自考综合英语

1、Lesson Ten The WashwomanI. B. Singer一个年近八旬、瘦小的老妇人，不愿增加儿子和社会的负担，一不乞讨，二不进孤老院，顽强地靠为他人洗衣维持生活。经她洗熨过的衣物又干净又平整；一旦收了活儿，即使是大病一场她也要完成自己的职责，冒着大雪严寒也要让洗熨好的衣物尽快物归原主。这个尽职的洗衣妇体现了人类的优秀的品质，她那衰弱的身躯体现了人类坚韧不拔的意志，她那粗糙的双手创造出了光辉灿烂的人类文明。有谁比她更平凡？但有谁比她更崇高？1 Our home had little contact with Gentiles. But there were the Gentile

2、 washwomen who came to the house to fetch our laundry. My story is about one of these. 2 She was a small woman, old and wrinkled. When she started washing for us, she was already past seventy. Most Jewish women of her age were sickly, weak, broken in body. But this washwoman, small and thin as she w

3、as, possessed a strength that came from generations of peasant ancestors. 1110:33 Mother would count out to her a bag of laundry that had accumulated over several weeks. She would lift the heavy bag, load it on her narrow shoulders, and carry it the long way home. It must have been a walk of an hour

4、 and a half. 3 She would bring the laundry back about two weeks later. My mother had never been so pleased with any washwoman. Every piece of laundry was as clean as polished silver. Every piece was neatly ironed. Yet she charged no more than the others. She was a real find. Mother always had her mo

5、ney ready, because it was too far for the old woman to come a second time.4 Washing clothes was not easy in those days. The old woman had no tap where she lived, but had to bring in the water from a pump. For the clothes and bedclothes to come out so clean, they had to be scrubbed thoroughly in a wa

6、shtub, rinsed with washing soda, soaked, boiled in an enormous pot, starched, then ironed. Every piece was handled ten times or more. And the drying! It had to be hung in the attic.5 She could have begged at the church door or entered a home for the poor and aged. But there was in her a certain prid

7、e and love of labor with which many Gentiles have been blessed. The old woman did not want to become a burden, and so bore her burden. 0704:45 6 The woman had a son who was rich. I no longer remember what sort of business he had. He was ashamed of his mother, the washwoman, and never came to see her

8、. Nor did he ever give her any money. The old woman told this without bitterness. One day the son was married. It seemed that he had made a good match. The wedding took place in a church. The son had not invited the old mother to his wedding, but she went to the church and waited at the steps to see

9、 her son lead the young lady to the altar. 7 The story of the faithless son left a deep impression on my mother. She talked about it for weeks and months. It was an insult not only to the old woman but to all mothers. 0707:37 Mother would argue, Does it pay to make sacrifices for children? The mothe

10、r uses up her last strength, and he does not even know the meaning of loyalty. 8 That winter was a harsh one. The streets were icy. No matter how much we heated our stove, the windows were covered with frost. The newspapers reported that people were dying of the cold. Coal became dear. The winter ha

11、d become so severe that parents stopped sending children to school.9 On one such day the washwoman, now nearly eighty years old, came to our house. A good deal of laundry had accumulated during the past weeks. Mother gave her a pot of tea to warm herself, as well as some bread. The old woman sat on

12、a kitchen chair trembling and shaking, and warmed her hands against the teapot. Her fingers were rough from work, and perhaps from arthritis, too. Her fingernails were strangely white. These hands spoke of stubbornness of mankind 1204:35, of the will to work not only as ones strength permits but bey

13、ond the limits of ones power. 10 The bag was big, bigger than usual. When the woman placed it on her shoulders, it covered her completely. At first she stayed, as though she were about to fall under the load. But an inner stubbornness seemed to call out: No, you may not fall. A donkey may permit him

14、self to fall under his burden, but not a human being, the best of creation.0710:44 11 She disappeared, and mother sighed and prayed for her. 12 More than two months passed. The frost had gone, and then a new frost had come, a new wave of cold. One evening, while Mother was sitting near the oil lamp

