現(xiàn)代大學(xué)英語(yǔ)（第三版）精讀3 課件 B3U6

ContentsUnit6Lead-in

GenerationGapWarm-upQuestionsLead-inGenerationGapPleasewatchthevideoandtrytoanswerthefollowingquestions：1.Haveyouheardoftheterm“generationgap”?Whatdoesitmean?2.Doyouthinkthatdifferentgenerationsoftentendtohavedifferencesintheirviews,interests,habits,andattitudes?Why?3.Haveyoueverexperiencedsuchdifferencesinyourfamily?Warm-upQuestions1.Can

youcalculatethetimeperiodinwhichthestoryisset?Whathappenedduringthisperiodthataffectedeverybody’slifeintheUSandthereforelingeredoninpeople’smemories?2.Whatdoyouthinktheauthoristalkingabouthere?Ishetalkingabouthismother’slifeandtheagingproblemssheisgoingthrough,ortheproblemofthegenerationgap,orboth?3.Whatdoyouthinkoftherelationshipbetweengenerationsinourcountry?Howdoyouthinkthegenerationgapshouldbedealtwith,inlightofthetraditionalChinesevaluesoffilialloveandrespectfortheelderlyandcareandlovefortheyoung,soastoestablishaharmonioussociety?Lead-inText1.Abouttheauthor2.Background

3.Structure4.

Questionstocheckonpre-classwork5.GotothetextInMyDayRussellBakerText1.AbouttheauthorRussellBaker(1925—2019),infullRussellWayneBaker,Americannewspapercolumnist,author,humorist,andpoliticalsatirist,whousedgood-naturedhumortocommentslylyandtrenchantlyonawiderangeofsocialandpoliticalmatters.TextIn1979,hewonthePulitzerPrize,thehighesthonorforAmericanjournalists.ThetextistakenfromhisautobiographyGrowingUp,whichimmediatelybecameabestsellerandreceivedcriticalacclaim.BakerwasbornandraisedinatinyvillageintheVirginiamountains;hisfatherdiedwhenhewasfive,leavinghisschoolteachermotherwiththreechildrentoraise.HowshebroughtherfamilyupandtaughtthemtomakesomethingofthemselvesinthedepthsoftheDepression,isthestorynotonlyofBaker’slifebutofAmerica’s.

WatchthevideoandlearnmoreaboutRussellBaker.2.BackgroundTakenfromBaker’sautobiography,thistextdealswithtwohumanproblems:agingandgenerationgap.Oldageissometimesdescribedromanticallyasthebeautifulsettingsun,throwingitslastbeamsuponthegoldenpond.BertrandRussellcomparedittotheslowdownofamightyriverbeforejoiningthegreatsea.However,thislastphaseofhumanlifeisnotalwaysahappyone.“Oldageisnotforcowards.”Itisbecauseduringthisperiodonegoesthroughmanyphysiologicalandpsychologicalchanges.Hismovementbecomesslow,hishairturnsgray,histeethbegintodrop,hissightandhearingstarttogo.Thingscanactuallygetalotworse.TextTextApartfromtheirphysicalandmentaldeterioration,oldpeoplealsosufferfromloneliness,boredomandlackoflove,likeRussellBaker’smother.Thatiswhytheauthorbelievedthathismother’smindwanderedfreebecauseshewantedtogobacktotheolddayswhenshewasneededandloved,becauseshewantedtorecaptureherhappiness.However,Bakerdidnotunderstandhismothersowellbeforeshebecamesenile,andthisledhimtopondertheweavingofpastandpresentthatflowsthroughallfamilies.Hisregretoverbeing“foreveroutoftouch”withhismothermadehimfeelkeenlytheproblemofgenerationgap.TextThedisconnectionbetweenparentsandchildrenofcourseisnotanewsubject,butinthisarticle,Bakerlooksatthisissuefromboththepointofviewofasonandthepointofviewofafather,thusmakinghisviewsmuchmorebalanced.Unlikesomearticlesinwhichtheoldblametheyoungortheyoungblametheold,thisarticlediscussestheresponsibilitiesofbothgenerations.Hepointsoutthatyoungpeopleshouldunderstandtheimportanceoftheirpast;theyshouldhavemoreinterestinandrespectforwhattheirparentsstandfor—theirlegacy.Ontheotherhand,healsoadvisesoldpeopletoshowunderstandingtoyoungpeople’sgreaterinterestinthefuture,andwarnsthemnottostartlecturingtheyoungalwayswiththeexpression“inmyday.”3.StructureI.Attheageofeighty,mymotherhadabadfall,andhermindbegantowanderfreethroughtime.(paras.1–9)II.Mymotherhadbeenaformidablewomanwhenyoung,determinedandalways“ontherun”.(paras.10–15)III.Igraduallygaveuptryingtoarguemymotherbacktoreality/therealworld.(paras.16–39)1.Shecouldn’trecognizemebutrememberedherbirthday.2.Icametounderstandwhyshedwelledonthedeaddecades.3.Ibegantryingtotravelalongwithherintothepast.IV.Irealizedtherewasadisputeabouttimebetweenmychildrenandme,astherehadbeenbetweenmymotherandme.(paras.40–49)Text4.Questionstocheckonpre-classworkWhatwastheauthor’smotherlikewhenshewasyoung?Whatwerehermostunforgettablecharacteristics?Whathappenedtotheauthor’smotherafterherlastfallattheageofeighty?Whatwerethesymptoms?Aretheproblemstheauthor’smotherencounteredtypicalandinevitable?Doyouthinkit’sagoodideatosendone’sagingparentstoanursinghome?Isthereagenerationgapbetweentheauthorandhismother?Howisitreflectedifyouranswerisyes?Howdoyoulikethisstory?Anycriticisms?TextIn

