Lesson 60 Too early and too late 太早和太晚
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
聽錄音,然后回答以下問題。
Why did the young girl miss the train?
Punctuality is a necessary habit in all public affairs in civilized society. Without it, nothing could ever be brought to a conclusion; everything would be in state of chaos. Only in a sparsely-populated rural community is it possible to disregard it. In ordinary living, there can be some tolerance of unpunctuality. The intellectual, who is working on some abstruse problem, has everything coordinated and organized for the matter in hand. He is therefore forgiven if late for a dinner party. But people are often reproached for unpunctuality when their only fault is cutting things fine. It is hard for energetic, quick-minded people to waste time, so they are often tempted to finish a job before setting out to keep an appointment. If no accidents occur on the way, like punctured tires, diversions of traffic, sudden descent of fog, they will be on time. They are often more industrious, useful citizens than those who are never late. The over-punctual can be as much a trial to others as the unpunctual. The guest who arrives half an hour too soon is the greatest nuisance. Some friends of my family had this irritating habit. The only thing to do was ask them to come half an hour later than the other guests. Then they arrived just when we wanted them.
If you are citing a train, it is always better to be comfortably early than even a fraction of a minted too late. Although being early may mean wasting a little time, this will be less than if you miss the train and have to wait an hour or more for the next one; and you avoid the frustration of arriving at the very moment when the train is drawing out of the station and being unable to get on it. An even harder situation is to be on the platform in good time for a train and still to see it go off without you. Such an experience befell a certain young girl the first time she was traveling alone.
She entered the station twenty minutes before the train was due, since her parents had impressed upon her that it would be unforgivable to miss it and cause the friends with whom she was going to stay to make two journeys to meet her. She gave her luggage to a porter and showed him her ticket. To her horror he said that she was two hours too soon. She felt inhere handbag for the piece of paper on which her father had written down al the details of the journey and gave it to the porter. He agreed that a train did come into the station at the time on the paper and that it did stop, but only to take on mail, not passengers. The