15、mending a shirt, the door opened and a small puff of steam, followed by a gigantic bag, entered the room. I ran toward the old woman and helped her unload her bag. She was even thinner now, more bent. Her head shook from side to side as though she were saying no. She could not utter a clear word, bu

16、t mumbled something with her sunken mouth and pale lips.13 After the old woman had recovered somewhat, she told us that she had been ill. Just what her illness was, I cannot remember. She had been so sick that someone called a doctor, and the doctor had sent for a priest. Someone had informed the so

17、n, and he had contributed money for a coffin and for the funeral. But God had not yet wanted to take this soul full of pain to Himself. She began to feel better, she became well, and as soon as she was able to stand on her feet once more, she began her washing. Not just ours, but the wash of several

18、 other families, too.14 I could not rest easy in my bed because of the wash, the old woman explained. The wash would not let me die.15 With the help of God you will live to be a hundred and twenty, said my mother, as a blessing.16 “God forbid! What good would such a long life be? The work becomes ha

19、rder and harder. my strength is leaving me I do not want to be a burden on anyone!” The old woman crossed herself, and raised her eyes toward heaven. 17 Fortunately there was some money in the house and Mother counted out what she owed. Then she left, promising to return in a few weeks for a new loa

20、d.18 But she never came back. The wash she had returned was her last effort on this earth. She had been driven by an indomitable will to return the property to its rightful owners, to fulfill the task she had undertaken. 19 And now at last her body, which had long been supported only by the force of

21、 honesty and duty, had fallen. Her soul passed into those spheres where all holy souls meet, regardless of the roles they played on this earth, in whatever tongue, of whatever religion. I cannot imagine paradise without this Gentile washwoman. I cannot even imagine a world where there is no reward f

22、or such effort. 0904:36 LESSON 10 洗衣妇I.B.辛格1 我们家与非犹太人很少来往，但有些非犹太人洗衣妇会来我家取走要洗的衣服。我的故事讲述的就是其中的一位洗衣妇。 2 她身材矮小，满脸皱纹，显得很苍老。她开始为我家洗衣服已年过古稀，大多数象她这个年龄的犹太妇女往往体弱多病。但这位洗衣妇虽然身体矮小瘦弱，却拥有从她世代农民祖先那里继承来的强健体魄。母亲往往会一件件给她数出一大包我家积攒了几星期要洗的衣物。她会提起那大包沉重的衣物，放在她那狭小的肩上，然后要扛很长一端的路回家。我猜那段路要走上一个半小时。 3 大约两周之后她会把洗好的衣服送回来。我母亲对别的洗衣工

23、从来没有象对她这么满意过。每件洗好的衣服干净得就象抛光过的银器一样，而且每件衣服都熨得平平整整。然而她却不比别的洗衣妇多收一分工钱。她真是位难得的洗衣工。母亲总是把要付给她的工钱准备好，因为她住的远不便再回来一趟取钱。 4 在那个年代，洗衣服并不是件容易的事。老妇人的住处没有自来水，她必须先从水泵里打来水。要将衣服和床单被褥洗得这么干净，必须在洗衣盆里用力彻底搓洗，用洗涤石碱谁漂洗，然后浸泡，再用一只大锅将衣服煮沸，还要上浆、熨平。每一件衣服都要经过十几道工序，最后还要晾干！要把衣服挂在顶楼上晾干。 5 她本来可以在教堂门口乞讨谋生或是进养老院，然而这位老妇人身上具有那种许多非犹太人所拥有的自