My

DayRussellBaker1

Attheageofeightymymotherhadherlastbadfall,andafterthathermindwanderedfreethroughtime.Somedaysshewenttoweddingsandfuneralsthathadtakenplacehalfacenturyearlier.OnothersshepresidedoverfamilydinnerscookedonSundayafternoonsforchildrenwhowerenowgraywithage.Throughallthisshelayinbedbutmovedacrosstime,travelingamongthedeaddecadeswithaspeedandeasebeyondthegiftofphysicalscience.2

“Where’sRussell?”sheaskedonedaywhenIcametovisitatthenursinghome.3

“I’mRussell,”Isaid.Text4

Shegazedatthisimprobablyovergrownfigureoutofaninconceivablefutureandpromptlydismissedit.5

“Russell’sonlythisbig,”shesaid,holdingherhand,palmdown,twofeetfromthefloor.ThatdayshewasayoungcountrywifeinthebackyardwithaviewofhazyblueVirginiamountainsbehindtheappleorchard,andIwasastrangeroldenoughtobeherfather.6

EarlyonemorningshephonedmeinNewYork.“Areyoucomingtomyfuneraltoday?”sheasked.7

Itwasanawkwardquestionwithwhichtobeawakened.“Whatareyoutalkingabout,forGod’ssake?”wasthebestreplyIcouldmanage.Text8

“I’mbeingburiedtoday,”shedeclaredbriskly,asthoughannouncinganimportantsocialevent.9

“I’llphoneyouback,”Isaidandhungup,andwhenIdidphonebackshewasallright,althoughshewasn’tallright,ofcourse,andweallknewshewasn’t.10

Shehadalwaysbeenasmallwoman—short,light-boned,delicatelystructured—butnow,underthewhitehospitalsheet,shewasbecomingtiny.Ithoughtofadollwithhuge,fierceeyes.Therehadalwaysbeenafiercenessinher.Itshowedinthatangrychallengingthrustofthechinwhensheissuedanopinion,andagreatoneshehadalwaysbeenforissuingopinions.

Text11“Itellpeopleexactlywhat’sonmymind,”shehadbeenfondofboasting,“whethertheylike

itornot.”12

“It’snotalwaysgoodpolicytotellpeopleexactlywhat’sonyourmind,”Iusedtocautionher.13

“Iftheydon’tlikeit,that’stoobad,”washercustomaryreply,“becausethat’sthewayIam.”14

Andsoshewas,aformidablewoman,determinedtospeakhermind,determinedtohaveherway,determinedtobendthosewhoopposedher.Shehadhurledherselfatlifewithanenergythatmadeherseemalwaysontherun.

Text15Sheranafterchickens,anaxeinherhand,determinedonabeheadingthatwouldputdinnerinthepot.Sheranwhenshemadethebeds,ranwhenshesetthetable.OneThanksgivingsheburnedherselfbadlywhen,runningupfromthecellarevenwiththeceremonialturkey,shetrippedonthestairsandtumbleddown,endingatthebottominthedebrisofgiblets,hotgravy,andbatteredturkey.Lifewascombat,andvictorywasnottothelazy,thetimid,thedrugstorecowboy,themush-mouthafraidtotellpeopleexactlywhatwasonhismind.Sheran.16

Butnowtherunningwasover.ForatimeIcouldnotaccepttheinevitable.AsIsatbyherbed,myimpulsewastoargueherbacktoreality.OnmyfirstvisittothehospitalinBaltimore,sheaskedwhoIwas.Text17

“Russell,”Isaid.18

“Russell’swayoutwest,”sheadvisedme.19“No,I’mrighthere.”20“GuesswhereIcamefromtoday?”washerresponse.21“Where?”22“AllthewayfromNewJersey.”23“No.You’vebeeninthehospitalforthreedays,”Iinsisted.24

