the Background Knowledge
Representative works:Only Yesterday (1932),Since Yesterday (1940), The Big Change (1952). He is best remembered for his journalistic but nonetheless penetrating works of social history.
Background Knowledge
Frederick Lewis Allen
(1890–1954)
Background Knowledge
Why Bull and Bear?
z The precise origin of the phrases "bull market" and "bear market" is obscure.The Oxford English Dictionary cites an 1891 use of the term "bull market".
Background Knowledge
Why Bull and Bear?
Some Clues
It relates to the head (neck)of the animals: Bear’s head (neck) points downwards while Bull’s head (neck) points upwards.
Background Knowledge
It relates to the way that the animals attack:
horns from bottom, while Bear swipes downwards with its paws from
above.
It relates to the speed
Background Knowledge
Why Bull and Bear?
Bear hibernates, while Bull does not.
It refers to the rising stock market in the USA in 1920s
(known as “Roaring Twenties”), especially during the Throughout the 1920s a long
boom took stock prices to
became convinced that stocks
Background Knowledge
Background Knowledge
The Big Bull Market
By August 1929, brokers were routinely lending small investors The rising share prices encouraged more people to invest; people hoped the share
(price to historical norms. After an amazing five-year
Many believed that the market could sustain high price levels.
New York Stock Market Crash
Black Thursday, but it was the the New York Stock Market Crash
Loss of jobs, homes, savings and property.
Political turmoil and social unrest (Hitler in power in 1933).
cast himself down fifteen arrival of the fire brigade," he wrote.
Background Knowledge
New York Stock Market Crash
Reporters in downtown Manhattan were checking out a rumor that 11 had jumped out of of the Earl Radio New York Stock Market Crash
committed suicide by ?The Great Stock Market Crash of 1929
Background Knowledge
The Great Depression
Background Knowledge
The Great Depression
Wall Street Crash on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, 1929
Farm Closure
Unemployment
inactivity suits the mood and certain of the needs of the
was a quiet man, a man of few words, Once, Dorothy Parker, seated next to him at a dinner, said The 31st President
Republican.
Background Knowledge
Franklin Roosevelt
(1882-1945)
优秀高中英语作文例文6篇 英语是我们学习的主要科目之一，英语作为国际性语言，学好英语自然有很多好处。学习英语要从最基础的知识开始学，而且需要端正学习态度，因为学习外语需要坚持。下文是为你精心编辑整理的优秀高中英语作文例文6篇，希望对你有所帮助，更多内容，请点击相关栏目查看，谢谢! 优秀高中英语作文例文1 The story of an ugly swan becomes beautiful as it grows up telling people not to judge others by appearance. Most kids especially girls look homely but they turn to be beauties as they become adults. But some people are exceptions, because they look beautiful all the time. For the celebrities, they like to show the audience with their pictures as they are small, which proves that they are naturally beautiful, instead of doing the plastic surgery. Like Natalie Portman, the famous actress and winning the Oscar Award for Black Swan, became famous in her 13. The audience grew up with her and watched her became more and more beautiful. But what makes people surprised is that Portman studied at the top university. She is a smart girl with beautiful face. Only the talent can help a person shinning all the time.
