大學(xué)英語(yǔ)精讀1-6冊(cè)課文

第一冊(cè)

UNIT1

Wanttoknowhowtoimproveyourgradeswithouthavingtospendmoretimestudying?Sounds

toogoodtobetrue?Well,readon...

HowtoImproveYourStudyHabits

Perhapsyouareanaveragestudentwithaverageintelligence.Youdowellenoughinschool,but

youprobablythinkyouwillneverbeatopstudent.Thisisnotnecessarilythecase,however.You

canreceivebettergradesifyouwantto.Yes,evenstudentsofaverageintelligencecanbetop

studentswithoutadditionalwork.Here'show:

1.Planyourtimecarefully.Makealistofyourweeklytasks.Thenmakeascheduleorchart

ofyourtime.Fillincommittedtimesuchaseating,sleeping,meetings,classes,etc.Thendecide

ongood,regulartimesforstudying.Besuretosetasideenoughtimetocompleteyournormal

readingandworkassignments.Ofcourse,studyingshouldn'toccupyallofthefreelimeonthe

schedule.It*simportanttosetasidetimeforrelaxation,hobbies,andentertainmentaswell.This

weeklyschedulemaynotsolveallofyourproblems,butitwillmakeyoumoreawareofhowyou

spendyourtime.Furthermore,itwillenableyoutoplanyouractivitiessothatyouhaveadequate

timeforbothworkandplay.

2.Findagoodplacetostudy.Chooseoneplaceforyourstudyarea.Itmaybeadeskora

chairathomeorintheschoollibrary,butitshouldbecomfortable,anditshouldnothave

distractions.Whenyoubegintowork,youshouldbeabletoconcentrateonthesubject.

3.Skimbeforeyouread.Thismeanslookingoverapassagequicklybeforeyoubegintoread

itmorecarefully.Asyoupreviewthematerial,yougetsomeideaofthecontentandhowitis

organized.Laterwhenyoubegintoreadyouwillrecognizelessimportantmaterialandyoumay

skipsomeoftheseportions.Skimminghelpsdoubleyourreadingspeedandimprovesyour

comprehensionaswell.

4.Makegooduseofyourtimeinclass.Listeningtowhattheteachersaysinclassmeansless

worklater.Sitwhereyoucanseeandhearwell.Takenotestohelpyourememberwhattheteacher

says.

5.Studyregularly.Gooveryournotesassoonasyoucanafterclass.Reviewimportant

pointsmentionedinclassaswellaspointsyouremainconfusedabout.Readaboutthesepointsin

yourtextbook.Ifyouknowwhattheteacherwilldiscussthenextday,skimandreadthatmaterial

too.Thiswillhelpyouunderstandthenextclass.Ifyoureviewyournotesandtextbookregularly,

thematerialwillbecomemoremeaningfulandyouwillrememberitlonger.Regularreviewleads

toimprovedperformanceontest.

6.Developagoodattitudeabouttests.Thepurposeofatestistoshowwhatyouhavelearned

aboutasubject.Theworldwon'tendifyoudon'tpassatest,sodon'tworryexcessivelyabouta

singletest.Testsprovidegrades,buttheyalsoletyouknowwhatyouneedtospendmoretime

studying,andtheyhelpmakeyourknowledgepermanent.

Thereareothertechniquesthatmighthelpyouwithyourstudying.Onlyafewhavebeen

mentionedhere.Youwillprobablydiscovermanyothersafteryouhavetriedthese.Talkwithyour

classmatesabouttheirstudytechniques.Sharewiththemsomeofthetechniquesyouhavefound

tobehelpful.Improvingyourstudyhabitswillimproveyourgrades.

UNIT2

TEXT

Atsixty-fiveFrancisChichestersetouttosailsingle-handedroundtheworld.Thisisthestoryof

thatadventure.

SailingRoundtheWorld

Beforehesailedroundtheworldsingle-handed,FrancisChichesterhadalreadysurprisedhis

friendsseveraltimes.Hehadtriedtoflyroundtheworldbutfailed.Thatwasin1931.