Soitwentuntiladoctorcamebytogiveoneofthoseoralquizzesthatmedicalmenapplyinsuchcases.Shefailedcompletely,givingwronganswersornoneatall.Thenasurprise.Text25“Whenisyourbirthday?”heasked.26“November5,1897,”shesaid.Correct.Absolutelycorrect.27“Howdoyourememberthat?”thedoctorasked.28“BecauseIwasbornonGuyFawkesDay.”29“GuyFawkes?”askedthedoctor,“WhoisGuyFawkes?”30SherepliedwitharhymeIhadheardherrecitetimeandagainovertheyears: “PleasetoremembertheFifthofNovember,

Gunpowdertreasonandplot. Iseenoreasonwhygunpowdertreason Shouldeverbeforgot.”Text31ThensheglaredatthisyoungdoctorsoillinformedaboutGuyFawkes’failedschemetoblowKingJamesoffhisthronewithbarrelsofgunpowderin1605.“Youmayknowalotaboutmedicine,butyouobviouslydon’tknowanyhistory,”shesaid.Havingtoldhimexactlywhatwasonhermind,sheleftusagain.32

Thendoctorsdiagnosedahopelesssenilityorhardeningofthearteries.Ithoughtitwasmorecomplicatedthanthat.Fortenyearsormoretheferocitywithwhichshehadonceattackedlifehadbeenturningtoarageagainsttheweakness,theboredom,andtheabsenceoflovethattoomuchagehadbroughther.Now,afterthelastbadfall,sheseemedtohavebrokenchainsthatimprisonedherinalifeshehadcometohateandtoreturntoatimeinhabitedbypeoplewholovedher,atimeinwhichshewasneeded.GraduallyIunderstood.Text33ThreeyearsearlierIhadgonedownfromNewYorktoBaltimore,whereshelived,foroneofmyinfrequentvisitsand,afterwards,hadwrittenherwithsomebanaladvicetolookforthesilverlining,tocountherblessingsinsteadofburdeningotherswithhermiseries.IsupposewhatitreallyamountedtowasathreatthatifshewasnotmorecheerfulduringmyvisitsIwouldnotcometoseeherveryoften.Sonsarecapableofsuchletters.Thisonewaswrittenoutofachildishfaithintheeternalstrengthofparents,ana?vebeliefthatageandwearcouldbeovercomebyaneffortofwill,thatallsheneededwasagoodpeptalktorechargeaflaggingspirit.Text34Shewrotebackinanunusuallycheeryveinintendedtodemonstrate,Isuppose,thatshewasmendingherways.Referringtomyvisit,shewrote:“IfIseemedunhappytoyouattimes,Iam,butthere’sreallynothinganyonecandoaboutit,becauseI’mjustsoverytiredandlonelythatI’lljustgotosleepandforgetit.”Shewasthenseventy-eight.35Nowthreeyearslater,afterthelastbadfall,shehadmanagedtoforgetthefatigueandlonelinessandtorecapturehappiness.IsoonstoppedtryingtoargueherbacktowhatIconsideredtherealworldandtriedtotravelalongwithheronthosefantasticjourneysintothepast.OnedaywhenIarrivedatherbedsideshewasradiant.36

“Feelinggoodtoday,”Isaid.Text37“Whyshouldn’tIfeelgood?”sheasked.“Papa’sgoingtotakemeuptoBaltimoreontheboattoday.”38Atthatmomentshewasayounggirlstandingonawharf,waitingfortheChesapeakeBaysteamerwithherfather,whohadbeendeadsixty-oneyears.WilliamHowardTaftwasintheWhiteHouse,Americawasayoungcountry,andthefuturestretchedbeforeitinbeamsofcrystalsunlight.“ThegreatestcountryonGod’sgreenearth,”herfathermighthavesaid,ifIhadbeenabletostepintomymother’stimemachine.Text39Aboutherfather,mygrandfather,mymother’schildhoodandherpeople,Iknewverylittle.Aworldhadlivedanddied,andthoughitwaspartofmybloodandboneIknewlittlemoreaboutitthanIknewoftheworldofthepharaohs.Itwasuselessnowtoaskforhelpfrommymother.Theorbitsofhermindrarelytouchedpresentinterrogatorsformorethanamoment.40

Sittingatherbedside,foreveroutoftouchwithher,Iwonderedaboutmyownchildren,andchildreningeneral,andaboutthedisconnectionbetweenchildrenandparentsthatpreventsthemfromknowingeachother.Childrenrarelywanttoknowwhotheirparentswerebeforetheyareparents,andwhenagefinallystirstheircuriositythereisnoparentlefttotellthem.Ifaparentdoesliftthecurtainabit,itisoftenonlytostuntheyoungwithsomeexemplarytaleofhowmuchharderlifewasintheolddays.Text41

