2023年合集文章贯通六级词汇

Preface序言Directions使用阐明Unit1InAnotherWorm另一种世界Unit2Let'sDressUp-It'sHalloween万圣节——让我们盛装打扮起来Unit3Gardening园艺Unit4ACanadianFamilyStory一种加拿大家庭旳故事Unit5TheFraud这个骗子Unit6ThePasture牧场Unit7TheDecision决定Unit8Chinese-AmericanRelations：AHistory（Ⅰ）中美关系史（一）Unit9Chinese-AmericanRelations：AHistory（Ⅱ）中美关系史（二）Unit10ASolitaryQuest独自寻访Unit11ActingTodayforTomorrow为了明天，今天就行动吧Unit12TheAmericanDream美国梦Unit13SexRoleStereotypes性别成规Unit14Dr．SunYat-sen：FatheroftheChineseRevolution中国革命之父孙中山先生Unitl5TheWorldTradeOrganization（WTO）andChinaWTO与中国Appendix附录Index索引

UNIT1InAnotherWorldHereIam,inChina,halfwayaroundtheworldfromhome.AsIlookatmyclockandcalculatethetimebackhomeIrealizethathalfaworldaway,peoplearebusygettingreadyforawedding.Thebrideismyniece,apersonIfirstmetwhenshewasthreedaysold.IthinkbacktothefirsttimeIhadtheopportunitytobecomeacquaintedwithmyniece.Asmysistercradledherinherarms,theinfantgirlclaspedhermother'soutstretchedfinger.Myintuitiontoldmethathertemperamentwouldbeasunnydisposition,ajoytopeoplearoundher.Asshegrew,thecutelittlegirlhadaninfectiouslaughthatstartedasasmallgrin,thenbecameagiggleandgrewlouderandlouderuntilittriggeredaresponsefromallthepeoplearoundherandtheyjoinedin.Asanadolescent,shestudiedhardandenjoyedwelldeservedsuccessinsecondaryschoolassheinteractedwithherpeergroup.Afterreceivingherhighschooldiploma,shechosenursingashercareer.Fromthebeginningoftheyoungcouple’sromanceitwasevidentthattheywerecompatibleandwerecompletelyintriguedwitheachother.ThecouplehadanengagementpartywhenIwasathomeinCanadaafewmonthsago.Thepartywasintheformofapicnicinabeautifulrosegarden.Tocelebrateandtotoasttheirfuture,wedrankchampagne.Astheyposedunderanarchcoveredwithclimbingroses,wesnappedpicturesfortheirphotoalbum.Thecoupledecidedonafallwedding.Plansfortheweddingdaywereactivatedimmediately.Thedecisionsabouttheforthcomingeventweresharedbythewholefamily.Aclosefriendofthefamilywascontactedandinvitedtosingasolojustpriortotheceremony.Thedaybeforetheceremony,arehearsalwouldtakeplacesothattheremainderofthedetailscouldbelookedafterandattendedto.Theplanningthattakesplacebeforehandforoneoftheseeventsandalltheworkthatthebigdayentails,withmanypeoplecollaboratingtomaketheeventrunsmoothly,areimmense.Theconscientiousattentiontodetailwillbeevidenttothespectatorsofthisevent.Icanimaginetheexcitementandemotionsofthefamilytoday.Thetimeisnear.Theceremonywillbeginin3shorthours.Thebridewillberadiantasshecomesdowntheaisleescortedbyherfather.Shewillwearhergrandmother'spearlsasanaccessory.Herveilwillbethesameoneashercousinworelastyear.Asiscustomary,underhergarmentsshewillwearabluegarter.AspartofthetraditionofCanadianweddings,shewillbewearingsomethingold(thepearls),somethingnew(hergown),somethingborrowed(theveil)andsomethingblue(thegarter).Asthefirstchordsoftheweddingmarchareplayed(amelodyfamiliartoall),thecongregationwillrise.Gaspswillbeheardastheycatchaglimpseofthebrideinhergorgeousweddinggown.Themotherofthebridewillcalmlyviewthiswholeevent,thoughtearswillblurhervision.Shewillbeovercomewithsentimentatherdaughter'sapparenthappiness.Thepicturewillbeonethatwillembodyhopeforthefutureofhumanity.Asthecoupleexchangeweddingvowstheywillbeaffirmingtheirloveandmakingacommitmenttoeachother