外研版選修7課文原文

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課文原文

Module1Basketball

MichaelJordan–HeadandShouldersAbovetheRest!

Duringthe1990s,MichaelJordanwasprobablythebest-knownathleteintheworld.HewasthetopscorerintheNBA,andplayedfortheChicagoBullsfrom1984to1993.Hewasnamedtheirmostvaluedplayerfivetimes.Wearinghisfamousnumber23shirt,MichaelJordanbecamethemostsuccessfulbasketballplayerinthehistoryofthegame.

JordanwasborninNewYorkandgrewupinNorthCarolina.HeattendedtheUniversityofNorthCarolinaforayearbeforeleavingtojointheChicagoBulls.Hefinishedhisfirstseason(1984-1985)asoneofthetopscorersintheleague,withanaverageofpointspergame.

In1987,Jordanbecameonlythesecondplayertoscoremorethan3,000pointsinaseason.HewasthetopscorerintheNBAforsevenconsecutiveseasons(1987-1993).Duringthistime,theaveragenumberofpointshescoredwasmorethan30pointspergame.Withhim,theBullswontheirfirstNBAchampionshipin1991.Duringthissuccessfulperiodtheywonthetitleagainin1992and1993.JordanwasalsointheUnitedStatesOlympicBasketballTeam,knownas“theDreamTeam”,whichwonthegoldmedalatthe1992OlympicsinBarcelona,Spain.

Jordansurprisedeveryonewhenheretiredbeforethe1993-1994season,butherejoinedtheChicagoBullsandwonthreemorechampionshipswiththemfrom1996to1998.heplayedagainfortheWashingtonWizardsbeforefinallyretiringfromsportin2003attheageof40.Millionsoffansadmirehisathleticability,motivationandconfidence.TheyhavefantasticstoriestotellaboutMichaelJordan,suchasthetimewhenherescuedtheBullsfromendingagameonatie.Hesteppedtothelineandmadetwofreethrows.Eachtimehethrewtheballstraightthroughthebasket–andeachtimehehadhiseyesclosed.

Offthebasketballcourt,MichaelJordanopenedhisownsteakrestaurantbecausehelovessteaksomuch.HealsofoundsuccessasanactorinthefilmSpaceJamalongsidethefamouscartooncharacterBugsBunny!

Thereisonlyonewordtodescribethebestplayerintheworld–awesome!

WilttheStilt–theTowerofPower!

MichaelJordanwasthesecondplayertoscoremorethan3,000pointsinaseason–butthefirstwasWiltChamberlain.ChamberlainwasborninPhiladelphiaon21stAugust1936.Hewasoneofthe11children,theonlyonewhowasverytall.HisfatherWilliamworkedinashipyardandhismotherOliviawasacleaner.Asachild,Chamberlainhadvarioushealthproblems.Hehadpneumoniaandalmostdiedwhenhewasten.

ChamberlainistheonlyNBAplayerwhoaveragedover50pointspergameforanentireseason.Atonepoint,Chamberlainwassomuchbetterthanalltheotherplayersthattheychangedtherulesofthegametotrytostophim!

ThegiantplayerjoinedtheNBA’sPhiladelphiaWarriorsinthe1959-1960seasonandwasanimmediatesuccess.During14seasonswithfourdifferentteams,Chamberlainwasnamedthemostvaluedplayerintheleaguefourtimes.On2ndMarch1962,hescored100pointsinasinglegame–noonehaseverdonethatsince!ThefinalscorewasWarriors169NewYorkKnicks147!

HeendedhiscareerafterfiveamazingseasonswiththeLosAngelesLakers.Bythetimeheretired,WiltheldmanyNBArecords:hescored50ormorepoints118timesand60ormorepoints32times.

WasWiltChamberlainbetterthanMichaelJordanWhoknowsButthereisnodoubtthathedeservesthetitle“outstandingplayerofhisgeneration”.

IsYaoMingTooNicetoBeaStar

JeffVanGundy,theheadcoachoftheHoustonRockets,hasadream.HewantsYaoMingtobelikeotherplayers.Starplayers,saysGundy,are“selfish”andwanttheballallthetime.“Let’sputitthisway,”hesaid.“Whentheyaskfortheball,theydon’tsay‘please’!”