Ihadbeenguiltyofthiswhenmychildrenweresmallintheearly1960sandlivingtheaffluentlife.Itirritatedmethattheirchildhoodsshouldbe,asIthought,soeasywhenmyownhadbeen,asIthought,sohard.Ihaddevelopedthehabitoflecturingthemontheharshnessoflifeinmyday.42

“Inmydayallwegotfordinnerwasmacaroniandcheese,andweweregladtogetit.”43

“Inmydaywedidn’thaveanytelevision.”44

“Inmyday…”45

“Inmyday…”Text46

Atdinneroneeveningasonhadoffendedmewithaninadequatereportcard,andasIclearedmythroattolecture,hegazedatmewithanexpressionofunutterableresignationandsaid,“Tellmehowitwasinyourday,Dad.”47

Iwasangrywithhimforthat,butangrierwithmyselfforhavingbecomeoneofthoseancientboreswhosehighlyselectivememoriesofthepastbecometransparentlydishonesteventosmallchildren.Itriedtobreakthehabit,butmusthavefailed.Betweenustherewasadisputeabouttime.Helookeduponthetimethathadbeenmyfutureinadisturbingway.Myfuturewashispast,andbeingyoung,hewasindifferenttothepast.Text48

AsIhoveredovermymother’sbedlisteningforsomesignalsfromherchildhood,Irealizedthatthissamedisputehadexistedbetweenherandme.Whenshewasyoung,withlifeaheadofher,Ihadbeenherfutureandresentedit.Instinctively,Iwantedtobreakfree,andceasebeingacreaturedefinedbyhertime.Well,Ihadfinallydonethat,andthenwithmyownchildrenIhadseenmyexcitingfuturebecomingtheirboringpast.49

Thesehopelessend-of-the-linevisitswithmymothermademewishIhadnotthrownoffmyownpastsocarelessly.Weallcomefromthepast,andchildrenoughttoknowwhatitwasthatwentintotheirmaking,toknowthatlifeisabraidedcordofhumanitystretchingupfromtimelonggone,andthatitcannotbedefinedbythespanofasinglejourneyfromdiapertoshroud.

(1,763words)Text我年輕的時(shí)候拉塞爾·貝克1

我母親80歲的時(shí)候，摔了一跤，這最后一跤摔得很厲害。此后她的思緒便穿越時(shí)空，自由遨游了。有時(shí)候，她去參加半個(gè)世紀(jì)之前舉行的婚禮和葬禮。有時(shí)候，她在星期天下午，為現(xiàn)已頭發(fā)花白的子女主持家庭晚宴。她躺在床上進(jìn)行這些活動(dòng)，飛快、自如地在已逝去的歲月里穿越，這些依靠自然科學(xué)可做不到。2

“拉塞爾在哪兒？”有一天我到療養(yǎng)院去看她時(shí)，她這么問(wèn)我。3

“我就是拉塞爾，”我說(shuō)。Text4

她盯著這個(gè)來(lái)自遙遠(yuǎn)未來(lái)、大個(gè)子的人，立即否認(rèn)了我的話。5

“拉塞爾只有這么高，”她一邊說(shuō)，一邊在離地面兩英尺處，手心向下比劃著。那天她是個(gè)年輕的鄉(xiāng)村已婚婦人，站在后院里，看著蘋(píng)果園后面藍(lán)色的弗吉尼亞山脈；而我則是個(gè)論年齡都能當(dāng)她父親的陌生人。6 一天清晨，她給在紐約的我打電話?！敖裉炷銇?lái)參加我的葬禮嗎？”她問(wèn)。7 我被這個(gè)莫名其妙的問(wèn)題弄醒了?！疤炷?，你胡說(shuō)些什么呀？”這是我能給她的最好回應(yīng)。Text8

“今天我就要下葬了，”她輕快地說(shuō)，好似在宣布一件重大的社交活動(dòng)。9 “我過(guò)會(huì)兒給你打過(guò)去，”我說(shuō)完就立即掛斷了電話。當(dāng)我打回去的時(shí)候，她好像正常了。當(dāng)然她不是真的正常了，這點(diǎn)我們都清楚。10 她一輩子體形嬌小——矮個(gè)子，輕骨架，身材嬌弱——現(xiàn)在躺在醫(yī)院白色床單下面，變得更小了，像個(gè)玩具娃娃，眼睛特別大，目光犀利。她身上一直有股不服輸?shù)木髣?。她發(fā)表觀點(diǎn)時(shí)，總是氣鼓鼓地、挑戰(zhàn)性地抬起下巴。這表情充分顯現(xiàn)出這種性格。她一貫勇于發(fā)表自己的看法。Text11

