最新学术英语读写教程(上)Teachers27 Book

Section One Reading and Writing Narrative Stories

Unit 1 Love Stories

Text A Appointment with Love

Language Points

1.Six minutes to six, said the great round clock over the information booth in Grand

Central Station. (Para. 1)

Meaning: The great round clock over the information booth in Grand Central Station indicated that it was six minutes to six.

said: to give particular information or instructions

Example: The notice said “keep out”.

2.…his eyes narrowed to note the exact time. (Para.1)

3.Meaning: He narrowed his eyes, in order to take a closer look at the exact time.

4.note: to notice or pay careful attention to something

5.Example: Please note that the office will be closed on Sunday.

6.…sustained him unfailingly (Para.1)

Meaning: (The woman’s written words) always supported him.

7.He placed himself as close as he could to the information booth, just beyond the

ring of people besieging the clerks. (Para.2)

Meaning: He tried his best to get closer to the information booth, just at the edge of a circle of people surrounding the clerks.

8.His face grew sharp. (Para.5)

Meaning: His face gradually showed a sign of nervousness and vigilance.

9.He had got hold of a New York City telephone book and found her address.

(Para.7)

Meaning: He had found a New York City telephone book and got her address on it.

get hold of something: to find something that you want or need

Example: It is almost impossible to get hold of tickets for the concert.

10.Next day he had been shipped out, but they had gone on writing. (Para.7)

Meaning:Next day he had left the country by boat, but they had continued to write to each other.

ship out: to leave a country by boat

Example: He told Linda he was shipping out in two days.

11.I’d always be haunted by the feeling that you had been taking a chance o n just

that, … (Para.9)

Meaning: The thought that you had decided to write to me only because I was beautiful would continuously bother me.

take a chance (on something): to gamble that something good might happen or that someone might do well; to take a risk that something would go wrong or that someone would do badly

Example: They took a chance on the weather and planned to have the party outside.

12.…he pulled hard on a cigarette. (Para. 10)

Meaning:…he sucked hard on a cigarette.

pull on a cigarette: to suck on or draw on a cigarette

Example: He pulled on his cigarette and waited for the train.

13.He squared his broad shoulders… (Para. 20)

Meaning:He made his broad shoulders straight…

square one’s shoulders: if you square your shoulders or square yourself, you make your back and shoulders straight to show you are ready or determined to do something

Example: Rosemary squared herself to face the waiting journalists.

14.I’ve got two boys with Uncle Sam myself, so I didn’t mind to oblige y ou.

(Para.22)

Meaning: I myself have got two boys who also served in the U.S. army, so I didn’t mind to help you.

Cultural Notes

1.Zero

Zero was a model of Japanese fighter plane in WWII.

2.King David

David (C.1040-970 BCE) was the second king of the United Kingdom of Israel, an important figure in Jewish, Islamic, and Christian doctrine and culture. He is regarded as a righteous king, a highly acclaimed warrior, a musician, and a psalmist. In Islamic culture, David is considered to be a prophet and the king of a nation. In Christian culture, he is believed to be an ancestor of Jesus. David traditionally takes the credit for writing many psalms of the Bible, which can be found in The Book of Psalms.

3.Psalm 23rd

In this psalm, David praises God as His Shepherd. The text is beloved by both Jews and Christians. The psalm has always been a popular passage for memorization. Since the 20th century, Psalm 23rd has even become a passage being often recited at the funeral in the English-speaking world. It has been widely used following high-profile tragic events such as 9/11 Address to the Nation and Whitney Houston’s funeral. The English version of Psalm 23rd is as follows:

A Psalm of David