高中英语课外阅读材料集锦

发布时间：2024-11-17

2012高考英语课外阅读材料

【每两天一篇—阅读+单词学习】

Unit One: How to Improve Your Study Habits

TEXT

Want to know how to improve your grades without having to spend more time studying? Sounds too good to be true? Well, read on...

How to Improve Your Study Habits

Perhaps you are an average student with average intelligence. You do well enough in school, but you probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessarily the case, however. You can receive better grades if you want to. Yes, even students of average intelligence can be top students without additional work. Here's how:

1. Plan your time carefully. Make a list of your weekly tasks. Then make a schedule or chart of your time. Fill in committed time such as eating, sleeping, meetings, classes, etc. Then decide on good, regular times for studying. Be sure to set aside enough time to complete your normal reading and work assignments. Of course, studying shouldn't occupy all of the free time on the schedule. It's important to set aside time for relaxation, hobbies, and entertainment as well. This weekly schedule may not solve all of your problems, but it will make you more aware of how you spend your time. Furthermore, it will enable you to plan your activities so that you have adequate time for both work and play.

2. Find a good place to study. Choose one place for your study area. It may be a desk or a chair at home or in the school library, but it should be comfortable, and it should not have distractions. When you begin to work, you should be able to concentrate on the subject.

3. Skim before you read. This means looking over a passage quickly before you begin to read it more carefully. As you preview the material, you get some idea of the content and how it is organized. Later when you begin to read you will recognize less important material and you may skip some of these portions. Skimming helps double your reading speed and improves your comprehension as well.

4. Make good use of your time in class. Listening to what the teacher says in class means less work later. Sit where you can see and hear well. Take notes to help you remember what the teacher says.

5. Study regularly. Go over your notes as soon as you can after class. Review important points mentioned in class as well as points you remain confused about. Read about these points in your textbook. If you know what the teacher will discuss the next day, skim and read that material too. This will help you understand the next class. If you review your notes and textbook regularly, the material will become more meaningful and you will remember it longer. Regular review leads to improved performance on test.

6. Develop a good attitude about tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. The world won't end if you don't pass a test, so don't worry excessively about a single test. Tests provide grades, but they also let you know what you need to spend more time studying, and they help make your knowledge permanent.

There are other techniques that might help you with your studying. Only a few have been mentioned here. You will probably discover many others after you have tried these. Talk with your classmates about their study techniques. Share with them some of the techniques you have found to be helpful. Improving your study habits will improve your grades.

NEW WORDS

average n. ordinary 普通的；中等的

intelligence n. ability to learn and understand 智力

necessarily ad. inevitably 必定

case n. what has really happened; actual condition 实情

additional a. added 附加的，额外的 n. addition

weekly a. done or happening every week 每周的；一周一次的

schedule n. timetable 时间表

chart n. (sheet of paper with) information written or drawn in the form of a picture 图（表） commit vt. 指定...用于

aside ad. to the side 在旁边；到（向）一边

etc (Latin, shortened form for et cetera) and other things 等等

normal a. usual 正常的

reading n. the act or practice of reading 阅读

assignment n. sth. given out as a task (布置的)作业

occupy n. take up 占用

relaxation n. (sth. done for) rest and amusement 休息，娱乐 relax v.

hobby n. what one likes to do in one's free time 业余爱好

entertainment n. show, party, etc. that people enjoy 娱乐 entertain vt.

solve vt. find an answer to (a problem) 解决（问题）

aware a. having knowledge or understanding 知道的；意识到的

furthermore ad. moreover; in addition 而且；此外

enable vt. make (sb.) able (to do sth.) 使（某人）能（做某事）

activity n. sth. (to be) done 活动

adequate a. as much as one needs; enough 充分的；足够的

distraction n. sth. that draws away the mind or attention 分心（或分散注意力）的事物 concentrate (on or upon) vi. pay close attention (to) 全神贯注（于）

skim vt. read quickly to get the main ideas (of) 略读

preview vt. have a general view of (sth.) beforehand 预习

content n. what is written in a book, etc. 内容

organize vt. form into a whole 组织

later ad. 后来；以后

skip vt. pass over 略过

portion n. part; share 一部分；一份

double v. make or become twice as great or as many （使）增加一倍

comprehension n. the act of understanding or ability to understand 理解（力）

mention vt. speak or write about (sth.) in a few words 提及

confused a. mixed up in one's mind 迷惑的，混淆的 confuse vt.