Theyearspassed.Hegaveupflyingandbegansailing.Heenjoyeditgreatly.Chichesterwas

already58yearsoldwhenhewonthefirstsolotransatlanticsailingrace.Hisolddreamofgoing

roundtheworldcameback,butthistimehewouldsail.Hisfriendsanddoctorsdidnotthinkhe

coulddoit,ashehadlungcancer.ButChichesterwasdeterminedtocarryouthisplan.InAugust,

1963,attheageofnearlysixty-five,anagewhenmanymenretire,hebeganthegreatestvoyage

ofhislife.Soon,hewasawayinthisnew16-metreboat,GipsyMoth.

Chichesterfollowedtherouteofthegreatnineteenthcenturyclipperships.Buttheclippers

hadhadplentyofcrew.Chicheaterdiditallbyhimself,evenafterthemainsteeringdevicehad

beendamagedbygales.Chichestercovered14,100milesbeforestoppinginSydney,Australia.

Thiswasmorethantwicethedistanceanyonehadpreviouslysailedalone.

HearrivedinAustraliaon12December,just107daysoutfromEngland.Hereceiveda

warmwelcomefromtheAustraliansandfromhisfamilywhohadflowntheretomeethim.On

shore,Chichestercouldnotwalkwithouthelp.Everybodysaidthesamething:hehaddone

enough;hemustnotgoanyfurther.Buthedidnotlisten.

AfterrestinginSydneyforafewweeks,Chichestersetoffoncemoreinspiteofhisfriends1

attemptstodissuadehim.Thesecondhalfofhisvoyagewasbyfarthemoredangerouspart,

duringwhichhesailedroundthetreacherousCapeHorn.

On29JanuaryheleftAustralia.Themextnight,theblackesthehadeverknown,thesea

becamesoroughthattheboatalmostturnedover.Food,clothes,andbrokenglasswereallmixed

together.Fortunately,bedandwenttosleep.Whenhewokeup,theseahadbecomecalmthe

nearestpersonhecouldcontactbyradio,unlesstherewasashipnearby,Wildbeonanisland885

milesaway.

AftersucceedinginsailingroundCapeHorn,Chichestersentthefollowiingradiomessageto

London:'*IfeelasifIhadwakenedfromanightmare.Wildhorsescouldnotdragmedownto

CapeHornandthatsinisterSouthernOceanagain."

Juatbefore9o'clockonSundayevening28May,1967,heaeeivedbackinEngland,wherea

quarterofamillionpeoplewerewaitingtowelcomehim.QueehElizabethIIknigthedhimwith

theveryswordthatQueenElizabethIhadsailedroundtheworldforthefirsttime.Thewhole

voyagefromEnglandandbackhadcovered28,500miles.Ithadtakenhimninemonths,of

whichthesailingtimewas226days.Hehaddonewhathewantedtoaccomplish.

Likemanyotheradventurers,Chichesterhadexperiencedfearandconqueredit.Indoingso,

hehadundoubtedlylearntsomethingabouthimself.Moreover,inthemodernagewhenhuman

beingsdependsomuchonmachines,hehadgivenmenthroughouttheworldnewpride.

UNIT3

TEXT

Theysaythatbloodisthickerthanwater,thatourrelativesaremoreimportanttousthanothers.

Everyonewassokindtotheoldladyonherbirthday.Surelyherdaughterwouldmakeaneven

biggerefforttopleasehe?

ThePresent

Itwastheoldlady'sbirthday.

Shegotupearlytobereadyforthepost.Fromthesecondfloorflatshecouldseethe

postmanwhenhecamedownthestreet,andthelittleboyfromthegroundfloorbroughtupher

lettersontherareoccasionswhenanythingcame.

Todayshewassurethewouldbesomething.Myrawouldn'tforgethermother'sbirthday,

evenifsheseldomwroteatothertimes.OfcourseMyrawasbusy.Herhusbandhadbeenmade

Mayor,andMyraherselfhadgotamedalforherworktheaged.

TheoldladywasproudofMyra,butEnidwasthedaughtersheloved.Enidhadnever

married,buthadseemedcontenttolivewithhermother,andteachinaprimaryschoolroundthe

comer.

Oneevening,however,Enidsaid,"I'vearrangedforMrs.Morrisontolookafteryoufora

fewdays,Mother.TomorrowIhavetogointohospital—justaminoroperation,I'llsoonbehome."

