY,WHATACOINCIDENCE”SHESAID“YOUREWRITINGABOOKANDIMREADINGONE”THETROUBLEWITHESTHERWASSHESAIDWHATSHETHOUGHT,ANDDIDNTTHINKABOUTWHATSHESAIDAYOUNGMANWASTRYINGTOMODESTABOUTHISNEWJOBMANYMILESAWAY“IGUESSTHECOMPANYCHOSEMESOTHEYDGETSOMEPEACEINTHEOFFICE,”HESMILED“NO,IGUESSTHEYCHOSEYOUTODISCOURAGEYOUFROMSPENDINGYOURWHOLECAREERWITHUS,”ESTHERREPLIEDSWEETLYONCE,ESTHERWENTTOABRUNCHPARTYTOMEETSOMEOLDSCHOOLFRIENDSONTHEANNIVERSARYOFTHEIRGRADUATIONSHEGREETEDTHEHOSTESS“DOYOUREMEMBERTHATGUYYOUWEREDATINGWHATHAPPENEDTOHIM”SHEASKED“YOUKNOW,THEUGLYONE”ATTHEMOMENT,AMANCAMEUPANDSTOODBYHERFRIEND“ESTHER,IDLIKEYOUTOMEETMYHUSBAND,”SHESAID,“CHARLES,THISIS”ESTHERINTERRUPTEDHER,“HEY,SOYOUMARRIEDHIM”MAKINGFRIENDSINTHEUSAINTHEUSA,CONVERSATIONISLESSLIVELYTHANINMANYOTHERCULTURES,WHEREEVERYONETALKSATTHESAMETIMEWHENSOMEONETALKS,EVERYONEISEXPECTEDTOLISTEN,NOMATTERHOWDULLTHEPERSONSSPEAKINGMAYBEIFYOURENOTSUREWHATTOTALKABOUT,YOUCANASKWHATPEOPLEDOWEREDEFINEDBYOURJOBSANDWEREUSUALLYHAPPYTOTALKABOUTTHEM,UNLESSYOURESPYSOMEPEOPLESAYTHATAMERICANSTALKABOUTTHEIRFEELINGSMORETHANASIANS,BUTAREMORESECRETIVEABOUTFACTUALMATTERSYOUCANSAFELYASKQUESTIONSABOUTFAMILIES,WHEREYOUCOMEFROM,LEISUREINTERESTS,ASWELLASTHELATESTMOVIESWEREINTERESTEDINPEOPLESETHNICBACKGROUNDTOOBUTITSBESTTOAVOIDPOLITICS,RELIGIONANDOTHERSENSITIVETOPICSAHIGHLYPERSONALCONVERSATIONCANTAKEPLACEAFTERAVERYSHORTPERIODOFKNOWINGSOMEONE,BUTTHISDOESNTMEANTHATYOURECLOSEFRIENDS,ORTHERELATIONSHIPISVERYDEEPBUTALOTOFPEOPLEAREVERYFRIENDLYANDHOSPITABLE,ANDTHEFAMOUSINVITATION“IFYOUREEVERINMINNEAPOLIS/SANDIEGO/POUGHKEEPSIE,DOCALLBYANDSEEUS”ISNEVERMADEWITHOUTAGENUINEDESIRETOMEETAGAINBUTWHILEFEWAMERICANSWILLWORRYABOUTTHEQUESTIONSYOUMAYASK,PARTICULARLYIFYOUCLEARLYSHOWYOUREAWAREOFCULTURALDIFFERENCES,THEYMAYHESITATEBEFORETHEYASKYOUSIMILARQUESTIONSINFACT,ITSASIGNTHATTHEYDONTWISHTOVIOLATEYOURPRIVATELIFESO,MANYAMERICANSWILLTALKABOUTSAFETOPICSBECAUSETHEYDONTDARETOBETOOCURIOUSORPERSONAL,BUTWILLHAPPILYTALKABOUTMOREPRIVATEMATTERSIFYOUTAKETHELEADGENERALLYWEDISLIKEARGUMENTS,ANDWEAVOIDTOPICSWHICHLEADTODISAGREEMENTITSEASYTORETURNTODISCUSSINGTHEWEATHER“DOYOULIKETHEUSA”HOWDOYOULIKETHEWEATHER”ORMAKINGCOMPLIMENTS”WHATLOVELYFLOWERSANDWHATABEAUTIFULVASE”“THATSFABULOUSDRESSYOUREWEARING”YOUSHOULDACCEPTCOMPLIMENTSGRACIOUSLYANDSAY“THANKYOU”THEREAREACOUPLEOFDANGEROUSTOPICSOFCONVERSATIONAGEANDMONEYAGEISNOTTREATEDASSOMETHINGVERYSPECIAL,UNLESSSOMEONEISVERYOLD“ISNTSHEWONDERFULFORHERAGE”ANDTHEREARENOSPECIALRULESORSIGNSOFEXTRARESPECTFORELDERLYPEOPLEANYWAY,AMERICANSALWAYSWANTTOLOOKYOUNGERTHANTHEYREALLYARE,SODONTEXPECTANACCURATEREPLYINCOMEISAVERYPRIVATEMATTER,ANDYOUDDOWELLTOAVOIDASKINGHOWMUCHPEOPLEEARN,ALTHOUGHSOMEPEOPLEMAYNOTONLYBEOPENABOUTIT,BUTSHOWOFFTHEIRWEALTHWEDONTASKHOWMUCHTHINGSCOST,EITHERBUTWHATWEDONTLIKEISSILENCE,ANDALMOSTANYTHINGISBETTERTHANTHEEMBARRASSMENTFORAQUIETPARTYANDSILENTGUESTSTHEAAAITISESTIMATEDTHAT80OFALLCONVERSATIONINENGLISHISSMALLTALKAVERYIMPORTANTFUNCTIONOFSMALLTALKISTOESTABLISHARELATIONSHIPBETWEENPEOPLEWHODONTKNOWEACHOTHERVERYWELL,ORDONTKNOWEACHOTHERATALLPSYCHOLOGISTSSAYTHATTHEMOSTSUCCESSFULFORMULAFORSMALLTALKBETWEENPEOPLELIKETHISISTHEAAAMODELAAAANSWER,ADDANDASKTHISISHOWITWORKSIMAGINEASITUATIONWHERETWOSTRANGERSARETALKINGTOEACHOTHERAFTERSOMEONETHEYBOTHKNOWHASLEFTTHEROOM,ORTHECAFORPARTY,ETCTHEFIRSTPERSONASKSAQUESTIONADOYOULIVENEARHERETHESECONDPERSONREPLIESBYANSWERINGTHEQUESTION,ADDINGSOMEEXTRAINFORMATIONANDTHENASKINGANOTHERQUESTIONBANSWERYES,IDOADDINANAPARTMENTONBROWNSTREETASKDOYOULIVENEARBYTOOTHEFIRSTPERSONDOESTHESAME,ANSWER,ADDANDASKAANSWERNO,ILIVEINBRISTOLADDIMJUSTVISITINGLONDONASKHAVEYOULIVEDHERELONGBANSWERNOTSOLONGADDIMOVEDHERETHREEYEARSAGOASKWHATSTHEPURPOSEOFYOUVISITTOLONDONTHESPEAKERSMAYHAVEDIFFICULTYATFIRST,BUTTHEYSOONREALIZETHATTHEIMPORTANTTHINGISTHATTHEYARESAYINGSOMETHINGBYCONTINUINGWITHTHEAAAMODEL,THECONVERSATIONCONTINUESBECAUSETHETHINGTHEYBOTHWANTTOAVOIDISANEMBARRASSINGSILENCETHECONVERSATIONCANCONTINUEINTHISWAYFORALONGTIMEHOWEVER,SOMETHINGCANHAPPENTHATCOMPLETELYCHANGESTHEATMOSPHEREBWHYDOYOULIVEINBRISTOLAIMSTUDYINGTHEREHISTORYAREYOUASTUDENTBYESANDIKNOWSOMEPEOPLEWHOARESTUDYINGATBRISTOLDOYOUKNOWAGIRLCALLEDHELENBROWNAHELENBROWNYESSHESONEOFMYBESTFRIENDSHOWDOYOUKNOWHERBSHESMYCOUSINATTHISPOINT,THEAAAMODELSTOPSBECAUSETHEYUSEDTHISVERYUSEFULTECHNIQUE,THEYFOUNDSOMETHINGTHEYHAVEINCOMMONATLASTMODULE1SMALLTALK你的社交技能有多高你是否看见认识的人以后，故意过马路以避免与其说话你愿意参加聚会并自信的和每位来宾交谈吗你想结交更多的朋友，但是又缺乏与陌生人交谈的信心吗你是否一想到要在别的国家参加社交活动就觉得忐忑不安别担心我们能帮助你如果你具备了良好的社交技能，你就不用担心这样的情景。而这些技能是很容易学习的。具有良好社交技能的人能很好的和别人交流并且知道该怎么样说话。要是预先做点准备，将会对你有所帮助。下面为你出些主意。学会怎样聊天聊天时很重要的，并能帮助你为一些更严肃的谈话做准备。准备好准备一些不太会出错的开场白。例如想出一个最近的新闻故事不要太严肃，譬如，一个有关于电影明星或体育明星的故事想出一些有关于你的学习的事情告诉人们想出一些“不会出错”的事情询问别人的意见音乐，体育，电影等想出一些和陌生人谈话时要回避的话题并且要避免谈论这些话题那样，你的信心就不会被伤害了提高倾听的技能倾听是大多数人所缺乏的技巧，而交流时双向的过程它涉及说和听两个方面。永远记住话太多并不会给人留下怎样的印象。下面是一些使你成为更好的倾听者的建议做下面的事情用一些鼓励的声音或姿势表示你正在倾听微笑，点头，说一些“嗯”或“对啊”之类的话等等保持得体的目光接触使用积极肯定的肢体语言询问更多的信息表示你的兴趣不要做下面的事情看自己的手表打哈欠叹气把目光从正跟你说话的人身上移开改变话题替别人把话说完要牢记19世纪英国首相本杰明迪斯累里的话“和一个人谈论他自己，他会和你说上几个小时”学习规则如果你在另一个国家去参加一个社交场合，要记住会有不同的社交规则。例如，在一些国家，你得准时参加聚会；而在另一些国家就不需要。另外，你需要知道该待多久，该在何时离开。有的主人希望能得到鲜花或小礼品，而在另一些地方你可以给主人送东西，但如果你不想送就没有必要送。还有，要记住在有的国家你不能带某种颜色的鲜花，因为那是不吉利的。在大多数地方，参加聚会不必带礼物但你得事先弄清楚不合时宜的闲聊埃斯特戈林鲍姆是一家传真机公司的女推销员和业务代理。但她也是世界上最口无遮拦的人当然，至少在韦切斯特县是这样的。她的座右铭是“每当我张口，就会讲错话”。埃斯特戈林鲍姆的主要缺点是她根本不会闲聊。不，也不完全如此。尽管她闲聊，但不合时宜。实际上，她从来就没有学过社交的基本规则，因此每次开口说话她都会犯经常性的错误。她不是一个好的女推销员绝非偶然。一天在一次会议上，埃斯特被介绍给一位重要的客户，一位成熟的女士。她说“很高兴见到你你多少岁啦”这位客户看起来是尴尬的。“四十四十五”埃斯特说道，“你看起来更老。而且你的朋友，她比你年龄大，但看起来年轻得多”在另一个场合，埃斯特跟一位打字员打趣说“嗨你的宝宝什么时候出生啊”那位打字员一下变得面红耳赤，并反驳埃斯特说“实际上，我还没有怀孕呢。”