textbook n. a standard book for the study of a subject 教科书；课本

performance n. achievement 成绩

meaningful a. having important meaning or value 富有意义的

attitude n. what one thinks about sth. 态度，看法

purpose n. aim 目的，意图

excessively ad. too much 过多地，过分地 excessive a.

permanent a. lasting for a long time; never changing 持久的；永久的

technique n. way of doing sth. 技巧，方法

helpful a. useful; providing help or wiling to help 有益的；给予帮助的，肯帮忙的 PHRASES & EXPRSSIONS

fill in write in 填写，填充

decide on make a choice or decision about 选定，决定

set aside save for a special purpose 留出

as well also; too; in addition 也，还；同样

be aware (of) know (sth.); know (what is happening) 知道，意识到

concentrate on direct one's attention, efforts, etc. to 全神贯注于

look over examine (quickly) 把...看一遍，过目

go over review 复习

lead to result in 导致

Unit Two: Sailing Round the World

TEXT

At sixty-five Francis Chichester set out to sail single-handed round the world. This is the story of that adventure.

Sailing Round the World

Before he sailed round the world single-handed, Francis Chichester had already surprised his friends several times. He had tried to fly round the world but failed. That was in 1931.

The years passed. He gave up flying and began sailing. He enjoyed it greatly. Chichester was already 58 years old when he won the first solo transatlantic sailing race. His old dream of going round the world came back, but this time he would sail. His friends and doctors did not think he could do it, as he had lung cancer. But Chichester was determined to carry out his plan. In August, 1963, at the age of nearly sixty-five, an age when many men retire, he began the greatest voyage of his life. Soon, he was away in this new 16-metre boat, Gipsy Moth.

Chichester followed the route of the great nineteenth century clipper ships. But the clippers had had plenty of crew. Chicheater did it all by himself, even after the main steering device had been damaged by gales. Chichester covered 14, 100 miles before stopping in Sydney, Australia. This was more than twice the distance anyone had previously sailed alone.

He arrived in Australia on 12 December, just 107 days out from England. He received a warm welcome from the Australians and from his family who had flown there to meet him. On shore, Chichester could not walk without help. Everybody said the same thing: he had done enough; he must not go any further. But he did not listen.

After resting in Sydney for a few weeks, Chichester set off once more in spite of his friends' attempts to dissuade him. The second half of his voyage was by far the more dangerous part, during which he sailed round the treacherous Cape Horn.

On 29 January he left Australia. The next night, the blackest he had ever known, the sea became so rough that the boat almost turned over. Food, clothes, and broken glass were all mixed together. Fortunately, bed and went to sleep. When he woke up, the sea had become calm the nearest person he could contact by radio, unless there was a ship nearby, Wild be on an island 885 miles away.

After succeeding in sailing round Cape Horn, Chichester sent the following radio message to London:" I feel as if I had wakened from a nightmare. Wild horses could not drag me down to Cape Horn and that sinister Southern Ocean again."

Just before 9 o'clock on Sunday evening 28 May, 1967, he arrived back in England, where a quarter of a million people were waiting to welcome him. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him with the very sword that Queen Elizabeth I had sailed round the world for the first time. The whole voyage

from England and back had covered 28, 500 miles. It had taken him nine months , of which the sailing time was 226 days. He had done what he wanted to accomplish.

Like many other adventurers, Chichester had experienced fear and conquered it. In doing so, he had undoubtedly learnt something about himself. Moreover, in the modern age when human beings depend so much on machines, he had given men throughout the world new pride.

NEW WORDS

single-handed a & ad. (done) by one person alone 单独的（地）

adventure n. 冒险（活动）

solo a. single-handed 单独的

transatlantic a. crossing the Atlantic Ocean 横度大西洋

lung n. part of the body with which one breathes 肺

cancer n. 癌

determined a. with one's mind firmly made up下定了决心的 determine v. determination n. retire vi. stop working at one's job(because of age) 退休

voyage n. sea journey 航海；航行

route n. way from one place to another 路线

clipper n. 快速帆船

crew n. group of people who work together on a ship or aeroplane 全体船员；全体乘务员 steer vt. make (esp. a boat or road vehicle) go in a particular direction 为...撑舵

device n. a piece of equipment 设备；装置

steering device n. 操舵装置

damage vt. cause harm or injury to 损坏

gale n. very strong wind 大风

cover vt. travel (a certain distance) 行过（一段距离）

previously ad. before 以前 previous a.

