1、編輯編輯pptppt1 1UNIT 5 WRITING THREE UNIT 5 WRITING THREE THANK-YOU LETTERSTHANK-YOU LETTERSAlex HaleyAlex Haley編輯編輯pptppt2 2ALEX HALEY (19211992)American biographer, scriptwriter, and authorbecame famous with the publication of the novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family, which traces his ancestry

2、 back to Africa and covers 7 American generations as they are taken slaves to the U.S.3 3編輯編輯pptpptTHANKSGIVING HISTORYSecond most important holiday in the U.S., celebrated in on the fourth Thursday in November. associated with the time when Europeans first came to North America. In 1620 the ship th

3、e Mayflower arrived, bringing about 102 people who today are usually called Pilgrims. 4 4編輯編輯pptpptTHANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONSThanksgiving dinnerTurkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet corn, various fall vegetables (mainly various kinds of squashes), and pu

4、mpkin pie5 5編輯編輯pptpptTHANKSGIVINGGiving thanksSaying grace (謝恩祈禱) before carving a turkey at Thanksgiving dinner, Pennsylvania, U.S., 19426 6編輯編輯pptpptTHANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONSVacation and travel: Thanksgiving Break Thursday-SundayParadesMacys Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC“National Thanksgiving Tu

5、rkey Presentation” and “Presidential Pardoning”Football and other sports7 7編輯編輯pptppt8 8編輯編輯pptpptMAIN IDEA By writing three “thank you” letters, the author realizes that human beings long for other peoples appreciation for their efforts. Therefore, he encourages people to “find the good-and praise

6、it”.編輯編輯pptppt9 9WRITING THREE THANK-YOU LETTERS It was 1943, during World War II, and I was a young U.S. coastguardsman. My ship, the USS Murzim, had been under way for several days. Most of her holds contained thousands of cartons of canned or dried foods. The other holds were loaded with five-hun

7、dred-pound bombs packed delicately in padded racks. Our destination was a big base on the island of Tulagi in the South Pacific. I was one of the Murzims several cooks and, quite the same as for folk ashore, this Thanksgiving morning had seen us busily preparing a traditional dinner featuring roast

8、turkey.Alex Haley編輯編輯pptppt1010 I decided first to go out on the Murzims afterdeck for a breath of open air. I made my way out there, breathing in great, deep draughts while walking slowly about, still wearing my white cooks hat. Well, as any cook knows, its a lot of hard work to cook and serve a bi

9、g meal, and clean up and put everything away. But finally, around sundown, we finished at last.編輯編輯pptppt1111 I got to thinking about Thanksgiving, of the Pilgrims, Indians, wild turkeys, pumpkins, corn on the cob, and the rest. Yet my mind seemed to be in quest of something else some way that I cou

10、ld personally apply to the close of Thanksgiving. It must have taken me a half hour to sense that maybe some key to an answer could result from reversing the word “Thanksgiving” at least that suggested a verbal direction, “Giving thanks.”編輯編輯pptppt1212 Giving thanks as in praying, thanking God, I th

11、ought. Yes, of course. Certainly. Yet my mind continued turning the idea over. After a while, like a dawns brightening, a further answer did come that there were people to thank, people who had done so much for me that I could never possibly repay them. The embarrassing truth was Id always just acce

12、pted what theyd done, taken all of it for granted. Not one time had I ever bothered to express to any of them so much as a simple, sincere “Thank you”.編輯編輯pptppt1313 At least seven people had been particularly and lastingly helpful to me. I realized, swallowing hard, that about half of them had sinc

13、e died so they were forever beyond any possible expression of gratitude from me. The more I thought about it, the more ashamed I became. Then I pictured the three who were still alive and, within minutes, I was down in my cabin.編輯編輯pptppt1414 Sitting at a table with writing paper and memories of thi

14、ngs each had done, I tried composing genuine statements of heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to my dad, Simon A. Haley, a professor at the old Agricultural Mechanical Normal College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas; to my grandma, Cynthia Palmer, back in our little hometown of Henning, Tennessee; and to t