“我都是有什么說(shuō)什么，”她喜歡這樣自夸，“不管別人喜不喜歡?！?2 “把自己的看法如實(shí)告訴他人，不見(jiàn)得總是最好的處事原則，”我以往多次提醒她。13 “他們要是不喜歡，那也沒(méi)辦法，”她一貫如此回答，“因?yàn)檫@是我的處事方式?！?4

這就是她的為人，她是個(gè)令人敬畏、心直口快、一意按自己的方式辦事的人，決意要說(shuō)服與她意見(jiàn)相左的人。對(duì)待生活，她總是全力以赴，看上去總是奔忙不休。Text15

她拿著斧子追趕雞群，一定要宰一只來(lái)做菜。她小跑著整理床鋪，小跑著擺餐桌。有一年的感恩節(jié)，她端著火雞這道節(jié)日大菜，從地下室往上跑的時(shí)候，絆了一跤，在樓梯上摔倒，一直滾到樓梯底部，身上沾滿了火雞內(nèi)臟的碎片、滾燙的肉汁以及摔成碎塊的火雞。她那次嚴(yán)重燙傷了。生活就是戰(zhàn)斗，勝利不屬于懶人，不屬于膽小鬼，不屬于游手好閑的人，也不屬于不敢說(shuō)心里話的人。她不斷地奔跑。16

但是現(xiàn)在，她的奔跑結(jié)束了。有一段時(shí)間，我都無(wú)法接受這事實(shí)。每當(dāng)我坐在她床邊時(shí)，我都本能地想把她勸說(shuō)回現(xiàn)實(shí)。我第一次到巴爾的摩的那家醫(yī)院探視她的時(shí)候，她問(wèn)我是誰(shuí)。Text17

“拉塞爾，”我說(shuō)。18 “拉塞爾遠(yuǎn)在西部，”她糾正我。19 “不，我就在這兒?！?0 “猜猜我今天是從哪兒來(lái)的？”這是她的回答。21 “哪兒來(lái)的？”22 “大老遠(yuǎn)從新澤西來(lái)的?！?3 “不對(duì)，你在這醫(yī)院已經(jīng)有三天了，”我堅(jiān)持說(shuō)。24

對(duì)話就這樣進(jìn)行下去，直到來(lái)了一位醫(yī)生，對(duì)她進(jìn)行了一次醫(yī)務(wù)人員對(duì)這類病人慣用的口頭測(cè)試。她完成得一塌糊涂，要么回答錯(cuò)誤，要么答不上來(lái)。突然有個(gè)問(wèn)答讓我們驚訝萬(wàn)分。Text25

“你的生日是哪天？”醫(yī)生問(wèn)。26 “1897年11月5號(hào)，”她說(shuō)。正確，百分之百正確。27 “你怎么記住這日子的？”醫(yī)生問(wèn)道。28 “因?yàn)槲疑谏w伊·?？怂谷铡！?9 “蓋伊·福克斯？”醫(yī)生問(wèn)道，“誰(shuí)是蓋伊·福克斯？”30

她用這些年來(lái)經(jīng)常背誦的一個(gè)順口溜來(lái)回答：

“請(qǐng)記住11月5號(hào)這個(gè)日子，

那天發(fā)生了火藥叛國(guó)的陰謀大事。

我認(rèn)為那火藥叛國(guó)事件

沒(méi)理由會(huì)被忘記。”Text31

她瞥了那醫(yī)生一眼，他居然連蓋伊·?？怂乖?605年要用成桶的炸藥把詹姆斯國(guó)王轟下王位的未遂計(jì)劃一無(wú)所知?！澳阋苍S有很多醫(yī)學(xué)知識(shí)，可你顯然對(duì)歷史一無(wú)所知，”她說(shuō)。說(shuō)完她想說(shuō)的話之后，她又丟下我們不理不問(wèn)了。32

醫(yī)生們?cè)\斷是“無(wú)可挽救的衰老”，或者“動(dòng)脈硬化”。我認(rèn)為情況要更復(fù)雜。十多年來(lái)，她那與生活抗?fàn)幍拿蛣?，已?jīng)逐漸轉(zhuǎn)化成了對(duì)年邁導(dǎo)致的衰弱、無(wú)聊、缺少他人疼愛(ài)等種種狀況的憤怒。現(xiàn)在，最后狠狠摔了一跤之后，她倒好像是掙脫了將她禁錮在她所痛恨的生活中的鎖鏈，回到從前那個(gè)周圍人都疼愛(ài)她、需要她的年代。我漸漸明白了這一切。Text33