Marrakech George Orwell As the corpse went past the flies left the resta urant table in a cloud and rushed after it, but t hey came back a few minutes later. The little crowd of mourners -- all men and boy s, no women--threaded their way across the market p lace between the piles of pomegranates and the taxi s and the camels, walling a short chant over an d over again. What really appeals to the flies i s that the corpses here are never put into coffin s, they are merely wrapped in a piece of rag an d carried on a rough wooden bier on the shoulder s of four friends. When the friends get to the bu rying-ground they hack an oblong hole a foot or tw o deep, dump the body in it and fling over i t a little of the dried-up, lumpy earth, which i s like broken brick. No gravestone, no name, no id entifying mark of any kind. The burying-ground is m erely a huge waste of hummocky earth, like a derel
Lesson 8 Three Cups of Tea (Excerpts) Translation 1. 当他被人从河里救出来时，几乎半死不活了。 2. 在我上一次访问这个村子时，那里还没有学校。现在一所小学已经屹立在山顶上。 3. 他恢复了知觉，睁开眼睛，想努力搞清楚发生了什么事，为什么他躺在那里。 4. 展览会上最吸引观众的是新奇的电子产品。 5. 温室里的许多奇花异草引起大家争先拍照。 6. 这位作家出生于一个大家庭，他的家谱可以追溯到十五代以前。 7. 当地少数民族在杀牲口前，先要举行一番宗教仪式，请求上苍允许他们杀生。 8. 村民们贫穷的事实并非说明他们就愚昧无知。 9. 志愿者们的共同努力使得项目开展起来了。 10. 登山者感到头晕，几乎站立不住，一是由于过度疲劳，也是因为太饥饿了。 参考译文 1. When he was saved from the river, he was more dead than alive. 2. On my previous visit, there was no school, but now one stands on the mountain. 3. As he came to himself, he opened his eyes, trying to figure out waht had happened and why he was lying there. 4. At the exhibition there were many novel electronic products that attracted the attention of visitors. 5. People were keen on taking pictures of the many exotic flowers and plants in the greenhouse. 6. This writer came from a large, prominent family whose genealogy streches back fifteen generations. 7. Before killing an animal, the indigenous ethnic people usually hold rituals to request permission from their God. 8. The fact that the villagers are poor doesn’t mean they are ignorant or stupid. 9. The volunteers made concerted efforts and got the project off the ground. 10. The climber felt so dizzy that he could hardly stand up, as much from over exhaustion as from starvation. 1.他把网上的流传当成一个笑话，不予理睬。（dismiss as） He dismissed the story circulating on the Internet as a joke. 2.马克?吐温的《竞选州长》是一篇着名的短篇故事。(run for) Mark Twain’s “Running for Governor” is a famous short story. 3.对于遭受灾难的人们，我们应该毫无保留地帮助他们。(reach out to) We should reach out to those who suffer from disasters without reservation. 4.考虑到他们没有经验，他们的工作成绩还是相当不错的。(given) Given their lack of experience, their work should be considered as quite good. 5.她是在华裔人占主导地位的社区里长大的。(predominantly) She grew up in a community where the inhabitants were predominantly of Chinese origin. 6.心情不好不能成为你对同事粗暴的理由。(justify) Being in a bad mood cannot justify your rude attitude toward your colleagues 7.警方把这件事视作“误解”而草草了事。(dismiss...as) The police dismissed the incident as a case of misunderstanding.
一．词语修辞格 (1) simile 明喻 它根据人们的联想，利用不同事物之间的相似点，借助比喻词(如like，as等)起连接作用，清楚地说明甲事物在某方面像乙事物 I wandered lonely as a cloud. ( W. Wordsworth: The Daffodils )我像一朵浮云独自漫游。They are as like as two peas. 他们两个长得一模一样。 His young daughter looks as red as a rose. 他的小女儿面庞红得象朵玫瑰花。 ① “Mama,” Wangero said sweet as a bird .“C an I have these old quilts?” ② Hair is all over his head a foot long and hanging from his chin like a kinky mule tail. ③ My skin is like an uncooked（未煮过的）barley pancake. ④ The oratorial（雄辩的）storm that Clarence Darrow and Dudley Field Malone blew up in the little court in Dayton swept like a fresh wind though the schools… ⑤ I see also the dull（迟钝的）, drilled（训练有素的）, docile（易驯服的）, brutish（粗野的）masses of the Hun soldiery plodding（沉重缓慢地走）on like a swarm（群）of crawling locusts（蝗虫）. （1）metaphor 暗喻 暗含的比喻。A是B或B就是A。 