15、he Rev. Lonual Nelson, my grammar school principal, retired and living in Ripley, six miles north of Henning.編輯編輯pptppt1515 The texts of my letters began something like, “Here, this Thanksgiving at sea, I find my thoughts upon how much you have done for me, but I have never stopped and said to you h

16、ow much I feel the need to thank you ” And briefly I recalled for each of them specific acts performed on my behalf.編輯編輯pptppt1616 For instance, something uppermost about my father was how he had impressed upon me from boyhood to love books and reading. In fact, this graduated into a family habit of

17、 after-dinner quizzes at the table about books read mostrecently and new words learned. My love of books never diminished and later led me toward writing books myself. So many times I have felt a sadness when exposed to modern children so immersed in the electronic media that they have little or no

18、awareness of the marvelous world to be discovered in books.編輯編輯pptppt1717 I reminded the Reverend Nelson how each morning he would open our little country towns grammar school with a prayer over his assembled students. I told him that whatever positive things I had done since had been influenced at

19、least in part by his morning school prayers.編輯編輯pptppt1818 In the letter to my grandmother, I reminded her of a dozen ways she used to teach me how to tell the truth, to share, and to be forgiving and considerate of others. I thanked her for the years of eating her good cooking, the equal of which I

20、 had not found since. Finally, I thanked her simply for having sprinkled my life with stardust.編輯編輯pptppt1919 Before I slept, my three letters went into our ships office mail sack. They got mailed when we reached Tulagi Island. We unloaded cargo, reloaded with something else, then again we put to se

21、a in the routine familiar to us, and as the days became weeks, my little personal experience receded. Sometimes, when we were at sea, a mail ship would rendezvous and bring us mail from home, which, of course, we accorded topmost priority.編輯編輯pptppt2020 Every time the ships loudspeaker rasped, “Atte

22、ntion! Mail call!” two hundred-odd shipmates came pounding up on deck and clustered about the two seamen, standing by those precious bulging gray sacks. They were alternately pulling out fistfuls of letters and barking successive names of sailors who were, in turn, shouting back “Here! Here!” amid t

23、he pushing.編輯編輯pptppt2121 One “mail call” brought me responses from Grandma, Dad, and the Reverend Nelson and my reading oftheir letters left me not only astonished but more humbled than before.編輯編輯pptppt2222 Rather than saying they would forgive that I hadnt previously thanked them, instead, for Pe

24、tes sake, they were thanking me for having remembered, for having considered they had done anything so exceptional. Always the college professor, my dad had carefully avoided anything he considered too sentimental, so I knew how moved he was to write me that, after having helped educate many young p

25、eople, he now felt that his best results included his own son.編輯編輯pptppt2323 The Reverend Nelson wrote that his decades as a “simple, old-fashioned principal” had ended with schools undergoing such swift changes that he had retired in self-doubt. “I heard more of what I had done wrong than what I di

26、d right,” he said, adding that my letter had brought him welcome reassurance that his career had been appreciated.編輯編輯pptppt2424 A glance at Grandmas familiar handwriting brought back in a flash memories of standing alongside her white rocking chair, watching her “setting down ” some letter to relat

27、ives. Character by character, Grandma would slowly accomplish one word, then the next, so that a finished page would consume hours. I wept over the page representing my Grandmas recent hours invested in expressing her loving gratefulness to me whom she used to diaper! Much later, retired from the Co

28、ast Guard and trying to make a living as a writer, I never forgot how those three “thank you” letters gave me an insight into how most human beings go about longing in secret for more of their fellows to express appreciation for their efforts.編輯編輯pptppt2525 Now, approaching another Thanksgiving, I h

29、ave asked myself what will I wish for all who are reading this, for our nation, indeed for our whole world since, quoting a good and wise friend of mine, “In the end we are mightily and merely people, each with similar needs.” First, I wish for us, of course, the simple common sense to achieve world

30、 peace, that being paramount for the very survival of our kind. And there is something else I wish so strongly that I have had this line printed across the bottom of all my stationery: “Find the good and praise it.”編輯編輯pptppt2626Why was it necessary for the writer to offer so many details of his voy

