1、Danger! Books may change your life1 Like Lewis Carrolls Alice, who falls into a rabbit hole and discovers a mysterious wonderland, when we pick up a book we are about to enter a new world. We become observers of life from the point of view of a person older than ourselves, or through the eyes of a c
2、hild. We may travel around the globe to countries or cultures we would never dream of visiting in real life. Well have experiences which are new, sometimes disconcerting, maybe deeply attractive, possibly unpleasant or painful, but never less than liberating from the real world we come from.Text 2 T
3、he English poet William Cowper (17311800) said Varietys the very spice of life, / That gives it all its flavour although he neglected to say where or how we could find it. But we know he was right. We know we live in a world of variety and difference. Text We know that people live various different
4、lives, spend their time in various different ways, have different jobs, believe in different things, have different opinions, different customs, and speak different languages. Normally, we dont know the extent of these differences, yet sometimes when something unusual happens to make us notice, vari
5、ety and difference appear more as a threat than an opportunity.Text 3 Reading books allows us to enjoy and celebrate this variety and difference in safety, and provides us with an opportunity to grow. To interact with other peoples lives in the peace and quiet of our homes is a privilegewhich only r
6、eading fiction can afford us. We even understand, however fleetingly, that we have more in common with other readers of books in other cultures than we might do with the first person we meet when we step out of our front doors. We learn to look beyondour immediate surroundings to the horizon and a l
7、andscape far away from home.Text 4 If we ever question the truth of the power of reading books, we should take the trouble to go to our local library or bookshop, or even, if were fortunate enough, to the books on our shelves at home. Text We should wonder at the striking vistas created by the title
8、s of novels ranging from the classics to the most recent: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, The Fourth Hand by John Irving, Cancer Ward by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway, Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene, The Time Travellers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger or S
9、almon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday. Then we should reflect on the other lives well meet once we begin to read.Text 5 Every book will have its own language and dialect, its own vocabulary and grammar. We may not alwaysunderstand every word or sentence, but whether were enchanted or whether we
10、feel excluded, our emotions are nevertheless stimulated. Other people and other cultures are not always distant because of geography. In a book we may confront people who live in a different climate, have different religious beliefs, or come from a different ethnic group. Even our neighbours down th
11、e road may be strangers who we can only meet through books.Text 6 As soon as we are able to listen, books are supremely influential in the way we live. From the bedtime story read by a parent to their child all the way through to the sitting room lined with books in our adult homes, books define our
12、 lives. The English writer E. M. Forster (18791970) even hinted at a more mystical power which books possess over us. Text He wrote, I suggest that the only books that influence us are those for which we are ready, and which have gone a little further down our particular path than we have gone ourse