girl asked to see a timetable, feeling sure that her father could not have made such a mistake. The porter went to fetch one and arrive back with the station master, who produced it with a flourish and pointed out a microscopic 'o' beside the time of the arrival of the train at his station; this little 'o' indicated that the train only stopped for mail. Just as that moment the train came into the station. The girl, tears streaming down her face, begged to be allowed to slip into the guard's van. But the station master was adamant: rules could not be broken and she had to watch that train disappear towards her destination while she was left behind.
New words and expressions 生詞和短語
punctuality
n. 準(zhǔn)時
rural
adv. 農(nóng)村的
disregard
v. 不顧,無視
intellectual
n. 知識分子
abstruse
adj. 深奧的
coordinate
v. 協(xié)調(diào)
reproach
v. 責(zé)備
puncture
v. 刺破(輪胎)
diversion
n. 改道,繞道
trial
n. 討厭的事,人
fraction
n. 很小一點(diǎn)兒
flourish
n. 揮舞(打手勞)
microscopic
adj. 微小的
adamant
adj. 堅定的,不動搖的
準(zhǔn)時是文明社會中進(jìn)行一切社交活動時必須養(yǎng)成的習(xí)慣。不準(zhǔn)時將一事無成,事事都會陷入混亂不堪的境地。只有在人口稀少的農(nóng)村,才可以忽視準(zhǔn)時的習(xí)慣。在日常生活中人們可以容忍一定程度的不準(zhǔn)時。一個專心鉆研某個復(fù)雜問題的知識分子,為了搞好手頭的研究,要把一切都協(xié)調(diào)一致,組織周密。因此,他要是赴宴遲到了會得到諒解。但有些人不準(zhǔn)時常常因為掐鐘點(diǎn)所致,他們常常受到責(zé)備,精力充沛、頭腦敏捷的人極不愿意浪費(fèi)時間,因此他們常想做完一件事后再去赴約。要是路上沒有發(fā)生如爆胎、改道、突然起霧等意外事故,他們決不會遲到。他們與那些從不遲到的人相比,常常是更勤奮有用的公民。早到的人同遲到的人一樣令人討厭??腿颂崆鞍胄r到達(dá)是令人討厭的。我家有幾個朋友就有這有令人惱火的習(xí)慣。唯一的辦法就是請他們比別的客人晚來半小時。這樣,他們可以恰好在我們要求的時間到達(dá)。
如果趕火車,早到總比晚到好,哪怕早到一會兒也好。雖然早到可能意味著浪費(fèi)一點(diǎn)時間,但這比誤了火車等上一個多小時坐下班車?yán)速M(fèi)的時間要少,而且可以避免那種正好在火車駛出站時趕到車站,因上不去車而感到的沮喪。更難堪的情況是雖然及時趕到站臺上,卻眼睜睜地看著那趟火車啟動,把你拋下。一個小姑娘第一次單獨(dú)出門就碰到了這種情況。
在火車進(jìn)站20分鐘前她就進(jìn)了車站。因為她的父母再三跟她說,如果誤了這趟車,她的東道主朋友就得接她兩趟,這是不應(yīng)該的。她把行李交給搬運(yùn)工并給他看了車票。搬運(yùn)工說她早到了兩個小時,她聽后大吃一驚。她從錢包里摸出一張紙條,那上面有她父親對這次旅行詳細(xì)說明,她把這張紙條交給了搬運(yùn)工。搬運(yùn)工說,正如紙條所說,確有一趟火車在那個時刻到站,但它只停站裝郵件,不載旅客。姑娘要求看到時刻表,因為她相信父親不能把這么大的事弄錯。搬運(yùn)工跑回去取時刻表,同時請來了站長。站長拿著時刻表一揮手,指著那趟列車到站時刻旁邊一個很小的圓圈標(biāo)記。這個標(biāo)記表示列車是為裝郵件而停車。正在這時,火車進(jìn)站了。女孩淚流滿面,央求讓她不聲不響地到押車員車廂里去算了。但站長態(tài)度堅決,規(guī)章制度不能破壞,姑娘只得眼看那趟火車消逝在她要去的方向而撇下了她。
Notes on the text課文注釋
1 Only in a sparsely-populated…is it possible…,這是一個倒裝句,因為only放在句首。
2 for the matter in hand,為手中的事。
3 if late for a dinner party,
在以if,when,though等連詞引導(dǎo)的從句中,當(dāng)其謂語為be時,而主語又與主句的主語相同,從句中往往可以將主語和謂語省去。上句if后就省略了he is。
4 cut things fine,把時間安排得不留余地。
5 The over-punctual can be as much a trial to others as the unpunctual .
到得過早的人和遲到的人同樣使人無法忍受。as much as,和……一樣。
6 half an hour too soon(= half an hour earlier),早到半個小時。
7 in good time,作“適當(dāng)?shù)?rdquo;、“及時地”講。
Multiple choice questions多項選擇題
Choose the correct answers to the following questions:
Comprehension理解
1 The only people who can afford to neglect the exercise of punctuality are ______ .
a.ordinary citizens who have nothing to do with publicity
b.people who live in remote places where there are few people
c.intellectuals who have to deal with unexpected problems
d.people who are forced to work overtime in order to finish a job
2 People who cut things fine are usually ______ .
a.delayed by accidents on the roads
b.energetic, quick-minded people
c.no more irritating than the over-punctual
d.reproached for being late for appointments
3 The girl was very upset when the train came into the station because ______ .
a.her parents would not forgive her for missing it
b.she had two hours to wait before the next train arrived
c.she was going to have to make a second journey to reach her destination
d.the station master insisted that passengers were not allowed on to it
Structure結(jié)構(gòu)
4 Without it, it would be impossible ______ to a conclusion. (1. 2)
a.to have ever brought anything
b.ever to bring anything
c.to bring nothing ever
d.nothing to be brought ever
5 The time you ______ waste through being early will be less than … (1. 17)
a.must
b.might
c.should
d.can
6 If you are catching a train, you ______ comfortably early than … (11. 16-17)
a.a(chǎn)re better being
b.would be better
c.had better be
d.will be better to be
7 ---- the frustration of arriving ______ the train is drawing out … (11. 18-19)
a.just as
b.immediately that
c.in a while
d.a(chǎn)s soon as
8 And she had to watch that train disappear towards her destination ______ . (1. 33)
a.a(chǎn)nd left her behind
b.a(chǎn)nd leave behind her
c.leaving her behind
d.while it left behind her
Vocabulary詞匯
9 In ordinary living, unpunctuality can be tolerated ______ …(11. 4-5)
a.out of kindness
b.on occasion
c.to a certain extent
d.in varying degrees
10 The over-punctual can be just as ______ to others as the unpunctual. (1. 12)
a.detestable
b.trying
c.provident
d.inconsiderate
11 ---- since her parents had ______ that it would be unforgivable … (11. 22-23)
a.stressed the point
b.given the impression
c.marked it down
d.given notice
12 ______ the train came into the station. (1. 31)
a.Only then
b.Instantly
c.At that very moment
d.Precisely
【New words and expressions】 生詞和短語
●punctuality n. 準(zhǔn)時
●rural adv. 農(nóng)村的
●disregard v. 不顧,無視
●intellectual n. 知識分子
●abstruse adj. 深奧的
●coordinate v. 協(xié)調(diào)
●reproach v. 責(zé)備
●puncture v. 刺破(輪胎)
●diversion n. 改道,繞道
●trial n. 討厭的事,人
●fraction n. 很小一點(diǎn)兒
●flourish n. 揮舞(打手勞)
●microscopic adj. 微小的
●adamant adj. 堅定的,不動搖的
◆punctuality n. 準(zhǔn)時
punctual: adj. 守時
be punctual to the minute
◆rural adv. 農(nóng)村的
urban adj. 城市的
◆disregard v. 不顧,無視
disregard sth
disregard == ignore
pay no attention to
take no notice of
in disregard of
treat sb. with disregard: 怠慢某人
◆intellectual n. 知識分子
◆abstruse adj. 深奧的
abstract: 抽象的
Eg: I am not good at mathematics, because the subject is not only abstract but also abstruce.
◆◆coordinate v. 協(xié)調(diào)
Eg: Our efforts need to be further coordinated for higher efficiency.
efficiency: == be efficient:效率
Eg: If you wnat to complete an ideal job with your classmates as quickly as possible, I think ypu must coodniate everything as much as you can.
coordinate work: 協(xié)調(diào)工作
arrange: 安排
Eg: Who will arrange the party?
How can arrange the paragraph?
organize: 組織
Eg: It’s your duty to organize our meeting.
harmonize: vt.& n. 協(xié)調(diào),使調(diào)和,配和音
L60-01 end 7’45”
L60-02 begin 13’35”
Eg: The music is harmonized.
We have to harmonize our work.
◆reproach v. 責(zé)備
blame / scold / reprehend
Eg: Don’t reproach / blame him for such a little thing.
blame sb. for sth.
reproach n.
Beyond reproach 無可指責(zé)
Beyond doubt: 毫無疑問
Beyond understanding 無法理解
Beyond de腳本ion 無法描述
Eg: The problem is beyond / above me. 這個問題難倒了我
◆puncture v. 刺破(輪胎)
◆diversion n. 改道,繞道
◆trial n. 討厭的事,人
nuisance
trial: 審訊,審判,嘗試,實(shí)驗
Eg: After his trial, he set out with his new plane. 試飛之后,他開著飛機(jī)出發(fā)了。
◆fraction n. 很小一點(diǎn)兒
◆flourish n. 揮舞(打手勢)
gesticulate v. 打手勢
◆microscopic adj. 微小的
microphone: 麥克風(fēng)
microfilm: 微型膠卷
microwave oven: 微波爐
◆◆◆adamant adj. 堅定的,不動搖的
steady: 穩(wěn)定的
Eg: He is living a steady life.
strong-minded / firm / stable
obstinate / stubborn
stable: (人)堅定的
Eg: If you are adamant, nothing is difficult for you to study English.
If you are adamant, you never give up easily.
give up == yield== surrender: 放棄,投降
yielding / surrendering
unyielding / unsurrendering ==adamant
Eg: He is (so) adamant (as) to stick to his stupid idea.
All the students here are adamant enough to study English hard.
本篇是論說文,是考試當(dāng)中常見的一種題型
in civilized society == in modern society
necessary == essential
背熟:Eg:Mania is a habit we develop for a long time which is harmless.
bring sth. to conclusion: 做出結(jié)論
L60-02 end 13’35”
L60-03 begin 14’41”
背熟:Without it, nothing could ever be brought to a conclusion; everything would be in state of chaos.
平行句式,平行結(jié)構(gòu),同義詞的重復(fù),關(guān)鍵詞的使用
Everything would be in confusion / a state of chaos / disorder
Eg: Hard work is our necessity to study English.
Without it, we could not get any success. / nothing would be complete.