Yao,however,isaselflessandkindperson.Hehasbeenbroughtupandtrainedinthisway.Itisnotinhisnaturetobe“selfish”and“rude”.

WhenhefirstarrivedintheUS,Yaowasaninstanthitamongbasketballfansnationwide.Theyalllovedthiskind,gentlebutpowerfulgiant.VanGundywantedtobuildhisteamaroundthetalentedChineseplayer.Todothis,hetoldYaotobemoreaggressiveand,ifnecessary,toberudetohisteammates.

“He’sawonderfulguy,hehaseveryphysicalbasketballskillandheputstheteamfirst,”VanGundysaid.“ButIwanthimtobeastar,notjustagreatteamplayer.He’sgottothinkthathe’sthebestplayeroutthere.Thatway,hecandominatethegame.”

“Atfirst,Ididn’treallyunderstandwhatthecoachwanted,”Yaosaid.“ButnowIdo.InChina,everyonegavemetheball,Ididn’thavetoask!Here,Ihavetobealittle‘impolite’!I’mnotquiteusedtoityet.Ifyougivemealittletime,Icangetmoreusedtoit.Ihavetolearntobellittlemore‘selfish’.”

DizzyHeightsofSchoolBasketball

Basketballisoneofthesafestsports.Unlikewrestlingorboxing,it’snotusuallydangerous.Onereasonforthisisthattheplayers’energyispartlydirectedupwards,ata90-degreeangletotheground,andovertheheadsoftheothers.Sothere’slessriskofacollisionbetweentwoplayers.

Inothersports,suchasbaseballandAmericanfootball,theplayer’energymovesparalleltothegroundandtowardstheiropponents,sotheywearhelmetswhichgiveadequateprotectiontotheirheads.

Butalthoughbasketballplayerswearsocksandsneakerswhicharespeciallydesignedtoabsorbenergywhentheyboundintotheair,theywarnootherprotection,justavestandshorts.Ifthereisanabruptchangeofdirectionintheirenergy,fromverticaltohorizontal,suchaswhentheyaccelerateacrossthecourt,bouncingtheball,thereisarealdangerofpersonalinjury.

Forexample,intheKentStateHighSchoolBasketballtournament,ChandlerHighwasplayingStMaryCentralandattheintervalthescorewas50-52.butStMaryhadappointedacaptainwhowasnotatypicalbasketballplayer.Whereaseveryoneelsewastallandslimwithshorthaircuts,JoeJohannsenwasshortandstout,withlonghairandalargebelly.Buthewasreallyfast,andwhenheobtainedcontroloftheball,hecouldmakeacircuitofthecourtandreachtheopposingteam’sboundarywithinseconds.

Anyhow,twelveminutesintothesecondhalf,FrankSackler,theChandlerstarplayer,madeacontroversialpassoverJoe’shead.Joesteppedasideanddippedhisheaddown.Sacklerbouncedoffhimandcommittedafoul.Therefereeinterruptedthematch,andtherewasasuspensionofplay.ButJoewasunhurt,shortthepenalty,andthescorewas88-90.therewerethreeminutestogo.

Joeimmediatelytookpossessionoftheballandran,…andsuddenly80kiloshittheChandlerstar,whohowledloudlyinpainandfell,withhisnosebleedingandacutonhisleftcheek.Foramoment,helayverystill,andtherefereeevencheckedhispulse,butsoonconfirmedhewasOK.ButwhenSacklerstooduphewasdizzy,sotheyputabandageroundhishead,ablanketroundhisshoulders,andcalledanambulancetotakehimtothehospital.Joewasaconsiderateguy,andapologizedasSacklerleft,sniffingandweeping,eitherinpainorinfrustration.

Chandlerscoredwiththepenalty,andtheirteamworkhadwonthematch.ButFrankSacklerstillhasthescaronhisfaceasasouvenirofthetournament.

