铜仁学院书写技能考核试题库英语专业

铜仁学院书写技能考核试题库（英语专业）

一、毛笔（考核时间30min,30字）

1、《送孟浩然之广陵》唐•李白

故人西辞黄鹤楼，烟花三月下扬州。孤帆远影碧空尽，唯见长江天际流。

2、《出塞》唐•王昌龄

秦时明月汉时关，万里长征人未还。但使龙城飞将在，不教胡马度阴山。

3、《浪淘沙》唐•刘禹锡

九曲黄河万里沙,浪淘风簸自天涯。如今直上银河去,同到牵牛织女家

4、《题金陵渡》唐・张祜

金陵津渡小山楼,一宿行人自可愁。潮落夜江斜月里,两三星火是瓜州

5、《枫桥夜泊》唐・张继

月落乌啼霜满天，江枫渔火对愁眠。姑苏城外寒山寺,夜半钟声到客船

6、《山行》唐•杜牧

远上寒山石径斜，白云生处有人家。停车坐爱枫林晚,霜叶红于二月花

7、《清明》唐・杜牧

清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。借问酒家何处有,牧童遥指杏花村

8、《小池》宋-杨万里

泉眼无声惜细流，树阴照水爱晴柔。小荷才露尖尖角,早有蜻蜓立上头

9、《送元二使安西》唐・王维

渭城朝雨酒轻尘，客舍青青柳色新。劝君更尽一杯酒,西出阳关无故人

10、《寒食》唐•韩姗

春城无处不飞花，寒食东风御柳斜。日暮汉宫传蜡烛,轻烟散入五侯家

11、《凉州词》唐•王之焕

黄河远上白云间，一片孤城万仞山。羌笛何须怨杨柳，春风不度玉门关。

12、《夜雨寄北》唐-李商隐

君问归期未有期，巴山夜雨涨秋池。何当共剪西窗烛，却话巴山夜雨时。

13、《芙蓉楼送辛渐》唐・王昌龄

寒雨连江夜入吴，平明送客楚山孤。洛阳亲友如相问，一片冰心在玉壶。

14^《乌衣巷》唐•刘禹锡

朱雀桥边野草花，乌衣巷口夕阳斜。旧时王谢堂前燕，飞入寻常百姓家。

15,《元日》宋•王安石

爆竹声中一岁除，春风送暖入屠苏。千门万户瞳瞳日，总把新桃换旧符。

16、《早春》唐•韩愈

天街小雨润如酥，草色遥看近却无。最是一年春好处，绝胜烟柳满皇都。

17、《早发白帝城》唐•李白

朝辞白帝彩云间,千里江陵一日还。两岸猿声啼不住，轻舟已过万重山。

18、《滁州西涧》唐•韦应物

独怜幽草涧边生，上有黄鹏深树鸣。春潮带雨晚来急，野渡无人舟自横。

19、《望天门山》唐•李白

天门中断楚江开，碧水东流至此回。两岸青山相对出，孤帆一片日边来。

20、《春日》宋•朱熹

胜日寻芳泗水滨，无边光景一时新。等闲识得东风面，万紫千红总是春。

二、硬笔（考核时间20min,英语名篇一篇，每篇300字左右）

1.TheCharm

Bythetimetheyatlastcametospeechtheywerealoneinoneofthe

rooms-remarkableforafineportraitoverthechimneyplace-outofwhichtheirfriends

hadpassed,andthecharmofitwasthatevenbeforetheyhadspokentheyhad

practicallyarrangedwitheachothertostaybehindtotalk,Thecharm,happily,wasin

otherthingstoo-partlyintherebeingscarceaspotatWeatheredwithoutsomethingto

staybehindfor.Itwasinthewaytheautumndaylookedintothehiltwindowsasit

waned;thewaytheredlight,breakingattheclosefromunderalowsombersky,

reachedoutinalongshaftandplayedoveroldwainscots,oldtapestry,oldgold,old

color.Itwasmostofallperhapsinthewayshecametohimasif,sinceshehadbeen

turnedontodealwiththesimplersort,hemight,shouldhechoosetokeepthewhole

thingdown,justtakehermildattentionfbrapartofhergeneralbusiness.Assoonas

heheardhervoice,however,thegapwasfilledupandthemissinglinksupplied,the

slightironyhedivinedinherattitudelostitsadvantage.Healmostjumpedatittoget

therebeforeher."ImetyouyearsandyearsagoinRome.Irememberallaboutit.”

