外研選修7課文原文(每模塊4篇齊全)

外研社選修7課文原文（每個模塊4篇）Module1BasketballMichaelJordan–HeadandShouldersAbovetheRest!Duringthe1990s,MichaelJordanwasprobablythebest-knownathleteintheworld.HewasthetopscorerintheNBA,andplayedfortheChicagoBullsfrom1984to1993.Hewasnamedtheirmostvaluedplayerfivetimes.Wearinghisfamousnumber23shirt,MichaelJordanbecamethemostsuccessfulbasketballplayerinthehistoryofthegame.JordanwasborninNewYorkandgrewupinNorthCarolina.HeattendedtheUniversityofNorthCarolinaforayearbeforeleavingtojointheChicagoBulls.Hefinishedhisfirstseason(1984-1985)asoneofthetopscorersintheleague,withanaverageof28.2pointspergame.In1987,Jordanbecameonlythesecondplayertoscoremorethan3,000pointsinaseason.HewasthetopscorerintheNBAforsevenconsecutiveseasons(1987-1993).Duringthistime,theaveragenumberofpointshescoredwasmorethan30pointspergame.Withhim,theBullswontheirfirstNBAchampionshipin1991.Duringthissuccessfulperiodtheywonthetitleagainin1992and1993.JordanwasalsointheUnitedStatesOlympicBasketballTeam,knownas“theDreamTeam”,whichwonthegoldmedalatthe1992OlympicsinBarcelona,Spain.Jordansurprisedeveryonewhenheretiredbeforethe1993-1994season,butherejoinedtheChicagoBullsandwonthreemorechampionshipswiththemfrom1996to2023.heplayedagainfortheWashingtonWizardsbeforefinallyretiringfromsportin2023attheageof40.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.WasWiltChamberlainbetterthanMichaelJordan?Whoknows?Butthereisnodoubtthathedeservesthetitle“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’.”DizzyHeightsofSchoolBasketballBasketballisoneofthesafestsports.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.Module2HighlightsofMySeniorYearHighlightsofMySeniorYearIcanhardlybelieveit,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-schoolActivitiesInAmerica,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.MySchooldaysTheysaythatschooldaysarethehappiestdaysofyourlife,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.TheAmericanArtofCheerleadingWhatisacheerleader?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!Module3LiteratureOliverAsksforMoreTheroominwhichtheboyswerefedwasalargestonehall,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."GreatExpectationsPhilipPirrip,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’LondonDickens’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.CharlesDickensCharlesDickens(1812-1870)wasborninLondon.Hisfatherwasputinprisonbecausehecouldnotpayhisbills,andtwodaysafterhis13thbirthday,Dickensstartedworkinafactory,experiencingrealpoverty.Hewasveryunhappy,butlaterinlife,hewasabletowriteverywellaboutpovertybecausehehadactuallyexperiencedithimself.Dickensalwayshadahugeamountofenergy.Asayoungman,heworkedfornewspapers;andasapoliticaljournalist,hemetallkindsofpeople.Heusedalltheseexperiencesinhiswriting.Dickensstartedwritingnovelsinhisearlythirtiesandbecamesuccessfulalmostimmediately.OliverTwist,hissecondnovel,waspublishedin1838andwashugelysuccessful.Ittoldthestoryofayoungorphanaloneinthedangerous