Inthemorningshewent,butnevercameback—shediedontheoperatingtable.Myracameto

thefuneral,andinherefficientwayarrangedforMrs.Morrisontocomeinandlightthefireand

givetheoldladyherbreakfast.

Twoyearsagothatwas,andsincethenMyrahadbeentoseehermotherthreetimes,buther

husbandnever.

Theoldladywaseighttoday.Shehadputonherbestdress.Perhaps-perhapsMyramight

come.Afterall,eightywasaspecialbirthday,anotherdecadelinedorenduredjustasyouchoseto

lookatit.

EvenifMyradidnotcome,shewouldsendapresent.Theoldladywassureofthat.Two

spotsofcolourbrightenedhercheeks.Shewasexcited—likeachild.Shewouldenjoyherday.

YesterdayMrs.Morrisonhadgiventheflatanextraclean,andtodayshehadbroughtacard

andabunchofmarigoldswhenshecametodothebreakfast.Mrs.Grantdownstairshadmadea

cake,andintheafternoonshewasgoingdowntheretotea.Thelittleboy,Johnnie,hadbeenup

withapacketofmints,andsaidhewouldn'tgoouttoplayuntiltheposthadcome.

"Iguessyou'llgetlotsandlotsofpresents/hesaid,nIdidlastwerewhenIwassix."

Whatwouldshelike?Apairofslippersperhaps.Oranewcardigan.Acardiganwouldbelovely.

Blue'ssuchaprettycolour.Jimhadalwayslikedherinblue.Oratablelamp.Orabook,atravel

book,withpictures,oralittleclock,withclearblacknumbers.Somanylovelythings.

Shestoodbythewindow,watching.Thepostmanturnedroundthecorneronhisbicycle.Her

heartbeatfast.Johnniehadseenhimtooandrantothegate.

Thenclatter,clatterupthestairs.Johnnieknockedatherdoor.

“Granny,granny,Mheshouted,'Tvegotyourpost."

Hegaveherfourenvelopes.Threewereunsealedcardsfromoldfriends.Thefourthwas

sealed,inMyra'swriting.Theoldladyfeltapaegofdisappointment.

"Noparcel,Johnnie?"

"No,granny.*'

Maybetheparcelwastoolargetocomebyletterpost.Thatwasit.Itwouldcomelaterby

parcelpost.Shemustbepatient.

Almostreluctantlyshetoretheenvelopeopen.Foldedinthecardwasapieceofpaper.

WrittenonthecardwasamessageundertheprintedHappyBirthday-Buyyourselfsomething

nicewiththecheque,MyraandHarold.

Thechequeflutteredtothefloorlikeabirdwithabrokenwing.Slowlytheoldladystooped

topickitup.Herpresent,herlovelypresent.Withtremblingfingersshetoreitintolittlebits.

NEWWORDS

UNIT4

TEXT

ManypeopleintheUnitedStatesspendmostoftheirfreetimewatchingtelevision.Certainly,

therearemanyworthwhileprogramsontelevision,includingnews,educationalprogramsfor

children,programsoncurrentsocialproblems,plays,movies,concerts,andsoon.Nevertheless,

perhapspeopleshouldnotbespendingsomuchoftheirtimeinfrontoftheTV.MrMayer

imagineswhatwemightdoifwewereforcedtofindotheractivities.

TurningoffTV:aQuietHour

Iwouldliketoproposethatforsixtytoninetyminuteseachevening,rightaftertheearly

eveningnews,alltelevisionbroadcastingintheUnitedStatesbeprohibitedbylaw.

Letustakeaserious,reasonablelookatwhattheresultsbeifsuchaproposalwereaccepted.

Familiesmightusethetimeforarealfamilyhour.WithoutthedistractionofTV,theymightsit

aroundtogetherafterdinnerandactuallytalktooneanother.Itiswellknownthatmanyofour

problems—everything,infact,fromthegenerationgaptothehighdivorceratetosomeformsof

mentalillness—arecausedatleastinpartbyfailuretocommunicate.Wedonottelleachother

whatisdisturbingus.Theresultisemotionaldifficultyofonekindoranother.Byusingthequiet

familyhourtodiscussourproblems,wemightgettoknoweachotherbetter,andtolikeeach

otherbetter.

