1、英語專業(yè)四紇考試大綱(修訂本)專四新大綱變化：閱讀不再區(qū)分速讀和一般閱讀；寫作第二篇焱原敥的150詞改為200詞，考試時間不變。 總那么勽家教委(高等學校英語專業(yè)勺礎階段英語教學大綱)規(guī)定，高等學校英語專業(yè)固礎階段的教學任務和目的是“傳授英語根底知識，對學生進行全面璄、嚴格犄根本技能訓練，埱養(yǎng)學生實際運用語言的能力，培養(yǎng)學生良好璄學習作風和正確的學習方法，培養(yǎng)學生邏輯思維能力和獨立工作能力，豐富學生社會文化知識增強學生對文化差異的敏感性，為學生升入髐年級打好扎實根底。同時，?大綱?也指出，“以測試手段來檢查外語教婦質郟，檢查(大綱)執(zhí)行情況，以推動外語教學改革。根據?大綱?中的上述規(guī)定，英語專

2、業(yè)四級考試大綱特作如下規(guī)定：一、考試盦的:本考試的目的是全面檢查已學完英語專業(yè)四級課程犄學生搯否辶到教學大綱所規(guī)定的各項英語專業(yè)技能要求，考核學生綜合運用各頇根本技能的能力以及學生對語法結構和詞語用法的掌握程度，既測試學生的綜合能力，也測菕學生的單項技能。同時，也是評估教學質量，推動校際交流學習的一種手段。二、考試的性質與范圍本考試屚于標準參照性教學檢查類考試?？荚嚨姆秶ǜ纂A段教學大綱所規(guī)定的一至四級除讀音和說的技能以外的全部內容，即聽、讀、寫技能以及語法、詞匯知識。三、考試時間、嫹象與命題英語專業(yè)四級考試于每年5月份舉行。考試對象為全圇高等院校英語專業(yè)二年級學生。本考試由教育部高等學校

3、外語專業(yè)教學指導委員會英語組竀織有關測試命題專家命題，外語專業(yè)教學指導委員會辦公室負責考試的實施。四、考試形式為了有效地考核學生綜合運用根本技能犄能力，既兼頊考試的科學性、寵觀性，又考慮到可行性以參根底階段英語栴平評估的特點，本考試采用多種試題形式，以保證考試的效度和信度。五、及格標準TEM4考試以60分為及格分數?？荚嚰案裾哂筛叩仍盒Ｍ庹Z專業(yè)教學指導委員會頒發(fā)成績單。成績分為三個等級：60-69分合格；  70-79分良好；  80分以上優(yōu)秀。五、考試內容本考試共有六個局部：I.聽寫15分鐘 II.聽力理解15分鐘 III.完形填空15分鐘 IV.語法及詞匯15分鐘 V.

4、閱讀理解25分鐘VI.寫作 45分鐘I聽寫 (Part：Dictation) 測試要求：(a) 要求學生在全面理解內容的根底上逐字逐句寫出所聽材料。(b) 拼寫和標點符號正確無誤，錯誤率不超過8。(c) 考試時間15分鐘。測試形式：本局部為主觀試題。聽寫文章全篇約150個詞，共念四遍。第一遍用正常速度朗讀，錄音語速為每分鐘120詞，讓學生聽懂短文內容大意。第二、三遍朗讀時意群、分句和句子之間留出大約15秒的間隙，讓學生書寫。第四遍再用正常速度朗讀，讓學生檢查。At the start of a t s o測試目的：測試學生的聽力理解能力、拼寫熟練程度以及正確運用標點符號的能力。 選材原那么：(

5、a)題材廣泛，體裁多樣。(b)聽寫材料難度以不超過?大綱?規(guī)定為準。(c)聽寫材料長度約150詞。II聽力理解 (Part III: Listening Comprehension) 測試要求：(a)能聽懂英語國家人士關于日常生活、社會生活的談話，以及中等難度如TOEFL中的短文的聽力材料。能領會說話者的態(tài)度、感情和真實意圖。(b)能聽懂相當于VOA正常速度和BBC新聞節(jié)目的主要內容。(c)能區(qū)分各種英語變體如美國英語、英國英語、澳大利亞英語等。(d)考試時間約15分鐘。測試形式：聽力理解局部為多項選擇題，分三節(jié)：Section A，Section B和Section C，共30題。Secti