24、尊心和对劳动的热爱。她不愿成为别人的负担，因而自己承担起养活自己的责任。 6 老妇人有一位富有的儿子，我记不起他做的是什么生意。他对做洗衣妇的母亲感到羞耻，因此从不来看望他母亲，也从来不给他母亲钱。老妇人说起这些时并不感到辛酸。一天她的儿子结婚了，看起来他似乎找到了合适的伴侣。婚礼在教堂举行。老妇人的儿子并没有邀请他母亲参加他的婚礼，但老妇人却来到教堂，等在阶梯上看他的儿子娶媳妇。 7 这个不肖的儿子的故事给我的母亲留下很深的印象，她连续几星期甚至几个月都在谈论这事。这不仅对那老妇人而且对全天下的母亲都是一种侮辱。我母亲争辩说：“为子女们作出牺牲值得吗？母亲为儿子耗尽自己最后的力气，而她的儿子

25、甚至不懂什么是忠诚。” 8 那是一个十分寒冷的冬天，街道上结着冰。无论我们把炉火烧的多旺，玻璃窗上仍然布满了霜。据报纸报道，已经有人被冻死。煤变的非常昂贵。天气越来越冷，父母们已不再送孩子们去上学了。 9 就在这样寒冷的一天，当时已年近80的洗衣妇来到我家。几周来，我们已经积攒了许多衣服。我母亲递给她一壶茶让她暖和暖和，还给了她几面面包。老妇人坐在厨房的椅子上，打着冷颤，双手抱着茶壶取暖。她的手指由于干活，也或许是因为关节炎，显得很粗糙。她的手指甲奇怪地发白。这双手显示出人类的顽强精神，显示出人类要劳动的意志，不仅在个人力量允许的时候要劳动，而且在超越自己力量极限时也要劳动。 10 那天的包裹

26、很大，比以往的还要大。当老妇人把它扛上肩头时，包括几乎把她的身体都遮盖起来。开始她 停在原地未动，似乎要被大包压倒似的。但是好象有一种完全的意念在内心激励着她：不，你不能倒下。一头驴可以允许自己被重担压倒，但是人却不可以，因为人是上帝创造的最杰出的生灵。 11 她渐渐走远了，我母亲叹着气为他祈祷。 12 两个多月过去了。一场霜冻过后接着又是一场霜冻和寒流。一天傍晚，我母亲正坐在油灯下缝补衬衣，门开了，先吹进一小股蒸汽，接着近来的是一个巨大的包裹，我跑过去帮老妇人卸下包裹。她显得更加瘦弱，背也更弯了。她的头左右摇晃着，似乎在说不，可一个清晰的字也说不出，只是从他凹陷的嘴巴和苍白的嘴唇里发出些含糊

27、不青的声音。 13 待老妇人从喘息中恢复过来，她告诉我们她病了。我记不青她得的是什么病，但病情很重，有人帮她叫了医生，而医生又请来了牧师。有人通知了她的儿子，她儿子付了棺材和举行葬礼的费用。但是上帝还不想把这个苦命人招到自己身边。她的病情开始好转，身体渐渐恢复。当她刚刚能再次站起身来，她就又洗起衣服来。不光是我们一家的衣服，还有其他几家的衣服。 14 “一想到还有衣服要我洗我就不能安静地躺在床上。”老夫人解释说：“那写衣服不让我死！” 15 “上帝保佑，您能活到120随。”我母亲这样祝愿她。 16 “但愿上帝别让我活那么久！活那么久有什么用？干起活儿越来越费力我越来越感到虚弱无力我不想成为任何

28、人的负担！”老妇人在胸前划着十字，抬头望着天空。 17 正巧那天家里有钱，我母亲给她数出她应得的工钱。之后她离开了，答应几周以后再来取走另一包要洗的衣服。 18 但是她在也没有回来。她哪天送回的衣服是她一生中最后一次劳动成果。是一种坚强不屈的意志驱使她把衣物送回给它们的主人，从而完成自己承担的任务。 19 现在，她那长期以来一直被诚实和责任感支撑着的身躯终于倒下了。她的灵魂进入了所有圣洁的人们会集的地方，无论他们在人家曾经担任什么样的角色，无论他们讲的是什么语言，也无论他们信仰什么宗教。我想想天堂里绝对不会没有这位非犹太人洗衣妇的身影，我也坚信象她这样的努力一定会得到回报。 往年考过的真题I.