三年前，她住在巴爾的摩，我從紐約去看望她。我并不經(jīng)常去看她，而那次見(jiàn)面后，我給她寫(xiě)了封信，老生常談地勸她盡量尋找生活中高興的事，想想自己幸運(yùn)的地方，不要再嘮嘮叨叨抱怨自己的苦難，讓人為她操心?，F(xiàn)在看來(lái)這番話等于是警告她，如果以后再去看她時(shí)，她還是不高興，我就不會(huì)常去了。兒子是寫(xiě)得出這種信的。寫(xiě)這樣的信是出于孩子對(duì)父母“永恒力量”的愚蠢信任，天真地相信年邁和體衰可以用意志力克服，而一番激勵(lì)打氣的話就能給她漸漸衰退的精神充電。Text34

她用異常高興的語(yǔ)氣給我回了信，我想這是要表現(xiàn)她在努力改正。提起我的那次探視，她寫(xiě)道：“如果你覺(jué)得我有時(shí)看上去不高興，我的確是不高興。不過(guò)這事誰(shuí)都無(wú)能為力，因?yàn)槲姨＞?、太孤單了，我只想睡覺(jué)，忘掉這些?！蹦悄晁?8歲。35 現(xiàn)在，過(guò)了三年，她嚴(yán)重摔傷，倒是真的忘卻了疲憊和孤單，重獲了幸福感。我不再試圖把她拉回到我認(rèn)為真實(shí)的那個(gè)世界，而是盡量隨她一起踏上美妙的旅程，回到過(guò)去的歲月。一天我來(lái)到她床邊時(shí)，她神采奕奕。36 “今天感覺(jué)不錯(cuò)吧，”我說(shuō)。Text37

“難道我不應(yīng)該高興嗎？”她問(wèn)?！鞍职纸裉煲獛易桨蜖柕哪θ?。”38 那時(shí)的她是個(gè)年輕姑娘，站在碼頭上和父親一起等候切薩皮克灣的汽輪——她的父親61年前就去世了。那時(shí)，威廉·霍華德·塔夫脫已入主白宮，美國(guó)還是個(gè)年輕的國(guó)家，前程無(wú)量?！吧系蹌?chuàng)造的綠色地球上最偉大的國(guó)家，”我想她父親可能這樣對(duì)她說(shuō)，假如我能搭乘她的時(shí)光機(jī)的話。Text39

關(guān)于她的父親，也就是我的外祖父，她的童年以及她的親人，我了解很少。一個(gè)世界存在過(guò)，又消失了，盡管我與這個(gè)世界有著莫大的聯(lián)系，但我對(duì)它，就如同對(duì)古埃及法老們所生活的世界那樣，知之甚少。現(xiàn)在再向我母親求助，已為時(shí)過(guò)晚。問(wèn)她問(wèn)題，她的思緒只能在提問(wèn)人身上停留片刻。40 坐在她床邊，近在咫尺，卻永遠(yuǎn)無(wú)法再溝通，此刻我開(kāi)始思考我自己的孩子，所有的孩子，以及阻礙孩子與父母相互了解的因素。孩子很少想了解父母在成為自己的爸媽之前是什么樣的人。當(dāng)自己老了，年齡最終激起他們的好奇心時(shí)，已無(wú)父母來(lái)告訴他們?nèi)魏问铝?。如果有家長(zhǎng)稍稍給孩子講述一點(diǎn)他們過(guò)去的生活，往往都是進(jìn)行道德教育，講他們小時(shí)候生活如何艱難，這使孩子無(wú)言以對(duì)。Text41

我曾對(duì)自己的這種做法感到內(nèi)疚。20世紀(jì)60年代早期，我的子女還小，他們過(guò)著優(yōu)裕的生活。我那時(shí)想，他們的童年如此安逸，而我的童年卻那么艱苦，這使我憤憤不平。因此我養(yǎng)成一個(gè)習(xí)慣，通過(guò)給他們講我小時(shí)候艱辛的生活來(lái)教導(dǎo)他們。42 “我小時(shí)候，我們的正餐就是意大利面條加奶酪，有這些我們就很高興了?！?3 “我小時(shí)候，我們沒(méi)有電視?！?4 “我小時(shí)候……”45 “我小時(shí)候……”Text46

一天晚上吃飯時(shí)，兒子的一張不盡如人意的成績(jī)單惹怒了我。我清了清嗓子，打算教訓(xùn)他。他盯著我，神色難以形容，一副無(wú)可奈何的樣子，“說(shuō)吧，爸爸，說(shuō)說(shuō)你小時(shí)候的事?！?7