attempt n. try 试图，尝试

dissuade vt. prevent (sb.) from doing sth. by reasoning 劝阻

treacherous a. more dangerous than it seems 暗藏危险的；奸诈的

cape n. 海角

rough a. (of weather or the sea) stormy; not calm （气候）有暴风雨的；（海）波涛汹涌的 fortunately ad. luckily 幸运地；幸亏 fortunate a.

contact vt. get in touch with 联系，接触

nearby ad. close by 在附近

following a. next; to be mentioned immediately 接着的；下列的

waken v. (cause to) wake 唤醒；醒来

nightmare n. terrible dream 恶梦

drag vt. pull along with great effort 拖，拉

sinister a. 凶恶的，邪恶的

knight n. 爵士 vt. 封... 为爵士

sword n. 剑，刀

accomplish vt. finish successfully 完成

conquer vt. overcome 征服

undoubtedly ad. certainly 无疑地

moreover ad. in addition 此外，而且

human a. of or concerning people 人们

being n. a living thing, esp. a person 生物；人

PHRASES & EXPRESSIOMS

set out begin a course if action 着手，开始

give up atop doing 放弃

be determined to (do) have a strong will to (do) 决心（做）

(all) by oneself (completely) alone

in spite of not taking notice of; not caring about 尽管；虽然

by far by a large amount or degree...得多

turn over (cause to) fall over, upset （使）翻倒，（使）倾覆

can not help can not keep oneself from 禁不住

NAMES

Francis Chichester 弗朗西斯. 奇切斯特

Gipsy Moth 吉普赛. 莫斯

Sydney 悉尼（澳大利亚城市）

Cape Horn 合恩角（智利）

London 伦敦

Elizabeth 伊丽莎白（女子名）

Drake 德雷克（姓氏）

UNIT three: The Present

TEXT

They say that blood is thicker than water, that our relatives are more important to us than others. Everyone was so kind to the old lady on her birthday. Surely her daughter would make an even bigger effort to please he?

The Present

It was the old lady's birthday.

She got up early to be ready for the post. From the second floor flat she could see the postman when he came down the street, and the little boy from the ground floor brought up her letters on the rare occasions when anything came.

Today she was sure the would be something. Myra wouldn't forget her mother's birthday, even if she seldom wrote at other times. Of course Myra was busy. Her husband had been made Mayor, and Myra herself had got a medal for her work the aged.

The old lady was proud of Myra, but Enid was the daughter she loved. Enid had never married, but had seemed content to live with her mother, and teach in a primary school round the corner. One evening, however, Enid said, "I've arranged for Mrs. Morrison to look after you for a few days, Mother. Tomorrow I have to go into hospital--just a minor operation, I'll soon be home."

In the morning she went, but never came back--she died on the operating table. Myra came to the funeral, and in her efficient way arranged for Mrs. Morrison to come in and light the fire and give the old lady her breakfast.

Two years ago that was, and since then Myra had been to see her mother three times, but her husband never.

The old lady was eight today. She had put on her best dress. Perhaps--perhaps Myra might come. After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade lined or endured just as you chose to look at it.

Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of colour brightened her cheeks. She was excited--like a child. She would enjoy her day.

Yesterday Mrs. Morrison had given the flat an extra clean, and today she had brought a card and

a bunch of marigolds when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake, and in the afternoon she was going down there to tea. The little boy, Johnnie, had been up with a packet of mints, and said he wouldn't go out to play until the post had come.

"I guess you'll get lots and lots of presents," he said, "I did last were when I was six."

What would she like? A pair of slippers perhaps. Or a new cardigan. A cardigan would be lovely. Blue's such a pretty colour. Jim had always liked her in blue. Or a table lamp. Or a book, a travel book, with pictures, or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.

She stood by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle. Her heart beat fast. Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate.

Then clatter, clatter up the stairs. Johnnie knocked at her door.

"Granny, granny," he shouted, "I've got your post."

He gave her four envelopes. Three were unsealed cards from old friends. The fourth was sealed, in Myra's writing. The old lady felt a pang of disappointment.

"No parcel, Johnnie?"

"No, granny."

