B5U2The Struggle to be an all-American girl

.,TheStruggletoBeanAll-AmericanGirl,ByElizabethWong,.,DiscussionofParagraph1,Whydoyouthinktheschoolwasnewlypainted?AstheChineseschoolisratherold,itsoutsidemusthavebeendiscoloredanddirty.Tomakeitlookattractive,theschoolwasnewlypaintedasakindofface-lift.,.,2.Whatdoestheexistenceoftheoldschoolimply?,TheChineseschoolisstillthere,whichimpliesthatstilltherearemanyChinesechildrenattendingChineselessonsintheschool.Althoughtheyliveabroad,Chineseparentsneverforgettheirowncultureandtheirownlanguageandrequirethattheirchildrenlearntheirmothertongue.,.,LanguageworkinParagraph1,1.Despitethenewcoatofpaintandthehighwirefence,theschoolIknew10yearsagoremainsremarkably,stoicallythesame.Althoughcoveredwithanewcoatofpaintandenclosedwithahighwirefence,theschoolIknew10yearsagocontinuestobethesame,showingremarkabledefianceofthevicissitudesoftime.,.,fencen.structureofrails,stakes,wire,etc.,esp.oneputroundafieldorgardentomarkaboundaryorkeepanimalsfromstrayinge.g.:(1)Thebackyardisenclosedwithahighwirefence.(2)Thefieldissurroundedwithastakefence.vt.surround,divide,orencloseafield,agarden,etc.withafencee.g.:(1)Hislandisfencedwithbarbedwire.(2)Thegroundsarefencedintopreventtrespassing.,.,stoicallyadv.withgreatself-controlandastrongwilltoendurepain,discomfort,ormisfortunewithoutcomplainingaboutitorshowingsignsoffeelingite.g.(1)Shebehavedstoicallyduringthefinalphaseofherhusbandsillness.(2)Theyenduredallkindsofhardshipsstoically.,.,AnalysisofParagraph1,Thisparagraph,thebeginningofthenarrativetext,providesthebackgroundofthestory.FromthiswereaderslearnthattheChineseschoolonYaleStreet,wheretheauthorandherbrotherusedtogo10yearsagocontinuestoexistthere,remainingremarkablyandstoicallythesame,despiteitsnewcoatofpaintanditsfence.,.,DiscussionofParagraph2-7,WhatdoyouknowabouttheheadmasteroftheChineseschoolaccordingtotheauthorsdescriptions?Heisasternmanwhotreatsthechildrenseverely.Hetendstopunishthosechildrenwhoarelazy,naughty,andpoorintheirstudies,aswellasthosewhoviolatetheschooldiscipline.,.,HowdidtheauthordescribetheclassroomwheretheyattendedChineselessons?Therewerelittlechairsinanemptyauditorium,.,WhatelsewasstressedintheChineseschoolbesidestheemphasisonspeaking,readingandwriting?Politenesswasalsoemphasizedintheschool.Thelessonsalwaysbeganwithanexerciseinpoliteness.Withtheentranceoftheteacher,thebeststudentwouldtapabellandallthechildrenwouldgetup,kowtow,andchant,Singsanho,thephoneticforHowareyou,teacher?,.,WhatthingsdidthewriterconsidertobemoreimportantandmoreusefulthanlearningChinese?Sheconsideredthefollowingthingstobemoreimportantandmoreuseful:doingmultiplicationtables,namingthesatellitesofMars,writingreportsonLittleWomenandBlackBeauty.,.,LanguageworkinParagraph2-7,sneakvi.goquietlyandsecretlyinthedirectionspecifiede.g.:(1)Hestolethemoneyandsneakedoutofthehouse.(2)Thecatatethefoodandsneakedoff.(3)Athieftookallthejewelsandsneakedaway.theemptylot:thevacantorunoccupiedareaorland,.,pleadv.makerepeatedurgentrequests;offersth.asanexplanationorexcuse,esp.forfailingtodosth.orfordoingsth.wrong.e.g.(1)Hepleadedwithhisparentsforamoreunderstandingattitude.(2)Shepleadedwithhimnottoleaveheralone.(3)Theboypleadedtobeallowedtorideonthetractor.,.,dissuadevt.stopsb.fromdoingsth.bypersuasione.g.:(1)Hewroteabooktodissuadepeoplefromusingtobacco.(2)JimsfathertriedtodissuadehimfrommarryingMary.solidlyadv.firmlyandsubstantiallye.g.:(1)Thehousehasasolidly-builtfoundation.(2)Wearesolidlyunitedonthisissue.,.,heritagen.suchthingsasworksofart,culturalachievementsandfolklorethathavebeenpassedonfromearliergenerations;propertythathasbeenormaybeinheritedbyanheire.g.