13、lves. Its as if the right book comes to seek us out at the right moment, and offers itself to us its not us who seek out the book.Text 7 Thomas Merton (19151968), the American monk, priest and writer, was once asked a series of seven questions by a journalist: Name the last three books you have read
14、, the three books you are reading now, the books you intend to read, the books that have influenced you, and why, a book that everyone should read, and why. For the books which had influenced him, he cited poetic works of William Blake, various plays by ancient Greek thinkers and writers, and a numb
15、er of religious writings. Text When asked why they had influenced him, he replied, These books and others like them have helped me to discover the real meaning of my life, and have made it possible for me to get out of the confusion and meaninglessness of an existence completely immersed in the need
16、s and passivities fostered by a culture in which sales are everything.Text 8 So how would you answer the questions?9 In 1947, Clifton Fadiman coined the term home-run book. When a baseball player hits a home run, he hits the ball so hard and so far hes able to run round the four bases of the diamond
17、, and score points not only for himself but for the other runners already on a base. Its the most enjoyable and satisfying event in a baseball game. Text Likewise, a home-run book describes not the childs first reading experience, but the first time they read a book which induces such pleasure and s
18、atisfaction that they cant put it down. For hundreds of millions of children around the world, the best known example of a home-run book will be the Harry Potter stories.Text 10 As adults, were always looking for our own home-run books, not just for the first time, but time after time again. Whoever
19、 has read a novel in one sitting will always remember the pleasure and satisfaction which await us, and eagerly, insistently, sometimes even desperately seeks to reproduce the marvellous sensation again. We cannot withstand the hunger to visit another world, to meet different people, to live other l
20、ives and to reflect on ourselves. 11 Danger! Books may change your life. Such is the power of reading. Text 危险！书可能会改变你的人生危险！书可能会改变你的人生1 刘易斯卡罗尔书中的爱丽丝不小心掉进了兔子洞里，但她在那里发现了一个神奇的仙境。当我们打开一本书时，我们也会像爱丽丝那样走进一个全新的世界。我们能从一个年长者的角度，或通过一个孩子的眼睛来观察生活；我们可以周游世界，遍访现实生活中从没想过要访问的国家和文化；我们可以体验未曾经历过的事情，这些事情也许令人困惑，也许引人入胜；可能是
21、不愉快的，也可能是令人痛苦的，但无论如何都至少能把我们从现实世界中解放出来。Text 2 英国诗人威廉柯珀（1731-1800）说：“变化是生活的调味品，它让生活变得有滋有味。”虽然他没有说在什么地方以及怎样才能找到变化，但我们知道他说得对。我们知道我们生活在一个充满变化与差异的世界里。Text 我们知道人们的生活各不相同，过日子的方式也不尽不同，人们做不同的工作，有不同的信仰，持不同的观点，有不同的风俗习惯，说不同的语言。通常，我们不知道这些差异的大小，但一旦发生了不平常的事情并引起了我们的注意，这种变化或差异与其说是机会，毋宁说是威胁。Text 3 读书让我们能够安全地享受和庆贺这种变化与
22、差异，并为我们提供成长的机会。在家里安详平和的环境中与他人的生活互动，这是阅读小说才享有的特权。我们甚至感觉到哪怕只是在一瞬间我们和异文化读者的共同点或许要多于我们和家门口随便碰到的一个人的共同点。我们学会把目光移出我们周围的环境，投向天边，去领略一下异域风光。Text 4 如果我们怀疑读书是否能给我们力量的话，我们就应该自己去一趟当地的图书馆或书店，或者，如果我们足够幸运的话，可以读一读家里书架上的书。Text 我们会惊奇于古今小说的标题所创造出来的壮观景象：约翰斯坦贝克的愤怒的葡萄、约翰欧文的第四只手 、亚历山大索尔仁尼琴的癌病房、欧内斯特海明威的 丧钟为谁而鸣、格雷厄姆格林的哈瓦那特派员
23、、奥黛丽尼芬格的时间旅行者的妻子、保罗托迪的到也门钓鲑鱼。一旦开始阅读，我们就应该思考一下我们在书中读到的别样人生。Text 5 每一本书都有自己的语言、 方言、 词汇和语法。我们不见得总能理解其中的每一个字、 每一句话，但不管我们是痴迷其中，还是觉得被排斥在外，我们的情感被调动起来了。尽管在地理上有一定的距离，但其他民族、其他文化未必就离我们那么遥远。在书里我们可能遇见生活在不同气候、有不同信仰、来自不同民族的人。即便是住在同一条街上的邻居，我们也可能对其一无所知，而只能通过阅读结识。Text 6 小时候，在我们刚刚能听懂别人说话的时候，书就对我们的生活方式产生了很大的影响。从父母给孩子读的
24、睡前故事一直到成年后家中摆满书柜的客厅，书界定了我们的人生。英国作家E.M.福斯特（18791970）暗示书对我们具有另一种更加神秘的支配力。Text 他写道：“我认为能影响我们的书籍是那些我们已经准备要读的书，而且这些书在我们已经选定的道路上走得比我们更远一些。”合适的书好像自己就会在恰当的时候找到我们，出现在我们面前，而不是我们去寻找那本书。Text 7 美国修士、牧师及作家托马斯默顿（19151968）曾经被记者一连串地问了7个问题：说出你最近读完的3本书；你正在读的3本书；你打算要读的书；对你有影响的书，并解释一下理由；一本你觉得每人都要读的书，并解释一下理由。关于对他有影响的书，他列
25、出了威廉布莱克的诗集、古希腊思想家和作家写的各种戏剧以及一些宗教作品。Text 当被问及这些书为何会影响他时，他回答说：“这些书还有其他类似的书籍帮助我找到了人生的真谛。销售就是一切的文化培育了人们无止境的需求和消极被动，生活充满了困惑和空虚，而书籍则把我从这种困惑和空虚中解脱了出来。”Text 8 那么，你又会如何回答这些问题呢？9 1947年，克利夫顿法迪曼发明了“全垒打书籍”这个词。当一个棒球手打出一个全垒打时，因为击球有力、打得远，他有时间跑完整个棒球场内的四个垒，不仅自己得分，而且还能帮其他各个垒的跑垒者得分，这是棒球赛里最有趣和最开心的事情。Text 同样，一本“全垒打书籍”指的不