All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players演员. ( William Shakespeare )整个世界是座舞台，男男女女，演员而已。 Education is not the filling of a pail桶, but the lighting of a fire. ( William B. Yeats )教育不是注满一桶水，而是点燃一把火。 ① It is a vast（巨大的）, sombre（忧郁的）cavern（洞穴）of a room,… ② Mark Twain --- Mirror of America ③ main artery（干线）of transportation in the young nation's heart ④ The Duchess of Croydon kept firm, tight rein on her racing mind. ⑤ Her voice was a whiplash（鞭绳）. ⑥ We shall fight him by land, we shall fight him by sea, we shall fight him in the air, until, with God’s help, we have rid the earth of his shadow and liberated its peoples from his yoke（枷锁）. （2）metonymy 借代，转喻 用一事物的名称来代替另一事物，当然这一事物与另一事物是有关联的。 The White House has denied the report that more troops will be sent to Iraq. He lives by the pen. (=writing). 他以写作为生。 He is too fond of the bottle (=drinking). 他太贪杯了。 ① The Washington Post, in an editorial captioned "Keep Your Old Webster's" ② ...his pen would prove mightier than his pickaxe（镐） （3）synecdoche 提喻 以部分指代整体
1. 书面表达热点预猜（1） 假设你是李红，你的一位美国笔友Robert写E-mail问及你高考后暑假的安排，请根据以下要点，写一封100词左右的email回复他, 可以适当增加细节。 1. 学开车 2. 参加英语培训课程 3. 去北京看奥运会 4. 游览北京的名胜 注意：1.根据以上内容写一篇短文，不要逐句翻译，可适当增加细节以使行文连贯。 2.要准确使用语法和词汇；使用一定的句型、词汇，清楚、连贯地表达自己的意思； 3. 词数：100个左右。开头已给出，不计词数。 Dear Robert, How time flies! ____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ 【命题方向与写作提示】 高考英语书面表达写作素材都是与中学生的日常生活相关的话题，会避免出现考生不熟悉的话题，也不会出现农村或城市学生不熟悉的话题，注重考查考生的语言表达能力。本篇素材考查书信体裁的作文，是应用文的写作，话题涉及社会热点：北京奥运会，内容与中学生的实际生活相关：高考后暑假的安排，体裁是书信体的电子邮件。写作要点包括：1）问候；2）引入话题：高考临近，高考后的安排；3）学开车；4）参加英语培训课程；5）去北京看奥运会；6）游览北京的名胜；7）结束语。 【写作提示】 书面表达一定要注意要点齐全，写作中要注意适当增加细节以使上下文连贯，并使用一定数量的句式结构。 范文(One possible version) Dear Robert: How time flies! The happy days we shared often shines in my memory. What about you? As you know, my college entrance exam is approaching, which also announces the end of this sort of pressing study life. However，I intend to have a meaningful summer vacation. First, I will learn to drive to get a driving license, which is a new activity for a high school graduate in China. I will have a good rest, enjoying my hobbies. Then I will take some English courses to improve my English communication ability, With the 2008 Olympics beginning, I will be a participant of it, watching the basketball match between China and the US. I have been dreaming of Kobe’s performance long. After that, I will pay a visit to some tourist attractions to widen my horizon. That is the plan for my vacation. I am looking forward to being told about your arrangements of vacation. Give me your quick reply soon, OK? Best wishes! 2. 书面表达热点预猜（2） 如今世界粮食短缺，价格飞涨，给部分地区造成社会动荡。假设在你校开展的研究性学习中，你们小组以“World Food Crisis”为题进行研究，现在请你代表你们小组向全体同学简要介绍你们的研究成果。主要内容如下：
这是我整理的，希望对大家有用。蓝色部分是重点词汇。 第一课 1、一条蜿蜒的小路隐没在树荫深处。 A winding path loses itself in the shadowy distance of the woods. 2、集市上有许多小摊子，出售的货物应有尽有。 At the bazaar, there are many stalls where goods of every conceivable kind are sold. 3、我真不知道到底是什么事让他如此生气。 I really don’t know what it is that has made him so angry. 4、新出土的铜花瓶造型优美，可有精细、复杂的传统图案。 The newly unearthed bronze vase is pleasing in form and engraved with delicate and intricate traditional designs. … 5、在山的那一边是一望无际的大草原。 Beyond the mountains there is a vast grassland that extends as far as the eye can see. 6、他们决定买那座带有汽车房的房子。 They decided to buy that house with a garage attached. 7、教师们坚持对学生严格要求。 The teachers make a point of be ing strict with the students. 8、这个小女孩很喜欢她的父亲。 The girl is very much attached to her father. 9、为了实现四个现代化，我们认为有必要学习国外的先进科学技术。 To achieve the four modernization, we make a point of learn ing from the advanced science and technology of other countries. | 10、黄昏临近时，天渐渐暗下来了。 As dusk fell, daylight faded away. 11徒工仔细地观察他的师傅，然后照着干。 The apprentice watched his master carefully and then followed suit. 12、吃完饭弗兰克常常帮助洗餐具。 Frank often took a hand in the washing-up after dinner.