(1)Theseancientbuildingsarepartofournationalheritage.(2)Sheistheonlyheirwhoisentitledtotheheritage.,.,Noamountofkicking,screaming,orpleadingcoulddissuademymother,whowassolidlydeterminedtohaveuslearnthelanguageofourheritage,NomatterhowdesperatelymybrotherandIresistedgoingtotheChineseschool,kicking,yelling,orrepeatedlybegging,wecouldnotmakeourmotherchangehermind,becauseshewasdeterminedtogetustolearnChinese,ourmothertongue,whichhadbeenpasseddownfromgenerationtogeneration.,.,forciblyadv.donebyorinvolvingtheuseofphysicalforce;forcefullye.g.:(1)Thepolicemenenteredthebuildingforcibly.(2)Thepiratesforciblyseizedourshipaswellasthecargoonit.depositvt.layorputsth.down;putmoneyinabank,esp.toearnintereste.g.:(1)Hedepositedhispaperswithhislawyers.(2)Hedepositedthebooksonthedesk.(3)Themoneyhesdepositedinthebankisenoughforanewcar,.,defiantadj.openlyopposingorresistingsb.orsth.e.g.:(1)Thetradeunionadoptedadefiantattitudetowardthebosssthreat.(2)Thehardlinersareangrilydefiantofthegovernmentsrefusalandthreatentotakeaction.thesternprincipal:theverydisciplinaryheadoftheschool;,.,Forcibly,shewalkedusthesevenlong,hillyblocksfromourhometoschool,depositingourdefianttearfulfacesbeforethesternprincipal.Fromourhometoschooltherearesevenlonggroupsofbuildingsboundedbystreetsonallsidesanderectedonhillyslopes.Sheforcedustowalkpasttheseblocks,leavingbothofusinfrontofthegrimandseriousheadmaster,ourfacesshowingrebelliousreluctanceandwetwithtears,.,swayv.waver,oscillateirregularlye.g.:(1)Sheswayedherbodyintimewiththemusic.(2)Thewindisswayingthetallgrass.(3)Sheswayedthecradlewithherfootuntilthebabywenttosleep.(4)Thetreeswereswayinggentlyinthewind,.,claspvt.holdsb.orsth.tightlyinthehand;holdsb.tightlyinonesarmse.g.:(1)Shewasclaspingaknife.(2)Thecoupleclaspedhandsbrieflybeforesayinggood-bye.(3)Heclaspedhertohischest.witchinghands:handsthatweremovingspasmodically痉挛地;handswithmusclesmovingrapidlyandinvoluntarily;handsthatwereviolentlyjerking,.,maniacaladj.violentlymad;extremelyenthusiastice.g.:(1)Wehatehismaniacalbehavior.(2)Themaniacalexpressiononhisfacescaredhiswifetodeath.(3)Theseyoungmenaremaniacalaboutfootballmatches.,.,Irecognizedhimasarepressedmaniacalchildkiller,andknewthatifweeversawhishandswedbeinbigtrouble.Inmyopinion,theprincipalwasamanwhosufferedfromsuppressionofemotionsandwhowassosternandseverethathewouldbeliabletobeatupachild.AndIknewifweeversawhistwitchinghands,wewouldbeinforseverephysicalpunishment,extremepain,anxietyandworry,etc.,.,TheroomsmelledlikeChinesemedicine,animportedfarawaymustiness.TheroomgaveoffasmellverysimilartothatofChinesemedicine,astale,mouldy,anddampsmelldriftinginfromafarawayplace.,.,mothballn.asmallballmadeofastrong-smellingsubstance,usedforkeepingmothsawayfromstoredclothes,books,etc.e.g.(1)Sheregularlyputsmothballsinherwardrobe.(2)Sheplacedtwomothballsinthepocketsofeachofthewoolensweatersandjackets.closetn.acupboardorsmallroomforstoringthingse.g.Thisisaveryspaciousapartmentwiththreebigbedrooms,alargehall,asitting-room,twotoilets,abigkitchen,acloset,andtwobalconies.,.,Likeancientmothballsordirtyclosets.Thisisaprepositionalphrase,butitstandsalonelikeanindependentclause.Infact,itispartoftheprevioussentence.Wecanincorporateitintheprevioussentence:TheroomsmelledlikeChinesemedicine,animportedfarawaymustiness,orlikeancientmothballsordirtyclosets.Thisstructureisknownasasentencefragment,whichhasastressedfallingtone.Therefore,itsmeaningisgivenprominence.Thewriterintendedtomakeitstandalonelikeasentence,becauseshewantedtoemphasizethepermeationoftheroomwithaverybadsmelljustlikethatgivenoffbymothballsorfoundindirtyclosets.,.,LikethesoftFrenchperfumethatmyAmericanteacherworeinpublicschool.Thisisanotherprepositionalphrase.Itcan,ofcourse,beincludedintheforegoingsentence.Asentencefragmentisbelievedtobemoreattractive,moreimpressiveandmoreemphatic.Here,thisprepositionalphraseprovidesavividexampleofthewritersfavoredscents.,.,tapabell:strikeabelllightlychantvt.say,utter,talkorrepeatmonotonously;singorintone(apsalm)e.g.