Sheconfessedtodisappointment--shehadbeensosurehedidn't;andtoprovehow

wellhedidhebegantopourforththeparticularrecollectionsthatpoppedupashe

calledforthem.Herfaceandhervoice,allathisservicenow,workedthe

miracletheimpressionoperatinglikethetorchofalamplighterwhotouchesinto

flame,onebyone,alongrowofgasjets.

2.UnderthePowerofNature

Duringthewholeofadull,dark,andsoundlessdayintheautumnoftheyear,

whenthecloudshunguppressivelylowintheheavens,Ihadbeenpassingalone,on

horseback,throughasingularlydrearytractofcountry;andatlengthfoundmyself,as

theshadesoftheeveningdrewon,withinviewofthemelancholyHouseofUsher.I

knewnothowitwas—but,withthefirstglimpseofthebuilding,asenseof

insufferablegloompervadedmyspirit.Isayinsufferable;forthefeelingwas

unrelievedbyanyofthathalf-pleasurable,becausepoetic,sentimentwithwhichthe

mindusuallyreceiveseventhesternestnaturalimagesofthedesolateorterrible,I

lookeduponthescenebeforemeuponthemerehouse,andthesimplelandscape

featuresofthedomain,uponthebleakwalls,uponthevacanteye-likewindows,upon

afewrandysedges,anduponafewwhitetrunksofdecayedtrees-withanutter

depressionofsoulwhichIcancomparetonoearthlysensationmoreproperlythanto

theafterdreamofthereveleruponopium;thebitterlapseintoeverydaylife,thc

hideousdroppingoffoftheveil.Therewasaniciness,asinking,asickeningofthe

heart,anunredeemedtortureintooughtofthesublime.WhatwasitIpausedtothink

whatwasitthatsounnervedmeinthecontemplationoftheHouseofUsher?Itwasa

mysteryallinsoluble;norcouldIgrapplewiththeshadowyfanciesthatcrowded

uponmeasIpondered.Iwasfordedtofallbackupontheunsatisfactoryconclusion,

thatwhile,beyonddoubt,therearecombinationsofverysimplenaturalobjectswhich

havethepowerofthusaffectingus,stilltheanalysisofthispowerliesamong

considerationsbeyondourdepth.

3.ThePowerIsUnlimited

Besideswhich,thereisararerthingthantruth-namelypower,ordeepsympathy

withtruth.Whatistheeffect,forinstance,uponsociety,ofchildren?Bythepity,by

thetenderness,andbythepeculiarmodesofadmirationwhichconnectthemselves

withthehelplessness,withtheinnocence,andwiththesimplicityofchildren,notonly

aretheprimalaffectionsstrengthenedandcontinuallyrenewed,butthequalities

whicharedearestinthesightofheaventhefrailty,forinstance,whichappealsto

forbearance,thesimplicitywhichismostalienfromtheworldly--arekeptupin

perpetualremembrance,andtheiridealsarecontinuallyrefreshed.Apurposeofthe

samenatureisansweredbythehigherliterature,viz.,theliteratureofpower.Whatdo

youlearnfromParadiseLost?NothingatallWhatdoyoulearnfromacookery-book?

Somethingnew,somethingthatyoudidnotknowbefore,ineveryparagraph.But

wouldyouthereforeputthewretchedcookery-bookonahigherlevelofestimation

thanthedivinepoem?WhatyouowetoMiltonisnotanyknowledge,ofwhicha

millionseparateitemsarestillbutamillionofadvancingstepsonthesameearthly

level;whatyouoweispower-thatis,exerciseandexpansiontoyourownlatent

capacityofsympathywiththeinfinite,whereeverypulseandeachseparateinfluxisa

stepupward,astepascendingasuponaJacob'sladderfromearthtomysterious

altitudesabovetheearth.Allthestepsofknowledge,fromfirsttolast,carryyou

furtheronthesameplane,butcouldneverraiseyouonefootaboveyourancientlevel

ofearth;whereastheveryfirststepinpowerisaflight--isanascendingmovement

intoanotherelementwhereearthisforgotten.