我對(duì)他很生氣，不過(guò)我對(duì)自己更生氣，因?yàn)槲乙呀?jīng)成了一個(gè)嘮嘮叨叨、令人厭煩的老古董了，我只記得我想記住的往事，這種不誠(chéng)實(shí)的記憶就連很小的孩子也能看穿。我也曾試圖改掉這個(gè)毛病，但肯定是失敗了。我和他對(duì)時(shí)間的認(rèn)識(shí)有差異。他以一種不安的心態(tài)看待曾經(jīng)是我的未來(lái)的那段時(shí)間。我的未來(lái)是他的過(guò)去。他還小，對(duì)過(guò)去不感興趣。Text48

當(dāng)我待在母親床邊，聽(tīng)她說(shuō)話，想了解些有關(guān)她童年的蛛絲馬跡時(shí)，我認(rèn)識(shí)到我和她之間也存在同樣的差異。她年輕的時(shí)候，未來(lái)的生活等待著她，而那時(shí)我就是她的未來(lái)，但我卻討厭這種狀況。我不自覺(jué)地想擺脫這種狀況，不再按照她的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)生活。我最終實(shí)現(xiàn)了這個(gè)愿望，但是之后從我自己的孩子身上，我看著曾令我興奮不已的未來(lái)成為令他們厭煩的過(guò)去。49

在我母親生命的最后階段，我的這些不抱希望的探視使我由衷地希望自己不曾如此輕率地拋棄過(guò)去。我們所有人都來(lái)自過(guò)去，子女應(yīng)該了解是什么塑造了現(xiàn)在的他們，他們應(yīng)該知道生命是全人類擰成的一股繩，由遠(yuǎn)古時(shí)代延伸至今，它不是一個(gè)從尿布到壽衣的單一旅程。Text

…forchildrenwhowerenowgraywithage....forchildrenwhowerenowoldpeoplewithgrayhair.with:becauseofe.g.1)Hisfacewasbluewithanger.2)Shewasbeamingwithexcitement.3)Herfingerswerenumbwithcold.TextAnalysis

…travelingamongthedeaddecadeswithaspeedandeasebeyondthegiftofphysicalscience....travelingamongthepastdecadessoquicklyandeasilythatnophysicalsciencewouldbeabletomanagetodoit.gift:ability;talente.g.1)Thelittlegirlhasagiftfordrawing.2)Hehasmanynaturalgifts.physicalscience

自然科學(xué)TextAnalysis

nursinghome:

aplacewherepeoplewhoareoldorwhoareunabletotakecareofthemselvescanliveandbetakencareofTextAnalysis

Shegazedatthisimprobablyovergrownfigureoutofaninconceivablefutureandpromptlydismissedit.ShelookedsteadilyatmeandcouldnotrecognizemebecauseIwasmuchtoobigforthesoninhermind.ShesimplycouldnotimaginethedistantfuturewhenherlittleRussellwouldbethattallandbig.Thereforesheimmediatelyputthatthoughtoutofhermind.TextAnalysis

ThatdayshewasayoungcountrywifeinthebackyardwithaviewofhazyblueVirginiamountainsbehindtheappleorchard,andIwasastrangeroldenoughtobeherfather.Thatdayshewasayoungcountrywifeinthebackyardbehindtheappleorchard,fromwhichshecouldseethehazyblueVirginiamountains.Shecouldnotassociatethisstrangeroldenoughtobeherfatherwithhersonwhowasonlyastallastwofeetfromtheflooratthattime.TextAnalysis

ThatdayshewasayoungcountrywifeinthebackyardwithaviewofhazyblueVirginiamountainsbehindtheappleorchard,andIwasastrangeroldenoughtobeherfather.Virginiamountainsbehindtheappleorchard:VirginiaissituatedontheeastcoastoftheU.S.Itisoneofthe13originalstates,andassuch,thenameandthementionofitsmountainsandappleorchardsoftenarousenostalgicfeelingsinAmericans.TextAnalysis

“Areyoucomingtomyfuneraltoday?”sheasked.Thewayshetalkedaboutherownfuneralwasclearlyanindicationthathermindwasgoing.JustamomentagoshemighthavebeenstillayoungcountrywomaninVirginia.Itshowedhowhermindcouldwanderfreeintime.TextAnalysis

Itwasanawkwardquestionwithwhichtobeawakened.Oneexpectedtohearanimportantandurgentmessagewhenheisawakenedsoearlyinthemorning.ButwhatRussellheardwassimplyaquestionwhichwassillyandimpossibletoanswer.awkward:difficult;unpleasant;uncomfortableTextAnalysis

“I’mbeingburiedtoday,”shedeclaredbriskly,asthoughannouncinganimportantsocialevent.“I’mgoingtobeburiedtoday,”shesaidquickly,asifannouncinganimportantsocialevent.Note:thepassivepresentcontinuoustenseisusedtodenoteafutureevent.TextAnalysis