高级英语写作教案示范 Section One Choice of words措辞 The choice of words from one’s vocabulary can affect his writing style. Let’s look at two groups of words and compare them: Pretentious Wording(fml.) Common Wording(standard) in regards to concerning, about utilize use elucidate explain prior to before because of the fact because of the opinion believe ascertain find out commence begin When selecting words to use in an essay it is important to remember the four levels of diction: 1)Formal—Highly educated audience: ceremonial, scholarly or technical purpose. 2)Standard—Educated audience: college papers, mass publications, business communications, and many other writing purposes. 3)Informal—General audience: spoken rather than written situations, personal letters, conversational and entertaining purposes. 4)Slang—Specific audience: used to enhance the writing through dialogue essential to the character, such as in novels; or to build connections between members of a specific group or generation. Exercises: 1. In each sentence below, choose the more precise of the two words in brackets and fill in the blank with your choice: 1).A judge must be ______ in the cases he tries. (uninterested, disinterested) A few listeners were _____ and dozed off. disinterested, uninterested 2). Your niece impressed me as sweet and _____. (childish, childlike) Though she has grown up, her behavior is often _____. childlike, childish 3). The President spoken on the radio to the ____. (land, nation) nation 4).Why were you so ____ about your achievements? (humble, modest) modest 5).She has become very _____ since marrying him. (respectable, respectful) People are serious and _____ at religious services. respectable, respectful
高英作文6个方法写出精品佳句 近几年的高考对同学们的作文要求越来越高。很多同学为了保证英语作文没有语法错误，写作的时候仅仅用基础词汇和基本句型，这样的作文拿不到高分。相反有些同学在写作的时候，有意识地使用一些高级词汇，即使有错误却仍然属于高档次作文。 那么怎样才能写出好句子呢？ 大家需要注意下面的三个“使用”、两个“选择”和一个“统一”。 一、使用短语，习语来代替一些单词，增加文采，丰富语句的表现力。 在作文中，如果能适当的使用一些短语和习语是提高表达水平的一种有效方法。如： 二、使用一些倒装句、强调句、或者感叹句等，也可以为文章增添亮色 在一篇文章当中，大家使用最多的句子是主谓宾结构，如果能适当的打破常规，运用各种形式，就能给我们的文章增添亮色，给阅卷老师留下好印象，我们的作文自然能得到高分。大家可以尝试下面的句子： 三、使用不同结构的句子，使句式多样化 句子的多样化包括两方面，一个是句子结构的变化，一个是句子长度的变化。句子的结构要随着文章思想发展而变化，单一的形式会给人单调枯燥的感觉，而句子的多样化就会给文章增色。大家看下面例文： 上面的例文中，原文在语法上没有什么错误，就是过多的使用来there be 句型，使得文章单调乏味。我们可以转换句式，同一个意思用不同的句式表达，这样就使得文章内容丰富，有文采。 大家需要注意的是，句子结构的多样化并不是要让句子多复杂，而是要注意长短句结合。 四、选择自己熟悉并且能正确表达的句子 英语作文中多以简单句、并列句为主，主从句为辅。句子结构的好坏将会直接影响意义的表达和文章的质量。不熟悉的句子大家不能勉强使用。下面我们一起看看，在平时的练习中，大家经常犯的错误：如，句子残缺不全，缺少主语、谓语或其他成分；再如，不能正确使用标点符号或连词；还有的同学错误将从句当作完整的句子。看下面的例子： 五、要选择简洁明了的句子 如果一个意思有多种表达方式，我们要避繁就简，简洁明了的句子能显示文章的灵气，同时也避免过多动词的错误。如下面例句解析： 六、作文的关键是要求句子的统一和连贯 大家写作文的时候，一定要注意处理好叙述的顺序以及各个句子之间的逻辑关系。可以通过合句，把意义相关的几个句子连接起来同时要避免句子太长。看例句： 从上面的例句，大家可以看出，原句并没有明显得语法错误，但是我们读的时候就知道不够简洁。修改后就合并成一个有共同主语的句子。 最后，大家要注意学会正确使用连接词，这也是提高写作能力的有效方法。下面给大家总结来一些常用的连接词，同学们可以参考： 总之，同学们在平时的学习中就要多积累常见句型、习惯用法，多写多练多坚持，便可以写出高档次的作文来。
高英答案翻译