4.ChangeMakesLifeBeautiful

Toregardallthingsandprinciplesofthingsasinconstantmodesorfashions

hasmoreandmorebecomethetendencyofmodernthought.Letusbeginwiththat

whichiswithout-ourphysicallife.Fixuponitinoneofitsmoreexquisiteintervals,

themoment,forinstance,ofdeliciousrecoilfromthefloodofwaterinsummerheat.

Whatisthewholephysicallifeinthatmomentbutacombinationofnaturalelements

towhichsciencegivestheirnames?Buttheseelements,phosphorusandlimeand

delicatefibers,arepresentnotinthehumanbodyalone:wedetecttheminplaces

mostremotefromit.Ourphysicallifeisaperpetualmotionofthem--thepassageof

theblood,thewastingandrepairingofthelensesoftheeye,themodificationofthe

tissuesofthebrainundereveryrayoflightandsoundprocesseswhichscience

reducestosimplerandmoreelementaryforces.Liketheelementsofwhichweare

composed,theactionoftheseforcesextendsbeyondus:itrustsironandripensout

oneverysideofusthoseelementsarebroadcast,driveninmanycurrents;andbirth

andgestureanddeathandthespringingofvioletsfromthegravearebutafewoutof

tenthousandresultantcombinations.Thatclear,perpetualoutlineoffaceandlimbis

butanimageofours,underwhichwegroupthemadesigninaweb,theactualthreads

ofwhichpassoutbeyondit.Thisatleastofflamelikeourlifehas,thatitisbutthe

concurrence,renewedfrommomenttomoment,offorcespartingsoonerorlateron

theirways.

5.SuitIsBest

Theproperforceofwordsliesnotinthewordsthemselves,butintheir

application.Awordmaybeafinesoundingword,ofanunusuallength,andvery

imposingfromitslearningandnovelty,andyetintheconnectioninwhichitis

introducedmaybequitepointlessandirrelevant,Itisnotpomporpretension,butthe

adaptationoftheexpressiontotheidea,thatclenchesawriter'smeaning:asitisnot

thesizeorglossinessofthematerials,buttheirbeingfittedeachtoitsplace,thatgives

strengthtothearch;orasthepegsandnailsareasnecessarytothesupportofthe

buildingasthelargertimbers,andmoresothanthemereshowy,unsubstantial

ornaments.Ihateanythingthatoccupiesmorespacethanitisworth.Ihatetoseea

loadofbandboxesgoalongthestreet,andIhatetoseeaparcelofbigwordswithout

anythinginthem.Apersonwhodewsnotdeliberatelydimplesofallhisthoughts

alikeincumbrousdraperiesandflimsydisguisesmaystrikeouttwentyvarietiesof

familiareverydaylanguage,eachcomingsomewhatnearertothefeelinghewantsto

convey,andatlastnothituponthatparticularandonlyonewhichmaybesaidtobe

identicalwiththeexactimpressioninhismind.ThiswouldseemtoshowthatMr.

Cobaltishardlyrightinsayingthatthefirstwordthatoccursisalwaysthebest.It

maybeaverygoodone;andyetabettermaypresentitselfonreflectionorfromtime

totime.Itmaybesuggestednaturally,however,andspontaneously,fromafreshand

livelyconceptionofthesubject.