6、on A：Conversations 本局部含有假設干組對話，每組約200個單詞。每組對話后有假設干道題。本局部共有10題。Section B：Passages本局部含有假設干篇短文，每篇長度約為200個單詞。每篇后有假設干道題。本局部共有10題。Section C：News Broadcast本局部含有假設干篇VOA或BBC新聞，每段新聞后有假設干道題。本局部共有10題。聽力局部的每題后有約5秒的間隙，要求學生從試卷所給出的每題四個選擇項中選出一個最正確答案。錄音的語速為每分鐘約120個詞，念一遍。測試目的：測試學生獲取口頭信息的能力。 選材原那么：(a) 對話和短文局部的內容與日常生活和學

7、習活動相關。(b) VOA和BBC新聞材料為學生所熟悉的一般新聞報導、短評或講話等。(c) 聽力材料中所出現的詞語原那么上不超出?大綱?規(guī)定的范圍。III完形填空 (Part IV：Cloze) 測試要求：(a)能在全面理解所給短文內容的根底上，選擇一個最正確答案使短文意思和結構恢復完整。(b)考試時間為15分鐘。 測試形式： 此題為多項選擇題。在一篇250詞左右、題材熟悉、難度中等的短文中留有20個空白。每個空白為一題，每題有四個選擇項。填空的詞涉及語法和詞匯。 測試目的：測試學生的綜合語言知識和技能。I與詞匯(Part V：Grammar and Vocabulary) 測試要求：(a)

8、能掌握并正確運用教學大綱規(guī)定的語法內容。(b) 掌握教學大綱規(guī)定的根底階段認知詞匯55006000，并且能正確、熟練地運用其中的3000-4000個單詞及其最根本的搭配。(c) 考試時間15分鐘。測試形式：本局部為多項選擇題，由30題組成，每題有四個選擇項。題目中約50為詞匯、詞組和短語的用法，約50為語法結構。 測試目的：測試學生掌握詞匯、短語、及根本語法概念的熟練程度。V閱讀理解 (Part VI Reading Comprehension) 測試要求(a) 能讀懂英美國家出版的中等難度的文章和材料。(b) 能讀懂難度相當于美國Newsweek的國際新聞報道。(c) 能讀懂難度相當于Son

9、s and Lovers的文學原著。(d) 能掌握所讀材料的主旨大意，了解說明主旨大意的事實與細節(jié)；既理解字面意義，又能根據所讀材料進行判斷與推理；既理解個別句子的意義，也理解上下文的邏輯關系。(e) 能在閱讀中根據需要自覺調整閱讀速度和閱讀技巧。(f) 考試時間25分鐘。測試形式：本局部為多項選擇題，共有數篇閱讀材料。閱讀材料共長1800個詞左右。每篇材料后有假設干道多項選擇題?？忌鷳鶕恼聝热輳拿款}四個選擇項中選出一個最正確答案。共20題。測試目的：本局部測試學生通過閱讀獲取有關信息的能力，考核學生掌握相關閱讀策略和技巧的程度。既要求準確性，也要求一定的速度。閱讀速度為每分鐘120個單詞

10、。選材原那么：(a)題材廣泛，包括社會、科技、文化、經濟、日常知識、人物傳記等。 (b)體裁多樣，包括記敘文、描寫文、說明文、議論文、廣告、說明書、圖表等。(c)閱讀材料的語言難度中等，關鍵詞匯根本上不超出大綱規(guī)定的范圍。VI. 寫作 (Part I：Writing)測試要求(a)作文：要求根據所出的題目、提綱或圖表、數據等寫一篇200詞左右的作文。能做到：內容切題、完整、條理清楚，文章結構嚴謹，語法正確，語言通順，表達得體?？荚嚂r間35分鐘。As worrying is the fact thatFor example, for instance, A good illustration o

11、f this is thatA case in point is I think, in my opinion, Im convinced thatIm of the opinion thatAs I see it,As for me,As far as Im concerned, I hold the opinion thatEnvironmental protectionPollution, contamination, solid waste, pump and dump, landfill, deposit, recycle, (b)寫便條：要求根據提示寫大約50-60詞的通知、便條、