(1)Thepupilschanted,Howareyou,teacher?(2)Sheischantingamelody.(3)Theyarechantingapsalm.,.,ideographn.ideogram;symbolusedinawritingsystemthatrepresentstheideaofathing;anysignorsymbolforsth.e.g.(1)Chinesecharactersareideographs.(2)Thedictionaryincludessomeideographs.blotchn.alarge,discoloredmark,usu.irregularinshapeonskin,paper,material,etc.e.g.(1)Hisfaceiscoveredinuglyredblotches.(2)Tome,thatpictureofhis,thoughsaidtobeamasterpieceintheworldoffineart,ismerelyamessofblotches.,.,Beingtenyearsold,Ihadbetterthingstolearnthanideographscopiedpainstakinglyinlinesthatranrighttoleftfromthetipofamocbut,arealinkpenthathadtobeheldinanawkwardwayifblotchesweretobeavoided.Asaten-year-oldgirl,Ihadmoreinterestingthingstolearnthanideogramswhichweretobewrittenbyhandaftermodels,onestrokeafteranother,inlinesthatranrighttoleft,fromthetipofaninkpenwhichIhadtoclaspinaclumsywayiflargeinkmarks,insteadofChinesecharacters,werenottobemade.,.,disassociatevt.separatepeopleorthingsinonesthoughtsorfeelingse.g.(1)Theteacherdisassociatedthetwoideas.(2)Youcannotdisassociatethegovernmentsactionsfromthepoliciesthatunderliethem.dissociateoneselffromsb.orsth.:saythatonedoesnotagreewithorsupportsb.orsth.e.g.(1)Iwishtodissociatemyselffromthoseviews.(2)Sheisdeterminedtodissociateherselffromthemarriage.,.,nagv.scoldorcriticizecontinuously;worryorhurtsb.persistentlye.g.(1)Shenaggedatherchildalldaylong.(2)Theproblemhadbeennaggingmeforalongtime.(3)Everybodyknowsthathesgotanaggingwife.fragileadj.easilydamagedorbroken;delicate;weak,notstrongorhealthy.e.g.(1)Thisisafragilevase;pleasehandleitwithcare.(2)Afragilegirlisvulnerabletoillness.(3)Theoldladyisincreasinglyfragileafterheroperation.,.,raunchyadj.coarseorobscene;havingorshowingasexualdesiree.g.(1)Heseldomfeelsraunchy.(2)Thatmanoftentellsraunchystoriesandcracksraunchyjokes.liltingromance:romancecharacterizedbyalight,livelyorverycheerfulrhythm;worksofaliterarygenrewithromanticloveorhighlyimaginativeunrealisticepisodesformingthecentraltheme,markedbyalightsprightlyrhythm,.,refinementn.refiningorbeingrefined;cultureoreleganceofmanners,taste,language,etc.e.g.(1)Therefinementofoil,sugar,etc.hasbeenimproved.(2)Heisagentlemanofgreatrefinement.(3)Alltherefinementsofthe20thcenturytechnologyareverysurprising.pedestrianadj.dull,lackingimaginationorinspiration;oforforpedestrianse.g.(1)Thetextprovidesapedestriandescriptionoftheeventsthatwereactuallyveryexciting.,.,Moretimesthannot,IhadtriedtodisassociatemyselffromthenaggingloudvoicethatfollowedmewhereverIwanderedinthenearbyAmericansupermarketoutsideChinatown.Thevoicebelongedtomygrandmother,afragilewomaninherseventieswhocouldoutshoutthebeststreetvendor.Herhumorwasraunchy,herChineserhythmlessandpatternless.Itwasquick,itwasloud,itwasnotbeautiful.Itwasnotlikethequiet,liltingromanceofFrenchorthegentlerefinementoftheAmericanSouth.Chinesesoundedpedestrian.Public.,.,QuiteoftenIhadmadeeffortstoescapefromtheannoyinglyloudvoicethataccompaniedmewhereverIroamedinthenearbyAmericansupermarketoutsideChinatown.Itwasmygrandmotherfollowingmeandtalkingatthetopofhervoice.Alreadyover70yearsold,shewasphysicallyweakandfeeble,butshewasabletospeakloudly,evenmoreloudlythantheloudestofthestreetvendors.Shewascoarse,andherChinesewaswithoutanyrhythmorpatternorproperwayofexpression.ShespokeChinesequickly,loudlyandunpleasantly.HerChinesewasquitedifferentfromtheelegantandromanticFrenchorthegraceful,culturedsoundsoftheAmericanSouth.Chinesesoundedverydull,incapableofarousingimaginationorinspiration.Itsoundedaverageandcommonplace,withoutanydistinctiveornoblecharacteristics.,.,DetailedStudyofParas8-11,(1)WhatdidtheauthorthinkofhergrandmothersChinese?ShethoughtthathergrandmothersChinesesoundedrhythmlessandpatternless,thatitwasquick,itwasloud,anditwasntbeautiful,andthatherChinesesoundedpedestrian.,.,(2)WhatdoyouknowabouttheauthorsEnglishproficiency?ShespokeEnglishveryfastandverywellsothatshewasabletokeepupwiththeworldoutsideChinatown.(4)HowwastheauthorsmotherslevelofEnglish?ShewasnotabletospeakEnglishwell.ShespokepidginEnglish,andshehadtroublepronouncingsomewords,particularlywordswiththersound.,.,(3)Whatdoyouknowabouttheauthorsbrother?,HerbrotherwasevenmorefanaticalaboutspeakingEnglish.Hewasespeciallyhardonhismother,criticizingher,oftencruelly,forherpidginspeech.Sometimeshismothermightleaveoutanoccasionaltheora,orperhapsaverbofbeing.Hewouldstopherinmid-sentence:Sayitagain,Mom.Sayitright.However,whenhetrippedoverhisowntongue,hedblameitonher:See,Mom,itsallyourfault.Yousetabadexample.Clearly,herbrotherspokeverygoodEnglish.Hewasverystrictwithhismotherwhenshemadegrammaticalerrors.,.,LanguageWork,chaoticandfrenzied:completelydisorganizedandwildlyexcited,agitated,orfrantic;inastateofcompletedisorderorconfusionandextremeexcitementorwildactivitytalkinggibberish:talkingnonsense;talkingunintelligibly;engaginginunintelligibletalkssweetlyadv.amiably,pleasantly;charmingly,attractivelye.g.(1)Shesmilessweetlywhenevershecomesacrosshercolleagues.(2)Shesmilesandnodssweetlybeforeshebeginstotalk.,.,cluckvi.makeanoisethatahenmakeswhencallingherchicks;expresssth.bymakingasimilarsounde.g.(1)Thehenisclucking,whilecallingherchicks.(2)Whenevershehasmadeprogress,hermotherwillcluckandsay,Youareanicegirl.dowell:besuccessfulorprosperous;bemakingagoodrecoveryfromanillnesse.g.(1)Simonisdoingverywellatschool.(2)Thepatientisdoingprettywellaftertheoperation.(3)Motherandbabyaredoingwell.,.,My,doesntshemoveherlipsfast,theywouldsay,meaningthatIdbeabletokeepupwiththeworldoutsideChinatown.Mygoodness,doesntshespeakEnglishfast?theywouldsay,meaningthatIwouldbeabletokeeppacewiththeworldoutsideChinatown./MyGod,howfastshespeaksEnglish!thepeopleinmyculturewouldsay,indicatingthatIwouldbeabletomoveorprogressatthesamerateastheworld,andthatIwouldbeabletostaywellinformedandliveanactivesociallifeoutsideChinatown.,.,pidginn.ablendingoflanguagesresultingfromcontactbetweenEuropeantradersandlocalpeoples,e.g.inWestAfricaandSoutheastAsia,containingelementsofthelocallanguage(s)andesp.English,French,orDutch,andstillusedforinternationalcommunicatione.g.(1)HermotherspeakspidginEnglish.(2)Therearestillmanypeoplewhospeakinpidgin.chopsuey:theEnglishtranscriptfortheChinesecharacters杂碎AchopsueyisaChinese-styledishofmeatstewedandfriedwithbeansprouts,bambooshootsandonions,andservedwithrice.,.,Hewasespeciallyhardonmymother,criticizingher,oftencruelly,forherpidginspeech-smatteringsofChinesescatteredlikechopsueyinherconversation.Hetreatedmymotherwithseverity,criticizingher,oftenmercilessly,forherspeechcontainingelementsofbothChineseandEnglish-wordsandexpressionsofChinesedispersedlikechopsueyinherconversation.,.,Whenhetrippedoverhisowntongue,hedblameitonher:See,Mom,itsallyourfault.Yousetabadexample.Whenhecommittedaminorerrorinspeech,hewould