6.AboutReadingBooks

byVirginiaWoolf

Itissimpleenoughtosaythatsincebookshaveclasses-fiction,biography,

poetry・・・weshouldseparatethemandtakefromeachwhatisrightthateachshould

giveus.Yetfewpeopleaskfrombookswhatbookscangiveus.Mostcommonlywe

cometobookswithblurredanddividedminds,askingoffictionthatitshallbetrue,

ofpoetrythatitshallbefalse,ofbiographythatitshallbeflattering,ofhistorythatit

shallenforceourownprejudices.Ifwecouldbanishallsuchpreconceptionswhenwe

read,thatwouldbeanadmirablebeginning.Donotdictatetoyourauthor;tryto

becomehim.Behisfellow-workerandaccomplice.Ifyouhangback,andreserve,

andcriticizeatfirst,youarepreventingyourselffromgettingthefullestpossible

valuefromwhatyouread.Butifyouopenyourmindaswidelyaspossible,thensigns

andhintsofalmostimperceptiblefineness,fromthetwist,andturnofthefirst

sentences,willbringyouintothepresenceofahumanbeingunlikeanyother.Steep

yourselfinthis,acquaintyourselfwiththis,andsoonyouwillfindthatyourauthoris

givingyou,orattemptingtogiveyou,somethingfarmoredefinite.Thethirty-two

chaptersofanovelifweconsiderhowtoreadanovelfirstareanattempttomake

somethingasformedandcontrolledasabuilding:butwordsaremoreimpalpable

thanbricks,readingisalongerandmorecomplicatedprocessthanseeing.Perhaps

thequickestwaytounderstandtheelementsofwhatanovelistisdoingisnottoread,

buttowrite,tomakeyourownexperimentwiththedangersanddifficultiesofwords.

Recall,then,someeventthathasleftadistinctimpressiononyouhowatthecorner

ofthestreet,perhaps,youpassedtwopeopletalking,Atreeshook,anelectriclight

danced,thetoneofthetalkwascomic,butalsotragic,awholevision,anentire

conception,seemedcontainedinthatmoment.

7.ALittleGirl

FromAlysonbyTheodoreWatts-Duncan

Sittingonagrassy,beneathoneofthewindowsofthechurch,wasalittlegirl.

Withherheadbentback,shewasgazingupattheskyandsinging,whileoneofher

littlehandswaspointingtoatinycloudthathoveredlikeagoldenfeatheraboveher

head.Thesun,whichhadsuddenlybecomeverybright,shiningonherglossyhair,

gaveitametallicluster,anditwasdifficulttosaywhatwasthecolor,darkbronzeor

black.Socompletelyabsorbedwassheinwatchingthecloudtowhichherstrange

songorincantationseemedaddressed,thatshedidnotobservemewhenIroseand

wenttowardsher.Overherhead,highupintheblue,alarkthatwassoaringtowards

thesamegauzycloudwassinging,asifinrivalry.AsIslowlyapproachedthechild,I

couldseebyherforehead,whichinthesunshineseemedlikeaglobeofpearl,and

especiallybyhercomplexion,thatshewasuncommonlylovely.Hereyes,whichat

onemomentseemedblue-gray,atanotherviolet,wereshadedbylongblacklashes,

curvingbackwardinamostpeculiarway,andthesematchedinhuehereyebrows,and

thetressesthatweretossedabouthertenderthroatandwerequiveringinthesunlight.

AllthisIdidnottakeinatonce;foratfirstIcouldseenothingbutthosequivering,

glittering,changefuleyesturnedupintomyface.Graduallytheotherfeatures,

especiallythesensitivefull-lippedmouth,grewuponmeasIstoodsilentlygazing.

Hereseemedtomeamoreperfectbeautythanhadevercometomeinmyoverset

dreamsofbeauty.Yetitwasnotherbeautysomuchasthelookshegavemethat

fascinatedme,meltedme.

8.ACuriousDecision

Anonymous

Apoorchimney-sweeper,whohadnotenoughmoneytobuyameal,stoppedone

hotsummerdayatnoonbeforeaneating-house,andremainedregalinghisnosewith

thesmellofthevictuals.Themasteroftheshoptoldhimseveraltimestogoaway,

butthesweepcouldnotleavethesavorysmell,thoughunabletopurchasethetasteof

thefood.Atlastthecookcameoutoftheshop,andtakingholdofthesweep,declared

that,ashehadbeenfeedinguponthesmellofhisvictuals,heshouldnotgoaway

withoutpayinghalfthepriceofadinner.Thepoorfellowsaidthatheneithercould

norwouldpay,andthathewouldaskthefirstpersonwhoshouldpass,whetheritwas

notanunreasonableandunjustdemand.

Thecasewasreferredtoapoliceman,whohappenedtopassatthatmoment.He

saidtothesweep:"Asyouhavebeenfeastingoneofyoursenseswiththeodorofthis

man'smeat,itisbutjustyoushouldmakehimsomerecompense;thereforeyoushall,

inyourturn,regaleoneofhissenses,whichseemstobemoreinsatiablethanyour

appetite.Howmuchmoneyhaveyou?"

nIhavebuttwopenceinalltheworld,sir,andImustbuymesomebread."

"Nevermind,"answeredtheofficer,"takeyourtwopencebetweenyourhands;

nowrattlethemloudly."