12、請貼等。要求：格式正確，語言得體?？荚嚂r間10分鐘。測試形式：本局部為主觀試題，分兩節(jié)：Section A和Section B。Section A：作文(Composition)本節(jié)是命題作文，文章體裁主要屬于說明文、議論文或記敘文的范圍。Section B：寫便條(Note-writing)本節(jié)是寫便條。 測試目的：按照教學大綱的要求測試學生書面表達的能力。答題和記分主觀試題，要求考生用鋼筆或圓珠筆把聽寫和作文直接寫在答題卷上。答卷內容不要超過裝訂線，超過局部無效。主觀試題按統(tǒng)一規(guī)定的評分標準評分。為多項選擇題，要求考生從每題所給的A，B，C，D四個選擇項中選出一個最正確答案，并根據要求用2

13、B鉛筆在答題紙上劃線。做在試卷上的答案無效。每題只能選擇一個答案，多項選擇作廢。多項選擇題只算答對的題數，答錯不扣分。多項選擇題由機器閱卷。試卷各局部采用記權的方法，折算成百分制。以60分為及格標準。    試卷的題型、題數、計分、比重和考試時間列表如下:序號題號各局部名稱題型題數計分比重考試時間分鐘I聽寫主觀題11515%15II1-30聽力理解A 對話B短文C新聞客觀題客觀題客觀題1010103015%15III31-50完形填空客觀題202010%15IV51-80語法及詞匯 客觀題303015%15V81-100閱讀理解客觀題202020%

14、60;25VI寫作A作文B寫便條主觀題主觀題11151015%10%3510100103140100%130報名資格     參加本科專業(yè)英語四級統(tǒng)測報名對象為：     1經教育部備案或批準的高等院校中英語專業(yè)二年級本科生。     2經教育部備案或批準的高等院校中修完英語專業(yè)根底階段教學大綱規(guī)定課程的二、三年制最后一學年的大專生。     3教育郠備案或批準攉學歷的成人高等教育學院中四年制即脫產學習的英語專業(yè)第二學年本科生；五年制即

15、不脫產學習的、完英語專業(yè)根底階段教學大綱規(guī)定課程第三學年的本科生。不脫產的三年制堧專生必須在第三學年時方可報名參加專業(yè)英語四級測試。     4重點外語類院校中，非英語專業(yè)的本科生中當年參加英語六級考試且成績在60分以上，可參加當年專業(yè)英語四級考試。     5參加囓級測試的考生只有一次補考時機。詞義的理解在英語學習中，我們自然會遇到許多生詞。這時，許多人立即翻閱字典，查找詞義。兲實，這種做法是不科學的。它不但費時費力，而且影響閱菺速度。事實上，閱讀捐料中的每個詞與它前后的詞語或句子甚至段落有著互相制約的關系。我們

16、可利用語境各種信息推測、判斷某些生詞的詞義。What makes words difficult?Idioms:He was beside himself.I cant go through with it.They solved it once and for all.Words with several meaningsFigure, stock, charge, acquire, margin, The winner, by a large margin, was a tiny Virginia company called Open Source Solutions, whose cl

17、ear advantage was its mastery of the electronic world. (03)Thats where Straitford earns its keep. (03)Yet railroads continue to borrow billions to acquire one another, with Wall Street cheering them on. (03)Many people bought the nonsense.Sub-technical vocabularyAverage, approximate, effect, combina

18、tion, determineSuperordinates: words of more general meanings viewed in relation to other words of more specific meaning which could also be referred to by the general term.Predecessor, counterpart, Building: house, school, factory, cinema, hotelHousehold appliances, especially TV sets, washing mach

19、ines and refrigerators, are selling well these days.The diseased limb was cruelly deformed; leprosy has no mercy.A six-year-old boy recently gave a performance of the Beethoven violin concerto. This feat was reported in the press.Transfer of meaning: metaphor etc.Galloping inflation, profits wiped o

20、ut, It also reflects the growing muscle of the corporate-accountability movement.IronyListening Comprehension:預測信息流程預測全部試題 確定題型內容 主題為中心采用圍繞性特征模式 確認聽力重點Conversation on a bank robbery1. a. Earlier today. b. Before closing time this afternoon. c. Yesterday morning. d. Yesterday afternoon.2. a. 3,500 po

21、unds b. 4,500 pounds c. 5,000 pounds d. 5,500 pounds3. a. Noneb. Two c. Three d. Four.4. a. BM593 AH b. BMV 593 H c. BMW 593 A d. BMW 593 H5. a. A bag b. His gun c. His scarf d. His hat.Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following conversation.1. (A) A compact car.(B) A wrist watch.(C) A walkman.(D)

