Desperate times,extraordinary effort

精彩導讀

細雨后的深夜，作者在冷清的街道上遇到了一位拿著水桶的婦人。在好奇心的驅動下，作者不由自主地跟上婦人的腳步……之后，作者會發現什么呢？他們之間又會發生怎樣的故事呢？

題材 體裁 文章詞數 難度 建議用時人與社會 記敘文 325 ★★★ 6分鐘

The drizzle（毛毛雨）had just stopped in the late night today when I walked on the streets.Coming in the opposite direction was a woman,perhaps in her 40's or early 50's carrying a small bucket（水桶）and curiously looking left and right as if looking for something in the streets.

She had an air of desperation around her and after observing her I noticed that she would fish out something from the ground every once in a while.

Curious,I decided to turn around and follow her because we were walking in opposite directions.Perhaps she sensed me following her because she immediately sped up and as a result,I decided to slow down and enter a nearby store.

I decided she probably needed help even though she wasn't asking in particular.So I bought her some food from the store and put some cash in the grocery bag.Then I ran after her hoping she was not too far ahead.

Fortunately,I caught up with herbecause she paused every now and then to pick things up in the streets.After getting past her,I waited andreached outwith the grocery bag，saying“Here's some food,” I thought she would decline because maybe I just misunderstood what she was doing but she took the food and said,“Thank you for the food.”

I then asked her the curious question.“What were you trying to pick up in the streets?”，to which she answered, “I'm looking for food.” I then asked “where's your family?”

She stammered before finally saying that they were working.But in my mind,I thought maybe the work is not very stable for her to do this.From there weparted waysand I thought of that person—she could have been my mother and I wish her well.My eyes were teary because for now that's all I could do and I wish I could do much more.

Reading check

Read the text quickly and complete the summary with only one word for each blank.

One night on the 1.______________ ,I came across a desperate 2.______________ picking up things to her small 3.______________ .She stammered but accepted the 4.______________ I bought for her.I wish I could do much 5.______________ .

Language study

Difficult sentences

1.Coming in the opposite direction was a woman,perhaps in her 40's or early 50's carrying a small bucket and curiously looking left and right as if looking for something in the streets.

翻譯：__________________________

【點石成金】本句中的Coming in the opposite direction was a woman是一個全部倒裝句。Coming in the opposite direction是一個分詞短語，當分詞短語置于句首時要用完全倒裝。本句的主語是a woman；介詞短語in her 40's or early 50's在句子中作定語修飾a woman;現在分詞短語carrying a small bucket and looking left and right在句子中作伴隨狀語。其中，as if引導的方式狀語從句省略了主語和謂語的一部分，省略的部分為she was。

2.She had an air of desperation around her and after observing her I noticed that she would fish out something from the ground every once in a while.

翻譯：__________________________

【點石成金】本句是由and連接的兩個并列句。after引導的狀語從句是一個省略句。當after/before引導時間狀語從句時，若主從句主語一致，可省略從句的主語，此時after/before轉化為介詞。句中，an air of意為 “一種……的神情”；fish out sth from意為“從……摸索出”。

Using language

I.Match each word with itscorrect meaning.

1.curious

A.refuse politely

2.decline

B.fail to understand sb/sth correctly

3.misunderstand

C.speak or say sth with unusual pauses

4.stable

D.eager to know something

5.stammer

E.firmly fixed

Ⅱ.Important phrases in the text

in one's 40's or early 50's在某人40多歲或50歲出頭的時候

an air of desperation一種絕望的神情

fish out sth from the ground 從地上摸索出一些東西

catch up with sb追上某人；趕上某人

reach out伸出（手）；提供援助

part ways分開；分道揚鑣

Ⅲ.Complete the following sentences in correct forms with the phrases given above.

1.They have been married for 5 years but today they officially____________________________ .

2.When his company was in a trap,none of his friends______________________ .

3.He had better get a tutor to_________________________

____________________other students.

4.Theman________________________was repairing his car by the roadside.

5.The beggar in shabby clothes___________________________________________in the evening every day.

6.There was______________________________when they heard the news that Mr Blank cancelled the fan meeting.