29、 Paraphrase1. This washwoman, small and thin as she was, possessed a strength that came from generations of peasant ancestors. 1110:33 (1-10:319)A. Unlike her peasant ancestors, this small thin washwoman was born strong.B. This washwoman, like her peasant ancestors, was small and thin but strong.C.

30、With the strength from her peasant ancestors, the washwoman was still small and thin.D. The washwoman was small and thin, but she inherited the strength of her peasant ancestors.2. The old woman did not want to become a burden, and so she bore her burden. 0704:45 (1-10:320)A. The old woman had to su

31、pport herself.B. The old woman was too proud to ask for help.C. The old woman did not want to bother other people.D. The old woman carried the heavy load herself.3. it was an insult not only to the old woman but to all mothers. 0707:37 (1-10:320)A. The faithless son not only insulted his mother but

32、also all mothers.B. The faithless son not only disappointed his mother but also all mothers.C. not only the old woman but also all mothers felt offended and hurt by the sons faithless behavior.D. not only the old woman but also all mothers felt that the son was faithless.4. Does it pay to make sacri

33、fices for children? 0801:37 (1-10:320)A. Is it profitable to make sacrifices for children?B. Is it right to make sacrifices for children?C. Is it worthwhile to make sacrifices for children?D. Is it favorable to make sacrifices for children?5. These hands spoke of the stubbornness of mankind. 1204:35

34、 (1-10:321) A. These hands referred to the hard work and power of mankind. B. These hands demonstrated the wisdom and diligence of mankind. C. These hands represented the rigidness and inflexibility of mankind. D. These hands showed the perseverance and determination of mankind. 6. A donkey may perm

35、it himself to fall under his burden, but not a human being, the best of creation.0710:44 (1-10:321) A. a human being should not fail like a donkey. B. a human being should not behave like a donkey. C. a human being should forever strive for a better life. D. a human being should not give up under ha

36、rsh conditions.7. I cannot even imagine a world where there is no reward for such effort. 0904:36 (1-10:323)A. I believe nothing is more valuable than such hard work.B. I am definitely sure that such hard work will be repaid.C. It is beyond my imagination that one makes such effort for nothing.D. It

37、 is hard to expect that everyone will make such effort in this world.II. Writing2005年10月：The Washwoman （1-10）Topic: What was the most quality of “the Washwoman”?You can use this outline：1Name this quality.2Give an example or examples to show she possessed this quality.3Give a brief comment on this q

38、uality.The old washwoman had a very strong sense of duty. Every piece of laundry she did was clean and neatly ironed. One harsh winter, she felt ill after she collected a great deal of laundry. She was so sick that a doctor and some neighbors thought she was dying, and a priest was sent for. However

39、, she recovered, and as soon she was able to stand on her feet once more, she began her washing. She could not allow herself to stay in bed because of the wash. Supported by a strong sense of duty driven by an indomitable will, she finally finished the wash, and returned it to its owners. Her story

40、tells us that to be a respected person, what work you do is not so important. What counts is your attitude. A washwoman and an economist should both be respected because they both do work society needs. (152 words)III. Translation课后练习答案3. Paraphrase1. she was a person whom we could find.2. Is it wor

41、thwhile to make sacrifices for children?3. he is not loyal at all.4. These hands showed the perseverance and determination of mankind. 5. She entered the world where the most holy souls gathered together, no matter what social class they belonged to, no matter what language they spoke, no matter wha

42、t religion they believed in.词汇练习1. （p.343） 1) darkness; 2) sadness3) illness4) fitness5) helplessness2. Translate the following into English.1)扮演角色 to play a role积累经验 to accumulate experiences熨烫衣物 to iron clothes身负重担 to bear a heavy burden卸下重担 to unload a heavy burden作出牺牲 to make sacrifices缝补衣物 to m