HowDidTheyStart

HowdidAmericanfootballstart

Football–orsoccer–startedinEngland800yearsago.Thegamewasplayedwitharoundballthatplayerskickedbutcouldnotcarry.Thereweretwoteams,buttherewereoftenahundredplayersoneachteam!

However,in1823,WilliamWebbEllis,apupilatRugbySchoolinEngland,pickeduptheballduringasoccergameandranwithit.TeachersattheschoolwereshockedandangrybutWebbEllis’sschoolmatesenjoyedthisnewgame,whichtheynamedaftertheschool.Eventually,rugbywasplayedwithanovalballthatcouldbebothcarriedandthrown.

RugbywasexportedtotheUnitedStates,changedalotandbecamethesportthatAmericansnowcallfootball.DuringagameofAmericanfootball,theballcanbekicked,thrownorcarried.

Howdidbasketballstart

Basketballwasinventedin1891inagymnasiuminSpringfield,MassachusettsbyDrJamesNaismith,aphysicaleducationteacher.Naismithwantedtocreateagamethatwouldprovideexerciseforanoisyclassthroughtheclodwintermonths.Naismithattachedtwobasketstotwotallpolesateachendofthegymnasiumandgavetheplayersasoccerballandtoldthemtotrytothrowtheballintothebaskets.Naismithlaterwrote13ruleswhicharethebasisofmodernbasketballrules.

Howdidbaseballstart

Theexactoriginofbaseballisunknown,butitisprobablybasedonanoldEnglishgamecalledrounders.IntheUSA,aversionofthegamebecamepopularintheearly19thcenturyandeventually,amancalledAlexanderCartwrightwrotetherulesorbaseballin1845.CartwrightIcalled“thefatherofbaseball”becausethemodernrulesofthegameareverysimilartohisoriginalrules.

Module2HighlightsofMySeniorYear

HighlightsofMySeniorYear

Icanhardlybelieveit,butmyschoollifeisalmostover.Promnighthascomeandgone,andI’vereceivedmyhighschooldiplomaatlast.It’sagoodthingthattheexamsarefinished.Ifeeltooexcitedtothinkclearly.Itseemsstrangetothinkthatinafewdays’timeI’llbewalkingoutoftheschoolgatesforever.ThefirstthingI’mgoingtodoistotakealongvacation!

Meanwhile,Ifindmyselflookingbackatmysenioryear,andthinkingaboutallthewonderfulthingsthathavehappened.I’vedecidedtowritethemdownsothatoneday,yearsfromnow,whenIrereadthem,thememorieswillcomeback.

There’ssomuchtoremember.Oneofthebestthingsaboutthisyearhasbeenworkingasanartseditorforthisnewspaper.I’vesoenjoyeditIlovewriting,andworkingonthispaperismyfirststeptowardsbecomingajournalist,sothishasbeenarealsuccessforme.

SomethingelseI’vegreatlyenjoyedisworkingasapeermediator,someonewhohelpsstudentstosettleproblemsthattheyhavewithotherstudents.Atthestartoftheschoolyear,weweregiventraininginhowtodothis,andit’sclearthatthiskindofworkcanreallyhelppeople.IthinkI’llcontinuetoworkasamediatorwhenIgotocollege.

DuringtheEastervacation,IwentonashortschoolskiingtriptotheRockyMountains.I’vebeenskiingquiteafewtimes,butneverwiththeschool,andsincetwogoodfriendscameonthetrip,wehadgreatfunracingeachotherdowntheskislopes.It’swell-knownthatAmericansarecompetitive,andIdidenjoyitwheneverIwonourraces!

OtherthingsI’mpleasedabout–gettinggoodgradesonmyfinalexams,andreceivingtheseniorprizeforEnglishLiterature.IwasgivenacarbymyparentssoI’vebeenabletodrivetoschool,whichisbrilliant.Andofcourse,I’llneverforgetbeingelectedtothestudentcouncil.Ireallyenjoyedmeetingtheteachersandtellingthemhowwe,thestudents,feelaboutthing,andwhatwethinkshouldhappenintheschool!