Maybe the parcel was too large to come by letter post. That was it. It would come later by parcel post. She must be patient.

Almost reluctantly she tore the envelope open. Folded in the card was a piece of paper. Written on the card was a message under the printed Happy Birthday -- Buy yourself something nice with the cheque, Myra and Harold.

The cheque fluttered to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly the old lady stooped to pick it up. Her present, her lovely present. With trembling fingers she tore it into little bits. NEW WORDS

relative n. 亲属，亲戚

present n. gift 礼物，赠品

postman n. 邮递员

rare a. not happening often 罕见的；不常发生的

occasion n. special time; time when sth. happens 时刻，时机；场合

mayor n. chief official of a city or town 市长

medal n. 奖章

aged a. old

content a. satisfied; pleased 满意的；高兴的

primary a. first; earliest 首要的；最初的

arrange vi. make preparations; plan 作安排，筹划

minor a. not serious or important 较小的；次要的

operate vi. cut the body in order to set right or remove a diseased part 开刀，动手术

operating table n. a special table in a hospital, where operations are done 手术台

funeral n. 葬礼

efficient a. able to plan and work well 效率高的

decade n. ten years

endure vt. bear (pain, suffering, etc.) 忍受，忍耐

spot n. a round area that is different from the main surface 点，斑点

brighten vt. make bright or brighter 使发光；使发亮

cheek n. either side of the face below the eye 面颊

extra a. additional 额加的，外加的

clean n. cleaning

bunch n. things of the same kind that are tied together （一）束，（一）串

marigold n. 万寿菊（花）

packet n. small parcel box 小包（裹）

mint n. 薄荷糖

slipper n. 拖鞋

cardigan n. （羊毛）开衫

clatter n. a number of rapid short knocking sounds 咔嗒声

granny n. (colloq. for)grandmother

envelope n. a paper cover for a letter 信封

unsealed a. 未密封的 seal vt. sealed a. 密封的

writing n. handwriting 书法；笔迹

pang n. sudden, sharp pain 剧痛

disappointment n. sadness because one does not get what one hopes for 失望 disappoint vt. parcel n. 包裹

reluctantly ad. unwillingly 不情愿地，勉强地 reluctant a.

fold vt. bend into two or more parts 折叠

cheque n. 支票

flutter vt. move quickly to and fro in the air 飘动

stoop vi. bend the body forwards and downwards 弯腰

tremble vi. shake uncontrollably with quick short movements 颤抖

PHRASES & EXPRESSIONS

at other times on other occasions 在别的时候；平时

round / around the corner very near in distance or time 在附近；即将来临

after all in spite of everything; it must be remembered 毕竟；终究

be sure of 对...有把握，确信

pick up take hold of and lift up from a surface 拿起，捡起

PROPER NAMES

Myra 迈拉（女子名）

Enid 伊妮德（女子名）

Morrison 莫里森（姓氏）

Grant 格兰特（姓氏及男子名）

Johnnie 约翰尼（John的昵称）

Unit Four: Turning off TV：A Quiet Hour

TEXT

Many people in the United States spend most of their free time watching television. Certainly, there are many worthwhile programs on television, including news, educational programs for children, programs on current social problems, plays, movies, concerts, and so on. Nevertheless, perhaps people should not be spending so much of their time in front of the TV. Mr Mayer imagines what we might do if we were forced to find other activities.

Turning off TV: a Quiet Hour

I would like to propose that for sixty to ninety minutes each evening, right after the early evening news, all television broadcasting in the United States be prohibited by law.

Let us take a serious, reasonable look at what the results be if such a proposal were accepted. Families might use the time for a real family hour. Without the distraction of TV, they might sit around together after dinner and actually talk to one another. It is well known that many of our

problems -- everything, in fact, from the generation gap to the high divorce rate to some forms of mental illness -- are caused at least in part by failure to communicate. We do not tell each other what is disturbing us. The result is emotional difficulty of one kind or another. By using the quiet family hour to discuss our problems, we might get to know each other better, and to like each other better.

On evenings when such talk is unnecessary, families could rediscover more active pastimes. Freed from TV, forced to find their own activities, they might take a ride together to watch the sunset. Or they might take a walk together (remember feet?) and see the neighborhood with fresh, new eyes. With free time and no TV, children and adults might rediscover reading. There is more entertainment in a good book than in a month of typical TV programming. Educators report that the generation growing up with television can barely write an English sentence, even at the college level. Writing is often learned from reading. A more literate new generation could be a product of the quiet hour.