Lesson10 The Trial That Rocked the World I． 1)In the 1920s，when he was a teacher at a secondary school in Dayton，a little town in the mountains of Tenessee，he was charged with teaching evolution and had to be present in the court．The trial。however，rocked the world．After the trial，he studied at the University of Chicago and became a geologist for an oil company later． 2)The struggles were in fact struggles between ignorance and wisdom．religion and science．That showed the spread of science and truth was no easy task．3)Because the result would effect the whole country，even the world． 4)Darrow and Malone thought that the Bible could co—exist with the Evolution Theory and it was acceptable for a Christion to be an evolutionist．Besides，the Bible should not be interpreted and accepted literally．Bryan just thought the opposite way. 5) The trial began with prayer by a local
高级英语写作教案示范 Part Two Basic Skill’s Training 基本技能训练 I.Teaching Materials See Part Two II.Teaching Aims 1.Teach the students how to use the most useful words appropriately. 2.Help the students make correct judgement about their own language mistakes and teach them to find out the correct ways to avoid the inappropriate, unidiomatic expressions. III.Teaching Time: 4 periods IV.Teaching Focuses 1.Unique ways of making correct judgement in choosing proper words to express oneself in writing. 2.General rules of correcting wordiness and omission in language. V.Teaching Procedures 1.Step One—Ask the students how many levels are there in language according to them? 2.Step Two—Give out some exercises concerning with the false usage of language and make corrections in class. 3.Step Three—Analysis and brief summary of each type of basic language training. 4.Step Four—Assignment VI.Detailed study of step one: a discussion on the formality of the words in different situations. VII.Detailed study of step two. Section One Choice of words措辞 The choice of words from one’s vocabulary can affect his writing style. Let’s look at two groups of words and compare them: Pretentious Wording(fml.) Common Wording(standard) in regards to concerning, about utilize use
Some Successful Study Methods Everyone wants to be successful in study, but they don't know how to study effectively. Some people admit that practice makes perfect, so they pay much attention to the practice. But the fact is what really matters is their study methods. If you want to be successful, you need to develop your own method in the process of study. Here, I want to share three of my study methods with you. The first method I want to mention is to have interest, just as a saying goes"interest is the best teacher". The first thing we should do is to be interest in studying.As long as you have great interest in your study, you will focus on it with all your heart and soul. Nothing can stop you. The second is a good schedule. A good schedule can save your time and help you remember the tasks you have forgot. What's more, to keep a good schedule, you can develop good study habits like diligence and perseverance. The last method is reviewing. We realize that we always forget the things we memorizing, it is because our brains work on their own ways. By reviewing, you can understand what you have learned well and also pick up important details. In conclusion, methods are not applicable for all. But I really hope the three methods I mentioned above will be of some help to you.