Thesweepdidso,andtheofficer,turningtothecook,said,“Now,sir,Ithinkhe

haspaidyou:thesmellofyourvictualsregaledhisnostrils;thesoundofhismoney

hastickledyourears.1*

Thisdecisiongavemoresatisfactiontothebystandersthantothecook,butit

wastheonlypaymenthecouldobtain.

9.OliverGoldsmith

ByWashingtonIrving

Therearefewwritersforwhomthereaderfeelssuchpersonalkindnessasfor

OliverGoldsmith,forfewhavesoeminentlypossessedthemagicgiftofidentifying

themselveswiththeirwritings.Wereadhischaracterineverypageandgrowinto

familiarintimacywithhimasweread.Theartlessbenevolencethatbeamsthroughout

hisworks;thewhimsical,yetamiableviewsofhumanlifeandhumannature;the

unforcedhumor,blendingsohappilywithgoodfeelingandgoodsense,and

singularlydashedattimeswithapleasingmelancholy;eventheverynatureofhis

mellow,andflowingandsoftlytintedstyle,--allseemtobespeakhismoralaswellas

hisintellectualqualities,andmakeuslovethemanatthesametimethatweadmire

theauthor.Whiletheproductionsofwritersofloftierpretensionandmoreresounding

namesaresufferedtomolderonourshelves,thoseofGoldsmitharecherishedand

laidinourbosoms.Wedonotquotethemwithostentation,buttheyminglewithour

minds,sweetenourtempers,andharmonizeourthoughts;theyputusingoodhumor

withourselvesandwiththeworld,andinsodoingtheymakeushappierandbetter

men.

AnacquaintancewiththeprivatebiographyofGoldsmithletsusintothesecret

ofhisgiftedpages.Wetherediscoverthemtolittlemorethantranscriptsofhisown

heartandpicturingofhisfortunes.Thereheshowshimselfthesamekind,artless,

good-humored,excursive,sensible,whimsical,intelligentbeingthatheappearsinhis

writings.

Scarcelyanadventureorcharacterisgiveninhisworks,thatmaynotbetraced

tohisownparty-coloredstory.Manyofhismostludicrousscenesandridiculous

incidentshavebeendrawnfromhisownblundersandmischances,andheseems

reallytohavebeenbuffetedintoalmosteverymaximimpartedbyhimforthe

instructionofhisreader.

10.ASummerDay

ByCharlesDickens

OnedaythirtyyearsagoMarseilleslayintheburningsun.Ablazingsunupona

fierceAugustdaywasnogreaterrarityinsouthernFrancethanatanyothertime

beforeorsince.EverythinginMarseillesandaboutMarseilleshadstaredatthefervid

sun,andbeenstaredatinreturn,untilastaringhabithadbecomeuniversalthere.

Strangerswerestaredoutofcountenancebystaringwhitehouses,staringwhite

streets,staringtractsofaridroad,staringhillsfromwhichverdurewasburntaway.

Theonlythingstobeseennotfixedlystaringandglaringwerethevinesdrooping

undertheirloadsofgrapes.Thesedidoccasionallywindalittle,asthehotairbarely

movedtheirfaintleaves.

Theuniversalstaremadetheeyesache.TowardsthedistantblueoftheItalian

coast,indeed,itwasalittlerelievedbylightcloudsofmistslowlyrisingfromthe

evaporationofthesea,butitsoftenednowhereelse.Farawaythedustyvines

overhangingwaysidecottages,andthemonotonouswaysideavenuesofparchedtreks

withoutshade,droppedbeneaththestareofearthandsky.Sodidthehorseswith

drowsybells,inlongfilesofcarts,creepingslowlytowardstheinterior;sodidtheir

recumbentdrivers,whentheywereawake,whichrarelyhappened;sodidthe

exhaustedlaborersinthefields.Everythingthatlivedorgrewwasoppressedbythe

glare;exceptthelizard,passingswiftlyoverroughstonewalls,andcicada,chirping

itsdryhotchirp,likearattle.Theverydustwasscorchedbrown,andsomething

quiveredintheatmosphereasiftheairitselfwerepanting.

Blinds,shutters,curtains,awnings,wereallclosedanddrawntodeepoutthe

stare.Grantitbutachinkorakeyhole,anditshotinlikeawhite-hotarrow.