43、end clothes物归原主 to return the property to its rightful owner承担任务 to undertake a task 坚强的意志 strong will不屈的意志indomitable will粗糙的手指rough fingers深陷的双眼 sunken eyes寒冷的冬天 severe winter2) use the “useful expressions”1 我祖母少有的善良和慷慨使所有认识她的人都敬爱她。The rare kindness and generosity with which my grandmother has bee

44、n blessed make her respected by those who know her.2 在长达一周的夏季反攻中，士兵们用尽了弹药。During the summer counterattack that lasted for one week, the soldiers had used up all the ammunition.3 恐怕你的要求超越了他的权限。Im afraid your request is beyond the limits of his power.4 轮船剧烈地左右晃动，许多乘客都晕船了。The ship rocked violently from

45、 side to side, causing many passengers to feel seasickness.5 老人在丛林里生活多年，与外界极少来往。The old man has been living in the jungle for many years, having little contact with the outside world.6 她年轻时得过癌症，后来康复了，一直活到高龄。She had cancer when she was young, but recovered later and lived to be an advanced age.7 广场中心

46、的雕像表达了人民对将军的敬重和自豪之情。The statue standing in the center of the square speaks of the respect and pride people feel for the general.8 我把消息告诉了玛丽以后，她看上去好象要晕倒。After I told Mary the news, she looked as if she was about to faint.9 她不顾父母的强烈反对，决定去上夜校。She decided to go to the evening school regardless of her pa

47、rents strong objection.10 为帮助艾丽丝准备参加网球比赛，她母亲请来了本地最好的教练。To help Alice prepare for the tennis match, her mother sent for the best local coach.3） use see, tell and show.1 我从梯子上掉了下来，伤了左胳膊。I fell off the ladder and hurt my left arm.2 在大学我们至少需要300元来支付伙食费。At university we need at least 300 yuan to cover th

48、e board expenses.3 唐山遭受地震以来二十多年已经过去了。Twenty years has passed since Tangshan was hit by earthquake.4 这个课程涉及到二战以来美国历史的各个方面。This course covers every aspect of American history since World War 5 雪一直缓缓地下着。The snow kept falling steadily.6 这本书挺难，我一小时只读了10页。The book is rather difficult, and I covered only t

49、en pages in one hour.7 那个期间他三次经过自己的家都没有进去。He passed his house without entering three times during that period.8 这次高考入学考试他没能通过，他决心明年再试一次。He has failed to pass this years college Entrance Examination and hes determined to have another try next year9 那个小男孩问他的父母为什么树在秋天掉叶子。That little boy asked his paren

50、ts why the leaves fall from the trees in autumn10 你们看完了这份报纸以后，把它传给三班。After reading the newspaper, pass it to Class Three.3. Complete the following sentences: 1) (1) off in(2) with(3) of (4) on;(5) up(6) by; for (7) with (8) on; on(9) for; from(10) for(11) by(12) out2) (1) cost (2) expensive(3) gigan

51、tic / vast (4) fulfill(5) rangel charge: If you charge someone an amount of money, you ask them to pay that amount for something that you have sold to them or done for them. 要价; 收费l cost: If something costs a particular amount of money, you can buy, do, or make it for that amount. 要价l high: You can

52、use high to indicate that something is great in amount, degree, or intensity. (数量、程度或强度) 高的l expensive: If something is expensive, it costs a lot of money. 昂贵的l gigantic: If you describe something as gigantic, you are emphasizing that it is extremely large in size, amount, or degree. 巨大的l vast: Some

53、thing that is vast is extremely large. 巨大的l fulfill: To fulfill a task, role, or requirement means to do or be what is required, necessary, or expected. 完成 (任务、角色); 达到 (要求)l finish: When you finish doing or dealing with something, you do or deal with the last part of it, so that there is no more for you to do or deal with. 结束l sphere: A sphere of activity or interest is a particular area of activity or interest. (活动、兴趣的) 领域l range: A range is the complete group that is included between two points on a scale of measurement or quality. 范围4. Choose the best word for each blank.1) mood