.Allthespectatorsaretheretowishthemwell.Asthetimeapproaches,Ithinkbacktootherfamilyweddingsovermanyyears.MyoldersisterswereallmarriedinthesamechurchandasbridestheycarriedawhiteBibledecoratedwithtinyroses.Thereceptionsfortheirweddingswereallheldinthesamechurchbasement,astherewasnolargebanquethallinthelocalarea.Thefeastwasusuallycateredbyagroupofchurchmembers.Today'sweddingreceptionwillbeheldinanarenathatwillbedecoratedwithjusttherightamountoffallflowersinwonderfularraystogiveitdignityyetatouchofglamour.Thetabledecorationswillbeamasterpiece.Oneofthetabledecorationswillbesmallpumpkins,usedascontainersforflowersthatwerecollectedfromfamilygardens,surroundedbyalargewreathmadefromlongstalksofwheat.Therewillbeafewcolouredleavesplacedinsidethewreath.Maybetheywilluseoakandmapleleavestoshowthesplendouroftheautumncolours.Thecolouroftheoutfitsthatthebridesmaidsarewearingwillbefallcoloursaswell.Theingeniousdecorationswillbeappreciatedbythemanyguestsattendingthefestivities.Ateachplacesettingtherewillbeaspecialpapernapkinwiththebrideandgroom'snameprintedonitandthedateoftheirwedding.Itwillbecarefullyfoldedplacedontopandofalinennapkin.Thiswillbeoneofthesouvenirstheguestswillhavetocommemoratethespecialweddingday.Alsoateachplacewillbeafewafterdinnermintsfortheguests.Aminiaturetreewillalsobeplacedateachpersonsplace.Theintentisforthegueststotakethelittletreehomeandtransplantittoaspecialplace.Inthisway,ourenvironmentisalsoimprovedandthetreewillbecomealivingtributetotheyoungcouple.Thegroomwillcarryheracrossthethresholdasiscustomaryforayoungcoupleastheybegintheirnewlifetogether.ThehoneymoonplanswilltakethemtothewestcoastofCanada.Theywillhaveaweekofprivacyfarawayfromfriendsandfamily.TheywillinhabitacondominiuminthetownofWhistler,BritishColumbia,intheRockyMountains.Theywillfeelasiftheyareroyaltylivinginamansioninthislittlebitofparadiseonearth.Thereafter,theywillreturnhometoOntariowheretheywillreside.TheiroriginalplantospendtheirhoneymoononboardayachtintheMediterraneanSeawasabandonedwhenworldcircumstancesdictatedthatourcountryCanadawasasaferchoice.Earlierthismonth,asIthoughtabouttheforthcomingmarriage,andknewthatIwouldbeunabletoattend,Idecidedtowriteamessagetotheyoungcouple.Theintentwasthatthemessagewouldbereadaloudduringtheweddingreception.Inthemessage,Iwishedthemwellandurgedthemtocherisheachothereveryday.（1083words）

UNIT2Let'sDressUp--It'sHalloweenFromearlychildhoodgettingdressedupisconnectedwithaspecialpastimeinNorthAmerica,calledHalloween.HalloweeniscelebratedonthelastnightofOctober,whentheairiscrispandsnowisnotfaroff.Everyyoungchildisacquaintedwiththisexcitingtradition.OnthelastdayofOctoberwhendinnerisfinished,childrenhurrytodressupinacostume.Darknesscomesearlyatthistimeofyearandcautionmustbepracticed,foremostbythechildrenwhoaregoingfromhousetohouse,“trickortreat”.Parentswarntheirchildrennottodartoutinfrontofcars.Inalltheexcitementitiseasyforchildrentobecomedistractedandignoresafetyrules.Planningwhatyourcostumewillbe,aheadoftime,ispartofthefunoftheevening.Manymotherswillspendtimefabricatingoutfitsfortheirlittlegirlswhosuddenlyturnintocircusclowns,beautifulballetdancersorweirdcolorfulbugs.Fathersmayhelptheirsonsconstructacostumeoffoilarmor.LittleboysoftenenjoypretendingtheyareinthearmysoonHalloweenitispossibletoseesquadsoflieutenantsandsergeantsmarchingalonginthedark.Weaffiliatethiscelebrationwiththesupernaturalsosomechildrenmaychoosetowearaskeletoncostumebearingaskullandcrossbones,orevenamonstercostume.Thechoiceofwardrobefortheeveningisreallylimitless.Witchescanbeseenridingonbroomsticksacrosswell-illuminatedintersections.Earlierintheeveningtheymayhaveconcoctedawitch'sbrewtoquenchtheirthirstfortheirarrivalhome.Ghostscanbeheardgroaningandmoaningwhiletheyglidealongcitystreets.Beautifulbutterfliesflutterbyontheirwaytoaparty.Piratescarryingswordsandpistolsroamabout,patchesoveroneeye.SmallalienssearchforanewhomehereonEarth.WearingacapeandmaskallowsachildtobecomeSupermanforafewhoursandentertheworldoffantasy.Anethnicflavorisintroducedasabandofgypsiesdancealongunderabrightfullmoon.OfcourseyoucanalwaysseeacertainnumberofNativeAmericancostumes,thebuckskinjacketsanddressesdecoratedwithfringeandbeads.Someyoungsterschoosetodecorateonlytheirfaceswithgreasepaintinsteadofwearingmasks.Inmanywaysthisissaferforachild,makingvisibilityclearer.Atthesametimeamaskallowsthemtoremainanonymoustoallbuttheirclosestfriends.Usually,onthenightbeforeHalloween,familymembersgathertogethertocarveapumpkin.OnHalloweennightthecandlelitfaceofthepumpkinshinesfromeachhomewelcomingthelittleghostsandgoblinstocall.Parentsusuallyescortsmallchildrenaroundtheirownneighborhoodhelpingtokeepthemsafe.Smallchildrenonlyvisitrandomhouses,theirparent'sfriendsmostly,whileolderchildrenknockateverydoor.Crowdingontothefrontporchofthehousethechildrenrapatthedoorandchanttherefrain“trickortreat”.Householdersdistributecandies,apples,peanuts,oranyedibletreatintodecoratedwoodensixquartbaskets,orplasticbags.Theymaybeaskedtoreciteapoemorsingasongbeforereceivingtheirtreat.Someluckychildrenmayreceivecookiesfromafreshlybakedbatchofchocolatechipcookies.Onarrivinghomethechildrenwilldumpallthejunkcandyoutontothefloortoexaminetheirloot.Usuallythereisagreatracketasbrothersandsisterscomparewhatgoodiestheyhavecollected.Adults,too,liketojoininHalloweencelebrationsbyattendingsmallhousepartiesorlargegroupgatheringsathallsorarenas.Theymayplaytheoldtraditionalgamessuchasbobbingforapples,whichfloatintubsofwater,tellingghoststoriesandvisitingahauntedhouse.Everyoneseemstogetenjoymentfrombeingslightlyafraid.IfyouliveinthecountrythehootingofanowloreventhehowlofawolfunderlinesthespookyatmosphereofHalloweenevening.Cloudsscuttleacrossthefaceofthemoonandtheflapofabird'swingscanbeheardasitsettlesonthebarebranchesofatree.Eyesgleaminthenightasablackcatcrossesyourpath.Batsswoopaboutinthedarkstartlingthosewhoarenervous.Onthiseveningitisnotnecessarytobeextravaganttohaveagoodtime.AlittleimaginationandasenseoffunwillcreateamemoryofHalloweennightformanyyears.（751words）