倒裝:only引導(dǎo)介詞短語,時間/條件狀語放在句首,句子要部分倒裝。
背熟:In ordinary living, there can be some tolerance of unpunctuality.
in ordinary living == in our dily life
tolerance = the state to tolerate something terrible.
Nothing can be worse than this.
No forms of transport could be faster than airplane.
punctual --> unpunctual; punctuality --> unpunctuality
背熟:has everything coordinated and organized for the matter in hand.
keep sb. occupied
cut things fine 把時間安排得不留余地;掐鐘點(diǎn)
do sth. before doing
be tempted to do特別想要做某事
be eager / anxious / desperate to do
L60-03 end 14’41”
Lesson60A end 36:00
Lesson60B begin 42:40
L60-04 begin 12’30”
prefer to do
would like to do
would rather / sooner do
would prefer to do
Eg: I can’t resist the temptation to buy the beautiful dress.
I’m quite / particularly tempted to buy the buautiful dress.
descent: 降臨
Eg: Darkness descented very soon.
on time--> keep punctuality
Some people can be forgiven because of what they do even though they are unpunctual.
背熟:The over-punctual can be as much a trial to others as the unpunctual.
nuisance --> trial
背熟:The only thing to do was ask them to come half an hour later than the other guests.
Eg: The only thing to do is help you in this way.
My job is teaching. / My job is to teach.
如果當(dāng)不定式做表語,主句結(jié)構(gòu)當(dāng)中也出現(xiàn)了不定式,做表語的不定式to符號應(yīng)該被略掉,以避免重復(fù)。
Eg: The only thing to do is help you in this way.
What I want you to do is help me.
Paragraph 2
What does the writer aim at?
He just wants to illustrate to show that punctuality is quite important.
The over-punctual is as irritating as the unpunctual, but on some occasions, we’d better keep over-punctuality.
L60-04 end 12’30”
L60-05 begin 15’11”
comfortably
mean doing sth.
less
draw up: 停車
draw (pull) out of station: 離站
背熟: you avoid the frustration of arriving at the very moment when the train is drawing out of the station and being unable to get on it.
When we get faulures over and over again, we always get the frustration inside our heart.
the frustration inside you can prevent you from doing what you are doing
in good time == on time
befall: sth. bad happen to
Eg: Such a bad experience befall him.
due: 按照計劃(安排)而正常進(jìn)行
Eg: The meeting is due to begin at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning.
The train is due to set off at 3 pm.
What happened to her? What befell her?
impress upon sb. that 再三地叮囑某人 repeat sth. over and over again
forgive --> forgivable --> unforgivable
make two journeys to meet her: 往返兩次做什么
to her horror / terror / fear
on which 定語從句
only,往往表示很遺憾的心情
Eg: I hurry to the store only to find it was closed.
背熟:The girl asked to see a timetable, feeling sure that her father could not have made such a mistake.
feeling sure that...
be brought up to do / have learnt to do
Eg: We have learnt to expect that trains are punctual.
We have been brought up to eat certain foods.
produce it with flourish
just as: 恰恰在這個時刻
背熟:The girl, tears streaming down her face, begged to be allowed to slip into the guard's van.
背熟:she had to watch that train disappear towards her destination while she was left behind.
disappear towards: 朝著什么什么消失
L60-05 end 15’11”
L60-06 begin 15’07”
Punctuality is a necassary habit, we’d better keep punctuality, but you know, over-punctuality is irritating as unpunctuality, but on some occasions, we’d better be over-punctual.
【Vocabulary】P270
Choose five of the following words and phrases and give for each another word or phrase of similar meaning to that in which the word or phrase is used in the passage: a state of chaos (l.3); sparsely-populated (l.3); disregard (l.4); reproached (l.8); setting out (l.10); diversions (l.11); destination (l.33).
a state of chaos == confusion / disorder
sparsely-populated: 人口稀疏的
overpopulated / overpeopled:人口眾多的
sparsely == few peopled = with not many people
disregard == take no notice of == pay no attention == ignore
reproached == blamed severely == reprehended
setting out: 出發(fā) == setting off == starting
set out / start / set off / make / leave / head for: 出發(fā)去往某處
diversion: 繞道== taking another road to avoid having traffice jam
industrious: 勤勞的 == diligent
destination 目的地 == terminal
【Key to Multiple choice questions】
1. B 2. B 3. D 4. B 5. B 6. C 7. A 8. C 9. C 10. B 11. A 12. C