1、大学英语精读文本 1册 7-8单元UNIT 7TEXTThe author finds out that good intentions alone are not enough when his attempt to be kind to an old man leaves them both feeling worse than before.The SamplerIn a certain store where they sell puddings, a number of these delicious things are laid out in a row during the C
2、hristmas season. Here you may select the one which is most to your taste, and you are even allowed to sample them before coming to a decision.I have often wondered whether some people, who had no intention of making a purchase, would take advantage of this privilege. One day I asked this question of
3、 the shop girl, and I learned it was indeed the case.“Now theres one old gentleman, for instance,“ she told me, “he comes here almost every week and samples each one of the puddings, though he never buys anything, and I suspect he never will. I remember him from last year before that, too. Well, let
4、 him come if he wants it, and welcome to it. And whats more, I hope there are a lot more stores where he can go and get his share. He looks as if he needed it all right, and I suppose they can afford it.“She was still speaking when an elderly gentleman limped up to the counter and began looking clos
5、ely at the row of puddings with great interest.“Why, thats the very gentleman Ive been telling you about,“ whispered the shop girl.“ Just watch him now.“ And then turning to him:“ Would you like to sample them, sir? Heres spoon for you to use.“The elderly gentleman, who was poorly but neatly dressed
6、, accepted the spoon and began eagerly to sample one after another of the puddings, only braking off occasionally to wipe his red eyes with a large torn handkerchief.“This is quite good.“This is not bad either, but a little too heavy.“All the time it was quite evident that he sincerely believed that
7、 he might eventually buy one of these puddings, and I am positive that he did not for a moment feel that he was in any way cheating the store. Poor old chap! Probably he had come down in the world and this sampling was all that was left him from the time when he could afford to come and select his f
8、avorite pudding.Amidst the crowd of happy, prosperous looking Christmas shoppers, the little black figure of the old man seemed pitiful and out of place, and in a burst of benevolence, I went up to him and said:“Pardon me, sir, will you do me a favor? Let me purchase you one of these puddings. It wo
9、uld give me such pleasure.“He jumped back as if he had been stung, and the blood rushed into his wrinkled face.“Excuse me,“ he said, with more dignity than I would have thought possible considering his appearance, “I do not believe I have the pleasure of knowing you. Undoubtedly you have mistaken me
10、 for someone else.“ And with a quick decision he turned to the shop girl and said in a loud voice, “Kindly pack me up this one here. I will take it with me.“ He pointed at one of the largest and most expensive of the puddings.The girl took down the pudding from its stand and started to make a parcel
11、 of it, while he pulled out a worn little black pocketbook and began counting out shillings and pennies on to the counter. To save his “honour“ he had been forced into a purchase which he could not possibly afford. How I longed for the power to unsay my tactless words! It was too late though, and I
12、felt that the kindest thing I could do now would be walk away.“You pay at the desk,“ the shop girl was telling him, but he did not seem to understand and kept trying to put the coins into her hand. And that was the last I saw or the old man. Now he can never go there to sample pudding any more.NEW W
13、ORDSauthor n. the writer of a book, article, play, poem, etc. 作者intention n. purpose 目的；意图sampler n. one who finds out the quality of sth. by testing a part of it 品尝家pudding n. 布丁（西餐中一种松软的甜点心）delicious a. tasting or smelling pleasant 美味的，可口的select vt. choose from a group 挑选selection n.sample vt. tes
14、t a part of 品尝purchase n. buyingvt. buyadvantage n. sth. useful or helpful 利益，好处；优点privilege n. special right given to a person 特权instance n. example, case 例子，实例suspect vt. feel doubt about; guess or suppose 怀疑；猜测suspicionn. afford vt. have the money for 担负得起elderly a. near old age 上了年纪limp n. walk
