iEnglish Learning & Instruction: Reading 5.3

Unit 3 The Teacher Who Changed My Life

Reading

One of the people who changed my life was a schoolteacher named Marjorie Hurd ([`mArdZ1rI `h3d] n.瑪嘉莉•赫德). When I came to America, I was a young war refugee ([&rEfj5`dZi] n. [C]難民refuge [`rEfjudZ] n. [U]庇護，避難) whose mother, Eleni Gatzoyiannis ([1`lEni &G8zO`j8nIs] n.艾拉妮•蓋茲揚尼), had been executed ([`EksI&kjut] vt.(尤指依法) 處決，處死vt. (fml.)執行execution [&EksI`kjuS1n] n. [U] (依法執行的) 處決，處死) by Communist ([`kAmj1nIst] adj.共產黨的communism [`kAmj1&nIz1m] n. [U]共產主義) guerrillas ([G1`rIl1] n. [C]游擊隊員). Entering junior high school, I was told to select a club to join. The idea of clubs made no sense to me, but I decided to follow the prettiest girl in my class. She led me into the presence of Miss Hurd, the school newspaper adviser who later became my mentor ([`mEnt2] n. [C]良師益友；指導者) and my muse ([mjuz] n. [C](創作的)靈感來源).

“If there’s anybody in this room who doesn’t like to work, I suggest that he or she go across the hall to the glee club ([`Gli &kl^b] n. [C] (the ～)合唱團) now, because you’re going to work your tails off (拼命工作、做事) here!” Miss Hurd roared at the beginning of the first club session ([`sES1n] n. [C](從事某活動的) 一段時間). I was soon under her spell. She drilled us in grammar ([`Gr8m2] n. [U]文法grammatical [Gr1`m8tIkL] adj.合乎文法的), assigned us stories to read and discuss, and eventually taught us how to write and put out (發行某物，出版某物；熄滅某物，撲滅某物) a newspaper. She also introduced us to the literary ([`lIt1&rErI] adj.與文學寫作(或研究) 相關的) wealth of ancient Greece giving me a new perspective ([p2`spEktIv] n. [C]觀點，想法) on my homeland. I began to be proud of my origins. Her efforts also spurred ([sp3] vt. (spurred | spurred | spurring)鞭策，激勵n. [C] (usu. sing.) 激勵，鼓舞) me on to understand the logic ([`lAdZIk] n. [U]邏輯，思考方式logical [`lAdZIkL] adj.合乎邏輯的，合理的) and structure of the English language. Under her inspiration, I spent the next twentyfive years exerting myself (竭力，盡力) to become a journalist.

One day, Miss Hurd assigned us to compose an essay based on our own experience. Fixing me with a stern ([st3n] adj.嚴肅的，嚴格的) look ((以…的眼神) 盯著某人看), she added, “Nick, I want you to write about what happened to your family in Greece.” I had been trying to put those painful memories behind (將某事拋諸某人腦後) me, and I left the assignment undone until the last moment. Then, on a warm spring afternoon, I sat in my room with a pad ([p8d] n. [C]便條紙簿；襯墊，護墊vt. (padded | padded | padding) (用軟材料)填充、保護) and pencil and stared out the window at the buds ([b^d] n. [C]葉芽，花苞) on the trees. I wrote, line after line, describing how the guerrillas had occupied our village, how my mother sought refuge for my sisters and me, and how, at the last moment, she failed to make an escape with us.

I handed in the essay, hoping never to see it again, but Miss Hurd had it published in the school paper. Without informing me, she also submitted ([s1b`mIt] vt. (submitted | submitted | submitting)提交，遞交) the essay to a contest ([`kAn&tEst] n. [C]競賽，比賽contestant [k1n`tEst1nt] n. [C] 競爭者，參賽者), where it won me a prize. The local paper wrote about the award I had won and quoted my essay at length (詳盡地；最終，終於) in the article. My father was delighted and full of pride, and the Greek community celebrated the honor I had received, too. For the first time, I began to understand the power of the written word (書面文字).

In high school, I became the editor of my school paper and got a parttime job at a local newspaper. Meanwhile, I continued to follow the literary path that Miss Hurd had so forcefully set me on. Although all my father could give me for my college education was $50 and some encouragement, I managed to finance ([`faI&n8ns] vt.資助，提供資金n. [U]財務financial [faI`n8nS1l] adj.財務的，金融的) my four years at university with scholarships ([`skArl2&SIp] n. [C]獎學金scholar [`skArl2] n. [C]學者) and parttime jobs in journalism.

When I graduated, Miss Hurd attended the ceremony with my father and shared our joy. She was also one of the first to call me when President Reagan ([`prEz1d1nt `reG1n] n.雷根總統 (1911-2004)) was giving a television address after his summit ([`s^mIt] n. [C]高峰會，領袖會議；山峰，山頂) meeting with Gorbachev ([`GOrb1tSOf] n.戈巴契夫 (1931-)). In it, the president told the nation that Eleni Gatzoyiannis’s dying cry of “My children!” had inspired him to seek an arms (n. pl武器) agreement “for all the children of the world.”