26、是儿童第一次读书的经历，而是指他第一次读到一本给他带来极大愉悦和满足感的书以至于让他爱不释手的经历。对世界上数以亿计的儿童来说，“全垒打书籍”的最典型的例子就是哈利波特系列故事。Text 10 作为成年人，我们总在寻找自己的“全垒打书籍”，不仅是第一次，而是一次又一次地寻找。所有一口气读完一本小说的人都会记得那种令人期待的愉悦和满足感，并会焦急、固执、有时甚至疯狂地寻求重复体验这种感觉。我们想周游另一个世界、想与不同的人见面、想经历别样的人生并自我反省，我们无法遏制这样的渴求。11 危险！书可能会改变你的人生。这就是读书的力量。Text Words & Phrasesmysteriouswon
27、derlandobserverdisconcertingneglectnormallyinteractmonkmysticalinfluentialsupremelyconfrontexcludeenchantbaserunnerdiamondcoinfosterpassivitymeaninglessnessvistawrathdialectpoeticcitepriestawait inducelikewiseWords & Phrasesinsistentlydesperatelysensationwithstandpeace and quiet have sth. in common
28、(with sb.) seek out Words & PhrasesLewis Carroll 刘易斯卡罗尔William Cowper 威廉柯珀The Grapes of Wrath 愤怒的葡萄John Steinbeck 约翰斯坦贝克The Fourth Hand 第四只手 John Irving 约翰欧文Cancer Ward 癌病房Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 亚历山大索尔仁尼琴For Whom the Bell Tolls 丧钟为谁而鸣Ernest Hemingway 欧内斯特海明威Words & PhrasesOur Man in Havana 哈瓦那特派员Gra
29、ham Greene 格雷厄姆格林The Time Travellers Wife 时空旅人之妻Audrey Niffenegger 奥黛丽尼芬格Salmon Fishing in the Yemen 到也门钓鲑鱼 Paul Torday 保罗托迪E. M. Forster E. M.福斯特Thomas Merton 托马斯默顿William Blake 威廉布莱克Clifton Fadiman 克利夫顿法迪曼mysterious a. 1) keeping things secret, especially in a way that makes other people want to d
30、iscover what they are 神秘的；诡秘的 e.g. There are many mysterious stories about the Egyptian pyramids. 关于埃及金字塔有许多神秘的故事。2) difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify 难以理解的；不可思议的 e.g. The police are investigating the mysterious deaths of children at the hospital. 警方正在调查这家医院里儿童令人费解的死因。Word
31、family: mystery n.Words & Phraseswonderland n. 1) U an imaginary magic place in stories （故事中的）仙境 e.g. The most surprising thing about Alices Adventures in Wonderland is its general lack of surprise. 爱丽丝梦游仙境中最令人意外的是它缺少意外。2) C a place that is beautiful, strange, and exciting 美丽的地方；奇妙的地方 e.g. The snows
32、torm turned the town into a winter wonderland. 暴雪把小城变成了一个冬季胜地。Words & Phrasesobserver n. C someone who sees or notices sth. 观察者；目击者e.g.1. The driver is a poor observer of speed restrictions. 这个司机不仔细观察限速标志。2. The most casual observer would have noticed his strange behaviour. 最漫不经心的观察者也可能留意到了他奇怪的举动。Wo
33、rd family: observe v.Words & Phrasesdisconcerting a. making you feel worried, confused, or surprised 令人吃惊的；使人困惑的 ；令人不安的e.g. 1. His vague reply was completely disconcerting. 他含糊的回答让人完全摸不着头脑。2. The play was spoiled by a lot of disconcerting noise. 这出戏让令人不安的嘈杂声给糟蹋了。Word family: disconcert v. e.g. Her c
34、onstant shuffling of newspapers disconcerted us. 她不断地乱翻报纸使我们心神不定。Words & Phrasesneglect vt. 1) fail to do sth. that you should do 漏做；疏忽e.g. 1. She neglected paying the fine. 她忘了缴罚金。 2. Dont neglect to lock the door when you leave. 你离开时别忘了锁门。2) fail to pay attention to sth. such as an idea or a work
35、of art 无视，忽视 e.g. He was so busy that he neglected his health. 他忙得连身体健康都无法顾及。 Words & Phrasesnormally ad. 1) in most situations or cases 通常；按惯例 e.g. Its an opportunity to try things you wouldnt normally be able to do. 你可以借这次机会尝试平常不可能做的事情。2) in the usual way 正常地 e.g. Mum was trying to act normally, b
36、ut she was clearly upset. 妈妈试图表现得正常，但是她明显很不安。Word family: normal a. Antonym: abnormalWords & Phrasesinteract vi. ( with) if two or more people interact, or if one person interacts with another, they communicate with one another and react to one another, often while performing an activity together 相互
37、交流；互动e.g. In large classes, children feel that they cannot interact with the teacher properly. 在人数多的班级里，孩子们觉得无法和老师适当地互动。Word family: interaction n. e.g. There should be a lot more interaction between the social services and local doctors. 社会公益机构和当地医生应该大力加强互动（协作）。Words & Phrasesvista n. C 1) (mainly
