《英語短篇小說教程》練習(xí)參考答案unit5、6

KeystoUnitFiveRoaldDahl:TheTasteQuestionsforDiscussion:(Suggestedanswersforreference)Canyouexplainthewriter’splotting--whichpartistheexposition,orcomplication,orclimax,orresolutionofthisshortstory?(exposition:lines1-17);complication:lines18-404;climax:lines405-425;resolution:lines426-431)ThenarratorseemstoberathersuspiciousofPratt ’smotive.Canyoufindtheplacesinthestorywhereheshowshissuspicionandunderlinethem?HewascompletelyengrossedinconversationwithMike’seighteen-year-olddaughter,Louise.…Ashespoke,heleanedcloserandclosertoher,andthepoorgirlleanedasfarasshecouldawayfromhim,noddingpolitely,ratherdesperately???(lines67-72)???intwoshortswallowshetippedthewinedownhisthroatandturnedimmediatelytoresumehisconversationwithLouiseSchofield.(lines78-80)Exceptthat,tome,therewassomethingstrangeabouthisdrawlingvoiceandhisboredom:betweentheeyesashadowofsomethingevil,andinhisbearinganintentnessthatgavemeafaintsenseofuneasinessasIwatchedhim.(lines121-124)Andyet,curiously,hisnextquestionsseemedtobetrayacertaininterest.“Youliketoincreasethebet?”(lines138-139)Itwasasolemn,impassiveperformance,andImustsayhe(Pratt)diditwell.(line289)6)…h(huán)ewasbecomingridiculouslypompous,butIthoughtthatsomeofitwasdeliberate…(lines316-317)CanyousayafewwordsabouteachofthethreemembersoftheSchofieldfamily?Writedownyourimpressiononapieceofpaperandreadoutwhatyouhavewrittentotheclass.(MichaelSchofieldisstockbroker,gettingrichalmosttooeffortlessly.Consciousofbeingless“cultured,”heimitatesthewayoflifeofhighclass,attemptingtocopythemannersofthe“politesociety,”tosuppresshisemotion,tobecourteouswheneverpossible.Heloveshisdaughter,butpayslittleattentiontohiswife’sopinion.Mrs.Schofieldissimilarlyconsciousof“culturedbehavior,”alwaysfearingthatherhusbandmayfailtokeeptothepolitemanners.Sheisalmostcompletelydisregardedbyherhusband,andsheknowsit,butbehavesasifherwordshadweightonhim.Louiseisalovelyyounglady,generallybehavinginthewaythatherparentswouldwishhertobehave.ShedoesnotshowherangerthoughobviouslysheisdispleasedbyMr.Pratt.Shealsoacceptstheridiculousbettinguponherfather’srepeatedpleading.)Theendingofthestoryisunexpectedbutsignificant.Whatdoesitrevealtoyouaboutthetwocharacters,thehumblemaidandthewealthyand“highlycultured”RichardPratt?(Thoughlowinsocialstatusandineconomicposition,thehumblemaiddemonstratesherwisdom,cool-mindedness,loyaltyandnobility.Onthecontrary,thememberofso-called“culturedclass”suchasMr.Pratt,revealsfullyhisdishonesty,meannessandevilintention.)Explanationandinterpretation:(Explaintheimpliedmeaningofthefollowingsentences,andpointouttheirsignificanceinthecontextofthestory.)He(Pratt)wascompletelyengrossedinconversationwithMike ’seighteen-year-olddaughter,Louise.Hewashalfturnedtowardsher,smilingather…(Pratthadaninterestinhisfriend’sdaughterandshowedthatalmostopenly.Thisshowsthatheisnotagentleman,butamean-mindedperson.)(Thenarrator):“Butwhythestudy?”Mike:“It’sthebestplaceinthehouse.Richardhelpedmechooseitlasttimehewashere.”(Thisisaforeshadowing.RichardPratthadsetthetrap.Fromtheverybeginningofthebetting,Pratthadalreadyhadtheplan,andstepbystepheledMikeintothetrap.)(3)…andthenhe(Mike)pickeduphisknife,studiedthebladethoughtfullyforamoment,andputitdownagain.(Hewasmakinganefforttorestrainhimselfandsuppresshisanger,buthemightdoanythingifhecannotcontrolhimselfinanexplosivemoment.Pratt’sdesireforhisdaughterwasoutrageousandhehadbeenchallenginghispatienceforalmosttoolong.)Itwasasolemn,impassiveperformance,andImustsayhe(Pratt)diditwell.