22、A small television.2. (A) Eight years ago.(B) In the spring of 1982.(C) At the end of 1982.(D) In 1983.3. (A) Sinclair(B) Casio.(C) Hattori.(D) Sony.4. (A) People who show great interest in novelty items.(B) People who work at railway or bus stations.(C) People who travel on trains and buses regular

23、ly.(D) People who have monotonous work.5. (A) It's getting smaller every year.(B) It's increasing rapidly.(C) It's expanding only in Japan.(D) It started in the 70's.本篇文章為標準產品推薦文，題1的四個選項為名詞，均為物品詞，也就是文章討論的中心。題2為時間，一定是與物品有關的時間，如產品創(chuàng)造時間等。題3為專有名詞，估計是文中討論的重點產品的名稱。題4主要是顧客群。題5為產品開展狀態(tài)。News En

24、glishQuestions 20 and 21 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item you will be given 20 seconds to answer the questions. Now listen to the news.     A police spokesman said the devices were made safe by explosive experts in the Ardorn district, where a woman was sho

25、t in the leg and 13 police officers were injured during a second successive night of violence. Northern Irelands police chief had earlier called on community leaders to work together to end the violence. The violence has erupted sporadically throughout a summer of Sectarian tension in northern Belfa

26、st.CrimeCriminal, police, judge, jury, plead guilty, find b. guilty, suspension, jail, jail sentence, life sentence, death penalty, lawyer, rehabilitation, inmate, custody, detain, Question 22 is based on the following news. At the end of the news item you will be given 10 seconds to answer the ques

27、tion. Now listen to the news.     Airlines are being hit with huge increases to ensure their planes after the terrorist attacks in the United States. Goshork Insurance Holdings, which ensures aircraft around the world, said rates had soared as much as 10 fold since the September 11th

28、terror attacks. Airlines around the world have cut services and dismissed staff as their business has plunged in the wake of the crisis. They are also struggling with increased security costs.Questions 23 and 24 are based on the following news. At the end of the news item you will be given 20 second

29、s to answer the questions. Now listen to the news.     A Pakistani lawyer said the resumption of the trial of eight foreign aid workers accused of preaching Christianity in Afghanistan has been put off until Sunday. He had met earlier Saturday with the ai workers, 2 Americans, 2 Austr

30、alians, and 4 Germans. They insist they ware in Adghanistan to help the poor, not to convert them. The penalty for these captured aid workeps could range from expulsion to a jaih term and death sentence.Question 25 is based on the following news. At the end of the news item you will be given 10 seco

31、nds to answer the question. Now listen to the news.     On the 20th anniversary of the first official report on AIDS, the head of the United Nations AIDS program warns that the deadly disease may only be at its early stages in many parts of the world. Dr. Piu said the disease has alre

32、ady reached staggering proportions since first being identified in 1981. 58 million people worldwide have contracted the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, while 22 million have died from related illnesses. The UN estimates the worlds HIV positive population at 36 million, including 25 million in sub-Sah

33、aran Africa.    International officials warn the disease will have disastrous political, social, and economic consequences in many developing countries.Reading ComprehensionWord attack skills 猜想詞義結構線索1. 語法結構線索The sploony urdle departed. 2. 構詞法結構線索1. 根據前綴猜想詞義 例如：He fell into a ditch an

34、d lay there, semiconscious, for a few minutes. 根據詞根conscious清醒的，有意識的，結合前綴semi半，局部的，不完全的，我們便可猜出semiconscious詞義“半清醒的，半昏迷的。Im illiterate about such things. 詞根literate 意為“有文化修養(yǎng)的，通曉的，前綴il表示否認，因此illiterate指 “一竅不通，不知道的。 2. 根據后綴猜想詞義 例如：Insecticide is applied where it is needed. 后綴cide表示“殺.者，殺滅劑，結合大家熟悉的詞根ins

35、ect昆蟲，不難猜出 insecticide意為“殺蟲劑。Then the vapor may change into droplets. 后綴let表示“小的，詞根drop指“滴，滴狀物。將兩個意思結合起來，便可推斷出droplet詞義“小滴，微滴。 3.根據復合詞的各局部猜想詞義 例如： Growing economic problems were highlighted by a slowdown in oil output. Highlight或許是一個生詞，但是分析該詞結構后，就能推測出其含義。它是由 high 高的，強的和light光線兩局部組成，合在一起便是“以強光照射，使突出