11.AWetSundayinACountryInn

byWashingtonIrving

AwetSundayinacountryinn!Whoeverhashadthelucktoexperienceone

canalonejudgeofmysituation.Therainpatteredagainstthecasements;thebells

tolledfbrchurchwithamelancholysound.Iwenttothewindowsinquestof

somethingtoamusetheeye;butitseemedasifIhadbeenplacedcompletelyoutof

thereachofallamusement.Thewindowsofmybed-roomlookedoutamongtiled

roofsandstacksofchimneys,whilethoseofmysitting-roomcommandedafullview

ofthestableyard.Iknowofnothingmorecalculatedtomakeamansickofthisworld

thanastableyardonarainyday.Theplacewaslitteredwithwetstrawthathadbeen

kickedaboutbytravelersandstable-boys.Inonecornerwasastagnantpoolofwater,

surroundinganislandofmuck;therewereseveralhalf-drownedfowlscrowded

togetherunderacart,amongwhichwasamiserable,crest-fallencock,drenchedout

ofalllifeandspirit;hisdroopingtailmatted,asitwere,intoasinglefeather,along

whichthewatertrickledfromhisback;nearthecartwasahalfdozingcow,chewing

hercud,andstandingpatientlyberainedon,withwreathsofvaporrisingfromher

reekinghide;awall-eyedhorse,tiredofthelonelinessofthestable,waspokinghis

spectralheadsetofawindow,withtheraindrippingonitfromtheeaves;anunhappy

cur,chainedtoadog-househardby,utteredsomethingeverynowandthenbetweena

barkandayelp;adrabofakitchenwenchtrampedbackwardsandforwardsthrough

theyardinpatens,lookingassulkyastheweatheritself;everything,inshort,was

comfortlessandforlorn,exceptingacrewofhardenedducks,assembledlikeboon

companionsroundapuddleandmakingariotousnoiseovertheirliquor.

12.CrossingTheRubicon

FromThirtyMoreFamousStoriesRetoldbyJamesBaldwin

ThemarchtoItalywasbegun.Thesoldierswereevenmoreenthusiasticthan

Caesarhimself.Theyclimbedmountains,wadedrivers,enduredfatigue,facedall

kindsofdangerfbrthesakeoftheirgreatleader.

AtlasttheycametoalittlerivercalledtheRubicon.Itwastheboundarylineof

CaesafsProvinceofGaul;ontheothersideofitwasItaly.Caesarpausedamoment

onthebank.HeknewthattocrossitwouldbetodeclarewaragainstPompeyandthe

RomanSenate;itwouldinvolveallRomeinafearfulstrife,theendofwhichnoman

couldforesee.

Buthedidnothesitatelong.Hegavetheword,androdeboldlyacrossthe

shallowstream.

"WehavecrossedtheRubicon,*'hecriedashereachedthefarthershore."There

isnownoturningback."SoonthenewswascarriedtoRome:℃aesarhascrossed

theRubicon;'*andtherewasgreatdismayamongthosewhohadplottedtodestroy

him.Pompey'ssoldiersdesertedhimandhastenedtojointhemselvestoCaesar's

Romesenatorsandtheirfriendsmadereadytofleefromthecity.

"CaesarhascrossedtheRubicon!"wasshoutedalongtheroadsandbyways

leadingtoRome;andthecountrypeopleturnedouttomeetandhailwithjoythe

conqueringhero.

Thewordwascarriedasecondtimetothecity:℃aesarhascrossedthe

Rubicon,"andthewildflightbegan.Senatorsandpublicofficerslefteverything

behindandhurriedawaytoseeksafetywithPompey.Onfoot,onhorseback,inlitters,

incarriages,theyfledfbrtheirlives—allbecauseCaesarhadcrossedtheRubicon.

Pompeywasunabletoprotectthem.Hehurriedtotheseacoast,and,withallwho

wereabletoaccompanyhim,sailedawaytoGreece.

GasserwasthemasterofRome.