(ThenarratorseemedtohavenoticedthatwhatPratthadstagedwasawell-prepared“performance.”)Prattglancedaround,sawthepairofthinhorn-rimmedspectaclesthatsheheldouttohim,andforamomenthehesitated.“Arethey?Perhapstheyare,Idon’tknow.”(Prattnowsawthebigholeinhisplan,butafteramomentofindecision,hecalmlyattemptedtocoveritupbysayingsomethinginacarelessmanner.)SuggestedHomework:(Turntheshortstoryintoaperformableshortplay.)TaskOne:Dividetheclassintogroupsofsix.TaskTwo:Rewritethestoryintheformofaplay.Shortenitbykeepingonlythenecessaryconversationandcuttingawaytherest.Addabriefintroductionandsomeconclusivecomments.TaskThree:Preparetoactoutthestorywith6charactersintheplay-thenarratorwhointroducesthestoryatthebeginningandmakesabriefcommentattheend,MikeSchofield,hiswife,hisdaughterLouis,RichardPrattandthemaid.Theplaymaybeginlikethis:Narrator:MikeSchofield,awealthystockbroker,isholdingadinnerpartyinhishouseinLondon.AmongthosesittingattableisagentlemannamedRichardPratt,afamousgourmet.Pratthasunusualknowledgeofwineandbysimplytastingit,hecantelltheyearandtheplaceofitsproduction.Asusual,tonight,thehostexpectsalittlebetwithhimonhisabilitytonamethevintageofaparticularwine.Mike: I’vegotsomespecialwinetonight.You’llnevernamethisone,Richard.Notinahundredyears!Pratt:Aclaret?(Thestudentscancutandpasteandreorganizefromtheoriginaltext,startingfromline115.)KeystoUnitSixMaryGavell:TheSwingQuestionsforDiscussion:(Suggestedanswersforreference)Whatisthesignificanceoftheopeningsentence“Asshegrewold,shebegantodreamagain”?Isitonlytheoldagethatcausesthemothertodreamanddaydreammoreoftennow?(Dreamisareplacementofwhatshecannothaveinreallife.Asshegrewold,shebecamelessactivephysicallyandfeltmorelonelyinheremotionallife.Thatiswhy,mostofherdreamsareabouttherememberedpast,thelifewithherson.)WhatisitaboutJulius,thehusband,thatannoysthewife?Isheanannoyingperson?Whydoyouthinkhebehavesthewayhedoes?Doesheunderstandheremotionalsituation?(Thehusband,Julius,suffersfromthesameproblem.Oldagemadehimphysicallyweaksohemovedaboutlessandtalkedless.Hesharesthefeelingofloneliness,buttheman’sreactionisdifferentfromhiswife.Theendingpartoftheshortstoryprovesthat.Hekeepstheemotiontohimself,becomingmorewithdrawnandbehaving,inhiswife’seyes,ratherstrangely.)Inoneoftheflashbacks,thereisdescriptionofoneoftheSundaydinnersattheadultson’shome.Howisthemother-sonconversationdifferentfromhertalkswithherboyontheswing?(Theconversationbetweenthemotherandheradultsondoesnothavetheintimacyandattachmentitoncehadwhenthesonwasaboy.Behindthematurepoliteness,thereissomedistancebetweengenerations.Whileinthepast,theycouldtalkaboutanythingandeverythingandcouldsharetruesentiments.)Howdoyouexplainthejackethangingonthenail?(Wecannotexplainitrealisticallyorrationally,unlessweregardisalsoaspartofthedream.Thereisaliteraryschoolofwritingcalled“magicrealism,”inwhichtherealandthefantasticaremergedforaspecialeffect.So,thiscanbestbeunderstoodasatouchof“magicrealism.”)ExplanationandInterpretation:(Explaintheimpliedmeaningofthefollowingsentences,andpointouttheirsignificanceinthecontextofthestory.)(Themotherthought:)“IwishthatwhenIaskhimhowheishewouldn ’ttellmethatthereiseverylikelihoodthattheBasicResearchDivisionwillbemergedwiththeStatisticsDivision.”(Thegrown-upson’sinterestisinhiswork,whilethemothers’interestisinhispersonallife.Herquestionshowsherconcernedofhimasason,buthismindbendsonhiscareer.Heisnowlivinginaworldthathismotherknowslittleabout,andheisnolongerasdependentonherashewaswhenhewasachild.Themotherfeelssomesadnessbecausetheconversationonceagainremindsherofthefactthathersonhaslefthernestandnowisflyingonhisownwings.)shehadhadtheancientpianotuned…h(huán)adbeenreadingbooksonChina…andwa