38、literary) the view that you can see from a particular place, especially a beautiful view 景色，美景 e.g. We spent a few moments enjoying the vista from the hotel balcony. 我们享受了片刻从酒店阳台望出去的美景。2) a situation which seems to make it possible for particular things to happen or exist 前景；展望 e.g. The end of restr
39、ictions opened up new vistas for investment. 限令的结束为投资开创了新的前景。Words & Phraseswrath n. U (fml) very great anger 愤怒；狂怒 e.g.1. He feared the wrath of his employer. 他害怕老板发火。2. By their sin they provoked the wrath of the people. 他们因犯罪而激起民愤。See also: The Grapes of Wrath.Words & Phrasesdialect n. C, U a for
40、m of a language which is spoken only in one area, with words or grammar that are slightly different from other forms of the same language 方言；行话 e.g. 1. The dialect is spoken principally in the rural areas. 这种方言主要在农村地区使用。2. Every now and then he would lapse into the local dialect. 他讲话中不时地冒出当地方言。Words
41、 & Phrasesenchant vt. interest and attract someone very strongly 使陶醉；使入迷e.g.1. The family was enchanted with the cute little girl. 这一家子非常喜欢这个可爱的小姑娘。 2. She was enchanted with the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送的花。3. The ballet enchanted us. 那芭蕾舞剧看得我们入迷。Words & Phrasesexclude vt. 1) make someone feel t
42、hat they do not belong to your group 排斥（某人） e.g. I felt as though the other women were excluding me. 我感觉其他女人似乎都在排斥我。2) deliberately prevent someone or sth. from being involved in an activity or from entering a place （故意）把排除在外，不包括 e.g. The committee now has to decide whether to exclude him from the c
43、ompetition. 委员会现在必须决定是否不让他参加这个竞赛。Antonym: includeWord family: exclusion n. exclusive a.Words & Phrasesconfront vt. 1) deal with a difficult situation head on 正视；处理；面对 e.g. 1. It takes courage to confront your fears. 正视你的恐惧需要勇气。2. We need to confront these problems before its too late. 我们需要在一切都太晚之前把这
44、些问题处理掉。3. He swung round to confront his accusers. 他突然转过身来直视那些指控他的人。Words & Phrases2) (OFTEN PASSIVE) go close to someone in a threatening way 使面对；使遭遇e.g. 1. The guard on duty was confronted by an armed man. 执勤的卫兵遭遇了一个携带武器的人。2. We need to create education standards that prepare our next generation w
45、ho will be confronted with an even more competitive market. (CET4-2005-06) 我们需要创建教育标准，让我们的下一代准备好面对一个竞争更激烈的市场。Words & Phrasessupremely ad. extremely, or to the highest possible degree 极其地；极度地 e.g. 1. He again felt supremely confident about the exam he was going to face. 他又觉得对将到的考试充满信心。 2. For the end
46、 user Google is supremely simple, visually and otherwise 对终端用户而言，“谷歌”是极其简约的，无论是视觉效果还是其他。 Word family: supreme a.Words & Phrasesinfluential a. able to influence the way other people think or behave 有影响力的 e.g. 1. He is one of the most influential figures in the government. 他是政府最具影响力的人物之一。2. While Prad
47、a is one of the most influential designers in the world, it seems the real force behind the business is her husband Bertelli. 虽然普拉达是世界上最有影响力的设计师之一，但她的丈夫贝特利似乎才是生意背后的真正决策人。Word family: influence v. & n.Words & Phrasesmystical a. (also mystic) relating to or involving mysterious religious or spiritual
48、powers 神奇的；神秘的 e.g.1. Although The Tempest is the most mystical of Shakespeares works, there is a comic sub-plot. 暴风雨是莎士比亚最神秘的作品，但是它的次要情节是有喜剧色彩的。2. He had undergone a profound mystical experience. 他有一段颇具神秘色彩的经历。Words & Phrasesmonk n. C a man who lives in a religious community away from other people.
49、 Monks live in a building called a monastery 修道士；僧侣 e.g. Purity is an idea for the yogi or the monk. 纯洁是属于瑜伽士或修道士的观念。Words & PhrasesChinese monkspriest n. C someone whose job is to lead worship and perform other duties and ceremonies in some Christian churches （某些基督教教堂中的）牧师，神父Words & Phrasese.g. 1.
50、He had trained to be a Catholic priest. 他受训成为了一名天主教神父。 2. He confessed his sin to the priest. 他向神父坦陈了自己的罪孽。cite vt. mention sth. as an example, explanation, or proof of sth. else （作为例子、解释或对他事的证明而）提出，举出e.g. 1. Laura Hillenbrand is an example cited to show how emotional energy can contribute to ones s