15、with an uneven step 跛行counter n. 柜台spoon n. 调羹eagerly ad. with strong interest or impatient desire 热切地，急切地occasionally ad. now and then; at times 偶尔；间或occasional a.heavy a. (of food, etc.) too rich to digest easily （食物等）太油腻而不易消化evident a. plain and clear (to the eye or mind) 明显的，明白的sincerely ad. hon
16、estly 诚恳地eventually ad. in the end 终于，最终positive a. sure, certain 有把握的，确信的cheat vt. deceive 欺骗chap n. man; boy; fellow 男人；小伙子；家伙amidst prep. in the middle of; among 在.中间crowd n. 人群 prosperous a. rich; successful 富裕的；成功的；昌盛的prosperity n.figure n. 外形，伦廓；体形pitiful a. making one feel pity 可怜的benevolence
17、 n. the desire to do good 仁慈sting vt. prick or hurt 刺，螫wrinkle v. (cause to) form into lines （使）起皱纹dignity n. calm and serious manner or style 尊严appearance n. that which can be seen; look 外表pack vt. put (things) into boxes, cases, etc. 把（东西）打包（或装箱） stand n. （货）架；（货摊）worn a. damaged by use or wear 破烂
18、的，损坏的pocketbook a. a wallet for money and personal papers 皮夹 shilling n. 先令long vi. wish earnestly 渴望unsay vt. take back (sth. that has been said) 收回（说过的话）tactless a. 不策略的coin n. metal money 硬币 PHEASES beyond doubt 确实，无疑地break off pause 中止，中断come down (in the world)become poor; lose social position
19、落泊，潦倒；失势out of place improper (for ones surroundings) 不适当的；不相称的do sb. a favo(u)r do sth. kind to sb. 给某人以恩惠；帮某人忙mistake.for think wrongly that (sth. or sb.) is (sth. or sb. else) 把.错认为pull out take out 抽出，取出count out count (things) one by one 逐一数出long for wish very much for 渴望UNIT 8TEXTA young boy f
20、aces the impossible task of trying to soften the blow of tragic mews.You Go Your Way, Ill Go MineThe messenger got off his bicycle in front of the house of Mrs. Rosa Sandoval. He went to the door and knocked gently. He knew almost immediately that someone was inside the house. He could not hear anyt
21、hing, but he was sure the knock was bringing someone to the door and he was most eager to see who this person would be - his woman named Rosa Sandoval who was now to heat of murder in the world and to feel it in herself. The door was not a long time opening, but there was no hurry in the way it move
22、d on its hinges. The movement of the door was as if, whoever she was, she and nothing in the world to fear. Then the door was open, and there she was.To Homer the Mexican woman was beautiful. He could see that she had been patient all her life, so that now, after years of it, her lips were set in a
23、gentle and saintly smile. But like all people who never receive telegrams the appearance of a messenger at the front door is full of terrible implication. Homer knew that Mrs. Rosa Sandoval was shocked to see him. Her first word was the first word of all surprise. She said “Oh,“ as if instead of a m
24、essenger she had thought of opening the door to someone she had know a long time and would be pleased to sit down with. Before she spoke again she studied Homers eyes and Homer Knew that she knew the message was not a welcome one.“You have a telegram?“ she said.It wasnt Homers fault. His work was to
25、 deliver telegrams. Even so, it seemed to him that he was part of the whole mistake. He felt awkward and almost as if he alone were responsible for what had happened. At the same time he wanted to come right out and say, “Im only a messenger, Mrs. Sandoval, Im very sorry I must bring you a telegram
26、like this, but it is only because it is my work to do so.“Who is it for?“ the Mexican woman said.“Mrs. Rosa Sandoval, 1129 G Street.“ Homer said. He extended the telegram to the Mexican woman, but she would not touch it.“Are you Mrs. Sandoval?“ Homer said.“Please,“ the woman said. “Please come in. I
27、 cannot read English. I am Mexican. I read only La Prensa which comes from Mexico City.“ She paused a moment and looked at the boy standing awkwardly as near the door as he could be and still be inside the house.“Please,“ she said, “what does the telegram say?“Mrs. Sandoval,“ the messenger said, “th