A different form of reading might also be done, as it was in the past: reading aloud. Few pastimes bring a family closer together than gathering around and listening to mother or father read a good story. The quiet hour could become the story hour. When the quiet hour ends, the TV networks might even be forced to come up with better shows in order to get us back from our newly discovered activities.

At first glance, the idea of an hour without TV seems radical. What will parents do without the electronic baby-sitter? How will we spend the time? But it is not radical at all. It has been only twenty-five years since television came to control American free time. Those of us thirty-five and older can remember childhoods without television, spent partly with radio -- which at least involved the listener's imagination -- but also with reading, learning, talking, playing games, inventing new activities. It wasn't that difficult. Honest. The truth is we had a ball.

NEW WORDS

worthwhile a. good enough for the time or effort needed; valuable 值得花时间（或精力）的；有价值的

program (me) n. performance on radio or television 节目

educational a. of or for education; providing education or information 教育的；有教育意义的 current a. of the present time 当前的

social a. of or in society 社会的

movie n. film that one sees at a cinema 电影

nevertheless conj. but; however 然而，不过

propose vt. suggest 建议

broadcasting n. the action of sending out sound (or images) by radio (or television) 广播 prohibit v & n. forbid by law 禁止

proposal vt. suggestion 提议，建议

actually n. in actual fact, really 实际上

generation n. all the people about the same age （一）代

gap n. an empty space between two things or two parts of a thing; a wide difference of opinion, character, or the like 缺口，间隙；分歧，隔阂

divorce n. end of a marriage by law 离婚

rate n. 率

mental a. of the mind 精神的；思想上的

communicate vi. share or exchange opinions, ideas, etc. 交流意见，思想等

disturb vt. make (sb.) worried 使烦恼

emotional a. 感情的

pastime n. anything done to pass time pleasantly 消遣，娱乐

sunset n. the going down of the sun; the time when the sun goes down 日落（时分） neighborhood n. the area around a point or place 邻近地区；地段

adult n. 成年人

typical a. 典型的

educator n. a person whose profession is education 教育家

barely ad. hardly 仅仅，勉强；几乎没有

literate a. able to read and write 能读写的；有文化的

product n. sth. made or grown 产品

network n. 广播（或电视）联播公司；广播（或电视)网

glance n. quick look 一瞥；扫视

radical a. extreme; very different 激进的

electronic a. 电子的

electron n.

baby-sitter n. someone who looks after a child when the parents are away for a short time （代人临时）照看婴儿

childhood n. time when one is a child 童年

partly ad. not completely; in some degree 部分地；在一定程度上

involve vt. have as a part or result （必须）包括

imagination n. the ability to imagine 想像力

learning n. the gaining of knowledge or skill through studying; knowledge or skill gained through studying 学习；学问，知识

invent vt. produce (sth.) for the first time 发明

PHRASES & EXPRESSIONS

generation gap failure of the younger and older generations to communicate and understand one another 代沟

in part in some degree; partly 在一定程度上；部分地

grow up change from a child to a man or a woman 成长，长大

bring together cause to meet 使相聚

come up with think of; produce 想出；提出

at first glance when first seen or thought about 乍一看；最初考虑时

have a ball (sl.) enjoy oneself, have a very good time 玩得开心

PROPER NAMES

Mayer 迈耶（姓氏）

the United States 美国

Unit Five: A Miserable，Merry Christmas

TEXT

A miserable and merry Christmas? How could it be?

A Miserable, Merry Christmas

Christmas was coming. I wanted a pony. To make sure that my parents understood, I declared that I wanted noting else.

"Nothing but a pony?" my father asked.

"Nothing," I said.

"Not even a pair of high boots?"

That was hard. I did want boots, but I stuck to the pony. "No, not even boots."

"Nor candy? There ought to be something to fill your stocking with, and Santa Claus can't put a pony into a stocking,"

That was true, and he couldn't lead a pony down the chimney either . But no. "All I want is a pony," I said. "If I can't have a pony, give me nothing, nothing."

On Christmas Eve I hung up my stocking along with my sisters.