第一课 1)一条蜿蜒的小路淹没在树荫深处。 A zig-zag path loses itself in the shadowy distance of the woods. 2）集市上有许多小摊子，出售的货物应有尽有。 At the bazaar there are many stalls where goods of every conceivable kind are sold. 3）我真不知道到底是什么事让他如此生气。 I really don't know what it is that has made him so angry. 4）新出土的铜花瓶造型优美，刻有精细、复杂的传统图案。The newly unearthed bronze vase is pleasing in form and engraved with delicate and intricate traditional designs. 5）在山的那边是一望无际的大草原。 Beyond the mountains there is a vast grassland that extends as far as the eye can see. 6）他们决定买那座带有汽车房的房子。 They decided to buy that house with. a garage attached. 7）教师们坚持对学生严格要求。 The teachers make a point of being strict with the students. 8）这个小女孩非常喜欢他的父亲。 This little girl is very much attached to her father. 9）为实现四个现代化，我们认为有必要学习外国的先进科学技术。 To achieve the four modernization, we make a point of learning
高中英语作文题目及范文 Protecting the Environment-保护环境 Environmental problems are becoming more and more serious all over the world. For example, cars have made the air unhealthy for people to breathe and poisonous gas is given off by factories. Trees on the hills have been cut down and waste water is being poured continuously into rivers.Furthermore, wherever we go today, we can find rubbish carelessly disposed. Pollution is, in fact, threatening our existence. The earth is our home and we have the duty to take care of it for ourselves and for our later generations. Fortunately, more and more people have realized these problems. Measures have been taken to cope with these problems by the government. Laws have been passed to stop pollution. I hope the problem will be solved in the near future and our home will become better and better. 全世界的环境问题变得越来越严重。例如汽车污染的空气影响了人们的呼吸，工厂释放污染的气体，山上的树木被砍伐，污水不断被排人河里。另外，无论我们走到哪里，到处可见随意丢弃的垃圾。事实上，污染正威胁我们的生存。 地球是我们的家园，我们有责任为我们自己和我们的后代去照顾好它。庆幸的是，愈来愈多的人们已经意识到这些问题。政府已经采取了很多措施去解决这些问题，法律已被通过以制止污染。我希望这些问题在不远的将来能得到解决，我们的家园变得越来越好。 Environmental problems are becoming more and more serious all over the world. With the development of industry and agriculture, cars make GREat noises and give off poisonous gas. Trees on the hills have been cut down,and waste water is being poured continuously into rivers. Furthermore,wherever we go today, we can find rubbish carelessly disposed. The whole ecological balance of the earth is changing. Massive