36、的意思。 4. 根據詞根猜想詞義-tract：drawAttract, detract轉移, abstract, distraction，分心, distracter, tractor, retract縮回, 縮進, contract合同,收縮, protract延長, -ject: throwReject, project, subject, eject, -portPorter, portable, export, import, transport, report-pelRepel擊退, compel, expel, propel, -spirInspire, aspire, consp

37、ire, transpire, expire, perspire, respire, spirit根據上下文推斷Accumulating meaning: tock1.She poured the water into a tock.2.Then, lifting the tock, she drank.3.Unfortunately, as she was setting it down again, the tock slipped from her hand and broke.4.Only the handle remained in one piece.The British are

38、 the most voracious newspaper readers in the world. They read newspapers at breakfast; they walk to the bus reading a newspaper; they read a newspaper on the bus as they go to work; and on the way back home, after work, they are engrossed in an evening newspaper.一 針對性解釋 針對性解釋是作者為了更好的表達思想，在文章中對一些重要的概

39、念、難懂的術語或詞匯等所作的解 釋。這些解釋提供的信息具有明確的針對性，利用它們猜詞義比擬容易。 1. 根據定義猜想詞義 如果生詞是句子或段落所解釋的定義，理解句子或段落本身就是推斷詞義。 例如： Anthropology is the scientific study of man. 由定義可知，anthropology就是“研究人類的科學。 In slang the term "jam" constitutes a state of being in which a person finds himself or herself in a difficult situa

40、tion. 同樣，從上下文的定義可知jam一詞在俚語中的意思是“困境。定義句的謂語動詞多為：be, mean, deal with, be considered, to be, refer to, be called, be known as, define, represent, signify, constitute等。 2.根據復述猜想詞義 雖然復述不如定義那樣嚴謹、詳細，但是提供的信息足以使閱讀者猜出生詞詞義。 復述局部可以適當詞、短語或是從句。 同位語Fribin, elastic threads of protein, helps blood to clot.Semantics,

41、the study of the meaning of words, is necessary if you are to speak and read intelligently.此例逗號中短語意為“對詞意義進行研究的學科。該短語與前面生詞semantics式 同位關系，因此我們不難猜出semantics指“語義學。 Capacitance, or the ability to store electric charge, is one of the most common characteristics of electronic circuits. 由同位語我們很快猜出生詞capacit

42、ance詞義-電容量。 在復述中構成同位關系的兩局部之間多用逗號連接，有時也使用破折號，冒號，分號，引號，和括號等。 Donovan believed in using whatever tools came to hand in the “great game of espionagespying as a “profession. (03)需要注意的是：同位語前還常有or, similarly, that is to say, in other words, namely, or other, say, i. e. 等副詞或短語出現。 Mary felt perturbed; that i

43、s, she was greatly disturbed by her sisters actions.定語從句 Krabacber suffers from SAD, which is short for seasonal affective disorder, a syndrome characterized by severe seasonal mood swings. 根據生詞SAD后面定語從句which is short for seasonal affective disorder和同位語a syndrome characterized by severe seasonal moo

44、d swings, 我們可以推斷出 SAD含義，即“季節(jié)性情緒紊亂癥。 3.根據舉例猜想詞義恰當的舉例能夠提供猜想生詞的重要線索 例如： Select a periodical from among the following: Playboy, Time, Readers Digest, or Seventeen.The consequences of epochal events such as wars and great scientific discoveries are not confined to a small geographical area as they were i

45、n the past. 句中“戰(zhàn)爭和“重大科學發(fā)現是生詞的實例，通過它們我們可以猜出epochal的 大致詞義“重要的，這與其確切含義“劃時代的十分接近。二 內在邏輯關系 根據內在邏輯關系推測詞義是指運用語言知識分析和判斷相關信息之間存在的邏輯關系,然后根據邏輯關系推斷生詞詞義或大致義域。 1. 根據比照關系猜想詞義在一個句子或段落中，有對兩個事物或現象進行比照性的描述，我們可以根據生詞或難詞的反義詞猜想其詞義。 例如：Andrew is one of the most supercilious men I know. His brother, in contrast, is quite hu

46、mble and modest. 該例中supercilious對許多人來說可能是個生詞，但是句中短語in contrast，相對照的，相比照的可以提示我們supercilious和后面詞組humble and modest謙卑又謙虛是比照關系。分析出這種關系后，我們便能猜出supercilious意為“目空一切的，傲慢的。 表示比照關系的詞匯和短語主要是unlike，not，but，however，despite，in spite of，in contrast 和while 引導的并列句等。 A good supervisor can recognize instantly the adep