“I can’t imagine a better monument ([`mAnj1m1nt] n. [C]見證，紀念) to your mother,” Miss Hurd said with an uncharacteristic catch in her voice.

Miss Hurd retired at the age of 62. Even after her retirement, she continually made “projects” of rebellious ([rI`bElj1s] adj.叛逆的，桀驁不馴的rebel [`rEb1l] n. [C]叛逆者，反抗權威者[rI`bEl] vi.反抗) students in whom she spied a spark ([spArk] n. [C]一絲，一丁點；火花；誘因，導火線vt.引發，激起) of potential. She alternately ([`Olt2n1tlI] adv.交替地，輪流地alternate [`Olt2n1t] adj.交替的[`Olt2&net] vi.交替，輪流) bullied and charmed ([tSArm] vt.吸引，使著迷n. [U]吸引力，魅力) them with her own special brand of tough love, until the spark caught fire.

Miss Hurd was the one who directed my grief ([Grif] n. [U](尤指因某人之死而引起的) 悲慟，悲傷grieve [Griv] vi. (尤指因某人過世而) 感到悲傷) and pain into writing. If it had not been for her, I would never have become a reporter. She was the catalyst ([`k8tLIst] n. [C]促成變化的人或事物) that sent me into journalism and indirectly caused all the good things in my life that came after. Miss Hurd, however, would probably emphatically ([Im`f8tIklI] adj.斷然地，堅決地emphatic [Im`f8tIk] adj.斷然的，明確的) deny any of that.

—Adapted from “The Teacher Who Changed My Life.”

Comprehension Check

Choose the correct answer for each statement.

(　　) 1. The reading is mainly about ________.

(A) how a passionate teacher can change a student’s life

(B) how someone with a talent for writing can change the world

(D) the fact that only famous teachers can make their students outstanding

(　　) 2. According to the reading, the author started to realize the power of the written word when ________.

(A) the university offered him a scholarship

(B) President Reagan mentioned his mother on TV

(D) Miss Hurd introduced him a wealth of Greek literature

(　　) 3. According to the reading, Miss Hurd thought the best monument to the author’s mother was ________.

(A) his winning of the writing contest

(B) his graduation from a top university

(D) Reagan’s arms agreement with Gorbachev

(　　) 4. From the reading, we can infer that ________.

(A) the author has a great deal of respect for Miss Hurd

(B) the author was not satisfied with his job as a journalist

(D) out of sympathy, Miss Hurd showed favor to the author

Patterns in Use

1 S₁ + command/demand/beg/ask/order/require/suggest/advise/insist + that + S₂ (+ should) + be/V . . .

Examples:

‧If there’s anybody in this room who doesn’t like to work, I suggest that he or she go across the hall to the glee club now.

‧Dr. Doyle ordered that the heavy smoker (should) quit smoking right away.

◎Exercise:

Complete the following passage by using the given words and the above pattern. The first one has been done for you.

Ms. Roberts is the coach of our school basketball team. Our basketball team has won a lot of championships and has become famous in our area. One day, Coach Roberts decided that she needed to talk to her freshman players because the young players had ¹__begged that Coach Roberts (should) give them some advice__ (beg/Coach Roberts/give/they/some advice). Coach Roberts happily agreed, and the following is what she said when she talked to her players.

“First, I ²________________________ (suggest/you/choose/one position) and stick with it. The sooner you pick a specific position to play, the better your chances of mastering it are.”

“Second, I ³________________________ (command/you/spend/some time/learn) what makes a player great at your position.”

“Third, I ⁴________________________ (ask/each of you/keep/one’s grade/up). Even though your main focus is on basketball right now, you still need to do well academically.”

“Last but not least, I ⁵________________________ (require/you/practice/lot). Play basketball with your teammates, friends, or even family members whenever you have a chance.”

2 If it had/Had it not been for + N, S + would/could/might + have + p.p.

Examples:

‧If it had not been for Miss Hurd, I would never have become a reporter.

‧Had it not been for the bad weather yesterday, we might have gone to the beach.

Exercise:

Rewrite the following sentences by using the above pattern. The first one has been done for you.

1. Zoe didn’t pass the exam for lack of preparation.

→ __If it had/Had it not been for lack of preparation, Zoe might have passed the exam.__

2. Thanks to the life jacket, the ferry passenger didn’t drown.

→ __________________________________________________________________________

3. I had the courage to perform onstage because of my parents’ support.

→ __________________________________________________________________________

4. The tennis player didn’t win the match due to the injury to his left knee.

→ __________________________________________________________________________

5. The priest was able to work in such a remote village because he had a strong religious faith.

→ __________________________________________________________________________

◎Extra Exercise:

Translate the following pairs of Chinese sentences into English by using the patterns on pages 66 and 67.

1. 要不是上個月有Dr. Hammond的治療，Doris不可能活下來。

→ __________________________________________________________________________

2. 手術後，Dr. Hammond下令Doris避免吃甜食。

→ __________________________________________________________________________

II.