“噢，对不起，”埃斯特毫无歉意地说，“只是略微有点发福，是吗”埃斯特从来不注意他人的感受。和她在同一家公司做推销员的一个熟人正遭受离婚的窘境，为此非常沮丧。埃斯特试图让他高兴起来。“忘掉她她是一个十足的傻瓜。没有人会再喜欢她的。”大多数时间，埃斯特想到了什么就说什么。有一天工作的时，一位刚换了新发型的职员走进办公室。埃斯特说“发型很漂亮，花了多少钱”这位女士回答道“我宁愿不说。”埃斯特答道“喔，不管怎么样，要么你花多了，要么你花少了。”有一次她遇见一位非常著名的作家。“嗨，多么巧啊你正在写一本书，我正在看一本书”她说。埃斯特的问题是她想到什么就说什么，而且从不考虑她说的话。一位年轻的男士尽量谦逊地谈论他几英里外的新工作。“我想公司选择我是为了他们在办公室里可以得到一些平和。”他微笑着说。“不，我猜测他们选择你是不想你一辈子都跟着我们工作。”埃斯特甜美的答道。有一次，埃斯特参加毕业周年聚餐，去见一些老校友。她向女主人打招呼。“还记得和你约会的那个家伙吗他怎么样了”她问道“你知道的，就是那个长得丑的。”正在那时，一个男人走过来，站在她朋友的旁边。“埃斯特，我想让见见我丈夫，”她说，“查尔斯，这是”埃斯特打断她，“哦，原来你和她结婚了啊”在美国交朋友在美国，交谈比在许多别的国家沉闷得多，在别的国家大家都一起聊天。而在美国，当每个人发表见解时，不管他说的多磨无聊，每个人都应该倾听。如果你不确定谈论什么，你可以问一下别人是做什么的。工作体现着我们的特质，而且我们通常乐意去谈他们，除非你是个间谍有些人说美国人谈论感情要比亚洲人多，但他们对现实的事情却避而不谈。你可以喊坦然的问家庭，对方籍贯，业余爱好及最新电影等相关问题。我们对人们的民族背景也感兴趣。但最好避免政治，宗教等敏感话题。两人认识很短一段时间后，可能会有一些亲密的交谈，这并不意味着你们是亲密的朋友或关系非常好。但许多人非常友好好客，而且如果无意再相见，他们是不会做出“如果你有机会到明尼阿波利斯圣地亚哥波及普西，无比混都来看看我们”这种人们所见惯的邀请的。但是尽管极少数美国人会担心你可能提出的问题，尤其是你明显表现出你了解文化差异时，再问你相似的文字之前，他们会犹豫。事实上，这表明他们不希望侵犯你的私人生活。因此他们不敢（表现得）太好奇或太冒昧，但如果你首先引入私人话题，他们会高兴地谈论更多关于私人的事情。一般来说我们不喜欢争论，并避开那些（可能）导致分歧的话题。很容易回到天气的讨论中“你喜欢美国吗你觉得这儿的天气怎么样”或者说些称赞的话“多么可爱的花，多么漂亮的花瓶啊”“你穿的这件连衣裙真漂亮。”你应该欣然接受赞美并说“谢谢”会话中有两个敏感的话题年龄和钱。年龄并没有被当作特殊的话题，除非某人年事已高“以她的年龄而言，难道她活得不精彩吗”而且没有格外尊敬老人的规定或迹象。不管怎样，美国人总是想让自己看起来比他们的真实年龄年轻些，因此别指望他们给出确切的回答收入是很私人的事情，你最好避免问别人挣多少钱，尽管有些人对此不仅不加隐瞒，而且还有炫耀之意。我们通常也不问东西值多少钱。但是我们不喜欢沉默不语，几乎任何事情都比宴会冷清、宾客沉默所带来的尴尬要好。AAA模式据估计，所有英语会话中80是闲聊。闲聊的一个非常重要的作用就是在不太熟悉的人之间或根本不认识的人之间建立一种联系。心理学家说像这样的人之间闲聊的最成功的模式便是AAA模式。AAA模式即回答、补充和提问。一下就是该模式实际运作的方式。设想一种情形，两个陌生人在她们都认识的那个人离开房间、咖啡或聚会等之后进行交谈。第一个人问了一个问题A你住在这附近吗第二个人回答这个问题并补充了一些额外的信息，接着问另一个问题B（回答）是的，我住在附近。（补充）住在布朗街的一套公寓里。（提问）你也住在附近吗第一个人做相同的事情，回答、补充和提问A（回答）不，我住在布里斯托尔。（补充）我只是到伦敦来游玩。（提问）你在这儿住长时间了吗B（回答）并不是太久。（补充）我三年前搬到这儿。（提问）你参观伦敦的目的是什么谈话人起初可能会有困难，但他们很快就意识到重要的是他们在谈话。通过继续AAA漠视，谈话得以持续。因为他们都像避开令人尴尬的沉默。谈话可以以这种方式持续很长时间。