现代大学英语精读(1)Unit3 课文.doc

LessonThreeTEXTAMessageoftheLandPiraSudhamPre-classWorkIReadthetextonceforthemainidea.Donotrefertothenotesdictionariesortheglossaryyet.Yes,theseareourricefields.Theybelongedtomyparentsandforefathers.Thelandismorethanthreecenturiesold.ImtheonlydaughterinourfamilyanditwasIwhostayedwithmyparentstilltheydied.Mythreebrothersmovedouttotheirwiveshouseswhentheygotmarried.MyhusbandmovedintoourhouseasisthewaywithusinEsarn.Iwastheneighteenandhewasnineteen.Hegavemesixchildren.Twodiedininfancyfromsickness.Therest,twoboysandtwogirls,wentawayassoonaswecouldaffordtobuyjeansforthem.OuroldestsongotajobasagardenerinarichmanshomeinBangkokbutlateranemploymentagencysenthimtoaforeignlandtowork.Myothersonalsowentfaraway.OneofourdaughtersisworkinginatextilefactoryinBangkok,andtheotherhasajobinastore.Theycomehometoseeusnowandthen,stayafewdays,andthentheyareoffagain.Oftentheysendsomemoneytousandtellusthattheyaredoingwell.Iknowthisisnotalwaystrue.Sometimes,theygetbulliedandinsulted,anditislikeaknifepiercingmyheart.Itseasierformyhusband.Hehasearswhichdonthear,amouthwhichdoesntspeak,andeyesthatdontsee.Hehasalwaysbeenpatientandsilent,mindinghisownlife.Allofthemremainmychildreninspiteoftheirlongabsence.Maybeitsfatethatsentthemawayfromus.Ourpieceoflandissmall,anditisnolongerfertile,bleedingyearafteryearand,likeus,gettingoldandexhausted.StillmyhusbandandIworkonthisland.Thesoilisnotdifficulttotillwhenthereisalotofrain,butinabadyear,itsnotonlytheploughsthatbreakbutourhearts,too.No,wetwohaventchangedmuch,butthevillagehas.Inwhatway?Onlytenyearsago,youcouldbarterforthings,butnowitsallcash.Yearsago,youcouldaskyourneighborstohelpbuildyourhouse,reapthericeordigawell.Nowtheylldoitonlyifyouhavemoneytopaythem.Plasticthingsreplacevillagecrafts.Menusedtomakethingswithfinebamboopieces,butnolonger.Plasticbagslitterthevillage.Shopshavesprungup,filledwithcolorfulplasticthingsandgoodswehavenousefor.Theyounggoawaytotownsandcitiesleavingusoldpeopletoworkontheland.Theythinkdifferently,Iknow,sayingthattheoldareold-fashioned.Allmylife,Ihaveneverhadtogotoahairdresser,ortopaintmylipsornails.Theseroughfingersandtoesareforworkinginthemudofourricefields,notforlookingpretty.Nowyounggirlsputonjeans,andlooklikeboysandtheythinkitisfashionable.Why,theyarewillingtoselltheirpigorwaterbuffalojusttobeabletobuyapairofjeans.Inmyday,ifIweretoputonapairoftrousersliketheydonow,lightningwouldstrikeme.Iknow,timeshavechanged,butcertainthingsshouldnotchange.Weshouldofferfoodtothemonkseveryday,gotothetempleregularly.Youngpeopletendtoleavethesethingstooldpeoplenow,andthatsashame.Why,onlytheotherdayIheardaboyshoutandscreamathismother.IfthatkindofthinghadhappenedwhenIwasyoung,thewholevillagewouldhavecondemnedsuchanungratefulson,andhisfatherwouldsurelyhavegivenhimagoodbeating.Asforme,Iwouldntchange,couldntchangeevenifIwantedto.AmIhappyorunhappy?Thisquestionhasneveroccurredtome.Lifesimplygoeson.Yes,thisbagofbonesdressedinragscanstillplantandreapricefrommorningtilldusk.Disease,wounds,hardshipandscarcityhavealwaysbeenpartofmylife.Idontcomplain.Thefarmer:Mywifeiswrong.Myeyesdoseetheyseemorethantheyshould.Myearsdoheartheyhearmorethanisgoodforme.IdonttalkaboutwhatIknowbecauseIknowtoomuch.Iknowforexample,greed,anger,andlustaretherootofallevils.Iamatpeacewiththelandandtheconditionsofmylife.ButIfeelagreatpityformywife.Ihavebeenforcingsilenceuponheralltheseyears,yetshehasnotoncecomplainedofanything.Iwantedtohavealotofchildrenandgrandchildrenaroundmebutnowcitiesandforeignlandshaveattractedmychildrenawayanditseemsthatnoneofthemwillevercomebacktolivehereagain.TowhomshallIgivethesericefieldswhenIdie?Forhundredsofyearsthisstripoflandhasbelongedtoourfamily.Iknoweveryinchofit.Mychildrengrewuponit,catchingfrogsandmudcrabsandgatheringflowers.Stillthelandcouldnottiethemdownorcallthemback.Wheneachofthemhasapairofjeans,theyareofflikebirdsonthewing.Fortunately,mywifeisstillwithme,andbothofusarestillstrong.Woundshealovertime.Sicknesscomesandgoes,andwegetbackonourfeetagain.Ineverwanttoleavethisland.Itsnicetofeelthewetearthasmyfingersdigintothesoil,plantingrice,tohearmywifesighing, Oldman,ifIdiefirst,Ishallbecomeacloudtoprotectyoufromthesun.ItsgoodtosmellthescentofripeningriceinNovember.Thesoftcoolbreezemovesthesheaves,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.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.badorharmfulinfluenceoreffect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.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(plasticbags,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.totaketheplaceof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.aplacefortheworshipofagodorgods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.In1935heimmigratedtoNewYork.Singerwrotemanystoriesandnovels,aswellasbooksforjuvenilesandfourautobiographies(includingLostinAmerica, 1981).In1978hisworkreceivedworldattentionwhenhewasawardedtheNoblePrizeinLiterature.ThevillageofLentshinwastiny.Itwassurroundedbylittlehutswiththatchadroofs.Betweenthehutstherewerefields,wheretheownersplantedvegetablesorpasturedtheirgoats.InthesmallestofthesehutslivedoldBerl,amaninhiseighties,andhiswifeBerlcha.OldBerlwasoneoftheJewsdrivenfromRussiawhohadsettledinPoland.Hewasshort,broad-shouldered,andhadasmallwhitebeard,andinsummerandwinterheworeasheepskinhat,apaddedcottonjacket,andstoutboots.Hehadahalfacreoffield,acow,agoat,andchickens.Thecouplehadason,Samuel,whohadgonetoAmericafortyyearsago.ItwassaidinLentshinthathebecameamillionairethere.Everymonth,theLentshinlettercarrierbroughtoldBerlamoneyorderandaletterthatnoonecouldreadbecausemanyofthewordswereEnglish.HowmuchmoneySamuelsenthisparentsremainedasecret.Theyneverseemedtousethemoney.Whatfor?Thegarden,thecow,andthegoatprovidedmostoftheirneeds.NoonecaredtoknowwhereBerlkeptthemoneythathissonsenthim.Thehutconsistedofoneroom,whichcontainedalltheirbelongings:thetable,theshelfformeat,theshelfformilkfoods,thetwobeds,andtheclayoven.Sometimesthechickensroostedinthewoodshedandsometimes,whenitwascold,inacoopneartheoven.Thegoat,too,foundshelterinsidewhentheweatherwasbad.Themoreprosperousvillagershadkerosenelamps,butBerlandhiswifedidnotbelieveinnewgadgets.OnlyfortheSabbathwouldBerlchabuycandlesatthestore.Insummer,thecouplegotupatsunriseandretiredwiththechickens.Inthelongwinterevenings,BerlchaspunflaxandBerlsatbesideherinthesilenceofthosewhoenjoytheirrest.OnceinawhilewhenBerlcamehomefromthesynagogue,hebroughtnewstohiswife.InWarsawtherewerestrikerswhodemandedthattheczarabdicate.SomebodybythenameofDr.Herzl*hadcomeupwiththeideathatJewsshouldsettleagaininPalestine.Berlchalistenedandshookherhead.Herfacewasyellowishandwrinkledlikeacabbageleaf.Shewashalfdeaf.Berlhadtorepeateachwordhesaidtoher.HereinLentshinnothinghappenedexceptusualevents:acowgavebirthtoacalf,ayoungcouplegotmarried.Actually,Lentshinhadbecomeavillagewithfewyoungpeople.TheyoungmenleftforZakroczym,forWarsaw,andsometimesfortheUnitedStates.LikeSamuel,theysentlettersandphotographsinwhichthemenworetophatsandthewomenfancydresses.BerlandBerlchaalsoreceivedsuchphotographs.Buttheireyeswerefailingandneitherhenorshehadglasses.Theycouldbarelymakeoutthepictures.Samuelhadsonsanddaughtersandgrandchildren.TheirnamesweresostrangethatBerlandBerlchacouldneverrememberthem.Butwhatdifferencedonamesmake?Americawasontheothersideoftheocean,attheedgeoftheworld.Atalmud*teacherwhocametoLentshinhadsaidthatAmericanswalkedwiththeirheadsdownandtheirfeetup.BerlandBerlchacouldnotgraspthis.Howwasitpossible?Butsincetheteachersaidsoitmustbetrue.OneFridaymorning,whenBerlchawaskneadingthedoughfortheSabbathloaves,thedooropenedandanoblemanentered.Hewassotallthathehadtobenddowntogetthroughthedoor.Hewasfollowedbythecoachmanwhocarriedtwoleathersuitcases.InastonishmentBerlcharaisedhereyes.ThenoblemanlookedaroundandsaidtothecoachmaninYiddish, Hereitis.Hetookoutasilverrubleandpaidhim.Thenhesaid, Youcangonow.Whenthecoachmanclosedthedoor,thenoblemansaid, Mother,itsme,yoursonSamuel-Sam.Berlchaheardthewordsandherlegsgrewnumb.Thenoblemanhuggedher,kissedherforehead,bothhercheeks,andBerlchabegantocacklelikeahen, Myson!AtthatmomentBerlcameinfromthewoodshed,hisarmspiledwithlogs.Thegoatfollowedhim.Whenhesawanoblemankissinghiswife,Berldroppedthewoodandexclaimed, Whatisthis?ThenoblemanletgoofBerlchaandembracedBerl. Father! ForalongtimeBerlwasunabletoutterasound.Thenheasked, AreyouSamuel?Yes,Father,IamSamuel. Well,peacebewithyou. Berlgraspedhissonshand.Hewasstillnotsurethathewasnotbeingfooled.Samuelwasntastallandheavyasthisman,butthenBerlremindedhimselfthatSamuelwasonlyfifteenyearsoldwhenhehadlefthome.Berlasked, Whydidntyouletusknowthatyouwerecoming?Didntyoureceivemycable?Samuelasked.Berldidnotknowwhatacablewas.Berlchahadscrapedthedoughfromherhandsandenfoldedherson.IneverthoughtIcouldlivetoseethis.Now,Iamhappytodie,Berlchasaid.Berlwasamazed.Thesewerejustthewordshecouldhavesaidearlier.AfterawhileBerlcametohimselfandsaid, Pescha,youwillhavetomakeadoubleSabbathpuddinginadditiontothestew.ItwasyearssinceBerlhadcalledBerlchabyhergivenname.OnlynowdidBerlchabegintocry.Yellowtearsranfromhereyes,andeverythingbecamedim.Thenshecalledout, ItsFridayIhavetopreparefortheSabbath.Yes,shehadtokneadthedoughfortheloaves.Withsuchaguest,shehadtomakealargerSabbathstew.Thewinterdayisshortandshemusthurry.Hersonunderstoodwhatwasworryingher,becausehesaid, Mother,Iwillhelpyou.Thenoblemantookoffhisjacketandremainedinhisvest,onwhichhungasolidgold-watchchain.Hrolleduphissleeves. Mother,IwasabakerformanyyearsinNewYork,hesaid,andhebegantokneadthedough.Berlchaweptforjoy.Herstrengthlefther,andsheslumpedontothebed.Berlsaid, Womenwillalwaysbewomen.Andhewenttotheshedtogetmorewood.Thegoatsatdownneartheoven;shegazedwithsurpriseatthisstrangeman.TheneighborshadheardthegoodnewsthatBerlssonhadarrivedfromAmericaandtheycametogreethim.ThewomenbegantohelpBerlchapreparefortheSabbath.Somelaughed,somecried.Theroomwasfullofpeople,asatawedding.AfterBerlchalitthecandles,fatherandsonwenttothelittlesynagogueacrossthestreet.Anewsnowhadfallen.Thesontooklargesteps,butBerlwarnedhim, Slowdown.InthesynagoguetheJewssangtheirprayers.Allthetime,thesnowoutsidekeptfalling.WhenBerlandSamuellefttheHolyPlace,thevillagewasunrecognizable.Everythingwascoveredinsnow.Onecouldseeonlythecontoursoftheroofsandthecandlesinthewindows.Samuelsaid, Nothinghaschangedhere.Berlchahadpreparedfish,chickensoupwithrice,meat,carrotstew.Thefamilyateanddrank,andwhenitgrewquietforawhileonecouldhearthechirpingofthehousecricket.AfterthefinalprayerSamuelasked, Father,whatdidyoudowithallthemoneyIsentyou?Berlraisedhiswhitebrows. Itshere.Didntyouputitinabank?ThereisnobankinLentshin.Wheredoyoukeepit?Berlhesitated. OneisnotallowedtotouchmoneyontheSabbath,butIwillshowyou. Hecrouchedbesidethebedandbegantoshovesomethingheavy.Abootappeared.Itstopwasstuffedwithstraw.Berlremovedthestrawandthesonsawthatthebootwasfullofgoldcoins.Heliftedit.Father,thisisatreasure!hecalledout.Well.Whydidntyouspendit?Onwhat?ThankGod,wehaveeverything.Whydidntyoutravelsomewhere?Whereto?Thisisourhome.Thesonaskedonequestionaftertheother,butBerlsanswerwasalwaysthesame:Theyhadeverything.Thegarden,thecow,thegoat,thechi