UNIT3GardeningOneofthequietjoysoflifeinthesouthernpartofOntario,Canada,isgardening.Whetherpursuedasahobbyorsolelytoimprovetheestheticvalueofone'shome,thepleasurederivedisonlyexceededbythetherapeuticbenefit.Ithasbecomearitualforhomeownerstospendlatewinterweekendsbrowsingthroughseedcatalogueswhilesittingontheircouch.Theymakelistsofitemstheywishtopurchaseandoftenmakenotationsrightonthecatalogueastheymakedecisionsaboutthisyear'sgarden.Iftheyorderearly,thereisusuallyadiscountcoupon,allowingapercentageofthecosttobedeductedfromtheprice.Oftenthecouponneedstobedetachedfromthecatalogueandmailedtothecompanyalongwiththeorder.Thisisanextrabonusfortheconsumer.Theinvestmentcostrequiredisnominalwhentheamountofpleasuregeneratedisconsidered.Theseedcompanieswillusuallywarranttheplants,andoftenarefundisofferediftheplantsdonotthrive.Theshipmentfromtheseedcompany'swarehouseisawaitedwitheageranticipation.Itsappearancemeansthatspringwillsoonarrive.Theglossypagesofthecataloguesprovideapreviewofthevisualdelightsthatcanbegrown.Picturesshowanarrayofflowersthatdazzletheeye.Therearemonochromaticdisplaysaswellasothersthatareafusionofthecompletespectrumoftherainbow'scolors.Alsoincludedinthepublicationarepicturesanddescriptionsofvegetables,shrubs,andtrees.Avidgardenerssubscribetomagazinesthatspecializeinarticlesandadsaboutthisenjoyablepastimeandpeopleliterallyreadeachissuefromcovertocover.Descriptionsofplantsincludeimplicitinstructionsonwhethertoplanttheminsunorshade.Specificationastotheamountofirrigationrequiredisalsostated.Elaborateirrigationsystemsaresometimesinstalledoratrenchforimprovingthewaterflowisused.Controlsareneededonirrigationsystemsbecauseifthegroundbecomestoosaturatedthesoilinthegardenwillbetoomuddytoallowanyonetoworkinituntilitdriesout.Ifthereistoomuchwaterconstantly,thegardenwillbecomeaswampandimpossibletocultivate.(Manypeopleliketopreservethenaturalhabitatofbirdsandwildlifeinamarsh.Theseareasareusuallyprotectedbythegovernmentandalthoughimportanttoourenvironment,arenotconsideredgardens.)Geographiclocationisimportantforplants.Certainplantsareonlysuitableforpropagationclosetotheequator.Othersneedtobeseveraldegreesoflatitudeawayfromtheequator.Longitudeisalsoafactorandmostcompaniesclearlystatetheconditionsthatwillprovidetheoptimumchancesfortheplantssurvival.CanadiansgrowtulipsimportedfromHollandandtheydowellintheSouthernOntarioclimate.BecauseitislatespringbeforeplantscansurviveoutdoorsinSouthernOntario,itiscommonforpeopletostarttheirplantsindoors.Seedsareplantedinsmallcontainersandcontinuetogrowindoorsuntiltheappropriatesizeisachieved.Sometimesultravioletlightisusedtoencourageplantgrowth.Whenthemercuryrisesandthedangeroffrostispast,theplantsarethentransplantedtothegardenortoaflowerbed.Plantsarenourishedfromthesoil,buttoprovideoptimumfood,fertilizercanbeappliedtoencouragevigorousgrowth.Sometimesfertilizerisdilutedwithwaterwhileotherkindsaredispersedwithaspreaderthatflingsthefertilizergranulesinasmallradiusaroundtheplants.Thewatersolublefertilizerwillthenbeabsorbedintothesoilthenexttimeitrains.Justaspeopleneedminerals,suchascalciumandzinc,tobehealthy,plantsalsoneedmineralsbutphosphorousandnitrogenarebetterfoodforthem.Somegardenersplantheirgardenwithmeticulousattentiontodetail.Theychoosecolorsthatwillcomplementeachotheranddesigntheirgardenasiftheywerepaintingonacanvas.Othersaremorespontaneousandsimplyvisitanurseryandpurchaseplantsthatappealtothem.Oftengardenershaveatrademarkplantthatistheirspecialty.Perhapstheyenjoythevelvettextureoftheleaves,ormaybetheflower'scolorattractsthem.Thevarietiesofgardensareendless.Terracegardeninghasbecomepopular.Withaherbalgarden,cooksenjoybeingabletousefreshherbsfromtheirgardentoaddzesttotheirfavoritedishes.Theysimplyvisittheirgardenandclipafewpiecesoftheherbtheywishtouse.Everygardenisasindividualasitsowner.Gardenscomeinallshapesandsizes.Someareintheshapeofarectangle,whileothersarecircularorirregularinshape.Somegardenersliketheappearanceofanasymmetricalshapewhileothersworktoachievesymmetryintheirgardens.Forvegetablegardens,themostpopularshapeisrectangularandvegetablesareusuallyplantedinalinearfashion.Thismethodmakesiteasiertocultivatebetweentherowsofplants.Youcouldmistakesomegardensforameadowwhenthegardenerchoosestoincludeonlywildflowersasachoiceofvegetation.Includingapondinagardenispopulartoo.Entrepreneursarealwayslookingforinnovationsandgadgetsthatwillattracttheattentionofdevotedgardenersandinducethemtospendtheirmoney.Ithasbecomeahugeindustryinthelastfewyears,asthebabyboomersreachretirementageandhavemoretimetopursuehobbiessuchasgardening.Therearenewproductspatentedeveryyeartotemptthegardener.Itispossibletobuyakitthatcontainsacompletesetoftoolsneededbythehomegardener.Unfortunately,oftenthequalityispoorandtheproductisafraud.Insteadofhavingsomethinggoodtoworkwith,thepurchaseturnsouttobejunk.Ifyouwanttoflatteragardener,andboosttheiregoatthesametime,summonupthecouragetosimplyaskifyoucanswapplants.Ofcourse,itwillgivethemathrillifyoualsocomplimentthemonthehardinessoftheirplantsascomparedtoyours.Theymighteventrytoconsoleyouonyourlackofcompetenceasagardenerbecauseyourplantsarenotassturdyastheirplants.Irrespectiveofthecompetenceofthegardener,anyonewhoaugmentsthenumberofplantsgrownishelpingtoconserveourplanetbyavertingerosion.Thispaysgreatdividendsforeveryoneasitalsoservestoprotecttheozonelayer.Somepeopleerectbarricadestokeepsmallanimalsfromattackingtheplants.Squirrelslovetodigupflowerbulbs.Theyfindthematastytreat.Itiscommontoseeceramicfixturesorfigurinesinagarden.Eventheuntrainedeyecantellthattheimitationsareafake,yetproperlyplaced,theyaddtotheintrinsicbeauty.Araingauge,attachedbyabrackettoafence,isacommonsightandisusedtoenablethegardenertodiagnosethemoisturelevelofthesoilaroundtheplantsanddetermineiftheyneedmorewater.Ifnaturedoesnotprovideenoughrain,thenthegardenerwilluseaplasticorrubberhosetoprovidemoreirrigation.Withatwistofaknob,orbymovingalever,thethirstoftheplantsformoisturecanbequenched.Whatgreaterpleasure,thantoworkinyourgardenandasyoucliptheovergrownplantsbacktosizeorprunebranchesoffruittrees,hearthebuzzofbees?Youknowthattheyareenjoyingyourgardenastheyextractthepollenfromtheblooms.Yourelishthefeelingthatyouareonewithnature.Thehumofinsectsastheysharethegardenismorepleasurablethanmusicfromastereoorasymphonytoadevotedgardener.Inaddition,thescentoftheflowersisanintegralpartofthejoyofspendingtimeworkinginagarden.Theironyofthesituationisthatnaturesometimesconspiresagainstthegardener,andahailstormcanriddlebeautifulplants,shreddingtheirleavesinminutes.HurricanescanuprooteventhelargesttreesalthoughthisisaneventthatseldomoccursinSouthernOntario.Tornadoesaremorelikelyinthisarea.Parasitescanattackplantsandthreatentheirsurvival.Anynumberofthingscanbecomeaplague.Itisoftendifficulttodiscernexactlywhatitisthatisdestroyingthepreciousplants.Anynumberofcomplicationscanshatterthegardener'sdreamofsurpassinglastyear'saccomplishment.Anauthenticgardenerwillnotbroodaboutthedisappointmentforlong.Evenasthedisasterisoccurring,youmightoverhearthegardenermurmur“There'salwaysnextyear.”（1459words）