Oneveningswhensuchtalkisunnecessary,familiescouldrediscovermoreactivepastimes.

FreedfromTV,forcedtofindtheirownactivities,theymighttakearidetogethertowatchthe

sunset.Ortheymighttakeawalktogether(rememberfeet?)andseetheneighborhoodwithfresh,

neweyes.

WithfreetimeandnoTV,childrenandadultsmightrediscoverreading.Thereismore

entertainmentinagoodbookthaninamonthoftypicalTVprogramming.Educatorsreportthat

thegenerationgrowingupwithtelevisioncanbarelywriteanEnglishsentence,evenatthecollege

level.Writingisoftenlearnedfromreading.Amoreliteratenewgenerationcouldbeaproductof

thequiethour.

Adifferentformofreadingmightalsobedone,asitwasinthepast:readingaloud.Few

pastimesbringafamilyclosertogetherthangatheringaroundandlisteningtomotherorfather

readagoodstory.Thequiethourcouldbecomethestoryhour.Whenthequiethourends,theTV

networksmightevenbeforcedtocomeupwithbettershowsinordertogetusbackfromour

newlydiscoveredactivities.

Atfirstglance,theideaofanhourwithoutTVseemsradical.Whatwillparentsdowithout

theelectronicbaby-sitter?Howwillwespendthetime?Butitisnotradicalatall.Ithasbeenonly

twenty-fiveyearssincetelevisioncametocontrolAmericanfreetime.Thoseofusthirty-fiveand

oldercanrememberchildhoodswithouttelevision,spentpartlywithradio-whichatleast

involvedthelistener'simagination—butalsowithreading,learning,talking,playinggames,

inventingnewactivities.Itwasn'tthatdifficult.Honest.Thetruthiswehadaball.

UNIT5

TEXT

AmiserableandmerryChristmas?Howcoulditbe?

AMiserable,MerryChristmas

Christmaswascoming.Iwantedapony.Tomakesurethatmyparentsunderstood,Ideclared

thatIwantednotingelse.

"Nothingbutapony?"myfatherasked.

"Nothing,"Isaid.

"Notevenapairofhighboots?,1

Thatwashard.Ididwantboots,butIstucktothepony."No,notevenboots.'*

"Norcandy?Thereoughttobesomethingtofillyourstockingwith,andSantaClauscan'tput

aponyintoastocking,"

Thatwastrue,andhecouldn'tleadaponydownthechimneyeither.Butno."AllIwantisa

pony,'*Isaid."IfIcan'thaveapony,givemenothing,nothing."

OnChristmasEveIhungupmystockingalongwithmysisters.

ThenextmorningmysistersandIwokeupatsix.Thenweraceddownstairstothefireplace.

Andtheretheywere,thegifts,allsortsofwonderfulthings,mixed-uppilesofpresents.Onlymy

stockingwasempty;ithunglimp;notathinginit;andunderandaroundit-nothing.Mysisters

hadkneltdown,eachbyherpileofgifts;theywerecryingwithdelight,tilltheylookedupand

sawmestandingtherelookingsomiserable.Theycameovertomeandfeltmystocking:nothing.

Idon'trememberwhetherIcriedatthatmoment,butmysistersdid.Theyranwithmeback

tomybed,andthereweallcriedtillIbecameindignant.Thathelpedsome.Igotup,dressed,and

drivingmysistersaway,Iwentoutaloneintothestable,andthere,allbymyself,Iwept.My

mothercameouttomeandshetriedtocomfortme.ButIwantednocomfort.Sheleftmeand

wentonintothehousewithshaipwordsformyfather.

Mysisterscametome,andIwasrude.Iranawayfromthem.Iwentaroundtothefrontof

thehouse,satdownonthesteps,and,thecryingover,Iached.Iwaswronged,Iwashurt.Andmy

fathermusthavebeenhurt,too,alittle.1sawhimlookingoutofthewindow.Hewaswatching

meorsomethingforanhourortwo,drawingbackthecurtainsolittlelestIcatchhim,butIsaw

hisface,andIthinkIcanseenowtheanxietyupononit,theworriedimpatience.