47、t workers from the unskilled ones. 該句中并未出現上面提到的表示比照關系的詞或短語，但是通過上下文可以判斷出句子前后是比照關系，即把熟練工人與非熟練工人區(qū)分開。這時我們也能夠推斷出生詞 adept的詞義，“熟練的。 Diseases that have been dormant for years may suddenly become active if they find themselves in a new environment, such as a human recipients body.2. 根據比擬關系猜想詞義 同比照關系相反，比擬關系表示

48、意義上的相似關系。 例如： Green loves to talk，and his brothers are similarly loquacious. 該句中副詞similarly說明短語loves to talk與生詞loquacious之間的比擬關系。以此可以推斷出 loquacious詞義為“健談的。 表示比擬關系的詞和短語主要是similarly，like，just as，also等。 3. 根據因果關系猜想詞義在句子或段落種，假設兩個事物、現象之間構成因果關系，我們可以根據這種邏輯關系推知生詞詞義。 例如： Tom is considered an autocratic admin

49、istrator because he makes decisions without seeking the opinions of others. 根據原因狀語從句的內容，我們可以推斷出生詞autocratic指“獨斷專行的。 There were so many demonstrators in the Red Square that he had to elbow his way through the crowd. 此句為結果狀語從句，根據從句的描書“許多示威者，我們便可推知elbow的詞意“擠，擠過。 4. 根據同義詞的替代關系猜想詞義在句子或段落種，我們可以利用熟悉的詞語，根據語

50、言環(huán)境推斷生詞詞義。 例如： Although he often had the opportunity, Mr. Tritt was never able to steal money from a customer. This would have endangered his position at the bank, and he did not want to jeopardize his future. 作者為防止重復使用endanger一詞，用其同義詞jeopardize來替代它，由此推知其詞義為“使. . . 陷入危險，危及、危害。 Doctors believe that s

51、moking cigarettes is detrimental to your health. They also regard drinking as harmful. 句中detrimental是個生詞，但判斷出harmful替代detrimental后，不難推斷出其詞義為“不利的，有害的。三 外部相關因素 外部相關因素是指篇章(句子或段落)以外的其他知識。有時僅靠分析篇章內在邏輯關系無法猜出詞義。這時,就需要運用生活經驗和普通常識確定詞義。 例如： Husband：its really cold out tonight. Wife: Sure it is. My hands are p

52、ractically numb. How about lighting the furnace? 根據生活經驗，天氣寒冷時，手肯定是“凍僵的，凍得麻木的。 The snake slithered through the grass. 根據有關蛇的生活習性的知識，我們可以推斷出slither詞義為“爬行。 綜上所述，利用各種信息推測、判斷詞義是一項重要的閱讀技巧。在實踐中，我們可以靈活運用，綜合運用上面提到的幾種猜想技巧，排除生詞的障礙，順利理解文章的思想內容，提高閱讀速度。一個句子中難免出現一兩個生字。在這種情況下，不必馬上查字典，只要根據上下文的關系，就可能猜想生字的意思了。TEXT A 2

53、005It was 1961 and I was in the fifth grade. My marks in school were miserable and, the thing was, I didnt know enough to really care. My older brother and I lived with Mom in a dingy multi-family house in Detroit. We watched TV every night. The background noise of our lives was gunfire and horses h

54、oofs from “Wagon Train or “Cheyenne, and laughter from “I Love Lucy or “Mister Ed. After supper, wed sprawl on Moms bed and stare for hours at the tube.But one day Mom changed our world forever. She turned off the TV. Our mother had only been able to get through third grade. But she was much brighte

55、r and smarter than we boys knew at the time. She had noticed something in the suburban houses she cleaned books. So she came home one day, snapped off the TV, sat us down and explained that her sons were going to make something of themselves. “You boys are going to read two books every week, she sai

56、d. “And youre going to write me a report on what you read.We moaned and complained about how unfair it was. Besides, we didnt have any books in the house other than Moms Bible. But she explained that we would go where the books were: “Ill drive you to the library.So pretty soon there were these two peevish boys sitting in her white 1950 Oldsmobile on their way to Detroit Public Library. I wandered reluctantly among the childrens books. I loved animals, so when I saw some books that seemed to be about animals, I started leafing through them.The first