31、age? The details indicate that this Thanksgiving was unusual, explaining why the writer felt the need to celebrate it in an unusual way. Most of her holds contained thousands of cartons of canned or dried foods. The other holds were loaded with five-hundred-pound bombs packed delicately in padded ra

32、cks. Our destination was a big base on the island of Tulagi in the South Pacific.編輯編輯pptppt2727. this Thanksgiving morning had seen us busily preparing a traditional dinner featuring roast turkey.Paraphrase this part. on this Thanksgiving morning we were busy preparing a traditional dinner which inc

33、luded mainly roast turkey. “Feature” here means “to include as a special part”. 編輯編輯pptppt2828Analyze the structure of the sentence. 在這個長句中有三個在這個長句中有三個 -ing 分詞分詞：breathing、walking 和和 wearing。breathing 為為 made my way out 的伴隨狀語的伴隨狀語，walking 與與 while 連用表示與連用表示與 breathing 這一動作同時這一動作同時發生發生，wearing 為為 wal

34、king 的伴隨狀語。的伴隨狀語。 I made my way out there, breathing in great, deep draughts while walking slowly about, still wearing my white cooks hat.Translate the sentence into Chinese. 我信步走去，一邊深深呼吸著空氣，一邊慢慢地踱著我信步走去，一邊深深呼吸著空氣，一邊慢慢地踱著步，頭上仍戴著那頂白色的廚師帽。步，頭上仍戴著那頂白色的廚師帽。 編輯編輯pptppt2929大概過了半個小時我才意識到，問題的關鍵也許在于把大概過了半個小時

35、我才意識到，問題的關鍵也許在于把Thanksgiving 這個詞前后顛倒一下，那樣一來至少文字這個詞前后顛倒一下，那樣一來至少文字好懂了好懂了：Giving thanks。 It must have taken me a half hour to sense that maybe some key to an answer could result from reversing the word “Thanksgiving” at least that suggested a verbal direction, “Giving thanks.”Translate this sentence i

36、nto Chinese.編輯編輯pptppt3030What can we infer from this sentence? The author took all for granted and never expressed any appreciation. The sentence is in inverted order. Not one time had I ever bothered to express to any of them so much as a simple, sincere “Thank you”.編輯編輯pptppt3131I told him that w

37、hatever positive things I had done since had been influenced at least in part by his morning school prayers.Analyze the structure of the sentence. whatever positive morning school prayer 是賓語從句。是賓語從句。I had done since 是定語從句，修飾是定語從句，修飾 whatever positive things; since 為副詞，修飾為副詞，修飾 had done; in part 在這里意

38、在這里意為為 partly。 編輯編輯pptppt3232and my reading of their letters left me not only astonished but more humbled than before.我讀了信，既覺得震驚，又深感卑微。我讀了信，既覺得震驚，又深感卑微。 Analyze the structure of this part. leave 常用于結構常用于結構：leave sb. + adj./past participle，adj./past participle（此處為此處為 not only astonished but more humb

39、led than before）為賓語補足語為賓語補足語。 Translate this sentence into Chinese.編輯編輯pptppt3333Rather than saying they would forgive that I hadnt previously thanked them, instead, for Petes sake, they were thanking me for having remembered, for having considered they had done anything so exceptional.Paraphrase th

40、e sentence.They didnt say they would forgive me for not thanking them, but instead, for Gods sake, they thanked me for having remembered what they had done and for having thought they had done something special to me. 編輯編輯pptppt3434A glance at Grandmas familiar handwriting brought back in a flash me

41、mories of standing alongside her white rocking chair, watching her “setting down” some letter to relatives. What does the sentence mean? His grandmas handwriting reminded the writer of many sweet memories of his childhood with her. “Setting down” here means “writing”. 編輯編輯pptppt3535I wept over the p

42、age representing my Grandmas recent hours invested in expressing her loving gratefulness to me.Paraphrase the sentence. I was moved to tears that my grandma had spent hours recently in expressing her loving gratefulness to me. 編輯編輯pptppt3636Its been under way for fifty years and it still has a long