Afteranhourortwo,Icaughtsightofamanridingaponydownthestreet,aponyanda

brand-newsaddle;themostbeautifulsaddleIeversaw,anditwasaboy'ssaddle.Andthepony!

Ashedrewnear,Isawthattheponywasreallyasmallhorse,withablackmaneandtail,andone

whitefootandawhitestaronhisforehead.Forsuchahorseasthat1wouldhavegivenanything.

Butthemancamealong,readingthenumbersonthehouses,and,asmyhopes-my

impossiblehopes-rose,helookedatourdoorandpassedby,heandthepony,andthesaddle.

Toomuch,Ifelluponthestepsandbrokeintotears.SuddenlyIheardavoice.

“Say,kid,"itsaid,"doyouknowaboynamedLennieSteffens?,1

Ilookedup.Itwasthemanonthepony,backagain.

"Yes,"/splutteredthroughmytears."That'sme."

“Well,”hesaid,uthenthisisyourhorse.I'vebeenlookingalloverforyouandyourhouse.

Whydon'tyouputyournumberwhereitcanbeseen?1'

“GetdownJIsaid,runningouttohim.Iwantedtoride.

Hewentonsayingsomethingabout"oughttohavegothereatseveno'clock,but-"

Ihardlyheard,Icouldscarcelywait.Iwassohappy,sothrilled.Irodeoffupthestreet.Such

abeautifulpony.Andmine!AfterawhileIturnedandtrottedbacktothestable.Therewasthe

family,father,mother,sisters,allworkingforme,allhappy.Theyhadbeenputtinginplacethe

toolsofmynewbusiness:currycomb,brush,pitchfork—everything,andtherewashayintheloft.

ButthatChristmas,whichmyfatherhadplannedsocarefully,wasitthebestortheworstI

everknew?Heoftenaskedmethat;Inevercouldanswerasaboy.Ithinknowthatitwasboth.It

coveredthewholedistancefrombroken-heartedmiserytoburstinghappiness—toofast,A

grown-upcouldhardlyhavestoodit.

UNIT6

TEXT

Sansetouttoimproveefficiencyattheshirtfactorybut,aswefindoutlaterinthisunit,hisplans

turnedoutnotquiteashehadexpected.

SamAdams,IndustrialEngineer

IfyouaskmymotherhowIhappenedtobecomeanindustrialengineer,she'lltellyouthatI

havealwaysbeenone.

ShemeansthatIhavealwayswantedeverythingtobewellorganizedandneat.WhenIwas

stillinelementaryschool,Ilikedtokeepmysocksintheupperleft-handdrawerofmybureau,

myunderwearintheupperrightdrawer,shirtsinthemiddledrawer,andpants,neatlyfolded,in

thebottomdrawer.

Infact,Iwastheefficiencyexpertforthewholefamily.Iusedtoorganizemyfather'stools,

mymother'skitchenutensils,mysister'sboyfriends.

Ineededtobeefficient.Iwantedtobewellorganized.Forme,therewasaplacefor

everythingandeverythingwasalwaysinitsplace.Thesequalitiesgavemeagoodfoundationfor

acareerinindustrialengineering.

Unfortunately,IwasalsoabitbossyandIwasn'taverygoodlistener.You'llseewhatImean

whenItellyouaboutthefirstprojectIeverdidafterIfinishedmybachelor'sdegreeatthe

university.

AftergraduationIreturnedhometomysmalltowninIndiana.Ididn'thaveajobyet.Mr.

Hobbs,afriendofmyfather's,ownedasmallshirtfactoryintown.Withinthepastfiveyearsit

hadgrownfromtwentytoeightyworkers.Mr.Hobbswasworriedthathisplantwasgettingtoo

bigandinefficient,soheaskedmetocomeinonashort-termbasisasaconsultant.

Iwenttotheplantandspentaboutaweeklookingaroundandmakingnotes.Iwasreally

amazedatwhatIsaw.

Mostcuriousofall,therewasnoqualitycontrolwhatsoever.Nooneinspectedthefinal

productofthefactory.Asaresultsomeoftheshirtsthatwereputinboxesforshipmentwere

missingoneortwobuttons,thecollar,evenasleevesometimes!