The next morning my sisters and I woke up at six. Then we raced downstairs to the fireplace. And there they were, the gifts, all sorts of wonderful things, mixed-up piles of presents. Only my stocking was empty; it hung limp; not a thing in it; and under and around it -- nothing. My sisters had knelt down, each by her pile of gifts; they were crying with delight, till they looked up and saw me standing there looking so miserable. They came over to me and felt my stocking: nothing.

I don't remember whether I cried at that moment, but my sisters did. They ran with me back to my bed, and there we all cried till I became indignant. That helped some. I got up, dressed, and driving my sisters away, I went out alone into the stable, and there, all by myself, I wept. My mother came out to me and she tried to comfort me. But I wanted no comfort. She left me and went on into the house with sharp words for my father.

My sisters came to me, and I was rude. I ran away from them. I went around to the front of the house, sat down on the steps, and, the crying over, I ached. I was wronged, I was hurt. And my father must have been hurt, too, a little. I saw him looking out of the window. He was watching me or something for an hour or two, drawing back the curtain so little lest I catch him, but I saw his face, and I think I can see now the anxiety upon on it, the worried impatience.

After an hour or two, I caught sight of a man riding a pony down the street, a pony and a brand-new saddle; the most beautiful saddle I ever saw, and it was a boy's saddle. And the pony! As he drew near, I saw that the pony was really a small horse, with a black mane and tail, and one white foot and a white star on his forehead. For such a horse as that I would have given anything.

But the man came along, reading the numbers on the houses, and, as my hopes -- my impossible hopes -- rose, he looked at our door and passed by, he and the pony, and the saddle. Too much, I fell upon the steps and broke into tears. Suddenly I heard a voice.

"Say, kid," it said, "do you know a boy named Lennie Steffens?"

I looked up. It was the man on the pony, back again.

"Yes," I spluttered through my tears. "That's me."

"Well," he said, "then this is your horse. I've been looking all over for you and your house. Why don't you put your number where it can be seen?"

"Get down," I said, running out to him. I wanted to ride.

He went on saying something about "ought to have got here at seven o'clock, but--"

I hardly heard, I could scarcely wait. I was so happy, so thrilled. I rode off up the street. Such a beautiful pony. And mine! After a while I turned and trotted back to the stable. There was the family, father, mother, sisters, all working for me, all happy. They had been putting in place the tools of my new business: currycomb, brush, pitchfork -- everything, and there was hay in the loft.

But that Christmas, which my father had planned so carefully, was it the best or the worst I ever knew? He often asked me that; I never could answer as a boy. I think now that it was both. It covered the whole distance from broken-hearted misery to bursting happiness -- too fast, A grown-up could hardly have stood it.

NEW WORDS

miserable a. causing unhappiness; very unhappy 悲惨的

merry a. cheerful, full of lively happiness, fun, etc. 欢乐的，愉快的

pony n. a small horse 矮种马；小马

boot n. 长统靴

candy n. (AmE) sweets 糖果

sticking n. 长（统）袜

chimney n. 烟囱

eve n. 前夕

fireplace n. 壁炉

mixed-up a. (different things) put together 混合的，混杂的

limp a. soft; not stiff or firm 软的；松沓的

kneel v. go down or remain on the knee(S) 跪下

indignant a. angry at sth. unfair 气愤的；愤慨的

stable n. building for keeping and feeding animals, esp. horses 马厩

weep v. cry 哭泣；流泪

rude a. not at all polite 粗鲁的，不礼貌的

wrong vt. treat unjustly 委屈

curtain n. 窗帘

lest conj. for fear that 唯恐，以免

anxiety n. fear caused by uncertainty about sth. 焦虑

impatience n. inability to wait calmly 不耐烦，急躁

patience n.

brand n. 商标，牌子

brand-new a. entirely new and unused 崭新的

saddle n. 马鞍

mane n. 马鬃

forehead n. that part of the face above the eyes and below the hair 前额

kid n. child

splutter v. speak quickly and confusedly (from excitement, etc.) 语无伦次地说

scarcely ad. hardly, almost not 几乎不，简直不

scarce a.