Allthesethingshavebeenwonderful.ButIhavetosay,thehighlightoftheyearwastheseniorprom.ForanAmericangirl,it’ssoimportantthatyouhaveagoodtimeattheprom.Well,IdidDaniel,aboyinmyEnglishclass,askedmetogotothepromwithhim,andIwassopleased–I’dbeenhopinghewouldaskme.Ifoundadressthatsuitedmeperfectly,andhadmyhairspeciallydoneonthedayoftheprom.Ittooktwohoursbutitwasworthit,aseveryonetoldmeIlookedveryelegant!Agroupofusrentedanicecartotakeustotheprom.ThefoodwasdeliciousandIatesomuchthatIhadtostopdancingforawhile!Wesharedatablewithsomegoodfriends,andlaughedandtoldjokesallevening.It’sagreatpitythatit’sprobablythelasttimethiswillhappen.

DanielandIdancedmostofthedancestogether.ButthebigsurpriseoftheeveningwaswhenIwaselectedpromqueen!Thiswassounexpected,andIcan’ttellyouhowgoodthismademefeel!Aftertheprom,agroupofusdrovedowntothecoast,andsatonthebeachinourlongdressesanddinnerjackets.Ishallneverforgetwatchingthesunriseoverthesea–itwasunforgettable!Afterwards,wewentandhadanenormousbreakfastinanearbyhotel–itwasaperfectendingtoaperfectschoolyear.

After-schoolActivities

InAmerica,thedevelopmentofsocialskillsisconsideredasimportantasthedevelopmentofintellectualskills.Tohelpstudentsdevelopthesesocialskills,schoolsoffersalargenumberofafter-schoolactivities,inotherwords,activitiesthattakeplaceoutsideclassroomlessons.Whendecidingwhichstudentstoaccept,employersandcollegeslookforstudentswhohaveskillsinseveralareas.Examgradesareveryimportant,butsoaretheafter-schoolactivities.Bytakingpartintheseactivities,studentsshowtheirspecialtalents,theirabilitytolead,andtheirabilitytogetonwithothers.

Competitivesports,forexample,baseball,areprobablythemostpopularofalltheafter-schoolactivities.Thisisbecause,formanyAmericanparents,itisimportantthattheirchildren,particularlyboys,learnhowtocompetesuccessfully.Youngpeopleareencouragedtotakepartinteamsportssuchasfootballandbasketball,sincethesegamesteachtohavethe“winningspirit”.Forsomestudentsandtheirparents,highschoolsportisconsideredmoreimportantthanacademicachievements.

Duringthelongsummerholidays,itisacustomforAmericanchildrentospendseveralweeksatsummercamps.Therearethousandsofcamps,andtheycanbefoundalloverthecountry.Whatthesecampsofferisanopportunitytotakepartinmanydifferentkindsofoutdooractivities,forexample,horseridingandwaterskiing.Olderteenagersaremorelikelytogetsummerjobsorgocampingwithagroupoffriends.Manygobackpackinginthemountainsofthewest.

MySchooldays

Theysaythatschooldaysarethehappiestdaysofyourlife,butnotforme!Myfatherworkedabroad,soIwassenttoaboardingschoolwhenIwasseven.Likemostschoolchildren,Ihadalreadybeentonurseryschool.Icouldrecitethealphabet,andreadsomesimplebooks,butthiswasmyfirstexperienceoftheinstitutionmyparentscalled“bigschool’.Infact,theonlypreparationIhadforthisadventurewaswatchingasmymothersewedmynametagintomyshirts,trousersandwoolensweaters.

Iarrivedwithonesuitcase,myonlyluggageforaterm.IwasshowntothedormitorywhereIwouldsleepwithfiveotherinnocentboys.Thebeddingwasapillow,asheetandathinquilt.Thereweretwowornarmchairs,afewshabbycushions,anelectrickettletoheatwaterfortea,somepostersfordecorationbutnocurtains.Thewashroomhadabasinandabathtub,butnoheating.I’mashamedtoadmitthatIsobbedasIfellasleepthatnight.

Irememberthatmyfirstlessonwasarithmetic.Myfirsttaskwastomultiplysevenbythree.Nooneexplainedwhy.Ittookmeyearstounderstandthegreatermysteryofalgebra,geometry,andconceptssuchascubicmetres,acresandgrams.