43、way to go.A battle to conquer nature is under way. under way: in position or operation, having started and making progress Collocation: all the way 自始自終自始自終 any way 無論如何無論如何 by the way 順便說順便說 by way of經由；通過經由；通過的方法的方法 編輯編輯pptppt3737put away: remove (sth.) to a place where it is usually storedHe has

44、a habit of putting away his tools after work.Put the books away neatly on the shelf. 編輯編輯pptppt3838Recently Ive got to wondering why I am doing the part-time job.get to sth./doing sth.: begin to give serious attention to or deal withIll get to the accounts as soon as I can.編輯編輯pptppt3939The rise, th

45、e first in 10 months, reversed the downward trend in the countrys jobless rate.reverse: vt. turn around to the opposite direction; exchange the position of Why dont you reverse the order so that I perform first and he performs second? Collocation: in reverse向相反方向；倒（退）；逆（行、轉等）向相反方向；倒（退）；逆（行、轉等）just t

46、he reverse正好相反，恰恰相反正好相反，恰恰相反suffer/sustain a reverse遭受挫折（或失敗）；吃敗仗遭受挫折（或失敗）；吃敗仗 the reverse of的反面；絕不是的反面；絕不是，遠非，遠非編輯編輯pptppt4040She sat there quietly, turning over the problem. turn over: think about; consider 他在心里反復考慮這件事情。他在心里反復考慮這件事情。 He turned the matter over in his mind. Collocation: turn aside 避

47、開，撇開避開，撇開turn (away) from 對對感到厭惡感到厭惡turn down 關小；拒絕關小；拒絕 turn up 開大；出現開大；出現 編輯編輯pptppt4141She repaid me the money.How can I ever repay you for your kindness? repay: vt. pay back; reward 編輯編輯pptppt4242gratitude: n. being thankful; thankfulness (followed by to sb. / for sth.) He showed me his gratitud

48、e by inviting me to dinner. She expressed her gratitude for our help. Collocation: feel gratitude 心懷感激心懷感激 show gratitude 表露感激之情表露感激之情deep/profound gratitude 深切的謝意深切的謝意 everlasting gratitude 永遠的感謝永遠的感謝 sincere gratitude 誠摯的謝意誠摯的謝意 編輯編輯pptppt4343specific: adj. relating to one thing and not others; pa

49、rticular He uses a specific tool for each job. 試卷回答要明確具體。試卷回答要明確具體。 Be specific in your examination answers. specific, special, especial & particular均有均有“特殊的、特別的特殊的、特別的”的意思。的意思。CF:He gave us a specific statement of the case. 關于這個案子他向我們作了詳盡的陳述。關于這個案子他向我們作了詳盡的陳述。specific 意思是具體的、特定的、明確的。例如：意思是具體的、特

50、定的、明確的。例如：編輯編輯pptppt4444This particular case is an exception to the rule. 這個特殊個案是個例外。這個特殊個案是個例外。 This is a special case, deserving special treatment. 這是一個特別案例，值得特殊處理。這是一個特別案例，值得特殊處理。special 意思是特殊的、專門的，強調某事物的特殊性意思是特殊的、專門的，強調某事物的特殊性 或特殊用途。例如：或特殊用途。例如： particular 意思是特殊的、特別的。強調事物的獨特性、突出意思是特殊的、特別的。強調事物的獨

51、特性、突出性。例如：性。例如：especial 是是 special 的舊式的正式用語，用于強調。例如：的舊式的正式用語，用于強調。例如： We have an especial need of help at this time. 我們這個時候需要特別幫助。我們這個時候需要特別幫助。 編輯編輯pptppt4545我需要一個明確的回答。我需要一個明確的回答。 I want a specific answer. Translate the following sentences into English, using the above words.沒有什么特別的。沒有什么特別的。Nothing