1. 要不是有酗酒的壞習慣，Emily去年就不會得到肝癌。

→ __________________________________________________________________________

2. 醫生要求Emily每半年檢查一次。

→ __________________________________________________________________________

III.

1. 要不是Richard昨天激勵人心的話，Anita就可能會自殺。

→ __________________________________________________________________________

2. Richard建議Anita應該試著看人生的光明面。

→ __________________________________________________________________________

◎Many Thanks . . .

On Teachers’ Day, students often write thankyou cards to their teachers to express their gratitude. Think of a teacher who once played or is playing an important role in your life, and write him or her a Teachers’ Day card to express your gratitude.

________________________________________________________________________________

Writing Hands-on

Making Comments

When you want to express your feelings or opinions about a book, a story, or an event, first briefly summarize what you have heard, seen, or read, and then give your response. Before you start writing, think about the following questions:

‧What do I think about this story?

‧Do I like it? Why or why not?

‧Which part of the story impresses me the most?

‧What point(s) in the story do I agree or disagree with?

‧What have I learned from it?

Next, following the steps below, you can put your answers into a paragraph that expresses your opinions:

1. Write a brief summary of the story.

2. Write down your opinions from the answers you give to the questions above.

3. Use the following transitional words or phrases to organize your opinions.

however, finally, first, I think that . . . , I am of the opinion that . . . , I agree/disagree that . . . , what I have learned from . . . is . . . , in addition, from my point of view, in my opinion/view, . . .

Examples:

Topic: My Reflections on “The Teacher Who Changed My Life”

Write a Rough Outline

The Topic Sentence

Recently, I read an article entitled “The Teacher Who Changed My Life” by Nicholas Gage.

The Supporting Ideas

(1) a brief summary of the story

(2) the part that impresses me the most

(3) what I have learned from the story

Write a Paragraph

Recently, I read an article entitled “The Teacher Who Changed My Life” written by Nicholas Gage. In the article, the author described in detail how his schoolteacher Marjorie Hurd inspired him to strive to become a journalist. The part that impressed me most was the way Miss Hurd spurred the author, a young war refugee, to understand the power of the written word and further, helped him put his love for his mother into words. What impressed me the most was that many of us may have met similar teachers who greatly influenced us, but very few of them are like Miss Hurd, who was able to direct the author’s grief and pain into a love of learning. What I have learned from the story is that a truly good teacher is one that can help students see and realize their own potential.

Exercise:

Now, it’s your turn to write a paragraph to express your views about “Anne Frank’s Diary.” First, make an outline of your paragraph, then develop your ideas into complete sentences, and organize them into a paragraph. Finally, bring the paragraph to an end with a good concluding sentence.

Topic: __________________________________________________________________________

1. Write a Rough Outline

The Topic Sentence

________________________________________________________________________________

The Supporting Ideas

(1) _____________________________________________________________________________

(2) _____________________________________________________________________________

(3) _____________________________________________________________________________

2. Write a Paragraph

________________________________________________________________________________

Patterns in Use

句型一

Exercise

2 suggest that you (should) choose one position

3 command that you (should) spend some time learning

4 ask that each of you (should) keep your grades up

5 require that you (should) practice a lot

句型二

Exercise

2 If it had/Had it not been for the life jacket, the ferry passenger would have drowned.

3 If it had/Had it not been for my parents’ support, I wouldn’t have had the courage to perform onstage.

4 If it had/Had it not been for the injury to his left knee, the tennis player could have won the match.

5 If it had/Had it not been for his strong religious faith, the priest might not have been able to work in such a remote village.

Extra Exercise

1. If it had/Had it not been for Dr. Hammond's treatment last month, Doris would not have survived.

2. After the operation, Dr. Hammond ordered that Doris (should) avoid eating sweets.

II.

1. If it had/Had it not been for her bad habit of heavy drinking, Emily would not have developed liver cancer last year.

2. The doctor has asked that Emily (should) get an examination every six months.

III.

1. If it had/Had it not been for Richard's inspiring words yesterday, Anita might have committed suicide.

2. Richard suggested that Anita (should) try to look on the bright side of life.

Writing Hands-on

Exercise A

Topic: My Thoughts on Anne Frank’s Diary

1 Anne Frank’s Diary, written by a girl younger than me, has touched my heart.　

a brief summary of the story

‚ the part that impresses me the most

ƒ what I have learned from the story

Anne Frank’s Diary, written by a girl younger than me, has deeply touched my heart. Anne Frank got the diary as a birthday present at 13 when she was still leading a normal life. However, things changed completely after the Nazis took over and Hitler made strict laws against the Jews. The Frank family had no choice but to hide in the Secret Annex. Anne started writing her diary as a young teenager, and she matured physically and emotionally through the two years of hiding. What impressed me most was that even though she was confined to a small place, she still showed appreciation for being able to remain with her family and could also express concern for those who suffered outside. Young as Anne was, she was compassionate about human suffering, and to her last breath she never gave up hope. How many of us who are more fortunate are as grateful and compassionate as Anne was?

iEnglish Learning & Instruction

2021年7月3日星期六

Reading 5.3

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2021年7月3日 星期六

Reading 5.3

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2021年7月3日星期六