Theworkingconditionswerepoor.Thetableswheretheworkerssatwereveryhighand

uncomfortable.Exceptforahalfhouratlunchtime,therewerenobreaksinthedaytorelievethe

boringwork.Therewasnomusic.Thewallsoftheworkroomswereadullgraycolor.Iwas

amazedthattheworkershadn'tgoneonstrike.

Furthermore,theworkflowwasirregular.Therewasoneespeciallyabsent-mindedyoung

manintheassemblylinewhosewedonbuttons.AfterawhileIrecognizedhimas"BigJim,"who

usedtositbehindmeinmathclassinhighschool.Hewasveryslowandalltheshiftswereheld

upathisposition.Workersbeyondhiminlineonhisshifthadtowaitwithnothingtodo;

therefore,agreatdealoftimeandefficiencywerelostasBigJimdaydreamedwhileheworked.

AllweekIwonderedwhyhewasn'tfired.

AfterImadeobservationsforaweek,Mr.Hobbsaskedmeforanoralreportofmyfindings.

Icoveredmymajorpointsbytellinghimthefollowing:

"Ifyouhaveaqualitycontrolinspection,youwillgreatlyimproveyourfinishedproduct."

“Iftheassemblylineisredesigned,asmoothworkflowcanbeachievedandtimeandenergy

canbesaved.*'

"Ifyoudecreasetheheightoftheworktables,themachineoperatorswillworkmore

comfortably.0

"Ifthemanagementprovidespleasantbackgroundmusicandbeautifiesthedullsetting,the

factorywillbemuchmoreproductive.”

"Iftheworkershaveafifteen-minutecoffeebreakinthemorningandafternoon,theywillbe

moreefficient.1'

"Ifexcellentworkresultsinfrequentpayincreasesorpromotions,theworkerswillhave

greaterincentivetoproduce."

Mr.Hobbsthankedmeforthisreportandtoldmehewouldtalkovermysuggestionswithhis

brother,theco-ownerandmanagerofthefactory.HWe'reinterestedinprogresshere,"hesaid.MWe

wanttokeepupwiththetimes."

Healsogavemeacheckfor$100andaboxofshirtswithhiscompliments.

TheSampler

Inacertainstorewheretheysellpuddings,anumberofthesedeliciousthingsarelaidoutin

arowduringtheChristmasseason.Hereyoumayselecttheonewhichismosttoyourtaste,and

youareevenallowedtosamplethembeforecomingtoadecision.

Ihaveoftenwonderedwhethersomepeople,whohadnointentionofmakingapurchase,

wouldtakeadvantageofthisprivilege.OnedayIaskedthisquestionoftheshopgirl,andI

learneditwasindeedthecase.

“Nowthere'soneoldgentleman,forinstance,"shetoldme,"hecomesherealmostevery

weekandsampleseachoneofthepuddings,thoughheneverbuysanything,andIsuspecthe

neverwill.Irememberhimfromlastyearbeforethat,too.Well,lethimcomeifhewantsit,and

welcometoit.Andwhat'smore,Ihopetherearealotmorestoreswherehecangoandgethis

share.Helooksasifheneededitallright,andIsupposetheycanaffordit."

Shewasstillspeakingwhenanelderlygentlemanlimpeduptothecounterandbegan

lookingcloselyattherowofpuddingswithgreatinterest.

“Why,that'stheverygentlemanI'vebeentellingyouabout/whisperedtheshopgirl.'1Just

watchhimnow."Andthenturningtohim:"Wouldyouliketosamplethem,sir?Here'sspoonfor

youtouse."

Theelderlygentleman,whowaspoorlybutneatlydressed,acceptedthespoonandbegan

eagerlytosampleoneafteranotherofthepuddings,onlybrakingoffoccasionallytowipehisred

eyeswithalargetornhandkerchief.

"Thisisquitegood."

''Thisisnotbadeither,butalittletooheavy."