thrill vt. excite greatly 使非常激动

trot vi. run or ride slowly, with short steps （马）小跑

currycomb n. a special comb used to rub and clean a horse 马梳

pitchfork n. 干草叉

hay n. dried grass 干草

loft n. a room over a stable, where hay is kept 草料棚

broken-hearted a. filled with grief; very sad 心碎的；极其伤心的

misery n. the state of being very unhappy, poor, ill, lonely, etc. 悲惨；不幸；苦难

happiness n. the state of being happy 快乐；幸福

grown-up a. & n. (of) an adult person 成人（的）

PHRASES & EXPRESSIONS

make sure make something certain 确保；查明

nothing but nothing other than; only 除了...以外没有什么；仅仅，只不过

stick to refuse to give up or change 坚持，不放弃

hang up fix (sth,) at a high place so that it does not touch the ground 挂起

or something (used when the speaker is not sure) 诸如此类

catch sight of see suddenly or for a moment 看到，发现

draw near mover near 接近

break into suddenly start (to cry, laugh, etc.) 突然...起来

in place in the right place 在适当的位置

PROPER NAMES

Santa Claus 圣诞老人

Christmas Eve 圣诞前夜

Lennie Steffens 伦尼.斯蒂芬斯

Unit Six : Sam Adams，Industrial Engineer

TEXT

San set out to improve efficiency at the shirt factory but, as we find out later in this unit, his plans turned out not quite as he had expected.

Sam Adams, Industrial Engineer

If you ask my mother how I happened to become an industrial engineer, she'll tell you that I have always been one.

She means that I have always wanted everything to be well organized and neat. When I was still in elementary school, I liked to keep my socks in the upper left-hand drawer of my bureau, my underwear in the upper right drawer, shirts in the middle drawer, and pants, neatly folded, in the bottom drawer.

In fact, I was the efficiency expert for the whole family. I used to organize my father's tools, my mother's kitchen utensils, my sister's boyfriends.

I needed to be efficient. I wanted to be well organized. For me, there was a place for everything and everything was always in its place. These qualities gave me a good foundation for a career in industrial engineering.

Unfortunately, I was also a bit bossy and I wasn't a very good listener. You'll see what I mean when I tell you about the first project I ever did after I finished my bachelor's degree at the university. After graduation I returned home to my small town in Indiana. I didn't have a job yet. Mr. Hobbs, a friend of my father's, owned a small shirt factory in town. Within the past five years it had grown from twenty to eighty workers. Mr. Hobbs was worried that his plant was getting too big and inefficient, so he asked me to come in on a short-term basis as a consultant.

I went to the plant and spent about a week looking around and making notes. I was really amazed at what I saw.

Most curious of all, there was no quality control whatsoever. No one inspected the final product of the factory. As a result some of the shirts that were put in boxes for shipment were missing one or two buttons, the collar, even a sleeve sometimes!

The working conditions were poor. The tables where the workers sat were very high and uncomfortable. Except for a half hour at lunchtime, there were no breaks in the day to relieve the boring work. There was no music. The walls of the workrooms were a dull gray color. I was amazed that the workers hadn't gone on strike.

Furthermore, the work flow was irregular. There was one especially absent-minded young man in the assembly line who sewed on buttons. After a while I recognized him as "Big Jim," who used to sit behind me in math class in high school. He was very slow and all the shifts were held up at his position. Workers beyond him in line on his shift had to wait with nothing to do; therefore, a great deal of time and efficiency were lost as Big Jim daydreamed while he worked. All week I wondered why he wasn't fired.

After I made observations for a week, Mr. Hobbs asked me for an oral report of my findings. I covered my major points by telling him the following:

"If you have a quality control inspection, you will greatly improve your finished product."

"If the assembly line is redesigned, a smooth work flow can be achieved and time and energy can be saved."

"If you decrease the height of the worktables, the machine operators will work more comfortably." "If the management provides pleasant background music and beautifies the dull setting, the factory will be much more productive."

"If the workers have a fifteen-minute coffee break in the morning and afternoon, they will be more efficient."

"If excellent work results in frequent pay increases or promotions, the workers will have greater incentive to produce."

Mr. Hobbs thanked me for this report and told me he would talk over my suggestions with his brother, the co-owner and manager of the factory. "We're interested in progress here," he said. "We want to keep up with the times."

He also gave me a check for $ 100 and a box of shirts with his compliments.