52、 special. 故事就發生在那一天。故事就發生在那一天。The story happened on that particular day. 他特別不喜歡流行音樂。他特別不喜歡流行音樂。He has an especial dislike for pop music. specific, special, especial & particular編輯編輯pptppt4646on ones behalf / on behalf of sb.: for sb.; in the interests of sb.; as the representative of sb.My husba

53、nd cant be here today, so Im going to speak on his behalf. 律師代表當事人說話。律師代表當事人說話。 The lawyer spoke on behalf of his client. 編輯編輯pptppt4747I am impressed by/with his performance.The gas turbine feeds on the fuel it pumps.impress: vt.1. fix in sb.s mind; make the importance of (sth.) very clear to sb. P

54、attern: impress upon/on sb. + that-clauseimpress upon/on sb. sth.My father impressed on me the value of hard work. 2. cause (sb.) to feel admiration or respect 編輯編輯pptppt4848His illness diminished his strength. diminish: v. make or become smaller or less我們的友誼決不會因時間的流逝而減弱。我們的友誼決不會因時間的流逝而減弱。 Time will

55、 never cause our friendship to diminish. decrease, diminish & reduce這三個動詞都有這三個動詞都有“減少減少”，“使減少使減少”之意。之意。CF:The population of the village has decreased to 400.該村的人口已減到該村的人口已減到400.decrease 特指數量的減少。例如：特指數量的減少。例如：編輯編輯pptppt4949The workers reduced their wage demands. An occasional outburst did not dim

56、inish my respect for her. 一次偶然發火并沒有減少我對她的尊重。一次偶然發火并沒有減少我對她的尊重。diminish 表示表示“帶走或分離出去，而使物體的數量受損帶走或分離出去，而使物體的數量受損”。有時指某事物的價值突然降低。例如：有時指某事物的價值突然降低。例如：reduce 特別強調人為地減少或降低。例如：特別強調人為地減少或降低。例如：工人們降低了他們的工資要求。工人們降低了他們的工資要求。編輯編輯pptppt5050He enjoys exposing his skin to the sun. 作為戰時攝影記者，她遇到了很多危險。作為戰時攝影記者，她遇到了很多

57、危險。 As a photographer in the war, she was exposed to many dangers. expose: vt. leave uncovered or unprotected Pattern: be exposed to編輯編輯pptppt5151immerse: vt. cover completely in a liquid; absorb deeplyHe lay immersed in a hot bath.immerse, dunk & dip 這幾個詞均有這幾個詞均有“浸（入）浸（入）”的意思。的意思。CF:immerse 是正式

58、用語，指把某物完全浸入液體中，也可是正式用語，指把某物完全浸入液體中，也可 以指陷入或專心于某事。例如：以指陷入或專心于某事。例如：她專心致志地工作，因而沒有注意到我。她專心致志地工作，因而沒有注意到我。 She was so immersed in her work that she didnt notice me. I immersed myself in work so as to stop thinking about her. 為了不再想她，我使自己完全沉浸在工作之中。為了不再想她，我使自己完全沉浸在工作之中。 編輯編輯pptppt5252She dipped a toe in th

59、e water to see how cold it was.She used to dunk her biscuits in her tea.以前她總是把餅干在茶里泡了吃。以前她總是把餅干在茶里泡了吃。 dunk 是非正式用語，指將某物部分置于液體中，動作慢且是非正式用語，指將某物部分置于液體中，動作慢且輕。例如：輕。例如：dip 是常用詞，亦指將某物部分置于液體中，但馬上便從液體是常用詞，亦指將某物部分置于液體中，但馬上便從液體中提出，其特點是小心謹慎或帶有試探性。例如：中提出，其特點是小心謹慎或帶有試探性。例如：她把腳尖浸入水中，以探知水有多涼。她把腳尖浸入水中，以探知水有多涼。 編輯編

60、輯pptppt5353The whole town was in a festival atmosphere. Its nice to oneself in a pool on a hot day. He the penpoint into the ink and then went on writing.Put into each gap one of the above words. Change the form where necessary.immersed_1.2.3.dunk _dipped _CF: immerse, dunk & dip 編輯編輯pptppt5454marvelous: adj. causing won