Allthetimeitwasquiteevidentthathesincerelybelievedthathemighteventuallybuyone

ofthesepuddings,and1ampositivethathedidnotforamomentfeelthathewasinanyway

cheatingthestore.Pooroldchap!Probablyhehadcomedownintheworldandthissamplingwas

allthatwaslefthimfromthetimewhenhecouldaffordtocomeandselecthisfavoritepudding.

Amidstthecrowdofhappy,prosperouslookingChristmasshoppers,thelittleblackfigureof

theoldmanseemedpitifulandoutofplace,andinaburstofbenevolence,Iwentuptohimand

said:

'*Pardonme,sir,willyoudomeafavor?Letmepurchaseyouoneofthesepuddings.It

wouldgivemesuchpleasure."

Hejumpedbackasifhehadbeenstung,andthebloodrushedintohiswrinkledface.

''Excuseme,"hesaid,withmoredignitythanIwouldhavethoughtpossibleconsideringhis

appearance,"IdonotbelieveIhavethepleasureofknowingyou.Undoubtedlyyouhavemistaken

meforsomeoneelse."Andwithaquickdecisionheturnedtotheshopgirlandsaidinaloud

voice,"Kindlypackmeupthisonehere.Iwilltakeitwithme."Hepointedatoneofthelargest

andmostexpensiveofthepuddings.

Thegirltookdownthepuddingfromitsstandandstartedtomakeaparcelofit,whilehe

pulledoutawornlittleblackpocketbookandbegancountingoutshillingsandpenniesontothe

counter.Tosavehis"honour1*hehadbeenforcedintoapurchasewhichhecouldnotpossibly

afford.HowIlongedforthepowertounsaymytactlesswords!Itwastoolatethough,andIfelt

thatthekindestthingIcoulddonowwouldbewalkaway.

"Youpayatthedesk,"theshopgirlwastellinghim,buthedidnotseemtounderstandand

kepttryingtoputthecoinsintoherhand.AndthatwasthelastIsawortheoldman.Nowhecan

nevergotheretosamplepuddinganymore.

NEWWORDS

UNIT8

TEXT

Ayoungboyfacestheimpossibletaskoftryingtosoftentheblowoftragicmews.

YouGoYourWay,TilGoMine

ThemessengergotoffhisbicycleinfrontofthehouseofMrs.RosaSandoval.Hewenttothe

doorandknockedgently.Heknewalmostimmediatelythatsomeonewasinsidethehouse.He

couldnothearanything,buthewassuretheknockwasbringingsomeonetothedoorandhewas

mosteagertoseewhothispersonwouldbe-hiswomannamedRosaSandovalwhowasnowto

heatofmurderintheworldandtofeelitinherself.Thedoorwasnotalongtimeopening,but

therewasnohurryinthewayitmovedonitshinges.Themovementofthedoorwasasif,

whoevershewas,sheandnothingintheworldtofear.Thenthedoorwasopen,andthereshewas.

ToHomertheMexicanwomanwasbeautiful.Hecouldseethatshehadbeenpatientallher

life,sothatnow,afteryearsofit,herlipsweresetinagentleandsaintlysmile.Butlikeallpeople

whoneverreceivetelegramstheappearanceofamessengeratthefrontdoorisfullofterrible

implication.HomerknewthatMrs.RosaSandovalwasshockedtoseehim.Herfirstwordwasthe

firstwordofallsuiprise.Shesaid"Oh,"asifinsteadofamessengershehadthoughtofopening

thedoortosomeoneshehadknowalongtimeandwouldbepleasedtositdownwith.Beforeshe

spokeagainshestudiedHomer'seyesandHomerKnewthatsheknewthemessagewasnota

welcomeone.

"Youhaveatelegram?'1shesaid.

Itwasn'tHomer'sfault.Hisworkwastodelivertelegrams.Evenso,itseemedtohimthathe

waspartofthewholemistake.Hefeltawkwardandalmostasifhealonewereresponsiblefor

whathadhappened.Atthesametimehewantedtocomerightoutandsay,"Fmonlyamessenger,

Mrs.Sandoval,FmverysorryImustbringyouatelegramlikethis,butitisonlybecauseitismy

worktodoso.”

"Whoisitfor?MtheMexicanwomansaid.

"Mrs.RosaSandoval,1129GStreet."Homersaid.HeextendedthetelegramtotheMexican

woman,