NEW WORDS

efficiency n. the state or quality of being efficient 效率

industrial a. of industry 工业的

neat a. orderly and clean 整洁的

elementary a. of or for beginners 初等的，初级的

sock n. 短袜

drawer n. 抽屉

bureau n. a chest of drawers for bedroom use 衣柜

underwear n. 内衣

pants n. trousers

expert n. a person with special knowledge or skill 专家，能手

kitchen n. room used for cooking 厨房

utensil n. any tool or container used in the house, esp. for cooking 用具，器皿

quality n. the degree of goodness which a thing or a person possesses 质量；品质

foundation n. 基础

career n. profession; way of making a living 职业；生涯

engineering n. 工程学；管理

unfortunately ad. 不幸的是；遗憾的是

bossy a. always telling other people what to do and how to do it, like a boss 爱指挥人的；专横的 project n. a piece of work; a big plan 项目；方案

bachelor n. a person who had the first university degree 学士

graduation n. completion of an educational course 毕业

graduate vi.

short-term a. involving or lasting a short period of time 短期的

basis n. 基础；根据

consultant n. a person who gives professional or technical advice 顾问

consult v.

amaze vt. fill with great surprise or wonder 使大为惊讶，使惊愕

curious a. strange 奇怪的

whatsoever a. of any kind, at all 任何的，丝毫的

inspect vt. examine 检查

shipment n. the act of wending, carrying or delivering goods 装运。运送

miss vt. be without; lack

button n. 钮扣

collar n. 领子

sleeve n. 袖子

relieve vt. make less or easier 减轻

boring a. uninteresting and tiresome 令人厌烦的

workroom n. a room specially kept for working in 工场（间）

dull a. not bright or clear 阴暗的

flow n. a smooth steady movement or supply 流（动）

work flow a. 工作流程

irregular n. uneven; not continuous 不规则的，不稳定的

regular n.

absent-minded a. so concerned with one's thoughts as not to notice what is happening, what one doing, etc. 心不在焉

absent a. not present

inspection n. the act of examining (sth.) closely or in detail 检查

assembly n. 组装；集会

assemble v.

assembly line n. 装配线

shift n. 班；轮班

daydream v. have pleasant dreamlike thoughts (about) 做白日梦，空想

fire vt. make (sb.) leave his job 解雇

observation n. the act of watching carefully 观察

observe vt.

observe n.

oral a. spoken, not written 口（头）的

findings n. the results of any research or enquiry 调查（或研究）的结果

major a. important 较大的；主要的

redesign vt. 重新设计

design vt. 设计

achieve vt. get by effort （经努力）得到；实现

decrease vt. make smaller or fewer 减少

worktable n. a table at which work is done 工作台

operator n. a person who makes sth. work 操作人员

operate vt.

management n. 资方；管理（部门）

background n. 背景

beautify vt. make beautiful 美化，装饰

setting n. surroundings 环境

productive a. producing much; able to produce 多产的；富有成效的

frequent a. happening often 频繁的

promotion n. 提升；促进

promote vt.

incentive n. 刺激

suggestion n. an idea or plan put forward for people to think about 建议

co-owner n. a joint owner 共同所有者

manager n. a person responsible for running a section of a business 经理

compliments n. formal respects or greetings；贺词；问候

PHRASES & EXPRESSIONS

find out learn or discover 查明；发现

turn out happen to be or found be in the end 结果是

quality control the activity of checking that products are all of satisfactory standard and quality, usu. by testing samples of them 质量控制（管理）

as a result because of 作这结果，因此

except for apart from; with the exception of 除了...外

go on strike refuse go continue working 罢工

hold up delay 延迟，耽搁；阻碍

result in have as a result; cause 结果是；导致

talk over discuss 商量；讨论

keep up with go or move as fast as 跟上

PEOPER NAMES

San Adams 萨姆.亚当斯

Indiana 印第安纳（美国州名）

Hobbs 霍布斯（姓氏）

Unit Seven: The Sampler

TEXT

The 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 Sampler

In a certain store where they sell puddings, a number of these delicious things are laid out in a row during the Christmas 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 the shop girl, and I learned it was indeed the case.

"Now there's 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 him come if he wants it, and welcome to it. And what's 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 closely at the row of puddings with great interest.

"Why, that's the very gentleman I've been telling you about," whispered the shop girl." Just watch him now." And then turning to him:" Would you like to sample them, sir? Here's spoon for you to use."

The elderly gentleman, who was poorly but neatly dressed, 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 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 favorite 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 would 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 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 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 "honor" 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 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 WORDS

author 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. test a part of 品尝

purchase n. buying

vt. buy

advantage n. sth. useful or helpful 利益，好处；优点