13.Andrew*sRuldstoBeRich

ThepersonofnextconsiderationisSirAndrewFreeport,amerchantofgreat

eminenceinthecityofLondon,apersonofindefatigableindustry,strongreason,and

greatexperience.Hisnotionsoftradearenobleandgenerous,and(aseveryrichman

hasusuallysomeslywayofjesting,whichwouldmakeongreatfigurewerehenota

richman)hecallstheseatheBritishCommon.Heisacquaintedwithcommerceinall

itsparts,andwilltellyouthatitisastupidandbarbarouswaytoextenddominionby

arms;fortruepoweristobegotbyartsandindustry.Hewilloftenargue,thatifthis

partofourtradewerewellcultivated,weshouldgainfromonenation;andofanother,

fromanother.Ihaveheardhimprovethatdiligencemademorelastingacquisitions

thanValero,andthatslothhasruinedmorenationsthanthesowed.Heaboundsin

severalfrugalmaxims,amongwhichthegreatestfavoriteis,"Apennysavedisa

pennygot."Ageneraltraderofgoodsenseispleasantercompanythanageneral

scholar;andSirAndrewhavinganaturalunaffectedeloquence,theperspicuityofhis

discoursegivesthesamepleasurethatwitwouldinanotherman.Hehasmadehis

fortuneshimself,andsaysthatEnglandmaybericherthanotherkingdomsbyasplain

methodsashehimselfisricherthanothermen;thoughatthesametimeIcansaythis

ofhim,thatthereisnotapointingthecompassbutblowshomeashipinwhichheis

anowner.

14.TwoWomen

Inexternals,theyweretwounobtrusivewomen;aper-fectlysecludedlifegave

themretiringmannersandhabits.InEmily'snaturetheextremesofvigorand

simplicityseemedtomeet.Underanunsophisticatedculture,inartificaltastes,andan

unpretendingoutside,layasecrecypowerandfirethatmighthaveinflamedthebrain

andkindledtheveinsofahero;butshehadnoworldlywisdom:herpowerswere

unacceptedtothepracticalbusinessoflife:shewouldfailtodefendhermost

manifestrights,toconsulthermostlegitimateadvantage.Aninterpreteroughtalways

tohavestoodbetweenherandtheworld.Herwillwasnotveryflexible,andit

generallyopposedherinterest.Hertemperwasmagnanimous,butwarmandsudden;

herspiritaltogetherunbending.

Anne'scharacterwasmilderandmoresubdued;shewantedthepower,the

fire,theoriginalityofhersister,butwaswellendowedwithquitevirtuesofherown.

Longsuffering,self-denying,reflective,andintelligent,aconstitutionalreserveand

taciturnityplacedandkeptherintheshade,andcoveredhermind,andespeciallyher

feelings,withasortofnun-likeevil,whichwasrarelylifted.NeitherEmilynorAnne

waslearned;theyhadnothoughtoffillingtheirpitchersatthewell-springofother

minds;theyalwayswroteformtheimpulseofnature,thedictatesofintuition,and

fromsuchstoresofobservationastheirlimitedexperiencehadenabledthemtoamass.

Imaysumupallbysaying,thatforstrangerstheywerenothing,forsuperficial

observerslessthannothing;butfbrthosewhohadknownthemalltheirlivesinthe

intimacyofcloserelationship,theyweregenuinelygoodandtrulygreat.

15.ThreePhysicalStates

Mostpeoplewoulddescribewaterasacolourlessliquid.Theywouldknowthat

inverycoldconditionsitbecomesasolidcalledice,andthatwhenheatedonafireit

becomesavaporcalledsteam.Butwater,theywouldsay,isaliquid.

Wehavelearnedthatwaterconsistsofmoleculescomposedoftwoatomsof

hydrogenandoneatomofoxygen,whichwedescribebytheformulathisisequally

trueofthesolidcallediceandthegascalledsteam.Chemicallythereisnodifference

betweenthegas,theliquid,andthesolid,allofwhicharemadeupofmoleculeswith

theformulathisistrueofotherchemicalsubstances;mostofthemcanexistas

gasesorasliquidsorassolids.Wemaynormallythinkofironasasolid,butifwe

heatitinafurnaceitwillmeltandbecomealiquid,andatveryhightemperaturesit

willbecomeagas.Wenormallythinkofairasamixtureofgases,butatverylow

temperaturesitbecomesaliquid,andatlowertemperaturesstillitbecomesawhite

solid.

Nothingverypermanentoccurswhenagaschangesintoaliquidorasolid.

Everyoneknowsthatice,whichhasbeenmadebyfreezingwater,canbemelted