WehadadynamicEnglishteacher,abachelorwhohadplentyoftimeforusboysandinspiredmylife-longloveofliterature.Therewasalsoateacherofbotanicalscience,whointroducedmetomypassionforflowersandplants.Wespenthoursstudyingthestructureofleavesunderthemicroscope.

Schoolregulationswerestrict.Beingpunctualforclasseswasessential,noonewasallowedtobelate.Sportwascompulsory,andeveryweekwehadtogoforafive-kilometrerun,wearingjustaT-shirtandapairofshortsevenonfreezingcoldNovemberdays.Weallhadtoattendmorningassembly,everyweekday,exceptforboysofotherfaiths,whowereallowedtostayintheirclassrooms.IwantedtobecomeaCatholicsimplysoIcouldstaywithmybooks!

Buttherewerealsosomanysillyrulestofollow,whichirritatedorevenupsetme.Forexample,everyonehadtopolishtheirshoeseveryday,andnoonewasallowedtrouserswithzippers,onlybuttons!OnSundays,itwascompulsorytowritehome.EverydayIwouldcheckmymailbox,lookingforwardtomymummy’sairmailletter.ButmyparentslivedinAsiaandtomygreatdisappointment,Ionlygotareplyonceafortnight.

Ileftelevenyearslater,withmyschoolleavingcertificate,andascholarshiptostudyatOxfordUniversity.Manypeopletalkabouttheirhappinessatschool,butforme,ateighteen,allIfeltwasasenseofliberation.

TheAmericanArtofCheerleading

Whatisacheerleader

Acheerleaderisamemberofateamthatdancesanddoesgymnasticsbeforeandduringcompetitivegamessuchasbaseball.Theydothisinordertoencouragecrowdstocheertheirsportsteams.Theteamiscalledcheerleadingsquad.CheerleadingonlyexistsinAmerica,andtodayitismostlygirlthatdoit.

Whatisthehistoryofcheerleading

Cheerleadingbeganinallmencollegesinthelatenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturies.Astimepassed,moreandmorecollegesstartedcheerleading,andmorewomenstarteddoingitthanmen.Itwasnotuntilthe1920sthatpompomsbegantoplayanimportantpartincheerleading.Ataboutthesametime,cheerleadersbegantoincludegymnasticsintheirroutines.Bythe1950s,mostAmericanhighschoolshadcheerleadingsquads.In1978,theNationalCheerleadingChampionshipswereshownontelevision,anduniversitiesbeganofferingcoursesincheerleading.Today,cheerleadingcompetitionsareanimportantpartofschoolandcollegelifeandformanysquads,cheerleadingisaveryseriousactivity.Cheerleadingsquads,canbefundatmostathleticevents.

HowdoAmericansfeelaboutcheerleading

Forcheerleaders,theirsportisjustasseriousasbaseballorfootball.However,manyAmericansareamusedbycheerleadingandseeitasratherastupidactivity.Cheerleadersreplythatalotoftrainingisneededtodothedanceandgymroutines.Manygirlstrytobecomecheerleadersbutveryfewareaccepted.Tobeacheerleaderistoplayaveryimportantpartinyourschool.Infact,cheerleadingisconsideredsoimportantinAmericanthatseveralmovieshavebeenmadeaboutit!

Module3Literature

OliverAsksforMore

Theroominwhichtheboyswerefedwasalargestonehall,withalargepotatoneend.Thewarden,helpedbytwowomen,servedthesoupfromthispotatmealtimes.Eachboywasallowedonebowlofsoupandnomore,exceptonspecialholidayswhenhewasgivenanother60gramsofbread.Thebowlsneverneededwashing,astheboyscleanedthemwiththeirspoons,tryingtoeateverybitofsoup.Thisnevertookverylong,asthespoonswerealmostaslargeasthebowls.Whentheyhadcleanedtheirbowlsinthisway,theywouldsitstaringatthepotwitheagereyes,asiftheywantedtoeatit.Boysusuallyhaveexcellentappetites.OliverTwistandhiscompanionsslowlystarvedforthreemonthsuntilfinally,theybecamequitewildwithhunger.