Therehadalwaysbeenafiercenessinher.Whatevershedid,shediditdeterminedly,withgreateffort.TextAnalysis

Itshowedinthatangrychallengingthrustofthechinwhensheissuedanopinion,andagreatoneshehadalwaysbeenforissuingopinions.Thischaractertraitofherswasshownwhensheexpressedanopinion.Shewouldstickoutherchinangrilyanddefiantly.Whenevershehadsomethingtosay,shewouldsayit,neverafraidofspeakinghermind.Trytoturn“andagreatoneshehadalwaysbeenforissuingopinions”intonormalorder.TextAnalysis

“It’snotalwaysgoodpolicytotellpeopleexactlywhat’sonyourmind,”Iusedtocautionher.“It’snotalwayswisetotellpeopleyouropinions,”Iusedtowarnher.policy:anidea,belieforprinciplethatguidesthewayyouliveorbehavee.g.1)Istillthinkhonestyisthebestpolicy.2)Underthecircumstances,silencehasalwaysbeenhispolicy.3)“It’smypolicynottosayanythingtothepress,”saidthepopstar.(sb./sth.)beonone’smind:bethinkingandworryingabout(sb./sth.)e.g.1)Youlooktroubled.Isthereanythingonyourmind?2)Don’tbotherthesalesmanager.He’sgotalotonhismind.3)Finallyhedecidedtospitoutwhatwasreallyonhismind.TextAnalysis

“It’snotalwaysgoodpolicytotellpeopleexactlywhat’sonyourmind,”Iusedtocautionher.(sb./sth.)beonone’smind:bethinkingandworryingabout(sb./sth.)e.g.Youlooktroubled.Isthereanythingonyourmind?Don’tbotherthesalesmanager.He’sgotalotonhismind.Finallyhedecidedtospitoutwhatwasreallyonhismind.TextAnalysis

“Iftheydon’tlikeit,that’stoobad,”washercustomaryreply,“becausethat’sthewayIam.”Iftheydon’tlikeit,that’stoobad,butthereisnothingIcandoaboutitbecausethatismyhabit.Wemustnotthinkthattheauthor’smotherwasreallyapologetic.No,shewasawomanofstrongcharacter.Shewasusedtohavingthingsherownway.Shelikedtosayexactlywhatwasonhermind,andwasproudofit.TextAnalysis

Andsoshewas,aformidablewoman,determinedtospeakhermind,determinedtohaveherway,determinedtobendthosewhoopposedher.soshewas:thatwasthekindofwomanshewasPayattentiontotheuseoftheword“so.”bend:causesb.tosubmitoryieldTextAnalysis

Shehadhurledherselfatlifewithanenergythatmadeherseemalwaysontherun.Whatevershedid(housework,raisingchildren,etc.),shediditwithgreateffortandspeed,sosheseemedtobealwaysrunning.hurl…at:throwat,withalotofforceon:usedtoindicateastateorconditionofsth.ontherun:alwaysbusyorinahurryAlso:ontheincrease;onthedecline;onfireTextAnalysis

Sheranafterchickens,anaxeinherhand,determinedonabeheadingthatwouldputdinnerinthepot.determinedonabeheadingthatwouldputdinnerinthepot:determinedtokillachickenandcookitfordinnerNote:thehumorouseffectachievedbyusingaformalwordlike“beheading”andbydescribingthedramaticsceneofayoungcountrywomanrunningafterchickenswithanaxeinhand.TextAnalysis

…shetrippedonthestairsandtumbleddown,endingatthebottominthedebrisofgiblets,hotgravy,andbatteredturkey.Asshewasrunningupstairswiththeturkey,shestumbled,felldown,andlandedatthebottomofthestairs.Theturkeyflewfromherplattertotheground,withitsgiblets,hotgravyallovertheplace.TextAnalysis

Lifewascombat,andvictorywasnottothelazy,thetimid,thedrugstorecowboy,themush-mouthafraidtotellpeopleexactlywhatwasonhismind.Inthedaysoftheauthor’smother,thePuritanworkethicwasstillverystrong.Lifewasastruggle,afight.Workhaditsmoralvalue.victorywasnotto:victorydidnotbelongtoTextAnalysis

Lifewascombat,andvictorywasnottothelazy,thetimid,thedrugstorecowboy,themush-mouthafraidtotellpeopleexactlywhatwasonhismind.Note:Cowboysarepeopleemployedtolookaftercattle,especiallyonhorseback,inNorthAmerica.Americansstillthinkofcowboystodayashonest,independent,andstrongmen.Thisromanticviewcomesmorefrommoviesandbooksthanfromreallife.Peoplethinkofcowboysaswearingbluejeans,cowboyboots,andaspeciallargehat.Adrugstorecowboyisa