28、e telegram says -“But now the woman interrupted him. “But you must open the telegram and read it to me,“ she said. “You have not opened it.“Yes, maam,“ Homer said as if he were speaking to a school teacher who had just corrected him.He opened the telegram with nervous fingers. The Mexican woman stoo
29、ped to pick up the torn envelope, and tried to smooth it out. As she did so she said, “Who sent the telegram - my son Juan Domingo?“No, maam.“ Homer said. “The telegram is from the War Department.“War Department?“ the Mexican woman said.“Mrs. Sandoval,“ Homer said swiftly, “your son is dead. Maybe i
30、ts a mistake, Everybody makes a mistake, Mrs. Sandoval. Maybe it wasnt your son. Maybe it was somebody else. The telegram says it was Juan Domingo. But maybe the telegram is wrong,“The Mexican woman pretended not to hear.“Oh, do not be afraid,“ she said. “Come inside. Come inside. I will bring you c
31、andy.“ She took the boys arm and brought him to the table at the center of the room and there she made him sit.“All boys like candy,“ she said. “I will bring you candy.“ She went into another room and soon returned with an old chocolate candy box. She opened the box at the table and in it Homer saw
32、a strange kind of candy.“Here,“ she said. “Eat this candy. All boys like candy.“Homer took a piece of the candy from the box, put it into his mouth, and tried to chew.“You would not bring me a bad telegram,“ she said. “You are a good boy - like my little Juanito when he was a little boy. Eat another
33、 piece.“ And she made the messenger take another piece of the candy.Homer sat chewing the dry candy while the Mexican woman talked. “It is our own candy,“ she said, “from cactus. I made it for my Juanito when he come home, but you eat it. You are my boy, too.“Now suddenly she began to sob, holding h
34、erself in as if weeping were a disgrace. Homer wanted to get up and run, but he knew he would stay. He even thought he might stay the rest of his life. He just didnt know what else to do to try to make the woman less unhappy, and if she had asked him to take the place of her son, he would not have b
35、een able to refuse, because he would not have known how. He got to his feet, as if by standing he meant to begin correcting what could not be corrected and then he knew the foolishness of this intention and became more awkward than ever. In his heart he was saying over and over again, “What can I do
36、? What the hell can I do? Im only the messenger.“ NEW WORDSsoften v. (cause to) become soft(er) or gentle （使）软化；（使）温和tragic a. very sad, unfortunate; of or related to tragedy 悲惨的；悲剧的messenger n. a person employed to deliver telegrams, letters or parcels 送信人，电报投递员gently ad. softly 轻轻地immediately a. a
37、t once immediate a.eager a. marked by strong interest or impatient desire 热切的，渴望的hinge n. 铰链whoever pron. no matter who 无论谁，不管谁saintly a. like a saint; very holy 像圣徒一样的；圣洁的implication n. 含义imply vt.shock vt. cause unpleasant or angry surprise to (sb.) 使（某人）震惊deliver vt. take (sth.) to the place wher
38、e it esp. sth. bad 交付，递送awkward a. uncomfortable 尴尬的responsiblea. having done or been the cause of esp. sth. bad（应）负责的Mexican n & a. 墨西哥人；墨西哥（人）的extend vt. hold out 伸出pause vi. stop for a short time 暂停，中止interrupt vt. stop (sb. speaking) by breaking in 打断（某人讲话）nervous a. 神经质的；紧张的maam madam (used in
39、direct address) 夫人，太太，小姐smooth vt. make smooth or smoother 把.弄平department n. 部门；系swiftly ad. rapidly, quickly 快速地；敏捷地swifta.chocolate n. 巧克力（糖）chew vt. crush (food) with the teeth 咀嚼cactus n. 仙人掌sob vi. cry with short, quick breaths 啜泣；呜咽disgrace n. shame 耻辱；丢脸的人（或事）unhappy a. not happy hell n. 地狱PH
40、RASES & EXPRESSIONShear of have knowledge of or receive information about 听到，听说be responsible forbe the cause of 应对.负责的come out (with) speak out 大声地说，清楚地说smooth out make smooth(er) hold oneself in control ones feelingstake the place of act or be used instead of, replace 代替，取代get to ones feel stand up over and over againvery often, repeatedly 反复地，再三地PROPER NAMESRosa Sandoval 罗莎.桑多瓦尔Homer 霍默Mexico City 墨西哥城（墨西哥首都）Juan Domingo 胡安 多明哥the War Department（美国）陆军部（旧称）Juanito 胡安尼特（Juan 的昵称）