然而，可以完全改变气氛的事情可能会发生。B你为什么住在布里斯托尔A我在那里学习历史。你是一个学生吗B是的。我认识一些在布里斯托尔学习的人。你认识一个名叫海伦布朗的女孩儿吗A海伦布朗是的她是我最好的朋友之一你怎么会人认识她B她是我堂妹。AAA模式到此结束。因为他们运用了这种非常有用的社交技巧，最后他们找到了他们有共同的语言的话题。MODULE2FANTASYLITERATURETHECATTHATVANISHEDWILLWASSTUPEFIEDWITHEXHAUSTION,ANDHEMIGHTHAVEGONEONTOTHENORTH,ORHEMIGHTHAVELAIDHISHEADONTHEGRASSUNDERONEOFTHOSETREESANDSLEPTBUTASHESTOODTRYINGTOCLEARHISHEAD,HESAWACATSHEWASATABBY,LIKEMOXIESHEPADDEDOUTOFAGARDENONTHEOXFORDSIDEOFTHEROAD,WHEREWILLWASSTANDINGWILLPUTDOWNHISSHOPPINGBAGANDHELDOUTHISHAND,ANDTHECATCAMEUPTORUBHERHEADAGAINSTHISKNUCKLES,JUSTASMOXIEDIDOFCOURSE,EVERYCATBEHAVEDLIKETHAT,BUTALLTHESAMEWILLFELTSUCHALONGINGTOTURNFORHOMETHATTEARSSCALDEDHISEYESEVENTUALLYTHISCATTURNEDAWAYTHISWASNIGHT,ANDTHEREWASATERRITORYTOPATROL,THEREWEREMICETOHUNTSHEPADDEDACROSSTHEROADANDTOWARDSTHEBUSHESJUSTBEYONDTHEHORNBEAMTREES,ANDTHERESHESTOPPEDWILLSTILLWATCHING,SAWTHECATBEHAVECURIOUSLYSHEREACHEDOUTAPAWTOPATSOMETHINGINTHEAIRINFRONTOFHER,SOMETHINGQUITEINVISIBLETOWILLTHENSHELEAPTBACKWARDS,BACKARCHEDANDFURONEND,TAILHELDOUTSTIFFLYWILLKNEWCATBEHAVIOURHEWATCHEDMOREALERTLYASTHECATAPPROACHEDTHESPOTAGAIN,JUSTANEMPTYPATCHOFGRASSBETWEENTHEHORNBEAMSANDTHEBUSHESOFAGARDENHEDGE,ANDPATTEDTHEAIRONCEMOREAGAINSHELEAPTBACK,BUTLESSFARANDWITHLESSALARMTHISTIMEAFTERANOTHERFEWSECONDSOFSNIFFING,TOUCHING,WHISKERTWITCHING,CURIOSITYOVERCAMEWARINESSTHECATSTEPPEDFORWARD,ANDVANISHEDWILLBLINKEDTHENHESTOODSTILL,CLOSETOTHETRUNKOFTHENEARESTTREE,ASATRUCKCAMEROUNDTHECIRCLEANDSWEPTITSLIGHTSOVERHIMWHENITHADGONEPASTHECROSSEDTHEROAD,KEEPINGHISEYESONTHESPOTWHERETHECATHADBEENINVESTIGATINGITWASNTEASY,BECAUSETHEREWASNOTHINGTOFIXON,BUTWHENHECAMETOTHEPLACEANDCASTABOUTTOLOOKCLOSELY,HESAWITATLEAST,HESAWITFROMSOMEANGLESITLOOKEDASIFSOMEONEHADCUTAPATCHOUTOFTHEAIR,ABOUTTWOMETRESFROMTHEEDGEOFTHEROAD,APATCHROUGHLYSQUAREINSHAPEANDLESSTHANAMETREACROSSIFYOUWERELEVELWITHTHEPATCHSOTHATITWASEDGEON,ITWASNEARLYINVISIBLE,ANDITWASCOMPLETELYINVISIBLEFROMBEHINDYOUCOULDONLYSEEITFROMTHESIDENEARESTTHEROAD,ANDYOUCOULDNTSEEITEASILYEVENFROMTHERE,BECAUSEALLYOUCOULDSEETHROUGHITWASEXACTLYTHESAMEKINDOFTHINGTHATLAYINFRONTOFITONTHISSIDEAPATCHOFGRASSLITBYASTREETLIGHTBUTWILLKNEWWITHOUTTHESLIGHTESTDOUBTTHATTHATPATCHOFGRASSONTHEOTHERSIDEWASINADIFFERENTWORLDHECOULDNTPOSSIBLYHAVESAIDWHYHEKNEWITATONCE,ASSTRONGLYASHEKNEWTHATFIREBURNEDANDKINDNESSWASGOODHEWASLOOKINGATSOMETHINGPROFOUNDLYALIENANDFORTHATREASONALONE,ITENTICEDHIMTOSTOOPANDLOOKFURTHERWHATHESAWMADEHISHEADSWIMANDHISHEARTTHUMPHARDER,BUTHEDIDNTHESITATEHEPUSHEDHISSHOPPINGBAGTHROUGH,ANDTHENSCRAMBLEDTHROUGHHIMSELF,THROUGHTHEHOLEINTHEFABRICOFTHISWORLDANDINTOANOTHERHEFOUNDHIMSELFSTANDINGUNDERAROWOFTREESBUTNOTHORNBEAMTREESTHESEWERETALLPALMS,ANDTHEYWEREGROWING,LIKETHETREESINOXFORD,INALINEALONGTHEGRASSBUTHISWASTHECENTREOFABROADBOULEVARD,ANDATTHESIDEOFTHEBOULEVARDWASALINEOFCAFESANDSMALLSHOPS,ALLBRIGHTLYLIT,ALLOPEN,ANDALLUTTERLYSILENTANDEMPTYBENEATHASKYTHICKWITHSTARSTHEHOTNIGHTWASLADENWITHTHESCENTOFFLOWERSANDWITHTHESALTSMELLOFTHESEAWILLLOOKEDAROUNDCAREFULLYBEHINDHIMTHEFULLMOONSHONEDOWNOVERADISTANTPROSPECTOFGREATGREENHILLS,ANDONTHESLOPESATTHEFOOTOFTHEHILLSTHEREWEREHOUSESWITHRICHGARDENSANDANOPENPARKLANDWITHGROVESOFTREESANDTHEWHITEGLEAMOFACLASSICALTEMPLEJUSTBESIDEHIMWASTHATBAREPATCHINTHEAIR,ASHARDTOSEEFROMTHISSIDEASFROMTHEOTHER,BUTDEFINITELYTHEREHEBENTTOLOOKTHROUGHANDSAWTHEROADINOXFORD,HISOWNWORLDTHETURNEDAWAYWITHASHUDDERWHATEVERTHISNEWWORLDWAS,ITHADTOBEBETTERTHANWHATHEDJUSTLEFTWITHADAWNINGLIGHTHEADEDNESS,THEFEELINGTHATHEWASDREAMINGBUTAWAKEATTHESAMETIME,HESTOODUPANDLOOKEDAROUNDFORTHECAT,HISGUIDETHESTORYOFJKROWLINGANDHARRYPOTTERTHEELDERSTATESWOMANOFBRITISHFANTASYLITERATUREISJKROWLING,THEGIFTEDCREATOROFHARRYPOTTERJOANNEROWLINGSROOTSAREINTHESOUTHWESTOFENGLAND,WHERESHEGREWUPBUTTHEIDEAFORHARRYPOTTERCAMETOHERWHILESHEWASONADELAYEDTRAINBETWEENMANCHESTERANDLONDONSHEWROTEDOWNHERIDEASONTHEBACKOFANENVELOPESHETHENWENTTOTEACHENGLISHINPORTUGAL,WHERESHECONTINUEDTOADDFLESHTOTHEBONESOFTHEFIRSTHARRYPOTTERSTORYBUTHERNAMEISFOREVERASSOCIATEDWITHEDINBURGHINSCOTLAND,WHERESHELIVEDANDDEVELOPEDTHEFORMATFORTHEWHOLESERIESOFSEVENBOOKSTHEREAREMANYANECDOTESABOUTHOW,IN1990,JKROWLINGBEGANTHEFIRSTDRAFTOFHARRYPOTTERANDTHEPHILOSOPHERSSTONESHEHADTHEEXTRABURDENOFLOOKINGAFTERHERBABYDAUGHTERWHILESHEWORKED,ANDBECAUSESHEWASTOOPOORTOOWNATYPEWRITER,SHEWROTEBYHANDSHESPENTMANYHOURSOVERASINGLECUPOFCOFFEEINAWARMCAFETERIAINEDINBURGHBECAUSESHEHADNOMONEYTOPAYFORTHEHEATINGATHOMESUCCESSWASNOTSWIFTANDROWLINGMIGHTHAVEGIVENUPBUTSHEWASSTUBBORNANDOVERCAMEALLTHEDIFFICULTIESITWASONLYIN1997THATSHECOMPLETEDTHEFIRSTHARRYPOTTERSTORY,WHICH,BECAUSETHEPUBLISHERSINTHEUSAREQUESTEDANADJUSTMENTTOTHETITLE,WASALSOKNOWNASHARRYPOTTERANDTHESORCERERSSTONEROWLINGALWAYSINTENDEDTHATHEROUTPUTWOULDBEABOOKEVERYYEARUNTILSHEHADFINISHEDTHESERIESINFACT,ITTOOKHERABOUTTENYEARSTOCOMPLETEBUTAFTERTHEFIRSTBOOK,THESUCCESSOFEACHOFTHEFOLLOWINGTITLESWASAUTOMATICTHEFIFTHBOOK,THEORDEROFTHEPHOENIXSOLDABOUTSEVENMILLIONCOPIESTHEDAYITWASPUBLISHEDROWLINGSSTYLEHASBEENATARGETFORSOMECRITICISM,BUTWHATMAKESTHEBOOKSSOIMPORTANTISTHAT,BECAUSETHEYAPPEALTOREADERSOFALLAGES,THEYCREATEASPECIALLITERARYBONDBETWEENPARENTSANDCHILDRENINANAGEOFCOMPUTERGAMESANDTELEVISIONPROGRAMMES,ITISALSOCLAIMEDTHEYARERESPONSIBLEFORARENEWEDINTERESTINREADINGHARRYPOTTERHASEVENBECOMEPARTOFTHESCHOOLCURRICULUM,MUCHTOTHEPLEASUREOFTHESCHOOLCHILDRENANDTHEHARRYPOTTEREFFECTISNOTJUSTRESTRICTEDTOTHEENGLISHSPEAKINGWORLDROWLINGSBOOKSHAVEBEENTRANSLATEDINTOMORETHAN55LANGUAGES,ANDITHASBEENESTIMATEDTHATMORETHAN250MILLIONCOPIESHAVEBEENDISTRIBUTEDAROUNDTHEWORLDIN2005ITWASESTIMATEDTHATROWLINGHADACCUMULATEDMORETHANONEBILLIONDOLLARSONDEPOSITINHERBANKSHEHASTHUSATTAINEDTHESTATUSOFBEINGTHEFIRSTWRITERTOBECOMEABILLIONAIREINTRODUCTIONONEOFTHEGREATESTBRITISHWRITESOFFANTASYLITERATUREWASCSLEWIS18981963,WHOWROTETHELION,THEWITCHANDTHEWARDROBELUCYDISCOVERSTHEWINTERLANDOFNARNIAWHERESHEANDHERTWOBROTHERSANDSISTERMEETTHEWHITEWITCHTHEYALSOMEETASLAN,THELION,WHOISTHEONLYONEWHOCANDEFEATTHEWITCHANDRESTORESUMMERTONARNIAWITHASLAN,THECHILDRENLEARNTOBEBRAVEANDTOFORGIVETHEYLEARNGREATSORROWANDHAPPINESS,ANDFINALLYTHEYLEARNWISDOMTHEIRTIMEINNARNIAISTHEGREATADVENTURETHATEVERYCHILDDREAMSOFEXTRACTFROMTHELION,THEWITCHANDTHEWARDROBEANDTHENSHESAWTHATTHEREWASALIGHTAHEADOFHERNOTAFEWINCHESAWAYWHERETHEBACKOFTHEWARDROBEOUGHTTOHAVEBEEN,BUTALONGWAYOFFSOMETHINGCOLDANDSOFTWASFALLINGONHERAMOMENTLATERSHEFOUNDTHATSHEWASSTANDINGINTHEMIDDLEOFAWOODATNIGHTTIMEWITHSNOWUNDERHERFEETANDSNOWFLAKESFALLINGTHROUGHTHEAIRLUCYFELTALITTLEFRIGHTENED,BUTSHEFELTVERYINQUISITIVEANDEXCITEDASWELLSHELOOKEDBACKOVERHERSHOULDERANDTHERE,BETWEENTHEDARKTREETRUNKS,SHECOULDSTILLSEETHEOPENDOORWAYOFTHEWARDROBEANDEVENCATCHAGLIMPSEOFTHEEMPTYROOMFROMWHICHSHEHADSETOUTSHEHAD,OFCOURSE,LEFTTHEDOOROPEN,FORSHEKNEWTHATITWASAVERYSILLYTHINGTOSHUTONESELFINTOAWARDROBEITSEEMEDTOBESTILLDAYLIGHTTHERE“ICANALWAYSGETBACKIFANYTHINGGOESWRONG,”THOUGHTLUCYSHEBEGANTOWALKFORWARD,CRUNCHCRUNCHOVERTHESNOWANDTHROUGHTHEWOODTOWARDSTHEOTHERLIGHTINABOUTTENMINUTESSHEREACHEDITANDFOUNDITWASALAMPPOSTASSHESTOODLOOKINGATIT,WONDERINGWHYTHEREWASALAMPPOSTINTHEMIDDLEOFAWOOD,ANDWONDERINGWHATTODONEXT,SHEHEARDTHEPITTERPATTEROFFEETCOMINGTOWARDSHERANDSOONAFTERTHATAVERYSTRANGEPERSONSTEPPEDOUTFROMAMONGTHETREESINTOTHELIGHTOFTHELAMPPOSTHEWASONLYALITTLETALLERTHANLUCYHERSELFANDCARRIEDOVERHISHEADANUMBRELLA,WHITEWITHSNOWFRO