UNIT4ACanadianFamilyStoryMystorybeginsinNewfoundlandwheremybrotherandIwerebornduringtheSecondWorldWar.TheislandofNewfoundland,whichwasoriginallyaBritishcolony,becamethenewestprovinceofCanadain1949,thesameyearthatthePeople'sRepublicofChinawasborn.OurmotherwasbornandraisedinNewfoundland.DuringtheWar(WorldWarII),sheworkedinSt.John's,thecapitalcity,whereshemetayoungCanadiansailorfromOntario.HewasamemberofthecrewofaRoyalCanadianNavyshipthatwaspartofoneoftheconvoysthatescortedsupplyshipsacrosstheAtlanticOceantoEuropeduringthewar.Theyfellinloveandsubsequently,gotmarried.Therestishistory,sotospeak.OurfamilymovedtoIn1999,actingonimpulse,mybrotherandIdecidedtotakeourmothertoNewfoundlandforavisit.Ithadbeenalmostfiftyyearssincewehadlastvisitedourmother'soutport(remoteorveryruralislandvillage)whereshegrewup.Itwasalsothe50thanniversaryofNewfoundland'sbecomingpartofCanada.In1950,Iwassixandmybrotherwasfivewhenwelastvisitedourmother'schildhoodhome.Atthattime,Ireland'sEyewasavibrant,quaintfishingvillagehuggingtherockyshoreofasmall,enclosedharbour.Therewasnoelectricity.Therewerenoroads,noautomobiles,andfewsignsofautomationofanytype.Therewereoillampsandwoodstovesinthehomesandmerefootpathsbetweentheaggregateofsmallcommunitiesonthehillyisland,alsonamedIreland'sEye.Wecanstillseeandheartheinboardmotorboats,puttputting(soundofengines)intotheharbour,haulingtheirday'scatchoffish.Theimageofhardyfishermenwithpitchforkshoistingandtossingthecodfishuptothestiltedplatformsfromthebowelsoftheboatsisstillquitevivid.Thearomaofsalted,dryingcodfish,lingersstill.WhatIrememberbest,ofalmosthalfacenturyago,wasgoingoutwithmyUncleFredinhisboattofish.Thatparticularday,wewerehuddledtogetherandlashedtootherboats,justoutsideoftheharbour.Icanstillhearthelivelygossipbetweenmyuncleandtheotherfishermen,abovetheripplingandsplashingofthewavesagainstthehullsoftheboats.Iremembertheboatsheavingperiodically,onthehugegentlyrollingwaves.MyUncleFredhadonlyonearm,butamazingly,hecoulddoeverythingasifhehadtwohands.Hecouldevenrollacigaretteandlightit.ThesearemymemoriesofthequaintNewfoundlandglorydaysgoneby.Itwasaveryhardlifeinthoseoutports,butaliferomanticallycherishedbymostofthosewholivedit.Ourmotherwasnotfeelinguptothetripatthetimewewerereadytoleave,butinsistedthatmybrotherandIgoonthisodyssey.Wewouldlaterprovideherwithpictures,awrittenaccount,andvideotapeofthetrip.AlthoughwetouredotherpartsofNewfoundland,includinganovernightstayontheFrenchIslandsofSt.PierreandMiquilon,justoffthesouthcoastofNewfoundland,ourmainobjectivewastovisitIreland'sEye.Thisnecessitatedfindingwatertransportation.Wemanagedtoarrangeforaboattotakeusonthehalfhourtriptotheisland.Wehadintendedtohaveourcousinsdropusoffontheislandandpickusupafewhourslater.However,eitherbecausewewerenewlyfoundcousins,ortheyweretypicallyhospitableNewfoundlanders,ortheythoughtthatmybrotherandIwouldgetlost,theywantedtostaywithus.Probablyallthreefactorsinfluencedtheirdecision.Theywereabsolutelyfabulous.TheygotcaughtupinwhatmybrotherandIweretryingtodo.Theywereveryknowledgeableabouttheislandandthepeoplewhohadoncelivedthere.Clutchinganarrativeoftheisland,writtenbyanotherofourcousins,theforgottenhistoryofthatspecialplacebecamemorecoherenttothefourofus.AsweenteredIreland'sEye'ssmallharbour,whichwasguarded,byafamilyofhawksinanesthighonarockypoint,aweirdsensationcameoverus.There,infrontofus,wastheplacewevisitedfiftyyearsbefore,andaboutwhichwehadheardandreadsomuchthroughoutouradultlives.Wethought,whatanaestheticallybreathtakingsight!Theglitteringsun,onthatday,gaveeverythingapicture-postcardimage.Thiswasindeedasliceofparadise.TheruinsofafewremainingbuildingsthatdottedthehillsidesandshorelineandtheoncedominantSt.GeorgesChurchonthehillattheendoftheharbour,arousedinusanexcitingsenseofhistoryandofourheritage.Lookingoutovertheharbourfromthehillbythechurchattheextinctcommunity,revivedmemoriesoffiftyyearsbefore.Withagreaterclarityoftheknowledgeofthearea,wewalkedfromthechurchalittlefartherinlandtowhatusedtobethepostofficeandtheschoolthatourmotherattended,theskeletalshellsofwhichwerestillstandingprecariously.Fromthere,stoppingperiodicallytoeatsomeedibleberries,westruggledbehindourcousinsthroughtheheavilybrushandshrubcoveredfootpathstoBlackDuckCovetovisitthecemeterywhereourgrandmother,whomweneverknew,wasburied.Thissacredgroundwasinverybadcondition,withmanybadlycorrodedgravestonesburiedunderbrushandlonggrass.Aftersearchingforafewminutesinthemidstoftangledvegetation,wefoundourgrandmother'srestingplacebesidewhichwepaidourrespects.Itwasagoodthingthatourcousinsstayedwithus,asthefootpathsthattraversedtheisland,wereovergrownwithbrush.Itwouldhavebeenvirtuallyimpossibleformybrotherandme,towalktotheothercommunitiesontheisland.Wemadeourwaybacktothechurchonthehillanddescendedtotheboatforahalfhourboatridetotheothersideoftheisland.Sailingthroughanumberofislets,wearrivedatwhatremainsofthesmallvillageofTraytown,whereourgrandparentshadlived.There,wemetsomemorelonglostrelativesatasmallcottage.One,abitofaneccentric,whonowlivesinTorontobuttakessummerrefugeinTraytown,showedustheremnantsofwhathadoncebeenourgrandparents’house.Besidetheseruins,wasthestillflourishingclusterofwildrosebushes,plantedtheremanyyearsagobyourstepgrandmother.Afteracupofteaandsomemorechitchat(smalltalk)andsomecomicrelief,wemadeourdepartureforthemainland.Ontheway,wepassedotherinletswithghostcommunitiesonIreland'sEye.Toaddtotheexcitementofthatspecialday,mybrotherspottedahumpbackwhalequiteclose,betweentheboatandtheisland.OurvisittoIreland'sEyewasabittersweetexperienceforus.Ontheonehand,therewasasenseofbeingattheveryplacewhereourrelativesandancestorshadlived,workedandplayed.Ontheotherhand,therewasasenseofagonizinglossofwhatwereoncethrivingcommunitiesontheisland.Itwasdifficulttoreconcilethepastwiththepresent,afteragapoffiftyyearsofchronicdegenerationofthecommunities.Today,theareaisnotoriousforsmuggling.However,ourmissionwasinvaluableinthatwewereabletofindoutmoreaboutourselves.TheentireexpeditiontoNewfoundlandwasamajorhighlightineachofourlives.Ittuggedatouremotionsateveryturn.ThepeopleofNewfoundland,especiallythoseofgeneticconnection,couldn'tdoenoughforus.Itwasreallylikecominghome,butthen,thathasalwaysbeenthenatureofNewfoundlandcourtesy,eventonon-Newfoundlanders.Itwasreassuringtosee