Big Red

1The first time we set eyes on Big Red, Father, Mother and I were on our way to Hubble's Hardware store on Main Street in Huntsville, Ontario. As we passed the Eaton's Department store's window,we stopped as usual to look.

2The decorated window display held the best toys ever.And they were all lying beneath the skirt of Big Red.Mother's eyes were focused on the red shining dress,dotted with beautiful black stars.“My goodness,”she managed to say in wonder.“Look at that dress!”Then, totally out of character, Mother felt down on the snowy sidewalk.Beneath the heavy grey wool coat she had worn every winter for as long as I could remember,Mother lost her balance.Father quickly caught her.

3Her cheeks redder than usual,Mother laughed.“What a silly dress there in the window of Eaton's!”she shook her head.“Who on earth would want such a bright dress?”As we continued down the street,Mother turned back for one more look.“My goodness!You'd think they'd display something a person could use!”New Year was nearing and the red dress was soon forgotten. Mother, of all people, was not one to wish for or spend money on items that were not practical.“There are things we need more than this,”she'd always say,or,“There are things we need more than that.”Father, on the other hand, liked to buy whenever the budget allowed. Of course, he'd get a scolding for this, but it was all done with the best intention.

4Like the time he brought home the electric stove. In our old farmhouse on Oxtongue Lake,Mother was still cooking on a wood stove.In the summer,the kitchen would be so hot that flies wouldn't come inside.One day,Dad surprised her with a fancy new electric stove.She protested(反抗),of course,saying that the wood stove cooked well and that the electric stove was too dear. In spite of her objections, Dad and I knew that she cherished that new stove. There were many other modern things that our old farm needed but Mom insisted that those things would have to wait until we could afford them. Mom was forever doing chores—doing the laundry by hand, tending pigs, or working in our huge garden—so she always wore mended housedresses.

5That New Year I bought Dad a small present from the Five to a Dollar store. Choosing something for Mother was much harder. When Dad and I asked what she wanted, she thought carefully,and then said modestly for some tea towels or a new pan.On our last trip to town before New Year,we drove up Main Street and past Eaton's.

Reading Check

閱讀上面的短文，根據所給情節進行續寫，使之構成一個完整的故事。

注意：

1.所續寫短文的詞數應為150左右；

2.續寫部分分為兩段，每段的開頭語已為你寫好。

Paragraph 1:

“That big red dress is gone,”she pointed excitedly and said in disbelief.“It's actually gone.”______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2:

Mother opened the box to find a big white pan—overflowing with a beautiful red dress._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

寫作導引

一、語篇研讀

（一）基本要素

Where_When__Who_What__Why outside of 1.________________________________________________________________before 2.___________________________________________________________________Father,Mother and I__________________________________________________________My mother liked the 3. ________very much,but she didn't want to 4. ________it.________Because Mother was not one to wish for or spend money on items that were not 5. ________.

（二）主題探索

What is the text about?And what does the author want to tell us?

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二、語言學習

（一）詞塊

Put the following expressions into Chinese.

__________________________________________________________Expressions 1.set eyes on_______________________________________________________________________2.as usual___________________________________________________________________________3.focus on_________________________________________________________________________4.in wonder________________________________________________________________________5.as long as 6.lose one's balance___________________________________________________________________7.spend money on___________________________________________________________________8.on the other hand__________________________________________________________________9.in spite of________________________________________________________________________10.in disbelief______________________________________________________________________Chinese meanings_____________

（二）句式

1.狀語從句

As we passed the Eaton's Department store's window, we stopped as usual to look.(Para.1)

當我們經過伊頓百貨公司的櫥窗時，我們像往常一樣停下來看。

As we continued down the street,Mother turned back for one more look.(Para.3)

當我們繼續沿著街走時，母親又回頭看了一眼。

2.感嘆句

What a silly dress there in the window of Eaton's!(Para.3)

伊頓（百貨公司）櫥窗里的那件衣服多不實用啊！

3.定語從句

Mother, of all people, was not one to wish for or spend money on items that were not practical.(Para.3)

在所有人中，母親是那個并不想要或花錢買那些不實用的東西的人。

There were many other modern things that our old farm needed.(Para.4)

我們的老農場還需要許多其他現代的東西。

4.賓語從句

She protested, of course, saying that the wood stove cooked well and that the electric stove was too dear.(Para.4)

她當然抗議著說，木爐用得很好并且電爐太貴了。

（三）即學即用

1.當我在車站等車的時候，我聽到一個很大的聲響。（使用狀語從句）

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2.它是一條多么漂亮的裙子呀！（使用感嘆句）

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3.奇跡就是看似不可能，卻發生了。（使用定語從句）

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4.我們都預料他們會贏，因為他們的隊員更強壯。（使用賓語從句）

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三、續寫布局

根據續寫第一段段首句的內容“‘那條紅色裙子不見了。’媽媽不敢相信地說”可知，續寫第一段可描寫媽媽看到裙子不見了以后的感受和行為，還有其他人的反應。根據續寫第二段段首句的內容“媽媽打開盒子去找一個白色平底鍋，盒子里卻溜出來了一條漂亮的紅色裙子”可知，續寫第一段可描寫媽媽收到新年禮物，一開始以為是一個白色平底鍋。我們可根據以下問題鏈來展開具體內容：

1.How did Mother feel after knowing the dress was gone?

2.What did Father and I do?

3.How did we send the New Year present to Mother and what did she say?

根據續寫第二段段首句的內容可知，續寫第二段可描寫媽媽收到夢想中的禮物后的反應以及我們對這件事情的感受。我們可根據以下問題鏈來展開具體內容：

1.What did Mother say and how did she feel?

2.How did Father reply and what did he do?

3.What lesson did I learn from this experience?