destruction of environment has brought about negative effects and even poses a great threat to man's existence. We must face the situation that exists and take actions to solve our environmental problems. For instance, new laws must be passed to place strict control over industrial pollution, the pub!ic must receive the education about the hazard of pollution and so on. We hope that all these measures will be effective and bring back a healthful environment. 全世界的环境问题在变得越来越严重。随着工农业的发展，汽车制造噪音、排放毒气，山上的树木被砍伐，污水不断被排入河里。另外，无论我们走到哪里，到处可见随意丢弃的垃圾。整个地球生态平衡正在改变，环境的巨大破坏已带来负面影响，甚至对人类生存带来巨大威胁。 我们必须面对现实，采取行动解决环境问题。例如必须通过新的法律严格控制工业污染问题，大众必须接受污染危害的教育等。我们希望这些措施的有效实施能带给我们一个健康的环境
Unit1 One Writer's Beginnings作家起步时 1.我从两三岁起就知道，家中随便在哪个房间里，白天无论在什么时间，都可以念书或听人念书。母亲念书给我听。上午她都在那间大卧室里给我念，两人一起坐在她那把摇椅里，我们摇晃时，椅子发出有节奏的滴答声，好像有只唧唧鸣叫的蟋蟀在伴着读故事。冬日午后，她常在餐厅里烧着煤炭的炉火前给我念，布谷鸟自鸣钟发出“咕咕”声时，故事便结束了；晚上我在自己床上睡下后她也给我念。想必我是不让她有一刻清静。有时她在厨房里一边坐着搅制黄油一边给我念，故事情节就随着搅制黄油发出的抽抽搭搭的声响不断展开。我的奢望是她念我来搅拌；有一次她满足了我的愿望，可是我要听的故事她念完了，她要的黄油我却还没弄好。她念起故事来富有表情。比如，她念《穿靴子的猫》时，你就没法不相信她对猫一概怀疑。 2 当我得知故事书原来是人写出来的，书本原来不是什么大自然的奇迹，不像草那样自生自长时，真是又震惊又失望。不过，姑且不论书本从何而来，我不记得自己有什么时候不爱书——书本本身、封面、装订、印着文字的书页，还有油墨味、那种沉甸甸的感觉，以及把书抱在怀里时那种将我征服、令我陶醉的感觉。还没识字，我就想读书了，一心想读所有的书。 3 我的父母都不是来自那种买得起许多书的家庭。然而，虽然买书准得花去他不少薪金，作为一家成立不久的保险公司最年轻的职员，父亲一直在精心挑选、不断订购他和母亲认为儿童成长应读的书。他们购书首先是为了我们的前程。 4 除了客厅里有一向被称作“图书室”的书橱，餐厅的窗子下还有几张摆放百科全书的桌子和一个字典架。这里有伴随我们在餐桌旁争论着长大的《韦氏大词典》、《哥伦比亚百科全书》、《康普顿插图百科全书》、《林肯资料文库》，以及后来的《知识库》。“图书馆”书橱里的书没过多久我就能读了——我的确读了，全都读了，按着顺序，一排接着一排读，从最上面的书架一直读到最下面的书架。母亲读书最重要的不在获取信息。她是为了享受快乐而埋头读小说。她读狄更斯时的神情简直就像要跟他私奔似的。她少女时代读的小说印在了她心头的，除了狄更斯、司各特和罗伯特.路易斯.斯蒂文森等人的作品之外，还有《简爱》、《切尔比》、《白衣女士》、《绿厦》和《所罗门王的矿藏》。 5 多亏了我的父母，我很早就接触了受人喜爱的马克.吐温。书橱里有一整套马克.吐温文集和一套不全的林.拉德纳作品集，这些书最终将父母和孩子联结在一起。 6读摆在我面前的书，读着读着便发现一本又破又旧的书，是我父亲小时候的。书名是《桑福徳与默顿》。我不相信如今还有谁会记得这本书。那是托玛斯.戴在18世纪80年代撰写的一本著名的进行道德教育的故事书，可该书的扉页上并没有提及他；上面写的是《桑福徳与默顿简易本》，玛丽.戈多尔芬著。书中讲的是一个富孩子和一个穷孩子与他们老师巴洛先生之间的冗长的谈话，其间穿插着戏剧性场面——分别写了富孩子和穷孩子如何发火、如何获救。书末讲的道德寓意不是一条，而是两条，都印在环形图案里：“不管发生什么，该做的就去做”，还有“想做伟人，必须先学会做个好人”。 7 这本书没了封面，封底用几条纸片粘牢，有好几层，如今都泛黄了，书页上污迹斑斑，边角处都破碎了；书中花哨的插图脱了页，但都保存良好，夹在书里。即使在少不更事的童年，我就觉得那是我父亲小时候拥有的惟一一本书。他一直珍藏着这本书，或许还枕着这本没了封面的书睡觉：他7岁时就没了母亲。我父亲从来没跟自己的孩子提起过这本书，但他从俄亥俄一路把它带到我们的家，把它放进我们的书橱。 8 母亲则从西弗吉尼亚带来了那套狄更斯：那套书看上去也惨不忍睹——她告诉我，我还没出生，这些书就历经水火之灾，可现在它们还是整齐地排列在那儿——后来我意识到，是等着我去读。 9 从记事起我就收到给自己的书了，那是在生日时，还有圣诞节早晨。我父母真的是送给我再多的书都嫌不够。在我6岁或7岁生日时——那是在我自己能读书之后——他