Therewasoneboywhowastallforhisage,andwasnotusedtobeinghungryallthetime,ashisfatherhadkeptasmallcookshop.Thisboytoldhisfriendsthathehadtohaveanotherbowlofsoupeachday.Ifhedidnot,hewasafraidthatonenighthemighteatthesmallyoungboywhosleptnexttohim.Thetallboyhadawild,hungrylookinhiseyeandeveryonebelievedhim.Theboyshadameeting.Theydecidedthatoneofthemshouldwalkuptothewardenaftersupperthateveningandaskformorefood.Theywrotetheirnamesonpiecesofpaperandpickedoneout.ItwasOliverTwistwhowaschosen.

Theeveningarrivedandtheboyswenttotheirplaces.Thewardenstoodbythepotwithhisassistantsinalinebehindhim.Thesoupwasservedanddisappeareddowntheboy'sthroats.Theboyswhisperedtoeachother,andthosenexttoOlivernudgedhim.Oliver,whowasdesperatewithhungerandmisery,rosefromthetableandwalkedtowardthemasterwithhisbowlandspooninhishand.Frightenedbyhisowncourage,hesaid,"pleasesir,iwantsomemore."

Thewardenwasafat,healthyman,buthisfacebecameverypale.Hestaredincompleteastonishmentatthechildandheldontothepotforsupport.Notuntilatleastthirtysecondshadpassed,wasthemanabletospeak."What"hesaidfinally,inaweakvoice.

"Please,sir,"repliedOliver,"iwantsomemore."nosoonerhadtheboyspokenthesewordsthanthewardenhithimontheheadwiththesoupspoon.ThenheseizedOliverarmsandheldhim,whileheshoutedforMr.Bumble.

ThemanagersoftheworkhousewerehavingameetingwhenMrBumblerushedintotheroomingreatexcitement.Speakingtotheleaderofthemeeting,hesaid,"Mr.Limbkins,iamsorry,sir!OliverTwisthasaskedformore!"

Thefacesofeveryoneintheroomshowedcompleteastonishment."Formore!"saidMrLimbkins."Thinkcarefully,MrBumble,andanswermeclearly.DoIunderstandthatheaskedformore,afterhehadeatenhisbowlofsoup"

"Hedid,sir,"repliedBumble.

"NeverhaveIheardanythinglikeit!"saidMrLimbkins.

"Theywillhangthatboy,"saidagentlemaninawhitejacket."iknowthattheywillhanghim."

Nobodydisagreedwiththegentleman'sopinion.Alivelydiscussiontookplace.Oliverwasimmediatelylockedinaroom.Thenextmorninganoticewasputuponthedooroftheworkhouse,offeringarewardtoanybodywhowouldemployOliverTwist.

"Ineverwasmoresureofanythinginmylife,"saidthegentlemaninthewhitejacket,asheknockedatthedoorandreadthenoticethenextmorning."Ineverwasmoresureofanythinginmylife——thatboywillbehanged."

GreatExpectations

PhilipPirrip,knownasPip,isanorphanwholiveswithhissisterandherhusband.ThefamilyispoorandPip’ssisterdoesnottreathimverywell.OnedaytheboyhelpsastarvingconvictcalledAbelMagwitch.MagwitchhasescapedfromprisonbutissooncaughtagainandsenttoAustraliainaprisonship.

Somemonthslater,PipisinvitedtovisitalonelybutwealthyoldladycalledMissHavisham.Atherhouse,PipmeetsandbecomesveryfondofabeautifulgirlcalledEstella,wholivethere.However,Estellaiscoldandcrueltohim,alwaystellinghimthatsheis“better”thanhim.SheisencouragedinthisbyMissHavisham,whosefiancéleftheronherweddingday,andwho,asaresult,hatesallmen.

Someyearslater,Piplearnsthatanunknownpersonintendstogivehimmoneyeverymonth.PipbelievesthatitisMissHavishamwhohasdonethisforhim.Withthismoney,hegoestoLondon,becomeseducatedandisabletoliveverycomfortably.

MagwitchreturnstoEnglandillegally,havingmadealotofmoneyinAustralia.HefindsPipandtellshimthatitishe,Magwitch,whohasbeengivingPipthemoney.Hehasbeendoingthisinordertorepaytheboy’skindness.Sadly,Magwitchiscaughtbythepoliceanddies.WelearnthatEstellaisinfactMagwitch’sdaughter.ShemarriesBentleyDrummle,awealthymanwhotreatsherverybadly,butdieswhenheisquiteyoung.

Meanwhile,PipleavesEnglandandhasasuccessfulcareer.HereturnsandmeetsEstella,whohasatlastlearntthemeaningoflove.Thetwomarry.

Dickens’London

Dickens’castofcharacterslivedinLondon,thelargestandrichestcityintheworld.Butitswealthwasdistributedunfairlyamongthepopulation.Everychapterofhisnovelsdescribesthesights,sounds,andsmellsofthecity,andprovidesasocialcommentaryofLondonlife.

Inthemiddleofthe19thcentury,Londonwasafilthycityforrichandpoorpeoplealike.Althoughoncleardays,theairwasfilledwithsparrowsandseagullsflyinghighabove,moreoftenthesmokingchimneypipescreatedsmogwhichwassostrongthatitchokedtheinhabitants.TheRiverThameswaspolluted,causingdiseaseanddeatheverywhere,andifyoufellin,itwasdangeroustoswallowthewater.

TheEastEndwasLondon’spoorestdistrict,wherechildrenworeragsforclothesandthewomensearchedindustbinsforfood.Fewpeoplecouldeverhopetoattainanacceptablestandardofliving.Manypeoplesufferedfromtheeffectsofpoornutritionandevenstarvationbecauseofalackoffood,yettheirwelfarewasofnoconcerntothetaxpayersofLondon.ShipsfromallpointsofthecompasswoulddropanchorhereatthemainportofLondon.SouthoftheriverliesSouthwark,anotherpoordistrict.TheGeorgeInnwasabusycoachingstopwithfoodandaccommodationfortravelersleavingLondon,andforcarrierstakinggoodsintothecity.

ButsomeLondonershadaccumulatedenormouswealththroughtrade.IntheoldCityofLondonarehousedthemanybanksandcorporationswhichDickensmentions.FurtherwestandoppositeSouthwarkstandsSomersetHouse,whereDickens’fatherworkedforthenavy.Closebyarethelawcourts,wherelawyersandtheirclerks,carryingpilesofpaperwork,wouldhurrytothetrials.Thereweremanysquaresandgardenswithwaterpumpsandfountains,aswellassmartrestaurantsandpubs.

ServantswouldbuyfruitandvegetablesatCoventGardenmarketfortheirrichfamilies,andmaidswouldbuybunchesofflowerstodecoratetheirmistresses’rooms.

TheWestEndisthetheatredistrictwhereDickensfeltathomebecause,surprisingly,hethoughthewouldaccomplishmorewithhisdramathanwithhisnovels.ItisalsotheLondonofgovernment,wherepoliticians,ministers,ambassadorsaswellasmorehumblepedestrianswalkedhomeatnightthroughstreetslitwithgaslanterns.

Londonisverydifferenttoday,andfewpeoplemournthepassingoftheoldcity.ButyoucanstillseemanyofthesightswhichDickenssawandwroteaboutinhisnovels.

CharlesDickens

CharlesDickens(1812-1870)wasborninLondon.Hisfatherwasputinprisonbecausehecouldnotpayhisbills,andtwodaysafterhis13thbirthday,Dickensstartedworkinafactory,experiencingrealpoverty.Hewasveryunhappy,butlaterinlife,hewasabletowriteverywellaboutpovertybecausehehadactuallyexperiencedithimself.

Dickensalwayshadahugeamountofenergy.Asayoungman,heworkedfornewspapers;andasapoliticaljournalist,hemetallkindsofpeople.Heusedalltheseexperiencesinhiswriting.Dickensstartedwritingnovelsinhisearlythirtiesandbecamesuccessfulalmostimmediately.OliverTwist,hissecondnovel,waspublishedin1838andwashuge